BACKGROUND:Preparation of calcium hydroxide paste for apexification of immature permanent teeth has recently achieved satisfactory clinical efficacy because of its advantages including simple-to-use, being wel proportioned and ful contact with dentin and root apical periodontal tissues after being guided into root canal. OBJECTIVE: To validate the clinical efficacy of apexification of immature permanent teeth with calcium hydroxide paste. METHODS:Thirty-four patients with periapical periodontitis caused by fracture of abnormal central cusp, consisting of 18 males and 16 females, aged 8-12 years, were included and they received apexification with calcium hydroxide paste. X-ray observation of the tooth apex was performed at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after operation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Among the 34 cases, 32 cases were successful and 2 cases failed in apexification of immature permanent teeth with calcium hydroxide paste, the success rate was 94%. 16 cases had apical closure at 9-12 months, 15 cases finished apexification at 12-15 months, 1 case with severe infection finished induction at 18-21 months, and two cases could not finish induction at 24 months. During 2 years of folow-up period, there were no recurrence of periapical periodontitis, tooth loose and shedding, tooth fracture, root progressive absorption and other complications. Al the teeth had type II apical closure, and there were no type I and IV apical closure, and the rare cases had the type between II and III which was difficult to distinguish. Apexification with calcium hydroxide paste for immature permanent teeth with incomplete developed root can preserve the affected teeth, aleviate inflammation, and show good induction effects.

BACKGROUND:Studies have demonstrated that implantation of pile and different amount of residual tooth can change the stress distribution patterns of the tooth dentin within the residual root, and have an effect on the fracture mode of post-core restoration. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of the different amount of residual tooth on the fracture mode under oblique loading conditions in fiber pile composite resin core ful crown restoration. METHODS:Forty single rooted premolars extracted from orthodontic patients were divided into four groups after root canal preparation and filing. The plane going through buccal and lingual enamel cementum border midpoint and perpendicular to the long axis of the tooth was taken as the reference plane, so that the remaining amount of the tooth were 0, 1, 2, 3 mm. Fiber pile composite resin core metal ful restoration was conducted. After the repair, the oblique loading at 45° and at the rate of 1 mm/min was conducted. Fracture mode and load-displacement curve when root fracture occurred were recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The tooth neck fracture usualy occurred in the 0 mm group, and central root fracture usualy occurred in the remaining three groups. There was a significant difference in the total fracture mode between 0 mm group and the remaining three groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the total fracture mode between 1, 2 and 3 mm groups (P> 0.05). In oblique loading conditions, when the remaining tooth structure was smal, the prosthesis was prone to have dental neck fracture. Fiber posts played a protective role in the tooth root, but the clinical probability of failure increased. The fracture mode was changed with the increase of residual tooth amount, transferring from the neck edge to the root. These results demonstrate that we must retain more tooth tissue from the crown in the restoration of residual root with fiber post-core crown.

Objective To investigate the effect of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) preconditioning on the PC12 cell apoptosis induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation.Methods PC12 cells were seeded in 96-well plates and randomly divided into 5 groups ( n =6 each):control group (group C),cell injury group (group Ⅰ) and preconditioning with different concentrations of ALC groups (groups A1-3 ).In group C,the cells were incubated with DMEM liquid culture medium containing glucose 0.5 g/L for 3 h.In groups Ⅰ and A1-3 the cells were incubated with DMEM liquid culture medium containing sodium hydrosulfite (Na2S2O4) 3 mmol/L and glucose 0.5 g/L for 3 h,and in addition the cells were pre-incubated with ALC 0.2,0.4 and 0.6 mmol/L for 24 h in groups A1-3 respectively.Cell viability was evaluated by MTF assay,while the apoptosis in cells was detected using TUNEL.The activities of ATPase and SOD and MDA content were also detected.Results Oxygen-glucose deprivation significantly increased the number of apoptotic cells and the content of MDA,and decreased the cell viability and activities of SOD and ATPase in group Ⅰ compared with group C ( P ＜ 0.05).Preconditioning with ALC significantly increased the cell viability and the activities of SOD and ATPaes,and decreased the number of apoptotic cells and the content of MDA in groups A1-3 compared with group Ⅰ ( P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion ALC preconditioning can attenuate PC12 cell injury induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation through inhibition of apoptosis in cells.

