Assessment of Static and Dynamic Load Tolerance of the Implant Mounts on its Particular Implant

Objectives

We compared the loads at which the implant holders from Astra Tech (AST) (AstraOsseoSpeed) and Osseotite Certain failed under static compression after experiencing fatigue, as well as the gap that resulted from dynamic loading between the implant-holder complexes.

Materials and Method

The ISO 14801 recommendation served as the foundation for the test protocol. Each brand's five implant-implant holder assemblies underwent dynamic loading. A load of 200 N was applied at a stress frequency of 12 Hz and a cycle rate of 5105. (Eden Prairie, MN, USA). Using scanning electron microscopy (S3700N, HITACHI, Japan), the gap (m) at the interface was measured post-fatigue. Static loading was then used to determine the highest load (N) after the point of failure. Controls included definitive abutment-implant complexes. Statistics were used to analyze the data.

Result

The Osseotite Certain group showed a slight trend toward greater resistance, but there was no diversity among the two implant holder groups (P 0.05). AST (AstraOsseoSpeed) implants had a larger interface gap, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

With respect to greatest compression load or the interface gap following dynamic loading, there were no discernible differences between the two experimental groups.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation set-up for small animals

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is widely applied on humans for research and clinical purposes. TMS studies on small animals, e.g., rodents, can provide valuable knowledge of the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms. Administering TMS on small animals is, however, prone to technical difficulties, mainly due to their small head size. In this study, we aimed to develop an energy-efficient coil and a compatible experimental set-up for administering TMS on rodents. We applied a convex optimization process to develop a minimum-energy coil for TMS on rats. As the coil windings of the optimized coil extend to a wide region, we designed and manufactured a holder on which the rat lies upside down, with its head supported by the coil. We used the set-up to record TMS-electromyography, with electromyography recorded from limb muscles with intramuscular electrodes. The upside-down placement of the rat allowed the operator to easily navigate the TMS without the coil blocking their field of view. With this paradigm, we obtained consistent motor evoked potentials from all tested animals.

A Preliminary Assessment of HTST Processing on Donkey Milk

Due to increasing attention from consumers on non-bovine milk types, and to the increase in the number of small dairy donkey farms in Italy, farmers require more advanced and reliable processing devices, in order to guarantee a safe product of high quality. To this aim, a new small-scale High-Temperature Short-Time (HTST) pasteurizer (72 °C for 15 s), prototyped by the authors, was tested on donkey milk. The efficacy of the HTST device was tested on raw donkey milk microflora by enumeration of total aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae and Bacillus cereus. The biochemical quality was assessed by determining the protein profile by monodimensional electrophoresis and by measuring lysozyme activity. The HTST apparatus was able to reduce the total bacteria count, and to completely eradicate Enterobacteriaceae. Bacillus cereus, when present, was decreased with low efficiency. Changes in the protein profile were observed in milk pasteurized in accordance with both processes, although HTST seemed to limit casein degradation. Lysozyme activity was not substantially affected in comparison to raw donkey milk. In conclusion, a tailored small-volume HTST device could be safely applied to pasteurize donkey milk in on-farm pasteurization processes on small dairy donkey farms.

Whole-body positional manipulators for ocular imaging of anaesthetised mice and rats: a do-it-yourself guide

Background

In vivo retinal imaging of rodents has gained a growing interest in ophthalmology and neurology. The bedding of the animals with the possibility to perform adjustments in order to obtain an ideal camera-to-eye angle is challenging.

Methods

We provide a guide for a cost-effective, do-it-yourself rodent holder for ocular imaging techniques. The set-up was tested and refined in over 2000 optical coherence tomography measurements of mice and rats.

Results

The recommended material is very affordable, readily available and easily assembled. The holder can be adapted to both mice and rats. A custom-made mouthpiece is provided for the use of inhalant anaesthesia. The holder is highly functional and assures that the rodent’s eye is the centre of rotation for adjustments in both the axial and the transverse planes with a major time benefit over unrestrained positioning of the rodents.

Conclusion

We believe this guide is very useful for eye researchers focusing on in vivo retinal imaging in rodents as it significantly reduces examination times for ocular imaging.

Endoscope-guided coblator tongue base resection using an endoscope-holding system for obstructive sleep apnea

BACKGROUND

Multilevel obstruction in obstructive sleep apnea commonly includes retroglossal obstruction. To improve surgical success rates, tongue volume reduction with posterior midline glossectomy and/or lingual tonsillectomy is widely performed.

METHODS

Nasotracheal intubation was utilized, and the combined tongue procedure was performed as a final step after palatal surgery. The tongue was pulled maximally by a retraction suture and a McIVOR (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany) or Davis mouth gag (Karl Storz,Tuttlingen, Germany), and a medium-length tongue blade was applied to expose the tongue base. A 70-degree rigid endoscope was fixed by the holding system and introduced into the oral cavity. Endoscope-guided coblator tongue base resection was then performed.

RESULTS

The surgeon could use both hands for the surgery, enabling a more delicate resection of tongue base tissue.

CONCLUSION

This technique was acceptable and can be successfully used in patients with a large tongue, in whom exposing the tongue base for surgery is difficult.