Influence of polymerisation method and type of fibre on fracture strength of endodontically treated teeth

The aim of this study was to investigate (i) the effect of direct or indirect polymerisation of adhesive‐impregnated ribbon fibre under 4‐mm bulk‐filled composites on fracture strength; (ii) to compare polyethylene ribbon fibre‐reinforcement composites with short fibre‐reinforced composite; and (iii) the effectiveness of polyethylene ribbon fibre according to the restorative materials used (low‐viscous bulk‐fill composite, high‐viscous flowable composite or conventional paste composite). Seventy molars were divided into seven groups; (groups 1–2) Ribbond‐reinforced Surefil‐SDR; (group 3) Ribbond‐reinforced G Aenial Flo; (group 4) Ribbond‐reinforced G Aenial Posterior; (group 5) short fibre‐reinforced composite everX Posterior; (group 6) unfilled cavity; (group 7) intact teeth. Ribbond was adopted to cavity walls by impregnating an adhesive and using a flowable composite. In group 1, adhesive‐impregnated Ribbond was polymerised directly using a light‐curing‐unit, and indirectly in group 2 under 4‐mm bulk‐filled composite. Direct or indirect polymerisation of adhesive impregnated ribbon fibre under 4‐mm bulk‐filled composite did not change the fracture strength results. Polyethylene ribbon fibre‐reinforced groups (groups 1–4) and short fibre‐reinforced composite group (group 5) displayed similar results. Polyethylene ribbon fibre can be used safely under 4‐mm bulk‐filled composites. Ribbond‐reinforced low‐viscous bulk‐fill, high‐viscous flowable, and conventional paste composite exhibited similar fracture strength results.     

Fibrin glue does not improve the fixation of press-fitted cell-free collagen gel plugs in an ex vivo cartilage repair model

Purpose  

Adequate graft fixation over a certain time period is necessary for successful cartilage repair and permanent integration of the graft into the surrounding tissue. The aim of the present study was to test the primary stability of a new cell-free collagen gel plug (CaReS^?-1S) with two different graft fixation techniques over a simulated early postoperative period.     

Penile revascularization in vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED): long-term follow-up

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? This study reflects the second largest series of revascularization operations performed in different etiologic and risk groups with the longest follow up. Beyond that this is the only study in which CC‐EMG techniques were used preoperatively to exclude some patients and to predict postoperative success in penile revascularization.

OBJECTIVE

? To determine the overall long‐term success of penile revascularization surgery in the treatment of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) and also to investigate the effect of risk factors on the results of a modified Furlow–Fisher technique.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

? Between 1999 and 2010, 125 men with a mean (sd , range) age of 43.2 (11.3, 23–69) years underwent penile revascularization surgery. In all, 110 men completed the long‐term follow‐up with a mean follow‐up of 73.2 months. ? Diagnostic evaluations, penile colour Doppler ultrasonography, corpus cavernosum electromyography, and cavernosometry, were performed in all the men before surgery. ? The efficacy of the surgery was assessed as improvement or failure according to the change in the five‐item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF‐5). A ≥5 point increase in the IIEF‐5 score during the latest patient visit after surgery compared with that before surgery was regarded as improvement (surgical success).

RESULTS

? The mean (sd ) IIEF‐5 score was 7.3 (3.2) before surgery and at the end of the follow‐up periodit was 16.8 (3.1). ? The success rates were 81.8% at 3 months, 77.2% at 1 year, 70% at 2 years, 66.3% at 3 years and 63.6% at 5 years after surgery in the men who achieved a no‐ED threshold score of >26 in the IIEF‐15. ? The success rate was the highest in the men with no risk factors (92.8%). ? Seven patients (6.36%) showed signs of glans hypervascularization as a major complication.

CONCLUSIONS

? Penile revascularization surgery has not been widely used by urologists probably due to the technical difficulties and the use of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. ? However, with reported high rates of noncompliance or failure of oral pharmacotherapy it seems likely that this surgery will become more popular in the near future.     

