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Multimedia resources, such as instructional videos, are currently enjoying a certain popularity in the training programs for medical and dental students. The major challenge is to create such resources with quality content that is approved by students. In order to answer this challenge, it is imperative to find out which features of instructional videos are considered to be necessary and useful by students, thus being able to excite them, to hold their attention, and to stimulate them in learning with pleasure. Aim: We investigated the opinions of a sample of 551 students from four medical universities in Romania, in order to identify the students’ preferred characteristics in instructional videos, both globally and comparatively on genders and age groups and also according to their general preferences for using internet services. Material and methods: We used univariate (hypothesis testing) and multivariate (two-step clustering) data analysis techniques and revealed three clusters of students, primarily determined by their perceptions of the visual appearance of the instructional videos. Results: The structure of the clusters by gender and age group was relatively similar, but we recorded differences associated with the students’ expressed preferences for certain internet services compared to others. The first identified cluster (35.4% of the cases) contains students who prefer instructional videos to contain images used only for aesthetic purposes and to fill the gaps; they use internet services mainly for communication. The second cluster of students (34.8%) prefers videos designed as practical lessons, using explanatory drawings and diagrams drawn at the same time as the explanations; they also use internet services mainly for communication. The last cluster of students (29.8%) prefer videos designed as PowerPoint presentations, with animated pictures, diagrams, and drawings; they are slightly younger than the others and use internet services mainly for information and communication, but also for domestic facilities. Conclusions: The students’ preferences for certain features of instructional videos depend not only on gender and age but are also related to their developmental background and general opinions about modern technologies.

Clustering is a complex data mining tool, useful to identify similarities in large amount of data, the medical databases being highly suitable in this regard. Our paper aims to compare the efficacy of two well-known clustering methods, the n-means algorithm and the classical hierarchical algorithm, and to apply them in analyzing a medical-economic database on dietary habits, social economic status and oral health in a sample of 326 men, aged between 25 and 30, living in the urban area – in order to identify possible associations between dietary habits and income levels. We identified 4 clusters which correspond partially to the 4 income levels recorded in the investigated sample and reveal the associated dietary habits. The n-means clustering performed better than the Single Linkage hierarchical classification, being therefore highly suitable in the analysis of socio-economic and general health data.

The online learning is a modern trend in universities around the world and will certainly become an important partner in all academic programs of the coming years. The students major challenge is to adapt to the requirements of the new teaching tools, changing their learning style and the expectations they have from the academic teaching programs, in order to be performant. Of great use in this approach is the temperamental structure of each individual and his ability to focus on achieving the proposed goals and to be consistent, which can only be identified and quantified through psychological evaluations. We conducted a study between 2020 and 2022, on a sample of 551 students, 23.8% males and 76.2% females, with an average age of 21.78 ± 3.736 years; we invited them to specify their opinion about the online education in which they participated during the pandemics and we correlated their answers with their psychological learner profile, evaluated using the Motivational Persistence Scale. The study confirms our working hypothesis, according to which the students with high scores on the Motivational Persistence Scale and a strong will to get involved in achieving long-term goals and fulfilling the current tasks, have also favorable opinions about the online learning, while the students who don’t generally agree with the online learning, being highly aware by its disadvantages, are also less motivated and consistent in reaching the goals they set up.

The aim of present work is a double one. On the first hand we tried to collect together the newest data concerning the enteroneurons’ morphology, their association in the parietal plexuses and their synaptic interconnections. All classes of enteroneurons were discussed in detail, but, despite their diversity, we have concluded that, essentially, they can be classified as motor, sensitive and interneurons, are disposed in layers and have the same functionality as the cerebral cortex neurons. According to their neurochemistry, we have imagined reflex circuits subserving motor and secretory functions, illustrated with original diagrams. Enteroglia and interstitial cells of Cajal are also assessed in interrelation with neurilema and myolema of gut muscles fibers. The second goal of our study was focussed on serotoninergic enteroneurons, their contribution to both motor and secretory gut functions and also on synuclein production in the enteroneurons, named by us extraparietointestinal. Their contribution to trigger the initial stages of Parkinson disease is proposed.

