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BACKGROUND: Sustained suppression of serum HBV DNA levels with nucleos(t)ide analogues is the most important success obtained in the treatment of chronic HBV infection today. Tenofovir and entecavir provide more robust viral suppression. AIM: The aim of this study is to compare tenofovir and entecavir in terms of viral kinetics, side effects and virological response in patients with chronic HBV infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with tenofovir or entecavir were included in this retrospective study. Using survey analysis, we evaluated independent variables reflecting virological response to treatment and determined whether use of tenofovir or entecavir was one of them. We compared the decline in serum HBV DNA levels at the 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th months of treatment between two groups. We also compared entecavir and tenofovir in terms of side effect rates. RESULTS: 117 patients [average age: 44 (20-73), 65 males (55.6%), 30 HBeAg positive (25.6%)] were enrolled in the study. Sixty-six patients (56.4%) used tenofovir and 51 (43.6%) patients used entecavir. Virological response was better in patients using tenofovir (Odd's ratio of 1.796 and p = 0.014) and having high fibrosis score (Odd's ratio of 0.182 and p = 0.018). Entecavir was more effective in reducing serum HBV DNA levels at the 3rd month of treatment (serum HBV DNA decline of 4.45 and 3.96 log10 units for entecavir and tenofovir respectively, p = 0.031), but decline rates were similar at other months. There was no difference between patient groups in terms of side effects and discontinuation of treatment due to side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with chronic HBV infection using tenofovir have better virological response than those using entecavir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The aim of this study is to acquire an ideal bone implant contact under the cover of osteogenic effect of osteoblasts derived from Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs). Materials and methods. Thirty dental implants were used for this study. Implants were placed in sheep mandibles and defects were created 4 mm coronally in the dental implants. These defects were filled with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) in one group and with PRP + Osteoblast Cell Culture (OCC) in another group. No procedure was conducted on the control group defects (empty defect group). Eight weeks later, osseointegration was investigated with Bone Implant Contact (BIC) measurements histomorphologically. Data were checked statistically. Results. The variation of BIC rates between Empty Defect Group and PRP groups was significant ( p <0.05). The BIC rate of the PRP group was higher than that of the Empty Defect Group. The variation of BIC rates between Empty Defect Group and PRP + OCC groups was significant ( p <0.05). The BIC rate of the PRP + OCC group was higher than that of the Empty Defect Group. The variation of BIC rates between PRP and PRP + MSC groups was significant ( p<0.05). The BIC rate of the PRP + OCC group was higher than that of the PRP group. At the end of the 8-week healing period, it was observed that the percentage of BIC was highest in the PRP + OCC group. Conclusions. Implant-bone connection was better in the OCC−PRP group compared with the PRP group and the empty defect group. The use of OCC-PRP combination was effective on healing. The BIC value was increased significantly by OCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which assessed a treatment for distal humeral fracture in small dogs. It notes the use of various breeds of small dogs for the experiment which involved subjecting the animals to external skeletal fixation technique. The methodology also evaluated the clinical lameness of dogs through radiographical and clinical parameters, and noted complication in the pin tract discharge within 30 to 48 days after external skeletal fixation. Researchers confirmed no occurrence of lameness in 9 out of the 12 small breed dogs after undergoing fixation of the distal humerus fracture.

The article discusses a study which performed histopathological characterization after surgical removal of the injection site masses in dogs. The 12 dogs used in the study have exhibited injection site masses 75 days after miscellaneous subcutaneous injections for cough treatment. Chronic inflammatory granulomas were identified in the majority of the cases through histopathological analysis with haematoxylin-eosin and other agents. The study observed no local recurrence or metastasis in any case.

This case study reports the outcome of dorsal and ventral stabilisation of a traumatic cervical instability in a dog. A 2-year-old, male Pointer was admitted following a motor vehicle accident. Clinical examination revealed non-ambulatory tetraparesis, severe neck pain and upper motor neuron changes in all limbs. Deep pain response was present. Subluxation of C2/3 and fractures of the dorsal spinous process and lamina of C2 were observed on radiographs. Ventral stabilisation was performed with screws and bone cement (polymethylmethacrylate). For dorsal fixation of the fractures, screws and cerclage wire were used. The dog stood up independently after 1 month, was able to walk 1.5 months postoperatively and had recovered completely at 1 year following surgery. We conclude that combined stabilisation techniques are effective for this type of cervical fracture in which the dorsal, middle and ventral structures of the vertebra are severely disrupted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]