Virtual surgical analysis: long-term cone beam computed tomography stability assessment of segmental bimaxillary surgery.

The assessment of the stability of orthognathic surgery is often time-consuming, relies on manual re-identification of anatomical landmarks, and has been based on short-term follow-up. The purpose of this study was to propose and validate a semi-automated approach for three-dimensional (3D) assessment of the long-term stability of segmental bimaxillary surgery. The approach was developed and validated using cone beam computed tomography scans obtained at 2 weeks and 2 years postoperative. The stability of the surgical outcome was calculated as 3D translational and rotational differences between the short- and long-term postoperative positions of the individual bone segments. To evaluate reliability, intra-class correlation coefficients were calculated at a 95% confidence interval on measurements of two observers. Ten class II and III patients (six male, four female; mean age 24.4 years), who underwent a combined three-piece Le Fort I osteotomy, bilateral sagittal split osteotomy, and genioplasty, were included in the study. Intra- and inter-observer reliability were excellent (range 0.82-0.99). The range of the mean absolute difference of the intra- and inter-observer translational and rotational measurements were 0.14 mm (0.13)-0.44 mm (0.50) and 0.20° (0.16)-0.92° (0.78). The approach has excellent reliability for 3D assessment of long-term stability of segmental bimaxillary surgery.

Investigation of the magnetic field effect upon interpolymeric complexes formation based on bovine serum albumin and poly(aspartic acid).

The study presents a novel strategy for obtaining highly ordered interpolymeric complexes based on a protein, bovine serum albumin and a synthetic polymer, poly(aspartic acid). In this approach, experimental tests were carried out in the presence of a magnetic field of different intensities, namely 0.11 T and 0.3 T produced by permanent magnets. The influence of the magnetic force on the complexation process and the resulted self-assembled structures were studied by means of FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, DLS, SEM microscopy and in vitro assay. The changes in the FTIR spectra acquired after 24 h of exposure were connected with conformational changes in the secondary structure and increased interactions between polymers, particularly when a higher intensity field was used. Due to a large anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility characteristic to both proteins and polypeptides, the magnetic field generated ordered assemblies consisting in globular structures of nanometric dimensions. This assembly strategy using magnets, along with remote manipulation capability can provide a versatile, contact-free, and inexpensive tool to create new, complex materials with tailorable characteristics.

Current concepts on cardiovascular stent devices.

Coronary artery stents used for the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease develop the practice of interventional cardiology after they were first introduced in the mid-1980s. Since then, with dozens of companies involved in the development of new and innovative anti-restenotic drugs, polymeric coatings and stent platforms has made significant progress in this area. Today, the challenge is the conception of the "ideal" coronary stent designed to respond to the patient health difficulty. In this context, the literature in the field is quite dynamic and successful. The aim of this article is to provide a systematic review on the interdisciplinary field literature of the evolution of these medical devices by describing the current status, importance and different types of stents used in clinical practice. After the presentation of cardiovascular problems associated to stenting therapy, the authors describe the bare metal stents, the generations of drug eluting stents and the future in progress directions regarding: the stents based on biodegradable/bioresorbable polymers, polymer-free metal platforms, fully biodegradable scaffolds, as well as drug delivery mediated by stent-targeted magnetic nanoparticles.

HIV and AIDS, among knowledge, responsibility and ignorance; a study on medical students at the end of their first universitary year.

Despite the global effort to control the spread of HIV and AIDS, the number of HIV-infected people continues to increase worldwide. The failure of present prevention strategies, which rely principally on the modification of behavioral practices that put individuals at risk of getting the infection, and the lack of effective anti-HIV drugs have given an impetus to the search for a better way in the prevention and control of the epidemic. It was observed and scientifically documented that efforts related to prevention have to be adapted, constantly monitored and readapted in relation to results from periodical surveys. They also have to be well sustained over a sufficiently long period of time (years). Under these assumptions, in order to evaluate the knowledge and perception/attitudes of the students in the University of Medicine, we developed a questionnaire that we presented for completion, for example, to medical students at the end of their first year of study. The gathered data conducted us to the assumption that information regarding HIV transmission is not yet internalized in order to determine specific practices, and attitudes are more related to perceptions and beliefs than to facts. An active, responsible, adult day to day responsibility could increase the protection against HIV transmission. A limitation of our study was represented by the reduced number of participants (96) and the lack of correlation between attitudes and knowledge, between students in different years of study and over time. It is our intention to continue this research and provide more complete data in the nearest future.

Virological study of some influenza outbreaks in the period January--March 1975.

The virological study of some influenza outbreaks recorded in Romania in the period Jnauary--March 1975 resulted in the isolation of 29 influenza A2 virus strains antigenically close to the strains A2/Port Chalmers 1/73 and A2/England 42/72. The non-homogeneous antigenic structure of the isolates suggests the possible formation of natural hybrids.

[Studies of the influenza epidemic of January-March, 1974]. / Cercetari asupra epidemiei de gripa din perioada ianuarie-martie 1974

In an epidemiologic, clinical and viral study of several influenza foci in some urban districts of Romania during January-March 1974, 23 influenza virus B Hong-Kong 8/73 strains were isolated. The dynamics of HAI serum antibodies confirmed the viral diagnosis. The epidemic ran a slow course, affecting especially the 14-25 years age group and had an evident benign clinical aspect.