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Abstract INTRODUCTION We examined the relationship between sedentary behavior (SB), moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes, a common magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) marker associated with risk of neurodegenerative disease in middle‐aged to older adults. METHODS We used data from the UK Biobank (n = 14,415; 45 to 81 years) that included accelerometer‐derived measures of SB and MVPA, and WMH volumes from MRI. RESULTS Both MVPA and SB were associated with WMH volumes (βMVPA = −0.03 [−0.04, −0.01], p

Aim: This prospective randomized clinical trial aimed at analyzing the skeletal effects of this modified acrylic splint palatal expander (MASPE) used for maxillary transversal deficiency treatment in mixed dentition. Methods: Eligibility criteria included maxillary transverse deficiencies in children between 7 and 10 years of age. Eighteen individuals who met the inclusion criteria and reached the end of treatment were evaluated (mean age of 8.66 years old) and randomly assigned to be submitted to rapid maxillary expansion with either the MASPE experimental device or a well-known tooth-borne expander (control group). CBCT scans taken before expansion and at the end of the retention period were evaluated. The palatal area was calculated, and the length of expansion was measured. Treatment changes were analyzed using paired t-tests, whereas independent t-tests were used to compare the two groups. Results: There were statistically significant (p

Background: A new access technique was developed to reduce postoperative adverse events after the extraction of impacted maxillary wisdom teeth. Hence, this study aimed to assess the occurrence of adverse events after the extraction of maxillary impacted wisdom teeth using a traditional access (TA) or a new technique (NT). Methods: Two different surgical incision designs were used for bilateral wisdom tooth extractions in 30 patients. The traditional incision was performed distal to the second molar in the center of the tuberosity, followed by a buccal releasing incision. After the tooth extraction, the wound was secured by sutures. The new technique consists of an oblique incision from the distal palatal aspect of the tuberosity towards the buccal aspect of the second molar. After the tooth extraction, cyanoacrylate glue was used on the wound. Results: Lower pain was reported by patients at the site treated with the new technique (p < 0.01). Edema, postsurgical bleeding, and hematoma were similar in both groups. The surgical time was shorter for the new technique (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The new technique applied for the extraction of impacted maxillary wisdom teeth reduced postsurgical pain and the duration of surgery.

ABSTRACTPre-clerkship curricula of most Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)-accredited medical schools are divided into blocks by organ system, leaving a significant amount of information susceptible to loss due to prolonged nonuse. We describe the implementation of a formal Spiral Curriculum that periodically revisits material from previous blocks. Learners were surveyed on receptivity to the curriculum across three graduating classes at a single medical school. Medical school graduate classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022 were surveyed at the end of their pre-clerkship years (2018–2020). The class of 2022 actually received the Spiraled Curriculum intervention, for which the authors created 500 board exam style multiple-choice questions, periodically administered via mandatory in-class sessions ranging from 10 to 20 questions reviewing content from previous blocks with designated expert faculty. Response rates were 36% (n = 46), 45% (n = 52), and 32% (n = 40) for classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively. On a Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = neutral, 10 = strongly agree), the classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022 provided statistically significant differences in their belief that a Spiraled Curriculum would/did help them retain information as 8.2 (SD 1.7), 8.2 (SD 2.2), and 5.0 (SD 3.0) (n < 0.05). All classes endorsed neutral confidence in the existing pre-clerkship curriculum in themselves to prepare for United Stated Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1, and in their retention of previous block material with no statistically significant differences between classes. USMLE Step 1 scores did not differ significantly between classes (n = 0.21). Those who did not receive the Spiral Curriculum were highly receptive to it in theory, while those who actually received the intervention gave a neutral rating. Per survey comments, implementation of a Spiraling Curriculum would ideally be administered as either team-based or self-directed activities, and a Spiraling Curriculum may be difficult to implement in accelerated (18 month) pre-clerkship formats.Practice points Question: What is the receptivity of medical students to a formal Spiral curriculum that uses time-spaced repetition sessions of board exam style questions to revisit previous block content of their pre-clerkship years?Findings: In this single-center, quasi-experimental study, the two control group medical school classes had very positive theoretical reception to a Spiral curriculum proposal (rated 8 out of 10) while the class who actually received the Spiral curriculum provided a statistically significant lower neutral rating (rated 5 out of 10), citing preference for a team-based or self-directed format.Meaning: Medical students are strongly in favor of structured time-spaced repetition with board exam style questions to revisit previous material but prefer a format that does not interfere with time to personalize their medical school experience.

