Antisense oligonucleotide eluforsen improves CFTR function in F508del cystic fibrosis

BackgroundCystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. In this study we assessed the effect of antisense oligonucleotide eluforsen on CFTR biological activity measured by Nasal Potential Difference (NPD) in patients with the most common mutation, F508del-CFTR.MethodsThis multi-centre, exploratory, open-label study recruited adults with CF homozygous or compound heterozygous for the F508del-CFTR mutation. Subjects received intranasal eluforsen three times weekly for 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was the within-subject change from baseline in total chloride transport (Cl-free+iso), as assessed by NPD. Secondary endpoints included within-subject change from baseline in sodium transport.ResultsIn the homozygous cohort (n = 7; per-protocol population), mean change (90% confidence interval) in Cl-free+iso was ?3.0 mV (?6.6; 0.6) at day 15, ?4.1 mV (?7.8; ?0.4, p = .04) at day 26 (end of treatment) and ? 3.7 mV (?8.0; 0.6) at day 47. This was supported by improved sodium transport as assessed by an increase in average basal potential difference at day 26 of +9.4 mV (1.1; 17.7, p = .04). The compound heterozygous cohort (n = 7) did not show improved chloride or sodium transport NPD values. Eluforsen was well tolerated with a favourable safety profile.ConclusionsIn F508del-CFTR homozygous subjects, repeated intranasal administration of eluforsen improved CFTR activity as measured by NPD, an encouraging indicator of biological activity.     

何天有教授“靶向针刺法”治疗中风后吞咽障碍的临床研究

目的:研究何天有教授"靶向针刺法"治疗中风后吞咽障碍的临床疗效。方法:将70例患者按照住院顺序随机分为2组,每组35例。观察组采用何天有教授"靶向针刺法"配合康复训练治疗,对照组给予吞咽障碍治疗仪配合康复训练治疗。分别于治疗前、治疗20次后利用电视透视吞咽功能检查(VFSS)进行吞咽功能评估及比较临床疗效。结果:VFSS评分2组治疗后与同组治疗前比较,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05),治疗后2组比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。有效率观察组为91.43%,对照组为80.00%,2组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:何天有教授"靶向针刺法"配合康复训练是治疗中风后吞咽障碍的一种有效方法。     

化脓性颞下颌关节炎病原菌的分离培养和鉴定

目的 分离、培养和保存化脓性颞下颌关节炎的病原菌，了解其种类，探索合适的培养条件。方法 对近5a就诊的30例化脓性颞下颌关节炎患者，抽取关节液，进行涂片、革兰染色，分别采用血琼脂培养基、室温保存菌种培养基、乳酪消化大豆胨琼脂(TSA)和乳酪消化大豆胨肉汤(TSB)等4种培养基在需氧和厌氧条件下进行细菌培养，并对培养出的细菌进行生化鉴定。结果 关节液涂片细菌检出率为50％(15／30)，细菌培养阳性率为17％(5／30)，培养出的病原菌主要为腐生葡萄球菌和金黄色葡萄球菌，所用的培养基以TSB为佳。结论 作者成功地分离出2种病原菌，其中腐生葡萄球菌为首次发现，但检出率较低，尚需进一步完善培养技术。     

Tensile bond strength of acrylic resin denture teeth to a microwave- or heat-processed denture base

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Fracture of acrylic resin prosthetic teeth from acrylic resin denture bases can be a problem for some patients. The optimal combination of acrylic resin denture tooth, denture base material, and processing method is not known. Purpose. The objective of this study was to compare the tensile bond strengths of heat- and microwave-polymerized acrylic resins among 4 types of acrylic resin denture teeth. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Heat-polymerized (Lucitone 199) and microwave-polymerized (Acron MC) acrylic resins were used. Four types of acrylic resin denture teeth (IPN, SLM, Vitapan, and SR-Orthotyp-PE) were milled to a fixed diameter according to ADA specification no. 15. Ten specimens of each tooth type were processed to each of the denture base materials according to the manufacturers' instructions. Ten additional resin control specimens without teeth also were fabricated. Specimens were thermocycled and tested for strength until fracture with a custom alignment device. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance and Duncan's multiple range test. A scanning electron microscope was used to identify adhesive and cohesive failures within debonded specimens. RESULTS: The mean force required to fracture the specimens ranged from 5.3 +/- 3.01 to 21.6 +/- 5.2 MPa for the microwave-polymerized base and 11.2 +/- 3.0 to 39.1 +/- 5.1 MPa for the heat-polymerized base. The most common failure was cohesive within the denture tooth. With each base material, Orthotyp and IPN teeth exhibited the highest bond strengths; SLM and Orthotyp bond strengths were similar. In general, heat-polymerized groups failed cohesively within the denture base resin or the tooth, and microwave-polymerized groups failed adhesively at either the ridge lap or occlusal surface of the denture tooth. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, the results suggest that the type of denture base material and denture tooth selected for use may influence the tensile bond strength of the tooth to the base. Selection of more compatible combinations of base and resin teeth may reduce the number of prosthesis fractures and resultant repairs.     

