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Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is a surfactant used and recommended by regulatory agencies as a reference substance in ecotoxicological analyzes. In this work, acute toxicity assays were performed with adults and embryos of the freshwater snail Biomphalaria glabrata, an endemic organism with environmental and public health importance, to evaluate the effects of the surfactant and establish a sensitivity control chart. The organisms were exposed to SDS for 24 h to a range of concentrations, as well as a control group. Six assays were performed to establish the control chart for adults (with a median LC50 of 36.87 mg L−1) and differential sensitivity was observed at each embryonic stage (EC50 = blastulae 33.03, gastrulae 35.03, trochophore 39.71 and veliger 72.55 mg L−1). The following behavioral responses were observed in exposed adult snails: release of hemolymph and mucus, body outside the shell, and penile overexposure. Embryos at the blastulae and gastrulae stages were more sensitive, and teratogenic effects were accentuated in the trochophore stage. The difference in results obtained between adults and embryos underscore the importance of carrying out analyzes at different developmental stages. The serial assays established with SDS for B. glabrata demonstrated efficiency and constancy conditions in the assays with good laboratory practice standards. The wide distribution of Biomphalaria species in several countries, their easy maintenance and cultivation in the laboratory, in addition to ecological importance, make them economical alternatives for ecotoxicological assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an upflow anaerobic packed-bed reactor (UAPB) produced biobutanol from the main byproduct of biodiesel plants, commonly known as glycerol. Currently, butanol production is mostly limited to pure cultures and sterilized feedstocks. Using glycerol wastes from biodiesel production demands a new paradigm because sterilization is not economically feasible for the elevated amount of glycerol generated by the biodiesel industry. Different microbial consortia were evaluated as inoculum sources to convert glycerol to butanol. In the first stage, operations were carried out with an average organic loading rate (OLR) of 13 g COD L−1 d−1. Kefir grains, sucrose auto-fermentation consortium, and heat-treated anaerobic sludge produced 16.7, 48.5, and 12.8 mg of butanol per gram of chemical oxygen demand (COD), respectively. Besides butanol production, a significant amount of ethanol (241.5 mg g−1 COD), acetate (30.3 mg g−1 COD), and butyrate (183.4 mg g−1 COD) were generated with glycerol processed by sucrose auto-fermentation consortium. In the second stage, the organic loading rates of 6.5, 13.0, and 26.0 g COD L−1 d−1 were applied to the UAPB reactor inoculated with sucrose auto-fermentation consortium. The OLR of 13.0 g COD L−1 d−1 yielded the highest production of butanol (41.5 mg g−1 COD) and generated other valuable co-products such as butyrate (246.1 mg g−1 COD), acetate (37.3 mg g−1 COD), and propionate (19.6 mg g−1 COD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present in vitro comparative study is to validate a novel composite polymer, named "ONLY", developed to overcome the mechanical drawbacks of conventional, metal-reinforced poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) interim restoration. Ten interim restorations were designed and fabricated (five in the composite "ONLY" group, and five in the metal-reinforced PMMA group). All the samples were screwed into the prototype models, simulating a complete edentulous mandible rehabilitated with six straight implants. Outcome measures were break point (load, N) and displacement (mm) through a static compression test, and material behavior through a dynamic cyclic test method (fatigue test). A total of 20 samples were tested (10 for static and 10 for dynamic). In each group, five samples (test and control) were used. All the specimens completed the mechanical tests, as planned. There was no statistically significant difference between groups for any test. In the test group, the break point was 1953.19 ± 543.73 N, while it was 2031.10 ± 716.68 N in the control group (p = 0.775). The displacement was 1.89 ± 0.34 mm in the test group and 1.98 ± 0.75 mm in the control group (p = 0.763). Using the dynamic cyclic test method, in the control group the mean load was 2504.60 ± 972.15 N, while in the test group the mean load was 3382.00 ± 578.50 N. The difference between groups was 877.40 ± 579.30 N (p value = 0.121). Within the limitations of this in vitro study, the novel composite polymer can be used to immediately load dental implants. Further clinical research is needed to confirm these preliminary results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seismic‐electromagnetic phenomenon entails the generation of transient electromagnetic signals, which can be observed both simultaneously (co‐seismic) and preceding (pre‐seismic) a seismic wave arrival. Following the most accredited hypothesis, these signals are mainly due to electrokinetic effects, generated on microscopic scale in porous media containing electrolytic fluids. Thus, the seismic‐electromagnetic signals are expected to be suitable for the detection and tracking of crustal fluids. Despite the growing interest in this phenomenon, there is a lack of freely available observational database of earthquake‐related electromagnetic signals recorded at co‐located seismic and magnetotelluric stations. To fill this gap, we set up two multicomponent monitoring stations in two seismically active areas of Southern Italy: the Gargano Promontory and the High Agri Valley. This work is both aimed to systematically analyse earthquake‐generated seismic‐electromagnetic recordings and to make the collected database accessible to the scientific community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the patient's morbidity and postsurgical complications after treatment of palatal donor sites after free gingival graft harvesting using leucocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) membranes or a hemostatic agent with oxidized and regenerated cellulose. Method and materials: Forty-two palatal donor sites after free gingival graft harvesting in 42 patients were randomly assigned to experimental (L-PRF membrane) or control procedure (hemostatic agent). The primary outcome was postoperative pain related to the wound located at the palatal area, and the secondary outcomes were postoperative discomfort, inability to chew, postoperative stress, surgical chair time, thickness of the palatal fibromucosa, and thickness of the free gingival graft. The patient-reported outcome measures were recorded after 1 week. Results: After 1 week, a statistically significant difference was found between groups in terms of postoperative stress (P = .008). No statistically significant differences in terms of postoperative pain (P = .326), patient discomfort (P = .509), inability to chew (P = .936), or surgical chair time (P = .932) were recorded between the test and the control group. No statistically significant differences were recorded in terms of thickness of the palatal fibromucosa (P = .647) and thickness of the free gingival graft (P = .756) between groups. Postsurgical wound healing complications (ie, necrosis or infections) were not observed in both groups. Conclusion: Within their limitations, the present outcomes indicated that the application of L-PRF membrane at palatal donor sites after FGG harvesting did not produce significant advantages for the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, several studies demonstrated the effectiveness of lung ultrasound (LUS) as a frontline tool in diagnosing and managing acute SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. However, its role in detecting post-COVID-19 lung sequelae remains to be fully determined. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of LUS in identifying lung parenchymal damage, particularly fibrotic-like changes, following COVID-19 pneumonia, comparing its performance to that of CT. Methods: Relevant studies published before July 2024 were identified through a comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library. The search terms were combinations of the relevant medical subject heading (MeSH) terms, key words and word variants for "lung", "post-COVID", "long-COVID", and "ultrasound". The pooled sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and summary receiver-operating characteristic (SROC) curve were used to examine the accuracy of CEUS. The selected works used different thresholds for the detection and counting of B-lines by ultrasound. This led to dividing our analysis into two models, the first based on the lower thresholds for detection of B-lines found in the works, and the second on data obtained using a higher detection threshold. Results: In terms of the diagnostic accuracy of LUS in detecting residual fibrotic-like changes in patients post-COVID-19 infection, a low-threshold model displayed a pooled sensitivity of 0.98 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.95–0.99] and a pooled specificity of 0.54 (95% CI: 0.49–0.59). The DOR was 44.9 (95% CI: 10.8–187.1). The area under the curve (AUC) of SROC was 0.90. In the second analysis, the model with the higher threshold to detect B-lines showed a pooled sensitivity of 0.90 (95% CI: 0.85–0.94) and a pooled specificity of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.84–0.91). The DOR was 50.4 (95% CI: 15.9–159.3). The AUC of SROC was 0.93. Conclusions: In both analyses (even using the high threshold for the detection of B-lines), excellent sensitivity (98% in model 1 and 90% in model 2) is maintained. The specificity has a significant variation between the two models from 54 (model 1) to 87% (model 2). The model with the highest threshold for the detection of B-lines displayed the best diagnostic accuracy, as confirmed by the AUC values of the SROC (0.93). