Composition and laboratory procedures have the greatest influence on the microstructure, mechanical, and electrochemical properties of dental casts. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the metallographic properties of high gold-based dental castings, Dentor S, and low gold-based dental castings, Midor S, used for the same fixed prostehtic indication. Material and methods: Samples were centrifugally cast in a phosphate-bonded investment and cooled at room temperature. The microstructure was analyzed and photographed with light microscope and scanning electron microscope. The grain size and the percentage porosity were evaluated. The Vickers microhardness was tested. T-test for independent samples (a=0.05) was used for statistical analysis. Results: Micrographs showed difference in microstructure, homogeneity and grain size. Average grain size number according to ASTM112/96 of Dentor S (7.72± 0.23) was significantly greater comparing with Midor S (6.26± 0.19) castings. Percentage porosity of castings was calculated from average impurities and defects, where Dentor S (0.62%± 0, 24%) was significantly more porous than Midor S (0.49%± 0.19%). Vickers microhardness of Midor S castings (HV0.1=169.98± 10.61) was significantly greater then those of Dentor S castings (HV0.1=157.58± 15.42). Conclusion: It can be concluded that composition, under the same laboratory procedures, has a critical influence on microstructure and microhardness of conventional gold-based castings. To ensure functional and technical durability of restoration, selection of the alloy should be based on its composition and mechanical properties as on the patient’ s bite forces.

Background The pathogenesis of PFAPA syndrome is unknown. According to Stojanov et al. cytokine profile in PFAPA syndrome suggests Th1 mediated inflammatory process resulting in continuous inflammation and reduced Th2 anti-inflammatory response. Interferon γ might be responsible for suppressing the production of IL-4 and IL10. Hung et al. showed suppressive effects of ketotifen on the expression of Th1 and Th2 related chemokines of human monocytes.

Results We identified 190 aPL-positive patients and randomly selected 100 patients for detailed evaluation. Sixty-two were girls and 38 boys with mean age at presentation 9.7 years. Twenty-seven (27%) patients had underlying systemic autoimmune disease (SLE 16, JIA 8). Sixty patients presented with one, 14 with two and 13 with three or more aPL-related clinical manifestations. Thromboses occurred in 10 (10%) patients and one patient had recurrent thrombosis. One or more non-thrombotic clinical manifestations were found in 77 (77%) patients including hematological disorders in 27 (thrombocytopenia 20, autoimmune hemolytic anemia 2), neurological disorders in 26 (migraine 15, seizures 3, chorea 2) and skin disorders in 22 patients (livedo reticularis 9, Raynaud's phenomenon 4). Seventeen infants born to mothers with aPL-positive autoimmune disease had positive aPL and 4 of them exhibited aPL-related clinical manifestations.

The aim of this study was to assess autoimmune response following annual influenza vaccination in apparently healthy adults, staff at a children's hospital. 92 healthy adult subjects were tested for autoantibodies including antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-extractable nuclear antigen antibodies (anti-ENA), antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), namely anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL), anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibodies (aβ2-GPI) and lupus anticoagulant (LA). Blood samples were taken from each participant before annual influenza vaccination, one month and six months after vaccination. Before influenza vaccination 26% of participants were positive for ANA, 1% for anti-ENA, 16% for aCL, 7% for aβ2-GPI and 2% for LA. One month after influenza vaccination 76% of participants showed no change in autoantibodies titres. Six months after influenza vaccination 74% of participants showed no change in autoantibodies titres. Overall, there was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of positive ANA, aCL, aβ2-GPI and LA before and 6 months after the vaccination. Five participants developed autoantibodies 6 months after the vaccination and one who was initially low positive for ANA became highly positive (1:320). Eleven participants had only transiently increased autoantibodies. Persistently positive or progressively increased levels of autoantibodies during 6 months' follow up were observed in 6 persons (7%). Our study showed a high percentage of positive autoantibody testing among healthy adult staff at a children's hospital. There was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of positive autoantibodies before and after influenza vaccination. However, our study clearly demonstrated induction of autoantibodies production in selected subjects.

A good fit of the fermion masses and mixings has been found in the minimal renormalizable supersymmetric SO(10). This solution needs a strongly split supersymmetry breaking scenario with gauginos and higgsinos around 100 TeV, sfermions close to 1014 GeV and a low GUT scale of around 6 ? 1015 GeV. We predict fast proton decays through SO(10) type of d = 6 operators and the leptonic mixing angle sin??13 ? 0.1.