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Background: This study aimed to analyze image biomarkers of the parotid glands in ultrasonography images with reduced shape effects, providing a reference for the radiomic diagnosis of parotid gland lesions. Methods: Ultrasound (US) and sialography images of the parotid glands, acquired from September 2019 to March 2024, were reviewed along with their clinical information. Parotid glands diagnosed as within the normal range were included. Overall, 91 US images depicting the largest portion of the parotid glands were selected for radiomic feature extraction. Regions of interest were drawn twice on 50 images using different shapes to assess the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Feature dimensions were statistically reduced by selecting features with an ICC > 0.8 and applying four statistical algorithms. The selected features were used to distinguish age and sex using the four classification models. Classification performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), recall, and precision. Results: The combinations of the information gain ratio algorithm or stochastic gradient descent and the naïve Bayes model showed the highest AUC for both age and sex classification (AUC = 1.000). The features contributing to these classifications included the first-order and gray-level co-occurrence matrix (high-order) features, particularly discretized intensity skewness and kurtosis, intensity skewness, and GLCM angular second moment. These features also contributed to achieving one of the highest recall (0.889) and precision (0.926) values. Conclusions: The two features were the most significant factors in discriminating radiomic variations related to age and sex in US images with reduced shape effects. These radiomic findings should be assessed when diagnosing parotid gland pathology versus normal using US images and radiomics in a heterogeneous population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical greenery or green walls are spreading rapidly not only in Southeast Asia but also in colder regions such as Western and Central Europe. The simultaneous growth and densification of larger cities has accelerated this trend recently as these cities require increased green space to improve living quality. A significant issue directly affecting security aspects regarding building components covered with different kinds of plants is their fire behaviour. A major parameter expected to influence this behaviour is the moisture content of the plants and their ability to retain moisture in case of irrigation interruption. In this study, four different plant species were chosen due to their hardiness which favours their usage as vertical greenery under the climatic conditions of Central Europe. Bomb and cone calorimetric investigations and single-flame source tests were carried out on them. These tests have been executed at different plant moisture contents as the fire behaviour of plants is obviously influenced by their moisture content. The results quantify the remarkable individuality of the plants with respect to their reaction to fire exposure in both moist and dry conditions. The findings can be extrapolated to quantify the overall fire behaviour of a green façade, especially the accruing heat content. Additionally, an optimized position of different plants within the façade can be derived to reduce the flame propagation probability upward of the façade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evaluating the effect of different obturation techniques on postoperative pain level and radiographic healing on non-surgical endodontic retreatment (NSER) applied in a single visit in teeth with a single root canal and apical periodontitis (AP). Materials and methods: Sixty-three teeth from 50 systemically healthy patients (mean age 34.19 ± 9.75 years; 27 women, 23 men) were included in the study. Residual root canal filling materials were removed. All teeth were randomly divided into three groups according to the obturation technique: cold lateral compaction (CLC), continuous wave compaction (CWC), and thermoplasticized gutta-core (TGC). Pain status was evaluated using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NRS) in all cases. Periapical index (PAI) scores were recorded in preoperative and postoperative 6-month on the periapical radiographs. Data were analyzed as statistically (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). The significance level was determined as p < 0.05. Results: It was found that more postoperative pain occurred in the 3rd-hour interval after CLC and CWC compared to the 7th-day interval (p < 0.05). There was no difference in postoperative pain between obturation techniques in all evaluated time intervals (p > 0.05). There was no difference in the PAI scores recorded at six months between obturation techniques for all periods (p > 0.05). Similar radiographic improvement was observed in all obturation techniques at 6-months (p > 0.05). Conclusion: CLC, CWC, and TGC root canal obturation techniques were found to have similar efficacy after NSER in a single visit in teeth with AP at six months. Trial registration: The research was retrospectively registered on the website www.clinicaltrials.gov with the registration number NCT06226740 on 26/01/2024. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive cultivation is a key agricultural activity in Spain, primarily for producing oil. The extraction process of olive oil from the drupe yields a by-product known as 'alperujo', which can be composted and utilized as fertilizer. This research examines the impact of composted 'alperujo' on arthropod assemblages in the tree canopy, comparing it to mineral fertilization over the years 2021 and 2022. The study was conducted in two olive groves with different management systems (superintensive and traditional). Two types of sampling methods were used for the canopy: visual survey and sweep net. Under superintensive management, the presence and damage of Eriophyidae (Acari; Trombidiformes) in the shoots was significantly lower in the compost treatment in 2022 (20% of the shoots were occupied/damaged) compared to the mineral treatment (60% of the shoots were occupied/damaged). Araneae abundance was significantly higher (p = 0.033) in the compost treatment compared to the mineral treatment. However, under traditional management, no clear effect on arthropod assemblage was observed. In conclusion, the addition of compost to the superintensive grove helped to limit the presence of some arthropod pests compared to mineral treatment, contributing to a more sustainable crop. Grove type management appeared to play a significant role in the arthropod assemblages and effect of compost addition, but future research utilizing a greater number of groves (replicates) and an extended observation period should be performed to confirm these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Otitis media results from a multitude of factors that cause inflammation of the lining of the tympanic cavity and/or structures of the middle ear, including infections, middle ear polyps, and neoplasms. Cats with otitis media can be asymptomatic or exhibit clinical signs of otitis externa, neurologic deficits, or upper respiratory tract disease. A therapeutic challenge is presented by cats' unique, almost complete, septum bulla in the ventral cavity of the middle ear. Diagnosis of otitis media relies on visualization of material in the middle ear by otoscopy or imaging. Treatment requires management of the underlying cause as well as removal of the material in the middle ear by minimally invasive (e.g., myringotomy and bulla lavage) or surgical (e.g., ventral bulla osteotomy) techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eradication of microorganisms present in the root canal system during endodontic therapy is one of the critical factors affecting the final outcome of endodontic treatment. However, even adequate technique of the root canal treatment and use of irrigants according to the established protocol does not lead to the complete elimination of microorganisms during endodontic treatment. The presence of Enterococcus (E.) faecalis inside the root canal system may be an important factor contributing to the failure of the treatment. Introducing agitation techniques in irrigation, such as passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) and the use of the activating instrument XP-endo Finisher (XPF), contribute to a better debridement and disinfection of the root canal. This study was conducted on 42 root canals experimentally inoculated with E. faecalis and exposed to three irrigation protocols. These have included a standard irrigation protocol using a syringe and needle, passive ultrasonic irrigation, and activation of the irrigant using an XPF instrument. The reduction in microorganisms was evaluated using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction in real-time (RT-PCR) as well as via the method of determining the number of colony forming units on nutrient medium (CFUs). The results of this study showed that the use of supplementary irrigation protocols, PUI, and XPF led to a significant decrease in the number of microorganisms inside the root canal of experimental teeth. These findings indicate a significant positive impact of these procedures on the disinfection of the root canal system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The nasopharyngeal swab is the gold standard collection method for COVID-19, but is invasive and painful, subsequently resulting in poor patient acceptance. This investigation explores the process of developing and validating an alternative respiratory pathogen collection device that relies on a nasopharyngeal irrigation mechanic. The primary objective was to determine if sufficient pathological sampling can be achieved by mechanism of nasopharyngeal irrigation that is proportionate to the nasopharyngeal swab method.Methods: The study device was designed using Shapr3D modeling software and fabricated on a fused deposition modeling printer. Fifteen participants were enrolled with each receiving a saline nasopharyngeal washing using the study device. Specimen adequacy was evaluated by two real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing methods to identify the presence of the human RNase P gene. Results were evaluated quantitatively through interpretation of the PCR cycle threshold (Ct).Results: All 15 specimens tested positive for the presence of RNaseP, demonstrating specimen cellularity, adequate extraction of nucleic acids, and the absence of inhibitors to amplification. The mean Ct value was 29.5 (Applied Biosystems TaqPath RT-qPCR) and 30.7 (NECoV19). All participants felt the study device irrigation procedure was faster than the nasopharyngeal swab, with none experiencing any discomfort from the irrigation mechanism.Conclusion: The importance of early diagnostic testing and its role in countermeasures for communicable diseases such as COVID-19 is well established in the literature. Innovation to bolster our testing infrastructure is more important now than ever. This study was successful in developing and validating an alternative nasopharyngeal respiratory pathogen collection device that utilizes fluid debridement as its core mechanic. Data from this pilot study demonstrated the study device was successful in producing high-quality specimens for PCR testing. Feedback from the study participants was also in favor of the study device when compared to the nasopharyngeal swab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumptive use of water by irrigated crops is typically quantified using the crop coefficient–reference evapotranspiration (Kc–ETo) procedure; yet, recent results showed that Kc might change with ETo, in response to high atmospheric demand. It