Brucella peritonitis and leucocytoclastic vasculitis due to Brucella melitensis.

Brucellosis is a multisystemic disease that rarely leads to a fatal outcome. While reticuloendothelial system organs are mostly affected, peritonitis and posthepatitic cirrhosis are also complications of brucellosis, though they are very rare. Brucella spp. can also trigger immunological reactions. We report a case of brucellosis with peritonitis, renal failure and leucocytoclastic vasculitis caused by Brucella melitensis, which led to a fatal outcome. Brucellosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of vasculitic diseases, especially in endemic areas.     

Inhibition of dentin matrix‐bound cysteine cathepsins by potassium fluoride

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cysteine cathepsins (CCs) can break down unprotected type I collagen fibrils in dentin matrix. This study investigated the use of potassium fluoride (KF) as a potential inhibitor of MMPs and CCs in dentin. Demineralized dentin beams were divided into groups (n = 10 in each group) and incubated in artificial saliva (AS, control), either alone or with one of seven concentrations of KF (6–238 mM fluoride) for 1, 7, and 21 d. After 21 d, all groups were further aged in AS for 6 months. Total MMP activity was screened using the colorimetric MMP assay. The activities of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 were investigated using gelatin zymography. At the end of each incubation, changes in loss of dry mass and CC‐mediated or total dissolution of collagen peptides were measured via precision weighing, C‐terminal crosslinked telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), and hydroxyproline (HYP) assays. The beams were examined using scanning electron microscopy. After 21 d, total MMP activities, dry mass loss, and CTX release for the groups exposed to 179 and 238 mM fluoride were significantly lower compared with the control group. After 6 months, all groups showed similar total MMP activity, dry mass loss, and HYP release, and CTX levels were significantly lower when the fluoride concentration was ≥24 mM. Calcium fluoride (CaF₂)‐like precipitates were observed over the beams. In summary, KF significantly inhibited the catalytic activity of dentin matrix‐bound CCs but did not seem to be effective for MMP‐mediated activity.     

The evaluation of MTA and Biodentine as a pulpotomy materials for carious exposures in primary teeth

Clinical Oral Investigations - This study examined the effects of MTA and Biodentine on the clinical and radiographic success rates of pulpotomies performed on primary teeth with carious pulp...     

Increased inflammatory markers are associated with obesity and not with target organ damage in newly diagnosed untreated essential hypertensive patients

The aim of this study was to investigate whether inflammatory markers are associated with hypertensive end organ damage or obesity in patients with hypertension. Seventy newly diagnosed essential hypertensive patients (29 men and 41 women aged 49.6 ± 9.5 y) and 25 age-sex-matched normotensive subjects (12 men and 13 women aged 45.8 ± 7.3 y) were asked about their family history of hypertension and smoking habits, and body mass index (BMI) was recorded and blood samples were taken to measure fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), and homocysteine levels. In hypertensive patients, creatinine clearance, urinary albumin extraction, and left ventricular mass index were determined. Hypertensive patients had significantly higher BMIs and inflammatory markers when compared with normotensive healthy controls. The CRP was positively associated with BMI (P < .05), diastolic blood pressure (P < .05), fibrinogen (P < .01), urinary albumin extraction (P < .01), and left ventricular mass index (P < .05). The BMI and serum fibrinogen level were independently associated with CRP. The effect of inflammation on the development of hypertensive end organ damage may be associated with obesity, so that control of obesity may eliminate the inflammatory state in hypertensive patients and also hypertensive end organ damage.     

急性脑卒中后脑诱发电位失匹配负波的变化观察

目的观察急性脑卒中后患者脑诱发电位失匹配负波的变化特点。方法对70例脑卒中患者和40例正常人进行失匹配负波（MMN）检查。结果与正常对照组比较，脑卒中患者脑诱发电位的MMN潜伏期延长、波幅降低，2组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论脑卒中患者存在认知功能损害，MMN是敏感的检测工具。     

Application of concentrated growth factor and epidermal growth factor in the field of oral and maxillofacial soft and hard tissue injury repair北大核心

