Zapalenie przyzębia a ryzyko przedwczesnych porodów i niskiej masy urodzeniowej – metaanaliza

Introduction: Periodontitis and prematurity are social diseases with common risk factors. In 1996 periodontitis was proven to be a possible significant and independent risk factor of preterm birth of newborns with low body weight. Numerous studies on the influence of periodontitis on the time of birth and/or birth weight of newborns have been conducted throughout the world since, including several ones in Poland, but their results have been inconsistent. Work objective: A meta-analysis of case-control, prospective and cohort studies on the influence of periodontitis on preterm birth and low birth weight. Methods: The international and Polish bibliography bases were searched for essays on the relationship between periodontitis and preterm birth and/or low birth weight published between 1996 and 2010. All essays qualified for the meta-analysis were subjected to qualitative evaluation. The calculation of the overall odds ratio used both, fixed-effects and random-effects models (DerSimonian-Liard method). The heterogeneity of the included studies and effect of publication bias were also subjected to evaluation. Results: The meta-analysis included 15 case-control studies, 1 cross-sectional study, and 6 cohort studies. The essays came from 4 continents: 8 from Europe (including 2 from Poland), 7 from South America, 4 from North America, and 3 from Asia. The total analysis covered 12047 pregnant women. The overall odds ratio of giving premature birth to a child with low weight for mothers with periodontitis in the model of random effects amounted to 2.35 (1.88-2.93, pWprowadzenie: Zapalenie przyzębia i wcześniactwo to choroby społeczne o wspólnych czynnikach ryzyka. W 1996 roku wskazano, że zapalenie przyzębia mogłoby być istotnym i niezależnym czynnikiem ryzyka przedwczesnego porodu noworodka o niskiej masie ciała. Od tego czasu przeprowadzono wiele badań na świecie i kilka w Polsce nad wpływem zapalenia przyzębia na termin porodu i/lub masę urodzeniową noworodka. Ich wyniki były sprzeczne. Cel pracy: Metaanaliza badań kliniczno-kontrolnych, przekrojowych i kohortowych dotyczących wpływu zapalenia przyzębia na przedwczesny poród noworodka o niskiej masie urodzeniowej. Metody: W międzynarodowych i polskiej bazie bibliograficznej poszukiwano prac opublikowanych w latach od 1996 do 2010 na temat związków pomiędzy zapaleniem przyzębia z przedwczesnym porodem i/lub niską masą urodzeniową noworodka. Wszystkie prace zakwalifikowane do metaanalizy były poddane ocenie jakościowej. Dla wyliczenia skumulowanego ilorazu szans zastosowano model efektów stałych i model efektów losowych w metodzie DerSimonian-Liard. Oceniano także jednorodność włączonych badań i efekt obciążenia publikacyjnego. Wyniki: W metaanalizie uwzględniono 15 badań kliniczno-kontrolnych, 1 przekrojową oraz 6 kohortowych. Prace pochodziły z 4 kontynentów: 8 z Europy (w tym dwie polskie), 7 z Ameryki Południowej, 4 z Ameryki Północnej i 3 z Azji. Analizie łącznej poddano 12047 kobiet w ciąży. Skumulowany iloraz szans przedwczesnego urodzenia dziecka o niskiej masie dla matek z zapaleniem przyzębia w modelu efektów losowych wynosił 2,35 (1,88-2,93,

Separation of 44Sc from Natural Calcium Carbonate Targets for Synthesis of 44Sc-DOTATATE

The rapid increase in applications of scandium isotopes in nuclear medicine requires new efficient production routes for these radioisotopes. Recently, irradiations of calcium in cyclotrons by , deuteron, and proton beams have been used. Therefore, effective post-irradiation separation and preconcentration of the radioactive scandium from the calcium matrix are important to obtain the pure final product in a relatively small volume. Nobias resin was used as a sorbent for effective separation of 44Sc from calcium targets. Separation was performed at pH 3 using a column containing 10 mg of resin. Scandium was eluted with 100 L of 2 mol L1 HCl. Particular attention was paid to the reduction of calcium concentration, presence of metallic impurities, robustness and simple automation. 44Sc was separated with 94.9 2.8% yield, with results in the range of 91.7–99.0%. Purity of the eluate was confirmed with ICP-OES determination of metallic impurities and >99% chelation efficiency with DOTATATE, followed by >36 h radiochemical stability of the complex. A wide range of optimal conditions and robustness to target variability and suspended matter facilitates the proposed method in automatic systems for scandium isotope separation and synthesis of scandium-labeled radiopharmaceuticals

