Abstract Background/purpose Root resorption is an important problem in orthodontic treatment. Basically, the root resorption is evaluated by using two-dimensional images (e.g., periapical films, ...panoramic films, and cephalometric films). However, the use of such images sometimes underestimates the root resorption due to incorrect projection and magnification. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlations between root resorption and the amount of tooth movement during orthodontic treatment using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and methods We used CBCT to measure the root resorption and amount of tooth movement around six teeth (bilateral maxillary central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines) in eight patients, before orthodontic treatment and after 7 months of treatment. We then calculated the correlation between root resorption and the amount of tooth movement. Results The root resorption was largest in the lateral incisors (0.39 ± 0.32 and 0.48 ± 0.19 mm in the right and left maxillary lateral incisors, respectively), followed by the central incisors (0.25 ± 0.16 and 0.32 ± 0.34 mm in the right and left maxillary central incisors), and then the canines (0.18 ± 0.19 and 0.19 ± 0.14 mm in the right and left maxillary canines). The average Pearson's correlation coefficient for the association between root resorption and the amount of tooth movement was –0.48. Conclusion Results show that larger tooth movement after orthodontic treatment may be associated with increased severity of root resorption. This study has demonstrated that CBCT is a useful approach for evaluating apical root resorption after orthodontic treatment.
In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of Parazacco spilurus (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae). This mitochondrial genome, consisting of 16,612 base pairs (bp), encoded 13 ...protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs, and a noncoding control region as those found in other vertebrates, with the gene synteny identical to that of typical vertebrates. Control region (D-Loop), of 926 bp in length, is located between tRNA
Pro
and tRNA
Phe
. The overall base composition of the heavy strand shows T 26.91%, C 26.01%, A 30.45% and G 16.63%, with an AT bias of 57.36%.
This study was performed to assess the photothermal response of highly focused laser energy using infrared thermal imaging instrument to detect and assess the actual temperature distribution during ...flash lamp pumped pulsed dye laser (FLPPDL) treatment for port wine stain (PWS) patients and avoiding its complications.
A retrospective review of 40 patients with PWS birthmark treated with FLPPDL (l = 585 nm, tp = 1500 ms, 7 mm spot) was conducted over a 2-year period. Subjects' ages ranged between 28 and 46 years (mean 29 years); there were 24 females and 16 males. Twenty patients received non-cooling laser treatment (NC-LT) using light dosages of 5-12 J/cm 2 . Another 20 patients received cryogen spray cooling laser treatment (CSC-LT) using light dosages of 5-12 J/cm 2 . A real-time infrared thermal imaging and the thermal wave equation were used for assessment. The results of temperature distributions related to the energy change were analyzed.
Proper temperature measurement using infrared thermal imaging instrument and thermal wave equation in non-cooled PWS patients showed that the energy density of pulsed dye laser (PDL) higher than 7 J/cm 2 can reach >44°C and result in burn injury. However, when energy densities beyond 10 J/cm 2 were administered, along with using CSC, thermal damage was could still be minimized without the risk of damage to the treated area.
Using infrared thermal imaging instrument and thermal wave equation, we can predict the skin temperature distribution in FLPPDL for PWS patients during the treatment. In conjunction with CSC, the complications can be minimized.
We report the clinical results of sustainedly integrating imatinib and interferon-α into maintenance therapy in the patients ineligible for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation ...(allo-HSCT). Maintenance therapy lasted for 5 years with imatinib 400 mg daily, interferon-α 3 million units, 2∼3 doses per week, and chemotherapy including vindesine and dexamethasone scheduled monthly in first year, once every 2 months in second year, and once every 3 months in third year. The chemotherapy was discontinued after 3 years and the imatinib and interferon-α continued for another 2 years. For 41 patients without allo-HSCT with a median follow-up of 32 months, the 3-year DFS and OS were 42.7 ± 8.6% and 57.9 ± 8.4%, respectively. Our study suggests that sustaining maintenance with low-dose chemotherapy, imatinib and interferon-α improved survival of adult Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph + ALL) patients ineligible for allo-HSCT, and even provided an opportunity for cure. BCR/ABL persistent negativity at 6 and 9 months may have benefit to choose suitable patients for the imatinib/interferon-α maintenance strategy.
