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Background: Artificial intelligence (AI), a field within computer science, uses algorithms to replicate human intelligence tasks such as pattern recognition, decision-making and problem-solving through complex datasets. In endodontics, AI is transforming diagnosis and treatment by applying deep learning algorithms, notably convolutional neural networks, which mimic human brain function to analyse two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) data., Objectives: This article provides an overview of AI applications in endodontics, evaluating its use in 2D and 3D imaging and examining its role as a beneficial tool or potential challenge., Methods: Through a narrative review, the article explores AI's use in 2D and 3D imaging modalities, discusses their limitations and examines future directions in the field., Results: AI significantly enhances endodontic practice by improving diagnostic accuracy, workflow efficiency, and treatment planning. In 2D imaging, AI excels at detecting periapical lesions on both periapical and panoramic radiographs, surpassing expert radiologists in accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. AI also accurately detects and classifies radiolucent lesions, such as radicular cysts and periapical granulomas, matching the precision of histopathology analysis. In 3D imaging, AI automates the segmentation of fine structures such as pulp chambers and root canals on cone-beam computed tomography scans, thereby supporting personalized treatment planning. However, a significant limitation highlighted in some studies is the reliance on in vitro or ex vivo datasets for training AI models. These datasets do not replicate the complexities of clinical environments, potentially compromising the reliability of AI applications in endodontics., Discussion: Despite advancements, challenges remain in dataset variability, algorithm generalization, and ethical considerations such as data security and privacy. Addressing these is essential for integrating AI effectively into clinical practice and unlocking its transformative potential in endodontic care. Integrating radiomics with AI shows promise for enhancing diagnostic accuracy and predictive analytics, potentially enabling automated decision support systems to enhance treatment outcomes and patient care., Conclusions: Although AI enhances endodontic capabilities through advanced imaging analyses, addressing current limitations and fostering collaboration between AI developers and dental professionals are essential. These efforts will unlock AI's potential to achieve more predictable and personalized treatment outcomes in endodontics, ultimately benefiting both clinicians and patients alike., (© 2024 The Author(s). International Endodontic Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Endodontic Society.)

Objectives: To (1) construct a virtual patient (VP) using facial scan, intraoral scan, and low-dose computed tomography scab based on an Artificial intelligence (AI)-approach, (2) quantitatively compare it with AI-refined and semi-automatic registration, and (3) qualitatively evaluate user satisfaction when using virtual patient as a communication tool in clinical practice., Materials and Methods: A dataset of 20 facial scans, intraoral scans, and low-dose computed tomography scans was imported into the Virtual Patient Creator platform to create an automated virtual patient. The accuracy of the virtual patients created using different approaches was further analyzed in the Mimics software. The accuracy (% of corrections required), consistency, and time efficiency of the AI-driven virtual patient registration were then compared with the AI-refined and semi-automatic registration (clinical reference). User satisfaction was assessed through a survey of 35 dentists and 25 laypersons who rated the virtual patient's realism and usefulness for treatment planning and communication on a 5-point scale., Results: The accuracy for AI-driven, AI-refined, and semi-automatic registration virtual patient was 85 %, 85 %, and 100 % for the upper and middle thirds of the face, and 30 %, 30 %, and 35 % for the lower third. Registration consistency was 1, 1 and 0.99, and the average time was 26.5, 30.8, and 385 s, respectively (18-fold time reduction with AI). The inferior facial third exhibited the highest registration mismatch between facial scan and computed tomography. User satisfaction with the virtual patient was consistently high among both dentists and laypersons, with most responses indicating very high satisfaction regarding realism and usefulness as a communication tool., Conclusion: The AI-driven registration can provide clinically accurate, fast, and consistent virtual patient creation using facial scans, intraoral scans, and low-dose computed tomography scans, enabling interpersonal communication., Clinical Significance: Using AI for automated segmentation and registration of maxillofacial structures leads to clinically efficient and accurate VP creation, opening the doors for its widespread use in diagnosis, treatment planning, and interprofessional and professional-patient communication., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To evaluate the influence of multiplanar reconstruction thickness on the detection of peri-implant bone defects with a standalone zirconia implant and compare it to when another implant is in the vicinity using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)., Materials and Methods: Five dry human mandibles were used to create twenty implant sites in the second premolar and first molar regions. The OP300 Maxio was used to acquire CBCT images (90 kVp, 6.3 mA, 5 × 5 cm FOV, and 0.125 mm 3 voxel size) before and after creating 3 mm peri-implant bone defects in the buccal aspect of the premolar region. Half of the scans featured a single zirconia implant in the premolar region, while the others had two implants in the premolar and molar regions. Three reconstruction thicknesses (0.125 mm, 1 mm, and 2 mm) were considered for the multiplanar reconstruction analyses. Five oral and maxillofacial radiologists assessed the detection of peri-implant bone defects using a 5-point scale. Diagnostic parameters were calculated and compared using Two-way ANOVA (α = .05)., Results: The studied factors showed no significant influence on the diagnosis of peri-implant bone defects (p > .05). Diagnostic performance was notably higher with a single implant, especially with a 2-mm reconstruction thickness (AUC = 0.88, sensitivity = 0.68, specificity = 0.94). Although the differences were not statistically significant, the results were more modest when two implants were present (AUC = 0.80, sensitivity = 0.58, specificity = 0.82)., Conclusions: The presence of an adjacent zirconia implant and variations in reconstruction thickness did not influence the detection of 3 mm buccal peri-implant bone defects on CBCT images., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess accuracy, time-efficiency and consistency of a novel artificial intelligence (AI)-driven automated tool for cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and intraoral scan (IOS) registration compared with manual and semi-automated approaches., Materials and Methods: A dataset of 31 intraoral scans (IOSs) and CBCT scans was used to validate automated IOS-CBCT registration (AR) when compared with manual (MR) and semi-automated registration (SR). CBCT scans were conducted by placing cotton rolls between the cheeks and teeth to facilitate gingival delineation. The time taken to perform multimodal registration was recorded in seconds. A qualitative analysis was carried out to assess the correspondence between hard and soft tissue anatomy on IOS and CBCT. In addition, a quantitative analysis was conducted by measuring median surface deviation (MSD) and root mean square (RMS) differences between registered IOSs., Results: AR was the most time-efficient, taking 51.4 ± 17.2 s, compared with MR (840 ± 168.9 s) and SR approaches (274.7 ± 100.7 s). Both AR and SR resulted in significantly higher qualitative scores, favoring perfect IOS-CBCT registration, compared with MR (p = .001). Additionally, AR demonstrated significantly superior quantitative performance compared with SR, as indicated by low MSD (0.04 ± 0.07 mm) and RMS (0.19 ± 0.31 mm). In contrast, MR exhibited a significantly higher discrepancy compared with both AR (MSD = 0.13 ± 0.20 mm; RMS = 0.32 ± 0.14 mm) and SR (MSD = 0.11 ± 0.15 mm; RMS = 0.40 ± 0.30 mm)., Conclusions: The novel AI-driven method provided an accurate, time-efficient, and consistent multimodal IOS-CBCT registration, encompassing both soft and hard tissues. This approach stands as a valuable alternative to manual and semi-automated registration approaches in the presurgical implant planning workflow., (© 2024 The Author(s). Clinical Oral Implants Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Skin flaps are employed to cover cutaneous denuded surfaces, but ensuing flap necrosis often occurs. Previously, rats with myocardial infarction treated with lipid-core nanoparticles (LDE) loaded with methotrexate (MTX) improved myocardial irrigation and reduced necrosis. Here, the aim was to investigate the efficacy of LDE-MTX to preserve the viability of cutaneous flaps and its implications for surgical wound healing. Twenty-eight male rats were divided into 4 groups: (1) LDE, injected intraperitoneally with LDE only; (2) MTX (1 mg/Kg commercial MTX): (3) LDE-MTX (1 mg/Kg MTX associated with LDE), and controls without treatment. LDE, MTX or LDE-MTX were repeated after 2 days. Then, flap surgery (9x3cm) was performed on the dorsal region. Injections were continued every other day until day 7 when animals were euthanized. LDE-MTX treatment improved the total viable area of the flaps with a fourfold increase in blood flow and reduced inflammatory cell number ( p  < 0.001), accompanied by decreased protein expression of pro-inflammatory factors. SOD-1 was higher in LDE-MTX-treated rats ( p  < 0.05). In conclusion, LDE-MTX treatment achieved total viability of cutaneous flaps, with increased irrigation and diminished local inflammation. LDE-MTX may offer efficient and cost-effective prevention of cutaneous flaps and treatment for wounds from surgical procedures to be tested in future clinical studies.

Introduction: Memory CD8 + T cells are essential for long-term immune protection in viral infections, including COVID-19., Methods: This study examined the responses of CD8 + TEM, TEMRA, and TCM subsets from unvaccinated individuals who had recovered from mild and severe COVID-19 by flow cytometry., Results and Discussion: The peptides triggered a higher frequency of CD8 + TCM cells in the recovered mild group. CD8 + TCM and TEM cells showed heterogeneity in CD137 expression between evaluated groups. In addition, a predominance of CD137 expression in naïve CD8 + T cells, TCM, and TEM was observed in the mild recovered group when stimulated with peptides. Furthermore, CD8 + TCM and TEM cell subsets from mild recovered volunteers had higher TNF-α expression. In contrast, the expression partner of IFN-γ, IL-10, and IL-17 indicated an antiviral signature by CD8 + TEMRA cells. These findings underscore the distinct functional capabilities of each memory T cell subset in individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 upon re-exposure to SARS-CoV-2 antigens.

