Interdisciplinary full digital restorative treatment of a young patient with severe open bite and amelogenesis imperfecta: a case report.

Background Amelogenesis Imperfecta (AI) is a syndromic entity comprising several clinical conditions, mostly genetic- based, affecting quality and quantity of enamel. The use of digital tools can be advantageous to enhance communication between the dental team and patients. Moreover, a full digital approach would allow to check each single clinical step according to the treatment plan with a backward approach. The aim of this case report is to describe a multidisciplinary treatment program of a young patient with severe open bite and amelogenesis imperfecta, whose restorative rehabilitation was planned in a full-digital workflow, from the initial communication phase up to the final prosthodontic rehabilitation. Case report An 8-year old female patient was diagnosed with a Class II division 1 malocclusion, severe open bite and AI. The treatment plan included 3 phases: the elimination of the tongue interposition habit and the anterior open bite, the orthodontic correction of dental deviation and leveling of both dental arches and a prosthetic rehabilitation. The extraction of the four first molars corrected the canine and molar Angle Class II relationships, deviation of the midline and repositioning of the maxillary incisors on the sagittal plane. Feldspathic ceramics was used in anterior sites to enhance the esthetic outcome. CAD/CAM hybrid ceramo-polymeric restorative material (PICN) was chosen for posterior regions. Conclusion The outcomes of the present case report proved that the planned objectives were satisfactorily obtained thanks to proper treatment planning, full digital workflow and the patient’s optimal compliance with the extraoral device

Identificação de minerais do grupo das zeólitas por espectroscopia de reflectância, para aplicação como remineralizadores de solo.

A utilização de zeólitas para melhorar a qualidade do solo destinado à agricultura ganha espaço em todo o mundo. A elevada capacidade de troca catiônica das zeólitas favorece a conservação de nutrientes no solo e, a alta capacidade de retenção de água em seus retículos cristalinos faz destes minerais excelentes condicionadores de solo. A ausência de depósitos de zeólitas em exploração no Brasil torna os basaltos da Formação Serra Geral da Bacia do Paraná um alvo com grande potencial para a prospecção por zeólitas naturais. Pesquisas da CPRM destacam a significativa presença de zeólitas especialmente no contato entre os derrames inferiores da Formação Serra Geral e os arenitos eólicos da Formação Botucatu no Rio Grande do Sul. A espectroscopia de reflectância é uma ferramenta capaz de contribuir para a identificação de zeólitas em campo ou laboratório, utilizando-se de análises rápidas e de baixo custo. O conhecimento prévio do comportamento espectral das zeólitas é de grande utilidade na prospecção de alvos potenciais na Formação Serra Geral (pilhas de lobos e brechas de topo de derrames basálticos). Nestas ambiências foram reconhecidas macroscopicamente heulandita, escolecita, estilbita, laumontita e mordenita. O presente trabalho apresenta os resultados de leituras em amostras representativas das paragêneses que caracterizam os diferentes blocos determinados pelo Projeto Agrominerais Bacia do Paraná no Rio Grande do Sul-CPRM, com uso do espectrorradiômetro FieldSpec 3 Hi-Res© - ASD, de resolução espectral entre 0,35 e 2,5 μm. Foram identificadas curvas espectrais referentes à estilbita, heulandita, laumontita, mordenita e possivelmente analcima e clinoptilolita, localmente associadas à calcita. Por meio de assinaturas espectrais poderão ser construídos padrões para as zeólitas, para classificação de imagens de satélite, devendo-se considerar a relação entre a dimensão dos alvos e as resoluções espaciais e espectrais dos sensores orbitais e aeroportados disponíveis para o imageamento da área de pesquisa

Temperature conditions in the Argentine chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) fishing ground: Implications for fishery management

