Systematic review and meta-analysis of Saccharomyces boulardii in adult patients

This article reviews the evidence for efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii(S.boulardii) for various disease indications in adults based on the peerreviewed,randomized clinical trials and pre-clinical studies from the published medical literature(Medline,Clinical Trial websites and meeting abstracts) between 1976 and 2009.For meta-analysis,only randomized,blinded controlled trials unrestricted by language were included.Pre-clinical studies,volunteer studies and uncontrolled studies were excluded from the review of efficacy and meta-analysis,but included in the systematic review.Of 31 randomized,placebo-controlled treatment arms in 27 trials(encompassing 5029 study patients),S.boulardii was found to be significantly efficacious and safe in 84% of those treatment arms.A meta-analysis found a significant therapeutic efficacy for S.boulardii in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea(AAD)(RR = 0.47,95% CI:0.35-0.63,P < 0.001).In adults,S.boulardii can be strongly recommended for the prevention of AAD and the traveler's diarrhea.Randomized trials also support the use of this yeast probiotic for prevention of enteral nutrition-related diarrhea and reduction of Heliobacter pylori treatment-related symptoms.S.boulardii shows promise for the prevention of C.difficile disease recurrences;treatment of irritable bowel syndrome,acute adult diarrhea,Crohn's disease,giardiasis,human immunodeficiency virus-related diarrhea;but more supporting evidence is recommended for these indications.The use of S.boulardii as a therapeutic probiotic is evidence-based for both efficacy and safety for several types of diarrhea.

Clinical Characteristics, Imaging Findings and Surgical Outcomes of Chiari Malformation Type I in Pediatric and Adult Patients

A growing number of children and adolescents are being diagnosed as Chiari malformation type I （CM- I ） for behavioral disorders, developmental delay, seizures, or abnormal orpharyngeal function. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics, imaging findings and surgical outcomes of CM- I in pediatric and adult patients. Between January 2014 and June 2017, 84 patients with CM- I underwent surgical treatment in our department. We divided the patients into two groups： pediatric group （n=l 1, age 〈18 years） and adult group （n=73, age 〉18 years）. Data on clinical characteristics, imaging findings, surgical outcomes, and prognosis were retrospectively reviewed and compared between these two groups. For clinical presentation, scoliosis （36.4%） and developmental delay （36.4%） were more common in pediatric patients, whereas, sensory disturbance （58.9%） and motor weakness （41. 1%） were more common in adult patients. Imaging findings showed that the incidence of hydrocephalus and craniovertebral junctional abnormalities was significantly higher in pediatric group than in adult group （P〈0.05）. Compared to adult group, pediatric group showed a better improvement or resolution of syrinx and tonsillar herniation after surgical treatments （P〈0.05）. The total Chicago Chiari Outcome Scale （CCOS） score in pediatric patients at the last follow- up was significantly higher than that in adult patients （P=0.002）. In conclusion, the clinical characteristics and imaging findings appeared to be different in pediatric and adult patients with CM- I. The surgical outcomes of pediatric patients were shown to be significantly better than those of adult patients.

Formulation of an Early Warning Infectivity Score System for Adult Patients with Acute Bacterial Diarrhea

The aim of our study was to develop a scoring system to predict whether diarrhea is of a bacterial origin and whether the diarrheal patients constitute a potential source of infection to others. Adults with acute diarrhea （n=424） were enrolled in the study. Logistic regression and standard regression coefficients were used to formulate the Early Warning Infectivity Score System for Adults with Acute Bacterial Diarrhea （EWIS-ABD）. Four risk factors were identified by logistic regression, including body temperature （P〈0.01）, abdominal pain （P〈0.01）, leukocyte count in stool （P〈0.01）, and unclean dietary history （P〈0.01）. EWIS-ABD was thus developed, in which the value 〉5 points was set as an indicator of bacterial diarrhea. The incidence of bacterial diarrhea increased along with the elevated score. EWIS-ABD was more specific for bacterial diarrhea than for viral diarrhea. The accuracy and reliability of EWIS-ABD was high by prospective validation in 478 patients with acute diarrhea.

