A Pilot Investigation Generating an Alternative Therapeutic Strategy Combining Deproteinized Bovine Bone and Gelatin Sponge for a Novel Implant Material in Sinus Floor Elevation Operation.

BACKGROUND Implant placement in the posterior maxilla is typically complicated by a shortage of bone. Gelatin sponge could be combined with an appropriate material to enhance mechanical strength and maintain stability of an implant. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical application of bone grafting with bovine bone mixed with gelatin sponge. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifty-four patients were divided into a control group (deproteinized bovine bone, n=26) and a test group (deproteinized bovine bone combined with gelatin sponge, n=28). Implants were placed in patients simultaneously after surgery (operation). Cone-beam computed tomography examination was carried out immediately and 6 months after surgery. Space with grafting materials was measured with Mimics software (version 16.0). RESULTS No remarkable differences were found for simultaneous placement, height of residual bone, delayed placement, width of residual bone, graft volume immediately after surgery (V1), graft volume 6 months after surgery (V2), or volumetric change rate between the test group and the control group (P>0.05). Graft volume V2 was remarkably decreased compared with V1 in the control and test groups (P=0.01). There were no significant differences for bone height immediately after surgery (H1) and bone height at 6 months after surgery (H2) between the 2 groups. Bone height H2 was markedly decreased compared with H1 (P<0.05). At 1 year after implantation, there was 1 implant loss in the control group and 2 in the test group. The implant survival rate in the control group was 97.62% and 95.24% in the test group. CONCLUSIONS Absorbable gelatin sponge combined with bovine bone particles was an effective and economical material for use in routine sinus floor elevation surgery.

Okra polysaccharide-2 plays a vital role on the activation of RAW264.7 cells by TLR2/4-mediated signal transduction pathways.

Polysaccharide is the main active component of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) and it can effectively stimulate the activation of macrophages. However, the immune regulatory mechanism is still not clear. Therefore, the present study aimed to reveal the possible mechanism by investigating the effect of okra polysaccharide-2 (RPS-2) on Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/4-mediated signal transduction pathways in RAW264.7 murine macrophage cells. In order to confirm whether RPS-2 stimulated macrophages activation via TLR2 or TLR4, RAW264.7 murine macrophage cells were pretreated with TLR2/4 inhibitors for 1 h before RPS-2 treatment, and then the NO, IL-10, TNF-α levels were tested. The results indicated that both TLR2 and TLR4 were the keys of immune regulatory effect of RPS-2. Afterwards, the effect of RPS-2 on NF-κB and MAPKs signaling pathways were studied by western blot analysis. It showed RPS-2 induced the phosphorylation of p65, IκBα, p38, ERK1/2 and JNK. At the same time, the specific inhibitors reduced these phosphorylation levels as well as NO, IL-10 and TNF-α amounts. In a word, RPS-2 activated macrophages by NF-κB and MAPKs signal transduction pathways.

[Impacts on the appetite regulating factors of infantile anorexia treated with acupuncture at Sifeng (EX-UE 10)].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the dynamic change and clinical efficacy of acupuncture at Sifeng (EX-UE 10) on appetite regulating factors in the serum of infantile anorexia. METHODS: Eighty cases, in compliance with the diagnostic criteria, aged from 3 to 6 years were randomized into an acupuncture group and a medication group, 40 cases in each one. Additionally, a healthy control group (30 cases) was set up. In the acupuncture group, the pricking method was adopted at Sifeng (EX-UE 10) with the three-edged needle. A few light yellow, transparent viscous liquid or blood was squeezed out after pricking. The treatment was given once a week, for 4 weeks totally. In the medication group, erkangning syrup was administered, 3 times a day, for 4 weeks totally. The ghrelin, leptin and neuropeptide Y (NPY), and the clinical efficacy were observed before and after treatment in each group. RESULTS: The levels of ghrelin and NPY before treatment in acupuncture group and the medication group were lower apparently than those in the healthy control group (all P < 0.01), but the level of leptin was higher appa-rently than that in the healthy control group (P < 0.01). After treatment, the levels of ghrelin and NPY were higher apparently than those before treatment in the acupuncture group (both P < 0.01), and the level of leptin was lower apparently than that before treatment (P < 0.01). All of the above indices in the acupuncture group were improved obviously after treatment as compared with those in the medication group (all P < 0.01). The remarkable and effective rate were 82.5% (33/40) and 32.5% (13/40) and the total effective rate were 95.0% (38/40) and 45.0% (18/40) in the acupuncture group and medication group separately, the results in the acupuncture group were superior to the medication group (both P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at Sifeng (EX-UE 10) effectively promotes the secretion of ghrelin and NPY and inhibit leptin. It effectively promotes appetite for the children and the efficacy is superior to erkangning syrup.