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the threshold voltage shift (ΔVTH) induced by positive bias temperature instability (PBTI) in silicon carbide (SiC) power MOSFETs. By analyzing ΔVTH under various gate stress voltages (VGstress) at 150 °C, distinct mechanisms are revealed: (i) trapping in the interface and/or border pre-existing defects and (ii) the creation of oxide defects and/or trapping in spatially deeper oxide states with an activation energy of ~80 meV. Notably, the adoption of different characterization methods highlights the distinct roles of these mechanisms. Moreover, the study demonstrates consistent behavior in permanent ΔVTH degradation across VGstress levels using a power law model. Overall, these findings deepen the understanding of PBTI in SiC MOSFETs, providing insights for reliability optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluid‐induced seismicity has been a particularly emphasized mechanism over the last few years, especially after fluid‐related, moderate‐to‐large earthquakes have been observed in several locations around the globe. Several studies suggest that the relationships between seismicity and fluid presence are related to variations in the stress state of rocks, due to the increase or drop of the pore fluid pressure. In this scenario, the Val d'Agri represents a precious case study where fluid‐induced seismicity is observed. In this area, two seismic clusters are observed in the Apulian Carbonate Platform, caused by (a) wastewater reinjection that reactivated the Costa Molina Fault blind thrust, and (b) seasonal water loading from the Pertusillo reservoir. The mechanisms behind these reactivated faults' evolution are still uncertain, especially in the compressive/extensional tectonic setting characterizing the area's evolution. Consequently, the distribution of the seismic potential in the region is largely unconstrained. We constructed a numerical thermo‐mechanical model to identify the main mechanisms that promoted the Val d'Agri present‐day tectonic setting and to assess the seismic hazard characterizing this region. We show that deformation within the Sedimentary Cover and the Crystalline Basement decoupled along a major décollement layer, represented by the Triassic Burano Formation. We also estimate the Coulomb stress (σC) in the region, assessing the crust's potential to generate earthquakes. Our results suggest that σC > 0 in a large part of the crust, and therefore that fluid injection may be particularly effective for the reactivation of buried structures, especially at a depth between ≃2 and ≃6 km. Plain Language Summary: Fluids are one of the elements that can generate seismicity. The Val d'Agri is one of the regions where the injection of wastewater at depth in the subsurface caused the generation of low‐magnitude earthquakes in the proximity of the Costa Molina well, while the presence of the Pertusillo Lake led to further seismic activity in the SW area of the valley. This seismicity is generated along faults whose geometry and evolution are still a matter of debate. One of the consequences of this uncertainty is that the seismic hazard that characterizes the Val d'Agri and surrounding regions is not very well constrained. Therefore, we built up a numerical model that identifies the factors leading to the present‐day fault configuration and activity in the area. In addition, we provide an estimation for the potential seismic hazard that characterizes the Val d'Agri. We show that the Val d'Agri configuration is largely due to a decoupled deformation of the sedimentary cover with respect to the crystalline basement. In addition, stress field estimations in the region suggest that the Val d'Agri is a high seismic hazard area, where fluid‐related human activities in the subsurface should be carried out with caution. Key Points: We propose a numerical thermo‐mechanical model to identify the mechanisms that promoted the present‐day Val d'Agri tectonic settingThe presence of a décollement layer and reactivation of preexisting faults are key factors for generating seismically active structuresThe Val d'Agri crust stress state indicates the presence of critically stressed faults where fluid pressure increase may trigger seismicity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covering: September 1964 to June 2023 Bacteria and fungi living in symbiosis with insects have been studied over the last sixty years and found to be important sources of bioactive natural products. Not only classic producers of secondary metabolites such as Streptomyces and other members of the phylum Actinobacteria but also numerous bacteria from the phyla Proteobacteria and Firmicutes and an impressive array of fungi (usually pathogenic) serve as the source of a structurally diverse number of small molecules with important biological activities including antimicrobial, cytotoxic, antiparasitic and specific enzyme inhibitors. The insect niche is often the exclusive provider of microbes producing unique types of biologically active compounds such as gerumycins, pederin, dinactin, and formicamycins. However, numerous insects still have not been described taxonomically, and in most cases, the study of their microbiota is completely unexplored. In this review, we present a comprehensive survey of 553 natural products produced by microorganisms isolated from insects by collating and classifying all the data according to the type of compound (rather than the insect or microbial source). The analysis of the correlations among the metadata related to insects, microbial partners, and their produced compounds provides valuable insights into the intricate dynamics between insects and their symbionts as well as the impact of their metabolites on these relationships. Herein, we focus on the chemical structure, biosynthesis, and biological activities of the most relevant compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we consider the numerical prediction of the noise emission from a wheelset in laboratory conditions. We focus on the fluid–structure interaction leading to sound emission in the fluid domain by analyzing three different methods to account for acoustic sources. These are a discretized baffled piston using the discrete calculation method (DCM), a closed cylindrical volume using the boundary element method (BEM) and radiating elastic disks in a cubic enclosure solved with the finite element method (FEM). We provide the validation of the baffled piston and the BEM using measurements of the noise emission of a railway wheel by considering ground reflections in the numerical models. Selected space-resolved waveforms are compared with experimental results as well as with a fluid–structure interaction finite element model. The computational advantage of a discretized disk mounted on a baffle and BEM compared to FEM is highlighted, and the baffled pistons limitations caused by a lack of edge radiation effects are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obstructive sleep apneas (OSAs) and central sleep apneas (CSAs) are the most common comorbidities in Heart Failure (HF) that are strongly associated with all-cause mortality. Several therapeutic approaches have been used to treat CSA and OSA, but none have been shown to significantly improve HF prognosis. Our study evaluated the effects of a 3-months treatment with sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) on polygraphic parameters in patients with sleep apnea (SA) and HF, across the spectrum of ejection fraction, not treated with continuous positive air pressure (CPAP). A group of 514 consecutive elderly outpatients with HF, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and SA, eligible for treatment with SGLT2i, were included in the investigation before starting any CPAP therapy. The two groups were compared with the t-test and Mann–Whitney test for unpaired data when appropriate. Then, a simple logistic regression model was built using 50% reduction in AHI as the dependent variable and other variables as covariates. A multivariate stepwise logistic regression model was constructed using the variables that linked with the dependent variable to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for the independent predictors associated with the reduction of 50% in AHI. The treated group experienced significant improvements in polygraphic parameters between baseline values and follow-up with reduction in AHI (28.4 ± 12.9 e/h vs. 15.2 ± 6.5 e/h; p < 0.0001), ODI (15.4 ± 3.3 e/h vs. 11.1 ± 2.6 e/h; p < 0.0001), and TC90 (14.1 ± 4.2% vs. 8.2 ± 2.0%; p < 0.0001), while mean SpO2 improved (91. 