P2245Sex differences in the in-vivo markers of platelet activation among patients with ischemic heart disease: insights from the EVA study

Background/Introduction

Ischemic heart diseases (IHD) are not synonymous with obstructive flow-limiting coronary artery disease (CAD), especially in women. Platelet dysfunction is suggested as a potential mechanism favouring ischemia in non-obstructive CAD. However, it is unknown whether sex differences in platelet function of patients with non-obstructive CAD exist.

Purpose

We assessed for sex differences in in-vivo markers of platelet activation among patients with the acute coronary syndrome and chronic stable angina, with or without obstructive CAD

Methods

From the “Endocrine Vascular disease Approach” (EVA) study, we selected IHD patients undergoing urgent or elective coronary angiography with complete baseline clinical characteristics and angiographic data. Non-obstructive CAD was defined as the presence of coronary stenosis <50%. Thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and soluble P-selectin (sP-s) were measured at baseline. A sex-stratified analysis of platelet biomarkers was performed.

Results

Among two-hundred-seventy-seven patients (mean age 67±11, 37% women), non-obstructive CAD was documented in 25% of patients. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) was the reason for angiography in 61% of cases. Women had more frequently ACS, as compared with men (54.8% vs 41.3%, p=0.001), with predominantly non-obstructive CAD. Median serum TxB2 (121.5 [92.7–174.0] vs 103.5 [83.0–140.2] pg/ml, p=0.005) and plasma sP-s (27.0 [18.7–35.0] vs 22.0 [16.0–30.0] ng/ml, p=0.006) levels were higher in patients with ACS as compared with the ones with stable chronic angina. The median concentration of TxB2 was significantly increased in women as compared with men, regardless of the clinical presentation and the coronary stenosis degree (all comparison, p<0.001). However, women with non-obstructive CAD were the group with the highest serum levels of TxB2 (140.0 [111.0–152.0] pg/ml). Sex differences in the plasma sP-s level were also observed among patients with stable chronic angina (women, 26 [20.0–34.0] vs men, 21 [16.6–27.7] ng/ml, p=0.002) and with non-obstructive CAD (women, 26 [20.5–34.5] vs men, 18.5 [16.6–26.0] ng/ml, p=0.003).

Conclusion(s)

Women with IHD and non-obstructive CAD had increased level of TxB2 and sP-s as compared with men, independently by the clinical presentation. Further investigations are warranted to verify the role of platelet hyperactivation in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia with non-obstructive coronary artery disease among women.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Scientific Independence of Young Researchers Program (RBSI14HNVT) - Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR)

Tooth bleaching with hydrogen peroxide and nano-hydroxyapatite: a 9-month follow-up randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare the amount of tooth colour change, rebound rate and tooth sensitivity in patients submitted to a bleaching technique with 6% hydrogen peroxide (HP) with or without 2% nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA).

METHODS

Sixty subjects were included in this examiner-blinded, randomized clinical trial using a 6% HP gel with or without 2% n-HA. Tooth colour and tooth sensitivity were analysed before and after treatment. All data were analysed statistically.

RESULTS

After bleaching, both treatments demonstrated significant improvements in tooth shade (P < 0.05 for both groups). At the 9-month recall, tooth shade remained significantly lighter than at baseline (P < 0.05 for both groups). However, a relapse of the tooth shade was observed compared with the immediate post-bleaching result (P < 0.05). 6% HP with 2% n-HA produced significantly lower sensitivity (P < 0.05) than the bleaching product without n-HA. Colour change evaluation resulted in no difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Both treatments demonstrated significant improvements in tooth shade. The bleaching effectiveness of the tested products was comparable. The use of 6% HP with 2% n-HA reduced the incidence of sensitivity during the bleaching treatment compared to a bleaching agent that did not contain n-HA.

The influence of educational level and oral hygiene behaviours on DMFT index and CPITN index in an adult Italian population: an epidemiological study

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the influence of educational level and oral hygiene behaviours on the prevalence and severity of dental caries and periodontal disease in an adult Italian population attending the Oral Hygiene department of a public Dental Clinic.

METHODS

Dental caries was diagnosed according to the World Health Organization criteria. The DMFT index (decayed, missing, filled tooth) was used to record the dental caries' experience. The periodontal status was assessed using the community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN). Questionnaires on educational level and oral hygiene behaviours were also collected.

RESULTS

A total of 350 patients were enrolled. The mean DMFT value reported was 4.37 ± 3.06, and higher values were observed for male patients (P < 0.05). Increased CPITN scores and DMFT values were significantly correlated with lower level of education (P < 0.05). Subjects of high educational status showed significantly better oral hygiene habits (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The oral health status, in terms of periodontal disease and dental caries, appears correlated with patients' educational level.

