Research progress on clinical manifestations and mechanism of radiation-induced taste dysfunction in head and neck cancers / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Taste is a critical sensory function for human as it supports sustenance and alerts the body to toxins. Taste dysfunction is a common side effect of radiotherapy for the head and neck cancers, which is often accompanied by oral mucositis in the early stage. It is associated with anorexia, anxiety and depression, leading to declined quality of life and treatment tolerance. The incidence of radiation-induced taste dysfunction is high, and its clinical manifestations include increased taste threshold, tastelessness, and persistent bitter, sour or metallic taste, which exert significant effect upon the quality of life. At present, effective therapeutic measures for radiation-induced taste dysfunction are still lacking. In this article, research progresses on clinical characteristics and the potential mechanisms of radiation-induced taste dysfunction were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for the mechanism, prevention and treatment for taste dysfunction.

Discussion on teaching reform of orthodontics with the fusion of aesthetics principle / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Aiming at the new problems in orthodontics teaching and employment,this study aims to explore a more suitable undergraduate teaching mode of Orthodontics,and reform the teaching of Orthodontics for five-year program students in department of stomatology of Xi'an Medical University.During the teaching of Orthodontics,teachers use the aesthetic principles that students have learned to integrate into the orthodontics teaching,and guide students to analyze,understand and master orthodontic knowledge based on the principles of aesthetics.After the course,students give good feedback on the teaching reform,and their scores of basic knowledge and case analysis of Orthodontics theoretical examination have been improved.This teaching reform is very helpful for students to learn,understand and master the knowledge of orthodontics.It helps to improve classroom teaching effect,improve students' interest in learning,and adapt to the needs of discipline and industry development,so it is worth studying and promoting.

[Effect of Pinus massoniana needle extract on root dentin demineralization in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the effects of Pinus massoniana needle extract (PMNE) on inhibiting demineralization of root dentin. METHODS: Root dentin blocks were randomly divided into distilled deionized water (DDW) group, fluoride sodium (NaF) group, and 4%, 8% and 12% PMNE groups according to the experimental solution used in the process of pH cycling in each group. All specimens in each group experienced pH cycling for 8 d. The dentin mineral density (DMD) of the normal dentin and demineralized dentin and their D-value (ΔDMD) were determined using micro computed tomography. The morphology of dentin surface after pH cycling was also observed using a scanning electron microscope. RESULTS: The ΔDMD values in all PMNE groups and the NaF group were considerably lower than the ΔDMD in the DDW group (P<0.05). The ΔDMD values of the 8% and 12% PMNE groups had no difference (P>0.05), both of which were lower than the ΔDMD in the 4% PMNE group and higher than that in the NaF group (P<0.05). The dentin tubules were partly opened in the PMNE groups. The opening degrees of the dentin tubule in PMNE groups were significantly less and smaller than the opening degree in the DDW group and were larger than that in the NaF group. CONCLUSIONS: PMNE can inhibit the deminera-lization of root dentin and can slow down the reduction in DMD. PMNE has the potential to prevent caries, and 8% PMNE can effectively inhibit dentin demineralization.

Gender difference in the smile aesthetic features in aged Han Chinese and its clinical significance / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To investigate the gender difference in the smile aesthetic features in aged Han Chinese with normal occlusion and its clinical significance.Methods Fifty-six aged Han Chinese (male:28,female:28,aged 60-66 years)with normal occlusion were included in this study.Smiling images of the resting-position and mandibular postural position were obtained in an anteriorposterior view.The CoSmileMAA1.0 software was used to evaluate the indices associated with the smile-aesthetic features,and its clinical significance was analyzed.Results Significant differences were noted in the nasal ala width,upper lip length,lip clearance,angle oris width in resting-position/ smiling position together with the changes of lip clearance,angle oris width,distance of inferior margin of upper lip to cutting edge of the maxillary incisor teeth,distance of superior border of lower lip to cutting edge of the maxillary incisor teeth,smile line ratio and type of smile (all P＜0.05).When the subjects were smiling,the changes of lip clearance was greater in females than in males [(10.7±1.9)mm vs.(11.3±1.6)mm,P＜0.05],the changes of angle oris width was greater in males than in females [(14.1±1.6)mm vs.(13.4±1.3)mm,P＜0.05],and the smile line ratio was less in males than in females [(0.9±0.2) vs.(1.1±0.5),P＜0.05],which indicate that the females had more attractive smile in aged Han Chinese with normal occlusion than males.The type of smile was mainly high smile in elderly females and median smile in elderly males [53.6％ (15 cases) and 60.7％ (17 cases),x2 =6.43,P＜0.05].Conclusions Significant gender difference is noted in the smile-aesthetic features in aged Han Chinese with normal occlusion.Modulation of maxillary incisor teeth length and smile line ratio can contribute to the aesthetic appearance of smiling.