Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)

Bonding performance of two newly developed self‑adhering materials between zirconium and dentin

Purpose: This study evaluated the effect of four resin materials on the shear bond strength (SBS) of a ceramic core material to dentin.Materials and Methods: Sixty molar teeth were embedded in a self‑curing acrylic resin. All specimens were randomly divided into four groups of teeth, each according to the resin cement used. Sixty cylinders were then luted with one of the four resin materials to dentin (GC EQUIA, Panavia F, Variolink II and Vertise). Then, specimens were stored in distilled water at 37oC for one day. Shear bond strength of each specimen was measured using a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/minute. The bond strength values were calculated in N, and the results were statistically analyzed using a Kruskal–Wallis and Bonferroni corrected Mann–Whitney U tests.Results: The shear bond strength varied significantly depending on the resin materials used (P < 0.05). The specimens luted with GC EQUIA showed the highest shear bond strength (25.19 ± 6.12), whereas, the specimens luted with Vertise flow (8.1 ± 2.75) and Panavia F (11.17 ± 3.89) showed the lowest.Conclusion: GC EQUIA material showed a higher shear bond strength value than other resin materials.Key words: Shear bond strength, self‑adhering, zirconi

Nanostructured nanofibers based on PBT and POSS: Effect of POSS on the alignment and macromolecular orientation of the nanofibers

reserved4simixedErika Simona Cozza;Qian Ma;Orietta Monticelli;Peggy CebeCozza, ERIKA SIMONA; Qian, Ma; Monticelli, Orietta; Peggy, Ceb

Effects of hemostatic agents on shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of blood contamination and hemostatic agents on shear bond strength (SBS) of brackets and bond failure.Materials and Methods: The study material consisted of 57 freshly extracted human premolar and randomly divided into four groups: Group I, control group (n = 14); Group II, contamination with blood (n = 13); Group III, contamination with epinephrine (n = 14); and Group IV, contamination with Ankaferd blood stopper (ABS) (n = 16). After the bracket bonding procedure, all bonded teeth thermal cycled in deionized water at 5 ± 2°C to 55 ± 2°C for 500 cycles. SBS was applied using a universal test machine.Results: According to Kruskal–Wallis test significant differences were found among the groups P < 0.05. Furthermore, significant differences were recorded between groups with Mann–Whitney U statistical test with Bonferroni correction (P = 0.0083).Conclusions: Examples contaminated with blood showed a statistically significant lower in vitro SBS than those contaminated with epinephrine, ABS, and control groups.Clinical Significance: In impacted tooth surgical operations, blood contamination poses a substantial risk of bond failure in bonding attachments applications to the impacted teeth. Epinephrine and ABS may be used on surgical exposed impacted teeth operation for the prevention of blood contamination.Key words: Brackets, contamination, hemostatic agents, orthodontic bonding, shear bond strengt