Computer-assisted prosthetic planning and implant design with integrated digital bite registration: a treatment protocol.

The aim of this clinical study is to present an integrated digital project through the description of a clinical case, made entirely in digitized form, taking advantage of the opportunity offered by instrumental diagnostic software. A case report participant is a 65-year-old female patient presents with loss of diffuse bone support, caused by periodontal disease. After a sign of an informed consent and an explication of a plan of treatment, technical intraoral and extraoral pictures and intraoral digital impressions were taken. The digital images improved from the 2D Smile Lynx Software and the scanner stereolithographic (STL) file was matched into the CAD Lynx to obtain a virtual previsualization of teeth and smile design, and to mill the provisional and the definitive crowns. The digital prosthetic design allows the evaluation of the dental parameters in relation to the parameters of the patient's face for the new prosthetic project and the radiological examination using CBCT guides the insertion of the fixtures for the rehabilitation phase. The surgical and prosthetic design are subsequently integrated. The evaluation of the bone bases is carried out with a radiological diagnostic software for CT (Real Guide 5.0-3Diemme, Cantù-Italy) which can virtually design the implant insertion. The functional examination of the patient is carried out through an occlusion-postural examination that uses digital electromyographic assessments. The integrated digital protocol proposal inserts in the rehabilitation path the digital recording of the free mandibular movement, as well as the scan of the patient's face, data that will be integrated into the CAD software for the design of temporary and definitive prosthetic artifacts, made using the CAM method. This study showed guided implant placement and the application of fixed implant-supported prosthetic restorations carried out with a fully digital workflow, dependent on the functional digital evaluation of the patient's occlusion. The proposed protocol described the correct use of digitalization of clinical, surgical, and prosthetic procedures, and the matching of the data into a computerized environment, to improve team communication and to take advantage of the combination of collected data to not lose information using classic manual steps.

Left ventricular changes in isolated office hypertension: a blood pressure-matched comparison with normotension and sustained hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Isolated office (IO) hypertension is a benign condition according to some researchers, whereas others believe it is associated with cardiovascular abnormalities and increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study is to compare morphofunctional characteristics of the left ventricle (LV) in IO hypertensive subjects, normotensive subjects (hereafter, hypertensives and normotensives), and never-treated sustained hypertensives. The 3 groups were matched not only by age, sex, and body mass index but also by clinic blood pressure (BP) (IO hypertensives and sustained hypertensives) and daytime BP (IO hypertensives and normotensives). METHODS: We enrolled 42 IO hypertensives (clinic BP > 140 and/or 90 mm Hg and daytime BP < or = 130/80 mm Hg), 42 sustained hypertensives (clinic BP > 140 and/or 90 mm Hg and daytime BP > or = 140 and/or 90 mm Hg) and 42 normotensives (clinic BP < 135 and/or 85 mm Hg and daytime BP < or = 130/80 mm Hg). Left ventricular morphologic features and function were assessed using digitized M-mode echocardiography. RESULTS: Compared with normotensives, IO hypertensives had significantly thicker LV walls, increased LV mass, reduced diastolic function, increased prevalence of LV hypertrophy, and preclinical diastolic dysfunction. Sustained hypertensives, compared with IO hypertensives, had significantly thicker LV wall, higher LV mass, and lower diastolic function, whereas the prevalence of LV hypertrophy and preclinical diastolic dysfunction was greater than in IO hypertensives, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P = .29). CONCLUSIONS: Comparing matched BP groups, IO hypertensives have LV morphofunctional characteristics considerably different from normotensives and qualitatively similar to sustained hypertensives. Therefore, our results support the hypothesis that IO hypertension should not be considered as simply a benign condition.

