OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical results of dental implant treatment with platform switching technique in esthetic zone and to investigate its technical characteristics.

METHODSSeventeen patients who were partially edentulous in esthetic zone were included and received a total of 26 Frialit-2 system implants in Center of Dental Implantation, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from January to December 2001, and the platform switching technique was applied. The mean follow-up time was 56.3 months (24 to 74 months). Clinical examination and X-ray were conducted.

RESULTSClinical results of all implant restoration that used platform-switched abutments were satisfied. No implant loss or other severe complications occurred. The medians of marginal bone loss 1 year and 5 years after final restoration was 0.13 (-0.12 - 0.55) mm and 0.27 (-0.04 - 0.77) mm respectively. The medians of interimplant crestal bone resorption was 0.14 (0.00 - 0.30) mm and 0.21 (0.09 - 0.31) mm after 1 year and 5 years' functional loading respectively. According to Jemt classification of papilla, 23 sites reached II degree, and 10 sites reached III degree among 36 sites 5 years after prostheses. The mean value of pink esthetic score (PES) was 11.8 (10 - 14).

CONCLUSIONSPlatform switching is a simple and reliable technique for dental implant treatment, helping to control marginal bone loss and ensure an esthetic results in the esthetic zone.

Adult ; Alveolar Bone Loss ; surgery ; Dental Implantation ; methods ; Esthetics, Dental ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical results and technique of minimally invasive sinus membrane water balloon elevation followed by bone augmentation and implant placement simultaneously.

METHODSFrom May 2006 to November 2007, 31 patients (male: 16, female: 15; mean age: 41.2 +/- 11.8) were involved in the study. Clinical examination and radiographs were conducted.

RESULTSThe mean residual ridge height was (4.79 +/- 1.18) mm and the mean elevated height was (10.60 +/- 2.06) mm. A total of 31 implants were placed and restored with the mean follow-up period of (14.2 +/- 3.6) months. Only minor complications were observed postoperatively. One implant was lost due to infection two weeks after operation.

CONCLUSIONSThe procedure of minimally invasive sinus membrane water balloon elevation achieves an excellent success rate, low complication, minimal discomfort, and the short-term result is predictable.

Adult ; Alveolar Ridge Augmentation ; methods ; Dental Implantation ; methods ; Dental Implants, Single-Tooth ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of the fixation on skull and thorough mobilization of the brow area on the results of the endoscopically assisted subperiosteal forehead lift.

METHODSThe operation procedure included adequate subperiosteal dissection, especially at the frontotemporal transition area; complete mobilization of the brow area and fixation of the incised scalp to the skull through a cortical tunnel without tension. 19 patients received the operation.

RESULTSLong-term follow-up showed that all the 19 patients were satisfied with the surgical results. A transient frontal branch paresis happened in one case, which resolved in 3 months spontaneously without sequelae.

CONCLUSIONSCortical tunnel fixation well keeps the brows at a lifted position and achieves persistent rejuvenation of the forehead.

Adult ; Blepharoplasty ; methods ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forehead ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Periosteum ; surgery ; Rhytidoplasty ; methods

OBJECTIVETo establish a stable ischemic TRAM flap model in rats and observe the effects of rhVEGF gene on the ischemic flap.

METHODSMaterials were administrated via subcutaneous injection 5 days before the TRAM flap procedure. 32 animals were divided into four groups. The first group was treated with PcDNA3.1 VEGF; the second group with PcDNA3.1 as the negative control; the third group with normal saline as the frank control, and the fourth group with VEGF as the positive control. The material was given while the procedures were performed. The serum levels of VEGF before and after the operation were measured with ELISA kit. The flap was harvested for immunohistological evidence of VEGF protein expression. The viable area of the flap was calculated with AutoCAD software. The microvessel density(MVD) of the subcutaneous tissue of the flap was counted.

RESULTSThe average viable area of the TRAM flap in model animals was (3.61 +/- 1.06) cm2 [(16.04 +/- 4.71)%]. Comparing the mean viable area of the flap in the PcDNA3.1 VEGF group[(7.98 +/- 2.64) cm2] with that in the normal saline group [(4.13 +/- 1.77) cm2], the difference was significant(P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the PcDNA3.1 VEGF group and the VEGF group[(7.31 +/- 1.22)cm2] in terms of mean viable flap area. The difference of mean MVD values between the PcDNA3.1 VEGF group and the negative control group was significant(P < 0.05), but was not significant between the gene treatment group and the positive control group. The serum level of VEGF did not increase significantly up to 9 days after the administration of PcDNA3.1 VEGF(P > 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining documented the increased deposition of VEGF protein in the plasma of endothelial cells of the flap that was injected with PcDNA3.1 VEGF.

CONCLUSIONThe unilateral inferior-pedicled TRAM flap as an ischemic flap model is stable and suitable for statistic treatment. Subcutaneous injection of rhVEGF gene can express biologically active VEGF at the site, increase MVD and the viable area of the TRAM flap.

Animals ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; administration & dosage ; blood ; genetics

Aged ; Carcinoma, Merkel Cell ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Skin Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Thigh

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical application of TRAM-RPAS flap in the one-stage breast reconstruction for patients with breast cancer, and to discuss the method to reduce the incidence of abdominal hernia and abdominal bulging.

METHODSFrom 2002 to 2004, 16 cases of breast cancer (9 cases in stage I or II and 7 in stage III) received radical resection and breast reconstruction with TRAM-RPAS flaps at the same stage.

RESULTSGood symmetry was achieved in 12 cases. In the other 4 cases, 3 cases had moderate breast poptosis and one case had breast hypoplasia on the unaffected side. All the flaps survived with only one case of abdominal bulging.

