Influence of Diabetes on Implant Failure and Peri-Implant Diseases: A Retrospective Study

Diabetes is an important modifying factor of periodontitis, but its association with peri-implant diseases has not been fully explored and the existing literature reports controversial results. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the influence of diabetes on peri-implantitis and implant failure. Smoking status, history of periodontal disease, presence of diabetes, diabetes type, therapy and glycaemia levels were collected in a total of 204 subjects treated with 929 implants, with a mean follow-up time of 5.7 \ub1 3.82 years after loading. Odds ratio (OR) for diabetes as a direct cause of peri-implantitis and implant failure were calculated, adjusted for smoking status and history of periodontitis. Nineteen patients were diabetic and most of them presented a good control of the disease at the time of surgery. The overall patient-level prevalence of peri-implantitis was 11.3%. Among diabetic patients, one developed peri-implantitis, whereas one experienced multiple implant failures. The calculated ORs, adjusted for smoking status and periodontitis, were not statistically significant. The results revealed no association between diabetes and peri-implantitis or implant failure coherently with the existing scientific literature. The actual influence of hyperglycemia on implant failure is still uncertain and new studies with larger cohorts of patients are needed

Parental Mentalizing during Middle Childhood: How Is the Adoption of a Reflective Stance Associated with Child’s Psychological Outcomes?

This exploratory cross-sectional study attempts to understand the mechanisms underlying the role of parental mentalizing in a child’s psychological functioning during middle childhood by using Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF) and Parental Insightfulness (PI) constructs. The main aims are to examine the role of PI and PRF as processes capable of influencing a child’s psychological functioning in terms of emotional–behavioral difficulties and social–emotional competencies. Eighty-six community parents (48 mothers, 38 fathers) and their 50 children in middle childhood (Mage = 10.10, SD = 1.13) participated in this study, recruited through a non-probabilistic sampling. The following measures were used to assess the aims of this study: Insightfulness Assessment, Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire, Child Behavior Check-list (CBCL) and Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA) questionnaires. Results showed that parental mentalizing was found to be significantly associated with both child’s internalizing and externalizing symptoms and social–emotional competencies as reported by parents through the CBCL and DESSA questionnaires. This study may offer a contribution to the study of parental mentalizing during middle childhood, supporting the hypothesis that both parents’ ability to understand their child’s mental states could affect the child’s psychological functioning. Clinical and theoretical implications are geared toward a family-based view with a specific focus on the importance of fostering in both parents a positive attitude toward mentalizing processes

Sugarcane cultivars present differential susceptibility to herbicides ametryn and trifloxysulfuron-sodium.

Weed management in Brazilian sugarcane fields is accomplished mainly with herbicides. These chemical products may negatively impact sugarcane growth and development. Therefore, we aimed this study to evaluate the influence of the selective herbicides ametryn, trifloxysulfurom-sodium and its commercially available mixture on the growth of sugarcane cultivars. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse condition in a completely randomized design, using a 3×3×4 factorial scheme with four replications. Factor A comprised sugarcane cultivars (SP80-1816, RB855113 and RB867515); factor B herbicides ametryn (Metrimex®), trifloxysulfuron-sodium (Envoke®) and its mixture (Krismat®), and factor C the doses (0.0, 0.5x, 1.0x and 3.0x the label dose), where 1.0x dose= 2,000gha-1 for ametryn; 22.5gha-1 for trifloxysulfuron-sodium and 1, 463+37.0gha-1 for the mixture. Crop toxicity was assessed 28 days after herbicide application and traits such as plant height, number of leaves per plant, stalk diameter, leaf area index, specific leaf area and crop growth rate were assessed 80 days after crop emergence. The results showed that trifloxysulfuron-sodium causes lower impact on all variables; therefore, being more selective to all cultivars. The label dose (1.0x), equivalent to 2,000 gha-1 of ametryn and 22.5 gha-1 of trifloxysulfuron- sodium is considered as a threshold between deficient weed control (in lower doses) and excessive crop toxicity (in higher doses). RB867515 and RB855113, respectively, were the most and least tolerant cultivars to both herbicides. In highly infested planting fields, farmers usually prefer to grow the most tolerant sugarcane cultivar when applying ametryn or trifloxysulfurom sodium

Microstructure development in blended cements made with medium-grade calcined kaolinitic clays: effect on durability indicators

