Pulsed TIG Cladding of a Highly Carbon-, Chromium-, Molybdenum-, Niobium-, Tungsten- and Vanadium-Alloyed Flux-Cored Wire Electrode on Duplex Stainless Steel X2CrNiMoN 22-5-3.

The hardfacing process aims to increase the life span of structural components in the petrochemical, mining, nuclear and automotive industries. During operation, these components are subject to demands of abrasion wear, cavitation erosion and corrosion. Duplex stainless steels are characterized by high mechanical characteristics and corrosion resistance, but poor behavior to abrasive wear and cavitation erosion. The improvement in wear resistance is possible by selecting and depositing a special alloy on the surface using a joining technique that ensures a metallurgical bonding between the layer and the substrate. The experimental investigations carried out in this work demonstrate the ability of the TIG pulsed welding process to produce layers with good functional properties for engineering surfaces. The "Corodur 65" alloy was deposited on a duplex-stainless-steel substrate, X2CrNiMoN22-5-3, using a series of process parameters that allowed for the control of the cooling rate and heat input. The properties of the deposited layers are influenced not only by the chemical composition, but also by the dilution degree value. Since the deposition of layers through the welding operation can be considered as a process with several inputs and outputs, the control of the input parameters in the process aims at finishing the granulation and the structure in the fusion zone as well as limiting the segregation phenomena. The aim of this work is to investigate the microstructural characteristics of the iron-based alloy layer, Corodur 65, deposited via pulsed current TIG welding on duplex X2CrNiMoN22-5-3 stainless-steel substrates.

The Impact of Intraocular Treatment on Visual Acuity of Patients Diagnosed with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusions.

Branch retinal vein occlusions are a significant cause of vision loss and present several ophthalmic and systemic risk factors, including age, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and glaucoma. Retinal vein occlusion is the second-most-common retinal vascular disease. This study evaluated the effects of Ozurdex in contrast to a combination therapy with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cortisone in treatment-naive branch retinal vein occlusions-macular edema (BRVO-ME) cases, at 4-month and 6-month follow-ups. Thirty eyes were included in the study, which were divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 15 eyes, and each received 1 injection of dexamethasone intravitreal implant Ozurdex (DEX). The second group of 15 eyes received 3 intravitreal injections, the first and second with the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor aflibercept and the third one with 4 mg of triamcinolone acetonide (Vitreal S), spaced at one month. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) results suggested that the peak efficacy was at 4 months for both groups, with mean values of 0.5 LogMAR and 0.4 LogMAR. Regarding macular edema, there were no significant changes between the 4- and 6-month follow-up periods, with mean values of 361 µm and 390 µm. Six patients experienced transient raised intraocular pressure at one week after treatment. This study highlights the benefits to visual acuity of the combination of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor and cortisone, which represents a viable solution with similar results to Ozurdex therapy.

Erratum: [Corrigendum] Corneal endothelial changes induced by pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade for retinal detachment.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10393.].

Corneal endothelial changes induced by pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade for retinal detachment.

Silicone oils are effective intraocular tamponade agents in the treatment of severe retinal detachments, because they maintain the adhesion between neurosensory retina and retinal pigment epithelium, thanks to their ability to remove aqueous humor from the surface of the retina. To understand their effectiveness, it is important to know the characteristics of silicone oils. Patients should be closely monitored due to many complications associated with intraocular silicon oil, such as inflammatory reaction, raised intraocular pressure, refraction disorders, cataract, and emulsification. This study presents corneal endothelial changes and some intraocular complications caused by silicone oil used as an intraocular tamponade agent in the case of vitrectomy for complex retinal detachments. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the damage of corneal endothelial cells after the use of silicone oil in patients with retinal detachment surgery. Endothelial specular microscopy measurements were performed and the changes of the following parameters demonstrated the corneal damage: Mean cell density, coefficient of variation, average cell area, percentage of hexagonal cells, and corneal thickness. Three months postoperatively, a statistically significant decrease was observed in the following analyzed parameters: Mean cell density (P=0.04), and percentage of hexagonal cells (P=0.002); the remaining parameters also had a linear decrease (coefficient of variation, average cell area), but were statistically insignificant. Three months postoperatively, the corneal thickness presented a slight increase. Silicone oils are powerful tools when used wisely and within the limits of their use. These are often recommended in cases of severe detachment of the retina in patients at high risk of experiencing intraoperative complications.

Endothelial corneal cell damage after pars plana vitrectomy: analogy of different intraocular tamponade agents.

A reduction in the corneal endothelial cells multitude after anterior pole intervention is well established in numerous researches, but there are few articles that follow the impact of vitreoretinal interventions on the cornea, especially when endotamponade agents are used. The assessment of the endothelial corneal cells is needed since it facilitates the personal evaluation of the functional endothelial stock. Specular microscopy investigation offers a scale of the functional strength of the endothelium of cornea, which is vital before all intraocular interventions. Endotamponade agents are very suitable and important tools in the surgical treatment of retinal detachment, but their use must be differentiated depending on the uniqueness of each patient. This research shows corneal endothelial damages caused by intraocular tamponade agents of different types in the case of pars plana vitrectomy for cases of multitude retinal detachments. The purpose of the research was to determine the changes that appear in the endothelium of the cornea and to deal with the results when different tamponade agents are used in the surgical cure for retinal detachment. Specular endothelial corneal microscopy records were achieved and the modifications of the following parameters revealed corneal implication: mean endothelial cell densities, average cell area, coefficient of variation, hexagonality and corneal center thickness. On the first day and at three months postoperatively, a statistically significant reduction was observed for the CV, MCD, and HEX parameters (p 0.001), but no statistically significant difference of the two endotamponade agents (for MCD, p=0.15; for CV, p=0.63; for HEX, p=0.93) was noticed. AVG parameter had a statistically significant decrease (p 0.001) and there was also a statistically significant difference of the two endotamponade agents (p=0.03), patients with gas tamponade presenting a superior result. On the first day and at three months postoperatively, the corneal center thickness presented a statistically significant increase (p 0.001) and there was a statistically significant difference between the two endotamponade agents (p=0.03), patients with gas endotamponade presenting a superior result. In conclusion, using the intraocular tamponade agents helps reestablish the functional-anatomical recovery of the retina after surgery, but their special indication must be well-established for each case of retinal detachment.

