CBCT and modern intraoral scanners as tools for developing comprehensive, interdisciplinary treatment plans.

The aim of this narrative literature review is to present the possibilities of using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and 3D dental scanners to prepare comprehensive, interdisciplinary treatment plans. Scanners are instruments whose usage seems to be a key element of modern digital dentistry. Their importance in orthodontic treatment with overlay appliances, planning modern prosthetic treatments (CAD/CAM) and implantology cannot be overestimated. These scanners allow for accurate imaging of the tooth structures and their positioning independently in the maxilla and mandible as well as in the occlusion. As a result, dentists can plan treatment, e.g., in the case of the need to implant dental implants, prosthetic crowns or orthodontic braces. Dentistry was revolutionized to a similar extent by the introduction of CBCT to everyday diagnostics, which is the most advanced imaging technology that provides even more detailed images in 3 dimensions. Its use has enabled a wider and more precise range of diagnostics, which in turn has improved the quality of multidisciplinary treatment planning. This paper explains how scanners and CBCT can be used in orthodontics and prosthetics based on the articles found in 3 databases: PubMed, Scopus and Embase. The review included 28 articles on the aforementioned topics and was presented with a brief description of the content of each article.

Cyclosporine A, in Contrast to Rapamycin, Affects the Ability of Dendritic Cells to Induce Immune Tolerance Mechanisms.

Following organ transplantation, it is essential that immune tolerance is induced in the graft recipient to reduce the risk of rejection and avoid complications associated with the long-term use of immunosuppressive drugs. Immature dendritic cells (DCs) are considered to promote transplant tolerance and may minimize the risk of graft rejection. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of immunosuppressive agents: rapamycin (Rapa) and cyclosporine A (CsA) on generation of human tolerogenic DCs (tolDCs) and also to evaluate the ability of these cells to induce mechanisms of immune tolerance. tolDCs were generated in the environment of Rapa or CsA. Next, we evaluated the effects of these agents on surface phenotypes (CD11c, MHC II, CD40, CD80, CD83, CD86, CCR7, TLR2, TLR4), cytokine production (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, TGF-ß), phagocytic capacity and resistant to lipopolysaccharide activation of these DCs. Moreover, we assessed ability of such tolDCs to induce T cell activation and apoptosis, Treg differentiation and production of Th1- and Th2-characteristic cytokine profile. Data obtained in this study demonstrate that rapamycin is effective at generating maturation-resistant tolDCs, however, does not change the ability of these cells to induce mechanisms of immune tolerance. In contrast, CsA affects the ability of these cells to induce mechanisms of immune tolerance, but is not efficient at generating maturation-resistant tolDCs.

Spherical Al-MCM-41 Doped with Copper by Modified TIE Method as Effective Catalyst for Low-Temperature NH3-SCR.

Aluminum containing silica spherical MCM-41 was synthesized and modified with copper by the template ion-exchange method (TIE) and its modified version, including treatment of the samples with ammonia solution directly after template ion-exchange (TIE-NH3). The obtained samples were characterized with respect to their chemical composition (ICP-OES), structure (XRD), texture (low temperature N2 sorption), morphology (SEM-EDS), form and aggregation of deposited copper species (UV-vis DRS), reducibility of copper species (H2-TPR), and surface acidity (NH3-TPD). The deposition of copper by the TIE-NH3 method resulted in much better dispersion of this metal on the MCM-41 surface comparing to copper introduced by TIE method. It was shown that such highly dispersed copper species, mainly monomeric Cu2+ cations, deposited on aluminum containing silica spheres of MCM-41, are significantly more catalytically effective in the NH3-SCR process than analogous catalysts containing aggregated copper oxide species. The catalysts obtained by the TIE-NH3 method effectively operated in much broader temperature and were less active in the side process of direct ammonia oxidation by oxygen.

Catalytic Performance of Spherical MCM-41 Modified with Copper and Iron as Catalysts of NH3-SCR Process.

Spherical MCM-41 with various copper and iron loadings was prepared by surfactant directed co-condensation method. The obtained samples were characterized with respect to their structure (X-ray diffraction, XRD), texture (N2 sorption), morphology (scanning electron microscopy, SEM), chemical composition (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, ICP-OES), surface acidity (temperature programmed desorption of ammonia, NH3-TPD), form, and aggregation of iron and copper species (diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopy, UV-Vis DRS) as well as their reducibility (temperature programmed reduction with hydrogen, H2-TPR). The spherical MCM-41 samples modified with transition metals were tested as catalysts of selective catalytic reduction of NO with ammonia (NH3-SCR). Copper containing catalysts presented high catalytic activity at low-temperature NH3-SCR with a very high selectivity to nitrogen, which is desired reaction products. Similar results were obtained for iron containing catalysts, however in this case the loadings and forms of iron incorporated into silica samples very strongly influenced catalytic performance of the studied samples. The efficiency of the NH3-SCR process at higher temperatures was significantly limited by the side reaction of direct ammonia oxidation. The reactivity of ammonia molecules chemisorbed on the catalysts surface in NO reduction (NH3-SCR) and their selective oxidation (NH3-SCO) was verified by temperature-programmed surface reactions.