In four countries (France, Greece, Italy, and Sweden) occurrence in sewage treatment plant (STP) effluents and ecotoxicity of the pharmaceuticals carbamazepine, clofibric acid, and diclofenac were ...investigated. Bioassays were performed on bacteria, algae, microcrustaceans, and fishes in order to calculate their predicted no-effect concentrations (PNEC) and to perform a first approach of risk characterization. For this aim, risk has been estimated by the predicted environmental concentration/PNEC ratio and the measured environmental concentration/PNEC ratio. First, regarding the PNEC, carbamazepine appears to be the more hazardous compound. Second, even though it is demonstrated that carbamazepine, clofibric acid, and diclofenac have been detected in effluents, only carbamazepine have been detected in all sewage treatment plants with the greatest concentrations. Third, risk quotients greater than unity were calculated only for carbamazepine, suggesting that risk for the water compartment is expected.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPUK
Introduction. A radiological evaluation is essential in endodontics, for diagnostic purposes, planning and execution of the treatment, and evaluation of the success of therapy. The periapical ...radiography is nowadays the main radiographic investigations used but presents some limits as 3D anatomic alteration, geometric compression, and possible anatomical structures overlapping that can obscure the area of interest. CBCT (cone beam computed tomography) in endodontics allows a detailed assessment of the teeth and surrounding alveolar anatomy for endodontic diagnosis, treatment planning, and follow-up. Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of CBCT in comparison with conventional intraoral radiographs used in endodontic procedures. Materials and Methods. Statistical analysis was performed on 101 patients with previous endodontic treatments with the relative radiographic documentation (preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up intraoral X-ray) that had underwent at CBCT screening for surgical reasons. The CBCT scans were evaluated independently by two operators and compared with the corresponding periapical images. Results. Our analysis shows that the two radiological investigations statistically agree in 100% of cases in the group of patients without any endodontic sign. In the group of patients with an endodontic pathology, detected with CBCT, endodontic under extended treatments (30.6%), MB2 canals in nontreated maxillary molars (20.7%), second canals in nontreated mandibular incisors (9%), root fractures (2.7%), and root resorption (2.7%) were not always visible in intraoral X-ray. Otherwise, positivity in the intraoral X-ray was always confirmed in CBCT. A radiolucent area was detected in CBCT exam in 46%, while the intraoral X-ray exam was positive only in 18%. Conclusions. Our study shows that some important radiological signs acquired using CBCT are not always visible in periapical X-ray. Furthermore, CBCT is considered as a II level exam and could be used to solve diagnostic questions, essential to a proper management of the endodontic problems.
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CMK, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
In this study, exposure and ecotoxicity data of six human pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine, clofibric acid, diclofenac, ofloxacin, propranolol, and sulfamethoxazole) were collected, including our own ...experimental data and literature data. From this data collection, the two‐tiered European draft guideline on the environmental risk assessment of human pharmaceuticals was tested. Measured environmental concentrations in effluents from France and in effluents and surface waters from Germany were compared to the predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) in both countries. In a similar manner, predicted no‐effect concentrations (PNECs) derived from acute data and PNECs derived from chronic data were estimated for each pharmaceutical and corresponding PEC/PNEC ratios then were compared in both countries. Globally, results demonstrated that all environmental concentrations (predicted or measured) for each considered pharmaceutical exceeded the 10‐ng/L cutoff value, which requires the implementation of the second‐tier assessment based on ecotoxicity data. Moreover, the six pharmaceuticals showed a relatively limited acute toxicity, and carbamazepine and propranolol were inaccurately identified as having negligible risks under the current European draft procedure. Such results lead to discussion of the actual procedure on pharmaceuticals, especially on the need of appropriate ecotoxicity tests.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Introduction. The use of equine bone blocks is widely reported for bone augmentation techniques. The block must be shaped according to the form of the defect that should be regenerated. The shaping ...could be performed by hand before or during the surgery, in a sterile ambient, or using a CNC milling machine that could not be sterile. The aim of our study was to evaluate if a steam sterilization could provide a medical grade sterilization of the blocks and to evaluate if bone microstructure and collagen structures change after different steam sterilization protocols provided by mainstream autoclave. Materials and Method. Two blocks of equine bone were divided into 16 samples. 1 sample was used as control and not submitted to any treatment. 15 samples were infected with a Streptococcus faecalis bacterial culture. The samples were singularly packed, randomly divided into 3 groups, and submitted to autoclave sterilization on the same device. The groups were submitted to a sterilization cycle (Gr. A: 121°C, 1,16 bar for 20′; Gr. B:134°C, 2,16 bar for 4′; Gr. C: 134°C, 2,16 bar for 3.30 min.). 2 samples for each group were evaluated for the sterility. 3 samples for each group were observed at SEM to notice the macro- and microstructure modification and to confocal microscope to observe the collagen. Results. All samples were sterile. The SEM evaluation showed, in all groups, a preserved morphological structure. Confocal microscope evaluation shows that the collagen structure appears to be more uniform and preserved in group C. Conclusion. Data show that autoclave steam sterilization could be reliable to obtain sterilization of equine bone blocks.
