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Introduction: Although several treatments for faecal incontinence are available, gas incontinence (GI) and soiling are difficult to manage. The aim of this study is to evaluate Gatekeeper™ for this subtype of faecal incontinence. Methods: Prospective single-centre case series. Patients with mainly soiling and/or GI were treated with polyacrylonitrile prostheses. An evaluation was performed with a 3-week continence diary. St. Mark's score and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used to study the patient's continence perception and surgical satisfaction, at baseline and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. 3D-Endoanal Ultrasound and Anorectal Manometry were performed at baseline and postoperatively. Results: A total of 13 patients were enrolled (11 women), aged (median (IQR)) 62 (13) years, and all implants were uneventful. A significant reduction in soiling and GI episodes was documented at 1 year, 7 (18) baseline days of soiling/3 weeks vs. 2 (4) (p = 0.002); 13 (13) baseline episodes of GI/3 weeks vs. 4 (10) (p = 0.01). This improvement was correlated with a significant increase in VAS (0–10), 3 (2, 5) baseline vs. 7 (1, 5) (p = 0.03), and maintained throughout the follow-up. There was complete remission or significant improvement defined as >70% reduction in gas and soiling days in 6 patients at 2 years follow-up. Soiling episodes were reduced ≥70% in 8/11 patients (72.7%). Nine (70%) patients would repeat the treatment. Conclusions: Gatekeeper™ is a safe, minimally invasive treatment for soiling and GI. A significant reduction in soiling and GI was observed in our series, with a better response to soiling. Most of the patients would repeat the treatment. Other studies are needed to confirm these findings in this subgroup of FI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A gummy smile is the visualization of more than 3 mm of gingiva above the maxillary incisors. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects on aesthetics and patient satisfaction of a new hyaluronic acid infiltration technique in reducing the gummy smile. Fifty patients with gummy smiles were treated using hyaluronic acid infiltration points by applying 0.1 mL per injection at specific points. Post-treatment evaluations were performed one week, one month, three months, six months, and 12 months later. A questionnaire assessed patient satisfaction, willingness to recommend the treatment, and side effects (pain and bruising during and after treatment). An average reduction of 2.5 mm in gingival exposure during smiling was observed. After one week, the reduction was constant. At six months, 40% of the original gingival exposure was recovered, and recovery was complete at 12 months. Patient satisfaction was 82.1%, and 100% of patients would recommend the treatment. Bruising, swelling, and pain decreased to 0% from the first month. In conclusion, this technique is a safe and effective option to improve the smile's appearance with minimal complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A gummy smile, defined as excessive gingival exposure while smiling, is an esthetic and functional condition affecting an individual's quality of life. Despite its prevalence and impact, the classification and treatment of the gummy smile remain challenging in clinical practice. The problem lies in (1) the fact that the etiology of this pathology is multifactorial, and these factors sometimes go unnoticed, (2) the lack of consensus on the classification criteria, which, together, create (3) challenges in designing an optimal treatment plan for each patient. This article reviews the etiologic factors of this condition as the main basis for understanding the existing classifications of the gummy smile. It highlights the importance of muscle dynamics in the genesis and treatment of this clinical condition. We present a new, treatment-oriented classification that integrates the muscle hyperactivity present within the classification criteria and explore the implication of this interaction in the design of effective treatments. The ultimate goal of this present work is to improve the clinical understanding of the gingival smile and offer more personalized treatment strategies, through a more complete classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovative tools suitable for chemical risk assessment are being developed in numerous domains, such as non-target chemical analysis, omics, and computational approaches. These methods will also be critical components in an efficient early warning system (EWS) for the identification of potentially hazardous chemicals. Much knowledge is missing for current use chemicals and thus computational methodologies complemented with fast screening techniques will be critical. This paper reviews current computational tools, emphasizing those that are accessible and suitable for the screening of new and emerging risk chemicals (NERCs). The initial step in a computational EWS is an automatic and systematic search for NERCs in literature and database sources including grey literature, patents, experimental data, and various inventories. This step aims at reaching curated molecular structure data along with existing exposure and hazard data. Next, a parallel assessment of exposure and effects will be performed, which will input information into the weighting of an overall hazard score and, finally, the identification of a potential NERC. Several challenges are identified and discussed, such