Internal Hexagon vs Conical Implant-Abutment Connections: Evaluation of 3-Year Postloading Outcomes.

Different types of internal implant-abutment connections, namely hexagon and conical, have been used for implant restoration. However, data regarding the benefits of these internal connections in terms of clinical outcomes are scarce. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to compare radiographic marginal bone loss (RMBL) and associated implant complications between implants with internal hexagon (IH) connections and those with internal conical (IC) connections. Forty-nine patients with 98 implants (2 per patient) placed in the posterior mandible were recruited. All implants were inserted in pairs into solid D2 bone according to a randomized sequence; the first patient received an IH connection implant on the mesial side, while the second patient received an IC connection implant on the mesial side. Each patient received 1 implant with an IH connection and 1 with an IC connection, placed side by side. Four months after placement, all implants were loaded with single screw-retained ceramic restorations with IH or IC connections. RMBL and complications, including implant/prosthesis failure, were recorded at the time of implant loading (baseline) and at 6, 12, and 36 months after loading. The results revealed no significant between-group differences in RMBL (P = .74), gingival bleeding on probing (P = .29), and complications (P = .32). Thus, the type of internal implant-abutment connection did not affect clinical outcomes, including RMBL and implant/prosthesis failure. Future studies should additionally evaluate long-term prosthesis-related complications, such as screw loosening and fracture, between the 2 types of internal connections.

Triamcinolone acetonide induces sterile endophthalmitis in patients with intermediate uveitis: A case report series.

Due to their anti-inflammatory, antiangiogenic and antiedematous properties, corticosteroids have been commonly used in the treatment of retinal diseases. Intravitreal administration of steroids offers the maximal drug efficacy and the lowest risk of systemic side effects. The authors report three cases of presumed sterile endophthalmitis induced by triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in three eyes with intermediate non-infectious uveitis. Each patient received a single intravitreal injection of TA of 4 mg. Because of the intense vitreous inflammatory reaction, retina examination and the optical coherence tomography could not be performed, although vitreous opacities were observed on the ocular ultrasound. The dense vitreous opacity is a defining factor, the anterior segment inflammation is mild to moderate and a hypopyon is present, which may be a sterile inflammatory reaction or the triamcinolone material itself. In cases of sterile endophthalmitis, the visual acuity increases progressively as the intraocular inflammation diminishes. Local treatment with topical antibiotics, prednisolone acetate and cycloplegic eyedrops is recommended to control the inflammatory reaction.

Clinical outcomes of micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation in refractory glaucoma-18 months follow-up.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes of micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (mTSCPC) in cases of refractory glaucoma. Patients with refractory glaucoma were selected to undergo mTSCPC, using the MP3 handpiece from Iridex Laser Systems. Follow-up examinations occurred on a regular basis for 18 months after the procedure. One hundred eyes of 97 patients were treated. Mean pre-laser intraocular pressure (IOP) was 39.14 ± 13.84 mmHg. This was reduced significantly to 22.77.8 ± 10.48 mmHg (41.82% reduction; p < 0.001) at week 1. At months 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 the IOP mean was 23.81 ± 9.44, 24.27 ± 9.17, 23.09 ± 8.47, 22.76 ± 8.14, and 22.77 ± 8.13 mmHg. The success rate at 18 months was the highest 90.91% for the group with IOP below 26 mmHg and the lowest 70.00% for the IOP group 26-30 mmHg. The mean number of anti-glaucoma drops decreased from 2.63 ± 0.87 to 1.78 ± 0.95. The number of treatments performed was 1.26. The pain felt during the procedure was reported as being moderate. No major postoperative complications were noted. Micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation is a non-invasive, repeatable laser procedure that offers both good and stable results in lowering IOP and decreases the use of antiglaucoma medications for up to 18 months.

Implant survival rate and marginal bone loss of 6-mm short implants: a 2-year clinical report.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate (1) the association between implant diameter and marginal bone loss (MBL) of short (6 mm) implants and (2) the survival rates of short implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three 6-mm implants were placed in the mandibles of 16 qualified patients. The selected sites had > 5 mm ridge width and < 9 mm bone height. None of the implant sites required bone augmentation procedures. All implants were uncovered 3 months after placement, and all patients were rehabilitated with 2- or 3-unit implant-supported fixed partial dentures. Standardized periapical films were taken after 24 months of function. Radiographs were digitalized, and MBL was assessed. RESULTS: For all implants, the mean MBL was 0.17 mm at the point of uncovering. At the 2-year follow-up, all implants were immobile and functional. Implants with 4.2-mm diameters had significantly more MBL (1.95 mm) than wider implants (0.47 mm and 0.35 mm for 5.0-mm and 6.0-mm implants, respectively). CONCLUSION: This 2-year study illustrated that short implants are a viable option in selected clinical scenarios. Short implants with wider diameters are preferred because they have less marginal implant bone loss.