Prevalence of polymyxin-induced nephrotoxicity and its predictors in critically ill adult patients:A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Polymyxin-induced nephrotoxicity is a major safety concern in clinical practice due to long-term adverse outcomes and high mortality.AIM To conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence and potential predictors of polymyxin-induced nephrotoxicity in adult intensive care unit(ICU)patients.METHODS PubMed,EMBASE,the Cochrane Library and Reference Citation Analysis database were searched for relevant studies from inception through May 30,2022.The pooled prevalence of polymyxin-induced nephrotoxicity and pooled risk ratios of associated factors were analysed using a random-effects or fixed-effects model by Stata SE ver.12.1.Additionally,subgroup analyses and meta-regression were conducted to assess heterogeneity.RESULTS A total of 89 studies involving 12234 critically ill adult patients were included in the meta-analysis.The overall pooled incidence of polymyxin-induced nephrotoxicity was 34.8%.The pooled prevalence of colistin-induced nephrotoxicity was not higher than that of polymyxin B(PMB)-induced nephrotoxicity.The subgroup analyses showed that nephrotoxicity was significantly associated with dosing interval,nephrotoxicity criteria,age,publication year,study quality and sample size,which were confirmed in the univariable meta-regression analysis.Nephrotoxicity was significantly increased when the total daily dose was divided into 2 doses but not 3 or 4 doses.Furthermore,older age,the presence of sepsis or septic shock,hypoalbuminemia,and concomitant vancomycin or vasopressor use were independent risk factors for polymyxin-induced nephrotoxicity,while an elevated baseline glomerular filtration rate was a protective factor against colistin-induced nephrotoxicity.CONCLUSION Our findings indicated that the incidence of polymyxin-induced nephrotoxicity among ICU patients was high.It emphasizes the importance of additional efforts to manage ICU patients receiving polymyxins to decrease the risk of adverse outcomes.

Results of 50 adult patients treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for refractory postoperative cardiogenic shock

Objective Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a cardiopulmonary supportive therapy. Since 2004,our institution has adopted venoarterial ECMO for adult patients who otherwise could not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass and patients experiencing postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock and / or pulmonary dysfunction

Eysenck personality and psychosocial status of adult patients with malocclusion

Objective:To evaluate the personality and psychosocial status of adult malocclusion patients through the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire(EPQ) and the Symptom Checklist 90(SCL-90). Methods:The EPQ and the SCL-90 were administered to 348 adult respondents with Angle’s ClassⅠ,Ⅱ,Ⅲmalocclusion and normal occlusion.Personality and psychosocial traits were analyzed and compared among the groups.Results:Patients in Angle’s ClassⅠ,D andⅢgroups scored lower on the EPQ-E and higher on the EPQ-N than those in the normal occlusion group, whereas patients in the Class II group scored higher on the EPQ-P.The mean scores of ClassⅠ,ⅡandⅢgroups were significantly higher than those of the normal group on somatization, obsessive-compulsiveness,interpersonal sensitivity,depression,anxiety,and paranoid ideation. All SCL-90 scores were significantly positively correlated with EPQ-N.Psychoticiam and neuroticism scores of female respondents were higher than those of male respondents.The impact of education was greatest on the EPQ-P and the EPQ-E of adult personality,whereas the impact of deformity was greatest on the EPQ-N of adult personality.Conclusions:Personality and psychosocial status show differences in adult patients with ClassⅠ,Ⅱ,Ⅲmalocclusion and normal occlusion and can be influenced by gender,deformity,age and education.

Prognostic values of interim and post-therapy ^(18)F-FDG PET/CT scanning in adult patients with Burkitt's lymphoma

Background:The prognostic values of interim and post-therapy fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose(^(18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography(PET) and PET/computed tomography(CT) scanning have been confirmed in several subtypes of lymphoma.However,its prognostic value in Burkitt's lymphoma has not been clearly defined.The aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic value of PET/CT scanning during different treatment processes of Burkitt's lymphoma.Methods:A total of 29 adult patients with newly diagnosed Burkitt's lymphoma were retrospectively involved in this study;of them,23 patients underwent baseline PET/CT,15 patients underwent mid-therapy PET/CT after 1-4 cycles of chemotherapy,and 17 patients underwent post-therapy PET/CT after all planned first-line chemotherapy cycles.Mid-therapy and post-therapy PET/CT results(positive vs.negative) were visually interpreted according to the criteria of the International Harmonization Project.The reduction in the maximum standardizes uptake values(ASUVmax)of 25%,50%,and 75%were regarded as cutoff points.Overall survival(OS) and progression-free survival(PFS) were regarded as the major endpoints.Results:The median OS and PFS were 27.6 months(range 6.5-78.3 months) and 27.2 months(range 3.0-78.3 months),respectively.The median SUVmax of the baseline PET/CT was 18.3(range 1.6-35.9),whereas the median SUVmax of the mid-therapy and post-therapy PET/CT decreased to 4.0(range 0-17.6) and 3.0(range 0-14.5),respectively.The patients' Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group(ECOG) scores(<2 vs.≥2) were significantly associated with the baseline PET/CT SUVmax.The mid-therapy and post-therapy PET/CT results(positive vs.negative) showed no significant association with OS or PFS.The optimal cutoff ASUVmax from the baseline to the post-therapy PET/CT that could predict a change in OS in patients with Burkitt's lymphoma was 50%(P = 0.019).Conclusions:^(18)F-FDG uptake was intense in Burkitt's lymphoma,and there was a significant reduction in SUVmax during the interim and post-therapy PET/CT procedures.A ASUVmax of greater than 50%was a favorable cutoff point to predict the OS of Burkitt's lymphoma patients.

