Combined Casein Phosphopeptide-Amorphous Calcium Phosphate and Fluoride Is Not Superior to Fluoride Alone in Early Carious Lesions: A Meta-Analysis.

There is a growing need for effective methods in the management of early stage carious lesions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of combined casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) and fluoride on white spot lesions (WSLs) compared to fluoride-only interventions. This meta-analysis was performed according to PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021286245). The Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central databases were searched until October 17, 2022. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials. Outcome variables included laser fluorescence (LF), quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF), and lesion area scores. The random-effects model was used for analysis, and results were given as standardized mean difference (SMD) and mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval. Risk of bias was assessed using the RoB 2 tool, and the level of evidence with GRADE. Our systematic search yielded 973 records after duplicate removal, 21 studies were included for qualitative synthesis, and 15 studies were eligible for quantitative analysis. No significant difference was found between CPP-ACP and fluoride versus fluoride alone in LF at 1, 3, and 6 months of use: SMD -0.30 (-0.64; 0.04); SMD -0.47 (-1.02; 0.07); SMD -0.49 (-1.13; 0.15), respectively. For QLF, the analysis did not demonstrate significant differences between these two kinds of treatment at 1 and 6 months of use: MD 0.21 (-0.30;0.71); MD 0.60 (-1.70;2.90), but at 3 months, higher QLF values were found in the fluoride-only group compared to the CPP-ACP and fluoride combination was shown regarding the WSLs: MD 0.58 (0.25;0.91). On the contrary, data showed a small but statistically significant decrease in the lesion area in favor of the CPP-ACP plus fluoride versus fluoride alone at 6 months MD -0.38 (-0.72; -0.04). None of these observed changes indicated substantial clinical relevance. The combination of CPP-ACP and fluoride did not overcome the effect of fluoride given alone. Our data suggest that fluoride itself is effective in improving WSLs. However, the certainty of evidence was very low. These results indicate that further studies and future development of more effective products than CPP-ACP are needed in addition to fluoride to achieve robust amelioration of WSLs.

Multibiomarker disease activity score: an objective tool for monitoring rheumatoid arthritis? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The multibiomarker disease activity (MBDA) score is an objective tool for monitoring disease activity in RA. Here we report a systematic review and meta-analysis of the clinical value of the MBDA score in RA. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search in five medical databases-MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), Embase, Scopus and Web of Science-from inception to 13 October 2021. Original articles reporting on the performance of the MBDA score's correlation with conventional disease activity measures or the predictive and discriminative values of the MBDA score for radiographic progression, therapy response, remission and relapse were included. RESULTS: Our systematic search provided a total of 1190 records. After selection and citation searches, we identified 32 eligible studies. We recorded moderate correlations between MBDA score and conventional disease activity measures at baseline [correlation (COR) 0.45 (CI 0.28, 0.59), I2 = 71.0% for the 28-joint DAS with CRP (DAS28-CRP) and COR 0.55 (CI 0.19, 0.78), I2 = 0.0% for DAS28 with ESR] and at follow-up [COR 0.44 (CI 0.28, 0.57, I2 = 70.0% for DAS28-CRP) and found that the odds of radiographic progression were significantly higher for patients with a high baseline MBDA score (>44) than for patients with a low baseline MBDA score (<30) [OR 1.03 (CI 1.02-1.05), I2 = 10.0%]. CONCLUSION: The MBDA score might be used as an objective disease activity marker. In addition, it is also a reliable prognostic marker of radiographic progression.

