Search

Purpose: To assess the complications, satisfaction, and quality of life of patients rehabilitated with delayed and immediate loading of single crowns. Materials and Methods: An electronic search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases up to February 2023. Only prospective studies and randomized and nonrandomized clinical trials comparing immediate and delayed loading were included. For the quantitative analysis, dichotomous and consistent variables were evaluated with a 95% confidence interval. Results: A total of 20 studies were evaluated. No statistically significant difference was observed between protocols: satisfaction (I²: 0%; P = .42), quality of life (I²: 0 %; P = .05), biologic complications (I²: 9%; P = .17), mechanical complications (I²: 58%; P = .84), and survival rate (I²: 0%; P = .38). The subgroup analysis showed significant differences only for marginal bone loss (MBL) when immediate implants were placed in the mandible (I²: 15%; P = .01) and posterior zone (I²: 0%; P = .001). Conclusions: Complications and patient-centered outcomes for immediate single-implant crowns were comparable to delayed loading. Scientific evidence showed no significant difference between loading protocols for survival rates. Note that several factors could interfere with the complication events, implant failures, and MBL. The subgroup analysis showed that only immediate implants placed in the posterior mandible had a higher and statistically significant mean MBL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluctuations in energy gap and coupling constants between chromophores can play an important role in absorption and energy transfer across a collection of two-level systems. In photosynthesis, light-induced quantum coherence can affect the efficiency of energy transfer to the designated "trap" state. Theoretically, the interplay between fluctuations and coherence has been studied often, employing either a Markovian or a perturbative approximation. In this study, we depart from these approaches to incorporate memory effects by using Kubo's quantum stochastic Liouville equation. We introduce the effects of decay of the created excitation (to the ground state) on the desired propagation and trapping that provides a direction of flow of the excitation. In the presence of light-induced pumping, we establish a relation between the efficiency, the mean survival time, and the correlation decay time of the bath-induced fluctuations. A decrease in the steady-state coherence during the transition from the non-Markovian regime to the Markovian limit results in a decrease in efficiency. As in the well-known Haken–Strobl model, the ratio of the square of fluctuation strength to the rate plays a critical role in determining the mechanism of energy transfer and in shaping the characteristics of the efficiency profile. We recover a connection between the transfer flux and the imaginary part of coherences in both equilibrium and excited bath states, in both correlated and uncorrelated bath models. We uncover a non-monotonic dependence of efficiency on site energy heterogeneity for both correlated and uncorrelated bath models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the peri-implant bone loss of mandibular complete-arch implant-supported fixed prostheses (FPSs) supported by three and four implants and to correlate with the size of the horizontal and vertical distal cantilever at prosthesis placement (T1) and after 1 year (T2). Materials and Methods: A total of 72 external hexagon (EH) type implants were placed in 20 participants. Of these, 24 supported an FPS with three implants (G3I) and 48 with four implants (G4I). The mandibular implants were named 1, 2, 3, and 4 according to their location in the arch, in a clockwise direction. Digital periapical radiographs were taken at times T1 and T2 for analysis and measurement of peri-implant bone loss. The horizontal and vertical distal cantilevers were measured with a digital caliper and correlated with peri-implant bone loss. Results: The survival rate of implants in G3I was 91.66%, and in G4I it was 97.91%. The mean bone loss in G3I was 0.88 ± 0.89 mm, and in G4I it was 0.58 ± 0.78 mm (P = .225). There was no correlation between distal horizontal cantilevers and bone loss in the studied groups, with G3I being -0.25 (P = .197) and G4I -0.22 (P = .129). Larger vertical cantilevers of implants 1 (P = .018), 3 (P =.015), and 4 (P = .045) correlated with greater bone loss in G4I. Conclusions: The number of implants in an FPS did not influence peri-implant bone loss after 1 year of follow-up. Larger vertical cantilevers influenced greater bone loss in complete-arch implant-supported fixed prostheses supported by four implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate how the crown-to-implant (C/I) ratio affects the loss of crestal bone at single-crown implants and bridges in patients with periodontal disease. Materials and Methods: A total of 39 patients treated for periodontitis were rehabilitated with 108 implant-supported single crowns and bridges. Each patient was examined over a 5- to 20-year period on a 3- to 6-month recall schedule. At each session, we recorded periodontal clinical parameters. In addition, intraoral radiographs were taken after superstructure insertion (baseline) and then at 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years. The study population was divided by anatomical C/I ratio (Group 1: C/I = 1, Group 2: C/I > 1). Results: Implants had a 96.2% 5-year survival rate and 92.6% 20-year survival rate. The overall prevalence was 10.1% for mucositis and 1.1% for peri-implantitis. The survival rate (P = .68), incidence of mucositis (P = .325), and incidence of peri-implantitis (P = .077) did not significantly differ in the group comparison. The mean annual peri-implant bone loss was 0.09 ± 0.41 mm and was not significantly different between the groups. Mean bone loss was not significantly different until the 10th year of observation, during which Group 2 presented significantly less bone loss. The correlation of annual bone loss and clinical C/I ratio showed a small but significant negative effect throughout the entire study period (R = -0.217; P < .01). Conclusions: Increased crestal bone loss was not observed with implants with higher C/I ratios, both anatomical and clinical, and they even showed signs of less crestal bone loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The evidence base for the use of space maintainers is relatively sparce despite being used for decades after the premature loss of primary molars. This study aims to increase the dental evidence base via investigating retrospectively the success rates of prefabricated fixed and removable space maintainers inserted from 2019 to 2021 and followed up until February 2023 at a specialized university clinic and to identify reasons for any reported minor and major failure. The authors hypothesized that there is no significant difference in failure rates between fixed and removable space maintainers inserted after the premature loss of a single primary molar per quadrant. Method and materials: Patients' digital records were searched yielding 645 space maintainers. After the application of inclusion criteria, 157 (67%) fixed prefabricated space maintainers in 112 children and 77 (33%) removable space maintainers in 61 children were analyzed for an average of 18.4 ± 9.5 months. Results: Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with Mantel-Cox statistics showed an overall cumulative survival time of 31.6 months (SE = 1.15, 95% CI = 29.4 to 33.9). Major failure occurred significantly more in removable maintainers (n = 40/67, 59.7%), mostly due to loss of the appliance, compared to fixed space maintainers (n = 27/67, 40.3%; P < .001). The present study indicates that space maintainers were mainly placed in young children with high caries experience, where treatment was mostly possible using advanced behavior management. Conclusions: Fixed space maintainers had a significantly lower failure rate than their removable counterpart. However, both require continual repairs, preservation, or even replacement till the eruption of the permanent tooth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: In 2023 alone, its estimated that over 64,000 patients will be diagnosed with PDAC and more than 50,000 patients will die of the disease. Current guidelines recommend neoadjuvant therapy for patients with borderline resectable and locally advanced PDAC, and data is emerging on its role in resectable disease. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy may increase the number of patients able to receive complete chemotherapy regimens, increase the rate of microscopically tumor-free resection (R0) margin, and aide in identifying unfavorable tumor biology. To date, this is the largest study to examine surgical outcomes after long-duration neoadjuvant chemotherapy for PDAC. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of single-institution data. RESULTS: The routine use of long-duration therapy in our study (median cycles: FOLFIRINOX = 10; gemcitabine-based = 7) is unique. The majority (85%) of patients received FOLFIRINOX without radiation therapy; the R0 resection rate was 76%. Median OS was 41 months and did not differ significantly among patients with resectable, borderline-resectable, or locally advanced disease. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that in patients who undergo surgical resection after receipt of long-duration neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX therapy alone, survival outcomes are similar regardless of pretreatment resectability status and that favorable surgical outcomes can be attained.

