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Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) often arise and develop during dentistry studies. The most affected regions are related to the spine. Possible associations between spinal curve parameters and MSDs have not yet been investigated amongst dentistry students. This longitudinal observational study aimed to determine whether spinal curve changes during dentistry studies, analyse the relationship between objective findings and subjectively declared MSDs and compare spinal curve parameters with those published in the literature., Materials and Methods: Seventy-three dentistry students answered a questionnaire on MSDs, and were examined using the Spinal Mouse® device at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of their 5-year study., Results: The spinal curve exhibited a gender diversity in the lumbar lordosis angle, sacrum inclination, and thoracolumbar ratio. From the first to fifth study year, we observed an increase in the range of motions in the sagittal and frontal planes, an increase in the maximal extent of right lateral inclination, and a decrease in maximal left lateral inclination. Whole-spine backward inclination increased only in women, and forward sacral inclination decreased. No statistically significant relationships were found between the objective findings and subjectively declared MSDs., Conclusions: The spinal curve shape differed between men and women and changed during dentistry studies. No objective markers or predictors of MSDs were found amongst the dentistry students. These findings can serve as a benchmark for further studies on the association between MSDs and objective findings., (© 2024 The Author(s). European Journal of Dental Education published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Midbrain dopaminergic neurons (DANs) are subject to extensive metabotropic regulation, but the repertoire of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) present in these neurons has not been mapped. Here, we isolate DANs from Dat-eGFP mice to generate a GPCR atlas by unbiased qPCR array expression analysis of 377 GPCRs. Combined with data mining of scRNA-seq databases, we identify multiple receptors in DAN subpopulations with 38 of these receptors representing the majority of transcripts. We identify 41 receptors expressed in midbrain DANs but not in non-DAN midbrain cells, including the free fatty acid receptor 4 (FFAR4). Functional expression of FFAR4 is validated by ex vivo Ca 2+ imaging, and in vivo experiments support that FFAR4 negatively regulates food and water intake and bodyweight. In addition to providing a critical framework for understanding metabotropic DAN regulation, our data suggest fatty acid sensing by FFAR4 as a mechanism linking high-energy intake to the dopamine-reward pathway., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Transduodenal surgical ampullectomy (tAMP) with papillary reimplantation is a valid alternative to pancreaticoduodenectomy for lesions of the periampullary region not amenable to endoscopic resection. As tAMP is burdened by high rates of biliopancreatic-enteric anastomotic leak, we tested preventive endoluminal vacuum therapy (eVAC) combined with post-operative continuous perianastomotic irrigation (CPI) to reduce such anastomotic leak., Methods: Between 10/2013 and 09/2023, 37 patients undergoing laparotomic tAMP (with or without jejunal transposition) and papillary reimplantation at Hirslanden Klinik Zurich were retrospectively analysed; of these, 16 received prophylactic eVAC combined with CPI, while the remaining represented the historical cohort., Results: The eVAC-CPI-group and the historical-cohort were homogeneous in demographic characteristics. Surgery in the prophylactic eVAC-CPI-group lasted about 30 min longer due to eVAC application (p = 0.008). The biliopancreatico-enteric anastomotic leak rates were 6.2% in the eVAC-CIP-group vs. 19.0% in the historical-cohort (p = 0.266). Along, a strong trend of less severe post-operative complications in general (p = 0.073), and borderline-significantly less cases of acute pancreatitis (p = 0.057) and tAMP-related re-operations or re-interventions (p = 0.057) in particular, were observed in the eVAC-CPI-group. The only anastomotic leak in the eVAC-CPI-group was successfully managed through repeated cycles of eVAC. The device was well tolerated by all patients; no vacuum/irrigation-related complications or malfunctioning occurred., Conclusion: Our study is the first to provide some technical insights demonstrating the safety and feasibility of a prophylactic approach with eVAC and perianastomotic irrigation to reduce anastomotic leak after tAMP. Increasing the number of subjects will confirm the benefit of our promising results., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Rectal cancer typically necessitates a combination of radiotherapy (RT), chemotherapy, and surgery. The associated functional disorders and reduction in quality of life have led to an increasing interest in organ preservation strategies. Response strongly correlates with RT dose, but dose escalation with external beam remains limited even with modern external beam RT techniques because of toxicity of the surrounding tissues. This study reports on the use of Papillon, an endocavitary Radiotherapy device, in the treatment of rectal cancer. The device delivers low energy X-rays, allowing for safe dose escalation and better complete response rate. Between January 2015 and February 2024, 24 rectal cancer patients were treated with the addition of a boost delivered by Papillon to standard RT, with or without chemotherapy, in an upfront organ preservation strategy. After a median follow-up (FU) of 43 months, the organ preservation rate was 96% (23/24), and the local relapse rate was 8% (2/24). None of our patients developed grade 3 or more toxicities. Our results demonstrate that the addition of Papillon contact RT provides a high rate of local remission with sustained long-term organ preservation, offering a promising alternative to traditional surgical approaches in patients with rectal cancer.

