Single-Tooth Rehabilitation Combining Root Displacement and Crown Lengthening Two-Year Follow-Up: A Case Report

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Combined techniques to expose circumferential tooth structure associated with subsequent restoration may represent a valid option in many situations. This case provides an example of the successful management of the anterior tooth rehabilitation combining root displacement and crown lengthening.

SUMMARY

Rehabilitation of an extensively compromised single anterior tooth represents an intriguing challenge for dentists, particularly when the rehabilitation involves esthetic, psychosocial, and functional requirements. The success in rehabilitating a patient with a conservative approach depends on a critical evaluation of the remaining structures, precise treatment plan, systematic treatment strategies, and patient compliance. In this case, the patient's chief complaint was the undesirable appearance of the maxillary right lateral, caused by the displacement of the post and crown. Clinical examination revealed a remaining tooth with coronal fracture, severe loss of tissue due to caries, and absence of ferrule effect. Radiographic examination revealed that the fracture margin was located subgingival. This case report describes a single-tooth rehabilitation involving a combination of root displacement via orthodontic extrusion and crown lengthening. The rehabilitation was followed by post-and-core restoration using a prefabricated glass fiber post associated with a disilicate lithium crown. The clinical decision making and combined effect of both treatment strategies are explained in this report. The treatment required three months, including recovery times after surgery and the placement of the provisional crown. The patient was esthetically and functionally satisfied with the restoration. Patient follow-up examination was performed 24 months after the treatment. This clinical report contributes to the clinical practice and exemplifies the possibility of rehabilitating the natural tooth using combined techniques, which may offer particular advantages regarding prognosis and invested efforts.

Analogs of the Scorpion Venom Peptide Stigmurin: Structural Assessment, Toxicity, and Increased Antimicrobial Activity

Scorpion venom is a rich source of biologically active components and various peptides with high-potential therapeutic use that have been characterized for their antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities. Stigmurin is a peptide identified from the Tityus stigmurus venom gland with high antibacterial and antiproliferative activities and low toxicity. Amino acid substitutions in peptides without a disulfide bridge sequence have been made with the aim of reducing their toxicity and increasing their biological activities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the structural conformation and structural stability, as well as antimicrobial, antiproliferative, and hemolytic activities of two peptide analogs to Stigmurin, denominated StigA6 and StigA16. In silico analysis revealed the α-helix structure for both analog peptides, which was confirmed by circular dichroism. Data showed that the net charge and hydrophobic moment of the analog peptides were higher than those for Stigmurin, which can explain the increase in antimicrobial activity presented by them. Both analog peptides exhibited activity on cancerous cells similar to the native peptide; however, they were less toxic when tested on the normal cell line. These results reveal a potential biotechnological application of the analog peptides StigA6 and StigA16 as prototypes to new therapeutic agents.

Polymorphism of the CYP2D6 gene in women with breast cancer treated with tamoxifen

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate polymorphism frequency of the CYP2D6*4, *10, and * 17 alleles in women with breast cancer treated with tamoxifen.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ninety-five women with estrogen and progesterone receptor-positive breast carcinoma were investigated from September to December 2013. A three-ml sample of peripheral blood was collected from each patient to analyze the presence of CYP2D6 *4, *10, and *17 allele polymorphism by specific polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR) for analysis of haplotypes *1, *4, *10, and *17, determined by studies of different single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). The data obtained were compiled and analyzed with the aid of Excel software 2010.

RESULTS

The frequency of CYP2D6 alleles *4, *10, and *17 was 16%, 29%, and 2%, respectively, and haplotype * 1/*10 was shown in 22% of the women. The phenotype of intermediate metabolism occurred in 8% of women.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study showed a deficiency in tamoxifen metabolism, characterized by intermediate metabolism in 8% of Brazilian women.

Bloodmeal microfilariae density and the uptake and establishment of Wuchereria bancrofti infections in Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti

The relationship between ingestion of microfilariae (mf), production of infective larvae (L3) and mf density in human blood has been suggested as an important determinant in the transmission dynamics of lymphatic filariasis. Here we assess the role of these factors in determining the competence of a natural vector Culex quinquefasciatus and a non vector Aedes aegypti to transmit Wuchereria bancrofti. Mosquitoes were infected via a membrane feeding procedure. Both mosquito species ingested more than the expected number of microfilariae (concentrating factor was 1.28 and 1.81 for Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. aegypti, respectively) but Cx. quinquefasciatus ingested around twice as many mf as Ae. aegypti because its larger blood meal size. Ae. aegypti showed a faster mf migration capacity compared to Cx. quinquefasciatus but did not allow parasite maturation under our experimental conditions. Similar proportions of melanized parasites were observed in Ae. aegypti (2. 4%) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (2.1%). However, no relationship between rate of infection and melanization was observed. We conclude that in these conditions physiological factors governing parasite development in the thorax may be more important in limiting vectorial competence than the density of mf ingested.