Correlation between Abdominal Ultrasonographic Findings and CD4 Cell Count in Adult Patients with HIV/AIDS in Jos, Nigeria

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is caused by Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV) resulting in progressive destruction of cell mediated immunity. The abdominal manifestations of AIDS are related to the level of CD+4 cells count as well as viral load. Abdominal ultrasound examination is easy to perform, non-invasive, inexpensive, readily available and reproducible investigation which provides valuable information about abdominal findings in AIDS. The objective of the study was to evaluate abdominal ultrasound findings in adult HIV/AIDS patients in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria and correlate these findings with the patients’ CD+4 counts. A cross-sectional study of abdominal ultrasound findings of adult patients with HIV/AIDS was conducted over a period of six months. The abdominal ultrasound findings and CD+4 counts were studied. Two hundred (40%) of the patients had normal abdominal ultrasound, while 60% (300) had various abnormalities. The common abnormalities included increased liver parenchymal echogenicity in 25.0%, hepatomegaly in 23.4%, splenomegaly in 6.6%, increased splenic echogenicity in 6.2% and thickened gallbladder wall in 12.6%, elevated renal parenchymal echogenicity in 6.4%, enlarged kidneys in 2.6%, lymphadenopathy in 6.0%, and ascites in 2.4%. Pelvic abscess was the least pathology in 0.2%. Most of the findings did not correlate with the patients’ CD+4?count except for lymphadenopathy and ascites. Although abdominal ultrasound examination is invaluable in the management of these patients, however, it has not shown to be useful in predicting the patients’ immune status.

Application of uncemented Zweymüller hip prosthesis in adult patients with hip osteoarthritis secondary to developmental dysplasia

Background Developmental dysplasia encompasses a wide spectrum of hip pathology ranging from a shallow acetabulum to a completely dislocated ＇high-riding＇ hip. It is a common cause of secondary osteoarthritis in young adults and is the underlying diagnosis in up to 48% of patients requiring total hip arthroplasty （THA） for coxarthrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate efficiency and safety of THA using Zweym（311er hip implant in the treatment of severe osteoarthritis secondary to developmental dysplasia of the hip （DDH） in adults. Methods From January 2000 to February 2008, 35 patients （40 hips） with developmental dysplasia of the hip were included. Five were male and 30 were female, with ages ranging from 26 to 65 years and an average age of 45 years. According to Hartofilakidis classification, there were type I in 5 hips, type II in 20 hips, type III in 15 hips. All the patients were performed the THA using the Zweym011er hip implant. The preoperative average Harris score was 44. The bilateral arthroplasty was performed in 5 patients and the unilateral arthroplasty in 30 patients. The patients mainly suffered from pain and claudication. Clinical and radiological results were analyzed. The Harris score was used for outcome measurement. Results Thirty five patients （40 hips） were followed and the mean follow-up period was 46 months （ranged from 24 months to 96 months）. The latest follow-up average Harris score was 88.9 （97.1% of good rate）. All the patients were pain-free and there was no sign of infection, aseptic loosening and subsidence. Conclusions In summary, THA using Zweym011er hip implant is a good treatment method for severe osteoarthritis secondary to DDH in adults. The key techniques for the total hip replacement are as follows： good preoperative plan, firmly placing the acetabular component in the true acetabulum, proper preparation of proximal femur, suitable femoral component choosing and improving the techniques of the bone graft.

