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Biomedical subjects

F Somma

Publications and source records attributed to F Somma.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Influence of a brushing working motion on the fatigue life of NiTi rotary instruments.

AIM: To evaluate the cyclic fatigue resistance of Mtwo NiTi rotary instruments when used with a brushing or no-brushing action in oval root canals. METHODOLOGY: Cyclic fatigue testing of instruments was performed in tapered artificial canals with a 5 mm radius of curvature and an angle of curvature of 60 degrees. Twenty Mtwo instruments for each size were selected and divided into two groups: group A = 10 instruments used with a no-brushing motion (control group); group B = 10 instruments used with a brushing-milling action. Each Mtwo instrument was used for cleaning and shaping 10 oval root canals. In all 80 instruments were rotated until fracture occurred and the number of cycles to failure (NCF) recorded. Data were analysed by one-way ANOVA, Tukey HSD test and independent sample t-test to determine any statistical difference; the significance was determined at the 95% confidence level. RESULTS: No statistically significant reduction of NCF between instruments used with a no-brushing motion (group A) and instruments used with a brushing motion (group B) were apparent except for size 25, 0.06 taper. Mtwo size 10, 0.04 taper, size 15, 0.05 taper, size 20, 0.06 taper, size 25, 0.06 taper instruments had a decrease in life span of 1%, 0.5%, 8% and 19%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue life of instruments of larger size could be reduced by using them with a lateral brushing or pressing movement. However, each file was successfully operated without intracanal failure, demonstrating that Mtwo rotary instruments can be used safely in a brushing action in simulated clinical conditions up to 10 times in oval canals.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2006

Ex vivo accuracy of three electronic apex locators: Root ZX, Elements Diagnostic Unit and Apex Locator and ProPex.

AIM: To compare ex vivo the accuracy of three electronic apex locators (EALs): Root ZX, Elements Diagnostic Unit and Apex Locator and ProPex. METHODOLOGY: Electronic working length determination was carried out in 40 extracted teeth using an ex vivo model. After access preparation, a first operator determined the reference length (AL) for each tooth under a 30x stereomicroscope using the apical constriction as the apical landmark. All teeth were then measured with each EAL and the results obtained were compared with the corresponding AL. The AL was subtracted from the electronically determined distance. The measurements exceeding the AL were recorded as positive (long) and the measurements short of the AL were recorded as negative. Data were analyzed using the Friedman Test and Tukey multiple range test for nonparametric correlation amongst groups. Statistical significance was considered at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Comparing the differences between measurements obtained with the three EALs and those obtained with the stereomicroscope, the percentage of measurements within +/-0.5 mm of the AL was 97.37% (84.22% within 0.5 mm short of AL) for the Root ZX, 94.28% (88.57% within 0.5 mm short of AL) for the Elements and 100% (35.9% within 0.5 mm short of AL) for the ProPex. The mean difference between the AL and the lengths measured by the Root ZX, the Elements and the ProPex were, respectively, -0.157 +/- 0.228, -0.103 +/- 0.359 and 0.307 +/- 0.271 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study confirm that the EALs determined the canal length within +/-0.5 mm from the apical constriction in the majority of cases. The majority of the ProPex readings were long.

Dental Pulp Cavity↗
PubMed2006

A comparison of cyclic fatigue between used and new Mtwo Ni-Ti rotary instruments.

AIM: To evaluate the cyclic fatigue of Mtwo Ni-Ti rotary instruments after controlled clinical use in molar teeth. METHODOLOGY: Twenty Mtwo instruments of each size were selected and divided into two groups: group A consisted of 10 new instruments (control group); group B consisted of 10 used instruments. Each instrument in group B was used to clean and shape 10 root canals of molar teeth in patients. Cyclic fatigue testing of instruments was performed in tapered artificial canals with a 5-mm radius of curvature and a 60 degrees angle of curvature. In all 140, instruments were rotated until fracture and the number of cycles to failure was recorded. Data were analysed using one-way anova, Tukey's HSD test and independent sample t-test to determine any statistical difference; the significance was determined at the 95% confidence level. RESULTS: A reduction of cycles to failure between new (group A) and used (group B) instruments was apparent. A statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) was noted between instruments of groups A and B in all sizes with the exception of size 40, 0.04 taper. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical use significantly reduced cyclic fatigue resistance of Mtwo rotary instruments when compared with an unused control group. However, all the instruments had minimal instrument fatigue when discarded after controlled clinical use.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2006

Cyclic fatigue resistance and three-dimensional analysis of instruments from two nickel-titanium rotary systems.

