Influence of lateral pressure to the implant bed on osseointegration: an experimental study in dogs

Aim To study osseointegration and bone-level changes at implants installed using either a standard or a reduced diameter bur for implant bed preparation. Material and methods In six Labrador dogs, the first and second premolars were extracted bilaterally. Subsequently, mesial roots of the first molars were endodontically treated and distal roots, including the corresponding part of the crown, were extracted. After 3 months of healing, flaps were elevated and recipient sites were prepared in all experimental sites. The control site was prepared using a standard procedure, while the test site was prepared using a drill with a 0.2 mm reduced diameter than the standard one used in the contra-lateral side. After 4 months of healing, the animals were euthanized and biopsies were obtained for histological processing and evaluation. Results With the exception of one implant that was lost, all implants were integrated in mineralized bone. The alveolar crest underwent resorption at control as well as at test sites (buccal aspect similar to 1 mm). The most coronal contact of bone-to-implant was located between 1.2 and 1.6 mm at the test and between 1.3 and 1.7 mm at the control sites. Bone-to-implant contact percentage was between 49% and 67%. No statistically significant differences were found for any of the outcome variables. Conclusions After 4 months of healing, lateral pressure to the implant bed as reflected by higher insertion torques (36 vs. 15 N cm in the premolar and 19 vs. 7 N cm in the molar regions) did not affect the bone-to-implant contact. To cite this article:Pantani F, Botticelli D, Garcia IR Jr., Salata LA, Borges GJ, Lang NP. Influence of lateral pressure to the implant bed on osseointegration: an experimental study in dogs.Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 21, 2010; 1264-1270.doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0501.2009.01941.x.

Ectonucleotidase activities are altered in serum and platelets of L-NAME-treated rats

It is well known that hypertension is closely associated to the development of vascular diseases and that the inhibition of nitric oxide biosynthesis by administration of N omega-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) leads to arterial hypertension. In the vascular system, extracellular purines mediate several effects: thus, ADP is the most important platelet agonist and recruiting agent, while adenosine, all end product Of nucleotide metabolism, is a vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet activation and recruitment. Members of several families of enzymes, known as ectonucleotidases, including E-NTPDases (ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase), E-NPP (ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase) and 5`-nucleotidase are able to hydrolyze extracellular nucleotides until their respective nucleosides. We investigated the ectonuclectidase activities of serum and platelets from rats made hypertensive by oral administration of L-NAME (30 mg/kg/day for 14 days or 30 mg/kg/day for 14 days Plus 7 days of L-NAME washout, in the drinking water) in comparison to normotensive control rats. L-NAME promoted a significant rise in systolic blood pressure from 112 +/- 9.8 to 158 +/- 23 mmHg. The left ventricle weight index (LVWI) was increased in rats treated with L-NAME for 14 days when compared to control animals. In Serum samples, ATP, ADP and AMP hydrolysis were reduced by about 27%, 36% and 27%, respectively. In platelets, the decrease in ATP, ADP and AMP hydrolysis Was approximately 27%, 24% and 32%, respectively. All parameters recovered after 7 days of L-NAME washout. HPLC demonstrated a reduction in ADP, AMP and hypoxanthine levels by about 64%, 69% and 87%, respectively. In this study, we showed that ectonucleotidase activities are decreased in serum and platelets from L-NAME-treated rats, which should represent an additional risk for the development of hypertension. The modulation of ectonucleotidase activities may represent an approach to antihypertensive therapy via inhibition of spontaneous platelet activation and recruitment, as well as thrombus formation. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators contribute to endothelial dysfunction in high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice

Objective We investigated the effects of high-fat diet-induced obesity on vascular proinflammatory factors and oxidative stress on endothelium-dependent relaxation of the aorta. Methods Female Swiss mice were submitted to a high-fat diet for 16 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, we evaluated blood pressure, relaxation in response to acetylcholine in aortic rings in the absence and the presence of the superoxide anion scavenger, superoxide dismutase (SOD, 150 U/ml), and the nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B inhibitor, sodium salicylate (5 mmol/l). Aortic protein expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, Cu/Zn-SOD, NF-kappa B, I kappa B-alpha, and proinflammatory cytokines were also evaluated. Results Obese mice presented higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure than control mice (P<0.05). The relaxation of aortas to acetylcholine, but not to sodium nitroprusside, was significantly decreased in obese mice and was corrected by both SOD and sodium salicylate (P<0.05). The protein expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and Cu/Zn-SOD was significantly decreased in aorta from obese mice (P<0.05). Total p65 NF-kappa B subunit protein expression was not affected by obesity, but the protein expression of NF-kappa B inhibitor I kappa B-alpha was lower in aorta from obese mice (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the interleukin (IL)-1 beta and IL-6 protein expression between groups. In contrast, the expression of TNF-alpha was significantly increased in aortas from obese mice. Conclusion Our resultssuggest that the reducedantioxidant defense and the local NF-kappa B pathway play an important role in the impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation in aorta from obese mice. J Hypertens 28: 2111-2119 (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibition attenuates blood pressure rising in young spontaneously hypertensive rats

