Category: Nevin Manimala

Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2023 Jan 15:25773. doi: 10.4317/medoral.25773. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) is the cause of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It has been hypothesized oral health may be related to the severity and complications of COVID-19. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of apical periodontitis and the frequency of root canal treatment in a sample of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19), correlating them with the severity of the disease.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted following the Strengthening Reporting Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. The study examined 280 patients with positive real time PCR COVID-19 test whose treatment was performed in our hospital. Fifty-two patients aged 52.3 ± 17.3 years, including 30 males and 22 females, who had an orthopantomography in their clinical record, performed in the last 2 years, were included. Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were grouped as mild or moderate (MM) and severe or critical (SC) illness groups, according to the NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines (Wu & McGoogan 2020). Radiographic records were analyzed and apical periodontitis (AP) was diagnosed as radiolucent periapical lesions (RPLs), using the periapical index score (PAI). Student’s t test, χ2 test and multivariate logistic regression were used in the statistical analysis.

RESULTS: The number of carious teeth was significantly higher in the SC group (3.4 ± 4.1), which showed more than twice as many teeth with carious lesions than the MM group (1.4 ± 1.8) (p = 0.02). Multivariate regression analysis showed association between the number of carious teeth and the severity of SARS-CoV-2 disease (OR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.1-2.1; p = 0.017). Endodontic status (OR = 7.12; 95% CI = 1.2-40.9; p = 0.027) also correlated with the disease severity.

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the oral health status of COVID-19 patients correlated with the severity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. Significant association has been found between the severity of COVID-19 disease and the presence of a greater number of teeth with caries lesions, as well as with endodontic status.

PMID:36641741 | DOI:10.4317/medoral.25773

Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2023 Jan 15:25733. doi: 10.4317/medoral.25733. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) has a frequent adverse effect after the administration of nitrogenous bisphosphonates, as non-nitrogenous bisphosphonates are metabolized more rapidly and would produce this effect to a lesser extent. The objective of this study is to analyze the results obtained in the literature with the use of L-PRF in the treatment of ONJ through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medline (via PubMed), Cochrane, Web of Science and Grey Literature Database was screened from which 10 were selected.

RESULTS: In the meta-analysis with full resolution, combining the use of L-PRF in the treatment of ONJ, a weighted proportion (PP) of 94.3% of complete resolution is obtained (95% CI: 91.2-97.4, p<0.001), with a low degree of heterogeneity, statistically significant (I2 = 29.02%; p<0.001). When analyzing the non-resolution data, a weighted proportion (PP) of 7.7% (95% CI: 3.6-11.9; p<0.001) was obtained with moderate heterogeneity (I2: 41.87%; p=0.112). In the meta-regression, no significant correlation was found between complete resolution and year of publication (intercept = 2.88, p=0.829). In consistency analysis no major changes in PP are identified when any of the studies are eliminated, demonstrating a high reliability in the combined results.

CONCLUSION: L-PRF alone or in combination with other therapies in treatment of ONJ achieved high percentages of complete lesion resolution (94.3%). In studies where L-PRF is combined with other therapies, and where the effectiveness of the other therapy alone is analyzed, L-PRF has been shown higher percentages of resolution.

PMID:36641740 | DOI:10.4317/medoral.25733

Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2023 Jan 15:25760. doi: 10.4317/medoral.25760. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim was to assess periodontal health maintenance and gingival recessions development in patients undergoing an orthodontic treatment with clear aligners (CA) and fixed appliances (FA).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: An electronic search in MEDLINE, Scopus, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science was performed up to September 2022 to identify all potential articles. Two investigators independently selected the studies according to the inclusion criteria. Prospective and retrospective studies assessing the periodontal health status and gingival recession development during the orthodontic treatment with buccal FA and CA were included. Case series, cross-sectional studies, and studies with less than two months of follow-up were excluded. Two investigators independently extracted the data from included articles and assessed risk of bias across studies using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the data were performed. Pairwise meta-analysis using a random-effects model were used to compare periodontal indices between FA and CA treatment in different follow-up periods.

RESULTS: From the 129 potential studies, finally 12 studies were included. Only 8 could be included in the quantitative analysis. CA seems to slightly maintain better periodontal health indices. Only plaque index in a mid-term follow-up (mean difference (MD): -0.99; 95%; Confidence interval (CI) [-1.94 to -0.03]; P=.04; I2=99%), and pocket probing depth at a long-term follow-up (MD: -0.93mm; 95% CI [-1.16 to 0.7]; P<0.0001) reported statistically significant results favoring CA.

CONCLUSIONS: Up to the date there is not enough evidence to conclude that CA maintains better periodontal health during an orthodontic treatment than FA.