Purpose: To retrospectively determine the cumulative survival rate (CSR) and marginal bone level change (ΔMBL) around novel hybrid design tissue-level (TL) dental implants that support multiple-screw-retained restorations. Materials and Methods: Implant CSRs were analyzed at the implant and patient level using Kaplan-Meier estimates. ΔMBL was measured by comparing the periapical loading and follow-up visit radiographs using an improved standardized digital methodology based on image gray levels. ΔMBL outcomes were subject to linear mixed regression to identify potential risk factors. Results: A total of 301 TL implants in 69 patients with an average age of 62.6 ± 11.7 years (range: 36 to 87 years) at the time of implant placement were considered for the analysis. All 301 implants were successfully restored and loaded. The 54-month CSRs at the implant and patient levels were 98.9% (95% CI: 96.7 to 99.6) and 95.3% (95% CI: 86.1 to 98.5), respectively. ΔMBL after a mean follow-up of 22 ± 10.7 months after loading was 0.00 ± 0.57 mm. None of the implant sites showed marginal bone loss exceeding 1.5 mm. Multivariate regression analysis revealed a significant association between ΔMBL and the loading protocol (P = .027) but not between ΔMBL and age or transgingival height. Conclusions: The high CSRs and stable peri-implant marginal bone levels support the use of recent TL implants, which have a hybrid design inherited from the bone-level implant-abutment connection, as a suitable treatment option for restoring partially or fully edentulous patients with a good mid-term prognosis. These results should be complemented by further prospective studies in a real-world multicenter private practice setup that represents the daily realities of implant treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To review experimental peri-implantitis studies using rat models and summarize different peri-implantitis induction techniques and evaluate their effectiveness. Materials and Methods: Electronic searches were conducted by two independent examiners to address the following issues. Meta-analyses explored the marginal bone loss (MBL) of four types of peri-implantitis induction methods in rats. The detailed induction tactics--such as the implant design, implant size, surgical process, time cost, induction methods, and endpoint measurements--were summarized. Results: Of the 18 included studies, 38.9% of the studies placed implants at the maxillary first molar, and 44.4% placed them at the alveolar ridge region anterior to the maxillary first molar. As for the induction method, the numbers of published studies on ligature methods, bacterial inoculation, and bacterial lipopolysaccharide inoculation were equally high among all selected studies. The total implant survival rate at the end was 160 out of 213 implants (75.11%). Eight studies with high pooled heterogeneity (I2 = 98, P < .01) in the meta-analysis reported an overall MBL (µ-CT) of 0.47 mm (95% CI = 0.14 to 0.81). A subgroup analysis estimated an MBL of 0.31 mm (95% CI = 0.12 to 0.50) for bacterial inoculation and 0.66 mm (95% CI = 0.07 to 1.26) for the ligature method. Histopathologic analysis revealed that peri-implantitis in rats was similar to peri-implantitis lesions in humans. Conclusions: Implant placement at the maxillary first molar with bacterial inoculation and the silk ligature method to build peri-implantitis rat models is reliable to use for research on peri-implantitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which compared the fit and fracture load of temporary fixed partial prostheses fabricated by means of a conventional direct technique, milling or 3D printing. Topics covered include the strength of the fixed dental prostheses, the values of the fracture test, and the maximum mastication forces in the molar region.

Chronic graft-versus-host-disease (cGVHD) is divided into two subtypes: classic (absence of acute GVHD features) and overlap cGVHD (ocGVHD), in which both chronic and acute GVHD clinical features are present simultaneously. While worse outcomes with ocGVHD have been reported, there are few recent analyses. We performed a secondary analysis of data from the ABA2 trial (N = 185), in which detailed GVHD data were collected prospectively and systematically adjudicated. Analyses included cumulative incidence of classic versus ocGVHD, their specific organ manifestations, global disease severity scores, non-relapse mortality (NRM), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in these two cGVHD subtypes. Of 92 patients who developed cGVHD, 35 were classified as ocGVHD. The 1-year cumulative incidence, organ involvement, and global severity of classic and ocGVHD were similar between ABA2 patients receiving CNI/MTX+placebo and CNI/MTX+abatacept; thus, cohorts were combined for ocGVHD evaluation. This analysis identified ocGVHD as having significantly higher severity at presentation and at maximum global severity compared to classic cGVHD. OS and DFS were significantly lower for ocGVHD versus classic cGVHD. OcGVHD is associated with increased cGVHD severity scores, and is associated with decreased OS and DFS compared to classic cGVHD, underscoring the high risks with this cGVHD subtype.

Purpose: Alveolar ridge split (ARS) is ridge augmentation to mitigate ridge width loss that typically follows tooth extraction. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of ARS on alveolar ridge horizontal dimensional changes and the survival rates of implants placed into the same sites. Materials and Methods: An electronic and manual search was conducted for English articles published up to January 1, 2021. The PICO (problem, intervention, comparison, outcome) model for quantitative studies was established to address the following two focused questions: (1) What are the effects of the ARS technique on increasing alveolar width and implant survival?; and (2) what are the factors that influence the efficacy of the ARS technique? The outcome measures in this systematic review and meta-analysis were mean alveolar ridge gain—horizontal (buccolingual) in millimeters from baseline (initial presentation) to final assessment (minimum of 12 weeks after ARS), implant survival rate, and patient-reported complication rate. The risk of bias was evaluated using the ROBINS-I assessment tool for non-randomized interventional studies. Weighted means were calculated, and pooled effects and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were depicted on forest plots. Publication bias was assessed by funnel plot and Rosenthal Statistics. A sensitivity analysis was undertaken to assess the primary outcome. Results: Overall, 35 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review. The mean alveolar ridge gain for ARS was 3.06 mm (95% CI: 3.01 to 3.12 mm). A mean gain of 2.99 mm (95% CI: 2.93 to 3.04 mm) was found after sensitivity analysis, excluding one article with a high risk of bias. There were no significant differences in ridge width in the group with bone graft (mean difference [95% CI] of 2.97 mm [2.91 to 3.03 mm]) and in the group without bone graft (mean difference [95% CI] of 3.06 mm [2.92 to 3.20 mm]). The ARS technique demonstrated a 98.17% implant survival rate in 4,446 implants, 4,103 of which were placed at the time of ARS with a 97.72% implant survival rate, and 343 placed in a delayed approach with a 99.14% implant survival rate. The risk of bias was low in 14.2%, low to moderate in 68.5%, moderate in 11.4%, and severe/moderate in 5.7% of the included studies. Conclusions: ARS shows a high implant survival rate in narrow alveolar ridges, adequate horizontal alveolar ridge dimensional gain regardless of adding grafting material, and minimal patient-reported complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have reported the outcomes of short implants with a follow-up time > 10 years. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of short locking-taper implants supporting single crowns in the posterior region. Patients who received these supporting implants (≤ 8 mm) in the posterior region from 2008 to 2010 were included. The clinical and radiographic outcomes and patient satisfaction were recorded. A total of 18 patients with 34 implants were included. The cumulative survival rate was 91.4% and 83.3% at implant and patient levels, respectively. Tooth brushing habit and history of periodontitis were significantly associated with implant failure (P < .05). The median marginal bone loss (MBL) was 0.24 mm (IQR: 0.01 to 0.98 mm). Biologic and technical complications occurred in 14.7% and 17.8% of implants, respectively. The mean modified Sulcus Bleeding Index was 0.52 ± 0.63, and the mean peri-implant probing depth was 2.38 ± 0.79 mm. All patients were at least quite satisfied, with the majority of patients (88.9%) being fully satisfied with the treatment. Within the limitations of this study, the short locking-taper implants supporting single crowns in the posterior region achieved promising outcomes in the long-term follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental implants are currently the preferred choice to restore function and esthetics. Nonetheless, explantation is sometimes inevitable in cases with advanced bone loss, implant fracture, or improper implant position. This study aimed to propose an algorithm for reimplantation at sites of previous failure. There is limited evidence on the replacement of failed implants, most of which are case reports or clinical trials with a small number of patients. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study proposing a clinical-decision algorithm to help clinicians manage implant failures with new implants. There are a variety of reasons contributing to implant failure: The etiologic factor of failure and the morphology of the residual defect have paramount importance on implant removal techniques and subsequent treatment modalities. There is no consensus on a distinct protocol to replace failed implants. However, the clinicians and patients should know that placing a new implant in an area with a history of failure, regardless of early or late implant failure, may have a lower survival rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple myeloma (MM) is twice as common in Black individuals compared with in White individuals, and diabetes mellitus (DM) disproportionately affects Black patients. Although numerous studies have shown a correlation between DM and MM, this has not been studied in the context of race and in vivo mechanisms. We conducted a retrospective clinical study of 5383 patients with MM of which 15% had DM (White, 12% and Black, 25%). Multivariable Cox models showed reduced overall survival (OS) for patients with DM (hazard ratio, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.47; P < .001). This appeared to be driven by a marked difference in OS between White patients with and without DM but not in Black patients. In contrast, obesity was associated with better OS in Black patients but not in White patients. To complement this analysis, we assessed MM growth in a genetically engineered immunocompromised nonobese diabetic (Rag1-/-/muscle creatinine kinase promoter expression of a human IGF1R [M] with a lysine [K] to arginine [R] point mutation) mouse model to evaluate the mechanisms linking DM and MM. MM.1S xenografts grew in more Rag1-/-/MKR mice and grew more rapidly in the Rag1-/-/MKR mice compared with in controls. Western blot analysis found that MM1.S xenografts from Rag1-/-/MKR mice had higher phosphorylated S6 ribosomal protein (Ser235/236) levels, indicating greater activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. Our study is, to our knowledge, the first to evaluate racial differences in DM prevalence and survival in MM, as well as the effect of DM on tumor growth in mouse models. Our results suggest that DM may contribute to the higher incidence of MM in Black patients; and to improve survival in MM, DM management cannot be ignored.

