BACKGROUND:In recent years, commonly used removable partial denture materials include Vitalium200 material, cobalt-chromium aloys and titanium materials. OBJECTIVE:To explore the value of different removable partial dentures in the repair of dentition defects. METHODS: Ninety cases of dentition defects, including 45 males and 45 females, aged 20-57 years old, were subject to removable partial denture repair. Among them, 30 cases were treated with Vitalium2000 removable partial dentures, 30 cases with titanium removable partial dentures, and 30 cases with cobalt-chromium removable partial denture. Denture inplace rate, incidence rates of denture stomatitis, periodontal disease and secondary caries, patient satisfaction self-evaluation were compared between three groups within 2 years after implantation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Vitalium2000 material group was superior to pure titanium and cobalt-chromium aloy groups in the denture inplace rate, incidence rates of denture stomatitis, periodontal disease and secondary caries (P < 0.05). Patients in the Vitalium2000 material group were more satisfied with lightweight and comfort, aesthetics, chewing ability, odor degree of removable partial dentures than those in the other two groups (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that Vitalium2000 removable partial dentures can better improve the denture in place rate, reduce the incidence of denture stomatitis, periodontal disease and secondary caries, ensuring the comfort level and aesthetics of dentures.

Objective:To investigate the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) expression in specimens of pancreas cancer tumor and para-cancerous tissues and its prognostic value.Methods:The tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry were used to examine the MeCP2 expression in 59 cases of pancreatic cancer tumor tissues and 53 adjacent normal tissues. The correlation between the MeCP2 expression and clinicopathological characteristics of pancreas cancer patients was analyzed. Furthermore, the survival curve was drawn by Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox regression hazards model was used to study the prognostic value of MeCP2 expression in pancreas cancer.Results:The MeCP2 positive expression rate in 59 pancreas cancer tumor tissues was 47.5%, which was 67.9% in 53 adjacent tissues. The MeCP2 positive expression rate in adjacent tissues was obviously higher than that in pancreatic cancer tissues, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The MeCP2 positive expression was significantly associated with pathological grade and lymph node metastasis(both P<0.05). The overall survival in patients positive for the MeCP2 expression was longer than that in those with negative MeCP2 expression( P<0.05). Cox multivariate analysis demonstrated that the level of MeCP2 expression was an independent predictor for prognosis in patients with pancreas cancer. Conclusions:MeCP2 is obviously positively expressed in para-cancerous tissues, but was lowly expressed in pancreatic cancer, indicating that MeCP2 detection can help to evaluate the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients.

Objective To optimize preparation of freeze-dried 16-dehydropregnenolone (16-DHP) liposome and evalu-ate the quality. Methods The freeze-dried liposome was prepared by rotary-evaporated film-ultrasonication with lyophilization. Single factor experiments and orthogonal design were used to optimize the prescription and preparation,and the quality was evalua-ted. Results The optimum preparation technics were as follows: the concentration of PC-98T was 6. 5% (W/ V), the quantity ratio of PC-98T to cholesteryl sodium sulfate salt was 4∶1,hydration temperature was 60 ℃ , ultrasonic time was 2 min,and the cryoprotectant was 7. 5% glucose. The average particle size, Zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency were (121. 3±48. 7) nm,-41. 9 mV and (98. 7±0. 1)% , respectively. Conclusion The formulation of freeze-dried 16-DHP liposome is reasonable, the technology is practicable and stable.

A gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method has been developed and fully validated for the simultaneous determination of natural borneol (NB) and its metabolite, camphor, in rat plasma. Following a single liquid-liquid extraction, the analytes were separated using an HP-5MS capillary column (0.25 mm ? 30 m ? 0.25μm) and analyzed by MS in the selected ion monitoring mode. Selected ion monitor (m/z) of borneol, camphor and internal standard was 95, 95 and 128, respectively. Linearity, accuracy, precision and extraction recovery of the analytes were all satisfactory. The method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic studies of NB after oral administration to Wistar rats.

