Analysis of drugs of forensic interest with capillary zone electrophoresis/time-of-flight mass spectrometry based on the use of non-volatile buffers

The present work is aimed at investigating the influence of the background electrolyte composition and concentration on the separation efficiency and resolution and mass spectrometric detection of illicit drugs in a capillary zone electrophoresis-electrospray ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (CZE-ESI-TOF MS) system. The effect of phosphate, borate and Tris buffers on the separation and mass spectrometry response of a mixture of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, methadone, cocaine, morphine, codeine and 6-monoacetylmorphine was studied, in comparison with a reference ammonium formate separation buffer. Inorganic non-volatile borate and Tris buffers proved hardly suitable for capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) analysis, but quite unexpectedly ammonium phosphate buffers showed good separation and ionization performances for all the analytes tested. Applications of this method to real samples of hair from drug addicts are also provided.

Wide Diameter Implants: Analysis of a Case Series

In the last decade the use of wide diameter implants (WDI, i.e. diameter > 3.75 mm) has increased especially in posterior jaws because it is generally accepted that WDI: 1- improve the ability of posterior implants to tolerate occlusal forces, 2- create a wider base for proper prosthesis, and 3- avoid placing two standard-size implants (SSI = 3.75 mm) at one site to obtain a double-root prosthetic tooth. Since no report is available on a new type of implants, a retrospective study was performed. A total of 124 two-piece implants (FMD srl, Rome, Italy) were inserted, 56 in female and 68 in males. The median age was 59 ± 12 (min-max 28–75 years). Implants were inserted 59 in the maxilla and 65 in the mandible; they replaced 7 incisors, 4 cuspids, 23 premolars and 90 molars. One implant was lost, survival rate = 99.20%. Among the studies variables immediate loaded implants (p=0.05) and upper jaw (p=0.005) have a statistically significant worse outcome. Then peri-implant bone resorption (i.e. delta IAJ) was used to investigate SCR. Among the remaining 123 implants, 2 fixtures have a crestal bone resorption greater than 1.5 mm (SCR = 97.54). Statistical analysis demonstrated that single crown have a higher peri-implant crestal bone resorption if compared with bridge supported by 2 or more implants (p=0.03). In conclusion FMD implants are reliable devices for oral rehabilitation with a very high SCR and SVR.

Effect of Narrow Diameter Implants on Clinical Outcome

Narrow diameter implants (NDI) (i.e. diameter 3.75 mm) are a potential solution for specific clinical situations such as reduced interradicuiar bone, thin alveolar crest and replacement of teeth with small cervical diameter. NDI have been available in clinical practice since the nineties but only a few studies have analyzed their clinical outcome. Since no report is available on a new type of implants, a retrospective study was performed. A total of 47 narrow diameter (i.e. x ≤ 3.40 mm) two-piece implants (FMD srl, Rome, Italy) were inserted, 35 in females and 12 in males. The median age was 60 ± 11 (min-max 30–80 years). Implants were inserted 22 in the maxilla and 25 in the mandible; they replaced 11 incisors, 3 cuspids, 21 premolars and 12 molars. Implant' length was shorter than 10 mm, 10.30 ≤ x ≤ 12.30, equal to 13 mm and longer than 13 mm in 17,28,1 and 1 fixtures, respectively. Implant' diameter was narrower than 3.5 mm. There were 3,18 and 26 Elisir, I-fix and Shiner implant types. No implant on single tooth rehabilitations was lost and thus survival rate was 100%. Then peri-implant bone resorption (i.e. delta IAJ) was used to investigate SCR. Seven fixtures have a crestal bone resorption greater than 1.5 mm (SCR = 85.1). Statistical analysis demonstrated that diabetes (p=0.044) and smoke (p=0.001) have a higher peri-implant crestal bone resorption. In conclusion FMD implants are reliable devices for oral rehabilitation with a very high SCR and SVR although smoker and diabetic patients have a worse clinical outcome.

Titanium Disk Surfaces Modulate Dental Implants Osseointegration

Titanium and titanium alloys are widely used as implant materials due to their excellent biocompatibility and mechanical properties. The aim of this work is to compare five different titanium layers in order to investigate which one had a greater osteoconductive power using Human Osteoblasts (HObs) culture for seven days on these surfaces. The expression levels of some bone-related genes (ALPL, COL1A1, COL3A1, SPP1, RUNX2 and SPARC) were analyzed using real time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (real time RT-PCR). Results obtained in this study demonstrate that titanium disks can lead to osteoblast differentiation and extracellular matrix deposition and mineralization by the activation of different osteoblast genes in relation to the specific type of surface treatment.

