Nevin Manimala

Saudi Dent J. 2025 Apr 15;37(1-3):3. doi: 10.1007/s44445-025-00002-5.

ABSTRACT

Adhesives are essential for attaching orthodontic brackets to the tooth surface and ensuring safe removal during debonding. ACTIVA™ BioACTIVE-Restorative (ABR) is a bioactive composite with potential advantages. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) and adhesive remnant index (ARI) of ACTIVA™ BioACTIVE-Restorative (ABR) with conventional adhesives, including Transbond XT™ (TXT) and Orthocem™ (OC). A total of 51 human maxillary premolars were distributed randomly into three groups (n = 17). Each group was bonded with one adhesive following the manufacturer’s protocols. Then were subjected to 5000 thermocycles to simulate oral conditions. SBS was measured using a universal testing machine, and ARI scores were visually analysed under magnification. Statistical analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA and chi-squared tests, with a 0.05 level of significance. Mean SBS values were 11.26 MPa, 12.52 MPa, and 12.96 MPa for ABR, TXT, and OC, respectively, with no significant differences (p = 0.513). ARI analysis revealed significant differences (p = 0.009) as ABR predominantly exhibited ARI 3 scores, indicating no adhesive remnants on enamel. In contrast, TXT and OC groups showed higher adhesive retention. ABR demonstrated shear bond strength comparable to conventional adhesives, meeting the clinical thresholds for orthodontic use. But demonstrated more complete adhesive failure in the enamel-adhesive interface rather than cohesive failure within the adhesive material like in TXT and OC.

PMID:40397265 | DOI:10.1007/s44445-025-00002-5

OTJR (Thorofare N J). 2025 May 21:15394492251324915. doi: 10.1177/15394492251324915. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

There is an increasing need for assistive robots to support independent living for people with physical disabilities, but few are commercially accessible to users in their homes. Our objective was to investigate how the functional performance of everyday activities improved the performance of an individual with quadriplegia using the Stretch robot. We implemented a participatory design approach using a single subject volunteer sampling. Point-in-time evaluations included Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL) and Stroke Impact Scale (SIS). Pre- and post-measures included the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) to assess intervention effectiveness on personalized goals. There was a statistically significant improvement in baseline GAS scores based on the individual’s goals in grooming (+2), self-feeding (+2), social participation (+2 giving a rose, +0 playing cards), and meal planning (+2) along with a T-scale score of 74.43. The individual’s functional performance in daily activities improved with Stretch while reducing care partner assistance, contributing positively to their experiences.

PMID:40396342 | DOI:10.1177/15394492251324915

Int J Eat Disord. 2025 May 21. doi: 10.1002/eat.24469. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most well-established treatment for binge-eating disorder (BED), but the mechanisms of change remain poorly understood. This study investigated in CBT for BED the effects of overvaluation of shape and weight and dietary restraint on subsequent objective binge-eating episodes (OBEs).

METHOD: In a multicenter randomized-controlled trial, 84 patients diagnosed with full- or subsyndromal BED were offered 20 individual sessions of CBT over 4 months. Dynamic structural equation modeling (DSEM) was used to disentangle within- and between-patient associations of overvaluation of shape and weight, dietary restraint, and OBEs.

RESULTS: Between the first and last week of therapy, there were significant reductions in overvaluation of shape and weight, dietary restraint, and OBEs. DSEM showed significant within-patient effects of overvaluation of shape and weight on the subsequent number of OBEs. Weeks with lower overvaluation of shape and weight levels were followed by weeks with fewer OBEs. Although no within-patient effect of dietary restraint on OBEs was found, within-patient dietary restraint levels positively predicted subsequent overvaluation of shape and weight levels.

DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that reductions in overvaluation of shape and weight may precede improvements in binge eating during CBT for BED, supporting its role as a potential mechanism of change. While dietary restraint did not show a direct temporal link to binge eating, its association with overvaluation points to a potential indirect role. These results underscore the value of targeting cognitive features of BED in CBT and highlight the need for more temporally sensitive assessments in mechanisms research.

PMID:40396334 | DOI:10.1002/eat.24469

Curr Eye Res. 2025 May 21:1-8. doi: 10.1080/02713683.2025.2504569. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess the usability of a smartphone-based augmented reality tool for capsulorhexis training.

