Search

Studies have revealed that upward social comparison on social network sites (SNSs) was a risk factor for depressive symptoms, however, little is known about the underlying processes that may mediate or moderate this relationship. This study extended prior research by examining the mediating role of self-esteem and the moderating role of optimism in this relationship. A sample of 1205 Chinese undergraduate students completed measures of upward social comparison on SNSs, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and optimism. Results showed that self-esteem partially mediated the relation between upward social comparison on SNSs and depressive symptoms. In addition, the direct effect of upward social comparison on SNSs on depressive symptoms and the mediating effect of self-esteem were both moderated by optimism. The two effects were more potent for individuals with low optimism than for those with high optimism. The present study contributes to a better understanding of how and when upward social comparison on SNSs increases the risk of depressive symptoms. Limitations and implications of this study are discussed.

Although Social Network Site (SNS) usage has been shown to be related to online compulsive buying among women, little is known about the mediating mechanisms underlying this association. Based on the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution model (I-PACE) for addictive behaviors and social comparison theory, the present study examined the mediating roles of upward social comparison and state anxiety in the link between passive SNS usage and online compulsive buying among female undergraduate students. A sample of 799 Chinese female undergraduate students (mean age = 19.86 years, SD = 1.63) were recruited to complete questionnaires measuring passive SNS usage, upward social comparison on SNS, state anxiety, and online compulsive buying. After controlling for online shopping experience, the results showed that passive SNS usage was positively associated with online compulsive buying; upward social comparison and state anxiety partially mediated this link, which contained three mediating pathways – the separate mediating effect of upward social comparison and state anxiety, and the sequential mediating effect of upward social comparison and state anxiety. These findings can advance our understanding of how passive SNS usage is related to online compulsive buying among female undergraduate students. Limitations and implications of this study are discussed.

Purpose The soft tissue healing patterns of mandibular intracapsular condylar fracture (ICF) after closed treatment have not been well characterized. The purpose of the present study was to classify the injury and healing patterns in adult patients using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation. Patients and Methods The present study represents a retrospective review of MRI examinations performed on patients treated with closed reduction of an ICF from 2010 to 2013. The MRI scans used for comparison were taken at 1 week and at least 3 months after the injury. These studies were used to identify the common patterns of hard and soft tissue derangements. The predictor variable was the type of soft tissue injuries, categorized as anteromedial displacement of both the disc and the fractured bony fragment, anteromedial displacement of the bony fragment with the disc remaining over the residual ramus, tear of the retrodiscal tissue or capsule, and joint effusion. The outcome variables were the MRI comparisons of the disc position, healing status of the retrodiscal tissue and capsule, and resolution of joint effusions. Results Twelve patients, all with ICFs, were included in the present study. Immediately after injury, all 17 fractures (100%) showed anteromedial displacement of both the disc and the fractured condylar fragment, and 10 fractures (58.8%) showed anteromedial displacement of the condylar fragment with the disc remaining over the residual condyle. Also, 11 (64.7%) showed evidence of perforation of the retrodiscal tissue, and 7 (41.2%) showed tears in the capsule. Finally, all 17 (100%) exhibited joint effusions. At 3 months after injury, all 17 fractures (100%) continued to exhibit displacement of both the disc and the condylar segments. Also, 15 fractures (88.2%) showed elongation of the disc and thickening of the retrodiscal tissue, 2 fractures (11.8%) had developed osteoid hyperplasia and meniscal perforation, and 6 fractures (35.3%) showed resolution of previous joint effusions. Finally, 17 fractures (100%) showed reactive bone formation at the condylar head. Conclusions ICFs treated with closed reduction consistently result in a specific pattern of temporomandibular joint pathologic features. These pathologic features are characterized by anteromedial displacement of the articular disc, elongation and thickening of the retrodiscal tissue, and reactive bone formation at the condylar head. The presence of a portion of the disc between the residual condyle and the fossa prevented the development of osteoarthritis and ankylosis. Perforation of the bilaminar tissue and contact between the residual condyle and the fossa promoted osteoarthritic changes and ankylosis.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis in growing patients can cause both mouth opening limitation and jaw bone deformity. Lateral arthroplasty (LAP) can restore the medially displaced condyle and thus keep its growth potential. But can the condyle grow as normal is unknown. This study was to evaluate the long-term result after LAP in growing children. Patients from 2010 to 2014 were evaluated. Their CT data within 1 week after operation and during at least 1-year follow-ups were measured by ProPlan CMF 1.4 software. The condyle-ramus length of both sides and angles and the chin deviation before and after operation were compared. SPSS 17.0 software was used for statistical analysis. A total of 9 patients with a mean age of 10.2 years were included in the study. The mean follow-up period was 1.94 years. The mean condyle-ramus growth was 2.90 mm in the affected side and 2.50 mm in the unaffected side (P = 0.31). All of the affected side exhibited growth and remodeling of the condyle and ramus. All 9 cases had a mean chin deviation of 3.69 mm before operation and 2.92 mm during follow-ups (P = 0.16). The residual condyle grows after LAP, which can reduce the gravity of jawbone deformity.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of motor neuron disease worldwide, leading to progressive muscle atrophy and paralysis. The limited success of conventional treatment for ALS has prompted investigations into complementary and alternative therapies. Herbal remedies provide good prospects of ALS prevention and treatment, with advantages such as multiple targets, multiple links, and few side effects. Studies in vitro and in vivo have shown that herbs have a great potential for treatment of ALS, with therapeutic effects against oxidative stress, excitatory amino acid toxicity, neuroinflammation, and calcium cytotoxicity. Active monomers or ingredients extracted from herbs are considered promising candidates for ALS. Therefore, we review recent experimental research on monomers and compounds isolated from herbal remedies for preventing and treating ALS.

