Human Histologic Evaluations of the Use of Er,Cr:YSGG Laser to Decontaminate an Infected Dental Implant Surface in Preparation for Implant Reosseointegration.

This investigation was designed to evaluate the reestablishment of bone-to-implant contact on infected dental implant surfaces following decontamination with an erbium, chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser and reconstructive therapy. Three patients presenting with at least one failing implant each were enrolled and consented to treatment with the Er,Cr:YSGG laser surface decontamination and reconstruction with a bone replacement allograft and a collagen membrane. The laser treatment was carried out at a setting of 1.5 W, air/water of 40%/50%, and pulse rate of 30 Hz. At 6 months, all three patients returned for the study. En bloc biopsy samples of four implants were obtained and analyzed. Two patients had excellent clinical outcomes, while one patient with two adjacent failing implants experienced an early implant exposure during the follow-up period. There was histologic evidence of new bone formation with two implant specimens and less bone gain with the others. Despite the small sample size, these were optimistic findings that suggested a positive role of Er,Cr:YSGG laser in debridement of a titanium implant surface to facilitate subsequent regenerative treatment. This investigation provides histologic evidence as well as encouraging clinical results that use of the Er,Cr:YSGG laser can be beneficial for treatment of peri-implantitis, but further long-term clinical studies are needed to investigate the treatment outcome obtained.

Human Histologic Evaluations of Implants with a Unique Triangular Neck Design.

The goal of the present study was to evaluate human histologic healing of dental implants with a unique triangular neck design that is narrower than the implant body. Four patients in need of full-mouth reconstruction were recruited and received several implants to support a full-arch prosthesis. In each patient, two additional customized reduced-diameter implants were placed, designated to be harvested after 6 months of submerged healing. The eight harvested implants were all placed in healed edentulous maxillary or mandibular ridges. These implants were Ø 3.5 × 8 mm in size, and the final osteotomy drill allowed for the creation of a gap up to 0.2 mm in size between the coronal aspect of the triangular implant neck and the surrounding bone. At the end of the healing period, the implants were retrieved with the surrounding bone. Microcomputed tomography (µCT) was performed before processing the biopsy samples for undecalcified histologic exampination. Bone-to-implant contact (BIC) was measured from the µCT data and from buccolingual/buccopalatal and mesiodistal central histologic sections. All implant gaps were filled by mature remodeled bone. The mean BICs of the BL/BP and MD sections were 64.45% ± 6.86% and 65.39% ± 10.44%, respectively, with no statistically significant difference. The mean 360-degree 3D BIC measured all over the implant surface was 68.58% ± 3.76%. The difference between the BIC measured on the µCT and on the histologic sections was not statistically significant. The positive histologic results of the study confirmed the efficacy of this uniquely designed dental implant.

Human Clinical and Histologic Evaluations of Laser-Assisted Periodontal Therapy with a 9.3-µm CO² Laser System.

This investigation was designed to evaluate the healing response of 9.3-µm CO2 laser-assisted periodontal therapy. Five patients presenting with moderate to severe periodontitis, with an initial pocket depth (PD) ≥ 5 mm and with teeth predetermined to be surgically extracted, were enrolled and consented to treatment with full-mouth CO2 laser-assisted therapy. The laser treatment was carried out in the Ultraguide Mode at a setting of 0.25-mm spot size, with an average power of 0.65 to 1.15 watts and 20% mist. The laser tip was passed from the gingival margin and down apically to the base of the pocket with a sweeping L motion. The teeth were intensely scaled with piezoultrasonic instrumentation afterwards. A second pass of the laser tip was performed for the study teeth. At 9 months, all patients were clinically reevaluated. For sites with an initial pocket depth of ≥ 7 mm, a mean PD reduction of 3.97 ± 1.36 mm and a mean clinical attachment level gain of 3.54 ± 1.54 mm were achieved, resulting in a mean PD of 3.91 ± 0.77 mm. En bloc biopsy samples of four teeth were obtained and analyzed; two demonstrated histologic evidence of new bone formation while the other two healed with a long junctional epithelium with minimal inflammatory infiltrate. Further long-term clinical studies are needed to investigate the treatment stability obtained with a 9.3-µm CO2 laser compared to conventional surgical therapy. Nevertheless, the encouraging clinical results indicated that adjunctive use of the 9.3-µm CO2 laser-assisted periodontal therapy can be beneficial for treatment of periodontally compromised patients.