A nomogram for individualized estimation of survival among adult patients with adrenocortical carcinoma after surgery:a retrospective analysis and multicenter validation study

Background:Clinical outcome of adrenocortical carcinoma(ACC)varies because of its heterogeneous nature and reliable prognostic prediction model for adult ACC patients is limited.The objective of this study was to develop and externally validate a nomogram for overall survival(OS)prediction in adult patients with ACC after surgery.Methods:Based on the data from the Surveillance Epidemiology,and End Results(SEER)database,adults patients diagnosed with ACC between January 1988 and December 2015 were identified and classified into a training set,comprised of 404 patients diagnosed between January 2007 and December 2015,and an internal validation set,com-prised of 318 patients diagnosed between January 1988 and December 2006.The endpoint of this study was OS.The nomogram was developed using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression algorithm in the training set and its performance was evaluated in terms of its discriminative ability,calibration,and clinical usefulness.The nomogram was then validated using the internal SEER validation,also externally validated using the Cancer Genome Atlas set(TCGA,82 patients diagnosed between 1998 and 2012)and a Chinese multicenter cohort dataset(82 patients diag-nosed between December 2002 and May 2018),respectively.Results:Age at diagnosis,T stage,N stage,and M stage were identified as independent predictors for OS.A nomo-gram incorporating these four predictors was constructed using the training set and demonstrated good calibration and discrimination(C-index 95%confidence interval[CI],0.715[0.679-0.751]),which was validated in the internal validation set(C-index[95%CI],0.672[0.637-0.707]),the TCGA set(C-index[95%CI],0.810[0.732-0.888])and the Chi-nese multicenter set(C-index[95%CI],0.726[0.633-0.819]),respectively.Encouragingly,the nomogram was able to successfully distinguished patients with a high-risk of mortality in all enrolled patients and in the subgroup analyses.Decision curve analysis indicated that the nomogram was clinically useful and applicable.Conclusions:The study presents a nomogram that incorporates clinicopathological predictors,which can accurately predict the OS of adult ACC patients after surgery.This model and the corresponding risk classification system have the potential to guide therapy decisions after surgery.

The predictive role of the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in the prognosis of adult patients with stroke

Our study aimed to determine the effect of the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio on the prognosis of adult patients with acute stroke.We searched the Web of Science,PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases and selected all of the potentially eligible studies.From the included studies,we extracted characteristics such as the stroke type and acquisition time until routine blood collection and the odds ratios across studies.The 95%confidence intervals and odds ratios were pooled to calculate the effect size for the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in acute stroke patients.We defined poor function outcomes according to the modified Rankin Scale≥3 or Glasgow Outcome Scale<3.Thirteen studies with 4443 patients were included in our analysis,including 7 ischemic and 6 hemorrhagic stroke studies.The pooled odds ratios for poor functional outcome at 3 months with a higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in acute ischemic and hemorrhagic patients were 1.689(95%CI=1.184-2.409,p<0.001)and 1.125(95%CI=1.022-1.239,p<0.001),respectively,and the overall pooled odds ratio for poor functional outcome following stroke was 1.257(95%CI=1.146-1.379,p<0.001).At the same time,the overall combined odds ratio for death at 3 months was 1.632(95%CI=1.155-2.306,p<0.001).The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio,an easily calculated marker,plays a predictive role in the short-term outcomes of adult patients(mean age≥50 years)following acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.

Acute Epiglottitis in a Diabetic Adult Patient

Acute epiglottitis （AE） is a potentially life-threatening infection of the supraglottic structures, which can lead to sudden, fatal airway obstruction, may require urgent tracheal intubation or tracheotomy. However, there are no putative predictors for urgent airway intervention in AE, and the timing to establish an artificial airway for adult AE patients remains controversial.

Anxiety and depression in older adult patients undergoing elective liver surgery in allopatry medical treatment

