Patient satisfaction with occlusal scheme of conventional complete dentures

Occlusal scheme is a controversial topic that has been linked to patient satisfaction with conventional complete dentures (CCDs). This study aimed to compare the patient satisfaction with CCDs with four different occlusal schemes namely the lingualised occlusion (LO), buccalised occlusion (BO), fully bilateral balanced occlusion (FBBO) and partially group function occlusion (PGFO). In this clinical study, new CCDs were made for 121 patients; out of which, 97 patients (mean age of 57.87 ± 9.5 years) completed the 1-year follow-up. The CCD wearers were followed up at 1 month, 3 months and 1 year after CCD delivery. Data were collected via an interview and recorded in a checklist by a blinded examiner. The checklist included the demographic variables, the 19-item version of Oral Health Impact Profile for Edentulous Patients (OHIP-EDENT), and seven 100-mm line visual analogue scales (VASs) to assess the items related to patient satisfaction. The Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman tests followed by post hoc tests were used to compare the variables among the 4 groups and between the 3 follow-ups. P-value ≤ .05 was considered statistically significant for all tests. The patients with BO presented higher satisfaction scores for comfort, stability and retention at the 1-year follow-up compared with PGFO. Both PGFO and FBBO groups had higher physical pain scores compared with BO and LO. The psychological discomfort scores of FBBO group were significantly higher than those in LO group. Pairwise comparisons revealed no significant differences in the general patient satisfaction and total OHIP-EDENT scores between the 4 groups. For most items, within-group analysis showed significant improvement of the satisfaction scores and reduction of domain scores over time.     

The α7-nAChR/heme oxygenase-1/carbon monoxide pathway mediates the nicotine counteraction of renal inflammation and vasoconstrictor hyporeactivity in endotoxic male rats

Inflammation Research - The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that nicotine guards against endotoxemia-associated renal inflammation and vasoconstrictor dysfunction via the...     

Activation of central GABAB receptors offsets the cyclosporine counteraction of endotoxic cardiovascular outcomes in conscious rats

We have previously shown that cyclosporine (CSA) counteracts cardiovascular manifestations induced by endotoxemia (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) such as hypotension and cardiac autonomic dysfunction in conscious rats. In this study, we investigated whether the facilitation of central γ‐amino butyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission blunts these favorable influences of CSA. The LPS‐CSA interaction was determined in the absence and presence of drugs that activate GABA_A or GABA_B receptors or elevate synaptic GABA levels in the central nervous system. The consequent i.v. administration of CSA (10 mg/kg) blunted the LPS‐evoked hypotension, tachycardia, and reductions in time‐ and frequency‐domain indices of heart rate variability (measures of cardiac autonomic control) evoked by LPS (10 mg/kg i.v.). The ability of CSA to reverse the LPS effects disappeared in rats treated intracisternally (i.c.) with baclofen (selective GABA_B agonist, 2 μg/rat) but not muscimol (selective GABA_A agonist, 1 μg/rat), indicating a preferential compromising action for central GABA_B receptors on the advantageous effects of CSA. Moreover, the improvement by CSA of LPS‐evoked cardiovascular derangements was also eliminated after concurrent i.c. administration of vigabatrin (GABA transaminase inhibitor, 200 μg/rat) or tiagabine (GABA reuptake inhibitor, 100 μg/rat). These results demonstrate that the activation of central GABA_B receptors either directly via baclofen or indirectly following interventions that boost GABA levels in central synapses counterbalances the rectifying action of CSA on endotoxemia.     

Human mast cells present antigen to autologous CD4+ T cells

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