is not known if the reduced Kc at high ETo applies to other crops with different aerodynamic features of the canopies. This paper seeks to provide the Kc values for soybean, wheat and potato, and propose an adaptation to the Kc–ETo procedure, hypothesising that the inverse relation between Kc and ETo would be general for all types of crops. Our results showed average Kc values of 0.90, 1.18 and 1.28, respectively, for soybean, wheat and potato cropping systems in the Brazilian cropping systems. However, Kc decreased as ETo increased, for all crops considered in this study, because of the increase of internal plant resistances to vapour diffusion from the leaves to the atmosphere. When ETo was above > 4 mm d−1, the water use by such crops was lower than that prescribed by Allen et al. (JAMA, 1998). The time-based Kc curves in Allen et al. (JAMA, 1998) are inappropriate for the studied crops under high demanding conditions and, besides the considerations suggested by Allen et al. (JAMA, 1998) (i.e., crop development stage, presence or absence of weeds), Kc recommendations for practical irrigation management should be based on the average ETo values of the previous days of the irrigation procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The main etiology of pulp diseases and per-radicular lesion is presence of microorganisms. The disinfection phase of root canal therapy is fundamental determinant in complete healing of periapical tissue. The purpose of this study was to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of 3% NaOCL-17%EDTA, MTAD and 3% NaOCL-10% citric acid against Enterococcus faecalis. Method: This study utilized 45 human primary teeth with single root. The samples infected with E. faecalis for 2 days. Incubation all the infected samples in brain heart infusion broth (for 2 weeks). before irrigation procedure swaps from all the canals were taken and considered as controls. Post irrigation samples were taken after complete treatment. Evaluation the disinfection efficacy of three methods was done by cfu/ml to show the number of the remaining bacteria, statistical analysis was done using one way anova and post-hoc Dennett t3 test. Result: All samples treated with 3% NaOCL- 17% treated with 3% NaOCL and 17% EDTA showed nearly complete absence of bacteria. The 15 samples treated with MTAD showed similar results to the first group, while the least antibacterial effect was seen in the 3% NaOCL-10% citric acid group. Statistical analysis of data showed highly significant difference between groups (P< 0.01). Conclusion: This study showed that both 3% NaOCL-17% EDTA and MTAD are effective against E. faecalis, while 3% NaOCL and 10% citric acid showed the least effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To evaluate the wetting behaviour of three different classes of endodontic sealers, silicone ( Roekoseal Automix)-, epoxy-resin (2 Seal, AH Plus)- and methacrylate-based sealers ( Endo Rez, Real Seal, Real Seal SE, Seal 3 D) on dentine specimens with and without chemical pre-treatment. Methodology Eighty caries-free molar teeth were used for the preparation of 160 dentine discs. Half of the discs were rinsed with distilled water, and the remainder were treated with 3% Na OCl, followed by 17% EDTA and 2% CHX to simulate the final rinse under clinical-like conditions. For both irrigation methods, 10 droplets of each sealer were analysed. Data were statistically analysed using multivariate anova (general linear model, α = 0.05) that assessed the effects of material, irrigation procedure and time on the measured contact angle as well as their interaction. Results Contact angle was primarily influenced by the material ( P < 0.05), followed by time ( P < 0.05). Irrigation procedure had a significant influence ( P < 0.05) on contact angle formation of all materials except Endo Rez and AH Plus. Endo Rez had the highest values, and Roekoseal Automix had the lowest values for all measurements. Real Seal SE had lower values after chemical treatment. Conclusions The silicone-based sealer Roekoseal Automix had better wettability than epoxy-resin- or methacrylate-based sealers. The irrigation regime significantly favoured the wettability of 2 Seal and Real Seal SE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In dentistry, disinfection with antimicrobials is employed under different conditions and at different time points. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of disinfectant dental sprays was proposed, among other measures, to help prevent the transmission of infections during dental procedures that require highly effective antiseptics at particularly short contact times. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of electrolyzed saline (EOS) compared with other antiseptics in terms of the spread of enveloped and nonenveloped viruses by ultrasonic scaler (USS)–generated dental spray. Suspension tests were performed to evaluate the antiviral efficacy of EOS against herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and human adenovirus (HAdV), which served as models for enveloped and nonenveloped viruses, respectively. EOS, mostly composed of hypochlorous acid (HOCl), reduced the amount of both virus types in the presence or absence of artificial saliva by > 4 log10 50% tissue culture infectious dose (P < 0.001). In addition, the mechanism of virucidal effect was investigated using transmission electron microscopy. Following this assessment, a virus-laden dental spray transmission model was used to simulate virus-infected patients undergoing dental procedures with USS. Attenuation was achieved by substituting the USS coolant with one of the effective, pretested antiseptics. Due to safety concerns, nonhuman viral pathogens—equine arteritis virus (EAV) and feline calicivirus (FCV)—served as enveloped and nonenveloped virus models, respectively. Viral infection was evaluated by direct droplet/aerosol infection of RK-13 