The association of patient-reported symptoms and clinical and lung function parameters in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in stable phase.

Objectives: Few 'real-life' studies were conducted on the relationship between functional and clinical features in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We described the correlation between clinical and functional respiratory parameters in one-year follow-up observational study during stable phase COPD and regular inhalation therapy.Methods: In 237 patients, the impact of respiratory symptoms was evaluated using the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, the COPD assessment test (CAT), and a self-assessment of patient's perceived COPD severity (Mapel scale) at baseline (T0) and after one year (T1).Results: Mean CAT and mMRC scores at T0 were 10.55 and 1.2, respectively. The majority of patients pointed out mild symptoms (values between 1 and 2 at Mapel scale). Mean CAT score at T0 did not differ after subdividing our population in the four spirometry GOLD stages. In the year of follow-up, FEV1 and hyperinflation indexes improved. CAT score was significantly associated with mMRC (p < 0.001), residual volume (RV) (p = 0.023), and RV/total lung capacity % (p = 0.011).Conclusion: The impact of symptoms in COPD stable patients was related to hyperinflation indexes and mMRC. There was no correlation between significant changes in CAT score and other symptom evaluation scores after one year.

Characterization of microminipig as a laboratory animal for pharmacological study by analyzing bepridil-induced cardiovascular responses.

Since microminipig is becoming attractive model for various cardiac electropharmacological applications, which may meet consideration of 3Rs. We characterized microminipigs by analyzing how multi-ionic channel inhibitor bepridil may affect their in situ hearts in comparison with dogs. Bepridil in doses of 0.3 and 3.0 mg/kg were intravenously administered over 10 min under halothane anesthesia (n = 4). Microminipigs may be less sensitive for ICaT inhibition of bepridil, whereas they are more responsive to INa, IKr and IKs suppression than dogs. This information would help predict cardiovascular effects of a drug in patients with the remodeled hearts having similar electrophysiological profile to microminipigs.

Comparison of Cone Beam Computed Tomography-Derived Alveolar Bone Density Between Subjects with and without Aggressive Periodontitis.

INTRODUCTION: Understanding the changes in bone density of patients affected by aggressive periodontitis could be useful in early disease detection and proper treatment planning. AIM: The aim of this study was to compare alveolar bone density in patients affected with aggressive periodontitis and periodontally healthy individuals using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 20 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of aggressive periodontitis. Twenty periodontally healthy patients attending the dental clinics for implant placement or extraction of impacted third molars served as controls. Alveolar bone density was measured using CBCT scanning. Comparisons between aggressive periodontitis group and controls for age and alveolar bone density of the anterior and posterior regions were performed using an independent sample t-test. Multivariable linear regression models were also performed. RESULTS: The differences between groups in regard to age, anterior and posterior alveolar bone density was not statistically significant (p<0.05). In the posterior region, the multivariable regression model showed that bone density was not associated with age, gender or the study groups. Whereas, in the anterior region, patient's age was found to be significantly associated with bone density, p=0.014. CONCLUSION: Alveolar bone density as measured by CBCT in aggressive periodontitis patients was not different from periodontally healthy individuals. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

The anterior maxilla as a potential source of bone grafts: a morphometric cone beam computed tomography analysis of different anatomical areas.

The aim of this research was to use cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to analyze the volume, density, and morphology of the bone available in the anterior region of the maxilla, in order to investigate its potential as a source of bone grafts. Three independent zones were evaluated: the palatine process of the maxilla (PPM), anterior nasal spine (ANS), and subnasal bone (SN). The latter was analyzed bilaterally (SNR, SNL). One hundred CBCT scans were evaluated. The morphometric analysis comprised volumetric and subsequent automatic density calculations, as well as linear measurements. Potential correlations among these parameters, including demographic characteristics, were investigated. The study comprised 52 women and 48 men (mean age 49.6±14.5 years). The calculated bone volume averaged 2.41±0.72cm(3) for PPM, 0.46±0.16cm(3) for ANS, 0.58±0.2cm(3) for SNR, and 0.57±0.21cm(3) for SNL. The anterior region of the maxilla can provide a considerable amount of bone volume from different anatomical zones and should be regarded as a potential donor site for the regeneration of maxillary atrophic bones. Further investigation is required before these findings can be applied in the routine clinical setting.

Assessing the Accuracy of Cone-Beam Computerized Tomography in Measuring Thinning Oral and Buccal Bone.

The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy and reliability of cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) in measuring thinning bone surrounding dental implants. Three implants were inserted into the mandible of a domestic pig at 6 different bone thicknesses on the vestibular and the lingual sides, and measurements were recorded using CBCT. The results were obtained, analyzed, and compared with areas without implants. Our results indicated that the bone thickness and the neighboring implants decreased the accuracy and reliability of CBCT for measuring bone volume around dental implants. We concluded that CBCT slightly undermeasured the bone thickness around the implant, both buccally and orally, compared with the same thickness without the implant. These results support that using the i-CAT NG with a 0.2 voxel size is not accurate for either qualitative or quantitative bone evaluations, especially when the bone is thinner than 0.72 mm in the horizontal dimension.

Maxillary sinusitis of dental origin: a case report and literature review / Sinusitis maxilar de origen dentario, reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura

The inflammatory lesions that affect the paranasal sinuses receive the generic denomination sinusitis; the maxillary sinus is the most commonly affected. This inflammation can have various origins, including the tooth. We describe a case of maxillary sinusitis in a 56-year-old patient who experienced pain on the left-side maxilla, referred to atooth and performed a partial review of the literature.

Las lesiones inflamatorias que afectan los senos paranasales reciben la denominación genérica de sinusitis, siendo el seno maxilar el más comúnmente afectado. Esta inflamación puede tener diversos orígenes, entre ellos el dentario. Se describe un caso de sinusitis del seno maxilar de origen dentario de un paciente de 56 años que consultó por dolor en la zona maxilar del lado izquierdo referido a una pieza dentaria y se realiza una revisión parcial de la literatura.