Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Fenestration, Labyrinth ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; surgery ; Young Adult

The aim of this study was to compare the pain experience among orthodontic patients treated with self-ligating brackets SmartClip® (3M Unitek, Monrovia, California, USA) and conventional brackets Victory series® (3M Unitek, Monrovia, California, USA). We used a controlled clinical trial study design to compare 69 patients treated with self-ligating to 70 patients treated by conventional brackets. The nickel-titanium archwires 0.012-in were engaged after bonding both arches on the first day; and the visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the pain experience of subjects for the first seven treatment days. The pre-treatment dental study models were assessed by the Little’s irregularity index to quantify the groups’ malalignment characteristics. The self-ligating brackets reported lower pain experience than the conventional group on the first five treatment days. However, the sixth day showed 1.75 mm higher visual analogue score than conventional brackets, with almost equal pain level on the seventh day. The group differences throughout the first week were neither clinically nor statistically significant. The pain experiences in both groups decreased steadily from the third treatment day to the end of the first week of treatment. Based on the study findings, the pain experience during initial alignment is not influenced by the brackets’ ligation type. The pain experience tends to decrease steadily from the third treatment day to the end of the first week of treatment irrespective of the bracket type used.
Orthodontic Brackets, Orthodontic Appliances

AIMTo design and synthesize new chiral 8-(substituted) amino-analogues of 3-[(tetrahydro-2-furanyl)methyl] benzomorphans, to expand knowledge of the structure-activity relationship (SAR) for 8-aminobenzomorphan.

METHODSTarget compounds were synthesized from the 8-triflate of the optically active 3-[(tetrahydro-2-furanyl)methyl]-2,6-methano-benzomorphans using Pd-catalyzed aminations. Opioid receptor binding experiments were performed to evaluate their biological activities.

RESULTSBoth 8-amino and 8-phenylamino analogues showed lower binding affinity for mu, delta and kappa receptors than corresponding 8-hydroxy-3-[(tetrahydro-2-furanyl)methyl]-2,6-methano-benzomorphan in vitro.

CONCLUSIONThe relative poor binding affinity of the target compounds did not warrant conducting the in vivo studies to determine if they have the profile(kappa agonist/mu antagonist) that will be potentially useful in the treatment of drug addiction. Further study is in progress.

Animals ; Benzomorphans ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Brain ; metabolism ; Furans ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Guinea Pigs ; Molecular Structure ; Narcotic Antagonists ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Radioligand Assay ; Receptors, Opioid ; metabolism ; Receptors, Opioid, delta ; metabolism ; Receptors, Opioid, kappa ; metabolism ; Receptors, Opioid, mu ; metabolism ; Structure-Activity Relationship

OBJECTIVEFor heart functional parameters, we commonly used normal range. The reference values and predict formulas of heart functional parameters and their relationships with individual characteristics are still lack.

METHODSLeft ventricular (LV) volumes (end-diastolic volume and end-systolic volume), stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF) and cardiac output (CO) were measured by cardiac CT angiography (CAT) in 1 200 healthy Caucasian volunteers, men 807 and women 393, and age 20-90yr. The results are analyzed by high-accuracy three-dimensional imaging technology, and then measured the dynamic changes of the volumes of each atriam and ventricule during their contractions and relaxations. The gender, age, height and weight were analyzed by multiple linear regression to predict LV functional parameters.

RESULTSExcept the LVEF was lower in man than in women (P < 0.001), all other LV functional parameters of EDV, ESV, SV, FE and CO were higher in man (P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression indicated that age, gender, height and weight are all independent factors of EDV, ESV and SV (P < 0.001). CO could be significantly predicted by age, gender and weight (P < 0.001), but not height (P > 0.05). The predict equation for CO (L x min(-1)) = 6.963+0.446 (Male) -0.037 x age (yr) +0.013 x weight (kg).

CONCLUSIONAge, gender, height and weight are predictors of heart functions. The reference values and predict equations are important for noninvasive and accurate evaluation of cardiovascular disease and individualized treatment.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Body Height ; Body Weight ; Cardiac Output ; Female ; Heart ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Sex Factors ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Young Adult

To elevate the clinical value of 3D-FLASH in the diagnosis of anal fistula and compare it with convertioned MR sequence, MR sequences, consisting of spin echo T1WI, turbo invertion recovery magnitude (TIRM), fast low-angle shot image (FLASH), mon-enhancement and enhancement substraction and coronary reconstructing, was conducted in 15 cases suspected of anal fistula. Comparison was made among the three sequences in display rate of internal fistula, external fistula, the branch of fistule connulas. Our results showed that 1 patient had perianal abscess. 24 different anal fistulas were identified in 14 patients, and 10 of them was complicated with perianal abscess and 8 of them with complex multi-branch fistula. The display rate of 3D-FLASH sequence was much higher than those of T1WI and TIRM in all cases. It is concluded that 3D-FLASH sequence is an senstive and time-efficient technique for the diagnosis of anal fistula.
Abscess ; diagnosis ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anus Diseases ; diagnosis ; Colonic Diseases ; complications ; diagnosis ; Colonography, Computed Tomographic ; methods ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Rectal Fistula ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationships between alcohol expectancy,cultural orientation, self-efficacy and drinking behavior to provide theoretical support for the development of education programs aimed at preventing alcohol abuse among adolescents.

