Flap vs. “flapless” surgical approach at immediate implants: a histomorphometric study in dogs

Aim: To compare the remodeling of the alveolar process at implants installed immediately into extraction sockets by applying a flap or a “flapless” surgical approach in a dog model. Material and methods: Implants were installed immediately into the distal alveoli of the second mandibular premolars of six Labrador dogs. In one side of the mandible, a full‐thickness mucoperiosteal flap was elevated (control site), while contra‐laterally, the mucosa was gently dislocated, but not elevated (test site) to disclose the alveolar crest. After 4 months of healing, the animals were sacrificed, ground sections were obtained and a histomorphometric analysis was performed. Results: After 4 months of healing, all implants were integrated (n=6). Both at the test and at the control sites, bone resorption occurred with similar outcomes. The buccal bony crest resorption was 1.7 and 1.5 mm at the control and the test sites, respectively. Conclusions: “Flapless” implant placement into extraction sockets did not result in the prevention of alveolar bone resorption and did not affect the dimensional changes of the alveolar process following tooth extraction when compared with the usual placement of implants raising mucoperiosteal flaps. To cite this article:
Caneva M, Botticelli D, Salata LA, Souza SLS, Bressan E, Lang NP. Flap vs. “flapless” surgical approach at immediate implants: a histomorphometric study in dogs.
Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 21 , 2010; 1314–1319.
doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐0501.2009.01959.x     

Platelet imipramine binding in intensive care unit suicidal patients

Summary 3H-Imipramine binding in relation to serotonergic function was studied in patients hospitalized following a suicide attempt. Comparison with a control group showed a highly significant difference in Bmax values. The results suggest, at least a posteriori, a biological alteration as the basis of suicidal behaviour. Although it is impossible to attribute a suicidal attempt to the alteration or to a predisposing pre-existent condition, this biological marker may be useful in evaluating suicidal risk and also short- and long-term prognosis.     

Atrial septal aneurysm: echopolycardiographic study

Atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) with diagnosis during life is a rarely reported anomaly, especially when not associated with other congenital or acquired valvular cardiopathies. Among 4,000 routine echocardiograms, 23 cases of ASA were found (8 men and 14 women, aged 19 to 79 years). Three patients had coronary artery disease, 2 had dilated cardiomyopathy, 2 had systemic hypertension, 11 had mitral valve prolapse and 5 had no other identifiable cardiovascular diseases. Echocardiography revealed various motion patterns of ASA. No phonomechanocardiographic findings were related to the presence of ASA, and no correlation between echographic and phonocardiographic findings was found.     

Implant arthroplasty of the first metatarsophalangeal joint: a 12-year retrospective study

A study was conducted of the long-term results on Silastic implant arthroplasties of the first metatarsophalangeal joint in 88 feet. Silastic implants were evaluated on the basis of patient satisfaction, function, and radiographic findings. The period of follow-up ranged from 6 months to 12 years, with an average follow-up of 6.3 years for hemi-joint implants and 2.1 years for total joint implants. The results showed that a majority of patients with hallux valgus and hallux limitus had good results with either hemi-implant or total implant. The most common complication found was hallux extensus.     

The use of Kirschner wire fixation in forefoot surgery

This article reviews the indication and use of Kirschner wire fixation in forefoot surgery. Although Kirschner wire fixation is a relatively easy means of fixation, it is not without complications. The operative technique and postoperative considerations are also included to assist the foot surgeon.     

Development of a piezoelectric immunosensor for the measurement of paclitaxel

This paper describes the development of a piezoelectric immunosensor for the measurement of paclitaxel (taxol), a natural anti-cancer agent. An antibody specific for taxanes was immobilized onto the surface of quartz crystals by means of the layer-by-layer self-assembly technique. The immobilization was achieved using electrostatic interactions between a precursor layer and the antibody molecules. The assembly process was monitored by a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and the topography of the modified quartz crystals was investigated by means of atomic force microscopy. The specific interaction of the immobilized antibody with paclitaxel in solution at different concentrations was monitored as a change in resonant frequency of the modified crystal. Moreover, the influence of non-specific adsorption was also characterized. The results show that the proposed immunosensor offers a promising alternative to classical analytical methods for a fast and easy determination of paclitaxel.