We describe the seasonal migrations of Argentine chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) into the fishing ground in relation to sea surface temperature conditions and analyse the temperature evolution during the fishing season on the basis of 1955-97 time-series. The upper temperature limit for the presence of schools was around 19°C. At higher values, most schools leave coastal waters (< 50 m) for the shelf. An inverse relationship was observed between catches per unit of effort (CPUE) of the inshore fishery and sea surface temperature. The highest standardized CPUE values corresponded to temperatures lower than 19°C. Above this temperature, the probability of obtaining a standardized CPUE higher than 1 was extremely low, and the standard deviations were minimal. The economic benefit from catches was also analysed through the different months of the fishing season. It was found that the mean benefit corresponding to temperatures lower than 19°C exceeded approximately 15 times that obtained at higher temperatures. A simple fishing strategy was proposed to the commercial fleet in order to improve the economic benefit of the catches. The migratory pattern followed by mackerel during the spawning period was also analysed in relationship to other environmental factors like food availability. Zooplankton composition, size structure and abundance in coastal and shelf waters are described, and their implications for feeding ecology of larvae and adults of the species are discussed.Fil: Perrotta, Ricardo Geronimo. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones y Desarrollo Pesquero; ArgentinaFil: Viñas, Maria Delia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Subsede Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero; ArgentinaFil: Hernández, Daniel R.. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones y Desarrollo Pesquero; ArgentinaFil: Tringali, Leonardo. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones y Desarrollo Pesquero; Argentin

Biomechanically tunable nano-silica/p-hema structural hydrogels for bone scaffolding

Innovative tissue engineering biomimetic hydrogels based on hydrophilic polymers have been investigated for their physical and mechanical properties. 5% to 25% by volume loading PHEMA-nanosilica glassy hybrid samples were equilibrated at 37◦C in aqueous physiological isotonic and hypotonic saline solutions (0.15 and 0.05 M NaCl) simulating two limiting possible compositions of physiological extracellular fluids. The glassy and hydrated hybrid materials were characterized by both dynamo-mechanical properties and equilibrium absorptions in the two physiological-like aqueous solutions. The mechanical and morphological modifications occurring in the samples have been described. The 5% volume nanosilica loading hybrid nanocomposite composition showed mechanical characteristics in the dry and hydrated states that were comparable to those of cortical bone and articular cartilage, respectively, and then chosen for further sorption kinetics characterization. Sorption and swelling kinetics were monitored up to equilibrium. Changes in water activities and osmotic pressures in the water-hybrid systems equilibrated at the two limiting solute molarities of the physiological solutions have been related to the observed anomalous sorption modes using the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter approach. The bulk modulus of the dry and glassy PHEMA-5% nanosilica hybrid at 37◦C has been observed to be comparable with the values of the osmotic pressures generated from the sorption of isotonic and hypotonic solutions. The anomalous sorption modes and swelling rates are coherent with the difference between osmotic swelling pressures and hybrid glassy nano-composite bulk modulus: the lower the differences the higher the swelling rate and equilibrium solution uptakes. Bone tissue engineering benefits of the use of tuneable biomimetic scaffold biomaterials that can be “designed” to act as biocompatible and biomechanically active hybrid interfaces are discussed

Non-chaotic dynamics in general-relativistic and scalar-tensor cosmology

In the context of scalar-tensor models of dark energy and inflation, the dynamics of vacuum scalar-tensor cosmology are analysed without specifying the coupling function or the scalar field potential. A conformal transformation to the Einstein frame is used and the dynamics of general relativity with a minimally coupled scalar field are derived for a generic potential. It is shown that the dynamics are non-chaotic, thus settling an existing debate.Comment: 20 pages, LaTeX, to appear in Class. Quantum Gra

An all-endo Approach to Complete Ureteral Duplications Complicated by Ureterocele and/or Vesicoureteral Reflux: Feasibility, Limitations, and Results