AIM: To determine how instrument design affects the fatigue life of two nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) rotary systems (Mtwo and ProTaper) under cyclic fatigue stress in simulated root canals. METHODOLOGY: Cyclic fatigue testing of instruments was performed in stainless steel artificial canals with radii of curvature of 2 or 5 mm and an angle of curvature of 60 degrees . A total of 260 instruments were rotated until fracture occurred and the number of cycles to failure were recorded. The morphology of Ni-Ti rotary instruments was investigated by measuring the volume of millimetre slices of each instrument size starting from the tip to the shank by means of microCT analysis. The fracture surface of three representative samples of each size was analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Data were analysed by one-way anova, Holm t-test, paired t-test and linear regression; the significance was determined at the 95% confidence level. RESULTS: Cycles to failure significantly decreased as the instrument volume increased for both the radii of curvature tested (P < 0.01). The radius of curvature had a statistically significant influence on the fatigue life of the instruments (P < 0.05). Larger instruments underwent fracture in less time under cyclic stress than smaller ones. SEM evaluation showed typical features of fracture through fatigue failure. CONCLUSIONS: The metal volume in the point of maximum stress during a cyclic fatigue test could affect the fatigue life of Ni-Ti rotary instruments. The larger the metal volume, the lower the fatigue resistance.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2006

Using a GIS transfer model to evaluate pollutant loads in the Lake Kinneret watershed, Israel.

Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) is the only large surface water body in Israel, encompassing an area of 167 km2 and supplying some 30% of the country's fresh water. Pollution from anthropogenic sources and water abstraction for domestic and agricultural uses has long been threatening the water quality of the lake. Point-source pollution in the watershed has decreased drastically with the development of wastewater treatment. However, diffuse pollution from agricultural activities is still an unresolved issue. In this paper we present an application of AVGWLF (a GIS-based watershed load model) to the Lake Kinneret watershed. The model allows one to simulate daily stream flows and monthly sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus loads discharged to the lake from the surrounding watershed. Results from simulations yield a satisfactory correspondence between simulated and measured daily water volume. Partition by source of total phosphorus delivered to the lake in the period of 2000-04 confirms the reduction in point source nutrient contribution due to improvement of wastewater treatment facilities in the area. Future management should focus on reduction of nutrients originating from septic systems (point sources) and pasture and cropland areas (diffuse sources). Results from simulations will enable watershed managers to prioritize effective management alternatives for protecting the water quality in the lake.

Fresh Water↗
PubMed2003

Wastewater quality improvement through storage: a case study in Sicily.

This paper presents the results of a research aiming at evaluating the effects of storage on wastewater characteristics. Wastewater discharged from the Caltagirone (Eastern Sicily) plant after secondary treatment was stored in an earth reservoir with a capacity of about 25,000 m3 and a depth of 5 m. Wastewater inflow in the reservoir was continuous throughout the experimental activities, while discharge was discontinuous, depending on irrigation demand. Removal efficiency resulted highly influenced by the operation regime of the reservoir and by influent wastewater characteristics. BOD5 and COD removal efficiency was above 50%. Removal efficiency of faecal coliforms, faecal streptococci and Escherichia coli was between 2 and 5 log units. Single and multiple regressions were tested to determine the reservoir design characteristics and operation parameters that most significantly affected water quality changes.

Oxygen↗
PubMed2000

Engagement of CD4 before TCR triggering regulates both Bax- and Fas (CD95)-mediated apoptosis.

In the present study, we have aimed at clarifying the CD4-dependent molecular mechanisms that regulate human memory T cell susceptibility to both Fas (CD95)-dependent and Bcl-2-dependent apoptotic pathways following antigenic challenge. To address this issue, we used an experimental system of viral and alloantigen-specific T cell lines and clones and two ligands of CD4 molecules, Leu-3a mAb and HIV gp120. We demonstrate that CD4 engagement before TCR triggering suppresses the TCR-mediated neosynthesis of the Flice-like inhibitory protein and transforms memory T cells from a CD95-resistant to a CD95-susceptible phenotype. Moreover, evidence that the apoptotic programs were executed while Fas ligand mRNA expression was inhibited led us to analyze Bcl-2-dependent pathways. The data show that the engagement of CD4 separately from TCR influences the expression of the proapoptotic protein Bax independently of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, whereas Ag activation coordinately modulates both Bax and Bcl-2. The increased expression of Bax and the consequent dissipation of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim) suggest a novel immunoregulatory function of CD4 and demonstrate that both passive cell death and activation-induced cell death are operative in CD4+ memory T cells. Furthermore, analysis of the mechanisms by which IL-2 and IL-4 cytokines exert their protective function on CD4+ T cells in the presence of soluble CD4 ligands shows that they were able to revert susceptibility to Bax-mediated but not to CD95-dependent apoptotic pathways.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