Individuals identified as Aricidea assimilis Tebble, 1959 were collected from ten localities across the Mediterranean Sea from 0.5 to 225 m depth in order to have a wide coverage of the species habitats and geographic range and to assess the effects of environmental factors and biogeographical barriers on molecular and morphological diversity. Two mitochondrial and one nuclear markers were used to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships and test the occurrence of cryptic species. We observed two highly divergent lineages, one including all individuals from shallow, sandy environments (

Objective: We sought to several develop parsimonious machine learning models to predict resource utilization and clinical outcomes following cardiac operations using only preoperative factors. Methods: All patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and/or valve operations were identified in the 2015-2021 University of California Cardiac Surgery Consortium repository. The primary end point of the study was length of stay (LOS). Secondary endpoints included 30-day mortality, acute kidney injury, reoperation, postoperative blood transfusion and duration of intensive care unit admission (ICU LOS). Linear regression, gradient boosted machines, random forest, extreme gradient boosting predictive models were developed. The coefficient of determination and area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) were used to compare models. Important predictors of increased resource use were identified using SHapley summary plots. Results: Compared with all other modeling strategies, gradient boosted machines demonstrated the greatest performance in the prediction of LOS (coefficient of determination, 0.42), ICU LOS (coefficient of determination, 0.23) and 30-day mortality (AUC, 0.69). Advancing age, reduced hematocrit, and multiple-valve procedures were associated with increased LOS and ICU LOS. Furthermore, the gradient boosted machine model best predicted acute kidney injury (AUC, 0.76), whereas random forest exhibited greatest discrimination in the prediction of postoperative transfusion (AUC, 0.73). We observed no difference in performance between modeling strategies for reoperation (AUC, 0.80). Conclusions: Our findings affirm the utility of machine learning in the estimation of resource use and clinical outcomes following cardiac operations. We identified several risk factors associated with increased resource use, which may be used to guide case scheduling in times of limited hospital capacity.

The phylogenetic relationships among black-tailed rattlesnakes remain poorly understood and some authors indicated that the diversity of this group has been underestimated and additional analyses are required to clarify the biogeographic patterns throughout its distribution in Mexico. Therefore, the aim of this study was to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships among black-tailed rattlesnakes across their range, identifying relative divergence times among the main clades and reconstructing the biogeographical history of the group. Three partial mitochondrial genes (ND4, cytb and ATPase6) and one nuclear gene (RAG1) were sequenced to infer the phylogenetic relationships, through the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference-based methods; demographic history reconstruction was investigated through Bayesian Skyline plot analysis and the ancestral area reconstruction was carried out considering a Bayesian framework. We found strong evidence that the black-tailed rattlesnakes’ group is composed of six clades, which is in agreement with subspecies previously reported. Divergence time estimation indicated that the origin of the C. molossus group could be traced to the middle of the Miocene (~7.71 Mya). Ancestral area reconstruction indicated that early divergence events occurred in Central Mexico, probably related to the geological dynamics of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. The lineage C. m. oaxacus is the basal member of the C. molossus group. Furthermore, the combination of geological events and changes in Quaternary vegetation may have contributed to the divergence of C. molossus clades. Our results suggest several clades within C. molossus complex could be potentially recognized as separate species.

Using computerized reaction-time tasks assessing automatic attitudes, studies have shown that healthy young adults have faster reaction times when approaching physical activity stimuli than when avoiding them. The opposite has been observed for sedentary stimuli. However, it is unclear whether these results hold across the lifespan and when error rates and a possible generic approach-avoidance tendency are accounted for. Here, reaction times and errors in online approach-avoidance tasks of 130 participants aged 21 to 77 years were analyzed using mixed-effects models. Automatic approach-avoidance tendencies were tested using physical activity, sedentary, and neutral stimuli. Explicit attitudes toward physical activity and intention to be physically active were self-reported. Results accounting for age, sex, gender, level of physical activity, body mass index, and chronic health condition confirmed a main tendency to approach physical activity stimuli (i.e., faster reaction to approach vs. avoid; p = .001) and to avoid sedentary stimuli (i.e., faster reaction to avoid vs. approach; p < .001). Results based on neutral stimuli revealed a generic approach tendency in early adulthood (i.e., faster approach before age 53 and fewer errors before age 36) and a generic avoidance tendency in older adults (i.e., more errors after age 60). When accounting for these generic tendencies, results showed a greater tendency (i.e., fewer errors) to avoid than approach sedentary stimuli after aged 50, but not before (p = .026). Exploratory analyses showed that irrespective of age, participants were faster at approaching physical activity (p = .028) and avoiding sedentary stimuli (p = .041) when they considered physical activity as pleasant and enjoyable (explicit attitude). However, results showed no evidence of an association between approach-avoidance tendencies and the intention to be physically active. Taken together, these results suggest that both age and explicit attitudes can affect the general tendency to approach physical activity stimuli and to avoid sedentary stimuli.

