Tooth Loss and Risk of Lung Cancer among Urban Chinese Adults: A Cohort Study with Meta-Analysis.

Epidemiological evidence on tooth loss and lung cancer risk remains limited, especially for smoking-specific associations. To investigate the association between tooth loss and lung cancer risk by smoking status, we first analyzed data from the Shanghai Men's Health Study (n = 49,868) and the Shanghai Women's Health Study (n = 44,309). Cox regression models were applied to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for lung cancer risk in relation to tooth loss. We also conducted a meta-analysis to summarize epidemiologic findings to date, incorporating results from the current study and six previously published studies. For 7.3 median follow-up years, 973 incident lung cancer cases (613 men and 360 women) were ascertained. After adjustment for major covariates, tooth loss was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer among men (HR [95% CI] for >10 teeth vs. none = 1.59 [1.21−2.11]) but not among women (0.86 [0.50−1.46]). The positive association was stronger among male current smokers (1.75 [1.26−2.45], p-interaction by smoking status = 0.04). In a meta-analysis incorporating 4052 lung cancer cases and 248,126 non-cases, tooth loss was associated with a 1.64-fold increased risk of developing lung cancer (relative risk [RR, 95% CI] for the uppermost with the lowest category = 1.64 [1.44−1.86]). The positive association was more evident among current smokers (1.86 [1.41−2.46]), but no significant associations were found among never or former smokers. Our findings suggest that tooth loss may be associated with an increased risk of lung cancer, and the association could be modified by smoking status.

Effects of amphiphilic PCL-PEG-PCL copolymer addition on 5-fluorouracil release from biodegradable PCL films for stent application.

Biodegradable film-based stents emerged as a promising medical platform for drug delivery to resolve stenosis encountered in physiological conduits (e.g. blood vessels, biliary and urethral tracts). Drug release kinetics significantly affects the pharmacological effects of a stent, thus it is desirable for a stent to possess highly adjustable drug release kinetics. In this study, a series of amphiphilic poly(ɛ-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL-PEG-PCL) copolymers were used as additives to adjust 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) release from PCL films. The effects of the copolymer addition on drug release behavior, drug permeability, crystalline states, and surface and internal morphologies of the films were investigated. It was found that, the addition of PCL-PEG-PCL could accelerate 5-FU release. The release rate of 5-FU increased with increasing content of PCL-PEG-PCL in the film, but it decreased with the ratio of PCL blocks in the PCL-PEG-PCL copolymer. The diffusion test results showed that 5-FU diffused through the film containing PCL-PEG-PCL faster than it permeated through the pure PCL film, indicating that the addition of PCL-PEG-PCL can improve the permeability of 5-FU in PCL film. The addition of PCL-PEG-PCL copolymer showed high drug-release-regulating ability in the 5-FU-loaded PCL films.

Prevention of abdominal adhesion formation by thermosensitive PECE-hydrogel in a rat uterine horn model.

In this work, we investigated the efficacy of PECE-hydrogel in preventing postsurgical peritoneal adhesions in the rat uterine horn model. Standardized surgical traumas were applied to the peritoneum of the abdominal wall and the uterine horns. PECE hydrogel was applied to the two wound surfaces. Animals were euthanized at different times after surgery, and the gross necropsy findings were documented. Adhesion formation was assessed according to adhesion extent and adhesion severity, and the hydrogel degradation and healing of peritoneal wounds were observed. The remesothelialization was dynamically observed by scanning electron microscope. The results showed that none of the animals in the hydrogel-treated group (n = 12) developed adhesion. In contrast, all untreated animals (n = 12) had adhesions that could only be separated by sharp dissection (p < 0.001). The hydrogel could adhere to the peritoneal wounds and gradually disappear from the wounds within 7-9 days and transformed into viscous fluid being completely absorbed within 12 days. The injured parietal and visceral peritoneum was remesothelialized in about 7 and 9 days, respectively. This work confirmed that PECE hydrogel holds promise as a novel absorbable biomaterial for the reduction of postoperative adhesions after laparotomy.