or CRFK cells. In addition, the biocompatibility of the antiseptics was tested with exposure to human oral keratinocytes. EOS demonstrated strong virucidal activity against both enveloped and nonenveloped viruses and was able to absolutely prevent airborne transmission of EAV and FCV through dental spray in the splatter and droplet/aerosol samples. The study emphasized that EOS, a chlorine-based antiseptic, is a promising, reasonably safe, broad-spectrum agent for preventing dental spray–mediated viral transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Infected dentinal tubules are a possible source of bacteria that are responsible for the failure of root canal treatment. Therefore, disinfection of dentinal tubules by increasing the penetration of the irrigation solution is important for success in retreatment cases. This study utilized confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to assess and compare the impact of XPR, ultrasonic irrigation (UI) and sonic activation (SA) on NaOCl penetration into dentinal tubules following endodontic retreatment. Methods A total of forty mandibular premolars were enrolled in this investigation. Following root canal preparation up to ProTaper X3 file (30/0.07), root canals were obturated with gutta-percha and bioceramic root canal sealer with single cone technique. The root canal filling materials were removed using ProTaper nickel-titanium rotary retreatment files until the working length was reached. The retreatment procedure was finalized using the ProTaper Next X4 (40/0.06). The teeth were divided into four groups based on the irrigation activation technique: control (conventional needle irrigation), SA, UI and XPR. During the final irrigation procedure, Rhodamine B dye was introduced to 5% NaOCl for visualization via CLSM. Subsequent to image acquisition, the maximum penetration, penetration percentage, and penetration area were calculated. Data were statistically analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis, Friedman, and Bonferroni Dunn multiple comparison tests through R software (p

Background: The materials used in root canal filling and radiotherapy (RT) application can affect the load-to-failure of the teeth. This study aimed to compare the load-to-failure of the teeth filled with AH Plus (AHP) or AH Plus bioceramic (AHPB) before or after 60 Gy- and 70 Gy-dose radiotherapy. Materials and methods: One hundred and ten maxillary incisors were endodontically prepared up to ProTaper Next X4 instruments. The teeth were randomly divided into 5 main groups as: non-irradiated, root canal treatment (RCT) before 60 Gy radiotherapy, RCT before 70 Gy radiotherapy, RCT after 60 Gy radiotherapy, RCT after 70 Gy radiotherapy. These groups were divided into 2 subgroups for filling material: AHP ve AHPB. After filling and radiotherapy procedures, the teeth were fixed on the thermoplastic mask plane. The plane were placed in the middle of a rectangular prism shaped glass phantom, and irradiated via a linear accelerator device. The teeth were then embedded in cylindrical acrylic blocks and the force (N) that caused the fracture was recorded under the Universal testing device. Student t-test was used for statistical comparisons. Statistical significance level was determined as p < 0.05. Results: After 70 Gy dose radiotherapy, the group filled with AHPB showed statistically significantly lower fracture strength than the group filled with AHP (p < 0.05). In the control group, before 60 Gy RT group, after 60 Gy RT group, and before 70 Gy RT group, the sealers had statistically significantly similar load-to-failure. (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The group filled with AHPB caused a lower fracture strength than the group filled with AHP following a 70 Gy dose of RT. The sealers in the control group, before 60 Gy RT group, after 60 Gy RT group, and before 70 Gy RT group exhibited comparable load-to-failure values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The main aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different cements (Panavia V5, RelyX U200) and placement techniques (indirect ultrasonic vibration and manual method) on the bond strength of glass fiber posts in teeth with different post space preparation methods and to evaluate the failure types. (2) Methods: A total of 120 human upper central teeth were collected for the study. One week after root canal treatment, 10 mm long post space preparation was performed using post drills. Post spaces were irrigated in three different ways, namely NaOCl, NaOCl + EDTA solutions, and passive ultrasonic irrigation of NaOCl and EDTA solutions. Glass fiber posts were divided into two groups for resin cement systems, namely RelyX U200 (3M ESPE) or Panavia V5 (Kuraray Medical). Two different methods, namely the indirect ultrasonic vibration and the manual method, were applied for post placement. Then, 1.2 mm sections were taken from the middle and coronal regions of the inserted fiber posts for a push-out test. (3) Results: the Irrigation × Cement (p = 0.002), Cement × Section (p = 0.043) and Placement × Section (p = 0.049) pairwise interactions were statistically significant. (4) Conclusions: in our study, the effects of different post cavity preparations, different cement types, and different placement techniques on the bond strength of the fiber post were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating the climatic factors within the limits of the sector, where the respective researches were carried out, their tendency to change, towards the creation of arid conditions, was found. The change of climatic factors imposes the need to review the cultivation technologies of agricultural plants. An element of the technological cultivation process was used mulch from plant residues, Miscanthus sp. The experiment was carried out with the laying of mulch with a layer thickness of about 5 cm, the width of the strip about 