BACKGROUND:Oversize stress of a dental implant and its surrounding tissue is the main factor to affect the
long-term use of dental implants. So, the reasonable and precise design of implant shape is one of the important methods of prolonging the life span of dental implants.
OBJECTIVE:To make the optimal analysis and design of the diameters of connector screw and central screw of the adjustable-angle dental implant invented in the earlier stage.
METHODS: The finite element analysis model of the edentulous mandible with adjustable-angle dental implant was established by software Pro/E 5.0, Mimics 10.0 and ANSYS Workbench 14.5. The maximum equivalent
stress of dental implant-edentulous mandibular model was analyzed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The maximum equivalent stress of dental implant-edentulous mandibular model

BACKGROUNDStent thrombosis is one of severe complications after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation. Rapamycin (sirolimus) promotes arterial thrombosis in in vivo studies. However, the underlying molecular and transcriptional mechanisms of this adverse effect have not been thoroughly investigated. This study was designed to examine the effects of rapamycin on the expression of the gene, Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2), and its transcriptional targets in mice.

METHODSMice were randomly divided into four groups: the control group (intraperitoneal injection with 2.5% of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) only), rapamycin group (intraperitoneal injection with 2 mg/kg of rapamycin only), Ad-LacZ + rapamycin group (carotid arterial incubation with Ad-LacZ plus intraperitoneal injection with 2 mg/kg of rapamycin 10 days later), and Ad-KLF2 + rapamycin group (carotid arterial incubation with Ad-KLF2 plus intraperitoneal injection with 2 mg/kg rapamycin 10 days later). The carotid arterial thrombosis formation was induced by FeCl3 and the time of arterial thrombosis was determined. Finally, the RNA and protein of carotid arteries were extracted for KLF2, tissue factor (TF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), thrombomodulin (TM) mRNA and protein analysis.

RESULTSCompared with controls, treatment with rapamycin inhibited KLF2, eNOS and TM mRNA and protein expression, and enhanced TF and PAI-1 mRNA and protein expression, and shortened time to thrombotic occlusion from (1282 ± 347) seconds to (715 ± 120) seconds (P < 0.01) in vivo. Overexpression of KLF2 strongly reversed rapamycin-induced effects on KLF2, eNOS, TM, TF and PAI-1 expression. KLF2 overexpression increased the time to thrombotic occlusion to control levels in vivo.

CONCLUSIONSRapamycin induced an inhibition of KLF2 expression and an imbalance of anti- and pro-thrombotic gene expression, which promoted arterial thrombosis in vivo. Overexpression of KLF2 increased KLF2 expression and reversed time to thrombosis in vivo.

Animals ; Carotid Arteries ; metabolism ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; physiology ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; physiology ; Sirolimus ; pharmacology ; Thrombomodulin ; physiology ; Thrombosis ; chemically induced

