Nevin Manimala

J Sci Med Sport. 2024 Nov 26:S1440-2440(24)00581-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2024.11.008. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the test-retest reliability of athletic performance tests in a cohort of trained Norwegian female handball players, as well as a sub-analysis of the test-retest reliability for naturally menstruating players.

DESIGN: Eighteen handball players (naturally menstruating: n = 8) completed performance test batteries on three separate occasions.

METHODS: The performance test battery included: a 1-repetition Smith machine back squat, maximal handgrip strength tests, counter-movement jumps, squat jumps, a modified agility T-test, and 15-m linear sprints. For the naturally menstruating players, the testing sessions were completed at three hormonally-distinct points within a menstrual cycle (i.e., early follicular, ovulation, and mid-luteal phases). Reliability statistics (intraclass correlations, standard error of measurement, minimum difference, and coefficient of variation) were calculated for each performance test.

RESULTS: Good-to-excellent test-retest reliability was found for all performance measures (intraclass correlation_2,1 point estimates = 0.82 to 0.94), although max squat jumps were somewhat lower (intraclass correlation_2,1 = 0.75 [95 % confidence interval = 0.55, 0.88]). Subgroup analysis for naturally menstruating players also revealed consistently high reliability values for all tests (intraclass correlation_2,1 point estimate = 0.83 to 0.74).

CONCLUSIONS: These reliability data support the periodic use of selected athletic tests in routine handball assessments, in order to identify changes in sporting performance and monitor player progress. As test reliability does not appear to be influenced by the menstrual cycle phase, coaches and sports practitioners may schedule testing sessions for all athletes, without concern of a confounding effect from menstrual phases.

PMID:39645439 | DOI:10.1016/j.jsams.2024.11.008

J Prosthet Dent. 2024 Dec 6:S0022-3913(24)00743-1. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2024.11.001. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Restoring endodontically treated premolars with noncircular canals presents a significant challenge.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the in vitro fracture resistance and the finite element computational calculation-based stress and safety factor of noncircular-shaped, endodontically treated premolars restored with 5 different prefabricated and custom computer-aided design and computer-aided manufactured post-and-core systems.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty single-rooted oval-shaped canal maxillary premolars were endodontically treated and post spaces were prepared. The specimens were divided into 5 categories on the basis of the post-and-core system used: Group CN composite resin core without a post, Group CF prefabricated fiber-reinforced composite resin post and composite resin core, Group IC interpenetrating phase composite post-and-core, Group LS lithium disilicate post-and-core, and Group ZR zirconia post-and-core. Lithium disilicate crowns were fabricated and cemented on the 5 different post-and-core systems and subjected to a fracture resistance test using a spherical indenter with static loading. Differences in fracture resistance were evaluated using a 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (α=.05). The 3-dimensional finite element method was used to determine the von Mises stress and safety factors, defined as the ratio of the material’s strength to the von Mises stress experienced, within different compartments of the restored tooth model.

RESULTS: In the in vitro fracture resistance test, the mean ±standard deviation fracture loads of the 5 groups were 2144 ±515 N, 1801 ±600 N, 1690 ±312 N, 1612 ±545 N, and 1487 ±600 N, respectively and were statistically similar (P=.078). All specimens within the ZR group exhibited restorable fractures. In contrast, only 30% of the CN group specimens showed restorable fractures. The incidence of restorable fractures in the CF, IC, and LS groups was 70%, 80%, and 70%, respectively. Although all groups showed similar maximum von Mises stress and stress distribution, safety factors in the models varied significantly. The ceramic crown was the weakest component in the LS and ZR groups, with much lower safety factors than dentin and post-and-core regions. Additionally, the CN group’s wider dentin area had a demonstrably lower safety factor.

CONCLUSIONS: Endodontically treated noncircular-shaped canal premolars showed minimal effect on fracture resistance regardless of post type. However, for teeth with sufficient ferrule, using any post-and-core system significantly reduced the incidence of nonrestorable fractures compared with just a coronal foundation restoration, with custom zirconia offering the potential of achieving a restorable outcome after fracture.