Objectives The present study aimed to assess the effect of the specific dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) inhibitor sitagliptin on blood pressure and renal function in young prehypertensive (5-week-old) and adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs; 14-week-old). Methods Sitagliptin (40 mg/kg twice daily) was given by oral gavage to young (Y-SHR + IDPPIV) and adult (A-SHR R IDPPIV) SHRs for 8 days. Kidney function was assessed daily and compared with age-matched vehicle-treated SHR (Y-SHR and A-SHR) and with normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (Y-WKY and A-WKY). Arterial blood pressure was measured in these animals at the end of the experimental protocol. Additionally, Na(+)/H(+) exchanger isoform 3 (NHE3) function and expression in microvilli membrane vesicles were assessed in young animals. Results Mean arterial blood pressure of Y-SHR + IDPPIV was significantly lower than that of Y-SHR (104 +/- 3 vs. 123 +/- 5 mmHg, P < 0.01) and was similar to Y-WKY (94 +/- 4 mmHg, P > 0.05). Compared to Y-SHR, Y-SHR + IDPPIV exhibited enhanced cumulative urinary flow and sodium excretion and decreased NHE3 activity and expression in proximal tubule microvilli. In the A-SHR, sitagliptin treatment had no significant effect on either renal function or arterial blood pressure. Conclusion Our data suggest that DPPIV inhibition attenuates blood pressure rising in young prehypertensive SHRs, partially by inhibiting NHE3 activity in renal proximal tubule. J Hypertens 29:520-528 (C) 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Effects of aerobic exercise on the blood pressure, oxidative stress and eNOS gene polymorphism in pre-hypertensive older people

The polymorphisms of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) are associated with reduced eNOS activity. Aerobic exercise training (AEX) may influence resting nitric oxide (NO) production, oxidative stress and blood pressure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of AEX on the relationship among blood pressure, eNOS gene polymorphism and oxidative stress in pre-hypertensive older people. 118 pre-hypertensive subjects (59 +/- A 6 years) had blood samples collected after a 12 h overnight fast for assessing plasma NO metabolites (NOx) assays, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (T-BARS) and superoxide dismutase activity (ecSOD). eNOS polymorphism (T-786C and G-894T) was done by standard PCR methods. All people were divided according to the genotype results (G1: TT/GG, G2: TT/GT + TT, G3: TC + CC/GG, G4: TC + CC/GT + TT). All parameters were measured before and after 6 months of AEX (70% of VO(2 max)). At baseline, no difference was found in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, ecSOD and T-BARS activity. Plasma NOx levels were significantly different between G1 (19 +/- A 1 mu M) and G4 (14.2 +/- A 0.6 mu M) and between G2 (20.1 +/- A 1.7 mu M) and G4 (14.2 +/- A 0.6 mu M). Therefore, reduced NOx concentration in G4 group occurred only when the polymorphisms were associated, suggesting that these results are more related to genetic factors than NO-scavenging effect. After AEX, the G4 increased NOx values (17.2 +/- A 1.2 mu M) and decreased blood pressure. G1, G3 and G4 decreased T-BARS levels. These results suggest the AEX can modulate the NOx concentration, eNOS activity and the relationship among eNOS gene polymorphism, oxidative stress and blood pressure especially in C (T-786C) and T (G-894T) allele carriers.