Implants Inserted in Mandible: A Case Series

It is generally accepted that the mandible (especially in the interforaminal region) has better bone quality than the maxilla, and this fact is probably the reason why several reports are available regarding implants inserted into the mandible. Since no report is available on a new type of implants, a retrospective study was performed. A total of 185 two-piece implants (FMD srl, Rome, Italy) were inserted in mandible, 102 in female and 83 in males. The median age was 58 ± 13 (min-max 25–80 years). Implants replaced 14 incisors, 7 cuspids, 49 premolars and 115 molars. Implant' length was x ≤ 10 mm, 10,30 ≤ x ≤ 12.30, equal to 13 mm and x ≥14 mm in 80, 90,13 and 2 cases, respectively. Implant' diameter was narrower than 3.5 mm, equal to 3.8 mm and wider than 4.0 mm in 25, 17,143 cases, respectively. There were 36,41,106 and 2 Elisir, I-fix, Shiner, and Storm implant types, respectively. One implant was lost, survival rate = 98.15%. Among the studies variables immediate loaded implants on single tooth rehabilitations (p=0.017) have a worse clinical outcome. Then peri-implant bone resorption (i.e. delta IAJ) was used to investigate SCR. Among the remaining 184 implants, 20 fixtures have a crestal bone resorption greater than 1.5 mm (SCR = 89.13). Statistical analysis demonstrated signifiance only for surgeon (p=0.001). In conclusion FMD implants are reliable devices for oral rehabilitation with a very high SCR and SVR.

Reliability of Short Implants in Oral Rehabilitation

Implant prostheses are often used to restore partially or completely edentulous patients but limited bone height, especially in the posterior mandible, may restrict the use of dental implants. Short implants (i.e. x ≤ 10 mm) may be selected in these situations. They have several advantages: 1 - restricting the need for sophisticated and expensive surgical procedures like sinus lifting, bone grafting and mandibular nerve transposition, 2 - placing short-span dentures and 3 - avoiding cantilevers in the posterior sextants. The limited surface area of SIs, conversely, can be a potential disadvantage as it has less resistance to occlusal forces. Since no report is available on a new type of implants, a retrospective study was performed. A total of 148 short (i.e x ≤ 10 mm) two-piece implants (FMD srl, Rome, Italy) were inserted, 91 in female and 57 in males. The median age was 58 ± 12 (min-max 25–80 years). Implants were inserted 68 in the maxilla and 80 in the mandible. One implant was lost, survival rate = 98.52%. Among the studies variables post-extractive implants on single tooth rehabilitations (p=0.043) was the only significant variable. Then peri-implant bone resorption (i.e. delta IAJ) was used to investigate SCR. Among the remaining 147 implants, 18 fixtures have a crestal bone resorption greater than 1.5 mm (SCR = 87.75). Statistical analysis demonstrated that only diabetes has a negative impact on peri-implant crestal bone resorption (p=0.016). In conclusion FMD implants are reliable devices for oral rehabilitation with a very high SCR and SVR.

Implants Inserted in Different Sites: Analysis of 390 Fixtures

Oral rehabilitation by means dental implants is a surgical procedure with high standards of success. Since very few reports focus on clinical success related to implant site and no report is available on a new type of implants (FMD srl, Rome, Italy), a retrospective study was performed. A total of 390 two-piece implants were inserted, 213 in females and 177 in males. The median age was 59 ± 11 (min-max 24–80 years). Two hundred and five implants were inserted in upper jaw and 185 in mandible. Three implants were lost, survival rate = 99.23%. Among the studies variables immediate loaded implants on single tooth rehabilitations (p=0.047) have a worse clinical outcome. Then peri-implant bone resorption (i.e. delta IAJ) was used to investigate SCR. Among the remaining 387 implants, 47 fixtures have a crestal bone resorption greater than 1.5 mm (SCR = 87.85). Statistical analysis demonstrated that no studied variable has an impact on clinical outcome and thus there are no differences in term of SVR and SCR by sites. In conclusion FMD implants are reliable devices for oral rehabilitation with a very high SCR and SVR.

Retrospective Study on 205 Fixtures Inserted in Upper Jaw

The rehabilitation of the edentulous maxilla is a relatively common clinical problem and to submerge dental implants during the healing period is a major prerequisite to obtain implant osseointegration. It is believed that micromovement of implants, due to functional forces at the bone-implant interface during wound healing, could induce the formation of fibrous tissue rather than bone, leading to a clinical failure. In addition, the coverage of an implant is also thought necessary to prevent infection and epithelial down-growth. Usually, the second surgical procedure was performed after three months in the mandible and six months in the maxilla. Since no report is available on a new type of implants, a retrospective study was performed on fixtures inserted in upper jaw. A total of 205 two-piece implants (FMD srl, Rome, Italy) were inserted in maxilla, 111 in female and 94 in males. The median age was 59 ± 10 (min-max 24–80 years). Twenty four diabetic patients were enrolled, 141 had periodontal disease and 96 were smokers. Two surgeons performed operation. Fixtures were placed in 6 totally edentulous patient, 9 single missing teeth and 190 partially edentulous subjects. Twenty one implants were placed in post-extraction sockets; GBR was performed onto 26 fixtures and 3 were immediately loaded. There were 109 single crowns, 96 implants bearing 2 or greater bridges. Two implants were lost, survival rate = 99.02%. Among the studies variables immediate loaded implants on single tooth rehabilitations (p=0.03) have a worse clinical outcome. Then peri-implant bone resorption (i.e. delta IA J) was used to investigate SCR. Among the remaining 203 implants, 20 fixtures have a crestal bone resorption greater than 1.5 mm (SCR = 89.13). Statistical analysis demonstrated that diabetes (p=0.001) and periodontal disease (p=0.047) had a worse outcome. In conclusion FMD implants are reliable devices for oral rehabilitation with a very high SCR and SVR.