Objective: The correlation between crestal bone loss at teeth and probing pocket depth (PPD) has been established. Whether these findings can also be applied to implants is not known. The objective of this study was to determine the correlation between crestal bone loss and PPD at teeth and implants. Method and materials: Thirty-one periodontitis-susceptible patients were rehabilitated with fixed implant-supported single crowns and fixed partial dentures. Each patient was examined over a 5- to 20-year period in a 3- to 6-month strict recall program. At each session, periodontal clinical parameters were recorded at teeth and implants. In addition, standardized periapical radiographs were taken after superstructure insertion (baseline) and then at 1,3,5,10,15, and 20 years. Results: The survival rate of implants (94.0%) and teeth (97.3%) did not significantly differ in all patients after 20 years (P = .68). Almost all patients had a PPD >5 mm at implants and teeth throughout the observation period. The crestal bone loss at implants and teeth increased continuously, especially in patients with advanced periodontitis, without a correlation with PPD. A few patients (n = 5) had a PPD>5 mm and annual bone loss >0.2 mm at one implant, with a correlation between bone loss and PPD. Conclusion: In healthy implants and teeth, moderate crestal bone loss is present without correlation with PPD. A few patients showed progressive crestal bone loss at only one implant, with a correlation with PPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the survival rate (primary outcome) and the marginal bone loss (secondary outcome) of the OsseoSpeed EV Implants (Astra Tech Implant System, Dentsply Sirona Implants; hereinafter EV implants) used in a wide range of clinical scenarios and followed up to 8 years in a nonuniversity setting. Materials and Methods: All EV implants consecutively placed from 2013 to 2021 in a private dental clinic were included, and medical and radiologic records were retrospectively investigated. Independent reviewers collected 11 data types as potential influencing variables and measured the mesial and distal marginal bone levels to the nearest 0.5 mm on available radiographs, either panoramic or periapical. Tables of descriptive statistics were made at implant and patient levels. Univariate and multiple Cox regression models were adjusted for clustering effects and determined the hazard ratio (HR) and odds ratio (OR) for each independent variable collected. Results: The study sample consisted of 597 EV implants and 235 patients. During a mean follow-up of 42.1 ± 23 months (range: 10 to 94 months), 44 implants were lost (7.4%)--34 early (5.7%) and 10 late (1.7%)--in 38 patients (16.1%). The overall survival rate (SR) was 92.6% (CI: 90.5% to 94.7%), and the proportion of patients with all their implants surviving was 83.8% (CI: 79.1% to 88.5%). At the end of the study, the probability of survival of an implant that did not fail early was 98.2% (CI: 97.1% to 99.3%). Implant-level analysis identified two significant variables: implant diameter (HR 0.37, P = .009**) and immediate postextraction placement (HR 2.35, P = .025*). At the patient level, bruxism (OR = 3.29; P = .009**), history of periodontitis (OR = 2.18, P = .030*), and the number of implants placed (OR = 1.43; P = .001**) were found to be statistically significant. After removing dropouts and early failures from a sample of 528 implants, 412 (78%) had a marginal bone loss (MBL) = 0 mm at the end of the observation time, and 106 surviving implants (22%) showed a mean MBL of 1.42 ± 1.08 mm (range: 0.25 to 6.75 mm). Conclusions: An overall medium-term SR of the EV implants was 92.6%. Four of five EV implants showed a mid-term MBL = 0 mm, and 91.86% of implants completed the observation period with an MBL < 2 mm. Thus, the EV implant system was shown to be a valid alternative for routine use in a nonuniversity setting. Clinicians should remember that there is no 100% implant survival in everyday practice and that bruxism, periodontitis, narrow-diameter implants, and immediate placement are risk factors for a higher failure rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the implant survival rate in mandibles reconstructed with free fibula flap after oral tumor resection after 1 year of prosthetic loading. A secondary objective was to compare immediate or delayed implant placement protocols in this population. Materials and Methods: Electronic and manual searches were performed on different databases for controlled and prospective trials that indicated implant survival rate. This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines. Risk of bias was evaluated using Cochrane Collaboration tools. Meta-analyses heterogeneity source assessment and GRADE evaluation were performed among studies with identical follow-ups. Results: Among 305 primarily selected articles, 109 were eligible after reading the title and abstract, and 8 were included after full-text reading: 2 randomized controlled trials and 6 prospective studies comprising 140 patients and 507 implants. Meta-analyses estimated an overall survival rate of 97% (95% CI: 94% to 99%) after 1 year of prosthetic loading. The survival rate was 98% (95% CI: 94% to 100%) with immediate implantation and 97% (95% CI: 90% to 99%) with delayed implantation. Only 3 studies reported radiotherapy treatment, with no real impact on implant survival rate. Overall, 69% of tumors were benign. Conclusions: Implant placement in vascularized fibula flaps in the mandible is recommended for patients undergoing segmental mandibular reconstruction after tumor resection. Within the limitations of this study, no significant difference in survival rates was found between immediate and delayed implant placement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the 3-year success and survival rates of fixed prostheses supported by 4-mm extra-short implants splinted to 10-mm implants in patients with shortened maxillary arches and low maxillary sinus floors. Methods: A total of 11 patients with reduced alveolar bone heights due to low maxillary sinus floors received two or three titaniumzirconium tissue-level implants: one or two extra-short (4 mm) implants, and one implant 10 mm in length. After 6 months, prosthetic rehabilitation with splinted crowns connecting the 4- and 10-mm implants was performed. Follow-up visits and maintenance protocols were implemented every 4 to 6 months. Results: The 11 patients were treated with 11 10-mm implants and 17 4-mm implants. One extra-short implant failed and was removed before loading, and its planned design was modified from three splinted crowns to a bridge between the 10- and 4-mm implants. After 36 months, all (11/11) prosthetic rehabilitations connecting the 10-mm (11/11) and 4-mm (16/16) implants were functional. At the 10-mm implant sites, the median (interquartile range [IQR]) probing depth and marginal bone loss measured 2.9 mm (2.3 to 3.2) and 1.3 mm (1.0 to 1.5), respectively. At the 4-mm implant sites, the median (IQR) probing depth and marginal bone loss measured 2.9 mm (2.4 to 3.1) and 0.3 mm (0.1 to 0.5), respectively. Conclusion: Prosthetic rehabilitation with splinted crowns connecting 4-mm and 10-mm implants showed promising outcomes in shortened maxillary dental arches after 3 years. Additional studies are needed to further validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the survival rate (SR) and probability of postoperative complications at both the implant and patient level for each of the four surgical techniques for zygomatic implant (ZI) placement: Brånemark, sinus slot, extrasinus, and extramaxillary. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of clinical studies that reported the survival rate and postoperative ZI complications for the rehabilitation of atrophic edentulous maxillae was conducted based on PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) recommendations. Two independent reviewers consulted four databases during the literature search: MEDLINE (PubMed), Google Scholar, Clinicaltrials.gov, and LILACS. Duplicate articles were eliminated. Results: A total of 35 studies were included in the metaanalysis. Subgroup analysis showed that study design (prospective vs retrospective) had no significant impact (P = .10) on the outcomes. The SR was highest for the Brånemark and extrasinus techniques (100%) and lowest for the sinus slot technique (94%; 95% CI = 86% to 102%). The extramaxillary (38%; 95% CI = 1% to 3%) and the Brånemark (29%; 95% CI = 15% to 44%) techniques resulted in the highest occurrence of patient-level complications. Moreover, the extramaxillary technique showed the highest percentage of prothesis-related complications (44%; 95% CI = 27% to 62%). Conclusions: ZI placement was demonstrated to be a reliable technique for the rehabilitation of severely atrophic maxillae, irrespective of the surgical technique evaluated. Accurate case and surgical protocol selection is of paramount importance to reduce technique-related postoperative complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess and compare the clinical outcomes of three different types of all-ceramic posterior monolithic tooth-supported crowns. Materials and Methods: A total of 71 patients received 90 all-ceramic crowns randomized to be either high-translucency zirconia (ZC), high-translucency zirconia with a partial buccal veneer (ZC-V), or lithium disilicate glass-ceramic (LDS). All treatments were performed by four general dentists who were blinded to the material used. Baseline and subsequent annual evaluations were based on modified California Dental Association (CDA) criteria. A questionnaire was used to include patient-reported outcomes