PMID:39645437 | DOI:10.1016/j.prosdent.2024.11.001

J Prosthet Dent. 2024 Dec 6:S0022-3913(24)00777-7. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2024.11.010. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Adhesives play an essential role in restorative dentistry, and Universal Bond Quick (UBQ) has been marketed as having a short application time and long-term resistance to hydrolysis. However, research on its biocompatibility is lacking.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the biocompatibility of 3 recently introduced universal dental adhesives: UBQ, Single Bond Universal (SBU), and Prime&Bond Universal (PBU), and the popular clinical dental adhesive SE Bond.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The CCK-8 assay, Calcein AM-PI, Real-time qPCR, DNA damage, and Cell cycle were used to evaluate the biocompatibility of each adhesive. Microleakage of the dental adhesives was also tested through immediate and chemical aging dye penetration in vitro experiments. An ANOVA, t test, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney tests were used for the statistical analyses (α=.05).

RESULTS: The biocompatibility results showed that the inhibitory effect of UBQ and SBU on the proliferation of L929 cells was lower than that of PBU and SE. The proportion of viable cells in the SBU group decreased when the concentration reached 25%, while the proportion of viable cells in the UBQ group remained unchanged at this concentration. Concentrations of PBU and SE of 6.25% caused DNA damage in L929 cells. After chemical aging, the gingival microleakage of specimens in the UBQ and PBU groups was more obvious than that of occlusal microleakage, and the difference was statistically significant (P<.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The biocompatibility of UBQ and SBU was similar and better than that of PBU and SE. However, after aging, the microleakage of the UBQ and PBU was slightly poorer in the thin enamel area near the gingival margin.

PMID:39645435 | DOI:10.1016/j.prosdent.2024.11.010

Farm Hosp. 2024 Dec 6:S1130-6343(24)00158-2. doi: 10.1016/j.farma.2024.09.009. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Polypharmacy, using 6 or more medications, may increase the risk of high medication regimen complexity index (MRCI). We aimed to identify the interrelationship between trajectories of polypharmacy and MRCI.

METHODS: People living with HIV (PLWH) (aged ≥18) were included in from 2010 to 2021. Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) was used to identify polypharmacy trajectories and the complexity index of the medication regimen and the dual GBTM to identify their interrelationship.

RESULTS: In total, 789 participants who met the eligibility criteria were included in the study, with a median age of 47 years. GBTM analysis was used to reveal latent polypharmacy trajectories among PLWH. The findings disclosed four distinctive trajectories, with the majority (50.8%) of the PLWH falling into the ‘low increasing’ trajectory. Furthermore, GBTM identified 2 trajectories characterized by high MRCI, and a substantial proportion (80.2%) was assigned to the ‘slightly increasing low’ trajectory group. The study revealed that younger age (<50 years) was a significant predictor of membership in the ‘consistently low’ trajectory, while male gender was associated with the groups of ‘low increasing’ and ‘moderately decreasing’ polypharmacy trajectory.

CONCLUSIONS: GBTM failed to discern a discernible interrelationship between polypharmacy and the high MRCI. It is imperative to undertake future studies within this research domain, considering potential effect modifiers, notably the specific type of concomitant drug. This approach is crucial due to the outcomes induced by both polypharmacy and the magnitude of the pharmacotherapeutic complexity in PLWH.