Diagnostics for upper impacted canines – based on the literature

Impacted canines are the second most common (after the third molars) impacted teeth. Good diagnostics for impacted canines is possible at approx. 10 years of age, when the incorrect angulation of the crown of the tooth can be seen on the panoramic X-ray. The initial assessment of impacted canines includes a basic dental examination (presence of persistent deciduous teeth, lack of erupted permanent canines in the dental arch after the end of tooth eruption) and a palpative examination of alveolar bone in the vestibulum. The diagnostics is based mainly on X-rays: mainly panoramic images, tooth X-rays and occlusal plate pictures. The new tool in the diagnostics of impacted teeth is computed tomography, especially CBCT. The study collates diagnostic methods based primarily on panoramic X-ray images for the assessment and prediction of the spontaneous eruption chances of maxillary canines

Obserwacja długoterminowa u pacjentów z wszczepialnym kardiowerterem- -defibrylatorem i poddanych terapii resynchronizującej oraz bez niej

Introduction. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) with or without resynchronisation therapy (CRT-D) is an effective treatment in heart failure patients (pts.).  Materials and methods. We retrospectively analysed 60 patients (50/60; 83.33% male) with implanted ICD or CRT-D followed-up in the Cardiology Department between May 1995 and February 2019 who had undergone at least one device exchange.  Results. Women rarely received ICD, and especially ICD with CRT-D, compared to men [9/26 females in ICD and 1/24 in CRT-D group (p = 0.035) OR 8.31 95% CI (0.98–70.56)] and presented higher left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (38.11 ± 12.74% vs 29.65 ± 12.63, p = 0.027). CRT-D in our patients was implanted mainly as primary prevention [22/25 vs 18/35 (p = 0.0726) OR 6.93 95% CI (1.75–27.43)] and in patients with a lower LVEF compared to the ICD- only patients [24.75 ± 8.98 vs 35.52 ± 13.55% (p = 0.001)]. Technical analysis of endocardial lead parameters at im- plantation and at the final follow-up revealed a decrease in impedance in cases of atrial, defibrillator and left-ventricular leads. In the ICD-only group, atrial impedance was 280.03 ± 335.3 vs 218.29 ± 229.48 ohm (p = 0.0018), and defi- brillator lead impedance was 768.66 ± 210.62 vs 507.03 ± 131.67 ohm (p &lt; 0.001) (at implantation vs final follow-up respectively). In the ICD plus CRT-D group, mean atrial lead impedance was 511.05 ± 271.30 vs 388.55 ± 231.75 ohm (p = 0.007), impedance of the defibrillator lead was 698.95 ± 165.45 vs 547.13 ± 385.24 ohm (p = 0.002), and impe- dance of the left-ventricular lead was 1,036.28 ± 337.34 vs 794.87 ± 274.99 ohm (p &lt; 0.001).  Conclusion. Women receive CRT-D therapy less often than men. CRT-D is implanted in pts. with lower LVEF and mainly as primary prevention. All endocardial leads impedance decreased with the passing of time. Wprowadzenie. Wszczepialny kardiowerter-defibrylator (ICD) z terapią resynchronizującą (CRT-D) oraz bez niej stanowi efektywny element leczenia u pacjentów z niewydolnością serca.  Metody i wyniki. Sześćdziesięciu pacjentów (50/60; 83,33% mężczyzn) pozostających pod opieką kliniki kardiologii w la- tach od maja 1995 roku do lutego 2019 roku z wszczepionym ICD/CRT-D, u których wykonano przynajmniej jedną wy- mianę urządzenia, poddano retrospektywnej analizie. Kobietom rzadziej wszczepieniu zarówno ICD, jak i CRT-D niż męż- czyznom (9/26 kobiet w grupie z ICD oraz 1/24 w grupie z CRT-D [p = 0,035], iloraz szans [OR] 8.31 95-proc. przedział ufności [CI] 0,98–70,56). Panie charakteryzowały się wyższą frakcją wyrzutową lewej komory (LVEF) (38,11 ± 12,74% v. 29,65 ± 12,63 [p = 0,027]). U opisywanych chorych CRT-D wszczepiano głównie w ramach w prewencji pierwotnej (22/25 v. 18/35 [p = 0,0726], OR 6,93 95% CI 1,75–27,43) oraz u pacjentów z niższą LVEF niż u osób z ICD (24,75 ± 8,98 v. 35,52 ± 13,55%; p = 0,001). Analiza parametrów technicznych elektrod endokawitarnych wykazała obniżenie oporności, gdy porównano parametry z dnia wszczepienia i ostatniej wizyty kontrolnej. W grupie z wszczepionym ICD oporność elektrod przedsionkowych wynosiła 280,03 ± 335,3 w porównaniu z 218,29 ± 229,48 omów (p = 0,0018), a elektrod defibrylujących 768,66 ± 210,62 w porównaniu z 507,03 ± 131,67 omów (p < 0,001) (dzień implantacji v. ostatnia kontrola). W grupie poddanych CRT-D średnia oporność elektrod przedsionkowych wynosiła 511,05 ± 271,30 w porównaniu z 388,55 ± 231,75 omów (p = 0,007), elektrod defibrylujących 698,95 ± 165,45 w porównaniu z 547,13 ± 385,24 omów (p = 0,002), a elektrod lewokomorowych 1036,28 ± 337,34 w porównaniu z 794,87 ± 274,99 omów (p < 0,001), gdy porównano dzień implantacji z dniem ostatniej kontroli.  Wnioski. Kobiety podlegają terapii resynchronizującej znacznie rzadziej niż mężczyźni. Ponadto CRT-D poddano pacjen- tów z niższą LVEF, głównie w ramach prewencji pierwotnej. Oporność wszystkich elektrod ulegała obniżeniu z upływa- jącym czasem.

