Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Phytotherapy

OBJECTIVETo develop a three-dimensional (3-D) comparison and measuring techniques to analyze changes in palatal forms of the serial maxillary alveolar cast and to evaluate the significance of the different reference change indexes.

METHODSFollowing digitizing the casts with a 3-D laser scanner and using reverse engineering software Geomagic Studio 7.0 for a pair of 3-D digital maxillary alveolar cast of an infant of UCLP before and after cheiloplasty, a pair of cast surfaces were reconstructed. The reference points and the character lines were extracted.

RESULTSThe model coordinate system and the datum planes were established on the basis of reference points extracted. The newly developed analysis technique completed 3-D comparison of palatal forms of UCLP infants before and after cheiloplasty. Distances and volumes changes between the surfaces were determined and expressed graphically.

CONCLUSIONSWith establishing the model coordinate system and the datum plane, it is possible to visualize the comparison outcome of the reference change indexes longitudinally. The various reference change indexes may reflect the trend of the infant maxillary growth.

Alveolar Process ; growth & development ; pathology ; Cleft Lip ; pathology ; surgery ; Cleft Palate ; pathology ; surgery ; Dental Models ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Infant ; Male

OBJECTIVETo reconstruct a digital maxillary cast of infants with cleft lip and palate (CLP) by laser scanning and to provide an analysis method for the edentulous cast of CLP.

METHODSUnder general anesthesia, an edentulous cast of one infant with right CLP was made and scanned by laser scanner. Using reverse engineering software, this cast surface was reconstructed.

RESULTSBy this method, the digital cast could be observed from each degree and direction, and on this digital cast, the reference landmarks formeasarenment were determined, and the cast was then segmented, measured, and calculated.

CONCLUSIONSThe 3-D analysis developed is an ideal tool for the examination of 3-D morphological changes in the edentulous maxilla of patients with CLP. This newly developed analysis enables a quantification of the extent and direction of morphological changes in the maxilla of infants with CLP.

Alveolar Process ; growth & development ; pathology ; Cleft Lip ; pathology ; surgery ; Cleft Palate ; pathology ; surgery ; Dental Models ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Infant ; Male ; Maxilla ; growth & development ; pathology

Objective:To evaluate the changes of nasalance when cleft palate patients examined using nasometer and nasopharyngeal fiberscopy simultaneously.Methods:A total of 33 cleft palate patients from August 2004 to August 2010 were examined by nasopharyngeal fiber endoscopy and nasometer simultaneously. The nasalance of 33 voice samples was compared under two situations only nasometer and nasometer with nasopharyngeal fiberscopy.Results:The statistics showed that the nasalance value of 33 voice samples of 33 participants under different situations were no significant difference through paired t-test ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Nasopharyn fiber endoscopy had no influence to the results of the nasalance value under simultaneous condition. The nasometer and nasopharyn fiber endoscopy can be applied to evaluate the velopharyngeal function of cleft palate patients simultaneously.

Objective:To investigate the influence of glottal stops for the relationship between nasalance and velopharyngeal closure status of cleft palate patients after surgery.Methods:A total of 71 patients with postoperative cleft palate speech disorders treated in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, School of Stomatology, Peking University from August 2004 to August 2010 were included. The compensated speech evaluation of cleft palate with or without glottic occlusion was performed in 50 males and 21 females with an average age of (15.9±6.2) years old. The nasal sound meter and nasopharyngeal fiber endoscope were used to record the nasal phonation rate and the score of nasopharyngeal fiber endoscopic visual analog scale (VAS) of the patients. According to the results of glottic plug speech evaluation, the patients were divided into three groups: whole group (without glottic plug), glottic plug group and silent glottic plug group. The nasal phonation rate values and VAS values of 11 speech samples (unit vowel No. 1-3, continuous syllable No. 4-9, sentence 10-11) of the three groups were compared by Pearson analysis.Results:There were 71 patients in the whole group, 34 patients in the glottic plug group and 37 patients in the silent glottis group. There was a negative correlation between nasal phonetic rate and VAS of 11 speech samples in the whole group, however there were no significant difference ( r>-0.179 and<-0.017, P>0.017) and no significant correlation between nasal phonetic rate and VAS in glottic occlusion group ( r>-0.196 and<-0.017, P>0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between nasal phonetic rate and VAS value of all but No. 1, 3 and 11 speech samples in silent door plug group ( P<0.05), among which No. 7 speech sample was the most sensitive sample ( r=-0.557, P<0.05). Conclusions:The present study showed the glottal stops could affect the evaluation of the velopharyngeal closure function by using nasometer. Glottal stops should be considered as one important factor for the nasalance.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the velopharyngeal status of cleft palate patients after operation in silent mode by visual analog scale.

METHODSA total of 82 patients with cleft lip and palate after operation were examined by nasopharyngeal fiber endoscopy with 11 voice samples. The velopharyngeal status was evaluated by three experienced experts using qualitative method and visual analog scale (VAS) method in silent mode. The Spearman correlation relationship was analyzed between VAS value and qualitative grade. The VAS value range of 10 non-nasal consonant voice samples was divided according to qualitative classification.

RESULTSVAS values could accurately reflect the outcome of the qualitative classification. The poorer the velopharyngeal status was, the lower the VAS value, and vice versa. The whole effectiveness of value range was greater than 70%.

