Search

Aim: To compare preparation times using manual, rotary, and reciprocating files during pulpectomy treatment of primary molars. Settings and Design: This study was an in vitro, randomised, cross-sectional study. Methods: The study was performed on 60 extracted human primary mandibular second molars. Only mesiobuccal canals were prepared using one of three preparation techniques; each preparation technique group comprised 20 canals. Canal preparations were performed by a single, skilled operator using stainless-steel (ss) K-files (ISO size 20–35), a ProTaper Gold SX file, and a WaveOne Gold Medium file following glide path preparation. Preparation times were recorded in second (s) with a digital stopwatch. Statistical Analysis: Preparation times were compared using analysis of variance and the Kruskal–Wallis analysis of variance, where appropriate. The level of significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: The mean preparation time using the ss K-files was significantly longer (186.4 s) than when using the ProTaper Gold SX (29.6 s) or WaveOne Gold Medium files (30.5 s) (P < 0.001). Similar preparation times were recorded when using the ProTaper Gold SX and WaveOne Gold Medium files (P = 0.939). Conclusion: Preparation times with the ProTaper Gold SX and WaveOne Gold Medium files were significantly faster than when using the ss K-files to prepare primary tooth root canals for pulpectomy. Similar preparation times were noted when using the rotary and reciprocation instrumentation groups (P > 0.05).

Key Clinical Message Dens evaginatus is an uncommon dental anomaly presenting on mandibular premolar teeth. Affected teeth are difficult to diagnose and manage, and often demonstrate immature apices requiring complex endodontic treatment approaches. Abstract Dens evaginatus (DE) is an uncommon anomaly affecting mandibular premolars, frequently requiring endodontic intervention. This report documents the treatment of an immature mandibular premolar presenting with DE. Early diagnosis and preventive strategies remain the preferred management for these anomalies, however endodontic approaches may be successfully applied to retain these teeth.

Temperature is considered to be a major abiotic factor influencing aquatic life. Marine heatwaves are emerging as threats to sustainable shellfish aquaculture, affecting the farming of New Zealand’s green-lipped mussel [Perna canaliculus (Gmelin, 1791)]. In this study, P. canaliculus were gradually exposed to high-temperature stress, mimicking a five-day marine heatwave event, to better understand the effects of heat stress on the metabolome of mussels. Following liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analyses of haemolymph samples, key sugar-based metabolites supported energy production via the glycolysis pathway and TCA cycle by 24 h and 48 h of heat stress. Anaerobic metabolism also fulfilled the role of energy production. Antioxidant molecules acted within thermally stressed mussels to mitigate oxidative stress. Purine metabolism supported tissue protection and energy replenishment. Pyrimidine metabolism supported the protection of nucleic acids and protein synthesis. Amino acids ensured balanced intracellular osmolality at 24 h and ammonia detoxification at 48 h. Altogether, this work provides evidence that P. canaliculus has the potential to adapt to heat stress up to 24 °C by regulating its energy metabolism, balancing nucleotide production, and implementing oxidative stress mechanisms over time. The data reported herein can also be used to evaluate the risks of heatwaves and improve mitigation strategies for aquaculture.

