White matter correlates of different aspects of facial affect recognition impairment following traumatic brain injury

Although facial affect recognition deficits are well documented in individuals with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), little research has examined the neural mechanisms underlying these impairments. Here, we use diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), specifically the scalars fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and radial diffusivity (RD), to examine relationships between regional white-matter integrity and two facial affect sub-skills: perceptual affect recognition abilities (measured by an affect matching task) and verbal categorization of facial affect (measured by an affect labeling task). Our results showed that, within the TBI group, higher levels of white-matter integrity in tracts involved in affect recognition (inferior fronto-occipital, inferior longitudinal, and uncinate fasciculi) were associated with better performance on both tasks. Verbal categorization skills were specifically and positively correlated with integrity of the left uncinate fasciculus. Moreover, we observed a striking lateralization effect, with perceptual abilities having an almost exclusive relationship with integrity of right hemisphere tracts, while verbal abilities were associated with both left and right hemisphere integrity. The findings advance our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie subcomponents of facial affect recognition and lead to different patterns of facial affect recognition impairment in adults with TBI.     

Digital tools and 3D printing technologies integrated into the workflow of restorative treatment: A clinical report

The development of technologies including intraoral scanners, dental software for digital restoration design, and additive manufacturing has improved the digital workflow of restorative treatment. The present article describes a digital workflow with intraoral scanning, computer-aided design (CAD) software, and subtractive and additive manufacturing procedures for a patient receiving lithium disilicate laminate veneers.     

Genetic Risk Factors for Psoriasis in Turkish Population: -1540 C/A, -1512 Ins18, and +405 C/G Polymorphisms within the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Gene

BackgroundEvidence regarding the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) as a potent mediator of angiogenesis and inflammation in psoriasis has revealed variations in this gene as surrogate markers of psoriasis.ObjectiveVEGFA gene polymorphisms (-1540 C/A, -1512 Ins18, -460 T/C, and +405 C/G) in psoriasis susceptibility in Turkish population were investigated.MethodsA total of 200 age, sex and ethnicity-matched psoriatic and healthy individuals were examined for clinical type, response to therapy, serum VEGFA and its receptor levels, genotypes and haplotypes.ResultsThe +405 GG, +405 CG, -1540 CA, and -1512 +Ins18 genotypes conferred a significant risk for developing psoriasis. The C-InsTC haplotype in the controls and C+InsTG, A+InsTC, and A-InsTG haplotypes in psoriatic patients were observed to be significantly high. Increased serum levels of VEGFA were detected in psoriatic patients with the C-InsTC haplotype than that in the controls. The +405 GG genotype was significantly more frequent in psoriatic patients with a positive family history, and the moderate form of psoriasis was more frequent among C+InsTG haplotype carriers than that among the other patients. The +405 GG genotype was found to be more frequent in patients responding to oral retinoids. Serum VEGFR1/FLT1 and VEGFR2/KDR levels were not significantly different when psoriatic patients and controls were stratified based on the risk polymorphic variants.ConclusionVEGFA gene +405 GG and CG, -1512+Ins18, and -1540 CA genotypes are associated with an increased risk of psoriasis in Turkish population. The G allele at +405 and an 18-bp insertion at -1512 are primarily the risk factors for psoriasis, and this risk is potentiated by the presence of the A allele at the -1540 locus.     

Effect of surface treatment of titanium posts on the tensile bond strength.

OBJECTIVES: Retention of composite resins to metal can be improved when metal surfaces are conditioned. The purpose of this investigation was to investigate the effect of two conditioning treatments on the tensile bond strength of four resin-based luting cements and zinc phosphate cement to titanium posts. METHODS: The effect on tensile bond strength of (1) air-particle abrasion (50 microm Al2O3) and (2) silica coating (30 microm SiO(x)) and silanization of tapered titanium posts prior to luting with any of the four resin composite luting cements (Compolute) Aplicap, Flexi-Flow cemTM, Panavia 21 EX, Twinlook) were evaluated. The posts luted with zinc phosphate cement (Tenet) were considered as the control group. Following endodontic preparation of 100 intact anterior human teeth with hand instruments, the post spaces were prepared using the opening drills of the corresponding size of the posts. All posts were cemented into the roots according to the manufacturer's instructions of each cement. The specimens were first stored in water at 37 degrees C for 24 h and then subjected to thermocycling (5000 cycles, 5-55 degrees C, 30 s). The tensile strength values were measured on a universal testing machine at a cross-head speed of 0.5 mm/min. Data were analyzed statistically using ANOVA and corrected with Scheffé-test due to the significance levels (P<0.05). RESULTS AND SIGNIFICANCE: The composite resin luting cements did not show significant differences (P<0.05) showing values between (352+/-76N-475+/-104N) when the posts were air-abraded. After silica coating and silanization, significantly higher (P<0.05) tensile strengths were obtained for Compolute Aplicap (600+/-123N) than those of the other luting cements (Flexi-Flow cemTM: 191+/-62N; Panavia 21 EX: 375+/-77; Twinlook: 430+/-78N). No significant differences (P>0.05) were found between the tensile strength of the posts luted with zinc phosphate (414+/-102N) and the resin composite cements. Silica coating and silanization revealed the highest tensile bond strength in posts luted with Compolute Aplicap but it was not effective for the other experimental groups. Zinc phosphate cement exhibited tensile bond strength as good as resin composite cements.