Phosphatidase A Activity of Ammodytes Viper Venom

The venom of Vipera Ammodytes was resolved by electrophoresis in seven proteinic components. These components were tested for phosphatidase A activity. The reliability of the method for haemolysis activity determination is discussed

Phosphatidase A Activity of Ammodytes Viper Venom

The venom of Vipera Ammodytes was resolved by electrophoresis in seven proteinic components. These components were tested for phosphatidase A activity. The reliability of the method for haemolysis activity determination is discussed

Polymerization Contraction of Composite Resin Filling

Volumetrijska kontrakcija negativna je posljedica polimerizacije kompozitnih materijala. Uzrok je pojavi pukotine između ispuna i zuba s posljedičnim mikropropuštanjem, rubnim obojenjem, sekundarnim karijesom i mogućom iritacijom zubne pulpe. Te pojave, inducirane dimenzijskim promjenama, kompromitiraju kakvoću, trajnost i estetiku kompozitnog ispuna. U svrhu prevladavanja polimerizacijske kontrakcije nužno je obratiti posebnu pozornost pripravi kaviteta prije postavljanja slojeva kompozitnog materijala. Potrebno je odstraniti ili preobraziti zaostatni sloj koji zatvara dentinske kanaliće mehanički obrađivanog dentina da bi se stvorili uvjeti za adheziju ispuna. Kod plićih se kaviteta, zatim, rabe dentinska ljepila (adhezivi), a kod dubljih svjetlosno polimerizirajući stakleno-ionomerni cementi radi poboljšanja čvrstoće sveze između ispuna i kaviteta. Aplikacija kompozitnog materijala s visokim sadržajem anorganskog punila drugi je način prevladavanja polimerizacijske kontrakcije. Treća je mogućnost izbor polimerizacijskog uređaja s minimalnom indukcijom topline uz maksimalan polimerizacijski učinak, jer je porast temperature u kompozitnom materijalu izravan, uzrok dimenzijskih promjena. Kompenzacijom polimerizacijske kontrakcije onemogućuje se nastanak rubne p u kotine - najvećeg problema pri rekonstrukciji zuba kompozitnim materijalima.Polymerization shrinkage is a negative consequence o f the setting o f composite materials. It usually leads to the formation o f gaps around cavity margins, which is resulting in microleakage, marginal discoloration, reccurent caries and possible tooth sensitivity. To overcome the polymerization contraction, it is necessary to treat the cavity walls before the composite material application. The removal or modification o f the dentin smear layer appears to play a significant part in the mechanism by which the dentin and resin become linked. In shallow cavities, it is sufficient to use dentin adhesives, but in deeper cavities use o f light-hardened glass-ionomer cements is required to improve the adhesive capacity and bonding strength o f the resin to the tooth structure. It enables penetration, impregnation and entanglement o f the methacrylate-based monomers into dentinal substrates, where they polymerize in situ and create zones o f resin-reinforced dentin or »hybrid layers«. Other ways o f prevailing the volumetric contraction are the application o f hybrid composite materials with high filler weight percentage and use o f light-curing device with minimal heat-generation and maximal polymerization effect. It is known that temperature elevation in a composite material directly leads to dimension changes. Thus, the marginal gap formation, the major problem in composite resin tooth restoration, can be prevented by overcoming the polymerization contraction

Prognostička vrijednost CT morfoloških karakteristika nemikrocelularnih karcinoma pluća u IA i IB stadiju bolesti

PURPOSE: The aim of this work is to estimate the prognostic value of preoperative chest computed tomography (CT) morphological characteristics in patients resected for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and classified as stage IA and IB. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 194 patients operated between 1996 and 2001, and classified as stage IA and IB of NSCLC, all patients underwent lobectomy or pulmectomy with hilar and mediastinal lymph node dissection. The chest CT imaging and clinicopathologic records were examined. We retrospectively analyzed sex, age, date of operation, type of resection, location, histology type, stage, and date of death. The chest CT morphological data examined and analyzed were tumor size, tumor margins, tumor structure, periphery of tumor and relation of tumor and visceral pleura. The Kaplan-Meier bivariable method was used to estimate survival. Multivariable method used for predicting survival was Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: The tumor size, T stage, tumor margins, tumor structure, periphery of tumor and relation tumor to visceral pleura showed significant influence on survival in the bivariable analysis. In the multivariable analysis according Cox model only tumor margins, tumor perphery and tumor relation with visceral pleura entered into regression. CONCLUSION: The CT morphological characteristics of tumor margins, tumor periphery and tumor relation with visceral pleura in IA and IB stage of NSCLC are important preoperative predictive factors for patients outcome after surgery