Atmospheric pressure photoionization mass spectrometry as a tool for the investigation of the hydrolysis reaction mechanisms of phosphite antioxidants

The hydrolysis reaction mechanism of phosphite antioxidants is investigated by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The phosphites were chosen because they differed in chemical structure and phosphorus content. Dopant assisted-atmospheric pressure photoionization (DA-APPI) is chosen as the ion source for (lie ionization of the compounds. [it our previous work, DA-APPI was shown to offer an attractive alternative to atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) since it provided background-ion free mass spectra and higher sensitivity [M. Papanastasiou, et al., Polymer Degradation and Stability 91 (11) (2006) 2675-2682]. In positive ion mode, the molecules are generally detected in their protonated form. In negative ion mode, the phosphites are unstable and only fragment ions are observed: these however, are characteristic of each phosphite and may be used for the identification of the analytes in complex mixtures. The analytes under investigation are exposed to accelerated humid ageing conditions and their hydrolytic pathway and stability is investigated. Different substituents around the phosphorus atom are shown to have a significant effect on the stability of the phosphites, with phenol substituents producing very hydrolytically stable structures. Alkanox P24 and PEP-36 follow a similar hydrolytic pathway via the scission of the first and then the second P-O-phenol bonds, eventually leading to the formation of phenol, Phosphorous acid and pentaerythritol as end products. HP-10 exhibits a rather different Structure and the products detected suggest scission of either the P-O-hydrocarbon or one of the P-O-phenol bonds. A phenomenon similar to that of autocatalysis is observed for all phosphites and is attributed to the formation of dialkyl phosphites as intermediate products. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Implementation and role of device management Solutions to the end users

This research is based on consumer complaints with respect to recently purchased consumer electronics. This research document will investigate the instances of development and device management as a tool used to aid consumer and manage consumer’s mobile products in order to resolve issues in or before the consumers is aware one exists. The problem at the present time is that mobile devices are becoming very advanced pieces of technology, and not all manufacturers and network providers have kept up the support element of End users. As such, the subject of the research is to investigate how device management could possibly be used as a method to promote research and development of mobile devices, and provide a better experience for the consumer. The wireless world is becoming increasingly complex as revenue opportunities are driven by new and innovative data services. We can no longer expect the customer to have the knowledge or ability to configure their own device. Device Management platforms can address the challenges of device configuration and support through new enabling technologies. Leveraging these technologies will allow a network operator to reduce the cost of subscriber ownership, drive increased ARPU (Average Revenue per User) by removing barriers to adoption, reduce churn by improving the customer experience and increase customer loyalty. DM technologies provide a flexible and powerful management method but are managing the same device features that have historically been configured manually through call centers or by the end user making changes directly on the device. For this reason DM technologies must be treated as part of a wider support solution. The traditional requirement for discovery, fault finding, troubleshooting and diagnosis are still as relevant with DM as they are in the current human support environment yet the current generation of solutions do little to address this problem. In the deployment of an effective Device Management solution the network operator must consider the integration of the DM platform, interfacing with many areas of the business, supported by knowledge of the relationship between devices, applications, solutions and services maintained on an ongoing basis. Complementing the DM solution with published device information, setup guides, training material and web based tools will ensure the quality of the customer experience, ensuring that problems are completely resolved, driving data usage by focusing customer education on the use of the wireless service In this way device management becomes a tool used both internally within the network or device vendor and by the customer themselves, with each user empowered to effectively manage the device without any prior knowledge or experience, confident that changes they apply will be relevant, accurate, stable and compatible. The value offered by an effective DM solution with an expert knowledge service will become a significant differentiator for the network operator in an ever competitive wireless market. This research document is intended to highlight some of the issues the industry faces as device management technologies become more prevalent, and offers some potential solutions to simplify the increasingly complex task of managing devices on the network, where device management can be used as a tool to aid customer relations and manage customer’s mobile products in order to resolve issues before the user is aware one exists. The research is broken down into the following, Customer Relationship Management, Device management, the role of knowledge with the DM, Companies that have successfully implemented device management, and the future of device management and CRM. And it also consists of questionnaires aimed at technical support agents and mobile device users. Interview was carried out with CRM managers within support centre to further the evidence gathered. To conclude, the document is to consider the advantages and disadvantages of device management and attempt to determine the influence it will have over customer support centre, and what methods could be used to implement it.

