Medicine News

If we look at the past there were just limited kinds of teeth crowns available. Cosmetic dentists used gold crowns to cover back teeth but at the same time to chew was quite a challenge for people. As for the ceramic-veneered crowns – they looked rather natural but nevertheless the gold durability was an issue that had to be replaced in the future.

Because of an awkward appearance not all people were ready to wear such crowns – especially it concerns youngsters who pay much attention to their appearance and gold crowns was something that “spoiled the outlook”! Moreover, the chewing pressure remained a problem for anyone who had the courage to wear such crowns.

But the medical technology is developing rather fast and there has been a new type of crowns invented – pure ceramic crowns that lack the problems mentioned above. Bonded all-porcelain crowns sometimes also called reinforced resin crowns have gained many supporters as they provided the most natural look and were practically identical to genuine teeth. Teenagers constituted the largest number of clients.

There are two major types of modern ceramic crowns: reinforced composite crowns and pure ceramic ones. Both of them are outstanding for those who want to have an ideal smile! The most exciting thing is the way these crowns are installed: a new bonding technology enables dentists to place these crowns as firmly to the tissue as possible which results in long and hassle-free wear.

Santa Monica dentists were among the first to install pure ceramic crowns and proved to be highly qualified and professional in their sphere. A huge number of references and testimonials prove that reinforced composite crowns have no competitors nowadays. So do you still fear to wear crowns?

Hypothesis Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) provides the potential for performance of incisionless operations. This would break the physical barrier between bodily trauma and surgery, representing an epical revolution in surgery. Our group at IRCAD-EITS (Institut de Recherche contre les Cancers de l’Appareil Digestif [Institute of Digestive Cancer Research]–European Institute of TeleSurgery) has been actively involved in the development of NOTES since 2004 with a dedicated project created to develop feasibility and survival studies and new endoscopic technology.

Design NOTES cholecystectomy in a woman via a transvaginal approach.

Setting University hospital.

Patient The patient was a 30-year-old woman with symptomatic cholelithiasis.

Intervention The procedure was carried out by a multidisciplinary team using a standard double-channel flexible videogastroscope and standard endoscopic instruments. The placement of a 2-mm needle port, mandatory to insufflate carbon dioxide and to monitor the pneumoperitoneum, was helpful for further retraction of the gallbladder. At no stage of the procedure was there need for laparoscopic assistance. All of the principles of cholecystectomy were strictly adhered to.

Results The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient had no postoperative pain and no scars, and was discharged on the second postoperative day.

Conclusions Transluminal surgery is feasible and safe. NOTES, a radical shift in the practice and philosophy of interventional treatment, is becoming established and is enormously advantageous to the patient. With its invisible mending and tremendous potential, NOTES might be the next surgical evolution.


Author Affiliations: Institut de Recherche contre les Cancers de l’Appareil Digestif–European Institute of TeleSurgery, University Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France.

The Winner of 2007 Nobel Price in medicine have become members of the international trio from Italy, Great Britain and US. The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute has today decided to award The Nobel Prize "for their discoveries of principles for introducing specific gene modifications in mice by the use of embryonic stem cells"


Mario R. Capecchi - University of Utah; Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Salt Lake City, UT, USA. b.1937 in Italy.

Sir Martin J. Evans - United Kingdom, Cardiff University
Cardiff, b.1941

Oliver Smithies - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC, USA. b.1941


USA United Kingdom USA
University of Utah; Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Salt Lake City, UT, USA Cardiff University
Cardiff, United Kingdom University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC, USA
b. 1925 in U.K.

Each of them will get 1/3 of the prize.