Chronic unpredictable stress disturbs the blood–testis barrier affecting sperm parameters in mice

Research questionDoes chronic stress affect the key proteins and sperm parameters of the blood–testis barrier (BTB)?DesignC57Bl/6 mice were divided into two groups: a non-treated control group and a chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) applied group. The stress status of the animals was confirmed with behavioural tests. Histopathologic evaluation was conducted by haematoxylin and eosin staining and electron microscope. Malondialdehyde, corticosterone and testosterone levels were evaluated in peripheral blood. Expression levels of BTB proteins, namely zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), claudin-11 (CLDN11) and clathrin in Sertoli cells, were assessed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence techniques. Sperm samples were collected from cauda epididymis, and sperm parameters analysed.ResultsThe stress model was confirmed by behavioural tests. Histopathological evaluation of the testes demonstrated a mild degeneration in seminiferous tubules. Malondialdehyde (P = 0.008) and corticosterone levels increased (P = 0.004) and testosterone levels decreased (P = 0.005) in the CUS group. Electron microscopic evaluation confirmed the damage in BTB integrity in the CUS group. Western blot analysis showed that ZO-1 and CLDN11 levels were significantly decreased, although clathrin levels were unchanged. Although sperm concentration and total motility rate were not significantly different between the groups, progressive motility (P = 0.03), normal sperm morphology (P = 0.04), chromatin integrity (toluidine blue) (P = 0.002) and the acrosomal reaction rate (P = 0.002) were significantly decreased, and acrosomal abnormality rate was dramatically increased (P = 0.04) in the CUS group.ConclusionsIn mice, CUS disrupted BTB integrity and impaired sperm parameters. A decrease in ZO-1 and CLDN11 expression levels may be proposed as the causative factor.     

Effect of blood donation-mediated volume reduction on regional right ventricular deformation in healthy subjects

Strain (S) and strain rate (SR) are known to be altered in diseases associated with right ventricular (RV) pressure/volume overload and RV myocardial dysfunction; however determinants of S/SR are incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of blood donation-mediated volume reduction on regional RV deformation in healthy young adults. Study population was composed of 61 consecutive healthy subjects who were volunteers for blood donation. All underwent standard echocardiography and two-dimensional S and SR imaging by speckle tracking before and after 450 mL blood donation. We found no change in RV lateral wall SR in all three segments. However, the S in the apical and mid segments of the RV lateral wall immediately decreased after blood donation [?26.2 ± 3.3 vs. ?23.2 ± 3.3 % (p < 0.0001) and ?28.2 ± 3.4 vs. ?27.1 ± 3.2 % (p = 0.009), respectively], whereas no change was observed in the basal segment. Moreover, changes in systolic S on the apical segment of the RV lateral wall before and after blood donation were significantly correlated with the changes in the RV size [end-diastolic area index, r = ? 0.369 (p = 0.003) and end-systolic area index, r = ? 0.319 (p = 0.012)] and changes in the stroke volume index [r = ? 0.436 (p < 0.001)]. Blood donation-mediated volume reduction in healthy subjects caused a regional difference in RV longitudinal deformation with the lower mid and apical S that was related to parameters of volume load severity. However, RV systolic SR was found to be resistant to the effects of volume depletion.     

Evaluation of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-13, and IL-17 levels and computed tomography finding in interstitial lung disease associated with connective tissue disease patients

Objective

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most severe complications which is associated with connective tissue disease (CTD) and causes to morbidity and mortality. So, we aimed to determine serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-13, and IL-17, to investigate whether these cytokines are related to CTD-ILD, and to find their possible contribution to determining the prognosis of the disease.

Methods

A total of 150 participants, 80 patients diagnosed with CTD-ILD (mean age, 58.21?±?12.36) and 70 healthy controls (mean age, 57.07?±?9.60) were recruited from the rheumatology department between January 2016 and June 2019 in the study. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings were scored as similarly to previous studies. Serum IL-6, IL 13, and IL-17 levels were measured by ELISA test kits.

Results

The levels of IL-6, IL-13, and IL-17 in CTD patients were significantly higher than the healthy individuals (p?<?001), but the HRCT score’s relation were not determined. IL-6 was associated with disease duration and disease activity scores of DAS28, ESDAII, and dSSc. There was a significant relation between dSSc, HCRT fibrosis, and total score.CRP, hemoglobin, and platelets were associated with the HRCT inflammation pattern.

Conclusion

At the study, it has been observed that serum IL-13, IL-6 and IL-17 levels are increased in patients with CTD-ILD. Besides, IL-6 was associated with disease activity scores of DAS28, ESDAII, and dSSc. Also, HRCT fibrosis score is associated with dSSc. Further and comprehensive studies are needed to understand better the complex intersection of lung disease with systemic autoimmunity.