Monolithic zirconia as a valid alternative to metal-ceramic for implant-supported single crowns in the posterior region: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Technical complication rates of standard metal-ceramic implant-supported posterior restorations are relatively high. Whether monolithic zirconia crowns represent a more successful alternative is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the clinical outcomes of posterior monolithic zirconia and metal-ceramic implant-supported single crowns. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A search was conducted in MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and CENTRAL databases for randomized controlled trials up to April 2023 with a follow-up time of at least 1 year. Restoration and implant survival and failure rates, marginal bone loss (MBL), bleeding on probing (BOP), and technical complications were analyzed by 2 reviewers. Statistical analyses were conducted using the R-statistics software program. The risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2 (RoB 2), and the certainty of evidence by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS: A total of 11 out of 2030 records were identified by title and abstract, and 4 records were included after full-text analysis. The statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in MBL (MD -0.11, 95% CI: [-0.25; 0.03]), BOP (OR 0.66, 95% CI: [0.25; 1.77]), or implant failure (OR 1.30, 95% CI: [0.24; 7.08]). Monolithic zirconia presented significantly less chipping over 1 year (OR 0.17, 95% CI: [0.03; 0.99]). The chipping rate was 0% for monolithic zirconia and 7.61% for metal-ceramic. Based on a narrative review, the restoration survival rate was 97.5% in the monolithic zirconia group and 99.1% in the metal-ceramic group. CONCLUSIONS: Monolithic zirconia showed favorable short-term survival rates and had significantly less chipping over 1 year. Regarding MBL, BOP, and failure rates, both restoration types presented similar results at the 1-year follow-up.

Comparative analysis of surgical and prosthetic rehabilitation in maxillectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis on quality-of-life scores and objective speech and masticatory measurements.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Patients with oro-antral communication, whether from trauma, disease, or congenital anomalies, have options for surgical reconstruction or prosthetic obturation, but guiding interdisciplinary protocols are lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare surgical reconstruction and prosthetic obturation, identifying correlations with baseline characteristics to determine the most effective approach for specific patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in 4 databases. Searching, screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were performed by 2 reviewers. Eligible studies focused on patients with palatomaxillary defects from cancer-related maxilla surgeries. Traumatic or congenital defects were excluded. The study compared prosthetic restoration (either with surgical or definitive obturators) to surgical reconstruction using flaps or grafts. Patients with surgical restoration after tooth extraction were excluded. Both subjective and objective outcomes were used for comparison. RESULTS: Thirteen articles were included in the qualitative synthesis and 9 in the meta-analysis. Patient scores on quality-of-life questionnaires, objective speech, and masticatory ability evaluations were compared. The number of patients who underwent surgical reconstruction was 206, whereas 260 patients received prosthetic obturators. Results showed no significant differences. In the "activity" domain of the University of Washington QoL questionnaire, however, the 1.92 (0.45, 3.40) score difference was not clinically relevant. However, the heterogeneity of trials, the transient nature of subjective evaluations, the low number of participants, and major confounding biases did not allow a solid conclusion to be drawn. CONCLUSIONS: The growing number of maxillectomy patients demands firm evidence on which rehabilitation to choose and when it should be done. The result suggests that obturator devices and surgical reconstruction have similar effects on quality of life and health outcomes. A multicentric registry in which patient strata could be analyzed separately by age, adjuvant therapies, defect sizes, and remaining dentition is advocated.

The use of autogenous tooth bone graft is an efficient method of alveolar ridge preservation - meta-analysis and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Ridge resorption following tooth extraction may be reduced by alveolar ridge preservation (ARP). Previous randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews have suggested that autogenous tooth bone graft (ATB) can be an effective alternative material for ARP. However, the results are heterogeneous. Therefore, our research aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ATB in ARP. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in Cochrane Library, Embase, MEDLINE and Scopus for studies published from inception to 31 November 2021. We searched searched for randomized, non-randomized controlled trials and case series reporting on ATB use for ARP. The primary outcome was the ridge width difference pre- and post-surgery, measured in millimetres (mm) measured on CBCT (cone beam computed tomography). The secondary outcomes were the histological results. We followed the PRISMA2020 recommendations for reporting our systematic review and meta-analysis. RESULTS: The analysis included eight studies for the primary and six for the secondary outcomes. The meta-analysis revealed a positive ridge preservation effect with a pooled mean difference ridge width change of -0.72 mm. The pooled mean residual graft proportion was 11.61%, and the newly formed bone proportion was 40.23%. The pooled mean of newly formed bone proportion was higher in the group where ATB originated from both the root and crown of the tooth. CONCLUSIONS: ATB is an effective particulate graft material in ARP. Complete demineralization of the ATB tends to decrease the proportion of newly formed bone. ATB can be an attractive option for ARP. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021287890).

ORGANOLEPTIC AND HALITOMETRIC ASSESSMENTS DO NOT CORRELATE WELL IN INTRA-ORAL HALITOSIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS.

