Assessment of the Remediation Effect of Nano-hydroxyapatite in Exogenous Pb-contaminated Soil Using Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure and Soil Enzyme Activities

This study assessed the level of Pb in soil and five wild plant species (Calotropis procera, Datura alba, Parthenium hysterophorus, Cenchrus ciliaris and Ricinus communis) during all the four seasons. Two busy roads varying in age and traffic volume were selected i.e., Faisalabad–Sargodha road (FSR) and Pindi Bhattian to Lillah (M-2) in the Punjab, Pakistan. Results showed raised levels of Pb in both plants and soil samples along both roads. The range of Pb concentration in plants was 0.08–3.98 and 1.95–4.74 mg kg^??1 for soil. Higher Pb contamination was recorded along FSR road as compared to M-2. Among seasons, the higher Pb concentration was found during summer, probably due to very high temperature. Among all the plants studied, Calotropis procera accumulated the highest level (3.98 mg kg^??1 dry wt.) of Pb; Thus, it can be used as good biomonitor/phytoremediator at Pb contaminated areas.     

中西药治疗脉络膜新生血管性疾病疗效观察

目的:观察黄斑方联合抗氧化剂治疗脉络膜新生血管性疾病(CNV)的临床疗效。方法:对2004年至2015年就诊的31例(35只眼)视力、眼底彩照进行回顾性分析,并将视力与眼底形态学改变进行相关分析。结果:视力平均值治疗前与治疗后3、6、12个月时比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后3个月时与治疗后6个月时比较,差异也有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后6个月时与治疗后12个月时比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。CNV总面积平均值治疗前与治疗后3个月时比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);治疗前与治疗后6、12月时比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后3个月时与治疗后6、12个月时比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后6个月时与治疗后12个月时比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后12个月时视力提高19只眼(54.3%),视力稳定14只眼(40.0%),视力下降2只眼(5.7%)。CNV最大病灶面积与视力在治疗前无相关性,在治疗后3、6、12个月时均呈负相关。结论:黄斑方联合抗氧化剂治疗脉络膜新生血管性疾病能有效缩小病灶及减少荧光素渗漏。     

羟基磷灰石涂层—钛基牙种植体的动物植入实验

将５６枚等离子喷涂羟基磷灰石涂层－钛基牙种植体植入狗股骨干。分别在术后１、２、３、４个月时制取不脱钙标本切片，作组织学观察、显微Ｘ线摄影及计算机辅助植体－骨接触率测量。     

总义齿、覆盖义齿和种植覆盖义齿修复后咀嚼效率和下颌运动型的比较

目的　比较总义齿 (completedenture ,CD )、覆盖义齿 (completeoverdenture ,COD )和种植覆盖义齿 (implant supportedoverdenture ,IOD)修复后患者的咀嚼效率和下颌运动轨迹的差异。 方法　分别选取CD、COD和IOD修复后患者各 14名 ,在义齿正常戴用半年后测量患者的咀嚼效率和下颌运动轨迹。对下颌运动轨迹从规则程度、末端集中性、额状面的分型和咀嚼运动中的接触滑动4个方面进行评价 ,测试用食物为杏仁和小枣。结果　IOD组患者咀嚼枣和杏仁的效率均显著高于CD组 (P <0 0 1) ;COD组患者咀嚼杏仁的效率显著高于CD组 (P <0 0 1)。COD组患者咀嚼枣的效率高于CD组 ,且IOD组患者咀嚼枣和杏仁的效率高于COD组 ,但其间差异无显著性。IOD组患者下颌运动轨迹的规则程度显著优于CD组 (P <0 0 5 ) ,末端轨迹集中性也显著优于CD组 (P <0 0 1)。结论　IOD和COD修复有利于提高无牙颌患者或口内只保留个别残根患者的咀嚼效率。IOD修复患者较CD修复患者具有更加规则的下颌运动型。     

Characterization of the immunologic responses to human in vivo acquired enamel pellicle as a novel means to investigate its composition

Human acquired enamel pellicle is formed by molecules selectively adsorbed onto tooth surfaces. The present work describes the use of monoclonal antibody (mAb) technology as a novel approach to identify micro amounts of components present in pellicle. MAbs were obtained with reactivities against statherin, histatin, mucous glycoprotein 1(MGI), albumin, amylase and human immunoglobulins (Igs), indicating that these are pellicle components, which was further confirmed by immunoblotting. No mAbs against proline-rich proteins (PRPs), lysozyme, mucous glycoprotein 2 (MG2), carbonic anhydrase, lactoferrin or peroxidase were obtained, suggesting that these components are absent, present in low amounts, or exhibit low antigenicity. Further characterization of the binding epitopes of some of th e obtained anti-MGO, anti-statherin and anti-histatin mAbs were carried out and the biological relevance is discussed. The results open up the possibility that immunization with human pellicle and mAbs production can be employed to identify hitherto unknown constituents of pellicle.     