METHODSAn anonymous quantitative survey of 2756 tenth and eleventh grade students in six senior high schools in Zhengzhou and Xinyang city of Henan province was conducted in November 2005 and data was analyzed by SPSS 13.0 software.

RESULTSThe overall rate of drinking alcohol among participants was 56.5%. The median score of cultural orientation was 3.25 (3.09, 3.42); of alcohol expectancy was 3.02 (2.81, 3.23); and 79.64 (60.36, 93.21) of alcohol self-efficacy. Direct or indirect relationships were found between Chinese traditional cultural orientation, western cultural orientation, alcohol positive expectancy, alcohol negative expectancy, alcohol self-efficacy and alcohol drinking behavior. Lower monthly drinking habit was directly associated with higher self-efficacy and higher negative expectancies,lower positive expectancies and lower western cultural orientation (coefficients = -0.346, -0.282, 0.234 and 0.162 respectively), but not with Chinese cultural orientation variables.

CONCLUSIONThe current situation of alcohol drinking among the participants was critical. Drinking behavior seemed most affected by drinking beliefs and cultural orientation, suggesting that the development of education programs should focus on students' beliefs.

Adolescent ; Alcohol Drinking ; psychology ; Alcoholism ; prevention & control ; China ; Culture ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Male ; Self Efficacy ; Students ; psychology

OBJECTIVETo observe the activity of repeated extracts of bone matrix and the production of purified bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs).

METHODSBMPs were extracted 1- 4 times from fresh bovine cortical bone by the modified Urist's method, with each collected precipitate separated and lyophilized as partially purified BMPs. Another fresh bovine bone was extracted three times and the precipitates were mixed and lyophilized. Meanwhile,the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was measured by an in vitro assay employing cultured C2C12 mouse myoblast cells through the osteoinductivity of bovine BMPs extracted four times at days 1, 4, 7, and 14, and the correlation between BMPs quantities and costing during extraction processes was analyzed.

RESULTSThe BMPs purified and the cost showed a positive correlation (r=0.969). To separate and lyophilize each collected precipitate as partially purified BMPs raised the cost, and mixed precipitates also cost much. ALP activities of the 1st and mixed extractions of BMPs were shown to be highly osteoinductive and keep a significantly high level (P<0.05-0.01) 4 days after culturing, compared with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th extractions, especially the control group. However, the more times the extraction was done, the less activity of BMPs was shown and more costing was. The x-ray and histological analysis also showed that the 1st extraction of BMPs induced more ossicles and new bone formation.

CONCLUSIONSThe results indicated that BMPs enhanced the abilities of osteoinductivity in C2C12 culture in vitro. The first extraction of BMPs from bone is fitfull, the second extraction should be enough, while, the 3rd and 4th extractions are unnecessary for they cost more and waste more time, say nothing of mixed extractions.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; analysis ; Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Biopsy, Needle ; Bone Matrix ; pathology ; physiology ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; analysis ; metabolism ; Cattle ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Osteogenesis ; physiology ; Probability ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Time Factors ; Tissue Culture Techniques

OBJECTIVETo compare the preemptive analgesia efficacy between two cycloxygenase-2 inhibitors, rofecoxib and etoricoxib in the ambulatory uterine evacuation patients.

METHODSIn this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial 60 patients were randomly divided into three groups and received a single dose of placebo, rofecoxib 50 mg, or etoricoxib 120 mg, respectively, before operation. Patient's visual analogue score (VAS) was rated postoperatively at 15 min, 30 min, 60 min, time-to-discharge, 6 h and 24 h. Fentanyl (in post-anesthesia care unit) and paracetamol (at home) were supplementary analgesics and the dosage was also recorded. Patient's satisfaction score was rated at 24 h postoperatively.

RESULTSEtoricoxib 120 mg and rofecoxib 50 mg were significantly superior to placebo at 6 h postoperatively (P < 0.05) while there was no significant differences of VAS at other time points. The amounts of Fentanyl used in post-anesthesia care unit were similar in three groups, but paracetamol taken at home was much less in rofecoxib group and etoricoxib group than in placebo group (P < 0.01). Compared to rofecoxib, etoricoxib provided better pain relief after discharge (P < 0.05). The overall pain management satisfaction score was significantly higher in etoricoxib group (96 +/- 7) than in other groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPreemptive rofecoxib 50 mg and etoricoxib 120 mg may significantly decrease VAS at 6 h postoperatively, and reduce the usage of analgesics in ambulatory uterine evacuation patients. Etoricoxib 120 mg offeres better pain relief at home compared with rofecoxib 50 mg.

Abortion, Induced ; adverse effects ; Acetaminophen ; therapeutic use ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Ambulatory Surgical Procedures ; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic ; therapeutic use ; Analgesics, Opioid ; therapeutic use ; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Fentanyl ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lactones ; therapeutic use ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative ; prevention & control ; Preoperative Care ; Pyridines ; therapeutic use ; Sulfones ; therapeutic use