The risks associated with percutaneous native kidney biopsies: a prospective study.

Background: The known risks and benefits of native kidney biopsies are mainly based on the findings of retrospective studies. The aim of this multicentre prospective study was to evaluate the safety of percutaneous renal biopsies and quantify biopsy-related complication rates in Italy.

Methods: The study examined the results of native kidney biopsies performed in 54 Italian nephrology centres between 2012 and 2020.

[Which is the role of the oral iron therapies for iron deficiency anemia in non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease patients? Results from clinical experience].

Iron deficiency afflicts about 60% of dialysis patients and about 30% of non-dialysis-dependent CKD patients (ND-CKD). The role of iron deficiency in determining anemia in CKD patients is so relevant that guidelines from the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) initiative recommend treating it before starting with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. KDIGO guidelines suggest oral iron therapy because it is commonly available and inexpensive, although it is often characterized by low bioavailability and low compliance due to adverse effects.

[Between old and new targets: blood pressure control in hypertensive outpatients].

Objective: In developed countries, blood pressure (BP) control has increased over the past few decades and is now approaching 70% of patients. Herewith we report the results of a cross-sectional study carried out on hypertensive outpatients.

Design And Methods: In a cohort of 1,412 consecutive hypertensive outpatients (790 females, 622 males; mean age: 60.

Three-Dimensional Bone Augmentation and Immediate Implant Placement via Transcrestal Sinus Lift: 8-Year Clinical Outcomes.

When the edentulous posterior maxilla shows severe atrophy (Cawood and Howell Class V to VI), the traditional approach requires at least two surgical procedures. The first is a sinus lift (alone or with guided bone regeneration), and the second is to position implants. This article illustrates a technique that allows three-dimensional reconstruction of the sinus, placing an allogenous fresh bone block and simultaneous implant positioning using a computer-guided implant surgery.

Three-Dimensional Bone Augmentation and Immediate Implant Placement via Transcrestal Sinus Lift: Five-Year Clinical Outcomes.

This study proposed a surgical technique that solves three-dimensional conditions of extreme bone atrophy. A total of 278 surgeries with transcrestal sinus lift and fresh frozen allogenous bone blocks were performed. A total of 1,024 implants were placed.

Ceramic vs composite veneering of full arch implant-supported zirconium frameworks: assessing patient preference and satisfaction. A crossover double-blind randomised controlled trial.

Purpose: The objectives of this two-period, crossover, mono-centred, double-blind, randomised controlled trial (RCT) were to compare two different materials used for full arch implant-supported prosthetic restorations with regard to patient preference and impact on a patient's quality of life.

Materials And Methods: Edentulous patients requesting one full arch restoration in the mandible or maxilla supported by dental implants were included in this study. Patients were randomised to receive either a full arch zirconia framework hand-veneered with ceramic, or a full arch zirconia framework hand-veneered with composite material.

A Double-Blind Randomized Trial Comparing Implants with Laser-Microtextured and Machined Collar Surfaces: Microbiologic and Clinical Results.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcome of and determine the differences in periodonto-pathogenic microbiota around two types of implant collar surfaces: laser-microtextured (test) vs machined (control).

Materials And Methods: Seventeen patients (11 periodontally healthy, and 6 periodontally compromised) were selected to receive the two different implants, placed randomly, in two edentulous sites. Six months following the surgical placement of the dental implants, subgingival plaque samples were collected using paper points from the peri-implant sulcus and from the sulcus of an adjacent tooth.

Implants placed in sites of previously failed implants: a systematic review.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on implant placement in sites of previously failed implants and to assess survival and success rates of the replacement implants to investigate the effectiveness of the procedure.

Materials And Methods: MEDLINE and Cochrane Oral Health Group databases were used to identify articles published between 1985 and 2011. Six articles were selected for a total of 334 patients (338 implants).

Technical and biological complications related to crown to implant ratio: a systematic review.

Aim: To review the occurrence of prosthetic failure and biological complications with respect to the crown to implant (C/I) ratio.

Methods: Accurate search was made on the subject C/I ratio with the following criteria: (1) studies on humans with data on prosthetic failure and/or biological complications related to C/I ratio; (2) partial edentulous patients; (3) randomized clinical trials, prospective, longitudinal, retrospective, and multicenter studies with a minimum of 48 months mean follow-up; (4) language: English; (5) radiographic measurements by peri-apical x-ray; (6) implant material: titanium; and (7) no implant type selection was applied.

Results: Six articles were considered eligible for full-text analysis.

An in vitro evaluation of heat production during osteotomy preparation for dental implants with compressive osteotomes.

Background: To assess heat production using osteotomes under conditions simulating implant placement in D3, D4 bone.

Material And Methods: Implant osteotomes were tested (Winsix, Biosafin, Italy). Site preparations were performed on porcine ribs through a compressive fashion.

[Prevalence and control of hypertension in chronic hemodialysis patients: results of a single-centre clinical audit].

Hypertension (HTN) is very common in chronic hemodialysis patients, with a prevalence of 72%, a very poor control and an annual mortality of 23%. We report the results of a clinical audit on prevalence and control of HTN in our hemodialysis patients. The following parameters in a cohort of 89 patients were assessed in one-month observational study, conducted in October 2010: blood pressure (BP) before the beginning (preHD BP) and after the end of the treatment (postHD BP), age, sex, comorbidity, serum hemoglobin (Hb) levels, plasma and dialysate sodium levels, interdialytic weight gain (IWG), serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, prescription of erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESA) and of antihypertensive drugs.

Immediate versus early non-occlusal loading of dental implants placed flapless in partially edentulous patients: a 3-year randomized clinical trial.

