Increased risk of chronic kidney disease in uric acid stone formers with high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio.

Urolithiasis is associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), irrespective of stone compositions. Chronic inflammation is an important factor for CKD progression. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been recognized as a reliable biomarker of inflammation, yet its use in predicting renal deterioration in patients with urolithiasis remains limited. We aimed to explore whether the combination of stone composition and NLR could be useful as a predictor for CKD risk. A total of 336 stone formers with at least one stone submission for analysis were enrolled in the retrospective study. Stones were classified into uric acid and calcium groups. Renal functions were assessed at least one month after stone treatment. Uric acid stone formers had significantly lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) compared with calcium stone formers (p < 0.001). NLR was significantly higher in uric acid stone formers (p = 0.005), and a significantly negative correlation (p < 0.001) between NLR and eGFR had been observed only in uric acid stone group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that higher proportion of uric acid stone composition and higher NLR were both significantly associated with CKD risks. A nomogram integrating independent predictors was generated for CKD prediction, yielding an AUC of 0.811 (0.764-0.858). In conclusion, our study demonstrated that stone formers with higher proportion of uric acid composition and higher NLR levels were associated with higher CKD risk.

Bibliometric analysis of top-cited articles in Journal of Dental Sciences.

Background/purpose: Bibliometric analysis is a method for quantifying the article distribution, impact, and performance. The purpose of this study was to identify the most top-cited articles published in Journal of Dental Sciences (JDS) and further analyze their main characteristics. Materials and methods: Web of Science, Journal Citation Reports database was searched to retrieve the most-cited articles in JDS published from 2007 to July 31, 2022. Among the included top-cited articles, the following parameters were recorded and analyzed: article title, article type, year, country, number of citations, and average citations pre year. Microsoft Excel was applied for the descriptive bibliometric analysis. Results: 41 top-cited articles were filtered from total 1165 JDS articles in Web of Science database. The results showed that 41 top-cited articles were cited between 20 and 186 times from Journal Citation Reports. Most of the article types are original article (28/41, 68.29%) following by review article (7/41, 17.07%). The majority of articles were originated from Taiwan (23/41, 56.10%). The top 4 most cited articles were relative to the research topic on COVID-19, lateral canal, guided-tissue regeneration barriers, and platelet-rich fibrin, respectively. However, articles analyzed by the average citations per year since publication were focused on COVID-19 followed by artificial intelligence. Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis illustrates the progress and trend of researches in JDS. The results may also offer a reference for recognizing the hot issues with the most citations in JDS.

Use of Urine N-Terminal Prohormone of Brain-Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) as a Non-Invasive Indicator for Renal Function Recovery after Surgical Relief of Hydronephrosis.

Cardiorenal syndrome is rarely discussed in patients with obstructive uropathy. On the other hand, there is currently no accurate and convenient clinical biomarker to predict the recovery of renal function after the resolution of ureteral obstruction. The purpose of this study is to explore the association between hydronephrosis and cardiorenal syndrome by measuring the change of the N-terminal prohormone of brain-natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), which is a biomarker typically used for cardiac failure, in patients receiving surgery to relieve obstructive uropathy. A total of 212 patients admitted for ureteroscopic (URS) procedures to relieve hydronephrosis were enrolled in this study. The severity of hydronephrosis as well as plasma and urine NT-proBNP levels were obtained before and after surgery. The results showed a significant correlation between urine NT-proBNP levels and renal function recovery following the resolution of hydronephrosis (OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.09−9.70, p = 0.035). Urine NT-proBNP could even predict the recovery of renal function with an area under the ROC = 0.775 (0.65−0.88, p < 0.001). In conclusion, urine NT-proBNP could be a useful early marker of renal function recovery after URS surgery, identifying patients whose renal and heart functions were compromised by the obstruction.

Virtual 3D tooth creation for personized haptic simulation training in access cavity preparation.