Longitudinal changes of insulin sensitivity in essential hypertension: influence of blood pressure control and familial predisposition to hypertension.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of blood pressure (BP) control and familial predisposition to hypertension on longitudinal changes in insulin sensitivity in essential hypertension. We evaluated 6 groups of subjects twice (basal: before any treatment; 2nd: after at least 18 months): 42 hypertensives (H) with a family history of hypertension (F+) and 30 H without a family history of hypertension (F-) successfully treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and/or calcium channel blockers (2nd: 24-h BP < or = 130/80 mm Hg); 22 untreated (UT) HF+ and 18 UTHF- (2nd: 24-h BP >140 and/or 90 mm Hg); 18 normotensives F+ and 15 normotensives F-. The parameters evaluated were as follows: glucose, insulin, and C-peptide (Cp) response to an oral glucose load. Glucose was normal in all of the subjects, similar among the 6 groups, and unchanged at the 2nd evaluation. At the basal evaluation insulin and Cp were higher and the metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of glucose was lower in the three F+ groups compared with the corresponding F- groups. In the 2nd evaluation insulin and Cp were reduced and the MCR of glucose increased in THF-, whereas all metabolic parameters were unchanged in THF+; in both UT hypertensive groups insulin and Cp increased and the MCR of glucose decreased, more so in F+ than in F-; in normotensive groups metabolic parameters did not change. A familial predisposition to hypertension influences insulin sensitivity changes during successful antihypertensive therapy, with an improvement in insulin sensitivity in F- and no changes in F+. A persistently high BP has a negative influence on insulin sensitivity in F+ and F-; this influence is greater when high BP is associated with a familial predisposition to hypertension.

Microalbuminuria in never-treated hypertensives: lack of relationship to hyperinsulinemia and genetic predisposition to hypertension.

We evaluated the relationship of microalbuminuria to hyperinsulinemia and family history of hypertension in 92 never-treated essential hypertensives (mean 24-h blood pressure >140 or 90 mm Hg), with positive (F+) or negative (F-) family history of hypertension: 31 had microalbuminuria (MA+) (urinary albumin excretion [UAE], 30 to 300 mg/24 h) and 61 had normal (<30 mg/24 h) UAE (MA-). Glucose and insulin values before and 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after an oral glucose load were measured together with an index of peripheral insulin activity (10(4)/ insulin x glucose values at glucose peak). Subjects with and without microalbuminuria did not differ with regard to age, sex, body mass index, and 24-h heart rate, whereas 24-h, daytime, and nighttime systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher in MA+ than MA- patients. The prevalence of positive family history of hypertension was similar between MA+ and MA-, as were fasting and stimulated glucose and insulin values and the index of peripheral insulin activity. Subdividing the patients on the basis of family history of hypertension (59 F+, 33 F-) UAE was not significantly different between F+ and F-. UAE did not correlate with glucose and insulin parameters. From our results, in never-treated hypertensives, microalbuminuria is associated with higher blood pressure values, but is related neither to genetic predisposition to hypertension, nor to hyperinsulinemia; therefore, impaired insulin sensitivity and microalbuminuria are two components of the hypertensive syndrome, largely independent of each other.

Microalbuminuria as a marker of preclinical diastolic dysfunction in never-treated essential hypertensives.

Using 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring and digitized M-mode echocardiography, we evaluated whether microalbuminuria is related to preclinical left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients. We selected 87 never-treated hypertensive patients (mean 24-h BP > 140 and/or > 90 mm Hg); albuminuria was evaluated as mean value of 24-h urinary albumin excretion (UAE) from two 24-h urine collections. Microalbuminuria was found in 28 patients, classified as MA+ (UAE 30 to 300 mg/24 h); 59 patients had normal UAE (< 30 mg/24 h) and were classified as MA-. The MA+ and MA- groups did not differ with regard to age, sex, body mass index, or 24-h heart rate, whereas 24-h, daytime, and nighttime systolic and diastolic BP were significantly higher in MA+ than in MA-. The LV mass index was greater in MA+, as was the prevalence of LV hypertrophy; peak shortening rate of LV diameter, index of systolic function, was normal in all, but was lower in MA+. Peak lengthening rate of LV diameter and peak thinning rate of posterior wall, indices of diastolic function, were lower in MA+ and the prevalence of diastolic dysfunction was higher in MA+. UAE was inversely correlated with both indices of LV diastolic function, also after correction for age, 24-h heart rate, 24-h BP, and LV mass. In conclusion, in never-treated hypertensive patients, microalbuminuria is not only associated with greater myocardial mass, but is also related with preclinical impairment of LV diastolic function. This relation, independent from increased BP or LV mass, strengthens the role of microalbuminuria as an early and reliable marker of preclinical cardiac involvement.

