Short dental implants in reduced alveolar bone height: a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of short dental implants in distally reduced alveolar bone height. MATERIAL/METHODS: MedLine (PubMed and Ovid), ISI Web of Knowledge, and Cochrane databases were used for analysis. Searching was conducted using the search equation: 'Dental Implants' [Majr] AND (Short[TIAB] OR Shorter[TIAB]) AND (Implant[TIAB] OR Implants[TIAB]). Abstracts were screened by 2 independent reviewers. The articles included in the analysis were published in the English language and reported data on the use of implants with lengths below 10 mm in the posterior region with reduced alveolar bone height making the placement of longer implants impossible without additional surgical interventions. Articles concerning data on orthodontic implants and post-resection surgery reconstruction were excluded from analysis. Any disagreements between the 2 reviewers were resolved by a third reviewer. No time frame was used. RESULTS: Of the 791 articles initially found, automatic rejection of duplicates in the Endnotes X5 software resulted in 538 articles. After the selection of studies from databases, a bibliography of 32 eligible articles was searched for other publications. Through this method, 2 more studies were added. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of the results of different studies on the use of short dental implants showed that this treatment could be effective and comparable to the use of standard-length implants. This study revealed that rough-surfaced implants with lengths between 6-10 mm placed in the posterior mandible are the preferred solution. However, more detailed data will require additional prospective studies.

Influence of glucose in the dialysate on the activity of erythrocyte-glutathione-peroxidase and blood selenium concentration in hemodialyzed patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to show the influence of glucose in the dialysate on the intensity of oxidative stress, activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and concentration of selenium in patients undergoing regular hemodialysis. METHODS: The study was comprised of 85 patients hemodialyzed with dialysate containing glucose [HD-g(+)] or not containing glucose [HD-g(-)], patients with chronic renal failure on conservative treatment and control group. The concentrations of the products of reaction with thiobarbituric acid (TBARS), concentration of selenium in erythrocytes and plasma, concentration of copper in erythrocytes and the activity of GSHPx were determined. RESULTS: GSHPx had significantly higher activity in HD-g(-) group before HD than in control group. In HD-g(+) group before hemodialysis, the activity of GSHPx was significantly lower than in the control group. After HD, the activity showed a statistically significant increase. In both hemodialyzed groups, selenium concentration before hemodialysis both in plasma and erythrocytes was significantly lower, compared to control group. In the group of patients with CRF on conservative treatment, selenium concentration in RBC was significantly higher, compared to concentrations obtained in other groups except for control group. The increase of copper concentration in erythrocytes was accompanied by the increase of oxidative stress and increase of TBARS concentration. The opposite relationship was observed for selenium-its concentration was inversely correlated to copper concentration. CONCLUSIONS: In both groups of hemodialyzed patients, hemodialysis caused the increase of GSHPx in erythrocyte activity and increase of plasma and erythrocyte selenium concentration.