OBJECTIVESTo develop a mathematical algorithm and a software package for the process of electronically surveying a scanned point cloud cast. To provide a principal premise to the subsequent computer aided design and computer aided manufacture (CAD/CAM) of removable partial denture framework, and to provide a method to improve quality control in the dental laboratory.

METHODSPoint cloud data of a partially edentulous cast, a mandibular Kennedy Class II Modification 2 arch, was captured using an optical scanning system with projective grating and high-resolution digital camera. Using commercial CAD/CAM software system (Geomagic Studio 6), this point cloud data was processed and the 3-D digital model of partially edentulous cast was reconstructed. From a suggested surveying angle the contour points of height were identified, and then the digital surveying lines were traced using Projection and Contour Extraction software package. The depth of undercut was measured and defined to determine the clasp termination of retainer.

RESULTSElectronic surveying line of 3-D digital dentition defect model was achieved. Digital surveying line defined the cast into undercut and non-undercut areas. Different virtualized paths of insertion could be automatically suggested when the cast was surveyed and analyzed from different angles. The depth of undercut was automatically measured and the retentive clasp termination was determined.

CONCLUSIONSThe mathematical algorithm and the software package in this study can be used to survey and analyze 3-D digital models of dentition defects, and to identify an electronic surveying line.

Algorithms ; Computer-Aided Design ; Dental Models ; Dentition ; Denture, Partial, Removable ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Software

OBJECTIVETo introduce a method applied in computer aided design and computer aided manufacture (CAD-CAM) of removable partial denture framework for rehabilitating edentulous arch of Kennedy Class II and found a basis for this project.

METHODSPoint cloud data of dental stone model was obtained by laser scanning. The following processes were made: drawing framework outline on the reconstructed triangle mesh model, picking up and processing its inner side data as the data of tissue surface, shelling it for 3-D model of framework, and transferring the data to rapid prototyping equipment for manufacture.

RESULTS3-D model of the removable partial denture framework was preliminarily accomplished. The resin framework used as a sacrificial pattern was manufactured with the rapid prototyping equipment. The fit between resin framework and plaster model was good.

CONCLUSIONSThis method, as an integrated procedure including data acquisition, 3-D computer modeling and fabrication by rapid prototyping, is feasible to implement CAD-CAM of removable partial denture framework.

Computer-Aided Design ; Dental Casting Technique ; Dental Prosthesis Design ; methods ; Denture, Partial, Removable ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the in vitro and in vivo function of anti-human bladder tumor human-mouse chimeric antibody ch-BDI and its future clinical application.

METHODSWith ch-BDI in high-expression cell-line medium, affinity chromatography was used for the purification. Labeled with (99m)Tc through reduction method, its immunoreactive fraction and association constant were measured. The constant was injected into nude mice with xenografted human bladder tumor. The biodistribution of the labeled ch-BDI was studied with radioimmunoimaging.

RESULTSch-BDI showed desirable immunoreactive fraction (76%) and association constant (3.56 x 10(9) M(-1)) in vitro and a terrific specific targeting effect in vivo.

CONCLUSIONch-BDI has fairly good function against human bladder tumor both in vitro and in vivo, and is promising in clinical use.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Antibodies, Neoplasm ; immunology ; Antibody Affinity ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; immunology ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; immunology

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ilium ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; pathology ; prevention & control ; therapy

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of relative expression of myocardial various RNAs in rats died of different causes and their relationship with PMI. METHODS: The rat models were established in which the rats were sacrificed by broken neck, asphyxia, and hemorrhagic shock. Total RNAs were extracted from myocardium. The quantitative real time PCR was used to calculate threshold cycle values of RNAs including glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), beta-actin, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and U6 small nuclear RNA (U6 snRNA) and to study the changes of the relative expressions of various indexes with PMI. RESULTS: U6 snRNA with stable expression level could be used as appropriate internal control. In the early PMI, the relative expression of GAPDH, HIF-1, iNOS, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 more characteristically increased in groups of asphyxia and hemorrhagic shock than in group of broken neck, but the quantity of beta-actin decreased in all groups. In the late PMI, all the relative expressions significantly declined in correlation with the degradation of RNA. CONCLUSION The characteristic changes of each RNA expression can be used as references to estimate PMI in deaths by different causes.
Actins ; Animals ; Cause of Death ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enzymes/metabolism* ; Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; RNA/metabolism* ; RNA, Small Nuclear ; Rats ; Shock, Hemorrhagic ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUNDThe non-operation treatment of intra-abdominal trauma guided contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is one of the hottest research topic. Gelatin/thrombin/calcium (GTC) was developed as a novel haemostatic agent for non-operable intra-abdominal trauma. We hypothesized that GTC can achieve haemostasis (without the use of pressure) within a short time in a large wound model by percutaneous injection under CEUS guidance.

