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Recent advancements in the arena of therapeutic molecular enhancement have shown favorable clinical findings for periodontics. However, further studies to optimize clinical outcomes using this technology are warranted. Twelve premolar extraction sockets were assigned randomly for treatment with 0.3 mg/mL recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor (rhPDGF-BB) combined with either a collagen containing anorganic deproteinized bovine bone (xenograft) or beta-tricalcium phosphate (b-TCP). Histologic evaluation of extraction socket healing was performed at 3 months. Histologic findings were similar with b-TCP and the xenograft, having 21% and 24% vital bone, respectively. The use of rhPDGF-BB with either b-TCP or a xenograft resulted in uneventful socket healing. At reentry, all implants were placed without the need for further grafting, and 100% implant success was recorded at the time of final evaluation (restoration completion). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Lack of attention to marketing innovation for achieving competitive advantage leads to pharmaceutical brands performance decline. In this regard, the purpose of the present research was to determine the relationship between marketing innovation and market performance of pharmaceutical brands. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, statistical population included marketing managers and experts of the top fifteen pharmaceutical companies in 2017. Available sampling method was used and finally, 72 analyzable questionnaires were obtained. The collected data were analyzed using Variance-Based Structural Equation Modeling. Results: The most important findings of the research indicated that there was a significant positive relationship between marketing innovation and market performance in pharmaceutical industry (β=0.840, t=14.768). Otherwise, the data showed that a decrease in marketing innovation could ultimately lead to pharmaceutical brands performance decline in the market. Also, goodness of fit index equal to 0.74 indicated that the relationship was desirable and R squared equal to 0.705 indicated that 70.5 percent of the variance for market performance variable was explained by innovation marketing variable. Conclusion: It seems that marketing innovation to be effective in increasing pharmaceutical brands performance. Therefore, it is recommended to pharmaceutical companies' managers to take an innovative approach in formulation and implementation of marketing elements in order to grow pharmaceutical brands performance and prevent their decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canids harbor many zoonotic parasites and play an important role in the spread of parasites in the human environment. Estimation of parasitic infection among canids as definitive hosts may help competent authorities design efficient control programs. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs and foxes with an emphasis on Echinococcus spp. A total of 500 fecal samples of dogs and 30 fecal samples of foxes were studied in the summer, autumn, and winter of 2021 in the Zanjan province using the formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique, followed by multiplex PCR. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite infection was estimated to be 19.05%. The prevalence was 24.8%, 10.2%, and 26.7% in stray, shelter dogs and foxes, respectively. No parasites were found among pet and guard dog samples. PCR results on Taenidae eggs showed that 2.4% of samples were positive for Echinococcus granulosus and none contained E. multilocularis. Noteworthy is that E. granulosus was identified only in stray dog samples. The higher prevalence of E. granulosus infection in stray dogs in this province emphasizes the importance of monitoring the food sources consumed by these animals., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common gynecological endocrine disorder., Objectives: This study evaluated the therapeutic effects of Pimpinella anisum L. ( P. anisum ) fruit on pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress markers, and ovarian tissue structure in a rat model of PCOS., Methods: After inducing PCOS, female Wistar rats were randomly divided into control and PCOS groups. They orally received daily doses of normal saline or hydro-alcoholic extract of P. anisum at two doses (200 and 400 mg/kg) for 21 days. At the end of the treatment period, ovarian and liver tissues were collected to measure lipid peroxidation, antioxidant status, TNF-α, IL-6 mRNA expression, and its content. Additionally, histopathological examinations of the ovarian tissue were conducted., Results: Our findings revealed a dose-dependent change in the biochemical and histopathological parameters. Treatment with P. anisum resulted in a significant decrease in TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA expression levels and their content in the ovarian and liver tissues. It also reduced MDA levels while increasing SOD and GPx activity in both ovarian and liver tissues of PCOS rats. Furthermore, the number of follicular cysts in the PCOS rat model was significantly reduced., Conclusions: The beneficial effects of P. anisum in PCOS rats are partly attributed to the inhibition of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in ovarian tissue. These findings suggest that P. anisum could be a potential candidate for the treatment of PCOS disorders., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024, Dadkhah et al.)

Background: Predictability has been demonstrated for the long-term success of dental implants placed simultaneously with or after a sinus-augmentation procedure. However, the time required to obtain optimal bone formation can be from 6 to 9 months or longer with grafting materials other than autogenous bone. For this reason, there is interest in a surgical technique that does not require the harvest of autogenous bone but still results in sufficient bone formation within a relatively short time frame., Methods: The purpose of this case series was to evaluate the bone formation following sinus-augmentation procedures using an allograft cellular bone matrix containing native mesenchymal stem cells. Biopsy and histologic evaluation were performed after approximately 4 months of healing., Results: Histomorphometric analysis revealed an average vital bone content of 33% (range, 22% to 40%) and an average residual graft content of 6% (range, 3% to 7%) for the five cases reported that had an average healing period of 4.1 months (range, 3 to 4.75 months)., Conclusion: The high percentage of vital bone content, after a relatively short healing phase, may encourage a more rapid initiation of implant placement or restoration when a cellular grafting approach is considered.

