睫状神经营养因子涂层的聚羟基乙酸聚乳酸神经导管修复犬胫神经缺损

目的 探讨应用脉冲等离子体方法涂层睫状神经营养因子（CNTF）的聚羟基乙酸聚乳酸（PGLA）神经导管修复犬胫冲经缺损的疗效。方法 18只杂交犬．每只犬左后肢制成胫神经2．5cm缺损模型，随机分别应用三种方法修复。A组：应用脉冲等离子体方法涂层CNTF的PGLA神经导管；B组：单纯PGLA神经咩管；C组：自体神经。应用苏木精-伊红和Masson染色、S-100免疫组化染色、神经电生理及神经轴突计数方法评价神经再生效果。同时动态记录犬行走步态变化，实验观察期3个月。结果 神经导管血管化良好且大部分降解吸收，再生神经均已通过所有神经导管。A组与C组的神经传导速度和神经轴突计数差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05），而A组和C组的数据均优于B组（P〈0．05）。A组和C组的犬基本恢复正常行走步态，而B组犬仍有跛行。结论 脉冲等离子体方法涂层CNTF的PGLA神经导管能有效修复犬2．5cm胫神经缺损，取得与自体神经相近的效果。     

溶栓干预犬脑栓塞后血浆u-PA和u-PAR水平变化的实验研究

目的观察尿激酶原(pro-UK)和尿激酶(UK)干预犬脑栓塞后血浆尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活剂(u-PA)和尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活剂受体(u-PAR)的变化,及其与溶栓效果的关系。方法自体动脉血凝固制备栓子,使用介入方法建立犬脑栓塞模型。栓塞2h后,分别用pro-UK和UK溶栓,分为A、B 2组,造影观察血管开通情况;实验前(0 h)、治疗后2h和3h时u-PA和u-PAR的变化。结果犬脑栓塞后2 h给予不同溶栓药处理,2 h后造影证实:A组6只中血管开通5只,B组6只中血管开通2只;A组溶栓后2h、3h血浆u-PA值比溶栓前(0h)升高(P<0.01),且2 h比3 h时u-PA值高(P<0.01);B组溶栓后2h、3h与0h时比较u-PA值无明显变化(P>0.05)。2组间2h、3h时u-PA值比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。2组间和2组内不同时间点血浆u-PAR水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论血浆u-PA在一定程度上反映了犬脑栓塞溶栓后纤溶系统的变化,血管开通比例较高,血浆u-PA增高明显。血浆u-PAR在pro-UK、UK溶栓后变化不大,与犬血管开通无明确关系。     

磁吻合技术在犬门静脉无缝线吻合中应用的组织学分析

目的:比较磁吻合技术(MCA)与传统缝合吻合犬门静脉的组织学差异。方法:选择健康中华田园犬18只,雌雄不限,月龄8～12个月,体重13.5～18.9 kg。电脑编号后随机分为MCA组( n＝9,切断门静脉,利用磁吻合环行端端吻合)和手工缝合组( n＝9,切断门静脉再手工缝合)。比较两组门静脉吻合...     

Comparing patient-centered outcomes and efficiency of space closure between nickel-titanium closed-coil springs and elastomeric power chains during orthodontic treatment:: A two-center,randomized clinical trial

ObjectivesTo compare patient-reported pain, discomfort, and difficulty in maintaining proper brushing between nickel-titanium closed-coil springs (CS) and elastomeric power chains (PC) when used for space closure. The secondary aims were to compare plaque control and efficiency of space closure between these two force delivery systems.Materials and MethodsA total of 48 patients who required extractions of upper first premolars and distal movement of upper canines had the CS randomly allocated to either the right or left side. Blinding was applied at data collection and analysis. Primary outcomes were pain intensity measured on visual analog scale, pain onset and duration, discomfort, and difficulty in maintaining proper brushing from the start of canine retraction at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks thereafter. Secondary outcomes were plaque scores and the rate of space closure.ResultsNo significant differences in mean pain scores, pain onset, and duration at different time intervals between CS and PC were observed. The CS side was significantly less comfortable than the PC (P < .0001) and more difficult to keep clean (P = .008). No significant differences in plaque scores were observed between CS and PC groups at any time interval. CS produced a faster rate of space closure than did PC (P = .008).ConclusionsCS were less tolerated than PC by patients but produced an average of 0.5 mm more movement than did the PC during the 12-week study period.     

