Patient ratings of chewing ability from a randomised crossover trial: lingualised vs. first premolar/canine-guided occlusion for complete dentures

Background: Complex procedures involving a facebow transfer and the use of lingualised teeth are deemed to have a positive influence on the chewing ability with complete dentures. Objectives: To determine if patients’ ratings of their ability to chew depend on the method of complete denture fabrication. Methods: Edentulous patients (n = 20) participated in a within‐subject crossover trial. Each patient received two sets of new complete dentures. One pair was manufactured based on intraoral tracing of centric relation and facebow transfer; semi‐anatomical teeth with lingualised occlusion denture (LOD) were chosen. The second pair was made using a simplified procedure without facebow transfer; jaw relations were recorded with wax occlusion rims, and anatomical teeth with a first premolar/canine‐guidance (CGD) were selected. The dentures were delivered in randomised order, and each was worn for 3 months. Three months after delivery, patients’ ratings of each new prosthesis were recorded on visual analogue scales for their ability to chew seven index foods. Repeated measurements analysis of variance was performed to investigate possible carry‐over effects accounting for confounding by treatment period. Results: When comparing the two treatments, participants rated their ability to chew in general, to masticate carrots, hard sausage, steak and raw apple in particular, was significantly better with the CGD (anatomical teeth) than with the LOD (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Comprehensive methods for the fabrication of complete dentures including semi‐anatomical lingualised teeth and a full registration do not seem to influence the perceived chewing ability, when compared with more simple procedures. Chewing ability for tough foods appears to benefit from the use of anatomical teeth.     

Modeling Stroke in Mice - Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion with the Filament Model

Stroke is among the most frequent causes of death and adult disability, especially in highly developed countries. However, treatment options to date are very limited. To meet the need for novel therapeutic approaches, experimental stroke research frequently employs rodent models of focal cerebral ischaemia. Most researchers use permanent or transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in mice or rats.Proximal occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) via the intraluminal suture technique (so called filament or suture model) is probably the most frequently used model in experimental stroke research. The intraluminal MCAO model offers the advantage of inducing reproducible transient or permanent ischaemia of the MCA territory in a relatively non-invasive manner. Intraluminal approaches interrupt the blood flow of the entire territory of this artery. Filament occlusion thus arrests flow proximal to the lenticulo-striate arteries, which supply the basal ganglia. Filament occlusion of the MCA results in reproducible lesions in the cortex and striatum and can be either permanent or transient. In contrast, models inducing distal (to the branching of the lenticulo-striate arteries) MCA occlusion typically spare the striatum and primarily involve the neocortex. In addition these models do require craniectomy. In the model demonstrated in this article, a silicon coated filament is introduced into the common carotid artery and advanced along the internal carotid artery into the Circle of Willis, where it blocks the origin of the middle cerebral artery. In patients, occlusions of the middle cerebral artery are among the most common causes of ischaemic stroke. Since varying ischemic intervals can be chosen freely in this model depending on the time point of reperfusion, ischaemic lesions with varying degrees of severity can be produced. Reperfusion by removal of the occluding filament at least partially models the restoration of blood flow after spontaneous or therapeutic (tPA) lysis of a thromboembolic clot in humans.In this video we will present the basic technique as well as the major pitfalls and confounders which may limit the predictive value of this model.     

Correlation between tissue oxygenation and erythrocytes elasticity

In this paper, near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and jumping optical tweezers were used to measure the tissue oxygenation and the elasticity of erythrocytes, respectively. The correlation between tissue oxygenation induced by arterial occlusion test (AOT) and the mechanical properties of individual erythrocytes from a blood sample obtained after AOT was studied. The experimental results show a linear correlation between the oxygenation signal caused by AOT and the elasticity of erythrocytes. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Increases in tumor necrosis factor-alpha following transient global cerebral ischemia do not contribute to neuron death in mouse hippocampus

