Effect of different disinfection protocols on the surface properties of CAD-CAM denture base materials.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM Which disinfection protocol provides optimal water contact angle and microhardness for computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) materials is unclear. PURPOSE The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of different disinfection protocols (1% sodium hypochlorite, denture cleanser gel, and effervescent tablet) on the water contact angle and microhardness of different CAD-CAM PMMA denture base materials by comparing them with a heat-polymerized PMMA. MATERIAL AND METHODS Disk-shaped specimens (Ø10×2 mm) were fabricated from 3 different CAD-CAM PMMAs-AvaDent (AV), Merz M-PM (M-PM), and Polident (Poli)-and a heat-polymerized PMMA (Vynacron) (CV) (n=21). Three disinfection protocols (1% sodium hypochlorite [HC], denture cleanser gel [GEL], an effervescent tablet [TAB]) were applied to simulate 180 days of cleansing. The water contact angle and microhardness of specimens were measured before and after disinfection and compared by using a 2-way ANOVA (α=.05). RESULTS For water contact angle, material (P=.010) and disinfection protocol (P=.002) had a significant effect. The material (P<.001), disinfection protocol (P=.001), and their interaction (P<.001) significantly affected the microhardness after disinfection. When the condition after disinfection was compared with that before disinfection, the water contact angle increased significantly in all material-disinfection protocol pairs (P≤.025), and microhardness increased significantly in all material-disinfection protocol pairs (P≤.040), except for GEL- (P=.689) or TAB-applied (P=.307) AV, HC-applied M-PM (P=.219), and TAB-applied Poli (P=.159). CONCLUSIONS The material and disinfection protocol affected the water contact angle of all tested PMMAs after disinfection, resulting in more hydrophobic surfaces for heat-polymerized or CAD-CAM PMMAs. The microhardness of heat-polymerized PMMA was less than that of all CAD-CAM PMMAs after disinfection, regardless of the protocol

Effect of thermocycling on the surface properties of CAD-CAM denture base materials after different surface treatments

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of thermocycling on the water contact angle (WCA), surface roughness (SR), and microhardness (MH) of different CAD-CAM PMMA denture base materials after different surface treatments (conventional laboratory polishing, polishing kit, or surface sealant). Materials and methods: Disk-shaped specimens (10 × 2 mm) of 3 different CAD-CAM PMMAs, AvaDent (AV); Merz M-PM (M-PM); Polident (Poli), and a conventional heat-polymerized PMMA (Vynacron) (CV) (n=21) were divided into 3 different surface treatment groups (n=7): conventional laboratory polishing (CLP), polishing with acrylic resin polisher kit (PK), and a surface sealant (Palaseal) (SSC). Stereomicroscopic images were taken both before and after thermocycling. WCA, SR, and MH of all specimens were measured before and after thermocycling and compared by using a 2-way ANOVA (α=0.05). Results: After thermocycling, WCA significantly increased for CLP- or PK -applied (P<.001) specimens of all materials and SSC-applied M-PM (P=.002), SR significantly increased for CLP-applied M-PM (P=.027) and PK-applied Poli (P=.041), and MH significantly decreased for CLP- or PK-applied AV (P = .001, P < .001, respectively), CV (P=.033, P=.023, respectively), and M-PM (P=.003, P=.001, respectively), SSC-applied M-PM (P<.001), and CLP-applied Poli (P<.001). Stereomicroscopic images revealed rougher surfaces for PK-applied specimens. Conclusions: After thermocycling, surface treatment had a significant effect on water contact angle and surface roughness. CLP or PK application resulted in hydrophobic surfaces compared with before thermocycling. CLP or SSC application on CAD-CAM PMMAs resulted in smoother surfaces. Thermocycling lowered the microhardness of all PMMAs, and the decrease was significant in CLP- or PK-applied PMMAs, except for PK-applied Poli

Effect of scan pattern on the scan accuracy of a combined healing abutment scan body system.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM A recently introduced scan body combined with a contoured healing abutment enables digital scans of the implant while its healing abutment shapes the soft tissue for an appropriate emergence profile. However, information on the effect of different scan patterns on the scan accuracy of this new system is lacking. PURPOSE The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of scan pattern on the accuracy of digital implant scans by using a combined healing abutment-scan body system. MATERIAL AND METHODS A combined healing abutment-scan body system was secured on a single implant at the right first molar site in a dentate mandibular model. A master reference model was generated by scanning the model with an industrial light scanner. The model was then scanned with 4 different scan patterns (SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, and SP-D) by using an intraoral scanner (TRIOS 3). Test scans (n=8) were superimposed over the master reference model by using a metrology software, and distance and angular deviations were calculated. Distance and angular deviation data were analyzed with a multivariate analysis of variance and the Tukey honestly significant difference tests for trueness and precision (α=.05). RESULTS Distance deviations (trueness [P=.461] and precision [P=.533] deviations) in the scans were not significantly affected by the scan pattern. Scan pattern affected the trueness (P=.001) and precision (P=.002) when angular deviations were considered. In terms of trueness, SP-D resulted in the highest angular deviations in scans (P≤.031), while the difference in deviations in scans obtained by using other scan patterns was not significant (P≥.378). When angular deviation data were considered, SP-D resulted in lower scan precision than SP-A (P=.014) and SP-B (P=.007). The precision of scans using SP-C was similar to the precision of the scans made by using other scan patterns (P≥.055) in terms of angular deviations. CONCLUSIONS The scan accuracy of a combined healing abutment-scan body system was affected by the scan pattern. The scans performed with SP-D presented the lowest accuracy considering the angular deviation data and, therefore, may be the least favored among the patterns tested for scanning a combined healing abutment-scan body system

Civil Society Monitoring Report 2012

TUSEV published the first Civil Society Monitoring Report in 2011 in order to more closely observe and evaluate developments in the area of civil society. The purposes of this report are for civil society to be recognized, better understood and bring awareness to challenges faced, as well as portraying developments over the past ten years. We believe that the favorable assessment of the Civil Society Monitoring Report by the representatives of civil society and the various institutions in the international arena is a significant progress. The Civil Society Monitoring Report 2012 presents the developments and achievements in the area of civil society, as well as the shortcomings and difficulties observed in practice within the period of 2011-2012. Also, the report compares findings of this year with the previous year

Magnetic resonance imaging study; does the olfactory bulb volume change in major depression?

