The adhesive material used to bond orthodontic brackets to teeth should neither fail during the treatment period, resulting in treatment delays, untoward expenses or patient inconvenience nor should it damage the enamel on debonding at the end of the treatment. Although the effectiveness of a bonding system and any unfavorable effects on the enamel may be studied by conducting in-vivo studies, it is nearly impossible to independently analyze different variables that influence a specific bonding system in the oral environment. In-vitro studies, on the other hand, may utilize more standardized protocols for testing different bonding systems and materials available. Thus, the present review focused attention on in-vitro studies and made an attempt to discuss material-related, teeth-related (fluorotic vs non-fluorotic teeth) and other miscellaneous factors that influences the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets. Within the limitations of this review, using conventional acid-etch technique, ceramic brackets and bonding to non-fluorotic teeth was reported to have a positive influence on the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets, but higher shear bond strength found on using ceramic brackets can be dangerous for the enamel. and W. Bakhadher, H. Halawany, N. Talic, N. Abraham, V. Jacob
BACKGROUND: In the cholesteatoma surgery ossicles can be replaced to reconstruct middle ear function. It is important that these ossicles are free of squamous epithelium, to prevent residual disease. This study focuses on the histological findings of the malleus and incus harvested during cholesteatoma surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty middle ears ossicles were examined in vivo and histologically to consider the relationship of cholesteatoma to ossicles, grade of bone destruction and invasion of cholesteatoma to deeper layers of bone. RESULTS: Serious ossicular destruction was observed more frequently in incus compared to malleus (p=0.0065). Difference of ossicles destruction between children and adults was not significant (p=0.3032). Deep invasion of cholesteatoma into the vascular spaces or inner core of the bone was not observed. CONCLUSIONS: Autograft ossicles from cholesteatomatous ears should not necessarily be rejected for reconstruction of the ossicular chain. Regarding the histological finding, the authors suggest mechanical cleaning of the ossicle surface to eliminate residual disease. and L. Školoudík, E. Šimáková, D. Kalfeřt, V. Chrobok
The presence of a broad spectrum of autoantibodies in Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) patients is the result of abnormal B-cell regulation that can be at least partially explained by abnormal BAFF/BAFFR regulation. The objective of this study was to determine both membrane and intracellular expression of BAFF/BAFFR in monocytes and B-cells in peripheral blood of 19 primary Sjögren's syndrome patients and 20 healthy controls using flow cytometry. We also measured sBAFF in serum. Compared to healthy controls, both surface and intracellular expression of BAFF was significantly increased in monocytes and B-cells of SjS patients. Also serum sBAFF level was elevated. Expression of BAFFR on B-cells of SjS patients was surprisingly decreased, but there was no clear increase or decrease within monocytes. Our results indicate that activated monocytes communicate with B-cells via BAFF and BAFFR, so that B-cells are stimulated, but BAFF is also produced to stimulate cells in autocrine way. The decrease of BAFFR expression in SjS patients suggests that there is the mechanism that attempts to take over in order to balance the high level of BAFF. and J. Krejsek, M. Koláčková, I. Lindrová, R. Slezák, C. Andrýs
OBJECTIVES: Osseous dysplasias are the most common subtype of fibro-osseous lesions of the maxillofacial bones. They are benign and often present as incidental asymptomatic lesions. Diagnosis can be made with clinical and radiographic examination. CASE REPORT: This article reports the case of a 47-year-old man with a huge cementifying osseous dysplasia of the maxilla that presented with secondary infection after teeth extraction and repair of oroantral fistula. A subtotal maxillectomy had to be done after conservative treatment failed to resolve the infection. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Biopsy, tooth extraction or surgical trauma to the affected bones of osseous dysplasia could easily lead to severe secondary infection, the treatment of which may be very difficult, and thus should be avoided if possible. and S. Akbulut, M. G. Demir, K. Basak, M. Paksoy
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is the recording of the magnetic field produced by the flowing of ions in the brain. This article reports our experience in the application of MEG in patients and healthy volunteers in the Greek population. We provide a brief description of our research work. The MEG data were recorded in a magnetically shielded room with a whole-head 122 channel or an one-channel biomagnetometer. Our results lead us to believe that the MEG is an important research field which is evolving quickly with a number of interesting findings with respect to normal and abnormal functions of the human brain. It could provide clinical practice with an easy to perform non invasive method, which could be adjunct to conventional methods for the evaluation of brain disorders. and P. Anninos, A. Adamopoulos, A. Kotini
