Dedicated composite fillings--inlays

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality and persistence of esthetics of dedicated inlay by clinical methods. METHODS: The paper reviews the clinical significance and technique of preparing particular composite inlays before and after the construction of the metallic framework partial denture. On the basis of indications the total of 30 inlays were placed into cavities under relatively dry working conditions. Six, twelve, eighteen and twenty-four months after the placement of filling, control check-up was carried out by Ryge criteria. RESULTS: After two years marginal discoloration as well as the change of the colour occurred in 3.3% of inlays. There was neither detectable secondary caries, nor the symptoms of pulpal damage. The requirements to be fulfilled concerning the composite materials, in order that they can be implemented for this purpose, were also discussed. CONCLUSION: From the clinical point of view, purpose inlays from Herculite XRV lab C8B in combination with Opti Bond System and composite cement Porcelite Dual Cure showed high functional and esthetic values in the observational period of two years.     

Vinblastin-carboplatin for metastatic cutaneous melanoma as first-line chemotherapy and in dacarbazine failures

Medical Oncology - First-line treatments of metastatic melanoma are usually decarbazine (DTIC) and/or α-interferon based, with response rates in the range of at most 20–30%. In this...     

Robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy in a 68-year-old patient with previous heart transplantation and pelvic irradiation

We report the case of a 68-year-old man who had previously undergone heart transplantation and pelvic irradiation for Hodgkin’s lymphoma and who was under active surveillance for prostate cancer. In response to his increased prostate-specific antigen levels and elevated Gleason score, he was offered robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.     

Spontaneous contractions of isolated rat portal vein under temperature perturbations

We studied nonlinear dynamics underlying spontaneous rhythmical contractions of isolated rat portal vein. The signals were acquired at four different temperatures important in isolated blood vessels preparations: 4, 22, 37 and 40°C. To characterize the system’s nonlinearity, we calculated the largest Lyapunov exponent, sample entropy and scaling exponents. Evidence for nonlinearity was provided by analysis of surrogate data generated from the phase-randomized Fourier transform of the original sequences. Positive values of the largest Lyapunov exponent were obtained for the time series recorded under applied conditions, indicating that the system preserves its chaotic deterministic nature even far from the physiological temperature range. Scaling exponents revealed three distinctive regions with different correlation properties. The calculated measures that characterize the time series obtained at 4°C were significantly different from those derived from data obtained at higher temperatures. System’s dynamics becomes more complex or less predictable as temperature approaches physiological value. The computation of the largest Lyapunov exponent, sample entropy and correlation measures gave an insight into the complex dynamics of the isolated blood vessels rhythmicity. We identified different modes of rhythmical contractions of isolated rat portal vein which could improve understanding of possible control mechanisms in vivo.     

The analysis of clinical characteristics of the chronic rhinosinusitis: complicated and uncomplicated form

The objective of our study was to analyze the intensity of subjective symptoms and objective findings of endoscopy and CT scanning in chronic rhinosinusitis, in the groups with and without nasal polyps. To evaluate the intensity of subjective symptoms visual analogue scale (VAS) was used, while scores were obtained by adding grades. Endoscopic finding was given in scores recommended by Lanza and Kennedy and CT results were presented by Lund-Mackay scoring system. The study included 90 consecutive adult patients, 47 males (52%) and 43 females (48%), mean age 45 years. The group with chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (uncomplicated form) consisted of 30 patients, while the group with polyps (complicated form) included 60 patients. Comparing mean intensity values of all subjective symptoms between these two groups we found out that nasal obstruction, nasal secretion and hyposmia were significantly more manifested in the polyp group (P < 0.01). Facial congestion was also more manifested in the polyp group (P < 0.05). Mean score value of major symptoms was 35.55 in the polyp group, and 23.13 in the group without polyps (P < 0.01). Mean value of total symptom scores was 48.68 in the polyp group, and 35.00 in the group without polyps (P < 0.01). Endoscopic score was approximately 9.03 in the polyp group, and 2.43 in the group without polyps (P < 0.01). CT score was 16.05 on an average in the polyp group, and 4.37 in the group without polyps (P < 0.01). Chronic rhinosinusitis complicated by nasal polyposis is characterized by higher degree of nasal obstruction, nasal secretion, hyposmia and facial congestion, which results in higher score of major and total score of symptoms, respectively. This form is also characterized by worse objective findings, which is reflected in higher endoscopic and CT scores.     

