Temporal variation of optical coherence tomography biomarkers as predictors of anti-VEGF treatment outcomes in diabetic macular edema

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology - To report a longitudinal analysis of specific optical coherence tomography (OCT) features in eyes with diabetic macular edema...     

Factors related to patient satisfaction with complete denture therapy

BACKGROUND: Except for denture quality, many other factors are related to a patient's satisfaction with complete dentures (CDs). METHODS: A total of 222 patients with CDs took a part in this study. A questionnaire divided into 3 parts was completed by both the patients and the dentist, independently. The patients rated their dentures using a scale ranging from 1 to 5 (1 = dissatisfaction to 5 = excellent), and a dentist rated the quality of the denture and the denture-bearing area. RESULTS: Patients were mostly satisfied with the quality of their CDs. Only 7.2% of the patients were absolutely not satisfied with their dentures. Patients with a low level of education were more satisfied in general with their aesthetic appearance. Patients with better self-perception of their affective status and quality of life showed higher levels of general satisfaction. Patients with better self-perception of their economic status showed lower levels of satisfaction. Younger patients wearing dentures for the first time, with short periods of being edentulous, and with better quality maxillary denture-bearing areas were more satisfied with the retention of maxillary CDs. In contrast, younger patients with first-time dentures, a short period of being edentulous, and with better quality mandibular denture-bearing areas gave lower ratings to the retention and comfort of wearing mandibular dentures. CONCLUSIONS: Level of education, self-perception of affective and economic status, and quality of life are all related to patient satisfaction. However, the quality of dentures shows the strongest correlation with patient satisfaction. Not only the quality of the denture-bearing area but the denture-wearing experience itself seems to be more important in determining patient satisfaction with mandibular CDs.     

Assessment of the amount of palladium-silver alloy used for cast posts and veneer crowns

Average amounts of palladium-silver alloy were assessed in a sample of 966 veneer crowns and 667 casted posts. The mean weight values of the samples under study were compared in relation to particular types of anterior teeth. The specimens cast in Auropal SE were weight by the precise balance, Tehtnica, type 6215. Results were analyzed by weight according to the type of the sample under study, and classified according to age, and to the anterior teeth of the upper and lower jaws. On an average, the heaviest posts and veneer crowns were measured on upper canines, whereas the lighest were those on lower incisors. A cast post was found to be by about 40% heavier than a veneer crown on the same tooth.     

A study of the fixing cement resistance by measuring the amount of dissolved zinc in human saliva

Use of particular cement depends on its advantageous and disadvantageous properties. Several cements for definite cementation and one for temporary cementation, most commonly used in fixed prosthetics, were studied. The amount of salivary zinc dissolved from cement was determined by the method of atomic absorption spectrophotometry on a Pye Unicam SP 9,800 instrument, using correction of nonspecific signals by means of a deuterium lamp. Evident differences were observed in resistance of particular cements to the action of saliva, as shown by the proportions of zinc dissolved from the cements and found in the saliva.