Wound dressings of chitosan are biocompatible, biodegradable, antibacterial and hemostatic biomaterials. However, applications for chitosan are limited due to its poor mechanical properties. Here, we ...conducted an in vivo mouse angiogenesis study on reinforced poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-chitosan (RPC) hydrogels. RPC hydrogels were formed by cross-linking chitosan with PEGs of different molecular weights at various PEG to chitosan ratios in our previous paper. These dressings can keep the wound moist, had good gas exchange capacity, and was capable of absorbing or removing the wound exudate. We examined the ability of these RPC hydrogels and neat chitosan to heal small cuts and full-thickness skin defects on the backs of male Balb/c mice. Histological examination revealed that chitosan suppressed the infiltration of inflammatory cells and accelerated fibroblast proliferation, while PEG enhanced epithelial migration. The RPC hydrogels promoted wound healing in the small cuts and full layer wounds. The optimal RPC hydrogel had a swelling ratio of 100% and a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of about 2000g/m2/day. In addition, they possess good mechanical property and appropriate degradation rates. Thus, the optimal RPC hydrogel formulation functioned effectively as a wound dressing and promoted wound healing.
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► Mouse angiogenesis study on reinforced poly(ethylene glycol)-chitosan (RPC) ► Water vapor transmission rate of about 2000g/m2/day is characteristic of RPC. ► RPC suppressed inflammatory cells and accelerated fibroblast proliferation. ► RPC composed of 1000-RP10C90 can be used as a biomaterial for wound dressing.
Abstract Previous studies have shown that many demographic variables influence serotonin transporter (SERT) availability as assessed by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The aim of ...this study was to explore which demographic variables influenced the SERT availability most in a SPECT study with 123 IADAM. Ninety-five healthy volunteers were recruited. Age, sex, smoking, alcohol intake, educational level, body mass index, seasonal change, and SERT availability were recorded and then analyzed by multivariate linear regression. Age was the only variable that was significantly associated with SERT availability (calculate: (midbrain−cerebellum)/cerebellum). Furthermore, the inverse correlation of age and SERT availability may be present only before the age of 47. Age should be a covariate in SERT-related neuroimaging analyses, particularly in participants under the age of 47 years.
To measure serum concentration and analyze the expression of interleukin 18 (IL-18) mRNA in mononuclear cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
IL-18 concentrations in sera and ...culture supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy controls and patients with active SLE were measured by ELISA. PBMC and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) purified from patients with active SLE were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Expression of IL-18 mRNA in cells was analyzed by RT-PCR.
Serum IL-18 levels were significantly higher in SLE patients than in controls, and correlated with disease activity in SLE patients (r(2) = 0.602). Two patients receiving intravenous methylprednisolone therapy (1.0 g/day for 3 days) showed profound decreases in serum IL-18 levels after therapy. The quiescent PBMC from SLE patients (30/30) expressed IL-18 transcript more frequently than control PBMC (20/30). PBMC from SLE patients produced more IL-18 than control PBMC after 72 hours of incubation, by RT-PCR. PHA and PWM inhibited the production of IL-18 in PBMC from both SLE patients and controls. Inhibition by PWM was more pronounced than that by PHA, especially in SLE-PBMC. Control and SLE-PMN with or without LPS stimulation produced negligible IL-18.
IL-18 is involved in the autoimmune derangement of leukocyte function in patients with active SLE.
Specific design of barrier in the AlGaN-based near ultraviolet (NUV) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is investigated numerically. Simulation results reveal that NUV LEDs with the proposed p-type/n-type ...barrier can effectively reduce the polarization-induced electrostatic field, and thus enhance the spatial overlap of electron and hole wavefunctions in the wells.
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