Acute traumatic temporomandibular joint disc displacement (ATDD) and its sequelae are not familiar for most surgeons. This study is to discuss its sequelae in cases without disc reduction after failed conservative treatment. From 2010 to 2015, 26 patients with 34 joints were included in the study. All patients had at least 3 months conservative treatment. Their maximal incisor opening (MIO) was measured during follow-ups and MRI examination was used to check the condylar bone degeneration. The mean follow-up for conservative treatment after admission was 8.69 months, the patients reached an average of 25.7 mm MIO. MRI showed condylar bone intact in 8 joints (23.5%), condylar surface bone destruction (Wilks IV, V stages) in 14 joints (41.2%), and severe bone resorption in 12 joints (35.3%). 15 patients with 23 joints were asked for surgical treatment after a mean conservative treatment of 5.4 months (3–12 months) to improve mouth opening and relieve chronic pain. 12 joints had total joint replacement (TJR). 11 joints had disc repositioning. Their mean MIO before operation was 19.8 mm and significantly improved to 33.9 mm after operation (p = 0.0000). ATDD may cause severe osteoarthritis or ankylosis. Disc repositioning and TJR could significantly improve MIO.

In order to reduce the hazards of earthquake disasters on human, basic principle of reducing vibration is discussed by establishing passive vibration isolation model. The calculation results show vibration can be reduced by isolation materials whose deformation modulus (stiffness) should be smaller and damping should be appropriate. Light reinforced soil is a good man-made material, its all physical mechanical parameters can be changed, and anti-pull capacity of soil can be increased. According to the basic principle of reducing vibration, reducing vibration idea using light reinforced soil is brought forward, and the idea has a very important significance for research on reducing earthquake disasters from the angle of ground and foundation.

In the process of drilling well, the kinematics of drill string is quite complicated. The drill string not only vibrates in longitudinal, transverse and torsional direction, but also random impacts and contacts well wall. Considering the random load of drill bit and rock, contact impact of drill string and well wall, a model is proposed to simulate the contact-impact of drill string and formation. The results show that: in the condition of this article the first principal stress of the drill string can reach to 130 MPa, for the random impacts, the strength of drill collar will reduced under cyclic loading; contact-impact is the principal source of drill premature failure. In this paper, an explicit integration and nonlinear finite element was adopted to simulate the collision between the drill string and formation, the process of the collision between the drill string and formation can be revealed compressively and delicately. Through an example, we can obtain the foundation for nonlinear dynamic theory of drill string system collision in the actual work condition, and has important theory significance and academic value.

With the application of ANSYS finite element analysis software and environmental data in ChengDao oil field, a nonlinear finite element model of suspended submarine pipeline coupled with sea-floor soil is developed. Discarding the traditional and imprecise pipeline model with double clamped or simply supported ends, the model is founded on the theory of elastic foundation beam, in which the nonlinear effect between pipeline and sea-floor soil is considered. Base on the model we developed, the influences of span length and shear strength of soil at the ends of span on the span’s natural frequency are discussed. And the effects of span length, shear strength of soil and current velocity on the dynamic response of span are also analyzed in this paper. The model we developed in this paper fits the actual structure better, and the analysis is instructive for preventing and controlling the suspending of submarine pipeline.