Aim of the study Since a century ago, xylitol, a white, crystalline carbohydrate, has been known as a naturally occurring five-carbon sugar polyol. Its impact on dental caries has been extensively researched during the previous forty years. It can be derived from plant materials rich in xylan, like the wood of birch and beech trees, and is naturally present in fruits, vegetables, and berries. The amount of MS in dental plaque and saliva is reduced because xylitol interferes with the energy-producing processes of Mutans Streptococci (MS), causing their death. It also reduces the adhesion of these microorganisms to the surface of teeth and, as a result, decreases their acid-producing potential. Conclusions Despite all the information available on xylitol, further study is still required to fully understand its mechanisms of action, the clinical implications of xylitol resistance, and how it affects Streptococcus Mutans and the plaque-saliva complex. Properly planned randomised controlled clinical trials must be conducted in conjunction with research to show that xylitol prevention is feasible in a variety of groups with various dietary and dental hygiene practices. It is also necessary to thoroughly confirm the best delivery methods for xylitol and the degree to which it can be “diluted” with other polyols without losing its ability to prevent dental caries. It is necessary to calibrate the minimal daily dose and frequency required for xylitol’s effects on MS, dental plaque, and caries.

Tooth whitening has gained popularity as a cosmetic dental procedure, aiming to enhance smile aesthetics. However, an emerging phenomenon known as “tooth whitening addiction” or “bleachorexia” has drawn attention due to patients exhibiting excessive and compulsive behaviours towards tooth whitening procedures. Material and Method: A systematic electronic search was performed in electronic databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Science direct. After evaluation 38 studies were finally analysed. Results. This review discusses the idea of teeth whitening addiction, considers how it relates to addictive behaviours, and looks at any potential psychological causes that may be at play. Conclusions: Dental providers must be aware of the addictive nature of these behaviours as well as any potential psychological implications. Dental professionals can effectively manage tooth whitening addiction while ensuring the overall oral health and well-being of their patients by implementing a holistic strategy that includes dental and psychological examinations, appropriate patient education, and multidisciplinary collaboration. The prevalence, psychological causes, and long-term effects of tooth whitening addiction must be further investigated in order to provide evidence-based interventions and recommendations in this developing field of study.

Quality of life reflects the individual’s perception of his own well-being and overall satisfaction in various areas of his life. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 75 subjects were selected with ages between 17-56 years, in the period 2022-2023. The WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used to evaluate the quality of life, and the Corah score was used to determine the sense of safety and dental anxiety. RESULTS: The average value recorded was 3.87±0.684 for the way they perceive their own quality of life and 3.77±0.727 for the degree of satisfaction regarding their own state of health. The analysis of the correlations between the level of dental anxiety and the quality of life were positive at a p=0.01 value, these being stronger for domains 1, 2 and 4 and moderate for “Overall Quality of Life and General Health” and “social relationships”. DISCUSSIONS: the subjects participating in the study have a moderate degree of dental phobia and, in general, feel it more acutely in situations where they start to get sick or feel a sensation of suffocation. CONCLUSIONS: the results showed that the majority of subjects had a good quality of life and low levels of dental anxiety.

The main objective of this study was to determine the variation in the properties of cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin films deposited on a p-type Si substrate by the radio frequency magnetron sputtering technique at four different working powers (70 W, 80 W, 90 W, and 100 W). The substrate temperature, working pressure, and deposition time during the deposition process were kept constant at 220 °C, 0.46 Pa, and 30 min, respectively. To study the structural, morphological, and optical properties of the CdTe films grown under the mentioned experimental conditions, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and optical spectroscopy were used. For a better analysis of the films’ structural and optical properties, a group of films were deposited onto optical glass substrates under similar deposition conditions. The electrical characterisation of Ag/CdTe/Al “sandwich” structures was also performed using current–voltage characteristics in the dark at different temperatures. The electrical measurements allowed the identification of charge transport mechanisms through the structure. New relevant information released by the present study points towards 90 W RF power as the optimum for obtaining a high crystallinity of ~1 μm nanostructured thin films deposited onto p-Si and optical glass substrates with optical and electrical properties that are suitable for use as absorber layers. The obtained high-quality CdTe nanostructured thin films are perfectly suitable for use as absorbers in CdTe thin-film photovoltaic cells.