The actions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) produced by resident brain cells and bone marrow-derived cells in brain following a transient global ischemia were evaluated. In wild-type mice (C57Bl/6J) following 20 min ischemia with bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAo), TNF-alpha mRNA expression levels in the hippocampus were significantly increased at 3 h and 36 h and exhibited a biphasic expression pattern. There were no hippocampal TNF-alpha mRNA expression levels at early time points in either wild-type mice bone marrow transplanted (BMT)-chimeric-TNF-alpha gene-deficient (T/W) or TNF-alpha gene-deficient mice BMT-TNF-alpha gene-deficient mice (T/T), although TNF-alpha mRNA levels were detectable in T/W BMT mice at 36 h. Histopathological findings showed no intergroup differences between wild-type and TNF-alpha gene-deficient mice at 4 and 7 days after transient ischemia. In addition, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) was activated within 12 h after global cerebral ischemia, but electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) showed no intergroup differences between wild type and TNF-alpha gene-deficient mice. In summary, early hippocampal TNF-alpha mRNA expression may not be related to bone marrow-derived cells, and secondary TNF-alpha expression as early as 36 h after ischemia probably resulted mainly from endogenous brain cells and possibly a few bone marrow-derived cells. Although we cannot exclude the possibility of the TNF-alpha contribution to the physiologic changes of hippocampus after transient global ischemia, these results indicate that TNF-alpha does not influence the morphological changes of the hippocampal neurons under our study condition.     

Wound-induced vascular occlusions in tissues of the reed Phragmites australis: their development and chemical nature

This work focuses on the development of vascular occlusions, which are gels resealing the wounded vascular systems of injured organs, in the common reed Phragmites australis. Their formation seems to be crucial in keeping the internal environment of the plant stable. Histochemical tests, combined with an extraction series, were used to follow changes in the chemical nature of gels during their development. It was found that the first gel material was secreted by living cells in the vicinity of the incision within 1 or 2 d after wounding. Early gels were colourless and mainly composed of acidic polysaccharides interlinked by Ca2+ bridges. The properties of the gel material gradually changed during maturation. The matrix of polysaccharides in the early gels was later modified and interlinked by other components, resulting in a highly resistant material. Structural proteins were identified as the principal interlocking components of the material, and were responsible for its high resistance.     

结扎冠状动脉后快速起搏方法建立急性心功能不全动物模型

目的探讨建立急性心功能不全动物模型的可行性。方法完全结扎犬前降支,进行快速右室起搏,使心输出量(CCO)较基础状态稳定地下降50%,分别测定基础及心输出量下降状态下的血压(AP)、血氧(SaO2)、平均右房压(mRAP)、平均肺毛压(mPCWP)、系统血管阻力(SVR)、心腔大小、左室射血分数(LVEF)、血浆肾素活性(PRA)、内皮素(ET)、尿量(UO)、血肌酐(Scr)、肌酐清除率(Ccr)。结果结扎LAD和快速右室起搏后,CCO较基础状态均稳定地下降50%,CCO降低后,AP、SaO2显著下降,mRAP、mPCWP、SVR显著升高;心脏各腔室明显扩大,LVEF显著降低;PRA、ET、Scr明显升高,UO、Ccr明显下降。结论结扎冠状动脉前降支及快速右心室起搏可成功制作急性心功能不全的动物模型。     