METHODSForty Wister rats received large liver injuries by haemostatic clamp and were randomly divided into four groups, according to the haemostatic agent used. These included normal saline (NS) group A, lyophilising thrombin powder (LTP) group B, GTC group C, and absorbable α-cyanoacrylate (ACNA) group D. Each injury site was treated with one of the above materials and total bleeding time was recorded. All liver wounds were evaluated using CEUS at three periods: pre-injury, injury and post-treatment. The liver wounds were also evaluated by histology 3, 6, and 9 days after injury and the extents of abdominal adhesions were recorded.

RESULTSThe sensitivity of CEUS (100%) in detecting blunt traumatic liver lesions was significantly higher than conventional ultrasound (42.5%). Bleeding times at the injury site in the GTC group C ((129.3 ± 14.0) seconds) and ACNA group D ((5.2 ± 1.0) seconds) were significantly shorter than those in the NS group A ((369.5 ± 48.8) seconds, P < 0.01) and LTP group B ((324.7 ± 52.22) seconds, P < 0.01). The LTP group B showed no significant difference compared with the NS group A. Gross examination of liver tissue revealed that there were fewer intra-abdominal adhesions in the GTC group C (10%) than in the ACNA group D (100%). Histopathologic examination showed that GTC was completely absorbed after nine days.

CONCLUSIONSGTC, delivered by percutaneous injection under CEUS, may achieve haemostasis (without the use of pressure) within a short time in a large wound model. GTC is absorbable and may prevent intra-abdominal adhesions. Therefore, it may be the optimal choice for first aid treatment of large abdominal wounds in the setting of blunt trauma.

Animals ; Calcium ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Gelatin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Hemorrhage ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Hemostatics ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Injections ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Thrombin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUNDCyanotic congenital heart defects with decreased pulmonary blood flow due to lung ischemia, hypoxia, and others lead to infant morbidity and mortality more than acyanotic heart disease does. Despite the great effort of medical research, their genetic link and underlying microRNAs molecular mechanisms remain obscure. In this study, we aimed to investigate microRNAs regulation during cyanotic defects in lung of immature piglets.

METHODSCyanotic piglet model was induced by main pulmonary artery-left atrium shunt with distal pulmonary artery banding. Four weeks later, hemodynamic parameters confirmed the development of cyanotic defects and pulmonary lobe RNA was extracted from all animals. We studied the repertoire of porcine lung microRNAs by Solexa deep sequencing technology and quantified highly expressed microRNAs by microarray hybridization. Furthermore, we quantitated selected microRNAs from cyanotic and control piglets by quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSAfter surgical procedure 4 weeks later, the cyanotic model produced lower arterial oxygen tension, arterial oxygen saturation, and higher arterial carbon dioxide tension, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration than controls (all P < 0.05). In 1273 miRNAs expressed in the immature piglets lungs, 2 most abundant microRNAs (miR-370 and miR-320) demonstrated significant difference between cyanotic and control group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOur results extended lung microRNA profile in immature piglets and suggested that miR-370 and miR-320 are significantly up-regulated in cyanotic lung tissues.

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Cyanosis ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Heart Atria ; surgery ; MicroRNAs ; analysis ; physiology ; Pulmonary Artery ; surgery ; Pulmonary Circulation ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature

BACKGROUNDCyanotic patients have potential growth retardation and malnutrition due to hypoxemia and other reasons. Ghrelin is a novel endogenous growth hormone secretagogue that has effects on growth and cardiovascular activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma level and myocardial expression of ghrelin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) using an immature piglet model of chronic cyanotic congenital heart defects with decreased pulmonary blood flow.