[Some observations on therapy efficacy in a sample of 111 patients suffering from ankylosing spondylarthritis, assisted in the Clinic of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Iasi]. / Unele observatii asupra eficientei terapiei pe un lot de 111 bolnavi cu spondiloartrita anchilozanta asistati in Clinica de Reumatologie si Recuperare Medicala din Iasi.

UNLABELLED: The authors present the results of some evaluations on the efficiency of pharmacologic therapy for 111 pacients suffering from ankylosing spondylarthritis (AS). RESULTS: The pacients have been assisted for five years in a specialized hospital. 63.9% out of all were over 30 years old and 46.8% were workers in industry and agriculture. Regarding the frequency of usage, the therapy included the following medicine: movalis, salasopyrine, diclophenac, flamezin, aulin, tilcotil, almiral, and others. After the therapy, during the study period, cumulative, the condition of 62.2% of the pacients improved. The condition of 22.5% remained stationary, and 6.3% got worse.

[Retroprospective clinical epidemiological research on leptospirosis cases hospitalised in the Infectious Diseases Clinic of Iasi]. / Cercetari clinico-epidemiologice, retroprospective, asupra cazurilor de leptospiroza, spitalizate in Clinica de Boli Infectioase Iasi, in perioada 1998-2004.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Analytical assessment was performed for a sample of 499 patients admitted in the Infectious Diseases Clinic of Iasi, in order to highlight some clinical epidemiological and laboratory characteristics. RESULTS: During the third trimester, 45.3% of patients were hospitalized, comparatively with 7.8% during the first trimester, leading to a summer - autumn seasonality. Age groups of 31-60 years registered 57.3%; 90.2% were males, and only 13.2% agricultural workers. Clinical forms and evolution were assessed by testing a number of 10 biological and biochemical indicators. Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae was the causal agent in 46.1% of cases, followed by L. wolffi (44.3%), L. pomona (4.2%), and l. grippotyphosa (3.4%). Average length of stay of 11-20 days (42.3%) and over 20 (21.4%) represented an indicator of unfavourable medical and socioeconomic involvements due to leptospirosis.

[Multidisciplinary prospective epidemiological research regarding the prevalence of ankylosing spondilytis, comparatively in Romania and Iasi County, between 1990-2006]. / Cercetari epidemiologice, retroprospective, multi- disciplinare, asupra prevalentei cazurilor de spondilita anchilozanta, comparativ in România si judetul Iasi, in perioada 1990-2006.

UNLABELLED: During the period of study, the prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) cases values varied between 5.65% per hundred thousand in 1994 and 3.96 in 1999. RESULTS: Are close to those obtained in the national research in 1989 (5.29% hundred thousand) and 1997 (6.34% hundred thousand). The sample of 6894 cases registered a prevalence of 28.86% in the 35-44 age groups with a decreasing trend, and 0.07% in = 85 age group. Males' prevalence was of 84.08%, comparatively with females (15.91% from total cases). Difference between residence areas had not statistic significance. In Iasi County, AS prevalence had increased values in all 17 years of study period, greater and often double that those at national level, and also greater than every county from Moldavia and one from the Western Romania. Demographical structure, variations, and those occupational, ecological, economical, educational could explain this situation. CONCLUSION: Ankylosing spondylitis is included among the major problems in order to promote community health, taking into account its clinical epidemiological characteristics.

[Retroprospective clinical epidemiological research on two samples of patients suffering from viral hepatitis A, assisted in specified services of Suceava and Botosani counties, between 1996 and 2007]. / Cercetari clinico-epidemiologice retroprospective, pe doua loturi de bolnavi cu hepatita virala A, asistati in serviciile de profil, din judetele Suceava si Botosani, in perioada 1996-2007.