and to compare them to the crown quality rating performed by dentists. Results: A total of 66 patients with 84 crowns were examined after 3 years. The survival rate was 98.8%. No crowns fractured during the observation period. One ZC-V crown failed due to loss of retention, and three complications were noted: loss of retention occurred in one ZC crown, and two ZC crowns needed to be endodontically treated. There was no significant difference between the different crowns regarding marginal integrity, surface, or anatomical form. Both patients and examining dentists rated the crowns favorably regarding esthetics, patients more than dentists. Conclusions: All crown types used show excellent and promising clinical outcomes from a short-term perspective. Patients and dentists rate the restorations favorably concerning esthetics and function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer affects one in 8 females with a 5-year survival rate of 89%. Up to 72% of breast cancer survivors have trouble with activities of daily living (ADL) following treatment. Increased time-from-treatment improves some measures of function, yet ADL limitations persist. Therefore, this study assessed the effect of time-from-treatment on upper extremity kinematics during ADLs in breast cancer survivors. Twenty-nine female breast cancer survivors were divided into 2 groups: <1 year (n = 12) and 1–2 years (n = 17) from treatment. Kinematics were collected during 6 ADL tasks, and humerothoracic joint angles were quantified. A 2-way mixed analysis of variance assessed the effects of time-from-treatment and arm on maximum angles for each ADL. Decreased maximum angle existed for breast cancer survivors with increased time-from-treatment during all ADLs. Breast cancer survivors in the 1–2 years group used ∼28° to 32° lower elevation, ∼14° to 28° lower axial rotation, and ∼10° to 14° lower plane of elevation range across tasks. Decreased ranges of arm movement during ADLs with increased time-from-treatment may reflect compensatory movement strategies. Recognizing this shift in strategies and accompanying underlying disease progression can help inform responses to functional performance limitations in breast cancer survivors as delayed effects are present posttreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the clinical results of single-tooth ceramic crowns in the posterior region produced from three different monolithic materials.Materials and Methods: A total of 36 posterior single-tooth crowns were fabricated from lithium silicate glass-ceramic (LSGC; n = 12), lithium disilicate glass-ceramic (LDGC; n = 12), and polymer-infiltrated ceramic network (PICN; n = 12) in 27 patients. Restorations were evaluated for prosthetic and periodontal criteria at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. Prosthetic evaluation was performed according to the Modified United States Public Health Service criteria, and probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival bleeding time index (GBTI), and gingival (GI) and periodontal indices (PI) were evaluated in the periodontal assessment. Friedman and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for statistical analyses (P = .05).Results: All restorations were evaluated according to survival and success rates. No dropouts occurred. The survival rate of all three materials was 100% after 1 year. However, in the PICN group, a statistically significant difference was found between baseline (0) and 12 months for color match (from Alpha to Bravo) and surface texture (from Alpha to Charlie) (P < .001).Conclusion: Although long-term clinical follow-up periods are needed, all three ceramics showed clinically acceptable survival and success rates over 1 year. The ceramics evaluated in the present study could be preferred for single-tooth full-crown restorations in the posterior region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report on the follow-up of two previously published RCTs on the performance of screw-retained monolithic zirconia restorations on titanium (ti)-base abutments based on either digital scans through intraoral optical scanning (IOS) or conventional impressions. Materials and Methods: A total of 54 patients receiving 89 restorations (44 solitary crowns [SC], 21 splinted crowns [2-FDP], and 24 three-unit fixed partial dentures [3-FDP]) were included for the 1- to 3-year follow-up period. Restoration survival and technical complications were documented. Results: In total, 50 patients with 84 restorations completed the 3-year follow-up. One 3-FDP from the digital group was lost. This resulted in a survival rate of 97.9% for the digital group and 100% for the conventional group and an overall survival rate of 98.8% for screw-retained monolithic zirconia restorations on implants after 3 years. There was no statistically significant survival difference between the digital and conventional restorations (P = .362). When evaluated separately, a 100% survival rate of SCs and 97.7% for 2-FDPs could be reported. One decementation and three screw loosenings occurred in the 1- to 3-year follow-up. The multiple-implant restorations showed higher (23.3%) complication rates at the restoration level than the SCs (4.9%) after 3 years of function (P = .026). Conclusions: Screw-retained monolithic zirconia restorations on ti-base abutments show promising survival rates after 3 years of function. Restorative complications in screw-retained monolithic zirconia restorations on Ti-base abutments are more likely to happen in the first year of function and are more common in multiple-implant restorations than SCs. The impression type (digital or conventional) does not seem to influence these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess marginal bone loss (MBL) and implant stability when implant site preparation is performed with conventional drilling and the osteotome technique in the posterior maxilla. Materials and Methods: In total, 30 patients (mean age: 46.97 + 7.48 years) receiving 60 implants were enrolled in this study. In each patient, implant site preparation was done using either conventional drilling (conventional group; n = 30) or the osteotome technique (osteotome group; n = 30). The implant sites were further divided into groups based on the implant length used (implant length < 10 mm, implant length = 10 mm). Marginal bone levels and implant stability quotient (ISQ) values were evaluated at the time of crown insertion and 1 year later. Independent t test and paired t test were used for intergroup and intragroup comparison, respectively. Results: The osteotome group showed statistically significant higher initial ISQ (ISQi) and final ISQ (ISQf) values (ISQi: 61 ± 3.6; ISQf: 64.08 ± 3.7) compared to the conventional group (ISQi: 58.01 ± 4.6; ISQf: 61.32 ± 4.8). Statistically significant higher mean MBL was noted in the conventional group (-0.33 ± 0.12 mm) compared to the osteotome group (-0.26 ± 0.10 mm). Higher MBL was noted in the osteotome group (-0.32 ± 0.09 mm) compared to the conventional group (-0.30 ± 0.14 mm) for implants shorter than 10 mm. For implants = 10 mm in length, significantly higher MBL was noted in the conventional group (-0.37 ± 0.09 mm) compared to the osteotome group (-0.19 ± .06 mm). Conclusions: Osteotome technique could be used as an alternative to conventional drilling, especially when implants longer than 10 mm are planned in the posterior maxilla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to considering the main effects, understanding gene‐environment (G × E) interactions is imperative for determining the etiology of diseases and the factors that affect their prognosis. In the existing statistical framework for censored survival outcomes, there are several challenges in detecting G × E interactions, such as handling high‐dimensional omics data, diverse environmental factors, and algorithmic complications in survival analysis. The effect heredity principle has widely been used in studies involving interaction identification because it incorporates the dependence of the main and interaction effects. However, Bayesian survival models that incorporate the assumption of this principle have not been developed. Therefore, we propose Bayesian heredity‐constrained accelerated failure time (BHAFT) models for identifying main and interaction (M‐I) effects with novel spike‐and‐slab or regularized horseshoe priors to incorporate the assumption of effect heredity principle. The R package rstan was used to fit the proposed models. Extensive simulations demonstrated that BHAFT models had outperformed other existing models in terms of signal identification, coefficient estimation, and prognosis prediction. Biologically plausible G × E interactions associated with the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma were identified using our proposed model. Notably, BHAFT models incorporating the effect heredity principle could identify both main and interaction effects, which are highly useful in exploring G × E interactions in high‐dimensional survival analysis. The code and data used in our paper are available at https://github.com/SunNa‐bayesian/BHAFT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with relapsed primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumor have low cure rates with salvage chemotherapy or surgery. The authors report survival outcomes of patients who received high‐dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) at Indiana University. Methods: The prospectively maintained Indiana University germ cell tumor database identified 32 patients with primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumor who progressed after first‐line cisplatin‐based combination chemotherapy and