as the integration and scoring of several types of hazard data, ranging from chemical fate and distribution to subtle impacts in specific species and tissues. To conclude, there are many computational systems, and these can be used as a basis for an integrated computational EWS workflow that identifies NERCs automatically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Numerous studies in the literature have aimed to evaluate the difficulty level of removing third molars. However, most of these studies have focused on the lower third molars, which can lead to complications. There is a lack of a method to determine the complexity of upper third molar extraction. Therefore, this study's objective was to develop an equation using multiple linear regression to estimate the extraction time of an upper third molar based on its complexity. Methods: This study involved patients enrolled in the Master of Oral Surgery program at the University of Seville. To determine their relationship with surgical time, the researchers analyzed various factors, such as depth, root morphology, and the need for odontosection. They then validated their findings by studying patients treated at Palmaplanas Hospital in Mallorca. Results: The cohort analysis from the University of Seville revealed significant associations between surgical time and the identified factors. A regression equation design was performed to predict the total duration of surgical intervention for wisdom teeth extraction. This equation incorporates several independent variables, represented by Xi, together with a constant term, C, and the corresponding coefficients, Bi, which weight the impact of each variable on the intervention time. The results are as follows: −0.312 (spatial relationship), 0.651 (depth), −0.443 (bone and mucosa integrity), 0.214 (roots), −0.745 (ostectomy), 0.713 (odontosection), and −0.426 (suture). Upon application of the statistical methodology to the Palmaplanas Hospital cohort, a regression coefficient of 0.770 was determined. This indicates a strong correlation between the input data and the estimated surgical time. Conclusions: In conclusion, the proposed formula demonstrates notable validity in predicting the surgical time required to extract upper third molars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sealing the peri-implant tissue is a determining factor for long-term implant survival. In the transmucosal region, the cervical fraction of the prosthetic crown is in contact with these tissues, so mucointegration will also be influenced by the biomaterial used for the prosthetic restoration. This study aims to compare the tissue response generated by definitive restorative materials and polymeric materials from a histological point of view. Methods: This study performed an observational prospective cohort study in which biopsies of the peri-implant mucosa were taken after placement of implant-supported prosthetic restorations made of different materials (zirconium oxide, lithium disilicate, and PMMA). Results: A statistically significant difference was observed in the increase in the thickness of the non-keratinized epithelium when comparing the definitive materials (zirconium oxide/lithium disilicate) vs. the provisional material (PMMA) and in the number of collagen fibers when comparing zirconium oxide and lithium disilicate. Conclusions: This study found that zirconia is the material that presents the most adequate biological response of peri-implant tissues. It shows a lower intensity of inflammatory cellular content, a total normality in the number of collagen fibers (the arrangement of the fibers is normal in 90% of the cases), and vascular proliferation of connective tissue in 83% of the cases. These parameters make it a material with a predictable response. Similarly, only the following slight statistically significant differences between the definitive and provisional materials are observed, indicating that the biological response generated by the provisional material (PMMA) is not very different from that obtained with the placement of the definitive restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no current consensus on the parameters that determine the difficulty of mandibular third molar extraction in terms of the time required, which is essential to prevent complications and optimize the time of the intervention. This study aims to obtain, using the mathematical method of multiple linear regression, an equation that allows estimating the extraction time of a lower third molar according to its complexity, as well as to validate this equation in a sample of external wisdom teeth. Methods: A prospective cohort study on a sample of patients of the Master of Oral Surgery of the University of Seville in which multiple linear regression coefficients were calculated with a subsequent validation study of the results in the sample of patients operated in the Hospital Palmaplanas of Mallorca. Results: The regression line obtained after applying the statistical methodology to the cohort of patients from the University of Seville obtained significant dependent variables such as depth, roots, and odontosection. Once applied to the cohort of patients from the Palmaplanas Hospital in Mallorca, a regression coefficient was obtained between the data received and the estimated 0.770. Conclusions: The formula proposed in this article presents significant validity in the prediction of the surgical time of extraction of the lower third molars included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: PCa remains a leading health concern worldwide. Serum PSA-based PCa screening led to a well-documented decreased mortality but at the cost of the increased overdiagnosis/overtreatment of indolent disease. Although various tools have been developed to predict PCa patient outcome prior to treatment, mostly based on serum PSA, the Gleason score, and clinical T stage, all have a suboptimal performance and require tissue biopsies from the prostate. To obviate that need, overcome Gleason score subjectivity and the limited specificity of serum PSA, devising more effective tools is mandatory, while also taking the opportunity to adopt minimally invasive strategies based on liquid biopsies. Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most frequently occurring malignancies. Although most cases are not life-threatening, approximately 20% endure an unfavorable outcome. PSA-based screening reduced mortality but at the cost of an increased overdiagnosis/overtreatment of low-risk (lrPCa) and favorable intermediate-risk (firPCa) PCa. PCa risk-groups are usually identified based on serum Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA), the Gleason score, and clinical T stage, which have consistent although variable specificity or subjectivity. Thus, more effective and specific tools for risk assessment are needed, ideally making use of minimally invasive methods such as liquid biopsies. In this systematic review we assessed the clinical potential and analytical performance of liquid biopsy-based biomarkers for pre-treatment risk stratification of PCa patients. Methods: Studies that assessed PCa pre-treatment risk were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and MedLine. PCa risk biomarkers were analyzed, and the studies' quality was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. Results: The final analysis comprised 24 full-text articles, in which case-control studies predominated, mostly reporting urine-based biomarkers (54.2%) and biomarker quantification by qPCR (41.7%). Categorization into risk groups was heterogeneous, predominantly making use of the Gleason score. Conclusion: This systematic review unveils the substantial clinical promise of using circulating biomarkers in assessing the risk for prostate cancer patients. However, the standardization of groups, categories, and biomarker validation are mandatory before this technique can be implemented. Circulating biomarkers might represent a viable alternative to currently available tools, obviating the need for tissue biopsies, and allowing for faster and more cost-effective testing, with superior analytical performance, specificity, and reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbial compositions from concurrent peri-implant and periodontal lesions were compared, since the results reported in the literature on the etiological relationship between these oral pathologies are contradictory. Microbial compositions from nine patients were evaluated using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons and Principal Components Analysis. Comparisons between the use of curettes or paper points as collection methods and between bacterial composition in both pathologies were performed. Paper points allowed the recovery of a higher number of bacterial genera. A higher bacterial diversity was found in peri-implantitis compared to periodontal samples from the same patient, while a greater number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were present in the corresponding periodontal samples. A higher abundance of oral pathogens, such as Porphyromonas or Treponema, was found in peri-implantitis sites. The opposite trend was observed for Aggregatibacter abundance, which was higher in periodontal than in peri-implantitis lesions, suggesting that both oral pathologies could be considered different but related diseases. Although the analysis of a higher number of samples would be needed, the differences regarding the microbial composition provide a basis for further understating the pathogenesis of peri-implant infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the pain and inflammatory response in soft tissues using healing and prosthetic abutments of different diameters and lengths. Methods: The study population was rehabilitated with Astra Tech EV single implants (Dentsply Sirona, Atlantis, Dentsply Sirona S.A., Barcelona, Spain) of 4.2 and 4.8 millimetres in diameter in the upper and lower maxilla and loaded with custom abutments digitally designed using Dentsply Sirona's Virtual Atlantis Design software (Atlantis WebOrder, Dentsply Sirona S.A., Barcelona, Spain), version 4.6.5. The custom abutments had a larger diameter than the healing abutments to evaluate for biomarkers through ELISA. Results: Rehabilitations in the mandible and with healing abutments with diameters less than 4.29 mm and rehabilitators with diameters less than 2.18 mm elicited a higher pain and inflammatory response and, in turn, higher interleukin-1β values. Conclusions: Greater inflammation was evident in cases in which healing abutments with reduced diameter were used compared to the same subsequent rehabilitation with prosthetic abutments with larger diameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorhexidine (CHX) is one of the most widely used antiseptics in the oral cavity due to its high antimicrobial potential. However, many authors have stated that the effect of CHX in nonsurgical periodontal therapy is hampered by its rapid elimination from the oral environment. The