The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degradation of resin-dentin bonds after 1 year of water storage. Resin-dentin-bonded specimens were prepared with the use of an adhesive resin system (One-Step: Bisco). Half of the experimental specimens were sectioned perpendicular to the adhesive interface to produce a beam (adhesive area: 0.9 mm(2)) before being stored in distilled water at 37 degrees C for 1 year. The remaining half of the bonded specimens were sectioned into beams of similar dimensions after 1 year of water storage. Additional bonded specimens that had been stored in water for 24 h before sectioning into beams were used as controls. The beams in the two experimental groups and the control group were subjected to microtensile bond testing. Fractography was performed on all fractured beams with the use of FE-SEM. There were significant (p <.05) differences in bond strength among the control specimens (55.9 +/- 12.9 MPa), specimens that had been sectioned into beams after water storage (68.9 +/- 18.6 MPa), and specimens that had been sectioned into beams before water storage (28.1 +/- 9.3 MPa). Fractography revealed that the resin material was gradually extracted from the periphery to the center portion of the beam. This probably accounted for the decrease in bond strength after 1 year of water storage.

No abstract

HAR achieves equivalent short-term results to standard open arch repair, with a decreased need for CPB. However, considering the inferior mid-term outcomes of this procedure, its indications should be limited to high-risk patients.

No abstract

FDG-PET/CT is useful for confirming the presence of graft infection by detecting high uptake around grafts and excluding other causes of inflammation. An SUVmax value greater than 8 around a graft suggests the presence of graft infection. In addition, FDG-PET/CT can be used to clarify the precise extent of infection. This is especially useful if multiple separated prosthetic grafts have been implanted.

In the present study, we examined the chewing performance of 70 elderly persons. Self-assessment of chewing problems and clinical classification using the modified Eichner index showed little correlation (Kappa value = 0.28; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.05-0.51). The sensitivity and specificity were 0.52 and 0.76, respectively. On the other hand, the mastication score determined by evaluation of a questionnaire on food intake and classification using the modified Eichner index showed high agreement (Kappa value = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.50-0.96). The sensitivity and specificity were 0.76 and 0.95, respectively. The mastication score showed significant correlation with other masticatory functions such as maximum biting force, occlusal contact area and the number of missing teeth (P < 0.01). These results suggest that the use of a questionnaire on food intake would be informative for epidemiological surveys of chewing activity in the elderly.

Our results suggest that BM-MSCs might be an effective treatment for AA. Further investigation is necessary to optimize the injected dosage and the frequency of BM-MSCs to prevent a transient effect.

The effects of inorganic and organic additives on the hydration structure on the crystal surface have been discussed in X-ray reflectivity studies and in molecular dynamics simulations. We now demonstrate their effects on the hydration structure by conducting in situ observations of the hydration structure at a growing calcite surface by frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM). We show the atomic scale change of the hydration structure on the calcite surface in a supersaturated solution of CaCO3 by the addition of magnesium ions and a hydrophilic polypeptide. The FM-AFM images of the hydration structure revealed that magnesium ions increase the number of hydration layers on the terrace of the calcite surface from two to four layers. On the other hand, the hydrophilic polypeptide was ineffective for the hydration of the calcite surface. When both the magnesium ions and the hydrophilic polypeptide were added to the CaCO3 solution, the number of hydration layers increased and the magnitude of the oscillation hydration force as well as the long-range electrostatic force became larger than in the case when they were individually added. This is a noteworthy effect on the hydration structure on the calcite surface by cooperation of the magnesium ions and the polypeptide.