小型猪急性心肌梗死后心力衰竭模型的构建

目的应用选择性冠状动脉前降支(LAD)球囊闭塞结合微血栓微球混悬液灌注方法造成心肌缺血坏死,探索建立稳定存活的小型猪急性心肌梗死(AMI)后心力衰竭(HF)动物模型。方法选择中国五指山小型猪18头,行冠脉造影后沿血管送球囊至LAD中段,依次扩张球囊阻断前向血流1、2、5 min,每次间隔60 s,然后扩张球囊堵闭血流120 min。再以4F导管超选LAD,行微血栓微球混悬液分次注入,间隔10 min重复注射,TIMI心肌灌注分级(TMPG)2级和左室舒张末压(LVEDP)15 mm Hg时停止注射,同时监测心电图及应用漂浮导管监测有创血流动力学参数。并行pigtail导管测量(LVEDP)的变化,待LVEDP稳定在15~18 mm Hg之间后结扎血管,并加压包扎。监测心肌坏死标志物(cTnI和CK-MB)变化。分别于制模前,制模后第1天、7天、14天行心脏超声检查,制模第14天复查有创血流动力学检查,并行心脏病理检查,认定和评价模型的成功率、稳定性和可重复性。结果制模14 d后共有15头小型猪成活,心电图、心肌坏死标记物、病理检查均符合AMI病理生理过程。其中14头小型猪达到动物模型标准【肺毛细血管楔压(PCWP)18 mmHg和心输出量(CO)下降30%以上】,模型成功率为77.78%。制模后第14天PCWP明显升高(P0.01),CO平均下降50.76%;左室射血分数(LVEF)明显降低(P0.01)。病理检查显示心肌梗死面积占左心室面积的25.4%~34.9%。结论球囊闭塞结合微血栓微球混悬液灌注构建小型猪急性心肌梗死后心力衰竭模型具有闭胸、高成功率、稳定和重复性好等优点,较药物、冠状动脉结扎和起搏诱导的心力衰竭模型更接近临床病理生理学特点。     

Research of masticatory function using hemiplegia simulator equipment

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00559.x
Research of masticatory function using hemiplegia simulator equipment Background and objective: Hemiplegic patients often exhibit a characteristic condition called Wernicke‐Mann contracture. Therefore, the occlusal pattern in hemiplegic patients is considered to be adapted to stress because of this characteristic limb position. We created a sham Wernicke‐Mann contracture in healthy individuals using hemiplegia simulator equipment and compared the functional occlusion in this position with that in the normal state to evaluate dynamic adaptive responses. Methods: Wernicke‐Mann contracture was simulated using a device to create sham hemiplegia (Manabi‐tai, Hemiplegia Experiencing Set; Tokushu‐iryo, Inc.). In addition to the measurement of the occlusal force using Dental Prescale^® and Occluzer^®, the occlusion was evaluated using an electromyogram and stabilometer. Results: There was a significant difference in the occlusal force between the normal state and during simulated hemiplegia. The surface electromyo‐potential of the masseter muscle showed significantly higher values during simulated hemiplegia. It is significantly higher during simulated hemiplegia than in the normal state on the paralysed side, but not for the normal state on the non‐paralysed side. The position and velocity vectors changed in the antero‐posterior direction in the normal state but in the lateral direction during simulated hemiplegia. Conclusions: The hemiplegia simulator equipment is useful for research on hemiplegia, and that the occlusal balance is disturbed in the posture characteristic of hemiplegia.     

Identification of differentially expressed microRNAs and their PKC-isoform specific gene network prediction during hypoxic pre-conditioning and focal cerebral ischemia of mice

We previously reported the involvement of conventional protein kinase C (cPKC) βII, γ, novel PKC (nPKC) ε and their interacting proteins in hypoxic pre-conditioning (HPC)-induced neuroprotection. In this study, the large-scale miRNA microarrays and bioinformatics analysis were used to determine the differentially expressed miRNAs and their PKC-isoform specific gene network in mouse brain after HPC and 6?h middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). We found 4 up-regulated and 13 down-regulated miRNAs in the cortex of HPC mice, 26 increased and 39 decreased gene expressions of miRNAs in the peri-infarct region of 6?h MCAO mice, and 11 up-regulated and 22 down-regulated miRNAs in the peri-infarct region of HPC and 6?h MCAO mice. Based on Diff Score, 19 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in HPC and 6?h MCAO mouse brain. Then the miRNA-gene-network of 19 specified miRNAs target genes of cPKCβII, γ and nPKCε-interacting protein was predicted by using bioinformatics analysis of genome databases. Furthermore, the down-regulated miR-615-3p during HPC had a detrimental effect on the oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced N2A cell injury. These results suggested that the identified 19 miRNAs, notably miR-615-3p, might target these genes of cPKCβII, γ and nPKCε-interacting proteins involved in HPC-induced neuroprotection.