BACKGROUND: The gold standard method for diagnosing oral halitosis is the subjective organoleptic measurement. Device-supported methods are also widespread worldwide. The challenges and safety concerns around performing organoleptic measurements during pandemics and the diversity of measuring device alternatives raised our clinical question: which halitometer is the most suitable for diagnosing halitosis? METHODS: This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (ID CRD42022320024). The search was performed on March 23, 2022 in the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and CENTRAL. Adult populations with or without halitosis were included, and patients with systemic diseases were excluded. Organoleptic (subjective) measurement and the device-supported (objective) methods were compared; the primary outcome was the correlation coefficient, and the secondary was the specificity and sensitivity of the devices. QUADAS-2 and QUADAS-C were used to evaluate the risk of bias in the studies. Random-effects meta analyses were performed on the outcomes, and the secondary outcomes were plotted on a common ROC plot. RESULTS: A total of 1231 records were found in the 5 databases. After the selection process, 76 articles were eligible for the systematic review, and 14,635 patients were involved in the qualitative analysis. The pooled Spearman's correlation coefficient (c.c.) for sulfide monitors was 0.65; 95% CIs: [0.53-0.74]; I2 = 95%, P < .01. The pooled Spearman's c.c. for portable gas chromatographs was 0.69; 95% CIs: [0.63-0.74]; I2 = 12%, P < .01. The pooled Spearman's c.c. for gas chromatographs was 0.76; 95% CIs: [0.67-0.83]; I2 = 0%, P < .01. DISCUSSION: None of the most commonly used halitometers proved to be significantly superior to the others. Halimeter and OralChroma measurements did not correlate well with the organoleptic level of oral halitosis in adults. Therefore, better halitometers need to be developed as an alternative to organoleptic measurements.

Comparison of hyoid bone morphology between obstructive sleep apnea patients and healthy individuals.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to find morphological properties of the hyoid bone, which are predominant among the patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), and compare them with healthy individuals. METHODS: A total of 67 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) image sequences of patients (44 males, 23 females) diagnosed with OSA and a total of 70 multislice computed tomography (MSCT) data of non-OSA patients (45 males, 25 females) were selected in this study. DICOM images were imported into InVivo 5.1.2 (Anatomage) software. The position of the hyoid bone relative to the C3 and C4 cervical vertebrae, as well as its morphological type (B, V, U, H, D, HK-type) and its total volume was determined. RESULTS: The volumetric values of the hyoid bone of OSA patients (2384.49 ± 682.073 mm3 ) were significantly (P < .001) lower compared to the values derived from non-OSA patients (2952.96 ± 932.5 mm3 ). The difference was independent of gender, and volumetric values showed a strong significant (P < .01) difference between male OSA and non-OSA (2709.18 ± 608.05; 3157.87 ± 926.5 mm3 ) and female OSA and non-OSA patients (1763 ± 242.51 2584; 2584.12 ± 840.21 mm3 ), as well. In the case of B and V-types, the volumetric values showed significant differences (P < .05), when the OSA (2300,77 ± 622; 2166 ± 312 mm3 ) and non-OSA patients were compared (2823,48 ± 780; 3216 ± 463 mm3 ). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the volume of the hyoid bone might be a potential biological marker for OSA, especially in the case of B and V hyoid bone types.

Development of a quantitative preclinical screening model for implant osseointegration in rat tail vertebra.

OBJECTIVES: Functional tooth replacement and bone regeneration are parts of the daily practice in modern dentistry, but well-reproducible and relatively inexpensive experimental models are still missing. We aimed to develop a new small animal model to monitor osseointegration utilizing the combination of multiple evaluation protocols. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After cutting the tail between the C4 and C5 vertebrae in Wistar rats, costume made, parallel walled, non-threaded implants were placed into the center of the tail parallel with its longitudinal axis using a surgical guide. Osseointegration of the titanium implants was followed between 4 and 16 weeks after surgery applying axial extraction force, and resonance frequency analysis as functional tests, and histomorphometry and micro-CT as structural evaluations. RESULTS: In functional tests, we observed that both methods are suitable for the detection of the time-dependent increase in osseointegration, but the sensitivity of the pull-out technique (an approximately five times increase with rather low standard error) was much higher than that of the resonance frequency analysis. In structural evaluations, changes in the detected bone implant contact values measured by histomorphometry (yielding 1.5 times increase, with low variations of data) were more reliable than micro-CT based evaluations to screen the developments of contact between bone and implant. CONCLUSION: Our results provide evidence that the caudal vertebrae osseointegration model is useful for the preclinical evaluation of implant integration into the bone. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The combination of the biomechanical and structural tests offers a well-reproducible small animal system that can be suitable for studying the integration of various implant materials and surface treatments.