Prevention of caries by fissure sealing

U radu je opisana tehnika pečaćenja fisura i raspravljena efikasnost ovog postupka u kliničkoj praksi. Suvremena istraživanja su pokazala preventivne i terapijske koristi pečaćenja fisura, kao i povezanost između retencije smole i zaštite od okluzalnog karijesa. Provođenje samog postupka vrlo je jednostavno i zahtijeva relativno malo vremena, a uz to pruža efikasnu zaštitu zuba od karijesa fisura u razdoblju od nekoliko godina. Istaknuto je da je aplikacija smole i preko početnog karijesa prihvatljiv postupak, uz nužan oprez pri određivanju indikacije i kontrolu. Budući da je pečaćenje efikasniji način za redukciju karijesa u fisurama, svaki djelotvorni preventivni program morao bi uključivati postupak okluzalnog pečaćenja zuba.A technique of fissure sealing and efficacy of this procedure in clinical practice are described and discussed. Current studies have pointed out to the preventive and therapeutic benefits of fissure sealing as well as to association between the resin retention and protection from occlusal caries. The procedure is very easy to perform, it is not time-consuming and, additionally, provides a very efficient protection from fissure caries for several years. The application of resin over an initial caries is also emphasized as an acceptable procedure, requiring, however, special caution in the determination of indication and careful control. As sealing appears to be the most efficient way of reducing caries in fissures, each efficacious preventive program should also include the procedure of occlusal tooth sealing

Kromatografija insulina na papiru

Paper strip chromatography of commercial samples of insulin using Whatman No. I. filter paper and ten serial dilutions of 3 M sodium chloride in veronal buffer pH 8.6 as eluent has been presented.Prikazana je kromatografija na papiru kupovnih uzoraka kristaliničnog inzulina, upotrebom filtar-papira Whatman br. l. i razvijanjem kromatograma nizom otopina natrijeva klorida u rastućem gradijentu koncentracija (0,003 - 3 M) u veronalskom puferu pH 8,6

Usporedba standardne i pulsno-laserske polimerizacije kompozitnih materijala

An ever growing amount of photo-curable materials is being used in different fields of dentistry. Standard photopolymerization devices produce about 60% o f monomer conversion in composite resin fillings. In order to improve the quality of polymerization, a series of experiments was made using pulsed laser, because continuous coherent light leads to a higher polymerization shrinkage caused by a temperature rise in the material. Three different experiments were carried out with different shades of composite resins Helioprogress and Heliomolar (Vivadent, Liechtenstein). In the first experiment, the wavelength was changed from 465 to 495 nm in steps o f 5 nm with 30s exposition time. In the second one, the wavelength was constant (470 nm) and the illumination time was changeable (10, 20, 30 and 40s). The cured part of the sample, situated in a specially prepared aluminum mould, was measured with Vernier micrometer. The best results were achieved at 470 nm regardless of the amount of filler and pigment. The results were compared with a commercial device (Heliomat). It is expected that pulsed laser polymerization will improve the degree of monomer conversion, decrease a temperature rise in the composite and in that way avoid wall-to-wall contraction.Zbog širokog uporabnog spektra, jednokomponentni smolasti materijali postali su gotovo nezamjenjivi u raznim stomatološkim disciplinama. Standardni polimerizacijski uređaji osiguravaju svega 60%-tnu konverziju monomera, dok argonski laser uzrokuje veći stupanj polimerizacijskog skvrčavanja kao rezultat povišenja temperature na mjestu apsorpcije. Stoga su, prvi put, izvedeni pokusi polimerizacije kompozita pulsnim laserom (XeCl Lambda- Physik L P X 100). Korištene su različite boje kompozitnih materijala Helioprogress i Heliomolar (Vivadent, Liechtenstein). U prvom pokusu, eksperimentirano je sa sedam valnih duljina u rasponu od 465-495 nm pri ekspoziciji od 30s, dok je u drugom valna duljina bila nepromjenljiva (470nm) uz različito vrijeme osvjetljavanja od 10, 20, 30 i 40 s. Polimerizirani dio uzorka, smješten u posebno pripremljenom aluminijskom kalupu, mjeren je pomičnim mjerilom, nakon temeljitog odstranjenja mekog dijela kompozita. Zamjetna je najveća dubina polimerizacije u području oko 470 nm bez obzira na količinu punila i pigmenta. Dobiveni rezultati uspoređeni su s kontrolnim mjerenjima izvedenim halogenom žaruljom (Heliomat). Rad u pulsnom režimu pri određenoj valnoj duljini, mogao bi znatno poboljšati stupanj konverzije monomera, smanjiti temperaturni porast u materijalu i na taj načm reducirati polimerizacijsko skvrčavanje

