Influence of Rotation Speed of Mtwo Files on Root Canal Instrumentation Time with Different Canal Curvatures

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of rotation speed on the instrumentation time of root canals with different curvatures using Mtwo NiTi rotary instruments. Methods and Materials: Forty root canals were selected and divided into 2 groups, according to the angle of curvature (group A>30°, group B<30°). Both groups were divided into 2 subgroups (n=10), according to the rotational speed used for root canal instrumentation (150 rpm: group A1 and B1; 250 rpm: group A2 and B2). The total instrumentation time and the total number of instrumentation cycles (NCI) required to complete root canal preparation were registered for each canal. The mean and standard deviation were then calculated. Data were then statistically analyzed using two-way ANOVA and interaction effect P-values (P<0.05). Results: During root canal instrumentation, there were no file fractures. Total instrumentation time of the low speed groups A1 (150 rpm) and B1 (150 rpm) were significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of the high speed groups, A2 (250 rpm) and B2 (250 rpm); however, there was no statistically significant difference in terms of NCI between the different groups (P>0.05). Statistical difference was not found between the different angles of curvature, group A1 vs B1 and A2 vs B2 in terms of total instrumentation time (P>0.05) and NCI (P>0.05). Conclusions: This ex-vivo study showed that canal preparation with Mtwo rotary files could be completed safely with an increase of the instrumentation time at low rotational speed independently of the root canal curvature

Patients Specific Spine Simulators for Surgical Training and Rehearsal in Pedicle Screws Placement: A New Way for Surgical Education

In pedicle screws placement using a free-hand technique or a fluoroscopic guided technique the main difficulties are facing to the bone morphology (i.e in deformity cases) and it could be easily reproduced in a patient’s specific spine simulator (we can choose the case). The aim of this work is to evaluate the use of 3D printed patient- specific models (3D printing) not only as a surgical planning tool but also as a surgical training tool in spine surgery and in particular in pedicle screws placement. The manufacturing of patient-specific physical replica involves the elaboration of CT dataset and rapid prototyping techniques. . Five resident surgeons were involved in different training sessions on simulators. To evaluate the exact screws position we performed a CT evaluation of each instrumented simulators. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software. A total of 120 pedicle screws were positioned, 90 screws were well-positioned and 30 screws were bad-positioned. There were a significant difference (p = 0.000008) between the bad-positioning screw rate of the “senior” resident (13/72) and those of “young” participants (17/48). Timeline analysis of pedicle instrumentation training showed the presence of a learning effect, with a lower error rate in the latest session (p=000001). We believe that the use of patient- specific surgical simulators, especially for those surgical tasks in which the complexity is mainly linked to the spine morphology (i.e. deformity), may represent a valid alternative to the use of cadavers that generally present a standard or otherwise poorly predictable anatomy

Selective fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors as potential novel antiepileptic agents

Temporal lobe epilepsy is the most common form of epilepsy, and current antiepileptic drugs are ineffective in many patients. The endocannabinoid system has been associated with an on-demand protective response to seizures. Blocking endocannabinoid catabolism would elicit antiepileptic effects, devoid of psychotropic effects. We herein report the discovery of selective anandamide catabolic enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors with promising antiepileptic efficacy, starting from a further investigation of our prototypical inhibitor 2a. When tested in two rodent models of epilepsy, 2a reduced the severity of the pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus and the elongation of the hippocampal maximal dentate activation. Notably, 2a did not affect hippocampal dentate gyrus long-term synaptic plasticity. These data prompted our further endeavor aiming at discovering new antiepileptic agents, developing a new set of FAAH inhibitors (3a–m). Biological studies highlighted 3h and 3m as the best performing analogues to be further investigated. In cell-based studies, using a neuroblastoma cell line, 3h and 3m could reduce the oxinflammation state by decreasing DNA-binding activity of NF-kB p65, devoid of cytotoxic effect. Unwanted cardiac effects were excluded for 3h (Langendorff perfused rat heart). Finally, the new analogue 3h reduced the severity of the pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus as observed for 2a

The ⁶⁴Zn-based production route to ⁶⁴Cu β ^± emitter using accelerator-driven 14 MeV fusion neutrons

