Category: Nevin Manimala

Eur J Dent Educ. 2025 Dec 21. doi: 10.1111/eje.70081. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Preformed metal crowns (PMCs) and pulpotomies are established treatments for carious lesions in primary molars. Despite their effectiveness, variability in knowledge and clinical experience amongst dental students has been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and perceptions of Dutch dental students at the Academic Centre for Dentistry in the dental school of Amsterdam (ACTA). Regarding PMCs and pulpotomies in primary molars.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted amongst second-to-final year dental students at Academic Centre for Dentistry in the dental school of Amsterdam (ACTA). The 23-item questionnaire addressed knowledge, perceived curriculum coverage, and clinical/preclinical experience. Descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation tests were used (α = 0.05).

RESULTS: Out of 120 invited students, 98 (81.6%) responded. While 75.5% of students considered the curriculum adequate for teaching PMCs, 84.7% felt that pulpotomies were insufficiently addressed. All students were familiar with the Hall Technique, and 50% had placed a PMC preclinically. Fewer students had clinical experience: 19.4% had placed a PMC and 9.2% had performed a pulpotomy. A positive correlation was found between preclinical and clinical PMC placement (Spearman’s rho = 0.33, p = 0.0007).

DISCUSSION: Whilst students received appropriate training regarding the use of PMCs, both in theory and practice, exposure to pulpotomy procedures remains limited.

CONCLUSIONS: Most dental students in Amsterdam demonstrated appropriate knowledge, preclinical experience and understanding of indications for PMCs compared to performing a pulpotomy. Therefore, greater emphasis should be placed on both the theoretical and practical aspects of pulpotomy.

PMID:41422420 | DOI:10.1111/eje.70081

Pediatr Emerg Care. 2025 Dec 22. doi: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000003537. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Incision and drainage (I&D) is the standard treatment for pediatric abscesses. However, discrepancies between estimated abscess volume, determined clinically or by point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), and the actual volume expressed may result from poor ultrasound or I&D technique. These discrepancies may lead to inappropriate management decisions and unnecessary procedures.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of discrepancies between estimated and expressed abscess volumes during pediatric I&D.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional chart review at a tertiary care pediatric emergency department (ED) between 2017 and 2023. Patients younger than or qual to 21 years with an attempted I&D were identified using a natural language processing tool. We focused on 2 groups based off of documented abscess diameter: predicted volumes of ≤1 mL and ≥10 mL. Per author discretion, these values correspond with decision-making of ‘not worth pursuing I&D’ and ‘definitely worth pursuing I&D’, respectively. We considered a positive discrepancy if for an expected abscess volume of ≤1 mL, the documented volume expressed was ≥10 mL (underestimated), and if for an expected volume of ≥10 mL, the documented volume was ≤3 mL (overestimated). Prevalence and confidence intervals were calculated using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: Among 653 patients, 13.2% of sonographic and 7.6% of clinical estimates underestimated abscess volume, whereas 2.3% of sonographic and 19.6% of clinical estimates overestimated abscess volume. Combined assessment reduced discrepancies to 5.2% underestimated and 1.2% overestimated.

CONCLUSIONS: Combining clinical with POCUS assessment of pediatric abscesses provides better prediction of volume than reliance on a single method potentially reducing unnecessary procedures and missed I&D opportunities.

PMID:41422417 | DOI:10.1097/PEC.0000000000003537

Am J Hum Biol. 2025 Dec;37(12):e70185. doi: 10.1002/ajhb.70185.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to determine the relationship between the eruption timing of permanent teeth and anthropological assessments (height and weight) in children from Chennai, India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was designed, and 12650 children were selected using a multistage random sampling method. The clinical eruption status of all permanent teeth was evaluated using a novel grading system, and correlational analysis determined the relationship between height/weight and tooth eruption age.

RESULTS: The study found statistically significant associations between tooth eruption ages and both height and weight. While the correlation for height was weak and non-significant (r = -0.023 to 0.151, including zero), the correlation for weight was more pronounced (r = 0.044 to 0.519).

CONCLUSION: The study suggests that both height and weight are significantly associated with tooth eruption ages, but weight has a stronger and more consistent influence. Individuals with obesity tend to experience delayed tooth eruption.

PMID:41422393 | DOI:10.1002/ajhb.70185

Prostate. 2025 Dec 20. doi: 10.1002/pros.70115. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common urological disorder of the prostate in aged men. Oxidative stress and environmental factors have been associated with BPH. However, information on infectious agents association with BPH remains scarce. This study aims to determine Escherichia coli (E. coli) infection and virulence gene association with BPH in patients.

