Efficacy of low‐level laser therapy in the treatment of TMDs: a meta‐analysis of 14 randomised controlled trials

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). We searched electronic databases and references lists of relevant articles, retrieved all of the published randomised controlled trials in regard to these issues and then performed a meta‐analysis. Fourteen highly qualified RCTs reporting on a total of 454 patients, which evaluated the effectiveness of LLLT for patients suffering from TMDs were retrieved. The results indicated that LLLT was not better than placebo in reducing chronic TMD pain (weighted mean difference = ?19·39; 95% confidence interval = ?40·80–2·03; P < 0·00001; I² = 99%). However, the LLLT provided significant better functional outcomes in terms of maximum active vertical opening (MAVO) (weighted mean difference = 4·18; 95% confidence interval = 0·73–7·63; P = 0·006; I² = 73%), maximum passive vertical opening (MPVO) (weighted mean difference = 6·73; 95% confidence interval = 01·34–12·13; P = 0·06; I² = 73%), protrusion excursion (PE) (weighted mean difference = 1·81; 95% confidence interval = 0·79–2·83; P = 0·59; I² = 0%) and right lateral excursion (RLE) (weighted mean difference = 2·86; 95% confidence interval = 1·27–4·45; P = 0·01; I² = 73%). The results of our meta‐analysis have provided the best evidence on the efficacy of LLLT in the treatment of TMDs. This study indicates that using LLLT has limited efficacy in reducing pain in patients with TMDs. However, LLLT can significantly improve the functional outcomes of patients with TMDs.     

Use of a microvascular coupler device for end-to-side venous anastomosis in oral and maxillofacial reconstruction

The aim of this study was to compare the use of a microvascular coupler device (MCD) for end-to-side venous anastomosis (ETS group) and phleboplasties combined with MCD for end-to-end venous anastomosis (ETE group) in free tissue transfer for oral and maxillofacial reconstruction, with regard to the anastomosis time and occurrence of postoperative vascular crisis. The ETS group included 22 patients and the ETE group included 40 patients. Patient demographic data, anastomotic time, coupler size, microvascular complications, and flap survival rates were collected and analyzed. In the ETS group, the most suitable donor vessel size was greater than 2 mm, varying from 2 mm to 4 mm. The average anastomosis time was 3.35 ± 0.89 min in the ETS group and 7.80 ± 2.93 min in the ETE group; the difference between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). There were no statistically significant differences in complications or outcomes between the two groups. The ETS venous anastomosis with MCD technique is a better choice for anastomosis when the donor vessel size is greater than 2 mm. In those cases with mismatched veins, ETS venous anastomosis with MCD could significantly reduce the anastomosis time compared to ETE venous anastomosis with MCD after phleboplasties.     

Earlier renal fibrosis aggravates acute kidney injury induced by ischemia reperfusion in mice

Objective To investigate the influence of earlier renal fibrosis on ischemia and reperfusion induced acute kidney injury. Methods Male C57BL/6 mice at eight to twelve weeks old age were divided into 4 groups randomly: (1)Sham (n=3); (2)Unilateral ureter obstruction (UUO, n=6): UUO for 3 days (UUO3d, n=3) and UUO for 5 days (UUO5d, n=3)；(3)Ischemia and reperfusion (IR, n=7): bilateral kidney ischemia for 40 minutes followed by 24 hours of reperfusion; (4)UUO for 3 days plus IR (UUO3d+IR, n=6): bilateral kidney ischemia after UUO 2 days for 40 minutes followed by 24 hours of reperfusion, and the real time for UUO was 3 days. Pathologic analysis for acute or chronic injury was performed on paraffin embedded kidney sections with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) or Masson staining. Apoptosis was detected by immunohistochemistry(IHC) and Western blotting with anti-caspase-3 antibody, and proliferation was observed by IHC with anti-ki67 antibody. Results On kidney sections with HE or Masson staining, it showed that the chronic kidney lesions and fibrosis got more severe as time of UUO prolonged from 3 days to 5 days; the area of matrix deposition increased in UUO5d and UUO3d mice significantly compared to Sham mice (P＜0.05) and was smaller in UUO3d mice compared with UUO5d mice obviously (P＜0.05). Acute kidney injury could be observed in UUO3d+IR mice, such as massive inflammatory cells infiltration, tubules dilation, brush border disappearance, tubular epithelial cells vacuolar degeneration, necrosis, casting formation, coexisting with chronic lesions: thinner cortex, broadened interstitial space, and increased blue stained matrix. Acute kidney injury score in UUO3d+IR mice was higher than that in IR mice significantly (P＜0.05), and serum creatinine level increased significantly in UUO3d+IR mice compared to Sham mice (P＜0.05). Caspase-3 expression increased and ki67 positive tubular cells decreased in UUO3d+IR mice than those in IR mice obviously (P＜0.05). Conclusion Earlier renal fibrosis aggravates acute kidney injury induced by ischemia reperfusion in mice through increasing apoptosis and decreasing proliferation of tubular epithelial cells.     