Objective Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the fibrosis score (i.e., the combined extent of reticulation and honeycombing) is associated with worse survival. The aim of this study was to identify high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) patterns and patient characteristics that could predict poor prognosis in rheumatoid arthritis-related ILD (RA-ILD). Methods We retrospectively analyzed 130 patients with newly diagnosed RA-ILD from 2011 to 2017 at Shanxi People's Hospital. The Pearson correlation analysis was used for the correlation between the fibrosis score and the worse survival of RA-ILD, and Using Cox regression analysis was used to identify the associations with mortality. A value of P less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results During a median follow-up of 65 months, 32/130 (24.6％) patients died. Univariate analysis identified 6 significant poor prognostic factors: lower baseline ％ predicted forced vital capacity [HR=0.97, 95％CI(0.94, 0.99);P=0.008], total interstitial disease score [HR=1.06, 95％CI(1.03, 1.08);P<0.01], reticulation score [HR=1.07, 95％CI (1.04, 1.09); P<0.01], traction bronchiectasis score [HR=2.04, 95％CI (1.21, 3.40);P=0.008], fibrosis score [HR=1.07, 95％CI (1.01, 1.13);P<0.01], and definite UIP pattern [HR=4.18, 95％CI (1.40, 12.51); P=0.010]. Fibrosis score remained to be an independent significant poor prognostic factor of survival on bivariate analysis [HR=8.136, 95％CI (2.87, 28.35); P=0.001]. Patients with a fibrosis score>20％ had high mortality. Conclusion This study has shown that fibrosis score is strongly associated with worse survival in RA-ILD, and patients with fibrosis score>20％ have a 8.136-fold increased risk of mortality.

Objective: To compare the clinical features, ultrasonic imaging manifestations and therapeutic evaluations between elderly onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA) and EORA with osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Eighty-eight patients with rheumatoid arthritis were divided into two groups: group EORA (n=36) and group EORA+OA (n=52). The onset age of all patients was 60 years or older. General conditions, joint involvement distribution, ultrasonic manifestations and disease activity scores (DAS28-3) of patients in the two groups were analyzed. The χ² test/Fisher's exact probability test and the Student's t test/Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze data. Results: There was no significant difference in the proportion of male and female patients and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) between the two groups (P>0.05). The onset age of patients in group EORA+OA [(68±4) years old] was higher than that in group EORA [(65±4) years old], and the difference was statistically significant (t=-3.465, P=0.001). Duration of the disease and body mass index in group EORA+OA were significantly higher respectively than those in group EORA. Joint involvement in the two groups was mainly found in shoulder, wrist, Metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP)2, MCP3, proximal inter-phalangeal joint (PIP)2, PIP3, PIP4, and knee joint (34.7%-86.5%). The percentage of MCP2[36.5%(38/104), 70.8%(51/72); χ²=20.02, P<0.01], MCP3[33.7%(35/104), 59.7%(43/72); χ²=11.72, P=0.001], MCP4[4.8%(5/104), 22.2%(16/72); χ²=12.28, P<0.01], PIP2[69.2%(72/104), 83.3%(60/72); χ²=4.51, P=0.034] and PIP3[53.8%(56/104), 70.8%(51/72); χ²=5.15, P=0.023] in the EORA+OA group was lower while the percentage of MCP1, DIP 2, DIP3, DIP4 and knee joints were higher than that in the EORA group (P<0.05). In group EORA+OA, the synovial thickness of the wrist joints [(4.2±0.5) mm] and knee joints [(7.7±0.8) mm] were significantly thicker than those in group EORA [(3.2±0.9) mm; (6.3±0.8) mm, t=-5.82, P<0.01; t=-7.22, P<0.01]; The proportion (70.0%) of level 2 and 3 of patients' wrist joint synovium pannus blood flow and knee joint synovium pannus in group EORA+OA were increased than group EORA (51.9%; 52.3%), the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ²=4.64, P=0.031; χ²=4.43, P=0.035). There was no significant difference in DAS28-3 scores between the two groups before patients received treatment. After 2 weeks and 12 weeks of glucocorticoid treatment, DAS28-3 scores in group EORA [3.62(2.88, 4.03); 2.35(2.26, 2.62) points] were significantly lower than group EORA+OA [5.01(4.68, 5.26); 3.38(2.28, 3.83) points] (Z=-7.766, P<0.01; Z=-3.461, P<0.01). Conclusion Compared with patients of EORA alone, patients of EORA with OA have more obvious joint symptoms, MCP1, DIP and knee joint are susceptible to the co-involvement among them, longer duration of disease, and were prone to synovial hyperplasia and pannus flow formation. The therapeutic effects of glucocorticoid on joint inflammation in patients of EORA alone are superior to those patients of EORA with OA.