The LASSIE MPS panel: Predicting externally visible traits in dogs for forensic purposes

Predicting the outward appearance of dogs via their DNA, also known as Canine DNA Phenotyping, is a young, emerging field of research in forensic genetics. The few previous studies published in this respect were restricted to the consecutive analysis of single DNA markers, a process that is time- and sample-consuming and therefore not a viable option for limited forensic specimens. Here, we report on the development and evaluation of a Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS) based molecular genetic assay, the LASSIE MPS Panel. This panel aims to predict externally visible as well as skeletal traits, which include coat color, coat pattern, coat structure, tail morphology, skull shape, ear shape, eye color and body size from DNA using 44 genetic markers in a single molecular genetic assay. A biostatistical naïve Bayes classification approach was applied to identify the most informative marker combinations for predicting phenotypes. Overall, the predictive performance was characterized by a very high classification success for some of the trait categories, and high to moderate success for others. The performance of the developed predictive framework was further evaluated using blind samples from three randomly selected dog individuals, whose appearance was well predicted.     

Development of formulae for dental age estimation using digital radiographs in the Mongolian population

This study aimed to examine the applicability of the pulp/tooth ratio (PTR) method for age estimation in Mongolian populations using panoramic radiographs and derive new regression formulae. Moreover, we aimed to assess the accuracy of these formulae in other subjects from the Mongolian population and compare them with the other formulae derived from different Asian populations.The total sample size of the study was 381. The formulae were derived from the examination of panoramic radiographs of 271 individuals aged 15–62 years. Following Cameriere’s method, PTR was calculated for the upper and lower canine teeth. Linear regression analyses were performed between the actual age and that obtained from upper-lower canine PTR and established formulae for age estimation. To verify the formulae, two types of test samples were collected: 73 panoramic radiographs and 37 periapical radiographs. The estimated age was calculated using our new formulae and three other formulae derived from Asian populations.The correlation coefficient between the actual age and that obtained by PTR was significantly negative for both canines. According to our new regression formulae, the differences between the estimated age and actual age showed a bell-shaped curve distribution in both test groups. While using the other formulae derived from the Asian population, the distribution patterns obtained were significantly different in the Mongolian population.This study was the first to examine the relationship between actual age and PTR in Mongolian population, and these results advance the field of forensic science in Mongolia.     

Effects of a novel recombinant Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone-1 vaccine on the reproductive function of mixed-breed dogs (Canis familiaris) in Taiwan

Immunocastration is an effective alternative to surgical castration for controlling the population of animals. As gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) regulates the reproductive endocrine system in mammals, it is a target antigen for vaccine formulation. Through this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of a recombinant subunit GnRH-1 vaccine for the immunocastration of the reproductive function of 16 mixed-breed dogs (Canis familiaris) provided voluntarily by different households. All the dogs were deemed clinically healthy prior to and during the experiment. A specific anti-GnRH immune response was detected at Week 4, which was maintained for at least 24 weeks after vaccination. Moreover, decreased levels of sexual hormones (testosterone as well as progesterone and estrogen, respectively) were observed in both male and female dogs. Estrous suppression was apparent in female dogs, and testicular atrophy and poor semen quality (concentration, abnormality, and viability) were observed in male dogs. In conclusion, the recombinant subunit GnRH-1 vaccine could successfully suppress fertility and delay the estrous cycle in canines. These results support the efficacy of the recombinant subunit GnRH-1 vaccine; thus, it is a suitable candidate for fertility control in dogs.     

Comparison of alveolar bone thickness and height after slow expansion using quad-helix or clear aligners

ObjectiveThe study was conducted to investigate the thickness and height of the alveolar bone of individual teeth after slow maxillary expansion (SME) with quad helix or clear aligner appliances and hypothesized that there is no difference in buccal alveolar bone thickness or heights in patients treated by either quad helix or clear aligners.Material and MethodsThis is a retrospective study; the records of 22 patients treated between December 2019 to April 2020 by dental arch expansion using either clear aligners or quad helix appliances were retrieved and studied. The results obtained through cone beam computed tomography (CBCTs) before and immediately after maxillary expansion (2 + 1 mm per side) were analyzed (11 in the Quad Helix group and 11 in the clear aligner). The data collected was analyzed using linear and angular measurements obtained through On-demand 3D App software. Furthermore, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 was used to present the findings by mean and standard deviations, and Scheffe’s test was applied for comparing forces.ResultsThe results showed that the mean age of patients in the clear aligner group and Quad Helix was 16.27 ± 0.56 years and 15.5 ± 1.53 years, respectively. There was no difference in buccal alveolar bone thickness or heights in patients treated by either quad helix or clear aligners. This is due to the findings that suggest that there was a decrease in bone height and bone width when treated with a quad helix as compared to clear alignment.ConclusionIt can be concluded that the quad helix SME treatment affects alveolar bone integrity; therefore, clear aligners might be better for treating patients than the quad helix.