扶正利胆汤对贲门癌术后胆囊收缩障碍的临床疗效观察

目的 研究扶正利胆汤对贲门癌术后胆囊收缩障碍的临床治疗作用及其机制探讨.方法 选择120例贲门癌术后患者,随机分为试验组60例和对照组60例;试验组患者,在术后第10天开始口服扶正利胆汤,连服20天;对照组患者,在术后第10天口服等体积的水,连服20天;在实验治疗期间,对上述两组患者均进行常规抗炎、补液等治疗.所有患者分别于术前3天、术后30天对胆囊进行超声波指标测定,测定条件是空腹、服用脂餐0.5小时后、服用脂餐1小时后,应用超声波测定胆囊最大纵切面积、长径、短径,计算胆囊超声容积、排空率指标,并在术前3天、术后30天测定空腹血清胆囊收缩素浓度.比较两组患者手术前后胆囊的容积、排空、排空率及空腹血清胆囊收缩素浓度.结果 1）两组患者手术前后胆囊收缩功能比较：对照组患者术后胆囊容积较术前明显增大（P＜0.05）,治疗组患者术后胆囊容积较术前没有显著性改变;术前治疗组和对照组患者胆囊容积无显著差别（P＞0.05）;术后试验组胆囊容积比对照组患者的胆囊容积明显缩小,两组比较具有显著性差异（P＜0.05）.2）两组患者手术前后空腹血清胆囊收缩素（CCK）浓度比较：术前两组CCK浓度无明显差别（P＞0.05）;术后对照组患者CCK浓度较术前明显下降（P＜0.05）,治疗组患者术后CCK浓度较术前无明显改变（P＞0.05）,术后试验组患者较对照组血清CCK浓度明显升高,两组比较有显著性差异（P＜0.05）.结论 贲门癌术后出现胆囊排空障碍,术后胆囊容积与术前相比明显增大.扶正利胆汤可以提高血清CCK浓度,改善术后胆囊容积,对于贲门癌术后的胆囊收缩障碍有一定的治疗作用.     

T4N (+)Ⅲ期食管胸中下段癌3DRT长期生存分析

目的 观察T₄N (+)Ⅲ期食管胸中下段癌IMRT长期生存情况及不良反应。方法 2004-2010年间300例T₄N (+)Ⅲ期食管中下段癌患者采用3DCRT 202例、IMRT 98例,常规分割照射剂量60 Gy。比较两种不同治疗方式的长期生存情况及不良反应。Kaplan Meier法计算生存率并Logrank法检验。结果 5、7年样本量分别为239、120例。3DCRT和IMRT组1、3、5、7年LC率分别为64.4%、40.6%、38.3%、34.2%和68.3%、55.3%、51.9%、51.9%(P=0.048),OS率分别为54.5%、19.8%、14.7%、10.9%和63.3%、34.7%、24.4%、20.3%(P=0.013)。分层分析显示年龄>65岁、放疗前食管造影长度>8.0 cm、CT最大横径>4.6 cm、GTV>60 cm³、邻近组织或器官受累、非手术 N₂期、未行化疗者,IMRT组OS率高于3DCRT组(P=0.022、0.003、0.022、0.034、0.016、0.044、0.047)。IMRT组GTVD_min、GTVD₁₀₀高于3DCRT组(P=0.000、0.000),脊髓D_max低于3DCRT组(P=0.000)。IMRT组急性放射性食管炎发生率明显高于3DCRT组,以轻度(1-2级)食管炎为著(P=0.000)。3DCRT组死于肿瘤局部因素的比率明显高于IMRT组(P=0.039)。结论 局部晚期食管胸中下段癌IMRT安全有效,LC率明显提高,正常组织保护良好,长期生存获益显著。基于回顾分析结果还有待前瞻性随机对照研究的证实。