OBJECTIVETo identify the candidate chromosomal region for congenital preauricular fistula (CPF) through analysis of an affected Chinese family.

METHODSConventional linkage analysis using short tandem repeats (STR) markers was performed to investigate three chromosomal regions 8q11.1-q13.3, 1q32-q34.3 and 14q31.1-q31.3.

RESULTSNone of 16 STRs could attain a LOD score of more than -2.0 (theta=0). Therefore, the three regions were all excluded as the candidate region for the disease.

CONCLUSIONCPF features high genetic heterogeneity. The family may have a causative gene elsewhere. Whole-genome-based study is needed to identify its genetic etiology.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; genetics ; Craniofacial Abnormalities ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Lod Score ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Pedigree

Study on the standardization of Chinese materia medica is an important action for modernization and globalization for traditional Chinese medicine. Standardization on the processing of Chinese herbal pieces is an important part in the study on standardization of Chinese materia medica, so it is of great significance to establish the technical processing standards of Angelicae Sinensis Radix pieces for improving its quality. In this study, single factor experiment was designed to optimize the softening, cutting and drying processes of Angelicae Sinensis Radix. With ferulic acid, Angelicae Sinensis Radix polysaccharide, volatile oil and extracts (water and ethanol) content as the quality index, the effects of different softening, cutting and drying processes on the contents of the five components in Angelicae Sinensis Radix were analyzed, and the normalized distance evaluation method was used to analyze the experimental data. The results showed that the content of five components in Angelicae Sinensis Radix was affected by different softening methods and drying temperature, but the thickness of slice had little effect on the content. The best preparation process for Angelicae Sinensis Radix was as follows: Non-medicinal parts were removed; mildewed and rot as well as moth-eaten parts were removed; washed by the flowing drinking water; stacked in the drug pool; moistening method was used for softening, where 125 mL water was sprayed for every 1 kg of herbs every 2.5 h; upper part of herbs covered with clean and moist cotton, and cut into thin slices (1-2 mm) after 15 h moistening until appropriate softness, with disk thickness of 1-2 cm, then received blast drying for 6 h at 55 ℃, and turned over for 2 times during the drying.

BACKGROUND: The stress distribution is different between implants and natural teeth, and the biomechanical characters of implant-natural tooth supported fixed partial dentures need to be explored.OBJECTIVE: To analyze the distributions of stress and strain on the implant interface and natural tooth ligaments by loading a vertical force to a single implant crown, natural tooth crown and a implant-natural tooth supported fixed partial denture.METHODS: Two male healthy Beagle dogs were selected, and their right mandibular first molars were exacted under general anesthesia. Three months later, a 3.3 mm×10 mm RN ITI implant was implanted into the defect region of each dog. The dogs were killed under anesthesia after another 3 months to remove the mandible. One dog was restored by a single implant and natural tooth crown, and the other was restored by the implant-natural tooth supported fixed partial dentures. The specimens were fixed to the load device after embedded with self caring acrylic resin, and the strain gauges were pasted to the cortical bone around the implant and natural tooth neck. The vertical force was loaded to the implant, natural tooth and fixed denture with 40, 60, 80,120, and 160 N.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: When the force was loaded to the implant of combined denture, the implant stress of combined denture was less than that of the single implant repair, and partial force was loaded on natural teeth; when the force was loaded to the natural tooth of combined denture, the stress to the natural tooth of combined denture was less than that of the single natural tooth repair. When the force was loaded to the natural tooth of combined denture, the stress was assumed by the whole prostheses. However, the stress was almost assumed by the implant when the force was loaded to the implant of combined denture. That is to say, it is feasible to use the implant-natural tooth supported fixed partial dentures.