Comparison of Three Attachments in Implant-Tissue Supported Overdentures: An In Vitro Study

Objective: Retention and resistance of the implant-tissue supported overdenture may be affected by the type of attachment. The aim of this research was to compare the retention and resistance of Nobel Biocare Ball (NBB), Nobel Biocare Bar and Clip (NBBC) andSterngold ERA Red (ERAR) attachments on an implant-tissue supported overdenture model.Materials and Methods: The attachment samples were divided into 3 groups of NBB,NBBC, and ERAR (5 samples in each group). Two parallel Nobel Biocare Branemark implants were placed symmetrically at the symphysis region of a mandibular test model. A metallic overdenture was fabricated precisely adapted to the model and attached to aZwick testing machine (crosshead speed of 51 mm/min). Dislodging tensile forces were applied in three vertical, oblique, anterior-posterior directions and two situations, at the beginning and after 100 times of insertion/removal of the overdenture, for each sample.The maximum dislodging force was measured. A One-way ANOVA test was employed followed by Tukey’s test.Results: ERAR was the most retentive and resistant in both situations. NBB and NBBC showed the same anterior-posterior resistance at the beginning. All test groups representeda large amount of retention and resistance loss after the insertion/removal of the overdenture,while NBBC showed a higher loss of anterior-posterior resistance than NB.Conclusion: A highest level of retention and resistance was seen in ERAR. The retention and resistance were affected by the wear of attachments

Omalizumab for severe asthma: toward personalized treatment based on biomarker profile and clinical history

Farnaz Tabatabaian, Dennis K Ledford Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA Abstract: Asthma is a heterogeneous syndrome with numerous underlining molecular and inflammatory mechanisms contributing to the wide spectrum of clinical phenotypes. Multiple therapies targeting severe asthma with type 2 (T2) high inflammation are or soon will be available. T2 high inflammation is defined as inflammation associated with atopy or eosinophilia or an increase in cytokines associated with T-helper 2 lymphocytes. Omalizumab is a humanized anti-IgE monoclonal antibody and the first biologic therapy approved for moderate–severe allergic asthma. Despite the specificity of biologic therapies like omalizumab, clinical response is variable, with approximately 50% of treated patients achieving the primary outcome. A prior identification of the ideal candidate for therapy would improve patient outcomes and optimize the use of health care resources. As the number of biologic therapies for asthma increases, the goal is identification of biomarkers or clinical phenotypes likely to respond to a specific therapy. This review focuses on potential biomarkers and clinical history that may identify responders to omalizumab therapy for asthma. Keywords: severe persistent asthma, asthma phenotype and endotype, T2 high inflammation, omalizumab, asthma biomarkers, eosinophils, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, Ig

Clinical factors affecting the translucency of monolithic Y-TZP ceramics

The use of monolithic yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) ceramics in aesthetically critical regions is questionable because of the insufficient translucency and opacity of the restorations. Intrinsic (manufacturing process) and extrinsic factors (laboratory procedures and clinical factors) can affect the translucency of monolithic zirconia. In this narrative review, the clinical factors (thickness, cementation type, colour of the monolithic zirconia, surface finishing methods and wear, dental background, cement colour, low temperature degradation) affecting the translucency of monolithic Y-TZP ceramics were reported

Precision/Personalized Medicine in Allergic Diseases and Asthma

Like many other chronic diseases, every allergic patient has different characteristics based on clinical course, treatment responsiveness and disease outcomes, which are associated with the genetic and epigenetic control of molecular mechanisms and environment. This variability necessitates the establishment of patient-tailored and precision approaches in handling allergic disorders. Better understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms for the development of allergic disorders will provide more rationale strategies based on individual cases in controlling and treating these disorders. Endotyping, phenotyping, genotyping and theratyping, and biomarkers are keywords in this area and have been gaining lots of attention in the field of precision medicine, which aims to revolutionize patient care and develop better prevention and treatment strategies. In addition, precision health is a new concept that brings precise approaches to the scene for being healthy and prevention of allergic disease and asthma. The specialty of allergy has a leading role in the field, because allergen-specific immunotherapy started 105years ago, and is historically a leading personalized/precision medicine approach in all medicine disciplines providing the possibility of cure in an individualized manner instead of conventional symptomatic treatments