Goal: The olfactory region function disorders and olfactory bulb volume changes in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders are defined. In this study, the olfactory bulb values of patients diagnosed with major depression in accordance with DMS-IV criteria, are measured with MRI, and these values are compared with the values of healthy volunteers to see if there are any statistically significant changes.Method: The study was carried out with 20 healthy volunteers and 20 patients who had been diagnosed with acute major depression in accordance with ‘diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders’ (DMS) IV criteria and have been getting treatment for more than 2 years in Istanbul Education and Research Hospital. 1,5 Tesla MRI were used in 40 cases, and the olfactory bulb volume on two hemispheres were measured separately.Results: Contrary to the former studies, we found no statistically significant difference between the olfactory bulb volume measurements of the control group and the group diagnosed with major depression

Effect of simulated brushing and disinfection on the surface roughness and color stability of CAD-CAM denture base materials.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of simulated brushing and chemical disinfection on the surface roughness and color stability of CAD-CAM denture base materials and to compare with those of a heat-cured denture base material. MATERIAL AND METHODS Disk-shaped specimens (Ø 10mm × 2 mm) were prepared from 3 CAD-CAM denture base resins (AvaDent, Ava; Merz M-PM, Merz; Polident d.o.o, Poli) and a heat-cured polymethylmethacrylate resin (Promolux, Conv) (n = 30). After polishing, baseline surface roughness (Ra) and color coordinates were measured. The measurements were repeated after 20000 cycles of simulated brushing, and the specimens were divided into 3 groups according to disinfection protocol (distilled water, 1% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), and effervescent tablet) (n = 10). After 9 cleaning cycles over a period of 20 days, Ra and color coordinates were remeasured. Color differences (ΔE00) were calculated by using CIEDE2000 formula. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and pairwise t-tests were used to analyze Ra and ΔE00 data, while repeated measures ANOVA test was used to compare baseline, after brush, and after disinfection Ra values (α = 0.05). RESULTS Brushing did not affect the Ra values of tested materials (P ≥ .08). Both before and after brushing, Merz and Conv had higher Ra values than Poli and Ava (P < .001). Among disinfectants, effervescent tablet led to the lowest Ra for Merz (P = .003) and the highest Ra for Poli (P ≤ .039). Only NaOCl resulted in significant differences among the Ra of materials (P < .001), as Merz and Conv had higher Ra values than Poli (P ≤ .002). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed that effervescent tablet disinfection of Merz led to lower Ra values than those of baseline and after brushing (P ≤ .042). After brushing, Ava and Conv had higher ΔE00 values compared with Merz and Poli (P ≤ .015). When compared with other disinfection protocols, effervescent tablet led to higher ΔE00 values for Merz and Poli (P < .001). Significant differences were observed among materials when NaOCl was used; Conv had higher ΔE00 values than Ava and Merz (P = .004). CONCLUSIONS Brushing did not increase the surface roughness of materials. Disinfection protocol's effect on the surface roughness varied. The effect of brushing on the color of materials varied; color of Ava and Conv was affected from brushing more than the other materials. Color stability of materials varied depending on the disinfection protocol. Effervescent tablet caused higher color change with Merz and Poli compared with other disinfectants. NaOCl led to small color change for Poli, Ava, and Merz materials

Systemically Administered Brain-Targeted Nanoparticles Transport Peptides across the Blood—Brain Barrier and Provide Neuroprotection

Although growth factors and anti-apoptotic peptides have been shown to be neuroprotective in stroke models, translation of these experimental findings to clinic is hampered by limited penetration of peptides to the brain. Here, we show that a large peptide like the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and a small peptide inhibitor of caspase-3 (z-DEVD-FMK) can effectively be transported to the brain after systemic administration by incorporating these peptides to brain-targeted nanoparticles (NPs). Chitosan NPs were loaded with peptides and then functionalized by conjugating with antibodies directed against the transferrin receptor-1 on brain endothelia to induce receptor-mediated transcytosis across the blood—brain barrier (BBB). Pre-ischemic systemic administration of bFGF- or z-DEVD-FMK-loaded NPs significantly decreased the infarct volume after 2-hour middle cerebral artery occlusion and 22-hour reperfusion in mice. Co-administration of bFGF- or z-DEVD-FMK-loaded NPs reduced the infarct volume further and provided a 3-hour therapeutic window. bFGF-loaded NPs were histologically detected in the brain parenchyma and also restored ischemia-induced Akt dephosphorylation. The neuroprotection was not observed when receptor-mediated transcytosis was inhibited with imatinib or when bFGF-loaded NPs were not conjugated with the targeting antibody, which enables them to cross the BBB. Nanoparticles targeted to brain are promising drug carriers to transport large as well as small BBB-impermeable therapeutics for neuroprotection against strokeTurgay Dalkara’s work is supported by the Turkish Academy of Sciences. This study is supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, Project Number: 109S017)S