Identification and classification of pulp calcifications in posterior teeth according to dental condition using digital panoramic radiography and cone beam CT.

OBJECTIVE: To compare digital panoramic radiography (DPR) and cone beam CT (CBCT) in the detection and classification of pulp calcifications in posterior teeth in relation to tooth condition and its location. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty patients with simultaneous DPR and CBCT scans were selected from a dental image bank. For each posterior tooth, its condition was registered (healthy, restored, or decayed). The presence of calcifications was assessed and classified according to location (coronal or radicular) and type (total obliteration, partial obliteration, narrowing, and no calcification). Chi-square and McNemar tests were used to compare DPR and CBCT results, with a significance level of 5%. DPR diagnostic values were calculated using CBCT as reference. RESULTS: Decayed and restored teeth showed a significantly (P < .001) higher prevalence of pulp calcifications than healthy teeth in both imaging exams. There was a significant discrepancy between the imaging modalities in the identification of calcifications (P < .001), especially for radicular calcifications of maxillary teeth (DPR = 55.2%; CBCT = 30.9%). In the case of coronal calcifications, there was a greater discrepancy between CBCT and DPR in the mandibular teeth (10.7%) than in the maxillary teeth (7.7%). Overall, DPR presents higher sensitivity (0.855) than specificity (0.483) for pulp calcifications detection. CONCLUSION: DPR considerably overestimates pulp calcifications in posterior teeth, as compared to CBCT. A higher prevalence of pulp calcifications is related to decayed and restored teeth.

Guided endodontics of calcified canals: The drilling path of rotary systems and intracanal dentin wear.

This study evaluated the drilling path (mm) and the dentin wear (mm3 ) of two instruments used during guided endodontic access. Twenty mandibular incisors with calcified canals were selected using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and fixed in articulated models. Preoperative CBCT scans were performed in combination with intraoral scanning, and the images were reconstructed in the Blue Sky Bio software for access planning and printing the guides. The access cavity was drilled with 1.0-mm-diameter bur (DSP) and 0.8-mm-diameter bur (Munce). Postoperative CBCT was performed, and the images obtained preoperative and postoperative were superimposed for the analyses. Data were analysed by a t-test and linear regression (α = 0.05). No difference was found in the drilling path (p = 0.422). However, the Munce bur had higher dentin wear than the DSP bur (p = 0.011). A positive linear correlation (R2  = 0.859) was found between the factors.

MG-Pe: A Novel Galectin-3 Ligand with Antimelanoma Properties and Adjuvant Effects to Dacarbazine.

Melanoma is a highly metastatic and rapidly progressing cancer, a leading cause of mortality among skin cancers. The melanoma microenvironment, formed from the activity of malignant cells on the extracellular matrix and the recruitment of immune cells, plays an active role in the development of drug resistance and tumor recurrence, which are clinical challenges in cancer treatment. These tumoral metabolic processes are affected by proteins, including Galectin-3 (Gal-3), which is extensively involved in cancer development. Previously, we characterized a partially methylated mannogalactan (MG-Pe) with antimelanoma activities. In vivo models of melanoma were used to observe MG-Pe effects in survival, spontaneous, and experimental metastases and in tissue oxidative stress. Analytical assays for the molecular interaction of MG-Pe and Gal-3 were performed using a quartz crystal microbalance, atomic force microscopy, and contact angle tensiometer. MG-Pe exhibits an additive effect when administered together with the chemotherapeutic agent dacarbazine, leading to increased survival of treated mice, metastases reduction, and the modulation of oxidative stress. MG-Pe binds to galectin-3. Furthermore, MG-Pe antitumor effects were substantially reduced in Gal-3/KO mice. Our results showed that the novel Gal-3 ligand, MG-Pe, has both antitumor and antimetastatic effects, alone or in combination with chemotherapy.

Morphological study of electrospun chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)/glycerol nanofibres for skin care applications.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of formulation and procedure parameters in obtaining thick and continuous chitosan/PVA/glycerol nanofibres to be applied in skin care. For that, the polymers were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and size-exclusion chromatography. After this, 96 chitosan/PVA/glycerol nanofibre scaffolds were prepared by electrospinning method, using factorial designs. The independent variables were crude and pure chitosan, 2 brands of PVA, 2 needle gauges, high and low polymer concentration, high and low glycerol concentration, and final solution with and without ultrafiltration. Morphological analysis was performed by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and confocal microscopy. The best sample (NF67) presented an average thickness of 268.3 nm, uniform distribution, and high yield. It was obtained at a 1:3.5 (crude chitosan: PVA with lower molecular weight, but more hydrolysed) ratio and lower glycerol concentration, suggesting that the degree of hydrolysis of the PVA is more important than its molecular weight for obtaining better quality nanofibres and that the glycerol also makes the electrospinning process difficult. Thus, it was possible to choose parameters that provide scaffolds that could be applied as a matrix extracellular-like material in wound healing.

A completely digital workflow for an interim implant-supported crown: A clinical report.

This article describes a completely digital workflow for the diagnostic phase, surgical and prosthetic planning, extraction, immediate single implant placement by guided surgery, and interim implant-supported crown. From a virtual impression, zirconia abutments and a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) interim crown was planned in a computer-aided design (CAD) software program. This workflow shortened the time required for chairside placement of an interim restoration with enhanced function and esthetics while restoring an anterior mandibular tooth lost after trauma.

Effect of restorative treatment with endocrown and ferrule on the mechanical behavior of anterior endodontically treated teeth: An in vitro analysis.

This study evaluated the effect of endocrown and ferrule restorative treatment on the mechanical behavior of anterior endodontically treated teeth. Human canines were treated endodontically and distributed in five groups (n = 10): sound teeth (S), crown associated with glass fiber post (GFP) and ferrule (GFPf+) and that without ferrule (GFPf-), and endocrown with ferrule (Ef+) and that without ferrule (Ef-). The crowns were obtained in lithium disilicate-based glass ceramic and cemented with resin. Thermomechanical loading (TL) was performed with progressive load of 80, 120, 160, 200, 240, 280, and 320 N with 20,000 cycles each, 140,000 cycles in total, frequency of 5 Hz, and temperature variation of 5°C-55 °C, followed by fracture resistance testing with load cell of 1000 Kgf and crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min in a universal testing machine. Failure mode has been evaluated. Data were compared by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (p < 0.05) for TL and one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (p < 0.05) for fracture resistance. TL showed higher number of fractures for groups without ferrule (GFPf- = 7, GFPf+ = 3, Ef- = 10, and Ef+ = 2) and lower mean fracture load probability (GFPf+ = 300 N, GFPf- = 280 N, Ef+ = 320 N, Ef- = 188 N) than those with ferrule. Regarding fracture, teeth rehabilitated with GFP were more resistant to endocrowns with ferrule (p < 0.05). A higher percentage of type III failures after fatigue and type II failures after fracture were found. In conclusion, rehabilitation using GFP with ferrule is more favorable for anterior teeth, but the use of endocrown with ferrule proved feasible.