Local thinning of submarine pipeline always exists due to the complexity and dynamic of marine environment loads. However, the location and extent of thinning areas are random. Mechanical research on the randomness of local thinning of submarine pipelines is significant for pipeline’s stress analysis and failure evaluation. In this paper, finite element model of locally thinned submarine pipeline is established and based on the Monte-Carlo method, the effect of input random variables on the submarine pipeline’s reliability is analyzed. Probability distribution ranges of equivalent stresses are got and further, relationship equation between confidence level and stress limit has been obtained. The result more accurately reveals the relationships of locally thinned pipeline and its elastic modulus with equivalent stress, which can provide foundation for safety analysis of locally thinned submarine pipeline with internal pressure.

The deep drill string is subjected to many kinds of loading under the condition of vibration and precession, such as tension, compression, bending and torsion, while the temperature and press are very high. Under this circumstance, the shallow drill string is more likely to failure. Based on the force analysis of the drill string, the drilling process of the deep drill string is simulated using finite element software. The stress distribution and displacement of the drill string is obtained under the interaction of drilling pressure, torque and temperature. At the same time, the effect of transverse vibration, longitudinal vibration and torsional vibration, on the stress and displacement of the drill string, is compared. The change law of the natural frequency of transverse vibration varying with the length of drill string, rotational speed and the hole size is discussed. Connected with concrete examples, the reliability and sensitivity of some influencing factors such as external diameter, wall thickness, the minimum yield strength, temperature, elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio, axial loading and torque is obtained. The main factors that influence the reliability of the drill string are the yield strength and torque. The reliability of the drill string increases as the increase of yield strength, and decreases as the increase of the torque.

Purpose We report a surgical method for the treatment of traumatic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis with a medially displaced residual condyle and compare the long-term results with those obtained using different interpositional materials. Patients and Methods From 2001 to 2009, 60 patients and 82 joints diagnosed with traumatic TMJ ankylosis with a medially displaced residual condyle were included in the present study. Lateral arthroplasty (LAP) was performed, and either the masseter muscle flap (MMF) or the temporalis myofascial flap (TMF) was used as interpositional material to fill the lateral space. The long-term results of these treatments were compared by performing postoperative computed tomography scans and clinical follow-up examinations. Results Of the 82 joints, 22 were treated with LAP, 28 with LAP and MMF, and 32 with LAP and TMF. Of the 60 patients, 38 (48 joints) participated in long-term follow-up (from 1 to 4 yr). Of the 11 joints treated with LAP, 4 (36.4%) developed reankylosis. Of the 17 joints treated with LAP and MMF, 3 (17.6%) developed reankylosis, and none of the 20 joints treated with LAP and TMF developed reankylosis. Compared with LAP alone, LAP with TMF significantly improved the maximal incisal opening during long-term follow-up. Conclusion LAP can preserve the residual TMJ structure. The TMF is a reliable interpositional material in LAP for the prevention of reankylosis.

The first excursion failure criterion was introduced to calculate the dynamic reliability of drill string elements. Considering the random of geometry size and mechanical property parameters of drill string in deep & ultra-deep wells, the drill string system was dispersed into several basic elements according to the structure, strength and differences in the nature of formation rock in the well depth direction. And the overall dynamic reliability was quantitatively calculated through the serial theory. Through an example, the results show that the dynamic reliability of the drill string elements appeared fluctuation near the depth of 4500 meters for the inside worn of the drill string and casing, and uneven loading of drill string. The dynamic reliability of drill string in deep and complicated formation was less than any other drill strings. The drilling pressure, rotation speed and drilling depth were the main influencing factors on the dynamic reliability of drill string.

An optimization design method is developed for the beam pumping unit, which is based on the API-RP-11L design criteria. The Response Surface Method is used to calculate the structural reliability of the beam pumping unit. The optimization design method not only provides an efficient and fast optimization tool for the modular design of the beam pumping unit, but also offers an integral design calculation in accordance with the API design code. The function and theory of this optimization design method are given by this paper, as well as some concrete calculation examples.

Considering the various influencing factors of enrichment of coal bed methane, the evaluation indexes of enrichment for coal bed methane are determined. The weight values of all factors indexes are given and the fuzzy mathematics model is established on the basis of the fuzzy mathematics. As a case study, the fuzzy mathematics model is applied to the assessment of enrichment of coal bed methane. The results show that the No.5 coal seam of Shan 2 of Shanxi formation in Daning-Jixian is a better enrichment area. The evaluation result performed on the basis of the fuzzy mathematics model is in good agreement with the measured result. The example indicates that the method is credible and has high precise. The assessment system established in the paper can be regarded as a reference model in coal bed methane exploitation potential assessment.

