Effect of titanium surface modified by plasma energy source on genotoxic response in vitro

Titanium (Ti) is currently the most widely used material for the manufacture of orthopedic and dental implants. Changes in the surface of commercial pure Ti (cp Ti) can determine the functional response of cells, and is therefore a critical factor for the success of the implant. However, the genotoxicity of titanium surfaces has been poorly studied. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic potential of a new titanium surface developed by plasma treatment using argon-ion bombardment and compare it with an untreated titanium surface. Accordingly, comet assay, analysis of chromosomal aberrations (CAs), and Cytokinesis Block Micronucleus (CBMN) assay were carried out, using CHO-K1 (Chinese hamster ovary) cells grown on both titanium surfaces. Our results show that the untreated titanium surface caused a significant increase in % tail moment, in the number of cells with CAs, tetraploidy, micronucleus frequency, and other nuclear alterations when compared with the negative control and with the plasma-treated titanium surface. This difference may be attributed to increased surface roughness and changes in titanium oxide layer thickness.     

Child and parent characteristics related to parental feeding practices. A cross-cultural examination in the US and France

Although cross-cultural research between France and the United States has contributed to our understanding of adult eating habits, no research to date has considered differences in the way that French and American parents feed their children. American mothers (n=59) and fathers (n=38) and French mothers (n=72) and fathers (n=50) provided information about the feeding practices that they use with their children. U.S. parents reported higher levels of non-nutritive feeding practices and child control over feeding, whereas French parents reported greater monitoring and restriction of their child's food intake for weight reasons. Feeding practices were linked to child Body Mass Index (BMI) in both socio-cultural contexts.     

Limits of Day-Before Lymphoscintigraphy to Localize Sentinel Nodes in Women with Cervical Cancer

Background  Lymph node status in cervical cancer is a major prognostic factor. Sentinel lymph node (SN) biopsy using radiocolloid and blue dye labeling and preoperative lymphoscintigraphy has emerged as a potential alternative to systematic lymphadenectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy to SN biopsy. Methods  Between April 2001 and December 2005, 71 of 77 patients with cervical cancer (38 patients with stages IA or IB1, and 39 patients with stage IB2, IIA or IIB) underwent laparoscopic SN procedure using radiocolloid and blue dye with day-before lymphoscintigraphy. The SN identification rates and false-negative rates were studied. Results  Seventy patients underwent a combined technique and the last patient a radiocolloid technique alone due to blue dye allergic reaction. Detection rate of lymphoscintigraphy was 84.5% (60/71), with 1.4 sentinel nodes per patient. Three of 11 patients (27.3%) with no SN on lymphoscintigraphy had at least one SN during surgery. Sixteen of 27 patients (59.3%) with solitary SN on lymphoscintigraphy had multiple SNs. Nine of 35 patients (25.7%) with unilateral SNs on lymphoscintigraphy had bilateral SNs at surgery (kappa = 0.44 [0.19–0.64]). When categorized into <2 and ≥2 sentinel nodes, the correlation between lymphoscintigraphic and surgical detection was poor (kappa = 0.05 [0.0–0.18]). Conclusions  SN biopsy is a feasible and accurate method to stage early cervical cancer. However, day-before lymphoscintigraphy is poorly correlated to surgical SN mapping.     

Gaze stabilisation exercises in vestibular rehabilitation: review of the evidence and recent clinical advances

Gaze stabilisation exercises are a mainstay of vestibular rehabilitation (VR). They are frequently prescribed to patients with vestibular hypofunction with the aim of improving the gain of the vestibular ocular reflex, improving visual acuity during head movement, and reducing the symptoms of dizziness and vertigo. This review will examine current evidence that has evaluated the efficacy of gaze stabilisation exercises on VOR gain, dynamic visual acuity and oscillopsia. In addition, recent experimental studies that have employed digital technologies and newer forms of gaze stabilisation exercises will be reviewed. The implications for future clinical practice and research in the area of VR will be discussed.

     

Do different orthodontic pliers used in bracket debonding have different effects on pain and sensitivity? A prospective split-mouth study

Clinical Oral Investigations - The assessment of whether different orthodontic pliers used in bracket debonding have different effects on pain and sensitivity experience. Thirty-three patients (17...