Aim: To compare immediate versus early non-occlusal loading of dental implants placed flapless in a 3-year, parallel group, randomized clinical trial.

Materials And Methods: The study was conducted in a private dental clinic between July 2005 and July 2010. Patients 18 years or older were randomized to receive implants for fixed partial dentures in cases of partial edentulism.

Molecular and genetic basis of inherited nephrotic syndrome.

Nephrotic syndrome is an heterogeneous disease characterized by increased permeability of the glomerular filtration barrier for macromolecules. Podocytes, the visceral epithelial cells of glomerulus, play critical role in ultrafiltration of plasma and are involved in a wide number of inherited and acquired glomerular diseases. The identification of mutations in nephrin and other podocyte genes as causes of genetic forms of nephrotic syndrome has revealed new important aspects of the pathogenesis of proteinuric kidney diseases and expanded our knowledge of the glomerular biology.

Ultramorphology of the root surface subsequent to hand-ultrasonic simultaneous instrumentation during non-surgical periodontal treatments: an in vitro study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ultramorphology of the root surfaces induced by mechanical instrumentation performed using conventional curettes or piezoelectric scalers when used single-handedly or with a combined technique.

Material And Methods: Thirty single-rooted teeth were selected and divided into 3 groups: Group A, instrumentation with curettes; Group B instrumentation with titanium nitride coated periodontal tip mounted in a piezoelectric handpiece; Group C, combined technique with curette/ultrasonic piezoelectric instrumentation. The specimens were processed and analyzed using confocal and scanning electron microscopy.

Effects of enamel matrix derivative on vascular endothelial growth factor expression and microvessel density in gingival tissues of periodontal pocket: a comparative study.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stimulates proliferation and migration of endothelial cells, and correlates with inflammatory resolution and periodontal tissue healing. Enamel matrix derivative (EMD) seems to stimulate soft tissue healing. Our aim was to assess if topical EMD application in an instrumented periodontal pocket could affect angiogenesis at the gingival level.

Comparative study of DFDBA in combination with enamel matrix derivative versus DFDBA alone for treatment of periodontal intrabony defects at 12 months post-surgery.

The aim of this randomized double-blind, clinical trial was to compare the use of enamel matrix derivative (EMD) and demineralised freeze-dried bone allografts (DFDBA) with DFDBA alone for the treatment of human periodontal intrabony defects at 12 months post-surgery. Fifty-six intrabony osseous defects in 56 periodontis patients were randomly assigned to the test group (DFDBA + EMD) or the control group (DFDBA) for periodontal treatment. Clinical and radiographic measurements were made at the baseline and after 12 months.

Vascular endothelial growth factor and microvessel density in periodontitis patients with and without diabetes.

Background: Periodontal disease is one of the major problems encountered in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), and vascular changes may contribute to periodontitis. Our aim was to investigate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and microvessel density (MVD) in patients with periodontitis with and without DM.

Methods: Immunohistochemical detection of VEGF and MVD analysis, evaluated by CD34+ endothelial cell counts, were performed in 66 gingival samples from patients with generalized, severe, chronic periodontitis who were divided into three groups: 22 participants without systemic diseases (controls), 22 participants with type 1 DM (T1DM), and 22 participants with type 2 DM (T2DM).

Involvement of vascular endothelial growth factor, CD44 and CD133 in periodontal disease and diabetes: an immunohistochemical study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between expression of angiogenic and regeneration markers and periodontal disease in subjects with/without diabetes mellitus.

Material And Methods: Immunohistochemical detection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CD44 and CD133 was performed in 16 samples each of (1) healthy gingiva from non-diabetic subjects (controls), (2) gingiva from non-diabetic subjects with periodontitis, (3) gingiva from subjects with type 1 diabetes and periodontitis, (4) gingiva from subjects with type 2 diabetes and periodontitis.

Results: Diseased gingivae from patients with diabetes and periodontitis had greater clinical measures of periodontal disease than those with periodontitis only.

Treatment of periodontal intrabony defects with demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft in combination with platelet-rich plasma: a comparative clinical trial.

Background: The aim of the present randomized, double-masked, clinical trial was to compare platelet-rich plasma (PRP) combined with a demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA) to DFDBA mixed with a saline solution in the treatment of human intrabony defects.

Methods: Sixty interproximal intrabony osseous defects in 60 healthy, non-smoking subjects diagnosed with chronic periodontitis were treated in this study. Thirty subjects each were randomly assigned to the test group (PRP + DFDBA) or the control group (DFDBA + saline).

Clinical evaluation of the effectiveness of enamel matrix proteins and autologous bone graft in the treatment of mandibular Class II furcation defects: a series of 11 patients.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of treatment of buccal mandibular Class II furcation defects with a combination of autologous bone grafts and enamel matrix derivative over a 24-month period. Eleven individuals with chronic periodontitis were selected and contributed one furcation defect each. Statistically significant improvements in mean vertical probing attachment level and horizontal probing attachment level were obtained at the 2-year evaluation.

The influence of soft acidic drinks in exposing dentinal tubules after non-surgical periodontal treatment: a SEM investigation on the protective effects of oxalate-containing phytocomplex.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the different smear layer morphologies produced by instrumentation with a hand curette and a periodontal sonic scaler for potential removal by soft acidic solution. The effect of a new oxalate-containing phytocomplex spray in preventing tubules exposure after citric acid solution application was also evaluated.

Methods: Thirty recently extracted human teeth were used to obtain root dentinal fragments and divided in two groups: Curette treatment (CRT) root planed applying 30 working strokes to each surface using a Gracey's curette 5-6 and Ultrasonic scaler (USC) treated using a periodontal scaler mounted on an ultrasonic hand-piece for 30 seconds.