Motivation: Haplotype networks are a routine approach to visualize relationships among alleles. Such visual analysis of single-locus data is still of importance, especially in species diagnosis and delimitation, where a limited amount of sequence data usually are available and sufficient, along with other datasets in the framework of integrative taxonomy. In diploid organisms, this often requires separating (phasing) sequences with heterozygotic positions, and typically separate programs are required for phasing, reformatting of input files, and haplotype network construction. We therefore developed Hapsolutely, a user-friendly program with an ergonomic graphical user interface that integrates haplotype phasing from single-locus sequences with five approaches for network/genealogy reconstruction., Results: Among the novel options implemented, Hapsolutely integrates phasing and graphical reconstruction steps of haplotype networks, supports input of species partition data in the common SPART and SPART-XML formats, and calculates and visualizes haplowebs and fields for recombination, thus allowing graphical comparison of allele distribution and allele sharing among subsets for the purpose of species delimitation. The new tool has been specifically developed with a focus on the workflow in alpha-taxonomy, where exploring fields for recombination across alternative species partitions may help species delimitation., Availability and Implementation: Hapsolutely is written in Python, and integrates code from Phase, SeqPHASE, and PopART in C++ and Haxe. Compiled stand-alone executables for MS Windows and Mac OS along with a detailed manual can be downloaded from https://www.itaxotools.org; the source code is openly available on GitHub (https://github.com/iTaxoTools/Hapsolutely)., Competing Interests: None declared., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Human genome-wide association studies (GWAS) suggest a functional role for central glutamate receptor signaling and plasticity in body weight regulation. Here, we use UK Biobank GWAS summary statistics of body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%) to identify genes encoding proteins known to interact with postsynaptic α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) and N -methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Loci in/near discs large homolog 4 ( DLG4 ) and protein interacting with C kinase 1 ( PICK1 ) reached genome-wide significance ( P < 5 × 10 - 8 ) for BF% and/or BMI. To further evaluate the functional role of postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95; gene name: DLG4 ) and PICK1 in energy homeostasis, we used dimeric PSD-95/disc large/ZO-1 (PDZ) domain-targeting peptides of PSD-95 and PICK1 to demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of PSD-95 and PICK1 induces prolonged weight-lowering effects in obese mice. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the glutamate receptor scaffolding proteins, PICK1 and PSD-95, are genetically linked to obesity and that pharmacological targeting of their PDZ domains represents a promising therapeutic avenue for sustained weight loss.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted educational methods worldwide, particularly in dental and general medicine education. This study retrospectively analyzes students' perceptions of hybrid theoretical and practical teaching in the Dentistry program during the pandemic at three medical faculties of Charles University in the Czech Republic. A total of 418 students were surveyed regarding their views on hybrid education, concerns about COVID-19, and the pandemic's psychosocial and academic effects. The study revealed notable differences based on faculty location, gender, year of study, language of instruction, and the phase of study affected. Students from smaller faculties (Hradec Kralove and Pilsen) preferred online education and did not report a significant reduction in lectures. Compensatory block teaching post-pandemic was effective but less preferred, especially among women. Men found online communication more challenging than women. Czech-speaking students rated online teaching more effective than those studying in English and compensated for clinical skill gaps by participating in more internships. Future online education methods should address the unique needs of these groups.

Recent advancements in digital technologies have transformed clinical workflows in dentistry, ensuring precise restorations. Custom-made crowns and fixed partial dentures (FPDs) now rely on virtual articulation. The digital facebow provides individualized data for CAD settings, streamlining the fabrication via digital workflow. For the purpose of demonstrating the differences observed during fabrication, we present a case report involving a 68-year-old patient seeking a replacement for missing teeth 24, 25, 26, and 27. The treatment plan involved the fabrication of an implant-supported FPD using monolithic zirconia (ZrO2). However, technical hurdles emerged during the planning phase, primarily due to spatial limitations posing a risk of mechanical failure over time. Consequently, we pivoted approach towards a porcelain fused to metal (PFM) FPD. For the PFM FPD, individual values from the digital facebow adjusted both virtual and conventional articulators. For comparison, two ZrO2 FPDs were milled-individual settings and average settings. All restorations underwent assessment for occlusion in maximal intercuspal position and eccentric mandible movements. In conclusion, the case report showed that individualized PFM FPD required minimal adjustments compared to milled ZrO2 restorations, whether using individual or average values. Utilizing individual values from the digital facebow reduced operator working time and minimized the intraoral adjustments.

Background: Digital impression technique or computer-aided impression (CAI) has been recently concluded as a clinically acceptable alternative to conventional impression method (CIM) in the fabrication of crowns, short fixed partial dentures (FPDs), and implant-supported crowns., Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the patients' opinion and subjective perception of two different ways of impression - digital and conventional., Methods: A total of 45 patients were treated with CAI and CIM for the fabrication of tooth or implant-supported crowns. They fulfilled a questionnaire including 11 questions regarding the treatment time, gag reflex, discomfort related to manipulation, and other aspects of treatment., Results: CAI was considered the preferential method for future treatment in 53% of patients, whereas 28.9% of the respondents preferred CIM. The preference for the impression method was influenced by the total time spent with the procedure, discomfort during manipulation with the tray or scanning head, size of the tray or scanning head, maximal opening discomfort, and (the tendency towards) gag reflex., Conclusion: CAI was considered a more comfortable and preferential method. Discomfort or difficulties during CAI negatively affected the patients' attitude to CAI, whereas the difficulties associated with CIM did not have any influence on the preferred method.

Hyaluronic acid (HA), an extracellular biopolymer found throughout the human body, holds promise as a biocompatible and biodegradable scaffold material. High molecular weight (HMW) HA degrades, generating low molecular weight (LMW) fragments with distinct properties. These fragments can influence the behaviour of cells, including human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) incorporated into HA-containing hydrogels or scaffolds. Therefore, a comprehensive examination of the impact of a range of HA molecular weights on hDPSCs is essential before designing HA-based scaffolds for these cells. hDPSC lines were cultured with LMW HA (800 Da, 1600 Da, 15 kDa), medium molecular weight HA (237 kDa), or HMW HA (1500 kDa) over six passages. The various molecular weights had negligible effects on hDPSCs viability, morphology, adhesion, or relative telomere length. Furthermore, the expression of key surface stemness markers (CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90) remained unaltered. HA did not induce osteogenic, chondrogenic, or adipogenic differentiation. Moreover, the potential for chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation was not adversely affected by LMW or HMW HA. Various molecular weights of HA seem safe, biocompatible and therefore suitable components for hDPSCs-containing scaffolds. These findings affirm that the hDPCSs will not be negatively affected by HA fragments resulting from scaffold degradation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We demonstrate that quantum dynamical localization in the Arnold web of higher-dimensional Hamiltonian systems is destroyed by an intrinsic classical drift. Thus quantum wave packets and eigenstates may explore more of the intricate Arnold web than previously expected. Such a drift typically occurs, as resonance channels widen toward a large chaotic region or toward a junction with other resonance channels. If this drift is strong enough, we find that dynamical localization is destroyed. We establish that this drift-induced delocalization transition is universal and is described by a single transition parameter. Numerical verification is given using a time-periodically kicked Hamiltonian with a four-dimensional phase space.

