Tenascin-C and matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels in crevicular fluid of teeth and implants

The role of and interaction between bacterial infection and biomechanical impact in the development of peri-implant inflammatory processes is not clear.

Zirconia for teeth and implants

This case series reports on the use of nonsilica-based high-strength full ceramics for different prosthetic indications. Fifty-two consecutive patients received tooth- or implant-supported zirconia reconstructions during a 2-year period. The observation period for reexamination was 12 to 30 months. The most frequent indications were single crowns and short-span fixed partial dentures. A few implant superstructures were screw-retained, whereas all remaining restorations were cemented on natural teeth or zirconia implant abutments. Clinical examination included biologic (probing depths, bleeding on probing) and esthetic (Papilla Index) parameters, as well as technical complications. No implant was lost or caused any problems, but two teeth were lost after horizontal fracture. Overall, the periodontal parameters were favorable. Fractures of frameworks or implant abutments were not observed. Abutment-screw loosening occurred once for one premolar single crown. Furthermore, five implant crowns in the posterior region exhibited chipping of the porcelain veneering material. With regard to esthetics, no reconstructions were considered unacceptable, but three crowns were remade shortly after delivery. In this short-term study, it was observed that biologic, esthetic, and mechanical properties of zirconia were favorable, and the material could be used in various prosthetic indications on teeth or implants.

Crestal bone changes at teeth and implants in periodontally healthy and periodontally compromised patients. A 10-year comparative case-series study

BACKGROUND Limited data exist on the longitudinal crestal bone changes around teeth compared with implants in partially edentulous patients. This study sought to compare the 10-year radiographic crestal bone changes (bone level [BL]) around teeth and implants in periodontally compromised (PCPs) and periodontally healthy (PHPs) patients. METHODS A total of 120 patients were evaluated for the radiographic crestal BL around dental implants and adjacent teeth at time of implant crown insertion and at the 10-year follow-up. Sixty patients had a previous history of periodontitis (PCPs), and the remaining 60 were PHPs. In each category (PCP and PHP), two different implant systems were used. The mean BL change at the implant and at the adjacent tooth at the interproximal area was calculated by subtracting the radiographic crestal BL at the time of crown cementation from the radiographic crestal BL at the 10-year follow-up. RESULTS At 10 years after therapy, the survival rate ranged from 80% to 95% for subgroups for implants, whereas it was 100% for the adjacent teeth. In all eight different patient categories evaluated, teeth demonstrated a significantly more stable radiographic BL compared with adjacent dental implants (teeth BL, 0.44 ± 0.23 mm; implant BL, 2.28 ± 0.72 mm; P <0.05). Radiographic BL changes around teeth seemed not to be influenced by the presence or absence of advanced bone loss (≥3 mm) at the adjacent implants. CONCLUSIONS Natural teeth yielded better long-term results with respect to survival rate and marginal BL changes compared with dental implants. Moreover, these findings also extend to teeth with an initial reduced periodontal attachment level, provided adequate periodontal treatment and maintenance are performed. As a consequence, the decision of tooth extraction attributable to periodontal reasons in favor of a dental implant should be carefully considered in partially edentulous patients.

Microbiota at teeth and implants in partially edentulous patients. A 10-year retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE To determine the microbiota at implants and adjacent teeth 10 years after placement of implants with a sandblasted and acid-etched surface. MATERIAL AND METHODS Plaque samples obtained from the deepest sites of 504 implants and of 493 adjacent teeth were analyzed for certain bacterial species associated with periodontitis, for staphylococci, for aerobic gram-negative rods, and for yeasts using nucleic acid-based methods. RESULTS Species known to be associated with periodontitis were detectable at 6.2-78.4% of the implants. Significantly higher counts at implants in comparison with teeth were assessed for Tannerella forsythia, Parvimonas micra, Fusobacterium nucleatum/necrophorum, and Campylobacter rectus. Higher counts of periodontopathogenic species were detectable at implants of current smokers than at those of non-smokers. In addition, those species were found in higher quantities at implants of subjects with periodontitis. The prevalence of Prevotella intermedia, Treponema denticola, C. rectus, and moreover of Staphylococcus warneri might be associated with peri-implant inflammation. Selected staphylococcal species (not Staphylococcus aureus), aerobic gram-negative rods, and yeasts were frequently detected, but with the exception of S. warneri, they did not show any association with periodontal or peri-implant diseases. CONCLUSIONS Smoking and periodontal disease are risk factors for colonization of periodontopathic bacteria at implants. Those bacterial species may play a potential role in peri-implant inflammation. The role of S. warneri needs further validation.

