Ex. 279-US-415

A report on the status of three Lacustrine Sucker species (catostomidae)

Ex. 279-US-415

A report on the status of three Lacustrine Sucker species (catostomidae)

Ex. 277-US-413

A report on the status of three Lacustrine Sucker species (catostomidae)

Ex. 280-US-405

A report on the status of three Lacustrine Sucker species (catostomidae)

Ex. 277-US-413

A report on the status of three Lacustrine Sucker species (catostomidae)

ニホンゴ キョウイク : ニホンゴ ケンシュウ コース ダイガクイン ニュウガクマエ ヨビ キョウイク

A report on the status of three Lacustrine Sucker species (catostomidae)

Randomized controlled pilot study comparing small buccal defects around dental implants treated with a subepithelial connective tissue graft or with guided bone regeneration

AIM To compare subepithelial connective tissue grafts (SCTG) versus guided bone regeneration (GBR) for the treatment of small peri-implant dehiscence defects in terms of profilometric (primary outcome), clinical, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). METHODS Sixteen patients who presented with small buccal bone dehiscences (≤3 mm) following single implant placement were recruited. Following implant placement, buccal bone defect sites were randomly treated either with a SCTG or GBR. Six patients who lacked bone dehiscences after implant placement were assigned to a negative control. Transmucosal healing was applied in all patients. Patients were examined prior (T1) and after (T2) implant placement, at suture removal (T3), at implant impression (T5), at crown delivery (T6), and 12 (T7) months after crown delivery. Measurements included profilometric outcomes, marginal bone levels, buccal bone and soft tissue thickness, PROMs, and clinical parameters. All data were analyzed descriptively. RESULTS The median changes in buccal contour as assessed by profilometric measures between T1 and T5 showed a decrease of 1.84 mm for the SCTG group and 1.06 mm for the GBR group. Between T2 and T7, the median change in the buccal contour amounted to 0.45 mm for SCTG and -0.94 mm (=loss) for GBR. Patients' pain perception tended to be higher in SCTG than in GBR. All peri-implant soft tissue parameters showed healthy oral tissues and no clinically relevant differences between groups. CONCLUSION Within the limitations of this pilot study, treating small peri-implant dehiscence defects with a SCTG might be a viable alternative to GBR. The use of a SCTG tended to result in more stable profilometric outcomes and comparable clinical outcomes to GBR. However, patient-reported outcome measures tended to favor GBR

Histologic analyses of flapless ridge preservation in sockets with buccal dehiscence defects using two alloplastic bone graft substitutes

OBJECTIVES To investigate whether one of two synthetic bone substitute materials used for ridge preservation in the extraction sockets with buccal dehiscence defects was superior regarding new bone formation and ridge preservation and to compare it to sites left for spontaneous healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS In sixteen dogs, P3 and P4 were hemi-sectioned and the respective distal roots were extracted. Following the preparation of a mucoperiosteal flap without vertical releasing incisions, 50% of the buccal bone was carefully removed. The extraction sites were randomly assigned either to a ridge preservation procedure (alloplastic bone substitute material (two test groups)) or to spontaneous healing (control group). Descriptive histology and histomorphometric analyses were performed at healing times of 4, 8, and 16 weeks. In case of homogeneous variances, the results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's post-hoc test. If inhomogeneous, the data was analyzed using Welch-type ANOVA, followed by the Games-Howell post-hoc test. RESULTS The use of bone substitute material led to significantly greater horizontal dimensions amounting to 3.3 mm (SD = 0.67; test 1) and 3.5 mm (SD = 0.72; test 2) compared to spontaneous healing (1.7 mm, SD = 0.23) at 16 weeks of healing (p  0.05). The final ridge profile was more favorable after ridge preservation (p < 0.001) as demonstrated by a loss of 28.8% (spontaneous healing) and an increase in both test groups at 16 weeks (test 1 = 60.5% and test 2 = 31.2%). CONCLUSIONS The use of alloplastic materials rendered greater horizontal dimensions and a more favorable maintenance of the ridge profile. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Alloplastic bone substitute materials can successfully be used for ridge preservation procedures

Soft tissue contour changes at implant sites with or without soft tissue grafting in the esthetic zone: A retrospective case-control study with a 12-year follow-up

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the volumetric changes and peri-implant health at implant sites with and without previous soft tissue grafting over a 12-year observation period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients received dental implants and simultaneously guided bone regeneration in the esthetic zone (15-25) for dental rehabilitation. Three months following implant placement, 8 patients (test) received an additional subepithelial connective tissue graft, whereas 10 patients (control) did not receive any additional treatment. One week after prothesis delivery and at the 5 and 12 years follow-up examination, impressions were taken. Obtained casts were processed for profilometric and linear analyses. The mean distance (MD) in the mid-buccal area between the two surfaces was considered the primary outcome. Peri-implant health was assessed based on clinical and radiographic data. RESULTS: Nine female and 7 male patients were re-assessed after a median follow-up time of 144.5 months (Min: 114.8; Max: 213.0). The median reduction of MD amounted to -0.81 mm (Min: -1.39; Max: 0.52) in the test group and -0.56 mm (Min: -0.93; Max: 0.11) in the control group, (intergroup comparison p = .607, CI 95%: -0.760/0.530). None of the implants was diagnosed with peri-implantitis. Six tests and two control implants were diagnosed with peri-implant mucositis (p = .103). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limited number of included patients, similar results in terms of volumetric, linear changes, and peri-implant conditions could be detected at implant sites with or without soft tissue grafting over a period of 12 years

Tissue integration and biodegradation of soft tissue substitutes with and without compression: an experimental study in the rat

OBJECTIVES To analyze the influence of compression on tissue integration and degradation of soft tissue substitutes. MATERIAL AND METHODS Six subcutaneous pouches in twenty-eight rats were prepared and boxes made of Al$_{2}$O$_{3}$ were implanted and used as carriers for soft tissue substitutes: a collagen matrix (MG), two volume-stable collagen matrices (FG/MGA), and a polycaprolactone scaffold(E). The volume-stable materials (FG/MGA/E) were further implanted with a twofold (2) and a fourfold (4) compression, created by the stacking of additional layers of the substitute materials. The samples were retrieved at 1, 2, and 12 weeks (10 groups, 3 time points, n = 5 per time point and group, overall, 150 samples). The area fraction of infiltrated fibroblasts and inflammatory cells was evaluated histologically. Due to within-subject comparisons, mixed models were conducted for the primary outcome. The level of significance was set at 5%. RESULTS The area fraction of fibroblasts increased in all groups over time. At 12 weeks, the densely compressed materials FG4 (1.1%), MGA4 (1.7%), and MGA2 (2.5%) obtained lower values as compared to the other groups, ranging between 4.7 (E2) and 6.5% (MG). Statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were observed between groups FG4 vs MG/FG2/E/E4 as well as between MGA4 vs MG/FG2/E/E4 and E vs MGA2. CONCLUSIONS Higher levels of compression led to delayed tissue integration. The effect of different compression levels was more distinct when compared to the differences between the materials. CLINICAL RELEVANCE All biomaterials demonstrated tissue integration and a minimal concomitant inflammatory reaction. Clinically, it might be more favorable to obtain a sufficient flap release or to reduce the material size to improve the tissue integration processes