3 ± 2.3 vs. 93.8 ± 2.5); p < 0.0001. These benefits were not seen in the untreated population. The use of SGLT2i in patients suffering from HF and mixed-type SA not on CPAP therapy significantly contributes to improving polygraphic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) represents the most common form of refractory focal epilepsy. The identification of innovative clinical biomarkers capable of categorizing patients with TLE, allowing for improved treatment and outcomes, still represents an unmet need. Circulating microRNAs (c-miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs detectable in body fluids, which play crucial roles in the regulation of gene expression. Their characteristics, including extracellular stability, detectability through non-invasive methods, and responsiveness to pathological changes and/or therapeutic interventions, make them promising candidate biomarkers in various disease settings. Recent research has investigated c-miRNAs in various bodily fluids, including serum, plasma, and cerebrospinal fluid, of TLE patients. Despite some discrepancies in methodologies, cohort composition, and normalization strategies, a common dysregulated signature of c-miRNAs has emerged across different studies, providing the basis for using c-miRNAs as novel biomarkers for TLE patient management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case report provides a detailed description of a simple and fast bone regeneration procedure using a semi-customized three-dimensional ultra-fine titanium mesh. A 50-year-old male with a severe vertical and horizontal bone defect in the anterior mandible underwent implant treatment in a staged approach. The autologous bone was combined with a xenograft, and the mixture was grafted to augment the bone defect and covered with semi-customized ultra-fine titanium meshes, which were selected among its various types according to size and configuration of the bone defect, directly connected and immobilized on the tenting screws with minimal shaping. In a postoperative 6 months re-entry surgery, the performed titanium meshes were removed, implants were placed, and a bone core biopsy was obtained that demonstrated satisfactory new bone formation. Finally, two months later, the definitive prosthesis was installed. This semi-customized ultra-fine titanium mesh could help an implant clinician obtain more predictable results in the guided bone regeneration (GBR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Digital technologies enable the accurate replication of occlusion, which is pivotal for stability in maximum intercuspation and dynamic occlusion. CAD softwares generates standardized occlusal morphologies requiring significant adjustments. The consideration of individual mandibular movements during restoration leads to better functional integration. This pilot study evaluates the efficacy of a novel, fully digital protocol for occlusal analysis recording in prosthodontics. Methods: Patients needing single or multiple metal-free restorations were included. Teeth underwent horizontal finish line preparation, while restorations on implants were either directly screwed or used multi-unit abutments. A digital impression (Trios 3 Intraoral Scanner) captured the mouth's elements. Dynamic occlusion was recorded via Patient Specific Motion (PSM). After the placement and functionalization of temporary restorations, subsequent scans included various elements, and CAD software (Dental system) was used for the restoration design. Restorations were milled in monolithic zirconia, pressed from CAD/CAM-milled wax, and sintered. Results: An evaluation of 52 restorations in 37 patients indicated high accuracy in restorations manufactured via the fully digital workflow. Monolithic zirconia was predominantly used. Subtractive (17.3%) and additive (7.7%) occlusal adjustments were mainly chairside. Conclusion: This study underscores the efficacy of meticulous verification measures and a centric contact system in reducing the need for clinical occlusal refinements in prosthetic restorations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report aims to clinically evaluate the feasibility of a novel biological-oriented digital impression method for teeth prepared with a vertical preparation technique. Something that makes this case unique is that the definitive impression is taken without cord displacement, reducing the invasiveness for the patient. In addition, dental technicians can reproduce the exact emergence profile of the temporary restoration used to reshape the soft tissue contours and define the accurate finish line at the established prosthetic junction, potentially avoiding the aesthetic and biological issues of the double-cord technique. The finish line and emergence profile are transferred using the temporary restoration through a simple CAD procedure performed using the same software used to take the impression. This makes the proposed biological-oriented digital impression technique (BODIT) easy to perform, avoiding adjunctive time and costs for clinicians and patients. Conclusions: Finally, patients' satisfaction could be significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the prophylactic effect of localized biomimetic minocycline and systemic amoxicillin on immediate implant placement at infected extraction sites. Twelve mongrels with six implants each were randomly assigned to five groups: uninfected negative control (Group N); infected with oral complex bacteria (Group P); infected and treated with amoxicillin one hour before implant placement (Group A); infected and treated with minocycline during implant placement (Group B); and infected and treated with amoxicillin one hour before implant placement and with minocycline during implant placement (Group C). Radiographic bone level, gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), papillary bleeding index (PBI), and removal torque (RT) were recorded. There was no significant difference between Groups A, B, and C for bone loss. Group A showed the highest RT, the lowest PBI, and significantly lower GI and PD values than Group P. Group B exhibited significantly higher RT value than Group N and significantly smaller PD value than Group P at 6 w postoperatively. Localized minocycline could improve implant success by reducing bone loss and increasing RT and systemic amoxicillin could maintain the stability of the peri-implant soft tissue. However, combined use of these two antibiotics did not augment the prophylactic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have provided the first estimate of scattering and intrinsic attenuation for the Gargano Promontory (Southern Italy) analyzing 190 local earthquakes with ML ranging from 1.0 to 2.8. To separate the intrinsic Q i and scattering Q s quality factors with the Wennerberg approach (1993), we have measured the direct S waves and coda quality factors ( Q β , Q c ) in the same volume of crust. Q β parameter is derived with the coda normalization method (Aki 1980) and Q c factor is derived with the coda envelope decay method (Sato 1977). We selected the coda envelope by performing an automatic picking procedure from T start = 1.5 T S up to 30 s after origin time (lapse time T L ). All the obtained quality factors clearly increase with frequency. The Q c values correspond to those recently obtained for the area. The estimated Q i are comparable to the Q c at all frequencies and range between 100 and 1000. The Q s parameter shows higher values than Q i , except for 8 Hz, where the two estimates are closer. This implies a predominance of intrinsic attenuation over the scattering attenuation. Furthermore, the similarity between Q i and Q c allows us to interpret the high Q c anomaly previously found in the northern Gargano Promontory up to a depth of 24 km, as a volume of crust characterized by very low seismic dumping produced by conversion of seismic energy into heat. Moreover, most of the earthquake foci fall in high Q i areas, indicating lower level of anelastic dumping and a brittle behavior of rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typically, healing or temporary abutments are connected and disconnected several times between implant placement and definitive restoration delivery, and soft tissue disruption occurs each time the abutment is disconnected and reconnected. This histologic event is supposed to cause bone resorption around the implant after second-stage surgery. To minimize this clinical scenario, immediately placing and never removing a definitive abutment the day of implant insertion (one-stage protocol) or at second-stage surgery in cases of submerged implants (two-stage protocol) was suggested. This paper details the prosthetic protocol and presents strategies and rationales for placing a definitive abutment the day of implant insertion or at second-stage surgery with cement- and screw-retained restorations. This protocol seems to be an efficient strategy to preserve peri-implant hard and soft tissues. However, positive outcomes in peri-implant bone and soft level changes should be viewed with caution, as their clinical significance is still uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease characterized by abnormal brain activity, which results in repeated spontaneous seizures. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the leading cause of seizure-related premature death, particularly in drug-resistant epilepsy patients. The etiology of SUDEP is a structural injury to the brain that is not fully understood, but it is frequently associated with poorly controlled and repeated generalized tonic--clonic seizures (GTCSs) that cause cardiorespiratory and autonomic dysfunctions, indicating the involvement of the brainstem. Both respiratory and cardiac abnormalities have been observed in SUDEP, but not much progress has been made in their prevention. Owing to the complexity of SUDEP, experimental animal models have been used to investigate cardiac and/or respiratory dysregulation due to or associated with epileptic seizures that may contribute to death in humans. Numerous rodent models, especially mouse models, have been developed to better understand epilepsy and SUDEP physiopathology. This review synthesizes the current knowledge about dilute brown agouti coat color (DBA/2) mice as a possible SUDEP model because respiratory arrest (RA) and sudden death induced by audiogenic generalized seizures (AGSs) have been observed in these animals. Respiratory/cardiac dysfunction, brainstem arousal system dysfunction, and alteration of the neurotransmitter systems, which are observed in human SUDEP, have also been observed in these mice. In particular, serotonin (5-HT) alteration and adenosine neurotransmission appear to contribute to not only the pathophysiological mechanisms of medication but also seizure-related respiratory dysfunctions in this animal model. These neurotransmitter systems could be the relevant targets for medication development for chronic epilepsy and SUDEP prevention. We reviewed data on AGSs in DBA/2 mice and the relevance of this model of generalized tonic--clonic epilepsy to human SUDEP. Furthermore, the advantages of using this strain prone to AGSs for the identification of possible new therapeutic targets and treatment options have also been assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recently, studies demonstrated that normal glucose‐tolerant subjects (NGT) with 1‐h post‐load plasma glucose value ≥155 mg/dL during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) (NGT ≥ 155) present an impaired cardio‐metabolic profile, with subclinical myocardial damage. Atrial morphological and functional alterations, closely related to diastolic dysfunction, are important predictors of atrial fibrillation (AF), cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality in the entire population as well as in diabetic patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate subclinical atrial myocardial damage, assessed with speckle tracking echocardiography, in NGT≥155 mg/dL patients, comparing to NGT < 155 mg/dL subjects, impaired glucose tolerant (IGT) individuals and patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods: We enrolled 229 Caucasian patients. All subjects underwent anthropometrical and haemodynamic parameters evaluation, OGTT, advanced Colour‐Doppler echocardiography with evaluation of main atrial and ventricular parameters. Results: As expected, from first to the fourth group there was a worsening of the metabolic profile as attested by fasting, 1‐ and 2‐h post‐load plasma glucose levels, during OGTT. Moreover, from NGT < 155 to T2DM group there was an impairment in reservoir and pump atrial function (PALS and PACS, respectively) (p <.0001). Conclusion: Present data demonstrated for the first time that NGT≥155 subjects present subclinical atrial dysfunction. These results may be clinically relevant because they highlight how atrial myopathy occurs early in pre‐diabetes stage regardless of fibrotic and morphological alterations of the ventricular myocardium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symbiotic interactions between microorganisms and social insects have been described as crucial for the maintenance of these multitrophic systems, as observed for the stingless bee Scaptotrigona depilis and the yeast Zygosaccharomyces sp. SDBC30G1. The larvae of S. depilis ingest fungal filaments of Zygosaccharomyces sp. SDBC30G1 to obtain ergosterol, which is the precursor for the biosynthesis of ecdysteroids that modulate insect metamorphosis. In this work, we find a similar insect-microbe interaction in other species of stingless bees. We analyzed brood cell samples from 19 species of stingless bees collected in Brazil. The osmophilic yeast Zygosaccharomyces spp. was isolated from eight bee species, namely Scaptotrigona bipunctata, S. postica, S. tubiba, Tetragona clavipes, Melipona quadrifasciata, M. fasciculata, M. bicolor, and Partamona helleri. These yeasts form pseudohyphae and also accumulate ergosterol in lipid droplets, similar to the pattern observed for S. depilis. The phylogenetic analyses including various Zygosaccharomyces revealed that strains isolated from the brood cells formed a branch separated from the previously described Zygosaccharomyces species, suggesting that they are new species of this genus and reinforcing the symbiotic interaction with the host insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mud volcanoes are fluid escape structures allowing for surface venting of hydrocarbons (mostly gas but also liquid condensates and oils) and water–sediment slurries. For a better understanding of mud volcano dynamics, the characterization of the fluid dynamics within mud volcano conduits; the presence, extent, and depth of the fluid reservoirs; and the connection among aquifers, conduits, and mud reservoirs play a key role. To this aim, we performed a geoelectrical survey in the Nirano Salse Regional Nature Reserve, located at the edge of the northern Apennines (Fiorano Modenese, Italy), an area characterized by several active mud fluid vents. This study, for the first time, images the resistivity structure of the subsoil along two perpendicular cross sections down to a depth of 250 m. The electrical models show a clear difference between the northern and southern sectors of the area, where the latter hosts the main discontinuities. Shallow reservoirs, where fluid muds accumulate, are spatially associated with the main fault/fracture controlling the migration routes associated with surface venting and converge at depth towards a common clayey horizon. There is no evidence of a shallow mud caldera below the Nirano area. These findings represent a step forward in the comprehension of the Nirano Salse plumbing system and in pinpointing local site hazards, which promotes safer tourist access to the area along restricted routes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of oxidative stress, platelet activation, and endocan levels in renal dysfunction in normal glucose tolerance (NGT) patients with 1-h plasma glucose values ≥155 mg/dl (NGT ≥ 155), compared to NGT < 155, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) newly diagnosed subjects. We enlisted 233 patients subjected to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Materials and methods: The serum levels of platelet activation (glycoprotein VI and sP-selectin), oxidative stress biomarkers (8-isoprostane and Nox-2), and endocan were evaluated using an ELISA test. Results: Among NGT < 155 patients and the T2DM group, there was a statistically significant increase in 8-isoprostane (p < 0.0001), Nox-2 (p < 0.0001), glycoprotein VI (p < 0.0001), and sP-selectin (p < 0.0001) serum levels. Higher serum endocan levels were found with the worsening of metabolic profile (p < 0.0001); specifically, NGT ≥ 155 patients presented higher serum endocan values when compared to NGT < 155 patients (p < 0.0001). From themultivariate linear regression analysis, 1-h glucose resulted in the major predictor of estimated glomerular filtration rate (e- GFR) justifying 23.6% of its variation (p < 0.0001); 8-isoprostane and Nox-2 added respectively another 6.0% (p < 0.0001) and 3.2% (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Our study confirmed the link between 1-h post-load glucose ≥155 mg/dl during OGTT and the possible increased risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in newly diagnosed patients. The novelty is