Introduction: Dengue is the most fatal virus disease spread by mosquito bites and Aedes aegypti is the main transmitting agent. It is an endemic disease in the tropical and subtropical regions, currently affecting more than 100 countries. Although most patients present mild forms of the disease, a considerable proportion of individuals has severe alterations in the blood count. The aim of this study was to evaluate the consumption pattern of blood components in epidemic and non-epidemic periods and to verify if there was an impact on dengue cases and the death rate., Method: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted through the collection and analysis of data from the Brazilian Ministry of Health from 2008 to 2019 on new cases and deaths from dengue, as well as the consumption of blood components in the period mentioned by hemovigilance bulletins of the Brazilian authority., Results: Regarding the results, no significant difference was found between the absolute amount of blood components used in years with an epidemic peak. Regarding the relative values, an important variation was shown among the distributive consumption patterns of blood components in the outbreak years. In the univariate linear regression analysis, there was statistical significance between the increase in the number of dengue cases and deaths from dengue with the increase in the consumption of red blood cell concentrates (RBP), platelet concentrates (PP), fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and cryoprecipitate (Cryo) (p-value < 0.05). The increase in dengue cases was related to the increase in Cryo consumption with clinical significance (R² > 0.5), but dengue deaths were not correlated to the same. In multivariate analysis, all regression models had clinical and statistical significance., Conclusion: The data obtained in the present study demonstrate that there is a relevant relationship between the increase in cases and deaths from dengue with the blood components usage, especially PP, FFP and cryoprecipitate., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Associação Brasileira de Hematologia, Hemoterapia e Terapia Celular. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a global threat to public health due to the accumulation of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. ST-1901 is an internationally important sequence type (ST) because of its high incidence and the usual occurrence of chromosomally determined resistance. In this study, we describe the evolution of the ST-1901 and its single locus variants in Rio de Janeiro from 2006 to 2022. We analyzed 82 N. gonorrhoeae isolates according to antimicrobial susceptibility profile, resistance mechanisms, molecular typing, and phylogenetics. Six different single locus variants were detected. Phylogenetic analysis identified five clades, which share similar characteristics. Resistance rates for penicillin and tetracycline decreased due to the lower occurrence of resistance plasmids, but intermediary resistance to penicillin rose. Resistance to ciprofloxacin remained high throughout all clades and the years of the study. Regarding resistance to azithromycin, alterations in mtrR promoter and gene, and 23S rRNA encoding gene rrl were detected, with a notable rise in the incidence of C2611T mutations in more recent years occurring in four of five clades. In contrast, β-lactam resistance associated penA 34 mosaic was found only in one persisting clade (Clade D), and unique G45D and A39T mutations in mtrR gene and its promoter (Nm-Like) were found only in Clade B. Taken together, these data suggest that ST-1901, a persistently circulating lineage of N. gonorrhoeae in Rio de Janeiro, has undergone changes over the years and may evolve to develop resistance to the current recommended dual therapy adopted in Brazil, namely, ceftriaxone and azithromycin., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd and International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.)

Given today's higher demand for online transmission of radiographic images, clinicians and regulatory agencies should be given the evidence they need to guide them in choosing the best image file format to be adopted. To this end, the present scoping review aims to explore, map, and evaluate the literature, with the object of reporting the influence of image file formats on dental diagnostic tasks by assessing intraoral radiographic images. This scoping review complies with PRISMA-ScR. It was customized to assess the risk of bias of the included studies, and was registered on the Open Science Framework platform. The data extraction protocol was developed based on the PCC acronym. An electronic search was conducted in six databases (Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Lilacs, Cochrane) in December 2023. Original articles were screened, having observational, diagnostic accuracy, and consisting of in vivo or ex vivo laboratory studies investigating the influence of file formats on different diagnostic tasks in dentistry. Eighteen studies, published between the years 1996 and 2022, were included. The following data were extracted from the selected articles: article title, authors' citation, publication date, country, diagnostic task, image file formats tested, compression level, and main conclusion. The most widely investigated diagnostic task was caries lesions (n = 10), led by root resorptions (n = 3), root fractures (n = 2), periapical lesions (n = 2), and periodontal disease (n = 1). The most commonly used radiographic techniques were periapical (n = 12) and bitewing (n = 6). The most frequently investigated image file formats were JPEG (all studies) and TIFF (n = 10 studies). BMP, PNG, and JPEG2000 were also included in 7, 3 and 3 studies, respectively. No studies included the DICOM file format. In regard to the subjective assessment of the several dental diagnostic tasks, the studies mostly showed that the influence of the file formats was not significant (n = 10/55.5%). As for the quality assessment of the included papers, more than 70% of the studies featured a low risk of bias. Current evidence on image file formats and dental radiographic diagnosis is reliable. Any image file format can be used without impairing diagnostic accuracy.

Purpose: This study examined the influence of metal artifact reduction (MAR), the application of sharpening filters, and their combination on the diagnosis of horizontal root fracture (HRF) in teeth adjacent to a zirconia implant on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) examinations., Materials and Methods: Nineteen single-rooted teeth (9 with HRF and 10 without) were individually positioned in the right central incisor socket of a dry human maxilla. A zirconia implant was placed adjacent to each tooth. Imaging was performed using an OP300 Maxio CBCT (Instrumentarium, Tuusula, Finland) unit with the following settings: a current of 8 mA, both MAR modes (enabled and disabled), a 5×5 cm field of view, a voxel size of 0.085 mm, and a peak kilovoltage of 90 kVp. Four oral and maxillofacial radiologists independently evaluated the CBCT scans under both MAR conditions and across 3 levels of sharpening filter application (none, Sharpen 1×, and Sharpen 2×). Diagnostic metrics were calculated and compared using 2-way analysis of variance (α=5%). The weighted kappa test was used to assess intra- and inter-examiner reliability in the diagnosis of HRF., Results: MAR tool activation, sharpening filter use, and their combination did not significantly impact the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, sensitivity, or specificity of HRF diagnosis ( P >0.05). Intra- and inter-examiner agreement ranged from fair to substantial., Conclusion: The diagnosis of HRF in a tooth adjacent to a zirconia implant is not affected by the activation of MAR, the application of a sharpening filter, or the combination of these tools., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: None, (Copyright © 2024 by Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to present optimized device-specific low-dose cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) protocols with sufficient image quality for pre-surgical diagnostics and three-dimensional (3D) modelling of cleft defects., Methods: Six paediatric skulls were acquired, and an artificial bony cleft was created. A high-resolution CBCT scan acted as a reference standard (Accuitomo 170, Morita, Kyoto, Japan) for comparing eight low-dose protocols of Newtom VGi-evo (QR Verona, Cefla, Verona, Italy), which included Eco and Regular protocols with different field of views (FOVs). Delineation of lamina dura, cementoenamel junction (CEJ), trabecular bone and bony bridge were assessed. A 3D model of the defect was also evaluated., Result: The dose area product of low-dose protocols ranged from 31 to 254 mGy*cm 2 . Despite the dose difference of up to eight times between applied protocols, trabecular bone and CEJ exhibited appropriate image quality in all scans. However, Regular small FOV protocols (5 × 5 and 8 × 5 cm 2 ), for both lamina dura and bony bridge, demonstrated a significant improvement in image quality compared to Eco FOV counterparts. Based on 3D defect analysis, no significant difference existed between low-dose protocols and the reference standard., Conclusion: The findings highlight the possibility of achieving a considerable reduction (up to eight times) in the radiation dose using low-dose CBCT protocols while maintaining sufficient image quality for assessing anatomical structures and 3D modelling in cleft cases., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Oral Rehabilitation published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