Production of medical Sc radioisotopes with an alpha particle beam

The internal α-particle beam of the Warsaw Heavy Ion Cyclotron was used to produce research quantities of the medically interesting Sc radioisotopes from natural Ca and K and isotopically enriched 42Ca targets. The targets were made of metallic calcium, calcium carbonate and potassium chloride. New data on the production yields and impurities generated during the target irradiations are presented for the positron emitters 43Sc, 44 gSc and 44 mSc. The different paths for the production of the long lived 44 mSc/44 gSc in vivo generator, proposed by the ARRONAX team, using proton and deuteron beams as well as alpha-particle beams are discussed. Due to the larger angular momentum transfer in the formation of the compound nucleus in the case of the alpha particle induced reactions, the isomeric ratio of 44 mSc/44 gSc at a bombarding energy of 29 MeV is five times larger than previously determined for a deuteron beam and twenty times larger than for proton induced reactions on enriched CaCO3 targets. Therefore, formation of this generator via the alpha-particle route seems a very attractive way to form these isotopes. The experimental data presented here are compared with theoretical predictions made using the EMPIRE evaporation code. Reasonable agreement is generally observed

Improved procedures of Sc(OH)3 precipitation and UTEVA extraction for 44Sc separation

BACKGROUND: 44Sc is becoming attractive as a PET radionuclide due to its decay characteristics. It can be produced from 44Ca present in natural calcium with 2.08% abundance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The targets were mostly prepared from natural CaCO3 or metallic calcium in the form of pellets. After irradiation they were dissolved in 3 M hydrochloric acid and 44Sc was separated from excess of calcium by precipitation of scandium hydroxide using ammonia. Alternatively, targets were dissolved in 11 M hydrochloric acid and 44Sc was separated by extraction chromatography on UTEVA resin. As the next step, in both processes 44Sc was further purified on a cation exchange resin. Initially, the separation procedures were developed with 46Sc as a tracer. Gamma spectrometry with a high purity germanium detector was used to determine the separation efficiency. Finally, the CaCO3 pellet with 99.2% enrichment in 44Ca was activated with protons via 44Ca(p,n)44Sc nuclear reaction. RESULTS: Altogether twenty two irradiations and separations were performed. The working procedures were developed and the quality of separated 44Sc solution was confirmed by radiolabeling of DOTATATE. The chemical purity of the product was sufficient for preclinical experiments. At the end of around 1 hour proton beam irradiation of CaCO3 pellet with 99.2% enrichment in 44Ca the obtained radioactivity of 44Sc was more than 4.8 GBq. CONCLUSION: 44Sc can be produced inexpensively with adequate yields and radionuclidic purity via 44Ca(p,n)44Sc nuclear reaction in small cyclotrons. The recovery yield in both investigated separation methods was comparable and amounted above 90%. The obtained 44Sc was pure in terms of radionuclide and chemical purity, as shown by the results of peptide radiolabeling

Orthodontic and orthodontic-surgical management of impacted canines – a literature review

The phenomenon of impacted canines is observed in about 0.8–4.9% of patients treated orthodontically. In 85% of cases it is observed unilaterally. Besides the third molars, canines are the largest group of impacted teeth. The impacted tooth diagnosis includes clinical and radiological examination. In this particular case, the screening test is a pantomographic X-ray. The full picture of the location of an impacted tooth and adjacent structures can be obtained only through the use of computed tomography. Only a full diagnosis allows a decision to be made as to the treatment of impacted canines and permits an evaluation of the possibility of treatment success. In the case of impacted teeth, the procedures may be varied. Mostly, the tooth is either left in the bone or tracked orthodontically. Rarely is it extracted. In some cases, the surgical procedure includes the autotransplantation of the impacted tooth

Calcium targets for production of the medical Sc radioisotopes in reactions with p, d or α projectiles

The scandium radioisotopes for medical application can be produced in reactions of calcium with proton, deuteron or alpha projectiles. Enriched isotopic calcium material is commercially available mainly as calcium carbonate which can be used directly for production of Sc radioisotopes or can be converted into other calcium compounds or into metallic form. The superiority of application of calcium oxide is shown throughout analysis of use of each target chemical form