Clinical study of age-related sensory innervation of the anterior hard palate / 华西口腔医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#The present study aimed to explore the innervation of the anterior hard palatine and its relationship with individual development stage. Specifically, the effects of anesthesia on patients of different ages were observed, and neurodevelopment in the maxillofacial region was invesitgated. References that are helpful in selecting local anesthesia were provided.@*METHODS@#A total of 182 patients with mixed dentition were randomly divided into the nasopalatine nerve block and greater palatine nerve block groups. Then, 219 patients with permanent dentition were divided into an adolescent group (13-18 years old) and adult group (over 19 years old), all of whom underwent bilateral greater palatine nerve block. Palatal mucosal pain sensation was tested pre- and post-anesthesia with Von Frey hairs.@*RESULTS@#Among the children with mixed dentition, bilateral greater palatine nerve block tended to result in better anesthetic effects than nasopalatine nerve block (@*CONCLUSIONS@#The sensation of the anterior hard palatine seems mainly dominated by the greater palatine nerve until mixed dentition and gradually shifted to the nasopalatine nerve in conjunction with maxillary development and tooth replacement. Hence, the innervation of the anterior hard palatine induce a secondary development during the development of the maxilla.

Performance of Hepatitis B Core-Related Antigen Versus Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and Hepatitis B Virus DNA in Predicting HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative Chronic Hepatitis

BACKGROUND: We examined changes in hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) during the four sequential phases of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection: hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic infection (EPCI) and hepatitis (EPCH), followed by HBeAg-negative chronic infection (ENCI) and hepatitis (ENCH). We compared the performance of serum HBcrAg, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and HBV DNA in predicting EPCH and ENCH. METHODS: We enrolled 492 consecutive patients: 49 with EPCI, 243 with EPCH, 101 with ENCI, and 99 with ENCH. HBcrAg was detected by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassays. HBsAg and HBeAg were detected by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassays. HBV DNA was detected by real-time PCR. Predictive performance of HBcrAg, HBsAg, and HBV DNA was evaluated using ROC curves. RESULTS: Areas under ROC curves (AUCs) of HBcrAg, HBsAg, and HBV DNA for predicting EPCH were 0.738, 0.812, and 0.717, respectively; optimal cutoffs were ≤1.43×105 kU/mL, ≤1.89×104 IU/mL, and ≤3.97×107 IU/mL, with sensitivities and specificities of 66.3% and 77.6%, 65.0% and 93.9%, and 60.5% and 79.6%, respectively. AUCs of HBcrAg, HBsAg, and HBV DNA for predicting ENCH were 0.887, 0.581, and 0.978, respectively; optimal cutoffs were >26.8 kU/mL, >2.29×102 IU/mL, and >8.75×103 IU/mL, with sensitivities and specificities of 72.7% and 95.1%, 86.9% and 39.6%, and 89.9% and 92.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HBsAg and HBV DNA were the best predictors of EPCH and ENCH, respectively. HBcrAg is an important surrogate marker for predicting EPCH and ENCH.

Effects of Tongxinluo Capsules combined with routine treatment on Fib and MPV levels in appropriate patients for CABG surgery / 中成药

AIM To investigate the effects of Tongxinluo Capsules (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma,Hirudo,Scorpio,etc.) combined with routine treatment on fibrinogen (Fib) and mean platelet volume (MPV) levels in appropriate patients for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.METHODS One hundred and six patients were randomly assigned into control group (n =50) for routine treatment and observation group (n =56) for combination therapy of Tongxinluo Capsules and routine treatment.Both groups had their Fib and MPV levels evaluated,and safety compared.RESULTS Thirty,ninety days after the treatment,the two groups reported less incidence of composite cardiovascular events (refractory angina pectoris,relapsing myocardial infarction or death) (P ＜ 0.01),and the observation group had an even more obviously reduced plasma Fib level (P ＜0.01).The significantly decreased after-treatment MPV levels in the two groups were observed (P ＜ 0.05),and a most distinct decrease extent was found in the observation group after 90 d (P ＜ 0.05).For the bleeding events,the incidence rates of the observation group and the control group were 5.4％ and 4.0％,respectively.CONCLUSION For appropriate candidates of CABG surgery,Tongxinluo Capsules shows its efficacy in dissolving thrombus and improving clinical symptoms without serious bleeding risk.