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Objetive: This study evaluated the influence of alveolar bone height and post type on compressive force resistance, fracture pattern, and stress distribution in endodontically treated teeth. Materials and Methods: Bovine roots were endodontically treated and divided into eight groups (n = 10) according to alveolar bone height (normal alveolar bone and alveolar bone loss ‐ 2 and 5 mm from the margin of the crown, respectively) and post type (prefabricated glass fiber post, anatomic glass fiber post, customized milled glass fiber post‐and‐core and customized milled polyetheretherketone (PEEK) post‐and‐core). Mechanical fatigue was simulated (300.000 cycles/50 N/1.2 Hz). Compression force resistance (N) was analyzed by two‐way ANOVA and Tukey test (α = 0.05). Fracture patterns were described as percentages. Stress distribution was analyzed by finite element analysis. Results: Significant diferences were found for alveolar bone height (P < 0.0001): normal alveolar bone groups showed higher mean values of compression force resistance compared to alveolar bone loss groups, while no significant differences were found for post type (P = 0.4551), and there was no double interaction between them (P = 0.5837). Reparable fractures were more predominant in normal alveolar bone groups, especially in the milled glass fiber and PEEK post‐and‐core groups. Stress distribution was similar in groups with prefabricated glass fiber posts and milled PEEK posts‐and‐cores, and the alveolar bone loss condition significantly increased stress concentration and strain values, mainly on apical dentin. Conclusions: Alveolar bone loss due to physiological aging and/or periodontal disease may lead to increased risk of restored tooth failure, although milled glass fiber and PEEK posts‐and‐cores provide more reparable fractures. Clinical Significance: Custom‐made glass fiber and PEEK post‐and‐cores are interesting options, since they enable clinicians to work with a single‐body post‐and‐core system that avoid several materials interfaces and fits well in the root canal provided promising results to improve the failure behavior of restored roots, as they offer more reparable fractures even in situations of alveolar bone loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary veno‐occlusive disease (PVOD) is a rare disease. It may be idiopathic or associated, in particular, with connective tissue disease, or it may develop after radiation exposure; in heritable forms of PVOD, the inheritance is autosomal recessive due to the presence of homozygous or compound heterozygous pathogenic variants in the EIF2AK4 gene. We describe the case of a young man whose PVOD was initially misdiagnosed as chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension despite worsening after riociguat, nonspecific computed tomography pulmonary angiogram findings, and parental consanguinity could suggest an autosomal recessive disease. The correct diagnosis and the correct treatment are crucial given the high mortality rate of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the knowledge of speech therapists about characteristics of food used in the management of dysphagia. This was a quantitative descriptive study, performed using an online questionnaire (SurveyMonkey®) about the desirable food and beverages attributes to facilitate deglutition in dysphagia rehabilitation: texture, viscosity, temperature, taste, and moisture. Participants were separated into two groups, experts in dysphagia and no experts in dysphagia. Differences between the two groups were compared using the Freeman–Halton extension of the Fisher exact probability test and chi‐square test. From 1,072 respondents, 752 were included and 572 were experts in dysphagia. The speech therapist expert in dysphagia answered correctly about the texture and viscosity, while no experts answered correctly only about viscosity. The other attributes, temperature, taste, and moisture, were incorrectly answered by both groups. The speech therapists demonstrated reduced knowledge regarding the characteristics of foods most indicated for patients with dysphagia. Practical applications: The rehabilitation program for patients with dysphagia, established to promote safe and efficient food intake, includes changes in diet offered, since swallowing mechanism is dependent upon bolus characteristics. Speech therapist must select specific characteristics, such as texture, viscosity, temperature, taste, and moisture. The speech therapists participants demonstrated reduced knowledge regarding the characteristics of foods, presenting better results in texture and consistency than in temperature, taste, and moisture. There is a need to deepen the knowledge of speech therapists about the characteristics of foods so that choices in modified diets are more assertive and achieve the goal of ensure a safe and efficient swallowing for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the color parameters and optical properties of resin cements (RCs) formulated with thio‐urethanes (TUs). Materials and methods: Six TUs were synthesized by combining thiols (pentaerythritol tetra‐3‐mercaptopropionate [PETMP] or trimethylol‐tris‐3‐mercaptopropionate [TMP]) with di‐functional isocyanates (1,6‐Hexanediol‐diissocyante [HDDI] [aliphatic‐AL] or 1,3‐bis(1‐isocyanato‐1‐methylethyl) benzene [BDI] [aromatic‐AR] or Dicyclohexylmethane 4,4′‐Diisocyanate [HMDI] [cyclic‐CC]). TUs (20 wt%) were added to a BisGMA/UDMA/TEGDMA matrix. Filler was introduced at 60 wt%. Fluorescence was evaluated through an UV‐light emitting equipment. Coordinates L*, a*, and b* were obtained in the black and white reflectance to evaluate the contrast ratio (CR) and translucency parameter (TP00). The coordinates obtained from transmittance were used to evaluate lightness (L*), chroma (C*), color difference (ΔE00) after 6 month, and whiteness index for Dentistry (WID). Results: RCs formulated with TUs presented significantly higher CR, and fluorescence (with T_AR). Significantly lower C*, L*, and TP00 (except for P_AR and T_AL) were also observed in RCs containing TUs. ΔE00 were not significant among the materials. WID was not influenced. Conclusion: RCs composed by TU oligomers present higher CR and lower