Objective To explore the association between CRP and circadian variation of blood pressure in both hypertensive and normotensive old population.Methods The 82 patients with essential hypertension (EH) and 79 normotensive adults were enrolled in this study. Serum high sensitive CRP (hsCRP) level was tested by fluorescence immunoassay technology. The 24-hour ambulatory monitor of the level and variability of blood pressure was carried out. Multivariable linear regression models were run to adjust the age, gender, body mass index, blood sugar, blood fat,smoking history and baseline blood pressure for analyzing the association between hsCRP and circadian variation of blood pressure.Results ( 1 ) The variability of systolic blood pressure during daytime,nighttime and 24-h our periods were higher in EH group than in control group (P＜0.01 or P＜0. 05), the variabilities of diastolic blood pressure were also significantly higher than in control group (P＜0. 05), the dipping ratios of nocturnal systolic, diastolic and mean artery pressure were all less than in contrast group (all P＜0.05). (2) The hsCRP was obviously higher in EH group than in control group [(5.44± 1.78)mg/L vs. (3.03±0. 72) mg/L, P＜0. 01]. (3) The hsCRP had positive associations with diastolic blood pressure variability during daytime (r= 0. 492, P＜0. 001 ), nighttime (r=0.240, P=0.048), and 24-hour (r=0.271, P=0.030). The variability in diastolic blood pressure predic ted the level of hs CRP(r=0.660, R2=0.436, P＜0.001). (4) In control group, no significant association was found between CRP and variation of blood pressure.Conclusions The BP variability and serum CRP in EH patients are obviously higher than in normotensive patients,however, the nocturnal BP dipping ratio is less than in normotensive patients. Furthermore, the level of serum hsCRP in EH patients is positively associated with the variation of blood pressure, especially for variation of diastolic blood pressure.

Objective:To investigate the changes of gene or protein expression and activity of matrix metalloprotein9 (MMP9) and tissue inhibitor ofmetalloproteinasel (TIMP1) in the carotid artery (CA) of 4 wk hindlimb unweighted rat.Methods:A 4 weeks(wk) hindlimb unweighted (HU) rat model was used to simulate the effect of weightlessness on the cardiovascular system.Transmission electron microscopy was used to detect the content of ECM.Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was conducted to measure the mRNA content MMP and TIMP1.Immunohistochemistry and Western blot technique were used to measure the protein abundance.Gelatin zymography was carried out to detect the activity of MMP9.Results:Compared to the control group (CON),the area of ECM was enhanced (P＜0.05) and the content of collage fiber was increased (P＜0.05) in the CA of HU rats;moreover,HU did not affect the mRNA expression of MMP9,but significantly reduced the protein content (P＜0.05) or enzymatic activity (P＜0.05).Accordingly,the mRNA or protein expression of TIMP1 in the CA was significantly increased by HU (P＜0.05).Conclusion:Simulated weightlessness caused imbalance between MMP and TIMP1 expression,which might contribute to the ECM aggregation and stiffness of CA.

Objective To explore the prevalence of sialorrhea and its clinical correlation with dysphagia in Chinese patients with Parkinson′s disease ( PD ).Methods One hundred and sixteen consecutive patients with a clinical diagnosis of PD were selected.Demographic data included sex , age, years of education, age at onset of PD, clinical genotype, disease duration, treatment, Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage.Sialorrhea was assessed using the Unified Parkinson′s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Ⅱitem number 6.All patients were studied with videofluoroscopic study of swallowing ( VFSS).Results The prevalence rate of sialorrhea in PD was 59.5% (69/116, 95% CI 50.6%-68.4%).Males were more likely to develop sialorrhea than females (47/70 vs 22/46,χ2 =4.298, P=0.038).PD patients′sialorrhea correlated with oral dysphagia:with food leaking from the mouth ( liquid r=0.229, P=0.014; juice r=0.197, P=0.034;pudding viscosities r=0.231, P=0.013;solid food r=0.255, P=0.006), with more than 1 ml of oral food residues (liquid r=0.319, P<0.01;solid food r=0.185, P=0.047), with delay in food transfer to the root of the tongue (liquid r=0.279, P=0.002; juice r=0.209, P=0.024), and delayed swallow transfer ( pudding viscosities r=0.257, P=0.005).Sialorrhea score was not related to H&Y stage, clinical course and levodopa equivalent doses (LED).The prevalence rate of dysphagia in PD was 87.1%(95% CI 81.0% -93.2%).Liquid was more likely to cause pharyngeal dysphagia ( P=0.03).With the increase in H&Y stage , so did the oral and pharyngeal stages of dysphagia.Late and mid-course was more likely to develop oral and pharyngeal dysphagia than those with early clinical course .Conclusions Sialorrhea and dysphagia are common non-motor symptoms in PD patients.Sialorrhea is more prevalent in males and correlates with oral phase of dysphagia.Liquid is more likely to cause pharyngeal dysphagia.With increase in H&Y stage , so did oral and pharyngeal dysphagia.Even though late clinical course is more likely to develop oral and pharyngeal dysphagia than early clinical course , the comparison between late and intermediate clinical courses does not reach statistical significance .

Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a kind of neurodegenerative dementia. The core feature of the PCA includes progressive decline in visual processing and other posterior parietal-occipital cortex-related cognitive functions. Recently, neuroimaging features of PCA from magnetic resonance imaging/single photon emission computed tomography/ 18F-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computer tomography studies represent the typical characteristics of cortical atrophy, hypoperfusion, and hypometabolism in the posterior parietal-occipital cortex. The most common neuropathological changes of PCA are amyloid plaques deposition and neurofibrillary tangles in posterior cortex, while the molecular biomarkers are decreased amyloid β-protein 1-42 together with increased T-tau and/or P-tau in cerebral spinal fluid. From this point, PCA is also considered as an atypical form of Alzheimer′s disease (AD). However, individuals fulfilling the criteria for the core clinico-radiological PCA syndrome, can also fulfill the core clinical criteria for any other neurodegenerative syndrome, and represent negative AD-related pathophysiological biomarkers. Heterogeneity within the PCA syndrome and pathophysiological biomarkers prompt the PCA working group to establish a new consensus on PCA classification and diagnostic criteria, which is proposed for use in a number of different research contexts and the research of AD, atypical AD and related syndromes. This paper gives a brief introduction and interpretation of the newly proposed classification and diagnostic criteria of PCA.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of confocal laser endomicroscopy(CLE)for the assessment of the grading of gastric intestinal metaplasia(GIM)in vivo.Methods Patients with known GIM underwent CLE(Pentax EC-3870K).The presence of GIM was indentified immediately by the endoscopist during the procedure.The updated Sydney Classifycation System as reference,GIM was subdivided as mild,moderate and severe according to the area of intestinal metaplasia glands and the number of goblet cells.The histological evaluation remained the gold standard for the final diagnosis of GIM.The presence of the dysplasia and the expression of the Ki67 were examined.Results A total of 151 GIM positive areas were found in 58 patients with mild in 92,moderate in 34.and severe in 25 by CLE. One hundred and forty-six GIM areas were examined histopathologically with positive rate of 96.7%(mild in 82,moderate in 36 and severe in 28).The sensitivity and specificity of CLE were 90.2%and 73.9%in diagnosis of mild GIM,69.4 oA and 92.2%in moderate GIM,71.4% and 95.9%in severe GIM.The kappa coefficient of CLE criteria and the histopathological grading for mild,moderate and severe GIM were 0.65,0.63 and 0.70,respectively.The more severe the GIM,the higher the ratio of incomplete GIM,the ratio of dysplasia and the stronger expression of Ki67.Conclusions CLE may offer an instant and reliable diagnosis for GIM with high accuracy.It is helpful in grading of GIM.

To evaluate the feasibility of real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RTMCE) by quantitative analysis of myocardial perfusion in rabbits, transthoracic RTMCE was performed in 10 healthy rabbits by using continuous infusion of SonoVue into the auricular vein. The short axis view at the papillary muscle level was obtained. The duration of the time that the contrast took to appear in right heart, left heart and myocardium was recorded. The regional myocardial signal intensity (SI) versus refilling time plots were fitted to an exponential function: y(t) =A(1-e(-beta(t-t0))) + C, where y is SI at any given time, A is the SI plateau that reflects myocardial blood volume, and beta is the slope of the refilling curve that reflects myocardial microbubble velocity. The A, beta and Axbeta values at different infusion rate of SonoVue were analyzed and the A, beta and Axbeta values in each segment in the short axis view at the papillary muscle level were compared. All the animal experiments were successful and high-quality images were obtained. The best intravenous infusion rate for SonoVue was 30 mL/h. The contrast appeared in right heart, left heart and myocardium at 7.5+/-2.2 s, 9.1+/-2.4 s and 12.2+/-1.6 s respectively. After 16.6+/-2.3s, myocardial opacification reached a steady state. The mean A, beta and Axbeta value in the short axis view at the papillary muscle level were 9.8+/-3.0 dB, 1.4+/-0.5 s(-1) and 13.5+/-3.6 dBxs(-1) respectively. A, beta and Axbeta values showed no significant differences among 6 segments. It was suggested that RTMCE was feasible for quantitative analysis of myocardial perfusion in rabbits. It provides a non-invasive method to evaluate the myocardial perfusion in rabbit disease models.