In order to know something about the structure reliability of beam pumping unit, the methods of Monte-Carlo and response surface method are used to analyze the pumping unit. According to the analysis and calculation, the approach of how to calculate and analyze the reliability of complex structure is obtained. The results show that using the method of reliability can make the pumping unit more reliable and reveal the components of pumping unit more clearly which can make the design of pumping unit more reasonable.

In this paper, the main design parameters of seal structure for non-API pipe connection are studied. First, as the total contact pressure consists of the radial preload generated by interference fit and the radial pressure caused by gas pressure in pipe, the variation laws of their values changing with the sealing diameter are analyzed. The sealing diameter value which maximizes the total contact pressure can be obtained from the derivation formula for calculating the total contact pressure. Second, considering the yield condition of pipe connection under the internal and the external pressures, the minimum wall thickness of the seal structure is derived. Then the cone angle is calculated by the sealing length and the minimum wall thickness known. Finally, take the 7in casing connection for example, the main design parameters are calculated by the above analysis.

Eight casing failure modes and 32 risk factors in oil and gas wells are given in this paper. According to the quantitative analysis of the influence degree and occurrence probability of risk factors, the Borda counts for failure modes are obtained with the Borda method. The risk indexes of failure modes are derived from the Borda matrix. Based on the support vector machine (SVM), a casing life prediction model is established. In the prediction model, eight risk indexes are defined as input vectors and casing life is defined as the output vector. The ideal model parameters are determined with the training set from 19 wells with casing failure. The casing life prediction software is developed with the SVM model as a predictor. The residual life of 60 wells with casing failure is predicted with the software, and then compared with the actual casing life. The comparison results show that the casing life prediction software with the SVM model has high accuracy.

Vascular anomalies are among the most common congenital and neonatal dysmorphogenesis, which are separated into hemangiomas and vascular malformations. They can occur in various areas throughout the body, with 60% being located in the head and neck. The true mechanism of pathogenesis of vascular anomalies is still unclear. Various treatment methods have been reported, and there are still controversies over the selection of different treatment modalities. Based on the clinical and basic research and current literature, the Chinese Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Vascular Anomalies formulated a treatment guideline for hemangiomas and vascular malformations of the head and neck, which will be modified and updated periodically based on new medical evidence and research.

Tenosynovial giant cell tumor is a very rare, benign lesion from the synovium. It seldom happens in the temporomandibular joint area and skull base that is difficult to resect and reconstruct. We present a case treated with computer-assisted navigation to help mark the tumor boundaries, protect vital structures, and facilitate the reconstruction process. Follow-up at 6 months after surgery showed no tumor recurrent and good temporomandibular joint function.

The concurrence of 2 independent neoplasias in the ipsilateral parotid and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) region was infrequently reported. In this article, we present a unique case characterized by the coexistence of a rare salivary gland tumor, basal cell adenoma, of the parotid gland with a ganglion cyst in the ipsilateral TMJ region. A special surgical procedure was also presented here using a modified preauricular incision and transcondylar approach for extracapsular dissection of both lesions. Previously published literature are about the traditional treatment of benign parotid tumors using partial or total parotidectomy with the preservation of facial nerve mainly via an S-shaped submandibular incision and approach. Here, for the first time, a special surgical method using preauricular transcondylar approach for this unique case of synchronous occurrence of parotid tumor and TMJ cyst is reported.

Our aim was to describe the effects of soft tissue injury to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), to analyse possible reasons for it, and to evaluate the results of treatment. Eight patients (12 joints) who developed disorders of the TMJ after trauma to the mandible without fracture of the condyle were treated in our department from 2009 to 2010. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) were used to check the condition of the joint. Five patients had their joints explored to relieve pain and improve mouth opening. MRI showed all 12 joints had displaced discs. CT showed that the surface of the condylar bone was "intact" immediately after injury but destroyed later in 8 joints. Exploration showed fibrous ankylosis in 5, osteoarthritis with intra-articular adhesions in 2, and internal derangement in 1. Four were treated by costochondral graft (CCG) with 7 symptomatic joints. The disc was repositioned in 1 case with 1 affected joint. The mean maximal incision opening at follow-up were significantly better than the one before treatment (mean 34 compared with 23 mm, p=0.02). Pain in the TMJ was relieved by operation in all patients so treated. The other 3 patients (4 joints) had no treatment because their symptoms were minor and mouth opening was not restricted. Soft tissue injuries of the TMJ can potentially lead to internal derangement, osteoarthrosis, and possibly fibrous ankylosis, which should be considered during follow-up. Displacement of the disc and damage to the condylar cartilage seem to be the causes of these complications. Surgical management is effective in the short term.