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DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Amoxicillin is a widely used penicillin-like antibiotic, and due to its presence in several effluents of ItalianSTPs, its environmental fate along with its toxicity toward simple organisms have been ...investigated in model conditions. The present study shows that under abiotic conditions both hydrolysis and direct photolysis could be responsible for the transformation and removal of amoxicillin in aquatic environment, especially in slightly basic media. Quantum yields for the solar direct photolysis have been calculated along with kinetic constants and half-life times. Indirect photolysis experiments in the presence of natural photosensitizers such as nitrate ions and humic acids indicate that nitrate ions have no influence on the photodegradation rate of amoxicillin, while humic acids are able to enhance it. Standard batch experiments have been also performed under biotic conditions. The results indicated that also biodegradation on activated sludge is an effective pathway through which amoxicillin can be removed from the aquatic environment. Rate constants for biodegradation and adsorption have been calculated by applying simple pseudo-first-order kinetic models. Algal bioassays indicate that, in the range of concentrations from 50 ng/L to 50 mg/L, amoxicillin is not toxic toward eucariotic organisms such as the Chlorophyceae Pseudokirkneriella subcapitata and Closterium ehrenbergii and the Bacillariophyceae Cyclotella meneghiniana, but it shows a marked toxicity toward the Cyanophyta Synechococcus leopolensis.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
Considering the diagnostic capability offered by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), nowadays orthodontists often use this exam for treatment planning, especially in cases of impacted teeth, ...maxillary ipoplasia, orthognathic surgery etc. The aim of this study was to compare the radiation doses related to a conventional CBCT setting and that of a low dose protocol, usable in orthodontic practice. The absorbed organ doses were measured using an anthropomorphic phantom loaded with thermo-luminescent dosimeters related to sensitive organs (brain, bone marrow, salivary glands, thyroid, esophagus, oral mucosa, extrathoracic airways, lymph nodes). The device used was a MyRay Hyperion X9-11x5. The standard setting of the apparatus was 90 Kv, 36 mAs, CTDI/Vol 4.09 mGy, instead the low dose one was 90 Kv, 27 mAs, CTDI/Vol 2.89 mGy. Equivalent and effective doses have been calculated; the measurement of the effective doses was based on the ICRP recommendations. For the assessment of image quality, five readers, independent and experienced orthodontists, were asked to state if the images were sufficient enough to perform an orthodontic diagnosis. The lowest organ dose (5.01 microSv) was received by the esophagus during low dose CBCT acquisition. The highest mean organ dose instead (1227.67 microSv) was received by the salivary glands during conventional setting CBCT acquisition. Image quality has been considered sufficient for orthodontic diagnostic needs for both CBCT protocols. CBCT low dose setting should be preferred over the standard one in orthodontic practice, because it provides a significant lower radiation dose to the patients ensuring a good image quality. However, further studies are necessary to evaluate the opportunity of CBCT exams in orthodontic treatment planning.
The possibility of applying main AOP techniques, namely ozonation, H2O2/UV photolysis and TiO2 photocatalysis to provide a significant reduction of toxicity of pharmaceutical mixtures has been ...evaluated. For the preparation of the mixture six pharmaceuticals were chosen among those found at highest concentrations in Sewage Treatment Plant effluents, namely carbamazepine, clofibric acid, diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole, ofloxacin and propranolol. The blue-green alga Synechococcus leopoliensis and the rotifer Brachyonus calyciflorus were utilised to assess the toxicity of the mixtures after AOP treatments. All the toxicity tests were performed using chronic standardized bioassays. The best results were obtained with ozonation. With this type of treatment a complete removal of mixture toxicity on S. leopolensis was obtained even after the shortest time of application (1 min). The ozonation treatment leads also to removal of all the pharmaceutical mixture toxicity on B. calyciflorus, by applying the oxidizing agent for at least for 2 minutes.
