High Capacity NbS2-Based Anodes for Li-Ion Batteries.

We have investigated the lithium capacity of the 2H phase of niobium sulfide (NbS2) using density functional theory calculations and experiments. Theoretically, this material is found to allow the intercalation of a double layer of Li in between each NbS2 layer when in equilibrium with metal Li. The resulting specific capacity (340.8 mAh/g for the pristine material, 681.6 mAh/g for oxidized material) can reach more than double the specific capacity of graphite anodes. The presence of various defects leads to an even higher capacity with a partially reversible conversion of the material, indicating that the performance of the anodes is robust with respect to the presence of defects. Experiments in battery prototypes with NbS2-based anodes find a first specific capacity of about 1,130 mAh/g, exceeding the theoretical predictions.

Marcus Gunn Syndrome - A Rare Neural Misdirection Phenomenon Case Report.

Rationale: This case report describes the Marcus Gunn phenomenon (MGP), an infrequent type of congenital unwanted contractions of facial muscles that occurs in 4%-6% of patients with congenital ptosis. The defining characteristic of MGP is the affected eyelid lifting in a manner similar to the opening of the mouth. Patient Concerns: It addresses a 45-year-old man who was examined in the dental clinic with a severely decayed tooth. He exhibited evidence of normal vision and synchronous movement of his lips and eyelid. Diagnosis: The conditions matched those of the autosomal dominant disorder with incomplete penetration, the MGP. The carious tooth was restored without the necessity for any surgical intervention. Treatment: The patient was given appropriate dental treatment without any surgical intervention for Marcus Gunn Syndrome. Outcome: After receiving routine fillings to treat dental caries, the patient stopped complaining of pain. Take-away Lesson: This case report reveals insight into a situation that has been speculated to be an example of neural redirection syndrome, in which impulses from the trigeminal nerve's motor unit are naturally redirected into the levator palpebrae superioris muscles of the upper eyelid and the superior pterygoid muscle.

Comparative Evaluation of the Differentiation and Proliferation Potential of Dental Pulp Stem Cells on Hydroxyapatite/Beta-Tricalcium Bone Graft and Bovine Bone Graft: An In Vitro Study.

BACKGROUND: Stem cells of mesenchymal origin have good proliferative capacity when compared to other stem cell types. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are a variety of mesenchymal cells obtained from the pulpal tissue of teeth and are abundantly available and easy to obtain. DPSCs facilitate and improve the formation of new bone using different bone graft scaffolds. This present study aims to evaluate and compare the osteogenic potential of DPSCs on alloplastic and xenogeneic bone grafts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hydroxyapatite and beta-tricalcium bone graft and bovine bone graft were used in a triplicate manner in the laboratory. DPSCs were obtained from the pulpal tissue of extracted third molars in the laboratory. The cytotoxicity, osteogenic potential, and difference in the rate of proliferation of mesenchymal cells on the biomaterials were assessed. RESULTS: Darker purple staining was seen in the case of hydroxyapatite/beta-tricalcium bone graft on MTT colorimetric assay stating that there was an increase in cell viability in hydroxyapatite/beta-tricalcium bone graft as compared to the bovine bone graft. Hydroxyapatite/beta-tricalcium bone graft showed more osteogenic potential as compared to the bovine bone graft as a higher degree of red staining was seen in Alizarin staining. CONCLUSION: Higher cell viability and higher osteogenic proliferation and differentiation were seen on the hydroxyapatite/beta-tricalcium bone graft compared to the bovine bone scaffold.

Evaluation of the Role of C-reactive Protein as a Prognostic Indicator in Oral Pre-malignant and Malignant Lesions.

Biopsy is the gold standard in the diagnosis of oral pre-malignant and malignant cases. In borderline cases, false-positive or false-negative results can grossly affect treatment planning, leading to a bad prognosis. C-reactive protein (CRP) has been linked to poorer outcomes for patients with oral pre-malignant and malignant lesions. To validate the histopathological finding and ultimately direct treatment, the study aims to correlate pre-treatment levels of CRP in oral pre-malignant and malignant lesions. This will provide a biomarker to assess the prognosis in such cases. Our study investigated 53 patients, out of whom 35 were males and 18 were females. A CRP analysis was performed on each patient. The automated immunoturbidimetric method was utilized to quantify CRP levels. The CRP values of pre-malignant lesions ranged from 2.46±1.79 mg/L, while the malignant group's levels ranged from 7.90±3.18 mg/L. The findings imply that plasma CRP levels may be a potential indicator of elevated cancer risk and that pre-diagnostic CRP concentrations are linked to the later development of oral cancer.

