Fiber-Reinforced Composites for Full-Arch Implant-Supported Rehabilitations: An In Vitro Study.

Fiber-reinforced composites (FRCs) have been proposed as an alternative to traditional metal alloys for the realization of frameworks in full-arch implant-supported prostheses. The aim of the present in vitro study was to evaluate the deflection under load of seven prostheses endowed with frameworks made of different materials, including different types of fiber-reinforced composites (FRCs). A master cast with four implant analogues in correspondence with the two lateral incisors and the two first molars was used to create full-arch fixed prostheses with the same shape and different materials.

Multipotent Mesenchymal Cells Homing and Differentiation on Poly(ε-caprolactone) Blended with 20% Tricalcium Phosphate and Polylactic Acid Incorporating 10% Hydroxyapatite 3D-Printed Scaffolds via a Commercial Fused Deposition Modeling 3D Device.

As highlighted by the 'Global Burden of Disease Study 2019' conducted by the World Health Organization, ensuring fair access to medical care through affordable and targeted treatments remains crucial for an ethical global healthcare system. Given the escalating demand for advanced and urgently needed solutions in regenerative bone procedures, the critical role of biopolymers emerges as a paramount necessity, offering a groundbreaking avenue to address pressing medical needs and revolutionize the landscape of bone regeneration therapies. Polymers emerge as excellent solutions due to their versatility, making them reliable materials for 3D printing.

Evidence of anti-Hcp100 antibodies in COVID-19 critically ill patients with detectable anti-histoplasmin antibodies in a highly endemic area for histoplasmosis.

Patients with severe COVID-19 are at increased risk for invasive fungal infections, which are underestimated. Histoplasmosis reactivation in endemic areas should not be overlooked in this population. In a previous study, seroconversion to anti-histoplasmin antibodies by ELISA was detected in 6/39 (15.

Tackling Inequalities in Oral Health: Bone Augmentation in Dental Surgery through the 3D Printing of Poly(ε-caprolactone) Combined with 20% Tricalcium Phosphate.

The concept of personalized medicine and overcoming healthcare inequalities have become extremely popular in recent decades. Polymers can support cost reductions, the simplicity of customized printing processes, and possible future wide-scale expansion. Polymers with β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) are well known for their synergy with oral tissues and their ability to induce osteoconductivity.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Kynurenine Pathway, and Lipid-Profiling Alterations as Potential Animal Welfare Indicators in Dairy Cattle.

Complete animal welfare evaluation in intensive farming is challenging. With this study, we investigate new biomarkers for animal physical and mental health by comparing plasma expression of biochemical indicators in dairy cows reared in three different systems: (A) semi-intensive free-stall, (B) non-intensive tie-stall, and (C) intensive free-stall. Additionally, protein levels of mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF) and its precursor form (proBDNF) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) specific activity were evaluated in brain samples collected from 12 cattle culled between 73 and 138 months of age.

Contemporary Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcal Bacteremia: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study (VENOUS I).

Background: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are major therapeutic challenges. Prospective contemporary data characterizing the clinical and molecular epidemiology of VRE bloodstream infections (BSIs) are lacking.

Methods: The Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcal BSI Outcomes Study (VENOUS I) is a prospective observational cohort of adult patients with enterococcal BSI in 11 US hospitals.

Detection of anti-Histoplasma capsulatum antibodies and seroconversion patterns in critically ill patients with COVID-19: An underdiagnosed fungal entity complicating COVID-19?

Unlabelled: The patients with severe COVID-19 are at increased risk for invasive fungal infections, such as invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and candidiasis, which increase morbidity and mortality. However, clinicians should also consider the possibility of reactivating latent Histoplasma capsulatum in patients with severe COVID-19 living within areas of endemicity who have worsening respiratory function or sepsis, even if they do not have classical risk factors for histoplasmosis (e.g.

Invasive fusariosis in a critically ill patient with severe COVID-19 pneumonia: A case report.

Invasive fungal infections as aspergillosis and candidiasis are well-documented complications in critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19. However, invasive infections by other molds are rarely reported. We describe a case of invasive fusariosis in a patient with severe COVID-19 with a fatal outcome.

Immediate Implants in the Aesthetic Zone: Is Socket Shield Technique a Predictable Treatment Option? A Narrative Review.

(1) Background. Dental implant placement in the anterior region requires extreme precision due to relatively high aesthetic demand. This narrative review aimed to analyse some of the available clinical studies of the socket-shield technique and determine its viability for dental implant survival/success and complication rates.

Debris production in bovine bone during implant site preparation. A comparative study: ultrasonic and drilling procedures.

The aim of this study was to compare the size and shape of bone fragments produced by the ultrasonic and drilling procedures in implant site preparation. Six pieces of rib selected as experimental animal model of 15 cm in length and at least 13 mm of thickness were used. The samples were treated and divided into 2 groups as follows: group A (GA) ultrasonic implant site preparation technique; group B (GB) traditional surgical drill technique.

Torque efficiency of a customized lingual appliance : Performance of wires with three different ligature systems.

Purpose: Torque control in lingual orthodontics is key to obtain optimal esthetic results. The aim of this in vitro experimental study was to verify the efficiency of the ligature-archwire-slot system in torque control using a customized lingual appliance.

Methods: An idealized cast with eight extracted human teeth was created and a set of customized lingual brackets was obtained.

Architecture and design of a robotic mastication simulator for interactive load testing of dental implants and the mandible.

Statement Of Problem: Determination of interactive loading between a dental prosthesis and the host mandible is essential for implant prosthodontics and to preserve bone.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a robotic mastication simulator to replicate the human mastication force cycle to record the required interactive loading using specifically designed force sensors.