received HDCT and PBSCT between 2006 and 2021. Therapy included two consecutive courses of HDCT consisting of 700 mg/m2 carboplatin and 750 mg/m2 etoposide, each for 3 consecutive days, and each followed by PBSCT. A second course was not given if the patient experienced progressive disease or prohibitive toxicity. Progression‐free survival and overall survival were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Medians with 95% confidence intervals were also calculated along with 2‐year probabilities. Results: The median age at HDCT was 30 years (range, 18–61 years). With a median follow‐up of 4.7 years (range, 1–14 years), the 2‐year progression‐free survival rate was 31% (95% confidence interval, 16%–47%), and the 2‐year overall survival rate was 35% (95% confidence interval, 19%–52%). At last follow‐up, nine patients (28%) remained without evidence of disease, including two platinum‐refractory patients and two patients who were receiving HDCT as third‐line therapy. There were three treatment‐related deaths. Conclusions: Salvage HDCT and PBSCT is an active combination in patients who have relapsed primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumor with curative potential and prolonged survival, including in platinum‐refractory and third‐line settings. The authors recommend this approach for initial salvage chemotherapy in this patient population. Patients who have relapsed primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumors have poor outcomes with salvage chemotherapy. The authors report the results of high‐dose chemotherapy and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, which permit more rapid succession to the subsequent cycle and potentially improved efficacy compared with historical regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects adults' population and has a high morbidity and mortality rate. CKD represents an important public health problem that affects cardiovascular disease and impacts the quality of life. CKD is defined as the presence of kidney damage or an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 60 ml/min/1.73 mt2, persisting for 3 months or more, irrespective of the cause. Aim: This paper aimed to explore the prevalence of chronic renal failure and its related factors in the Southern region of KSA. Methodology: An observational descriptive retrospective study was conducted between September and November 2023. Patients suffering from chronic renal failure in the South region of KSA were the target respondents. Data collection included socio-demographics characteristics of the patients, history of chronic renal failure disease, and history of other chronic disease as well. Results: All of 163 patients diagnosed with CKD had hypertension, 70.4% of them were diagnosed with hypertension for almost more than 10 years, 36% suffered from diabetes, 98.8% did not suffer from allergies, and 10.4% did suffer from ischemic heart disease. Conclusion: The associated risk factors of chronic renal failure among Saudi patients in the Southern region mainly endangered those aged from 50 to 70 years old. As people age, screening for risk factors of CKD becomes a priority for all healthcare professionals; screening will achieve earlier detection and provide greater possibility to control predisposing risk factors to delay further deterioration in kidney function. Among the several identified risk factors, hypertension has been the most common, classically in essential hypertension [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing rod (GR) systems require periodical surgical intervention and may cause associated complications, as well as worsened sagittal plane deformity. Generally, the risk of complications decreases with an increment in age at the time of the index surgery with GR construct placement. However, the optimal timing to begin GR treatment has not reached a consensus yet. This study was performed to investigate the effect of age at the index GR surgery on the complication rates and formulate clinical guidelines for the optimal timing to begin GR treatment for EOS patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to determine complication occurrence as a function of the age at the index surgery and to determine the survival rates for the procedures. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine optimal cut-off values for the optimal timing of index surgery based on whether complications occurred or not. 54 patients who met the criteria were enrolled in this study. The following spinal parameters were measured: major coronal Cobb angle, global kyphosis (GK), and coronal balance (CB). CB was defined as the horizontal distance from the C7 plumb line to the center sacral vertical line. All patients had completed GR treatment and had a minimum 1-year follow-up duration after the final surgical intervention. Patient data were collected as follows: age at the index surgery, gender, diagnosis, type of GR construct, and the number of lengthening procedures. The standing full-spine radiographs were obtained before and after the index surgery, before and after each lengthening procedure, before and after the final surgical intervention, and at the latest follow-up. Complications were categorized as implant, alignment, and general. Kaplan-Meier analysis of complications demonstrated a declining trend in complication rates with increasing age at the index surgery. The absence of perioperative complications was targeted, we constructed the ROC curve and the cut-off value was 71.0 months. Age at the index surgery was therefore categorized into two groups: younger-age group (≤ 71.0 months) and advanced-age group (> 71.0 months). There was a higher complication rate for the younger-age group than versus the advanced-age group (61.5% vs 22.0%, p=.011). PJK as a major alignment-related complication, was more frequent in the younger-age group than in the advanced-age group (30.8% vs 4.9%, p=.025). But the advanced-age group exhibited significantly more severe deformities before GR surgery compared to the younger-age group. This study shows that the elevated risk of complications observed in the younger-age group, which can be attributed to the younger age at the index surgery and the increased number of lengthening procedures during treatment. We suggest deferring the initiation of GR treatment until after the age of six years for EOS patients. We hope it will serve as a basis for GR technique in the treatment of EOS, with the ultimate goal of enhancing treatment outcomes for this challenging disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is the most prevalent endocrine malignancy, with radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy being a standard of care. However, RAI refractoriness, occurring in a subset of patients, significantly impacts survival rates. Understanding predictive factors for RAI refractoriness is crucial for optimizing patient management. Methods This retrospective study analyzed data from 90 DTC patients at Ibn Sina University Hospital, Morocco. Patients were categorized into RAI-refractory (RAIR) and non-RAIR groups based on established criteria. Statistical analyses, including univariate and multivariate logistic regression, were performed to identify predictive factors of RAI refractoriness. Results Age at the time of diagnosis ≥ 54 years, primary tumor diameter ≥ 29 mm, and distal/nodal metastasis were independent predictors of RAIR-DTC. Additionally, the oncocytic carcinoma histological subtype significantly increased the risk of refractoriness. These findings were consistent with previous studies and underscored the importance of early detection and risk stratification. Conclusion Recognition of predictive factors for RAI refractoriness, including age, tumor size, distal/nodal metastasis, and histological subtype, facilitates early identification of high-risk patients. This enables timely intervention and personalized treatment strategies, particularly relevant in resource-limited settings. Further prospective studies are warranted to validate these findings and explore additional molecular markers for improved prediction of RAI refractoriness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design. Retrospective cohort study. Objective. This study compares reoperation rates and complications following single-level anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF)/lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF)/posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). Summary of Background Data. ALIF, LLIF, TLIF, and PLIF are widely used for degenerative disc disease. Lumbar interbody fusions have high rates of reoperation, primarily related to adjacent segment pathology and pseudarthrosis. Materials and Methods. The PearlDiver database was queried for patients (2010-2021) who had single-level ALIF/LLIF or TLIF/PLIF with same-day, single-level posterior instrumentation. ALIF/LLIF were combined, and similarly, TLIF/PLIF were combined, given how these operations are indistinguishable from Current Procedural Terminology coding. All patients were followed for ≥ 2 years and excluded if they had spinal traumas, fractures, infections, or neoplasms before surgery. The two cohorts, ALIF/LLIF and TLIF/PLIF, were matched 1:1 based on age, sex, Elixhausercomorbidity index, smoking status, and diabetes. The primary outcome was the incidence of all-cause subsequent lumbar operations. Secondary outcomes included 90-day surgical complications. Results. After 1:1 matching, each cohort contained 14,070 patients. All-cause subsequent lumbar operations were nearly identical at five-year follow-up (9.4% ALIF/LLIF vs. 9.5% TLIF/PLIF, P=0.91). Survival analysis using all-cause subsequent lumbar