SUMMARY: This study was performed to identify optimal microimplant sites in the mandibular retromolar area by measurement and analysis of cortical bone thickness and density. Forty-nine records of cone-beam computed tomography were selected from 173 patients. Invivo 5.2 software was used to measure the thickness and density of 25 sites on a mesh in the mandibular retromolar area. Pearson correlation, Spearman correlation, and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to explore correlations between retromolar measurements and patient characteristics. The LSD test was used to identify optimal microimplant sites in this area. One-way ANOVA, with post hoc SNK test, was used to compare optimal microimplant sites among the retromolar area, the distobuccal bone of the second molar, and a location between the first and second molars. The mean thickness and density of mandibular retromolar cortical bone were 2.35 ± 0.76 mm and 530.49 ± 188.83 HU, respectively. In the mandibular retromolar area, the thickness and density of cortical bone increased from the lingual to buccal sides, and from the distal to mesial. Among 25 sites, S5C1 had the greatest thickness and density; it exhibited greater thickness and density, compared with the distobuccal bone of the second molar and the site between the first and second molars. For distal uprighting of mesially tipped molars, we recommend placement of microimplants into the retromolar distobuccal site; for distalization of mandibular dentition, we recommend placement of microimplants into the retromolar mesiobuccal site (S5C1) or 2 mm from the mesial direction of the second molar distobuccal site (B).

RESUMEN: Este estudio se realizó para identificar los sitios óptimos de microimplantes en el área retromolar mandibular mediante la medición y el análisis del grosor y la densidad del hueso cortical. Se seleccionaron 49 registros de tomografía computarizada de haz cónico de 173 pacientes. Se utilizó el software Invivo 5.2 para medir el grosor y la densidad de 25 sitios en una malla en el área retromolar mandibular. Se realizaron análisis de correlación de Pearson, correlación de Spearman y regresión logística binaria para explorar las correlaciones entre las mediciones retromolares y las características del paciente. La prueba de LSD se utilizó para identificar los sitios óptimos de microimplantes en esta área. Se utilizó ANOVA unidireccional, con prueba SNK post hoc, para comparar los sitios óptimos de microimplante entre el área retromolar, el hueso distobucal del segundo molar y una ubicación entre el primer y el segundo molar. El grosor y la densidad medios del hueso cortical retromolar mandibular fueron 2,35 ± 0,76 mm y 530,49 ± 188,83 HU, respectivamente. En el área retromolar mandibular, el grosor y la densidad del hueso cortical aumentaron desde el lado lingual al bucal y desde el distal al mesial. Entre los 25 sitios, S5C1 se determinó el mayor espesor y densidad; presentó mayor grosor y densidad, en comparación con el hueso distobucal del segundo molar y el sitio entre el primero y el segundo molar. Para rectificación distal de molares con punta mesial, recomendamos la colocación de microimplantes en el sitio retromolar bucal; para la distalización de la dentición mandibular, recomendamos la colocación de microimplantes en el sitio retromolar mesiobucal (S5C1) o 2 mm desde la dirección mesial del sitio distobucal del segundo molar (B).

ABSTRACT The Region of D eletion 2 (RD2) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis encodes reserved antigens that contribute to bacterial virulence. Among these antigens, Rv1983, Rv1986, Rv1987, and Rv1989c have been shown to be immunodominant in infected cattle; however, their diagnostic utility has not been evaluated in humans.In this study, we screened 87 overlapping synthetic peptides encoded by five RD2 proteins for diagnosing tuberculosis epitopes in 50 active tuberculosis (TB) cases, 31 non-tuberculosis patients and 36 healthy individuals. A pool of promising epitopes was then assessed for their diagnostic value in 233 suspected TB patients using a whole blood IFN-γ release assay.Only 10 peptides were recognized by more than 10% of active tuberculosis patients. The IFN-γ release responses to Rv1986-P9, P15, P16, Rv1988-P4, P11, and Rv1987-P11 were significantly higher in the active TB group than in the control groups (p < 0.05). The whole blood IFN-γ release assay based on these epitopes yielded a sensitivity of 51% and a specificity of 85% in diagnosing active tuberculosis, and the corresponding results using the T-SPOT.TB assay were 76% and 75%, respectively.In conclusion, these results suggest that the six epitopes from the RD2 of M. tuberculosis have potential diagnostic value in TB.

Kaolinite-methanol-sodium stearate intercalation compound (Ka-MeOH-SS) was prepared by intercalation of kaolinite with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) followed by displacing of DMSO with methanol and methanol by sodium stearate. The sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis (thermogravimetry (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that the basal spacing of Ka-MeOH-SS was enlarged to 45.5-47.9 Å and parts of its layers cocked and curled. Stearate ions were grafted on the methoxy groups and arrayed aslant in the interlayer space of kaolinite with an inclination angle of 47.45º to 52.17º. Sodium ions were adsorbed around the SiO4 tetrahedron and interlayer carboxylate anions, whereas some of them entered into the ditrigonal hole of tetrahedral sheets. The thermal de-intercalation of Ka-MeOH-SS includes three steps and the activation energy E is 98.3 kJ mol−1, logarithm of pre-exponential factor lg(A / s-1 is 9.71 and the mechanism function is f(α) = −ln (1 − α) and G(α) = 1 − α.