Effects of capsaicin in temporomandibular joint arthritis in rats

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis was induced in female Lewis rats by unilateral injection of a suspension of heat-killed Mycobacterium butyricum in paraffin oil into the TMJ. Control rats received paraffin oil by the same route. Arthritic and control rats were pretreated either with capsaicin or denervation of the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve. Tissues were collected for neuropeptide extraction and analysed by radioimmunoassay and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. In all groups, the levels of substance P- (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide- (CGRP) and neuropeptide Y- (NPY) like immunoreactivity (LI) were higher in the trigeminal ganglia than in the TMJs. In control rats, capsaicin significantly lowered the levels of SP-LI in the trigeminal ganglia and TMJ, but not CGRP-LI and NPY-LI. In the arthritic rats, capsaicin pretreatment significantly lowered the SP-LI and CGRP-LI in the trigeminal ganglia and TMJ, but not the NPY-LI. In the trigeminal ganglia the unilateral denervation significantly lowered SP-LI in control rats, and in arthritic rats SP-LI and CGRP-LI. On the denervated side of the arthritic TMJ, NPY-LI, SP-LI and CGRP- LI were significantly lowered as compared to the arthritic control rats and to the contralateral side. In this rat model, pretreatment with capsaicin and surgical denervation decreased the neuropeptide content in the trigeminal ganglia and the TMJ. The results clearly demonstrate a close interaction between increased neuropeptide release from sensory and sympathetic neurones after induction of arthritis in the rat.     

Neuropeptide levels in the basal ganglia of aged common marmosets following prolonged treatment with MPTP

Summary Aged common marmosets were treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP; 0.5–2.0 mg/kg/week i.p.) for 16 or 24 weeks, observed for a total of 30 weeks and then killed for measurement of biochemical pramaters in basal ganglia. The MPTP treatment induced a marked depletion in dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid levels in the caudate nucleus and putamen. In contrast, the concentrations of five neuropeptides: [Met⁵]-enkephalin, [Leu⁵]-enkephalin, cholecystokinin, substance P and neurotensin as measured by a combined HPLC/RIA method, remained unaltered in all basal ganglia regions examined. Enkephalin precursor levels, as reflected by cryptic [Met⁵]-enkephalin content, were increased in the putamen, but not in the caudate nucleus, as a consequence of MPTP administration. Cryptic [Leu⁵]-enkephalin content remained unchanged in the striatum of MPTP treated marmosets. Overall, these results suggest an increase in striatal [Met⁵]-enkephalin release following chronic MPTP treatment of aged marmosets. However, the chronic treatment of aged marmosets with MPTP does not reproduce the neuropeptide alterations characteristic of Parkinson's disease.     

足底深支或(和)第一跖背动脉逆行足背岛状皮瓣的临床应用

目的探索足部远端软组织缺损修复的较佳方法。方法采用足底深支或(和)第1跖背动脉逆行足背岛状皮瓣对6例足部远端软组织缺损创面进行修复。结果6例患者均一次性修复,软组织缺损最大面积8cm×6cm,术后随访1~4年,足部功能与外观均较满意。结论足底深支或(和)第1跖背动脉逆行足背岛状皮瓣血管解剖比较恒定,操作简单,是修复足远端软组织缺损的较好方法。     

背根神经节内P物质、降钙素基因相关肽免疫阳性神经元与阴茎包皮系带感觉信息的传递

目的:探讨背根神经节(DRG)内P物质(SP)、降钙素基因相关肽(CGRP)免疫阳性神经元与阴茎包皮系带感觉信息传递之间的关系。方法:通过荧光金(FG)逆行标记对大鼠阴茎包皮系带内神经末梢的来源作追踪定位,并结合SP、CGRP免疫荧光标记法,研究大鼠DRG内FG标记阳性神经元中SP、CGRP免疫阳性神经元的形态和分布。结果:FG逆行标记结果发现,大鼠阴茎包皮系带内的神经末梢起源于第6腰髓对应的背根神经节(L6-DRG)和第1骶髓对应的背根神经节(S1-DRG)的神经元。对这些神经元分别作SP、CGRP免疫荧光标记后发现,标记细胞大小不等,分别呈深红色和深绿色,沿神经束成行排列或散在分布。FG/SP、FG/CGRP双标记阳性细胞均为中小型,其数量分别占FG逆行标记阳性细胞总数的1/3和1/2,FG/SP/CGRP三标记阳性细胞占FG逆行标记阳性细胞总数的1/5。结论:大鼠L6-DRG和S1-DRG内的SP、CGRP免疫阳性神经元可能参与阴茎包皮系带感觉信息的传递。     

掌背动脉逆行岛状筋膜瓣修复手部皮肤缺损

目的:介绍掌背动脉逆行筋膜瓣修复手部皮肤缺损的临床应用。方法:采用第二、第三掌背动脉逆行岛状筋膜瓣分别修复手部皮肤缺损10例。皮肤缺损面积2.0cm×3.0cm-3.0cm×5.0cm。结果:10例筋膜瓣移位均成活,效果满意。结论:应用第二、三掌背动脉逆行岛状筋膜瓣移植是治疗手部皮肤缺损一种简单有效的手术方法。     