operations as the endpoint showed an equivalent 10-year survival rate of 86.0% (95%CI: 85.2-86.8). Within 90 days, TLIF/PLIF had more infections (1.3% vs. 1.7%, P=0.007) and dural injuries (0.2% vs. 0.4%, P=0.001). There was no difference in wound dehiscence, hardware complications, or medical complications. Conclusion. As utilized in real-world clinical practice, singlelevel anterolateral versus posterior approaches for interbody fusion have no effect on long-term reoperation rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review article discusses the currently available evidence on the importance of biological and social sex in pancreatic cancer in the context of the operative, perioperative and multimodal treatment. In pancreatic cancer there are gender differences with respect to the incidence, treatment response and prognosis. Sex significantly influences both innate and adaptive immune responses, thereby affecting treatment response and survival rates. Women are less likely to receive systemic treatment and tend to wait longer for surgery but have better perioperative outcomes after pancreatic resection. Overall, female pancreatic cancer patients seem to have longer survival under treatment; however, they report a subjectively lower quality of life and higher disease burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) often coexist due to the common elements of the pathomechanism they share. The potential significance of the order these entities present in the same patient is ill-defined. Herein, we report our results from a nationwide database on the occurrence of various sequences AF and HF may present, the time delays between the two conditions and all-cause mortality associated with different scenarios. Methods: Patients diagnosed with both AF and HF between 2015 and 2021 were enrolled from the Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) database. The order the two entities followed each other, and the time delay in between were registered. Median survival rates were calculated in AF → HF; HF → AF and simultaneous scenarios. Results: A total of 109,075 patients were enrolled: 29,937 with AF → HF, 38,171 with HF → AF, and 40,967 diagnosed simultaneously. Time delays between AF → HF and HF → AF were 6 and 10 months, respectively. The median survival was 46 months in the AF → HF, 38 months in the HF → AF, and 21 months in the simultaneous group. Patients with HF → AF, and with simultaneous presentations had 5% and 16% greater mortality risk as compared to the AF → HF sequence, with hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 0.95 (0.93–0.97) and 0.84 (0.82–0.85), respectively (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: HF occurred significantly earlier after the diagnosis of AF than vice versa. Patients diagnosed simultaneously had the worst, while the AF → HF sequence had the best prognosis. These data should have implications for the intensification of monitoring and therapy in different scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early identification of immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis (AL) is crucial due to its rapid progression. Monoclonal light-chain (M-LC) testing is the first step in the diagnostic workup for patients with suspected cardiac amyloidosis (CA). We aimed to determine whether the time interval between the first CA suspicion and M-LC testing can be related to AL amyloidosis survival outcomes. Methods: All patients (n = 94) with isolated cardiac AL amyloidosis diagnosed at our center between 2016 and 2020 were included. Those with pre-existing known monoclonal protein (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance or smoldering multiple myeloma) were excluded. Time intervals to diagnostic tests and diagnosis were calculated and assessed for their survival prediction ability. Results: The time interval between first CA suspicion (on echocardiography) and M-LC testing correlated with early mortality, and the best cutoff predicting survival, was 6 weeks. The 26 patients (∼28% of entire cohort) who underwent M-LC-studies >6 weeks after first suspicion more frequently presented Mayo stage IIIb (65% vs. 35%, p =.008), showing poorer overall survival than those (n = 68, 72%) referred for early M-LC studies (median 3 vs. 14 months, p =.039). Conclusions: Monoclonal protein testing should be the first-step in the diagnostic workup for patients with echocardiographic/other instrumental red flags raising CA suspicion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is a progressive disease that causes heart failure due to amyloid fibril deposition. Tafamidis was approved as the first causal treatment in 2020. We here report on real-world data in patients treated with tafamidis for at least 12 months according to the recently defined European Society for Cardiology (ESC) consensus criteria for disease progression. Methods and results: Three hundred and eight wildtype and 31 hereditary ATTR-CM patients were prospectively enrolled after first diagnosis of ATTR-CM and initiation of tafamidis 61 mg once daily treatment. After 12 months, significant deterioration in Karnofsky Index, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), septum thickness and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) could be observed, significant disease progression was only detected in 25 patients (9%) using ESC consensus criteria. Mean survival time was 37 months with no differences between responders and non-responders. NT-proBNP was the only independent predictor for poor therapy response (p =.008). Conclusions: The majority of patients showed no significant disease progression according to the ESC consensus criteria after 12 months of therapy with tafamidis. However, at 12 months, treatment response based on the ESC consensus criteria was not associated with improved survival. Moreover, higher levels of NT-proBNP at diagnosis of ATTR-CM appears to predict poorer treatment response, confirming that timely initiation of therapy is advantageous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the survival of different biologic or targeted-synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARD) administered after fulfilling difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2TRA) criteria, and to assess factors related to treatment discontinuation. Methods: Retrospective study including D2TRA patients. Drug retention of the b/tsDMARD administered after fulfilling D2TRA was assessed by Kaplan–Meier plots and the log-rank test. Cox hazard models were used to identify factors affecting treatment discontinuation. Results: Of the 122 patients included, 75 maintained active treatment (61.5%) with a subsequent line after D2T compared to 47 (38.5%) who discontinued and required more successive lines of b/tsDMARDs. The median survival of the treatments was 78.3(7.6) months and the treatment after D2T with the better rate of survival was rituximab, followed by JAKi and IL6Ri, while worse survival rates were associated with abatacept and TNFi. Significant differences were noted among b/tsDMARDs (log-rank p < 0.01) and to evaluate these differences, a Cox regression was performed, taking each b/tsDMARD as a reference and comparing it with the others. DAS28 values 6-months after initiation of treatment were higher in those patients who discontinued treatment [4.4(1.2) vs 3.5(1.3), p = 0.01]. The multivariate cox regression model revealed that treatment choice after D2T [HR = 1.26(95%CI 1.06–1.05)] and lower DAS28 values at 6 months [HR = 1.49(95%CI 1.16–1.52)] were independent risk factors associated with treatment discontinuation. Conclusions: Once patients met the D2TRA criteria, the subsequent line of b/tsDMARDs with the best survival rates were rituximab, JAKi and IL6Ri. Moreover, DAS28 at 6-months of treatment after D2T was an independent risk factor for drug discontinuation. Key Points • Rituximab, IL6Ri and JAKi have better retention rates in patients after fulfilling D2TRA criteria • Clinical disease activity in the first six months after fulfillment of D2TRA criteria is an independent risk factor of subsequent treatment survival [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aim to report the epidemiology, surgical outcomes, and survival rates of pediatric patients with posterior fossa tumors in a large single-center case series. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on pediatric patients who underwent surgical treatment for posterior fossa tumors between January 2011 and January 2019. Results: A total of 135 pediatric patients, with an average age of 7.5 years at diagnosis and a mean follow-up of 35.7 months, were included in the study. Most tumors were located within the midline, with ventriculomegaly observed in 71.4% of the patients. Pilocytic astrocytomas encompassed the majority of tumors (34.1%), followed by medulloblastomas (27.4%) and ependymomas (11.8%). Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 71.8% of the patients, with a recurrence rate of 20%. Surgical complications were observed in 25.9% of the patients. GTR significantly impacted 5-year overall survival (OS) and 4-year progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with posterior fossa tumors. Patients who underwent GTR had a 5-year OS of 89.7%, compared to 72.7% for near-total resection and 70.8% for subtotal resection. The 4-year PFS for patients who underwent GTR was 82.5%, whereas it was 63.6% for patients who underwent near-total resection and 54.2% for patients who underwent subtotal resection. Conclusion: Surgical resection remains the main treatment for pediatric posterior fossa tumors, and higher resection rates are linked to better survival outcomes. Despite limited resources for molecular diagnosis, our institution has demonstrated that a specialized neurooncological center with a high surgical volume can still achieve favorable survival outcomes for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), due to its high prevalence, has been associated with a number of comorbidities, frequently impacting the overall course of these other diseases if left untreated. Recent studies highlight a potential association between OSA and cancer. This study investigates how OSA severity and hypoxia affect cancer prognosis, aiming to elucidate how they interplay. Retrospective study including patients with a diagnosis of OSA after any cancer type followed up in a tertiary center during a 10-year period. OSA was mainly diagnosed after level III polysomnographic studies. Nocturnal hypoxia was significantly more prevalent in patients presenting lung cancer versus other malignancies and was associated with higher rates of oncologic disease progression. Overall survival was significantly lower in severe OSA patients and also in patients presenting nocturnal hypoxia. A composite hypoxia score considering both OSA severity and significant hypoxia was an independent predictor of mortality regardless of clinical cancer staging and treatment. Shorter time between cancer and OSA diagnosis was also associated with worse prognosis. This study suggests an association between OSA severity and nocturnal hypoxia and increased cancer mortality independently from possible confounding factors such as age, cancer clinical staging at diagnosis, treatment modality and also progression. Neoplastic patients with severe OSA and/or complex hypoxia seem to have lower overall survival rates than those with less severe OSA and nocturnal hypoxia. • OSA severity significantly impacts the overall prognosis of oncologic disease. • Nocturnal hypoxia is associated with higher mortality regardless of cancer type. • Hypoxic burden associated with worse prognosis irrespective of staging and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Craniopharyngiomas (CPs) are rare tumors of the sellar region often leading to significant comorbidities due to their close proximity to critical structures. The aim of this study was to analyze survival outcome and late toxicities after surgery and proton beam therapy (PBT) in childhood CPs. Within the prospective registry study "KiProReg" (DRKS0000536), data of 74 childhood patients with CP, receiving PBT between August 2013 to June 2022 were eligible. Late toxicities were analyzed according to the grading system of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0. Median follow-up since first diagnosis was 4.3 years (range, 0.8-14.7). In addition, 75.7% of patients received PBT at time of disease progression or recurrence, whereas 24.3% as part of their primary therapy (definitive or adjuvant). Predominantly (85.1%), pencil beam scanning technique was used. The median total dose and initial tumor volume were 5400 cGy relative biologic effectiveness (RBE) and 17.64 cm³ (range, 3.07-300.59), respectively. The estimated (±SE) 3-year overall survival, progression-free, and cystic failure-free survival rate after PBT were 98.2% (±1.7), 94.7% (±3.0), and 76.8% (±5.4), respectively. All local failures (n = 3) were in-field relapses necessitating intervention and occurred exclusively in patients receiving PBT at progression or recurrence. Early cystic enlargements after PBT were typically asymptomatic and self-limiting. Fatigue, headaches, vision disorders, obesity, and endocrinopathies were the predominant late toxicities. No high-grade (≥3) new-onset visual impairment or cognitive deterioration occurred compared with baseline. The presence of cognitive impairments at the end of follow-up correlated with size of the planning target volume (P =.034), D mean dose to the temporal lobes (P =.032, P =.045) and the number of surgical interventions before PBT (P =.029). Our findings demonstrate favorable local control rates using modern PBT with acceptable late toxicities. Cyst growth within 12 months after radiation therapy is typically not associated with tumor progression. Longer follow-up must be awaited to confirm results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a lethal brain tumor. Standard-of-care treatment comprising surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy results in median survival rates of 12 to 15 months. Molecular-targeted agents identified using conventional 2-dimensional (2D) in vitro models of GBM have failed to improve outcome in patients, rendering such models inadequate for therapeutic target identification. A previously developed 3D GBM in vitro model that recapitulates key GBM clinical features and responses to molecular therapies was investigated for utility for screening novel radiation-drug combinations using gold-standard clonogenic survival as readout. Patient-derived GBM cell lines were optimized for inclusion in a 96-well plate 3D clonogenic screening platform, ClonoScreen3D. Radiation responses of GBM cells in this system were highly reproducible and comparable to those observed in low-throughout 3D assays. The screen methodology provided quantification of candidate drug single agent activity (half maximal effective concentration or EC 50) and the interaction between drug and radiation (radiation interaction ratio). The poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors talazoparib, rucaparib, and olaparib each showed a significant interaction with radiation by ClonoScreen3D and were subsequently confirmed as true radiosensitizers by full clonogenic assay. Screening a panel of DNA damage response inhibitors revealed the expected propensity of these compounds to interact significantly with radiation (13/15 compounds). A second screen assessed a panel of compounds targeting pathways identified by transcriptomic analysis and demonstrated single agent activity and a previously unreported interaction with radiation of dinaciclib and cytarabine (radiation interaction ratio 1.28 and 1.90, respectively). These compounds were validated as radiosensitizers in full clonogenic assays (sensitizer enhancement ratio 1.47 and 1.35, respectively). The ClonoScreen3D platform was demonstrated to be a robust method to screen for single agent and radiation-drug combination activity. Using gold-standard clonogenicity, this assay is a tool for identification of radiosensitizers. We anticipate this technology will accelerate identification of novel radiation-drug combinations with genuine translational value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although canine pituitary masses (PM) are increasingly treated with stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT), historical literature supports superior outcomes with conventional full‐course fractionated radiation therapy (FRT). A multi‐institutional retrospective study was performed, including dogs with PM treated from 2016 to 2022 with SRT (total dose 30 or 35 Gy in 5 daily fractions) or FRT (total dose 50–54 Gy in 19–20 daily fractions). The influence of potential prognostic/predictive factors was assessed, including pituitary: brain height, pituitary: brain volume, sex, age and endocrine status (functional [F] vs. nonfunctional [NF] PM). Forty‐four dogs with PM were included (26 F, 14 NF, 4 unknown). All patients completed protocols as scheduled (SRT = 27, FRT = 17) and two dogs had suspected Grade 1 acute neurotoxicity. During the first 6 months after RT, 5/27 (19%) dogs treated with SRT (4 F, 1 NF) and 3/17 (18%) dogs treated with FRT (all F) died or were euthanised because of progressive neurologic signs. The overall median survival time was 608 days (95% CI, 375–840 days). Young age at the time of treatment was significant for survival (p = 0.0288); the overall median survival time was 753 days for dogs <9 years of age (95% CI, 614–892 days) and 445 days for dogs ≥9 years of age (95% CI, 183–707 days). Survival time was not associated with treatment type or any other factor assessed herein. A prospective study using standardised protocols would further validate the results of the present study and potentially elucidate the predictors of early death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiagent chemotherapy is considered the most effective treatment for canine high‐grade lymphoma; however, due to cost and time requirements, single‐agent protocols have also been described. The aim of our study was to evaluate the outcome and prognostic factors of dogs affected by multicentric lymphoma treated with lomustine and prednisolone as first‐line treatment. Cases of medium‐large‐cell multicentric lymphoma treated with lomustine and prednisolone were included in the study. Response to therapy, time to progression (TTP), median disease‐free interval (MDFI) and median survival time (MST) were retrospectively described. Thirty cases were included. Eleven (36.67%) were T cell, 11 (36.67%) were B cell and 8 (26.66%) had unknown immunophenotype. The overall response rate (RR) was 87%, with 15 patients achieving CR (50%) and 11 patients PR (37%). The median TTP, MDFI and MST were 42, 63 and 90 days, respectively. The only factor significantly associated with MDFI and MST was the stage. Dogs with multicentric lymphoma treated with lomustine and prednisolone have lower RR, TTP, MDFI and MST compared with dogs receiving multiagent protocols. Based on the short‐lasting response, this study confirms that this protocol might have minimal utility beyond palliation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This systematic review aimed to analyze the clinical (survival rate, failure risk, or fracture) and laboratory performance (fracture mode or failure) of rehabilitations of endodontically treated