50 cm and the length in a row of 15 meters. In order to measure the parameters, sensors were fixed in the soil, which determine, in the layer of 10-15 cm: the temperature in the soil, the temperature at the surface of the soil, the humidity of the soil, the electrical conductivity of the soil, as well as the amount of sunlight that falls on the surface of the soil. The respective sensors were placed both in the mulched and non-mulched area. At the time of initiation of the experiment, the soil moisture in the layer of 10-15 cm from the surface was about 20.48%. After covering the soil with mulch throughout the vegetation period, it was found that the soil moisture, in the case with mulch, is practically twice as high as in the case without mulch. The layer of mulch from plant residues contributes to: maintaining moisture in the soil, regulating the thermal regime of the soil, preventing erosion processes, stopping the development of weeds, enriching the soil with mineral nutrients, etc. Also, the use of mulch contributes to reducing the financial and human resources for maintaining plantations by about 25%. The productivity of the plants was about 25.5-29.5% compared to the control, the amount of sugars is about 2-3% higher compared to the case without mulch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate efficacy of three root canal irrigation protocols (2.5% NaOCl followed by 17% EDTA, 0.5% BioAKT, and Dual Rinse HEDP) on canal debridement using scanning electron microscope. Materials and methods: Forty-five single rooted human mandibular premolars with nearly straight single canals were selected, the crowns of all teeth were removed near the level of cementoenamel junction to obtain approximately 14±1 mm uniform root lengths. After instrumentation with ProTaper Universal rotary files up to F4 (40/06), roots were randomly divided into three equal groups (n = 15) according to the final irrigation protocol. Group I: samples were finally rinsed with 5 ml of 2.5% NaOCl for 2 min, followed by distilled water, then 5 ml of 17% EDTA for 1 min. Group II: samples were finally rinsed with 5 ml of 0.5% BioAKT for 3 min. Group III: 5 ml of dual rinse HEDP was used for 3 min. Canal cleanliness was evaluated using scanning electron microscope with magnification of ×1000. Results: Group III and group II had the best cleanliness of the root canal while group I had the worst result. There were statistical significant differences between group I versus group II and group III (P ≤ 0.05) while there was no significant difference between group II versus group III. Regardless the final irrigation method, the coronal and middle thirds showed less amount of smear layer and remaining debris than the apical third. Conclusion: None of the tested final irrigating protocols resulted in completely clean canal wall. BioAKT and Dual Rinse HEDP showed significant reduction in smear layer and remaining debris compared to NaOCl followed by EDTA irrigation protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The main goal of the present experimental research was to analyze the smear layer removal efficacy of chelating agents and correlate with the amount of calcium released from the radicular dentin with the canal space. Methods: Forty single-rooted teeth were exposed to standardized root canal instrumentation technique with copious amount of irrigation with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite solution between each instrumentation, following which the specimens were randomly allocated into four groups: Group I: 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), Group II: 0.2% Chitosan, Group III: Qmix™, and Group IV: Control group with no final irrigation. After the irrigation protocol, the specimens were subjected to the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) evaluation to determine the smear layer removal efficacy and induced plasma mass spectrophotometric analysis was done to quantify the amount of calcium ions content in the irrigating solution. The data were statistically analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis and Dunnett's tests for smear layer removal analysis. Quantitative data were interpreted by the analysis of variance and Tukey's-Karmer test for the spectroscopic data analysis. Results: The result of the SEM analysis showed that there was no significant difference among the smear layer removal efficacy between the experimental groups with P > 0.05. The quantitative spectrophotometric data showed that the highest calcium ions release was from the 17% EDTA group followed by 0.2% chitosan and lesser from the Qmix™ group. Conclusion: Within the limitation of this in vitro experimental research, all the three experimental groups showed a better smear layer removal efficacy. EDTA showed the greater amount of mineral release compared to Qmix™ and chitosan group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colostomy patients have distinct needs that require specialised pathways for optimal care. Recognising that these needs vary, based on the type and configuration of the stoma, is crucial. Specialist nurses play a vital role in providing long-term support and expertise. While many stoma nursing services in the UK offer patient pathways, these often lack specificity for different stoma types. Tailoring pathways to colostomy patients can prevent complications, reduce hospital readmissions and enhance quality of life. Community nurses and other healthcare professionals are essential in supporting colostomy patients through individualised care. Their involvement ensures that patients receive appropriate preparation for life with a stoma and are adequately educated about their specific needs. This multidisciplinary approach fosters a comprehensive care environment, addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of living with a colostomy. By focusing on personalised care and life-long support, healthcare professionals can significantly improve patient outcomes and overall well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spinal adhesive arachnoidopathy (SAA) is a chronic pathology associated with persistent inflammatory responses in the arachnoid. Adhesive arachnoiditis (AA) is one of the major forms of SAA, with accompanying secondary complications. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review both clinical and animal model studies related to SAA to gain a deeper understanding of this unique pathology. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases to retrieve relevant publications up to October 2022. Clinical manifestations, etiologies, imaging modalities, treatments, and prognosis in patients with SAA were collected. Data from animal experiments related to SAA were also extracted. Results: A total of 176 studies, including 147 clinical and 29 animal model studies, with a total of 510 patients were enrolled in this study. Pain (37.5%), abnormal nerve sensations (39.58%), and abnormal motor function (78.75%) were the top three common symptoms of SAA. Major etiologies included trauma (22.7%), infection (17.73%), surgery (15.37%), and hemorrhage (13.48%). MRI was widely used to confirm the diagnosis. AA could be involved in cervical (96/606, 15.84%), thoracic (297/606, 49.01%), lumbar (174/606, 28.71%), and sacrococcygeal (39/606, 6.44%) vertebral segments. Patients with AA in cervical segments had a higher post‐surgery recovery rate (p = 0.016) compared to that of other segments. The common pathological diagnoses of SAA were AA (80.82%), AA combined with arachnoid cyst (12.79%), arachnoid calcification/scars (3.43%), and arachnoid web/fibrosis (2.97%). Patients with AA were more likely to develop syringomyelia, compared with patients with other forms of SAA (p < 0.001). Animal studies mainly focused on new AA therapeutic agents (n = 14), the pathomechanism of AA (n = 14), and the development of new MRI sequences for improved diagnosis (n = 1). Conclusions: The pathological consequences of SAA are more complex than AA and manifest in different forms, such as AA combined with arachnoid cyst, arachnoid calcification/scars, and arachnoid web/fibrosis. In many instances, AA was associated with secondary syringomyelia. Unspecific clinical manifestations of SAA may easily lead to misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. Although SAA may result from multiple etiologies, including spinal trauma, meningitis, spinal surgery, and hemorrhage, the pathogenesis and treatment of SAA have still not been standardized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the tissue dissolving capacities of sodium and calcium hypochlorite [NaOCl and Ca(OCl)2] solutions applied without activation or with two irrigant activation methods. Materials and Methods: One hundred and eight dentin cavities were prepared. Preweighed tissue pieces were placed in these dentin cavities, and samples were divided into nine groups of twelve. In groups 1, 2, and 3, NaOCl was used with non-activation (NA), passive ultrasonic (PUA), and laser activation (LA). With the same techniques, Ca(OCl)2 was used in groups 4, 5, and 6, and distilled water was used in groups 7, 8, and 9. The weight loss of tissue samples was calculated and analyzed using Two-way ANOVA and Duncan tests. Results: Distilled water groups showed no tissue dissolution in any conditions. NaOCI and Ca(OCI)2 showed statistically similar dissolving effectiveness when used with the same technique. Activated groups dissolved significantly greater tissue than non-activated ones, the highest in LA. Conclusions: Ca(OCI)2 can be an alternative to NaOCl; for both, the first choice of activation may be the LA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Effective endodontic treatment relies heavily on proper instrumentation, thorough disinfection, and precise three-dimensional obturation of the root canal system. Aims: This study aims to evaluate and compare continuous chelation (etidronic acid and sodium hypochlorite [NaOCl]) and sequential chelation (citric acid and NaOCl) on the dentinal tubule penetration of bioceramic-based sealer (Bio-C)-A confocal laser scanning microscopic study. Settings and Design: In vitro experimental study. Subjects and Methods: Sixty extracted permanent single-rooted teeth were selected and decoronated below cementoenamel junction to get a standardized length of 12 mm across all samples followed by enlargement of root canals till rotary ProTaper F3. The samples were randomly divided into three groups: Group I (control): Canals were irrigated with 3 mL 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid/3 mL 3% NaOCl; Group II: Canals were irrigated with 10 mL etidronic acid + NaOCl solution; and Group III: Canals were irrigated with 3 mL 10% citric acid followed by 3 mL 3% NaOCl. 0.1% rhodamine B dye was mixed with Bio-C sealer followed by obturation. All the samples were subjected to confocal laser scanning microscopy evaluation. Statistical Analysis Used: One-way analysis of variance with the Bonferroni post hoc test was used for the statistical analysis. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The pairwise comparison of depth of penetration showed statistically significant results in all the coronal, middle, and apical thirds. Group II showed better depth of penetration than Groups I and III. Conclusions: Continuous chelation protocol using etidronic acid and NaOCl showed greater and statistically significant sealer penetration depth when compared to the sequential chelation protocol, i.e., citric acid at all three levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Adductor canal block (ACB) is widely performed for postoperative analgesia for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The aim of this study is to compare surgeon-assisted and anesthesiologist-assisted (ultrasound-guided) adductor blocks in terms of postoperative analgesic efficacy. Methods: This study was designed as a double-blind, prospective and randomized trial. A total of 240 participants were randomly allocated to three groups: one where the surgeon performed the adductor canal block (ACBs), another where it was conducted by an anesthetist with ultrasound guidance (ACBa), and a third group without the adductor block. The follow-up management after the Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) procedure occurred on the first, third, and tenth days, as well as the twelfth week. Outcome measures comprised pain assessment using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and monitoring opioid analgesic consumption. Results: No significant differences in demographic profiles were observed between the groups. Groups ACBa and ACBs exhibited significantly lower VAS scores compared to the control group at both 3 and 12 h after surgery, with group ACBa showing the lowest VAS scores among all groups. However, at 1 day, 3 days, 10 days and 12 weeks after surgery, there was no significant difference in VAS scores between the ACBa and ACBs groups. On the first three days, the ACBa group had the lowest opioid consumption and the lowest total opioid consumption. The differences in VAS scores between the groups began to decrease on the first day after surgery. Conclusion: The adductor canal block (ACB) has been demonstrated to be an effective method of reducing pain in patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR) in the postoperative period. Nevertheless, despite the pronounced impact that ACB performed by an anesthesiologist under ultrasound guidance has on VAS scores according to intraoperative ACB by surgeons, its effect on clinical outcomes has not been demonstrated. Trial registrations: This study was retrospectively registered with the Clinical Trials Registry Platform on July 31, 2024 (NCT06533085). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Syringe irrigation, commonly used for delivering sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) during root canal treatment, requires careful handling to prevent NaOCl extrusion into periapical tissues. This randomised controlled in vitro study aimed to quantify syringe plunger forces exerted by dental undergraduates and to assess the impact of an educational intervention on adherence to safe irrigant delivery parameters. Methods: Fifty-two undergraduates performed syringe irrigation at three intervals: baseline (T1), after two weeks (T2), and after 12 weeks (T3). At T1, irrigation was conducted without prior educational intervention, while at T2, it was preceded by an intervention. The educational intervention involved a short video highlighting safe irrigation practices, including plunger force and time recommendations for syringe irrigation. At T3, the undergraduates were randomly allocated to two groups: One received a repeated intervention, while the other did not. Syringe irrigation was performed on a 3D-printed tooth using two side-vented cannulas: one of 25 Gauge (G) and another of 30 G. A syringe equipped with a force sensor recorded the plunger forces. Based on earlier research, plunger forces exceeding 10 Newtons (N) for the 25 G cannula and 40 N for the 30 G cannula were deemed critical. The data were subjected to descriptive statistical analyses. Results: Overall, the mean of maximum values of plunger forces remained under 10 N for the 25 G and below 20 N for the 30 G cannulas, with only a few measurements exceeding 40 N. Instances of surpassing the critical plunger force threshold were more common with the 25 G side-vented cannula than with the 30 G variant. At T3, the group that received the repeated educational intervention exhibited lower average maximum plunger forces for both cannulas than the group that did not receive the intervention. Conclusion: Integrating plunger force measurements with targeted educational interventions presents an effective approach for instructing undergraduates in the proper techniques of syringe irrigation. The findings suggest that, generally, undergraduates do not apply excessive plunger forces that could risk apical irrigant extrusion. Implementing repeated educational interventions decreased the plunger forces exerted by undergraduates, underscoring its effectiveness in fostering safe endodontic irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case report describes, for the first time, the use of interventional radiology following arthroscopy with a thin arthroscope for the diagnosis and treatment of synovial chondromatosis (SC) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Therapeutic joint irrigation concomitant with arthroscopic observation of the superior joint compartment (SJC) was performed in a patient with functional TMJ pain caused by SC. The thin arthroscope was inserted with the aid of an X-ray fluoroscope. Arthroscopy confirmed that the SC was at disease stage II and that synovitis existed throughout the SJC. The initial maximal interincisor opening (MIO) was 30 mm, while after the joint-irrigation procedure the MIO was 40 mm. In addition, the TMJ pain was greatly reduced after joint irrigation. Our findings demonstrate that interventional radiology with a thin arthroscope is clinically useful for the diagnosis and primary treatment of patients with painful SC in the TMJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the efficacy of different irrigation techniques including laser-activated irrigation using an erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser with a novel tip design (photon-induced photoacoustic streaming (PIPS)), Er:YAG laser with Preciso tip, sonic activation, and passive ultrasonic activation on the final irrigation solution penetration into dentinal tubules by using a laser scanning confocal microscope. Material and methods: In this study, 65 extracted single-rooted human mandibular premolars were instrumented up to size 40 and randomly divided