Dorsal inlay graft urethroplasty for primary hypospadiac repair

OBJECTIVE: Tubularized incised plate urethroplasty has become a popular technique for repairing distal and proximal hypospadias in many institutions. Dorsal inlay graft urethroplasty has been used in our institution since 2003 to reduce the risk of meatal stenosis. In the present study, we evaluated the results of the dorsal inlay graft procedure. METHODS: A total of 28 patients with no deep groove and no severe curvature underwent one-stage urethroplasty using an inner preputial-based dorsal inlay graft. The medical records of all patients were retrospectively reviewed with regard to complication rate and cosmetic appearance. RESULTS: Mean patient age at surgery was 21 months (range, 14 months to 4.6 years). Preoperatively the urethral meatus was coronal in two cases, distal shaft in 17, proximal shaft in six and penoscrotal in three. Nine patients required testosterone therapy before surgery. Mean operative time was 200 min (range, 154-249 min). Mean length of inlay graft was 20.9 mm (range, 12-30 mm). In all patients, a straight penis was achieved without dorsal plication of the corposa cavernosa, and the neomeatus with a slit-like appearance was positioned at the glans tip. At a mean of 22 months of follow up, a urethrocutaneous fistula developed in only one patient (3.6%), requiring repair surgery 6 months after urethroplasty. No patient had meatal stenosis, neourethral stricture or urethral diverticulum along the inlay graft. CONCLUSION: Dorsal inlay graft urethroplasty is an effective method for hypospadiac repair and leads to good cosmetic outcome with low risk of complications.     

老年人根管治疗疗效的相关因素

目的:研究老年人根管治疗疗效及其影响因素.方法:对56例65岁以上老年人,根管治疗后2年以上的126颗牙齿进行检查,按治疗后年限分3组:2～3年组,4～5年组,6年以上组.应用根尖周指数(Periodicalindex)评定X线片和综合临床检查,对其治疗进行评价.结果:老年人根管治疗成功率为72.2%;三组间根管治疗成功率差异无显著性.恰填根管治疗的成功率(82.2%)比欠填和超填的成功率(47.2%)要高;恰填病例中,冠方修复体质量好的患牙比质量差的患牙根尖周炎发病率低(25.7%和58.4%);去除欠填和超填病例后,桩冠修复患牙的根管治疗成功率为58.8%,而未做桩冠修复的患牙成功率为87.5%.结论:根充质量、冠方修复体质量、桩冠修复是影响老年人根管治疗疗效的主要因素.     

根管治疗术远期疗效的影响因素

根管治疗术（root canal therapy,RCT）是治疗牙髓病、根尖周病的主要方法.影响根管治疗术远期疗效的因素较多,而RCT前根尖周状态和根充位置是两大主要因素.     

Susceptibility of Nd:YAG laser-irradiated root surfaces in replanted teeth to external inflammatory resorption

Abstract— NdYAG laser-induced modification of the root surface may inhibit development of external inflammatory resorption in replanted teeth. This study tested this hypothesis in vivo. The pulp chambers of six mandibular premolars in each of two dogs were accessed, inoculated with plaque, and sealed (Groups 1, 2). Two additional premolars in each dog were endodontically treated without inoculation (Groups 3, 4). After 2 weeks, teeth were hemisected and extracted. Each root had a 2times3 mm surface area denuded of cementum on the buccal and lingual surface. In Groups 1 (n= 12 roots) and 3 (n=4), the denuded surfaces were wiped with 15% EDTA, coated with black ink, and irradiated with Nd:YAG laser (0.75 W, 15 ppc, 300 pm tip, 20 s). In Groups 2 (n= 12) and 4 (n= 4), the surfaces were wiped with 15% EDTA, and rinsed with sterile saline for 20 s. Roots were replanted within 5 min. The dogs were perfwion-euthanised 10 weeks after replantation. Block specimens were removed, decalcified, embedded and horizontally sectioned (6 pm) at 180-pm intervals, resulting in 10 to 14 cross-sections of each root. From these, the middle five consecutive sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and observed by light microscopy for occurrence of surface, inflammatory and replacement resorption on the denuded surfaces. No obvious differences were noted between the laser-irradiated and non-irradiated surfaces. Inflammatory resorption was frequent in Groups 1 and 2, and absent in Groups 3 and 4. Replacement resorption was minimal in Groups 1 and 2, and frequent in Groups 3 and 4. Differences between Groups 1 and 2, and between Groups 3 and 4 were not significant, whereas the differences between the two pairs of groups were statistically significant (chi-square and two-way ANOVA, P>0.006). These results did not support the hypothesis, and questioned the clinical validity of the surface modification in NdYAG laser-irradiated den-tin. Therefore, the clinical application of NdYAG laser to the root surfaces of replanted teeth is not warranted.     

Pressure distribution and perceived comfort in casual footwear

The aim of this investigation was to establish the relationship between short-term perceived comfort and pressure distribution on the dorsal and plantar surfaces of the foot, while walking in a range of commercially available casual footwear. The study was carried out in the biomechanics laboratory of Manchester Metropolitan University using 15 male subjects without foot pathology. Perceived upper and plantar comfort were measured using a specially designed questionnaire, while dorsal and plantar pressure distributions were measured using a rectangular sensor pad recording at 30 Hz and a Mikro-EMED insole recording at 100 Hz respectively. Analysis of variance tests were used to determine differences in perceived comfort and pressure distribution between three pairs of shoes. The findings of this study suggest that an increase in total plantar force and force-time integral may relate to a decrease in perceived plantar comfort. For the three shoes examined in this study, overall peak plantar pressure, the pressure-time integral, and total plantar area did not appear to be linked to perceived plantar comfort. Findings for the shoe upper indicate that decreased dorsal forces and pressures may be related to decreased upper comfort. These findings suggest that the measurement of pressure distribution at the foot-shoe interface could be a useful tool in identifying the causes of discomfort in footwear.