Treatment with short implants can be considered safe and predictable if used under strict clinical protocols.

Abstract:A novel and integral approach to the understanding of human neurodegenerative diseases (HNDDs) and cancer based upon the disruption of the intracellular dynamics of the hydrogen ion (H + ) and its physiopathology, is advanced. From an etiopathological perspective, the activity and/or defi ciency of different growth factors (GFs) in these pathologies are studied, and their relationships to intracellular acid-base homeostasis reviewed. Growth and trophic factor withdrawal in HNDDs indicate the need to further investigate the potential utilization of certain GFs in the treatment of Alzheimer disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Platelet abnormalities and the therapeutic potential of platelet-derived growth factors in these pathologies, either through platelet transfusions or other clinical methods, are considered. Finally, the etiopathogenic mechanisms of apoptosis and antiapoptosis in HNDDs and cancer are viewed as opposite biochemical and biological disorders of cellular acid-base balance and their secondary effects on intracellular signaling pathways and aberrant cell metabolism are considered in the light of the both the seminal and most recent data available. The "trophic factor withdrawal syndrome" is described for the fi rst time in English-speaking medical literature, as well as a Darwinian-like interpretation of cellular behavior related to specifi c and nonspecifi c aspects of cell biology.

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Background: The application of the counter-torque technique has been proposed as a conservative and atraumatic alternative for the explantation of nonmobile dental implants. The objective of this report is to assess the performance of this technique in a large number of patients. Results: Three hundred and fifty-five patients were treated for the explantation of 749 nonmobile dental implants. The explantations were performed by the application of counter-torque to break the bone-implant interface. Successful implant explantation was achieved in 98.4% of the implants. The frequency of complications was 1.3%, most commonly related to the appearance of fissure lines at the implant neck. Conclusions: The counter-torque technique has a high success rate but is not exempt from complications, although at a very low rate.

Objective. To examine new investigative biomarkers and their relevance for radiographic severity in knee osteoarthritis. Methods. The group comprised 63 patients with 73 knees examined. Patients were divided according to radiographic severity to allow for comparison of biomarker levels. Hyaluronic acid (HA), matrix metalloproteases (MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-13), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteases (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-AB), transformed growth factor (TGF-β), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) were measured on synovial fluid and in plasma releasate at a single time point. Principal component analysis (PCA) followed by analysis of covariance were applied to evaluate data. Results. Four different groups of biomarker were identified in plasma releasates. The first (platelet number, PDGF-AB and TGF-β) and second groups (HA and IGF-I) were related to radiographic severity, P = .005 and P = .022, respectively. The third (MMP-1 and TIMP-2) and fourth groups (MMP-3 and TIMP-1) represented the catabolic balance, but were not associated to radiographic grading. Three different clusters of biomarkers were found in synovial fluid but did not show any significant association to radiographic grading. Conclusions. New imaging approaches to assess structural deterioration and correlation with biomarker levels are warranted to advance in OA research.