into 5 groups ( n = 13) based on the activation technique of the final irrigation solution as follows: conventional irrigation (control group), sonic activation, passive ultrasonic activation, Er:YAG-PIPS tip activation, and Er:YAG-Preciso tip activation. In each group, 5 mL of 5% NaOCl labeled with fluorescent dye was used during the activation as the final irrigation solution. Specimens were sectioned at 2.5 and 8 mm from the apex and then examined under a confocal microscope to calculate the dentinal tubule penetration area. Data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's post hoc tests ( P = 0.05). Results: Both Er:YAG laser (Preciso/PIPS) activations exhibited a significantly higher penetration area than the other groups ( P < 0.05). Additionally, passive ultrasonic activation had significantly higher penetration than the sonic activation group and the control group. Statistically significant differences were also found between each root canal third (coronal > middle > apical) ( P < 0.001). Conclusions: The results from the present study support the use of Er:YAG laser activation (Preciso/PIPS) to improve the effectiveness of the final irrigation procedure by increasing the irrigant penetration area into the dentinal tubules. Clinical relevance: The activation of the irrigant and the creation of the streaming with the Er:YAG laser have a positive effect on the irrigant penetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Obstructive and inflammatory disease often occurs in the major salivary glands, and no predictive treatment has yet been developed for this condition. The aim of this report was to introduce an intraductal irrigation procedure and to illustrate its application to practical patient cases. Materials and Methods: Two patients complaining of pain and swelling in the parotid gland during meals who underwent sialography were diagnosed as having sialodochitis with sialadenitis. Intraductal irrigation was then performed on the parotid gland on the side of the complaint. The irrigation procedure was conducted in the same manner as the sialography procedure, except that saline was used as the filling solution. Symptom severity was evaluated with a numerical rating scale (NRS) at the initial visit and a month after the irrigation. Results: The initial NRS value of patient 1 was 10. The value decreased to 6 and then to 0 after 2 irrigation procedures. The NRS value of patient 2 regarding the symptoms involving the left parotid gland decreased from 4-5 to 1 after 4 irrigation procedures performed at 1-month intervals. Conclusion: Intraductal irrigation of the salivary gland may be a simple, safe, and effective treatment option for patients with obstructive and inflammatory disease of the salivary gland that is capable of resolving their symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to determine the smear layer removal from the root canals using different irrigant solutions with diode laser. Methods: A set of sixty human upper incisor teeth were chosen. Access cavity preparation was done followed by canal instrumentation. Samples were divided into six groups (Group A: sodium hypochlorite NaOCl, Group B: NaOCl + diode laser, group C: NaOCl + EDTA ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid solution, Group D: NaOCl + EDTA + diode laser, Group E: NaOCl + garlic extract, Group F: NaOCl + garlic extract + diode laser. Examining the smear layer removal at the coronal, middle and apical thirds of the root canals was done by using electron microscope analysis. Using an energy-dispersive X-ray, the calcium/phosphorus Ca/P ratio was measured. Results: Among the examined groups, there were not any significant differences regarding the smear layer removal. The elimination of smear layers at the middle and coronal thirds was greater in all examined groups than in the apical third. EDX analysis revealed no statistically significant variation between the tested groups. Conclusions: Using diode laser with sodium hypochlorite and ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid irrigant solution was more effective for the elimination of smear layers. Garlic extract could be used as an alternative irrigant solution in debris removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Phacoemulsification has been a procedure of choice for treating cataractous lenses and restoring visual function. Posterior polar cataract have been one of many cases in which phaco surgeons should be careful and aware for more to perform phacoemulsification. One hydrodissection procedure is safe to perform as an alternative to hydrodileniation during phacoemulsification for posterior cataract. It is called gradual hydrodissection. Methods: This study performed a quasi-experimental pre-post study that tested the safety of gradual hydrodissection in phacoemulsification in 50 eyes of 50 patients. The safety parameter used in this study includes the incidence of posterior capsule rupture and nucleus drop during phacoemulsification until surgery is finished. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the characteristics of the study participants, such as age, sex, race, eye laterality, and previous intraocular surgery. A paired student's t-test was conducted to compare preoperative and postoperative values for visual acuity and intraocular pressure. The P <0.05 was considered the level of statistical significance. Results: There was no complication of the posterior capsule during the hydrodissection procedure. There was a statistically significant difference in visual acuity and intraocular pressure before and after surgery by P value <0.001. All of the phacoemulsification studies were considered uneventful and successful. Conclusions: Gradual hydrodissection may be safe to be performed in phacoemulsification for posterior polar cataract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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