Bullous Pemphigoid Induced by Penicillamine in a Patient with Wilson Disease

We report a 47-year-old man with Wilson disease who developed bullous lesions on the trunk and extremities after 20 years of penicillamine treatment. The histologic and immunofluorescence findings were diagnostic of bullous pemphigoid. When penicillamine was replaced by zinc sulfate, the patient’s bullous skin lesions improved rapidly. However, after 2 months of zinc sulfate treatment, the patient’s skin condition remained improved but his neurologic disease became worse and penicillamine was reinstituted. Bullous lesions recurred within 1 week and the diagnosis of penicillamine-induced bullous pemphigoid was confirmed. This is the first report of penicillamine-induced bullous pemphigoid in a patient with Wilson disease.     

Dentinal hypersensitivity following scaling and root planing: comparison of low-level laser and topical fluoride treatment

The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of low-level laser irradiation to traditional topical fluoride treatment for treatment choices of dentinal hypersensitivity following scaling and root planing. The experimental group (15 patients) was treated with low-energy-level diode laser at each site of dentinal hypersensitivity following scaling and root planning. The control group (15 patients) received topical fluoride treatment (protective varnish for desensitization). All the patients were treated at baseline visit, and then at day 2 and 4 after the initial treatment; the pain was subjectively assessed by the patients as strong, medium, medium low, low, or no pain. Total absence of the dental hypersensitivity was reported in 26.66% of the examined group even after the second visit, compared to the control group where complete resolution of the hypersensitivity was not present after the second visit in any of the treated cases. Complete absence of pain was achieved in 86.6% of patients treated with laser and only in 26.6% in the fluoride treated group, after the third visit. Based on our findings, we conclude that low-energy biostimulative laser treatment can be successfully used for treatment of dental hypersensitivity following scaling and root planing.     

Characterization and evaluation of solid self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems with porous carriers as systems for improved carbamazepine release

The purpose of this study was to investigate solid self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SSMEDDS), as potential delivery system for poorly water soluble drug carbamazepine (CBZ). Self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) was formulated using the surfactant polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan monooleate [Polysorbate 80] (S), the cosurfactant PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil [Cremophor(?) RH40] (C) and the oil caprylic/capric triglycerides [Mygliol(?) 812] (O). Four different adsorbents with high specific surface area were used: Neusilin(?) UFL2, Neusilin(?) FL2 (magnesium aluminometasilicate), Sylysia(?) 320 and Sylysia(?) 350 (porous silica). Microemulsion area at the surfactant to cosurfactant ratio (K(m)) 1:1 was evaluated and for further investigation SMEDDS with SC/O ratio 8:2 was selected. Solubilization capacity of selected SMEDDS for CBZ was 33.771±0.041mg/ml. Rheological measurements of unloaded and CBZ-loaded SMEDDS at water content varied from 10 to 60% (w/w) were conducted. It has been found that CBZ has great influence on rheological behaviour of investigated system upon water dilution. Photon correlation spectroscopy has shown the ability of CBZ-loaded SMEDDS to produce microemulsion droplet size. SSMEDDS improved release rate of CBZ, but the type of adsorbent significantly affects release rate of CBZ. For SSMEDDS with different magnesium aluminometasilicate adsorbents, release rate of CBZ decreased with increasing specific surface area due to entrapment of liquid SMEDDS inside the pores and its gradual exposure to dissolution medium. With porous silica adsorbents no difference in release rate was found in comparison to physical mixtures. In physical mixtures at 12.5% (w/w) CBZ content, presence of amorphous CBZ led to high dissolution rate.