Peripheral ionotropic glutamate receptors contribute to Fos expression increase in the spinal cord through antidromic electrical stimulation of sensory nerves.

Previous studies have shown that peripheral ionotropic glutamate receptors are involved in the increase in sensitivity of a cutaneous branch of spinal dorsal ramus (CBDR) through antidromic electrical stimulation (ADES) of another CBDR in the adjacent segment. CBDR in the thoracic segments run parallel to each other and no synaptic contact at the periphery is reported. The present study investigated whether the increased sensitivity of peripheral sensory nerves via ADES of a CBDR induced Fos expression changes in the adjacent segments of the spinal cord. Fos expression increased in the T8 - T12 segments of the spinal cord evoked by ADES of the T10 CBDR in rats. The increased Fos expression in the T11 and T12, but not T8 - T10 spinal cord segments, was significantly blocked by local application of either N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist dizocilpine maleate (MK-801) or non-NMDA receptor antagonist 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX) into the receptive field of T11 CBDR. The results suggest that endogenous glutamate released by ADES of sensory nerve may bind to peripheral ionotropic glutamate receptors and activate adjacent sensory nerve endings to increase the sensitivity of the spinal cord. These data reveal the potential mechanisms of neuron activation in the spinal cord evoked by peripheral sensitization.

A systematic review of all-ceramic crowns: clinical fracture rates in relation to restored tooth type.

PURPOSE: The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the clinical fracture incidence of tooth-supported all-ceramic crowns according to restored tooth type. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic search of clinical trials published in English and Chinese was performed using four databases (Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database) from 1990 to 2011 and complemented by an additional manual search. The annual core and veneer fracture rates of various tooth types were estimated and compared using Poisson regression. Moreover, the 5-year cumulative incidence was calculated. RESULTS: Of 5,600 titles and abstracts retrieved, 37 publications were included, with a follow-up period that ranged from 36 to 97 months. Based on the calculated results, all-ceramic crowns demonstrated an acceptable overall 5-year fracture rate of 4.4% irrespective of the materials used. Molar crowns (8.1%) showed a significantly higher 5-year fracture rate than premolar crowns (3.0%), and the difference between anterior (3.0%) and posterior crowns (5.4%) also achieved significance. Fractures were classified as either core or veneer fractures. Core fracture rates were calculated as having a 5-year incidence of 2.5%, and a significantly higher core fracture rate was found in the posterior region (3.9%). The overall 5-year incidence of veneer fracture was 3.0%, and no clear difference was found between restored tooth types, with incidences of 2.0%, 2.5%, 1.0%, and 3.0% for incisor, canine, premolar, and molar crowns, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, current dental ceramic materials demonstrated acceptable 5-year core and veneer fracture incidences when used for tooth-supported single crowns in both anterior and posterior segments. A higher fracture tendency for posterior crowns was the trend for all-ceramic crowns, while molar crowns showed a significantly higher fracture rate than premolar crowns. Moreover, it is recommended that randomized controlled trials with large sample sizes be undertaken to obtain more definitive results.

Effect of ZnCl2 on plaque growth and biofilm vitality.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ZnCl(2) on plaque-growth and vitality pattern of dental biofilm and to determine the optimum zinc concentration for the inhibition of plaque formation. DESIGN: Data were collected from nine volunteers for whom a special-designed acrylic appliance was prescribed after a careful dental check up. The volunteers rinsed twice daily for 2min with ZnCl(2) of 2.5, 5, 10, 20mM as treatment and double distilled water (DDW) as control in respective assigned test weeks. The plaque index (PI) was assessed after 48h of appliance wearing. The glass discs with the adhered biofilm were removed from the splints and stained with two fluorescent dyes. The biofilm thickness (BT) and bacterial vitality of the whole biofilm as well as the mean bacterial vitality (BV) of the inner, middle and outer layers of biofilm were evaluated under confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). RESULTS: PI, BT and BV of biofilms treated by various concentrations of ZnCl(2) were reduced significantly when compared with the DDW group (p<0.05). PI, BT and BV of the 2.5mM ZnCl(2) group was significantly higher than groups of 5, 10, 20mM ZnCl(2) (p<0.05). The mean BV of the 3 layers (inner, middle and outer layers) showed that 2.5mM ZnCl(2) was the lowest concentration to inhibit BV in the outer layer, 5mM was the lowest concentration to extend this inhibition of BV to the middle layer, and none of the concentrations investigated in this study has shown any effect on bacteria inhibition in the inner layer. CONCLUSION: Zinc ions exhibited possible inhibitory effects on plaque formation, and have a promising potential to be used as an antibacterial agent in future dentifrices and mouthrinses.

[A retrospective study on the long-term clinical outcomes of 310 porcelain laminate veneers].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long-term clinical outcomes of porcelain laminate veneers 1-8 years following delivery. METHODS: A total of 310 feldspathic porcelain laminate veneers on anterior teeth or premolars in 49 patients were included in the present study 1-8 years following delivery. All the subjects underwent a detailed clinical examination utilizing modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria. Restoration integrity, abrasion, color satisfaction, marginal discoloration, marginal adaptation, secondary caries, postoperative sensitivity, and gingival index (GI) of the prostheses were evaluated according to modified USPHS criteria. The 1-8 year survival rates of the veneers were statistically analyzed using the life table method. RESULTS: The survival rates of porcelain laminate veneers were 98.7%, 98.0%, 93.8%, 93.2%, 89.7%, 81.8%, 76.3%, and 76.3% in 1 to 8 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term clinical outcomes of porcelain laminate veneers are satisfying.