This study investigates the effects of antiresorptive drugs and risk factors for medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws in osteoporotic patients undergoing tooth extraction. Among the findings, antiresorptive-treated patients had thicker lamina dura and longer healing times. Additionally, corticosteroid intake and multi-rooted teeth carried a higher osteonecrosis risk. Bone sequestrum indicated osteonecrosis., Purpose: To describe the effects of antiresorptive drugs (ARD) in the maxilla and mandible and risk factors for medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) in osteoporotic patients undergoing tooth extractions using clinical data and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)., Methods: This retrospective cohort study collected clinical and CBCT data from 176 patients. The study group (n = 78; 224 extractions) received ARD treatment, underwent tooth extraction, and had a pre-operative CBCT. Additionally, age-, sex-, and tooth-matched controls were selected (n = 98; 227 extractions). Radiographic examinations were performed independently by three calibrated examiners. Statistical analysis included Chi-square, Fisher's exact, Mann-Whitney U, and t-tests to contrast clinical and radiographic data between study and control, MRONJ + and MRONJ - , and bisphosphonate and denosumab patients/sites. Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05., Results: From the study group, 4 patients (5%) and 5 sites (2%) developed MRONJ after tooth extraction. ARD-treated patients exhibited significantly more thickening of the lamina dura and a longer average mucosal healing time (4.4 weeks) than controls (2.6 weeks). In the study group, MRONJ risk significantly increased with corticosteroid intake and in multi-rooted teeth. No significant differences between bisphosphonates and denosumab use were seen in the tomographic features (p > 0.05). Lastly, bone sequestrum was exclusively observed in osteoporotic patients, who exhibited post-operative exposed bone or histological evidence of osteonecrosis., Conclusion: Osteoporotic patients under ARD may exhibit thickening of the lamina dura and prolonged post-operative healing. Among these patients, multi-rooted teeth are at higher risk for MRONJ than single-rooted teeth. Sequester formation is a radiographic indicator of osteonecrosis., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: To assess quality, clinical acceptance, time-efficiency, and consistency of a novel artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tool for automated presurgical implant planning for single tooth replacement, compared to a human intelligence (HI)-based approach., Materials and Methods: To validate a novel AI-driven implant placement tool, a dataset of 10 time-matching cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and intra-oral scans (IOS) previously acquired for single mandibular molar/premolar implant placement was included. An AI pre-trained model for implant planning was compared to human expert-based planning, followed by the export, evaluation and comparison of two generic implants-AI-generated and human-generated-for each case. The quality of both approaches was assessed by 12 calibrated dentists through blinded observations using a visual analogue scale (VAS), while clinical acceptance was evaluated through an AI versus HI battle (Turing test). Subsequently, time efficiency and consistency were evaluated and compared between both planning methods., Results: Overall, 360 observations were gathered, with 240 dedicated to VAS, of which 95 % (AI) and 96 % (HI) required no major, clinically relevant corrections. In the AI versus HI Turing test (120 observations), 4 cases had matching judgments for AI and HI, with AI favoured in 3 and HI in 3. Additionally, AI completed planning more than twice as fast as HI, taking only 198 ± 33 s compared to 435 ± 92 s (p < 0.05). Furthermore, AI demonstrated higher consistency with zero-degree median surface deviation (MSD) compared to HI (MSD=0.3 ± 0.17 mm)., Conclusion: AI demonstrated expert-quality and clinically acceptable single-implant planning, proving to be more time-efficient and consistent than the HI-based approach., Clinical Significance: Presurgical implant planning often requires multidisciplinary collaboration between highly experienced specialists, which can be complex, cumbersome and time-consuming. However, AI-driven implant planning has the potential to allow clinically acceptable planning, significantly more time-efficient and consistent than the human expert., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the metal post composition, tooth location in the dental arch, and metal artifact reduction (MAR) on vertical root fracture (VRF) diagnosis in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Twenty-two unirradicular premolars (12 sound and 10 fractured) and two alveolar sockets of a mandible (anterior and posterior regions) composed the sample. CBCT scans of each tooth with a metal post placed into the root canal-silver-palladium (Ag-Pd), cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr), or nickel-chromium (Ni-Cr)-were individually acquired for each mandibular region, and two conditions of MAR, using a OP300 device (Instrumentarium, Finland). Images were assessed by five evaluators independently for VRF detection. Diagnostic values were calculated and compared among all groups using multi-way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc test to investigate the effect of post material, anatomical region, and MAR on VRF diagnosis (α = 0.05). Values of area under the receiver operating curve and specificity were not influenced by the studied factors (p > 0.05). Sensitivity was influenced by the MAR in both mandibular regions (p < 0.05). In the anterior region, sensitivity values increased when the MAR was enabled, regardless of the metal post material (p < 0.05). Similar behavior was noticed in the posterior region for Ni-Cr (p < 0.05) but not for Ag-Pd and Co-Cr posts (p > 0.05). The MAR improved the sensitivity in VRF diagnosis for all tested metal posts in the mandibular anterior region and for the Ni-Cr post in the mandibular posterior region. Therefore, for images obtained in the OP300 CBCT device, activation of the MAR is suggested in these cases., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Society of The Nippon Dental University.)

Obesity increases serum triglycerides and decreases high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The objective is to explore some functions of HDL, cholesterol transfers and antioxidant, in subjects with grade I (G1-OB) and III (G3-OB) obesity and effects of bariatric surgery on G3-OB. Fifteen G3-OB patients (43 ± 6 years, BMI 49 ± 3 kg/m 2 ) were studied before and 1 year after bariatric surgery; 15 G1-OB (32 ± 2 years, 32 ± 2 kg/m 2 ) and 15 normal weight (NW) (38 ± 6 years, 22 ± 1 kg/m 2 ) were also studied. HDL diameter, cholesterol transfer to HDL and antioxidant capacity of HDL were determined. G3-OB had higher triglycerides and lower HDL-C; G1-OB had higher triglycerides than NW but HDL-C was equal. Compared to NW, HDL size was smaller in G3-OB but equal in G1-OB. One year after bariatric surgery, BMI and triglycerides of G3-OB decreased (p < .0001 and p = .0012, respectively) and HDL-C increased (p < .0001), equalling of NW group. Antioxidant capacity and cholesterol transfers were not different in groups and were unchanged 1 year after bariatric surgery in G3-OB. HDL antioxidant capacity and transfer of cholesterol to HDL were not defective in obesity despite HDL-C reduction and smaller HDL size. In addition, pronounced weight loss by bariatric surgery did not change those protective functions., (© 2024 World Obesity Federation.)

Introduction: Facial scanning through smartphone scanning applications (SSA) is increasingly being used for medical applications as cost-effective, chairside method. However, clinical validation is lacking. This review aims to address: (1) Which SSA could perform facial scanning? (2) Which SSA can be clinically used? (3) Which SSA have been reported and scientifically validated for medical applications?, Methods: Technical search for SSA designed for face or object scanning was conducted on Google, Apple App Store, and Google Play Store from August 2022 to December 2023. Literature search was performed on PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, Clinicaltrials.gov, ICTRP (WHO) and preprints up to 2023. Eligibility criteria included English-written scientific articles incorporating at least one SSA for clinical purposes. SSA selection and data extraction were executed by one reviewer, validated by second, with third reviewer being consulted for discordances., Results: Sixty-three applications designed for three-dimensional object scanning were retrieved, with 52 currently offering facial scanning capabilities. Fifty-six scientific articles, comprising two case reports, 16 proof-of-concepts and 38 experimental studies were analysed. Thirteen applications (123D Catch, 3D Creator, Bellus 3D Dental Pro, Bellus 3D Face app, Bellus 3D Face Maker, Capture, Heges, Metascan, Polycam, Scandy Pro, Scaniverse, Tap tap tap and Trnio) were reported in literature for digital workflow integration, comparison or proof-of-concept studies., Conclusion: Fifty-two SSA can perform facial scanning currently and can be used clinically, offering cost-effectiveness, portability and user-friendliness. Although clinical validation is crucial, only 13 SSA were scientifically validated, underlying awareness of potential pitfalls and limitations., (© 2024 The Author(s). Orthodontics & Craniofacial Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Accurate diagnosis of periodontal and peri-implant diseases relies significantly on radiographic examination, especially for assessing alveolar bone levels, bone defect morphology, and bone quality. This narrative review aimed to comprehensively outline the current state-of-the-art in radiographic diagnosis of alveolar bone diseases, covering both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) modalities. Additionally, this review explores recent technological advances in periodontal imaging diagnosis, focusing on their potential integration into clinical practice. Clinical probing and intraoral radiography, while crucial, encounter limitations in effectively assessing complex periodontal bone defects. Recognizing these challenges, 3D imaging modalities, such as cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), have been explored for a more comprehensive understanding of periodontal structures. The significance of the radiographic assessment approach is evidenced by its ability to offer an objective and standardized means of evaluating hard tissues, reducing variability associated with manual clinical measurements and contributing to a more precise diagnosis of periodontal health. However, clinicians should be aware of challenges related to CBCT imaging assessment, including beam-hardening artifacts generated by the high-density materials present in the field of view, which might affect image quality. Integration of digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence-based tools in intraoral radiography software, the enhances the diagnostic process. The overarching recommendation is a judicious combination of CBCT and digital intraoral radiography for enhanced periodontal bone assessment. Therefore, it is crucial for clinicians to weigh the benefits against the risks associated with higher radiation exposure on a case-by-case basis, prioritizing patient safety and treatment outcomes., (© 2024 The Author(s). Periodontology 2000 published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Pulmonary valve regurgitation is a significant long-term complication in patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)., Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of pulmonary valve implantation (PVI) on the anatomy and function of the right ventricle (RV) and the long-term evolution of the implanted prosthesis in the pulmonary position., Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort analysis was performed in 56 consecutive patients with TOF who underwent PVI. The study included patients of both sexes, aged ≥ 12 years, and involved assessing clinical and surgical data, pre- and post-operative cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, and echocardiogram data more than 1 year after PVI., Results: After PVI, there was a significant decrease in RV end-systolic volume indexed by body surface area (BSA), from 89 mL/BSA to 69 mL/BSA (p < 0.001) and indexed RV end-diastolic volume, from 157 mL/BSA to 116 mL/BSA (p < 0.001). Moreover, there was an increase in corrected RV ejection fraction [ RVEFC = net pulmonary flow (pulmonary forward flow - regurgitant flow) / R V end-diastolic volume ] from 23% to 35% (p < 0.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction from 58% to 60% (p = 0.008). However, a progressive increase in the peak pulmonary valve gradient was observed over time, with 25% of patients experiencing a gradient exceeding 60 mmHg. Smaller prostheses (sizes 19 to 23) were associated with a 4.3-fold higher risk of a gradient > 60 mmHg compared to larger prostheses (sizes 25 to 27; p = 0.029; confidence interval: 1.18 to 17.8)., Conclusion: As expected, PVI demonstrated improvements in RV volumes and function. Long-term follow-up and surveillance are crucial for assessing the durability of the prosthesis and detecting potential complications. Proper sizing of prostheses is essential for improved prosthesis longevity.