Abstract Background Weak muscle strength has been associated with a wide range of adverse health outcomes. Yet, whether individuals with weaker muscle strength are more at risk for hospitalization due to severe COVID‐19 is still unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the independent association between muscle strength and COVID‐19 hospitalization. Methods Data from adults 50 years of age or older were analysed using logistic models adjusted for several chronic conditions, body‐mass index, age, and sex. Hand‐grip strength was repeatedly measured between 2004 and 2017 using a handheld dynamometer. COVID‐19 hospitalization during the lockdown was self‐reported in summer 2020 and was used as an indicator of COVID‐19 severity. Results The study was based on the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and included 3600 older adults (68.8 ± 8.8 years, 2044 female), among whom 316 were tested positive for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (8.8%), and 83 (2.3%) were hospitalized due to COVID‐19. Results showed that higher grip strength was associated with a lower risk of COVID‐19 hospitalization [adjusted odds ratio (OR) per increase of 1 standard deviation in grip strength = 0.64, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.45–0.87, P = 0.015]. Results also showed that age (OR for a 10 ‐year period = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.32–2.20, P

Beaches are affected by the accumulation of natural and anthropogenic material; however, this environmental issue has not yet been explored from a One Health perspective. In this paper, the conceptual framework of DPSIR (Drivers-Pressures-State-Impact-Response) was used to understand the beach-stranded material issue in a systemic way and a data-based classification for some environmental indicators was developed to support the DPSIR analysis. The model was applied to an Italian coastal municipality as a case study, through the collection of data from a variety of data sources: publicly accessible database, data from a stakeholders’ network (i.e., coastal authority, solid waste company, sewerage company, drainage consortium), and fieldwork consisting in microbiological analysis of stranded material and underlying sand, visual census of macrolitter along beach and waterways. In the study area, solid wastes production was a high pressure (768 kg/capita/year), but in situ visual observations of floating wastes at the outlet of the canals revealed that the contribution of local waterways to marine litter was negligible, thus suggesting the effectiveness of the measures adopted along local waterways by the drainage consortium (i.e., grids at the drainage pumping stations). Nevertheless, very high quantity of anthropogenic wastes was counted during the beach litter surveys (603 items/100 m), probably as a result of coastal current pathway that transported material from major watercourses (>100 km2 drainage basin size; 23 items/h). On the contrary, local sewage production represented a very high pressure (>33,000 m3/km) that impacted on the microbiological quality of the stranded material with moderate to high level of fecal bacteria indicators detected in the beach cast. The underlying sand was affected by such contamination, with most of the sample within the provisional limit set by WHO for enterococci in beach sand (60 CFU/g) that was associated to a health risk of10 %. The beach-stranded material was collected without separating the sand, with annual quantity of 1,243 kg/m, that was processed in a dedicated facility allowing to recover up to 98 % of sand and biomass after the treatment, with moderate expenditure for the coastal municipality (22 €/m). Overall, this study allowed to better figure out the cause-effect relationships underlying the accumulation of stranded material along shoreline and the effectiveness of the management practices toward beach-stranded material. Therefore, the usage of the DPSIR framework as structuring model to understand the problem of stranded material could be useful for beach managers and administrators, and its adoption within beach management programs is worth for improving beach quality.

