Ceramic biomaterials in dentistry: chemical structure and biosafety - a review and a bibliometric visual mapping on Scopus database.

OBJECTIVE: A biomaterial is any non-pharmaceutical substance or a mixture of synthetic or natural substances used independently or as part of a system for any amount of time with the aim of mending, supporting the growth, or replacing tissues, organs, or functions of the body. It is a non-renewable material that interacts with biological systems. The purpose of this study was to assess the advances in ceramic biomaterials and perform a bibliometric mapping of the literature on the subject. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Scopus database was used for manuscript screening (Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands). The effect of the scientific production has been assessed using scientometric citational metrics. RESULTS: A total of 2,554 pieces of literature, including 2,234 papers, 170 conference proceedings, 109 reviews, 35 book chapters, 3 editorial letters, and 3 short surveys, were retrieved. Based on the research conducted, it is noted that ceramic materials are high-performing by being porous or glassy and can, therefore, serve as fillers, covering materials, and scaffolds in medicine and biotechnology. They are frequently employed not only in orthopedic and maxillofacial surgery but also in dentistry for dental prostheses. CONCLUSIONS: Materials monitoring methods enable us to track the three-dimensional evolution of ceramics' volume, as well as flaws or micro-cracks.

[Substance use and victimization in violent assaults]. / Abuso di sostanze e predisposizione vittimogena nei reati violenti.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work was to examine the role of substance use as factor which increase risk of assault. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of the some of the most important international literature about drug-facilitated crimes is presented here. RESULTS: The whole part of the papers shows a relationship between substance use and risk increase of assault, particularly in family violence and rape. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of psychotropic substances use depend on the user's emotional state and on drugs use expectations. This prospective shows that we need to be cautious in interpreting processes of linear causality between abusive behaviour, processes of victimisation, abuses and abnormal sexual behaviours, which are related to the patient's desires, enhanced and validated by drugs.

Validation of an extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry quantification method for cocaine, methadone, and morphine in postmortem adipose tissue.

Adipose tissue is a complex biological matrix that necessitates several pre-analytical preparation steps to separate drugs and metabolites from the lipophilic matrix. A novel, sensitive, and specific gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) method for the determination of cocaine (metabolites), methadone, and morphine in postmortem adipose tissue was developed, optimized, and validated. The method involves the aqueous acid extraction of analytes, alkalinization of the extract, solid-phase extraction with chloroform, and derivatization with BSTFA before GC-MS analysis. Deuterated compounds were used as internal standards for determination and quantification of analytes. Limits of detection were 0.005 microg/g for cocaine and cocaethylene, 0.02 microg/g for benzoylecgonine, 0.01 microg/g for ecgoninemethylester, 0.005 microg/g for methadone, and 0.01 microg/g for morphine. Linearity ranged from 0.1 to 1.000 microg/g for all analytes. Intra- and interday accuracy ranged from 70.6 to 105%, and intra- and interday precisions were less than 8.2% and 8.6%, respectively, for all analytes. The method showed a good recovery.

Occupational asphyxiation by unknown compound(s): environmental and toxicological approach.

During a routine truck-tank washing operation, five healthy workers were found motionless inside an empty tanker. Four of them died inside the tanker while the fifth died the following day in hospital. Since the true nature of the fatal compound(s) were not known, a rigorous environmental and toxicological approach supported by autopsy findings was essential to clarify the cause of death. Environmental results indicated that H(2)S fumes arising from the liquid sulfur previously shipped were responsible for the serial deaths, also confirmed by a simulation performed on two similar truck-tanks. These environmental findings were supported by toxicological analyses through the measurement of thiosulfate, one of the main H(2)S metabolites. Abnormal thiosulfate concentrations from 1.1 to 186.2 mg/kg were revealed in all post-mortem biological samples (blood, lung, liver, kidney, brain and fat). Finally, the cluster analysis performed on thiosulfate body distribution contributed to establishing the time of death according to the accident scene reconstruction. This report presents valuable findings in correctly identifying the cause of death in gas asphyxiation cases by unknown compound(s).

[Results of the evaluation of environmental technological risk of an Italian region (Puglia)]. / Risultati della valutazione del rischio tecnologico ambientale di una regione italiana (Puglia).