Purpose: This study examined the influence of a metal artifact reduction (MAR) tool, sharpening filters, and their combination on the diagnosis of vertical root fracture (VRF) in teeth with metallic posts using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)., Materials and Methods: Twenty single-rooted human premolars - 9 with VRF and 11 without - were individually placed in a human mandible. A metallic post composed of a cobalt-chromium alloy was inserted into the root canal of each tooth. CBCT scans were then acquired under the following parameters: 8 mA, a 5×5 cm field of view, a voxel size of 0.085 mm, 90 kVp, and with MAR either enabled or disabled. Five oral and maxillofacial radiologists independently evaluated the CBCT exams under each MAR mode and across 3 sharpening filter conditions: no filter, Sharpen 1×, and Sharpen 2×. The diagnostic performance was quantified by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity. These metrics were compared using 2-way analysis of variance with a significance level of α=5%. Intra- and inter-examiner agreement were assessed using the weighted kappa test., Results: Neither MAR nor the application of sharpening filters significantly impacted AUC or specificity ( P >0.05). However, sensitivity increased when MAR was combined with Sharpen 1× and Sharpen 2× ( P =0.015). The intra-examiner agreement ranged from fair to substantial (0.34-0.66), while the inter-examiner agreement ranged from fair to moderate (0.27-0.41)., Conclusion: MAR in conjunction with sharpening filters improved VRF detection; therefore, their combined use is recommended in cases of suspected VRF., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: None, (Copyright © 2024 by Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology.)

This study explores the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a methanolic extract of fermented pollen from Tetragonisca angustula, a species of stingless bees. The AgNPs exhibit spherical morphology, low charge values, and suspension stability, with their unique composition attributed to elements from the pollen extract. Antioxidant assays show comparable activity between the pollen extract and AgNPs, emphasizing the retention of antioxidant effects. The synthesized AgNPs demonstrate antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria, highlighting their potential in combating bacterial resistance. The AgNPs exhibit no toxic effects on Drosophila melanogaster and even enhance the hatching rate of eggs. The study underscores the innovative use of stingless bee pollen extract in green synthesis, offering insights into the varied applications of AgNPs in biomedicine., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Primary teeth segmentation on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans is essential for paediatric treatment planning. Conventional methods, however, are time-consuming and necessitate advanced expertise., Aim: The aim of this study was to validate an artificial intelligence (AI) cloud-based platform for automated segmentation (AS) of primary teeth on CBCT. Its accuracy, time efficiency, and consistency were compared with manual segmentation (MS)., Design: A dataset comprising 402 primary teeth (37 CBCT scans) was retrospectively retrieved from two CBCT devices. Primary teeth were manually segmented using a cloud-based platform representing the ground truth, whereas AS was performed on the same platform. To assess the AI tool's performance, voxel- and surface-based metrics were employed to compare MS and AS methods. Additionally, segmentation time was recorded for each method, and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) assessed consistency between them., Results: AS revealed high performance in segmenting primary teeth with high accuracy (98 ± 1%) and dice similarity coefficient (DSC; 95 ± 2%). Moreover, it was 35 times faster than the manual approach with an average time of 24 s. Both MS and AS demonstrated excellent consistency (ICC = 0.99 and 1, respectively)., Conclusion: The platform demonstrated expert-level accuracy, and time-efficient and consistent segmentation of primary teeth on CBCT scans, serving treatment planning in children., (© 2024 The Authors. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry published by BSPD, IAPD and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The variability in response to conventional prostate cancer (PC) therapies, coupled with the emergent issue of drug resistance, underscores the critical need for innovative treatment strategies. Aerobic physical exercise reduced incidence of several cancers, but the mechanism underlying these effects associated the nanoemulsion not fully understood. The application of a lipid nanoemulsion (LDE) delivery system for docetaxel (DTX), showing marked enhancement in therapeutic efficacy when combined with aerobic physical exercise. This novel intervention potentiates the antitumor activity of LDE-delivered DTX by augmenting nanoparticle internalization and inducing cell cycle arrest. Our findings reveal that this synergistic treatment not only significantly reduces prostate weight and mitigates adenocarcinoma proliferation but also attenuates anti-apoptotic BCL-2 protein expression. Concurrently, it elevates pro-apoptotic proteins and diminishes inflammatory markers. Metabolic profiling of the combined therapy group disclosed additional benefits, such as reduced lipid and plasma glucose levels. Collectively, our data illuminate the profound impact of integrating LDE-mediated DTX delivery with structured physical exercise, which together spearhead a dual-front assault on PC. This multimodal approach heralds a new paradigm in PC management, accentuating the promise of combined pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to elevate tumor suppressor protein activity and refine patient outcomes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The periparturient period in dairy cows is marked by immunosuppression which increases the likelihood of infectious disorders, particularly also mastitis. An in-depth understanding of peripartum leukocyte biology is vital for the implementation of highly successful post-partum disease prevention measures. Immune checkpoint molecules, such as programmed death 1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), are critical inhibitory receptors expressed on immune cells, particularly T cells, that drive immunosuppressive signaling pathways. However, the potential role of immune checkpoint molecules expression in T-cells on udder health has never been explored. Thus, the association between the occurrence of new postpartum intramammary infections (IMIs) and the expression of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) on blood T-cells during the peripartum period was investigated., Results: In this study, the incidence of IMIs by any pathogen in early lactation was not associated with a higher expression of PD-1 and CTLA-4 in the periparturient period. However, the incidence of IMIs by major pathogens throughout the first month of lactation was significantly associated with higher expression of PD-1 at 14 days before calving (P = 0.03) and CTLA-4 at parturition (P = 0.03) by blood T-cells. Also, the expression of CTLA-4 at D0 (P = 0.012) by T-cells was associated with the occurrence of persistent IMIs during the first month of lactation., Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report to investigate the expression of PD-1 and CTLA-4 by blood T-lymphocytes during the periparturient period in dairy cows and to explore their relationship with the incidence of new IMIs in the postpartum period. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of leukocyte biology during peripartum would appear to be a prerequisite for the identification of resilient dairy cows or targets innovative (immunological) non-antibiotic approaches in the transition period., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: To conduct a scoping review focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) applications in presurgical dental implant planning. Additionally, to assess the automation degree of clinically available pre-surgical implant planning software., Data and Sources: A systematic electronic literature search was performed in five databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus), along with exploring gray literature web-based resources until November 2023. English-language studies on AI-driven tools for digital implant planning were included based on an independent evaluation by two reviewers. An assessment of automation steps in dental implant planning software available on the market up to November 2023 was also performed., Study Selection and Results: From an initial 1,732 studies, 47 met eligibility criteria. Within this subset, 39 studies focused on AI networks for anatomical landmark-based segmentation, creating virtual patients. Eight studies were dedicated to AI networks for virtual implant placement. Additionally, a total of 12 commonly available implant planning software applications were identified and assessed for their level of automation in pre-surgical digital implant workflows. Notably, only six of these featured at least one fully automated step in the planning software, with none possessing a fully automated implant planning protocol., Conclusions: AI plays a crucial role in achieving accurate, time-efficient, and consistent segmentation of anatomical landmarks, serving the process of virtual patient creation. Additionally, currently available systems for virtual implant placement demonstrate different degrees of automation. It is important to highlight that, as of now, full automation of this process has not been documented nor scientifically validated., Clinical Significance: Scientific and clinical validation of AI applications for presurgical dental implant planning is currently scarce. The present review allows the clinician to identify AI-based automation in presurgical dental implant planning and assess the potential underlying scientific validation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate several mechanical and chemical decontamination methods associated with a newly introduced biofilm matrix disruption strategy for biofilm cleaning and preservation of implant surface features., Materials and Methods: Titanium (Ti) discs were obtained by additive manufacturing. Polymicrobial biofilm-covered Ti disc surfaces were decontaminated with mechanical [Ti curette, Teflon curette, Ti brush, water-air jet device, and Er:YAG laser] or chemical [iodopovidone (PVPI) 0.2% to disrupt the extracellular matrix, along with amoxicillin; minocycline; tetracycline; H 2 O 2 3%; chlorhexidine 0.2%; NaOCl 0.95%; hydrocarbon-oxo-borate-based antiseptic] protocols. The optimal in vitro mechanical/chemical protocol was then tested in combination using an in vivo biofilm model with intra-oral devices., Results: Er:YAG laser treatment displayed optimum surface cleaning by biofilm removal with minimal deleterious damage to the surface, smaller Ti release, good corrosion stability, and improved fibroblast readhesion. NaOCl 0.95% was the most promising agent to reduce in vitro and in vivo biofilms and was even more effective when associated with PVPI 0.2% as a pre-treatment to disrupt the biofilm matrix. The combination of Er:YAG laser followed by PVPI 0.2% plus NaOCl 0.95% promoted efficient decontamination of rough Ti surfaces by disrupting the biofilm matrix and killing remnants of in vivo biofilms formed in the mouth (the only protocol to lead to ~99% biofilm eradication)., Conclusion: Er:YAG laser + PVPI 0.2% + NaOCl 0.95% can be a reliable decontamination protocol for Ti surfaces, eliminating microbial biofilms without damaging the implant surface., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction: Studies in cholesterol-fed rabbits showed that anti-proliferative chemotherapeutic agents such as paclitaxel associated with solid lipid nanoparticles (LDE) have marked anti-atherosclerotic effects. In addition, association with LDE nearly abolishes paclitaxel toxicity. We investigated whether treatment with LDE-paclitaxel changes plaque progression by coronary CT angiography and is safe in patients with chronic coronary artery disease., Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study in patients with multi-vessel chronic coronary artery disease. Patients were randomized to receive IV infusions of LDE-paclitaxel (paclitaxel dose: 175 mg/m 2 body surface) or LDE alone (placebo group), administered every 3 weeks for 18 weeks. All participants received guideline-directed medical therapy. Clinical and laboratory safety evaluations were made at baseline and every 3 weeks until the end of the study. Analysis of inflammatory biomarkers and coronary CTA was also performed at baseline and 4 weeks after treatment., Results: Forty patients aged 65.6 ± 8 years, 20 in LDE-paclitaxel and 20 in placebo group were enrolled. Among those, 58% had diabetes, 50% had myocardial infarction, and 91% were in use of statin and aspirin. Baseline demographics, risk factors, and laboratory results were not different between groups. In all patients, no clinical or laboratory toxicities were observed. From the baseline to the end of follow-up, there was a non-significant trend toward a decrease in IL-6 levels and hsCRP in the LDE-paclitaxel group (-16% and -28%, respectively), not observed in placebo. Regarding plaque progression analysis, variation in plaque parameter values was wide, and no difference between groups was observed., Conclusion: In patients with multivessel chronic coronary artery disease and optimized medical therapy, LDE-paclitaxel was safe and showed clues of potential benefits in reducing inflammatory biomarkers., Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04148833, identifier (NCT04148833)., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2024 Marinho, Rached, Morikawa, Tavoni, Cardoso, Torres, Assuncao, Serrano, Nomura and Maranhão.)