Abalone is a gourmet seafood with a high commercial value, particularly when obtained as a live product. During live transportation, abalone encounter stressors causing biochemical modifications to tolerate the changes. Using semi-targeted metabolomics, this study characterised the left and right gill metabolite profiles of Blackfoot abalone, Haliotis iris, following transportation (48 h) and recovery (48 h). This study reports the association between left and right gill metabolites, to enhance our physiological understanding of the interplay between gills. The left gill metabolites are mainly active following transportation, while both gills partake in the metabolite response following recovery. Transportation necessitated increased metabolites linked to the glycolysis pathway, the Krebs cycle, amino acid, and nucleotide metabolism, for energy production, achieved via aerobic and anaerobic pathways. The recovery phase supported the replenishing of glycogen, triglycerides, and protein stores, albeit metabolic homeostasis was not achieved following two-days of water immersion recovery. This study showcases the well-adapted metabolic mechanisms implemented by H. iris in response to transportation stress and show that metabolites are in the process of returning to the same concentrations as measured pre-transport stress. The findings herein can be applied to improve animal health during transport and subsequent survival, which in-effect supports profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the root canal anatomy of maxillary first molars in Black South Africans. Methods: Micro-computed tomography was used to investigate 101 maxillary first molars (53 teeth from the right, 48 from the left; 50 male and 51 female teeth). The number of root canals in each tooth was determined, and the relationship between side, sex and age was analyzed using chi-squared test. To determine intra- and inter-observer reliability, Cohen's kappa coefficients were calculated. Results: Intra- and inter-rater agreements of 96.92% and 98.08% were achieved, respectively. Most teeth contained either three or four canals, but a second, third and fourth mesio-buccal canal was found in 60.39%, 5.94% and 0.99% of teeth, respectively. The disto-buccal and palatal roots contained predominantly single canals, but additional canals were noted in 2.97% and 1.98% of teeth. Four canals were common in females and teeth on the right side often contained a second mesio-buccal canal. However, the prevalence of a third mesio-buccal canal was higher in males than in females. Conclusion: The teeth studied showed diversity and variations between sexes and arch sides. These findings will aid clinicians in endodontic treatment and will be applicable for educational purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Endodontics as an independent dental specialty exists in many regions worldwide, with training programs established in both developed and developing countries. Endodontic specialty training is, however, currently not available in South Africa. This study aimed to determine whether private dental practitioners, who perform clinical endodontic treatment, believed that South Africa should train specialist endodontists. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted. An online program was used to generate a survey which was electronically mailed to 3252 South African private dental practitioners. Quantitative and qualitative questions with open-ended responses were used. Topics included the following: demographic information, management/referral strategies regarding difficult endodontic cases, and need for endodontics as an independent dental specialty in South Africa. Data were analyzed using simple descriptive methods. Results: A total of 215 (n = 215/3252) responses were received by the closing date. The overall response rate was 7%. The valid responses of 193 participants were included (n = 193/215). The majority (83%, n = 160/193) of the respondents indicated the opinion that South Africa should train specialist endodontists. The reasons for this opinion were varied. Strategies in place for the management of difficult endodontic cases and existing endodontic referral pathways were additionally identified. Conclusion: There is a need to train specialist endodontists in South Africa.

Purpose: To determine whether femoral epicondylar width (FECW) obtained from either magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or plain radiographs could be used to predict anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) length. A secondary purpose was to develop a formula to use maximum FECW on either MRI or plain radiographs to estimate ACL length preoperatively. Methods: The MRIs and radiographs of 40 patients (mean age 41.0 years), with no apparent knee pathology, surgery, or trauma were included. The ACL length was measured on MRI followed by FECW on both MRI and radiograph of the same patient. This allowed the development of equations able to predict ACL length according to the FECW measured on either an MRI or radiograph. Results: The mean ACL length was 40.6 ± 3.6 mm. FECW measured on both MRIs and radiographs was sufficient to predict ACL length. Pearson’s correlations revealed a high positive relationship between ACL length and FECW on MRI (r = 0.89, P < .0001) and ACL length and FECW on radiograph (r = 0.83, P < .0001). The coefficient of determination (R2) was calculated to be MRI: R2 = 0.78 and radiograph: R2 = 0.68 and confirmed that FECW measured on both MRI and radiograph were sufficient to predict ACL length. Based on these models, ACL length can be predicted by FECW using the following formulas: MRI: ACL length = 0.47 (FECW) + 1.93 and radiograph: ACL length = 0.31 (FECW) + 11.33. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that FECW measured on either MRI or anteroposterior radiograph could reliably estimate ACL length on a sagittal MRI. There was a high positive relationship between ACL length and FECW on both MRI and radiographs, although MRIs do predict ACL length more reliably. Clinical Relevance: Preoperative ACL length assessment, using FECW on MRI or radiograph, is useful in graft selection and in preventing inadequate graft harvesting for ACL reconstruction, especially if an individualized anatomical approach is pursued.