METHODS: A case-control study was conducted with 61 BPH patients and 52 controls. Prostate volume (PV) was estimated for diagnosis of BPH using abdominal ultrasound. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured, and data on alcohol intake and physical exercise were obtained with questionnaire. E. coli DNA was extracted from urine samples, and targeted 16S rRNA and fimH gene primers were used for PCR amplifications.

RESULTS: Mean difference of PV between patients (55.10 ± 27.37) and controls (26.33 ± 6.37) was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Serum MDA was significantly and positively correlated with PV (p < 0.001). Exercise correlate inversely with prostate volume. Intriguingly, alcohol intake significantly and inversely correlated with PV (p < 0.05). E. coli infection, but not virulence, was associated with an almost 12-fold increased risk of PV (p < 0.01). No fimH gene sequence variation was observed in isolates from patients and controls. However, Ghanaian isolates displayed sequence diversity when compared with isolates from other countries.

CONCLUSION: Escherichia coli infection, particularly variant carrying the fimH virulence gene, was more frequent among the BPH patients. These findings suggest that E. coli infection should be considered as a key factor in the management of BPH.

PMID:41422383 | DOI:10.1002/pros.70115

Hum Brain Mapp. 2025 Dec 15;46(18):e70415. doi: 10.1002/hbm.70415.

ABSTRACT

Language processing has been traditionally associated with a network of fronto-parietal and temporal regions in the left hemisphere. Nevertheless, the ‘right language network’ (frontal, temporal and parietal regions homologous to the left language network) and the ‘multiple-demand network’ (MDN) are often involved in verbal semantic processing as well; however their role remains poorly understood. This is in part due to the inconsistent engagement of these latter two networks across linguistic tasks. To explore the factors driving the recruitment of the right language network and MDN during verbal semantic processing, we conducted a large-scale Activation Likelihood Estimation meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies. We examined whether the right language network is influenced by verbal stimulus type (sentences/narratives versus single words/word pairs) and whether this may be due to differences in semantic control demands and/or the presence of social content in the stimuli. Additionally, we investigated whether MDN recruitment depends on external task demands rather than semantic control demands. Our main findings revealed greater engagement of the right language network during the semantic processing of sentence/narrative stimuli, with distinct regions reflecting different functions: increased semantic control demands recruit the right inferior frontal gyrus. Instead, social content processing during a semantic task engages the right anterior temporal lobe, as well as the right posterior middle temporal gyrus. Finally, semantic processing engages the MDN, but only when external task (rather than semantic) demands increase.

PMID:41422378 | DOI:10.1002/hbm.70415

Microsurgery. 2025 Dec;45(8):e70160. doi: 10.1002/micr.70160.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Minimally invasive techniques for DIEP flap harvest, including transabdominal (TAPP) and totally extraperitoneal (TEP) approaches, have been reported to be beneficial in reducing morbidity; however, direct comparative synthesis between these methods remains scarce, limiting consensus on the optimal approach.

METHOD: Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central for prospective and retrospective studies on robotic or laparoscopic DIEP harvest in breast reconstruction. Cadaveric studies and non-DIEP procedures were excluded. Primary operative outcomes included harvest time, type of robot, fascial incision length, intramuscular length, and intraoperative complications, while secondary clinical outcomes were postoperative complications, length of stay, and pain. A structured narrative synthesis was conducted using pooled descriptive data, without inferential statistical analysis.

RESULTS: Ten studies were included, including six describing TAPP harvest, two robotic TEP, and two laparoscopic TEP. Reported unilateral reconstruction times averaged 442.6 ± 63.4 min for TAPP and 460.3 ± 90.4 min for TEP, while bilateral procedures averaged 682.6 ± 115.1 min for TAPP compared with 453.0 ± 81.5 min for TEP. Fascial incisions were longer with TAPP (3.75 ± 1.34 cm) compared to TEP (2.59 ± 0.49 cm), and intramuscular pedicle dissection length was greater in TAPP (4.1 ± 0.7 vs. 2.25 ± 0.27 cm). No study reported bowel injury or postoperative ileus, and overall complication rates-including vessel avulsion, flap loss, infection, and seroma-were similar. Postoperative pain scores were 1.9 ± 0.9 in TAPP versus 2.3 ± 0.9 in TEP, while hospital stay averaged 3.9 ± 1.3 days for TAPP and 4.5 ± 0.9 days for TEP.