A comparison of student performance in a simulation clinic and a traditional laboratory environment: three-year results

With simulation clinics, dental schools have improved their preclinical laboratories to provide a more realistic clinical teaching environment. However, there is very little data to support the assumption that these facilities actually improve student performance of technical skills. This study compared the scores of two fixed preparations for full cast crowns by third-year dental students. One of the preparations was made in the simulation clinic manikin, and the other was prepared on the bench top. Three prosthodontic faculty members scored the preparations in the areas of occlusal reduction, axial reduction, resistance and retention, and margination. The study also compared the performance of three classes of dental students: one class with no experience in the simulation clinic, one with one year of experience, and one with two years of experience. The amount of time since completing the fixed prosthodontics course among the students was also evaluated. This was done because the third-year students at the University of Iowa rotate through a series often-week clerkships rather than a comprehensive care model. (Therefore, not all students start clinical prosthodontics at the same time.) In addition, all student participants completed a questionnaire that addressed their perception of their clinical readiness prior to treating their first fixed prosthodontic patient. When we compared the classes of years 1, 2, and 3 by average preparation score, we found a significant difference among the scores for teeth prepared on the bench top (p = 0.0001) but not for the teeth prepared in the mannequin (p = 0.1176). For Year 1 (no simulation clinic experience), the amount of elapsed time following completion of the fixed prosthodontic course was not significant for the tooth prepared on the bench top or in the manikin (p = 0.57113 and 0.0661). For Year 2 (one year of simulation clinic experience), the elapsed time following completion of the fixed prosthodontic course was significant for the tooth prepared on the bench top (p = 0.0482), but it was not significant for the tooth prepared in the manikin (p = 0.2968). For Year 3 (two years of simulation clinic experience), the amount of elapsed time following completion of the fixed prosthodontic course was not significant for the tooth prepared on the bench top or in the manikin (p = 0.7275 and 0.6007). The questionnaire revealed that, in general, the majority of the students perceived their clinical readiness as more than adequate. These results are mixed in that students with more bench top experience scored better on the bench top, and students with more manikin experience scored equally in both environments.     

带有双侧部分输尿管的猪膀胱模型在宫腔镜培训中的应用

目的　为获得最大程度模拟人类子宫的宫腔镜精细电切培训用模型。 方法　获取带有双侧部分输尿管的猪膀胱,指导学员进行宫腔镜手术技巧的培训（实验组模型）,同期使用传统的培训模型四腔猪心（对照组模型）,考核为双向性,指导教师以考核内容进行打分,学员则填写调查问卷来评价模型。 结果　3站宫腔镜手术模拟培训中,两组模型训练学员的成绩及学员对模型的评价均有统计学差异（P<0.05）,认为膀胱模型膨起度良好,视野清晰,便于辨识解剖结构,能够更逼真模拟宫腔实际操作的困难状况。 结论　猪膀胱因其最大程度模拟人类子宫及其术中实际困难情境,是宫腔镜技术培训的理想模型。     

How effective are interventions in improving dietary behaviour in low- and middle-income countries? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Several interventions encouraging people to change their diet have been tested in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) but these have not been meta-synthesised and it is not known which elements of these interventions contribute to their effectiveness. The current review addressed these issues. Randomised controlled trials of dietary interventions in LMICs were eligible and identified via eight publication databases. Elements of both the intervention and comparison groups (e.g., behaviour change techniques (BCTs), delivery mode), participant characteristics and risk of bias were coded. Random effects meta-analysis of 76 randomised controlled trials found, on average, small- to medium-sized but highly heterogeneous improvement in dietary behaviour following an intervention. Small and homogeneous improvements were found for BMI/weight, waist- and hip-circumference, with medium-sized, but heterogeneous, improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol. Although many BCTs have yet to be tested in this context, meta-regressions suggested some BCTs (action planning, self-monitoring of outcome(s) of behaviour; demonstration of behaviour) as well as individually randomised trials, adult- or hypertensive-samples and lack of blinding were associated with larger dietary behaviour effect sizes. Interventions to encourage people from LMICs to change their diet produce, on average, small-to-medium-sized effects. These effects may possibly be increased through the inclusion of specific BCTs and other study elements.