UNLABELLED: Nowadays, researchers from various fields of study and geographical regions continue to pay attention to viral hepatitis A. Due to a resistant virus, with predominant enteral transmission, with endemic epidemic manifestations and a remarkable clinical polymorphism, affecting children especially, hepatitis A does not chronicize, but, in adults, it is responsible for forms with prolonged evolution and severe, sometimes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Results of clinical epidemiological and laboratory studies carried on a sample of 10321 patients suffering from hepatitis A, from two lots: 5530, Suceava; 4791, Botosani; 5400, males; 4921 females; age from < 1 to = 55. RESULTS: In Suceava County, the hepatitis A incidence had epidemic values in 1996 (229%000) and 1997 (224%000). The most affected age groups, with hospitalized clinical forms, were 5-14 (42.3%) and 15-24 (24.9%). In Botosani County, epidemic peaks registered in 1999 (213%000), and inter-epidemic in the other years. The most affected age group was of 5-14, with 48.9% from all the admitted cases, but 52% from all cases belonged to age groups over 25.

[Seroepidemiology studies on population immune background to viral hepatitis B]. / Cercetari seroepidemiologice privind configuratia fondului imunitar fata de hepatita virala B.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: The studies have been carried out in 855 males and females aged over 20 years belonging to the general population and health care profession included in the European Sero-Epidemiology Network (ESEN) Programme aimed at assessing the population immune background against hepatitis B virus. The serological markers, represented by HBsAg, antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBsAg) and HBcAg (anti-HBcAg) were investigated by the methods widely used in seroepidemiology studies. The patients were divided into 4 subgroups. RESULTS: In the blood serum of a subgroup of 220 individuals, HBsAg was found in 33.2%, anti-HBs in 41.3%, and anti-HBc in 25.4%. In another subgroup of 219 individuals, significantly increased levels of the anti-HBs were recorded in 50.2%. In the subgroup of 168 individuals, IgG anti-HBc were present in 84.6% of those aged over 40 years who had acute HBV infection. In the subgroup of 248 healthcare professionals the prevalence of anti-HBs carriers was 50-80%, result of vaccine-prevention.

[Epidemiological research on rubella incidence in families with low socioeconomic status]. / Cercetari epidemiologice privind incidenta cazurilor de rubeola in familii cu standard socio-economic deficitar.

AIM: To know some clinical epidemiological aspects of rubella familial outbreaks. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Authors present results of a retro-prospective epidemiological study carried out on a sample of 31 familial outbreaks (15 from urban, 16 from rural area), including 133 children, 3-18 aged, between 2002-2004. RESULTS: Typical rubella form was diagnosed in 72 of 133 children (55%). Among patients, the age group 5-11 was predominant, and repartition by sex does not represent significant differences. Low socioeconomic status (51.6% farmers, with 2-12 children; 19.3% un-employed; 16.1% parents at work abroad; 6.5% one-parent families; 6,5% both parents suffering from chronic diseases) was involved in favouring the rubella virus dissemination among children, so that, in 4 families (12.9%), 3 cases were registered, and in 27 (87%), two, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Comparatively, in control families with medium and high socioeconomic conditions, rubella cases were absent or singular with benign manifestations. For family and school physicians, clinical epidemiological surveillance has to be differentiated, depending on socioeconomic status of families with many children, at risk to rubella, especially during the epidemic years.

[Prevalence of HBsAg carriers in Iasi County in 2001-2005 period. Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory study]. / Cercetari epidemiologice, clinice si de laborator asupra prevalentei purtatorilor de AgHBs in judetul Iasi, in perioada 2001-2005.

