OBJECTIVETo observe the peri-implant osseointegration after the application of exogenous nerve growth factor (NGF)-gelatin sponge (GS) composite.

METHODSSix beagle dogs were used to establish bi-mandible simultaneous implant model after the first and second premolar extraction. Then the dental implants were implanted into the distal socket while the bone defect was made in the mesial socket of each mandible. Then the NGF-GS was implanted into the defects as NGF-GS group, the gelatin sponge alone was implanted as GS control and the control group was left empty. Two dogs were sacrificed each time at 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks postoperatively. Specimens were subjected to general observation, radiography, bone histological and histomorphometric analysis for the new bone formation. The data were analyzed with SPSS 11.5 software package.

RESULTSThe bone density in the defects around implants at 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively was lower than the normal bone. The bone-implant contact ratio in the NGF-GS group [(57.7 ± 6.4)%] was significantly higher than that in the GS control group and the control group [the ratio were (44.2 ± 3.3)% and (31.2 ± 3.1)%] (P < 0.01) at 4 weeks postoperatively, the bone-implant contact ratio in the GS control group was also significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01) at that time. The bone-implant contact ratio in the NGF-GS group [(94.8 ± 7.7)%] was slightly higher than that in the GS control group and the control group [the ratio were (83.0 ± 4.1)% and (86.4 ± 6.3)%] at 8 weeks postoperatively, but there was no statistical difference (P > 0.05). The bone density in the defects around implants at 12 weeks was almost the same as the normal bone, there was no difference of the bone-implant contact ratio.

CONCLUSIONSNGF-GS application could increase new bone formation, accelerate maturation of trabecular bone around the implants and shorten the period of osseointegration.

Animals ; Dental Implantation, Endosseous ; methods ; Dental Implants ; Dogs ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; therapeutic use

Despite remarkable advancement in the surveillance and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the availability of novel curative options, a great proportion of HCC patients are still not eligible for curative treatment due to an advanced tumor stage or poor hepatic functional reserve. Therefore, there is a continuing need for effective palliative treatments. Although practiced widely, it has only recently been demonstrated that the use of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) provides a survival benefit based on randomized controlled studies. Hence, TACE has become standard treatment in selected patients. TACE combines the effect of targeted chemotherapy with the effect of ischemic necrosis induced by arterial embolization. Most of the TACE procedures have been based on iodized oil utilizing the microembolic and drug-carrying characteristic of iodized oil. Recently, there have been efforts to improve the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents to a tumor. In this review, the basic principles, technical issues and complications of TACE are reviewed and recent advancement in TACE technique and clinical applicability are briefed.
Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic/*methods ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infusions, Intra-Arterial ; Iodized Oil/therapeutic use ; Liver Neoplasms/*therapy

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the results of different agents for bronchial artery embolization of hemoptysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 1992 to December 2006, a bronchial artery embolization was performed on 430 patients with hemoptysis. The patients were divided into three groups. Group 1 included 74 patients treated with a gelfoam particle (1x1x1 mm), while group 2 comprised of 205 patients treated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) at 355-500 micrometer, and group 3 included 151 patients treated with PVA at 500-710 micrometer. We categorized the results as technical and clinical successes, and also included the mid-term results. Retrospectively, the technical success was compared immediately after the procedure. The clinical success and mid-term results (percentage of patients who were free of hemoptysis) were compared at 1 and 12 months after the procedure, respectively. RESULTS: Neither the technical successes (group 1; 85%, 2; 85%, 3; 90%) nor the clinical successes (group 1; 72%, 2; 74%, 3; 71%) showed a significant difference among the 3 groups (p > 0.05). However, the mid-term results (group 1; 45%, 2; 63%, 3; 62%) and mid-term results excluding the recurrence from collateral vessels in each of the groups (group 1; 1 patient, 2; 4 patients, 3; 2 patients) showed that group 1 was lower than the other two groups (p < 0.05). No significant difference was discovered for the mid-term results between groups 2 and 3. Moreover, the same results not including incidences of recurrence from collateral vessels also showed no statistical significance between the two groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Polyvinyl alcohol appears to be the more optimal modality compared to gelfoam particle for bronchial artery embolization in order to improve the mid-term results. The material size of PVA needs to be selected to match with the vascular diameter.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Angiography ; *Bronchial Arteries ; Embolization, Therapeutic/*methods ; Female ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable/*therapeutic use ; Hemoptysis/etiology/radiography/*therapy ; Hemostatics/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyvinyl Alcohol/*therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) using mixed emboli for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS188 patients with HCC were divided into two groups according to the treatment modality: 103 patients in group A treated by routine iodine embolus agent; 85 patients in group B by mixed iodine embolus agent (ultra-liquified iodinized oil + gelatin sponge + chemotherapeutic agents). The pattern of the arrested iodine deposition in the tumor, response, resectability during follow-up, pathological changes, survival and complications in the two groups were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSThe pattern of full-and-dense iodine deposition in the tumor and the response rate (CR + PR) were 59.2% and 32.0% in group A, 89.4% and 56.5% in group B. Surgical resection after TACE was possible in 5.8% (6/103) of group A versus 15.3% (13/85) of group B. Complete tumor necrosis was observed in 1.0% and 4.7% in groups A and B, respectively. 1-, 2- and 3-year actual survival rates were 57.7%, 42.8% and 8.4% in group A, and 79.8%, 55.3%, 38.5% in group B. The difference in results between the two groups was statistically significant, however, the incidence of complication in the two groups was similar.