that we demonstrated a progressive increase in oxidative stress, platelet activation, and serum endocan levels with the worsening of metabolic profile, which becomes evident early during the progression of CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation aimed to compare the effectiveness of the OT Equator® (Rhein, Bologna, Italy) and the Locator attachment systems used to retain early loaded implant-retained overdentures. This study was designed as a multicenter randomised controlled trial of parallel groups. After implant placement, the patients were randomised to receive OT Equator® attachments in the test group or Locator attachments in the control group. The outcome measures were implant and prosthetic success and survival rates, any biological and technical complication, marginal bone loss, patients' satisfaction, and periodontal parameters. Overall, 42 patients were consecutively enrolled and treated. One implant was lost in the control group, while no implants were lost in the test group. No prostheses failed in both groups. Only a few complications were experienced in both groups. The main was represented by loss of retention of the attachments (retentive caps). The OT Equator® attachment showed statistically lower periodontal parameters. In conclusion, both attachment systems were suitable for overdenture implant retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Riluzole (RLZ) has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in several neurological disorders. These neuroprotective effects seem to be mainly due to its ability to inhibit the excitatory glutamatergic neurotransmission, acting on different targets located both at the presynaptic and postsynaptic levels. Methods: In the present study, we evaluated the effects of Riluzole (RLZ) against limbic seizures, induced by AMPA, kainate, and NMDA receptor agonists in Sprague–Dawley rats, and in a well-validated genetic model of absence epilepsy, the WAG/Rij rat. Furthermore, in this latter model, we also studied the effect of RLZ in co-administration with the competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, CPP, or the non-competitive AMPA receptor antagonist, THIQ-10c, on spike-wave discharges (SWDs) in WAG/Rij rats, to understand the potential involvement of AMPA and NMDA receptors in the anti-absence effect of RLZ. Results: In Sprague–Dawley rats, RLZ pretreatment significantly reduced the limbic seizure severity induced by glutamatergic agonists, suggesting an antagonism of RLZ mainly on NMDA rather than non-NMDA receptors. RLZ also reduced SWD parameters in WAG/Rij rats. Interestingly, the co-administration of RLZ with CPP did not increase the anti-absence activity of RLZ in this model, advocating a competitive effect on the NMDA receptor. In contrast, the co-administration of RLZ with THIQ-10c induced an additive effect against absence seizure in WAG/Rij rats. Conclusions: these results suggest that the antiepileptic effects of RLZ, in both seizure models, can be mainly due to the antagonism of the NMDA glutamatergic receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research at the intersection of neology and lexicography is attracting more and more attention worldwide. Although differences in this respect may be substantial, dictionaries are not always particularly responsive, as far as the inclusion of new words or meanings is concerned. However, major events such as the COVID-19 pandemic have accelerated the process in lexicography for several major European languages. In a fast-changing world, reactivity appears to be a must. However, this new-found enthusiasm for new words does raise some methodological questions, such as the scope of a general dictionary and the criteria for word additions. This article analyzes French lexicographic neologisms related to COVID-19 in Le Petit Larousse Illustré and Le Petit Robert by focusing on lexical incorporation in macrostructures, word-formation processes, and definitions. It also draws comparisons with Wiktionnaire entries, in order to show how responsive and accurate French dictionaries are in recording and describing COVID-related new words. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restoring teeth with dental implants has become the gold standard in recent years, especially in the esthetic zone. However, limited amount of available bone as well as limited interdental space in the anterior zone may create problems for implant treatment. Narrow diameter implants (NDI) may be a treatment option to resolve the above-mentioned limitations and providing minimally invasive implant therapy without additional regenerative procedures. In this retrospective study, a comparison of clinical and radiographic outcomes between one-piece and two-piece titanium-made NDIs was done with the follow-up of two years after loading. Twenty-three NDI cases were analyzed, 11 in the one-piece implant group (group one) and 12 in the two-piece implant group (group two). The outcomes were implant and prosthetic failures, any complications occurred, peri-implant bone level changes, and as well as the Pink Esthetic score. No implant or prosthetic failures, as well as, no complications were reported at the two-year follow-up examination. At the same time the marginal bone loss was 0.23 ± 0.11 in the group one and 0.18 ± 0.12 in the group two. Difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.3339). The Pink Esthetic Score, recorded two years after definitive loading, was 12.6 ± 0.97 in the group one and 12.2 ± 0.92 in the group two, with no statistically significant difference between groups (p = 0.3554). With the limitations of the present study, including the small sample size and short follow-up, it is possible to conclude that either one and two-piece NDI can be successfully used to restore lateral incisors with comparable results within the two years of follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are one of the most severe chronic childhood disorders in terms of prevalence, morbidity, and impact on society. Interestingly, several systematic reviews and meta-analyses documented a bidirectional link between epilepsy and ASD, supporting the hypothesis that both disorders may have common neurobiological pathways. According to this hypothesis, an imbalance of the excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) ratio in several brain regions may represent a causal mechanism underpinning the co-occurrence of these neurological diseases. Methods: To investigate this bidirectional link, we first tested the seizure susceptibility to chemoconvulsants acting on GABAergic and glutamatergic systems in the BTBR mice, in which an imbalance between E/I has been previously demonstrated. Subsequently, we performed the PTZ kindling protocol to study the impact of seizures on autistic-like behavior and other neurological deficits in BTBR mice. Results: We found that BTBR mice have an increased susceptibility to seizures induced by chemoconvulsants impairing GABAA neurotransmission in comparison to C57BL/6J control mice, whereas no significant difference in seizure susceptibility was observed after administration of AMPA, NMDA, and Kainate. This data suggests that deficits in GABAergic neurotransmission can increase seizure susceptibility in this strain of mice. Interestingly, BTBR mice showed a longer latency in the development of kindling compared to control mice. Furthermore, PTZ-kindling did not influence autistic-like behavior in BTBR mice, whereas it was able to significantly increase anxiety and worsen cognitive performance in this strain of mice. Interestingly, C57BL/6J displayed reduced sociability after PTZ injections, supporting the hypothesis that a tight connection exists between ASD and epilepsy. Conclusion: BTBR mice can be considered a good model to study epilepsy and ASD contemporarily. However, future studies should shed light on the mechanisms underpinning the co-occurrence of these neurological disorders in the BTBR model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the deadliest diseases worldwide and represents an impending burden on the healthcare system. Despite increasing attention, the mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis in cancer-related diseases such as COPD remain unclear, making novel biomarkers necessary to improve lung cancer early diagnosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNA that interfere with several pathways and can act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. This study aimed to compare miRNA lung expression between subjects with NSCLC and COPD and healthy controls to obtain the miRNA expression profile by analyzing shared pathways. Lung specimens were collected from a prospective cohort of 21 sex-matched subjects to determine the tissue miRNA expression of hsa-miR-34a-5p, 33a-5p, 149-3p, 197-3p, 199-5p, and 320a-3p by RT-PCR. In addition, an in silico prediction of miRNA target genes linked to cancer was performed. We found a specific trend for has-miR-149-3p, 197-3p, and 34a-5p in NSCLC, suggesting