Testing responsiveness to change for the early childhood oral health impact scale (ECOHIS)

Abstract – Objectives: The Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) is a recently developed oral health‐related quality of life instrument designed to assess the impact of oral health problems in 0–5‐year‐old children. It has previously been validated as discriminative instrument. The goal of this study was to investigate the responsiveness to change of the ECOHIS. Methods: Data were collected from a convenience sample of 101 parents of 0–5‐year‐old children attending a hospital dental clinic for dental treatment. The ECOHIS was completed by parents prior to dental treatment and 2 weeks later. Subjects were also asked a global transition judgement concerning change between the second and first completion of the ECOHIS instrument. Responsiveness to change of the ECOHIS was analysed through: (i) a comparison of ECOHIS change scores with a global transition judgment by study subjects; (ii) an assessment of the statistical significance of within‐group change in scores over time for groups reporting improvement, stability and deterioration; (iii) an estimation of the ECOHIS’s sensitivity; and (iv) an investigation the effect size of the ECOHIS. Results: Of the 101 subjects recruited, 94 had full datasets. Their data were used for the analyses reported in this paper. Pre‐ and post‐treatment distributions of ECOHIS scores were strongly distributed towards no oral health impacts. Among the 94 subjects, 51.1% reported improvement, 42.6% reported no change and 6.4% reported deterioration following treatment, using the global transition judgement. The mean ECOHIS change scores for these three groups were ?0/9, +0.7 and +6.5 respectively, although none of the within‐group changes were statistically significant. The effect size for those reporting improvement was small (0.15) but for those reporting deterioration was moderate‐to‐large (0.69). Sensitivity ranged from 0.61–0.79 depending on the size of the cut‐off point, with a change of 3 points demonstrating the best sensitivity to false positive ratio (0.79 versus 0.41 respectively). Conclusion: In this sample with low levels of problems, the ECOHIS has demonstrated some limited ability to respond to change. Further work in a larger sample with higher levels of problems is needed to investigate the instrument’s ability to respond to change when it has occurred.     

Endoscope-assisted reduction of long-standing condylar dislocation

Endoscopy is widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders. This paper introduces arthro-endoscopy as a new method of treatment for temporomandibular joint dislocation. As this method is minimally invasive, it is suitable for medically compromised patients who cannot tolerate open surgery.     

Using NHANES oral health examination protocols as part of an esophageal cancer screening study conducted in a high-risk region of China

Background

The oral health status of rural residents in the People's Republic of China has not been extensively studied and the relationship between poor oral health and esophageal cancer (EC) is unclear. We aim to report the oral health status of adults participating in an EC screening study conducted in a rural high-risk EC area of China and to explore the relationship between oral health and esophageal dysplasia.

Methods

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) oral health examination procedures and the Modified Gingival Index (MGI) were used in a clinical study designed to examine risk factors for esophageal cancer and to test a new esophageal cytology sampling device. This study was conducted in three rural villages in China with high rates of EC in 2002 and was a collaborative effort involving investigators from the National Institutes of Health and the Cancer Institute of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Results

Nearly 17% of the study participants aged 40–67 years old were edentulous. Overall, the mean number of adjusted missing teeth (including third molars and retained dental roots) was 13.8 and 35% had 7 contacts or less. Women were more likely to experience greater tooth loss than men. The average age at the time of first tooth loss for those with no posterior functional contacts was approximately 41 years for men and 36 years for women. The mean DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) score for the study population was 8.5. Older persons, females, and individuals having lower educational attainment had higher DMFT scores. The prevalence of periodontal disease (defined as at least one site with 3 mm of attachment loss and 4 mm of pocket depth) was 44.7%, and 36.7% of the study participants had at least one site with 6 mm or more of attachment loss. Results from a parsimonious multivariate model indicate that participants with poor oral health wemore likely to have esophageal dysplasia (OR = 1.59; 95% CI 1.06, 2.39).

Conclusion

This report describes the first use of NHANES oral health protocols employed in a clinical study conducted outside of the United States. The extent and severity of poor oral health in this Chinese study group may be an important health problem and contributing factor to the prevalence of EC.     

Adhesive solutions: report of a case using multiple adhesive techniques in the management of enamel hypoplasia

Enamel hypoplasia is a common condition that may present a severe aesthetic problem. Although the teeth affected may not be particularly susceptible to caries, patients may request cosmetic improvement. Adhesive techniques may be useful in such situations. This paper discusses the management of a patient with enamel hypoplasia using a combination of adhesive systems including enamel- and dentine-bonded veneers, dentine-bonded crowns, a cantilever resin-retained bridge, bonded amalgam restorations and chairside tin plating. Where adhesion was contraindicated, conventionally retained crowns were used.