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Background Aims Methods Results Conclusions Botulinum neurotoxin injections are the most frequently performed cosmetic procedures, but conventional blind injection for glabellar wrinkles remains to have some limitations.We intend to directly inject botulinum neurotoxin into the glabella complex guided by real time ultrasound. We aim to propose a more efficient and safer botulinum neurotoxin injection strategy for glabellar wrinkles.A total of 40 subjects with moderate to severe glabellar lines were enrolled in this study to receive botulinum neurotoxin injection, either through ultrasound‐guided real time injection or conventional blind injection. Facial Wrinkle Scale (ranging from 0 = none to 3 = severe) and inter‐brow distance (from 3D scanned face images) were used to evaluate the glabellar wrinkles improvement. Paired t test and two‐sample t test were performed to analyze the within‐group and between‐group differences.The wrinkle score reduction was significant (p < 0.0001) immediately after the injection in ultrasound‐guided injection group, but not in blind injection group (p = 0.163). Ultrasound‐guided injection also showed a higher performance of wrinkle score reduction and more effective inter‐brow distance increase over blind injection at Day 0 (p < 0.0001), Day 1 (p < 0.0001), Day 21 (p < 0.01) and Day 35 (p < 0.01) after initial treatment.The results of the study confirmed that botulinum neurotoxin injection for glabellar wrinkles under ultrasound guidance achieves quicker onset of action and better final outcomes compared to conventional blind injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To figure out whether premolar extractions treatment would influence the cant of the occlusal planes and thus affect dentoskeletal patterns in patients with different types of malocclusions. Materials and Methods: A total of 140 post‐orthodontic treatment subjects (96 females, 44 males) were included in this study, and their lateral cephalograms and demographic information were collected and analysed. The patients were divided into extraction and non‐extraction groups. The ANB, SNA, SNB, Wits, Facial Height Index (FHI), SN‐MP, SN‐AOP, SN‐POP and AOP‐POP angle were measured on the cephalograms. Other possible confounding factors were recorded. Data were analysed by univariate analysis, stratified analysis, multivariate analysis, and coefficient analysis. Results: After treatment, the changes in the AOP‐SN, POP‐SN and AOP‐POP angle were statistically different between the extraction and non‐extraction groups. The results were consistent in different skeletal malocclusions and extent of crowding according to stratified analysis. After adjusting all confounding factors, the cant of the posterior occlusal plane was flattened further by 2.14 degrees in the extraction group than the non‐extraction group after orthodontic treatment, and the AOP‐SN and AOP‐POP angle would further increase by 1.72 and 3.81 degrees, respectively. Although no significant differences were found between the two groups, the SNA, ANB, and Wits in the extraction group decreased more with increased counterclockwise rotation of the mandible. Conclusion: Compared to the non‐extraction group, there were more increases in the AOP‐SN and AOP‐POP angle and more posterior flattening in patients with four premolar extractions despite different types of dentoskeletal malocclusion, which were correlated to the change of variables in sagittal and vertical dimensions such as Wits and FHI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ‐OA) causes severe symptoms such as chewing difficulties, acute pain and even maxillofacial deformity. However, there is hardly any effective disease‐curing strategy because of uncertainty in aetiology. Animal model is an excellent tool to investigate the mechanism, prevention and treatment on diseases. Currently, although several TMJ‐OA animal models have been established, there are almost no comparative studies on different models, which poses a great challenge for selecting suitable models. Objective: To compare three TMJ‐OA induction methods and assess their applicability considering pathological changes in the cartilage, subchondral bone, osteoclasts, and synovium. Methods: Murine models were employed and followed for 3 and 6 weeks after experimental procedures (surgery, injection, crossbite). The TMJ changes were evaluated by Safranin‐O/Fast green staining, immunofluorescence staining, micro‐CT, TRAP staining, and HE staining. Results: In the Surgery group, a pronounced drop in bone volume fraction was observed. In the Injection group, chondrocytes were mostly disordered or arranged in clusters and a substantial increase in the OARSI score and osteoclasts was found. The OARSI score and osteoclasts also increased significantly in the Crossbite group, although to a lower extent compared with injection. Conclusion: Osteoarthritis‐like changes were observed in all models. Concerning the applicability of the different induction methods, surgery might be an important resource for the assessment of post‐traumatic TMJ‐OA and subchondral bone changes in early stages. Injection induces a severe end‐stage osteoarthritis in a short time and provides model basis for advanced TMJ‐OA. Crossbite might be more reasonable model to explore the pathogenesis mechanism of temporomandibular arthritis due to occlusal disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Poly‐γ‐glutamic acid (γ‐PGA) is a homopolymer obtained by microbial fermentation, which has wide potential applications in many fields. However, costs of raw materials and the fermentation process are still a limiting factor in the commercial‐scale production of γ‐PGA. Thus, it is necessary to continue to optimize its production by developing a cost‐effective fermentation process. RESULTS: Bacillus subtilis GXC‐36 was proven to be able to produce γ‐PGA efficiently by nonsterilized fermentation. The yield of γ‐PGA reached 36.38 ± 0.81 g L−1 with a high productivity of 1.65 g L−1 h−1 by nonsterilized batch fermentation in a 10 L fermenter using glucose and yeast extract (YE) as carbon and nitrogen source. Furthermore, B. subtilis GXC‐36 could produce γ‐PGA efficiently using cassava starch (CS) and corn steep powder (CSP) instead of glucose and YE for γ‐PGA production, and the yield of γ‐PGA also reached 33.51 ± 0.72 g L−1 with productivity of 1.52 g L−1 h−1 in a 10 L fermenter. Fermentative benefits evaluation indicated that the fermentation cost of nonsterilized fermentation using CS and CSP was only 60.6% of sterilized fermentation using glucose and YE. CONCLUSION: This study provides an economical and simple process for γ‐PGA production by nonsterilized fermentation with low‐cost raw materials. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]