Objective To investigate the role of serum basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), estradiol (E2) and urine bFGF in differentiating infantile haemangiomas from vascular malformations. Method Between October 2007 and January 2009, 97 patients with haemangiomas and 25 patients with vascular malformations who had not been treated previously were included in this prospective study. Forty-eight patients with cleft lip and/or palate were selected as controls. The age of all subjects ranged from 1 to 30 months. The serum and urine levels of bFGF were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The serum levels of E2 were examined via radioimmunoassay. All data were analysed with SPSS 11.5 software package. Results The concentration of serum and urine bFGF was significantly different among the three groups (haemangiomas, vascular malformations and controls) ( P = 0.027, P = 0.001). Significantly different urine bFGF levels were found in patients with proliferating and involuting haemangiomas ( P = 0.04). The serum E2 levels were significantly higher in patients with haemangiomas than vascular malformations ( P = 0.001) and controls ( P = 0.001). Conclusion Serum bFGF and E2 as well as urine bFGF can be used to supplement the clinical diagnosis of congenital vascular anomalies. Urine bFGF combined with serum E2 may be the most potential markers for diagnosing haemangiomas and determining the proliferating stage of haemangiomas.

Background: Open joint procedures using bone anchors have shown clinical and radiograph good success, but post surgical disc position has not been documented with MRI imaging. We have designed a modified technique of using two bone anchors and 2 sutures to reposition the articular discs. This MRI study evaluates the post surgical success of this technique to reposition and stabilize the TMJ articular discs. Methods: Consecutive 81 patients with unilateral TMJ internal derangement (ID) (81 TMJs) were treated between December 1, 2003, and December 1, 2006, at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ninth Peoples Hospital, Shanghai, Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. All patients were subjected to magnetic resonance imaging before and one to seven days post surgery to determine disc position using the modified bone anchor technique. Results: Postoperative MRIs (one to seven days) confirm that 77 of 81 joints were identified as excellent results and one joint was considered good for an overall effective rate of 96.3% (78 of 81 joints). Only 3.7% (3 of 81) of the joints were designated as poor results requiring a second open surgery. Conclusions: This procedure has provided successful repositioning of the articular discs in unilateral TMJ ID at one to seven days post surgery. Background The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the only diarthrodial joint of the human jaws. The joint is formed by the bony articulations of the mandibular condyle and the temporal bone (glenoid fossa and articular eminence). Interposed between the condyle and the fossa is a piece of dense, avascular fibrous connective tissue, the TMJ disc. This disc divides the joint into superior and inferior joint compartments, which normally do not communicate with each other. The disc and condyle are in a normal anatomic relationship if the posterior band of the disc is located above the condylar head when the mandibular condyle is centrically positioned in the fossa. Because the bilaminar tissue posterior to the disc is relatively weak, TMJ disorders are a relatively common

