Biological performances of Ni-Cr porcelain alloy are highly correlated with released metallic ions. Released metal ions from Ni-Cr porcelain alloy, particularly Ni, Be can induce inflammation of the adjacent periodontal tissue and oral mucosa. In vitro evidence has indicated that the immune response can be altered by various metal ions. Allergic reactions due to metallic dental restorations have been documented. Ni has especially been identified as being highly allergenic. The cytotoxicity and corrosion level of Ni-Cr porcelain alloy is increased after recasting. The Ni-Cr porcelain alloy produced according to technology requirements has good biological safety. Ni-Cr porcelain alloy released a few of metal ions which might induce allergy and density of adjacent periodontal tissues, for the stimulation effect of these metal ions. There is no evidence to suggest that Ni-Cr porcelain alloy restorations has systemic toxicity or carcinogenic/genotoxic effect to human.

OBJECTIVE:To study the effects of Astragalus granules on the expression of Caveolin-3(Cav-3)and Smad family member 3 (Smad3) in the myocardial cells of rats with viral myocarditis. METHODS:90 rats were randomly divided into a nor-mal group,a model group,a Shenmai injection group [positive drug,0.2 g/(kg·d)] and the groups of low,medium and high-dose Astragalus granules [0.42,0.84,1.68 g/(kg·d)],with 15 rats in each group. The rats in all groups except for the normal group were given CVB3 ip for the establishment of viral myocarditis model. Meanwhile,the rats in the drug administration groups were given corresponding drugs ig,while those in the normal group and the model group were given normal saline ig,for 15 consecu-tive days. 5 rats were selected from each group respectively on the 3rd,9th and 15th days of drug use to take an experiment. For the rats,the pathological change of the cardiac muscle tissue was observed and scored,and the mRNA and protein expression of Cav-3 and Smad3 in the myocardial cells were detected. RESULTS:After 15 days of drug use,compared to the normal group,the rats of the model group had hyperplasia of a large number of cardiac muscle fibers,obvious lesions at cardiac muscle fibers, and significantly higher pathological score and levels of the mRNA and protein expression of Cav-3 and Smad3 in the myocardial cells (P<0.05). Compared to the model group,the rats in the drug administration groups had cardiac muscle tissue lesions improved and had obviously lower pathological score and levels of the mRNA and protein expression of Cav-3 and Smad3 in the myocardial cells(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Astragalus granules can markedly downregulate the gene expression of Cav-3 and Smad3 in the myocardial cells of rats with viral myocarditis,which is inferred as a prevention and treatment mechanism of viral myocarditis.

Graphite ; Humans ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; methods ; Vanadium ; urine

Objective To explore the status of early postoperative social relationship quality and hope level in patients with breast cancer and analyze the correlation between them. Method A questionnaire survey was conducted among 100 patients with breast cancer using the social relationship quality scale and Herth hope scale. Results The total score and expected total score of early postoperative social relationship were (47.86±6.10)and (30.81±1.86), respectively. There was a positive correlation between the two groups (r=0.324,P<0.05). Conclusions The quality of social relations in the postoperative patients with breast cancer is positively correlated with the level of hope. Nursing staff should give breast cancer patients hope and strength at the same time, helping them understand and use social relations to improve the quality of life.

Adolescent ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Coronary Artery Disease ; therapy ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To investigate the value of FDG PET-CT in the outcome assessment and prognostic evaluation for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (rNPC).Methods From January 2008 to December 2013,92 rNPC patients were treated in our center,who were histologically or radiologically diagnosed and re-staged according to the 2008 clinical staging system for nasopharyngeal carcinoma in China.The numbers of patients in stage Ⅰ,stage Ⅱ,stage Ⅲ,and stage Ⅳ were 8,11,39,and 34,respectively.According to the recurrent T stage (rT),the numbers of patients in rT1,rT2,rT3,and rT4 were 10,11,38,and 33,respectively.Twenty-eight patients had recurrence in the neck lymph nodes.All patients underwent pretreatment FDG PET-CT for the whole body or head/neck,and treated by radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy.The relationship of maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) and clinical factors with clinical outcomes was analyzed.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate overall survival (OS),disease-free survival (DFS),local recurrence-free survival (LRFS),regional recurrence-free survival (RRFS),and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS).The log-rank test was used for survival difference analysis and univariate prognostic analysis.The Cox model was used for multivariate prognostic analysis.Results The 3-year OS,DFS,LRFS,RRFS,and DMFS were 33.6％,32.1％,32.8％,31.8％,and 33.7％,respectively.The median SUVmax was 8.35 (2.7-21.5).The SUVmax of 7.0 was taken as the optimal cut-off value for all patients.Patients with SUVmax ≤7.0 had a significantly higher 3-year OS rate than those with SUVm ax ＞7.0 (42.0％ vs.28.3％,P=0.019).The univariate analysis revealed that patient age,SUV and rN were significantly associated with OS (P=0.023,0.019,and 0.002).The multivariate analysis showed that SUVmax and rN were significant influencing factors for OS,DFS,and DMFS (HR=1.68,P=0.045 and HR=2.23,P=0.003;HR=1.67,P=0.042 and HR=2.39,P=0.001;HR=1.77,P=0.025 and HR=2.40,P=0.001).Conclusions SUVmax may be one of the useful prognostic factors for OS,DFS,and DMFS in rNPC patients.

