Marginal Leakage of a New Adhesive Restorative System: A Preliminary In Vivo Investigation

The efficacy of newly developed adhesive restorative materials is commonly described by in vitro test results such as bond strength and microleakage data. Due to the inconsistency often found between in vitro testing and in vivo performance, the purpose of the present investigation was to restore teeth scheduled for extraction in vivo with an experimental restorative bonding system and to evaluate the microleakage of the restorations by common laboratory techniques following extraction after 3 months of clinical service. Two restorations were placed in each of seven anterior teeth, one in the middle of the labial enamel portion and the other labially extending over the cementoenamel junction (CEJ). Six of the seven fillings completely surrounded by enamel showed no microleakage. However, two of the restorations crossing the CEJ revealed microleakage originating from the cervical margins. In spite of the small number of fillings assessed, the experimental enamel-dentin adhesive compound tested is preliminarily considered a promising new system.     

Chondrosarcoma of the mandible: case report and literature review

Chondrosarcoma is a malignant cartilaginous tumor that rarely occurs in the maxillofacial bones. A 44-year-old woman complained about swelling and mild pain during mastication in the right parasymphysis region. Clinical and radiographic examinations revealed characteristics of osteosarcoma. A microscopic examination revealed an abundant proliferation of malignant neoplastic cartilage cells of varying sizes arranged as immature tissue and the absence of an osteoid matrix. This article presents a case of chondrosarcoma of the jaw and discusses the differences between osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma.     

Effect of air-drying temperature on the effectiveness of silane primers and coupling blends in the repair of a microhybrid resin composite

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of different silane agents and air-drying temperatures on the repair strength of a microfilled hybrid composite. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Composite cylinders (8 x 4 mm) of Gradia Direct Anterior (GC, N=36), stored in a saline solution at 37 degrees C for 1 month, were sandblasted (50-microm aluminium oxide), cleaned (35% phosphoric acid) and randomly divided into six groups (n=6). Two prehydrolyzed silane primers (Monobond-S, Ivoclar-Vivadent, Porcelain Primer, Bisco), a non prehydrolyzed silane primer (Porcelain Liner M, Sun Medical) and three silane/adhesive coupling agents (Porcelain Bond Activator-PBA/Clearfil New Bond, PBA/Clearfil SE Bond, PBA/Clearfil Tri-S Bond, Kuraray) were investigated. Silane-coated surfaces were air dried at two different temperatures (23 degrees C and 38 degrees C) and repairs (8 x 8 mm) were fabricated (Gradia Direct Anterior). Unrepaired composite cylinders (8 x 8 mm, n=6) were used as control to evaluate the cohesive strength of the material. Microtensile bond strength measurements (microTBS) were performed. Results: The silane agent applied (p < 0.001), the airdrying temperature (p < 0.001) and their interaction (p < 0.001) were significant factors (two-way ANOVA, Tukey test; p < 0.05). Silane primers achieved inferior microTBS when air dried at 23 degrees C as compared to silane/adhesive blends. Warm air-drying was significantly beneficial to composite repairs mediated by silane primers. Comparable results were achieved by silane/adhesive couplings at 23 degrees C and 38 degrees C. At 38 degrees C all the intermediate agents resulted in repair microTBS that were comparable to the 24-h cohesive strength of the composite (one-way ANOVA, Dunnett t-tests; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The chemical interactions between silane primers and compozite substrate may be optimized through warm airdrying. Silane/adhesive couplings were not influenced by the air drying temperature.     

Quantitative Validation of the n-Butanol Sniffin’ Sticks Threshold Pens

Odorant pens are used by medical practitioners and researchers to assess olfactory dysfunction. Despite their routine use, there are currently no data on the gas-phase odorant concentrations released from the pen tips or whether these concentrations scale linearly with the aqueous-phase concentrations inside the pens. The commercially available Sniffin’ Sticks odor threshold test containing n-butanol was chosen for evaluation. The gas-phase concentration of n-butanol at the tip of each pen was measured directly in a new set of pens via proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS). Measurements were additionally made on the same pens after 6 months and two older pen sets, namely a 3-year-old (used) and 4-year-old (new) set. Furthermore, application-related tests were made to determine the performance of the pens during routine use and under stress. These data demonstrate that the gas-phase n-butanol concentrations of the threshold pens are linear over the entire set, both for brand-new pens and 6 months later; this reflects the expected performance that was previously only assumed. Furthermore, the application–simulation tests demonstrated a good performance of the pens when used according to their intended protocol. Measurements of the older pen sets suggest that storage conditions are more critical than usage for pen stability. The present findings confirm that the n-butanol odorant pens are an appropriate tool for threshold testing, provided they are stored and handled correctly.

Impaired reflexive orienting to social cues in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

The present study investigated whether another person’s social attention, specifically the direction of their eye gaze, and non-social directional cues triggered reflexive orienting in individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and age-matched controls. A choice reaction time and a detection tasks were used in which eye gaze, arrow and peripheral cues correctly (congruent) or incorrectly (incongruent) signalled target location. Independently of the type of the task, differences between groups were specific to the cue condition. Typically developing individuals shifted attention to the location cued by both social and non-social cues, whereas ADHD group showed evidence of reflexive orienting only to locations previously cued by non-social stimuli (arrow and peripheral cues) but failed to show such orienting effect in response to social eye gaze cues. The absence of reflexive orienting effect for eye gaze cues observed in the participants with ADHD may reflect an attentional impairment in responding to socially relevant information.     

A Comparative Study of Three-Year Weight Loss and Outcomes After Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass in Patients with “Yellow Light” Psychological Clearance

The relationship between psychological factors and bariatric surgical outcomes is unclear. While some psychological contraindications to bariatric surgery are described, there is no consensus on preoperative psychological evaluation or on factors that can predict bariatric outcomes. Our aim was to determine whether full or reserved psychological clearance predicts early weight loss or compliance with follow-up. We found no clinically significant differences in short-term weight loss outcomes or in attendance at scheduled follow-up visits between patients receiving full or “green light” clearance versus “yellow light” clearance, meaning clearance with recommendations for ongoing therapy. Further research may identify psychological predictors of success following bariatric surgery and help optimize preoperative evaluation practices.