Objective::Microchannels are associated with the progression of atherosclerotic vulnerable plaques. However, in patients with culprit optical coherence tomography (OCT)-defined plaque erosion, the knowledge of microchannels and culprit lesion vulnerability is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate culprit lesion characteristics in patients with ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) caused by plaque erosion with and without microchannels using OCT.Methods::In all, 348 STEMI patients with plaque erosion who underwent OCT of the culprit lesion at the 2 nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University (Harbin, China) from August 2014 to December 2017 were included and divided into the microchannel group ( n= 116, 33.3%) and no-microchannel group ( n = 232, 66.7%). The clinical characteristics and OCT-derived plaque features were compared between both groups. Results::Among the 348 STEMI patients with plaque erosion, culprit lesions with microchannels had higher incidence of lipid plaque (59.5% vs. 45.3%, P= 0.012); calcification (41.4% vs. 24.6%, P= 0.002); spotty calcification (30.2% vs. 18.1%, P= 0.014); macrophages accumulation (72.4% vs. 45.7%, P < 0.001); and cholesterol crystals (32.8% vs. 14.2%, P < 0.001) than those without microchannels. In addition, minimal lumen area was smaller ((1.9 ± 0.9) mm 2vs. (2.8 ± 2.3) mm 2, P < 0.001) and lumen area stenosis was greater ((71.3% ± 13.4%) vs. (65.3% ± 19.3%), P= 0.001) in the microchannel group than in the no-microchannel group. Conclusion::In patients with STEMI caused by plaque erosion, one-third manifested typical microchannel characteristics, and those with microchannels were associated with more severe luminal stenosis and more vulnerable plaque features than those without microchannels.

Objective::Microchannels are associated with the progression of atherosclerotic vulnerable plaques. However, in patients with culprit optical coherence tomography (OCT)-defined plaque erosion, the knowledge of microchannels and culprit lesion vulnerability is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate culprit lesion characteristics in patients with ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) caused by plaque erosion with and without microchannels using OCT.Methods::In all, 348 STEMI patients with plaque erosion who underwent OCT of the culprit lesion at the 2 nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University (Harbin, China) from August 2014 to December 2017 were included and divided into the microchannel group ( n= 116, 33.3%) and no-microchannel group ( n = 232, 66.7%). The clinical characteristics and OCT-derived plaque features were compared between both groups. Results::Among the 348 STEMI patients with plaque erosion, culprit lesions with microchannels had higher incidence of lipid plaque (59.5% vs. 45.3%, P= 0.012); calcification (41.4% vs. 24.6%, P= 0.002); spotty calcification (30.2% vs. 18.1%, P= 0.014); macrophages accumulation (72.4% vs. 45.7%, P < 0.001); and cholesterol crystals (32.8% vs. 14.2%, P < 0.001) than those without microchannels. In addition, minimal lumen area was smaller ((1.9 ± 0.9) mm 2vs. (2.8 ± 2.3) mm 2, P < 0.001) and lumen area stenosis was greater ((71.3% ± 13.4%) vs. (65.3% ± 19.3%), P= 0.001) in the microchannel group than in the no-microchannel group. Conclusion::In patients with STEMI caused by plaque erosion, one-third manifested typical microchannel characteristics, and those with microchannels were associated with more severe luminal stenosis and more vulnerable plaque features than those without microchannels.

Implant restoration ; Provisional restoration ; Healing abutment ; Esthetic zone ; Esthetic outcomes: To compare the esthetic outcomes of peri-implant soft tissue conditioning with provisional restorations and healing abutments. Methods : A total of 48 patients missing a single tooth in the esthetic zone were chosen for the present study and divided into two groups. Twenty-six patients in Group A used provisional restorations to condition the peri-implant soft tissue before final restorations, while 22 patients in Group B used healing abutments to condition the soft tissue. All patients were evaluated by pink esthetic scores (PESs) at the time of the final restoration and at a 1-year follow-up. Results: A total of 26 implants in Group A and 22 implants in Group B showed good peri-implant soft tissue condition. PESs at the time of the final restoration and at the 1-year follow-up in Group A were 8.18 and 8.35, respectively, and 6.73 and 8.18 in Group B, respectively. PESs at the time of final restoration and at the 1-year follow-up were not significantly different in Group A but were significantly different in Group B. The PESs of the two groups were significantly different at the final restoration but were not significantly different at the 1-year follow-up. Conclusions Provisional restoration in the esthetic zone can improve the pink esthetic effect when permanent restoration.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of two different resin cements on the glass fiber-reinforced posts. Methods : One hundred and thirty-six teeth were randomly divided into two groups, with sixty-eight in each. Group A used Multilink N self-etch system and group B used RelyX Unicem self-adhesive system to bond fiber posts. Follow-up examinations took place at 6, 12 and 24 months after the placement. Results : The success ratios of two groups were all 97% above and there was no significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion Multilink N self-etch system and RelyX Unicem self-adhesive system all have good effect on glass fiber-reinforced posts bonding.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the characteristics of germline mutations of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene in pedigrees affected with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples from members of the 13 FAP pedigrees. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was used to detect large fragment deletions of the APC gene. Subsequently, potential mutation was screened from all exons of the APC gene with PCR amplification and direct sequencing.

RESULTSGermline mutations have been identified in 5 FAP pedigrees, which included c.3184_3187delCAAA, c.5432C>T, c.3925_3928delAAAA and c.3925_3929del AAAAG(in two pedigrees). Small deletional mutations were found primarily in the area of AAAAG tandem repeat sequences.

CONCLUSIONC.3925_3929 located in AAAAG tandem repeats is probably the hot spot for APC gene mutations, which are mostly deletional mutations, especially the 5 bp base deletion at codon 1309.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli ; genetics ; Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein ; genetics ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pedigree ; Sequence Deletion