A two-week single-group longitudinal test of a new sonic-powered toothbrush simulating the 'bass brushing technique' with tapered bristles on the brush head for reduction of dental plaque and gingivitis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a new powered toothbrush with tapered bristles on the brush head for the reduction of dental plaque and gingivitis. METHODS: This was a single-centre, single-group, longitudinal clinical trial. Thirty-two participants who were typical manual toothbrush users were recruited and assigned the sonic-powered brush. Interviews were arranged on the 1st , 4th , and 15th days which represented the baseline (T1 ), middle (T2 ) and final (T3 ) time points, respectively. At each visit, the plaque index (PlI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP) and probing depth (PD) were recorded for the Ramfjord index teeth, gingival crevicular fluid(GCF) samples were collected and the proportions of eight periodontal pathogenic bacteria were analysed. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for comparisons at different time points. RESULTS: PlI was significantly reduced by 41.67% from T1 to T2 (p<0.001) and decreased by 18.57% from T2 to T3 (p=0.003). GI also varied significantly from T1 to T2 (p=0.018) and T1 to T3 (p=0.037). A 35.86% reduction in the BOP percentage occurred after using the sonic-powered toothbrush for 3 days (p=0.001). However, no significant difference was observed in the mean values of PD at different examination intervals (p=0.529). There was no significant difference in the proportions of bacteria between T1 and T3 (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: This research demonstrated the efficacy of the sonic-powered brush handle together with tapered bristles on the brush in reducing plaque and gingivitis within a short time period.

Effect of poly (γ-glutamic acid)/tricalcium phosphate (γ-PGA/TCP) composite for dentin remineralization in vitro.

The poly (γ-glutamic acid)/tricalcium phosphate (γ-PGA/TCP) composite was fabricated as a novel biomineralization material function in preventing caries. Demineralized bovine dentin specimens were prepared and randomly divided into 5 groups (i. α-TCP, ⅱ. γ-PGA, ⅲ. γ-PGA/TCP, ⅳ. CPP-ACP, and ⅴ. deionized water) and subjected to 14 days of pH cycling. Remineralization ability was evaluated by lesion depth, mineral loss and microhardness. The morphology of dentin depositions was observed with scanning electron microscope (SEM), the crystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the wettability was tested by contact angle measurements. ANOVA revealed specimens treated by γ-PGA/TCP presented the statistically least lesion depth (p<0.01) and mineral loss (p<0.001), and the highest hardness (p<0.001). SEM revealed prominent intra- and inter-tubular precipitates in both γ-PGA and γ-PGA/TCP groups. The XRD patterns of the deposition structures in all groups were similar to those of sound dentin, and the contact angle of water decreased after γ-PGA/TCP treatment.

Adenovirus diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 228 case reports.

OBJECTIVE: The clinical characteristics of various adenovirus (ADV) infection are underexplored up till now. To investigate the risk factors, manifestation, current status of ADV species, treatment and prognosis of this disease. METHODS: We performed a Pubmed and Embase systematic review for case report reporting the ADV infection to analyze the clinical characteristics of disease. RESULTS: Initial database searched identified articles of which 168 (228 cases) were included in the final analysis. Previous solid organ transplantation [odds ratio (OR) = 3.45, 95% CI 1.31-9.08, P = 0.01], hematopoietic stem cell transplant (OR = 4.24, 95% CI 1.33-13.51, P = 0.01) and hematological malignancy (OR = 4.78, 95% CI 1.70-13.46, P = 0.01) were associated with increased risk of disseminated ADV infection. Use of corticosteroids (OR = 3.86, 95% CI 1.21-12.24, P = 0.02) was a significant risk factor for acquiring urinary tract infections. A total of six species (21 types) of ADV infection have been identified in 100/228 (43.9%) cases. ADV B was the most common species. ADV B species (26/60, 52.0% or 5/41, 12.2% P = 0.001) were more isolated in patients with ADV pneumonia. ADV C (13/15, 86.7% versus 35/86, 40.7% P = 0.001) species were more identified in patients with disseminated disease. The species associated with keratoconjunctivitis is only ADV D in our analysis. Urinary tract ADV infections were observed in ADV A/B/D species. Cidofovir (CDV) (82/228, 36.0%) remained the most commonly antiviral therapy in our cases, followed by ribavirin (15/228, 6.6%), ganciclovir (18/228, 7.9%), and brincidofovir (12/228, 5.3%). Brincidofovir was administered as salvage therapy in 10 cases. Death was reported in 81/228 (35.5%) patients. Mortality rate was higher among patients with gastrointestinal (GI) ADV infection (5/10, 50.0%), ADV pneumonia (20/45, 44.4%) and disseminated ADV infection (53/122, 43.4%). CONCLUSION: Previous solid organ transplantation, hematopoietic stem cell transplant and hematological malignancy were risk factors for disseminated ADV infection. Use of corticosteroids was significant for urinary tract ADV infection. Different species correlated with different clinical manifestations of infection. Mortality rate was higher among patients with GI disease, pneumonia and disseminated disease. Our review clarified the current treatment of ADV infections, and more treatment required further investigation.

[Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Chlorophyll-a and Nutrient Salts in Tributaries of Different River Sections in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area During the Flood Season].

