Browse Articles

The purpose of this study was to investigate the surface roughness of one restorative composite material when using the Profine System with Lamineers tips. 3 shades of composite resin were used for testing. 15 discs of composite resin were prepared for each shade; 5 discs received no treatment, while the other 10 were divided in two study groups which were polished using either the diamond or the carbide tips using reciprocating movements. The roughness values (Ra; µm) were assessed using a profilometer and the effect of polishing systems on the surface roughness in each group were statistically analyzed. The surfaces of specimens were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that the surface roughness depended on type of Lamineer tip and shade of the composite resin.

The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical effectiveness and patient compliance regarding interceptive orthodontics, between a prefabricated functional appliance (PFA) and an Andersen Activator.The PFA appliance used was the TRAINER System™, a flexible appliance made of non-thermoplastic silicone (soft) or polyurethane (hard). The Andersen Activator is a functional acrylic appliance.The sample consisted in 20 subjects (10 girls,10 boys), mean age 10.5 years with a class II division 1 malocclusion and an overjet > 6mm. The patients were randomly selected for treatment with either PFA or AA. Overjet, overbite and lip seal were recorded before and every 3 months after the start of the treatment. The treatment was considered finished when the overjet reduced < 3mm. No significant differences were found in overjet and overbite reduction or lip seal between the two groups. The Activator caused less discomfort than the Trainer, and seemed to be more acceptable.

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the use of adenosine triphosphate– (ATP–) driven bioluminescence as an innovative tool for the rapid chairside enumeration of oral bacteria (including plaque streptococci) and assessment of oral hygiene and caries risk. The study group included 60 patients with 120 direct coronal restorations with three tipes of restorative materials (resin-modified glass ionomer cement GC Fuji VIII, giomer Beautifill Flow Plus Shofu and composite resin (GC Gradia) from witch we have collected 120 specimens using a luciferase-based assay system(system SURE II). The values of ATP were obtained with System SURE II device and statisticaly analised with Wilcoxon Test. The lowest value was shown for glass ionomer cement GC Fuji VIII, comparing with composite resins, but in time we have seen the increase of ATP for all three restorative materials.

The study presents the experience of Medvarix Clinic in treatment of varicous veins using foam sclerotherapy during 2010 – 2015. It is a retrospective study on five years with 893 patients with varicous veins. Mean age – 47years. There were 532 women and 361 men. CEAP classification: CEAP stage III – 279 cases, CEAP stage IV – 246 cases, CEAP stage V – 201 cases, CEAP stage VI – 167 cases. There were 893 ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy procedures. 261 cases had associated sclerotherapy for perforating veins of closed varicous ulcer and 161cases had associated sclerotherapy for perforating veins for open varicous ulcer. Complications during procedure: misspunction of saphenous vein per primam with a secondary punction – 39 cases, postinjectional hematoma – 11 cases, local allergic reaction – 9 cases. All treated conservatory. Late complications: minor – hiperpigmentation – 47 cases, local inflammations – 101 cases, superficial tromboflebitis – 10 cases, postinjectional necrosis – 9 cases. Major complications: profound tromboflebitis – 1 case. Ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy is a safe mode to treat varicous veins with good both functional and aesthetic results.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of various acrylic structures anchored in the territory of termopolimerizable acrylates or flexible injection at tissue level. The changes induced at the termopolimerizable Meliodent acrylate type, took into account the diminishing of the fluid content, responsible for inflammatory and allergic reactions, and adding a metacrilat methyl maleic anhydride copolymer (M88). There were clinically evaluated the effects of different acrylic structure at the tissue level as well as for the resistance forces. Very good results in terms of inflammatory reactions prevalence were mild to obtain with flexible acrylate for termopolimerizable acrylate type Vertex without content of Cadmium and acrylate type Meliodent with the lowest fluid content and copolymer added. The optimal results in the plan of reducing the inflammatory effect of the tissue was doubled by biomechanical good results for Acrylates flexible termopolimerizable acrylate type for Vertex, and acrylate type fluid content Meliodent with 13, 72 and added copolymer.

