Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Serum from Patients with Systemic Sclerosis and Sclerodermatous GVHD. Evidence of Defective Function of Factor H

BACKGROUND: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by immunological and vascular abnormalities. Until now, the cause of SSc remains unclear. Sclerodermatous graft-versus-host disease (ScGVHD) is one of the most severe complications following bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for haematological disorders. Since the first cases, the similarity of ScGVHD to SSc has been reported. However, both diseases could have different etiopathogeneses. The objective of this study was to identify new serum biomarkers involved in SSc and ScGVHD. METHODOLOGY: Serum was obtained from patients with SSc and ScGVHD, patients without ScGVHD who received BMT for haematological disorders and healthy controls. Bi-dimensional electrophoresis (2D) was carried out to generate maps of serum proteins from patients and controls. The 2D maps underwent image analysis and differently expressed proteins were identified. Immuno-blot analysis and ELISA assay were used to validate the proteomic data. Hemolytic assay with sheep erythrocytes was performed to evaluate the capacity of Factor H (FH) to control complement activation on the cellular surface. FH binding to endothelial cells (ECs) was also analysed in order to assess possible dysfunctions of this protein. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Fourteen differentially expressed proteins were identified. We detected pneumococcal antibody cross-reacting with double stranded DNA in serum of all bone marrow transplanted patients with ScGVHD. We documented higher levels of FH in serum of SSc and ScGVHD patients compared healthy controls and increased sheep erythrocytes lysis after incubation with serum of diffuse SSc patients. In addition, we observed that FH binding to ECs was reduced when we used serum from these patients. CONCLUSIONS: The comparative proteomic analysis of serum from SSc and ScGVHD patients highlighted proteins involved in either promoting or maintaining an inflammatory state. We also found a defective function of Factor H, possibly associated with ECs damage

From sea monsters to charismatic megafauna: changes in perception and use of large marine animals

Marine megafauna has always elicited contrasting feelings. In the past, large marine animals were often depicted as fantastic mythological creatures and dangerous monsters, while also arousing human curiosity. Marine megafauna has been a valuable resource to exploit, leading to the collapse of populations and local extinctions. In addition, some species have been perceived as competitors of fishers for marine resources and were often actively culled. Since the 1970s, there has been a change in the perception and use of megafauna. The growth of marine tourism, increasingly oriented towards the observation of wildlife, has driven a shift from extractive to non-extractive use, supporting the conservation of at least some species of marine megafauna. In this paper, we review and compare the changes in the perception and use of three megafaunal groups, cetaceans, elasmobranchs and groupers, with a special focus on European cultures. We highlight the main drivers and the timing of these changes, compare different taxonomic groups and species, and highlight the implications for management and conservation. One of the main drivers of the shift in perception, shared by all the three groups of megafauna, has been a general increase in curiosity towards wildlife, stimulated inter alia by documentaries (from the early 1970s onwards), and also promoted by easy access to scuba diving. At the same time, environmental campaigns have been developed to raise public awareness regarding marine wildlife, especially cetaceans, a process greatly facilitated by the rise of Internet and the World Wide Web. Currently, all the three groups (cetaceans, elasmobranchs and groupers) may represent valuable resources for ecotourism. Strikingly, the economic value of live specimens may exceed their value for human consumption. A further change in perception involving all the three groups is related to a growing understanding and appreciation of their key ecological role. The shift from extractive to non-extractive use has the potential for promoting species conservation and local economic growth. However, the change in use may not benefit the original stakeholders (e.g. fishers or whalers) and there may therefore be a case for providing compensation for disadvantaged stakeholders. Moreover, it is increasingly clear that even non-extractive use may have a negative impact on marine megafauna, therefore regulations are needed.SFRH/BPD/102494/2014, UID/MAR/04292/2019, IS1403info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Un approccio riabilitativo minimamente invasivo utilizzando un impianto corto 4 mm evitando l\u2019estrazione di un canino superiore incluso: risultati a quattro anni dopo il carico protesico

L\u2019obiettivo di questo case report \ue8 quello di suggerire un approccio chirurgico riabilitativo alternativo, minimamente invasivo, ad un canino mascellare incluso, utilizzando un impianto lungo 4 mm per una riabilitazione protesica fissa; evitando l\u2019estrazione del dente o l\u2019estrusione chirurgica e sfruttando i 6 mm di osso coronale disponibili. Quattro mesi dopo il carico, l\u2019impianto appariva ben integrato, con livelli di osso marginale stabili. I 4 mm di lunghezza dell\u2019impianto hanno consentito di ridurre i tempi operatori, la morbidit\ue0 postoperatoria, le possibili complicanze e i relativi costi. Gli impianti corti potrebbero essere un\u2019alternativa a procedure chirurgiche pi\uf9 invasive utilizzate nel trattamento riabilitativo di canini mascellari inclusi

A Minimally Invasive Approach Using a 4-mm Implant Without Extraction of Impacted Maxillary Canine: Four-Year Postloading Results

