Longevity and Risk Factors of Post Restorations after up to 15 Years: A Practice-based Study

IntroductionThe aims of this multicenter, practice-based cohort study were to evaluate the success and survival of endodontically treated teeth with post restorations (ETT+Ps) and to analyze factors associated with the longevity of ETT+Ps.MethodsEight general dental practitioners each placed up to 27 ETT+Ps without any restriction to post materials or dimensions. Only incisors, canines, and premolars were included. At the last follow-up visit, ETT+Ps were considered as successful if the post and the initially placed definitive restoration were sufficient, whereas ETT+Ps were considered as survived if the post was still in function. Multilevel Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association between a range of predictors and time until no success and no survival.ResultsOverall, 195 endodontic posts in 195 patients were followed up for a mean (95% confidence interval) of 91 (81–101) months; the longest follow-up was 15 years. Of these, 122 ETT+Ps were considered successful (estimated success time = 110 [101–120] months), and 152 ETT+Ps survived [estimated survival time = 133 [124–141] months). Regarding the categories of success and survival, the annual failure rates were 6.0% and 3.3%, respectively. Recementation of old (telescopic) crowns after placing new posts was the only significant predictor for decreased time until failure for both success and survival analyses. By excluding recemented restorations, annual failure rates decreased to 3.5% and 2.1%, respectively.ConclusionsFor EET+Ps placed in a private practice setting, high success and survival rates were observed. If old (telescopic) crowns were recemented after new posts were placed, the high risk of subsequent failure should be considered and communicated with patients.     

A Standardized Framework for Fluorescence-Guided Margin Assessment for Head and Neck Cancer Using a Tumor Acidosis Sensitive Optical Imaging Agent

Molecular Imaging and Biology - Intra-operative management of the surgical margin in patients diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains challenging as surgeons still have...     

Control of systemic B cell-mediated autoimmune disease by nonmyeloablative conditioning and major histocompatibility complex-mismatched allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Systemic autoimmune disease (AID) can be controlled with conventional therapies in most patients. However, relapses are common, leading to progressive disability and premature death. Nonmyeloablative conditioning and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) could be an effective treatment for severe AID, because of mild toxicity of the conditioning and the potential benefits of donor chimerism. We examined the effects of this treatment in experimental autoimmune arthritis. Our results demonstrate the induction of complete donor chimerism and significant suppression of disease activity. No clinical graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was observed. The beneficial effects were most likely caused by the elimination of plasma cells producing pathogenic autoantibodies, because these antibodies disappeared rapidly after BMT. Although this type of treatment was effective in organ-specific T-cell-mediated AID, the present study provides convincing evidence that nonmyeloablative conditioning and allogeneic BMT can effectively treat severe B-cell-mediated AID with a systemic inflammatory component.