PMID:36641738 | DOI:10.4317/medoral.25760

Work. 2023 Jan 10. doi: 10.3233/WOR-220172. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Many individuals experience visual symptoms associated with near work. The level of discomfort appears to increase with the amount of digital screen use.

OBJECTIVE: To study the eye discomfort with near tasks in university students in the pre-COVID period and in the period of confinement due to the pandemic.

METHODS: Two independent samples of students, aged between 18 and 35 years, were used to assess symptomatic behaviour with the Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey (CISS) questionnaire. In the pre-COVID period the sample had 342 participants, 64.6% females and in the COVID period 322 students participated, 71.4% females. The study of differences was carried out by the Mann-Whitney U test. The interpretation of the statistical inference was performed for a significance level≤0.05.

RESULTS: There was an increase in the number of symptomatic cases in the COVID period without statistical evidence of differences in the frequency of symptoms reported in the two periods. The dimensions “somatic sensations” and “cognitive performance” were the typology of symptoms that most contributed to visual complaints with near vision. There was a significantly different symptomatic behaviour between genders in the period of confinement (p = 0.001), worsening in females and improving in males.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that females and males exposed to digital environments, over time, may exhibit different symptomatic behaviour. Our results suggest that boys adapt more quickly than girls. Factors that predispose to these changes, aetiology and potential intervention actions still need further study.

PMID:36641726 | DOI:10.3233/WOR-220172

Work. 2023 Jan 9. doi: 10.3233/WOR-220132. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Modern medical education has flourished with an emergent interest in a variety of assessment approaches that entails direct observation of performance and provision of feedback. Workplace-based assessment (WPBA) has been embraced into specialty training in the United Kingdom (UK) within National Health Service (NHS). In Pakistan, this educational framework is incorporated to gauge the clinical proficiency of trainees at the postgraduate and undergraduate levels. The present study was done to identify how WPBA is perceived by dental field postgraduate trainees in Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: The study explored and ascertained trainees’ perceptions, attitudes, and preferences considering their experiences with the systematic organization and execution of WPBA in dental educational settings.

METHOD: This cross-sectional study design involved the clinical trainees of various cadres in a tertiary care hospital in Multan. A structured and validated questionnaire previously used for another analysis was administered among 90 trainees at the institute. The results were analyzed and tabulated using SPSS-21. Influential statistics (Pearson’s Chi-Square Test) was performed and the confidence interval was set at 95% (P≤0.05).

RESULTS: The response rate was 88%. Opinions were more positive compared to the former surveys. The majority of the respondents (65.8%) have shown a positive attitude towards WPBA and preferred it to be a valuable assessment system as it fosters reflective practices in educational settings. In addition, it was shown that WPBA has the potential to improve clinical training (72.2%) and aid in the effective implementation of clinical practice (68.4%). As the system of digital education has been introduced ever since the pandemic, the highest percentage of participants (56%) preferred a combination of on-paper and online assessment systems.

CONCLUSION: The study reported that WPBA proposes the opportunity to associate teaching, learning, and assessment. The faculty training program is a significant input to upholding the quality of WPBA. Empirical research on WPBA is essential to be carried out to overcome the inadequacies thus endorsing its application universally.

PMID:36641724 | DOI:10.3233/WOR-220132

Work. 2023 Jan 9. doi: 10.3233/WOR-211462. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Health literacy plays a key role in promoting overall health and preventing diseases among individuals and communities. However, the literature regarding health literacy among university employees is still evolving and not thoroughly understood.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to examine the association between health literacy and sociodemographic characteristics and nutritional status of university employees in Jordan.

METHODS: This study was conducted using a cross-sectional design. A total of 163 university employees participated by completing a demographics questionnaire and the Health Literacy Questionnaire. The Health Literacy Questionnaire is considered a comprehensive tool to assess health literacy, and it encompasses nine distinct scales. The body mass index was calculated by obtaining the participants’ height and weight.

RESULTS: The results of multivariate analysis of variance showed that three factors had a statistically significant effect on the linear composite of the Health Literacy Questionnaire scales. These factors were the university employees’ age, highest level of education, and body mass index. Follow-up analyses revealed that university employees’ sociodemographic characteristics and nutritional status affect different domains of health literacy. Compared to overweight employees, those with normal body mass index had higher mean average scores on six (out of nine) scales of the Health Literacy Questionnaire.

CONCLUSION: These results highlight the need for addressing the nutritional status and sociodemographic characteristics as a source of disparity in university employees’ health literacy. Such factors should be addressed in designing tailored health promotion interventions for university employees.

PMID:36641716 | DOI:10.3233/WOR-211462

Work. 2023 Jan 9. doi: 10.3233/WOR-205036. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Re-employment of spinal cord injury survivors (SCIS) has been positively related to better community integration. The identification of the determining factors and their impact on return to work (RTW) of SCIS would be helpful in improving the RTW rate.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the factors determining RTW and explore their impact on RTW.