Poor housing quality and the health of newborns and young children.

This study uses linked administrative data on live births, hospital stays, and census records for children born in Hungary between 2006 and 2011 to examine the relationship between poor housing quality and the health of newborns and children aged 1-2 years. We show that poor housing quality, defined as lack of access to basic sanitation and exposure to polluting heating, is not a negligible problem even in a high-income EU country like Hungary. This is particularly the case for disadvantaged children, 20-25% of whom live in extremely poor-quality homes. Next, we provide evidence that poor housing quality is strongly associated with lower health at birth and a higher number of days spent in inpatient care at the age of 1-2 years. These results indicate that lack of access to basic sanitation, hygiene, and non-polluting heating and their health impacts cannot be considered as the exclusive problem for low- and middle-income countries. In high-income countries, there is also a need for public policy programs that identify those affected by poor housing quality and offer them potential solutions to reduce the adverse effects on their health.

Validation of artificial intelligence application for dental caries diagnosis on intraoral bitewing and periapical radiographs.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the reliability of AI-based system that assists the healthcare processes in the diagnosis of caries on intraoral radiographs. METHODS: The proximal surfaces of the 323 selected teeth on the intraoral radiographs were evaluated by two independent observers using an AI-based (Diagnocat) system. The presence or absence of carious lesions was recorded during Phase 1. After 4 months, the AI-aided human observers evaluated the same radiographs (Phase 2), and the advanced convolutional neural network (CNN) reassessed the radiographic data (Phase 3). Subsequently, data reflecting human disagreements were excluded (Phase 4). For each phase, the Cohen and Fleiss kappa values, as well as the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and diagnostic accuracy of Diagnocat, were calculated. RESULTS: During the four phases, the range of Cohen kappa values between the human observers and Diagnocat were κ=0.66-1, κ=0.58-0.7, and κ=0.49-0.7. The Fleiss kappa values were κ=0.57-0.8. The sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy values ranged between 0.51-0.76, 0.88-0.97 and 0.76-0.86, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Diagnocat CNN supports the evaluation of intraoral radiographs for caries diagnosis, as determined by consensus between human and AI system observers. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Our study may aid in the understanding of deep learning-based systems developed for dental imaging modalities for dentists and contribute to expanding the body of results in the field of AI-supported dental radiology..

Additional splint therapy has no superiority in myogenic temporomandibular disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Purpose Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are frequent stomatological disorders. However, their treatment is controversial. Therefore, we compared the efficacy of combination therapy (splint therapy along with physiotherapy, manual therapy, and counseling) with physiotherapy, manual therapy, and counseling alone. The extent of mouth opening and pain perception were the outcomes.Study selection Systematic searches for English publications were performed using four major literature databases (Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science). We included randomized controlled trials. We calculated mean differences with 95% confidence interval (CI) for pain perception and maximum mouth opening (MMO) for the two groups. The Hartung-Knapp adjustment was used for cases comprising at least five studies.Results Six articles were included in the pain perception category, and four were reviewed for MMO at baseline. Four articles assessed pain perception, and two assessed MMO at 1 month. Five articles were analyzed upon comparing pain perception at baseline and 1-month follow-up. The mean difference was -2.54 [95% CI: -3.38; to -1.70] in the intervention group and -2.33 [95% CI: -4.06; to -0.61] in the control group. Two articles were analyzed upon comparing MMO at baseline and 1-month follow-up. The mean difference in the intervention group was 3.69 [95% CI: -0.34; 7.72], whereas that in the control group was 3.62 [95% CI: -3.43; 10.67].Conclusions Both therapies can be used in the management of myogenic TMD. Due to the marginal differences between the baseline and 1-month values, our results could not confirm the efficacy of combination therapy.