CONCLUSION: Both TAPP and TEP appear safe and effective for minimally invasive DIEP flap harvest. Trends suggest bilateral TAPP requires longer operative times, while TEP results in shorter fascial incisions and had shorter intramuscular pedicle lengths. Pain and complication rates were comparable, although study heterogeneity and small sample sizes limit generalizability. Larger, prospective comparative studies are essential to better define technique selection.

PMID:41422373 | DOI:10.1002/micr.70160

Environ Geochem Health. 2025 Dec 20;48(2):62. doi: 10.1007/s10653-025-02941-8.

ABSTRACT

Air pollution is a major public health concern, particularly for young children who are vulnerable to its adverse effects due to their developing respiratory and immune systems. This study assesses spatial exposure risks for early childhood development centers (ECDs) in Gauteng, South Africa, by analyzing their proximity to major pollution sources. Geographic information systems were used to conduct buffer analysis, kernel density estimation (KDE) and spatial autocorrelation analysis (Global Moran’s I) to identify pollution hotspots and potential clustering of ECDs located in high-risk areas. Statistically, the results showed significant spatial clustering of ECDs around pollution sources (Moran’s I > 0, p < 0.05). Using secondary data, results show that Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni have the highest number of ECDs in high-risk zones, despite Tshwane having the most pollution sources. This highlights that exposure is not solely determined by the number of pollution sources but is influenced by spatial distribution and urban density. Integration of Sentinel-5P satellite NO₂ and SO₂ data further validated the pollution exposure patterns, with elevated NO₂ and SO₂ concentrations observed along dense urban and industrial corridors, aligning with KDE-identified clusters. Sedibeng showed lower pollutant levels and more unexposed ECDs, suggesting that urban planning and source dispersion may mitigate exposure risks. A risk map developed by overlaying KDE outputs of pollution sources and ECDs highlighted critical hotspots requiring urgent intervention. Overall, the results suggest that pollution exposure is influenced more by population density and spatial distribution of pollution sources than by the sheer number of pollution sources. These findings underscore the need for targeted environmental health interventions in areas with high exposure risk. Moreover, established buffer zones around pollution sources can support safer spatial planning of ECDs.

PMID:41422363 | DOI:10.1007/s10653-025-02941-8

Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2025 Dec 20. doi: 10.1007/s40368-025-01148-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the distribution and risk factors of oral inclusion cysts (OICs) at birth, estimate the prognosis and analyse the impact on breastfeeding and tooth eruption in the first year-of-life.

METHODS: A birth cohort study was conducted at Canoas University Hospital, southern Brazil, including 1181 mother-child dyads. Oral inclusion cysts were assessed at the hospital shortly after birth. Data on feeding practices and tooth eruption were collected at 6 and 12 months. A second clinical examination was performed at 12 months. Poisson regression with robust variance was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: The prevalence of OICs at birth was 72.4% (95% CI 69.7-75.1%), with no significant differences across maternal or infant characteristics. Oral inclusion cysts had no impact on breastfeeding in the first hour of life or at 30 days (RR = 1.45; 95% CI 0.90-2.35), nor on the timing of tooth eruption (RR = 0.90; 95% CI 0.79-1.02). At 12 months, the prevalence of OICs was 1.5%.

CONCLUSION: OICs are common, transient findings in early infancy and do not affect breastfeeding or the eruption of primary teeth. Training healthcare professionals to recognise their benign nature can help prevent unnecessary treatments.

PMID:41422353 | DOI:10.1007/s40368-025-01148-w

Sci Rep. 2025 Dec 20. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-33485-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In this exploratory study, we investigated longitudinal changes in whole, luminal, and stromal choroidal thickness (CT) during pregnancy and the postpartum period using widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography. Ten eyes of five healthy pregnant women were examined monthly from mid-pregnancy to delivery and, when possible, at least 1 year postpartum. CT was measured over a 20 × 23 mm area centered on the fovea and was analyzed using a grid of three concentric subfields defined by circles measuring 3, 9, and 18 mm in diameter. At 5 months’ gestation, the mean central CT was 258 ± 35 μm. For the right eye, the mean CT within the entire 18-mm circle showed a nonsignificant increase between 4 and 5 months of gestation (P = 0.078), followed by a significant decrease between 5 and 9 months (P = 0.038). After delivery, the choroid became thicker again, although this change was not statistically significant (P = 0.117). All subfields showed similar fluctuations. Thickness recovered partially postpartum, mainly reflecting changes in the luminal rather than in the stromal component. These findings suggest that pregnancy induces dynamic, reversible vascular changes in the choroid, which may reflect ocular adaptations to systemic circulatory alterations.

PMID:41422329 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-33485-7