aim of this study was to determine the antibacterial efficacy of a new compound of chlorhexidine 0.20% + cymenol (CYM) 0.10% on a multispecies biofilm. For this, an in vitro study was designed using a multispecies biofilm model of Streptococcus mutans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Quantification of the microbial viability of the biofilm was performed using 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium-chloride (CTC) to calculate the percentage of survival, and the biofilms were observed using a a confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). It was observed that the bactericidal activity of the CHX + cymenol bioadhesive gel was superior to that of the CHX bioadhesive gel, in addition to higher penetrability into the biofilm. Therefore, there was greater elimination of bacterial biofilm with the new compound of chlorhexidine 0.2% plus cymenol 0.1% in a bioadhesive gel form compared to the formulation with only chlorhexidine 0.2% in a bioadhesive gel form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound widely used in industrial applications, has raised concerns due to its environmental impact. As a key component in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins used in many consumer products, concerns about potential harm to human health and the environment are unavoidable. This study seeks to address these concerns by evaluating a range of potential BPA alternatives, focusing on their ecotoxicological properties. The research examines 76 bisphenols, including BPA derivatives, using a variety of in silico ecotoxicological models, although it should be noted that these models were not developed exclusively for this particular class of compounds. Consequently, interpretations should be made with caution. The results of this study highlight specific compounds of potential environmental concern and underscore the need to develop more specific models for BPA alternatives that will allow for more accurate and reliable assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proton therapy allows the treatment of specific areas and avoids the surrounding tissues. However, this technique has uncertainties in terms of the distal dose fall-off. A promising approach to studying the proton range is the use of nanoparticles as proton-activatable agents that produce detectable signals. For this, we developed an iron oxide nanoparticle doped with Zn (IONP@Zn-cit) with a hydrodynamic size of 10 nm and stability in serum. Cytotoxicity, defined as half of the surveillance, was 100 μg Zn/mL in the U251 cell line. The effect on clonogenic cell death was tested after X-ray irradiation, which suggested a radioprotective effect of these nanoparticles at low concentrations (1–10 μg Zn/mL). To evaluate the production of positron emitters and prompt-gamma signals, IONP@Zn-cit was irradiated with protons, obtaining prompt-gamma signals at the lowest measured concentration (10 mg Zn/mL). Finally, 67Ga-IONP@Zn-cit showed accumulation in the liver and spleen and an accumulation in the tumor tissue of 0.95% ID/g in a mouse model of U251 cells. These results suggest the possibility of using Zn nanoparticles as proton-activatable agents to verify the range by prompt gamma detection and face the challenges of prompt gamma detection in a specific biological situation, opening different avenues to go forward in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Mucointegration seems to gain interest when talking about success in the maintenance of dental implants. As we well know, collagen fibres cannot be inserted due to the lack of root structure on the implant surface, so the structural integration of peri-implant tissues that provide a firm seal around implants seems to be of interest when it comes to ensuring the survival of dental implants. To achieve a good epithelial barrier, the physicochemical characteristics of the surfaces of the restorative materials are of vital importance; therefore, the objective of this study is to analyse the histological behaviour of the peri-implant soft tissues in three different restorative materials. (2) Methods: Histological analysis of biopsied peri-implant keratinised mucosa, inflammatory epithelium and connective tissue in contact with a reinforced composite (BRILLIANT Crios), a cross-linked polymethylmethacrylate (TELIO CAD), and a hybrid ceramic (Vita Enamic), restored on a customised Atlantis-type abutment (Dentsply Sirona) between 60 and 180 days after restoration. (3) Results: A greater number of cells per mm2 of keratinised epithelium is observed in the reinforced composite, which could indicate greater surface roughness with greater inflammatory response. In this way, the greater number of lymphocytes and the lateral cellular composition of the inflammatory cells confirm the greater inflammatory activity towards that material. The best material to rehabilitate was hybrid ceramic, as it shows a better cellular response. (4) Conclusions: Knowing the limitations of the proposed study, despite the fact that greater inflammation is observed in the reinforced composite relative to the other materials studied, no statistically significant differences were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this prospective descriptive study was to analyse the possible variables associated with marginal bone loss in rehabilitated implants (Proclinic S.A.U, Zaragoza, Spain) two years after their prosthetic loading. Materials and Methods: Three clinical centres collaborated for a period of two years after the prosthetic rehabilitation of the implants (Proclinic S.A.U, Zaragoza, Spain), in which marginal bone loss and the possible associated variables were evaluated. The collection form comprised different variables throughout different stages of the implant procedure, from implant insertion to the subsequent prosthetic rehabilitation, over a two-year period. Data of the patients and implant characteristics were studied. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS for qualitative (univariate logistic regressions, Chi2 test, and Haberman's corrected standardised residuals) and quantitative variables (Kolmogorov–Smirnov test). Results: The total study sample consisted of 218 implants (Proclinic S.A.U, Zaragoza, Spain). The sample presented a frequency of 99 men (45.4%) and 119 women (54.6%). The mean age of the patients among the reported cases was 58.56 ± 10.12 years. A statistically significant association was found between marginal bone loss 2 years after prosthetic rehabilitation placement and several variables, including age (under 55 years, 0.25 mm ± 0.56; 55–64 years, 0.74 mm ± 0.57; over 65 years, 0.63 mm ± 0.55; p < 0.0001), gender (female, 0.74 mm ± 0.61; male, 0.34 mm ± 0.51; p < 0.0001), bone quality (D1, 0.75 mm ± 0.62; D2, 0.43 mm ± 0.57; D3, 0.65 mm ± 0.60; p < 0.01), implant diameter (up to 4 mm, 0.49 mm ± 0.58; more than 4 mm, 1.21 mm ± 0.30; p < 0.0001), prosthetic connection type (direct to implant, 0.11 mm ± 0.58; transepithelial straight, 0.67 mm ± 0.57; transepithelial angled, 0.33 mm ± 0.25; p < 0001), implant model (internal conical, 0.17 mm ± 0.24; external conical, 0.48 mm ± 0.61; external cylindrical, 1.12 mm ± 0.32; p < 0.0001), prosthetic restoration type (full denture, 0.59 mm ± 0.59; partial denture, 0.50 mm ± 0.85; unitary crown, 0.08 mm ± 0.19; p < 0.05), and insertion torque (>35 N/cm, 0.53 mm ± 0.58; <35 N/cm, 1.04 mm ± 0.63; p < 0.01). Conclusions: At 2 years, marginal bone loss following prosthetic rehabilitation was shown to be influenced by multiple factors. Correct implantological planning is of vital importance for successful rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Given the existing controversy regarding the use of antibiotics in the treatment of peri-implantitis, this systematic review and meta-analysis aim to ascertain how beneficial the role of systemic and local antibiotics is in peri-implant surgical therapy, considering the harmful effects that they represent and the abuse of antibiotics in terms of global health. (2) Methods: To determine the therapeutic efficacy of the administration of antibiotics in the surgical treatment of peri-implantitis in terms of probing pocket depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BoP), electronic and manual bibliographic searches were carried out in the Embase and PubMed databases, collecting data that related to before and after treatment. (3) Results: The adjunctive use of local antibiotics provides significant improvements in PPD (MD = 1.29; 95% CI: 0.56 to 2.02; p ≤ 0.0006; I2 = 0%) when compared with surgical treatment alone. No significant differences were found in the other subgroup; that is, the use of systemic antibiotics did not significantly improve PPD changes in the surgical treatment of peri-implantitis (MD = 0.40; 95% CI: −0.15 to 0.95; p = 0.15; I2 = 0). (4) Conclusions: The use of local antibiotics in the surgical treatment of peri-implantitis seems to offer treatment improvements in terms of PPD and BoP, unlike that observed with the use of systemic antibiotics. However, these results should be taken with caution as they also depend on the type of surgical technique used, whether regenerative or resective. More research is needed on this topic to understand the role of local and systemic antibiotics in the treatment of peri-implantitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: "Rhizobia" are alpha- and beta-proteobacteria with the ability to associate in symbiosis with legumes, establishing complex root structures (nodules) where the process of biological N2-fixation takes place. The knowledge of these bacteria which efficiently associate with particular legumes is a key aspect in understanding the origin, diversification, practical use, and improvement of the symbiotic systems. In this work, we present the phenotypic and genomic characteristics of a collection of bacterial isolates of the genera Sinorhizobium, present in soils of northwest Argentina and able to associate with plants of the Desmanthus virgatus complex. Results showed an important genetic diversity among the local isolates (including different species), heterogeneous profiles of tolerance to abiotic stresses, and an outstanding capacity to support plant growth in the absence of fixed nitrogen. Upon the genomic and phylogenetic analyses of selected isolates, evidence of the horizontal gene transfer of nodulation (nod) genes was obtained, accounting for current genomic constitution of the local symbionts of Desmanthus. Desmanthus spp. are legumes with the ability to associate with diverse α-proteobacteria—a microsymbiont—in order to establish nitrogen-fixing root nodules. A previous investigation from our laboratory revealed that the main bacteria associated with Desmanthus paspalaceus in symbiosis in central Argentina (Province of Santa Fe) were quite diverse and belonged to the genera Rhizobium and Mesorhizobium. To achieve a more extensive view of the local microsymbionts associated with Desmanthus spp., we sampled three different sites in Jujuy and Salta, in