Maternal nutrition has the ability of influence critical processes in fetal life, including muscle development. Also, in this period, epigenetic sensitivity to external stimuli is higher and produces long-lasting effects. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate epigenetic mechanisms, including the identification and characterization of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) from animals that had undergone different strategies of prenatal supplementation. A group of Nellore cows (n = 126) were separated into three nutritional plans: NP (control)-Not Programmed, without protein-energy supplementation; PP-Partially Programmed, protein-energy supplementation in the final third of pregnancy; and CP-Complete Programming, protein-energy supplementation during the full period of gestation. A total of 63 male offspring were used in this study, of which 15 (5 per treatment) had Longissimus thoracis muscle at 15 (biopsy) and 22 months (slaughter). Biopsy samples were subjected to RNA extraction and sequencing. Differential expression (DE) of remodeling factors and chromatin-modifying enzyme genes were performed. For the identification and characterization of lncRNA, a series of size filters and protein coding potential tests were performed. The lncRNAs identified had their differential expression and regulatory potential tested. Regarding DE of epigenetic mechanisms, no differentially expressed gene was found ( p > 0.1). Identification of potential lncRNA was successful, identifying 1823 transcripts at 15 months and 1533 at 22 months. Among these, four were considered differentially expressed between treatments at 15 months and 6 were differentially expressed at 22 months. Yet, when testing regulatory potential, 13 lncRNAs were considered key regulators in the PP group, and 17 in the CP group. PP group lncRNAs possibly regulate fat-cell differentiation, in utero embryonic development, and transforming growth factor beta receptor, whereas lncRNA in the CP group regulates in utero embryonic development, fat-cell differentiation and vasculogenesis. Maternal nutrition had no effect on differential expression of epigenetic mechanisms; however, it seems to impair lncRNA regulation of epigenetics.

Objective: Previously, lipid nanoparticles (LDE) injected in women with endometriosis were shown to concentrate in the lesions. Here, the safety and feasibility of LDE carrying methotrexate (MTX) to treat deep infiltrating endometriosis was tested., Design: Prospective pilot study., Setting: Perola Byington Hospital Reference for Women's Health., Subjects: Eleven volunteers (aged 30-47 years, BMI 26.15 ± 6.50 kg/m 2 ) with endometriosis with visual analog scale pelvic pain scores (VAS) > 7 and rectosigmoid lesions were enrolled in the study., Intervention: Three patients were treated with LDE-MTX at single intravenous 25 mg/m 2 dose of MTX and eight patients with two 25 mg/m 2 doses with 1-week interval., Main Outcome Measures: Clinical complaints, blood count, and biochemistry were analyzed before treatment and on days 90, 120, and 180 after LDE-MTX administration. Endometriotic lesions were evaluated by pelvic and transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) before treatment and on days 30 and 180 after LDE-MTX administration., Results: No clinical complaints related with LDE-MTX treatment were reported by the patients, and no hematologic, renal, or hepatic toxicities were observed in the laboratorial exams. FSH, LH, TSH, free T4, anti-Müllerian hormone, and prolactin levels were also within normal ranges during the observation period. Scores for deep dyspareunia (p < 0.001), chronic pelvic pain (p = 0.008), and dyschezia (p = 0.025) were improved over the 180-day observation period. There was a non-significant trend for reduction of VAS scores for dysmenorrhea. Bowel lesions by TVUS were unchanged. No clear differences between the two dose levels in therapeutic responses were observed., Conclusion: Results support the safety and feasibility of using LDE-MTX in women with deep infiltrating endometriosis as a novel and promising therapy for the disease. More prolonged treatment schemes should be tested in future placebo-controlled studies aiming to establish the usefulness of this novel nanomedicine approach., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: We evaluated the influence of an adjacent zirconium implant, tube current (mA), and a metal artifact reduction algorithm (MARA) on horizontal root fracture (HRF) diagnosis in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)., Study Design: Nineteen teeth (9 with HRF, 10 without) were individually placed in a human maxilla. Scan volumes were acquired without and with a zirconium implant adjacent to the tooth at settings of 4, 8, and 10 mA, with MARA disabled and enabled, using a 5×5 cm field of view, 0.085-mm voxel size, and 90 kV. Four maxillofacial radiologists individually assessed the scans. Diagnostic metrics were compared by multiway analysis of variance (α=5%). Inter- and intraexaminer agreements for HRF diagnosis were evaluated with the weighted kappa test., Results: Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity were significantly lower in the presence of the implant (P≤.005). AUC values were higher in scans obtained with 8 and 10 mA compared with 4 mA (P=0.010), but 10 mA without MARA was better with the implant present. MARA did not significantly influence outcomes (P≥0.240). Inter- and intraexaminer agreements ranged from moderate to almost perfect., Conclusions: The presence of the zirconium implant impairs HRF detection. Settings of 8 or 10 mA improve HRF detection regardless MARA condition without the implant. With an adjacent implant, 10 mA without MARA is recommended to improve diagnostic performance., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The morphology knowledge is essential for clinical, diagnostic and surgical practice in medicine. However, it is a great challenge teaching this science in an integrated curriculum, since it has the need of active methods associated with technology, in a total impaired workload. Therefore, this work described an educational design of multiple practice stations in order to teach morphology of the cardiovascular system in the undergraduate medical education. This activity was conducted in the Multicampi School of Medical Sciences of Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) in Caicó/Brazil. Four anatomy stations and four embryology and histology stations of heart and blood vessels were drawn up. Anatomy stations approached cardiac cycle and cardiac valves (1 A); mediastinum and pericardium (2 A); internal morphology and heart conduction system (3 A) and external morphology of heart (4 A). Whereas embryology and histology stations approached embryogenesis of the heart (1B); cardiac microanatomy and fetal circulation (2B); and vascular microanatomy (3B;4B). All the stations emphasized cognitive and psychomotor fields associated with clinical correlations to active application of morphology knowledge. The multiple stations were considered as an organized, productive, enlightening and riveting alternative to medical students and teaching staff. This innovative experience integrated and energized the three areas of morphological sciences, resignifying the teaching and learning of cardiovascular system morphology., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

