[Effect of triangular flap design and healing procedure on the sequelae after extraction of impacted lower third molars].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of different triangular flap design and healing procedure on the sequelae after extraction of impacted lower third molars. METHODS: In this prospective, split-mouth study, 60 healthy patients with bilateral, symmetrically fully impacted lower third molars (LM3) were included, of whom 30 patients with totally bony impacted LM3 were allocated into group A, while the other patients with partially bony impacted LM3 were allocated into group B. All the teeth were extracted by the same surgeon. Triangular flap was used on one side, and the wound was primarily closed with two sutures (TF-P). On the other side, modified triangular flap was used with a triangular region of mucosa posterior to LM2 removed during operation, and a triangular soft tissue defect was left for drainage after suture (MTF-S). The patients were followed up on postoperative days 1, 3 and 7. Clinical parameters included postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus. Distal probing depth of adjacent second molar was assessed 6 months after extraction. Doctors responsible for the evaluation did not know the group and flap design. Paired sample t test was used to analyze the differences of postoperative sequelae between the two strategies. RESULTS: In group A, MTF-S strategy could reduce postoperative pain, ibuprofen consumption, and swelling significantly compared with TF-P strategy on the postoperative 1st and 3rd days (P<0.05). Besides, the trismus in the patients with TF-P strategy was more serious than that with MTF-S strategy on the postoperative 1st, 3rd and 7th days (P<0.05). However, statistic difference between the two strategies in pain, swelling and trismus was not detected in group B. Additionally, the VAS score in the patients with MTF-S strategy in group B increased slightly on the postoperative 4th day. The probing depth of the adjacent second molar was evaluated 6 months after extraction. Statistic difference was not detected between MTF-S strategy and TF-P strategy in the both groups. CONCLUSION: Modified triangular flap with secondary healing procedure could effectively reduce the postoperative complications of totally bony impacted LM3. However, the difference between the two strategies in the probing depth of the adjacent second molar was not statically significant 6 months after extraction.

Associations between matrix metalloproteinase gene polymorphisms and the development of cerebral infarction.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between MMP3 rs3025058 and MMP9 rs3918242 polymorphisms and the development of ischemic stroke in a Chinese population. Between May 2013 and January 2015, 335 patients with ischemic stroke and 335 health control subjects were enrolled in this study. The MMP3 rs3025058 and MMP9 rs3918242 polymorphisms were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction coupled with restriction fragment length polymorphism. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, the CC genotype of MMP9 rs3918242 was shown to be associated with a significantly increased risk of ischemic stroke when compared with the TT genotype [OR (95%CI) = 5.47 (2.64-12.38)]. The TC+CC genotype of MMP9 rs3918242 was furthermore found to be associated with an elevated risk of ischemic stroke in higher BMI individuals [OR (95%CI) = 1.81 (1.03-3.22)]. The findings of this study suggest that the MMP9 rs3918242 polymorphism is associated with an elevated risk of ischemic stroke and that this gene polymorphism interacts with BMI in the risk of ischemic stroke.

A study on occupational exposure to petrochemicals and smoking on seminal quality.

A cross-sectional study of 68 petrochemical workers (23 had never smoked [E/NS], 45 were current smokers [E/S]) and 130 subjects with no known history of exposure to petrochemicals (49 had never smoked [NE/NS], 81 were current smokers [NE/S]) was conducted to assess the effect of occupational exposure to petrochemicals and smoking on semen quality. In-person interviews revealed occupational history, smoking habit, and lifestyle. Semen parameters such as volume, viability, sperm forward progression rate, sperm density, and total sperm count were determined for all subjects. The results show that the E/NS workers had a lower sperm forward progression rate (P < .05) compared with controls (NE/NS). Individuals in the NE/S group showed a significant inverse relationship between years smoked and sperm density (r = -.24, P < .05). The data also revealed that cigarette smokers who had worked in a petrochemical plant had significantly poorer quality semen, including sperm density, total sperm count, and forward progression rate, compared with the control (NE/NS) group (P < .01). Furthermore, there was a significant inverse correlation between combined exposure and smoking years, and sperm density (r = -.28, P < .05). These findings suggest that occupational exposure to petrochemical compounds may aggravate the adverse effect that smoking has on semen quality.