Material And Methods: This robotic mastication simulator incorporated a Stewart parallel kinematic mechanism (PKM) controlled in the force-control loop.

Mechanical characterisation of multi vs. uni-directional carbon fiber frameworks for dental implant applications.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanical characteristics of dental implant frameworks made of unidirectional carbon fiber composite (UF) and to compare them with those provided by multidirectional carbon fiber composite (IF).

Methods: 8 identical UF samples were used. The samples were initially evaluated by optical microscope and SEM then non-destructive and destructive mechanical tests were performed on 4 samples in order to evaluate dynamic, static elastic modulus, wettability and ultimate strength.

3D Porous Gelatin/PVA Hydrogel as Meniscus Substitute Using Alginate Micro-Particles as Porogens.

One of the current major challenges in orthopedic surgery is the treatment of meniscal lesions. Some of the main issues include mechanical consistency of meniscal implants, besides their fixation methods and integration with the host tissues. To tackle these aspects we realized a micro-porous, gelatin/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based hydrogel to approach the high percentage of water present in the native meniscal tissue, recapitulating its biomechanical features, and, at the same time, realizing a porous implant, permissive to cell infiltration and tissue integration.

"Green-reduced" graphene oxide induces in vitro an enhanced biomimetic mineralization of polycaprolactone electrospun meshes.

A novel green method for graphene oxide (GO) reduction via ascorbic acid has been adopted to realize bio-friendly reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibrous meshes, as substrates for bone tissue engineering applications. PCL fibrous mats enriched with either RGO or GO (0.25 wt%) were fabricated to recapitulate the fibrillar structure of the bone extracellular matrix (ECM) and the effects of RGO incorporation on the structural proprieties, biomechanics and bioactivity of the nano-composites meshes were evaluated.

Evaluation of Adhesion Between Carbon Fiber Frameworks and Esthetic Veneering Materials.

Purpose: To assess bond strength and failure patterns of carbon fiber-reinforced composite (CFRC) and veneering materials.

Materials And Methods: A total of 20 samples were prepared: 10 veneered with polymethylmethacrylate (group A) and 10 with composite resin (group B). Shear bond strength (SBS) was measured, and failed samples were microscopically observed.

New in-situ synthetized hydrogel composite based on alginate and brushite as a potential pH sensitive drug delivery system.

A Series of in-situ alginate-brushite (Alg-Bru) hydrogel composites were fabricated to optimize release profile of ibuprofen (Ibu) and to avoid burst releases associated with the pure form of the hydrogels. The Bru crystals were synthetized and dispersed during the crosslinking process of Alg matrix. The beads with different formulations were subject to various characterization tests such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and swelling.

[Etiology and antimicrobial resistance of uncomplicated urinary tract infections].

Uncomplicated urinary tract infections rank among the most frequent bacterial infections in women in the outpatient setting and represent a major cause of antimicrobial prescription. The aims of this study were to assess frequencies and antimicrobial resistance of current uropathogens causing uncomplicated urinary tract infection. In a prospective multicenter study, patients were recruited in ambulatory settings of four participating hospitals between June 2011 and December 2013.

Molecular level interactions in brushite-aminoacids composites.

The interaction of aminoacids (Glycine, Proline, Lysine) with brushite based bone cements has been investigated by several techniques (FTIR spectroscopy, Thermogravimetry-TG, Scanning Electron Microscopy-SEM, mechanical properties studies), with the aim to elucidate the properties of the resulting composite materials and the interaction occurring at molecular level between the inorganic matrix and the organic moieties. Brushite phase is predominantly obtained also in the presence of aminoacids added during preparation of the bone cement. Focusing on Glycine incorporation, the presence of a fraction of bulk Glycine, weakly interacting with the inorganic matrix, together with Glycine specifically interacting with adsorption sites can be envisaged, as pointed out by FT IR and thermogravimetric data.

Biological and mechanical characterization of carbon fiber frameworks for dental implant applications.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the biocompatibility and mechanical characteristics of dental implant frameworks made of carbon fiber composite.

Methods: The biocompatibility of intact samples and fragments was evaluated by cell count and MTT test according to EN-ISO 10993-5:2009 directions. Destructive and non-destructive mechanical tests were performed in order to evaluate: porosity, static and dynamic elastic modulus of carbon fiber samples.

Torque Loss After Miniscrew Placement: An In-Vitro Study Followed by a Clinical Trial.

To evaluate torque loss a week after insertion, both in an in vivo and an in vitro experimental setup were designed. In the in vivo setup a total of 29 miniscrews were placed in 20 patients who underwent orthodontic treatment. Maximum insertion torque (MIT) was evaluated at insertion time (T1).

Characterization of alginate-brushite in-situ hydrogel composites.

In the present study alginate-brushite composite hydrogels were in-situ synthetized and characterized with respect to preparation parameters. Specifically, the influence of initial pH value and initial concentration of phosphate precursor on the in-situ fabrication of the composite hydrogel were taken into account. The composite hydrogels were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric (TGA, DTG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA).

Effect of Framework in an Implant-Supported Full-Arch Fixed Prosthesis: 3D Finite Element Analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze through a three-dimensional finite element analysis (3D-FEA) stress distribution on four implants supporting a full-arch implant-supported fixed prosthesis (FFP) using different prosthesis designs.

Materials And Methods: A 3D edentulous maxillary model was created and four implants were virtually placed into the maxilla and splinted, simulating an FFP without framework, with a cast metal framework, and with a carbon fiber framework. An occlusal load of 150 N was applied, stresses were transmitted into peri-implant bone, and prosthodontic components were recorded.