Comparative In Vitro Evaluation of the Primary Stability in D3 Synthetic Bone of Two Different Shapes and Pitches of the Implant Threads

Background: Implant primary stability can be affected by several factors related to implant macrogeometry, local anatomy, and surgical techniques. The aim of this research was to study primary stability on polyurethane foam sheets of wide‐threaded implant design compared to narrow‐threaded implants. Materials and methods: Two different implant designs were positioned on D3 density polyurethane blocks in a standardized environment: the wide‐threaded implant and the narrow‐threaded implant, for a total of 160 specimens. Moreover, for each group, two different sizes were considered: 3.8mm × 12mm and 4.8mm × 12 mm. The insertion torque (IT) values, the removal strength (RT), and the Periotest analyses were evaluated. Results: A significantly higher IT and RT was reported for wide‐threaded implants and two‐stage implants (p < 0.01), compared to the narrow‐threaded implants. The diameters seemed to provide a significant effect on the primary stability for both implants’ geometry (p < 0.01). A higher mean of the one‐stage implant was evident in the Periotest measurements (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Both of the implants showed sufficient stability in polyurethane artificial simulation, while the wide‐threaded implant design showed a higher primary stability on alveolar cancellous synthetic bone in vitro. Additionally, the prosthetic joint connection seemed to have a determinant effect on Periotest analysis, and the one‐stage implants seemed to provide a high stability of the fixture when positioned in the osteotomy, which could be important for the immediate loading protocol

Oxidized buckypaper for stir-disc solid phase extraction: evaluation for several classes of environmental pollutants recovered from surface water samples

This paper describes, for the first time, the use of oxidized buckypaper (BP) as a sorbent membrane of a stir-disc solid phase extraction module. The original device, consisting of a BP disc (d = 34 mm) enveloped in a polypropylene mesh pouch, was designed to extract organic micropollutants (OMPs) from environmental water samples in dynamic mode. High-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was used to analyze the extracts. Several classes of pesticides and pharmaceuticals were chosen as model compounds to evaluate key parameters affecting the recovery rates. To this end, the effects of adsorption time, desorption time, stirring speed, type and volume of solvent, and sample volume were thoroughly examined. After optimization, a novel and in-depth study was conducted to find a correlation between physicochemical properties of the analytes and extraction yields. Recoveries were mainly governed by a combination of logP and pK a values. As indicated, hydrophilic compounds with logP 1 exhibited recoveries ranging between 50% and 100% depending on their pK a , while compounds with pK a between 6 and 7.5 gave low yields irrespective of their logP. The analytical method was also validated and tested as large scale screening method of OMPs in surface waters. The analysis of real samples revealed the presence of some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sulfonamides, and pesticides at low ng L -1 concentration levels with relative standard deviations lower than 8%. Copyright © 2018 American Chemical Society

The Effect of Threads Geometry on Insertion Torque (IT) and Periotest Implant Primary Stability: A High-Density Polyurethane Simulation for the Anterior Mandible

The implant geometry provides a key role in the osseointegration process and is able to improve the mechanical interaction and primary stability into the bone tissue. The aim of the present investigation was to compare different implant profiles to evaluate their influence on the primary stability on high-density polyurethane block. Methods: A total of 100 implants were used on 20 pcf polyurethane density in the present investigation, i.e., 20 implants for each of 5 groups (A, B, C, D, and E), characterized by different thread pitch and geometry. The insertion torque (IT), and Periotest mean values were recorded during the implant positioning. Results: Mean values for insertion torque values were higher for the group C and group E implant profiles when compared to all other groups (p < 0.01). No significant differences were detected between these two groups (p < 0.05). Lower IT (<20 Ncm2) were presented by groups A, B, and D (p < 0.05). All groups showed negative Periotest values. Group C implants showed the lowest level of Periotest values (p < 0.05). No significant Periotest differences were found between group B and group D and between group A and group E (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Implants with a wider and V-thread profile and a round apex showed a higher stability in a standardized polyurethane foam. Their use could be suggested in high-density bone in clinical practice

Metabolism and molecular systems for the biotransformation of aromatic molecules. Annual Project Meeting: Naples, 19 January 2010

