Selected characteristics of a new polyvinyl siloxane impression material--a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the ability of a new polyvinyl siloxane impression material (Affinis, Coltène/Whaledent, material A) to obtain final impressions free of bubbles and voids for indirect fixed cuspal-coverage restorations. The results were compared to a control polyvinyl siloxane impression material (material B). Both materials were handled by inexperienced clinicians (undergraduate dental students) in student clinics. METHOD AND MATERIALS: One-hundred and thirty patients who were treated in the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry Junior Student Clinic for indirect fixed cuspal-coverage restorations and who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either one of two treatment groups, group A (n = 65) or group B (n = 65). Two calibrated examiners evaluated the first impression of prepared posterior teeth at a magnification of 10x for acceptability (no voids or bubbles). Position of tooth, type of preparation, preparation finish line (Class I-V), and gingival bleeding scores were recorded. All statistical tests were performed with the level of significance set at .05. RESULTS: The Fisher-Freeman-Halton test did not reveal significant associations between material and gingival bleeding score (P = .492). Significant differences in the location of the preparation finish line between materials were observed (P = .0096); material A was more frequently used in cases where the preparation finish line was located at least 2 mm subgingivally. Logistic regression was used to assess the effect of the material on the success of the impression (acceptable/ unacceptable). Material was highly significant in the logistic model (P < .001) with an odds in favor of an acceptable impression being eight times higher with material A than with material B (odds ratio = 8.00; 95% confidence index for odds ratio: 2.832, 22.601). The 60/65 (92.3%) impressions made with material A and 39/65 (60%) impressions made with material B were rated "acceptable." CONCLUSION: The new polyvinyl siloxane impression material provided a significantly higher proportion of impressions free of bubbles and voids than the control polyvinyl siloxane material.     

Hydrogen sulfide causes apoptosis in human pulp stem cells

Introduction

Untreated dental caries will eventually lead to pulpal inflammation. Although much is known regarding the interaction of microbial antigens and the immunologic defense systems of pulp, many aspects of the pathogenesis of pulpitis are not fully understood. The relationship between human pulp stem cells (HPSCs) and the pathogenesis of pulpitis remains among the poorly understood areas. Many of the invading bacteria are known to produce considerable amounts of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), which causes apoptosis in some tissues. The aims of this study were to determine whether H₂S causes apoptosis in HPSCs and to examine its signaling pathway.

Methods

Stem cells were isolated from human dental pulp and incubated with 50 ng/mL H₂S for 48 hours. To detect apoptosis, the cells were analyzed by using flow cytometry. The mitochondrial signaling pathway was examined by determining mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Activation of the key apoptotic enzymes caspase-9, caspase-8, and caspase-3 was assessed by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Release of cytochrome C from mitochondria was also determined.

Results

The number of apoptotic cells increased significantly with H₂S treatment from 1.6% to 16.3% (P < .01). Significant increases were also measured in the amounts of caspase-9 and caspase-3 and in cytochrome C release (all P < .01) and in mitochondrial membrane depolarization (P < .05), whereas caspase-8 activity was not found.

Conclusions

H₂S causes apoptosis in HPSCs by activating the mitochondrial pathway. It is suggested that H₂S might be one of the factors modifying the pathogenesis of pulpitis by causing loss of viability of HPSCs through apoptosis.     

Management of Locally Recurrent Retroperitoneal Sarcoma in the Adult: An Updated Consensus Approach from the Transatlantic Australasian Retroperitoneal Sarcoma Working Group

Annals of Surgical Oncology - Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS), but local recurrence is common. Biologic behavior and recurrence patterns differ significantly...     

Compositional magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of the intervertebral disc: Axial vs sagittal T2 mapping

The aim of this study was to assess T₂ values of the lumbar intervertebral discs in the axial and sagittal plane views and assess their respective interobserver reliability. The lumbar intervertebral discs of 23 symptomatic patients (11 female; 12 male; mean age, 44.1 ± 10.6; range, 24-64 years) were examined at 3T. Region-of-interest (ROI) analysis was performed on axial and sagittal T₂ maps by two independent observers. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was assessed for every ROI. The interobserver agreement was excellent for the nucleus pulposus (NP) in the sagittal (0.951; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.926-0.968) and axial (0.921; 95% CI, 0.845-0.955) planes. The posterior 20% region showed a higher ICC in the axial vs the sagittal assessment (0.845; 95% CI, 0.704-0.911 vs 0.819; 95% CI, 0.744-0.873). The same was true for the posterior 10%, with the axial ROI showing a higher ICC (0.923; 95% CI, 0.865-0.953 vs 0.628; 95% CI, 0.495-0.732). The intraobserver agreement was excellent for every ROI except the sagittal 10% region, which showed good performance (0.869; 95% CI, 0.813-0.909). The sagittal nucleus pulposus was the best-performing ROI with regard to intra- and interobserver agreement in the T₂ assessment of the lumbar intervertebral disc. However, the axial NP showed more stable agreements overall and across the value range. In addition, the annular analysis showed better inter- and intraobserver agreement in the axial plane view. Clinical significance: Based on the presented analysis, we highly recommend that further studies use axial T₂ mapping due to the higher intra- and interreader agreement.     

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European Spine Journal - Depression, anxiety, catastrophising, and fear-avoidance beliefs are key "yellow flags" (YFs) that predict a poor outcome in back patients. Most surgeons...