Efficacy of post-operative X-rays after operatively treated ankle fractures: What is their role?

OBJECTIVE: The utility of routine post-operative imaging in clinically asymptomatic patients is unclear. We sought to determine how frequently X-rays following operatively treated ankle fractures result in a change in management. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study conducted with hospital electronic health record SETTING: Single level 1 trauma center in major urban city. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: 193 patients with operatively treated ankle fractures at our institution between January 2020 and December 2021. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient radiographs were categorized as surveillance X-rays and clinically indicated X-rays. Changes in management were defined as alteration in follow-up, deviation from standard post-operative protocols, or revision surgery. A logistic regression was performed looking at factors predicting whether an X-ray changes management. A cost analysis was also performed looking at the financial implications of asymptomatic surveillance of ankle fractures. RESULTS: 438 post-operative X-rays were found and included in analysis. Of these, 391 were considered surveillance X-rays and 47 clinically indicated. 23 X-rays were determined to have resulted in changes in management (18 clinically indicated, 5 taken in asymptomatic patients). The number of management changing X-rays was significantly higher in the clinically indicated group (p < 0.0001). The only factor associated with whether an X-ray changed management was whether the patient was symptomatic at the visit (p < 0.0001). Asymptomatic surveillance X-rays cost our institution 21,825.62 USD per year. CONCLUSIONS: Radiographs in clinically asymptomatic patients with operatively managed ankle fractures have a low likelihood of changing management. Such imaging represents costs to the healthcare system, increased time for patients during clinic visits, and radiation exposure. The use of screening radiographic studies remains commonplace because the risk of delayed diagnosis is great, and the goal of any surgeon should be the swift identification of complications in order to minimize patient morbidity. Future surveillance protocols should consider the findings of this and other studies on the use of screening radiographs and strike a careful balance between minimizing unnecessary imaging, maximizing early complication detection, and ensuring a personalized approach towards patient-level factors to optimize care and efficiency for both patient and health system. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Identifying quantitative sncRNAs signature using global sequencing as a potential biomarker for tuberculosis diagnosis and their role in regulating host response.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to identify a quantitative signature of circulating small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) as a biomarker for pulmonary tuberculosis disease (active-TB/ATB) and explore their regulatory roles in host-pathogen interactions and disease progression. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study recruiting subjects diagnosed with active-TB (drug-sensitive and drug-resistant) and healthy controls. Sera samples were collected and utilized for preparing small RNA libraries. Quantitative patterns of circulating sncRNAs (miRNAs, piRNAs and tRFs) were identified via high-throughput sequencing and DeSeq2 analysis and validated in independent active-TB cohorts. Functional knockdown for two selected miRNAs were also performed. RESULTS: A diagnostic signature of four sncRNAs for both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant active-TB cases was validated, exhibiting an AUC of 0.96 (95% CI: 0.937-0.996, p < 0.001) with 86.7% sensitivity (95% CI: 0.775-0.932) and 91.7% specificity (95% CI: 0.730-0.990) in ROC analysis. Functional knockdown demonstrated regulatory roles of hsa-miR-223-5p and hsa-miR-10b-5p in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) growth and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (IL-6 and IL-8). CONCLUSION: The study identified a diagnostic tool utilizing a signature of four sncRNAs with high specificity and sensitivity, enhancing our understanding of sncRNAs as ATB diagnostic biomarker. Additionally, hsa-miR-223-5p and hsa-miR-10b-5p demonstrated potential roles in Mtb pathogenesis and host-response to infection.

Do preoperative glucose levels predict risk of complications in orthopaedic surgery?