PMID:39645427 | DOI:10.1016/j.farma.2024.09.009

Med Dosim. 2024 Dec 6:S0958-3947(24)00058-X. doi: 10.1016/j.meddos.2024.10.006. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This article aims to compare the dosimetric performance between knowledge-based plan (KBP) libraries with and without trade-off (TO) exploration using multicriterial optimization (MCO) for tongue cancer patients. The trade-off optimized library (KBP_MCO) contains a minimal number of constituent plans, whereas two nontrade-off optimized libraries contain a minimal and a large number of treatment plans, respectively. Three KBP libraries were created: KBP_100 and KBP_20, each comprising of 100 and 20 manually optimized plans, respectively. Additionally, another KBP library (KBP_MCO_20) was created by reoptimizing the constituent plans from KBP_20 using MCO techniques. A total of 70 tongue plans were validated through these libraries. Validation plans were evaluated for PTV and organ at risk (OAR) doses. Greenhouse-Geisser analysis (ANOVA) and the Bonferroni procedure (t-test) were used for statistical evaluation. The mean PTVD95% for KBP_100, KBP_20, and KBP_MCO_20 was 98.4% ± 0.3%, 98.9% ± 0.2%, and 98.7% ± 0.2%, respectively. The statistical significance of PTVD95% for the 3 possible combinations-KBP_100 vs KBP_20, KBP_100 vs KBP_MCO_20, and KBP_20 vs KBP_MCO_20 were statistically significant with p < 0.001. Spinal cord doses for KBP_100, KBP_20, and KBP_MCO_20 were 29.6 ± 1.8 Gy, 31.2 ± 2.5 Gy, and 26.8 ± 1.9 Gy, respectively, with p(KBP_100 vs KBP_20) = 0.14, p(KBP_100 vs KBP_MCO_20) = 0.001, and p(KBP_20 vs KBP_MCO_20) < 0.001. Only the first comparison showed a statistically insignificant variation. A trade-off optimized plan library with a minimal number of patients (20) yields better performance for serial structures (spinal cord and brainstem) compared to large manually optimized KBP libraries. For other organs at risk (OARs) and target dose coverage, although statistical differences were significant in most instances, the differences in physical dose were small and probably will not yield any significant clinical differences.

PMID:39645424 | DOI:10.1016/j.meddos.2024.10.006

J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2024 Dec 6:S1010-5182(24)00329-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jcms.2024.11.019. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the different outcomes of mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) using computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) surgical guides accompanied by pre-bent distractors versus CAD/CAM surgical guides with commercial distractors.

METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with severe dentofacial deformities secondary to unilateral temporomandibular joint ankylosis (TMJA) were retrospectively enrolled. Ten parameters associated with MDO were measured preoperatively, virtually, and postoperatively. The hard-tissue digital model was reconstructed using Mimics Research 17.0, and imaging data were collected and analyzed using Freeform Plus software 12.0, Geomagic Studio 12.0, and IBM SPSS Version 20.0.

RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients underwent MDO with subsequent adjunctive surgery and were evaluated. Thirteen patients underwent CAD/CAM surgical guides with pre-bent distractors (group A), while fifteen underwent CAD/CAM guides with commercial distractors (group B). Both techniques achieved optimal occlusion and satisfactory appearance. Statistical analysis showed group A demonstrated a more accurate control of vector direction during MDO compared to group B (p < 0.05). Additionally, group A also exhibited a shorter subsequent treatment duration and less relapse compared to group B (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: CAD/CAM surgical guides with pre-bent distractors can significantly enhance surgical accuracy in controlling the vector direction of MDO for correcting dentofacial deformities secondary to TMJA, leading to a reduction in subsequent treatment duration and occurrence.

PMID:39645421 | DOI:10.1016/j.jcms.2024.11.019

Hipertens Riesgo Vasc. 2024 Dec 6:S1889-1837(24)00111-9. doi: 10.1016/j.hipert.2024.10.003. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: This study investigates the perceptions and knowledge of specialized Argentine physicians regarding renal denervation (RDN) as a treatment for resistant hypertension (R-HT).

METHOD: A survey was conducted among 206 physicians, mainly cardiologists and internists, to assess their awareness and perceptions of RDN. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman’s Rho correlation.

RESULTS: The survey revealed that 83% of the responders are aware of RDN. Despite this high awareness, only 60% believe in its safety, while 33.2% are uncertain, and 6.8% consider it unsafe. Significant correlations were found between the awareness of RDN and perceptions of its efficacy and safety.

CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights a gap between knowledge and confidence in RDN among specialized Argentine physicians. Continuous education and shared decision-making are crucial to improve the adoption of RDN in clinical practice. Long-term safety and efficacy data support RDN as a valuable tool for managing R-HT. Addressing safety concerns through targeted educational initiatives is essential.

