Changes in retention force with electroplated copings on conical crowns: a comparison of gold and zirconia primary crowns

The aim of this study was to examine the wear behavior of conical crowns with electroplated gold copings that are used to connect implants and teeth to a removable denture. Gold alloy and zirconium dioxide ceramic crowns were compared.

Retention force of plastic clips on implant bars: a randomized controlled trial

Retention of overdentures is important for patients' satisfaction. The study tested whether the clinical performance of retentive clips made of poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) is superior to those made of poly-oxy-methylene (POM).

Telescopic crowns: extra-oral and intra-oral retention force measurement--in vitro/in vivo correlation

This study deals with the determination of the retentive forces of telescopic crowns measured extra- and intra-orally and the correlation of these values.

Clinical retention force development of double crowns

This study deals with the development of the retentive forces of double crowns intraorally measured. Twenty-five combined fixed-removable prostheses with a total of 84 double crowns were included in the study. The intraoral measurement was performed at 72 defined measuring points directly adjacent to the double crowns of the dentures. The measurement was performed 4-6 weeks (baseline), 6 months (recall 1), and 18 months (recall 2) after the insertion of the restoration. A specifically designed measuring device was used. The median values for the single measuring points reached 4.705 N at the baseline, 5.190 N after 6 months, and 3.740 N after 18 months. The measured values were analyzed according to differences between the median retention forces at the three defined points in time. The statistical analysis of the median values showed no statistical difference for the retention force change after 6 months but for the decrease until the second recall (Mann-Whitney test). The retention force per denture was calculated by a summation of the single measuring points. At the baseline, 12.9 N was reached. The forces did only decrease slightly and were not statistically significant. The results indicate that retention force values of double crowns, measured intraorally at the patient, do not relevantly change clinically within the first 1.5 years. Within the limitations of this study, it can be stated that wear does not influence the retentive forces of double crowns within the first 18 months. After this period the retention force should be still sufficient for denture retention.

Intraoperative determination of the load-displacement behavior of scoliotic spinal motion segments: preliminary clinical results

Introduction: Spinal fusion is a widely and successfully performed strategy for the treatment of spinal deformities and degenerative diseases. The general approach has been to stabilize the spine with implants so that a solid bony fusion between the vertebrae can develop. However, new implant designs have emerged that aim at preservation or restoration of the motion of the spinal segment. In addition to static, load sharing principles, these designs also require a profound knowledge of kinematic and dynamic properties to properly characterise the in vivo performance of the implants. Methods: To address this, an apparatus was developed that enables the intraoperative determination of the load–displacement behavior of spinal motion segments. The apparatus consists of a sensor-equipped distractor to measure the applied force between the transverse processes, and an optoelectronic camera to track the motion of vertebrae and the distractor. In this intraoperative trial, measurements from two patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with right thoracic curves were made at four motion segments each. Results: At a lateral bending moment of 5 N m, the mean flexibility of all eight motion segments was 0.18 ± 0.08°/N m on the convex side and 0.24 ± 0.11°/N m on the concave side. Discussion: The results agree with published data obtained from cadaver studies with and without axial preload. Intraoperatively acquired data with this method may serve as an input for mathematical models and contribute to the development of new implants and treatment strategies.

Cancer classification using the Immunoscore: a worldwide task force

Prediction of clinical outcome in cancer is usually achieved by histopathological evaluation of tissue samples obtained during surgical resection of the primary tumor. Traditional tumor staging (AJCC/UICC-TNM classification) summarizes data on tumor burden (T), presence of cancer cells in draining and regional lymph nodes (N) and evidence for metastases (M). However, it is now recognized that clinical outcome can significantly vary among patients within the same stage. The current classification provides limited prognostic information, and does not predict response to therapy. Recent literature has alluded to the importance of the host immune system in controlling tumor progression. Thus, evidence supports the notion to include immunological biomarkers, implemented as a tool for the prediction of prognosis and response to therapy. Accumulating data, collected from large cohorts of human cancers, has demonstrated the impact of immune-classification, which has a prognostic value that may add to the significance of the AJCC/UICC TNM-classification. It is therefore imperative to begin to incorporate the 'Immunoscore' into traditional classification, thus providing an essential prognostic and potentially predictive tool. Introduction of this parameter as a biomarker to classify cancers, as part of routine diagnostic and prognostic assessment of tumors, will facilitate clinical decision-making including rational stratification of patient treatment. Equally, the inherent complexity of quantitative immunohistochemistry, in conjunction with protocol variation across laboratories, analysis of different immune cell types, inconsistent region selection criteria, and variable ways to quantify immune infiltration, all underline the urgent requirement to reach assay harmonization. In an effort to promote the Immunoscore in routine clinical settings, an international task force was initiated. This review represents a follow-up of the announcement of this initiative, and of the J Transl Med. editorial from January 2012. Immunophenotyping of tumors may provide crucial novel prognostic information. The results of this international validation may result in the implementation of the Immunoscore as a new component for the classification of cancer, designated TNM-I (TNM-Immune).

