Effects of plasma on polyethylene fiber surface for prosthodontic application

ABSTRACT Plasma technology has the potential to improve the adherence of fibers to polymeric matrices, and there are prospects for its application in dentistry to reinforce the dental particulate composite. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the effect of oxygen or argon plasma treatment on polyethylene fibers. Material and Methods Connect, Construct, InFibra, and InFibra treated with oxygen or argon plasma were topographically evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and chemically by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). For bending analysis, one indirect composite (Signum) was reinforced with polyethylene fiber (Connect, Construct, or InFibra). The InFibra fiber was subjected to three different treatments: (1) single application of silane, (2) oxygen or argon plasma for 1 or 3 min, (3) oxygen or argon plasma and subsequent application of silane. The samples (25x2x2 mm), 6 unreinforced and 60 reinforced with fibers, were subjected to three-point loading tests to obtain their flexural strength and deflection. The results were statistically analyzed with ANOVA and the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparison tests. Results SEM analysis showed that oxygen and argon plasma treatments promote roughness on the polyethylene fiber surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis shows that both plasmas were effective in incorporating oxygenated functional groups. Argon or oxygen plasma treatment affected the flexural strength and deflection of a fiber reinforced composite. The application of silane does not promote an increase in the flexural strength of the reinforced composites. Conclusions Oxygen and argon plasma treatments were effective in incorporating oxygenated functional groups and surface roughness. The highest strength values were obtained in the group reinforced with polyethylene fibers treated with oxygen plasma for 3 min.

Percepções sobre a vida e a doença por mulheres submetidas à quimioterapia antineoplásica / Perceptions of life and disease by women undergoing antineoplasic chemotherapy / Percepciones de la vida y la enfermedad en mujeres sometidas a quimioterapia antineoplástica

Estudo descritivo, exploratório e quantitativo, realizado entre setembro de 2005 e abril de 2006. Teve por objetivo descrever as mudanças ocorridas na vida de pacientes submetidas à quimioterapia antineoplásica dois anos após o término do último tratamento, identificadas por meio de visitas domiciliares e aplicação emprego de entrevista semi-estruturada. Das 44 pacientes submetidas à quimioterapia no período designado para o estudo, sete participaram desta pesquisa. Foram observadas alterações fisiológicas e sociais. Considerando a freqüência estatística das respostas apresentadas, concluímos que, no grupo em estudo, todas as pacientes perceberam algum tipo de modificação em algum aspecto de suas vidas.

This is a descriptive exploratory and quantitative study carried out between September 2005 and April 2006. The objective was to describe changes in the life of patients undergoing antineoplasics chemotherapy two years after the end of the last treatment, through home visits and semi-structured questionnaire. Out of 44 patients who underwent chemotherapy, 7 participated in this research. Physiological and social alterations were observed. According to the statistical frequency of the answer given, we concluded that in the group studied, all the patients felt changes in some aspects of their lives.

Estudio descriptivo exploratorio cuantitativo realizado entre septiembre de 2005 y abril de 2006. Tuvo por objeto describir los cambios en la vida de pacientes sometidas a quimioterapia antineoplásica dos años después del término del último tratamiento. Se efectuaron visitas domiciliarias y se empleó el cuestionario semiestructurado. En esta investigación participaron 7 de las 44 pacientes sometidas a quimioterapia durante el período de estudio. Se analizaron alteraciones fisiológicas y de aspecto social. Considerando la frecuencia estadística de las respuestas concluimos que, para el grupo en estudio, todas las pacientes sintieron algún tipo de modificación en uno u otro aspecto de su vida.