Epilepsy ; diet therapy ; metabolism ; Food-Drug Interactions ; Humans ; Ketone Bodies ; biosynthesis

BACKGROUNDPost and post-core systems are used to restore extensively damaged teeth. Among these systems, cast alloy post and core, prefabricated threaded alloy post and prefabricated simple alloy post are most frequently applied in China nowadays. In Europe and North America a combined application of the fiber post, resin-core and crown has been applied to restore seriously destructed teeth with satisfactory results in recent years. This study was intended to evaluate the clinical effect of carbon fiber post system on restoration of child anterior tooth defect after root canal therapy, based on 3 - 5 years' observation.

METHODSOne hundred and six children with incompletely established occlusion were observed and followed for an average of 42 months (ranging from 36 to 60 months). Eighty-five upper teeth and forty-one lower teeth were restored with carbon fiber post system and composite jacket crown. Periodic check-up was conducted for periodontal condition and restoration effect.

RESULTSOne hundred and twenty-one (96.2%) restorations were successful. Four jacket crowns (3.0%) were lost. One tooth (0.8%) had slight gingival inflammation. Tooth root or post fracture and gingival stain were not observed. X-ray showed there was no obvious change in aspects including the width of periodontal membrane, the density of alveolar bone and the height of alveolar ridge crest.

CONCLUSIONSCarbon-fiber post system can satisfy the clinical requirements of young patients who have residual anterior crown and root caused by trauma or caries, and have incomplete occlusion and have completed root canal therapy. This system helps realize good esthetic result for patients and easy practice for dentists. Carbon fiber post is safe and convenient, especially for sick children.

Adolescent ; Carbon ; Child ; Dental Restoration, Permanent ; Humans ; Post and Core Technique ; Root Canal Therapy

Objective To compare 99Tcm-MIBI MPI with delayed enhancement MRI (DE-MRI) in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM). Methods Forty patients with IDCM were included. They underwent both rest 99Tcm-MIBI myocardial perfusion imaging and DE-MRI within 7 days. 99Tcm-MIBI MPI was performed to identify diffuse or segmental abnormal perfusion patterns including reduced or defect perfusion segments. DE-MRI images were divided into 4 categories: no delayed enhancement, septal, subendocardial and transmural delayed enhancement, x2 test was used for data analysis. Results Diffuse and segmental perfusion abnormality on 99Tcm-MIBI MPI were found in 19 (47.5%) and 21 (52.5%)patients respectively, while DE-MRI enhancement was simultaneously found in 5 patients of the former (5/19, 26.3%) and 18 (18/21, 85.7%) of the latter (x2 =14.401, P＜0. 001). For those (n=18) with both segmental perfusion abnormality and DE-MRI enhancement, the number of segments of the 4 DE-MRI respectively. A significant difference was found in the DE-MRI enhancement categories between normal and defect perfusion segments (x2 = 29. 183, P ＜0.001 ) and between reduced and defect perfusion segments as well (x2 =25. 110, P＜0. 001). Conclusions Both diffuse and segmental perfusion abnormalities on 99Tcm-MIBI MPI can be found in patients with IDCM. DE-MRI enhancement is more frequently found in patients with segmental perfusion abnormality.

Objective To observe the long term effects of arthroscopic knee debridement and reconstructing operation for treating osteoarthritis in patients with Kaschin-Beck disease. Methods Thirty-one cases of patients with Kaschin-Beck disease were followed for 6 years after operation of articular clearing by arthroscope. Index of pain, symptoms of self-evaluation, range of motion, walking distance, standing test by affected leg when bending at 30° or 60° were recorded and compared with the preoperative results. Results Twenty-four cases were followed up for 6 years. Six years after operation the pain index(3.38 ± 2.87) was dramatically decreased compared to that before operation (6.88 ± 1.45, t = 5.30, P ＜ 0.05). Patients symptoms markedly improved by subjective self-evaluation was 70.83% (17/24), the effective rate was 100% (24/24). The number of cases that could stand up when leg bending at 30° or 60° were 21,18 cases, respectively, compared with that of preoperative of 14, 11 cases, respectively, the difference was statistically significant(x2 = 5.17,4.27, all P ＜ 0.05). Six years after operation the walking distance(3 cases ＜ 1 km, 11 cases 1 - 5 km and 10 cases ＞ 5 km) were greatly improved compared to the results before operation (12 cases ＜ 1 km, 9 cases 1 - 5 km and 3 cases ＞ 5 km, U = 2.88, P ＜0.05). Six years after operation the knee activity[(132.25 ± 14.52)°] remained at the same level, compared with that of preoperative [(131 .58 ± 14.68) °], the difference was not statistically significant (t = 0.16, P ＞ 0.05) .Conclusions The method of arthroscopic joint debridement to cure Kaschin-Beck disease knee osteoarthritis can significantly reduce pain, improve function and walking distance, with more stable long-term satisfactory outcome.

Objective To improve the recognition of nervous system symptoms of inborn errors.Methods Five patients with organic acidemias were screened by urine organic acid analysis(gas chromotography-mass spectrometry,GC/MS),3 cases of methylmalolic acidemias(MMA) and 2 cases of propionic acidemias(PA) were confirmed.They were treated with special diet and medicine after diagnosis.Result The improvement of mental development was observed after treatment.Conclusions Most of organic acidemias involve nervous systems,causing non-specific symptoms of nervous system as lethergy,seizures,mental retardation.Inborn errors of metabolism shall be kept in mind when causes of the symtoms of acidosis,seisures,mental retardation and lethergy are investigated.GC/MS is a very important method in diagnosis of organic acidemias.Early diagnosis and early treatment can improve the mental prognosis.

