Comparison of tissue displacement in edentulous arches among three-dimensional files obtained through different impression-making methods: A retrospective study.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively compare and analyze differences in tissue displacement of edentulous arches among three-dimensional (3D) files obtained using various impression-making techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients who underwent prosthodontic treatment for edentulous arches at Yonsei University Dental Hospital between June 2020 and April 2023 were included in the study. Three types of 3D files were used for the evaluation of each arch: a 3D scan file of a definitive cast (Group DEF), a preliminary cast (Group PRE), and an intraoral scan file (Group IOS). The files were superimposed on a reference 3D scan file of the definitive cast group through best-fit matching using metrology software. Seventeen measurement points (MP1-4, RC1-6, TB1-2, and PPS1-5 for the maxilla and RP1-2, RC1-7, BS1-4, and LS1-4 for the mandible) were selected for both the maxillary (n = 13) and mandibular arches (n = 6). The deviation considering the direction (DD) between the three groups and the absolute deviation (AD) between the three groups were recorded. Kruskal-Wallis and post-hoc Mann-Whitney tests were used for statistical analyses (α = 0.05 and α = 0.0167, respectively). RESULTS: Concerning the DD values, at the RC4 point of the maxillary arch, Group PRE exhibited significantly higher values than Groups IOS (p = 0.006) and DEF (p < 0.001), and at the RC5 point of the maxillary arch, Group IOS exhibited significantly lower values than Groups PRE (p = 0.016) and DEF (p < 0.001). Group IOS showed significantly lower DD values in the mandibular arch than Group DEF at the RP2 and RC3 points (p < 0.167). The AD values in Groups PRE and IOS significantly differed from those in Group DEF (all p < 0.001) at all measurement points but did not exhibit significant differences between each other (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Different impression-making methods yielded different amounts of tissue displacement. The tendency of 3D files regarding tissue displacement varied at certain residual ridge crest areas and retromolar pad areas. The absolute amount of tissue displacement observed in the intraoral scan data was comparable to that observed in the preliminary casts.

Development of LC3/GABARAP sensors containing a LIR and a hydrophobic domain to monitor autophagy.

Macroautophagy allows for bulk degradation of cytosolic components in lysosomes. Overexpression of GFP/RFP-LC3/GABARAP is commonly used to monitor autophagosomes, a hallmark of autophagy, despite artifacts related to their overexpression. Here, we developed new sensors that detect endogenous LC3/GABARAP proteins at the autophagosome using an LC3-interacting region (LIR) and a short hydrophobic domain (HyD). Among HyD-LIR-GFP sensors harboring LIR motifs of 34 known LC3-binding proteins, HyD-LIR(TP)-GFP using the LIR motif from TP53INP2 allowed detection of all LC3/GABARAPs-positive autophagosomes. However, HyD-LIR(TP)-GFP preferentially localized to GABARAP/GABARAPL1-positive autophagosomes in a LIR-dependent manner. In contrast, HyD-LIR(Fy)-GFP using the LIR motif from FYCO1 specifically detected LC3A/B-positive autophagosomes. HyD-LIR(TP)-GFP and HyD-LIR(Fy)-GFP efficiently localized to autophagosomes in the presence of endogenous LC3/GABARAP levels and without affecting autophagic flux. Both sensors also efficiently localized to MitoTracker-positive damaged mitochondria upon mitophagy induction. HyD-LIR(TP)-GFP allowed live-imaging of dynamic autophagosomes upon autophagy induction. These novel autophagosome sensors can thus be widely used in autophagy research.

Optimizing cardiopulmonary rehabilitation duration for long COVID patients: an exercise physiology monitoring approach.

The presence of prolonged symptoms after COVID infection worsens the workability and quality of life. 200 adults with long COVID syndrome were enrolled after medical, physical, and mental screening, and were divided into two groups based on their performance. The intervention group (n = 100) received supervised rehabilitation at Department of Pulmonology, Semmelweis University with the registration number 160/2021 between 01/APR/2021-31/DEC/2022, while an age-matched control group (n = 100) received a single check-up. To evaluate the long-term effects of the rehabilitation, the intervention group was involved in a 2- and 3-month follow-up, carrying out cardiopulmonary exercise test. Our study contributes understanding long COVID rehabilitation, emphasizing the potential benefits of structured cardiopulmonary rehabilitation in enhancing patient outcomes and well-being. Significant difference was found between intervention group and control group at baseline visit in pulmonary parameters, as forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume, forced expiratory volume, transfer factor for carbon monoxide, transfer coefficient for carbon monoxide, and oxygen saturation (all p < 0.05). Our follow-up study proved that a 2-week long, patient-centered pulmonary rehabilitation program has a positive long-term effect on people with symptomatic long COVID syndrome. Our data showed significant improvement between two and three months in maximal oxygen consumption (p < 0.05). Multidisciplinary, individualized approach may be a key element of a successful cardiopulmonary rehabilitation in long COVID conditions, which improves workload, quality of life, respiratory function, and status of patients with long COVID syndrome.

Retentive strength of cement-retained implant-supported fixed dental prostheses according to different cement types and cementation protocols: An in vitro study.