Melatonin is a hormone with strong antioxidant properties. In this experiment, Freund's complete adjuvant was used as a stressogenic substance given to laboratory outbred mice, whereas melatonin was investigated as a protectant against the stressogenic effect. Levels of low molecular weight antioxidants, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and tumor necrosis factor α and activity of glutathione reductase were determined in blood from the animals. Surprisingly, melatonin was not involved in direct regulation of antioxidants, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and tumor necrosis factor α. On the other hand, melatonin regulated glutathione reductase activity. We can conclude on regulation of metabolism caused by melatonin in the model. The effect was more important than the expected regulation of immunity and basal oxidative homeostasis. and M. Pohanka, B. Ruttkay-Nedecký, J. Fusek, V. Adam, R. Kizek
BACKGROUND: The method of continual determination of the rat blood cholinesterase activity was developed to study the changes of the blood cholinesterases following different intervetions. AIMS: The aim of this study is registration of cholinesterase activity in the rat blood and its changes to demonstrate detoxification capacity of rats to inactivate sarin or VX in vivo. METHODS: The groups of female rats were premedicated (ketamine and xylazine) and cannulated to a. femoralis. Continual blood sampling (0.02 ml/min) and monitoring of the circulating blood cholinesterase activity were performed. Normal activity was monitored 1-2 min and then the nerve agent was administered i.m. (2×LD50). Using different time intervals of the leg compression and relaxation following the agent injection, cholinesterase activity was monitored and according to the inhibition obtained, detoxification capacity was assessed. RESULTS: Administration of sarin to the leg, then 1 and 5 min compression and 20 min later relaxation showed that further inhibition in the blood was not observed. On the other hand, VX was able to inhibit blood cholinesterases after this intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that sarin can be naturally detoxified on the contrary to VX. Described method can be used as model for other studies dealing with changes of cholinesterases in the blood following different factors. and J. Bajgar, J. Cabal, J. Kassa, M. Pavlík
OBJECTIVES: The main aim of the study was to investigate the physiological and social needs of patients hospitalized with schizophrenia to uncover potential issues in these areas. METHODS: The relevant self-evaluating CANSAS questionnaire for physiological and social needs was used by nurses in a cohort of hospitalized schizophrenic patients undergoing rehabilitation before discharge from the mental hospital. RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-four patients (women N = 115) aged 18-58 years were involved in the study. Intimate relations, financial matters, treatment of psychotic symptoms, and sexual life were among the most pressing physiological and social needs in our study subjects. CONCLUSION: The results of our study should stimulate psychiatric nurses in their effort not only to detect but also address the problems of schizophrenic patients concerning unfulfilled needs. and J. Hosáková, L. Hosák
PURPOSE: Taking into account the fact that Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) geometrically deforms the corneal apex and displaces volume from the anterior segment whereas Dynamic Contour Tonometry (DCT) does not, we aimed at developing an algorithm for the calculation of ocular rigidity (OR) based on the differences in pressure and volume between deformed and non-deformed status according to the general Friedenwald principle of differential tonometry. METHODS: To avoid deviations of GAT IOP from true IOP in eyes with corneas different from the "calibration cornea" we applied the previously described Orssengo-Pye algorithm to calculate an error coefficient "C/B". To test the feasibility of the proposed model, we calculated the OR coefficient (r) in 17 cataract surgery candidates (9 males and 8 females). RESULTS: The calculated r according to our model (mean ± SD, range) was 0.0174 ± 0.010 (0.0123-0.022) mmHg/μL. A negative statistically significant correlation between axial length and r was detected whereas correlations between r and other biometric parameters examined were statistically not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method may prove a valid non-invasive tool for the measurement method of OR, which could help in introducing OR in the decision-making of the routine clinical practice. and E. T. Detorakis, E. Tsaglioti, G. Kymionis
The aim of this study project was to prepare our own method of porcine oesophageal manometry. Ten mature experimental pigs entered the study. Conventional water-perfused system was decided for manometry. Porcine resting and relaxed pressures of the lower oesophageal sphincter are fully comparable with healthy human subjects. Evocable swallowing is doable and oesophageal peristalsis is quantifiable. Basic manometric parameters were different in male and female animals. Oesophageal manometry in experimental pigs is feasible. Porcine oesophageal manometry will be usable for preclinical studies in future. and I. Tachecí, V. Radochová, J. Květina, S. Rejchrt, M. Kopáčová, J. Bureš