TMJ disc displacement, which is a relatively frequent pathology, proves to be frustrating experience not only for patients, but also for dentists, who often lack sufficient expertise in this area. Consequently, they tend to refer patients to maxillofacial surgeons. Furthermore, there are instances where dentists are completely unaware of this pathology. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the level of knowledge among freshly graduated dental students regarding temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). To achieve this, a questionnaire consisting of multiple-choice questions was administrated to dental students who graduated from the Faculty of Dental Medicine at “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi within the last two years. The responses yielded unexpected results, both positive and negative, leading to various conclusions. It became evident that general dentists possess limited knowledge about temporomandibular disorders. To address this issue, universities should prioritize incorporating comprehensive TMD pathology education, not only during programs addressed to prosthodontic specialists.

The therapeutic solutions chosen were ceramics on a zirconium support or ceramics on a metal infrastructure made by laser technique, which is a therapeutic alternative beneficial for the relationship with the affected tissues, a situation that is found in patients with cardiovascular or other types of general diseases. In addition to the technological line chosen, the biomaterials chosen are also extremely important, with Co-Cr alloys remaining a biocompatible option that satisfies the optimal parameters of the final prosthetic construction. From the study group we selected a representative clinical case for cardiovascular pathology in conjunction with partial edentulousness.The aim of this study is to identify how modern fixed prosthodontic technologies optimize the integration of fixed prostheses in the context of the current oral manifestations which occur as a consequence of different types of systemic damage.The study group consisted of 200 patients diagnosed with different forms of partial edentulousness and at the same time presenting different general status disorders. Non-invasiveness in conjunction with precise modern technologies with a different degree of biocompatibility creates the prerequisites for a good integration of oral rehabilitation against the background of different types of complications in the territory of oral manifestations in patients with different types of systemic diseases.

The aim of this study is to carry out an epidemiological retrospective of COVID-19 with individualization of the peculiarities of manifestation on the territory of Moldova, the evolutionary peculiarities being in full agreement with the general status of the patient up to that moment. 779 patients with COVID-19, hospitalized between September 2020 and April 2021, 386 men (49.6%) and 393 women (50.4%), aged between 7 and 93 years, were investigated; the mean age of the patients was 52.26 ± 15.844 years, with no significant differences between men (52.26 ± 15.830 years) and women (52.26 ± 15.878 years). More than half of the patients (59.6%) are aged between 30-59 years; 8.3% are young people under 30 years old, and about a third (32.1%) are elderly, over 60 years old (table 1) – without statistically significant differences between the sexes ( Pearson Chi – squared = 3.102, p = 0.875 ). There are certain correlations between the symptoms noticed in patients, their comorbidities and the appearance of lung changes on CT, respectively febrile or afebrile evolution. Among the characteristic symptoms of COVID-19, patients with comorbidities present more frequently cough, physical asthenia, inappetence and other than chest pain compared to those without comorbidities.

In order to determine the effects of frontal sinus morphology on the morpho-functionality of the dento-maxillary apparatus and the therapeutic management of pathologies in the orthodontic or maxillofacial surgery area, paraclinical evaluation is extremely important. During time, radiography – a relatively old method, allowed complex explorations of the extreme cephalic area, providing details of cephalometric and facial indexes and information regarding the pneumatization and neuro- and viscera-cranium at the same time. Aim: This manuscript focuses on the correlation of elements related to craniofacial anomalies, in which frontal sinus malformations hold a particularly important place, with various dental anomalies which are particularly important aspects in optimizing the diagnostic and therapeutic protocol in both, orthodontic and orthognathic surgical approaches. Materials and methods: We set out to examine the frontal sinus, including a number of 112 patients, aged 4 to 78 years old, with malocclusions, the research being performed in the Radiology Clinic of Emergency Clinical Hospital “Sf. Spiridon” Iasi, during 2018-2020. We used in our research the landmarks represented by the frontal median septum and the upper orbital margin, on the basis of which we calculated the dimensions of the frontal sinus. The cases were as follows: 66 women (58,9%) and 46 men (41,1%), and age distribution was as follows: •4 – 9 years (20 cases – 17,9%); •10 – 19 years (22 cases – 19,6%); •20 – 45 years (31 cases – 27,7%); •46 – 60 years (19 cases – 17,0%); •over 60 years (20 cases – 17,9%). Results and discussions: The data obtained in our study are superimposable on those found in the literature, noting a frequency of absence of bilateral frontal sinus in 9,8% of cases, the elements of specificity belonging to the percentage of 6,1% for women and 15,2% for men, all cases being between 5-15 years. There are not significant differences between the planimetric measurements at patients with sinusitis compared with the others; instead, we found statistically significant differences between the planimetric measurements concerning the right sinus as well as the left sinus at the 3 classes of malocclusion – the patients in the I-st class have the smallest sinuses, the patients in the II-nd class have intermediary mesurements, while the patients in the III-rd class have the biggest measurements of the sinuses. Conclusions: In dental practice, cascading effects are extremely important, starting from frontal sinus malformations, which lead to different types of dento-dental anomalies, the implications being found in specific orthodontic therapy and orthognathic surgery.