In order to plan a correct planning and a realization of interventions to support Regional Environmental Authority, results of "Technological Risk" methodology applied in a Italian region (Puglia) are reported. In this paper two main risk factors has been evaluated (high risk activities, areas with environmental crisis high risk) and determined indicators able to describe, in case of accident or anomalous event, potential interactions in the normal industrial process. Than has been described operative phases to consent risk factors evaluation and their evolution, considering also pressures on the environment identified by other issues. Some themes were in detail studied through territorial analysis and set of rules. This work enables to carry out a specific database for factories subject to "substantial risk" and finally was completed data processing with thematic maps and statistic analysis.

The detection of toxic substances in entomological specimens.

Entomotoxicology (the study of drugs in insects), a new field of forensic investigations, has still to be precisely defined especially with respect to the toxic substances that can be assessed in entomological specimens. The aim of the present work was to review the relevant entomological publications in order to analyse and describe the various toxic substances that have been detected in biological specimens. Experimental studies have been reviewed separately from case reports. Toxic substances have been classified according to forensic toxicology methodology and on the basis of the chemical and analytical features. This classification will help investigators to identify the compounds that can be found in such biological samples and may stimulate new analytical research investigations. Given the heterogeneity of specimens, the use of non-specific tests (such as immunoenzyme assays) is not recommended and specific and sensitive techniques are suggested. Methods such as GC-MS and HPLC-MS allow the exact identification of the toxic substances and their metabolites.

[Heavy metals: soil characteristics and methods of evaluating parameters for defining "contaminated soils"]. / Metalli pesanti: caratteristiche dei suoli e metodologie di valutazione dei parametri per la definizione di "suoli contaminati".

The excessive content of toxic elements in the human environment is associated with the etiology of a number of diseases. Soils' pollutants decontamination regards the main industrialised countries. Heavy metals represent the main problem for soil pollution characterisation. The first approach for pollution evaluation is the determination of total metal concentration; the evaluation of their bioavailability is required for a correct knowledge of the environmental risk. In the present work is shown the procedure to evaluate the sites, which require decontamination and which need the following data: knowledge of the threshold for each metal in the soil and its range, chemical analysis of the components, determination of bioavailability and soil destination. The bioavailability is easily calculated by the procedure of aimed extractions.

[Determination of the K+/Na+ ratio in experimental drowning in sea water]. / Determinazione del rapporto K+/Na+ nell'annegamento sperimentale in acqua di mare.

Potassium and sodium content in lung, heart and liver of sea water-drowned mice was measured flame-photometrically after destruction of tissue through nitric-percloric acid. It was found that the ratio of K+/Na+ content in the lung and even in the heart was significantly lower in the drowned group than in the control one; the liver did not show any significant eletrolyte change after drowning. The results are the basis of a test applicable to humans.

[Experimental poisoning with gaseous hydrocarbons: changes in concentrations of propane and butane in the lung and adipose tissue in relation to the time of death]. / Intossicazione sperimentale da idrocarburi gassosi: variazioni della concentrazione del propano e butano nel polmone e nel tessuto adiposo in funzione dell'epoca della morte.

Postmortal changes of propane, butane and iso-butane concentration in the lung and fat of mice exposed to lethal intoxication with commercial liquid gas are studied. The hydrocarbon tissue concentrations after exposure were determined by gas liquid chromatography. The hydrocarbons progressively decreased in the lung and disappeared, depending on the degree of putrefaction; even in case of remarkable putrefaction, it was still possible to detect them in the fat tissue.

[Lead detection and measurement in biological fluids by means of anodic stripping voltammetry (author's transl)]. / La determinazione del piombo nei liquidi biologici mediante voltametria di strippaggio anodico

The authors deal with the anodic stripping voltammetry method for detecting and measuring lead in biological fluids. A comparison was made with the more widely used dithizone method. The mercury-graphite electrode was also checked in respect of both the plating time and the amount of analyses performed. From the results obtained the authors conclude that the anodic stripping voltammetry technique appears to be simpler and more rapid and sensitive than the dithizone method for lead detection and measurement in biological fluids. The former is therefore particularly suitable for laboratories where routine repetitive analyses are performed.