Bioactive Glass Applications: A Literature Review of Human Clinical Trials.

The use of bioactive glasses in dentistry, reconstructive surgery, and in the treatment of infections can be considered broadly beneficial based on the emerging literature about the potential bioactivity and biocompatibility of these materials, particularly with reference to Bioglass® 45S5, BonAlive® and 19-93B3 bioactive glasses. Several investigations have been performed (i) to obtain bioactive glasses in different forms, such as bulk materials, powders, composites, and porous scaffolds and (ii) to investigate their possible applications in the biomedical field. Although in vivo studies in animals provide us with an initial insight into the biological performance of these systems and represent an unavoidable phase to be performed before clinical trials, only clinical studies can demonstrate the behavior of these materials in the complex physiological human environment. This paper aims to carefully review the main published investigations dealing with clinical trials in order to better understand the performance of bioactive glasses, evaluate challenges, and provide an essential source of information for the tailoring of their design in future applications. Finally, the paper highlights the need for further research and for specific studies intended to assess the effect of some specific dissolution products from bioactive glasses, focusing on their osteogenic and angiogenic potential.

Population-level history of the wrentit (Chamaea fasciata): implications for comparative phylogeography in the California Floristic Province.

The phylogeography of a variety of species has been studied within the California Floristic Province; however, few studies have examined genetic variation in bird species across the entire region. This study uses mitochondrial DNA data to investigate the phylogeography of the wrentit (Chamaea fasciata), a sedentary bird native to scrub and chaparral habitats of this region. Analysis of molecular variance shows geographic structure, and maximum likelihood, Bayesian, and parsimony analyses consistently identify six main clades that are each restricted geographically. Nested clade phylogeographic analyses infer an overall range expansion for the entire cladogram, and a range expansion is also inferred from the mismatch distribution. Thus, our results suggest that the wrentit was isolated into southern refugia during the Pleistocene and has undergone a recent range expansion. Southern refugia and a range expansion were also identified in a previous study of the California thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum). The wrentit did not show marked divergence between northern and southern California defined by the Transverse Ranges, a pattern seen in a variety of other taxa within this region, including some birds.

Use of new biologic markers in the ovulation induction.

Biological markers of ovulation, after a great in the past, have been fallen into disuse for the large diffusion of biochemical and biophysical ones. However, the real effect of hormones involved in ovulation is expressed by biological modifications on target tissues. To explore the modifications of not reproductive target tissues as ovulation markers we studied the behaviour of Albuminemia, Platelet Factor IV (as indicator of Platelet Aggregation), Type II estrogenic receptors in 42 ovulation induced women, undergoing our observation. 33 of them had ovulation and 9 developed a LUF syndrome, constituting two biological models of an opposite situation for the three markers observed. All the markers considered were sufficiently sensitive, but among them, Platelet Factor IV was the most reliable to the hormonal ovulatory situation.

Progesterone immunosuppressive levels and luteal steroid profiles in the cycles induced with clomiphene citrate.

Several studies have focused their attention on the possible interferences of the endocrine with the immunity system; these interrelations have been summoned to explain some aspects of the implantation. It has already been demonstrated that progesterone could play an immunosuppressive role, allowing the implantation of allotransplantation. However, the individual plasmatic levels of the substance needed to produce that effect still unknown. With the aim of determining the certain immunosuppressive progesterone levels in women with normal ovulatory function, and in order to determine if the other principal steroids might also have immunosuppressive effects, in 47 women affected by sine causa infertility, treated with 100 mg. die of Clomiphene Citrate (from day 3 to day 7) we evaluated the plasma levels of progesterone, 17-OH-Progesterone and 17 beta-Estradiol. The assays were made on the 7th, 11th and 14th post-ovulation days both in women who conceived (immunosuppressive effect present) and in women who did not achieve pregnancy (immunosuppressive effect absent). The results achieved showed a significant difference only in the progesterone values, while those of the other steroids were not significantly different, indicating thus that progesterone is the main element responsible for the immunosuppressive phenomenon and that the seriated evaluation in the luteal phase of this steroid could be used as a marker of achieved implantation.

[Parametric methods applied to the standardization of gestational reference intervals for blood renin activity, aldosterone and cortisol using the transversal and longitudinal approach]. / Metodi parametrici applicati alla standardizzazione degli intervalli di normalità gestazionale di attività reninica, aldosterone e cortisolo plasmatici mediante approccio trasversale e longitudinale.

This investigation is devoted to define monthly-qualified gestational reference intervals for plasma renin, aldosterone and cortisol as derived by transverse or longitudinal approaches. Reference intervals refer to 95% confidence interval, 90% tolerance interval, the 95% predictive interval, in addition to the mean plus or minus the standard error and standard deviation. By applying both methodological approaches it has been found that plasma renin and aldosterone exhibit a progressive gestational increase. By contrast, cortisol shows an initial increase and thereafter stays on the same values. Statistical analysis revealed the transversally--and longitudinally--derived reference intervals to be not statistically different. Because of such a similarity, laboratory medicine can interchangeably use both kinds of reference intervals for estimating the normality of plasma renin, aldosterone and cortisol values in a single case of pregnancy. This interchangeability of values leads to simplify the methodology for measuring plasma renin and aldosterone in pregnancy since it is not necessary to standardize the gestational nomograms for renin-sodium and/or aldosterone-sodium relationship. This is a real way to reduce the costs and to optimize the compliance in the monitoring of pregnancy.

Inactive and active renins, aldosterone and cortisol in puerpera and newborn.

Eleven primiparae (aged from 20 to 31 years) have been sampled at the time of partum and throughout the puerperium for simultaneous determinations of plasma levels of inactive (prorenin) and active (PRA) renins, aldosterone (PA) and cortisol (PC). Biodata have been compared to time-qualified values obtained in non-pregnant adult women (aged from 17 to 37 years). Pregnant women show peripartum levels of prorenin, PRA, PA and PC significantly higher than the time-qualified reference intervals. Gestational increment is meanly of 3-4 times for prorenin, of 5-8 times for PRA, of 17-19 times for PA, of 4-5 times for PC. Puerperal levels of PRA, PA and PC show a progressive decline while those of prorenin suddenly fall and then remain quite stable. Neonatal levels of prorenin, PRA, PA and PC are higher than normal. Neonates show levels of prorenin, PRA, PA and PC, respectively equal, increased equal and decreased when compared to mothers. The different equipment of hormonal levels in mother and newborn leads to suggest a selective role of the placenta as a filter.