Usporedba standardne i pulsno-laserske polimerizacije kompozitnih materijala

An ever growing amount of photo-curable materials is being used in different fields of dentistry. Standard photopolymerization devices produce about 60% o f monomer conversion in composite resin fillings. In order to improve the quality of polymerization, a series of experiments was made using pulsed laser, because continuous coherent light leads to a higher polymerization shrinkage caused by a temperature rise in the material. Three different experiments were carried out with different shades of composite resins Helioprogress and Heliomolar (Vivadent, Liechtenstein). In the first experiment, the wavelength was changed from 465 to 495 nm in steps o f 5 nm with 30s exposition time. In the second one, the wavelength was constant (470 nm) and the illumination time was changeable (10, 20, 30 and 40s). The cured part of the sample, situated in a specially prepared aluminum mould, was measured with Vernier micrometer. The best results were achieved at 470 nm regardless of the amount of filler and pigment. The results were compared with a commercial device (Heliomat). It is expected that pulsed laser polymerization will improve the degree of monomer conversion, decrease a temperature rise in the composite and in that way avoid wall-to-wall contraction.Zbog širokog uporabnog spektra, jednokomponentni smolasti materijali postali su gotovo nezamjenjivi u raznim stomatološkim disciplinama. Standardni polimerizacijski uređaji osiguravaju svega 60%-tnu konverziju monomera, dok argonski laser uzrokuje veći stupanj polimerizacijskog skvrčavanja kao rezultat povišenja temperature na mjestu apsorpcije. Stoga su, prvi put, izvedeni pokusi polimerizacije kompozita pulsnim laserom (XeCl Lambda- Physik L P X 100). Korištene su različite boje kompozitnih materijala Helioprogress i Heliomolar (Vivadent, Liechtenstein). U prvom pokusu, eksperimentirano je sa sedam valnih duljina u rasponu od 465-495 nm pri ekspoziciji od 30s, dok je u drugom valna duljina bila nepromjenljiva (470nm) uz različito vrijeme osvjetljavanja od 10, 20, 30 i 40 s. Polimerizirani dio uzorka, smješten u posebno pripremljenom aluminijskom kalupu, mjeren je pomičnim mjerilom, nakon temeljitog odstranjenja mekog dijela kompozita. Zamjetna je najveća dubina polimerizacije u području oko 470 nm bez obzira na količinu punila i pigmenta. Dobiveni rezultati uspoređeni su s kontrolnim mjerenjima izvedenim halogenom žaruljom (Heliomat). Rad u pulsnom režimu pri određenoj valnoj duljini, mogao bi znatno poboljšati stupanj konverzije monomera, smanjiti temperaturni porast u materijalu i na taj načm reducirati polimerizacijsko skvrčavanje