Host-derived biomarkers at teeth and implants in partially edentulous patients. A 10-year retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES To assess a selection of host-derived biomarkers in peri-implant sulcus fluid (PISF) and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) from adjacent teeth 10 years following implant placement. MATERIAL AND METHODS Peri-implant sulcus fluid and GCF samples obtained from the deepest sites of 504 implants and 493 adjacent teeth were analysed for levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, MMP-8, MMP-1, and MMP-1 bound to tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP)-1 (MMP-1/TIMP-1) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. RESULTS Overall, MMP-8 was detected in 90% of the sites. In more than 50% of the sites, IL-1β was identified while in 30% of the sites MMP-1, MMP-1/TIMP-1 and MMP-3 were found over the detection level. Increased biomarkers levels from PISF and GCF were positively correlated (r = 0.375-0.702; P < 0.001). However, no qualitative and quantitative differences were found between PISF and GCF. The levels of MMP-1 were negatively correlated with those of MMP-1/TIMP-1 at implants (r = -0.644; P < 0.001). Median MMP-1 levels at implants were high (5.17 pg/site) in subjects with severe chronic periodontitis and low in patients with mild-to-moderate chronic periodontitis (0 pg/site; P = 0.026) or gingivitis (0 pg/site; P = 0.034). Levels of IL-1β were found to be different in GCF according to the periodontal conditions (P = 0.001) with the highest level found in mild-to-moderate periodontitis (6.2 pg/site). Clinical attachment levels at implants demonstrated an inverse correlation with MMP-1/TIMP-1 (r = -0.147; P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Increased levels of MMP-8 and IL-1β in PISF or GCF may be associated with inflammation around teeth and implants while lower levels of MMP-1/TIMP-1 may be an indicator of disease progression around implants.

Oversight of VA prosthetics and special-disabilities programs : hearing before the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred First Congress, second session, June 7, 1990.

Mode of access: Internet.

Mobility and satisfaction with lower-limb prostheses and orthoses among users in Sierra Leone: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: To investigate patients' mobility and satisfaction with their lower-limb prosthetic or orthotic device and related service delivery in Sierra Leone; to compare groups of patients regarding type and level of assistive device, gender, area of residence, income; and to identify factors associated with satisfaction with the assistive device and service. Methods: A total of 139 patients answered questionnaires, including the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology questionnaire (QUEST 2.0). Results: Eighty-six percent of assistive devices were in use, but half needed repair. Thirty-three percent of patients reported pain when using their assistive device. Patients had difficulties or could not walk at all on: uneven ground (65%); hills (75%); and stairs (66%). Patients were quite satisfied with their assistive device and the service (mean 3.7 out of 5 in QUEST), but reported 886 problems. Approximately half of the patients could not access services. In relation to mobility and service delivery, women, orthotic patients and patients using above-knee assistive devices had the poorest results. The general condition of the assistive device and patients' ability to walk on uneven ground were associated with satisfaction with the assistive devices and service. Conclusion: Patients reported high levels of mobility while using their device although they experienced pain and difficulties walking on challenging surfaces. Limitations in the effectiveness of assistive devices and limited access to follow-up services and repairs were issues desired to be addressed.