Personalized medicine is a new medical concept to achieve patient-centered care. In dentistry, it is recognized for the customization of operative strategies and managements for oral diseases. Access cavity preparation in endodontic treatment is an irreversible procedure. Endodontic training will be more realistic by the implementation of clinical relevant 3D virtual reality technology. In this article, the authors first presented a personized case from a real patient to provide assess cavity preparation in haptic virtual reality dental simulator Simodont® (Nissin Dental Products Inc., Nieuw-Vennep, Netherlands). The practical framework to generate STL from cone beam computed tomography was demonstrated. A case of virtual tooth #26 access cavity preparation in Simodont® was established for trainee unlimited practices before performing the clinical procedure on a real patient. Taken together, access cavity preparation in a virtual environment using a 3D personized tooth may minimize procedural errors and facilitate clinical treatment outcome.

Clinical relevant haptic simulation learning and training in tooth preparation.

Clinical dentistry is a complex activity which the procedure of most dental treatment are almost irreversible changes. Patient safety is a major challenge in clinical dental care. This is the reason why simulation-based learning and training is emphasized in dental education. In this article, the authors presented the clinical relevant haptic simulation learning and training in tooth preparation. The practical framework to set up the simulation environment from real patients in haptic 3D virtual reality dental training simulator Simodont® (Nissin Dental Products Inc., Nieuw-Vennep, Netherlands). Then, the trainee can repeatedly practice in Simodont® before performing the clinical procedure on real patient. Taken together, the implementation of this model in dental education may not only enhance trainees' self-confidence and performance, but also facilitate patient safety during clinical dental care.

Cabbage defense response provoked by Trichoderma Th-LAAO.

To investigate the molecular mechanism of Trichoderma L-amino acid oxidase (Th-LAAO) in protecting and in promoting growth of cabbage infected with Botrytis cinerea, a three-way interaction system was established. Cabbage leaves treated with purified Th-LAAO significantly constrained damaged leaf area caused by B. cinerea infection. In response to Th-LAAO treatment, the expression levels of genes involved in photosynthesis, such as ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase, Rubisco activase, and ATP synthase increased 2.54, 2.18, and 1.41 folds, respectively. The transcription levels of sucrose transport protein 1 increased 7.6 fold. As to the expression of defense-related genes, the transcription level of ascorbate peroxidase increased 1.46 fold. On the contrary, pathogenesis-related protein 1, chitinase, ß-1,3 glucanase, and glutathione S-transferase decreased significantly. Overall, the results indicated that Th-LAAO may stimulate CO2 fixation and sucrose transport and elicit host defense responses in cabbage against B. cinerea, and this elicitation of defense response is likely to contribute to induced systemic resistance of host plant.

Microdebrider-assisted versus radiofrequency-assisted inferior turbinoplasty.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of microdebrider-assisted inferior turbinoplasty (MAIT) compared to radiofrequency-assisted inferior turbinoplasty (RAIT) for hypertrophic inferior turbinates. STUDY DESIGN: Surgical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analogue scale, anterior rhinomanometry, and saccharin test results. METHODS: From January 2001 to December 2006 inclusively, 120 patients with persistent allergic rhinitis, chronic nasal obstruction, and hypertrophic inferior turbinates were enrolled in this study, randomly classified, and underwent either MAIT (n = 60) or RAIT. Ten patients who did not have any nasal discomfort served as normal controls. Assessments (visual analogue scale, anterior rhinomanometry, and saccharin test) were conducted prior to surgery and 6 months, 1, 2, and 3 years subsequent to surgery. RESULTS: Compared to preoperative values, the symptom scores (nasal obstruction, sneezing, rhinorrhea, and snoring), mean total nasal resistance, and mean saccharin transit time all improved significantly at 6 months, 1, 2, and 3 years after surgery in MAIT group (P < .05 for all). The same holds true for the RAIT group from 6 months up to 1 year (P < .05 for all), but no improvements from 2 to 3 years after were noted. The parameters between the two groups did not significantly differ 6 months after surgery, but was noted after 1 to 3 years (P < .05 for all). CONCLUSION: MAIT is more effective than RAIT at relieving nasal symptoms and decreasing total nasal resistance and saccharin transit time 1 to 3 years postoperatively in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis and who have substantial nasal obstruction.