PURPOSE: Post-operative hyperglycemia is a known risk factor for post-surgical complications. The predictive value of pre-operative blood glucose levels, however, is less understood. This study aimed to determine if pre-operative screening blood glucose levels affect the rate of post-operative infection or wound complications. We also investigated if case urgency or anatomic location alters this relationship. METHODS: A single-institution retrospective chart review was performed to evaluate patients treated between 2018 and 2021. Subjects ≥ 18 years with closed, non-infected orthopaedic diagnoses requiring surgery were included. Case urgency, demographics, comorbidities, blood glucose level within twelve h prior to surgery, and hemoglobin A1c level within 3 months of surgery, were collected. Infections and wound complications were recorded as outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 775 subjects with a mean age of 61 (range 18-96) were identified, including 543 elective and 232 trauma patients, with a mean pre-operative fasting glucose value of 127.7 mg/dL (range, 49-388 mg/dL) and average HbA1c of 6.9%. The odds of infectious complications were increased by a factor of 1.01 for every 1-point increase in blood glucose (95% CI 1.01-1.02; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-operative blood glucose levels greater than 137 mg/dL were associated with an increase in wound complications, but not deep infections. Infection rates stratified by anatomic site and case urgency were not impacted by pre-operative glucose levels. The increased risk of poor wound healing in patients with pre-operative hyperglycemia demonstrates that day of surgery point-of-care blood glucose screening can be a useful risk stratification tool.

Central Giant Cell Granuloma of the Mandible: A Case Report.

This article presents a clinical case of a central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) resembling a periapical lesion of endodontic origin. A 39-year-old, otherwise healthy male patient was referred to the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery for its diagnosis and subsequent management. The patient presented with an asymptomatic, progressively increasing intraoral swelling associated with the mandibular left para-symphysis region. On radiographic evaluation, a unilocular radiolucent lesion involving 33-34 teeth was noted. An incisional biopsy presented a giant cell lesion, following which surgical curettage was done. Histopathological examination was in accordance with the diagnosis of CGCG. Therefore, it is imperative for clinicians to accurately diagnose and rule out similarly presenting lesions.

Berkeley Open Extended Reality Recordings 2023 (BOXRR-23): 4.7 Million Motion Capture Recordings from 105,000 XR Users.

Extended reality (XR) devices such as the Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro have seen a recent surge in attention, with motion tracking "telemetry" data lying at the core of nearly all XR and metaverse experiences. Researchers are just beginning to understand the implications of this data for security, privacy, usability, and more, but currently lack large-scale human motion datasets to study. The BOXRR-23 dataset contains 4,717,215 motion capture recordings, voluntarily submitted by 105,852 XR device users from over 50 countries. BOXRR-23 is over 200 times larger than the largest existing motion capture research dataset and uses a new, highly efficient and purpose-built XR Open Recording (XROR) file format.

Cemento-Ossifying Fibroma of the Mandible: A Case Report.

Benign osseous tumors of mesodermal origin that are included within the group of fibro-osseous lesions include cemento-ossifying fibromas (COFs). The fibrocellular component of these diseases originates from the periodontal ligament, which deposits bone and cementum encased in fibrous tissue. It typically appears in the mandible and presents as a solitary, nonaggressive, slowly developing, asymptomatic, expansile lesion, rarely occurring in the maxilla. The only intervention that proved to be successful in producing excellent outcomes and that may be regarded as a final therapeutic option is the complete surgical removal of COFs. Presenting herein is a case report describing a painless and expansile mass in the left mandibular region, histopathologically diagnosed as COF.

Comparative Evaluation of Different Alveolar Ridge Width Measurement Techniques in Dental Implant Treatment Planning: An in Vivo Observational Non-Interventional Study.

In todays era dental implant has become the dependable therapeutic treatment for the replacement of missing teeth. The success of dental implants depends not only on osteointegration of the implant but also on the surrounding hard and soft tissue. Presurgical evaluation of alveolar ridge width and height is of paramount important for implant placement. There are several methods to evaluate the alveolar ridge width and height such as ridge mapping and CBCT. This study included 30 sites from 8 patients in the age ranging from 30 to 65 years. A stent was prepared and the width of the alveolar ridge was estimated employing the following techniques: Group I: Measurement of alveolar ridge width on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) method, group II: Measurement of alveolar ridge width by ridge mapping technique, group III: Measurement of alveolar ridge width by surgical exposure. The minimum value for ridge mapping with caliper is 2 and maximum value is 9 with mean 4.5667 ± 1.63335 with standard error 0.29821. The minimum value for Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is 1.80 and maximum value is 9.30 with mean 4.6233 ± 1.67119 with standard error 0.30512. The minimum value for direct intrasurgical measurement with caliper is 2 and maximum value is 9 with mean 4.2000 ± 1.58441 with standard error 0.28927. Cone beam computed tomography could also be used to measure the ridge width accurately. Apart from measurement of alveolar ridge dimensions it had multiple other uses and thus can be advised as per requirement of the clinician.

Comparative Evaluation of Efficacy of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) in Bone Regeneration after Surgical Removal of Impacted Bilateral Mandibular Third Molars - A Comparative Study.