The effect of extent of local resection on patterns of disease progression in malignant pleural mesothelioma

Background We sought to determine whether or not there are differences in disease progression after radical or nonradical (debulking) surgical procedures for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Methods Over a 49-month period, 132 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma underwent surgery. Fifty-three underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy and 79 underwent nonradical procedures. Time to evidence of clinical disease progression was recorded, as was the site(s) of that disease. Results One-hundred nineteen patients were evaluable, of which 59% (22 radical; 48 nonradical) had disease progression. Overall 30-day mortality was 8.5% (7.5% radical; 9% nonradical). The median time to overall disease progression was considerably longer after extrapleural pneumonectomy than debulking surgery (319 days vs 197 days, p = 0.019), as was the time to local disease progression (631 days vs 218 days, p = 0.0018). There was no preponderance of earlier stage disease in the radical surgery group. There was a trend toward prolonged survival in those undergoing radical surgery, but no significant difference between the groups (497 days vs 324 days, p = 0.079). In those who had extrapleural pneumonectomy, time-to-disease progression significantly decreased with N2 disease compared with N0/1 involvement (197 days vs 358 days, p = 0.02). Conclusions Extrapleural pneumonectomy may be preferable to debulking surgery in malignant pleural mesothelioma to delay disease progression and give greater control of local disease. Involvement of N2 nodes is associated with accelerated disease progression and is therefore a contraindication to extrapleural pneumonectomy. © 2004 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Implant healing in experimental animal models of diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus is becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide. Additionally, there is an increasing number of patients receiving implantable devices such as glucose sensors and orthopedic implants. Thus, it is likely that the number of diabetic patients receiving these devices will also increase. Even though implantable medical devices are considered biocompatible by the Food and Drug Administration, the adverse tissue healing that occurs adjacent to these foreign objects is a leading cause of their failure. This foreign body response leads to fibrosis, encapsulation of the device, and a reduction or cessation of device performance. A second adverse event is microbial infection of implanted devices, which can lead to persistent local and systemic infections and also exacerbates the fibrotic response. Nearly half of all nosocomial infections are associated with the presence of an indwelling medical device. Events associated with both the foreign body response and implant infection can necessitate device removal and may lead to amputation, which is associated with significant morbidity and cost. Diabetes mellitus is generally indicated as a risk factor for the infection of a variety of implants such as prosthetic joints, pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, penile implants, and urinary catheters. Implant infection rates in diabetic patients vary depending upon the implant and the microorganism, however, for example, diabetes was found to be a significant variable associated with a nearly 7.2% infection rate for implantable cardioverter defibrillators by the microorganism Candida albicans. While research has elucidated many of the altered mechanisms of diabetic cutaneous wound healing, the internal healing adjacent to indwelling medical devices in a diabetic model has rarely been studied. Understanding this healing process is crucial to facilitating improved device design. The purpose of this article is to summarize the physiologic factors that influence wound healing and infection in diabetic patients, to review research concerning diabetes and biomedical implants and device infection, and to critically analyze which diabetic animal model might be advantageous for assessing internal healing adjacent to implanted devices.

Percutaneous Treatment of Mitral Valve Regurgitation: Initial Experience with the MitraClip Device

INTRODUCTION: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common valvular disease and has recently become the target of a number of percutaneous approaches. The MitraClip is virtually the only device for which there is considerable experience, with more than 20,000 procedures performed worldwide. OBJECTIVE: To describe our initial experience of the percutaneous treatment of MR with the MitraClip device. METHODS: We describe the first six MitraClip cases performed in this institution (mean age 58.5 ± 13.1 years), with functional MR grade 4+ and New York Heart Association (NYHA) heart failure class III or IV (n=3), with a mean follow-up of 290 ± 145 days. RESULTS: Procedural success (MR ≤ 2+) was 100%. Total procedure time was 115.8 ± 23.7 min, with no in-hospital adverse events and discharge between the fourth and eighth day, and consistent improvement in the six-minute walk test (329.8 ± 98.42 vs. 385.33 ± 106.95 m) and in NYHA class (three patients improved by two NYHA classes). During follow-up there were two deaths, in two of the four patients who had been initially considered for heart transplantation. CONCLUSION: In patients with functional MR the MitraClip procedure is safe, with both a high implantation and immediate in-hospital success rate. A longer follow-up suggests that the clinical benefit decreases or disappears completely in patients with more advanced heart disease, namely those denied transplantation or on the heart transplant waiting list.