El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar la influencia del ordenamiento estructural de la caolinita presente en arcillas de mediano grado, calcinadas y molidas, en el desarrollo de la microestructura de pastas y su efecto en los indicadores de durabilidad. Para esto se utilizaron tres arcillas caoliníticas, luego se elaboraron cementos mezcla conteniendo 25% de arcillas calcinadas. Se estudió la evolución de la microestructura en pastas utilizando DRX, DTA/TG y MIP. Se determinaron dos indicadores de durabilidad en morteros a 28 días: velocidad de succión capilar y coeficiente de difusión de vapor de agua. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que, para arcillas con similar contenido de caolinita, la estructura desordenada de la caolinita favorecerá la resistencia al transporte de agua (menor volumen de poros con diámetro mayor a 60 nm), y no será favorable para el transporte de vapor de agua (mayor volumen de poros con diámetro menor a 30 nm).The objective of this work is to evaluate the influence of the structural arrangement of kaolinite present in medium grade clays, calcined and ground, on the development of the microstructure of pastes and its effect on durability indicators. For this purpose, three kaolinitic clays were used, then blended cements containing 25% of calcined clays were elaborated. The evolution of the microstructure in pastes was studied using XRD, DTA/TG and MIP. Two durability indicators were determined in mortars at 28 days: capillary suction velocity and water vapor diffusion coefficient. The results obtained show that, for clays with similar kaolinite content, the disordered structure of kaolinite will favor resistance to water transport (smaller pore volume with diameter greater than 60 nm) and will not be favorable for water vapor transport (larger pore volume with diameter less than 30 nm).Centro de Tecnología de Recursos Minerales y Cerámic

Utilización de caolín calcinado como puzolana: determinación de la temperatura óptima de calcinación

La utilización de puzolanas como reemplazo parcial del cemento contribuye al aumento de la resistencia y durabilidad de los morteros, a la vez que disminuye el impacto ambiental. El caolín calcinado puede ser utilizado como puzolana. En este trabajo se analizó la utilización de un caolín procedente de La Rioja, Argentina, con el fin de determinar la temperatura óptima a utilizar durante la calcinación del mismo para maximizar su reactividad con Ca(OH)₂, posicionándolo como una buena puzolana. Para esto se realizaron estudios cinéticos que permitieron obtener valores de constantes de velocidad de reacción, los cuales fueron utilizados para seleccionar la mejor temperatura de calcinación, resultando la misma de 700ºC.Centro de Tecnología de Recursos Minerales y Cerámic

Hybrid fibroin/polyurethane small-diameter vascular grafts: from fabrication to in vivo preliminary assessment

To address the need of alternatives to autologous vessels for small-calibre vascular applications (e.g. cardiac surgery), a bio-hybrid semi-degradable material composed of silk fibroin (SF) and polyurethane (Silkothane (R)) was herein used to fabricate very small-calibre grafts (o(in) = 1.5 mm) via electrospinning. Bio-hybrid grafts were in vitro characterized in terms of morphology and mechanical behaviour, and compared to similar grafts of pure SF. Similarly, two native vessels from a rodent model (abdominal aorta and vena cava) were harvested and characterized. Preliminary implants were performed on Lewis rats to confirm the suitability of Silkothane (R) grafts for small-calibre applications, specifically as aortic insertion and femoral shunt. The manufacturing process generated pliable grafts consisting of a randomized fibrous mesh and exhibiting similar geometrical features to rat aortas. Both Silkothane (R) and pure SF grafts showed radial compliances in the range from 1.37 +/- 0.86 to 1.88 +/- 1.01% 10(-2) mmHg(-1), lower than that of native vessels. The Silkothane (R) small-calibre devices were also implanted in rats demonstrating to be adequate for vascular applications; all the treated rats survived the surgery for three months after implantation, and 16 rats out of 17 (94%) still showed blood flow inside the graft at sacrifice. The obtained results lay the basis for a deeper investigation of the interaction between the Silkothane (R) graft and the implant site, which may deal with further analysis on the potentialities in terms of degradability and tissue formation, on longer time-points

Blended Cements Elaborated with Kaolinitic Calcined Clays

In the clinker production process, the main component of Portland cement (PC), large amount of CO2 are emitted into the atmosphere. The use of calcined kaolinitic clays as supplementary material of cement is an alternative to mitigate the environmental impact. In this paper, the influence of the replacement of PC by two calcined kaolinitic clays (15 and 30%), with high content of metakaolinite and different reactivity was studied. Calcined kaolinitic clays were characterized, the pozzolanic activity using Frattini test, the compressive strength, rate of water absorption (sorptivity), the assemblage of hydration products and the pore size distribution were determined at 28 days. The results show that the replacement of high percentage (30%) of very reactive clays improves the mechanical behavior and durable parameters compared with those obtained for plain PC.Centro de Tecnología de Recursos Minerales y Cerámic