Background:Allopatry medical treatment is common in China.However,allopatry medical therapy can result in many problems,including a negative psychological impact on patients.Patients undergoing liver surgery often experience anxiety and depression.To understand the psychological status of older adult patients undergoing surgery better,this study was designed to investigate the incidence of anxiety and depression in older adult patients undergoing elective liver surgery and to analyze factors associated with it in allopatry medical therapy.Methods:A total of 173 older adult patients undergoing elective liver surgery were included in the study.Patients were evaluated using the hospital anxiety and depression scale(HADS).The contributing factors affecting the psychological state of older adult patients undergoing elective surgery were analyzed using a linear regression method.Results:The HADS-A(hospital anxiety and depression scale-anxiety).The correlation(scale)score of the older adult patients undergoing elective liver surgery was(8.69
2.38),including 53 asymptomatic patients,86 suspicious patients,and 34 symptomatic patients.The HADS-D(hospital anxiety and depression scale-depression)score was(8.31
2.90),including 83 asymptomatic patients,56 suspicious patients,and 34 symptomatic patients.Multivariate analysis showed that residence and complication grade(Clavien–Dindo Classification of Surgical Complications or Accordion Severity Grading System)significantly correlated with the anxiety level of patients undergoing elective surgery.Residence,a requirement of blood transfusion,total transfusion volume,and Accordion complication grade showed a significant correlation with depression in patients undergoing elective surgery.Conclusions:Anxiety and depression in older adult patients undergoing elective liver surgery were common.Regional differences(local patients vs non local patients)and the severity of complications were the risk factors for anxiety and depression in older adult patients undergoing elective liver surgery.Reducing both regional differences and the severity of complications would be beneficial to alleviate the risk of anxiety and depression in older adult patients undergoing elective liver surgery and thus promote their physical and mental health.

Relation between sleep quality and glycemic control among type 2 diabetic patients

Objective:To investigate the relation between sleep quality and glycemic control among type 2 diabetic patients.Methods:Across sectional descriptive design was used;the study sample including 125 diabetic patients was recruited at diabetic clinics in Zagazig University hospitals.The interview questionnaire sheet consists of 4 par ts:(1)demographic data,(2)medical history,(3)an Arabic version of the Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI),and(4)glycated hemoglobin A1c(Hb A1c)analysis test.Results:The mean of sleep duration was the highest score of PSQI components,96.8%of diabetic patients had poor sleep quality,and 90.4%of diabetic patients had poor glycemic control.A highly statistically significant relationship was found between Hb A1c and sleep quality.Moreover,income,duration of disease and smoking were independent positive predictors of Hb A1c level,while the female gender was a statistically significant negative predictor.Additionally,female gender and income were statistically significant independent positive predictors of PSQI score.Conclusions:Poor sleep quality and poor glycemic control were very common among type 2 diabetic patients.There was a highly significant relation between sleep quality and glycemic control.

Three-dimensional evaluation of upper anterior alveolar bone dehiscence after incisor retraction and intrusion in adult patients with bimaxillary protrusion malocclusion

Objective:The purpose of this study was to evaluate three-dimensional(3D) dehiscence of upper anterior alveolar bone during incisor retraction and intrusion in adult patients with maximum anchorage.Methods:Twenty adult patients with bimaxillary dentoalveolar protrusion had the four first premolars extracted.Miniscrews were placed to provide maximum anchorage for upper incisor retraction and intrusion.A computed tomography(CT) scan was performed after placement of the miniscrews and treatment.The 3D reconstructions of pre-and post-CT data were used to assess the dehiscence of upper anterior alveolar bone.Results:The amounts of upper incisor retraction at the edge and apex were(7.64±1.68) and(3.91±2.10) mm,respectively,and(1.34±0.74) mm of upper central incisor intrusion.Upper alveolar bone height losses at labial alveolar ridge crest(LAC) and palatal alveolar ridge crest(PAC) were 0.543 and 2.612 mm,respectively,and the percentages were(6.49±3.54)% and(27.42±9.77)%,respectively.The shape deformations of LAC-labial cortex bending point(LBP) and PAC-palatal cortex bending point(PBP) were(15.37±5.20)° and(6.43±3.27)°,respectively.Conclusions:Thus,for adult patients with bimaxillary protrusion,mechanobiological response of anterior alveolus should be taken into account during incisor retraction and intrusion.Pursuit of maximum anchorage might lead to upper anterior alveolar bone loss.

Microsatellite instability and expression of DNA mismatch repair genes in malignant astrocytic tumors from adult and pediatric patients

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is used as a molecular marker for defective DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes.We report here alterations of MSI in 15 malignant astrocytomas (WHO grade Ⅲ) and glioblastomas (GBM; WHO grade Ⅳ) of pediatric patients (2-21 years) and 12 GBM from adults (44-68 years) by comparative analysis of BAT25/BAT26 loci and 10 other microsatellite markers. High-level microsatellite instability (MSI-H) occurred in 4 of the 15 pediatric cases (26.7%) and in 1 of the 12 adult GBM cases (8.3%). Low-level mi-

HIV/AIDS related mortality among adult medical patients in a tertiary health institution in South-South,Nigeria