Objective: We evaluated artifact expression in a root adjacent to a dental implant located in the endomass or exomass in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)., Study Design: We placed a single titanium or zirconia implant adjacent to a premolar root in a dried human mandible and acquired CBCT scans using an OP300 Maxio and a Picasso Trio 3D unit exposing a 5x5cm field of view with the implant in the endomass or exomass (implant groups) or without an implant (control group). We measured the mean gray values (MGVs) for 8 lines of interest (LOIs) around the root canal of the premolar and compared the MGVs by analysis of variance, with significance established at P < 0.05., Results: For the OP300 Maxio scans, the MGVs of both implant groups in the endomass were lower than the MGVs of the control group. In the exomass, the titanium group had MGVs similar to the control group, but the zirconia group produced significantly lower MGVs than control and titanium groups (P <.0001), indicating the presence of hypodense artifacts. For the Picasso Trio 3D scans, the MGVs of both implant groups in the endomass were similar to the MGVs of the control group. In the exomass, the zirconia group generated lower MGVs than control and titanium groups (P <.0001), indicating hypodense artifacts., Conclusions: When performing CBCT examination, titanium implants produce less artifact expression in the exomass, and zirconia implants have less artifact expression in the endomass., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study investigated changes in meat and subcutaneous fat metabolomes and possible metabolic pathways related to prenatal nutrition in beef cattle. For this purpose, 18 Nellore bulls were used for meat sampling and 15 for fat sampling. The nutritional treatments during the gestation were: NP-not programmed or control, without protein-energy supplementation; PP-partially programmed, with protein-energy supplementation (0.3% of body weight (BW)) only in the final third of pregnancy; and FP-full programming, with protein-energy supplementation (0.3% of BW) during the entire pregnancy. The meat and fat samples were collected individually 24 h after slaughter, and the metabolites were extracted using a combination of chemical reagents and mechanical processes and subsequently quantified using liquid chromatography or flow injection coupled to mass spectrometry. The data obtained were submitted to principal component analysis (PCA), analysis of variance (ANOVA), and functional enrichment analysis, with a significance level of 5%. The PCA showed an overlap between the treatments for both meat and fat. In meat, 25 metabolites were statistically different between treatments ( p ≤ 0.05), belonging to four classes (glycerophospholipids, amino acids, sphingolipids, and biogenic amine). In fat, 10 significant metabolites ( p ≤ 0.05) were obtained in two classes (phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine). The functional enrichment analysis showed alterations in the aminoacyl-tRNA pathway in meat ( p = 0.030); however, there was no pathway enriched for fat. Fetal programming influenced the meat and fat metabolomes and the aminoacyl-tRNA metabolic pathway, which is an important candidate for the biological process linked to meat quality and related to fetal programming in beef cattle.

Abutment components (i.e., fixtures associated with oral implants) are essentially made of titanium (Ti), which is continuously exposed to the hash oral environment, resulting in scratching. Thus, such components need to be protected, and surface treatments are viable methods for overcoming long-term damage. Diamond-like carbon (DLC), an excellent protective material, is an alternative surface-treatment material for Ti abutments. Here, we demonstrate that a silicon interlayer for DLC film growth and the pulsed-direct current plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (DC-PECVD) method enables the deposition of an enhanced protective DLC film. As a result, the DLC film demonstrated a smooth topography with a compact surface. Furthermore, the DLC film enhanced the mechanical (load-displacement, hardness, and elastic modulus) and tribological properties of Ti as well as increased its corrosion resistance (16-fold), which surpassed that of a bare Ti substrate. The biofilm formed ( Streptococcus sanguinis ) after 24 h exhibited an equal bacterial load (∼7 Log colony-forming units) for both the groups (Ti and DLC). In addition, the DLC film exhibited good cytocompatibility, owing to its noncytotoxicity toward human gingival fibroblast cells. Therefore, DLC deposition via DC-PECVD can be considered to be a promising protective and cytocompatible alternative for developing implant abutments with enhanced mechanical, tribological, and electrochemical properties.

Objective: To compare a three-dimensional (3D) artificial intelligence (AI)- driven model with panoramic radiography (PANO) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in assessing the risk of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury after mandibular wisdom tooth (M3M) removal through a within-patient controlled trial., Methods: From a database of 6,010 patients undergoing M3M surgery, 25 patients met the inclusion criteria of bilateral M3M removal with postoperative unilateral IAN injury. In this within-patient controlled trial, preoperative PANO and CBCT images were available, while 3D-AI models of the mandibular canal and teeth were generated from the CBCT images using the Virtual Patient Creator AI platform (Relu BV, Leuven, Belgium). Five examiners, who were blinded to surgical outcomes, assessed the imaging modalities and assigned scores indicating the risk level of IAN injury (high, medium, or low risk). Sensitivity, specificity, and area under receiver operating curve (AUC) for IAN risk assessment were calculated for each imaging modality., Results: For IAN injury risk assessment after M3M removal, sensitivity was 0.87 for 3D-AI, 0.89 for CBCT versus 0.73 for PANO. Furthermore, the AUC and specificity values were 0.63 and 0.39 for 3D-AI, 0.58 and 0.28 for CBCT, and 0.57 and 0.41 for PANO, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) among the imaging modalities for any diagnostic parameters., Conclusion: This within-patient controlled trial study revealed that risk assessment for IAN injury after M3M removal was rather similar for 3D-AI, PANO, and CBCT, with a sensitivity for injury prediction reaching up to 0.87 for 3D-AI and 0.89 for CBCT., Clinical Significance: This within-patient trial is pioneering in exploring the application of 3D AI-driven models for assessing IAN injury risk after M3M removal. The present results indicate that AI-powered 3D models based on CBCT might facilitate IAN risk assessment of M3M removal., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objective: This study evaluated changes in image quality and the presence and size of artifacts on radiographs obtained with photostimulable phosphor (PSP) plates after disinfection with 70% ethyl alcohol and 70% isopropyl alcohol., Study Design: Eight PSP receptors (4 Express and 4 VistaScan) were used for the investigation. Two Express and 2 VistaScan receptors were disinfected with 70% ethyl alcohol, and 2 Express and 2 VistaScan receptors were disinfected with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Before disinfection and after every 5 disinfections, 2 radiographs of an aluminum stepwedge and 2 radiographs of an acrylic block were acquired using each receptor. The gray values of the radiographs were analyzed regarding contrast, density, uniformity, and noise. Four oral radiologists evaluated the images for the presence of artifacts, and 2 measured the artifacts., Results: Differences in image contrast were significantly larger with isopropyl alcohol (P < .0001). Artifact size was significantly greater with the VistaScan system when isopropyl alcohol was used as the disinfectant (P < .0001). The correlation between the number of disinfections and artifact size was moderately positive with the Express system (P < .05) and strongly positive with the VistaScan system (P < .05) with both disinfectants., Conclusions: Small artifacts restricted to the edges of the image were observed with disinfection using both types of alcohol, and a positive correlation was found between artifact size and the number of disinfections. However, artifacts appeared earlier and of greater size with the VistaScan system when disinfected with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Thus, we recommend using 70% ethyl alcohol to disinfect PSP receptors, with attention placed on its action and evaporation times., Competing Interests: Declarations of interest None., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To compare the multilayer panoramic radiography (MPAN) and conventional panoramic radiography (CPAN) in the evaluation of mandibular third molars using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) as a reference., Methods: CPAN, MPAN, and CBCT scans from 33 dry human mandibles were acquired using the OP300 Maxio unit, totalizing 56 mandibular third molars to be evaluated. Three examiners evaluated each third molar according to their position, depth of impaction in the mandibular ramus, proximity between the dental root apexes and the mandibular canal, and the presence of radiographic signs of proximity to the mandibular canal. In addition, when there was a distance between the root apexes and the mandibular canal, it was measured. As a reference, these same parameters were assessed in the CBCT scans by a fourth examiner. For the statistical analysis, the weighted Kappa, Bland Altman, and Wilcoxon tests were performed (α = 0.05)., Results: The agreement between the assessments performed in the panoramic modalities with the CBCT ranged from 66.1% to 100.0% for the categorical variables. Overall, the agreement values of CPAN and MPAN with CBCT were similar. The distances between the dental root apex and the mandibular canal for both CPAN and MPAN were significantly underestimated compared to CBCT (p < 0.05). The intra- and interexaminer agreements of the examiners ranged from poor to almost perfect; in general, the agreements were higher in the evaluation performed in the MPAN than in the CPAN., Conclusions: The MPAN performs similarly to CPAN for evaluating mandibular third molars and their proximity relationship to the mandibular canal., Clinical Relevance: Preoperative evaluation of lower mandibular third molars is usually performed using CPAN. Recently, a new tool, MPAN, was developed, which has not yet been tested for the evaluation of mandibular third molars and showed similar performance to CPAN in the present study. Future studies using MPAN are encouraged to evaluate other diagnostic tasks., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Aim: Clinically relevant in-vitro biofilm models are essential and valuable tools for mechanistically dissecting the etiopathogenesis of infectious diseases and test new antimicrobial therapies. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop and test a clinically relevant in-vitro oral polymicrobial biofilm model that mimics implant-related infections in terms of microbial profile., Methods and Results: For this purpose, 24-well plate system was used to model oral biofilms, using three different microbial inoculums to grow in-vitro biofilms: (1) human saliva from periodontally healthy patients; (2) saliva as in inoculum 1 + Porphyromonas gingivalis strain; and (3) supra and subgingival biofilm collected from peri-implant sites of patients diagnosed with peri-implantitis. Biofilms were grown to represent the dynamic transition from an aerobic to anaerobic community profile. Subsequently, biofilms were collected after each phase and evaluated for microbiological composition, microbial counts, biofilm biomass, structure, and susceptibility to chlorhexidine (CHX). Results showed higher live cell count (P < .05) for biofilms developed from patients' biofilm inoculum, but biomass volume, dry weight, and microbiological composition were similar among groups (P > .05). Interestingly, according to the checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization results, the biofilm developed from stimulated human saliva exhibited a microbial composition more similar to the clinical subgingival biofilm of patients with peri-implantitis, with proportions of the main pathogens closer to those found in the disease. In addition, biofilm developed using saliva as inoculum was shown to be susceptible to CHX with significant reduction in bacteria compared with biofilms without exposure to CHX (P < .05)., Conclusion: The findings suggested that the in-vitro polymicrobial biofilm developed from human saliva as inoculum is a suitable model and clinically relevant tool for mimicking the microbial composition of implant-related infections., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Applied Microbiology International.)