northwest Argentina. Matrix-assisted Laser-Desorption-Ionization Time-of-Flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) typing, 16S-rDNA analysis, and genome sequencing demonstrated that the dominant root-nodule microsymbionts belonged to the genus Sinorhizobium, with some sequenced genomes related to Sinorhizobium mexicanum, Sinorhizobium chiapanecum, and Sinorhizobium psoraleae. An analysis of nodA and nodC markers indicated that, in some of the isolates, horizontal gene transfer appeared to be responsible for the lack of congruence between the phylogenies of the chromosome and of the symbiotic region. These results revealed diverse evolutionary strategies for reaching the current Desmanthus-microsymbiont diversity. What is remarkable beside their observed genetic diversity is that the tolerance profiles of these isolates to abiotic stresses (temperature, salt concentration, pH) were quite coincident with the separation of the sinorhizobia according to place of origin, suggesting possible ecoedaphic adaptations. This observation, together with the higher aerial dry-weight matter that some isolates generated in Desmanthus virgatus cv. Marc when compared to the biomass generated by the commercial strain Sinorhizobium terangae CB3126, distinguish the collected sinorhizobia as constituting valuable germplasm for evaluation in local fields to select for more efficient symbiotic pairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we introduce a scalable and efficient GPU-accelerated methodology for volumetric particle advection and finite-time Lyapunov exponent (FTLE) calculation, focusing on the analysis of Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS) in large-scale direct numerical simulation (DNS) datasets across incompressible, supersonic, and hypersonic flow regimes. LCS play a significant role in turbulent boundary layer analysis, and our proposed methodology offers valuable insights into their behavior in various flow conditions. Our novel owning-cell locator method enables efficient constant-time cell search, and the algorithm draws inspiration from classical search algorithms and modern multi-level approaches in numerical linear algebra. The proposed method is implemented for both multi-core CPUs and Nvidia GPUs, demonstrating strong scaling up to 32,768 CPU cores and up to 62 Nvidia V100 GPUs. By decoupling particle advection from other problems, we achieve modularity and extensibility, resulting in consistent parallel efficiency across different architectures. Our methodology was applied to calculate and visualize the FTLE on four turbulent boundary layers at different Reynolds and Mach numbers, revealing that coherent structures grow more isotropic proportional to the Mach number, and their inclination angle varies along the streamwise direction. We also observed increased anisotropy and FTLE organization at lower Reynolds numbers, with structures retaining coherency along both spanwise and streamwise directions. Additionally, we demonstrated the impact of lower temporal frequency sampling by upscaling with an efficient linear upsampler, preserving general trends with only 10% of the required storage. In summary, we present a particle search scheme for particle advection workloads in the context of visualizing LCS via FTLE that exhibits strong scaling performance and efficiency at scale. Our proposed algorithm is applicable across various domains, requiring efficient search algorithms in large, structured domains. While this article focuses on the methodology and its application to LCS, an in-depth study of the physics and compressibility effects in LCS candidates will be explored in a future publication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Down syndrome patients show success rates in dental implants much lower than those observed in the general population. This retrospective case-control study aimed to identify possible genes that are related to the regulation of inflammatory responses and bone metabolism related to periimplantitis and implant loss, as well as genes related to bone quality. This process involved using the functional analysis of the gene expression software Transcriptome Analysis Console (TAC version 4.0 Applied BiosystemsTM, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) and a search for possible candidate genes involved. The focus was placed on the 93 genes related to periodontitis, periimplantitis, bone loss, implant loss, and genes related to bone quality and regulators underlying the establishment and maintenance of osseointegration. Five genes showed statistically significant results (p < 0.05) in our comparison. Four of them, IL1B (p = 0.023), IL1RN (p = 0.048), BGLAP (p = 0.0372) and PTK2 (p = 0.0075) were down-regulated in the periodontal disease and implant rejection group, and only one was overexpressed: FOXO1A (p = 0.0552). The genes with statistically significant alterations described in this article determine that the group of Down syndrome patients with periodontal disease and implant failure is a group of patients genetically susceptible to suffering from both conditions together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geryon longipes is a crab species that inhabits the muddy bottoms of the middle and lower slopes, as well as bathyal bottoms ranging from 400 to 2000 m in depth. To assess its molecular diversity, a fragment of 572 bp of the COI (Cytochrome Oxidase subunit I) mitochondrial gene was sequenced in eight Western Mediterranean locations. Within the studied