OBJECTIVEThis study aims to examine the prevalence and diameter of the bony canal structure of the posterior superior alveolar artery (PSAA), residual alveolar bone height, and distance of its inferior border from the alveolar crest using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

METHODSCBCT images of maxilla in 116 patients were randomly selected from patients who underwent maxillary sinus augmentation procedure and/or posterior teeth implant therapy from April 2011 to September 2012. The lower border of the bony canal to the alveolar crest, diameter of the bony canal, and residual alveolar bone height below the sinus floor to the ridge crest were measured from CBCT scans. Data were presented using descriptive statistics.

RESULTSThe prevalence of the bony canal was 75.14% (133/177). The mean diameter of the bony canal was (0.96 ± 0.29) mm. The residual alveolar bone height was (7.14 ± 3.64) mm. The distance of the bony canal's inferior border from the alveolar crest was (17.92 ± 5.68) mm. No statistically significant differences between the right and left sides were observed (F = 0.295, P > 0.05). The mean diameter of the bony canal was significantly smaller in females than that in males (F = 0.187, P < 0.05). The maxillary alveolar dimension was significantly correlated with the residual alveolar bone height.

CONCLUSIONThe results from this study suggest that CBCT is a valuable tool in evaluating the presence of the bony canal of the PSAAs efore maxillary sinus surgery.

Alveolar Process ; Arteries ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Maxillary Sinus ; Sinus Floor Augmentation

Objective To study the behavioral changes of the spinal cord injury model to provide important data for neuroal factor therapy of the impaired spinal cord.Methods In SD rat,aged 8 weeks,(T7~T8 spinous processes as control),after the spinous process and corresponding lamina of vertebra were removed,the spinal cord was cut by using scissors to prepare the complete transversal abruptly spinal model.The behavioral score of the rat was recorded at different time.The evaluation was made in imageology and pathology.Results The score of SD rat in the experiment group was higher than the control group at different control time.The pathobiology and imageology alterations were very apparent in the damaged spinal area.Conclusion GAP-43 has neuroprotective effect on the recovery of spinal cord injury.