Abstract The development of personalized medicine is important to avoid unnecessary and expensive treatments. The theranostic approach is an established tool for specific molecular targeting, both for diagnostics and therapy. Radionuclides used for theranostic radiopharmaceuticals are typically produced in nuclear fission reactors or bio-medical cyclotrons. Here, an alternative route for producing an emerging theranostic radionuclide, namely 64Cu, is investigated by using 14 MeV fusion neutrons produced by the Frascati Neutron Generator (FNG) at the ENEA Frascati Research Centre. Samples of zinc (natural and 64Zn-enriched) were irradiated and characterized, in turn being measured at high-level metrological conditions, at the Radioactivity Laboratory of ENEA-INMRI located in Casaccia Research Centre. The results achieved in the experiments are presented and compared to those obtained by Monte Carlo simulations and previously published experimental data.</jats:p

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The development of personalized medicine is important to avoid unnecessary and expensive treatments. The theranostic approach is an established tool for specific molecular targeting, both for diagnostics and therapy. Radionuclides used for theranostic radiopharmaceuticals are typically produced in nuclear fission reactors or bio-medical cyclotrons. Here, an alternative route for producing an emerging theranostic radionuclide, namely 64Cu, is investigated by using 14 MeV fusion neutrons produced by the Frascati Neutron Generator (FNG) at the ENEA Frascati Research Centre. Samples of zinc (natural and 64Zn-enriched) were irradiated and characterized, in turn being measured at high-level metrological conditions, at the Radioactivity Laboratory of ENEA-INMRI located in Casaccia Research Centre. The results achieved in the experiments are presented and compared to those obtained by Monte Carlo simulations and previously published experimental data

Irrigant and intracanal medicament choices in routine endodontic practice: A cross-sectional survey of British general dentists

Introduction: Choices vary among clinicians due to personal preference or experience with disinfectants during clinical practice. Hence, the present survey aimed to evaluate the rationale behind the selection of endodontic irrigants and interappointment medications and to compare therapeutic approaches among British general dental practitioners (GDPs) with varying years of experience. Materials and Methods: A structured online questionnaire consisting of 14 questions was distributed to attendees at a dental conference in England via a QR code, along with a formal invitation to participate in the research. A sample size calculation determined the minimum required sample size of 377 GDPS from a population of 2356 British GDPs. To assess the impact of experience on disinfection protocols, clinicians were categorized by years of experience to better understand any generational differences in clinical concepts. The responses were analyzed using the Chi-square test (P < 0.05), with a 95% confidence level and a 5% margin of error. Results: Four hundred and twenty GDPs responded to the survey, representing 17.82% of the GDPs attending the conference. The results showed that sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is the most commonly used irrigant, with 96% (403) of respondents selecting it, and no significant differences were found between generational groups. Regarding the most important criteria for selecting an irrigant, 59.9% (243) of respondents considered NaOCl to be the most effective. Calcium hydroxide was the primary interappointment medication, used by 92.6% (389) of respondents. When grouped by years of experience, the only notable difference was in the duration for which medication remained in the root canal. Clinicians with more experience tended to leave the medication in the canal for longer periods. Conclusion: Experience was found to be the most significant factor in the choice of interappointment medication, whereas it had less influence on the selection of irrigants. The therapeutic approach varied more significantly between GDPs in different experience groups, suggesting that evolving materials and techniques in endodontics influence clinical protocols and the attitudes of practitioners

No Protective Effect of Acyclovir on HIV Disease Progression in a Cohort of Hsv-2–HIV-Infected Individuals

The efficacy of anti-herpetic drugs in decreasing HIV disease progression has not been clarified. We studied a cohort of 126 HIV-positive individuals with known date of seroconversion who were HSV-2-seropositive to determine if progression to AIDS was influenced by treatment with acyclovir. In the multivariate analysis, being homosexual and low CD4 count were associated with a faster progression to AIDS, whereas treatment with acyclovir showed a 37.0% protective effect compared to those who did not receive it when antiretroviral treatment was not included in the model. When including antiretroviral therapy, the protective effect of acyclovir decreased to 9.0% and that of antiretroviral therapy was 43.0% for monotherapy and 36.0% for double therapy, suggesting that most of the protective effect of acyclovir in the previous model was due to antiretroviral therapy. In conclusion, treatment with acyclovir does not seem to prolong significantly survival to AIDS among HIV-positive individuals who are HSV-2-infected. </jats:p