Aim: To compare preparation times using manual, rotary, and reciprocating files during pulpectomy treatment of primary molars. Settings and Design: This study was an in vitro, randomised, cross-sectional study. Methods: The study was performed on 60 extracted human primary mandibular second molars. Only mesiobuccal canals were prepared using one of three preparation techniques; each preparation technique group comprised 20 canals. Canal preparations were performed by a single, skilled operator using stainless-steel (ss) K-files (ISO size 20-35), a ProTaper Gold SX file, and a WaveOne Gold Medium file following glide path preparation. Preparation times were recorded in second (s) with a digital stopwatch. Statistical Analysis: Preparation times were compared using analysis of variance and the Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance, where appropriate. The level of significance was set at P = 0.05. Results: The mean preparation time using the ss K-files was significantly longer (186.4 s) than when using the ProTaper Gold SX (29.6 s) or WaveOne Gold Medium files (30.5 s) (P < 0.001). Similar preparation times were recorded when using the ProTaper Gold SX and WaveOne Gold Medium files (P = 0.939). Conclusion: Preparation times with the ProTaper Gold SX and WaveOne Gold Medium files were significantly faster than when using the ss K-files to prepare primary tooth root canals for pulpectomy. Similar preparation times were noted when using the rotary and reciprocation instrumentation groups (P > 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The FitTrack Index is a web-based programme developed in South Africa and widely used by athletes to indicate their fitness. A need exists for a self-managed, noninvasive tool to evaluate and categorise health-related fitness in different population groups. The aim of this study was to compare the FitTrack Index with a reliable measure of cardio-respiratory fitness as indicated by maximal oxygen uptake (direct VO2max). Methods & results: During a 12-week cross-sectional, descriptive pilot study the direct laboratory tested VO2max indicated a moderate to strong correlation with the FitTrack Index (Spearman's rho = 0.439, p = 0.089 at baseline; Spearman's rho =0.853, p < 0.001 after 12 weeks). Conclusions: These results suggest that the web-based FitTrack Index may be considered an appropriate tool to evaluate exercise capacity and cardiovascular fitness in healthy individuals following an aerobic training programme.

Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) texts should be interpreted against the background of the magico-mythical cosmology of their time, and the Bible is no exception. Earlier scholars were, however, hesitant to recognise this reality as a result of disagreement over how to define myths and because of the problematic idealistic framework that they followed. This framework viewed biblical religion as superior to other ANE religions and thus devoid of myths and the belief in magic. It is, however, argued that the Bible contains both myths and a belief in magic and shares the overarching ANE cosmology. The incompatibility of the scientific cosmology and the magico-mythical cosmology of the ANE causes special problems for modern readers. To prevent modern readers from habitually falling back on their scientific cosmology, and thereby misinterpreting the Bible, it is suggested that a cosmological approach should form the basic framework for all biblical hermeneutics.

Functional hypoxia is a stress condition caused by the abalone itself as a result of increased muscle activity, which generally necessitates the employment of anaerobic metabolism if the activity is sustained for prolonged periods. With that being said, abalone are highly reliant on anaerobic metabolism to provide partial compensation for energy production during oxygen-deprived episodes. However, current knowledge on the holistic metabolic response for energy metabolism during functional hypoxia, and the contribution of different metabolic pathways and various abalone tissues towards the overall accumulation of anaerobic end-products in abalone are scarce. Metabolomics analysis of adductor muscle, foot muscle, left gill, right gill, haemolymph and epipodial tissue samples indicated that South African abalone (Haliotis midae) subjected to functional hypoxia utilises predominantly anaerobic metabolism, and depends on all of the main metabolite classes (proteins, carbohydrates and lipids) for energy supply. Functional hypoxia caused increased levels of anaerobic end-products: lactate, alanopine, tauropine, succinate and alanine. Also, elevation in arginine levels was detected, confirming that abalone use phosphoarginine to generate energy during functional hypoxia. Different tissues showed varied metabolic responses to hypoxia, with functional hypoxia showing excessive changes in the adductor muscle and gills. From this metabolomics investigation, it becomes evident that abalone are metabolically able to produce sufficient amounts of energy when functional hypoxia is experienced. Also, tissue interplay enables the adjustment of H. midae energy requirements as their metabolism shifts from aerobic to anaerobic respiration during functional hypoxia. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

It is argued that any attempt by eco-theologians to interpret the biblical concept of the wilderness in a more positive light, would be futile. However, by stripping the biblical wilderness metaphor from its magico-mythical assumptions we can construct new meaning by applying general biblical ethics such as love your neighbour as yourself to the wilderness. Often this will involve reading against the grain of biblical texts dealing with the wilderness, but this should only challenge us to go beyond the text and measure it against the core ethical principles of the Bible. Without caring for the wilderness, we jeopardise the livelihood of future generations and deny them the possibility of enjoying the psychological and aesthetical benefits of the wilderness.