[A two-dimensional photographic and three-dimensional digital dental model comparative analysis in maxillary anterior teeth].

Objective: To assess the accuracy of two-dimensional (2D) photographs in measuring esthetic parameters of the maxillary anterior teeth by comparing them with measurements obtained from three-dimensional (3D) dental models. Methods: A total of one hundred volunteers (49 males, 51 females, aged 18-23 years) were recruited from School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University from January to February 2024. 3D digital models of their dentitions were obtained using an intraoral scanner, and standardized frontal 2D intraoral photographs were captured with a digital camera. The lengths, widths and width/length ratio of the bilateral incisors, lateral incisors and canines were measured on both the 3D digital models and the 2D intraoral photographs. The width ratios of adjacent maxillary anterior were also calculated on the 2D intraoral photographs and the frontal view of 3D digital models. Results: The widths of lateral incisors [(5.85±0.60) mm] and canines [(4.73±0.71) mm] and the lengths of canines [(8.72±0.96) mm] in the 2D intraoral photographs were significantly lower than those in 3D digital models [(6.65±0.59), (7.76±0.60), (8.90±0.86) mm] (t=-18.24, P<0.001; t=-54.43, P<0.001; t=-4.40, P<0.001), while there were no significant differences in the lengths and widths of the other teeth (P>0.05). The width/length ratios measured from the 2D intraoral photographs for the lateral incisors and canines (0.74±0.08, 0.55±0.08) were significantly lower than those measured in the 3D digital models (0.84±0.09, 0.88±0.09) (t=-19.68, P<0.001; t=-50.21, P<0.001), and the width/length ratio of the central incisors showed no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The width ratios of canines/lateral incisors and lateral incisors/central incisors measured on the 2D intraoral photographs (0.72±0.06, 0.85±0.11) were significantly smaller than those measured in the frontal view of 3D digital models (0.75±0.06, 0.89±0.11) (t=-9.31, P<0.001; t=-6.58, P<0.001). Conclusions: There is a difference between 2D and 3D measurement results of teeth in the esthetic area and the magnitude of the difference varies with their position in the dental arch. When analyzing the measurement of the anterior teeth, it is necessary to choose the appropriate method according to the target tooth position.

[Cost-effectiveness analysis on colorectal cancer screening program].

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of colorectal cancer screening program in different age groups from the view of health economics. Methods: The screening compliance rates, detection rates in different age groups were calculated by using the data from colorectal cancer screening program in Jiashan county, Zhejiang province. The differences in indicator among age groups were analyzed with χ(2) test or trend χ(2) test. The ratios of cost to the number of case were calculated according to cost statistics. Results: The detection rates of immunochemical fecal occult blood test (iFOBT) positivity, advanced adenoma and colorectal cancer and early stage cancer increased with age, while the early diagnosis rates were negatively associated with age. After exclusion the younger counterpart, the cost-effectiveness of individuals aged >50 years could be reduced by 15%-30%. Conclusion: From health economic perspective, it is beneficial to start colorectal cancer screening at age of 50 years to improve the efficiency of the screening.

Analysis of ROP signaling in the leaf epidermis of mutant tomato with low-energy ion beam.

The importance of the ROP small GTPase signaling pathway in the regulation of cellular polarity growth in eukaryotes has been thoroughly studied. In this study, we examined the LeROP small GTPase (related to Arabidopsis thaliana genome LeROP GTPase in tomato) signaling of cell polarity growth in the mutant (M-1) tomato. Interestingly, we detected expansive growth of epidermis cells in M-1, in which the leaves appeared slightly lobed shaped. However, we observed jigsaw puzzle shaped and deeply lobed shaped leaves in wild-type leaf epidermis cells. The t-test showed significant difference (P < 0.05). Based on previous studies of the AtROP gene in Arabidopsis leaf epidermis cells, we hypothesized that the growth of mutant M-1 tomato leaf epidermis cell is related to AtROP gene signal transmission. The results of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed the expression of LeROP2, LeROP4, and LeROP7 in M-1 mutants were stronger than in wild-type cells. At the flowering stage, LeROP2 GTPase showed no expression in wild-type cells, but was expressed in mutant cells. This study revealed a link between the low-energy ion beam and the ROP GTPase signaling pathway in tomato. In addition, the ROP gene changes analyzed suggest a new mechanism for mutations following low-energy ion beam implantation.

Effect of betaine on growth hormone pulsatile secretion and serum metabolites in finishing pigs.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary betaine (0%, 0.125%) on growth performance, growth hormone (GH) pulsatile secretion and serum metabolites in crossbred finishing pigs. Three replications of eight pigs (four barrows and four gilts) were used for each treatment, and blood samples for the determination of GH pulsatile secretion were collected every 15 min for 3 h. The results showed that betaine supplementation resulted in 5.45% (p<0.05) increase in average daily gain, whereas average daily feed intake and feed to gain ratio were not affected. Serum basal GH level, mean GH level and GH pulse amplitude were elevated by 41.79% (p<0.01), 48.98% (p<0.01) and 35.05% (p<0.05), respectively, with betaine treatment, but GH pulse frequency and pulse duration remained unchanged (p>0.05). Serum urea nitrogen concentration in pigs fed betaine was 21.58% lower than that of controls (p<0.01), whereas total protein level was significantly increased with betaine supplementation (p<0.05). The study suggests that betaine could promote growth by enhancing GH secretion in finishing pigs.

[A prospective epidemiological investigation on the effect of China-mode attenuated live vaccine against hepatitis A in the population of Liu Zhou].

An 24-month prospective epidemiological investigation on the results of China-mode Hepatitis A attenuated live vaccine against hepatitis A by random group sampling was carried out. The incidence of case group was 15.91/10(5) (5/31421), the incidence of control group was 95.92/10(5) (30/ 31277) which showed a significant difference. In case group 2081 persons who missed vaccination, there was one person developed hepatitis A, making the incidence 48.05/10(5). In control group 760 persons were vaccinated by mistake and there was no case developed in this sub-population. There were 644 cases of hepatitis A in the external control group, the incidence was 90.14/10(5). Data showed that there was no significant difference among external control group, control group and persons from case group who missed vaccination. Comparing the data from case group and from the above 3 groups, the protective rates were 82.35%, 83.41% and 66.89%. respectively. When conparing the data from persons who had been mistakenly vaccinated in control group, there was no significant difference being noticed.