Background: The advent of osseointegration and advances in biomaterials and techniques have contributed to increased application of dental implants in the restoration of partial and completely edentulous patients. Often, in these patients, soft and hard tissue defects result from a variety of causes, such as infection, trauma, and tooth loss. These create an anatomically less favorable foundation for ideal implant placement. For prosthetic-driven dental implant therapy, reconstruction of the alveolar bone through a variety of regenerative surgical procedures has become predictable; it may be necessary prior to implant placement or simultaneously at the time of implant surgery to provide a restoration with a good long-term prognosis. Regenerative procedures are used for socket preservation, sinus augmentation, and horizontal and vertical ridge augmentation., Methods: A broad overview of the published findings in the English literature related to various bone augmentation techniques is outlined. A comprehensive computer-based search was performed using various databases that include Medline and PubMed. A total of 267 papers were considered, with non-peer-reviewed articles eliminated as much as possible., Results: The techniques for reconstruction of bony defects that are reviewed in this paper include the use of particulate bone grafts and bone graft substitutes, barrier membranes for guided bone regeneration, autogenous and allogenic block grafts, and the application of distraction osteogenesis., Conclusions: Many different techniques exist for effective bone augmentation. The approach is largely dependent on the extent of the defect and specific procedures to be performed for the implant reconstruction. It is most appropriate to use an evidenced-based approach when a treatment plan is being developed for bone augmentation cases.

Background: Correction of mucogingival recession deformities with a variety of periodontal plastic surgery procedures has been described, each demonstrating a variable degree of success. A modified semilunar coronally advanced flap is described for the treatment of recession defects on multiple adjacent teeth., Methods: Semilunar incisions were made apical to the recession defects, starting within mucosa and extended mesio-distally, arching more coronally to terminate apical to the papillae mesial and distal to the teeth exhibiting the defects. The papilla between the teeth with recession was coronally advanced after a split-thickness dissection and sutured more coronally, over the deepithelialized portion of the original papilla. The flap design gave better mobility and stability to the repositioned pedicle than previously described semilunar coronally advanced flap procedures., Results: Seven cases treated with this approach healed without complication and remained stable throughout the 8 to 22 months of post-surgical observation., Conclusions: This technique will be particularly valuable when previous attempts for root coverage with soft tissue autografts have resulted in residual recession defects on adjacent teeth and in a thicker-tissue biotype that would be amenable to partial-thickness dissection. An adequate thickness of tissue that will allow a partial-thickness flap dissection is required to avoid tooth or alveolar bone fenestrations. This technique provides better control over flap repositioning than previously described semilunar coronally advanced flaps.

The CD44 cell surface hyaluronan binding protein has many isoforms formed by alternative splicing and glycosylation, and some variants have been associated with a malignant phenotype, invasion and metastasis. CD44 splicing patterns and intron 9 retention in 24 oro-pharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) were investigated by RT-PCR. Transcription efficiency and quantity were determined in 10 carcinomas and normal control mucosa by real-time PCR using dual-labeled fluorescent Taqman probes. Most of the carcinomas, regardless of grade, showed one major transcript including exons v2-v10, similar to that expressed by normal keratinocytes. In addition, most carcinomas expressed a variety of truncated transcripts of contiguous variant exons. Real-time PCR revealed that carcinomas showed both over-expression and down-regulation in transcription compared to normal keratinocytes, but this change was independent of the state of differentiation or the sub-site of biopsy. Intron 9 was not retained in normal keratinocytes or carcinomas. Overall, the results indicate that OSCC, like normal keratinocytes, constitutively express all variant exons and that the missplicing seen in other malignancies does not appear to occur. OSCC do not reproducibly over-express CD44 and show a wide range of transcription levels. CD44 expression does not appear to be fundamentally deranged in OSCC and is unlikely to be of value in early diagnosis, or as a prognostic marker.

The squamous odontogenic tumor (SOT) is a rare, benign, locally infiltrative neoplasm of the jaws that appears to originate from the rests of Malassez. It has been confused with other pathologic entities such as ameloblastomas, carcinomas, and fibromas and clinically may resemble localized periodontal disease. The tumor is often asymptomatic, although it can present with symptoms of pain and tooth mobility. A characteristic radiographic appearance is that of a triangular-shaped or semi-circular lucency associated with the roots of erupted teeth. Histologically, the tumor is characterized by the formation of variably sized nests and cords of uniform, benign-appearing, squamous epithelium with occasional vacuolization and keratinization. Treatment of SOT by conservative surgical excision is normally curative with rare episodes of recurrence reported. Since the clinical presentation of SOT may mimic more common pathologic entities, this case report reinforces the need for careful histologic evaluation of all lesions found in the periodontium.