Purpose. Totally endoscopic management (all-endo) of patients with a duplicated renal system (DS) associated with severe vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) or obstructive ureterocele (UC) is an attractive alternative to traditional open procedures. The authors discuss feasibility and results of an all-endo approach on a consecutive series of patients. Methods. From 1999 to 2009, all patients with a complete DS associated with UC and/or VUR were proposed for primary all-endo approach. UC puncture was performed using a 3 Fr Bugbee electrode. Deflux (dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer) injection was administered for VUR. The need for secondary surgery was evaluated on followup. Results. Of the 62 patients recruited, 46 were treated using a primary all-endo approach and 16 patients received no treatment. Of the 46 treated patients with 56 affected renal units, 32 (97%) UCs collapsed following puncture and 29 (63%) VURs were resolved or downgraded. Secondary VUR occurred in 13 (39%) renal units. Secondary surgery was performed on 23 (41%) renal units. Conclusion. The all-endo approach for VUR in DS is an effective therapeutic option. UC collapse was achieved by puncture in most of the patients; secondary VUR was the main complication in a small group of extravesical UC

Cold affects the transcription of fatty acid desaturases and oil quality in the fruit of Olea europaea L. genotypes with different cold hardiness

The olive tree lacks dormancy and is low temperature sensitive, with differences in cold tolerance and oil quality among genotypes. The oil is produced in the drupe, and the unsaturated fatty acids contribute to its quality. The aim of the present research was to investigate the relationship among development, cold response, expression of fatty acid desaturase (FAD) genes, and unsaturated fatty acid composition in drupes belonging to genotypes differing in leaf cold tolerance, but producing good oil (i.e. the non-hardy Moraiolo, the semi-hardy Frantoio, and the hardy Canino). In all genotypes, cold sensitivity, evaluated by cold-induced transient increases in cytosolic calcium, was high in the epi-mesocarp cells before oil body formation, and decreased during oil biogenesis. However, genotype-dependent differences in cold sensitivity appeared at the end of oil production. Genotype-dependent differences in FAD2.1, FAD2.2, FAD6, and FAD7 expression levels occurred in the epi-mesocarp cells during the oleogenic period. However, FAD2.1 and FAD7 were always the highest in the first part of this period. FAD2.2 and FAD7 increased after cold applications during oleogenesis, independently of the genotype. Unsaturated fatty acids increased in the drupes of the non-hardy genotype, but not in those of the hardy one, after cold exposure at the time of the highest FAD transcription. The results show a direct relationship between FAD expression and lipid desaturation in the drupes of the cold-sensitive genotype, and an inverse relationship in those of the cold-resistant genotype, suggesting that drupe cold acclimation requires a fine FAD post-transcriptional regulation. Hypotheses relating FAD desaturation to storage and membrane lipids, and genotype cold hardiness are discussed

Probing dark energy with the CMB: projected constraints from WMAP and Planck

We investigate the accuracy attainable by forthcoming space-based observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature and polarization anisotropy in constraining the dark energy density parameter \Oq and equation of state \wq=p_{\rm Q}/\rho_{\rm Q}. Despite degeneracies among parameters, it is possible for high precision observations such as those from WMAP and Planck to provide interesting information on the nature of the dark energy. Furthermore, we show that imposing a flat universe constraint makes it possible to obtain tight limits in the space of dark energy parameters even from the CMB alone.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Matches version accepted by ApJL. Figures may also be downloaded at http://www.sissa.it/~bacci/de

Prognostic factors and biomarkers of responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors in lung cancer

Manipulation of the immune response is a game changer in lung cancer treatment, revolutionizing management. PD1 and CTLA4 are dynamically expressed on different T cell subsets that can either disrupt or sustain tumor growth. Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against PD1/PDL1 and CTLA4 have shown that inhibitory signals can be impaired, blocking T cell activation and function. MoAbs, used as both single-agents or in combination with standard therapy for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), have exhibited advantages in terms of overall survival and response rate; nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab and more recently, durvalumab, have already been approved for lung cancer treatment and more compounds are in the pipeline. A better understanding of signaling elicited by these antibodies on T cell subsets, as well as identification of biological determinants of sensitivity, resistance and correlates of efficacy, will help to define the mechanisms of antitumor responses. In addition, the relevance of T regulatory cells (Treg) involved in immune responses in cancer is attracting increasing interest. A major challenge for future research is to understand why a durable response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) occurs only in subsets of patients and the mechanisms of resistance after an initial response. This review will explore current understanding and future direction of research on ICI treatment in lung cancer and the impact of tumor immune microenvironment n influencing clinical responses