BACKGROUND: Oral and maxillofacial region is a sensitive part of beauty in appearance, and its damage often involves both soft and hard tissues. Concentrated growth factor and recombinant human epidermal growth factor can promote the repair and regeneration of local soft and hard tissue injury, which has become a new research hotspot in recent years. OBJECTIVE: To review the research progress and application of concentrated growth factor and recombinant human epidermal growth factor in the repair of soft and hard tissue injury in oral and maxillofacial region, and discuss the limitations of current research and the possibility of their combined application in the future. METHODS: The English search terms were “CGF, concentrated growth factor, rhEGF, recombinant human epidermal growth factor, tissue regeneration” and the Chinese search terms were “concentrated growth factor, epidermal growth factor, tissue engineering, tissue regeneration, oral and maxillofacial region”. Relevant articles about concentrated growth factor and recombinant human epidermal growth factor were searched in CNKI and PubMed databases. The retrieval time was from 2011 to 2021. Finally, 63 articles were selected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) In this paper, the biological characteristics and sources of concentrated growth factor and recombinant human epidermal growth factor were briefly introduced. The research progress and clinical application status of concentrated growth factor and recombinant human epidermal growth factor in promoting the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells related to the regeneration of soft and hard tissues in oral and maxillofacial regions were emphatically summarized. The limitations of current research and possible application directions in the future were discussed. (2) Concentrated growth factor contains a variety of growth factors and CD34+ cells, which can promote the growth, proliferation, migration and differentiation of a variety of tissue cells, especially stem cells, and play an important role in tissue injury repair. (3) Concentrated growth factor is widely used in implant surgery, autologous tooth transplantation, jaw cyst resection, gingival surgery, debridement and suture, which can relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and improve postoperative bone regeneration effect and aesthetic effect. (4) Recombinant human epidermal growth factor has a great development space in soft tissue and nerve regeneration. It has been proven that recombinant human epidermal growth factor can promote a variety of stem cells to differentiate into neuron-like cells, and also induce adipocytes to differentiate into epidermal cells. Most clinical studies suggest that recombinant human epidermal growth factor can promote healing of oral ulcers and reduce scar formation. (5) “Concentrated growth factor + recombinant human epidermal growth factor” combined with adipose-derived stem cells and other stem cells that can be easily obtained have the possibility of directional formation of oral and maxillofacial soft and hard tissue. In the future, it may fill the deep oral and maxillofacial tissue defects caused by trauma, tumor resection, and promote the repair and regeneration of damaged nerves. (6) Trying to use “concentrated growth factor + recombinant human epidermal growth factor” for refractory oral ulcers, periodontal surgery, dental implants, oral and maxillofacial trauma surgery is also a new way to improve oral and maxillofacial function and appearance. Collagen sponge and chitosan membrane may be used as carriers of “concentrated growth factor + recombinant human epidermal growth factor” to facilitate shaping and prolong the action time of the composite. © 2023, Publishing House of Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research. All rights reserved.     

T2DM患者脑诱发电位失匹配负波的变化观察

目的观察T2DM患者脑诱发电位失匹配负波的变化特点。方法对50例T2DM患者、40例正常人进行失匹配负波(MMN)检查。结果与正常对照组比较,T2DM患者脑诱发电位的MMN潜伏期延长、波幅降低,2组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论T2DM患者存在认知功能损害,MMN是敏感的检测工具。     

Effects of multiple sclerosis on respiratory functions

OBJECTIVES: To measure respiratory functions of ambulatory patients with multiple sclerosis and compare the results with expected values from healthy general population data. Further, to study the correlation of respiratory function impairment with the multiple sclerosis-induced disability level. SUBJECTS: Thirty-eight patients with definite diagnosis of multiple sclerosis from the multiple sclerosis outpatient clinic. METHODS: The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores (mean 4.34+/-1.39) were evaluated to measure disability level. Respiratory functions tested in the laboratory included spirometric (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC), maximal inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) mouth pressure measurements. Patients were clinically assessed using a pulmonary dysfunction index (PDI) and dyspnoea index; various breathing features were also recorded. RESULTS: With respect to expected values from healthy general population, important decreases were found in mouth pressures with MIP (77%+/-23%, p approximately equal to 0) and MEP (60%+/-13%, p approximately equal to 0) while spirometric measures were significantly but less affected (FVC 94%+/-12%, p < 0.01, FEV1 91%+/-16%, p < 0.001). FEV1/FVC ratios were normal. Notable increases in PDI (5.58+/-0.68, p approximately equal to 0) and dyspnoea index (0.32+/-0.47, p approximately equal to 0) were observed. Significant relationships (p < 0.01) between respiratory function impairment and the multiple sclerosis disability level could be detected for FVC, MEP and PDI. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple sclerosis clearly impairs respiratory functions; maximal mouth pressures are more severely reduced. This impairment increases with multiple sclerosis-induced disability level but is found to be independent from duration of disease.