METHODS: An adapted Work Rehabilitation Questionnaire Self-Report questionnaire was used to elicit sociodemographic information and work-related characteristics of the participants. Sixty-eight participants with a premorbid worker status completed the questionnaires which were sent via mail, email and hand delivery. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed.

RESULTS: At the time of the survey 70.6% of the participants were not re-employed. The inferential statistical analysis indicated that time since injury and re-employment, receiving medical attention due to complications, vocational intervention, supervisor’s support, family support and government support were significant factors of RTW. The results showed no significant differences in RTW by most of the sociodemographic factors. Only two percent of the participants indicated vocational planning and intentions.

CONCLUSION: The significant impact of vocational and injury characteristics suggests that vocational rehabilitation services are urgently needed to support SCIS in returning to their worker role. Returning to work is a significant outcome of SCI rehabilitation.

PMID:36641705 | DOI:10.3233/WOR-205036

Technol Health Care. 2023 Jan 5. doi: 10.3233/THC-229016. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The necessity of setting up high-resolution models is essential to timely forecast dangerous meteorological phenomena.

OBJECTIVE: This study presents a verification of the numerical Weather Research and Forecasting non-hydrostatic Mesoscale Model (WRF NMM) for weather prediction using the High-Performance Computing (HPC) cluster over the complex relief of Montenegro.

METHODS: Verification was performed comparing WRF NMM predicted values and measured values for temperature, wind and precipitation for six Montenegrin weather stations in a five-year period using statistical parameters. The difficult task of adjusting the model over the complex Montenegrin terrain is caused by a rapid altitude change in in the coastal area, numerous karst fields, basins, river valleys and canyons, large areas of artificial lakes on a relatively small terrain.

RESULTS: Based on the obtained verification results, the results of the model vary during time of day, the season of the year, the altitude of the station for which the model results were verified, as well as the surrounding relief for them. The results show the best performance in the central region and show deviations for some metrological measures in some periods of the year.

CONCLUSION: This study can give recommendations on how to adapt a numerical model to a real situation in order to produce better weather forecast for the public.

PMID:36641700 | DOI:10.3233/THC-229016

J Alzheimers Dis. 2023 Jan 11. doi: 10.3233/JAD-221044. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common dementia syndrome in the elderly characterized by synaptic failure and unique brain pathology. De novo protein synthesis is required for the maintenance of memory and synaptic plasticity. Mounting evidence links impaired neuronal protein synthesis capacity and overall protein synthesis deficits to AD pathogenesis. Meanwhile, identities of AD-associated dysregulation of “newly synthesized proteome” remain elusive.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate de novo proteome alterations in the hippocampus of aged Tg19959 AD model mice.

METHODS: In this study, we combined the bioorthogonal noncanonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT) method with the unbiased large-scale proteomic analysis in acute living brain slices (we name it “BONSPEC”) to investigate de novo proteome alterations in the hippocampus of Tg19959 AD model mice. We further applied multiple bioinformatics methods to analyze in-depth the proteomics data.

RESULTS: In total, 1,742 proteins were detected across the 10 samples with the BONSPEC method. After exclusion of those only detected in less than half of the samples in both groups, 1,362 proteins were kept for further analysis. 37 proteins were differentially expressed (based on statistical analysis) between the WT and Tg19959 groups. Among them, 19 proteins were significantly decreased while 18 proteins were significantly increased in the hippocampi of Tg19959 mice compared to WT mice. The results suggest that proteins involved in synaptic function were enriched in de novo proteome of AD mice.

CONCLUSION: Our study could provide insights into the future investigation into the molecular signaling mechanisms underlying AD and related dementias (ADRDs).

PMID:36641677 | DOI:10.3233/JAD-221044

J Alzheimers Dis. 2023 Jan 12. doi: 10.3233/JAD-220770. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is widely used in screening for colorectal cancer (CRC), but FIT results can be positive for diseases other than CRC.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association between positive results of FIT and the incidence of dementia using a nationwide database.

METHODS: FIT-positive participants were collected from a database provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service.

RESULTS: The incidence of all kinds of dementia was higher in FIT-positive than FIT-negative subjects (p < 0.0001). FIT-positive participants had a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (p < 0.0001) and vascular dementia (p = 0.0002), compared to participants with FIT negativity. The risk of all kinds of dementia or AD in FIT-positive participants was higher in younger (age < 65 years) than older participants (p < 0.0001 for all kinds of dementia; p = 0.0002 for AD).

CONCLUSION: FIT positivity was correlated with an increased risk of dementia, especially in participants under 65 years of age. The study suggests that clinicians can consider dementia when FIT-positive participants fail to show any malignancies.

PMID:36641669 | DOI:10.3233/JAD-220770