Abstract Background To compare clinical intra and early postoperative outcomes between conventional Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate using the Virtual Basket tool (VB-HoLEP) to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods This prospective randomized study enrolled consecutive patients with BPH, who were assigned to undergo either HoLEP (n = 100), or VB-HoLEP (n = 100). All patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively, with particular attention to catheterization time, operative time, blood loss, irrigation volume and hospital stay. We also evaluated the patients at 3 and 6 months after surgery and assessed maximum flow rate (Qmax), postvoid residual urine volume (PVR), the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the Quality of Life score (QOLS). Results No significant differences in preoperative parameters between patients in each study arm were found. Compared to HoLEP, VB-HoLEP resulted in less hemoglobin decrease (2.54 vs. 1.12 g/dl, P = 0.03) and reduced operative time (57.33 ± 29.71 vs. 42.99 ± 18.51 min, P = 0.04). HoLEP and VB-HoLEP detrmined similar catheterization time (2.2 vs. 1.9 days, P = 0.45), irrigation volume (33.3 vs. 31.7 l, P = 0.69), and hospital stay (2.8 vs. 2.7 days, P = 0.21). During the 6-month follow-up no significant differences in IPSS, Qmax, PVR, and QOLS were demonstrated. Conclusions HoLEP and VB-HoLEP are both efficient and safe procedures for relieving lower urinary tract symptoms. VB-HoLEP was statistically superior to HoLEP in blood loss and operative time. However, procedures did not differ significantly in catheterization time, hospital stay, and irrigation volume. No significant differences were demonstrated in QOLS, IPSS, Qmax and PVR throughout the 6-month follow-up. Trial Registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN72879639; date of registration: June 25th, 2015. Retrospectively registred.

Abstract House-dust mites (HDM) allergy is the prevailing condition in subjects allergic to inhalants. Clinical studies with HDM extracts—either subcutaneous (SCIT) or sublingual (SLIT) have long been characterized by small sample size, varying allergen doses, and poorly defined endpoints assessing disease severity. In the last decade, well-designed, randomized, controlled studies recruiting thousands of patients have been conducted with newly developed HDM sublingual tablets (SQ®-HDM tablets). This drug is easily dispersible in the oral cavity due to the patented Zydis® technology and its allergen composition is balanced in terms of group I and group II major mite allergen content, reflecting the equal contribution of the two components to HDM sensitization. HDM is the most common allergen associated with asthma. Clinical efficacy of the SQ® HDM SLIT-tablet in HDM allergic asthma has been evaluated in randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. Both endpoints related to “present” asthma control (inhaled corticosteroid—ICS) as well as endpoints related to “future” asthma control (occurrence of asthma exacerbations) were included in these studies, in agreement with GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma) guidelines. Based on the positive results of these studies, SQ®-HDM SLIT-tablets were approved Europe-wide as registered drug for treating moderate-to-severe allergic rhinitis with or without allergic asthma and not well controlled HDM allergic asthma, associated with allergic rhinitis of any severity. GINA guidelines in 2017 included SLIT-tablet-based immunotherapy as an “add-on” treatment for asthmatic patients sensitized to HDM; indeed, allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is considered to be a complementary treatment option that targets the immunological of allergic diseases, representing the only treatment potentially disease-modifier or, at least, with a long-term efficacy. The availability of a safe, standardized, registered treatment for HDM respiratory allergies is pivotal in the immunotherapy field, pushing it out of a century-long limbo of amatorial interest towards the full dignity deserved by the only casual treatment of respiratory allergies.

Enki Bilal’s graphic work captures the reader’s mind by its pessimistic dystopias, which feature characters who are broken by political and technological systems colonizing spirits and bodies. Bilalian and cyberpunk pictures refer to a corporeality endlessly questioned by hypermodernity and embodying hypersportivity. The hypersport moments which punctuate this eclectic artist’s work enable to suggest a vision of tomorrow’s bodies while raising issues about today’s excesses of sport. The future of football is the topic of a full album, in collaboration with Patrick Cauvin. Hors Jeu (1987) constitutes an opportunity to analyse this culture of excess through the lens of players’ identity troubles, hybridation of the body by the machine and physical and symbolic violence, expressed on the pitch and beyond.