This paper is discussed about course system construction of Microbiology, teaching method, in- struction means and experimental teaching mode. Teaching practice indicated that reform the pattern of Mi- crobiology educational mode can stimulate students’ interest in studying the course, cultivate their inde- pendent ability to solve questions, develop their creative thinking. It is an important way to train high-caliber talents.

Objective To investigate the efficacy, safety and tolerance of bosentan, a dual endothelin receptor antagonist, in Chinese patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH).Methods Totally 79 IPAH patients (hemodynamic criteria confirmed by right heart catheterization) were included in this open-label, prospective multicenter study. Patients received 62. 5 mg of bosentan twice daily for the first 4 weeks, and then up-titrated to 125 mg twice daily for another 12 weeks. The primary end point was the change in exercise capacity showed by six-minute walk distance (6MWD) from baseline to 16 weeks. Secondary end points included the change in World Health Organization (WHO) functional class,Borg dyspnoea scale and systolic pulmonary artery pressure measured by echocardiography. Results The 6MWD increased from (343. 7 ± 93.7) meters at baseline to (397.5 ± 104. 4) meters after 16 weeks ( P ＜0. 01 ), WHO functional class and Borg dyspnoea scale were also significantly improved after 16 weeks therapy compared to baseline levels (all P ＜0. 01 ). Furthermore, the systolic pulmonary artery pressure was significantly decreased from (97.8±25.2) mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0. 133 kPa) to (92.8 ±29.5) mm Hg (P ＜0. 05) after 16 weeks bosentan treatment. There was no patient withdrawal from this study for safety consideration. Conclusion Bosentan therapy is well tolerated and can improve the exercise capacity and WHO functional class in Chinese IPAH patients.

BACKGROUNDCubital tunnel syndrome is a well-recognized clinical condition and is the second most common peripheral compression neuropathy. This study was designed to investigate the causes of cubital tunnel syndrome by surgical means and to assess the clinical value of the neurophysiological diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome.

METHODSTwenty-one patients (involving a total of 22 limbs from 16 men and 5 women, aged 22 to 63, with a mean age of 49 years) with clinical symptoms and signs indicating a problem with their ulnar nerve underwent motor conduction velocity examinations at different sites along the ulnar nerve and examinations of sensory conduction velocity in the hand, before undergoing anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve.

RESULTSElectromyographic abnormalities were seen in 21 of 22 limbs [motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) range (15.9 - 47.5) m/s, mean 32.7 m/s] who underwent motor conduction velocity examinations across the elbow segment of the ulnar nerve. Reduced velocity was observed in 13 of 22 limbs [MCV (15.7 - 59.6) m/s, mean 40.4 m/s] undergoing MCV tests in the forearms. An absent or abnormal sensory nerve action potential following stimulation was detected in the little finger of 14 of 22 limbs. The factors responsible for ulnar compression based on observations made during surgery were as follows: 15 cases involved compression by arcuate ligaments, muscle tendons, or bone hyperplasia; 2 involved fibrous adhesion; 3 involved compression by the venous plexus or a concurrent thick vein; 2 involved compression by cysts.

CONCLUSIONSFactors inducing cubital tunnel syndrome include both common factors that have been reported and rare factors, involving the venous plexus, thick veins, and cysts. Tests of motor conduction velocity at different sites along the ulnar nerve should be helpful in diagnosis cubital tunnel syndrome, especially MCV tests indicating decreased velocity across the elbow segment of the ulnar nerve.

Adult ; Cubital Tunnel Syndrome ; etiology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Electromyography ; Evoked Potentials, Motor ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangioendothelioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Sarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Thigh ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; von Willebrand Factor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe shear fracture strengths of carbon fiber post, IPS-Empress 2 all-ceramic post (without ZrO2 post), cast Ni-Cr alloy post, prefabricated zirconia ceramic post, human dentin and the shear bonding strengths of the first three kinds of post bonded in the human root canals were measured and compared, which are as the reference for dental clinic.

METHODSStandard cylindrical samples were made respectively in each group of carbon fiber post, IPS-Empress 2 all-ceramic post, cast Ni-Cr alloy post, prefabricated zirconia ceramic post, human dentin, three for each group. The shear fracture strengths of these samples were measured by universal testing machine (AUTOGRAPH DCS5000). Standard cylindrical samples were made respectively in each group of carbon fiber post, IPS-Empress 2 all-ceramic post (without ZrO2 post), cast Ni-Cr alloy post, five for each group. They were bonded in extracted human root canals that had been prepared to 3.0 mm length and 2.0 mm diameter with Glass ionomer cement (Japan Shofu). The shear bond strengths were measured by the same universal testing machine.

RESULTSThe shear fracture strengths of the carbon fiber post (199MPa), cast Ni-Cr alloy post (210MPa, shear bend strength) and prefabricated zirconia ceramic post (193MPa) were statistically higher than those of IPS-Empress 2 all-ceramic post (109MPa) and human dentin (100MPa). The shear fracture strength of the carbon fiber post was statistically similar to that of cast Ni-Cr alloy post and prefabricated zirconia ceramic post. There were no statistical differences between the shear bond strengths of carbon fiber post (2.4MPa) and cast Ni-Cr alloy post (3.8MPa). IPS-Empress 2 all-ceramic post broke before debonding (2.7, break value).

CONCLUSIONSCarbon fiber post, as well as cast Ni-Cr alloy post and prefabricated zirconia ceramic post, has a comparatively high shear fracture strength. The shear bond strengths of carbon fiber post is similar to cast Ni-Cr alloy post.

Carbon ; Chromium Alloys ; Dental Bonding ; Dental Prosthesis Retention ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Humans ; Tensile Strength