Composite materials are biomaterials frequently used in dental restorations, offering an extremely wide range of structures adapted to both the location and the aesthetic and biomechanical requirements of the dental structure to which they are applied. The indications for the use of these biomaterials are not only restricted to the field of conservative dentistry but also in the preparation and reconstruction of dental structures involved in prosthetic therapy, periodontology and dental alveolar surgery, their choice being in accordance with the specifics of the operation performed. The aim of our study was to observe the influence of different beverage environment conditions on two types of obturation dental materials with different compositions from a morpho-structural point of view, water sorption characteristics of the restorative dental composites were determined through DVS measurements. By associating the value of isotherms with the degree of porosity of the surfaces of the two samples analysed, we can conclude that the surface alteration is relatively similar for the two types of material, with higher values being obtained for sample P1 in the presence of Red Bull and then Fanta.

Purpose. Based on the results of existing research in the literature on bruxism and prosthetic treatment, an attempt was made to draw conclusions about the existence of a possible relationship between the two. Material and method A literature search was conducted for articles in Medline/PubMed and School Google for articles using the terms “bruxism, “prosthetic treatment”, dental wear, and relevant studies were analyzed. Results. Bruxism is a parafunctional habit with a multifactorial etiology. The role of bruxism in the etiology of dental wear is unclear, not considered a major cause. There is no specific treatment to stop bruxism, including prosthetic treatment. The present review addresses the relationship between bruxism and prosthetic treatment, mainly the effect of bruxism on prosthetic restorations. Conclusions. Bruxism can be included among the risk factors that generate difficulties during oral, dental or prosthetic rehabilitations with support on natural teeth or implants. These difficulties are represented by a large number of cases of failure in rehabilitation therapy in patients with bruxism.

The precise quantification of a dielectric waveguide core thickness, core width, core refractive index, and cladding refractive index across a wafer is critical for greater consistency and accuracy in photonic circuit fabrication. However, accurate wafer-scale measurements of these parameters have not yet been demonstrated. We have previously described a method for extracting these four parameters simultaneously from silicon nitride waveguides using unbalanced Mach–Zehnder interferometers on a single die. In this work, we show that this technique can be scaled to characterize these photonic parameters across an entire 300 mm wafer. The refractive indices of the core and cladding materials are found with relative standard deviations of the mean of 0.07% and 0.03%, respectively. The core width offset (bias) and thickness are found with relative standard deviations of 0.3% (2.6 nm) and 0.5% (1.1 nm), respectively. The extracted parameter maps suggest a radial variation of material indices and a planar variation of geometric parameters. We verify the extracted parameters by accurately predicting the performance of an unbalanced Mach–Zehnder interferometer and the degeneracy between different modes in straight waveguides.

