Direct resin composite restorations versus indirect composite inlays: one-year results.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of direct resin composite restorations (Tetric Ceram-TC) and indirect composite inlays (Targis-TG) after 12 months.

Methods And Materials: Seventy-six Class I and II restorations (44 direct and 32 indirect) were inserted in premolars and molars with carious lesions or deficient restorations in 30 healthy patients according to the manufacturer's instructions. Each restoration was evaluated at baseline and after 12 months according to the modified USPHS criteria for color match (CM), marginal discoloration (MD), secondary caries (SC), anatomic form (AF), surface texture (ST), marginal integrity (MI), and pulp sensitivity (PS).

Expression of a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) leads to attenuation of signaling by other GPCRs: experimental evidence for a spontaneous GPCR constitutive inactive form.

The idea of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) coupling to G protein solely in their active form was abolished when it was found that certain ligands induce a G protein-coupled but inactive receptor form. This receptor form interferes with signaling of other receptors by sequestering G protein. However, the spontaneous existence of this receptor species has never been established.

Respirator physiologic impact in persons with mild respiratory disease.

Objective: To assess whether mild respiratory disease affects physiologic adaptation to respirator use.

Methods: The study compared the respiratory effects of dual cartridge half face mask and filtering facepeice (N95) respirators while performing simulated-work tasks. Subjects with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n = 14), asthma (n = 42), chronic rhinitis (n = 17), and normal respiratory status (n = 24) were studied.

Subjective response to respirator type: effect of disease status and gender.

Objective: To assess the effect of respirator type and user characteristics (eg, health status) on the subjective response to respirator use.

Methods: The subjective responses for multiple domains were evaluated in 104 volunteers performing work tasks in a simulated work environment. Each used a dual cartridge half face mask and a filtering facepiece (N95) respirator.

Changes in bone mineral density of adolescent mothers during the 12-month postpartum period.

Objective: Bone mineral density (BMD) loss has been described in adult women in the 12-month postpartum period. However, little is known about the precise BMD pattern in adolescent mothers. The present study aimed to evaluate BMD in Argentinean adolescent mothers followed up during the 12-month postpartum period.

Clinical evaluation of a 3% potassium oxalate gel and a GaAlAs laser for the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity.

Objectives: This study evaluated the immediate and 3 month clinical effects of a low-level gallium-aluminum-arsenide (GaAlAs) laser and a 3% potassium oxalate gel for the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity.

Materials And Methods: A total of 164 teeth from 30 patients with clinical diagnoses of dentinal hypersensitivity were selected for this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study. The teeth were randomized to three groups: GaAlAs laser, oxalate gel, and placebo gel.

Heterotopic uterus transplantation in a swine model.

Background: The aim of our study was to examine the feasibility of allogeneic uterine transplantation in a large animal model.

Methods: We performed heterotopic uterine transplants in genetically defined mini-pigs. Immunosuppression was tacrolimus administered intravenously for the first 12 days posttransplantation followed by oral cyclosporine maintenance immunosuppression.

SIK1 couples LKB1 to p53-dependent anoikis and suppresses metastasis.

Resistance to anoikis, the subtype of apoptosis triggered by lack of adhesion, contributes to malignant transformation and the development of metastasis. Although several lines of evidence suggest that p53 plays a critical role in anoikis, the pathway(s) that connect cell detachment to p53 remain undefined. Here, through the use of a kinome-wide loss-of-function screen, we identify the serine-threonine kinase SIK1 (salt-inducible kinase 1) as a regulator of p53-dependent anoikis.

Management of dentinal hypersensitivity.

Dentinal hypersensitivity is a complex condition that can cause considerable concern in the dental office. Despite the large number of available treatment modalities, no current desensitizing agent is considered ideal for managing this uncomfortable condition. Selecting the right therapy requires a complete understanding of how applying a stimulus to the exposed dentin surface can influence the nerve fibers and produce hyperesthesia.

Prevalence of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible s. aureus in the saliva of health professionals.

Introduction: S. aureus is one of the main agents of nosocomial infection and is sometimes difficult to treat with currently available active antimicrobials.

Purpose: To analyze the prevalence of methicillin-susceptible S.

Urban air pollution and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related emergency department visits.

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can have recurrent disease exacerbations triggered by several factors, including air pollution. Visits to the emergency respiratory department can be a direct result of short-term exposure to air pollution. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the daily number of COPD emergency department visits and the daily environmental air concentrations of PM(10), SO(2), NO(2), CO and O(3) in the City of São Paulo, Brazil.

[The perception of domestic violence of pregnant and not pregnant women in the city of Campinas, São Paulo].

This study sought to compare the perception of domestic violence of women, victims of this kind of violence, with the perception of pregnant women, victims or not of domestic violence, as well as to search for elements allowing for the planning and execution of a cohort study on domestic violence among pregnant women. A qualitative exploratory research was conducted using the technique of convenience sampling for selecting a focal group. The subjects were twenty four women divided into two groups: (1) thirteen women from a follow-up group from a Referral Center for victims of domestic violence, and (2) eleven pregnant women that were participating in the pre-natal care program in a primary care unit, selected independently of suffering domestic violence or not.

Respirator physiological effects under simulated work conditions.