The collection of papers is the result of the first year's results of the Project: METABOLISM AND MOLECULAR SYSTEMS FOR THE BIOTRANSFORMATION OF AROMATIC MOLECULES. Aim of the research project is to gain knowledge in microorganisms endowed with the ability of transforming aromatic compounds, and in the genes and enzymes involved in this process. Particular attention is paid to the information acquired for its use in the development of biosynthetic systems for bioremediation and bioconversions. The pathways responsible for the aerobic catabolism of aromatic molecules are generally made up of an upper pathway, where hydroxylation reactions leading to the formation of hydroxylated intermediates occur, and a lower pathway where the aromatic ring of these dihydroxylated molecules are cleaved, and eventually converted, after several enzymatic steps, into intermediates of the Krebs cycle. It goes without saying that the great potential of these systems is related to the acquisition of information about the enzymatic systems involved and the regulation of their corresponding genes. The utilization of these micro-organisms can be expanded and improved by: (i) characterizing new microorganisms and their enzymatic systems to sort out a wide panel of enzymatic systems endowed with different metabolic abilities and different specificity, (ii) elucidating the transcriptional regulation and the molecular determinants responsible for the enzymatic activities in systems that are already known and in those that will be available during the development of the project. Moreover, in order to evaluate the influence of the information gained in developing processes it will be necessary to (iii) validate the development of a small number of applications. More specifically these goals have been achieved through: 1) Isolation and characterization of new bacterial strains either by isolation from polluted sites or by spotting new ones through the analysis of annotated genomes for identifying both new microorganisms and new enzymatic activities with enhanced catalytic biodegradative properties; 2) identification and analysis of the molecular determinants of the specificity of enzymatic systems either already available or new ones which will be available during the development of the project; 3) investigation of the transcription regulative systems involved in the expression of the enzymatic systems (in particular key enzymes in the metabolism of aromatic compounds) in both psychrophilic and mesophilic bacteria; 4) utilization of the results obtained from the different approaches above to set-up new biocatalysts for the bioremediation of model wastewaters and for the biosynthesis of compounds of pharmaceutical and industrial interest

Oxidized Buckypaper for Stir-Disc Solid Phase Extraction: Evaluation of Several Classes of Environmental Pollutants Recovered from Surface Water Samples

This paper describes, for the first time, the use of oxidized buckypaper (BP) as a sorbent membrane of a stir-disc solid phase extraction module. The original device, consisting of a BP disc (<i>d</i> = 34 mm) enveloped in a polypropylene mesh pouch, was designed to extract organic micropollutants (OMPs) from environmental water samples in dynamic mode. High-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was used to analyze the extracts. Several classes of pesticides and pharmaceuticals were chosen as model compounds to evaluate key parameters affecting the recovery rates. To this end, the effects of adsorption time, desorption time, stirring speed, type and volume of solvent, and sample volume were thoroughly examined. After optimization, a novel and in-depth study was conducted to find a correlation between physicochemical properties of the analytes and extraction yields. Recoveries were mainly governed by a combination of log<i>P</i> and p<i>K</i>_a values. As indicated, hydrophilic compounds with log<i>P</i> < 1 showed poor affinity for the oxidized BP, compounds having log<i>P</i> > 1 exhibited recoveries ranging between 50% and 100% depending on their p<i>K</i>_a, while compounds with p<i>K</i>_a between 6 and 7.5 gave low yields irrespective of their log<i>P</i>. The analytical method was also validated and tested as large scale screening method of OMPs in surface waters. The analysis of real samples revealed the presence of some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sulfonamides, and pesticides at low ng L^–1 concentration levels with relative standard deviations lower than 8%

A Durum Wheat Variety-Based Product Is Effective in Reducing Symptoms in Patients with Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity: A Double-Blind Randomized Cross-Over Trial

Patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) do not have celiac disease, but their symptoms improve after a gluten-free diet (GFD). However, to date, it is uncertain if gluten or other components of wheat are responsible for these symptoms. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of an organic durum wheat variety with those of standard commercial wheat in patients with known NCGS. We performed a double-blind randomized cross-over trial of 42 patients (mean age 45 years, 8 men) with NCGS diagnosed according to the Salerno criteria and adherence to GFD for at least 12 weeks from screening. Enrolled subjects were randomly assigned to one the following groups of treatment: (A) a two-week diet with Senatore Cappelli wheat variety pasta; (B) a two-week diet with standard commercial pasta. Then, after a two-week washout period on gluten-free diet, each patient crossed over to the other treatment group. Symptoms were assessed through a modified version of the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), tailored on NCGS. Between April 2018 and July 2018, 42 patients with NCGS were enrolled in the study (70.6% females), and 34 patients completed the study. Patients reported lower overall symptoms scores after eating Senatore Cappelli pasta than standard pasta (p = 0.03) and also significantly lower scores in several specific gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms after eating Senatore Cappelli pasta than standard pasta, specifically, bloating (p = 0.04), abdominal distention (p = 0.004), eructation (p = 0.01), flatus (p = 0.02), feeling of incomplete evacuation (p = 0.001), dermatitis (p = 0.01), and limb numbness (p = 0.03). In our study, patients with NCGS experienced lower gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal symptom scores after eating the Senatore Cappelli wheat variety than a standard commercial wheat. Should our preliminary results be confirmed by further studies, new dietary alternatives may be available to patients with NCGS, with consequent health, economic, and social benefits

Binding modes of isoniazid to Mt-trHbN (panels A-C; present study) and related heme-protein systems (panels D-F).

<p>(A) The pyridine moiety of isoniazid is parallel to the heme plane of Mt-trHbN, and the pyridine nitrogen is at a H-bonding distance from the hydroxyl group of Tyr32. (B) The hydrazone group of isoniazid interacts with the heme-Fe atom of Mt-trHbN. (C) Isoniazid interacts with the heme-Fe atom of Mt-trHbN through the pyridine nitrogen atom. (D) Isoniazid interacts with the His42Ala mutant of sAPX by the pyridine group (PDB-ID: 2VCN). (E) Isoniazid binds to the Trp41Ala mutant of sAPX by the hydrazone group (PDB-ID: 2VCS). (F) Imidazole binding to ferric sperm whale myoglobin (PDB-ID: 1MBI). (G) Isoniazid binding to bovine lactoperoxidase (PDB-ID: 3I6N). In panels A-C, isoniazid is represented in red sticks; moreover, the heme, the proximal His81 residue, and the flexible residues Tyr32, Phe45, and Met50 are shown. Furthermore, the original conformations of the flexible residues are represented as lines. In panels D-G, only the heme, the heme proximal residue (His163, His163, His93, and His351, in panels D, E, F, and G, respectively), the heme distal residue (Trp41, His42, His64, and His109 in panels D, E, F, and G, respectively), the heme-bound ligand (isoniazid or imidazole) and the closest water molecules are shown. The distance between Tyr32 and the heme-Fe atom is not reported in panels A-C as in all the cases is longer than 5.5 Å ruling out any interaction. For details, see text.</p

Isoniazid binding to Mt-trHbN(II).

<p>(A) Difference static and kinetic absorbance spectrum of Mt-trHbN(II) <i>minus</i> Mt-trHbN(II)-isoniazid (dotted line and squares, respectively). (B) Ligand-binding isotherm for isoniazid binding to Mt-trHbN(II). The analysis of data according to <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0069762#pone.0069762.e017" target="_blank">Equation 12</a> allowed the determination of <i>D</i> = (1.2±0.2)×10⁻³ M. (C) Dependence of the pseudo-first-order rate-constant <i>d</i>^obs for isoniazid binding to Mt-trHbN(II) on the drug concentration. The analysis of data according to <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0069762#pone.0069762.e019" target="_blank">Equation 14</a> allowed the determination of <i>d</i>_on  = (1.3±0.4)×10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and <i>d</i>_off  = 1.5±0.4 s⁻¹. The protein concentration was 1.5×10⁻⁶ M. The isoniazid concentration was 1.0×10⁻² M (panel A). Where not shown, the standard deviation is smaller than the symbol. All data were obtained at pH 7.0 and 20.0°C. For details, see text.</p

Isoniazid binding to the hydrophobic tunnel of Mt-trHbN. Mt-trHbN is represented as a green ribbon and isoniazid is depicted in red sticks.

<p>Heme and flexible residues lining the hydrophobic tunnel are shown and labelled. For details, see text.</p