The aim of this case report was to suggest an alternative minimally invasive surgical approach to an impacted maxillary canine using a 4-mm-long implant for a fixed prosthetic rehabilitation, avoiding tooth extraction or surgically forced extrusion and exploiting the 6 mm of coronal bone availability. At 4 years postloading, the implant was healthy and well integrated with stable marginal bone levels. The 4-mm length of the implant reduced operative times, postsurgical morbidity, possible complications, and costs. Short implants might be an alternative to traditional, more invasive surgical procedures used in the rehabilitative treatment of impacted maxillary canines

Drills versus piezoelectric surgery for placement of zygomatic implants: 1-year split-mouth RCT data

BACKGROUND: Zygomatic implants are an alternative to conventional bone augmentation and implant rehabilitation for the severely atrophic max- illa. Two zygomatic implants can be placed each zygoma and can be successfully immediately loaded. One problem while preparing implant tun- nels for placing zygomatic implants can be the difficulty to control long drills, due to the risk of waving. As a consequence the authors developed two specific tips to be used with a piezoelectric surgery device. AIM/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of split-mouth design was to compare the clinical outcome of site prepara- tion for zygomatic oncology implants using conventional preparation with rotary drills or piezoelectric surgery for placing two zygomatic implants per zygoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty edentulous patients with severely atrophic maxillas not having sufficient bone volumes for placing dental implants and <4 mm of bone height subantrally had their hemi-maxillas randomised according to a split-mouth design into implant site preparation with conventional rotational drills or piezoelectric surgery. Two zygomatic oncology implants (unthreaded coronal portion) were placed in each hemi- maxilla. Implants that achieved an insertion torque superior to 40 Ncm were immediately loaded with screw-retained metal reinforced acrylic provisional prostheses. Outcome measures were: prosthesis and implant failures, any complications, time to place the implants, presence of post- operative haematoma, and patient\u2019s preference by independent assessors. All patients were followed up to 1 year after loading. RESULTS: One implant of the conventional drill group did not achieve an insertion torque superior to 40 Ncm since it fractured the zygoma. Two distal oncology implants failed in the same patient (one per group), who was not prosthetically rehabilitated. Six complications occurred at drilled sites and three at piezoelectric surgery sites, the difference being not statistically significant (P = 0.375, Odds Ratio = 4.00, 95%CI of Odds Ratio: 0.45\u201335.79). Implant placement with conventional drills took on average 14.35 \ub1 1.76 min and with piezoelectric surgery 23.50 \ub1 2.26 min, im- plant placement time being significantly shorter with conventional drilling (difference = 9.15 \ub1 1.69 min, 95%CI: 8.36\u20139.94 min, P < 0.001). Post- operative haematomas were more frequent at drilled sites (P = 0.001), and 16 patients found both techniques equally acceptable, while four preferred piezoelectric surgery (P = 0.125). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Both drilling techniques achieved similar clinical results but conventional drilling required 9 min less and could be used in all instances, though it was more aggressive. These results may be system-dependent, therefore they cannot be generalised to other zygomatic systems with confidence

Beneficial effects on water management of simple hydraulic structures in wetland systems: the Vallevecchia case study, Italy

Conflicting water uses in coastal zones demand integrated approaches to achieve sustainable water resources management, protecting water quality while allowing those human activities which rely upon aquatic ecosystem services to thrive. This case study shows that the creation and simple management of hydraulic structures within constructed wetlands can markedly reduce the nonpoint pollution from agriculture and, simultaneously, benefit agricultural activities, particularly during hot and dry periods. The Vallevecchia wetland system is based on a reclaimed 900 ha-large drainage basin in Northern Italy, where droughts recently impacted agriculture causing water scarcity and saltwater intrusion. Rainwater and drained water are recirculated inside the system to limit saltwater intrusion, provide irrigation water during dry periods and reduce the agricultural nutrient loads discharged into the bordering, eutrophic Adriatic Sea. Monitoring (2003\u20132009) of water quality and flows highlights that the construction (ended in 2005) of a gated spillway to control the outflow, and of a 200,000 m3 basin for water storage, dramatically increased the removal of nutrients within the system. Strikingly, this improvement was achieved with a minimal management effort, e.g. each year the storage basin was filled once: a simple management of the hydraulic structures would greatly enhance the system efficiency, and store more water to irrigate and limit saltwater intrusion

Four mm-long versus longer implants in augmented bone in atrophic posterior jaws: 4-month post-loading results from a multicentre randomised controlled trial