CONCLUSIONTransarterial chemoembolization with mixed iodine emboli is more effective than with the routine iodine emboli in the treatment of bulky or nodular hepatocellular carcinoma rich in blood supply. Mixed iodine emboli is tolerable without increase in severe complications.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; therapy ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Ethiodized Oil ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; administration & dosage ; Hepatic Artery ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Male

OBJECTIVETo introduce a new principle of sellar reconstruction and to evaluate the effectiveness of absorbable gelatin foam and fibrin glue for sellar reconstruction.

METHODSA total of 176 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for pituitary adenomas, cysts, chordomas, or subdiaphragmatic craniopharyngiomas in the sella turcica between January 2001 and April 2003 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital were enrolled. Different techniques of sellar closure and indications for each specific condition were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTSSeventy-seven (43.7%) patients developed a visible cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage during surgery. Intra-operative CSF leakage were repaired simply with gelatin foam and fibrin glue in 62 (35.2%) patients, and with autologous fat graft and sellar floor reconstruction in 15 (8.5%) patients. Postoperative CSF rhinorrhea occurred only in 1 case. There were no visual deterioration, allergic rhinitis, meningitis, pneumocranium, granulomas, or other complications associated with the reconstruction procedure.

CONCLUSIONThe procedure of using gelatin foam and fibrin glue and principle of cranial base reconstruction is safe and effective in preventing postoperative complications following transsphenoidal surgery.

Adenoma ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Central Nervous System Cysts ; surgery ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea ; etiology ; surgery ; Craniopharyngioma ; surgery ; Female ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive ; therapeutic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypophysectomy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Sella Turcica ; surgery ; Tissue Adhesives ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo study the features of blood supply and results of transarterial infusion and embolization in spinal metastases.

METHODSForty-one patients with spinal metastasis received transarterial infusion and embolization between March 2001 and June 2008. The inclusion criteria were: The metastatic lesion caused back pain; The metastatic lesion involved vertebra at or below T3 level. There were 29 males and 12 females with a mean age of 56.0 (33 - 71) years. Epirubicin was used as the chemotherapeutic agent. Lipoid Ultra-Fluid, Contour SE or gelfoam particles were used as embolitic material.

RESULTSThe technical success of therapy was achieved in 52 vertebrae (100%) including 14 thoracic, 35 lumbar and 3 sacral vertebrae. 105 arteries were used for infusion and embolization (16 intercostal arteries, 78 lumbar arteries, 4 iliolumbar arteries, 4 branches of iliac arteries, and 3 median sacral arteries). Lipoid Ultra-Fluid (2 - 8 ml) was used in 15, Contour SE (300 approximately 500 microm, 20 - 100 mg) in 20, and gelfoam particles in 33 arteries. Three days after treatment, complete pain relief (CR) was achieved in 17 patients, partial pain relief (PR) in 20, and moderate pain relief (MR) in 4, with an effective rate of 90.2%. Two weeks after treatment, CR was achieved in 17 patients, PR in 21, and MR in 3, with an effective rate of 92.7%. No adverse nervous system effect occurred. 16 patients developed swelling and pain of normal tissues which were alleviated after symptomatic treatment.

CONCLUSIONTransarterial infusion and embolization is an effective therapy in relieving pain resulting from spinal metastases.

Adult ; Aged ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; Back Pain ; etiology ; therapy ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Epirubicin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Iodized Oil ; therapeutic use ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Remission Induction ; Spinal Neoplasms ; blood supply ; secondary ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of the ovarian arteries (OA) additionally supplying the tumor of pelvic cavity.

METHODSTAE of OA was performed in 63 patients with a pelvic tumor additionally supplied by the OA. The mean age of those patients was 43.6 years (range, 16 - 66 years). In this series, there were 28 cervical carcinomas, 22 uterus fibroids, 6 ovarian cancers, 3 choriocarcinomas, 2 uterine sarcomas, 1 fibrosarcoma, and 1 rectal carcinoma infiltrating the uterus and adnexa. Emergency TAE was performed in 8 patients due to colporrhagia. The embolization materials consisted of polyvinyl alcohol particles (PVA) in 24 patients, gelatin sponge particles in 10 cases, PVA + gelatin sponge particles in 26; and PVA + gelatin sponge particles + microcoils in 3 cases.

RESULTSThe OA embolization was successfully performed in all the 63 cases, including bilateral in 19 cases and unilateral in 44 cases (left 27, right 17). No complications related to the procedure were observed. Bleeding from the vagina in 8 patients ceased immediately after supplemental OA embolization, and no re-bleeding occurred in any of them during their hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONPelvic tumors may be supplied additionally by the ovarian arteries. Therefore, routine internal iliac artery/uterine artery chemoembolization or embolization may not effectively cure the tumors. Ovarian artery angiography should be routinely performed before interventional treatment. A supplementary selective ovarian artery chemoembolization or embolization is safe and effective in the management of pelvic tumors with additional blood supply from the ovarian arteries.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Choriocarcinoma ; blood supply ; therapy ; Female ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; blood supply ; therapy ; Ovary ; blood supply ; Polyvinyl Alcohol ; therapeutic use ; Uterine Artery Embolization ; methods ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; blood supply ; therapy ; Uterine Neoplasms ; blood supply ; therapy ; Young Adult