Efeito agudo da ingestão de álcool sobre a função endotelial em homens jovens

A disfunção endotelial, avaliada através da vasodilatação mediada pelo fluxo (FMD) e não mediada pelo fluxo (NFMD), está associada à ocorrência de eventos cardiovasculares. Enquanto o consumo moderado de bebidas alcoólicas está associado com baixo risco para doenças cardiovasculares, a ingestão de doses mais altas predispõe a arritmias cardíacas, acidente vascular encefálico e outros eventos, que têm maior incidência no período da manhã. A investigação dos efeitos do álcool sobre a função endotelial pode trazer um melhor entendimento para esta associação. O presente estudo tem por objetivo avaliar, em uma amostra homogênea, o efeito de uma dose relativamente elevada de álcool sobre parâmetros vasculares e de função endotelial. O diâmetro da artéria braquial (DAB), a FMD e a NFMD foram mensurados em três horários (17h, 22h e 7h), em 100 indivíduos do sexo masculino, hígidos, com idades entre 18 e 25 anos (média de 20,74 anos), por ecodoppler da artéria braquial (segundo o protocolo da International Brachial Artery Reactivity Task Force). Os indivíduos foram randomizados para ingerir uma bebida contendo álcool ou uma bebida similar não alcoólica, às 18h. O grupo que consumiu álcool apresentou um aumento no DAB entre as 17h (4,03 mm) e 22h (4,41 mm). Ocorreu uma redução da FMD para 2,43% e da NFMD para 6,30% às 22h, quando comparados com os valores anteriores à ingestão (FMD = 4,22% e NFMD = 13,7%). Foi constatado um efeito bifásico para a pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) e diastólica (PAD), com redução às 22h (PAS = 105,18 mmHg; PAD = 60,14 mmHg), seguida de elevação às 7h (PAS = 117,50 mmHg; PAD = 70,98 mmHg). Conclui-se que, após um período inicial de vasodilatação, a ingestão aguda de álcool não afeta a função endotelial, comparado ao placebo.

Sanções ao Irã: como elas vêm impactando a sociedade civil iraniana?

O presente trabalho visa analisar quais os efeitos das sanções impostas pelos Estados Unidos da América, União Europeia e Conselho de Segurança das Nações Unidas contra a sociedade civil da República Islâmica do Irã. Inicialmente será abordado o histórico da construção das sanções, observando como se deu a relação entre os EUA e o Irã após 1979 até a imposição das mais recentes sanções, com ênfase no período pós-2009, época que apresenta uma mudança no comportamento das entidades sancionadoras. Vê-se que a política norte-americana para o Irã sempre foi baseada na dualidade entre diálogo e pressões econômicas, sendo este ultimo utilizado como ferramenta para desenvolvimento do primeiro. Em seguida se analisará todo o arcabouço jurídico construído com vistas a restringir a capacidade econômica iraniana e consequentemente sua capacidade de desenvolver seu programa nuclear. Neste capitulo é observada a amplitude que alcançaram as sanções e como estas buscam apesar de tudo gerar mecanismos de alivio a sociedade civil, deixando transparecer um discurso humanitário. O ultimo capitulo terá como ênfase os impactos das sanções na sociedade civil, nele será demonstrado que apesar das exceções legislativas, a população iraniana tem sido amplamente afetada. Através da analise de depoimentos e de noticias de periódicos serão vistas quais foram esses impactos e sua extensão. Por fim faremos um breve balanço do que fora apresentado, refletindo se quais os resultados alcançados pelas sanções e se eles superam os custos sociais impostos a população iraniana.

Cardiopulmonary and acid-base effects of desflurane and sevoflurane in spontaneously breathing cats

The cardiopulmonary effects of desflurane and sevoflurane anesthesia were compared in cats breathing spontaneously. Heart (HR) and respiratory (RR) rates; systolic (SAP), diastolic (DAP) and mean arterial (MAP) pressures; partial pressure of end tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO(2)), arterial blood pH (pH), arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO(2)) and carbon dioxide (PaCO(2)); base deficit (BD), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) and bicarbonate ion concentration (HCO(3)) were measured. Anesthesia was induced with propofol (8 +/- 2.3 mg/kg IV) and maintained with desflurane (GD) or sevoflurane (GS), both at 1.3 MAC. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the Tukey test (P < 0.05). Both anesthetics showed similar effects. HR and RR decreased when compared to the basal values, but remained constant during inhalant anesthesia and PETCO(2) increased with time. Both anesthetics caused acidemia and hypercapnia, but BD stayed within normal limits. Therefore, despite reducing HR and SAP (GD) when compared to the basal values, desflurane and sevoflurane provide good stability of the cardiovascular parameters during a short period of inhalant anesthesia (T20-T60). However, both volatile anesthetics cause acute respiratory acidosis in cats breathing spontaneously. (c) 2004 ESFM and AAFP. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cardiovascular effects of desflurane following acute hemorrhage in dogs

