Clinical Performance of Minimally Invasive Monolithic Ultratranslucent Zirconia Veneers: A Case Series up to Five Years of Follow-up

There is a lack of reports in the literature on the long-term clinical performance of ultratranslucent zirconia, especially considering its use in manufacturing monolithic veneers. The purpose of this case series is to describe the aesthetic treatment steps of three patients with minimally invasive ultratranslucent zirconia veneers and to report the clinical findings up to five years. Three patients (woman: 2, man: 1; mean age: 30 years) unsatisfied with their dental aesthetics sought dental treatment. The treatment plan involved cementing ultratranslucent zirconia veneers. Air-abrasion was performed on the internal surface of zirconia with alumina particles coated by silica (silicatization), followed by silane and adhesive applications for the adhesive cementation. All veneers were adhesively cemented to enamel with resin cement (Variolink Esthetic, Ivoclar). The patients were clinically evaluated annually considering the Ryge modified/ California Dental Association criteria. After a mean follow-up of 4.33 years (4-5 years), a survival rate of 100% was detected for the 28 minimally invasive ultratranslucent zirconia veneers cemented in the 3 patients. There were no absolute failures such as debonding, veneer fracture, or secondary caries. Superficial marginal discoloration was observed in one element (maxillary left lateral incisor) of one patient. Ultratranslucent zirconia is a viable option for manufacturing veneers due to its excellent clinical performance and longevity. However, further long-term clinical studies are essential to consolidate this material as an option for esthetic restorations.

Adolescent cannabinoid exposure modulates the vulnerability to cocaine-induced conditioned place preference and DNMT3a expression in the prefrontal cortex in Swiss mice

RATIONALE

Cannabis sativa is the most widely used drug by adolescents globally. The recreational use of synthetic cannabinoids by teenagers has also grown in recent years. Despite the wrong perception that exposure to these drugs does not cause harm, repeated exposure to cannabinoids at early stages of life compromises important maturation processes and brain development. Chronic early cannabinoid use has been related to a higher risk of psychiatric outcomes, including cocaine addiction. Evidence suggests that exposure to natural and synthetic cannabinoids during adolescence modifies molecular and behavioral effects of cocaine in adulthood. Responses to cocaine are regulated by epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, in the brain's reward regions. However, the involvement of these processes in modulation of the vulnerability to the effects of cocaine induced by prior exposure to cannabinoids remains poorly understood.

OBJECTIVES

Investigate whether exposure to the synthetic cannabinoid WIN55,212-2 during adolescence modulates anxiety- and depression-like behavior, memory, and cocaine reward in adult mice. We also evaluated whether exposure to cannabinoids during adolescence modulates the expression of enzymes that are involved in DNA methylation.

RESULTS

Exposure to WIN55,212-2 during adolescence did not alter anxiety- or depressive-like behavior. However, prior exposure to cannabinoids inhibited cocaine-induced conditioned place preference without modulating cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion, accompanied by an increase in expression of the enzyme DNA methyltransferase 3a (DNMT3a) in the prefrontal cortex.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that exposure to WIN55,212-2 during adolescence leads to changes in DNMT3a expression, and this pathway appears to be relevant to modulating the rewarding effects of cocaine.

Natural factors regulating mustard aphid dynamics in cabbage

Lipaphis erysimi (L.) Kaltenbach (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is one of the most important pests of brassica crops, mainly causing losses due to sap sucking, toxin injection and viral transmission. Knowledge about the main natural factors that regulate populations of this pest, as well as its critical mortality stage, is crucial for the development of integrated pest management of L. erysimi. Here, we determined the critical stage and key mortality factors for L. erysimi in cabbage using an ecological life table. Causes of mortality at each stage of L. erysimi development were monitored daily in the field for seven seasons. From the experimental data, we determined the key factor and critical stage of mortality through correlation and regression analyses. The nymphal stage, especially first instar nymphs, was critical for L. erysimi mortality. The key mortality factors were, in descending order of importance, physiological disturbances and predation by Syrphidae, Coccinellidae and Solenopsis ants. Therefore, control measures should target early stages of L. erysimi and the use of cabbage cultivars that have negative effects against L. erysimi may be a promising strategy for its management. Our results may be useful for plant geneticists who could develop new cabbage cultivars based on these findings. In addition, conservation measures of the main predators of L. erysimi may contribute to the natural control of this pest.

Efeito da Manipulação do Cimento Resinoso e Método de Inserção na Porosidade do Cimento e Resistência de União de Pino de Fibra de Vidro

Avaliar o efeito do método de mistura e inserção no canal radicular na porosidade do cimento e resistência de união (RU) de pino de fibra de vidro (PFV). Cento e vinte dentes unirradiculares foram cortados com 15 mm, obturados e tiveram PFV cimentados com 3 cimentos resinosos autoadesivos (U200, RelyX 2000 sET e PSA, Panavia SA) utilizando 4 métodos de mistura/técnicas de inserção (handmix/lima endodôntica handmix/Seringa Centrix automix/ponta convencional e automix/endo tip). As amostras foram escaneadas por micro-CT e seccionadas em fatias (2 por terços: cervical, médio e apical) que foram submetidos à RU, e o padrão de falha foi classificado. Os dados de RU, volume de cimento e de porosidade foram analisados utilizando ANOVA e teste de Tukey, com significância de 5%. O volume de cimento foi similar independente da mistura ou método de inserção. A porosidade foi menor para automix/endo tip e maior para handmix/lima endodôntica. O uso de seringa Centrix e endo tip reduziu a porosidade no terço apical e aumentou RU quando comparados ao uso de lima. A profundidade do canal reduziu RU para U200 e seT quando associados a handmix/lima endodôntica. U200 e seT associados a automix resultou em maior RU eliminando efeito da região, independentemente do método de inserção. Em geral, U200 mostrou maior RU e PSA o menor. A falha do tipo adesiva entre cimento e dentina foi predominante. A RU e porosidade são influenciadas negativamente pelo método handmix/lima endodôntica. Já o método automix/ endo tip produziu melhores resultados na cimentação de PFV.Palavras-chave: Manipulação. Inserção. Cimento Resinoso. Resistência de União.