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An abstract of the article "Pediatric cardiac services in Iraq: current status and future plans" by A. Almandel, H. Younis, C. Gilbert, S. Marr, K. Bowtell, B. Forsberg, P. Shauchenka, E. Suslin, F. Molloy and W. Novick is presented.

Background: While effective preventive measures reduce hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and the spread of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs), studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated preventive measures remain inconclusive., Objective: To assess the impact of COVID-19 on HAIs and MDROs and to compare it with the effect of seasonal influenza., Methods: A retrospective cohort study analyzed prospectively collected data from a tertiary hospital in Haifa, northern Israel, from 2016 to 2021. It compared pre/during COVID-19 and influenza (Dec-Feb)/non-influenza (Mar-Nov) seasons. Studied parameters: hospital-acquired bloodstream infections (HA-BSI), MDROs, nosocomial Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI) per 10,000 hospital days (HD), central line-associated BSI (CLABSI) per 1000 catheter days (CD) and hand hygiene compliance (HHC)., Results: During the COVID-19 period, rates of HAIs and MDROs decreased compared to the pre-COVID era for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (4.2 vs. 6.9/10,000 HD; p < 0.001), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumani (CRAB) (2.2 vs. 3.1/10,000 HD; p = 0.02), and nosocomial CDI (3 vs. 4.6/10,000 HD; p < 0.001). However, there was a higher rate of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) (4.6 vs. 2.7/10,000 HD; p < 0.001) and HA-BSI (29.7 vs. 27.3/10,000 HD; p = 0.006) during the COVID-19 era. CLABSI rates showed no significant difference (2.3 vs. 2.7/1000 CD; p = 0.910). HHC rate remained at 70% in both eras (p = 0.151). No significant differences were observed in MDROs, CDI, HA-BSI, or CLABSI rates (p = 0.233, 0.675, 0.267, and 0.563, respectively) between influenza and non-influenza seasons., Conclusions: In the COVID-19 era, HAIs and MDROs rates significantly declined, while CRE rates increased, possibly due to a national trend in Israel since 2016. Steady HHC rates suggest additional factors like enhanced environmental cleaning, personal protective equipment usage, and increased infection prevention awareness contributed to this decline. Influenza had no noticeable impact, likely due to healthcare workers' varying perceptions and the brevity of the influenza season, making it challenging to assess impact., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study was approved by Rambam Healthcare Campus Review Board (0201-20-RMB), informed consent was not required for the study. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Conflict of interest: All authors have no conflict of interest to disclose., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Computer-guided implant surgery has improved the quality of implant treatment by facilitating the placement of implants in a more accurate manner. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of implant placement in a clinical setting using three techniques: dynamic navigation, static surgical guides, and freehand placement. We also investigated potential factors influencing accuracy to provide a comprehensive evaluation of each technique's advantages and disadvantages., Materials and Methods: Ninety-four implants in 65 patients were included in this prospective study. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: dynamic navigation, static surgical guides, or freehand placement. Implants were placed using a prosthetically oriented digital implant planning approach, and postoperative CBCT scans were superimposed on preoperative plans to measure accuracy. Seven deviation values were calculated, including angular, platform, and apical deviations. Demographic and consistency analyses were performed, along with one-way ANOVA and post-hoc tests for deviation values., Results: The mean global platform, global apical, and angular deviations were 0.99 mm (SD 0.52), 1.14 mm (SD 0.56), and 3.66° (SD 1.64°) for the dynamic navigation group; 0.92 mm (SD 0.36), 1.06 mm (SD 0.47), and 2.52° (SD 1.18°) for the surgical guide group; and 1.36 mm (SD 0.62), 1.73 mm (SD 0.66), and 5.82° (SD 2.79°) for the freehand group. Both the dynamic navigation and surgical guide groups exhibited statistically significant differences in all values except depth deviations compared to the freehand group (p < 0.05), whereas only the angular deviation showed a significant difference between the dynamic navigation and surgical guide groups (p = 0.002)., Conclusion: Our findings highlight the superior accuracy and consistency of dynamic navigation and static surgical guides compared to freehand placement in implant surgery. Dynamic navigation offers precision and flexibility. However, it comes with cost and convenience considerations. Future research should focus on improving its practicality., Trial Registration: This study was retrospectively registered at the Thai Clinical Trials Register-Medical Research Foundation of Thailand (MRF) with the TCTR identification number TCTR20230804001 on 04/08/2023. It was also conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the institutional ethics committee at the Xian Jiaotong University Hospital of Stomatology, Xian, China (xjkqII[2021] No: 043). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: To assess the maxillofacial growth of patients with isolated cleft palate following the Sommerlad-Furlow modified technique and compare it with the effect of the Sommerlad technique., Study Design: A Retrospective Cohort Study., Methods: A total of 90 participants, 60 patients with non-syndromic isolated soft and hard cleft palate (ISHCP) underwent primary palatoplasty without relaxing incision (30 patients received the Sommerlad-Furlow modified (S-F) technique and 30 received Sommerlad (S) technique). While the other 30 were healthy noncleft participants with skeletal class I pattern (C group). All participants had lateral cephalometric radiographs at least 5 years old age. All the study variables were measured by using stable landmarks, including 11 linear and 9 angular variants., Results: The means age at collection of cephalograms were 6.03 ± 0.80 (5-7 yrs) in the S group, 5.96 ± 0.76 (5-7 yrs) in the S-F group, and 5.91 ± 0.87 (5-7 yrs) in the C group. Regarding cranial base, the results showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the three groups in S-N and S-N-Ba. The S group had a significantly shortest S-Ba than the S-F & C groups (P = 0.01), but there was no statistically significant difference between S-F and C groups (P = 0.80). Regarding skeletal maxillary growth, the S group had significantly shorter Co-A, S- PM and significantly less SNA angle than the C group (P =  < 0.01). While there was no significant difference between S-F & C groups (P = 0.42). The S group had significantly more MP-SN inclination than the C group (P =  < 0.01). Regarding skeletal mandibular growth, there were no statistically significant differences in all linear and angular mandibular measurements between the three groups, except Co-Gn of the S group had a significantly shorter length than the C group (P = 0.05). Regarding intermaxillary relation, the S-F group had no significant differences in Co-Gn-Co-A and ANB as compared with the C group. The S group had significantly less ANB angle than S-F & C groups (P = 0.01 & P =  < 0.01). In addition, there were no significant differences in all angular occlusal measurements between the three groups., Conclusion: As a preliminary report, Sommerlad-Furlow modified technique showed that maxillary positioning in the face tended to be better, and the intermaxillary relationship was more satisfactory than that in Sommerlad technique when compared them in healthy noncleft participants., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: To estimate the impact of relaxing incisions on maxillofacial growth following Sommerlad-Furlow modified technique in patients with isolated cleft palate., Study Design: A Retrospective Cohort Study., Methods: A total of 90 participants, 60 patients with non-syndromic isolated soft and hard cleft palate underwent primary palatoplasty (30 patients received the Sommerlad-Furlow modified technique without relaxing incision (S.F -RI group), and 30 received Sommerlad-Furlow modified technique with relaxing (S.F +RI group) with no significant difference found between them regarding the cleft type, cleft width, and age at repair. While the other 30 were healthy noncleft participants with skeletal class I pattern as a Control group. The control group (C group) was matched with the patient groups in number, age, and sex. All participants had lateral cephalometric radiographs at least 5 years old age. The lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken with the same equipment by the same experienced radiologist while the participants were in centric occlusion and a standardized upright position, with the transporionic axis and Frankfort horizontal plane parallel to the surface of the floor. A well-trained assessor (S. Elayah) used DOLPHIN Imaging Software to trace twice to eliminate measurement errors. All the study variables were measured using stable landmarks, including 12 linear and 10 angular variants., Results: The mean age at collection of cephalograms was 6.03 ± 0.80 in the S.F +RI group, 5.96 ± 0.76 in the S.F -RI group, and 5.91 ± 0.87 in the C group. Regarding cranial base, the results showed no statistically significant differences between the three groups in S-N and S-N-Ba. While the S.F +R.I group had a significantly shortest S-Ba than the S.F -R.I & C groups (P = 0.01 & P < 0.01), but there was no statistically significant difference between S.F -R.I & C groups (P = 0.71). Regarding the skeletal maxilla, there was no significant difference between the S.F +R.I and S.F -R.I groups in all linear measurements (N-ANS and S-PM) except Co-A, the S.F +R.I group had significantly shorter Co-A than the S.F -R.I & C groups (P =  < 0.01). While the angular measurement, S.F +R.I group had significantly less SNA angle than the S.F -R.I & C groups (P =  < 0.01). Regarding mandibular bone, there were no