Objective: To determine the cardiovascular effects of desflurane in dogs following acute hemorrhage.Design: Experimental study.Animals: Eight mix breed dogs.Interventions: Hemorrhage was induced by withdrawal of blood until mean arterial pressure (MAP) dropped to 60 mmHg in conscious dogs. Blood pressure was maintained at 60 mmHg for 1 hour by further removal or replacement of blood. Desflurane was delivered by facemask until endotracheal intubation could be performed and a desflurane expiratory end-tidal concentration of 10.5 V% was maintained.Measurements and main results: Systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure (SAP, DAP and MAP), central venous pressure (CVP), cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), cardiac index (0), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood (PaCO2), and arterial pH were recorded before and 60 minutes after hemorrhage, and 5, 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after intubation. Sixty minutes after hemorrhage, SAP, DAP, MAP, CVP, CO, Cl, SV, PaCO2, and arterial pH decreased, and HR and RR increased when compared with baselines values. Immediately after intubation, MAP and arterial pH decreased, and PaCO2 increased. Fifteen minutes after intubation SAP, DAP, MAP, arterial pH, and SVR decreased. At 30 and 45 minutes, MAP and DAP remained decreased and PaCO2 increased, compared with values measured after hemorrhage. Arterial pH increased after 30 minutes of desflurane administration compared with values measured 5 minutes after intubation.Conclusions: Desflurane induced significant changes in blood pressure and arterial pH when administered to dogs following acute hemorrhage.

Continuous infusion of ketamine in hypovolemic dogs anesthetized with desflurane

Objective: To evaluate the cardiorespiratory effects of continuous infusion of ketamine in hypovolemic dogs anesthetized with desflurane.Design: A prospective experimental study.Animals: Twelve mixed breed dogs allocated into 2 groups: saline (n=6) and ketamine (n=6).Interventions: After obtaining baseline measurements (time [T] 0) in awake dogs, hypovolemia was induced by the removal of 40 mL of blood/kg over 30 minutes. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with desflurane (1.5 minimal alveolar concentration) and 30 minutes later (T75) a continuous intravenous (IV) infusion of saline or ketamine (100 mu g/kg/min) was initiated. Cardiorespiratory evaluations were obtained 15 minutes after hemorrhage (T45), 30 minutes after desflurane anesthesia, and immediately before initiating the infusion (T75), and 5 (T80), 15 (T90), 30 (T105) and 45 (T120) minutes after beginning the infusion.Measurements and main results: Hypovolemia (T45) reduced the arterial blood pressures (systolic arterial pressure, diastolic arterial pressure [DAP] and mean arterial pressure [MAP]), cardiac (CI) and systolic (SI) indexes, and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) in both groups. After 30 minutes of desflurane anesthesia (T75), an additional decrease of MAP in both groups was observed, heart rate was higher than T0 at T75, T80, T90 and T105 in saline-treated dogs only, and the CI was higher in the ketamine group than in the saline group at T75. Five minutes after starting the infusion (T80), respiratory rate (RR) was lower and the end-tidal CO(2) (ETCO(2)) was higher compared with values at T45 in ketamine-treated dogs. Mean values of ETCO(2) were higher in ketamine than in saline dogs between T75 and T120. The systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) was decreased between T80 and T120 in ketamine when compared with T45.Conclusions: Continuous IV infusion of ketamine in hypovolemic dogs anesthetized with desflurane induced an increase in ETCO(2), but other cardiorespiratory alterations did not differ from those observed when the same concentration of desflurane was used as the sole anesthetic agent. However, this study did not evaluate the effectiveness of ketamine infusion in reducing desflurane dose requirements in hypovolemic dogs or the cardiorespiratory effects of ketamine-desflurane balanced anesthesia.

Avaliação hemodinâmica e metabólica da cetamina e cetamina S(+) após a reposição volêmica com hidroxietilamido 130/0,4 e solução salina hipertônica 7,5%

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Some cardiopulmonary effects of sevoflurane in crested caracara (Caracara plancus)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

CARDIORESPIRATORY EFFECTS of ISOFLURANE ANESTHESIA IN CRESTED CARACARAS (CARACARA PLANCUS)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)