their possible role as an index of the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, we identified novel miRNA targets, such as the Cyclin-Dependent Kinase (CDK) family, linked to carcinogenesis by in silico analysis. In conclusion. this study identified lung miRNA signatures related to the tumorigenic microenvironment, suggesting their possible role in improving the evaluation of lung cancer onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mud volcanoes are fluid escape structures allowing for surface venting of hydrocarbons (mostly gas but also liquid condensates and oils) and water/sediment slurries. For a better understanding of Mud volcanoes dynamics, the characterization of the fluid dynamics within mud volcanoes conduits, the presence, extent, and depth of the fluid reservoirs as well as the connection among aquifers, conduits, and mud reservoirs play a key role. To this aim, we performed a geoelectrical survey in the Regional Nature Reserve of the Nirano Salse, located at the edge of the Northern Apennines (Fiorano Modenese, Italy), an area characterized by several active mud fluid vents. This study, for the first time, images the resistivity structure of the subsoil along two perpendicular cross sections down to a depth of 250 m. The electrical models show a clear difference between the Northern and Southern sectors of the area, where the last hosts the main discontinuities. Shallow reservoirs, where fluids muds accumulate are spatially associate to the main fault/fracture controlling the migration routes associated with surface venting and converge at depth towards a common clayey horizon. There is no evidence of a shallow mud caldera below the Nirano area. These findings represent a step forward in the comprehension of the Nirano Salse plumbing system and in pinpointing local site hazards, which promotes safer tourist access to the area along restricted routes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucagon exerts multiple hepatic actions, including stimulation of glycogenolysis/gluconeogenesis. The liver plays a crucial role in chronic inflammation by synthesizing proinflammatory molecules, which are thought to contribute to insulin resistance and hyperglycaemia. Whether glucagon affects hepatic expression of proinflammatory cytokines and acute‐phase reactants is unknown. Herein, we report a positive relationship between fasting glucagon levels and circulating interleukin (IL)‐1β (r = 0.252, p =.042), IL‐6 (r = 0.230, p =.026), fibrinogen (r = 0.193, p =.031), complement component 3 (r = 0.227, p =.024) and high sensitivity C‐reactive protein (r = 0.230, p =.012) in individuals without diabetes. In CD1 mice, 4‐week continuous treatment with glucagon induced a significant increase in circulating IL‐1β (p =.02), and IL‐6 (p =.001), which was countered by the contingent administration of the glucagon receptor antagonist, GRA‐II. Consistent with these results, we detected a significant increase in the hepatic activation of inflammatory pathways, such as expression of NLRP3 (p <.02), and the phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF‐κB; p <.02) and STAT3 (p <.01). In HepG2 cells, we found that glucagon dose‐dependently stimulated the expression of IL‐1β (p <.002), IL‐6 (p <.002), fibrinogen (p <.01), complement component 3 (p <.01) and C‐reactive protein (p <.01), stimulated the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome (p <.01) and caspase‐1 (p <.05), induced the phosphorylation of TRAF2 (p <.01), NF‐κB (p <.01) and STAT3 (p <.01). Preincubating cells with GRA‐II inhibited the ability of glucagon to induce an inflammatory response. Using HepaRG cells, we confirmed the dose‐dependent ability of glucagon to stimulate the expression of NLRP3, the phosphorylation of NF‐κB and STAT3, in the absence of GRA‐II. These results suggest that glucagon has proinflammatory effects that may participate in the pathogenesis of hyperglycaemia and unfavourable cardiometabolic risk profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute bowel diseases are responsible for more than one third of subjects who were referred to the emergency department for acute abdominal pain and gastrointestinal evaluation. Gastrointestinal ultrasound (GIUS) is often employed as the first imaging method, with a good diagnostic accuracy in the setting of acute abdomen, and it can be an optimal diagnostic strategy in young females due to the radiation exposure related to X-ray and computed tomography methods. The physician can examine the gastrointestinal system in the area with the greatest tenderness by ultrasound, thus obtaining more information and data on the pathology than the standard physical examination. In this comprehensive review, we have reported the most relevant indications and advantages to using ultrasound in the investigation of abdominal acute pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to provide a helpful tool for those who plan to implement blockchain-based solutions for the governance of the electronic medical record (EMR) in health-care settings. The goals are to identify each type of stakeholders involved in these projects and to clarify the relevance, to achieve success, of their readiness, intended as availability and ability to adopt blockchain. Design/methodology/approach: The chosen methodology is a multiple case study on three initiatives that used blockchain to manage EMRs. This study relied on multiple sources of evidence. The primary data consisted of two rounds of semi-structured interviews with different informants. This study followed a grounded theory approach and performed within- and cross-case analyses. Findings: This study identified the types of stakeholders – nodes and not-nodes – of the network and how their readiness level affects the implementation of blockchain-based projects applied to EMR. The nodes (e.g. patients and doctors) are pivotal in making the network working once this has been constructed. Out of the four readiness dimensions suggested by literature, motivational readiness, has the higher impact. Not-nodes stakeholders play a pivotal role in the project's pre-implementation phase. For them, structural readiness is the dimension with the higher relevance. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, it is the first time that a paper analyses the differences between nodes and not-nodes stakeholders of the blockchain network, in terms not only of type but also of readiness. Identifying the readiness level to implement successful projects is a fundamental step that has never been analysed in the health field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To ascertain whether in the presence of a previously endodontically treated tooth with periapical pathology and/or symptoms and an uncertain prognosis, it is better to endodontically retreat it or to replace the tooth with a single-implant-supported crown. Materials and methods: Twenty patients requiring the treatment of a previously endodontically treated tooth, with periapical pathology and/or symptoms of endodontic origin and an uncertain prognosis, as judged by the recruiting investigator, were randomly allocated to endodontic retreatment (Endo group, 10 patients) or tooth extraction and replacement with an implant-supported crown (Implant group, 10 patients) according to a parallel-group design at a single centre. Patients were followed to 3 years after completion of the treatment. Outcome measures were: failure of the procedure, complications, marginal bone level changes at both teeth and implants, endodontic radiographic success (teeth only), number of patients' visits and days to complete the treatment, patients' chair time, costs, aesthetics assessed using the pink aesthetic score (PES) for the soft tissues and the white aesthetic score (WES) for the tooth/crown recorded by independent assessors. Results: No patient dropped out. One endodontically retreated tooth fractured and another had a crown loosening. There were no statistically significant differences for treatment failure or complications (difference in proportions = 0.10; 95% CI: -0.09 to 0.29; P (Fisher exact test) = 1.000). The mean marginal bone levels at endodontic retreatment/implant insertion were 2.10 ± 0.66 mm for the Endo group and 0.05 ± 0.15 mm for the Implant group. Three years after completion of the treatment, teeth lost on average 0.23 ± 0.82 mm and implants 0.62 ± 0.68 mm, the difference not being statistically significant (mean difference = -0.39 mm; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.12 to 0.33; P (t test) = 0.267). Three years after completion of the endodontic retreatment, of the four teeth that originally had a periapical radiolucency, one was lost, two showed complete healing, and one showed radiographic improvement. There were no statistically significant differences for the number of patients' visits (Endo = 6.67 ± 0.71; Implant = 6.10 ± 0.74; mean difference = 0.57; 95% CI: -0.14 to 1.27; P (t test) = 0.106). It took significantly more days to complete the implant