Disruption of memory B-cell trafficking by belimumab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: Autoreactive memory B cells (MBCs) contribute to chronic and progressive courses in autoimmune diseases like SLE. The efficacy of belimumab (BEL), the first approved biologic treatment for SLE and LN, is generally attributed to depletion of activated naïve B cells and inhibition of B-cell activation. BEL's effect on MBCs is currently unexplained.

In vivo ageing of zirconia dental ceramics - Part II: Highly-translucent and rapid-sintered 3Y-TZP.

Objective: 3Y-TZP ceramics with reduced alumina content have improved translucency and are used in monolithic dental restorations without porcelain-based veneers. The workflow can be further streamlined with rapid sintering. This study was designed to assess how these approaches affect ageing when the materials are exposed to the oral environment in vivo.

In vivo aging of zirconia dental ceramics - Part I: Biomedical grade 3Y-TZP.

Objective: In vivo aging of biomedical grade 3Y-TZP ceramics in the oral environment was assessed and compared to artificially accelerated in vitro hydrothermal aging extrapolations at 37°C.

Methods: 88 discs were pressed and sintered (1450-1500°C) from two commercial 3Y-TZP compositions containing 0.25% AlO to generate finer- and coarser-grained specimens.

Oral health and systemic inflammatory, cardiac and nitroxid biomarkers in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Periodontal diseases have systemic inflammatory effects and have been adversely associated with cardiovascular diseases, which are also the most frequent cause of death in the end-stage renal disease. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the oral health and serum biomarkers among the hemodialysis (HD) patients in Slovenia.

Material And Methods: 111 HD patients were periodontally examined and their sera were assayed for C reactive protein (CRP), cardiac troponin T (TnT), nitrite/nitrate (NOx) and antibody levels to A.

Ageing kinetics and strength of airborne-particle abraded 3Y-TZP ceramics.

Objective: The combined effects of alumina airborne-particle abrasion and prolonged in vitro ageing on the flexural strength of 3Y-TZP ceramic have been studied. The aim was to identify the different effects on the surface and subsurface regions that govern the performance of this popular bioceramic known for its susceptibility to low-temperature degradation (LTD).

Methods: As-sintered or airborne-particle abraded 3Y-TZP discs were subjected to ageing at 134°C for up to 480h.