The construction of the Three Gorges Reservoir has had certain effects on the ecological environment of the water and serious phytoplankton blooms have occurred in its tributary embayment. To explore the spatial distribution of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients and chlorophyll-a in different tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir, a water quality study (June 2018) was conducted in the Xiangxi River, Shengnongxi River, and Daning River of the Three Gorges Reservoir. The results showed that the average TN in the three tributaries was 1.86 mg·L-1, 1.90 mg·L-1, and 1.43 mg·L-1, respectively, and average TP was 0.09 mg·L-1, 0.07 mg·L-1, and 0.05 mg·L-1, respectively. Single-factor ANOVA analysis showed that the spatial difference in TN was significant and occurred in the following order:Shennongxi River > Xiangxi River > Daning River. There were significant differences in the spatial distribution of TP, which were in the order off Xiangxi River > Shennongxi River > Daning River. The mean concentrations of chlorophyll-a in the three tributaries was 6.41 µg·L-1, 21.39 µg·L-1, and 9.85µg·L-1, respectively. The results from the Pearson correlation analysis, showed that chlorophyll-a concentrations were closely related to TP distribution in all tributaries, but Zeu/Zmix was also correlated with the distribution of chlorophyll-a in the Shennongxi River and Daning River. The ratio of TN and TP concentrations was 22.36, 26.76, and 28.6, respectively, which revealed that TP is a critical and limiting factor affecting phytoplankton growth in its tributary embayment.

Primary Pulmonary Lymphoma: A Retrospective Analysis of 27 Cases in a Single Tertiary Hospital.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to improve the understanding of primary pulmonary lymphoma (PPL) for clinicians. METHODS: We enrolled 27 patients diagnosed with PPL in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2000 to December 2016. The clinical manifestations, imaging findings, pathologic features, treatments and prognosis of the patients were collected. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 1.5:1 and the average age was 54.6 ± 15.7 years old. Nine patients were asymptomatic. The main manifestations were cough, expectoration, bloody sputum and fever. The imaging findings presented as nodule, mass, pneumonia or consolidation. There were 2 cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma, 18 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 7 cases of undifferentiated lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cases were divided into T-cell lymphoma (n = 2), mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALT) (n = 11), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (n = 3), small B-cell lymphoma (n = 1) and plasmacytoid B-cell lymphoma (n = 1). Ten MALT cases survived and 1 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma case has been in stable condition for 71 months after surgery and chemotherapy. The international prognostic index was related to the prognosis of PPL. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical manifestations and imaging findings of PPL were nonspecific. The prognosis of MALT was better than other types of PPL. The International prognostic index can be used for predicting the prognosis of PPL.

[Characteristics of Nitrogen Release at the Sediment-Water Interface in the Typical Tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir During the Sensitive Period in Spring].

Overlying water and sediment interstitial water samples were acquired to study the nitrogen release between sediments and water interfaces in Xiangxi Bay in April 2016 during the Sensitive Period in spring. The spatial distribution of different forms of nitrogen in the sediment was analyzed, the diffusion fluxes of different forms of nitrogen in the sediments and water systems were also measured, and a correlation analysis with environmental factors was conducted. The results show that overlying water and sediment interstitial water ρ(TN) ranges from 1.10 to 6.90 mg·L-1 and 6.19 to 32.57 mg·L-1 respectively; indicating the nitrogen concentrations in the overlying and interstitial water of sediments have a certain variation along the process and vertically. The interstitial water nitrogen concentrations in the upstream area are higher than those in the downstream area. The interstitial water ρ(NH4+-N) in the sediment is significantly larger than that in the overlying water, but the interstitial water ρ(NO3--N) in the sediment is slightly smaller than that in the overlying water. Xiangxi Bay sediment acts as a source of NH4+-N; however, for NO3--N it is a sink. The diffusive fluxes of NH4+-N range from 2.70 to 4.72 mg·(m2·d)-1; and the diffusive fluxes of NO3--N range from -1.61 to -0.62 mg·(m2·d)-1. Nitrogen is mainly present in the form of ammonium nitrogen in the sediment of Xiangxi Bay. The ρ(NH4+-N) in the sediment ranges from 69.97-1185.97 mg·kg-1, ρ(NO3--N) ranges from 2.78-38.17 mg·kg-1, and the ρ(NH4+-N) in sediments in the surface at 0-8 cm changes with the same trend.

[Nutrient Distribution Characteristics of the Sediment-water System in the Xiangxi River During the Impoundment of TGR].

This study characterizes the nutrient distribution of the sediment-water system in the Xiangxi River (XXR) during the impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR). In 2016, the research group obtained samples in the Xiangxi River, analyzed the distribution of nitrogen, phosphorus, and O.M. (organic matter) in the sediment-water system, explored the characteristics of "source-sink" between the interstitial water and overlying water, and carried out a cluster analysis for the sampling sites. The results showed that ρ(TN) in the sediments was higher than in the estuary, and the ρ(TN) was close to that in the middle and downstream samples of the river. The ρ(TP) in the upstream sample was the highest of all sites, ρ(O.M.) presented low distribution characteristics in the downstream, and the maximum value of ρ(O.M.) exceeded the critical point (1.5%) within a depth of 10 cm, and there was a certain risk of release. For the distribution in the overlying water, ρ(DTN) and ρ(DTP) were the largest in the estuary, ρ(DTN) decreased from the estuary to the upstream, and ρ(DTP) did not change along the river. During the study, DTN, NH4+-N, and DTP in all sites (except CJ point) were released as nutrients to the overlaying water as the "source," but some points for NO3--N and PO43--P presented as "sources," and some of them presented as "sinks." The "source-sink" process of nitrogen was stronger than that of phosphorus. This was due to the difference between the oxidation environment at the bottom of the XXR and the stream flow backward depth of the Xiangxi bay during impoundment. Based on the results of a cluster analysis, the characteristics of CJ, 1, and 2 indicated similar sediment-water systems, while the characteristics of 3 and 4 were similar.