O objetivo deste estudo in vitro foi avaliar e comparar a resistência de união ao cisalhamento de tubos ortodônticos convencionais e modificados, colados às superfícies de esmalte secas e contaminadas com saliva. A amostra foi composta por 40 molares humanos, os quais foram divididos aleatoriamente em quatro grupos, de acordo com a base de colagem e a presença ou não de contaminação salivar: no grupo BC foram utilizados os tubos ortodônticos com base convencional e sem contaminação salivar, ao grupo BC-S foi adicionada a simulação da contaminação salivar, no grupo BM foram utilizados tubos ortodônticos modificados pela inclusão de malha metálica soldada em sua base e sem contaminação salivar, e ao grupo BM-S foi adicionada a presença da contaminação salivar. O teste de resistência de união ao cisalhamento (Ru) foi realizado em máquina de ensaios mecânicos universal e a análise do índice de remanescente adesivo (IRA) por meio de Microscopia Óptica. Para análise dos dados de Ru foi utilizada Análise de Variância a dois critérios (ANOVA), seguido do Teste de Tukey, ao nível de significância estatística de 5%. Os resultados do IRA foram analisados descritivamente. Houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos quanto à Ru (p

Human capital in hospitality has been widely addressed by applying sophisticated econometric methods. However, for the Spanish case, there was a gap in the analyses as the crucial importance of collective agreements was undervalued. This paper redesigns the conceptualisation of the variables and applies a subsequent new classification to job positions, as it deals with the outliers at different levels of rigorousness. Then, linearised and quantile regressions were run for each case, obtaining an outcome of thirty values for each variable. The analyses and comparisons show the high importance of collective agreements on salaries, the noticeable low values of human capital variables, and provides additional information for the nationality and gender gaps, the latter strikingly high in upper professional categories. Overall, this paper demonstrates the importance of a proper study design to prevent advanced econometric models from falling into bias and it minimises the differences between methods.

We present an analysis of Titan data acquired by the Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) at the landing site of the Dragonfly mission, using a new version of our radiative transfer model for Titan, with significant updates for the spectroscopic parameters of atmospheric gases and photochemical aerosols. Our updated radiative transfer model is validated against the in situ spectroscopic measurements of the Huygens probe during its descent and once landed. We confirm that aerosols with a fractal dimension of 2.3–2.4 provide the best fit to the observations. We apply our radiative transfer model to four VIMS data cubes over the Selk crater region including the Dragonfly landing and exploration areas, further validating our model by producing consistent aerosol population and surface albedo maps. These infrared albedo maps, further corrected from the photometry, enable us to study the Selk crater region in terms of surface composition, landscape formation, and evolution. Our results suggest that the Selk crater is in an intermediate state of degradation and that the mountainous terrains of the area (including the crater rim and ejecta) are likely to be dominated by fine grains of tholin-like sediment. This organic sediment would be transported to the lowlands (crater floor and surrounding plains), possibly with water ice particles, by rivers, and further deposited and processed to form the sand particles that feed the neighboring dune fields. These results provide information for the operational and scientific preparation of the Dragonfly mission, paving the way for future exploration of Titan’s surface composition and geology.

Introduction Being physically active is associated with a wide range of health benefits in patients. However, many patients do not engage in the recommended levels of physical activity (PA). To date, interventions promoting PA in patients mainly rely on providing knowledge about the benefits associated with PA to develop their motivation to be active. Yet, these interventions focusing on changing patients’ conscious goals have proven to be rather ineffective in changing behaviours. Recent research on automatic factors (eg, automatic approach tendencies) may provide additional targets for interventions. However, the implementation and evaluation of intervention designed to change these automatic bases of PA are rare. Consequently, little is known about whether and how interventions that target automatically activated processes towards PA can be effective in changing PA behaviours. The Improving Physical Activity (IMPACT) trial proposes to fill this knowledge gap by investigating the effect of a cognitive-bias modification intervention aiming to modify the automatic approach towards exercise-related stimuli on PA among patients.Methods and analysis The IMPACT trial is a single-centre, placebo (sham controlled), triple-blinded, phase 3 randomised controlled trial that will recruit 308 patients enrolled in a rehabilitation programme in the Division of General Medical Rehabilitation at the University Hospital of Geneva (Switzerland) and intends to follow up them for up to 1 year after intervention. Immediately after starting a rehabilitation programme, patients will be randomised (1:1 ratio) to receive either the cognitive-bias modification intervention consisting of a 12-session training programme performed over 3 weeks or a control condition (placebo). The cognitive-bias modification intervention aims to improve PA levels through a change in automatic approach tendencies towards PA and sedentary behaviours. The primary outcome is the sum of accelerometer-based time spent in light-intensity, moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity PA over 1 week after the cognitive-bias modification intervention (in minutes per week). Secondary outcomes are related to changes in (1) automatic approach tendencies and self-reported motivation to be active, (2) physical health and (3) mental health. Sedentary behaviours and self-reported PA will also be examined. The main time point of the analysis will be the week after the end of the intervention. These outcomes will also be assessed during the rehabilitation programme, as well as 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the intervention for secondary analyses.Ethics and dissemination The study will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. This trial was approved by the Ethics Committee of Geneva Canton, Switzerland (reference number: CCER2019-02257). All participants will give an informed consent to participate in the study. Results will be published in relevant scientific journals and be disseminated in international conferences.Trial registration details The clinical trial was registered at the German clinical trials register (reference number: DRKS00023617); Pre-results.