Dentists are one of the professional groups most at risk for COVID-19 infection. Enhanced protective measures in dentistry have been adopted worldwide; however, it is unclear to what extent they were sufficient. To assess whether the protective measures outweighed the high infection risk, we compared COVID-19-related data between Czech dentists and the general Czech population. The data was obtained through a survey study attended by 15.8% of Czech Dental Chamber members. Data of the general population were acquired from the Czech Ministry of Health database. By the end of May 2022, COVID-19 full vaccination and 1st booster dose rates among study participants were 85.8% and 70.1%, respectively, which is significantly higher (p < 0.0001) compared to the Czech general population aged over 24 years (74.9% and 49.4%, respectively). To the same date, PCR/Antigen test verified COVID-19 prevalence among participants was 41.7%, and 49.9% among the general population (p < 0.0001). Prevalence and reinfection rates among individuals who received the 1st booster were significantly lower than among individuals without the booster or full vaccination (p < 0.0001). Persons who received the booster showed a faster return to work, shorter and different types of complications. Willingness to future vaccination was positive among 79.7% of respondents. Mandatory vaccination for healthcare workers and the general population was supported by 62.0% and 49.0%, respectively. The results showed that the high risk of COVID-19 infection associated with dentistry did not lead to higher COVID-19 prevalence among respondents compared to the general population., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Performing repeated pulmonary vein isolation (re-PVI) after recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) following prior PVI is a standard procedure. However, no consensus exists regarding the most effective approach in redo procedures. We assessed the efficacy of re-PVI using wide antral circumferential re-ablation (WACA) supported by high-density electroanatomical mapping (HDM) as compared to conventional re-PVI. Consecutive patients with AF recurrences showing true PV reconnection (residual intra-PV and PV antral electrical potentials within the initial ablation line) or exclusive PV antral potentials (without intra-PV potentials) in the redo procedure were prospectively enrolled and received HDM-guided WACA (Re-WACA group). Conventional re-PVI patients treated using pure ostial gap ablation guided by a circular mapping catheter served as a historical control (Re-PVI group). Patients with durable PVI and no antral PV potentials were excluded. Arrhythmia recurrences ≥30 s were calculated as recurrences. In total, 114 patients were investigated (Re-WACA: n = 56, 68 ± 10 years, Re-PVI: n = 58, 65 ± 10 years). There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics including the AF type or the number of previous PVIs. In the Re-WACA group, 11% of patients showed electrical potentials only in the antrum but not inside any PV. At 402 ± 71 days of follow-up, the estimated freedom from arrhythmia was 89% in the Re-WACA group and 69% in the Re-PVI group ( p = 0.01). Re-WACA independently predicted arrhythmia-free survival (HR = 0.39, 95% CI 0.16-0.93, p = 0.03), whereas two previous PVI procedures predicted recurrences (HR = 2.35, 95% CI 1.20-4.46, p = 0.01). The Re-WACA strategy guided by HDM significantly improved arrhythmia-free survival as compared to conventional ostial re-PVI. Residual PV antral potentials after prior PVI are frequent and can be easily visualized by HDM.

We apply the contactless quasi-steady-state photoconductance (QSSPC) method to co-evaporated methyl ammonium lead iodide (MAPbI 3 ) perovskite thin-films. Using an adapted calibration for ultralow photoconductances, we extract the injection-dependent carrier lifetime of the MAPbI 3 layer. The lifetime is found to be limited by radiative recombination at the high injection densities applied during the QSSPC measurement, enabling the extraction of the electron and hole mobility sum in the MAPbI 3 using the known coefficient of radiative recombination of MAPbI 3 . Combining the QSSPC measurement with transient photoluminescence measurements, performed at much lower injection densities, we obtain the injection-dependent lifetime curve over several orders of magnitude. From the resulting lifetime curve, we determine the achievable open-circuit voltage of the examined MAPbI 3 layer., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Carrier-selective and passivating SiO[Formula: see text]/TiO[Formula: see text] heterocontacts are an attractive alternative to conventional contacts due to their high efficiency potentials combined with relatively simple processing schemes. It is widely accepted that post deposition annealing is necessary to obtain high photovoltaic efficiencies, especially for full area aluminum metallized contacts. Despite some previous high-level electron microscopy studies, the picture of atomic-scale processes underlying this improvement seems to be incomplete. In this work, we apply nanoscale electron microscopy techniques to macroscopically well-characterized solar cells with SiO[Formula: see text]/TiO[Formula: see text]/Al rear contacts on n-type silicon. Macroscopically, annealed solar cells show a tremendous decrease of series resistance and improved interface passivation. Analyzing the microscopic composition and electronic structure of the contacts, we find that partial intermixing of the SiO[Formula: see text] and TiO[Formula: see text] layers occurs due to annealing, leading to an apparent thickness reduction of the passivating SiO[Formula: see text]. However, the electronic structure of the layers remains clearly distinct. Hence, we conclude that the key to obtain highly efficient SiO[Formula: see text]/TiO[Formula: see text]/Al contacts is to tailor the processing such that the excellent chemical interface passivation of a SiO[Formula: see text] layer is achieved for a layer thin enough to allow efficient tunneling through the layer. Furthermore, we discuss the impact of aluminum metallization on the above mentioned processes., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

A data frame transmitted over the underwater acoustic channel usually begins with a preamble. Therefore, underwater communication systems have a dedicated receiver that constantly listens to the preamble signals. A receiver that is to work effectively in shallow waters must have solutions that effectively reduce the impact of the permanently occurring multipath propagation. The article presents a solution based on complementary broadband signals. Initial tests were carried out using the Watermark simulator to determine its reliability in such a difficult propagation environment. The results of experimental tests carried out in a model pool are also included. Details of the implementation of the wake-up receiver are presented.

The restrictions on medical students’ clinical education during the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their professional readiness and often lengthened their training. These negative impacts are often considered a necessary price as clinical education is hypothesized to be associated with a high risk of pandemic spread. This work assesses this hypothesis based on COVID-19 epidemiological data among Czech dentistry students and their comparison to data of the Czech general population of similar age. We addressed two of the five Czech medical faculties (Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove and in Pilsen) providing dentistry study program with a survey. A total of 240 students participated, representing a 66.9% response rate. Over 75% of respondents participated in clinical education during the pandemic. The school environment was identified as a place of infection by only 9.8% of respondents who were aware of where they were infected. Overall, 100% of students used FFP2 respirators, and 75.3% used face shields or protective glasses while working with patients. By the end of May 2022, COVID-19 full vaccination and 1st booster rates among students were 93.8% and 54.6%, respectively, which is significantly higher (p < 0.0001, OR 7.3, 95% CI 4.4−12; p < 0.0001, OR 3.7, 95% CI 2.9−4.8, respectively) compared to their peers from the general population (67.1% and 24.4%, respectively). A total of 75.4% of respondents supported mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare professionals. To the same date, PCR and/or antigen test verified COVID-19 prevalence among students was 37.1%, while among peers from the general population, it was 45.1% (p = 0.015, OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0−1.5). The combination of extensive protective measures and high vaccination against COVID-19 led to significantly lower COVID-19 prevalence among the students compared to their general population counterparts.