PMID:39645419 | DOI:10.1016/j.hipert.2024.10.003

Clin Transl Med. 2024 Dec;14(12):e70119. doi: 10.1002/ctm2.70119.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:39644148 | DOI:10.1002/ctm2.70119

J Comput Chem. 2025 Jan 5;46(1):e27518. doi: 10.1002/jcc.27518.

ABSTRACT

Predicting drug target binding affinity has huge relevance in Modern drug discovery and drug repositioning processes which assist doctors to come up with new drugs or even use the existing drugs for new target proteins. In silico models, using advanced deep learning techniques could further assist these prediction tasks by providing most prominent drug target pairs. Considering these factors, a deep learning based algorithmic framework is developed in this study to support drug target interaction prediction. The proposed SeqDPI model extract the relevant drug and protein features from the one dimensional Sequential representation of the dataset considered using optimized CNN networks that deploy convolutions on varying length of amino acid subsequence’s to capture hidden pattern, the convolved drug- protein features obtained are then used as an input to L2 penalized feed forward neural network which matches the local residue patterns in protein classes with molecular fingerprints of drugs to predict the binding strength for all drug target pairs. The proposed model reduces the convolution strain typically encountered in existing in silico models that utilize complex 3D structures of drug protein datasets. The result shows that the SeqDPI model achieves a mean square error MSE of (0.167) across cross validation folds, outperforming baseline models such as KronRLS (0.406), Simboost (0.226), and DeepPS (0.214). Additionally, SeqDPI attains a high CI score of 0.9114 on the benchmark KIBA dataset, demonstrating its statistical significance and computational efficiency compared to existing methods. This gives the relevance and effectiveness of SeqDPI model in accurately predicting binding affinities while working with simpler one-dimensional data, making it a robust and computationally cost-effective solution for drug-target interaction prediction.

PMID:39644133 | DOI:10.1002/jcc.27518

J Magn Reson Imaging. 2024 Dec 7. doi: 10.1002/jmri.29675. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) could offer information about the morphological properties of tissue. Diffusion microstructure imaging has been widely used, but the applicability of NODDI in skeletal muscle imaging remains to be explored.

PURPOSE: To evaluate microstructure parameters variations in skeletal muscle as indicators of age-related changes.

STUDY TYPE: Prospective, cross-sectional.

POPULATION: A total of 108 asymptomatic volunteers, divided into three age groups: 20-39 years (N = 34), 40-59 years (N = 40), and over 60 years (N = 34).

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3-T, three-dimensional (3D) gradient echo sequence.

ASSESSMENT: T1-weighted imaging, T2-weighted imaging with spectral adiabatic inversion recovery, and NODDI were used to image the thigh skeletal muscles. Four thigh skeletal muscle groups were analyzed, including bilateral thigh quadriceps femoris and hamstrings. The microstructure parameters included orientation dispersion index (ODI), intra-myofibrillar water volume fraction (V-intra), free-water fraction (V-csf), fractional anisotropy (FA), and mean diffusivity (MD). These parameters were quantified using NODDI images and compared among different age, body mass index (BMI), and skeletal muscle index (SMI) subgroups.

STATISTICAL TESTS: Segmentation measurement reliability was assessed using a two-way mixed intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Shapiro-Wilk tests were used to assess data distribution. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare ODI, V-intra, V-csf, FA, and MD values among different age, BMI, and SMI subgroups. The Spearman correlation coefficient was utilized to assess the strength of the correlation between the age and microstructure parameters, as well as between age and SMI. Additionally, Bonferroni post hoc tests were conducted on microstructure parameters that exhibited significant differences across various age groups. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: Significant differences in ODI, V-csf, FA, and MD values were observed among age, BMI, and SMI subgroups.

DATA CONCLUSION: NODDI may be used to reveal information about microstructure integrity and local physiological changes of thigh skeletal muscle fibers in relation to age.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

PMID:39644126 | DOI:10.1002/jmri.29675