Aims and Objectives: To compare the efficacy of platelet rich plasma (PRP) and platelet rich fibrin (PRF) in bone regeneration after removal of impacted bilateral third molars. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out as an open clinical trial on 20 patients chosen from the ones referred to the department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery for surgical removal of bilateral mandibular third molar. Patients were prepared for surgical procedure, Inferior alveolar nerve block given using 2% lignocaine hydrochloride with 1:2,00,000 adrenaline. Third molar were removed by flap reflection and bone drilling. Finally, PRF in lower left mandibular third molar region and PRP in lower right mandibular third molar region was inserted and wound closure was done. Cone bean computer tomography (CBCT) was made on 1st postoperative day and 4 months after surgery to evaluate alveolar bone height and density. Result: Alveolar bone height and bone density at post-operative 1st day and 4 months were compared between PRP and PRF group. The bone density and bone volume were analyzed, and there was no significant difference between bone density in PRP and PRF at day 1 and 4th month. Conclusion: As per our study and evaluation, in our postoperative follow up there was no statistically significant differences in bone regeneration by placement of PRP and PRF in extracted socket of third molar. Thus, with this study we can conclude that PRF, would be a good option to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in the near future due to ease of extraction.

Field-scale assessment of soil, water, plant, and soil microbiome in and around Rania-Khan Chandpur Chromium contaminated site, India.

Rania-Khan Chandpur site, (Kanpur Dehat, Uttar Pradesh, India), one of the highly Chromium (Cr) contaminated sites in India due to Chromite Ore Processing Residue (COPR), has been investigated at the field-scale. We found that the area around the COPR dumps was hazardously contaminated with the Cr where its concentrations in the surface water and groundwater were > 40 mgL-1, its maximum contents in the COPRs and in the soils of the adjoining lands were 9.6 wt% and 3.83 wt%, respectively. By exploring the vegetation and microbial distribution across the site, we advocate the appropriateness of Cynodon dactylon, Chrysopogon zizanioides, Cyperus sp., and Typha angustifolia as the most suitable phytoremediation agent because their association with Cr remediating bacterial species (Pseudomonas sp., Clostridium sp. and Bacillus sp.) was strong. Using this remarkable information for the bioremediation projects, this site can be re-vegetated and bioaugmented to remediate Cr in soils, waterlogged ditches, surface water, and in groundwater systems.

Role of Prophylactic Dose of Oral Amoxicillin Trihydrate in Prevention of Bacteremia Post Surgical Removal of Impacted Mandibular Third Molar: A Clinical Study.

The current study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of pre-operative prophylactic antibiotic for prevention of bacteremia after surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar SRIMTM. The study was carried out as an open clinical trial. Fifty patients who fulfilled the criteria were included. Twenty five randomly selected patients (study group) were administered two grams oral dose of amoxicillin trihydrate, one hour prior to the procedure. Twenty five patients (control group) were not administered any antibiotic prior to the procedure. All patients underwent surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar through intraoral approach under local anesthesia. Blood culture for detection of aerobic and anaerobic micro-organisms was done for all 50 patients. Eleven out of the twenty five patients (44%) in the control group showed positive growth, including mixed growth (aerobic and anaerobic). Seven patients showed purely anaerobic, 2 patients purely aerobic and two mixed growth. In the study (antibiotic) group, 7 out of the 25 patients (28%) showed positive growth, including mixed growth. Three patients showed purely anaerobic, 2 patients purely aerobic and 2 mixed type of growth. The study suggests that the judicious use of antibiotic prophylaxis, in conjunction with optimal oral health care serves to minimize the adverse effects of antibiotic therapy; and at the same time reduce the significant morbidity and mortality associated with systemic infections that might occur due to bacteremia resulting from surgical procedures of the oral cavity.

A clinical tip for conservative retrieval of fractured abutment screw.

Fractures of the abutment screw are an extremely dreadful and taxing experience even for experienced clinicians. Retrieval of fractured screw segments due to excessive torque and improperly placed implants pose a great challenge to the clinician. The authors present a case wherein the fractured abutment screw was retrieved successfully with the help of an intraoral plastic mixing tip of light body putty material. The intraoral plastic mixing tips are a more readily available, cost-effective, and feasible alternative to other means of screw retrieval like ultrasonic scalers, endodontic files, and screw retrieval kits.