Despite several scientific or ethical issues, fetal bovine serum (FBS) remains the standard nutrient supplement in the mesenchymal stem cell cultivation medium. Cell amplification plays an important role in human stem cell therapies. Increasing interest in this field has supported attempts to find suitable human alternatives to FBS for in vitro cell propagation. Human platelet lysate (hPL) has recently been determined as one of them. Our study aimed to evaluate the influence of 2% hPL in the growth medium for in vitro expansion of human natal dental pulp stem cells (hNDP-SCs). The effect was determined on proliferation rate, viability, phenotype profile, expression of several markers, relative telomere length change, and differentiation potential of four lineages of hNDP-SCs. As a control, hNDP-SCs were simultaneously cultivated in 2% FBS. hNDP-SCs cultivated in hPL showed a statistically significantly higher proliferation rate in initial passages. We did not observe a statistically significant effect on mesenchymal stem cell marker (CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90) or stromal-associated marker (CD13, CD166) expression. The cell viability, relative telomere length, or multipotency remained unaffected in hNDP-SCs cultivated in hPL-medium. In conclusion, hPL produced under controlled and standardized conditions is an efficient serum supplement for in vitro expansion of hNDP-SCs.

In the last decade, endoluminal vacuum therapy (eVAC) has emerged as an effective treatment for anastomotic leak (AL); however, little is known regarding its prophylactic use. In this systematic review we evaluated overall outcomes in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery and treated with prophylactic eVAC. A systematic review of English articles on four electronic databases was performed according to the PRISMA statement up until January 2022. References of selected articles were manually screened to identify relevant missing papers. Primary endpoints were AL and mortality rates estimates. Secondary endpoints included analysis of eVAC-associated morbidity, treatment duration, long-term complications, and general indications for the eVAC management in the perioperative period. A total of 11 studies (5 case reports, 5 retrospective case series and a retrospective, case-control study) were included in the analysis. AL ranged from 0 to 25%. No major eVAC-associated complications were observed, except for sponge dislocation or obstruction. Overall mortality ranged between 0 and 12.5%; however, these fatalities were neither related to the use of eVAC, nor to AL-associated complications. The most frequent long-term complication was anastomotic stenosis responsive to endoscopic dilatation in most cases. The operating negative pressure ranged from -25 to -125 mmHg among different papers. In all studies but two, prophylactic eVAC was applied to anastomoses at high risk of dehiscence based on the subjective evaluation of the leading surgeon. In conclusion, prophylactic eVAC is safe and it could lead to potential benefit for prevention of AL, especially in high-risk anastomoses., (© 2022. Italian Society of Surgery (SIC).)

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) represent a significant occupational burden for dentists and dentistry students. This study aimed to assess the five-year development of most common musculoskeletal complaints among dentistry students during the whole length of their studies and to analyze the impact of some potentially associated risk factors. A longitudinal questionnaire survey regarding the occurrence of MSDs was conducted among a total of 73 dentistry students between 2014 and 2021. The same students enrolled in three consecutive years were monitored throughout their entire studies. Statistical analysis was performed using methods of descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, McNemar test, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The most frequent areas of complaints were neck (61.6%) and lower back (49.3%). The increase in self-reported complaints between the first and the fifth year was statistically significant for neck pain (increase by 15%, p = 0.043) but not for lower back pain (by 6.8%, p = 0.44). According to our data, age, performing top-level sport, and participating in regular sporting activities had a statistically significant influence on neck and/or back pain. The results of this longitudinal prospective study showed that neck, as well as lower back pain, are significant problems for dentistry students.

Background: Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 has been the main tool to contain the pandemic. The rush development of the 3 vaccines and their expedited approval have led to inoculation of millions of patients around the world, leading to a containment of the disease. Despite continuous viral mutations and the identification of weaker variants, the severity of the infections has been mild, with many patients being either asymptomatic or recovering at home. Currently the focus has shifted from the host of organ damage related to the infection to potential side effects of the vaccine. Myocarditis has been reported as one of the potential side effects from the mRNA vaccine, affecting young healthy individuals. Up to September 30, 2021, 1.243 cases of myocarditis after vaccination with BNT162b2 Comirnaty© were registered in young adults by the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute in Germany alone. The exact pathophysiology and the risk factors for myocarditis following vaccination remain unclear. We present a case series of eight patients with cardiac symptom shortly after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination (BNT162b6, Biontech, Comirnaty© or mRNA-1237 Moderna, Spikevax©)., Patients and Methods: Eight patients between 13 and 56 years of age, vaccinated with either BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 mRNA vaccine between January and August 2021 developed cardiac side effects shortly after either their first or second dose of the vaccine. Clinical data were retrieved from the clinical information system and analyzed. To support diagnosis of myocarditis or pericarditis, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed shortly after the onset of symptoms, with further investigations in severe cases. Symptoms were defined as dyspnea, chest pain and cardiac arrhythmia as determined by electrocardiography., Results: Eight patients (5 males and 3 females) developed cardiac symptoms compatible with myocarditis, according to the CDC criteria, shortly after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination. Three patients (2 males, 1 female) required hospitalization due to severe chest pain and elevated troponin levels. All patients recovered fully within 7 days from the symptom onset., Conclusions: Our data suggest that cardiac adverse events such as myocarditis or pericarditis shortly after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination are rare but possible and occur particularly in male patients., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The fast-firing step commonly applied at the end of solar cell production lines is known to trigger light-induced degradation effects on solar cells made on different silicon materials. In this study, we examine degradation phenomena on high-efficiency solar cells with poly-Si passivating contacts made on Ga-doped Czochralski-grown silicon (Cz-Si) base material under one-sun illumination at elevated temperatures ranging from 80 to 160 °C. The extent of degradation is demonstrated to increase with the applied temperature up to 140 °C. Above 140 °C, the degradation extent decreases with increasing temperature. The degradation of the energy conversion efficiency can be ascribed foremost to a reduction of the short-circuit current and the fill factor and to a lesser extent to a reduction of the open-circuit voltage. The extent of degradation at 140 °C amounts to 0.4% abs of the initial conversion efficiency of 22.1% compared to 0.15% abs at 80 °C. The extent of the efficiency degradation in the examined solar cells is significantly lower (by a factor of ~ 5) compared to solar cells made on B-doped Cz-Si wafers. Importantly, through prolonged illumination at elevated temperatures (e.g. 5 h, 1 sun, 140 °C), an improvement of the conversion efficiency by up to 0.2% abs compared to the initial value is achievable in combination with a permanent regeneration resulting in long-term stable conversion efficiencies above 22%., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Resonant inelastic X-ray scattering in the XUV-regime has been implemented at BESSY II, pushing for a few-meV bandwidth in inelastic X-ray scattering at transition metal M-edges, rare earth N-edges and the K-edges of light elements up to carbon with full polarization control. The new dedicated low-energy beamline UE112-PGM1 has been designed to provide 1 µm vertical and 20 µm horizontal beam dimensions that serve together with sub-micrometre solid-state sample positioning as the source point for a high-resolution plane grating spectrometer and a high-transmission Rowland spectrometer for rapid overview spectra. The design and commissioning results of the beamline and high-resolution spectrometer are presented. Helium autoionization spectra demonstrate a resolving power of the beamline better than 10 000 at 64 eV with a 300 lines mm -1 grating while the measured resolving power of the spectrometer in the relevant energy range is 3000 to 6000., (open access.)

