Dezocine as a potent analgesic: overview of its pharmacological characterization.

Dezocine, a synthetic opioid, introduced in 1970s as an analgesic, was redeveloped for relieving moderate to severe pain by Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group in China in 2009. To date, dezocine occupies 45% of China's opioid analgesic market. Along with dezocine being a dominated painkiller, a certain amount of research was conducted to elucidate dezocine's action. In this review we summarize the current knowledge on the receptor, preclinical and clinical pharmacology of dezocine. Briefly, preclinical data show that dezocine is effective under varying pain conditions, particularly chronic neuropathic pain and cancer pain, through activation of opioid receptors, and inhibition of norepinephrine reuptake. Clinical data establish the effectiveness of dezocine either as a primary analgesic for postoperative pain management or a supplement for balanced analgesia. The receptor profile of dezocine is different from known pure µ agonists, and allows it to be used in combination with other opioids for additivity in efficacy or lower incidence of adverse effects.

[Comparison of the effects of removable dentures made by 3D printing and traditional casting methods on patients' subjective feelings].

PURPOSE: To compare the different effects of removable dentures made by 3D printing and traditional casting methods on patients' subjective feelings. METHODS: A total of 80 patients with dentition defects of Ken's Class Ⅰ and Subclass Ⅱ were selected from the Department of Prosthodontics. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, with removable dentures made by using 3D printing and plaster casting method, respectively. The patients were asked to re-visit 1 week after wearing the dentures to observe and record intraoral mucosal tenderness points. At the same time, mastication efficiency was measured by absorbance method. The patients were followed up for 2 months after wearing dentures, and questionnaires were issued to them to investigate subjective feelings and satisfaction. The subjective feelings of patients included masticatory ability, retention effect, convenience, comfort, speech function and facial appearance. Satisfaction evaluation included three aspects: treatment duration, cost and final outcome. Each aspect of evaluation used a 5-point system, with a minimum score of 1 and a maximum score of 5. The higher the score, the better the patient's subjective feelings or the higher the satisfaction. The data were statistically analyzed with SPSS 17.0 software package. RESULTS: The tender points in 3D printing group was less than the plaster casting group, while the chewing efficiency of 3D printing group was higher than the plaster casting group, the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). The difference of subjective feeling and satisfaction was also significant between the two groups(P＜0.05). CONCLUSIONS: 3D printing to make removable denture has certain advantages in improving the accuracy of removable denture and the comfort of patients.

[An evaluation of fiber reinforced composites veneer in anterior esthetic restoration].

PURPOSE: To explore the advantages of fiber reinforced composites veneer in repairing discolorated and defective anterior teeth. METHODS: Twenty porcelain veneers and 20 fiber reinforced composites veneers specimens of 2 cm long, 2 cm wide and 1 mm in thickness, with a longitudinal cross section of 45° incline were made. Another 40 fiber reinforced composites specimens of the same shape were used for comparison. After polishing and acid treatment of all the specimens according to clinical routine, resin cement was used for bonding the porcelain cover with resin veneers slope, and the conjunct specimens were soaked in 40 ℃ warm water for 24 h and drying; then the two groups of specimens were put were put on the pressure testing platform of the universal testing machine, with 1 mm/min testing pressure, and 1 cm2 square head was contacted on the surface of the bonding interface. Computer was used to record the fracture process of the two groups of specimens and the maximum compressive strength of bonding interface automatically. The compressive strength of the bonding interface under the same conditions was evaluated. SPSS 12.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The compressive strength of the bonding interface between fiber reinforced composites was significantly higher than that between porcelain and fiber reinforced composites(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with porcelain veneers that can not be repaired when damaged in the anterior teeth, high-strength fiber resin veneers can partially be repaired with the same material, which has obvious advantages.

Uhrf1 regulates H3K9me2 modification of mTOR to inhibit the effect of autophagy in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

The regulation of mTOR and the dimethylation of histone H3 on lysine 9 (H3K9me2) H3K9me2 by Uhrf1 and the mechanism of autophagy regulation in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) were studied in vivo and in vitro. An in vitro I/R injury model was established using the primary mouse cardiomyocytes treated with H2O2. Subsequent analysis by qRT-PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence indicated that overexpression of Uhrf1 significantly inhibited apoptosis of the H2O2-treated cardiomyocytes, reduced expression of apoptosis factors caspase-3 and Bax, and increased expression of apoptosis inhibitory factor Bcl-2. Furthermore, Uhrf1 was found to increase cardiomyocyte proliferation and promote the expression of mTOR, while the four expression peaks of H3K9me2 on the mTOR gene were inhibited by overexpression of Uhrf1. The expression of autophagy factors LC3, Beclin-1, and p-mTOR in Uhrf1-overexpressed cardiomyocytes was dramatically increased, and P62 expression was dramatically decreased. When an H3K9me2 inhibitor was added to the Uhrf1-knockdown cardiomyocytes, the expression of mTOR was increased, the expression of LC3, Beclin-1, and p-mTOR was decreased, and P62 expression was significantly increased. In the present study, Uhrf1 exhibits a protective function in MIRI, reducing the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes while increasing their proliferation and viability.

[Changes of abutment alveolar height after Stern ERA attachment restoration].

PURPOSE: To observe the alveolar height changes of the distal abutments in Kennedy II dentition defect restored with Stern ERA attachment. METHODS: Twenty-one Kennedy II dentition defect patients restored with Stern ERA attachment were observed at the day of restoration and 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after restoration. Digital panoramic radiographs were taken to measure the vertical distances from the distal and the mesial alveolar bone crest to the apical point in the distal abutments and were used to observe and compare the alveolar height changes of the distal abutments.The data was analyzed with SPSS16.0 software package for Student's t test. RESULTS: The distal and medial alveolar height of the distal abutments was not significantly reduced (P>0.05) 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after restoration with Stern ERA attachment. CONCLUSIONS: According to the digital panoramic radiograph, the alveolar height of the distal abutments in Kennedy II dentition defect restored with Stern ERA attachment was not significantly changed in 6 months after restoration. It may benefit for the the health and stability of the distal abutments by using Stern ERA attachment in Kennedy II dentition defect.

[Cytotoxicity of three kinds of temporary crown and bridge materials on mouse fibroblasts in vitro].

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the cytotoxicity in vitro of three kinds of common temporary crown and bridge materials, i.e.,self-curing resin, heat-curing resin, and DMG-TEMP bi-acrylic composite. METHODS: L-929 mouse fibroblasts were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of three kinds of temporary crown and bridge materials by agar overlay assay to test the cell death rate through trypan blue dyeing. RESULTS: The agar overlay assay showed that the value of Zone/Lysis of self-curing resin was 2/3, heat-curing resin was 1/0, and DMG-TEMP bi-acrylic composite was 1/2. Self-curing resin caused the most significant cytotoxicity (P<0.05), followed by heat-curing resin and DMG-TEMP composite, and the latter two showed no significant difference(P>0.05). The results of trypan blue dyeing were in accordance with the above. CONCLUSIONS: Self-curing resin, heat-curing resin, and DMG-TEMP bi-acrylic composite could decrease L-929 fibroblasts proliferation. Of all, self-curing resin caused most marked cytotoxicity, so we should avoid using self-curing resin as temporary crown and bridge to protect pulp.