Abstract Hybrid layers consisting of Fe oxide, Fe hydroxide, and nitrogen doped graphene-like platelets have been synthesized by an eco-friendly laser-based method for photocatalytic applications. The complex composite layers show high photodecomposition efficiency towards degradation of antibiotic molecules under visible light irradiation. The photodecomposition efficiency was investigated as a function of relative concentrations of base materials, Fe oxide nanoparticles and graphene oxide platelets used for the preparation of target dispersions submitted to laser irradiation. Although reference pure Fe oxide/Fe hydroxide layers have high absorption in the visible spectral region, their photodecomposition efficiency is negligible under the same irradiation conditions. The high photocatalytic decomposition efficiency of the nanohybrid layer, up to 80% of the initial antibiotic molecules was assigned to synergistic effects between the constituent materials, efficient separation of the electron–hole pairs generated by visible light irradiation on the surface of Fe oxide and Fe hydroxide nanoparticles, in the presence of conducting graphene-like platelets. Nitrogen doped graphene-like platelets contribute also to the generation of electron–hole pairs under visible light irradiation, as demonstrated by the photocatalytic activity of pure, reference nitrogen doped graphene-like layers. The results also showed that adsorption processes do not contribute significantly to the removal of antibiotic molecules from the test solutions. The decrease of the antibiotic concentration under visible light irradiation was assigned primarily to photocatalytic decomposition mechanisms.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of three types of composite resins used for periodontal immobilization systems’ realization, the G-aenial Flo X (GC Corporator—Tokyo, Japan), the GrandioSO (VOCO—Cuxhawen, Germany), and the Clearfil Majesty ES flow (Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc.—Okayama, Japan). The structural analyses were realized by scanning electron microscopy, using a QUANTA 200 3D scanning electronic microscope (FEI, Netherlands), and the determination of the elemental composition of the materials was realized via X-ray spectroscopy with energy dispersion (EDX). The results showed that the GrandioSO composite demonstrated the most resistant nonporous structure, due to the presence of a homogeneous matrix characterized by low proportions of silicon and carbon. Further research is required in order to analyze the mechanical parameters of these resins and their behavior in different biological environments, in vitro and in vivo.

The absence of one or multiple teeth can be remedied through the utilization of removable partial dentures, which possess a similar aesthetic quality to natural teeth and generally present a less intrusive and more cost-effective alternative to other tooth replacement options. Removable partial dentures serve as an excellent esthetic remedy for lost teeth and a suitable interim solution prior to the implementation of more extensive periodontic treatments. The denture base not only functions as a cornerstone for the denture, providing stability and retention within the mouth but also must be created from biocompatible materials, poses no risk in the oral cavity and to closely resemble the patient’s natural gum color and shape.

Radiographic methods provide useful information about bone tissue changes, and radiographs have the advantage that they can be stored and reevaluated at any time. However, radiographic evaluations are subject to several sources of error. The purpose of this study was to analyze the maxillary bones by computer tomographic analysis, assessing the value of their density as a predictive element in the success of oral rehabilitation by classical or modern methods. In this study, we selected 35 patients for dental CT scans made with a Somatom Emotion device, Siemens in order to apply dental implants and removable prostheses. 20 women and 15 men aged between 60-80 years participated in the study . For comparison, 6 dental CT scans from the group of patients under the age of 65 were analyzed. The measurements were made on approximately symmetrical right-left areas. A line parallel to the long axis of the horizontal branch of the mandible, tangential to the lower edge, was drawn. The correlative aspects established between the patient’s sex, bone density and the dimensions of the edentulous ridges underline a prevalence, in percentage of 55%, of medium ridges in the frontal area, associated with the female sex and a D3 bone density, while medium ridges both frontally and laterally associated with D3 density and association with the male sex. The value of the CT examination in evaluating the quality of edentulous ridges and some foreign bodies and sinus inflammatory processes with the evaluation of the proximity of important anatomical structures as landmarks in implantology is evident.

The progress recorded in the technology of skeletale removable prostheses, with immediate reflection in clinical use, draws attention to these materials, the specialized literature covering practically all areas of their use in dentistry.The purpose of the study is represented by the identification of the technological particularities of making skeletonized removable partial prostheses made of Titanium in accordance with the particularity of the clinical cases and the technological line approached. A number of 10 titanium skeletal prostheses anchored in the classical register as well as in the modern register were made by using attachments as elements to maintain support and stabilization. The high reactivity of molten titanium (as well as that of crystallized titanium but at high temperatures) with oxygen from the packing table and/or from the working environment or the material of the crucible, as the case may be, with other chemical components thereof, make the surface of the cast part to appear a reaction zone with a thickness of 25-200mm, called the a-case layer. The realization of partially removable titanium prostheses is a particularly important step in achieving the biocompatibility and suppleness of these components with an impact in terms of patient comfort.

