Amalgam and ART restorations in children: a controlled clinical trial

Objectives

The aims of this study were to compare 2-year cumulative survival rates of amalgam and atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) restorations in primary molars and to investigate the determinants of the survival rate of restorations.

Materials and methods

A controlled clinical trial using a parallel group design was carried out on 258 children aged 6–7 years old, allocated to two treatment groups: conventional restorative treatment using amalgam and ART using high-viscosity glass ionomer. A total of 364 amalgam restorations and 386 ART restorations were placed by three pedodontists in 126 and 158 children, respectively, and were evaluated after 0.5, 1, and 2 years. Restorations were placed in vital primary molars with neither pain nor signs of pulp involvement. The survival analysis was conducted using the proportional hazard rate regression model with frailty correction.

Results

The 2-year cumulative survival rates for all amalgam (77.3 %) and ART (73.5 %) restorations were not statistically significantly different, but there was an effect of “type of surface” (single/multiple) and “cavity filling time” on the survival rates. Both amalgam and ART single-surface restorations had higher survival rates than multiple-surface restorations of the same material. Secondary caries was responsible for 36 and 38 % of failures in amalgam and ART restorations, respectively. Mean time for restoring all type of cavities with amalgam and ART restorations was 13.6 and 13.7 min, respectively.

Conclusions

Amalgam and ART restorations presented similar survival rates over a 2-year period for all, single-surface, and multiple-surface restorations.

Clinical relevance

In the cause of finding alternatives to amalgam, ART restorations using high-viscosity glass ionomer might be a suitable option for managing cavitated dentine carious lesions in vital primary molars.     

Analysis of autonomic outcomes in APOLLO,a phase III trial of the RNAi therapeutic patisiran in patients with hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis

Hereditary transthyretin-mediated (hATTR) amyloidosis is a progressive, debilitating disease often resulting in early-onset, life-impacting autonomic dysfunction. The effect of the RNAi therapeutic, patisiran, on autonomic neuropathy manifestations in patients with hATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy in the phase III APOLLO study is reported. Patients received patisiran 0.3 mg/kg intravenously (n = 148) or placebo (n = 77) once every 3 weeks for 18 months. Patisiran halted or reversed polyneuropathy and improved quality of life from baseline in the majority of patients. At baseline, patients in APOLLO had notable autonomic impairment, as demonstrated by the Composite Autonomic Symptom Score-31 (COMPASS-31) questionnaire and Norfolk Quality of Life-Diabetic Neuropathy (Norfolk QOL-DN) questionnaire autonomic neuropathy domain. At 18 months, patisiran improved autonomic neuropathy symptoms compared with placebo [COMPASS-31, least squares (LS) mean difference, − 7.5; 95% CI: − 11.9, − 3.2; Norfolk QOL-DN autonomic neuropathy domain, LS mean difference, − 1.1; − 1.8, − 0.5], nutritional status (modified body mass index, LS mean difference, 115.7; − 82.4, 149.0), and vasomotor function (postural blood pressure, LS mean difference, − 0.3; − 0.5, − 0.1). Patisiran treatment also led to improvement from baseline at 18 months for COMPASS-31 (LS mean change from baseline, − 5.3; 95% CI: − 7.9, − 2.7) and individual domains, orthostatic intolerance (− 4.6; − 6.3, − 2.9) and gastrointestinal symptoms (− 0.8; − 1.5, − 0.2). Rapid worsening of all study measures was observed with placebo, while patisiran treatment resulted in stable or improved scores compared with baseline. Patisiran demonstrates benefit across a range of burdensome autonomic neuropathy manifestations that deteriorate rapidly without early and continued treatment.

     

Correction to: Analysis of autonomic outcomes in APOLLO,a phase III trial of the RNAi therapeutic patisiran in patients with hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis

Journal of Neurology - The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake.     

Burnt sugarcane harvesting is associated with rhinitis symptoms and inflammatory markers

IntroductionBurnt sugarcane harvesting requires intense physical exertion in an environment of high temperature and exposure to particulate matter.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of burnt sugarcane harvesting on rhinitis symptoms and inflammatory markers in sugarcane workers.MethodsA total of 32 male sugarcane workers were evaluated with questionnaire for rhinitis symptoms, and for inflammatory markers on peripheral blood and nasal lavage, in the non-harvesting, and 3 and 6 months into the sugarcane harvesting period. Weather data and particulate matter fine concentrations were measured in the same day.ResultsThe particulate matter concentrations in sugarcane harvesting were 27 (23–33 μg/m³), 112 (96–122 μg/m³), and 63 (17–263 μg/m³); 24 h temperatures were 32.6 (25.4–37.4 °C), 32.3 (26.7–36.7 °C) and 29.7 (24.1–34.0 °C) and relative humidities were 45.4 (35.0–59.7%), 47.9 (39.1–63.0%), and 59.9 (34.7–63.2%) in the non-harvesting period, three and 6 months of the harvesting period. The age was 37.4 ± 10.9 years. The prevalence of rhinitis symptoms was significantly higher at 3 months of the harvesting period (53.4%), compared to non-harvesting period (26.7%; p = 0.039) and at 6 months into the harvesting period (20%; p = 0.006). Concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in nasal lavage increased after 3 months of the harvesting period compared to the non-harvesting period (p = 0.012). The presence of rhinitis symptoms, after 3 months of the harvesting period, was directly associated with blood eosinophils and inversely associated with neutrophils.ConclusionsAfter 3 months of work in burnt sugarcane harvesting the prevalence of rhinitis symptoms and IL-6 in nasal lavage increased. Furthermore, eosinophil counts were directly associated with the rhinitis symptoms in the period of higher concentration of particulate matter.     

Evaluation of Molecular Test for the Discrimination of “Naked” DNA from Infectious Parvovirus B19 Particles in Serum and Bone Marrow Samples

Low levels of parvovirus B19 (B19V) DNA can be detected in the circulation and in different tissue of immunocompetent individuals for months or years, which has been linked to inflammatory diseases such as cardiomyopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis, and vasculitis. However, the detection of B19V DNA does not necessarily imply that infectious virions are present. This study aimed to evaluate the method based on the Benzonase^® treatment for differentiation between the infectious virions from “naked” DNA in serum and bone marrow (BM) samples to be useful for the B19V routine diagnosis. In addition, we estimated the period of viremia and DNAemia in the sera and bone marrow of nonhuman primates experimentally infected with B19V. Serum samples from ten patients and from four cynomolgus monkeys experimentally infected with B19V followed up for 60 days were used. Most of the human serum samples became negative after pretreatment; however, only decreased viral DNA loads were observed in four patients, indicating that these samples still contained the infectious virus. Reduced B19V DNA levels were observed in animals since 7th dpi. At approximately 45th dpi, B19V DNA levels were below 10⁵ IU/mL after Benzonase^® pretreatment, which was not a consequence of active B19V replication. The test based on Benzonase^® pretreatment enabled the discrimination of “naked DNA” from B19V DNA encapsidated in virions. Therefore, this test can be used to clarify the role of B19V as an etiological agent associated with atypical clinical manifestations.