METHODS: This is a single-center, prospective, clinical study conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany. Surgery-naïve residents were included and divided into three subgroups: (1) augmented reality supported by the Custom Surgical MicroREC system during their capsulorhexis procedures; (2) Expert support supported by an experienced cataract surgeon; (3) No support without support. Capsulorhexis quality was graded by circularity, centration, and radius.

RESULTS: Twenty-one (n_total = 21) participants were enrolled. The augmented reality group was statistically significantly better in terms of circularity than the Expert support (Mann-Whitney’s U-test: p = .00175) and the No support group (Mann-Whitney’s U-test: p = .00268). The procedure duration decreased statistically significantly for all three groups when try 1 and 10 were compared (augmented reality: p < .0001; Expert support: p = .0099; No support: p < .0001). The other parameters did not differ statistically significantly. The questionnaires handed to the augmented reality and No support group before and after the wet lab revealed a high importance of wet lab trainings to all polled participants. The provided wet lab setup was considered adequate by both groups.

CONCLUSION: Augmented reality can assist in cataract training. The Custom Surgical MicroREC system can have a positive influence on capsulorhexis quality in a training environment. Automated quality metrics measured by the augmented reality software provide an objective quality score of the performed surgical procedure. As the tested augmented reality system can be used in training as well as in a real-world setting, this will be a useful tool for trainees and expert surgeons alike.

PMID:40396333 | DOI:10.1080/02713683.2025.2504569

Curr Alzheimer Res. 2025 May 19. doi: 10.2174/0115672050388220250511174043. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE: Given the role of inflammation in the development of both Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and periodontal disease, it is plausible that periodontal disease may influence the progression of AD. Complete blood count (CBC) parameters may also serve as predictive indicators for this condition. This study investigated the predictive value of CBC parameters on the progression of AD in patients with periodontal disease.

METHODS: Data from a prospective cohort study (n=90) with 6-month follow-up was analyzed. AD was assessed based on the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale. Records of C-reactive Protein (CRP) levels and CBC parameters measured within the 6 months preceding the participation date were evaluated. Cognitive assessments at the initial and 6th-month follow-up were performed using the Standardized Mini-Mental Test (SMMT). All patients underwent clinical periodontal examination.

RESULTS: The difference in SMMT score change (ΔSMMT) and platelet distribution width (PDW) value between groups with and without periodontitis was statistically notable (p<0.05). The presence of periodontitis was found to be significantly associated with age, ΔSMMT, and PDW values using the multivariate logistic regression model (p<0.05). Furthermore, having Stage II and Stage III AD, periodontitis, age factor, and mean platelet volume (MPV) value had a notable impact on ΔSMMT (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: PDW and MPV levels may have a predictive significance in clarifying the association between periodontitis and AD progression.

PMID:40396318 | DOI:10.2174/0115672050388220250511174043

J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol. 2025 May 21;32(3):e01015. doi: 10.1097/LBR.0000000000001015. eCollection 2025 Jul 1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The convex-probe endobronchial ultrasound (CP-EBUS) bronchoscope is widely used in clinical practice. Despite improvements, the existing CP-EBUS remains limited in accessing areas beyond the mediastinum due to its large distal end diameter, long rigid tip segment, and oblique viewing angle. To address this limitation, Olympus Medical Systems Corporation developed the thin CP-EBUS (TCP-EBUS). This study aimed to compare the accessibility and puncturing ability of TCP-EBUS with existing CP-EBUS in cadaveric models.

METHODS: Ten bronchoscopists conducted this study using 2 cadaveric models. The accessibility of TCP-EBUS was evaluated based on the number of bronchial generations that could be reached. To assess the puncturing ability of TCP-EBUS, needle punctures were performed on previously created simulated lesions in the segmental or subsegmental bronchial area, and puncture success rates were calculated.

RESULTS: TCP-EBUS demonstrated greater accessibility than CP-EBUS in all segmental bronchi, with statistically significant differences observed in several bronchi (P<0.05). Puncture success rates for simulated lesions using TCP-EBUS were also significantly higher than those using CP-EBUS in both the segmental (85.0% vs. 60.0%, P<0.001) and subsegmental bronchial areas (84.4% vs. 38.9%, P<0.001). In a questionnaire survey, TCP-EBUS was perceived as significantly superior in terms of usability (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: TCP-EBUS has significantly improved both accessibility and puncture performance, providing an advantage over CP-EBUS in segmental and subsegmental bronchial areas. TCP-EBUS has the potential to expand the indications for endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration.