UNLABELLED: The complex epidemiological process of viral hepatitis B is dominated, maintained and spreading out as a consequence of the high prevalence of the sources represented by HBsAg carriers. RESULTS: In the interval 2001-2005, the prevalence of HBsAg carriers in the Iasi County was close to the national average level of about 6%. In the age group 5-9 years, the prevalence is higher in males. During the study interval prevalence was higher in the age group 10-14 years and especially after the age 24-25 years. Among blood donors the prevalence of HBsAg carriers is significantly higher in the occasional and first-time donors. The medical staff, other than physicians, working in different medical units and belonging to various age groups have not shown significant differences in the prevalence of HBsAg carriers.

[Assessments of retro-prospective epidemiologic research results regarding morbidity with viral hepatitis A in North-Eastern Moldavia, Romania, between 1970-2006]. / Evaluari asupra rezultatelor obtinute in cercetarile epidemiologice retroprospective privind morbiditatea prin hepatita virala A intr-o arie geografica din nord-estul Moldovei, România, in perioada 1970-2006.

UNLABELLED: Viral hepatitis A (VHA) maintains the first place among hepatitis with various etiologies, by high levels of morbidity, affecting mainly children and teenagers age groups and, sometimes, with major risks in adults and when over- and co-infected with other hepatitis viruses. It also is involved in travellers' and nosocomial diseases. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The assessment of VHA morbidity data highlighted that VHA registered yearly values between 106.8 and 307.1% hundred thousand inhabitants, both at the national and Suceava County levels, during the period 1970-1995. RESULTS: An important decline (24.8-47.8% hundred thousand) was registered, between 1996 and 2006. In the Suceava County, after the epidemic peaks from '80-'90 decade, with morbidity of 379.1% hundred thousand in 1989 and 331.8% hundred thousand in 1990, inter-epidemic and epidemic periods with reduced amplitude were registered. In 2006, morbidity reached a low value of 15.0% hundred thousand. CONCLUSION: Our study of "comparative epidemiology", on reported cases and those confirmed by hospitalisation, in the Suceava County, highlighted that the later proportion was under 50%, with an increase during 2005 (> 90%). A significant decrease in multi-annual trend of VHA morbidity registered for reported cases but not for those hospitalised.

[Prospective epidemiologic and clinical observations on the prevalence of risk factors for stroke, performed on 374 inpatients, during the period of June 2001-June 2004]. / Observatii prospective epidemiologice si clinice asupra prevalentei factorilor de risc pentru accidentul vascular cerebral, realizate pe un lot de 374 de bolnavi, în perioada iunie 2001-iunie 2004.

UNLABELLED: Within the framework of cardiovascular pathology, with an epidemopandemic aspect, the stroke, through its mortality and sequels, represents, worldwide, a major problem of community health. In this context, we present the results of an epidemiological and clinical study, both prospective and interdisciplinary, performed on a sample of 374 inpatients suffering from stroke, hospitalized in the Neurology Ist Clinic of Iasi, during the period June 2001-June 2004. The characteristics of the studied sample: age--78.8% over 51 years old, sex--53.7% male; residence--51.4% urban; provenance: rural--70.0% (p<0.001); studies: higher education--7.7% ; pensioners--76.2%; passive finding--96.8%; previous hospitalizations for cardiovascular diseases and/or diabetes mellitus: 48.2%; blood groups: OI and AII--86.61%. RESULTS: Risk factors for stroke: 56.6%--BMI > 25; "A" behavior type (Bortner's test)--63.8%; stress: familial--74.1% and occupational--25.9%; excess consumption: alcohol--11.4%; salt--32.8%; tobacco--24.9%; passive smoking--10.8%. Releasing and aggravating risk factors: arterial hypertension (AHT)--55.4% (p<0.001); obesity--12.9%; diabetes mellitus--12.5%. Hereditary antecedents: AHT--46.8%; ischemic cardiopathy and myocardial infarction--15.6%; obesity and dyslipidemia--15.0%; stroke--10.8%. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the multifactorial and associative etiology of stroke is confirmed once more, and the estimate costs of 1.21 milliard lei, only for the 10-day average hospitalization, for each of the 374 inpatients.