An important influence factor is the cooling speed value after the heat treatment. It is important to be chooses the optimal cooling regime because the steel can be laminate at high temperature. Another reason for the monitoring of the cooling speed and the conditions of the cooling regime is the possibility that the steel was heated at high temperature after lamination process, for plastic deformation, to realize metallic sculptures or other components used in industry. For this study we considered three groups of samples of the steel, each group had eight samples. Three different mediums for directing of the cooling process were considered. The characteristics of the plasticity and some mechanical properties of the steel have been modified. Finally, after an experimental program, a statistical model tried to demonstrate that a causal connection between two variables such as: the cooling speed (VR) and tensile elongation (A5) of the samples from steel exists. This work proposes to achieve a statistical model and it studies the possibility to improve the characteristics of the plasticity implicitly other properties of steel used for metal structures.

The paper presents the study on the retrieved polyethylene components from total knee prosthesis. For the longevity of total knee arthroplasty it is very important to predict the polyethylene wear and optimize the prosthetic design. The functionality of the total knee prosthesis is affected by contact stress, sliding motion and kinematics of the prosthesis components. The most important factors which cause long-term failure of a prosthetic joint are: macroscopic fracture of the metallic components, polyethylene component wear, corrosion process, and osteolysis. Even the prosthesis development over the past decade has included improvements in implant designs and use of advanced biomaterials, is still difficult to replace some classic biomaterials. Ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has been the primary material for the articulating surface in prostheses for nearly 40 years. Even now there are a number of problems with the UHMWPE, which cause troubles for the patients. On retrieved polyethylene components, 7 different defects were observed (burnishing, scratching, pitting, surface deformation, delamination, abrasion, bone-cement debris) using stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the cement debris on the surface of the polyethylene explants reduce dramatically the total knee prosthesis lifetime and using FTIR analysis was clearly identified the presence of the cement debris on the surface of polyethylene component. Delamination and abrasion contributed the most to the total amount of damage; according the Hood model, the most damage area of the polyethylene components was seen at the medial (1, 4 sections) and lateral sides (5, 8 sections), followed by the anterior and posterior sides.

The surface of any metallic material, is degradating over time from the repeated impact with the microjets and shock waves generated by the bubbles implosion formed during cavitation. Beside the classical methods of heat or thermochemical treatments, several research institutes and hydromechanical equipments users are oriented to the development of metal-ceramic composite coatings deposited by thermal spraying, to provide good protection from corrosive and erosive action of the liquid medium. The researches from this paper analyse the behavior and resistance to erosion cavitation of a Duplex stainless steel whose surface is coated with WC-9Co-5Cr-1Ni powder, deposited by high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) spraying method and followed by laser remelting. These investigations, performed in the Cavitation Laboratory of University Politehnica Timisoara, on the vibratory apparatus with standard piezoceramic crystals, outline the need for remelting the sprayed coating in order to improve its adhesion to the substrate and moreover for growing the mechanical impact resistance with the microjets and shock waves developed during cavitation.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) rates in the United States and the world have increased in the last decade, along with associated morbidity and mortality. CDI symptoms can range from mild diarrhea to severe cases including pseudomembranous colitis and toxic mega colon and death. We performed a retrospective study including 130 patients with multiple organ failure who developed Clostridium difficile infection, admitted to the Iasi Sf. Parascheva Infectious Diseases Hospital in the interval January 1st, 2014 – June 1st, 2016; in order to highlight the high incidence of it and showing how we can manage this situations. An increased number of patients with Clostridium difficile infection and multiple organ dysfunction, in 2015 and 2016 was noticed. The profile of the patient from our study is a female with the age over 65 years old, coming from the rural area. Many of the admitted cases were patients enrolled in Hemodialysis Center. Cardiovascular disease was the most common associated pathology (60.79%), followed by renal failure (42%). Charlson comorbidity index showed 3-4, for 97 cases. The specific antibiotherapy for CDI was administrated for 5-7 days to 21 days long. In 73% of the cases the CDI was treated, 17 cases recorded relapse, and one case died. Clostridium difficile is the most common enteric pathogen in hospitalized patients. Standardized procedures to implement hygienic measures and restricted use of antibiotics are necessary to control the widespread occurrence of CDI in immunocompromised renal patients.

Medical devices’ field is developing very fast and the polymers represent next to biocompatible alloys a priority to the research field. The duodenoscopes are intensely used for diagnosis and treatment of various pancreatic and biliary diseases, being in contact with all liquids from saliva, gastric juices and bile liquids. Next to the aggressive environment physical erosion occurs. Using the optical microscopy the superficial polymer coating was analyzed. The deterioration of the coating is increasing the risk of infections and biofilms.