The effect of core framework designs on the fracture loads of all-ceramic fixed partial dentures on posterior implants

This study evaluated the fracture loads of three-unit all-ceramic bridges on implants; the core frameworks of the bridges were made of zirconium oxide. Three core framework designs were fabricated according to the design of the bars between the retainers: (i) straight, (ii) curved in the occlusal direction, or (iii) curved in the gingival direction. A static load was applied at the centre of the pontic, and the mean initial crack and final fracture loads were measured and compared. The core framework curved in the occlusal direction had the highest final fracture loads; there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the mean final fracture load, whereas initial fracture load, which fractured of veneered porcelain, did not show significant differences among three designs. The all-ceramic bridges on the implants made with Procera zirconium core frameworks had high final fracture load. The core framework design that curved in the occlusal direction helped the framework withstand the occlusal load, which results in reliable prostheses, especially in the molar region.     

Recognition of regional hypertrophy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using thallium-201 emission-computed tomography: Comparison with two-dimensional echocardiography

The configuration of the hypertrophied myocardium was evaluated by thallium-201 emission-computed tomography and 2-dimensional (2-D) sector scan in 10 patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC), 10 with nonobstructive HC with giant negative T waves and 10 with concentric left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. Thallium-201 myocardial imaging was reconstructed into multiple 12-mm-thick slices in 3 planes. The thickness ratio of the ventricular septum and the LV posterior wall in the short-axis plane and the ratio of the ventricular septum and the apical wall in the long-axis plane were analyzed. In the patients with obstructive HC the ventricular septal wall thickness index was increased, and the ratio of septal to posterior wall thickness index (1.45 ± 0.23) was greater than that in the patients with nonobstructive HC with giant negative T waves or in those with concentric LV hypertrophy (1.03 ± 0.20 and 0.98 ± 0.11, respectively; p <0.01 for each). In the patients with nonobstructive HC with giant negative T waves, increased apical wall thickness with apical cavity obliteration was characteristic, and the ratio of ventricular septal to apical wall thickness index (0.66 ± 0.14) was less than that in the patients with obstructive HC or in those with concentric LV hypertrophy (1.46 ± 0.38 and 1.04 ± 0.09, respectively; p <0.001 for each). In contrast, technically satisfactory 2-D sector scanning (83%) demonstrated various configurations of the hypertrophied ventricularseptum, but could not detect apical hypertrophy in 4 of the 10 patients with nonobstructive HC with giant negative T waves whose LV cineangiograms demonstrated apical hypertrophy. Thus, thallium-201 emission-computed tomography is useful in evaluating the characteristics of LV hypertrophy and assists 2-D sector scan, especially in patients with apical hypertrophy in HC.     

Quantitative assessment of ventilation-perfusion mismatch by radioxenon imaging of the lung

By the use of xenon-133 and a scintillation camera with digital data storage and processing system, a topographic relationship between ventilation distribution (V) and perfusion distribution (Q) was examined quantitatively in two groups of normal nonsmokers and one of older smokers, all healthy. In addition, subjects with a variety of cardiopulmonary disease were tested. The fractional regional ventilation (VR) and regional perfusion (QR) were plotted against the V/Q ratio on a logarithmic abscissa for the normal subjects; both were distributed log-normally with a narrow standard deviation, and were dissociated slightly from each other. However, with smoking and with increasing age, the s.d. and the dissociation became wider, suggesting an impairment of gas exchange as estimated by alveolar-atrial gas-pressure differences (A-aD), which were calculated by putting these topographic relationships into a gas-exchange program in a computer. In various cardiopulmonary diseases a good correlation was found between the estimated A-aDO2 thus obtained and the actual A-aDO2 derived from analysis of the blood gases.     

In the procurement of a neutral and compact monomeric complex of dithiosemicarbazone (DTS) derivative: 99mTc-KTS

As a basic structure of a bifunctional radiopharmaceutical (BR), dithiosemicarbazone (DTS) enables the formation of a small conjugated chelating ring with divalent metals (Cu2+, Zn2+, Ni2+), yielding stable and compact complexes. In the development of a neutral and compact monomeric DTS complex of technetium (99mTc), a DTS containing ligand, kethoxal-bis(thiosemicarbazone) (KTS) was selected. A well known monomeric Cu-KTS complex (or 64Cu-KTS) is taken as a model compound, and in vitro (TLC, EP, HPLC) and in vivo (mice biodistribution) studies were compared. Using the stannous chloride method, under conditions to avoid the hydrolytic polynucleation of technetium, a good yield of 99mTc-KTS with characteristics resembling the non-charged, compact and stable Cu-KTS is obtained, in in vitro as well as in vivo studies. The importance of DTS as the constituent of a BR is discussed.