The physical stresses during cryopreservation affect stem cell survival and further proliferation. To minimize or prevent cryoinjury, cryoprotective agents (CPAs) are indispensable. Despite the widespread use of 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), there are concerns about its potential adverse effects. To bypass those effects, combinations of CPAs have been investigated. This study aimed to verify whether high-molecular-hyaluronic acid (HMW-HA) serves as a cryoprotectant when preserving human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) to reduce the DMSO concentration in the cryopreservation medium. We studied how 0.1% or 0.2% HMW-HA combined with reduced DMSO concentrations (from 10% to 5%, and 3%) affected total cell count, viability, immunophenotype, and differentiation potential post-cryopreservation. Immediately after cell revival, the highest total cell count was observed in 10% DMSO-stored hMSC. However, two weeks after cell cultivation an increased cell count was seen in the HMW-HA-stored groups along with a continued increase in hMSCs stored using 3% DMSO and 0.1% HMW-HA. The increased total cell count corresponded to elevated expression of stemness marker CD49f. The HA-supplemented cryomedium did not affect the differential potential of hMSC. Our results will participate in producing a ready-to-use product for cryopreservation of mesenchymal stem cells.

Objective: To assess whether prophylactic irrigation and passive drainage of pancreatico-jejunal anastomosis could reduce leak and mortality rates after high-risk pancreaticoduodenectomies., Background: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is a life-threatening complication following pancreaticoduodenectomy. Several risk factors have been proposed likewise potential mitigation strategies. Regarding the latter, surgical drain policy remains a "hot topic." We propose an innovative approach to mitigate POPF and POPF-related mortality following high-risk pancreaticoduodenectomies., Methods: One hundred fifty-seven patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy between January 2012 and November 2021 were included in the study. Subjects with main pancreatic duct ≤ 3 mm and soft parenchyma were classified as high-risk for POPF development. Since August 2015, high-risk patients received prophylactic irrigation and drainage of the perianastomotic area. These patients were compared with risk-matched historical controls., Results: We identified 73 high-risk patients. Of these, the 47 subjects receiving prophylactic perianastomotic irrigation showed significantly lower POPF rates (12.7% vs 69.2%, P < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed the significant association between irrigation drainages and POPF (odds ratio 0.014, P = 0.01). Although not significant, mortality was lower in the irrigation group (4.2% vs 13.0%, P = 0.340). However, none of the fatalities in the irrigation-drainage group were POPF-related. No significant difference in length of hospital stay was observed between the 2 groups (18.0 vs 21.0 days, P = 0.091)., Conclusions: Irrigation and drainage of the perianastomotic area represents a powerful approach to reduce POPF and, potentially, mortality after high-risk pancreaticoduodenectomies., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

This work describes and evaluates vaccination against COVID-19 among members of the Czech Dental Chamber during the pre-booster vaccination phase. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between 23 June and 4 September 2021, among 2716 participants, representing 24.3% of all chamber members. A total of 89.5% of respondents stated that they were registered for vaccination against COVID-19, their vaccination had started or been completed, or had a medically relevant reason to avoid vaccination. A total of 79.6% of respondents stated that they were fully vaccinated, most of them with the Comirnaty (Pfizer−BioNTech) vaccine (88.3%). The vaccination rate among males was significantly higher than among females (p = 0.001, OR 1.48). The main reasons for vaccination were professional (91.5%). The share of fully vaccinated participants was significantly higher (p < 0.0001, OR = 8.17) compared to the Czech general population (30.8%). A COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infection rate was 0.42%. The study shows that both the willingness to vaccinate and the proportion of fully vaccinated individuals among Czech dentists are high, and only about 10% of them refused vaccination based on reasons classified as not medically relevant.

Bin/amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) domains are positively charged crescent-shaped modules that mediate curvature of negatively charged lipid membranes during remodeling processes. The BAR domain proteins PICK1, ICA69, and the arfaptins have recently been demonstrated to coordinate the budding and formation of immature secretory granules (ISGs) at the trans-Golgi network. Here, we identify 4 coding variants in the PICK1 gene from a whole-exome screening of Danish patients with diabetes that each involve a change in positively charged residues in the PICK1 BAR domain. All 4 coding variants failed to rescue insulin content in INS-1E cells upon knock down of endogenous PICK1. Moreover, 2 variants showed dominant-negative properties. In vitro assays addressing BAR domain function suggested that the coding variants compromised BAR domain function but increased the capacity to cause fission of liposomes. Live confocal microscopy and super-resolution microscopy further revealed that PICK1 resides transiently on ISGs before egress via vesicular budding events. Interestingly, this egress of PICK1 was accelerated in the coding variants. We propose that PICK1 assists in or complements the removal of excess membrane and generic membrane trafficking proteins, and possibly also insulin, from ISGs during the maturation process; and that the coding variants may cause premature budding, possibly explaining their dominant-negative function.