rehabilitation (Endo = 61 ± 12.97; Implant = 191.40 ± 75.04; mean difference = -130.40; 95% CI: -184.45 to -76.35; P (t test) < 0.001) but less patients' chair time (Endo = 629.44 ± 43.62 min; Implant = 326 ± 196.99 min; mean difference = 303.44; 95% CI: 160.87 to 446.02; P (t test) = 0.001). Implant treatment was significantly more expensive (Endo = €1,588.89 ± 300.81; Implant = €2,095 ± 158.90; mean difference = €-506.11; 95% CI: -735.41 to -276.82; P (t test) < 0.001). Three years after treatment completion, mean PES were 11.11 ± 1.97 and 6.50 ± 2.46 and mean WES were 7.78 ± 1.30 and 6.80 ± 2.39 in the Endo group and Implant group, respectively. Soft tissues aesthetics (PES) were significantly better at endodontically retreated teeth (mean difference 4.61; 95% CI: 2.44 to 6.78; P (t test) < 0.001) whereas no significant differences were observed for tooth aesthetics (WES) (mean difference 0.98; 95% CI: -0.89 to 2.85; P (t test) = 0.281) between treatments. Conclusions: The present preliminary results suggest that both endodontic retreatment and replacement of previously endodontically treated teeth with persisting pathology and a dubious endodontic prognosis provided similar short-term success rates. Aesthetics of the soft tissues and time needed to complete treatment were in favour of endodontic retreatment whereas implant rehabilitation required half of the chair time than endodontic retreatment, but was significantly more expensive. Much larger patient populations and longer follow-ups are needed to fully answer this question; however, in this scenario the less invasive endodontic retreatment could be the first therapeutic option to be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare outcomes of immediate non-occlusal loading with delayed implant loading in the bilateral replacement of mandibular first molars. Materials and methods: This study was designed as a split-mouth, randomised controlled trial. Twenty patients with bilaterally missing mandibular first molars randomly received immediately or conventionally loaded single implants. One molar was restored with a non-occlusal temporary crown within 24 hours after implant placement (immediate loading group, IL) while the contralateral molar was restored with a definitive crown 4 to 5 months later (delayed loading group, DL). A total of 40 implants were installed. All implants were inserted in healed bone with an insertion torque between 35 and 45 Ncm. Outcome measures were implant failure, complications, radiographic marginal bone level changes, probing pocket depths (PPDs) and bleeding on probing (BOP). Clinical data were collected at implant placement, and after 6, 12 and 60 months. Results: No patients dropped out and no implant failed. Only minor prosthetic complications were observed (two provisional acrylic crown fractures in the IL group and four ceramic chipping in the DL group). Two patients had bilateral peri-implant mucosal inflammation with BOP after 6 months. The differences between groups were not statistically significant (OR = 0.500; 95% CI: 0.045 to 3.489; P = 0.6831). At the 1-year follow-up examination, the mean marginal bone level was 0.83 ± 0.16 mm (95% CI: 0.75 to 0.91) in the IL group and 0.86 ± 0.16 mm (95% CI: 0.78 to 0.94) in the DL group, with no statistically significant differences between groups (difference = 0.03 ± 0.15 mm; 95% CI: -0.07 to 0.07; P = 0.53). After 5 years, mean marginal bone level was 1.06 ± 0.38 mm (95% CI: 0.97 to 1.15) in the IL group and 1.07 ± 0.32 mm (95% CI: 0.95 to 1.16) in the DL group, with no statistically significant differences between groups (difference = 0.01 ± 0.22 mm; 95% CI: -0.10 to 0.10; P = 0.96). The mean marginal bone loss after 5 years was 0.62 ± 0.45 mm in the IL group and 0.69 ± 0.33 mm in the DL group (difference = 0.07 ± 0.32 mm; 95% CI: -0.10 to 0.18; P = 0.567). At the 5-year follow-up the mean PPD and BOP values were 2.82 ± 0.65 mm and 1.17 ± 0.92 in the IL group, and 2.85 ± 0.53 mm and 1.17 ± 0.86 in the DL group, respectively. No significant differences were found (difference = 0.03 ± 0.15 mm; 95% CI: -0.15 to 0.21; P = 0.990; and 0.01 ± 0.07; 95% CI: -0.06 to 0.08; P = 1.000, respectively). Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, the present data seem to confirm the hypothesis that the clinical outcome of immediate versus delayed loading of implants in mandibular fist molar sites is comparable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present study evaluated the hypothesis that implants inserted at bone level or supracrestally have different outcomes in single tooth replacements against the alternative hypothesis of no difference. Materials and methods: This study was designed as a randomised, split-mouth, controlled pilot trial. Ten patients, each missing two bicuspids or molars, were treated with 20 implants featuring 0.75 mm of machined collar. Each patient randomly received one implant inserted at bone level (BL) and one inserted 0.75 mm to 1 mm above the alveolar crest (SC), measured with a periodontal probe during surgery. All the implants were inserted into healed healthy bone with an insertion torque ranging between 35 Ncm and 45 Ncm. Both implants were loaded with screw-retained acrylic-resin temporary crowns 3 months after implant insertion and 3 months later with screw-retained zirconia-ceramic definitive crowns. Outcome measures were implant/crown failures, biological and prosthetic complications, radiographic marginal bone level changes (MBL), probing pocket depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BOP). Clinical data were collected at baseline (implant insertion) and 1 year after implant placement (9 months after initial loading). Results: After 1 year of follow-up, no patients dropped out, no implants failed, and no complications occurred. The mean MBL at the 1-year follow-up was 0.28 ± 0.21 mm in the SC group and 0.93 ± 0.37 mm in the BL group. While the difference in MBL was statistically significant between the two treatment groups (difference 0.65 ± 0.34; 95% CI = 0.59 to 1.01; P = 0.0001), the soft-tissue parameters were not statistically different. The mean PPD was 2.63 ± 2.4 in the SC group and 2.40 ± 0.70 in the BL group (P = 0.419) and mean BOP was 0.50 ± 0.71 in the SC group and 0.40 ± 0.70 in the BL group (P = 0.754). Conclusions: The smooth-collar implants inserted supracrestally showed 0.7 mm less radiographic marginal bone loss compared with implants inserted at the bone level 9 months after loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To present the different definitions of peri-implantitis proposed in the literature and to propose a new evidence-based etiology-driven classification of peri-implantitis to accurately and fully describe the etiology of peri-implantitis. Materials and Methods: Full-text papers on the selected topic were obtained for all abstracts and titles that appeared to meet the inclusion criteria. Additional papers were included from the reference lists of the selected studies. No methodologic and reporting quality of the included papers was applied in order to collect the greatest number of articles. Results: One hundred twenty-two studies were found according to the search criteria. After filter activation, abstract evaluation, and duplicate removal, 16 articles were deemed useful for the aim of the present narrative review. A manual search using personal contact and references of published works and contributions by the authors included another 16 articles, resulting in a total of 32 articles. After full-text article selection and reading, 15 articles were finally included. Conclusion: There is not a generally accepted classification system of the various degrees of peri-implantitis. An etiology-driven classification was proposed as a tool to assist the clinician in properly detecting and classifying etiology-based peri-implantitis. This classification may also support the assignment of prognosis, and if needed, therapy to arrest/prevent peri-implantitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical and radiologic outcomes using a newly developed device for maxillary sinus membrane elevation. Patients with a residual bone height of at least 3 mm were enrolled. Crestal sinus lift elevation and sinus graft were performed using the crestal approach sinus (CAS) kit. Graft was avoided if the residual bone crest was ≤ 2 mm less than the length of the planned implant. Outcome measures were implant and prosthesis failure, any biologic or technical complications, and marginal bone loss (MBL). A total of 35 consecutive patients underwent 49 crestal elevations of the sinus membrane. All the implants were followed for at least 2 years after placement (mean follow-up 37.3 months; range 24 to 54 months). No implants or prostheses failed during follow-up, and no membrane tears or other intraoperative or postoperative adverse events were observed. At the 2-year follow-up, mean MBL was 0.33 ± 0.24 mm (95% confidence interval: 0.08 to 0.30 mm). A total of 32 implants were placed after filling the sinus with anorganic bovine bone, while 17 implants were placed without grafting the sinus. Post-hoc analysis was performed using the sinus grafting remodeling index (SGRI) to evaluate radiographically the tissue remodeling patterns. The SGRI was statistically significantly higher when the sinus was grafted (P = .000). The CAS kit may provide a new option for minimally invasive crestal sinus surgery. Long-term randomized controlled trials with larger sample size are needed to confirm these preliminary results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydraulic sinus lift and augmentation may be successfully performed using a dedicated implant device designed according to residual bone height (RBH). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a flapless surgical approach might negatively influence the outcome. A total of 40 consecutive patients (16 men and 24 women) were included in the study, 20 in each group (minimal flap/control versus flapless/ study). Inclusion criteria were ≥ 3 mm RBH, ≥ 6 mm width of the residual alveolar ridge according to preoperative cone beam computerized tomography, and ≥ 8 mm buccopalatal keratinized gingiva for the flapless group. Primary outcome parameters included intraoperative membrane perforation. Secondary outcome parameters included postoperative infection, soft tissue healing, bone gain, and short-term dental implant survival. Mean RBH was 4.6 mm. No intraoperative membrane perforations and no postoperative infections were observed. Mean bone gain height was similar for both groups, at 11 mm. Soft tissue healing was observed within 2 months. In all cases, second-stage surgery allowed generation of at least 2 mm of keratinized gingiva buccally. All implants were osseointegrated at second-stage surgery. The use of a flapless approach to maxillary sinus augmentation using an implant device based on RBH yields predictable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare planning and patient rehabilitation using 3D implant planning software and dedicated surgical templates with conventional freehand implant placement for the rehabilitation of partially or fully edentulous patients using flapless or mini-flap procedures and immediate loading. Materials and methods: Patients requiring at least two implants to be restored with a single pros- thesis, having at least 7 mm of bone height and 4 mm in bone width were consecutively enrolled. Patients were randomised according to a parallel group study design into two groups: computer-guided group or conventional freehand group. Implants were loaded immediately with a provisional prosthesis, replaced by a definitive prosthesis 4 months later. Outcome measures assessed by a blinded independent assessor were: implant and prosthesis failures, any complications, marginal bone levels, number of treatment sessions, duration of treatment, post-surgical pain and swelling, consumption of pain killers, surgical and prosthetic time, time required to solve complications, and patient satisfaction. Patients were followed up to 5 years after loading. Results: Ten patients (32 implants) were randomised to the computer-guided group and 10 patients (30 implants) were randomised to the freehand group. At the 5-year follow-up examination one patient of the computer-guided group and one of the freehand group dropped-out (both moved to another country). No prostheses failed during the entire follow-up. Two implants failed in the conventional group (6.6%) vs none in the computer-guided group (P = 0.158). Ten patients (five in each group) experienced 11 complications (six in the computer-guided group and five in the freehand group), that were successfully solved. Differences between groups for implant failures and complications were not statistically significant. Five years after loading, the mean marginal bone loss was 0.87 mm ± 0.40 (95% CI: 0.54 to 1.06 mm) in the computer-guided group and 1.29 mm ± 0.31 (95% CI: 1.09 to 1.51 mm) in the freehand group. The difference was statistically significant (difference 0.42 mm ± 0.54; 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.75; P = 0.024). Patient self-reported post-surgical pain (P = 0.037) and swelling (P = 0.007) were found to be statistically significant higher in patients in the freehand group. Number of sessions from patient's recruitment to delivery of the definitive prosthesis, number of days from the initial CBCT scan to implant placement, consumption of painkillers, averaged surgical, prosthetic, and complication times, were not statistically significant different between the groups. At the 5-year follow- up, all the patients were fully satisfied with the function and aesthetics of their definitive prostheses. Conclusions: Both approaches achieved successful results over the 5-year follow-up period. Statistically higher post-operative pain and swelling were experienced at sites treated freehand with flap elevation. Less marginal bone loss (0.4 mm) was observed in the computer-guided group, at 5 years follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To present the medium-term results of one-stage guided bone regeneration (GBR) using autologous bone and anorganic bovine bone, placed in layers, in association with resorbable collagen membranes, for the reconstruction of horizontal bony defects. Materials and methods: This study was designed as an uncontrolled prospective study. Partially edentulous patients, having less than 6.0 mm and more than 4.0 mm of residual horizontal bone width were selected and consecutively treated with simultaneously implant installation and bone regeneration by using 2.0 mm of autologous bone and 2.0 mm of anorganic bovine bone that was placed in layers and then covered with a resorbable collagen membrane. Outcome measures were: implant and prosthesis failures, any complications, peri-implant marginal bone level changes, probing pocket depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BOP). Results: In total, 45 consecutive patients (20 male, 25 female) with a mean age of 52.1 years each received at least one GBR procedure, with contemporary placement of 63 implants. At the 3-year follow-up examination, no patient had dropped out and no deviation from the original protocol had occurred. No implant or prosthesis failed. In six patients (13.3%) the collagen membrane was slightly exposed 1 to 2 weeks after bone reconstruction. Four of these patients were moderate smokers. Post-hoc analysis using Fisher's exact test found significant association (P = 0.0139) between a smoking habit and early membrane exposure. Mean marginal bone loss experienced between initial loading and 30 months afterwards was 0.60 ± 0.20 mm (95% CI 0.54 - 0.66). The mean BOP values measured at the definitive restoration delivery were 1.23 ± 0.93, while 2 years later they were 1.17 ± 0.78. The difference was not statistically significant (-0.06 ± 0.76; P = 0.569). The mean PPD values measured at the definitive restoration delivery were 2.62 ± 0.59 mm, while 2 years later they were 2.60 ± 0.54 mm. The difference was not statistically significant (-0.03 ± 0.62; P = 0.765). Conclusions: Within the limitations of the present study, the use of a 2.0 mm layer of particulated autologous bone on the implant threads, and a 2.0 mm layer of anorganic bovine to cover the resorbed ridge, in combination with the resorbable collagen membrane, seems to be a viable treatment option for the reconstruction of horizontal bony defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies suggest a pathogenetic association between metabolic disturbances, including type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and cognitive decline and indicate that T2DM may represent a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). There are a number of experimental studies presenting evidence that ranolazine, an antianginal drug, acts as a neuroprotective drug. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of ranolazine on hippocampal neurodegeneration and astrocytes activation in a T2DM rat model. Diabetes was induced by a high fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ) injection. Animals were divided into the following groups: HFD/STZ + Ranolazine, HFD/STZ + Metformin, HFD/STZ + Vehicle, NCD + Vehicle, NCD + Ranolazine and NCD + Metformin. The presence of neurodegeneration was evaluated in the hippocampal cornus ammonis 1 (CA1) region by cresyl violet staining histological methods, while astrocyte activation was assessed by western blot analysis. Staining with cresyl violet highlighted a decrease in neuronal density and cell volume in the hippocampal CA1 area in diabetic HFD/STZ + Vehicle rats, while ranolazine and metformin both improved T2DM-induced neuronal loss and neuronal damage. Moreover, there was an increased expression of GFAP in the HFD/STZ + Vehicle group compared to the treated diabetic groups. In conclusion, in the present study, we obtained additional evidence supporting the potential use of ranolazine to counteract T2DM-associated cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]