High-altitude clouds and hazes are integral to understanding exoplanet observations, and are proposed to explain observed featureless transit spectra. However, it is difficult to make inferences from these data because of the need to disentangle effects of gas absorption from haze extinction. Here, we turn to the quintessential hazy world, Titan, to clarify how high-altitude hazes influence transit spectra. We use solar occultation observations of Titan's atmosphere from the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer aboard National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Cassini spacecraft to generate transit spectra. Data span 0.88-5 μm at a resolution of 12-18 nm, with uncertainties typically smaller than 1%. Our approach exploits symmetry between occultations and transits, producing transit radius spectra that inherently include the effects of haze multiple scattering, refraction, and gas absorption. We use a simple model of haze extinction to explore how Titan's haze affects its transit spectrum. Our spectra show strong methane-absorption features, and weaker features due to other gases. Most importantly, the data demonstrate that high-altitude hazes can severely limit the atmospheric depths probed by transit spectra, bounding observations to pressures smaller than 0.1-10 mbar, depending on wavelength. Unlike the usual assumption made when modeling and interpreting transit observations of potentially hazy worlds, the slope set by haze in our spectra is not flat, and creates a variation in transit height whose magnitude is comparable to those from the strongest gaseous-absorption features. These findings have important consequences for interpreting future exoplanet observations, including those from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.

• Promoting health benefits is necessary but insufficient to foster sustained engagement in physical activity (PA). • Our formal decision-making model explains why health benefits hold a weak subjective value. • In this model, expected health benefits are jointly discounted by effort-discounting, delay-discounting, and beliefs distortion. • In contrast, positive affective experiences toward PA can reduce the perception of effort, provide more immediate consequences, and strengthen beliefs about health benefits. • Because affective experiences have the potential to tip the balance in favor of PA over sedentary alternatives, they should be at the core of PA promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background.: With advancements in orthodontic technology, treatment durations have shortened, often concluding at earlier ages. This shift prompts scrutiny of contemporary retention and post-treatment protocols. The study aimed to assess current professional preferences, compare them against patient age and treatment duration, and investigate the potential impacts of reduced treatment times on professional protocols, particularly when treatment concludes before pubertal growth. Methods.: A questionnaire comprising 12 multiple-choice questions focused on active treatment and retention phases was developed using an online survey platform. It was distributed to licensed orthodontists engaged in patient treatment. Bivariate analysis was conducted using ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test, with pairwise comparisons facilitated by the Dwass-Steel-Critchlow-Fligner method. Results.: Of 743 respondents, representing a 32% response rate, approximately 70% reported initiating treatment with fixed appliances in pre-pubertal patients. The most prevalent treatment combination involved commencing treatment during early permanent dentition and lasting between 12 to 24 months, resulting in treatment completion before full growth maturation. No discernible individualization was observed in retention protocols or post-retention follow-ups. Traditional retainer prescription post-orthodontic therapy was unanimous among respondents. Notably, experienced orthodontists tended to prefer regular patient visits for follow-up, while less experienced counterparts discharged patients after 12 months. Conclusion.: Contemporary orthodontic treatments are characterized by shorter durations, yet orthodontists have not adopted retention and post-treatment follow-up practices accordingly. There is a pressing need for evidence-based guidelines to develop protocols tailored to the shorter treatment durations and the increasing prevalence of younger patients completing treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: We examined the relationship between sedentary behavior (SB), moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes, a common magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) marker associated with risk of neurodegenerative disease in middle‐aged to older adults. METHODS: We used data from the UK Biobank (n = 14,415; 45 to 81 years) that included accelerometer‐derived measures of SB and MVPA, and WMH volumes from MRI. RESULTS: Both MVPA and SB were associated with WMH volumes (βMVPA = −0.03 [−0.04, −0.01], p < 0.001; βSB = 0.02 [0.01, 0.03], p = 0.007). There was a significant interaction between SB and MVPA on WMH volumes (βSB×MVPA = −0.015 [−0.028, −0.001], pSB×MVPA = 0.03) where SB was positively associated with WMHs at low MVPA, and MVPA was negatively associated with WMHs at high SB. DISCUSSION: While this study cannot establish causality, the results highlight the potential importance of considering both MVPA and SB in strategies aimed at reducing the accumulation of WMH volumes in middle‐aged to older adults. Highlights: SB is associated with greater WMH volumes and MVPA is associated with lower WMH volumes.Relationships between SB and WMH are strongest at low levels of MVPA.Associations between MVPA and WMH are strongest at high levels of SB.Considering both SB and MVPA may be effective strategies for reducing WMHs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A new access technique was developed to reduce postoperative adverse events after the extraction of impacted maxillary wisdom teeth. Hence, this study aimed to assess the occurrence of adverse events after the extraction of maxillary impacted wisdom teeth using a traditional access (TA) or a new technique (NT). Methods: Two different surgical incision designs were used for bilateral wisdom tooth extractions in 30 patients. The traditional incision was performed distal to the second molar in the center of the tuberosity, followed by a buccal releasing incision. After the tooth extraction, the wound was secured by sutures. The new technique consists of an oblique incision from the distal palatal aspect of the tuberosity towards the buccal aspect of the second molar. After the tooth extraction, cyanoacrylate glue was used on the wound. Results: Lower pain was reported by patients at the site treated with the new technique (p < 0.01). Edema, postsurgical bleeding, and hematoma were similar in both groups. The surgical time was shorter for the new technique (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The new technique applied for the extraction of impacted maxillary wisdom teeth reduced postsurgical pain and the duration of surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To present a modification to the classical ThuLEP technique, called 7U-ThuLEP and to compare its clinical intra- and post-operative outcomes to those of conventional ThuLEP in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) is considered a non-invasive treatment for urinary stones and usually advocated for frail patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). We report a life-threatening complication, called posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), in a tetraplegic person who underwent SWL for a small renal stone. Based on our experience, we recommend performing SWL with caution in SCI patients and in tertiary referral hospitals that can promptly manage similar severe complications.

