The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of feldspathic ceramic laminate veneers over a 7-year period using minimally invasive techniques, such as vertical preparation (without prosthetic finish line), or no preparation (no-prep). A total of 170 feldspathic ceramic veneers were cemented in the anterior region, including 70 maxillary and 100 mandibular veneers, after special conditioning of the teeth and restorations. The veneers were evaluated using the FDI World Dental Federation criteria evaluation kit after recalling all the patients between February and June 2021. In total, 14 feldspathic veneers failed and were replaced with lithium disilicate because of core fracture, and 10 cases of chipping occurred on the ceramic surface and were polished. The overall survival rate was 91.77% for up to 7 years of function, with a failure rate of 8.23%. In this retrospective survival analysis, the failures, including the fracture of veneers and dental hard tissue, occurred both in prep and no-prep teeth. No failures were observed in veneers with a maximum thickness of 0.5 mm compared to those with a maximum thickness of 1 mm, 1.5 mm, 2 mm, and 2.5 mm.

The aim of our study was to determine the wear resistance of vacuum-formed retainers (VFRs) made out of polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), from four different manufacturers (Essix, Leone, Erkodent, Bio-Art), under high load forces (600 N), for 10000 cycles. Forty thermoplastic sheets were divided in four groups, each group consisting of a set of ten sheets from each manufacturer, thermoformed on two matching study models with an ideal occlusion. The Instron 8874 equipment was used to simulate the accelerated wear of VFR surfaces. The surfaces of the VFRs were visually inspected using a KEYENCE VHX-600 digital microscope, but this proved difficult because of the surface shine. 3D models were generated using a GOM industrial laser surface scanner. Several wear areas were identified, having various degrees of roughness, with no evident tear points or perforations. One-way ANOVA analysis showed no statistically significant differences in net mass loss between the four groups.

The objective of the study is the low-pressure membrane process for treating aqueous solutions containing food dyes and surfactants. The influence of surfactants (SDS � sodium dedecil sulphate, SO � sodium octanoate) in the separation of synthetic food dyes (E104 � quinoline yellow) was analyzed. Polysulfone and polysulfone-polyaniline membranes were used. Dye and surfactant concentrations used were 10% (equivalent to 100g/m3). The pressures used in the ultrafiltration process were 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 MPa. When dye containing solutions were passed through the membranes, an increase in their flux was observed. The presence of surfactants in the solutions lead to a decline in flux when pressures of 0.1 and 0.2 MPa were used, but an improvement could be seen as the pressure increased to 0.3 MPa, for both dead-end and cross-flow filtration. Using only dead-end alternative, higher fluxes were achieved for both membranes, but it decreases with time due to accumulation on the membrane surface. The use of cross-flow filtration did not allow accumulation on the membrane surface so that the flux was constant in time.The use of anionic surfactants improved the food dye retention. The interactions between membranes and surfactants can be an important factor supporting the efficiency of the ultrafiltration.

This paper presents the preparation route for new TiO2 nanoparticles-polysulfone membranes: M1 (Psf 12%), M2 (Psf 12% + TiO2 anatase), and M3 (Psf 12% + TiO2 76% anatase+ 24% rutile) that were structurally characterized by FTIR, TG-DSC and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDAX). Contact angle measurements, dead-end and cross-flow filtration experiments were carried out to characterize the morphology and hydrodynamic performance of the prepared membranes. Improved mechanical properties, enhanced hydrophilicity and the relative large water flux measured for M2-M3 (721.83 L/m2�h and 305.4 L/m2�h, respectively) in cross-flow filtration experiments, make these membranes appropriate for ultrafiltration applications.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) is a rare genetic condition of the myocardium, with a significantly high risk of sudden death. Recent genetic research and improved understanding of the pathophysiology tend to change the ARVD definition towards a larger spectrum of myocardial involvement, which includes, in various proportions, both the right (RV) and left ventricle (LV), currently referred to as ACM (arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy). Its pathological substrate is defined by the replacement of the ventricular myocardium with fibrous adipose tissue that further leads to inadequate electrical impulses and translates into varies degrees of malignant ventricular arrythmias and dyskinetic myocardium movements. Particularly, the cardio-cutaneous syndromes of Carvajal/Naxos represent rare causes of ACM that might be suspected from early childhood. The diagnostic is sometimes challenging, even with well-established rTFC or Padua criteria, especially for pediatric patients or ACM with LV involvement. Cardiac MRI gain more and more importance in ACM diagnostic especially in non-classical forms. Furthermore, MRI is useful in highlighting myocardial fibrosis, fatty replacement or wall movement with high accuracy, thus guiding not only the depiction, but also the patient’s stratification and management.

Our study started from the hypothesis that the gingival volume growth associated with fixed orthodontic treatment appeared during the use of leveling and aligning archwires, without any inflammatory signs, as a result of the mechanical stress and periodontal remodeling during the orthodontic dental movement.We selected and included in the study 35 patients (13 females and 12 males) between 12 and 38 years of age, all suffering from gingival overgrowth, diagnosed during the active treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances (braces). For each patient, two tissue samples were taken: one in the early stages of the lesion, coinciding with the use of leveling and aligning archwires and another in the late stages of the lesion, coinciding with the use of finishing archwires. The samples were taken from the same site in the oral cavity. Out of 35 gingival biopsies taken from patients, 8 cases showed no significant changes in the gingiva, while in the remaining 27 cases, significant changes were found after the histopathological exam.Out of 27 gingival biopsies, 16 cases presented a significantly greater number of T cells. In addition, a greater number of B cells were observed in the granulation tissues than in the gingiva. The relative number of B cells (CD20), T cells and dendritic cells (CD8) has been expressed, both in the early and the late stages of the gingival lesions. Our results revealed that the proportion of T lymphocytes and dendritic cells was greater in the early stages rather than at the late stages. The B cells showed a higher count in the late stages.

The objective of the study is the low-pressure membrane process for treating aqueous solutions containing synthetic food dye (E104 - quinoline yellow). Dye concentration used was 10% (equivalent to 100g/m3). The pressures used in the ultrafiltration process were 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 MPa. Experiments were performed in dead - end instalations in which the effectiveness of the polysulfone - alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride (PSU-ABDMA) and polysulfone - N-dodecylpyridinium chloride (PSU - NDPCl) were tested. The efficiency of these membranes has been proved by calculating the permeate flow and the retention. Analyzing the experimental data, it was found that for the polysulfone-alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride composite membrane the degree of retention is completely different, with high values being obtained for low pressures and low values for high pressures used.

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