OBJECTIVETo study the effect of smoking on the periodontium and level of aspartate aminotransferase in gingival cervical fluid (GCF-AST).

METHODSA proportion matched case-control filtration was performed in examined population, college students, outpatients from 1999 May to 2001 March 115 smokers aged from 23 to 65 years (102 men and 13 women) and 90 non-smokers aged from 25 to 70 years (80 men and 10 women) were chosen. Debris index (DI), calculus index (CI), periodontal disease index (PDI), GCF-AST were measured.

RESULTSNo obvious differences were observed in DI in smokers (0 degrees, 27.2%; 5 degrees, 5.0%) and non-smokers (0 degrees, 27.8%; 5 degrees, 4.2%),whereas obvious differences were found in CI in smokers and non-smokers. The percentages of patients without calculus were lower in smokers (9.8%) than in non-smokers (20.0%). The percentages of patients with weighty calculus were higher in smokers (25.4%) than in non-smokers (12.8%). The PDI values in smokers were higher than in non-smokers. The percentages of their normal periodontium were lower in smokers (9.6%) than in non-smokers (20.8%). The percentages of their periodontitis were higher in smokers (38.5%) than in non-smokers (25.8%). The smoking quantity were positively related to periodontitis (P < 0.001). No obvious differences were found in the level of GCF-AST with same PDI (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSmoking is considered as one of the risk factors in the prevalence of periodontal disease, but may not have any direct effect on GCF-AST.

Adult ; Aged ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gingival Crevicular Fluid ; enzymology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Periodontitis ; etiology ; Periodontium ; enzymology ; Smoking ; adverse effects

BACKGROUNDMedian sternotomy is considered the most usually performed procedure in cardiac operations. This study aimed to assess clinical effectiveness of bilateral pectoralis major muscle flaps (BPMMF) for management of sternal osteomyelitis and mediastinal infection following median sternotomy.

METHODSClinical data were collected and retrospectively analyzed from twelve patients who underwent the BPMMF transposition for management of sternal osteomyelitis and mediastinal infection following median sternotomy from January 2006 to June 2009. Procedure consisted of rigorous debridement of necrotic tissues, dead space obliteration using the BPMMF, and placement of drainage tubes connected to a negative pressures generator for adequate drainage.

RESULTSNo patients died of drainage, and all 12 patients had viable BPMMF when discharged from hospital. At 1 week post discharge, 2 patients presented with sternal infection but recovered following local debridement and medication. No patients showed infection recurrence during the follow-up period over 10 months.

CONCLUSIONSSternal osteomyelitis and mediastinal infection following median sternotomy may be effectively managed through rigorous debridement of infected soft tissues, resection of the damaged sternal segment, transposition of the BPMMF to fill the damaged sternum resulting from debridement, and adequate postoperative drainage.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Debridement ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinitis ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Osteomyelitis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Sternotomy ; adverse effects ; Sternum ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; Surgical Wound Infection ; surgery

Background: Automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) can cater to individual needs, provide treatment while asleep, take into account the adequacy of dialysis, and improve the quality of life. Currently, independent research and development of APD machines made in China are more conducive to patients. A randomized, multicenter, crossover study was conducted by comparing an APD machine made in China with an imported machine. The safety, effectiveness, and manipulability of the two machines were compared. Methods: Two hundred and sixty patients who underwent peritoneal dialysis (PD) on a regular basis in 18 centers between August 2015 and February 2016 were included. The inclusion criteria include age ≥18 years and PD ≥30 days. The exclusion criteria were as follows: hemodialysis; exit site or tunnel infection; and peritonitis ≤30 days. The patients were randomly divided into Group A, who were first treated with a FM machine made in China, then changed to an imported machine; and Group B, who were treated using the reverse sequence. APD treatment was performed with 10 L/10 h and 5 cycles of exchange. After 72 h, the daily peritoneal Kt/V, the accuracy of the injection rate, accuracy of the injection temperature, safety, and manipulability of the machine were assessed. Noninferiority test was conducted between the two groups. Results: The daily peritoneal Kt/V in the APD machine made in China and the imported APD machine were 0.17 (0.14, 0.25) and 0.16 (0.13, 0.23), respectively. There was no significant difference between the groups (Z = 0.15, P = 0.703). The lower limit of the daily Kt/V difference between the two groups was 0.0069, which was greater than the noninferiority value of -0.07 in this study. The accuracy of the injection rate and injection temperature was 89.7% and 91.5%, respectively, in the domestic APD machine, which were both slightly better than the accuracy rates of 84.0% and 86.8% in the imported APD machine (89.7% vs. 84.0%, P = 0.2466; 91.5% vs. 86.8%, P = 0.0954). Therefore, the APD machine made in China was not inferior to the imported APD machine. The fuselage of the imported APD machine was space-saving, while the APD machine made in China was superior with respect to body mobility, man-machine dialog operation, alarm control, and patient information recognition. Conclusions: The FM machine made in China was not inferior to the imported APD machine. In addition, the FM machine made in China had better operability. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02525497; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=&term=NCT02525497&cntry=& state=&city=&dist=.
Adult ; China ; Cross-Over Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multicenter Studies as Topic ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Quality of Life ; Temperature