PMID:40396305 | DOI:10.1097/LBR.0000000000001015

J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol. 2025 May 21;32(3):e01013. doi: 10.1097/LBR.0000000000001013. eCollection 2025 Jul 1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disease characterized by abnormal alveolar surfactant accumulation. In recent years, transbronchial cryo-biopsy (TBCB) has gradually been applied as it can obtain larger and better-quality specimens. This study aims to assess the diagnostic yield and safety of TBCB in PAP.

METHODS: This study included 78 PAP patients who underwent lung biopsy. Thirty-six of them underwent transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) with forceps and the other 42 underwent TBCB. Clinical data, biopsy specimen number and size, the pathologic lesion proportion of biopsied specimens, complications, and pathologic diagnosis of patients from both groups were recorded.

RESULTS: Our data show that the diagnostic yield of TBCB is significantly superior to that of TBLB (78.6% vs. 50%, P<0.05). The TBCB group exhibited a greater number and size of biopsy specimens than the TBLB group (P<0.05). As for pathologic diagnosis, the specimen size in the PAP-positive group was notably larger than in the PAP-negative group (P<0.05). According to the receiver operating characteristic curve, the specimen size of at least 2 mm2 was identified as the cut-off with a higher positive predictive value (area under the curve = 0.676, P=0.007). For complications of TBLB and TBCB, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of pneumothorax and bleeding.

CONCLUSION: TBCB emerges as a minimally invasive, effective, and safe technique with a higher diagnostic yield than TBLB in PAP. Augmenting the specimen size can effectively improve the diagnostic yield.

PMID:40396301 | DOI:10.1097/LBR.0000000000001013

Curr HIV Res. 2025 May 20. doi: 10.2174/011570162X366300250509112302. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Some HIV patients stay in an immune unresponsive state after antiretroviral therapy (ART), with a notably higher risk of AIDS-related and non-AIDS-related complications. Double-negative T cells (DNT) can compensate for immunity and prevent immune overactivation in HIV patients. Also, immune non-responders (INRs) have fewer DNT cells than immune responders (IRs). HIV infection and ART can change the dynamic function of cell mitochondria, which are crucial in ferroptosis. Ferroptosis is a form of cell death marked by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Yet, the changes in DNT cell function in INRs and the impact of ferroptosis on immune reconstitution remain unclear.

AIMS: Our study focused on the expression level of DNT cells in HIV immune non-responders. Then, we detected markers of ferroptosis, cell activation, proliferation, killing function, and inflammatory states of DNT cells in INRs.

METHODS: The study involved 88 PLHIVs who had received antiretroviral therapy for over 4 years and tested virus-negative. These patients were classified into two groups: 28 INRs (CD4 < 350/μl) and 60 IRs (CD4 ≥350/μl). Additionally, 25 sex- and age-matched HCs were included. Flow cytometry was used to detect ferroptosis markers (JC-1, Lipid ROS, lipid peroxidation), cell proliferation, and cell activation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was applied to observe mitochondrial morphology. Finally, statistical analysis was performed on the detection results.

RESULTS: After long-term antiretroviral therapy, we found that INRs had a lower DNT cell count than IRs. Regarding proliferation and activation, our results showed higher CD38/HLA-DR co-expression and Ki67 expression in INRs’ DNT cells than in IRs’, indicating over-activation of DNT cells in INRs. In terms of killing function, the perforin and granzyme B levels in INRs’ DNT cells were lower than those in IRs’, suggesting impaired killing function of DNT cells in INRs. For ferroptosis, the proportion of DNT cells with decreased MMP in INRs was higher than in IRs and HCs. INRs’ DNT cells also had higher levels of lipid ROS and lipid peroxidation compared to those in IRs and HCs. TEM revealed that the mitochondria of INRs’ DNT cells had typical morphological features. Moreover, INRs’ DNT cells had a greater degree of inflammation.

