Clinical evaluation of root filled teeth restored with or without post-and-core systems in a specialist practice setting

AIM: To assess survival rates and complications of root-filled teeth restored with or without post-and-core systems over a mean observation period of >or=4 years. METHODOLOGY: A total of 325 single- and multirooted teeth in 183 subjects treated in a private practice were root filled and restored with either a cast post-and-core or with a prefabricated titanium post and composite core. Root-filled teeth without post-retained restorations served as controls. The restored teeth served as abutments for single unit metal-ceramic or composite crowns or fixed bridges. Teeth supporting cantilever bridges, overdentures or telescopic crowns were excluded. RESULTS: Seventeen teeth in 17 subjects were lost to follow-up (17/325: 5.2%). The mean observation period was 5.2 +/- 1.8 (SD) years for restorations with titanium posts, 6.2 +/- 2.0 (SD) years for cast post-and-cores and 4.4 +/- 1.7 (SD) years for teeth without posts. Overall, 54% of build-ups included the incorporation of a titanium post and 26.5% the cementation of a cast post-and-core. The remaining 19.5% of the teeth were restored without intraradicular retention. The adjusted 5-year tooth survival rate amounted to 92.5% for teeth restored with titanium posts, to 97.1% for teeth restored with cast post-and-cores and to 94.3% for teeth without post restorations, respectively. The most frequent complications included root fracture (6.2%), recurrent caries (1.9%), post-treatment periradicular disease (1.6%) and loss of retention (1.3%). CONCLUSION: Provided that high-quality root canal treatment and restorative protocols are implemented, high survival and low complication rates of single- and multirooted root-filled teeth used as abutments for fixed restorations can be expected after a mean observation period of >or=4 years.

Platelet chemokines and their receptors: what is their relevance to platelet storage and transfusion practice?

The role of platelets as inflammatory cells is demonstrated by the fact that they can release many growth factors and inflammatory mediators, including chemokines, when they are activated. The best known platelet chemokine family members are platelet factor 4 (PF4) and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG), which are synthesized in megakaryocytes, stored as preformed proteins in alpha-granules and released from activated platelets. However, platelets also contain many other chemokines such as interleukin-8 (IL-8), growth-regulating oncogene-alpha(GRO-alpha), epithelial neutrophil-activating protein 78 (ENA-78), regulated on activation normal T expressed and secreted (RANTES), macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha), and monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (MCP-3). They also express chemokine receptors such as CCR4, CXCR4, CCR1 and CCR3. Platelet activation is a feature of many inflammatory diseases such as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and congestive heart failure. Substantial amounts of PF4, beta-TG and RANTES are released from platelets on activation, which may occur during storage. Although very few data are available on the in vivo effects of transfused chemokines, it has been suggested that the high incidence of adverse reactions often observed after platelet transfusions may be attributed to the chemokines present in the plasma of stored platelet concentrates.

Energiebetrachtung beim Lager- und Kommissioniervorgang

Ziel der ganzheitlichen Betrachtung der Umweltaspekte von Fördermitteln im Lager- und Kommissi-oniervorgang ist über den vollständigen Lebenszyklus Aussagen über Umweltauswirkungen zu treffen. Speziell für die Nutzungsphase werden am IFL analytische Energiebedarfsmodelle für die unterschiedlichen Fördermittel entwickelt. Deren Potential besteht v. a. darin, den aktuellen Stand heutiger Energieeffizienzmaßnahmen abzubilden und das Energieeinsparpotenzial zukünftiger Energiesparmaßnahmen abzuleiten.

Konzeptionierung und Durchsatzanalyse eines ULD-Shuttlelagers

Die Ein- und Auslagerung von Flugfrachtcontainern wird bisher üblicherweise mit Hilfe von entsprechend dimensionierten Regalbediengeräten vorgenommen. Shuttle-Systeme besitzen auch in diesem Bereich Vorteile, wie z. B. eine höhere Energieeffizienz und eine hohe Redundanz. Es wird ein Konzept zur Gestaltung eines solchen Systems vorgestellt. Ebenso wird die Leistungsfähigkeit entsprechender Lager über eine Materialflusssimulation bestimmt.

Das prognosebasierte Reservierungsverfahren - ein Ansatz zur Reduzierung der mittleren Fahrzeit in einer Regalfläche

Die neu entwickelte Belegungsstrategie basiert auf prognostizierten Verweildauern (VWD) und Zwischenankunftszeiten der Ladeeinheiten (LE) des Sortiments. Für jede Ladeeinheit, die im Lager ankommt wird berechnet, wie viele Ladeeinheiten während der Verweildauer dieser aktuellen Ladeeinheit voraussichtlich ankommen und das Lager auch in diesem VWD-Zeitraum wieder verlassen. In Abhängigkeit der aktuellen Lagerbelegung werden für die in dem Zeitraum ankommenden Ladeeinheiten Lagerfächer reserviert und erst anschließend die eingehende Ladeeinheit in das fahrzeitgünstigste, freie und nicht reservierte Lagerfach eingelagert. Eine zusätzliche Berücksichtigung des Energiebedarfes für die Ein- und Auslagerung ist möglich. Das prognosebasierte Reservierungsverfahren wurde neben den gängigen Belegungsstrategien in einem parametrisierbaren Simulationsmodell umgesetzt. Die Belegungsstrategien wurden anhand verschiedener Szenarien getestet und verglichen. Ein zusätzlich entwickelter Benchmark gibt Auskunft über die Qualität der Simulationsergebnisse.

Information provision and information needs in adult survivors of childhood cancer

BACKGROUND Knowledge about their past medical history is central for childhood cancer survivors to ensure informed decisions in their health management. Knowledge about information provision and information needs in this population is still scarce. We thus aimed to assess: (1) the information survivors reported to have received on disease, treatment, follow-up, and late effects; (2) their information needs in these four domains and the format in which they would like it provided; (3) the association with psychological distress and quality of life (QoL). PROCEDURE As part of the Follow-up survey of the Swiss Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, we sent a questionnaire to all survivors (≥18 years) who previously participated to the baseline survey, were diagnosed with cancer after 1990 at an age of <16 years. RESULTS Most survivors had received oral information only (on illness: oral: 82%, written: 38%, treatment: oral: 79%, written: 36%; follow-up: oral: 77%, written: 23%; late effects: oral: 68%, written: 14%). Most survivors who had not previously received any information rated it as important, especially information on late effects (71%). A large proportion of survivors reported current information needs and would like to receive personalized information especially on late effects (44%). Survivors with higher information needs reported higher psychological distress and lower QoL. CONCLUSIONS Survivors want to be more informed especially on possible late effects, and want to receive personalized information. Improving information provision, both qualitatively and quantitatively, will allow survivors to have better control of their health and to become better decision makers. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:312-318. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.