Ground reaction force profiles after partial and pancarpal arthrodesis in dogs

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare long-term functional outcome after partial carpal arthrodesis and pancarpal arthrodesis in dogs using kinetic gait analysis. METHODS: Fourteen dogs with 19 partial carpal or pancarpal arthrodeses were retrospectively examined and underwent force-plate gait analysis. Mean times since surgery were 29.4 and 24.4 months for pancarpal and partial carpal arthrodesis respectively. Vertical and braking-propulsive ground reaction force profiles were compared between treatment groups, and to those of normal dogs (control group) using Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: With the exception of time to vertical peak that occurred earlier in dogs with pancarpal than in dogs with partial carpal arthrodesis (p <0.01), there was no difference between the two treatment groups. Several parameters differed significantly between operated and healthy dogs (p <0.01): vertical impulses were significantly lower in both treatment groups, braking forces and impulses were also reduced after both techniques. Propulsive forces and impulses were only reduced in dogs with pancarpal arthrodesis. When comparing gait parameters of sound limbs of unilateral operated dogs to those of control dogs, braking forces and impulses (p <0.01; p <0.05) were significantly higher in the sound legs of unilateral operated dogs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Long-term outcome after partial carpal and pancarpal arthrodesis is good and comparable to each other. Propulsive action may be altered more in dogs with pancarpal arthrodesis.

Atomic force microscopy for the study of membrane proteins

Fundamental biological processes such as cell-cell communication, signal transduction, molecular transport and energy conversion are performed by membrane proteins. These important proteins are studied best in their native environment, the lipid bilayer. The atomic force microscope (AFM) is the instrument of choice to determine the native surface structure, supramolecular organization, conformational changes and dynamics of membrane-embedded proteins under near-physiological conditions. In addition, membrane proteins are imaged at subnanometer resolution and at the single molecule level with the AFM. This review highlights the major advances and results achieved on reconstituted membrane proteins and native membranes as well as the recent developments of the AFM for imaging.

Cooperative and Noncooperative Assembly of Oligopyrenotides Resolved by Atomic Force Microscopy

The supramolecular assembly of amphiphilic oligopyrenotide building blocks (covalently linked heptapyrene, Py7) is studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in combination with optical spectroscopy. The assembly process is triggered in a controlled manner by increasing the ionic strength of the aqueous oligomer solution. Cooperative noncovalent interactions between individual oligomeric units lead to the formation of DNA-like supramolecular polymers. We also show that the terminal attachment of a single cytidine nucleotide to the heptapyrenotide (Py7-C) changes the association process from a cooperative (nucleation−elongation) to a noncooperative (isodesmic) regime, suggesting a structure misfit between the cytidine and the pyrene units. We also demonstrate that AFM enables the identification and characterization of minute concentrations of the supramolecular products, which was not accessible by conventional optical spectroscopy.

European guidelines on management of restless legs syndrome: report of a joint task force by the European Federation of Neurological Societies, the European Neurological Society and the European Sleep Research Society

Since the publication of the first European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS) guidelines in 2005 on the management of restless legs syndrome (RLS; also known as Willis-Ekbom disease), there have been major therapeutic advances in the field. Furthermore, the management of RLS is now a part of routine neurological practice in Europe. New drugs have also become available, and further randomized controlled trials have been undertaken. These guidelines were undertaken by the EFNS in collaboration with the European Neurological Society and the European Sleep Research Society.