The coordinated action of multiple replicative helicase loading factors is needed for the licensing of replication origins prior to DNA replication. Binding of the Origin Recognition Complex (ORC) to DNA initiates the ATP-dependent recruitment of Cdc6, Cdt1 and Mcm2-7 loading, but the structural details for timely ATPase site regulation and for how loading can be impeded by inhibitory signals, such as cyclin-dependent kinase phosphorylation, are unknown. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we have determined several structures of S. cerevisiae ORC·DNA·Cdc6 intermediates at 2.5-2.7 Å resolution. These structures reveal distinct ring conformations of the initiator·co-loader assembly and inactive ATPase site configurations for ORC and Cdc6. The Orc6 N-terminal domain laterally engages the ORC·Cdc6 ring in a manner that is incompatible with productive Mcm2-7 docking, while deletion of this Orc6 region alleviates the CDK-mediated inhibition of Mcm7 recruitment. Our findings support a model in which Orc6 promotes the assembly of an autoinhibited ORC·DNA·Cdc6 intermediate to block origin licensing in response to CDK phosphorylation and to avert DNA re-replication., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objective For risk stratification of sudden cardiac death in patients with structural heart disease, more precise predictors in addition to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are clinically needed. The present study assessed the utility of galectin-3 as an independent indicator for the prognosis of heart failure patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD). Methods The study population consisted of 91 consecutive patients who underwent a routine ICD checkup in our ICD outpatient clinic. Circulating galectin-3 was assessed using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. The enrolled patients were prospectively followed. The primary endpoint was defined as the occurrence of appropriate ICD therapy (AIT), and the secondary endpoint was defined as the occurrence of unplanned overnight hospitalization due to decompensated heart failure (dHF). Results During a mean follow-up of 472±107 days, AIT occurred in 18 patients (20%). Unplanned hospitalizations due to dHF were noted in 12 patients (13%). A receiver-operative characteristics analysis demonstrated a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 68% for AIT occurrences with a galectin-3 cut-off value of 13.1 ng/mL (area under the curve =0.82). A Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that patients with galectin-3 >13.1 ng/mL had significantly higher incidences of AIT as compared to those with lower galectin-3 (log-rank, p<0.001). This significance was also observed in both subgroup analyses with ischemic and non-ischemic etiology. Cox regression demonstrated that higher galectin-3 was an independent predictor of AIT and dHF, even after adjusting for previous arrhythmic events. Conclusion The circulating galectin-3 level can be used as a clinical indicator of subsequent occurrence of ventricular arrhythmic events and decompensated heart failure, regardless of a history of ventricular arrhythmias.

It is primarily important to define the standard features and factors that affect dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) for their broader use in tissue engineering. This study aimed to verify whether DPSCs isolated from various teeth extracted from the same donor exhibit intra-individual variability and what the consequences are for their differentiation potential. The heterogeneity determination was based on studying the proliferative capacity, viability, expression of phenotypic markers, and relative length of telomere chromosomes. The study included 14 teeth (6 molars and 8 premolars) from six different individuals ages 12 to 16. We did not observe any significant intra-individual variability in DPSC size, proliferation rate, viability, or relative telomere length change within lineages isolated from different teeth but the same donor. The minor non-significant variances in phenotype were probably mainly because DPSC cell lines comprised heterogeneous groups of undifferentiated cells independent of the donor. The other variances were seen in DPSC lineages isolated from the same donor, but the teeth were in different stages of root development. We also did not observe any changes in the ability of cells to differentiate into mature cell lines-chondrocytes, osteocytes, and adipocytes. This study is the first to analyze the heterogeneity of DPSC dependent on a donor.

This work evaluates the prevalence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), among members of the Czech Dental Chamber. The assessment was based on an online questionnaire filled out by 2716 participants, representing 24.3% of all chamber members. Overall, 25.4% of the participants admitted they were diagnosed with COVID-19 by 30 June 2021, with no statistical differences between the sexes. While in the age groups under 50 the reported prevalence was around 30%, with increasing age, it gradually decreased to 15.2% in the group over 70 years. The work environment was identified as a place of contagion by 38.4% of the respondents. The total COVID-19 PCR-verified positivity was 13.9%, revealing a statistically lower prevalence ( p = 0.0180) compared with the Czech general population, in which the COVID-19 PCR-verified positivity was ~15.6% (fourth highest rank in the world). The total infection-hospitalization ratio (IHR) was 2.8%, and the median age group of hospitalized individuals was 60-70 years. For respondents older than 60 years, the IHR was 8.7%, and for those under 40 years, it was 0%. Of the respondents, 37.7% admitted that another team member was diagnosed with COVID-19, of which the most frequently mentioned profession was a nurse/dental assistant (81.2%). The results indicate that although the dentist profession is associated with a high occupational risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, well-chosen antiepidemic measures adopted by dental professionals may outweigh it.

This work evaluates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Czech dentistry from March 2020 to March 2021. The assessment was based on questionnaires filled out by 3674 Czech dentists representing 42.6% of practicing dentists in the country. During March-May, 2020 (the first COVID-19 wave), 90.7% of dental practices remained open; however, only 22.8% of the practices continued to operate with no changes, 46.5% had fewer patients, 21.4% treated only acute cases, and 3.8% were closed. During September 2020-May 2021 (the second wave of COVID-19), 96.1% of dental practices remained open, 60.8% operated with no changes, 34.5% had fewer patients, 0.8% treated only acute cases, and 0.5% were closed. The reasons leading to the closure of Czech dental practices during the whole pandemic were a shortage of personal protective equipment (50.5%), a COVID-19 outbreak in the workplace (24.5%), fear of a possible self-infection (24.0%), and quarantine (20.5%). The time range of Czech dental practices closure during the whole pandemic was: 1-2 weeks (49.9%), 2-4 weeks (21.2%), and >1 month (0.8%). The greatest professional difficulties of Czech dentists during the pandemic were crisis operating management (55%), health safety and hygiene concerns (21%), shortage of personal protective equipment (21%), and difficulty working with the protective equipment (15%). In addition, 47.3% of dentists also observed a declining interest in preventive dental care, and 16.9% of them observed worse oral care of patients. These results show that despite the lack of protective equipment, dental care was maintained throughout the pandemic. Additionally, the pandemic negatively affected the patients' approach to dental care, indicating a deterioration in oral health as a possible delayed outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) frequently occur among dental practitioners and present a significant occupational burden with an early onset in the dentists' career. This study aimed to analyze the five-year development of self-reported overall MSDs among the dentistry students during the course of their studies and to assess the possible influence of the risk as well as protective factors. The questionnaire inquiry was performed among the first-year dentistry students, regarding the occurrence of MSDs and the presence of potential risk and protective factors. The same students were followed, and they filled in the same questionnaire in the middle and at the end of their studies. A total of 73 dentistry students and 28 general medicine students participated. The occurrence of the overall MSDs statistically significantly increased from 30.1% at the beginning of the first year to 45.2% at the end of the fifth year among the dentistry students. The top-level sport was statistically significantly associated with the higher occurrence of MSDs in the fifth year and with the development of new MSDs between the first and the fifth year. This longitudinal prospective evaluation showed a significant increase in the MSDs occurrence among the dentistry students during their studies.

