Effect of Flap Design for Enamel Matrix Derivative Application in Intraosseous Defects.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the literature addressing the focused question: What is the effectiveness of different surgical and nonsurgical procedures combined with enamel matrix derivative (EMD) on clinical, radiographic, and patient-centered outcomes in intraosseous defects? METHODS: Electronic (Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane databases) and hand literature searches were performed for studies including at least 1 treatment arm where EMD had been applied according to 1 of the following procedures: modified Widman flap; papilla preservation variants (PPVs), including papilla preservation technique, modified papilla preservation technique, and simplified papilla preservation technique; minimally invasive variants, including minimally invasive surgical approach and minimally invasive surgical technique; single-flap variants (SFVs), including single-flap approach and modified minimally invasive surgical technique; or nonsurgical application (flapless approach). Data from 42 selected articles were used to perform a network meta-analysis, and a hierarchy of surgical and nonsurgical applications of EMD was built separately for EMD and EMD + graft based on 6- to 12-mo clinical and radiographic outcomes. RESULTS: Among surgical approaches, EMD was associated with best regenerative outcomes when applied through SFVs, with a mean clinical attachment level gain of 3.93 mm and a reduction in the intrabony component of the defect of 3.35 mm. For EMD + graft, limited differences in regenerative outcomes were observed among surgical procedures. PPVs were associated with the highest residual probing depth for EMD (4.08 mm) and EMD + graft (4.32 mm). CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of periodontal intraosseous defects, 1) SFVs appear to optimize the regenerative outcomes of EMD; 2) substantial regenerative outcomes can be obtained with SFVs and conservative double flaps (i.e., PPVs and minimally invasive variants) when EMD is combined with a graft; and 3) residual probing depth was higher following PPVs for EMD and EMD + graft. KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT: The results of the present systematic review and meta-analysis can be used by clinicians to identify the most effective surgical or nonsurgical procedure to treat an intraosseous defect with EMD or EMD + graft. The main findings indicate that when EMD application is indicated, surgical access based on a single flap seems the most appropriate to optimize clinical outcomes. The application of EMD + graft can be effectively combined with single flaps and conservative double flaps.

[A retrospective study of balloon pulmonary angioplasty for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension].

Objective: To analyze the efficacy and safety of Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty (BPA) in patients with Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH). Methods: A total of 38 CTEPH patients received at least one BPA treatment between February 2017 and April 2019 were enrolled. World Health Organization functional class(WHO-FC), 6-minute walking distance(6WMD), mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), pulmonary vascular resistance(PVR), N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) and echocardiographic indicators were collected at baseline and before each BPA procedure. Results: 38 patients received 95 times of BPA [ 2 (1, 4) times per person] totally. MPAP was 50 (43, 56) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) before BPA and 41(32, 50) mmHg after at least one BPA procedure, P<0.001. MPAP decreased from 50(42, 55) to 34(28, 49) mmHg (P=0.003) in 17 cases after 3-5 BPA procedures. In 15 cases, PVR decreased from 852(583, 1 140)dyn·s·cm-5 to 496(406, 802)dyn·s·cm-5, P=0.009. Besides, there were 13 patients with WHO Function Class Ⅰ/Ⅱ before BPA, 25 patients with Ⅲ/Ⅳ class before BPA, 29 patients with Ⅰ/Ⅱ class after BPA treatment, and 9 patients with Ⅲ/Ⅳ after BPA treatment, P<0.001. 6 WMD before and after BPA increased from 360(290, 442)m to 449(376, 505)m, P=0.015. The Meyer score of lung perfusion scanning got improved, from 0.54(0.53, 0.58) to 0.50(0.44, 0.58), P<0.001. Among all registered patients, 21 of whom NT-proBNP decreased from 1 285(606, 2 794) to 472(148, 745), P=0.014. The inner diameter of the right ventricular decreased from 54(41, 54)mm before surgery to 42(34, 49)mm after surgery, P<0.001. 6(6.3%, 6/95) complications occurred in 95 times of BPA. Conclusion: For inoperable patients with CTEPH, BPA can significantly improve disease severity, 6 MWD, heart function, decrease mPAP, PVR and improve lung perfusion, which is a safe and effective therapy.

Positive expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor is associated with a positive hormone receptor status in ovarian cancer.

UNLABELLED: Summary PURPOSE: Ovarian cancer is the most deadly of all gynecologic malignancies, due in part to the diagnosis at an advanced stage caused by the deficiency of specific marks and symptoms, by the absence of reliable tests for screening, and by early detection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is known to be involved in the development and promotion of diverse examples of solid tumors including ovarian cancer. IGF-I levels in local tissue are subject to both endocrine and paracrine/autocrine regulation. RESULTS: Most patients will react initially to treatment, but almost 70% of them will have a recurrence. Consequently, new therapeutic modalities are urgently required to overcome chemoresistance observed in ovarian cancer patients. IGF-1R expression was evaluated immunohistochemically in tissue microarray blocks constructed from 1,200 ovarian cancer samples collected from three medical institutions. CONCLUSION: Evidence accumulates suggesting that the insulin/insulin growth factor (IGF) pathways could play a good therapeutic target in various cancers, including ovarian cancer.