Semisynthetic beta-Lactam antibiotics. II. Penicillins from alpha-hydrazinoarylacetic acids.

A number of penicillins (2) have been synthesized from the alpha-hydrazinoarylacetic acids (4) via the activated chloride hydrochlorides (5) or via the mixed anhydride of the corresponding N2-benzyloxycarbonyl derivatives (6). The penicillins, 2b, e, j, show good activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and enhanced penicillinase resistance in comparison with ampicillin.

Individualized versus standardized analysis of ambulatory blood pressure profile: relationship with left ventricular characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: Objective To determine whether the use of patients' individual awake/asleep patterns instead of fixed day/night intervals would influence the correlations between blood pressure values and left ventricular morpho-functional characteristics. METHODS: We enrolled 167 never-treated hypertensives (clinic blood pressures >160 mmHg systolic or 90 mmHg diastolic, or both): 32 had 24h blood pressures <130/80 mmHg [white-coat hypertensives (WCH)] and 135 had 24h blood pressures >130 mmHg systolic or 80 mmHg diastolic, or both (hypertensives). Each patient underwent left ventricular echocardiographic examination and 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, evaluated twice, using standard day/night intervals (daytime 0700-2200 h, night-time 2200-0700 h) and using the patient's individual awake/asleep pattern (an individualized scheme). RESULTS: Daytime and night-time blood pressures in WCH and daytime and night-time diastolic blood pressures in hypertensives were not affected by choice of using individualized or standard intervals; daytime systolic blood pressure in hypertensives was significantly higher and night-time systolic blood pressure lower with individualized intervals. The non-dippers (nocturnal decrease in blood pressure <10% of daytime blood pressure) were 31 hypertensives and six WCH with standard day/night intervals and 25 hypertensives and four WCH with individualized intervals; nocturnal falls in systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly greater with individualized intervals for both groups. Left ventricular hypertrophy was present in 68 hypertensives and seven WCH; left ventricular systolic function was normal in all and left ventricular diastolic function was impaired in 53 hypertensives and seven WCH. Left ventricular characteristics of WCH were not correlated to blood pressure parameters; left ventricular mass index of hypertensives was directly correlated to 24h, daytime and night-time systolic blood pressures, whereas left ventricular diastolic function was inversely correlated to night-time systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The correlations were not affected by choice of using individual awake/asleep patterns. CONCLUSIONS: Timing day and night in an individualized way seems to improve the evaluation of nocturnal fall in blood pressure, but does not improve the ability to predict the left ventricle's involvement with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Choyce's postulate.

The recently published intraocular lens standards from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z80.7) contain a reasonable standard for haptic diameter in section 3.10.1.2. The exception to this is fixed-length anterior chamber tripod lenses, which comprise a distinct category for which no realistic or practical standard is feasible. In accordance with the geometric properties of triangles, such tripod lenses have incorporeal haptic diameters and present special fixation problems that do not exist with either tetrapod or flexible lenses, so their continued use should be minimized.

Comportamiento de las variables de protección de la vía aérea al momento de la extubación / Airway protection parameters behavior at the moment of extubation

Este trabajo se desarrolló en la Unidad de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) y en la Unidad Coronaria (UCO) del Hospital de Agudos Juan A. Fernandez, desde el día 6 de marzo de 2001 hasta el 8 de julio de 2002. El objetivo fue verificar si existen diferencias significativas en las variables de protección de la vía aérea (VA) entre los pacientes que fueron extubados con éxito y los que fracasaron en la extubación. Estas diferencias pueden tener relevancia al momento de la extubación de los pacientes. Los pacientes fueron incorporados a la muestra en forma consecutiva siempre que hubieran sido intubados orotraquealmente, que hubieran recibido asistencia ventilatoria mecánica por un lapso no inferior a 24 hs. y que superaran con éxito una prueba de Tubo en T por un tiempo mínimo de 30 minutos...