Abstract Heated tobacco products have a rapid uptake, especially among young people, mostly where advertising is unregulated, as is the case in Romania. This qualitative study explores the influence of direct marketing methods of heated tobacco products on young people, their perception and behaviour towards smoking. We have carried out 19 interviews with smokers of heated tobacco products (HTPs) or/and combustible cigarettes (CCs) or non-smokers (NS), aged 18–26. Using the thematic analysis, we have identified three overarching themes: (1) people, places, and subjects of marketing, (2) engagement with risk narratives and (3) social body, family bonds, and autonomous self. Even if most of the participants have been exposed to a mix of marketing methods, they did not acknowledge the influence that marketing has on their decision to experience smoking. Young adults’ decision to use heated tobacco products seems to be influenced by a cluster of reasons: overcoming the legislation gap which prohibits indoor use of combustible cigarettes but not heated tobacco products; the attractivity of the product (novelty, inviting appearance, technological appeal and price) and presumed less damaging effects on health.

Background: Chondral defects in the knee present a significant challenge due to their limited self-healing capacity, often leading to joint degeneration and functional disability. Current treatments, including surgical approaches like mosaicplasty and regenerative therapies such as bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) augmentation, aim to address these defects and improve patient outcomes. Materials and Methods: This study conducted a single-center, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of different treatment approaches and rehabilitation protocols for chondral defects. Thirty-seven subjects presenting with symptomatic chondral or osteochondral defects (>3 cm2) in the weight-bearing region of the femoral condyle were partitioned into three groups, and underwent mosaicplasty with or without BMAC augmentation, followed by either a 6-week or 12-week rehabilitation program. Group 1 (n = 10) received mosaicplasty combined with BMAC augmentation and engaged in a twelve-week two-phase rehabilitation protocol. Group 2 (n = 15) underwent mosaicplasty alone and participated in the same twelve-week two-phase rehabilitation regimen. Meanwhile, Group 3 (n = 12) underwent mosaicplasty and underwent a shorter six-week one-phase rehabilitation program. Clinical assessments were performed using the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, goniometry for the knee’s range of motion (ROM), manual muscle testing (MMT) for quadricep strength, and the Western Ontario and McMaster University Arthritis Index (WOMAC) for functional evaluation in three test phases. Results: Significant differences in WOMAC scale scores were observed between the three groups at the intermediate (F(2, 34) = 5.24, p < 0.010) and final (F(2, 34) = 111, p < 0.000) stages, with post hoc Tukey tests revealing variations shared among all three groups. The between-group analysis of the VAS scale demonstrated no statistically significant difference initially (F(2, 34) = 0.18, p < 0.982), but significant differences emerged following the intermediate (F(2, 34) = 11.40, p < 0.000) and final assessments (F(2, 34) = 59.87, p < 0.000), with post hoc Tukey tests revealing specific group variations, notably between Group 1 and both Group 2 and Group 3, and also between Group 3 and Group 2. The between-group analysis of quadricep muscle strength using MMT scores revealed no statistically significant differences initially (F(2, 34) = 0.376, p < 0.689) or following the intermediate assessment (F(2, 34) = 2.090, p < 0.139). The one-way ANOVA analysis showed no significant difference in the knee ROM initially (F(2, 34) = 1.037, p < 0.366), but significant differences emerged following intermediate (F(2, 34) = 9.38, p < 0.001) and final assessments (F(2, 34) = 11.60, p < 0.000). Post hoc Tukey tests revealed significant differences between Groups 1 and 2, Groups 1 and 3, and Groups 2 and 3 at intermediate and final assessments. Conclusions: The patients who received BMAC augmentation and completed a 12-week rehabilitation protocol had significantly better outcomes in pain relief, knee function, and ROM when compared to those who did not receive BMAC augmentation or those who completed a shorter rehabilitation period. Our findings suggest that combining mosaicplasty with BMAC augmentation and a comprehensive rehabilitation program can lead to superior clinical outcomes for patients with chondral defects in the knee.