This study compared the physiological impacts of two respirator types in simulated work conditions. Fifty-six subjects included normal volunteers and persons with mild respiratory impairments (chronic rhinitis, mild COPD, and mild asthma). Respiratory parameters and electrocardiogram were measured using respiratory inductive plethysmography while performing eight work tasks involving low to moderate exertion using two respirators: (1) a dual cartridge half face mask (HFM) respirator, and (2) the N95.

Multidomain subjective response to respirator use during simulated work.

Objective: : Evaluate subjective tolerance to respirator use outside of traditional industrial settings by users including persons with mild respiratory impairment.

Methods: : The response to respirator use (half face mask dual cartridge and N95) was measured during eight types of work activities as well as in an exercise laboratory setting. The 43 research subjects included persons with mild respiratory impairments.

[Childbirth practices and challenges for humanization of care in two public hospitals in Southern Brazil].

The aim of this study was to characterize hospital care for childbirth in two hospitals affiliated with the Unified National Health System in Maringá, Paraná, Brazil, and identify both obstacles and facilitating factors for the implementation of humanized care, based on women's perception of the care received. This was an exploratory and descriptive study with a cross-sectional design, analyzing hospital patient charts and interviews with 569 women who gave birth at the two hospitals from March 2005 to February 2006. Hospital care was characterized on the basis of WHO quality-of-care guidelines for labor and delivery.

Violence against pregnant women: prevalence and associated factors.

Objective: To identify the factors associated with domestic violence against pregnant women.

Methods: Interviews were conducted with 1,379 pregnant women undergoing antenatal care in basic health care units of the Brazilian Health System, within the municipality of Campinas (Southeastern Brazil). A structured questionnaire on domestic violence, validated in Brazil, was applied between July 2004 and July 2006.

The usefulness of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.

This study assessed the use of ultrasound in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome and to determine the best ultrasound criterion for diagnosis. Forty wrists of 27 patients with surgically proven moderate and severe carpal tunnel syndrome and 30 wrists of 15 controls were examined. Measurements of the cross-sectional area and the anteroposterior diameter of the median nerve at the inlet and outlet of the carpal tunnel were obtained.

One year clinical evaluation of two different types of composite resins in posterior teeth.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical performance of two adhesive restorative systems (Single Bond/Filtek P-60 and Single Bond/Filtek Z-250) in posterior teeth using a modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) system.

Methods And Materials: A total of 70 restorations were placed in molars and premolars in 30 patients (14 females and 16 males; 18-40 years) by one operator. All restorations were directly evaluated by two examiners at baseline, six months, and 12 months using the following modified USPHS rating criteria: marginal integrity, marginal discoloration, surface texture, contour, postoperative sensitivity, and recurrent caries.

Safety and immunogenicity of a replication-incompetent adenovirus type 5 HIV-1 clade B gag/pol/nef vaccine in healthy adults.

Background: The safety and immunogenicity of the MRK adenovirus type 5 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 clade B gag/pol/nef vaccine, a replication-incompetent adenovirus type 5-vectored vaccine designed to elicit cell-mediated immunity against conserved human immunodeficiency virus proteins, was assessed in a phase 1 trial.

Methods: Healthy adults not infected with human immunodeficiency virus were enrolled in a multicenter, dose-escalating, blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate a 3-dose homologous prime-boost regimen of the trivalent MRK adenovirus type 5 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 vaccine containing from 3 x 10(6) to 1 x 10(11) viral particles per 1-mL dose administered on day 1, during week 4 and during week 26. Adverse events were recorded for 29 days after each intradeltoid injection.

Polygonal modeling of contours of breast tumors with the preservation of spicules.

Malignant breast tumors typically appear in mammograms with rough, spiculated, or microlobulated contours, whereas most benign masses have smooth, round, oval, or macrolobulated contours. Several studies have shown that shape factors that incorporate differences as above can provide high accuracies in distinguishing between malignant tumors and benign masses based upon their contours only. However, global measures of roughness, such as compactness, are less effective than specially designed features based upon spicularity and concavity.

The association between domestic violence during pregnancy and low birth weight or prematurity.

Objective: To investigate whether domestic violence during pregnancy is associated with unfavorable infant health outcomes, measured by low birth weight or prematurity.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study enrolling pregnant women whose prenatal care was provided by 10 basic health units in the city of Campinas, SP, Brazil, between 2004 and 2006. A structured questionnaire was employed that had previously been validated for use in Brazil.

Feature extraction from a signature based on the turning angle function for the classification of breast tumors.

Malignant breast tumors and benign masses appear in mammograms with different shape characteristics: the former usually have rough, spiculated, or microlobulated contours, whereas the latter commonly have smooth, round, oval, or macrolobulated contours. Features that characterize shape roughness and complexity can assist in distinguishing between malignant tumors and benign masses. Signatures of contours may be used to analyze their shapes.

An easy and safe model of kidney transplantation in rats.

A technical innovation of a novel ureter implantation technique on rat kidney allograft transplantation is described. The left kidney graft is transplanted heterotopically into the left infrarenal position, using vascular conduits from donor abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava in continuity to renal vessels, to perform arterial and venous end-to-side anastomoses to the recipient vessels. A new ureter implantation technique was employed by placing a purse-string suture around the uretero-vesical anastomosis and ligated at the end of the anastomosis to invaginate the ureter and relieve tension at its junction to the bladder.