Left atrial appendage filling defects restricted to the early phase of cardiac computed tomography is significantly associated with ischemic stroke.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between filling defects in the left atrial appendage restricted to the early phase of cardiac computed tomography (CCT), and ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 152 patients with non-valvular AF were retrospectively enrolled and divided into two groups according to the stroke history, as confirmed by brain computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as the non-stroke group (n = 89) and stroke group (n = 63), respectively. The numbers of patients with filling defects in the early phase of CCT images without thrombi were recorded. Morphological parameters of the LAA were measured for all participants. All patients with early-phase filling defects (n = 44) were assigned to two groups according to ischemic stroke history: the filling defects with stroke group (n = 28) and the filling defects without stroke group (n = 16). The clinical characteristics and LAA morphological parameters were compared. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that compared with the non-stroke group，LAA volume index and age were higher in the stroke group, and the ratio of early phase filling defect in LAA, hypertension and diabetes were also higher, in the meanwhile the LVEF and BMI were lower (P < 0.05).After adjusting confounding factors by the multivariate logistic regression analysis, filling defect was significantly related with stroke [odds ratio (OR): 4.339, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.951-9.653, P = 0.000]. LAA morphological parameters were not significantly different between the filling defects with stroke group and the group without stroke. CONCLUSION: AF patients with LAA non-thrombotic filling defects in the early-phase of CCT had an increased risk of ischemic stroke compared to those without filling defects. This finding may help to optimize stroke risk stratification in patients with AF.

[Comparison of two-year stability between immediate implant action and delayed implantation for anterior teeth with periodontal disease].

PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility of immediate implantation after extraction of anterior teeth in patients with periodontal disease and its clinical effect within 2 years. METHODS: Thirty patients (36 implants) who underwent anterior dental implant treatment for periodontal disease from 2016 to 2018 were randomly divided into immediate implantation group (17 implants) and delayed implantation group (19 implants). The patients were followed up for 2 years, the clinical parameters such as periodontal probing depth, pink esthetic score（PES）and implant neck bone resorption volume of implant neck were obtained. The data was statistically analyzed with SPSS 21.0 software package. RESULTS: During the 2-year follow-up period, no implant loss, and there was no significant difference in the depth of peri-implant probing between the two groups at each time point(P＞0.05). There was no significant difference in the volume of bone resorption at implant neck between the two groups(P>0.05). At 6, 12 and 24 months after completion of superstructure repair, there was no significant difference in pink esthetic score（PES）between the two groups (P＞0.05), but there was significant difference in pink esthetic score（PES) at the third month after restoration (P＜0.05). The immediate implantation group obtained more satisfactory soft tissue morphology around the implants. CONCLUSIONS: Under appropriate treatment conditions, there is no significant difference in implant success rate between immediate implantation and delayed implantation of anterior teeth in patients with periodontal disease. At the same time, it reduces the number of operations and shortens the course of treatment. In terms of soft tissue aesthetics, immediate implantation is slightly better than delayed implantation in the early stage after restoration, and can maintain a good soft tissue aesthetic effect.

[Esthetic analysis on immediate single-tooth implant restoration in anterior maxilla].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the esthetic outcomes of immediate single-tooth implant restoration in anterior maxilla with the pink esthetic score (PES). METHODS: Nine patients were treated with 9 Straumann implants by immediate single-tooth implant restoration in anterior maxilla. Assessment of PES after crown placement at 1 week (baseline) and 6 months after implantation was conducted. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 16.0 software package. RESULTS: Nine implants achieved a retention rate of 100%. PES for single-tooth implant was 10.33 ± 1.50 at 1 week and 11.44 ± 0.88 at 6 months after crown placement. The difference was significant(P=0.021). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that immediate single-tooth implant restoration in anterior maxilla is predictable. Immediate single-tooth implantation can result in good clinical esthetic results in most patients with single-tooth missing in anterior maxilla.

[Quantitative analysis on guided bone regeneration-membrane technique with Bio-Oss in dental implantation].

PURPOSE: To measure the absorbed quantity of Bio-Oss by using dental CT scanning and measuring the variety of the volume of Bio-Oss. METHODS: Nine patients were preformed stage I surgery of dental implants and guided bone regeneration-membrane technique (GBR) simultaneously. These patients were scanned by dental CT at the end of 1-week, 3-month and 6-month after operation, respectively. The measurements of the varied volume of Bio-Oss with dental CT scanning were conducted. Finally the remaining quantity of Bio-Oss in the patients' jaw bone was obtained. RESULTS: The results suggested that the remaining quantity of Bio-Oss was 32.72% ±18.35% at the end of 3-month post operatively and 15.75% ±16.73% at the end of 6-month postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that there is a decrease in the remaining quantity of Bio-Oss in GBR along with the increase of time. As a kind of osteoconductive material, Bio-Oss can be absorbed and replaced by newly formed bone. Using dental CT scanning to measure the volume of Bio-Oss in man is predictable.