TCR engagement regulates differential responsiveness of human memory T cells to Fas (CD95)-mediated apoptosis.

In this work, we have tried to establish whether human memory T cells may be protected from Fas (CD95)-induced apoptosis when correctly activated by Ag, and not protected when nonspecifically or incorrectly activated. In particular, we wanted to investigate the molecular mechanisms that regulate the fate of memory T cells following an antigenic challenge. To address this issue, we chose an experimental system that closely mimics physiological T cell activation such as human T cell lines and clones specific for viral peptides or alloantigens. We demonstrate that memory T cells acquire an activation-induced cell death (AICD)-resistant phenotype when TCRs are properly engaged by specific Ag bound to MHC molecules. Ag concentration and costimulation are critical parameters in regulating the protective effect. The analysis of the mechanisms involved in the block of CD95 signal transduction pathways revealed that the crucial events are the inhibition of CD95-associated IL-1beta-converting enzyme (ICE)-like protease (FLICE) activation and poly(ADP)-ribose polymerase cleavage, and the mRNA expression of FLICE-like inhibitory protein. Furthermore, we have observed that TCR-mediated neosynthesis of FLICE-like inhibitory protein mRNA is suppressed either by protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors or cyclosporin A. In conclusion, the present analysis of the effects of TCR triggering on the regulation of AICD suggests that AICD could be inhibited in human memory T cells activated in vivo by a foreign Ag, but may become operative when the Ag has been cleared.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1997

Gene activating and proapoptotic potential are independent properties of different CD4 epitopes.

CD4 engagement triggers an early signaling cascade which initiates late events such as transcription factor activation. The outcome of CD4 engagement is T-cell commitment to alternative, dramatically different fates, such as activation and apoptosis. We have tested a panel of anti-CD4 mAbs specific for different CD4 epitopes, as well as HIV-1 gp120, for the capacity to activate crucial early events such as enhancement of p56(lck) kinase activity and Shc phosphorylation. The same CD4 epitopes were characterized for their capacity both to deliver a gene activating signal and to program T-cells to activation dependent death. No correlation could be found between capacity of specific CD4 epitopes to deliver a gene activating signal and capacity to prime T-cells to apoptosis, suggesting that gene activating and proapoptotic potential are independent functions of CD4 epitopes. Furthermore, while triggering of the calcium pathway appears critical in NF-AT activation, optimal p56(lck) activation and Shc phosphorylation might be required for initiation of the apoptotic pathway.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1989

[Variations in the taste function of smokers].

Cigarette smoke is linked to many pathologies and also affects a very important aspect of human physiology that is taste. In fact already in the past years, researchers have worked on this phenomenon and have come to the conclusion that smoke influences the perception of bitter taste. In our study we researched the detection and identification threshold in thirty smokers, for the citric acid, quinine, sodium chloride and saccharose, and it turned out that smokers suffer a raise in quinine identification and sodium chloride detection and identification threshold. On the basis of the results obtained with sodium chloride, a theory on hypertension etiopathogenesis is suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Use of x-ray microanalysis to monitor diffusion of Zn from a cement into human dentin.

Energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDAX system), with scanning electron microscopy was used to detect diffusion of Zn from a source in human dentin and the system was tested for sensitivity and reproducibility. Sections of human teeth in which a ZnO-eugenol cement had been placed in a cavity in the dentin in vivo were prepared and x-ray microanalytical measurements carried out. We found that values of counts for Zn, Ca and P in the same field were linear up to a total counting time of 60 sec. We further found that reproducibility of values between repeat examinations of the same specimens on different days was excellent. The concentration of Zn in the dentin decreased exponentially with distance from source within the distance tested. We conclude that the system can be used to detect trace concentrations of Zn, and that accordingly the diffusion behavior of a variety of ions in dentin could be monitored.

Calcium↗