teeth, with and without posts. Materials and Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and OpenGrey databases up to March 2023, according to PRISMA guidelines. In vitro and clinical studies that compared the clinical and laboratory performance of endodontically treated teeth with and without intraradicular posts were included. Studies selection, data extraction, and risk of bias analysis were performed. Results: Thirty‐one in vitro and 7 clinical studies were included. For in vitro studies, fiberglass post (n = 24) was the most mentioned. The follow‐up time of the clinical studies ranged from 1 to 17 years, with the fiber‐reinforced composite post (n = 3) being the most evaluated, and only failure risk proved to be more favorable for using intraradicular posts. Conclusion: Rehabilitations of endodontically treated teeth with and without intraradicular retainers showed no difference in fracture resistance and failure mode, evaluated by in vitro studies. Clinical studies showed no difference in survival rate, but failure risk proved to be more favorable for the use of posts. Clinical Significance: This analysis revealed significant variability between results, however, most laboratory and clinical studies revealed no difference with using the post. Furthermore, it is important to emphasize the need to evaluate the coronary remnant and the general characteristics of the tooth in each situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate survival outcomes of pulmonary resection for isolated metachronous pancreatic cancer metastasis. A systematic search of electronic data sources and reference lists were conducted. Proportion meta-analysis model was constructed to quantify 1- to 5-year survival after pulmonary resection for isolated metachronous pancreatic cancer metastasis. Random-effects modelling was applied to calculate pooled outcome data. Twenty-four retrospective studies were included reporting a total of 168 patients who underwent pulmonary resection for isolated pancreatic cancer metastasis. The nature of the index pancreatic surgery included 65% pancreaticoduodenectomies, 17.5% distal pancreatectomies, 0.5% total pancreatectomy, and 17% unspecified. Adjuvant chemotherapy was given to 88% of the patients. The median disease-free interval was 35 (8–96) months. The type of pulmonary resection included 54% wedge resections, 26% lobectomies, 4% segmentectomies, 1% pneumonectomies, and 15% unspecified. Pulmonary resection was associated with 1-year survival of 91.1% (95% CI 86.6%–95.5%), 2-year survival of 77.5% (95% CI 68.9%–86.0%), 3-year survival of 65.0% (95% CI 50.7%–79.3%), 4-year survival of 52.0% (95% CI 37.2%–66.9%), and 5-year survival of 37.0% (95% CI 25.0%–49.1%). Pulmonary resection for isolated pancreatic cancer metastasis is associated with acceptable overall patient survival. We recommend selective pulmonary resection for isolated pulmonary metastasis from pancreatic cancer. Our findings may encourage conduction of better-quality studies in this context to help establishment of definitive treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallbladder cancers (GBCs) occur a decade earlier in India in comparison to the global occurrence, limiting the applicability of existing literature on age adjusted outcomes. Patients who underwent surgery between 01.01.2010 and 31.12.2020 for GBC were analyzed. Patients were divided into three age groups: group 1(≤40 years), group 2(41–60 years), group 3(>60 years) and their outcomes were compared. Total of 6190 patients were treated for suspected or diagnosed GBC with a median age of 57 years. Curative resection was performed in 749 (67.9%) patients, of whom 114 (16.2%), 471 (62.9%), and 164 (21.9%) patients were in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) [46.8% vs. 58.5%, p = 0.031] and overall survival (OS)[53.5% vs. 66.6%, p = 0.05] of group 3 were significantly lower than group 1. Patient age (HR 1.021), AJCC stage (HR 6.413), pathologic residual disease in the gallbladder fossa (HR 2.44), and extranodal tumor deposits (HR 1.762) were identified as independent predictors of poor OS. Gallbladder cancers in the Indian population show poorer outcomes with advancing age. Higher proportion of males in the elderly group with a more advanced stage at presentation are plausible reasons for poorer outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to understand the effect of time to remission of acromegaly on survival in people living with acromegaly. Design, Patients and Measurement: This cross‐sectional study used data from the UK Acromegaly Register. We considered remission of acromegaly growth hormone controlled at ≤2 μg/L following the diagnosis of acromegaly. We used the accelerated failure time model to assess the effect of time to remission on survival in acromegaly. Results: The study population comprises 3569 individuals with acromegaly, with a median age of diagnosis of 47.3 (36.5–57.8) years, 48% females and a majority white population (61%). The number of individuals with the first remission of acromegaly was 2472, and the median time to first remission was 1.92 (0.70–6.58) years. In this study, time to first remission in acromegaly was found to have a significant effect on survival (p <.001); for every 1‐year increase in time to first remission, there was a median 1% reduction in survival in acromegaly. In an analysis adjusted for covariates, the survival rate was 52% higher (p <.001) in those who underwent surgery as compared to those who did not have surgery, 18% higher (p =.01) in those who received treatment with somatostatin analogues (SMA) as compared to those with dopamine agonists and 21% lower (p <.001) in those who received conventional radiotherapy as compared to those who did not receive radiotherapy. Conclusion: In conclusion, this population‐based study conducted in patients with acromegaly revealed that faster remission time, surgical intervention and treatment with SMA are linked to improved survival outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To investigate factors influencing survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary (HNSCCUP). Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted, over 5 years from January 2015, in UK Head and Neck centres, of consecutive adults undergoing 18F‐Fluorodeoxyglucose‐PET‐CT within 3 months of diagnosis with metastatic cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Patients treated as HNSCCUP underwent survival analysis, stratified by neck dissection and/or radiotherapy to the ipsilateral neck, and by HPV status. Results: Data were received from 57 centres for 965 patients, of whom 482 started treatment for HNSCCUP (65.7% HPV‐positive, n = 282/429). Five‐year overall survival (OS) for HPV‐positive patients was 85.0% (95% CI 78.4–92.3) and 43.5% (95% CI 32.9–57.5) for HPV‐negative. HPV‐negative status was associated with worse OS, disease‐free (DFS), and disease‐specific (DSS) survival (all p <.0001 on log‐rank test) but not local control (LC) (p =.16). Unilateral HPV‐positive disease treated with surgery alone was associated with significantly worse DFS (p <.0001) and LC (p <.0001) compared to radiotherapy alone or combined modalities (5‐year DFS: 24.9%, 82.3% and 94.3%; 5‐year LC: 41.8%, 98.8% and 98.6%). OS was not significantly different (p =.16). Unilateral HPV‐negative disease treated with surgery alone was associated with significantly worse LC (p =.017) (5‐year LC: estimate unavailable, 93.3% and 96.6%, respectively). Small numbers with bilateral disease precluded meaningful sub‐group analysis. Conclusions: HPV status is associated with variable management and outcomes in HNSCCUP. Unilateral neck disease is treated variably and associated with poorer outcomes when managed with surgery alone. The impact of diagnostic oropharyngeal surgery on primary site emergence, survival and functional outcomes is unestablished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This systematic review aims to evaluate the role of biopsies in non‐oropharyngeal subsites in patients with cervical metastasis from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary (HNSCCUP). Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Articles that encompassed non‐oropharyngeal biopsies in HNSCCUP as part of the diagnostic work‐up were selected and analysed. Results: A comprehensive search strategy was used to search relevant literature in PubMed from inception to October 2021. Eleven articles out of 860 were included, comprising 990 patients. There are no randomised control trials comparing the outcomes of survival and or locoregional control between patients who have or have not undergone non‐targeted biopsies of non‐oropharyngeal sub‐sites for HNSCCUP. Several retrospective studies which showed an extremely low yield from random biopsies (range of yield, 0%–9%) of non‐oropharyngeal subsites. Even targeted biopsies showed a low yield (range of yield, 0.6%–16.6%) from non‐oropharyngeal subsites. The primary site identified for Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) positive cervical lymph nodes with an unknown primary is mainly the nasopharynx (51.7%). Narrow band imaging (NBI) (sensitivity range, 64%–91%) helps in the detection of primaries to target biopsies in non‐oropharyngeal subsites. Conclusions: On the basis of this systematic review, it is not appropriate to offer biopsies of clinically and radiologically normal upper aerodigestive tract mucosa at non‐oropharyngeal sites. Offer nasopharyngeal biopsies when the cervical node sampling reveals EBV‐positive metastasis. Where available, NBI should be used to help detect and target biopsies in non‐oropharyngeal subsites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]