Xueqin Bai

The graphene oxide (GO) microparticles were synthesized through ultrasonication for insulin delivery. The prepared GO microparticles and insulin-loaded GO/insulin composite were characterized by various techniques including ATR-FTIR (attenuated total reflection flourier transformed infrared spectroscopy), scanning electron microcopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analyzer (TG), zeta potential and dynamic lights scattering (DLS) measurements. The particle size analysis showed that the GO particle was well distributed, and the size was about 4 μm with surface charge of –27.5 mV in MES solution (pH 4.7). SEM images showed that insulin successfully attached on surface of GO particles. The GO particles exhibited excellent insulin loading efficiency in lower pH solution (2.5, 4.7). The release study showed that insulin was released from GO/insulin composite in higher pH solution (7.4). This study provides valuable information for development of insulin carriers based on GO.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the difference of three-dimensional (3D) reconstructed palatal morphology between subjects with skeletal Class III and skeletal Class I in different vertical patterns using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: In this study, 89 subjects with skeletal Class III (49 females, 40 males; 25.45 ± 3.81 years) and 85 subjects with skeletal Class I (45 females, 40 males; 23.95 ± 4.45 years) were collected retrospectively and divided into hyperdivergent, normodivergent and hypodivergent groups. Dolphin software was used to reorient the CBCT images of these subjects. After segmenting 3D object of maxilla from the 3D skull by ProPlan software, Geomagic Studio was used to reconstruct 3D palatal morphology and establish an average 3D palatal morphology for each group. The differences of 3D palatal morphology between different groups were compared by deviation patterns on 3D colored map analysis. Results: 3D colored map analysis showed the posterior part of male’s palate was higher and wider than that of female’s palate in skeletal Class III subjects. In skeletal Class III subjects, males with hyperdivergent pattern had a higher and narrower palate compared with hypodivergent subjects, while females with hyperdivergent had a higher but not obviously narrower palate compared with hypodivergent subjects. In the similar vertical patterns, skeletal Class III subjects had a flatter but not narrower palate compared with skeletal Class I subjects, along with a smaller palate volume. Conclusions: This method allows more intuitive between-group comparisons of the differences of 3D palatal morphology. In skeletal Class III subjects, as the vertical dimension increased, the palate tends to be higher and narrower. Therefore, the influence of vertical patterns on the palatal morphology should be fully considered in the orthodontic and orthognathic treatment of skeletal Class III subjects.

Surgery combined with orthodontic uprighting of impacted mandibular second molars requires sequential treatment procedures. This article presents a rare case of horizontally impacted bilateral mandibular second molars accompanied by dental crowding. The patient’s mandibular second molars were fully embedded in bone with overlying mesially-impacted mandibular third molars and the mandibular first molars were inclined distally. The treatment involved staged bilateral extraction of the second premolars and mandibular third molars, followed by the surgical implantation of micro-implants for anchorage in the mandibular ramus. At a subsequent stage, the mandibular second molars were successfully orthodontically uprighted, leading to a favourable treatment outcome.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the difference of palatal morphology between subjects with skeletal Class III and skeletal Class I in different vertical patterns using digital technology. Materials and Methods: In this study, 89 subjects with skeletal Class III (49 females, 40 males; 25.45±3.81 years) and 85 subjects with skeletal Class I (45 females, 40 males; 23.95±4.45 years) were collected retrospectively and divided into hyperdivergent, normodivergent and hypodivergent groups. Dolphin software was used to reorient the CBCT images of these subjects. After using ProPlan software to segment three-dimensional (3D) object of maxilla from the 3D skull, Geomagic Studio software was used to reconstruct 3D palatal morphology. The differences of 3D palatal morphology between different groups were compare by deviation patterns on 3D colored map analysis. Results: 3D colored map analysis showed the posterior part of male’s palate was higher and wider than that of female in skeletal Class III subjects. In skeletal Class III subjects, males with hyperdivergent had a higher and narrower palate compared with hypodivergent subjects, while females with hyperdivergent had a higher but no obvious narrower palate compared with hypodivergent subjects. In the similar vertical patterns, skeletal Class III subjects had a flatter but not narrower palate compared with skeletal Class I, along with a smaller palate volume. Conclusions: In skeletal Class III subjects, as the vertical dimension increased, the palate tended to be higher and narrower. Clinical Relevance: The influence of vertical patterns on the palatal morphology should be fully considered in the orthodontic and orthognathic treatment of skeletal Class III subjects.