[Tenodesis for the treatment of chronic instability of the radioulnar joint]

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) instability often develops after distal forearm fracture or severe dislocation of the wrist with damage to its stabilising structures. The instability is usually diagnosed as a chronic condition and only rarely at the time of injury. When the stabilising structures are not treated adequately soon after injury, instability develops and is accompanied with pain, restricted range of motion and reduced grip strength. This study presents the option of chronic instability treatment by tenodesis with use of the palmaris longus tendon. Its aim is to remind the broad medical community of this issue. MATERIAL Between July 1994 and November 2000, tenodesis was performed in 15 patients with chronic DRUJ instability. The right and left sides were affected in 10 and five patients, respectively; of them 12 were dominant extremities. All injuries were diagnosed as dorsal subluxation of the ulnar head, with side dislocation in three patients. METHODS The diagnosis was based on a thorough medical history, and clinical and radiographic examination, including projections in forced maximum radial and ulnar duction, as recommended by Geyer and Luzius as early as in 1964. Tenodesis was done by the Jäger and Wirth method using the palmaris longus tendon. The patients were scored according to the Modified Mayo Wrist System. RESULTS Of the 15 patients treated by this method, 14 were evaluated. Eight patients regarded the results as very good, with no pain at maximal physical activity, and five considered them good, experiencing pain only at maximal but not at everyday activities. One patient reported a poor outcome. The average score increased from pre-operative 40 to 60 points post-operatively. All patients had a slight restriction of rotation movements of the forearm. Residual instability was found in one patient. DISCUSSION It is a common view that this condition is caused by subluxation or dislocation of the ulnar head, while in fact it is subluxation or dislocation of the radius turning around the ulna. As reported in the literature, dorsal dislocation is three-times as frequent as volnar dislocation, and this is in agreement with our findings. There is a wide variety of the operative methods for tenodesis which differ in the distribution of tunnels in bone. Restriction of the range of motion in our patients also agreed with the literature data. No effect of a distal radius fracture on the results of surgery was recorded. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that tenodesis is a method suitable to treat chronic DRUJ instability if the indication criteria are observed, i. e., if no arthritic lesions are present in the joint.

The adhesion between fibre posts and composite resin cores: the evaluation of microtensile bond strength following various surface chemical treatments to posts

AIM

To evaluate the influence of various surface treatments to fibre posts on the microtensile bond strength with different composite resins.

METHODOLOGY

A total of 110 fibre posts were randomly divided into five groups, according to the surface pre-treatment performed. Group 1: immersion in 24% H(2)O(2) for 10 min and silanization for 60 s; group 2: immersion in 10% H(2)O(2) for 20 min and silanization for 60 s; group 3: immersion in 4% hydrofluoric acid gel for 60 s and silanization for 60 s; group 4: silanization of the post surface for 60 s and application of the bonding agent G-Bond; group 5: silanization of the post surface for 60 s (control group). After treatment, two posts were randomly selected from each group to evaluate the morphological aspect of the post surface with scanning electron microscopy. The remaining posts in each group were divided into five subgroups of five posts each, which differed in the type of composite resin used for the core build-up. Post-core strength were calculated and the differences among experimental groups were analysed with two-way anova and the Tukey test (alpha = 0.05).

RESULTS

The post-core strengths achieved in groups 1 and 2 were significantly higher (P < 0.05), than those of groups 3, 4 and 5. The post-core strength in the control group was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than all other groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Hydrogen peroxide and hydrofluoric acid both modified the surface morphology of fibre posts and with silane, significantly enhanced the interfacial strength between them and core materials.

The use of hydrogen peroxide in the experimental therapy of cysts. An in vitro analysis

AIM

Aim of the authors is to evaluate in vitro the histological alteration caused by hydrogen peroxide on a sample of radicular cysts.

METHODS

Twelve radicular cysts were divided into 2 portions. The control group was histologically evaluated whereas the other portion, test, was treated with 3% hydrogen peroxide before histological analysis. Test and control portions were compared for integrity of the epithelium, inflammatory state of the cystic walls, presence of necrosis, stromal vacuolization and microvessel density (MVD). MVD was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using anti-CD34 monoclonal antibodies.

RESULTS

Significantly lower epithelium integrity has been detected in the test group (p= or <0.007), (Wilcoxon test). Moreover, the test group presented a higher number of stromal vacuolization areas (p= or <0.004). However, necrosis and inflammation reported no significative differences. No significative differences were noticed for the MVD.

CONCLUSION

Hydrogen peroxide showed a cytopathic and cytolytic activity in vitro. Those effects have been shown on both cysts tissues: epithelium and connective tissue. The present study did not reveal any statistically significant difference between the number of vessels in the control and in the test group. However, further in vitro and human studies are needed to validate this substance in the treatment of cysts.