Although myofascial release techniques (MRTs) are commonly used to improve athletes’ range of motion (ROM), the effectiveness of MRTs may vary depending on the specific method performed. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of MRTs on the ROM performance of athletes. (2) Methods: The electronic databases of Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched to identify relevant articles published up to June 2023. This study utilized the PRISMA guidelines, and four databases were searched. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the PEDro scale, and the certainty of evidence was reported using the GRADE scale. The overall effect size was calculated using the robust variance estimator, and subgroup analyses were conducted using the Hotelling Zhang test. (3) Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. The overall effect size results indicated that the myofascial release intervention had a moderate effect on ROM performance in athletes when compared to the active or passive control groups. (4) Conclusions: Alternative MRTs, such as myofascial trigger point therapy, can further improve the ROM performance of athletes. Gender, duration of intervention, and joint type may have a moderating effect on the effectiveness of MRTs.

Introduction: The modern educational process must integrate new tools, to keep pace with technological advances. The current generation of students (Generation Z-“digital natives”) have specific demands regarding the learning process, because they are familiar from their early childhood with technology, being declared supporters of independent and active learning style, based on visual, tactile, and kinesthetic content as well as practical activities, and less on theoretical lectures. Significant changes are required in this context, and the academic curricula must be re-designed to keep its efficacy. Our paper aims to investigate the extent to which the preferences of medical students for the autonomous use of multimedia resources in the learning process are correlated with their opinions towards Internet and the intensity of using it in their daily activities. Methods: We investigated 551 medical students from 4 Romanian medical universities, 76.2% females, 63.7% in the 1st and 2nd years of study. Students were asked to express on Likert-scales their agreement with a list of statements about Internet services, as well as whether they like learning using multimedia tools and how intensively they use Internet services. Results: The students agree to a medium to large extent with the favorable statements about Internet services but are also aware of the negative influences that indiscriminate use of such technology can have. The intensity of Internet usage is high, although not exaggerated. The score of favorable opinions about Internet services is statistically significant correlated with the students’ agreement to use digital tools in learning; the students enjoy the online learning, as well as the PowerPoint presentations and the documentation online. Conclusions: Generally speaking, the students who enjoy using multimedia resources for learning are constant users of Internet services as well; they use Internet mainly for information, and in the second place for communication through instant messaging applications.

Muscle lesions are among the most common injuries encountered in performance sports. Despite their high incidence, their diagnosis, classification, and treatment are constantly being debated. Most of the time, the severity of the injury indicates the recovery strategy (conservative, physical therapy, surgical, etc). Currently, due to advances in medical, pharmacological, and physical therapy, the treatment of muscle injuries can be greatly improved. Incomplete or incorrect recovery from a muscle injury can have a series of negative effects (financial or sports performance), which can affect the long-term career of athletes. Considering the incidence and costs that an injury can generate, in this paper, we set out to identify and present the latest approaches, used by specialists in the field, to facilitate the fastest recovery of athletes.

Restorative dentistry, in particular whole crown preparation is known to cause gingival recession. Inadequate partial dentures and soft tissue support can cause severe gum recession. Incorrect use of elevators in oral surgery procedures can destroy the alveolar bone of adjacent teeth causing recession. The aim of this study is to evaluate the cumulative factors influencing the final therapeutic success following the lowering of periodontal status with the type of prosthetic restoration performed.We evaluated a total of 80 prosthetic restorations, 20 veneers and 25 zirconia-supported ceramic crowns and 35 metal-ceramic crowns(CCM). The percentage of sites showing a periodontal space depth greater than 3 mm was lower in the porcelain veneer group. The frequency of periodontal pockets of 4 mm was 1% in the buccal surfaces of the veneers, 4% in the CCM buccal surfaces and 2% in the CCM palatal surfaces. There were no statistically significant differences between the determinations made at the sites assessed at the CCM level and those assessed at the veneers level. 1. Subgingival placement of prosthetic restorations has a negative impact on periodontal health and consequently on their aesthetic outcome. Ceramic veneers, due to their preparation requirements and the advantage they offer due to their all-ceramic structure, have the least impact on periodontal health status.