Nematodes represent a diverse and ubiquitous group of metazoans in terrestrial environments. They feed on bacteria, fungi, plants, other nematodes or parasitize a variety of animals and hence may be considered as active members of many food webs. Deadwood is a structural component of forest ecosystems which harbors many niches for diverse biota. As fungi and bacteria are among the most prominent decomposing colonizers of deadwood, we anticipated frequent and diverse nematode populations to co-occur in such ecosystems. However, knowledge about their ability to colonize this habitat is still limited. We applied DNA-based amplicon sequencing (metabarcoding) of the 18S rRNA gene to analyze nematode communities in sapwood and heartwood of decaying logs from 13 different tree species. We identified 247 nematode ASVs (amplicon sequence variants) from 27 families. Most of these identified families represent bacterial and fungal feeders. Their composition strongly depended on tree species identity in both wood compartments. While pH and water content were the only wood properties that contributed to nematodes' distribution, co-occurring fungal and prokaryotic (bacteria and archaea) α- and β-diversities were significantly related to nematode communities. By exploring thirteen different tree species, which exhibit a broad range of wood characteristics, this study provides first and comprehensive insights into nematode diversity in deadwood of temperate forests and indicates connectivity to other wood-inhabiting organisms.

This work provides a narrative review covering evidence-based recommendations for pericoronitis management (Part A) and a systematic review of antibiotic prescribing for pericoronitis from January 2000 to May 2021 (Part B). Part A presents the most recent, clinically significant, and evidence-based guidance for pericoronitis diagnosis and proper treatment recommending the local therapy over antibiotic prescribing, which should be reserved for severe conditions. The systematic review includes publications analyzing sets of patients treated for pericoronitis and questionnaires that identified dentists' therapeutic approaches to pericoronitis. Questionnaires among dentists revealed that almost 75% of them prescribed antibiotics for pericoronitis, and pericoronitis was among the top 4 in the frequency of antibiotic use within the surveyed diagnoses and situations. Studies involving patients showed that antibiotics were prescribed to more than half of the patients with pericoronitis, and pericoronitis was among the top 2 in the frequency of antibiotic use within the monitored diagnoses and situations. The most prescribed antibiotics for pericoronitis were amoxicillin and metronidazole. The systematic review results show abundant and unnecessary use of antibiotics for pericoronitis and are in strong contrast to evidence-based recommendations summarized in the narrative review. Adherence of dental professionals to the recommendations presented in this work can help rapidly reduce the duration of pericoronitis, prevent its complications, and reduce the use of antibiotics and thus reduce its impact on patients' quality of life, healthcare costs, and antimicrobial resistance development.

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are a type of easily accessible adult mesenchymal stem cell. Due to their ease of access, DPSCs show great promise in regenerative medicine. However, the tooth extractions from which DPSCs can be obtained are usually performed at a period of life when donors would have no therapeutic need of them. For this reason, it is imperative that successful stem cell storage techniques are employed so that these cells remain viable for future use. Any such techniques must result in high post-thaw stem cell recovery without compromising stemness, proliferation, or multipotency. Uncontrolled-rate freezing is not a technically or financially demanding technique compared to expensive and laborious controlled-rate freezing techniques. This study was aimed at observing the effect of uncontrolled-rate freezing on DPSCs stored for 6 and 12 months. Dimethyl sulfoxide at a concentration of 10% was used as a cryoprotective agent. Various features such as shape, proliferation capacity, phenotype, and multipotency were studied after DPSC thawing. The DPSCs did not compromise their stemness, viability, proliferation, or differentiating capabilities, even after one year of cryopreservation at -80 °C. After thawing, they retained their stemness markers and low-level expression of hematopoietic markers. We observed a size reduction in recovery DPSCs after one year of storage. This observation indicates that DPSCs can be successfully used in potential clinical applications, even after a year of uncontrolled cryopreservation.

Background: Many hospitals seek to increase patient safety through interprofessional team-trainings. Accordingly, these trainings aim to strengthen important key aspects such as safety culture and communication. This study was designed to investigate if an interprofessional team-training, administered to a relatively small group of nurses and physicians would promote a change in healthcare professionals' perceptions on safety culture and communication practices throughout the hospital. We further sought to understand which safety culture aspects foster the transfer of trained communication practices into clinical practice., Methods: We conducted a pre-post survey study using six scales to measure participants' perceptions of safety culture and communication practices. Mean values were compared according to profession and participation in training. Using multiple regression models, the relationship between safety culture and communication practices was determined., Results: Before and after the training, we found high mean values for all scales. A significant, positive effect was found for the communication practices of the physicians. Participation in the training sessions played a variably relevant role in the communication practices. In addition, the multiple regression analyses showed that specific safety culture aspects have a cross-professional influence on communication practices in the hospital., Conclusions: This study suggest that interprofessional team-trainings of a small group of professionals can successfully be transferred into clinical practice and indicates the importance of safety culture aspects for such transfer processes. Thus, we recommend the consideration of safety culture aspects before starting a training intervention.

A signal transmitted in an Underwater Acoustic Communication (UAC) system operating in a shallow-water channel suffers from strong time dispersion due to multipath propagation. This causes the Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI) observed in the received signal, which significantly limits the communication system's reliability and transmission rate. In such propagation conditions, the Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) method is one of the solutions that make reliable data transmission possible. In systems with one-to-one communication, it ensures communication with a satisfactory Bit Error Rate (BER). Additionally, it makes it possible to implement the Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) protocol in underwater acoustic networks. This paper presents the results of simulation and experimental communication tests on a DSSS-based UAC system using three types of spreading sequence, namely m-sequences, Kasami codes and Gold codes, and occupying different bandwidths from 1 kHz to 8 kHz around a carrier frequency equal to 30 kHz. The UAC channel was simulated by impulse responses calculated by the virtual sources method and the UAC chanel models available in the Watermark simulator. The experimental tests were conducted in a model pool. Based on the obtained results, a transmission rate was estimated, which is possible to achieve in strong multipath propagation conditions, assuming reliability expressed as BER less than 0.001.

Telomeres are repetitive nucleoprotein DNA sequences that shorten with each cell division. The stem cells activate telomerase to compensate for the telomere loss. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cultivation passaging on the relative telomere length and proliferation capacity of dental pulp stem cells. We used ten dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) lineages stored for 12 months using uncontrolled-rate freezing to reach the study's goal. We analyzed their proliferation rate, phenotype using flow cytometry, multipotency, and relative telomere length using a qPCR analysis. We determined the relative telomere length in the added study by performing analysis after one, two, and three weeks of cultivation with no passaging. We documented the telomere attrition with increasing passaging. The shorter the relative telomere length, the lower reached population doublings, and longer population doubling time were observed at the end of the cultivation. We observed the telomere prolongation in DPSCs cultivated for two weeks with no passaging in the added subsequent study. We concluded that excessive proliferation demands on DPSCs during in vitro cultivation result in telomere attrition. We opened the theory that the telomerase might be more efficient during cell cultivation with no passaging. This observation could help in preserving the telomere length during ex vivo DPSC expansion.

