OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of three different impression methods on the marginal fit of all-ceramic crowns. The three methods include scanning silicone rubber impression, cast models, and direct optical impression.

METHODSThe polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) material of a mandibular first molar in standard model was prepared with 16 models duplicated. The all-ceramic crowns were prepared using three different impression methods. Accurate impressions were made using silicone rubber, and the cast models were obtained. The PMMA models, silicone rubber impressions, and cast models were scanned, and digital models of three groups were obtained to produce 48 zirconia all-ceramic crowns with computer aided design/computer aided manufacture. The marginal fit of these groups was measured by silicone rubber gap impression. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 17.0 software.

RESULTSThe marginal fit of direct optical impression groups, silicone rubber impression groups, cast model groups was (69.18±9.47), (81.04±10.88), (84.42±9.96) µm. A significant difference was observed in the marginal fit of the direct optical impression groups and the other groups (P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in the marginal fit of the silicone rubber impression groups and the cast model groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAll marginal measurement sites are clinically acceptable by the three different impression scanning methods. The silicone rubber impression scanning method can be used for all-ceramic restorations.

Computer-Aided Design ; Crowns ; Dental Marginal Adaptation ; Dental Porcelain ; Dental Prosthesis Design ; Zirconium

AIM:To identify the serum proteins that might serve as biomarkers for predicting mucosal healing ( MH) in the patients with Crohn’ s disease ( CD) treated with infliximab ( IFX) .METHODS:We collected serum sam-ples before treatment (0 week, group A) and 14 weeks after treatment (group B) from 7 CD patients with IFX treatment who had achieved MH, as well as the serum samples from 7 CD patients who had not achieved MH (0 week, group C;14 weeks, group D) .Two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis was applied to analyze and compare the re-sults of serum profiles between groups A and B, C and D, A and C, B and D.Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry and bioinformatics tools were utilized to preliminarily identify and figure out the dif-ferentially expressed proteins.RESULTS:(1) In total, there were 44 differentially expressed spots, 36, 3, 10 and 31 differentially expressed spots were detected while comparing A with B, C with D, A with C and B with D, respectively. (2) Among those spots, 17, 2, 2 and 15 proteins were identified, respectively.In total, there were 19 differentially ex-pressed proteins, including apolipoprotein E, apolipoprotein A-I, complement factor H, and so on.(3) Protein functional association networks were carried out based on STRING database.CONCLUSION: The serum protein profiles obviously change after IFX treatment in MH CD patients, and the serum protein profiles of MH patients are different from that of non-MH patients after IFX treatment.The 19 proteins we identified may serve as potential biomarkers for predicting MH in CD patients with IFX treatment.

OBJECTIVETo study the treatment effects of cultured Cordyceps sinensis combined with glucocorticosteroid on experimental pulmonary fibrosis in rats induced by bleomycin.

METHODFifty rats were randomly divided into five groups, including control group, model group, cultured C. sinensis groups, prednisone group, cultured C. sinensis combined with prednisone group. On experimental day 0, the rats were respectively intratracheally instilled with bleomycin, and rats in the control group and model group with the same volume of normal saline. One day after the injection, cultured C. sinensis and glucocorticosteroid was respectively given to rats daily by gastric gavage, while the same volume of normal saline was given to those in the control group and model group. On 28th d, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were collected. Histological changes of the lungs were evaluated by HE stain, Masson's trichrome stain. Collagen content of the lung tissue was assessed by hydroxyprolin concentration. Lung expression of CTGF protein was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The level of TGF-beta1 protein was measured by ELISA.

RESULTCompared to model group, pulmonary fibrosis were alleviated in cultured C. sinensis and prednisone group, and CTGF expression, Hydroxyproline concentrations and protein TGF-beta1 were decreased. The combination effect of C. sinensis and prednisone group is augmented compared with using C. sinensis or prednisone group alone.

CONCLUSIONThe cultured C. sinensis and prednisone alleviates pulmonary fibrosis, and the combination use of both drugs has synergia effects in anti-fibrous degeneration.

Animals ; Bleomycin ; toxicity ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; analysis ; Cordyceps ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Lung ; chemistry ; pathology ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Prednisone ; administration & dosage ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To explore the feasibility of a high-resolution melting(HRM)method for rapid screening of SLC4A1 mutation.Methods Two hereditary spherocytosis(HS)with a c.166A >G heterozygous mutation of SLC4A1 confirmed by DNA sequencing and thirty healthy controls were selected for the study.The HRM primer was designed by Primer Premier 6.0 software.All of these samples were detected by LightCycler?480 and analyzed by HRM.Results The HRM analysis was able to detect the c.166A>G heterozygous mutation of SLC4A1 effectively, and the specificity and sensitivity were both 100%.Conclusions The HRM analysis was appropriate for the detection of c.166A>G in SLC4A1.It was an efficient,accurate and cost-effective molecular diagnosis method.