The effect of systemically administrated zoledronic acid on the osseointegration of dental implants

Oral Diseases (2012) 18 , 802–808 Objective: The aim of conducting this study was to evaluate the effect of zoledronic acid (ZA) on the new bone formation (NBF) after the insertion of a titanium dental implant, which is very popular treatment in dentistry. Study Design: Twelve New Zealand white rabbits were used in this study. The rabbits were divided in two groups. ZA was systemically administered to the study group. Titanium implants were placed to the left and right tibias of the rabbits. Results: The data from the ZA group revealed a statistically significant increase in the bone mineral content and the bone mineral density. A non‐decalcified histomorphometric examination conducted on the study group revealed a significant increase of NBF and bone‐implant contact (BIC) at 2 and 4 weeks. Conclusion: A single dose of systemic ZA administration increases the rate of NBF and augments the quality of the bone.     

Three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography: methodological aspects and clinical potential

Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) is an advanced echocardiographic technique that allows a novel approach to the assessment of cardiac physiology through the study of myocardial mechanics. In its three-dimensional (3D) modality, it overcomes the drawbacks inherent to other echocardiographic techniques, namely two-dimensional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging. Several research studies and software improvements have led 3D-STE to become a promising tool for accurate evaluation of global and regional cardiac function. This article addresses the image acquisition, analytical methods, and parameters of myocardial mechanics that could be derived from 3D-STE. This systematic guidance may help to establish its usefulness in the global and regional evaluation of cardiac function, and to facilitate its clinical application.     

Avaliação de entesopatia em pacientes com fibromialgia por meio do novo índice ultrassonográfico de entesite

ObjectiveThe aim of the present study is to determine the frequency of enthesopathy in fibromyalgia (FM) by using a newly developed ultrasonography (US) method, the Madrid Sonography Enthesitis Index (MASEI).MethodsThis study was conducted on 38 consecutive patients with FM and 48 healthy sex- and age-matched controls. Six entheseal sites (olecranon tuberosity, superior and inferior poles of patella, tibial tuberosity, superior and inferior poles of calcaneus) on both lower limbs were evaluated. All US findings were identified according to MASEI. Scores of patients and controls were compared by Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test. Validity was analysed by receiver operating characteristic curve. Values of P < 0.05 were considered significant.ResultsTotal enthesitis score was 7.39 ± 4.99 (mean ± SD) among FM patients and 3.7 ± 3.22 among healthy controls (P < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve established an ultrasound score of > 3.5 in the FM group as the best cut-off point to differentiate between cases and controls. No statistically significant correlation was found between the MASEI score and the FM disease duration, and the location of the tender points.ConclusionsMisdiagnoses of FM are harmful to patients and the community, and the presence of enthesopathy among FM patients increases. Its detection with the MASEI score may help to discriminate FM patients presenting with ill-defined symptoms and signs, in order to prevent mistreatment.     

Changes in retinal vessels related to varicocele: a pilot investigation

The aim of this study was to investigate whether retinal vasculature changes had occurred (retinal artery diameter, retinal vein diameter and artery/vein ratio) in patients with varicocele. This pilot study included 50 healthy subjects with any eye disease apart from slight refractive errors and 55 patients with varicocele. Retinal arteriolar and venular diameters were measured and summarised as central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE). Retinal microvascular diameters and the arteriolar–to‐venular ratio (AVR) were assessed with a digital retinal camera. All measurements and calculations were performed using a computer‐based program. The mean CRAE value was 151.8 ± 3.6 μm in the study group and 150.4 ± 4.5 μm in the control group. Mean CRVE value was 209.4 ± 5.9 μm in the study group and 200.1 ± 8.7 μm in the control group. AVR was found 0.72 ± 0.02 in the study group and 0.75 ± 0.03 in the control group. There were significant differences between groups in terms of CRVE and AVR. There were no significant differences between groups in terms of CRAE. The results of this study showed that the patients with varicocele showed significant changes on retinal vascular diameter.     

Review of flap design influence on the health of the periodontium after mandibular third molar surgery

The purpose of this study is to review the effect of flap design in terms of periodontal status of the preceding second molar after lower third molar surgery. Impacted lower third molar surgery may result in periodontal complications on the distal surface of the adjacent second molar. Flap design that is used during impacted third molar surgery is important to prevent those complications. Several different flap techniques, mainly envelope, triangular (vertical) flaps, and their modifications have been developed to minimize those complications. Each technique has some advantages as well as disadvantages. It is also reported that the selection of a flap design does not seem to have a lasting effect on the health of periodontal tissue. The effect of the type of flap used for lower third molar surgery on the periodontal status of the second molar, as well as the factors that may influence this outcome, has been uncertain. The decision to use on one or the other of the flaps should be based on surgeon's preference.     

Cryptosporidiosis among solid organ transplant recipient attendees at a summer camp

We report a cluster of pediatric cryptosporidiosis infections among solid organ transplant recipients at a summer camp in Georgia, USA. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the risk factors for infection. A total of 118 campers attended the camp during July 23‐28, 2017. The overall attack rate among campers during the outbreak was 11% (13/118). Sanger‐based amplicon sequencing of stool specimens from 7 (80%) campers identified Cryptosporidium hominis as the suspected etiologic agent. All infected campers were heart or kidney transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive therapy. The median reported symptom duration was 12 days (range 6‐18 days) and 9 (69.2%) were hospitalized for at least one night (median length of stay 5 days, range 2‐16 days). There were no deaths or acute rejection events attributed to infection. The results of the epidemiologic and environmental investigation suggest a recreational pool as the presumed source, although there was no direct evidence to support this. Many long‐term interventions were implemented, and there have been no further outbreaks at the camp in the following two years. This outbreak demonstrates that cryptosporidiosis may be associated with notable burden in pediatric transplant recipients, and illustrates the challenges associated with source identification and containment.