Auxiliary power sources (LED and laser) are used in in-office teeth bleaching techniques to accelerate the redox reaction of the whitening gel to increase ease of use, to improve comfort and safety, ...and to decrease the procedure time.
The aim this study is to evaluate the efficiency of the teeth whitening procedures performed with hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, LED or Laser activated.
18 patients, affected by exogenous dyschromia, were treated with a bleaching agent composed by 35% hydrogen peroxide and 10% carbamide peroxide. They were divided into two groups: in the first group the bleaching agent was activated by a LED lamp; in the second group it was activated by a Laser diode lamp. Both groups were subjected to 3 bleaching cycle of 15' each. The chromatic evaluations were performed before and after one week from the treatment, using a chromatic scale and a spectrophotometer. The mean value of pre, post bleaching and follow-up were analyzed using a T-test, with results statistically significant for P<0,05.
Results showed that the variations in brightness, chroma and hue are significantly influenced by the interaction between the whitening agent and the original colour of the teeth. Laser-activation has marginally improved the bleaching effectiveness. All patients treated with laser activation complained an increase in dental sensitivity.
The use of laser-activating systems did not improve the efficacy of bleaching.
The concentrations of heavy metals in the roots, rhizomes, stems and leaves of the aquatic macrophyte
Phragmites australis (common reed), and in the corresponding water and sediment samples from the ...mouth area of the Imera Meridionale River (Sicily, Italy), were investigated to ascertain whether plant organs are characterized by differential accumulation, and to test the suitability of the various organs for heavy metal biomonitoring of water and soil. Heavy metals considered were Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn. Results showed that belowground organs were the primary areas of metal accumulation. In particular, metal concentrations in plant organs decreased in the order of root
>
rhizome
≥
leaf
>
stem. All four organs showed significant differences in concentration for Cr, Hg, Mn, Zn, thus suggesting low mobility from roots to rhizomes and to aboveground organs. Although the organs followed different decreasing trends of metal concentration, the trend Mn
>
Zn
>
Pb
>
Cu was found in each plant organ. Mn showed the highest concentrations in all organs whereas the lowest concentrations regarded Cd and Cr in the belowground and aboveground organs, respectively. The toxic threshold was exceeded by Cr in roots, rhizomes and leaves, Mn in roots and leaves, Ni in roots. The highest average concentrations were found as follows: Cd, Hg, Pb, Zn in root, Cr, Mn, Ni in sediment, Cu in water. Positive linear relationships were found between heavy metal concentrations in all plant organs and those in water and sediment, thus indicating the potential use of such organs for pollution monitoring of water and sediment. Advantages of using plant species as biomonitors, especially
Phragmites australis, were also discussed.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPUK
Aim. The aim of this study was to assess the success and the survival rate of dental implants placed in augmented bone after sinus lifting procedures. Material and Methods. 31 patients were mainly ...enrolled for a residual upper jaw crest thickness of 3 mm. CBCT scans were performed before and after the augmentation technique and at the follow-up appointments, at 3, 6, 12, 24, and up to 60 months. The follow-up examination included cumulative survival rate of implants, peri-implant marginal bone loss, and the height of sinus floor augmentation. Results. This retrospective study on 31 patients and 45 implants later inserted in a less than 3 mm crest showed excellent survival rates (99.5%), one implant was lost before loading due to an acute infection after 24 days, and two implants did not osteointegrate and were removed after 3 months. The radiological evaluation showed an average bone loss of 0.25 mm (±0.78 mm) at the first follow-up appointment (3 months) up to 0.30 mm (±1.28 mm) after 60-month follow-up. Conclusion. In this study it was reported how even in less than 3 mm thick crest a transcrestal technique can predictably be used with a long-term clinical and radiological outcome, giving patients excellent stability of the grafted material and healthy clinical results.
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CMK, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
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