statistically significant differences in all linear and angular mandibular measurements between the S.F +R.I and S.F -R.I. groups. Regarding intermaxillary relation, the S.F +R.I group had significant differences in Co-Gn-Co-A and ANB compared to the S.F -R.I & C groups (P =  < 0.01). While there was no statistically significant difference in PP-MP between the three groups., Conclusion: As a preliminary report, the Sommerlad-Furlow modified technique without relaxing incisions was found to have a good maxillary positioning in the face and a satisfactory intermaxillary relationship compared to the Sommerlad-Furlow modified technique with relaxing incisions., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Clinical instructional strategies and the climate in which teaching and learning take place have a significant impact on the quality of dental education. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of early microsurgery training on the skills of dental intern students who are planning to join an oral and maxillofacial surgical field (DIS) as compared with junior residents within an oral and maxillofacial surgery department who had no microsurgery experience (JR)., Methods: A total of 100 trainees, 70 were DIS, while the other 30 were JR. The average age was 23.87 ± 2.05 years for DIS group and 31.05 ± 3.06 for JR group. All trainees attended a microsurgical course (theoretical and practical parts) for seven days within a Microvascular Laboratory for Research and Education of a university-affiliated tertiary hospital. Two blinded examiners had assessed the performance of trainees independently using a specific scoring system. The independent sample t-test was used to compare the effect of microsurgery training between DIS and JR groups. The significance level was set at 0.05., Results: The DIS group had showed higher attendance rate than JR group (p < 0.01), with a lower absence score in DIS than JR groups (0.33 ± 0.58 vs. 2.47 ± 1.36). The total score of the theoretical test was significantly different between both groups (p < 0.01). In this context, the DIS group had revealed higher total score than JR group (15.06 ± 1.92 vs. 12.73 ± 2.49). In term of tissue preservation, there was a significant difference between both groups, with the DIS had better performance score than JR (1.49 ± 0.51 vs. 0.93 ± 0.59). Further, the practical exam score was significantly higher in DIS group than JR group (p < 0.01)., Conclusion: Overall, the performance of dental intern students was favourably compared with junior residents in most aspects. Therefore, it is promising and essential for dental colleges to add a microsurgery course to the curriculum of dental intern students who plan to specialize in oral and maxillofacial surgery., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: The surgical extraction of impacted third molars is one of the most common procedures in oral and maxillofacial surgery, which associated with several postoperative complications. The aim of this clinical trial was to estimate the implication of concentrated growth factor (CGF) on postoperative sequelae after the completely impacted lower third molar extraction., Materials and Methods: A total of 74 sides of 37 participants who had completely bilateral impacted lower third molars were enrolled in this split-mouth, randomized single‑blind, clinical trial. Surgical extraction was undertaken on both sides of the mandible. Randomization was achieved by opaque, sealed envelopes. The postoperative outcomes including wound healing, swelling and pain were clinically assessed at different-time intervals(1st, 3rd and 7th days). A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: The wound healing index was significantly better in the test sides (P = 0.001). Regarding the facial swelling, the test sides had significantly less values than the control sides, particularly on the 1st (1.01 ± .57 vs. 1.55 ± .56) and 3rd days (1.42 ± 0.8 vs. 2.63 ± 1.2) postoperatively. Nonetheless, the swelling was disappeared within the 7th day in both sides. The pain scores of visual analog scale were no a statistically significant difference between both sides on the 1st day, meanwhile, the pain scores were significantly lower in the test sides compared with the control sides, especially on the 3rd (P = 0.001) and 7th days (P < 0.001) postoperatively., Conclusion: The application of CGF following the surgical extraction of lower third molar has accelerated the healing of soft tissues as well as reduced postoperative sequelae such as swelling and pain. Therefore, the CGF could be promoted among clinicians during the lower third molar surgical extraction., Trial Registration: This study was registered with the TCTR identification number TCTR20210325002 on 25/03/2021 at Thai Clinical Trials Register-Medical Research Foundation of Thailand (MRF). Also it was ethically approved from the institutional ethics committee at the Hospital of Stomatology, Xian Jiaotong University, Xian, China (No: 032), and has been conducted in accordance to the guidelines of the declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants in the study., (© 2022. The Author(s).)