Hardness and compressive strength of indirect composite resins: effects of immersion in distilled water

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ageing in distilled water on the hardness and compressive strength of a direct composite resin Z100, a feldspatic porcelain (Noritake) and three indirect composites (Artglass, Solidex and Targis). For the Vickers hardness tests, five disk-shaped specimens (2 x 4 mm) of each material were prepared according to the manufacturers' instructions. The hardness tests were conducted using a Vickers diamond indentor. Compressive strength measurements were recorded on cylindrical specimens with a diameter of 6 mm and a length of 12 mm. The compression tests were carried out with a constant cross-head speed of 0.5 mm min(-1) on a mechanical test machine. For each material, 10 specimens were tested after 7 days of dry storage at 37 +/- 1 degrees C and 10 specimens were tested after water storage at 37 +/- 1 degrees C for 180 days. Noritake porcelain specimens showed higher hardness values than the composites. Among the composite materials, Z100 promoted the highest VHN values, regardless of the ageing periods. The results showed that Solidex and Z100 had the highest compressive strength values. Ageing in water reduced the hardness for all composites, but had no long-term effect on the compressive strength.     

Mechanical circulatory support in patients with cardiogenic shock not secondary to cardiotomy: a network meta-analysis

Heart Failure Reviews - To compare the efficacy and safety of different mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices in CS. A total of 24 studies (7 randomized controlled...     

Cultural Consensus Analysis as a Tool for Clinic Improvements

Some problems in clinic function recur because of unexpected value differences between patients, faculty, and residents. Cultural consensus analysis (CCA) is a method used by anthropologists to identify groups with shared values. After conducting an ethnographic study and using focus groups, we developed and validated a CCA tool for use in clinics. Using this instrument, we identified distinct groups with 6 important value differences between those groups. An analysis of these value differences suggested specific and pragmatic interventions to improve clinic functioning. The instrument has also performed well in preliminary tests at another clinic.     

Lung morphometry and MMP-12 expression in rats treated with intraperitoneal nicotine.

Nicotine, a toxic tobacco component, plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular and lung diseases in smokers. Our objective was to investigate the effects of the intraperitoneal (i.p.) nicotine treatment in lung morphology. Wistar male rats (3-4 months old) were divided in five groups, a control one, and other groups treated with nicotine (1 mg/kg/day) for 8 days and sacrificed after 24, 48, 96, and 192 h. Morphometry was used to estimate the lung alveolar parenchyme and septal elastic fibers changes, and immunohistochemistry was performed to detect macrophage metalloelastase (MMP-12) and quantify vessels by immunolabelling with alpha-smooth muscle cells. Thickening of the alveolar septa was present in all nicotine groups, and associated with mononuclear cell infiltration, angiogenesis, and irregular areas of collapse. After 96 h, rat lungs showed macrophage, expressing MMP-12, that was also present after 192 h of recovery. Pleural and parenchyma inflammation, fibrosis and macrophage were also seen after 192 h. Intraperitoneal nicotine treated rats exhibited an increase of the volume fraction of alveolar parenchyme, a reduction of volume and surface fraction septal elastic fibers, and an increase of the numerical fraction of microvasculature vessels compared to control ones. MMP-12 was detected in groups of macrophages Wistar rats lung exhibited a progressive morphological damage after 192 hours of recovery, after 8 daily doses of 1 mg/kg body weight on i.p. nicotine.     

The CTLA-4 gene region of chromosome 2q33 is linked to, and associated with, type 1 diabetes. Belgian Diabetes Registry

Susceptibility to autoimmune insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes mellitus is determined by a combination of environmental and genetic factors, which include variation in MHC genes on chromosome 6p21 (IDDM1) and the insulin gene on chromosome 11p15 (IDDM2). However, linkage to IDDM1 and IDDM2 cannot explain the clustering of type 1 diabetes in families, and a role for other genes is inferred. In the present report we describe linkage and association of type 1 diabetes to the CTLA-4 gene (cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated-4) on chromosome 2q33 (designated IDDM12). CTLA-4 is a strong candidate gene for T cell- mediated autoimmune disease because it encodes a T cell receptor that mediates T cell apoptosis and is a vital negative regulator of T cell activation. In addition, we provide supporting evidence that CTLA-4 is associated with susceptibility to Graves' disease, another organ- specific autoimmune disease.