PURPOSE: To develop the most compatible cementation protocol for ensuring minimal residual cement and optimal retention of cement-retained implant-supported fixed dental prostheses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty custom implant abutments and zirconia crowns with bilateral wings were prepared. Three cement types were used for cementation: non-eugenol resin cement (Premier Implant Cement; Group IC), dual-polymerizing self-adhesive resin cement (SmartCem 2; Group SC), and zinc oxide eugenol cement (Temp-Bond; Group TB) (n=30 per group). Three cementation methods were applied for each cement type and the samples were divided into subgroups: 1) cement was injected using a graduated syringe (IC-N, SC-N, and TB-N); 2) a cementation jig made with a silicone impression material and temporary resin material was used (IC-CJ, SC-CJ, and TB-CJ); 3) three dimensionally (3D) printed abutments were used as replicas for cementation (IC-3DP, SC-3DP, and TB-3DP). The amount of cement injected, surface area of the residual cement, and retentive strength were measured. Kruskal-Wallis and post-hoc Mann-Whitney tests were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: Excess cement was not observed when cementation jig or 3D-printed replicas were used. For IC and SC subgroups, non-use of these auxiliary tools resulted in significantly higher amounts of injected cement. The retentive strength differed significantly among the IC subgroups, but not among the SC subgroups. The retentive strength of subgroups TB-N and TB-CJ was significantly higher than that of subgroup TB-3DP. CONCLUSIONS: To prolong the main purpose of each cement type, a cementation jig or 3D-printed replica is highly recommended regardless of the cement type. Int J Prosthodont 2023. doi: 10.11607/ijp.8344.

Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programme improves physical health and quality of life in post-COVID syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Many patients with previous COVID-19 infection suffer from prolonged symptoms after their recovery: cough, dyspnea, chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, anxiety or depression, regardless of milder or severe coronavirus infection. Review of the literature demonstrates underrepresented complex cardiopulmonary rehabilitation of patients with post-COVID syndrome. The aim of our quasi-experimental study was to evaluate the effectiveness of complex cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and to assess the quality of life, functional parameters before and after a 14-day specific cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and two months later. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients participated in rehabilitation at Semmelweis University's Department of Pulmonology. Respiratory function: forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1%pred), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), chest kinematics (CK), quality of life [EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D), Post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS)] and Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale were measured at the beginning and end of the programme and two months after the rehabilitation. RESULTS: The 14-day rehabilitation programme resulted in significant improvement of 6MWT {492 [interquartile range (IQR), 435-547] vs. 523 (IQR, 477-580) m; P=0.031}, mMRC [1 (IQR, 0.25-1) vs. 0 (IQR, 0-1); P=0.003], EQ-VAS score [75 (IQR, 65-80) vs. 85 (IQR, 75-90); P=0.015], and PCFS [1 (IQR, 1-2) vs. 0.5 (IQR, 0-1); P=0.032]. Respiratory function and chest kinematics also improved, FEV1(%pred) [86 (IQR, 73-103) vs. 91 (IQR, 80-99); P=0.360], chest kinematics [3.5 (IQR, 2.75-4.25) vs. 4 (IQR, 1-5.25) cm; P=0.296], and breath-holding test (BHT) [33 (IQR, 23-44) vs. 41 (IQR, 28-58) s; P=0.041]. CONCLUSIONS: Complex cardiopulmonary rehabilitation improved workload, quality of life, respiratory function, complaints and clinical status of patients with post-COVID syndrome. Personalized complex pulmonary rehabilitation can be beneficial and recommended for patients suffer from post-COVID syndrome, who have good potential for recovery and are able to participate in the two weeks complex pulmonary rehabilitation.

Nonmuscle myosin IIB regulates Parkin-mediated mitophagy associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-linked TDP-43.

C-terminal fragments of Tar DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) have been identified as the major pathological protein in several neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). However, how they affect cellular toxicity and neurodegeneration, including the modulation process remains unknown. This study revealed that the C-terminal fragment of TDP-43 (TDP-25) was localized primarily to mitochondria and caused abnormal mitochondrial morphology, inducing Parkin-mediated mitophagy. Also, we discovered that the knockdown of selective autophagy receptors, such as TAX1BP, Optineurin, or NDP52 caused TDP-25 accumulation, indicating that TDP-25 was degraded by mitophagy. Interestingly, myosin IIB, a nonmuscle type of myosin and actin-based motor protein, is mostly colocalized to TDP-25 associated with abnormal mitochondria. In addition, myosin IIB inhibition by siRNA or blebbistatin induced mitochondrial accumulation of insoluble TDP-25 and Tom20, and reduced neuronal cell viability. Our results suggest a novel role of myosin IIB in mitochondrial degradation of toxic TDP-25. Therefore, we proposed that regulating myosin IIB activity might be a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases associated with TDP-43 pathology.

Deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying the plasma membrane targeting of PRMT8.

Arginine methylation plays crucial roles in many cellular functions including signal transduction, RNA transcription, and regulation of gene expression. Protein arginine methyltransferase 8 (PRMT8), a unique brain-specific protein, is localized to the plasma membrane. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying PRMT8 plasma membrane targeting remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the N-terminal 20 amino acids of PRMT8 are sufficient for plasma membrane localization and that oligomerization enhances membrane localization. The basic amino acids, combined with myristoylation within the N-terminal 20 amino acids of PRMT8, are critical for plasma membrane targeting. We also found that substituting Gly-2 with Ala [PRMT8(G2A)] or Cys-9 with Ser [PRMT8(C9S)] induces the formation of punctate structures in the cytosol or patch-like plasma membrane localization, respectively. Impairment of PRMT8 oligomerization/dimerization by Cterminal deletion induces PRMT8 mis-localization to the mitochondria, prevents the formation of punctate structures by PRMT8(G2A), and inhibits PRMT8(C9S) patch-like plasma membrane localization. Overall, these results suggest that oligomerization/dimerization plays several roles in inducing the efficient and specific plasma membrane localization of PRMT8. [BMB Reports 2019; 52(10): 601-606].

The First Report of Antrodia sitchensis (Polyporaceae, Basidiomycota) in Korea.

An unrecorded Antrodia species was collected in South Korea and based on morphological characteristics, the species was identified as Antrodia sitchensis. To confirm its affinity within the polypores, the phylogenetic relationships of A. sitchensis and allied species were established using large subunit rDNA sequences.