The Use Of Lasers For Direct Pulp Capping

Direct pulp capping helps extend the life of a diseased tooth by maintaining tooth vitality. Nowadays, lasers are more frequently used during direct pulp capping in the clinic, but their use has not been previously reviewed. This review presents the basic properties of currently available lasers, scientific evidence on the effects of laser application on direct pulp capping, and future directions for this technology. An extensive literature search was conducted in various databases for articles published up to January 2015. Original in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies, reviews, and book chapters published in English were included. Various laser systems have been increasingly and successfully applied in direct pulp capping. Lasers offer excellent characteristics in terms of hemostasis and decontamination for field preparation during direct pulp capping treatment; however, the sealing of exposed pulp with one of the dental materials, such as calcium hydroxide, mineral trioxide aggregates, and bonded composite resins, is still required after laser treatment. Clinicians should consider the characteristics of each wavelength, the emission mode, irradiation exposure time, power, type of laser tip, and the distance between the laser tip and the surface being irradiated

A primary aorto-duodenal fistula associated with an inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm: a case report.

Primary aorto-enteric fistula (PAEF)is a serious complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm(AAA). We report a patient with PAEF associated with inflammatory AAA who underwent emergent surgery. A 52-year-old male presented with recurrent hematemesis. A computer tomography scan showed a sealed rupture of the AAA adjacent to the duodenum. At surgery, a coin-sized PAEF was noted. The aorta was replaced with a Dacron graft in situ . Histological examination revealed the characteristics of an inflammatory AAA. The postoperative course was uneventful, and there has been no evidence of infection during a follow-up period of 3 years. We discuss the etiologic and surgical considerations regarding this unusual entity.</p

Orthotopic ileal neobladder versus sigmoidal neobladder: a "quality of life" (QOL) survey

To compare the quality of life (QOL) in patients with ileal neobladder and sigmoidal neobladder, a retrospective survey was conducted using a formulated questionnaire. Between January and March 1999, a QOL survey was conducted using self-administered questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30, IPSS, supplemented with detailed questionnaires about continence, sexual function, and patient’s satisfaction with the selected urinary diversion method) for 78 patients with orthotopic urinary reservoir (OUR) who were followed-up for more than 3 months after cystectomy. Among 78 patients, 63 had OUR using an ileal segment (male/female&#65309;59/4, median age: 70.8 years old, median follow-up: 1.7 years). Fifteen patients had OUR using a sigmoidal segment (male/female&#65309;13/2, median age: 71.9, median follow-up: 3.9). The QLQ-C30 functional evaluation and the items in relation to sexual function showed no diff erences between the 2 groups. Concerning the voiding condition, bladder emptying, frequency, and urgency, scores in the sigmoidal OUR group were signifi cantly higher. The QOL score concerning voiding conditions, daytime, and nighttime continence and quantity of pad showed a better score in the ileal OUR group. Concerning the satisfaction with methods of urinary diversion, patients in the sigmoidal OUR group expressed less satisfaction than their preoperative expectations. Considering several postoperative voiding conditions, ileal OUR seems superior to sigmoidal OUR

Aortic stiffness is strikingly increased with age ≥50 years in clinically normal individuals and preclinical patients with cardiovascular risk factors: Assessment by the new technique of 2D strain echocardiography

SummaryBackgroundVarious measures of aortic stiffness have been proposed as cardiovascular risk markers, but interest has now shifted to more direct and easier evaluation of aortic function. The present study was conducted to determine the feasibility of measuring aortic stiffness (β) with two-dimensional (2D) strain echocardiography and the impact of age and gender on preclinical atherosclerosis.Methods and resultsThe peak circumferential strain of the abdominal aorta was measured using 2D strain echocardiography, and β was determined in 54 clinically normal individuals and 104 patients with cardiovascular risk factors and no evidence of cardiovascular disease. The β correlated significantly with age in all 158 patients. However, the relationship was nonlinear, and β was markedly greater in patients ≥50 years. In 54 clinically normal individuals, the relationship was comparatively linear. The systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure were significantly greater in patients ≥50 years. There were no significant differences in β and blood pressure parameters between genders.ConclusionsThe β increased dramatically with advanced age (≥50 years), regardless of gender, in clinically healthy and community-based patients with cardiovascular risk factors. The aortic circumferential strain was measured with 2D strain echocardiography which is a new tool that can be used to directly and easily evaluate aortic stiffness

Schizencephaly and Porencephaly Due to Fetal Intracranial Hemorrhage: A Report of Two Cases

Schizencephaly and porencephaly are extremely rare types of cortical dysplasia. Case 1: Prenatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed wide clefts in the frontal and parietal lobes bilaterally. On postnatal day 3, MRI T2-weighted images showed multiple hypointensities in the clefts and ventricular walls, suggestive of hemosiderosis secondary to intracranial hemorrhage. Case 2: Prenatal MRI showed bilateral cleft and cyst formation in the fetal cerebrum, as well as calcification and hemosiderosis indicative of past hemorrhage. T2-weighted images showed hypointensities in the same regions as the calcification, corresponding with hemosiderosis due to intracranial hemorrhage on postnatal day 10. Thus, prenatal MRI was useful for diagnosing schizencephaly and porencephaly. Schizencephaly and porencephaly were thought to be due to fetal intracranial hemorrhage, which, in the porencephaly case, may have been related to a mutation of COL4A1

Laser-induced-fluorescence measurement of thermal conductivity in warm dense matter generated by pulsed-power discharge

Thermal conductivity in warm dense matter is one of the interests for thermonuclear fusion scenarios. Alternative inertial confinement fusion, which is a fast ignition with applied magnetic field [1], has been considered to improve the coupling efficiency. The target behavior of the fast ignition with applied magnetic field depends on the anisotropic thermal conductivity. The magnetic confinement fusion (MCF) [2] Up to now, the heat load on the divertor in previous MCF systems has been unreached parameter. Thus, to predict properties of the divertor under these heat loads, several experiments have been performed using several methods[3-6]. To predict the performance of the tungsten divertor in MCF, we should analyze not only metallurgical properties but also thermophysical properties of ablated tungsten..

Anterior urethral recurrence of superficial bladder cancer: its clinical significance.

The aim of this study was to reveal the clinical features of anterior urethral recurrence in patients with superficial bladder cancer, and to determine the appropriate treatment. Three hundred and three patients with superficial bladder cancer, who were newly diagnosed and initially treated conservatively in our hospital between 1965 and 1990, were followed for at least 5 years and their clinical outcomes were analyzed. Clinical factors, including anterior urethral recurrence, were evaluated statistically regarding tumor progression. Eight patients (2.6%) had anterior urethral recurrence following superficial bladder cancer. Twenty-four patients (7.9%) had tumor progression and 149 (49.2%) had tumor recurrence. In a multivariate analysis using a logistic model, anterior urethral recurrence was the most important factor, followed by histological grade. Four of 5 patients who were treated for anterior urethral recurrent tumors by transurethral resection showed progression and died of the cancer within one year. Two of the remaining three patients who underwent radical cysto-urethrectomy at the time of anterior urethral recurrence survived. Anterior urethral recurrence following superficial bladder cancer is a predictor for rapid subsequent malignant progression. Once there is anterior urethral recurrence, radical intensive therapy, including radical cysto-urethrectomy, should be carried out immediately.</p