Current status of optical scanning in facial prosthetics: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose To assess the accuracy of scanning technologies for constructing facial prostheses on human faces.Study selection Our systematic search was performed on five databases. Studies reporting on human volunteers (P) whose faces were scanned with a scanning technology were eligible. The anthropometrical interlandmark distances (ILDs) were used as indicators of accuracy; the ILDs are measured on the virtual models (I) and directly on the faces (C). The virtual models deviated from their true values (O). Studies reporting the measurements on patients with or without facial deformities were included, but cadavers or inanimate objects were reasons for exclusion. We performed a mean difference (MD) / standardized MD analysis with a random effect model. The difficulties regarding the scanning procedure mentioned in the articles were also assessed.Results We found 3723 records after duplicate removal. Twenty five articles were eligible for the qualitative review, and ten articles were included in the quantitative synthesis. Eight different ILDs were compared in MD analyses. The differences were between -0.54-0.43 mm. We also performed a regional three-dimensional analysis to compare scanning technologies in each major region. No significant differences were found in any of the regions and axes. The most mentioned difficulties were artifacts due to motion or blinking.Conclusions The results suggest no systematic skew in linear dimensions neither between direct caliper measurements nor between measurements on the scanned models, scanning technologies, or facial regions.

Are Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Three-Dimensional Histological Reconstructions Reliable for the Assessment of Trabecular Microarchitecture?

Objectives: This study aimed to create a three-dimensional histological reconstruction through the AI-assisted classification of tissues and the alignment of serial sections. The secondary aim was to evaluate if the novel technique for histological reconstruction accurately replicated the trabecular microarchitecture of bone. This was performed by conducting micromorphometric measurements on the reconstruction and comparing the results obtained with those of microCT reconstructions. Methods: A bone biopsy sample was harvested upon re-entry following sinus floor augmentation. Following microCT scanning and histological processing, a modified version of the U-Net architecture was trained to categorize tissues on the sections. Detector-free local feature matching with transformers was used to create the histological reconstruction. The micromorphometric parameters were calculated using Bruker's CTAn software (version 1.18.8.0, Bruker, Kontich, Belgium) for both histological and microCT datasets. Results: Correlation coefficients calculated between the micromorphometric parameters measured on the microCT and histological reconstruction suggest a strong linear relationship between the two with p-values of 0.777, 0.717, 0.705, 0.666, and 0.687 for BV/TV, BS/TV, Tb.Pf Tb.Th, and Tb.Sp, respectively. Bland-Altman and mountain plots suggest good agreement between BV/TV measurements on the two reconstruction methods. Conclusions: This novel method for three-dimensional histological reconstruction provides researchers with a tool that enables the assessment of accurate trabecular microarchitecture and histological information simultaneously.

Prediabetes and poorly controlled type-2 diabetes as risk indicators for peri-implant diseases:A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The study answers the PECO question: "In adults with dental implants (P), do subjects suffering from type-2 diabetes or prediabetes (E) have worse peri-implant conditions (O) than subjects without type-2 diabetes and prediabetes (C)?". Prediabetes (5.7-6.4 % HbA1c), and the different qualities of glycemic control in type-2 diabetes; well-controlled (>8 % HbA1c), and poorly controlled (>8 % HbA1c) individuals; were classified according to the recommendations of the American Diabetes Association. DATA: Predefined search keys were used with search terms including: Dental implant, diabetes mellitus, glycemic control and HbA1c. SOURCES: An electronic search in the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane libraries were conducted without any filters or language restrictions. Additionally, manual search of the reference lists were carried out to identify all relevant articles. STUDY SELECTION: Eligibility criteria were cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies that answerd our PECO question with at least 1 year of follow-up. From a total of 2660 records, 35 articles (1761 individuals) were included in the analysis. Meta-analytic difference in means for crestal bone loss was 1.2 mm [95 % CI=0.4; 2.1] in patients with prediabetes, 1.8 mm [CI=1.0; 2.7] in poorly controlled patients, whereas 0.4 mm [CI=-0.3; 1.1] in well-controlled individuals. Meta-regression showed that 1 % increase in HbA1c increased crestal bone loss by 0.24 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of the study, patients with poorly controlled type-2 diabetes or prediabetes may have worse peri-implant conditions compared to patients without diabetes and well-controlled type-2 diabetes. Well-controlled type-2 diabetes is not a risk indicator for peri-implant diseases. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Clinicians should measure blood HbA1c levels when planning implant-supported restorations, thus patients with undiagnosed or poorly controlled type-2 diabetes can be identified, that allows for glycemic level adjustment prior to dental implant surgery, ensuring peri-implant health. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER: (CRD42022375263).

