Effect of Different Sintering Procedures on Marginal and Internal Fit, Color, and Fracture Load of Monolithic Zirconia Fixed Partial Prosthesis.

AIM: The aim of this in vitro study is to investigate the effects of different sintering procedures on the fit, color parameters, and fracture load of monolithic fixed partial prosthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Metal model was scanned and fixed partial prosthesis was designed. Groups were created by fabricating fixed partial prosthesis by using four different sinterization procedures (Prettau-Standard (PST), Prettau-Slow (PSL), Ice-Speed (IS), Ice-Standard (IST), n=10). PST-PSL (Group P, N=20) and IS-IST (Group I, N=20) were colored with different coloring liquids. The marginal and internal fit were measured using the silicone replica method. CIELAB values of the samples were measured using a spectrophotometer. Then, for each sample, the die was obtained from polymethyl methacrylate. The specimens were cemented into dies and tested in a universal testing machine for fracture load. One-way ANOVA were performed to assess the effect of the sintering procedure on the marginal and internal fit, fracture load, and ∆E00, ∆L', ∆C', and ∆H' values of fixed partial prosthesis. RESULTS: PSL and PST groups showed significantly smaller internal and marginal fit compared to the IS group. Additionally, IST group internal fit values were significantly higher than Prettau groups. Sintering time reduction led to a decrease in ∆E00 values. Fracture loads values were not statistically significantly affected by the different sintering procedures in both brands. CONCLUSION: Different sintering procedures did not have a clinically significant effect on fit and fracture load. Different sintering procedures were found to have an impact on the color change of monolithic zirconia restorations.

The Influence of Comorbid Conditions on Graft Stenosis in Patients with Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Operation / A influência das condições comórbidas na estenose do enxerto em pacientes com coronariopatia Operação de enxerto de artéria

The primary goal of coronary artery bypass grafting is to achieve complete revascularization with grafts that will remain patent throughout the patient's lifetime. This study investigated the association between bypass graft patency and comorbidity burden determined by Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) among patients with previous bypass operation who underwent a control angiography. One-hundred and two patients who had undergone CABG in the past were included to the study. Critical stenosis was defined as 50% or greater coronary luminal obstruction of any coronary vessel or its lateral branch. Patients were divided into 2 groups group 1; critical graft stenosis; (54 pts; 41M, mean age 66.5 ± 7.8 years), group 2; graft patent (48 pts; 31M, mean age; 65.9 ± 8.2 years). Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and modified CCI scores were used for detecting comorbidities. The comparison of continuous variables between the control and critical CAD groups was performed by the independent sample test. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The two groups were statistically similar with respect to demographic properties, time since bypass operation, cardiovascular risk factors, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, medications used, complete blood counts parameters, and lipid profiles. CCI was significantly higher in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (7.14 ± 2.02 vs4.72 ± 1.58; p < 0.001). Modified CCI scores were also higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (6.14 ± 2.02 vs 3.73 ± 1.60; p < 0.001). Graft occlusion was more common among patients with a high comorbidity burden. CCI scoring system may be helpful for determining patients at increased risk at both the preoperative and postoperative periods

Mutational analysis establishes a critical role for the N terminus of fragile X mental retardation protein FMRP.

Fragile X syndrome is the most common form of heritable mental retardation caused by the loss of function of the fragile X mental retardation protein FMRP. FMRP is a multidomain, RNA-binding protein involved in RNA transport and/or translational regulation. However, the binding specificity between FMRP and its various partners including interacting proteins and mRNA targets is essentially unknown. Previous work demonstrated that dFMRP, the Drosophila homolog of human FMRP, is structurally and functionally conserved with its mammalian counterparts. Here, we perform a forward genetic screen and isolate 26 missense mutations at 13 amino acid residues in the dFMRP coding dfmr1. Interestingly, all missense mutations identified affect highly conserved residues in the N terminal of dFMRP. Loss- and gain-of-function analyses reveal altered axonal and synaptic elaborations in mutants. Yeast two-hybrid assays and in vivo analyses of interaction with CYFIP (cytoplasmic FMR1 interacting protein) in the nervous system demonstrate that some of the mutations disrupt specific protein-protein interactions. Thus, our mutational analyses establish that the N terminus of FMRP is critical for its neuronal function.