Ferrule Design Does Not Affect the Biomechanical Behavior of Anterior Teeth Under Mechanical Fatigue: An In Vitro Evaluation.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the survival and failure mode of fiber-post resin restorations over preparations with different ferrule designs when submitted to a fatigue load test. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Fifty bovine incisors were selected and divided into five groups (n=10) according to ferrule design: a no-ferrule group, a 2-mm circumferential ferrule group, a 2-mm buccal ferrule group, a 2-mm lingual ferrule group, and a 2-mm buccal and lingual ferrule group. The fiberglass post was cemented and the composite core was built up and prepared, followed by cementation of a full composite crown. The samples were subjected to a cyclic fatigue test with loading applicator at 135°; a staircase approach was used until fracture. Survival (cycles to fracture) and failure modes were recorded. Survival data were analyzed with the log-rank test, while Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher exact tests were used to analyze failure mode data (α=0.05). RESULTS: The median number of cycles to fracture ranged from 215,000 to 236,153. The log-rank test showed no statistically significant difference in survival rates among the groups (p=0.82). Regarding failure mode, three types were observed: I, post and/or core fracture; II, root fracture in the cervical third; and III, root fracture in the middle third. No statistical difference was observed among the groups (Kruskal-Wallis test, p=0.147). CONCLUSION: The ferrule design had no effect on fatigue resistance or failure mode of endodontically treated incisor teeth restored with a fiber post, composite core buildup, and composite crown.

Immunological and microbiological periodontal profiles in isolated growth hormone deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Growth hormone (GH) has been identified as an important regulator of the immune response. We have previously shown that adults with isolated GH deficiency (IGHD) due to a mutation in the GH releasing hormone receptor (GHRHR) gene, have a greater chance of having periodontitis. However, the interaction of GH with periodontal tissues is still unknown, and this population has emerged as a unique model to investigate this issue. Therefore, we evaluated the microbiological and immunological periodontal profiles of such individuals. METHODS: Nineteen IGHD and 19 controls matched by age, sex, diabetes, and smoking status, were enrolled in this case-control study. Periodontal clinical parameters (probing depth [PD] and clinical attachment loss [AL]) were measured at six sites per tooth. Immune mediators (C-reactive protein, matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]-8, MMP-9, interleukin [IL]-1α, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, adiponectin, and leptin) were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in four non-adjacent sites for each participant (two with PD ≤3 mm [shallow sites] and two with PD ≥7 mm or the worst PD found in the mouth [deep sites]). Bacterial quantification (Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia) of subgingival biofilm samples collected from these same sites was performed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). RESULTS: IGHD individuals presented higher values of PD and AL, and increased levels of CRP, IL-8, MMP-8, and adiponectin in the GCF. Bacterial quantification did not identify differences between the two groups. CONCLUSION: IGHD alters the local immune response in periodontal pockets leading to greater attachment loss, and GH stands out as an important hormone to be evaluated in the pathogenesis of periodontitis.

Atenolol to treat intestinal ischemia and reperfusion in rats.

To study whether treatment with the beta-blocker atenolol (AT) attenuates intestinal dysfunction caused by ischemia (I) and reperfusion (R), rats were treated with AT (1.5 mg · kg(-1), intravenously) or saline solution (SS) prior to I (60 minutes), which was produced by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery, and/or R (120 minutes). After I or I/R, 2-cm jejunal segments were mounted in an organ bath to study neurogenic contractions stimulated by electrical pulses or KCl using a digital recording system. Thin jejunal slices were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for optical microscopy analysis. Compared to the sham group, jejunal contractions were similar in the I + AT and the I/R + AT groups, but reduced in the I + SS and the I/R + SS groups. The jejunal enteric nerves were damaged in the I + SS and the I/R + SS groups, but not in the I + AT and the I/R + AT. These results suggest that AT may attenuate intestinal dysfunction caused by I and I/R.

The anterior cerebral artery. II. A computer model of its cortical branches estereotaxically obtained from anatomical specimens.

This article is a corrollary of a previously published anatomical study of the anterior cerebral artery. The authors propose a method to obtain a computer model of the anterior cerebral artery, based on a combined system of stereotaxic coordinates and a specially developed computer program. The graphic analysis, thus obtained, is projected on a model atlas brain and an ideal diagram of this anatomical structure is obtained. Forty anatomical specimens were used for this study.