Psychological intervention improves quality of life in patients with early-stage cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

The effectiveness of psychological interventions (PI) for malignant diseases is controversial. We aimed to investigate the effect of PI on survival and quality of life (QoL) in patients with cancer. We performed a systematic search of MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Embase databases to identify randomized controlled trials comparing PI to standard care (PROSPERO registration number CRD42021282327). Outcomes were overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and different domains of QoL. Subgroup analysis was performed based on the provider-, type-, environment-, duration of intervention; cancer stage, and type. Pooled hazard ratios (HR) and standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. The OS and RFS did not differ significantly between the two groups (OS:HR = 0.97; CI 0.87-1.08; RFS:HR = 0.99; CI 0.84-1.16). However, there was significant improvement in the intervention group in all the analyzed domains of QoL; in the global (SMD = 0.65; CI 0.35-0.94), emotional (SMD = 0.64; CI 0.33-0.95), social (SMD = 0.32; CI 0.13-0.51) and physical (SMD = 0.33; CI 0.05-0.60) domains. The effect of PI on QoL was generally positive immediately, 12 and 24 weeks after intervention, but the effect decreased over time and was no longer found significant at 48 weeks. The results were better in the breast cancer group and early stages of cancer. PIs do not prolong survival, but they significantly improve the QoL of cancer patients. PI should be added as standard of care 3-4 times a year, at least for patients with early-stage cancer.

Characterization of Indoor Molds after Ajka Red Mud Spill, Hungary.

A red mud suspension of ~700,000 m3 was accidentally released from the alumina plant in Ajka, Hungary, on the 4th of October 2010, flooding several buildings in the nearby towns. As there is no information in the literature on the effects of red mud on indoor mold growth, we conducted studies to answer the following question: does the heavy metal content of red mud inhibit fungal colonization in flooded houses? In order to gain knowledge on fungal spectra colonizing surfaces soaked with red mud and on the ability of fungi to grow on them, swabs, tape lifts, and air samples were collected from three case study buildings. A total of 43 fungal taxa were detected. The dominant species were Penicillium spp. on plaster/brick walls, but Aspergillus series Versicolores, Cladosporium, Acremonium, and Scopulariopsis spp. were also present. The level of airborne penicillia was high in all indoor samples. Selected fungal strains were subcultured on 2% MEA with 10-1 and 10-4 dilutions of red mud. The growth rate of most of the strains was not significantly reduced by red mud on the artificial media. The consequences of similar industrial flooding on indoor molds are also discussed in this paper.

No evidence for the benefit of PPIs in the treatment of acute pancreatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Although current guidelines do not recommend the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the standard of care of acute pancreatitis (AP), they are often prescribed in clinical practice, mainly for ulcer stress prophylaxis. In this systematic review and meta-analysis we evaluated the association between the use of PPIs in the management of AP and various clinical outcomes. We conducted the systematic research in six databases without restrictions on January 24th, 2022. We investigated adult patient with AP, who were treated with PPI compared to conventional therapy. The pooled odds ratios, mean differences, and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated with random effect model. We included six RCTs and three cohort studies, consisting of 28,834 patients. We found a significant decrease in the rate of pancreatic pseudocyst formation in patients who received PPI treatment. PPI use was associated with a higher risk of GI bleeding, however this finding could be due to the patients' comorbid conditions. We found no significant difference in the rates of 7-day mortality, length of hospital stay, and acute respiratory distress syndrome between the groups. The available data on this topic are limited; therefore, further well designed RCTs are needed to evaluate the potential benefits and adverse effects of PPIs in AP.