Total Endovascular Debranching of the Aortic Arch

Background: Significant morbidity and mortality are related to conventional aortic replacement surgery. Endovascular debranching techniques, fenestrated or branched endografts are time consuming and costly.Objective: We alternatively propose to use endovascular approach with parallel grafts for debranching of aortic arch.Methods: Under general anesthesia, 12 F sheaths were inserted in the femoral, axillary and common carotid arteries for vascular accesses. ViaBahn grafts 10 - 15 cm in length were placed into the aortic arch from right common carotid, left common carotid and left axillary arteries, until the tip of each graft reached into the ascending aorta. Through one femoral artery, the aortic stent-graft was positioned and delivered. Soon after, the parallel grafts were sequentially delivered. Self-spanding Wallstents(R) were used for parallel grafts reinforcement. Ballooning was routinely used for parallel grafts and rarely for aortic graft.Results: This technique was used in 2 cases. The first one was a lady with 72 years old, with an aortic retrograde dissection from left subclavian artery and involving remaining arch branches. Through right common carotid artery a stent-graft was placed in the ascending aorta and through the left common carotid artery a ViaBahn was inserted parallel to the former. A thoracic endograft then covered all the aortic arch dissection extending into the ascending aorta close to the sinu-tubular junction. The second case was a 82 year old male patient with a 7 cm aortic arch aneurysm. Through both common carotid arteries ViaBahn grafts were introduced and positioned into the ascending aorta. Soon after, the deployment of the thoracic stent graft covered all parallel grafts of the aortic arch, excluding the aneurysm. Both cases did not have neurologic or cardiac complications and were discharged 10 days after the procedure.Conclusions: This technique may be a good minimal invasive off-the-shelf technical option for aortic arch "debranching". More data and further improvements are required before this promising technique can be widely advocated. (C) 2011 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Avaliação quantitativa das dimensões óculo-palpebrais em portadores de cavidade anoftálmica em uso de prótese ocular externa

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar o posicionamento palpebral em portadores de cavidade anoftálmica com e sem prótese ocular externa, utilizando o processamento de imagem digital. MÉTODOS: Dezoito pacientes foram avaliados qualitativa e quantitativamente na Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu - Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, com e sem a prótese externa. Usando imagens obtidas por filmadora e processadas usando o programa Scion Image, mediu-se a altura do sulco palpebral superior, a altura da fenda palpebral e os ângulos palpebrais dos cantos interno e externo. RESULTADOS: Pseudo-estrabismo e sulco palpebral superior profundo foram as alterações mais freqüentes ao exame externo. Houve diferença significativa em todas as variáveis estudadas, com diminuição da altura do sulco palpebral superior, aumento da área da fenda palpebral e aumento dos ângulos palpebrais interno e externo quando o paciente estava usando a prótese externa. CONCLUSÃO: Todos os pacientes avaliados apresentaram algum tipo de anormalidade órbito-palpebral, o que reflete a dificuldade em se proporcionar ao portador de cavidade anoftálmica um aspecto idêntico ao que existe na órbita normal. O processamento de imagens digitais permitiu avaliação objetiva das dimensões óculo-palpebrais, o que poderá contribuir nas avaliações seqüenciais dos portadores de cavidade anoftálmica.

Effect of Passive Fit Absence in the Prosthesis/Implant/Retaining Screw System: A Two-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis

The misfit between prostheses and implants is a clinical reality, but the level that can be accepted without causing mechanical or biologic problem is not well defined. This study investigates the effect of different levels of unilateral angular misfit prostheses in the prosthesis/implant/retaining screw system and in the surrounding bone using finite element analysis. Four models of a two-dimensional finite element were constructed: group I (control), prosthesis that fit the implant; groups 2 to 4, prostheses with unilateral angular misfit of 50, 100, and 200 mu m, respectively. A load of 133 N was applied with a 30-degree angulation and off-axis at 2 mm from the long axis of the implant at the opposite direction of misfit on the models. Taking into account the increase of the angular misfit, the stress maps showed a gradual increase of prosthesis stress and uniform stress in the implant and trabecular bone. Concerning the displacement, an inclination of the system due to loading and misfit was observed. The decrease of the unilateral contact between prosthesis and implant leads to the displacement of the entire system, and distribution and magnitude alterations of the stress also occurred.