Distraction Osteogenesis as a reliable method in management of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) secondary to TMJ Ankylosis: A Case Report.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is identified as repetitive and intermittent upper airway collapse or narrowing during sleep. Skeletal advancement through maxillomandibular surgery remains the most effective surgical treatment for OSA but is radical with certain relapse rate. Distraction Osteogenesis of mandible is a single-jaw surgical treatment alternative to bi-jaw surgeries having lesser complications. This case report describes successful management of a 46-year-old patient who reported with a chief complain of obstruction in breathing while sleeping since one year. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) secondary to a retrognathic mandible was the final diagnosis, which was successfully treated by Distraction Osteogenesis (DO) of the mandible. The case showed enhancement in airway by 13mm and marked forward movement of Point-B (SNB increased by 6 degrees). The Epworth Sleepiness Scale value decreased from 19mm to 8 mm indicating substantial increase in the airway with stable results after 18 months of follow-up (elimination of symptoms and subsequent sound sleep). Distraction osteogenesis is an effective and reliable method to treat obstructive sleep apnoea secondary to retrognathic mandible.

A Systematic Analysis of Additive Manufacturing Techniques in the Bioengineering of In Vitro Cardiovascular Models.

Additive Manufacturing is noted for ease of product customization and short production run cost-effectiveness. As our global population approaches 8 billion, additive manufacturing has a future in maintaining and improving average human life expectancy for the same reasons that it has advantaged general manufacturing. In recent years, additive manufacturing has been applied to tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery. Additive Manufacturing combined with tissue engineering and biocompatibility studies offers future opportunities for various complex cardiovascular implants and surgeries. This paper is a comprehensive overview of current technological advancements in additive manufacturing with potential for cardiovascular application. The current limitations and prospects of the technology for cardiovascular applications are explored and evaluated.

Efficacy of Postoperative Radiographs After Intramedullary Nailing of the Tibia and Femur: When Are They Useful?

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative radiographs are used to monitor fractures of the tibia and femur after intramedullary fixation. This study sought to examine how frequently these radiographs change management. METHODS: This was a single-center chart review of patients over a 4-year period at a level I trauma center. Radiographs were defined as either performed for routine surveillance or performed with some clinical correlate on history and examination. Participants received intramedullary nailing for diaphyseal fractures of the femur or tibia. Patients required at least one postoperative radiograph. All patients were subject to our institution's follow-up protocol: visits at 2, 6, 12, and 24 weeks. Radiographs that changed management were those that led to alterations in follow-up, directed counseling, or contributed to the decision to proceed with revision surgery. RESULTS: A total of 374 patients were found. Two hundred seventy-seven received at least one post-op radiograph. The median follow-up was 23 weeks. Six hundred seventeen total radiographs were reviewed. Nine radiographs contributed to a change in management (9/617 = 1.5%). No surveillance radiograph taken before 14 weeks resulted in changes in management. DISCUSSION: Our results suggest that radiographs taken in the first 3 months post-op in asymptomatic patients treated with lower extremity intramedullary rods do not result in changes to clinical management.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Oral and Intramuscular Administration of Dexamethasone on Postoperative Pain, Swelling, and Trismus After Surgical Removal of Impacted Third Molar: A Comparative Split-Mouth Study.

Context Over the past 60 years, several researchers have conducted extensive studies on the use of dexamethasone to reduce the postoperative complications of lower third molar surgery, namely, pain, edema, and trismus. In this study, we compared the oral and intramuscular methods of dexamethasone administration. Purpose The aim of this research was to assess pain, edema, and trismus in the postoperative period following the surgical removal of the lower third molar using 8 mg of dexamethasone given orally or by intramuscular injection. Method A split-mouth technique was employed for the study, in which each of the two bilaterally impacted mandibular third molars was removed one at a time, separated by at least two weeks. There were 26 participants in this experiment. Two groups were created from the research sample: group A (injection dexamethasone) and group B (tablet dexamethasone). The pain was assessed on the first, second, and third postoperative days. On the first, third, and seventh postoperative days, the parameters, such as edema and trismus, were evaluated. Results As per our study, in terms of edema and trismus, there was less of a statistically significant difference between the two interventions at all time points. While the pain score had a significant difference between both interventions. Conclusion Hence, we conclude that oral dexamethasone is an effective alternative to intramuscular dexamethasone. Oral dexamethasone is comparatively simple, less invasive, painless, and easy for the surgeon and for apprehensive patients, and it offers a cost-effective solution for the suffering often associated with the extraction of impacted lower third molars.