We aimed to evaluate the effect of joint distraction exercises with elastic band as a warm-up method versus an only standard warm-up on lower-body maximal strength performance in male bodybuilders and to determine possible moderator variables affecting performance. In the study, seventeen male bodybuilders who met the inclusion criteria were evaluated. The bodybuilders performed two sets of four joint distraction exercises with 30 seconds of rest following the standardized warm-up versus the standardized warm-up only. The maximal strength performance of bodybuilders was measured with an interval of 96 hours. Joint distraction exercises with the elastic band following the standardized warm-up moderately increased lower-body maximal strength performance of the bodybuilders (p = 0.00; Cohen’d = 0.45, 95%CI = 0.30-0.60). In addition, age (p = 0.34, β = 0.03), height (p = 0.92, β = 0.00), body weight (p = 0.61, β = 0.00), training experience (p = 0.66, β = -0.02) and body mass index (p = 0.55, β = 0.01) were not moderator variables for this training method. Our study showed that joint distraction exercises with elastic bands could acutely improve lower-body maximal strength performance in male bodybuilders regardless of anthropometric characteristics. Practitioners and coaches may prefer this training method before strength training to increase the strength performance of their athletes.

Thus, gingival hypergrowth should be considered as a particular form of gingival diseases. As mentioned in the presentation of gingival and periodontal diseases, hypergrowth can be determined by a large number of factors, the most common of which is poor oral hygiene, which through chronic inflammation increases the volume of gingival tissues, increases the bleeding tendency, the surface of the gingival mucosa lose the lobulated appearance. In the case of medicinal gingival hypergrowth, along with the inducing factor represented by the drug (nifedipine, phenytoin and ciclosporin A), poor oral hygiene has a primary role in its occurrence and development . The relationship between the extent and severity of gingival overgrowth and a variety of drug variables (dose, duration, serum and saliva concentration) is a controversial issue. Many researchers agree that there is a certain concentration of the drug in the blood, basic or threshold, which when exceeded can lead to the appearance of gingival hypergrowth and this concentration is variable from individual to individual .

The existential problems encountered by elderly patients are influenced by a series of parameters (physical, medical, psychological, or social) that make it difficult for them to carry out normal activities and can amplify the pathology of this fragile population category. Dental caries is quite common in the elderly patient, although we are tempted to believe that elderly teeth are less susceptible to caries due to involutional structural changes. As a chronic, slowly evolving infectious process with certain peculiarities, dental caries progresses in densified and hypermineralised tissues, both at coronal level but prevalent at root level. Clinically in the early stage the initial lesion appears on the proximal, buccal, or oral surface at the enamel/cement junction as one or more small, creamy, brownish, round, elliptical or fissural dots or spots (pigmentations) which merge, tend to expand, become circular, surround the root and encompass all surfaces closely forming serpiginous caries. Tending to progress circumferentially on the surface and not in depth, it causes weakening of the crown-root junction, with significant dental destruction, with splinter-like detachment of tissue, with increased risk of fracture. Dental medicine must consider the elderly as a complex being, an entity with a specific bio-psycho-social structure, with an individualised pathology of the dental system arising from physiological involution.

Few economic studies on the costs of health programs have been published to date, most providing information that cannot allow valid comparisons of the cost-effectiveness of various dental restorative materials. Material and method: The study group was represented by 92 children aged 6-16 years. We calculated the cost-effectiveness ratio for two preventive programme: sealings and fluoridation. Results and discussions: The total cost of a sealing for the children studied was RON 4.697,4854. The total cost of fluoridation in the children studied was RON 1,575.1398. Total sealing time was 53 hours and total fluoridation time was 39 hours. Conclusion: Economic evaluation is a component rarely used in the assessment of oral public health. The impact of the health economy is felt not only from an economic point of view, but also from a medical point of view.

The accumulation of knowledge and attitudes related to oral health, mainly the prevention, control and treatment of dental diseases, is very important during the training of future dentists. Material and methode: The study group is represented by 180 subjects from the Faculty of Dentistry and the College of Dental Technology. In order to make a correlation between the state of oral health, the level of knowledge in the medical field and the way of application in practice, we used questionnaire used by Al-Omiri and collaborators and an adapted version of the Hiroshima questionnaire. Results and discussion: The results obtained showed that most of the students participating in the study care about their oral health. The HU-DBI score was an average of 3,924 for students in the Faculty of Dentistry and 2,293 for students in the College. Conclussion: The level of academic training influences the oral health behaviour.