Objectives: To identify clinical and tomographic prognostic factors for conservative and surgical treatment of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ)., Methods: A retrospective search identified patients treated with antiresorptive drugs (ARDs), diagnosed with Stage 1, 2 or 3 MRONJ, and having CBCT scans previous to conservative or surgical treatment. Following data collection, imaging assessment of the following parameters on each MRONJ site was performed: involvement of teeth and/or implants, presence of osteosclerosis, osteolysis, sequestrum formation, periosteal reaction, and pathological fractures. For statistical analysis, patients and lesions were divided into conservative and surgical treatment. Comparisons were made between successful and unsuccessful outcomes. Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05., Results: 115 ARD-treated patients who developed 143 osteonecrosis lesions were selected. 40 patients and 58 lesions received conservative treatment, of which 14 patients (35%) and 25 lesions (43%) healed. Additionally, 75 patients and 85 lesions underwent surgery, with 48 patients (64%) and 55 lesions (65%) that healed. Clinical and tomographic risk factors for conservative treatment were MRONJ staging, tooth involvement, extensive osteosclerosis, and deep sequestrum formation ( p < 0.05). Complementarily, poor prognostic indicators for surgical therapy were a short bisphosphonate (BP) holiday, MRONJ staging, absence of sequestrum formation, and presence of periosteal reaction ( p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Lesions at Stage 3 MRONJ, with tooth involvement, or sequestrum formation showed poor outcomes when conservative treatment is chosen. Alternatively, surgical treatment is most effective when BPs are discontinued, in Stage 1 lesions, in the presence of sequestrum formation, and absence of periosteal reaction.

Objective: To compare cylindrical and convex triangular field-of-views (FOVs) concerning the magnitude of artefacts from high-density materials in cone-beam CT (CBCT)., Methods and Materials: Cylinders of amalgam, chromium-cobalt, titanium, and zirconia were individually placed in the anterior and posterior regions of a polymethylmethacrylate phantom and scanned using cylindrical and convex triangular FOVs of the Veraview X800 CBCT device. Using the Image J software, 15 square regions of interest (ROIs) were placed in the axial reconstruction around the middle level of the cylinder and at distances of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 cm from the centre of the cylinder. Mean grey value and standard deviation of each ROI were averaged for each distance and subtracted from the values of a control ROI to calculate the magnitude of the artefacts by the grey value mean difference (GVMD) and grey value standard deviation (GVSD). Multiway analysis of variance with Tukey post-hoc test with a significance level of 5% evaluated the effect of the shape of the FOV, position inside the FOV, high-density material, and the distance of the artefact from the material., Results: The convex triangular FOV increased the GVSD for all materials in the anterior and posterior regions at 0.5 cm compared to the cylindrical FOV ( p < 0.0001). The convex triangular FOV showed greater GVMD for chromium-cobalt and zirconium in the anterior region and all materials in the posterior region at all distances ( p < 0.0001)., Conclusion: The FOV shape influences the magnitude of artefacts from high-density materials. The convex triangular FOV showed greater artefact magnitude with variability among the high-density materials, region in the FOV, and distance from the material.

Statement of Problem: Recent evidence suggests that toothpaste containing 0.3% triclosan (TCS) is more effective than regular toothpaste in improving clinical periodontal conditions. However, a consensus on whether TCS favors a healthy peri-implant environment is limited., Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials was to determine the effects of TCS-containing toothpaste on dental implant health based on clinical, immunological, and microbiological parameters, as well as on reported adverse events., Material and Methods: Clinical studies comparing peri-implant conditions in participants by using TCS toothpaste versus conventional fluoride toothpaste (control) were extracted from 9 databases. The studies were assessed with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized clinical trials (RoB 2). Datasets for bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), osteo-immunoinflammatory mediators, and bacterial load were plotted, and the standard mean difference (SMD) quantitative analysis was applied by using the Rev Man 5.3 software program. Adverse effects reported by the studies were also tabulated. The certainty of evidence was assessed by using the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation approach., Results: Six studies were included in the meta-analyses. BOP was higher in the control group than in the TCS toothpaste group at 3 months (SMD -0.59 [-1.11, -.07] P=.002, I 2 =77%) and 6 months (SMD -0.59 [-0.83, -0.34] P=.009, I 2 =79%). PD (SMD -0.04 [-0.08, -0.00] P=.04, I 2 =0%) was also deeper in the control group versus TCS toothpaste at 6 months (SMD -0.41 [-0.73, -0.10] P=.04, I 2 =77%). CAL, GI, and PI did not differ between groups (P>.05). Among the osteo-immunoinflammatory mediators, IL-10 levels increased, and IL-1β and osteoprotegerin levels decreased in the TCS toothpaste group (P<.05). Microbiological findings found that TCS toothpaste prevented the growth of periodontal pathogens, specifically in up to approximately 20% of the Prevotella intermedia. Adverse effects were not reported after toothbrushing in either group. However, most studies had "some" or "high" risk of bias, and the certainty of the evidence was considered to be "very low.", Conclusions: Most studies were short-term (3 and 6 months) analyses, and the results found that, although TCS-containing toothpaste had positive osteo-immunoinflammatory and microbiologic results, clinical parameters, including CAL, GI, and PI, were not influenced., (Copyright © 2023 Editorial Council for The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Statement of Problem: Although polyetheretherketone (PEEK) implant healing abutments have become popular because of their esthetic, mechanical, and chemical properties, studies analyzing oral polymicrobial adhesion to PEEK abutments are lacking., Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro and in vivo study was to evaluate oral microbial adhesion and colonization on titanium (Ti) and PEEK healing abutments., Material and Methods: Ti (N=35) and PEEK substrates (N=35) were evaluated in vitro in terms of the initial adhesion (1 hour) or biofilm accumulation (48 hours) of Candida albicans and a polymicrobial inoculum using stimulated human saliva to mimic a diverse oral microbiome. Surface decontamination ability was evaluated after 24 hours of in vitro biofilm formation after exposure to an erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser. Conventional and flowable composite resin veneering on PEEK was also tested for microbial adhesion. In addition, an in vivo model with 3 healthy volunteers was conducted by using a palatal appliance containing the tested materials (3 or 4 specimens of each material per appliance) for 2 days to evaluate the effect of substrate on the microbial profile. Biofilms were evaluated by live cell counts and scanning electron microscopy images, and the microbial profile by Checkerboard deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-DNA hybridization. The t test and Mann-Whitney test were used to compare the groups (α=.05)., Results: PEEK and Ti materials showed similar fungal adhesion (P>.05). Although the PEEK surface limited the initial in vitro polymicrobial adhesion (approximately 2 times less) compared with Ti (P=.040), after 48 hours of biofilm accumulation, the microbial load was statistically similar (P=.209). Er:YAG laser decontamination was more effective on PEEK than on Ti surfaces, reducing approximately 11 times more microbial accumulation (P=.019). Both composite resins tested showed similar microbial adhesion (1 hour). In vivo, the PEEK material showed reduced levels of 6 bacterial species (P<.05), including the putative pathogen Treponema denticola., Conclusions: Although PEEK and Ti had similar bacterial and fungus biofilm attachment and accumulation, PEEK promoted a host-compatible microbial profile with a significantly reduced T. denticola load., (Copyright © 2023 Editorial Council for The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Artificial bone grafting materials such as collagen are gaining interest due to the ease of production and implantation. However, collagen must be supplemented with additional coating materials for improved osteointegration. Here, we report room-temperature atomic layer deposition (ALD) of MgO, a novel method to coat collagen membranes with MgO. Characterization techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and electron beam dispersion mapping confirm the chemical nature of the film. Scanning electron and atomic force microscopies show the surface topography and morphology of the collagen fibers were not altered during the ALD of MgO. Slow release of magnesium ions promotes bone growth, and we show the deposited MgO film leaches trace amounts of Mg when incubated in phosphate-buffered saline at 37 °C. The coated collagen membrane had a superhydrophilic surface immediately after the deposition of MgO. The film was not toxic to human cells and demonstrated antibacterial properties against bacterial biofilms. Furthermore, in vivo studies performed on calvaria rats showed MgO-coated membranes (200 and 500 ALD) elicit a higher inflammatory response, leading to an increase in angiogenesis and a greater bone formation, mainly for Col-MgO500, compared to uncoated collagen. Based on the characterization of the MgO film and in vitro and in vivo data, the MgO-coated collagen membranes are excellent candidates for guided bone regeneration., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this manuscript., (© 2023 The Authors.)