CONCLUSION: Our study centered on the proliferation, activation, ferroptosis, killing function, and inflammatory status of DNT cells in INRs. We found that DNT cells in INRs had more active proliferation and activation, weakened killing function, mitochondrial function with typical ferroptosis features, and increased TNF-αlevels. Correlation analysis indicated that DNT cell overactivation (Ki-67+, CD38+HLA-DR+), MMP reduction ratio, and TNF-αexpression were negatively related to immune reconstitution in PLHIVs. In contrast, the killing function (perforin+) of DNT cells was positively related to it. These findings provide a theoretical basis for targeting the functional remodeling of DNT cells. In the future, therapeutic strategies can be explored, such as regulating the mitochondrial metabolic pathway or enhancing the immunoregulatory activity of DNT cells. These strategies can thus offer innovative solutions to the dilemma of immune reconstitution in HIV-infected individuals.

PMID:40396294 | DOI:10.2174/011570162X366300250509112302

Eur J Dent Educ. 2025 May 21. doi: 10.1111/eje.13111. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Dental surgeons are particularly exposed to musculoskeletal disorders. Ergonomics can help prevent them. Third-party ergonomic assessment is beneficial in the short term. However, self-assessment of one’s working posture is even more valuable, as it fosters lifelong awareness.

METHODS: Fifth year odontology students were randomly assigned to one of two groups (control and training) to evaluate whether a protocol for ergonomic self-assessment by paediatric odontology students, using photography, led to an improvement in their working position. The Modified-Dental Operator Posture Assessment Instrument was used.

RESULTS: The study included 82 fifth-year odontology students who performed paediatric care between September 2022 and June 2023. A statistically significant difference was found between the control and training groups for both self-assessments (p < 0.001) and evaluator analyses (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The longitudinal follow-up approach appears to be unique in the field of ergonomics education in dentistry. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in ergonomics scores for the group that received ergonomic advice and visual feedback compared to the control group. This improvement was confirmed both by evaluator-assigned scores and by students’ self-assessments.

PMID:40396283 | DOI:10.1111/eje.13111

Health Expect. 2025 Jun;28(3):e70300. doi: 10.1111/hex.70300.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Our ability to address inequities in health outcomes is hampered by the under-representation of underserved groups in research. Research exploring this topic has focused on observational studies in the American context. This is a pivotal concern for maternity research in the UK as perinatal outcome variables vary by ethnicity, socioeconomic and linguistic background. This paper reports the findings of an analysis of the diversity achieved by different recruitment strategies used within a feasibility study and pilot trial of group antenatal care (Pregnancy Circles).

METHOD: A pilot randomised controlled trial involved implementation of Pregnancy Circles across three maternity services in an area of high ethnic, socioeconomic and linguistic diversity. Following findings of high ethnic diversity but low levels of educational and linguistic diversity amongst participants recruited in our prior feasibility study, equity-informed strategies were put into place to attempt to increase recruitment diversity in the pilot trial, addressing organisational barriers (additional language support); attitudinal barriers (staff training to counteract recruitment bias) and practical barriers (extending the recruitment period to reach women accessing care late). Women who declined participation were invited to complete a short anonymous questionnaire covering demographic details and reasons for declining. The demographic characteristics of participants in the feasibility and pilot studies, and the pilot study decliners, were compared using descriptive statistics and free-text reasons for declining were analysed thematically.

RESULTS: The targeted recruitment processes were successful in widening the diversity of participants in this study, in particular for women with limited English proficiency and low educational achievement. Nevertheless, comparison of participants to those who declined showed some barriers persisted. The most common reason to decline was lack of time, most commonly due to caring responsibilities, and this was more likely to be cited by ethnically minoritized women.

CONCLUSION: Recruitment plans focused on widening diversity can be effective but are likely to require additional resources such as funding longer recruitment periods or interpreting services. The gendered nature of maternity research poses particular challenges, and our study suggests that addressing barriers such as those around childcare would enhance the recruitment of socio-economically deprived and minoritized women.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Our study team included two service user representatives as co-investigators, feeding into all aspects of the study. The focus of the work reported here was to increase the participation of underserved communities in the pilot trial and to inform the Pregnancy Circles RCT, to enable them to contribute their data and lived experience to the findings and evaluation of this intervention.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Due to an administrative oversight, trial registration for this pilot trial was applied for during the 6-week recruitment period, rather than before recruitment commencing (ISRCTN66925258. Retrospectively registered 3 April 2017). Registration occurred before programme intervention, outcomes and process data collection and all data analysis.

PMID:40396261 | DOI:10.1111/hex.70300