METHODSTwelve weanling Chinese piglets underwent procedures of main pulmonary artery-left atrium shunt with pulmonary artery banding or sham operation as control. Four weeks later, hemodynamic parameters were measured. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for plasma ghrelin and IGF-1 level measurement were performed. Ventricular ghrelin and IGF-1 mRNA expressions were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSFour weeks after surgical procedure, the cyanotic model produced lower arterial oxygen tension ((68.73 ± 15.09) mmHg), arterial oxygen saturation ((82.35 ± 8.63)%), and higher arterial carbon dioxide tension ((51.83 ± 6.12) mmHg), hematocrit ((42.67 ± 3.83)%) and hemoglobin concentration ((138.17 ± 16.73) g/L) than the control piglets ((194.08 ± 98.79) mmHg, (96.43 ± 7.91)%, (36.9 ± 4.73) mmHg, (31.17 ± 3.71)%, (109.83 ± 13.75) g/L) (all P < 0.05). Plasma ghrelin level was significantly higher in the cyanotic model group in comparison to the control (P = 0.004), and the plasma IGF-1 level was significantly lower than control (P = 0.030). Compared with control animals, the expression of ghrelin mRNAs in the ventricular myocardium was significantly decreased in the cyanotic model group (P = 0.000), and the expression of IGF-1 mRNAs was elevated (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSChronic cyanotic congenital heart defects model was successfully established. Plasma ghrelin level and myocardial IGF-1 mRNA expression were significantly up-regulated, while plasma IGF-1 level and myocardial ghrelin mRNA expression were down-regulated in the chronic cyanotic immature piglets. The ghrelin system may be an important part of the network regulating cardiac performance.

Animals ; Cyanosis ; blood ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Female ; Ghrelin ; blood ; metabolism ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; blood ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Pulmonary Circulation ; physiology ; Swine

OBJECTIVEThe Ala499Val (C > T) and Lys939Gln (A > C) of the XPC gene are two potentially functional nonsynonymous polymorphisms, which affect the rate of DNA repair and might change XPC production and activity. This study aimed to explore the distribution of these two polymorphisms in the Chinese Han population and their relationship with male infertility.

METHODSWe genotyped the two polymorphisms of the XPC gene by the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in 318 infertile patients and 228 fertile male controls, detected the frequency of the alleles, and analyzed both the individual and the joint contribution of the two polymorphisms to male infertility.

RESULTSFor the Ala499Val (C > T) polymorphism, the frequencies of the CC, CT, and TT genotypes were significantly different in distribution between the patients and the controls (P = 0.020). Males with the TT genotype had a lower risk of male infertility than those with the CC genotype (adjusted OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.23-0.88), and even lower than those with both CC and CT genotypes (adjusted OR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.22-0.71). The Lys939Gln (A > C) polymorphism was not related with male infertility. The combined genotype analysis showed that the individuals with 1-4 risk alleles had a significantly higher risk of male infertility (adjusted OR = 2.75, 95% CI = 1.50-5.04) than those with 0 risk allele.

CONCLUSIONThe Ala499Val (C > T) polymorphism of the XPC gene is correlated with male infertility and may be a potential genetic risk factor for male infertility in the Chinese Han population.

Adult ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA Repair ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the evolution of medically treated atherosclerotic aortic ulcers by computed tomography (CT).

METHODSThirty-five patients (31 men and 4 women, aged from 40 to 79 years, mean 56.2 +/- 10.8 years) with known aortic ulcers were monitored by CT (follow up time 7 - 730 days, mean 135 days), 80 - 100 ml contrast media (Ultravist 300 or 320, or Omnipaque 300 or 320 mg/ml) was injected with a rate of 3.5 - 4.5 ml/s. The scan delayed time was 18 - 30 s. Ulcers dimensions were measured according to maximum depth, maximum length and maximum width.

RESULTSThirty-one patients with intramural hematomas and 1 patient with atherosclerotic aortic arch aneurysm without intramural hematoma were medically treated and another 3 patients were surgically treated. Intramural hematoma regression was monitored in 31 medically treated patients with intramural hematomas. CT was repeated at 2 weeks, 3 and 6 months. Intramural hematoma resolved gradually during follow up [thickness: (7.69 +/- 4.24) mm at 3 months, (3.06 +/- 1.67) mm at 6 months, P < 0.05 vs. 1st CT: (11.96 +/- 4.16) mm while ulcer maximum depth (11.17 +/- 6.03) mm at 3 months, (11.35 +/- 5.59) mm at 6 months, P < 0.05 vs. 1st CT: (7.36 +/- 6.61) mm, maximum width (14.40 +/- 6.35) mm at 3 months, (18.55 +/- 10.94) mm at 6 months, P < 0.05 vs. 1st CT: (7.15 +/- 6.39) mm, maximum length (17.12 +/- 7.15) mm at 3 months, (18.13 +/- 10.89) mm at 6 months, P < 0.05 vs. 1st CT: (11.64 +/- 10.06) mm increased progressively during follow-up].

CONCLUSIONCT was a useful tool for deflecting atherosclerotic aortic ulcers and monitoring therapeutic effects.

Adult ; Aged ; Aortic Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Aortography ; Atherosclerosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ulcer ; diagnostic imaging