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different prenatal nutrition treatments on pregnant cows and their progeny. One hundred and twenty-six pregnant Nellore cows (455.3 ± 8.1 kg) were allocated in three different nutritional treatments during pregnancy: NP-control, PP-protein-energy supplementation in the last 3 months of pregnancy, and FP-the same supplementation throughout pregnancy. After parturition, all cows and calves received the same environmental and nutrition condition. The body condition score (BCS), body weight (BW), ribeye area (REA), backfat thickness (BFT), and rumpfat thickness (RFT) were collected on four occasions during pregnancy in the cows and from birth to finishing in calves. All data (cows and calves) were submitted to an analysis of variance ( p < 0.05) using a linear model (MIXED procedure; SAS software). The BW, RFT, and BCS from the cows showed significant differences in the middle third of pregnancy and pre-delivery and RFT postpartum ( p < 0.05). For the offspring, the weaning weight showed a tendency (NP lighter than others). In terms of gain, the PP group tended to be higher in RFT at calving ( p = 0.06), in REA at finishing ( p = 0.09), and in ADG in the same period ( p = 0.09). The prenatal nutrition strategies had little or no effect on the beef cattle postnatal performance.

Carvacrol, a phenolic monoterpene, has diverse biological activities, highlighting its antioxidant and antihypertensive capacity. However, there is little evidence demonstrating its influence on vascular regeneration. Therefore, we evaluated the modulation of carvacrol on endothelial repair induced by endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in hypertension. Twelve-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were treated with a vehicle, carvacrol (50 or 100 mg/kg/day), or resveratrol (10 mg/kg/day) orally for four weeks. Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were used as the normotensive controls. Their systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured weekly through the tail cuff. The EPCs were isolated from the bone marrow and peripherical circulation and were quantified by flow cytometry. The functionality of the EPC was evaluated after cultivation through the quantification of colony-forming units (CFU), evaluation of eNOS, intracellular detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and evaluation of senescence. The superior mesenteric artery was isolated to evaluate the quantification of ROS, CD34, and CD31. Treatment with carvacrol induced EPC migration, increased CFU formation and eNOS expression and activity, and reduced ROS and senescence. In addition, carvacrol reduced vascular ROS and increased CD31 and CD34 expression. This study showed that treatment with carvacrol improved the functionality of EPC, contributing to the reduction of endothelial dysfunction.

This study aimed to assess the influence of the file format on the image quality parameters (image noise, brightness, and uniformity) of periapical radiographs acquired with different digital systems. Radiographic images of an acrylic phantom were acquired with two digital systems - Digora Toto and Express, and exported into five different file formats - TIFF, BMP, DICOM, PNG, and JPEG. Image noise, image brightness (mean of gray values), and image uniformity (standard deviation of gray values) were evaluated in all images. A two-way analysis of variance with Tukey's test as a post-hoc test was used to compare the results, considering the file formats and radiographic systems as the studied factors. A significance level of 5% was adopted for all analyses. The DICOM image file format presented lower image noise, higher brightness (higher mean gray values), and greater image uniformity (p<0.001) than the other file formats, which did not differ from each other for both digital radiography systems (p>0.05). The Express system revealed lower image noise and greater image uniformity than the Digora Toto system regardless of the image file format (p<0.001). Moreover, the Express showed higher brightness than the Digora Toto for all image file formats (p<0.001), except for the DICOM image file format, which did not significantly differ between the digital radiography systems tested (p>0.05). The DICOM image file format showed lower image noise, higher brightness, and greater image uniformity than the other file formats (TIFF, BMP, PNG, and JPEG) in both digital radiography systems tested.

This study investigated the effect of different prenatal nutrition approaches in 126 pregnant Nellore cows on reproductive and nutrigenetic traits of the male offspring during the finishing phase. For that purpose, three nutritional treatments were used in these cows during pregnancy: PP - protein-energy supplementation in the final third, FP - protein-energy supplementation during the entire pregnancy, and NP - (control) only mineral supplementation. The male progeny (63 bulls; 665 ± 28 days of age) were evaluated for scrotal circumference, seminal traits, number of Sertoli cells and testicular area. We performed a genomic association (700 K SNPs) for scrotal circumference at this age. In addition, a functional enrichment was performed in search of significant metabolic pathways (P < 0.05) with inclusion of genes that are expressed in these genomic windows by the MetaCore software. With the exception of major sperm defects (P < 0.1), the other phenotypes showed no difference between prenatal treatments. We found genes and metabolic pathways (P < 0.05) that are associated with genomic windows (genetic variance explained >1%) in different treatments. These molecular findings indicate that there is genotype-environment interaction among the different prenatal treatments and that the FP treatment showed greater major sperm defects compared to the NP treatment., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Objectives: To develop and assess the performance of a novel artificial intelligence (AI)-driven convolutional neural network (CNN)-based tool for automated three-dimensional (3D) maxillary alveolar bone segmentation on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images., Materials and Methods: A total of 141 CBCT scans were collected for performing training (n = 99), validation (n = 12), and testing (n = 30) of the CNN model for automated segmentation of the maxillary alveolar bone and its crestal contour. Following automated segmentation, the 3D models with under- or overestimated segmentations were refined by an expert for generating a refined-AI (R-AI) segmentation. The overall performance of CNN model was assessed. Also, 30% of the testing sample was randomly selected and manually segmented to compare the accuracy of AI and manual segmentation. Additionally, the time required to generate a 3D model was recorded in seconds (s)., Results: The accuracy metrics of automated segmentation showed an excellent range of values for all accuracy metrics. However, the manual method (95% HD: 0.20 ± 0.05 mm; IoU: 95% ± 3.0; DSC: 97% ± 2.0) showed slightly better performance than the AI segmentation (95% HD: 0.27 ± 0.03 mm; IoU: 92% ± 1.0; DSC: 96% ± 1.0). There was a statistically significant difference of the time-consumed among the segmentation methods (p < .001). The AI-driven segmentation (51.5 ± 10.9 s) was 116 times faster than the manual segmentation (5973.3 ± 623.6 s). The R-AI method showed intermediate time-consumed (1666.7 ± 588.5 s)., Conclusion: Although the manual segmentation showed slightly better performance, the novel CNN-based tool also provided a highly accurate segmentation of the maxillary alveolar bone and its crestal contour consuming 116 times less than the manual approach., (© 2023 The Authors. Clinical Oral Implants Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction. In recent years, cholesterol has received interest in the study of infection due to evidence of a relationship between low plasma cholesterol levels and tuberculosis (TB). Hypothesis/Gap Statement. Plasma lipid profiles of serum amyloid A (SAA), apolipoprotein A-I and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are biomarkers associated with symptomatic TB patients. Objective. We aimed to evaluate plasma lipid profiles of apolipoprotein A-I, SAA and the size of HDL as biomarkers to diagnose symptomatic TB patients. Methodology. Patients with TB symptoms attending the Instituto Brasileiro para a Investigação da Tuberculose/Fundação José Silveira (IBIT/FJS) between September 2015 and August 2016 for diagnosis of TB were studied. From 129 patients, 97 were classified as pulmonary TB and 32 as negative-bacilloscopy (non-TB group). Medical history, fasting serum and plasma were obtained. Total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, apolipoprotein A-I and SAA were measured by enzymatic or immunochemical reaction assays. HDL size was measured by laser light-scattering. Results. In TB patients, TC (147.0±37 vs. 168±44 mg dL -1 ), HDL-C (37±14 vs. 55±18 mg dL -1 ) and apolipoprotein A-I (102±41 vs. 156±47 mg dL -1 ) concentrations were lower ( P <0.0001), while HDL particle size (10.16±1.02 vs. 9.62±0.67 nm) and SAA levels (280±36 vs. 19±8 mg L -1 ) were higher ( P <0.0001). Using receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis for predicting TB, the cutoff values were <83.85 mg L -1 for SAA (sensitivity=96.88 %, specificity=78.43 %, P <0.0001), >44.50 mg dL -1 for HDL-C (sensitivity=75 %, specificity=72.16 %, P <0.001) and >118.5 mg dL -1 for apolipoprotein A-I (sensitivity=83.83 %, specificity=72.22 %, P <0.001). Conclusion. SAA, HDL-C and apolipoprotein A-I are associated with TB infection and could be used as laboratory biomarkers, especially in patients who are negative for alcohol-acid-resistant bacilli.

Statement of Problem: Knowledge about the location and dimensions of the mental foramen is important for surgical planning and implant placement in the posterior mandibular region., Purpose: The purpose of this clinical study was to assess the location and dimensions of the mental foramen in individuals of different facial type, skeletal class, and sex by means of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images., Material and Methods: CBCT images of 142 individuals (72 women and 70 men) were classified according to the facial type (dolichocephalic, mesocephalic, or brachycephalic) and skeletal class (I, II, or III). The vertical and horizontal locations of each mental foramen were evaluated on panoramic reconstructions, and the greatest height and width of the mental foramen were determined on multiplanar reconstructions. Also, the distances from the mental foramen to the alveolar crest and to the inferior cortex of the mandible were obtained. The data were compared by using the Kruskal-Wallis test and multiway analysis of variance (α=.05)., Results: The facial type, skeletal class, and sex did not influence the vertical (P=1.00) or the horizontal (P>.15) location of the mental foramen. The most frequent location of the mental foramen was between the first and second premolars and below their apices. The dimensions of the mental foramen were not influenced by the studied factors in men (P>.07); conversely, the mental foramen dimensions were influenced for women (P<.03)., Conclusions: The most frequent location of the mental foramen was between the first and second premolars and below their apices. An influence of the facial type and skeletal class was observed on the dimensions of the mental foramen in women., (Copyright © 2021 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)