Objective This article studies the classification of traumatic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis based on coronal computed tomographic (CT) scan and presents our treatment experience in the TMJ division of Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital. Patients and Methods From 2001 to 2009, 130 patients diagnosed with TMJ ankylosis were treated in the TMJ division. Among them, 84 patients with 124 joint injuries caused by trauma were treated first by our group of surgeons and were included in this study. All of them had CT scans, especially coronal reconstruction through the TMJ area before and after surgery. A new classification based on the coronal CT scan was proposed: type A1 is fibrous ankylosis without bony fusion of the joint; type A2 is ankylosis with bony fusion on the lateral side of the joint, while the residual condyle fragment is bigger than 0.5 of the condylar head in the medial side; type A3 is similar to A2 but the residual condylar fragment is smaller than 0.5 of the condylar head; type A4 is ankylosis with complete bony fusion of the joint. Our treatment protocol for type A1 ankylosis is fibrous tissue release or condylar head resection with costochondral graft (CCG) and temporalis myofascial flap (TMF). For type A2 and A3 ankylosis, the lateral bony fusion is resected, while the intact residual condylar fragment, displaced medially, is retained. We call it “lateral arthroplasty” (LAP). TMF or masseter muscle flap (MMF) is used as a barrier in the lateral gap between the TMJ fossa and the stump of the mandibular ramus. If the medial condylar fragment in type A3 ankylosis is too small to bear the load, it is resected with the bony mass. The joint is then reconstructed with CCG and TMF or MMF. For type A4 ankylosis, the bony fusion is completely removed and the joint is reconstructed with CCG and TMF or MMF. The result of the treatment was evaluated by CT scan and clinical follow-up. Results Among the 124 ankylotic joints, there were 14 type A1 ankylosis (11.3%); 43 type A2 ankylosis (34.7%); 46 type A3 ankylosis (37.1%); and 21 type A4 ankylosis (16.9%). Part of type A1, and all of type A2 and A3 ankylosis had the residual condylar head displaced medially, which accounted for 75% (93/124) of the TMJ ankylosis. Eighty-two joints (66.1%) had LAP treatment; 33 joints (26.6%) had CCG joint reconstruction; and 3 joints (2.4%) had TMJ fibrous tissue release. In our case, 1 joint (0.8%) had condylectomy and TMF; 3 joints (2.4%) with fibrous ankylosis had mouth opening treatment; and 2 joints had gap arthroplasty (1.6%). Forty-eight patients with 68 joints had long follow-ups from 10 months to 4 years. Among them, 4 of 17 joints reconstructed with CCG had reankylosis (23.5%), and 7 of 48 joints treated with LAP had reankylosis (14.6%). Conclusions The new classification of TMJ ankylosis based on coronal CT scan is valuable in guiding clinical treatment. LAP with TMF is a good way to treat traumatic TMJ ankylosis when the medially displaced condylar head and disc are intact. CCG with TMF has a good result for type A4 ankylosis.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the indications and treatment results of intralesional injection of Pingyangmycin for vascular malformations in oral and maxillofacial regions. Between June 2002 and July 2007, 297 patients with oral and maxillofacial vascular malformations (except venular malformation and arteriovenous malformation) were treated with percutaneous injection of Pingyangmycin in our department. There were 159 males and 138 females aged from 8 months to 72 years (mean age 20.6 years). The types of the disease included 98 lymphatic malformations (66 microcystic and 32 macrocystic malformations), 179 venous malformations, and 20 mixed lymphatic-venular or venous malformations. The lesions were located in the oral and maxillofacial and head and neck regions, and measured 0.8 cm x 1.0 cm -12.4 cm x 10.5 cm in size. Two hundred and forty-nine patients underwent intralesional injection of Pingyangmycin alone, 30 patients had laser therapy, and 18 patients underwent surgical excision as well. The number of injection sessions was 1-5, with an average of 3.5 times. Pingyangmycin, dexamethasone, and lidocaine were mixed for injection at concentrations of 1.0mg of Pingyangmycin per milliliter for microcystic lymphatic malformation and 2.0mg of Pingyangmycin per milliliter for venous malformation and macrocystic lymphatic malformation. The patients were followed up for 1-6 years after treatment. The results were evaluated based on B-type ultrasound examinations before and after treatment. The clinical cure rate of venous malformation, macrocystic lymphatic malformation, microcystic lymphatic malformation and mixed malformation was 74.86%, 84.38%, 38.88%, and 60.0%. Five patients had fever. No ulceration, necrosis, or anaphylactic reaction was found. Intralesional injection of Pingyangmycin at an adequate concentration can be used as the therapy of choice for small and medium-sized venous malformations, macrocystic lymphatic malformations, microcystic lymphatic malformations, and mixed malformations. The advantages included a high cure rate, safety and reliability, short course, easy manipulation, and fewer side effects with satisfactory recovery of appearance and function.

Gingival epulis represents a family of benign tumors and tumorlike masses of the gingiva. A spectrum of inflammatory and other reactive changes can be observed pathologically as granulation, fibrous or vascular tissue. It may occur at any age, but most commonly found in patients at their twenties and sixties. Women are more frequently affected than men. Surgical excision or removal is the treatment of choice, and wider resection including extraction of the involved teeth and adjacent tissues is often required in order to prevent recurrence. However, wider resection may result in cosmetic and functional problems. Epulis bears some similarities with hemangioma both clinically and histopathologically. Therefore, we hypothesize that intralesional injection of Pingyangmycin may be a safe and effective treatment for epulis. The efficacy of this treatment modality is worthy of further investigation.