translucency. The material also present higher fluorescence depending on the oligomer used. Clinical Significance: The use of thio‐urethanes to formulate resin cements can ensure a luting material with improved potential to mask colored substrates due to the higher contrast ratio and lower translucency obtained. A final higher fluorescence of restoration is also expected with the use of specific oligomer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a well-described complication following surgical procedures. The incidence of such a complication can be related to the presence of a peculiar patient's condition. Cryoglobulinemia, which consists in the presence of one or more immunoglobulins in the serum that precipitate at temperatures below 37°C and redissolve on warming, seems to increase the risk of thrombotic events. Treatment options of APE, according to clinical severity, include systemic thrombolysis, surgical embolectomy, and systemic anticoagulation. Thrombolysis is considered the first-line treatment, whereas surgery is reserved in case of extremely-compromised hemodynamic conditions related to massive central embolism, and in case of contraindication to thrombolysis. Here, we report a case of acute massive pulmonary embolism occurring at the end of a surgical procedure for a thymic carcinoma resection, in a patient with cryoglobulinemia, which required an emergent surgical pulmonary embolectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of ferule and the post type on the fracture strength and stress distribution in premolars. Materials and Methods. Forty human mandibular premolars were decoronated, allocated in four groups, and restored as follows: CPC-NF: cast post-and-core and absence of ferule; CPC-F: cast post-and-core and presence of ferule; FPC-NF: glass-fiber posts and absence of ferule; FPC-F: glass-fiber posts and presence of ferule. The fracture strength (FS) and failure patterns were evaluated. Finite element analysis (FEA) evaluated the stress distribution. Results. FS did not differ between CPCs and FPC either in presence or in absence of ferule. The presence of ferule increased FS with both post types. Mean values of FS for ferule groups were higher than functional or parafunctional loads reported in literature, which was not the case for FPC-NF when compared to parafunctional loads. FEA with a functional load showed slightly higher compressive stresses in dentin in the group CPC-NF, which was much lower than the compressive strength of dentin. Lower percentage of catastrophic failures was observed in nonferule groups irrespective of post type, which was explained by the stress concentration in the cervical root region when FEA with the FS load was simulated. Conclusion. Ferule effect was shown to be more important than post type in the analysis. Both posts showed potential to withstand functional loads irrespective of presence of ferule. However, the mean FS was lower than parafunctional loads for FPC in the absence of ferule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of different post systems on the biomechanical behavior of teeth with a severe loss of remaining coronal structure. Materials and Methods: Fifty standardized bovine teeth (n = 10 per group) were restored with: cast post‐and‐core (CPC), prefabricated metallic post (PFM), parallel glass‐fiber post (P‐FP), conical glass‐fiber post (C‐FP), or composite core (no post, CC). The survival rate during thermomechanical challenging (TC), the fracture strength (FS), and failure patterns (FP) were evaluated. Finite element models evaluated the stress distribution after the application of 100 N. Results: All specimens survived TC. Similar FS was observed among post‐containing groups. Groups P‐FP and CC presented 100% repairable fractures. The von Mises analysis showed the maximum stresses into the root canal in groups restored with metallic posts. Glass‐fiber posts and CC presented the maximum stresses at the load contact point. Glass‐fiber groups showed lower stresses in the analysis of maximal contact pressure; CPC led to the highest values of contact pressure. The modified von Mises (mvM) stress in dentin did not show differences among groups. Moreover, mvM values did not reach the dentin fracture limit for any group. Conclusions: The type of intracanal post had a relevant influence on the biomechanical behavior of teeth with little remaining coronal structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Pulmonary artery sarcoma (PAS) is a rare tumor, whose therapeutic approach is mainly based on surgery, either pneumonectomy or pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA). The prognosis reported in published series is very poor, with survival of 1.5 months without any kind of treatment. Patients and Methods. From January 2010 to January 2016, 1027 patients were referred to our hospital for symptoms of acute or chronic pulmonary thromboembolic disease. Twelve patients having a confirmed diagnosis of PAS underwent PEA. Median age was 64.5 years. Most patients had a long history of symptoms, having a median time of 7.5 months from onset of symptoms to surgery. Results. Following PEA and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, 10 patients received conventional chemotherapy with doxorubicin and ifosfamide, starting at a median of 42 days from surgery. Four patients also received radiotherapy. Four patients have died due to disease progression, while 7 are still alive, with 5 being disease-free at 4–55+ months from diagnosis. Conclusions. In patients with PAS, a multimodal approach including PEA, CT, and RT is feasible but it should be evaluated individually, according to the tumor extension and the patient’s clinical condition. Apart from improving quality of life mainly by reducing or delaying symptoms due to PH, it may improve life expectancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a frequent congenital anomaly, but massive right-to-left shunt (RTLS) is normally prevented by higher pressures in left heart chambers. However, mechanical ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) can significantly increase right atrial pressure, accentuating the RTLS, mainly after major cardiothoracic surgery. We report a patient admitted to the intensive care unit after cardiac surgery. Pre- and intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography only described an aneurysmal interatrial septum with no shunt. However, high-PEEP ventilation induced a paradoxical response with life-threatening hypoxemia, triggering further echocardiographic evaluation, revealing massive RTLS across a stretch PFO. Provocative maneuvers (Valsalva/PEEP) significantly increase echocardiographic sensitivity, unmasking silent PFO. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 45:58-61, 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We describe the purification, crystallization and structure for the GTP-binding domain of human septin 7 (SEPT7G). We show that it forms filaments within the crystal lattice which employ both the G and NC interfaces, similar to those seen in the hetero-filament of SEPT2/6/7. The NC interface is considered promiscuous as it is absent from the hetero-filament. Such promiscuity could provide the potential for permuting monomers along a filament in order to generate diversity in hetero-polymers. On the other hand, our results suggest that the G and NC interfaces may be necessary but insufficient for determining correct hetero-filament assembly. Structured summary of protein interactions: SEPT7G and SEPT7G bind by X-ray crystallography (View interaction). SEPT7 G and SEPT7 G bind by molecular sieving (View interaction). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: In chronic heart failure (CHF), peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) might undergo structural and/or functional alterations as a consequence of the development and progression of the disease. Aims: This study was aimed at: (1) assessing the proteome profile of PBMC from Controls and CHF subjects, (2) identifying differentially-expressed proteins in healthy subjects and patients, and (3) analysing the expression of these proteins in patients after heart transplantation. Methods and results: Proteome changes were assessed in PBMC from 8 healthy and 11 end-stage CHF (6 Ischaemic Heart Failure [IHF], 5 Dilated CardioMyopathy [DCM]) subjects by gel electrophoresis, PD-Quest analysis and mass spectrometry. Eighteen proteins were differentially expressed in Controls and CHF patients. However, among CHF patients, these proteins were equally expressed in IHF and DCM subjects. Eleven proteins were found to belong to 4 functional classes (3 cytoskeletal, 4 cell-cycle progression, 2 stress response and DNA repair, 2 energetic metabolism proteins). Changes in three of the differentially-expressed proteins were also confirmed by Western blot and were reversed after heart transplantation. Conclusion: Results demonstrate an altered protein expression profile in PBMC of CHF patients compared to Controls, thus providing a basis for further diagnostic and prognostic tests for CHF. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: To evaluate the rate of return to work after transplantation and its determinants in a clinically-stable population of patients transplanted and followed-up at a single institution in Italy. Methods: 151 thoracic organ transplant recipients (72 lung, 79 heart) were examined. Patients were asked about daily activities, level of education, employment and clinical condition. A six-minute walking test was performed with measurement of dyspnoea using the Borg scale. Quality of Life was evaluated with the SF-36 and GHQ questionnaires. Results: Before transplantation 131 patients (87%), (70 heart and 61 lung) worked. After transplantation, 51 patients (39%) went back to work and 3 more started working. We found that younger age, a better quality of life (mainly in the mental domain), having had an occupation previously (particularly as an entrepreneur/freelancer), and having been off work for less than 24 months, were independent predictors of return to work. Conclusions: Considering their good, objective and subjective, functional status, some patients who could have returned to work, chose not to. Identifying factors which affect return to work might help health professionals to adopt the best course of treatment and psychological support in order to fulfil this goal; however, return to work should not be considered as the only expression of a patient''s real psychophysical condition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rG-CSF) is a myeloid growth factor that is widely used in haematology to recover neutropenia secondary to myelosuppressive chemotherapy. Leukocytoclastic vasculitis is an acknowledged side effect of the above therapy. Its pathogenesis involves many mechanisms that collectively induce an increase in neutrophil function and a subsequent release of cytokines. Here, we report a case of leukocytoclastic vasculitis proven by skin biopsy, following the use of rG-CSF in a heart transplant patient with leukopenia secondary to immunosuppressive therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grover's disease is a transient acantholytic dermatosis of unknown cause, manifesting clinically as a papular skin eruption that is usually located on the anterior chest and abdomen. Histologically characterized by an acantholytic pattern, it has been associated with numerous disorders, including hematologic malignancies, chronic renal failure, and HIV infection, as well as with chemotherapy and bone marrow and/or kidney transplant. Evaluation of followup and treatment is often complicated by spontaneous remission and the occasionally fluctuant course of the disease. Here we report the case of a patient with sudden onset of Grover's disease after heart transplantation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first observation of Grover's disease as diagnosed after heart transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the study "Recovery of Right Ventricular Function and Clinical Improvement in Patients With Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension Undergoing Pulmonary Endarterectomy," by S. Ghio and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article "Usefulness of cardiac magnetic resonance in assessing reverse right ventricular remodeling in patients with chronic thromboembolic ventricular remodeling in patients with chronic thromboembolic ," by S. Leonardi and colleagues is presented.