Immediate and Delayed Bond Strength of a Multimode Adhesive to Deep Coronal Dentin Following Different Root Canal Irrigation Regimens.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of root canal irrigants, dentin surface treatment, and timing of the restoration on the microtensile bond strength (μTBS) of a universal adhesive to deep coronal dentin.

Materials And Methods: Ninety (90) intact molars were grouped according to the irrigation protocol: group 0 (saline, control group); group 1: 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) followed by 5.

On-Demand Electrical Switching of Antibody-Antigen Binding on Surfaces.

The development of stimuli-responsive interfaces between synthetic materials and biological systems is providing the unprecedented ability to modulate biomolecular interactions for a diverse range of biotechnological and biomedical applications. Antibody-antigen binding interactions are at the heart of many biosensing platforms, but no attempts have been made yet to control antibody-antigen binding in an on-demand fashion. Herein, a molecular surface was designed and developed that utilizes an electric potential to drive a conformational change in surface bound peptide moiety, to give on-demand control over antigen-antibody interactions on sensor chips.

Electrically Responsive Surfaces: Experimental and Theoretical Investigations.

Stimuli-responsive surfaces have sparked considerable interest in recent years, especially in view of their biomimetic nature and widespread biomedical applications. Significant efforts are continuously being directed at developing functional surfaces exhibiting specific property changes triggered by variations in electrical potential, temperature, pH and concentration, irradiation with light, or exposure to a magnetic field. In this respect, electrical stimulus offers several attractive features, including a high level of spatial and temporal controllability, rapid and reverse inducement, and noninvasiveness.

Modulation of Biointeractions by Electrically Switchable Oligopeptide Surfaces: Structural Requirements and Mechanism.

Understanding the dynamic behavior of switchable surfaces is of paramount importance for the development of controllable and tailor-made surface materials. Herein, electrically switchable mixed self-assembled monolayers based on oligopeptides have been investigated in order to elucidate their conformational mechanism and structural requirements for the regulation of biomolecular interactions between proteins and ligands appended to the end of surface tethered oligopeptides. The interaction of the neutravidin protein to a surface appended biotin ligand was chosen as a model system.

Classification of residents in nursing homes in Tuscany (Italy) using Resource Utilization Groups Version III (RUG-III).

Background And Aims: Samples of nursing homes in Tuscany (Italy) classify their residents and determine their case-mix according to the Resource Utilization Groups System, Version III (RUG-III).

Methods: A large sample of nursing homes was selected, based on willingness to participate, representation of both public and private institutions, and wide geographic representation. Two registered nurses assessed all residents using the RUG questionnaire.

Mood and anxiety psychopathology and temporomandibular disorder: a spectrum approach.

Psychological factors play an important role in the aetiopathogenesis of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), as demonstrated by an increase in stress, anxiety, depression and somatization in TMD patients. The aim of this work was to investigate the presence of mood and panic-agoraphobic symptoms in different groups of TMD patients by means of a spectrum approach to psychopathology. A total of 131 subjects were included in this study and TMD signs and symptoms were investigated by means of a standardized clinical examination.

Efficacy of tizanidine hydrochloride in the treatment of myofascial face pain.

Aim: The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the usefulness of tizanidine hydrochloride in the treatment of myofascial pain of the masticatory muscles.

Methods: This work is a preliminary report of clinical experience with the use of tizanidine hydrochloride at the Section of Prosthetic Dentistry, Department of Neuroscience, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. During the period from January 2000 to March 2003, 145 patients were given Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) axis I group I diagnosis of myofascial pain in the absence of any painful temporomandibular joint condition.

Etiopathogenesis of parafunctional habits of the stomatognathic system.

A broad consensus does exist among main authors on the importance of parafunctional habits in the etiopathogenesis of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Mechanisms through which an intense parafunctional activity determined a pathological effect on the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) and their related structures have still not been definitively clarified; nevertheless, before investigating those mechanisms, it's useful to study predisposing, triggering and/or worsening factors of parafunctions themselves. At present the theory, once widely accepted, according to which occlusal interferences can trigger a muscular hyperactivity through the activation of periodontal receptors, has lost a lot of credit.

The role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of temporomandibular joint disc displacement and intra-articular effusion.

Aim: The aim of this work is to conduct a preliminary study to investigate the usefulness of ultrasonography (US) in the study of temporomandibular joint (TMJ), comparing ultrasonographic diagnosis of joint effusion and disc displacement with those based on an accurate clinical examination.

Methods: Participants in this study were 47 consecutive patients complaining for TMJ problems. All 94 TMJs were evaluated to detect the presence of intra-articular effusion and disc displacement by means of 2 diagnostic instruments: a standardized clinical assessment based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC-TMD) at the Section of Prosthetic Dentistry, and an ultrasonographic investigation conducted by a blinded operator at the Operative Unit of the Department of Rheumatology, Univesity of Pisa, Italy.

[Histological and ultrastructural characteristics of jaw-closing muscles. A review].

The aim of this work is giving, through a wide literature review, a detailed analysis of the histological and ultrastructural characteristics that distinguish masseter and temporal muscles from the other skeletal muscles. Furthermore we'll explain the functional meanings of these differences. We developed the following points: fibre type composition and relative frequency of the various fibre types, fibre size, myosin composition, capillarization and age-related changes.

Psychotropic-absent behavioural improvement following severe traumatic brain injury.

We present a case study in which severe agitation was reduced and independent functioning increased in a traumatically brain-injured individual. The subject's behaviour for the year prior to admission was characterized by increasing rates of maladaptive behaviours and corresponding increases in pharmacological attempts at behaviour management. Upon admission, the subject was totally dependent on others for all activities of daily living.

Acute myelogenous leukemia in pregnancy.

The experience with acute myelogenous leukemia treated with newer chemotherapeutic agents during pregnancy is limited. We have reported the case of a mother treated during the 24th week of pregnancy, and her infant delivered in the 29th week. At 14 months the infant is of low height and weight, but has a normal head circumference and developmental parameters.