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (18F-FDG PET-CT) is the integration of functional imaging and anatomic information,which is found to be particularly valuable in TNM staging,tumor volume delineating,post-treatment assessment,identification of recurrent and residual nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).The combination of 18F-FDG PET-CT with other image technologies,different tracer agents,and specific molecular biomarkers can improve the application value of 18F-FDG PET-CT in NPC.

Objective:To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture-moxibustion at different intervals on persistent allergic rhinitis. Methods: A total of 90 patients conforming to the inclusion criteria were randomized into three groups named A, B and C by randomized block method. Patients in all three groups received the same treatment of acupuncture and herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion at the same acupoints, while the treatment frequency was different. Patients in group A received the treatment once a week, group B twice a week and group C three times a week, and all the treatment lasted for 4 weeks. The total nasal symptom score (TNSS), total ocular symptom score (TOSS) and Sino-nasal outcome test-20 (SNOT-20) were evaluated before and after treatment. The self-rating score of symptoms was evaluated during treatment and 2 weeks after treatment. Results: The total effective rate was 80.0% in group A, 93.3% in group B, and 100.0% in group C. The total effective rate in group A was statistically different from that in group B and group C (both P＜0.05), but there was no significant inter-group difference in total effective rate between group B and group C (P＞0.05). After treatment, scores of TNSS, TOSS and SNOT-20 in all three groups dropped significantly, and statistically different from those before treatment (all P＜0.05); between-group comparison showed group B and group C decreased more obvious than group A (all P＜0.05). In self-rating score of symptoms, there were no inter-group statistically significant differences in the first 3-week treatment (all P＞0.05); after 4-week treatment, the score in group A was higher than that in group B and group C, and showed statistical significant (both P＜0.05); at 2 weeks after treatment, the score in group A was higher than that in group B and group C based on an everyday record, showing statistical significance (both P＜0.05). At the 11th day after treatment, the score in group B was higher than that in group C (P＜0.05). There were no significant differences between group B and group C at other time points (all P＞0.05). Conclusion: All three protocols are effective for allergic rhinitis. With the increase of treatment frequency, the therapeutic efficacy with a treatment frequency of twice a week and three times a week is superior to that of once a week. Frequency of three times a week has a better long-term effect than once and twice a week, together with the least fluctuation of symptoms.

Objective To review the experience in diagnosis and treatment of pheochromocytoma in a single center. Methods A total number of 142/145 pheochromocytoma cases treated surgically in our institute from August 2002 to February 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. The mean diameter of tumor was 5.9 cm (1.3- 18. 0 cm). The majority of the tumors (92.9%) were adrenal pheochromocytomas. Ninety-eight patients (69.0 % ) presented initially with hypertension, whereas 44 patients (31%)presented with adrenal incidentaloma. A specific anti-hypertensive pre-surgery preparation with phenoxybenzamine or doxazosine mesylate was started over 1 week before the operation.Of the 142 patients, 91 accepted open surgery, 54 accepted laparoscopic surgery, of which, 5 converted from laparoscopic surgery to open surgery. Results Histopathological results showed that all the cases were pheochromocytoma, while 83 cases were benign, 23 cases were malignant and 37 cases were suspected malignant. Sudden rising of blood pressure during operation was related to the preoperative serum level of catecholamine. Eighty-seven of 98 patients with preoperative hypertension had normal postoperative blood pressure; the remaining 11 patients reduced the dosage of anti-hypertension medication postoperatively. During the follow-up of 3-96 months (median 46 months), 10 of 91patients had a recurrence or metastasis. Six patients died of recurrences or metastasis within 5 years.Conclusions The procedures of qualitative and locative diagnosis of phechromocytoma include clinical manifestations, biochemical tests and imaging investigation. Surgical excision is the fundamental treatment for cure. Patients with high serum level of catecholamine tend to have a sudden rising of blood pressure during operation. Preoperative management is extremely important for the safety of the patient. Intensive follow up is necessary.

BACKGROUND: Vascular restenosis alter carotid endarteractomy (CEA) is an important factor affecting curative affect ofoperation.OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) mRNA dynamic expression in the development of early vascular restenosis after carotid endarterectomy.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A random grouping contrast observation was completed in the General Hospital of Beijing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA from February 2006 to December 2007. MATERIALS: Forty-one healthy male New Zealand rabbit, weighing about 3.0 kg, with 36 ones used for preparing carotid atherosclerotic stenosis (CASS) models. experimental group, each 6 of the CASS rabbit models (n =36) were selected at the time points of hour 4, day 1, 3, 7, 30, and 90 following CEA respectively. Then they were fixed with 40 g/L polyoxymethylene perfusion and stained with hematoxylin-eosin to observe their morphologic changes.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The expression changes of MMP-9 mRNA were observed dudng the development of early vascular restenosis by the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction technique preoperatively as well as at day 1, 3 and 7 following CEA.RESULTS: Several stages could be seen in the reparative process of neointima after CEA, including the thrombosis, the inflammatory reaction, the repair of endothelium, the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle call, the formation and accumulation of extracellular matrix. MMP-9 mRNA was expressed since day 1, reached a peak at day 3 and then decreased significantly at day 7 postoperatively.CONCLUSION: MMP-9 plays an important role in the proliferation, migration and reconstruction of vascular smooth muscle calls, the mediated reconstruction of local blood vessels, as well as the development of vascular restenosis.