MitraClip (MC) is the most common percutaneous treatment for severe mitral regurgitation (MR). An accurate two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiographic (3DTEE) imaging is mandatory for the optimal procedural result. Recently transillumination 3DTEE rendering (3DTr) has been introduced integrating a virtual light source into the dataset and with the addition of glass effect (3DGl) allows to adjust tissue transparency improving depth perception and anatomical structure delineation in comparison with the standard 3DTEE (3DSt). The aim of this retrospective study in 30 patients undergoing MC, was to compare 3DSt, 3DTr, and 3DGl in mitral valve (MV) evaluation and procedural result assessment. 3DTEE acquisitions obtained before and after MC were processed with 3DSt, 3DTr, and 3DGl rendering. Each reconstruction was scored for quality and for ability to recognize MV anatomy, MR origin, clip position, dimension and grasping. Imaging quality was judged good or optimal in 52%, 76%, and 96% in 3DSt, 3DTr, and 3DGl reconstructions respectively. In 26/30 patients a diagnostic incremental value was found with 3DTr vs. 3DSt and in 15/26 with 3DGl vs. 3DTr and 3DSt. Only 3DGl with perpendicular cropping of the clip allowed to visualize and measure the grasped portion of each mitral leaflets. 3DTEE imaging during MC may be improved by 3DTr and 3DGl providing a better evaluation of MV, of leaflet grasping and of residual MR jets after MC.

Ruditapes decussatus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Veneridae) is an Atlanto-Mediterranean bivalve whose populations have experienced reductions and, in some instances, hybridisation with allochthonous R. philippinarum. Acquisition of additional genetic knowledge concerning the present R. decussatus populations is essential to address adequate conservation plans for this species. For this purpose, we analysed a portion of the mtDNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) region in populations from the western Mediterranean, where this species represents a harvested fishery resource. Our analyses revealed an overall lack of genetic structure within the western Mediterranean area, and the occurrence of mtDNA substructuring between the Aegean and Marmara seas and the remaining populations from the whole Mediterranean basin and the South European Atlantic coast. The results obtained for populations from Sardinia, where extensive restocking programmes have not been reported and where R. philippinarum is rare and localised, suggest that intensive harvesting and potential dispersal alone may have been able to shape the genetic variation identified in the local R. decussatus populations.