CONCLUSIONSVAS values can accurately reflect the outcome of the qualitative classification about velopharyngeal function, and VAS value grading velopharyngeal status is reliable. This study proposed VAS values range standards for different velopharyngeal qualitative classification.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cleft Palate ; complications ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Period ; Velopharyngeal Insufficiency ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Visual Analog Scale ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo identify the original plant of "Daibaijie", commonly used Dai herb.

METHODThe literature review, morphology and anatomy, pharmacognosy, molecular biology, chemistry were used to analysis.

RESULTDaibaijie's historical scientific name, Dregea sinensis Hemsl., was mistakenly given "Daibaijie" and D. sinensis have significant differences from the distribution, morphology and anatomy, pharmacognosy, molecular biology and chemical composition. "Daibaijie" matches with the characteristics of Marsdenia tenacissima (Roxb.) Moon in Flora of China in English.

CONCLUSIONDaibaijie's original plant is M. tenacissima (Roxb.) Moon. The description and illustration of M. tenacissima (Roxb.) Moon in Flora of China in China are wrong. The illustration of M. tenacissima in Flora of China in English is wrong too.

China ; ethnology ; Herbal Medicine ; Marsdenia ; anatomy & histology ; classification ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plant Components, Aerial ; anatomy & histology ; classification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of pH0 on the electrophysiological properties of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in brain artery of spontaneously hypertension rats (SHR).

METHODSWe studied the effects and the ion mechanism of pH0 on whole-cell membrane current of VSMCs in brain artery of 200 - 250 g SHR by whole-cell patch clamp recordings.

RESULTS1. Acidic pH0 could inhibit the outward current of VSMCs of brain artery in SHR in a voltage-dependent manner. It induced a more pronounced inhibition of the outward current from 0 to + 60mV; 2. In the presence of 1 mmol/L TEA, the inhibition of acidic pH0 on the outward current of VSMCs of brain artery was inhibited.

CONCLUSIONThe changes of outward current of VSMCs of brain artery in SHR induced by pH0 may be connected with BKCa channel.

Animals ; Cerebral Arteries ; cytology ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Extracellular Fluid ; physiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR

The aim of this study is to investigate the critical factor affecting the properties of PLGA microspheres fabricated by a solid-in-oil-in-water (S/O/W) emulsion technique with BSA as a model protein. Prior to encapsulation, the BSA microparticles were fabricated by a modified freezing-induced phase separation method. The microparticles were subsequently encapsulated into PLGA microspheres by S/O/W emulsion method, then Motic BA200 biological microscope, confocal laser scanning microscope, scanning electron microscope were used to observe the structure of S/O/W emulsion and PLGA microspheres. The protein content extracted or released from BSA microspheres was measured by Bradford protein assay method. It was found that NaCl added in the outer aqueous phase effectively suppressed material exchange between the inner and outer phase of S/O/W emulsion. Then, the structure and permeability of obtained microspheres were influenced. As a result, with the increase of NaCl concentration in the outer aqueous phase, the encapsulation efficiency of microspheres significantly increased from 60% to more than 85%, the burst release of microspheres reduced from 70% to 20%, and the particle size decreased from 103 microm to 62 microm. Furthermore, the rehydration of encapsulated protein was also retarded and then integrity of BSA was successfully protected during encapsulation process. In vitro release test showed that BSA released from PLGA microspheres in a sustained manner for more than 30 days.
Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Compounding ; Emulsions ; chemistry ; Lactic Acid ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microspheres ; Oils ; Particle Size ; Polyglycolic Acid ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Sodium Chloride ; chemistry ; Water

Purpose: This study compared the efficacy of heat insulation between 5% dextrose and 0.9% saline in radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Accordingly, temperature variations and maximum temperatures were assessed at identical distances and heat field distributions. Methods: Cubes of porcine liver tissue, measuring 10 mm across, were selected to precisely align the ablation boundary with the tissue boundary. An 18-gauge electrode with a 7-mm tip was inserted into each cube (10 per group) in a stainless-steel cup containing 40 mL of 5% dextrose or 0.9% saline. Fixed ablation was performed for 3 minutes using continuous mode at 30 W, simulating the typical thermal environment during thyroid RFA. Real-time temperature measurements were recorded by sensors positioned 0, 1, 3, and 5 mm from the cube’s edge. A comparative analysis was conducted to assess the maximum temperature, temperature variation, and duration of temperatures exceeding 42℃. Results: In both groups, the temperature curve declined with increasing distance from the edge of the ablated tissue. However, 0.9% saline exhibited higher maximum temperatures at 1, 3, and 5 mm compared to 5% dextrose (1 mm: 44.55°C±5.25°C vs. 34.68°C±3.07°C; 3 mm: 39.64°C±2.53°C vs. 29.22°C±2.21°C; 5 mm: 38.86°C±2.14°C vs. 28.74°C±2.51°C; all P<0.001). Considering a nerve injury threshold of 42°C, the 0.9% saline also displayed a greater proportion of samples reaching this temperature and a longer duration of temperatures exceeding it (P<0.05). Conclusion The heat insulation efficacy of 5% dextrose at 1-5 mm exceeds that of 0.9% saline at identical distances and in a common thermal environment during thyroid RFA.