Quantum fluctuations can stabilize Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) against the mean-field collapse. Stabilization of the condensate has been observed in quantum degenerate Bose-Bose mixtures and dipolar BECs. The fine-tuning of the interatomic interactions can lead to the emergence of two new states of matter: liquid-like self-bound quantum droplets and supersolid crystals formed from these droplets. We review the properties of these exotic states of matter and summarize the experimental progress made using dipolar quantum gases and Bose-Bose mixtures. We conclude with an outline of important open questions that could be addressed in the future.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) scan is the standard for assessment of femoral torsion. This observational study was conducted to evaluate the comparability of the EOS radiation dose scanning system (EOS imaging, Paris, France) and the CT scan in patients with suspected torsional malalignment of the femur., Methods: Patients with suspected torsional malalignment of the femur were included in a study for surgical planning. The primary endpoint was to compare the 3-dimensional radiological (EOS) imaging system with the CT scan to determine femoral anteversion (AV) angle. Three independent raters performed measurements. Comparability of CT scan and EOS values was assessed by Pearson correlation, t test, interobserver reliability, and intraobserver reliability (Cronbach alpha)., Results: About 34 femora were examined. Interobserver reliability/intraobserver reliability was 0.911 of 0.955 for EOS and 0.934 of 0.934 for CT scan. EOS system revealed an AV angle of 12.2° ± 10.0° (-15.0° to 32.0°). CT examinations showed an AV angle of 12.6° ± 9.2° (-3.2° to 35.6°). About 11 hips featured physiological AV, 14 hips showed decreased AV (<10°) or retroversion (<0°), and 9 hips showed increased AV (>20°). Overall, a strong Pearson correlation of τ = 0.855 and a highly significant correlation in the t test for both methods was seen. In patients with decreased AV, retroversion, or increased AV, Pearson correlation only resulted in a moderate/low correlation of τ = 0.495 and τ = 0.292. The t test showed no significant correlation at malrotation., Conclusion: In torsional malalignment, EOS does not have correlation with CT measurements. In contrast to CT scan, EOS allows femoral torsion measurement independent of legs' positioning., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Iatrogenic mandible fracture is a rare complication of a tooth extraction with an incidence between 0.0033-0.0034%. This study retrospectively analyzes a total of 8 patients who underwent lower molar extraction associated with mandible fracture during tooth removal in the period from April 2006 to March 2019. The assessed parameters were age and sex of patients, method of tooth extraction, side distribution of fracture, type of extracted tooth, the position of a lower third molar, presence of bone pathological lesion formed in connection with a tooth, displacement of bone fragments, and sensory impairment in the innervation area of the mental nerve. The position and impaction of the lower third molars were evaluated according to Pell and Gregory's classification and Winter's classification. One fracture was left-sided, and 7 fractures were right-sided. In 6 cases, Winter's extraction elevator was used. In 7 patients, the mandible fracture was treated surgically by performing stable osteosynthesis with the plates and screws. One patient was treated conservatively. This work analyzes the causes of iatrogenic mandible fractures and provides recommendations to reduce the risk of their occurrence.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are attractive research topics, and their combined use in the field of tissue engineering seems to be very promising. HA is a natural extracellular biopolymer found in various tissues, including dental pulp, and due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability, it is also a suitable scaffold material. However, low molecular weight (LMW) fragments, produced by enzymatic cleavage of HA, have different bioactive properties to high molecular weight (HMW) HA. Thus, the impact of HA must be assessed separately for each molecular weight fraction. In this study, we present the effect of three LMW-HA fragments (800, 1600, and 15,000 Da) on DPSCs in vitro. Discrete biological parameters such as DPSC viability, morphology, and cell surface marker expression were determined. Following treatment with LMW-HA, DPSCs initially presented with an acute reduction in proliferation ( p < 0.0016) and soon recovered in subsequent passages. They displayed significant size reduction ( p = 0.0078, p = 0.0019, p = 0.0098) while maintaining high expression of DPSC markers (CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90). However, in contrast to controls, a significant phenotypic shift ( p < 0.05; CD29, CD34, CD90, CD106, CD117, CD146, CD166) of surface markers was observed. These findings provide a basis for further detailed investigations and present a strong argument for the importance of HA scaffold degradation kinetics analysis.

Introduction: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) represents the most common form of morbidity after distal pancreatectomy (DP). The aim of this study was to illustrate an innovative technique of irrigation and passive drainage to reduce clinically relevant POPF (CR-POPF) incidence in high-risk patients undergoing DP., Material and Methods: Twelve consecutive high-risk patients received irrigation and passive drainage of the pancreatic stump with a Salem sump drainage after DP. The Salem sump was irrigated with 100 ml/h of Ringer solution for 2 postoperative days (POD). In the case of low-drain amylase and lipase levels on POD 3, the irrigation was reduced to 50 ml/h. Persistence of low-drain pancreatic enzymes on POD 4 allowed for interruption of irrigation and subsequent removal of drainage from POD 7 onward in the absence of evidence of any pancreatic fistula., Results: Overall, 16.6% of the patients experienced a grade 3 or higher surgical complication. We experienced only one case of POPF: the fistula was classified as grade B and it was managed with radiologic drainage of the fluid collection. We did not experience any case of re-operation nor in-hospital mortality., Conclusions: Irrigation with passive drainage of the pancreatic stump after DP is an interesting approach for CR-POPF prevention in high-risk patients.

Eukaryotic DNA replication initiation relies on the origin recognition complex (ORC), a DNA-binding ATPase that loads the Mcm2-7 replicative helicase onto replication origins. Here, we report cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of DNA-bound Drosophila ORC with and without the co-loader Cdc6. These structures reveal that Orc1 and Orc4 constitute the primary DNA binding site in the ORC ring and cooperate with the winged-helix domains to stabilize DNA bending. A loop region near the catalytic Walker B motif of Orc1 directly contacts DNA, allosterically coupling DNA binding to ORC's ATPase site. Correlating structural and biochemical data show that DNA sequence modulates DNA binding and remodeling by ORC, and that DNA bending promotes Mcm2-7 loading in vitro. Together, these findings explain the distinct DNA sequence-dependencies of metazoan and S. cerevisiae initiators in origin recognition and support a model in which DNA geometry and bendability contribute to Mcm2-7 loading site selection in metazoans.