Comparative Outcomes of Block and Cancellous Iliac Bone Grafting in Older Unilateral Alveolar Cleft Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare osseous outcomes of block and cancellous iliac bone grafting in older unilateral alveolar cleft patients. DESIGN: Retrospective and observational follow-up study. SETTING: Cleft Lip and Palate Centre, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, China. PATIENTS: Forty-five nonsyndromic patients with unilateral complete alveolar cleft were enrolled in this study (25 patients in block bone graft group and 20 patients in cancellous bone graft group). INTERVENTIONS: In cancellous bone graft group, the alveolar cleft was filled with iliac cancellous bone particulate. In group of block bone graft, the harvested bone block was trimmed and fixed in alveolar defect. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A novel method was proposed to investigate the volume and density of residual bone graft at 1-week, 3- and 6-month, 1- and 2-year postoperatively based on cone beam computed tomography scans. RESULTS: No difference in bone graft volume was found between 2 groups at 1-week and 3-month postoperatively; however, the residual volume of block bone graft group was significantly larger than that of cancellous bone graft group at 6-month, 1- and 2-year postoperatively. The bone density of block bone graft group was lower at 1-week and 3-month postoperatively but was comparable at 6-month, 1- and 2-year postoperatively. Our method was reliable and accurate to identify the range of residual bone graft when the boundary of grafted bone could not be identified clearly. CONCLUSION: Block bone graft could achieve comparable bone density and retain a greater amount of residual bone comparing to cancellous bone graft.

[The expression of interferon-alpha in peripheral blood of patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome].

PURPOSE: To investigate the interferon-alpha level in peripheral blood of patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS), and explore preliminarily the correlation between pSS and interferon-alpha. METHODS: ELISA and real-time PCR were used to evaluate the interferon-alpha level in peripheral blood in 37 patients with pSS and 24 patients with non-pSS. Statistical analysis was performed by Student's t test or Fisher's exact test using SAS6.12 software package. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that 43.24% (16/37) patients with pSS had detectable IFN-alpha concentration in plasma (>or=12.5 pg/mL), the other 21 patients (56.76%) with pSS had undetectable IFN-alpha concentration(<12.5 pg/mL). All 24 controls had undetectable IFN-alpha expression.There was significant difference between the two groups(P=7.02 x 10(-5)). Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of IFN-alpha gene in peripheral blood cells were over-expressed in patients with pSS(P=0.0124). CONCLUSIONS: The study reveals that interferon-alpha level in peripheral blood with pSS patients is overexpressed.

[Investigation of root canal curvature of human maxillary first premolar in buccolingual directions].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate root canal curvatures of human maxillary first premolars in buccolingual directions. METHODS: One hundred extracted permanent maxillary first premolars were used. After access preparation, a K-file was inserted into the canals and gently advanced until it reached the apical foramen. Then standardized periapical radiovisiography (RVG) images were taken from mesiodistal direction. The angle of curvature was determined according to the method described by Schneider. The radiu of curvature and length of the curved part of the root canal were calculated. RESULTS: 1) The total 50.00% (88/176) of root canal curves were in buccolingual directions, and 53 curves were showed in apical 1/3 of root region. 11.93% (21/176) of S-shaped canals were detected, and the first curves were mostly showed in middle 1/3 of root region, the secondary curves were totally showed in apical 1/3 of root region. 2) There was no difference of curvatures between buccal and lingual root canals, but the secondary curves of S-shaped canals were more complicated than other root canals. 3) There was no correlation between the angle of curvature and the radius of curvature (r=0.002, P>0.05), but significantly correlation between the angle of curvature and length of the curved part of the root canal (r=0.489, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The occurrence of curved root canals in buccolingual directions may be high in human maxillary first premolars, and the curvatures of S-shaped canals were more complicated than others.