Evaluation of the accuracy of intraoral scanners for complete-arch scanning: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed to compare the complete-arch scanning accuracy of different intraoral scanners (IOSs) to that of reference standard tessellation language (STL) files. DATA: Studies comparing the trueness and precision of IOS STL files with those of reference STL scans for different arch types (dentate, edentulous, completely edentulous with implants, and partially edentulous with implants) were included in this study. SOURCES: An electronic search of five databases restricted to the English Language was conducted in October 2021. STUDY SELECTION: A total of 3,815 studies were identified, of which 114 were eligible for inclusion. After study selection and data extraction, pair-wise comparison and NMA were performed to define the accuracy of scanning for four arch subgroups using four outcomes (trueness and precision expressed as mean absolute deviation and root mean square values). Cochrane guidelines and the QUADAS-2 tool were used to assess the risk of bias. GRADE was used for certainty assessment. RESULTS: Fifty-three articles were included in this NMA. Altogether, 26 IOSs were compared directly and indirectly in 10 network systems. The accuracy of IOSs scans were not significantly different from the reference scans for dentate arches (three IOSs), edentulous arches (three IOSs), and completely edentulous arches with implants (one IOS). The accuracy of the IOSs was significantly different from the reference scans for partially edentulous arches with implants. Significant accuracy differences were found between the IOSs, regardless of clinical scenarios. CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy of complete-arch scanning by IOSs differs based on clinical scenarios. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Different IOSs should be used according to the complete arch type.

Daily use of chlorine dioxide effectively treats halitosis: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to conduct a systematic review on published data in order to investigate the efficacy of mouthwash products containing chlorine dioxide in halitosis. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: Our search was conducted on 14th October 2021. We searched the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and CENTRAL. We analysed data on adults with halitosis, included only randomised controlled trials and excluded in vitro and animal studies. The interventional groups used chlorine dioxide, and the comparator groups used a placebo or other mouthwash. Our primary outcomes were changes in organoleptic test scores (OLS) and Volatile Sulfur Compound (VSC) levels from baseline to the last available follow-up. RESULTS: We found 325 articles in databases. After the selection process, ten articles were eligible for qualitative synthesis, and 7 RCTs with 234 patients were involved in the meta-analysis. Our findings showed a significant improvement in the parameters of the chlorine dioxide group compared to the placebo group in OLS one-day data (mean difference (MD): -0.82; 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs): [-1.04 --0.6]; heterogeneity: I2 = 0%, p = 0.67); and one-week OLS data (MD: -0.24; 95% CIs: [-0.41 --0.07]; I2 = 0%, p = 0.52); and also changes in H2S one-day data (standardised mean difference (SMD): -1.81; 95% CIs: [-2.52 --1.10]); I2 = 73.4%, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that chlorine dioxide mouthwash may be a good supportive therapy in oral halitosis without known side effects.

Clear guidance to select the most accurate technologies for 3D printing dental models - A network meta-analysis✰.

OBJECTIVES: Thus far, the findings of numerous studies conducted on the accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) printed dental models are conflicting. Therefore, the aim of the network meta-analysis (NMA) is to determine the accuracy of 3D printed dental models compared with digital reference models. DATA: Studies comparing the accuracy of 3D printed full-arch dental models manufactured using different printing techniques to initial STL files were included. SOURCES: This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021285863). An electronic search was performed across four databases in November 2021, and search was restricted to the English language. STUDY SELECTION: A systematic search was conducted based on a prespecified search query. 16,303 articles were pooled after the removal of the duplicates. Following study selection and data extraction, 11 eligible studies were included in the NMA in 6 subgroups. The outcomes were specified as trueness and precision and expressed as root mean square (RMS) and absolute mean deviation values. Seven printing technologies were analyzed: stereolithography (SLA), digital light processing (DLP), fused deposition modeling/fused filament fabrication (FDM/FFF), MultiJet, PolyJet, continuous liquid interface production (CLIP), and LCD technology. The QUADAS-2 and GRADE were used to evaluate the risk of bias and certainty of evidence. CONCLUSIONS: SLA, DLP, and PolyJet technologies were the most accurate in producing full-arch dental models. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The findings of the NMA suggest that SLA, DLP, and PolyJet technologies are sufficiently accurate for full-arch dental model production for prosthodontic purposes. In contrast, FDM/FFF, CLIP, and LCD technologies are less suitable for manufacturing dental models.