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether 4-mm long dental implants could be an alternative to augmentation with equine bone blocks and the placement of at least 10-mm long implants in atrophic posterior jaws. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients with atrophic posterior (premolar and molar areas) mandibles having 5 to 6\u2005mm bone height above the mandibular canal and\u200540 patients with atrophic maxillae having 4 to 5\u2005mm below the maxillary sinus, were randomised according to a parallel group design to receive one to three 4.0\u2005mm-long implants or one to three implants, which were at least 10\u2005mm long, in augmented bone at two centres. All implants had a diameter of 4.0 or 4.5\u2005mm. Mandibles were vertically augmented with interpositional equine bone blocks and resorbable barriers. Implants were placed 4 months after interpositional grafting. Maxillary sinuses were augmented with particulated porcine bone via a lateral window covered with resorbable barriers, and implants were placed simultaneously. Implants were not submerged and were loaded after 4 months with provisional prostheses. Four months later, screw-retained reinforced acrylic restorations were delivered, and then replaced after 4 months by definitive screw-retained metal-composite prostheses. Patients were followed up to 4-months post-loading. Outcome measures included prosthesis and implant failures, any complication and peri-implant marginal bone level changes. RESULTS: No patient dropped out. In six augmented mandibles (30%), it was not possible to place implants which were at least 10.0-mm long, therefore shorter implants had to be placed instead. In particular, one mandible fractured and the patient did not want to go ahead with the treatment. One implant of the patient with the mandible fracture from the augmented group failed versus two 4.0\u2005mm implants in two patients from the short implant group. In the maxillae, three short implants failed in two patients versus five long implants in three patients (two long implants and one short implant dropped into the maxillary sinus). Two prostheses on short implants (one mandibular and one maxillary) were placed at a later stage because of implant failures versus four prostheses (one mandibular and three maxillary) at augmented sites. In particular, three patients of the augmented group (one mandible and two maxillary) were not prosthetically rehabilitated. There were no statistically significant differences in implant failures (P (chi-square test)\u2005=\u20051.000; difference in proportion\u2005=\u20050; 95% Cl: -0.13 to 0.13 or prostheses failures (P (chi-square test)\u2005=\u20050.399; difference in proportion\u2005=\u20050.05; 95% Cl: -0.06 to 0.16). At mandibular sites, nine augmented patients were affected by complications versus one patient treated with short implants (P (chi-square test)\u2005=\u20050.003; difference in proportion\u2005=\u20050.40; 95% Cl: 0.16 to 0.64), with the difference being statistically significant. No significant differences were found for the maxillae: eight sinus lift patients versus three patients rehabilitated with maxillary short implants were affected by complications (P (chi-square test)\u2005=\u20050.077; difference in proportion\u2005=\u20050.25; 95% Cl: -0.02 to 0.52). Patients with mandibular short implants lost on average 0.40\u2005mm of peri-implant bone at 4 months and patients with 10\u2005mm or longer mandibular implants lost 0.52\u2005mm. Patients with short maxillary implants lost on average 0.48\u2005mm peri-implant bone at 4 months and patients with 10\u2005mm or longer maxillary implants lost 0.50\u2005mm. The difference was statistically significant in the mandibles (mean difference: -0.12\u2005mm, 95% CI: -0.20 to -0.04, P\u2005(ANCOVA)\u2005=\u20050.006), but not in the maxillae (mean difference: -0.02\u2005mm, 95% CI: -0.10 to 0.07, P\u2005(ANCOVA)\u2005=\u20050.711). CONCLUSIONS: Four months after loading 4.0\u2005mm-long implants achieved similar results, if not better, than longer implants in augmented jaws, but were affected by fewer complications. Short implants might be a preferable choice to bone augmentation, especially in mandibles, since the treatment is less invasive, faster, cheaper, and associated with less morbidity; however, 5- to 10-year post-loading data is necessary before making reliable recommendations. Conflict-of-interest statement: Global-D (Brignais, France) partially supported this trial and donated the implants and prosthetic components; however, data property belonged to the authors and by no means did Global-D interfere with the conduct of the trial or the publication of the results

Safety and effectiveness of early loaded maxillary titanium implants with a novel nanostructured calcium-incorporated surface (Xpeed): 3-year results from a pilot multicenter randomised controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical safety and effectiveness of a novel calcium-incorporated titanium implant surface (Xpeed, MegaGen Implant Co., Gyeongbuk, South Korea). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients were randomised to receive one to six implants in the maxilla with either calcium-incorporated (Xpeed) or control resorbable blasted media (RBM) surfaces, according to a parallel group design at two centres. Implants were submerged and exposed at three different endpoints in equal groups of 20 patients, each at 12, 10 and 8 weeks, respectively. Within 2 weeks, implants were functionally loaded with provisional or definitive prostheses. Outcome measures were prosthesis failures, implant failures, any complications and peri-implant marginal bone level changes. RESULTS: Thirty patients received 45 calcium-incorporated implants and 30 patients received 42 control titanium implants. Three years after loading four patients dropped-out from the Xpeed group and one from the RBM group. No prosthesis or implant failures occurred. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups for complications (P = 0.91; difference in proportions = 0.79 %; 95% CI -0.71 to 2.29) and mean marginal bone level changes (P = 0.88; mean difference = -0.02 mm; 95% CI -0.26 to 0.22). CONCLUSIONS: Both implant surfaces provided good clinical results and no significant difference was found when comparing titanium implants with a nanostructured calcium-incorporated surface versus implants with RBM surfaces