Perkutana biopsija medijastina tankom iglom pod kontrolom ultrazvuka

The clinicoradiological diagnostic possibilities in mediastinal processes have improved with the introduction of percutaneous and endoscopic biopsies. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the diagnostic reliability of percutaenous mediastinal biopsies (PMB) with a fine needle under ultrasound guidance in patients with a mediastinal mass. 73 PMB with ultrasound guidance have been performed in 66 patients. In this investigation, only patients with primary or secondary solid or cystic formations of the anterior and posterior mediastinum have been included. Patients with achalasia of the oesophagus, diverticles, herniation, mediastinitis and vascular changes have been excluded by conventional radiologic means (summary chest radiographs in two projections), and when required by additional methods (tomography, ultrasound, CT, angiography). The material obtained was examined cytologically. The cytologic results of fine-needle PMB were verified histologically after surgery, surgical biopsies, cytochemical and microbiologic examinations in addition to clinical and radiologic follow-up. The specificity, sensitivity and accuracy of radiological and PMB results was calculated. A microscopic diagnosis was established in all examined cases: primary malignant processes 31 (46.97%), metastases 14 (21.21%), benign tumors 6 (9.09%), inflammation 9 (13.64%), thyroid goiter and sarcoidosis 6 (9.09%). A high degree of accuracy (90%), specificity (100%) and sensitivity (100%) was obtained. There were no complications. The diagnostic safety of a technically simple, rapid and low cost method has been established, as a frequent alternative to open surgical biopsy and other biopsies under ionizing radiation devices.Kliničkoradiološke dijagnostičke mogućnosti u dijagnosticiranju procesa u medijastinu su napredovale uvođenjem perkutanih i endoskopskih biopsija. Cilj ovog rada je vrednovati dijagnostičku pouzdanost perkutane biopsije medijastina (PMB) tankom iglom pod kontrolom ultrazvuka u pacijenata s ekspanzivnim procesom u medijastinu. U 66 pacijenata su učinjene 73 PMB pod kontrolom ultrazvuka. U ovo su istraživanje uključeni samo pacijenti s primarnim ili sekundarnim solidnim ili cističkim tvorbama u prednjem ili stražnjem medijastinu. Pacijenti s ahalazijom, divertiklima, hernijama, medijastinitisom i vaskularnim promjenama su isključeni konvencionalnom radiološkom obradom (sumacijski telerendgenogrami u dva smjera) i, eventualno, dodatnim metodama (tomografija, ultrazvuk, CT, angiografija). Dobiveni materijal je analiziran citološki. Citološki rezultati PMB učinjene tankom iglom verificirani su histološki nakon operativnog zahvata, otvorene biopsije, citokemijskke i mikrobiološke pretrage uz kliničko i radiološko praćenje. Izračunana je specifičnost, senzitivnost i točnost radioloških i PMB rezultata. Mikroskopska dijagnoza je postavljena u svim obra|enim slučajevima: primarni maligni process 31 (46,97%), metastaze 14 (21,21%), benigni tumori 6 (9,09%), upale 9 (13,64%), struma i sarkoidoza 6 (9,09%). Dobiven je visok stupanj točnosti (90%), specifičnosti (100%) i senzitivnosti (100%). Nije bilo komplikacija. Ustanovljena je dijagnostička sigurnost jednostavne, brze i jeftine metode kao česte alternative otvorenoj biopsiji i drugim biopsijama izvedenim pod kontrolom ure|aja s ionizantnim zračenjem

Prevention of caries by fissure sealing

U radu je opisana tehnika pečaćenja fisura i raspravljena efikasnost ovog postupka u kliničkoj praksi. Suvremena istraživanja su pokazala preventivne i terapijske koristi pečaćenja fisura, kao i povezanost između retencije smole i zaštite od okluzalnog karijesa. Provođenje samog postupka vrlo je jednostavno i zahtijeva relativno malo vremena, a uz to pruža efikasnu zaštitu zuba od karijesa fisura u razdoblju od nekoliko godina. Istaknuto je da je aplikacija smole i preko početnog karijesa prihvatljiv postupak, uz nužan oprez pri određivanju indikacije i kontrolu. Budući da je pečaćenje efikasniji način za redukciju karijesa u fisurama, svaki djelotvorni preventivni program morao bi uključivati postupak okluzalnog pečaćenja zuba.A technique of fissure sealing and efficacy of this procedure in clinical practice are described and discussed. Current studies have pointed out to the preventive and therapeutic benefits of fissure sealing as well as to association between the resin retention and protection from occlusal caries. The procedure is very easy to perform, it is not time-consuming and, additionally, provides a very efficient protection from fissure caries for several years. The application of resin over an initial caries is also emphasized as an acceptable procedure, requiring, however, special caution in the determination of indication and careful control. As sealing appears to be the most efficient way of reducing caries in fissures, each efficacious preventive program should also include the procedure of occlusal tooth sealing