CONCLUSIONSTRAM-RPAS flap can achieve the same result as traditional TRAM-RPAS flap in the one-stage breast reconstruction, while the incidence of abdominal complication is lower for TRAM-RPAS flap.

Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Rectus Abdominis ; transplantation ; Surgical Flaps

Abstract: Objective　To predict the potential distribution of talaromycosis marneffei (TSM) and analyze its driving factors, so as to provide evidence for the surveillance and prevention of this disease. Methods　The data of all laboratory-confirmed, non-duplicating TSM published in the English and Chinese literature from the first case in January 1964 to December 2018 was collected. A Maxent ecology model using environmental variables, Rhizomys distribution and HIV/AIDS epidemic was developed to forecast ecological niche of TSM worldwide, as well as identify the driving factors. Results　A total of 705 articles (477 in Chinese and 228 in English) were obtained during the study period. After excluding imported cases, a total of 100 foci information were included in the model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of the model was 0.997 for the training set and 0.991 for the test set. Maxent model revealed that Rhizomys distribution, mean temperature of warmest quarter, precipitation of wettest month, HIV/AIDS epidemic and mean temperature of driest quarter were the top 5 important variables affecting TSM distribution. In addition to identifying traditional TSM endemic areas (South of the Yangtze River in China, Southeast Asian, North and Northeast India), other potential endemic areas were also identified, including parts of the North of the Yangtze River, Central America, West Coast of Africa, East Coast of South America, the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Conclusion　Our finding has discovered hidden high-risk areas and provided insights about driving factors of TSM distribution, which will help inform surveillance strategies and improve the effectiveness of public health interventions against TM infections.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of etanercept, a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitor, in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and investigate its effect on serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3).

METHODSForty-eight patients with AS received etanercept 25 mg twice a week for a treatment course of 12 weeks. The patients' symptoms, signs, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and side effects were observed before and after the treatment. The serum levels of MMP-3 was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSAll the patients completed the treatment. The degree of spinal pain and pain at night, the duration of morning stiffness, the finger-to-floor distance, BASDAI and BASFI were significantly improved after the treatment (P<0.05). Etanercept treatment resulted in a significant reduction in serum MMP-3 level in the AS patients to 31.22-/+10.26 ng/ml as compared with the level before treatment (46.17-/+25.74 ng/ml, P<0.05). The reduction of serum MMP-3 was positively correlated to decrement of ESR and CRP (r=0.397 and 0.474, respectively, P<0.05). The most common adverse events of etanercept included injection site reaction and upper respiratory infection.

CONCLUSIONEtanercept treatment has obvious therapeutic effects on AS without serious adverse effects. MMP-3 may be a potentially useful indicator to assess the effect of anti-TNF-alpha treatment in AS patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Etanercept ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; therapeutic use ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate ten years clinical results of dental implant treatment.

METHODSA total of 5,590 endosseous implants were consecutively placed from Aug. 1994 to Aug 2004 in Center of Implantation, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology. Among them, 161 were Brånemark implants, 1,436 were Frialit-2 implants, 1,012 were IMZ implants, 767 were Ankylos implants, 2,189 were Camlog implants, and 25 were Komet implants. A total of 2,629 prostheses were delivered, including 2,314 fixed prostheses and 315 implant-supported removable dentures. The patient age range was between 17 and 82. The mean follow-up time was 77.2 months (7 to 121 months). Clinical examination and X-ray films were conducted. The results were evaluated with Wheeler's survival criteria.

RESULTSWith the final prostheses, 2,624 patients were satisfied. Five patients were unsatisfied with the prostheses. With refabricating the prostheses, 4 patients were satisfied and one expressed as acceptable. Peri-implantitis was observed in 178 implants of 105 cases. Prostheses loose was observed in 21 cases and fracture in 4 cases. Ceramic crack was observed in 51 cases. The documented implants lost were 68. The implant survival rate was 96.7% according to Wheeler's survival criteria.

CONCLUSIONSImplant prostheses were with high satisfaction. The implant survival rate was as highly as 96.7%. Implant prostheses were indicated for almost all the partial and complete edentulous cases due to modern implant surgical technique.

Dental Implantation, Endosseous ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Carbon dioxide peaking and carbon neutrality have become hot issues of political and economic activities in China and abroad. The structure and development of various industries in China will be profoundly affected in the process of accomplishing "Dual Carbon" goals. Eco-agriculture of Chinese medicine(EACM) highlights the balance and sustainable development of the ecosystem while producing high-quality medicinal materials. With chemically synthesized fertilizers, pesticides, and growth regulators prohibited, EACM emphasizes the recycling of agricultural and sideline products and the reduction of waste output, which results in the minimal negative impact on the ecological environment. Therefore, it is typical agriculture with low-carbon sources and high-carbon sinks. This study reviewed the mechanism and potential of EACM in carbon dioxide peaking and carbon neutrality, analyzed the specific ways of EACM in reducing carbon sources and increasing carbon sinks based on the typical ecological planting pattern, and proposed the point of view to strengthen EACM as well as the "Dual Carbon" theory and research methods, so as to direct low-carbon and efficient deve-lopment. Furthermore, this study advocated to comprehensively promote the transformation of Chinese medicine production from chemical agriculture to eco-agriculture to improve the comprehensive benefits of contribution rate of carbon neutrality, explore and establish carbon sink compensation mechanism to ensure the sustainable and healthy development of EACM, and strengthen the training of EACM and "Dual Carbon" theory and technologies to continuously improve the capacity of EACM in sustainable development. This study is expected to provide a reference for the development of ecological functions in EACM and the development of economic functions through ecological functions.
Agriculture ; Carbon Dioxide ; China ; Ecosystem ; Fertilizers ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional