Efficacy of desensitizing dentifrices to occlude dentinal tubules.

Dentine hypersensitivity occurs when patent dentinal tubules are subjected to external stimuli, with pain being reduced by products that occlude tubules. This study compared the efficacy of a recently developed arginine-containing dentifrice, two established strontium-based products, and a fluoride control to occlude tubules when subjected to acid challenge. Dentine specimens with patent tubules were divided into four groups that were treated with a slurry consisting of one of the pastes mixed with stimulated human saliva.

The mechanical properties of nanofilled resin-based composites: the impact of dry and wet cyclic pre-loading on bi-axial flexure strength.

Objectives: To determine the influence of nano-sized filler particles and agglomerates of nanoparticles ('nanoclusters') in resin-based composite (RBC) materials on the bi-axial flexure strength (BFS) following cyclic pre-loading and storage in a 'dry' or 'wet' environment.

Method: Seven commercially available RBC restoratives, Heliomolar (Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein), Z100 MP Restorative, Filtek Z250, Filtek Supreme (3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA) in Body (FSB) and Translucent (FST) shades, Grandio and Grandio Flow (VOCO, Cuxhaven, Germany), containing differing filler particle types and morphologies were investigated.

The mechanical properties of nanofilled resin-based composites: characterizing discrete filler particles and agglomerates using a micromanipulation technique.

Objective: To assess the mechanical properties of discrete filler particles representative of several inorganic fillers in modern dental resin-based composites (RBCs) and to assess the validity of a novel micromanipulation technique.

Method: RBCs with microhybrid (Filtek Z250), 'nanohybrid' (Grandio) and 'nanofilled' (Filtek Supreme), filler particle morphologies were investigated. Filler particles were provided by the manufacturer or separated from the unpolymerized resin using a dissolution technique.

The influence of simulated masticatory loading regimes on the bi-axial flexure strength and reliability of a Y-TZP dental ceramic.

Objectives: The purpose of the current study was to examine the influence of simulated masticatory loading regimes, to which all-ceramic crown or bridge restorations will routinely be subjected during their service-life, on the performance of a yttria-stabilised tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (Y-TZP) dental ceramic.

Methods: Ten sets of 30 Y-TZP ceramic discs (13 mm diameter, 1.48-1.

The influence of surface modification techniques on the performance of a Y-TZP dental ceramic.

Objectives: The purpose of the current study was to examine the influence of the pre-cementation surface modification techniques, namely alumina abrasion and surface grinding, routinely employed by dental practitioners prior to cementation and placement of crown and bridge restorations on the performance of a Y-TZP dental ceramic.

Methods: Twelve sets of 30 Lava ceramic discs (13 mm diameter, 1.5mm thickness) supplied by the manufacturer were randomly selected.

Adult-onset generalized dystonia due to a mutation in the neuroferritinopathy gene.

Neuroferritinopathy is a recently recognized autosomal dominant disorder that results in abnormal aggregates of iron and ferritin in the brain due to a mutation in the ferritin light chain gene on chromosome 19q13.3. We present the clinical details of a patient with adult-onset generalized dystonia associated with this mutation.

Neuroferritinopathy: a window on the role of iron in neurodegeneration.

Neuroferritinopathy is a recently recognised genetic disease resulting in a dominantly inherited movement disorder. The condition was mapped by linkage analysis to chromosome 19q13.3 and found to be due to a single adenine insertion in the ferritin light chain (FTL) gene at position 460-461 which is predicted to alter the C terminus of the FTL polypeptide.

Narrowing the critical region within 11q24-qter for hypoplastic left heart and identification of a candidate gene, JAM3, expressed during cardiogenesis.

Hypoplastic left heart is a severe human congenital heart defect characterized by left ventricular hypoplasiawith aortic and mitral valve atresia. A genetic etiology is indicated by an association of the hypoplastic left heart phenotype with terminal 11q deletions that span approximately 20 Mb (distal to FRA11B in 11q23). Here we define the breakpoints in four patients with heart defects in association with distal 11q monosomy and refine the critical region to an approximately 9-Mb region distal to D11S1351.