Objective:To determine the causes of death among human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(HIV/AIDS) patients as a step to planning strategies to improve mortality from this condition.Methods:This study retrospectively analyzed the mortality pattern of adult HIV/AIDS patients in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital from January 2005 to December 2007.The data were obtained from sexually transmitted infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(STI/AIDS) clinic register,admissions and discharge/death registers as well as the patients’ case records and the hospitals monthly mortality reviews.Information obtained included age,sex,diagnosis and cause(s) of death.The causes of death considered were the direct causes of death,since the originating antecedent cause of death is the same in all the patients,in this case,HIV/AIDS.Data was analysed using Epi Info 2002.Results:The total number of mortalities during the study period was 350,100 were HIV positive representing 28.6%of all deaths.While advanced HIV/AIDS disease was the leading cause of death in our study representing 27.0%,tuberculosis was the single leading cause of deaths in HIV/AIDS patients constituting about 24.0%of deaths.This was followed by sepsis and septicaemia(13.0%), meningitis and encephalitis,and anaemia accounting for 11.0%,while respiratory diseases constituted 5.0%of the mortality burden.The highest number of deaths occurred in those aged between 21-50 years(82.0%).Conclusions:The study has shown that HIV/AIDS is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in our hospital.The causes of death reflect the varied spectrum of infection and other forms of organ involvement that affect HIV/AIDS patients.The present dismal situation of adult patients living with HIV/AIDS calls for enhanced strategies to decrease the mortality trend observed in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.

The Impact of Salivary pH Value and Dental Caries Index on Periodontal Status among Adult Age Groups of Patients from Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia

Background: The patients’ age is considered a modified risk factor that causes periodontal disease, dental caries, and their development. Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate the impact of salivary pH value and dental caries index on periodontal status among adult age groups of patients from Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis carried out in the college of dentistry, King Khalid University on 750 adult patients (400 males and 350 females). The adults patients were divided into three equal groups according to the patients’ age: group I (20 - 30 years), group II (31 - 40 years), and group III (41 - 50 years). Plaque index (PLI), gingival index (GI), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and the dental caries index (DMFT) recorded as well as salivary pH. All findings collected, then analyzed by an ANOVA test and the t-test. A p-value at <0.05 was considered a statistical significance level. Results: The clinical findings of the current study showed that there were statistically significant differences in the patients’ age of both males and females. Moreover, there were statistically significant differences in GI. On the other hand, there were highly statistically significant differences in PLI and DMFS, but there were no significant differences in CAL of both males and females Moreover, there were no statistically significant differences in salivary pH. Conclusion: We concluded that DMFT Index correlated to periodontal and oral health status and, it increased with the progression of the patient’s age and can be used in the epidemiological evaluation of periodontal and oral health status.

COMPARISON OF SERUM TRACE ELEMENT SPECTRUM BETWEEN LIVER CANCER PATIENTS AND HEALTHY ADULTS

The study of the relationship between trace element and health and disease has attracted more and more interests of scientists. As well known there exist complex interaction between the trace elements, and the trace elements and other substances, so the trace element research must be involved to the com-prehensive effect of multifactors, other than single element. We determined the contents of fifteen trace elements in serum from thirty patients with liver cancer and thirty healthy adults by ICP-AES analysis. The obtained data were analysed statistically by not only routine statistical test bat also multi-variate discrimination analysis, multi-variate stepwise regression and non-linear mapping algorithm. It is hoped that it can provide some valuable informations for investigation on relationship betwecn trace elements and cancer.

成年脊柱畸形患者和无症状受试者脊柱骨盆肌肉体积的比较研究

目的探讨成年脊柱畸形患者和无症状受试者脊柱骨盆肌肉体积及其临床意义。方法选取脊柱畸形患者80例,分为有症状组(n=34)和无症状组(n=46)。收集两组一般临床资料、影像学指标和脊柱骨盆肌肉体积,分析患者症状表现与脊柱骨盆肌肉体积的相关性。结果有症状组脊柱骨盆肌肉体积、臀大肌、臀中肌和臀小肌相对横截面积则显著低于无症状组,脂肪浸润则显著高于无症状组(P<0.05)。Person分析显示,患者的症状刀背样畸形、半椎体畸形、腰背部僵硬感、呼吸困难、髋部疼痛以及活动受限与患者的骨盆肌肉体积均存在显著的负相关关系(P<0.05)。结论成年脊柱畸形患者脊柱骨盆肌肉的体积显著低于无症状受试者。