area, two oceanographic fronts are present (Almeria-Oran Front and Ibiza Channel). From the 124 sequences obtained, only 7 distinct haplotypes were identified. The population distribution indicated three well-differentiated regions: the Alboran Sea, the Gulf of Vera and the Levantine/Catalan coasts. The molecular diversity was compared with that obtained in the same year for the same gene in Liocarcinus depurator, a crab species that is captured on the continental shelf and upper slope (40 to 500 m). The estimates of molecular diversity parameters for the COI gene fragment were rather similar between both species, but the number of haplotypes was higher for L. depurator. Finally, the obtained COI sequences of G. longipes were compared to those from other populations of the species distribution range, recovered from the DNA repository. Only one additional, different haplotype was reported (Sicily), whereas all the rest were common with those described in our study. Therefore, the COI gene fragment would indicate that all the sequences analysed in the Mediterranean and NE Atlantic belong to the same species, G. longipes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) in critically ill patients and the impact of anticipatory antifungal treatment on the incidence of CAPA in critically ill patients. Methods. Before/after observational study in a mixed intensive care unit (ICU) of a university teaching hospital. The study took place between March 2020 and June 2022. Inclusion criteria were critically ill patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. Two analysis periods were compared according to whether or not antifungal therapy was given early. Results. A total of 160 patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and invasive mechanical ventilation were included. The incidence of CAPA in the first study period was 19 out of 58 patients (32.75%); during the second period, after implementation of the intervention (anticipatory antifungal therapy), the incidence of CAPA decreased to 10.78% (11 out of 102 patients). In patients with CAPA under invasive mechanical ventilation, the mortality rate decreased from 100% to 64%. Conclusions. Anticipating antifungal treatment in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia under invasive mechanical ventilation was associated with a decrease in the incidence and mortality of pulmonary aspergillosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABC transporters play a critical role in both drug bioavailability and toxicity, and with the discovery of the P-glycoprotein (P-gp), this became even more evident, as it plays an important role in preventing intracellular accumulation of toxic compounds. Over the past 30 years, intensive studies have been conducted to find new therapeutic molecules to reverse the phenomenon of multidrug resistance (MDR)), that research has found is often associated with overexpression of P-gp, the most extensively studied drug efflux transporter; in MDR, therapeutic drugs are prevented from reaching their targets due to active efflux from the cell. The development of P-gp inhibitors is recognized as a good way to reverse this type of MDR, which has been the subject of extensive studies over the past few decades. Despite the progress made, no effective P-gp inhibitors to reverse multidrug resistance are yet on the market, mainly because of their toxic effects. Computational studies can accelerate this process, and in silico models such as QSAR models that predict the activity of compounds associated with P-gp (or analogous transporters) are of great value in the early stages of drug development, along with molecular modelling methods, which provide a way to explain how these molecules interact with the ABC transporter. This review highlights recent advances in computational P-gp research, spanning the last five years to 2022. Particular attention is given to the use of machine-learning approaches, drug–transporter interactions, and recent discoveries of potential P-gp inhibitors that could act as modulators of multidrug resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is scientific evidence that Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) is beneficial in healthy people, the elderly and patients with musculoskeletal disorders. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of BFR in patients with neurological disorders. The literature search was conducted up until July 2022 in the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), LILACS, Scopus, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Literature Complete (CINAHL), the Cochrane Library and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO). The PEDro scale was used to analyze the methodological quality of the studies, and the Cochrane Collaboration's tool was employed to evaluate the risk of bias. A total of seven articles were included. BFR seems to be beneficial in neurological disorders. Improvements have been found in sensorimotor function, frequency and step length symmetry, perceived exertion, heart rate and gait speed, walking endurance, fatigue, quality of life, muscles thickness, gluteus density and muscle edema. No improvements were found in lower limb strength or balance. However, results must be taken with caution due to the small number of articles and to the large heterogeneity. More clinical trials are needed. These studies should homogenize the protocols used in larger samples, as well as improve their methodological quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]