Two- and three-dimensional healing assessment after endodontic microsurgery in through-and-through periapical lesions: 5-year follow-up from a randomized controlled trial.

AIM: To evaluate clinical and radiographic outcome of endodontic microsurgery in through-and-through periapical lesions at 1-year and 5-year follow-up with adjunct use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP). METHODOLOGY: Thirty-two patients with large through-and-through periapical lesions were randomized in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) group and control group. Two-dimensional (2D) healing was evaluated with Molven's criteria and three-dimensional (3D) healing with modified PENN 3D criteria. Healing at resection plane (R), apical area (A), buccal cortex (BC), palatal cortex (PC) and overall bone healing (B) was assessed using CBCT scans. The volume of lesion was measured using ITK-Snap software. The analysis included comparison of 1- to 5-year intragroup (Friedman test/McNemar test) and intergroup scoring (Chi-square/ Mann-Whitney test). Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the effect of various factors on healing at 5 years. RESULTS: Out of 32 patients/59 teeth evaluated after 1-year of endodontic microsurgery, 24 patients/44 teeth reported at 5 - year follow-up. Healing assessment with modified PENN 3D criteria revealed improvement in overall success rate of 66.7% at 1 year to 83.3% at 5 years, with no deterioration in any healing category. PRP group exhibited significantly better 3D healing than control group; both at 1 year (84.6% vs. 45.5%) and 5 years (100% vs. 63.6%). A significantly higher number of completely healed teeth were observed in PRP group than the control group at 5 years with respect to R, BC and B parameters. A volume reduction of 88% (91.4% PRP, 84% control) was depicted at 1 year and 94% (97.1% PRP, 91.1% control) at 5 years. None of the recorded factors including age, gender, size of lesion, preoperative swelling and sinus, histology of lesion, use of PRP, tooth location, preoperative buccal bone had significant effect on 3D healing at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: This 5-year study suggested improvement in 3D radiographic healing of large through-and-through periapical lesions from 1 to 5 years with no deterioration in any healing parameter in both control and PRP groups. The additional use of PRP led to significantly better healing in such lesions. RACB index using CBCT allows better estimation of healing at resected, apical and cortical plane over modified PENN 3D or Molven's criteria.

Blinatumomab for First-Line Treatment of Children and Young Persons With B-ALL.

PURPOSE: We tested whether blinatumomab (Blina) is effective as a toxicity-sparing alternative to first-line intensive chemotherapy in children and young persons (CYP) with B-ALL who were chemotherapy-intolerant or chemotherapy-resistant. METHODS: Data were collected for consecutive CYP (age 1-24 years) with Philadelphia chromosome-positive or Philadelphia chromosome-negative B-ALL who received Blina as first-line therapy. Blina was given as replacement for postremission intensive chemotherapy to patients with chemotherapy intolerance or resistance. Blina responders received further chemotherapy (Blin-CT) or first remission hematopoietic stem-cell transplant (Blin-HSCT) if indicated. Event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) of the Blin-CT group were compared with those of matched controls treated with standard chemotherapy in the UKALL 2003 trial. Events were defined as death, relapse, or secondary cancer. RESULTS: From February 2018 to February 2023, 105 patients were treated, of whom 85 were in the Blin-CT group and 20 were in the Blin-HSCT group. A majority of Blin-CT patients received Blina for chemotherapy intolerance (70 of 85, 82%), and the group had a higher-risk profile than unselected patients with B-ALL. Blina was well tolerated with only one patient having a grade 3/4-related toxicity event, and of the 60 patients who were minimal residual disease-positive pre-Blina, 58 of 60 (97%) responded. At a median follow-up of 22 months, the 2-year outcomes of the 80 matched Blin-CT group patients were similar to those of 192 controls (EFS, 95% [95% CI, 85 to 98] v 90% [95% CI, 65 to 93] and OS, 97% [95% CI, 86 to 99] v 94% [95% CI, 89 to 96]). Of the 20 in the HSCT group, three died because of transplant complications and two relapsed. CONCLUSION: Blina is safe and effective in first-line treatment of chemotherapy-intolerant CYP with ALL.

Sustainable pathways for solar desalination using nanofluids: A critical review.

Water is a fundamental requirement for the survival of human beings. Although water is abundantly available across the globe, access to freshwater still remains a major concern. Most of the water available is saline or brackish, which is not fit for human consumption. Desalination is the optimum solution for production of potable water from saline water. A major shortcoming of conventional desalination technologies is their dependence on fossil fuel that results in environmental degradation, global warming, etc. Therefore, sustainable desalination technology has evolved as a need of hour. Among all renewable energy resources, solar energy is abundantly available and can be potentially harvested. Therefore, solar energy can be used to drive sustainable desalination technologies. A solar still converts saline water into freshwater in a single step using solar energy. But the major drawbacks of solar still are relatively lower efficiency and lower yield. Nanofluids are widely used to overcome these limitations due to their extraordinary and unique properties. This paper critically reviews the recent research performed on the application of nanofluids in solar desalination systems. Methods of nanofluid preparation, their types and properties are also discussed in detail. Application of nanofluids in solar desalination systems is discussed with special attention on performance enhancement of solar stills. Combinations of nanofluids with various other performance enhancement techniques are also considered. The effectiveness of nanofluids in solar stills is found to be dependent majorly on the nature and concentration of the nanofluid used.

Alemtuzumab, Dual Graft-versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis, and Lower CD3+ T Cell Doses Equalize Rates of Acute and Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease in Pediatric Patients Receiving Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation with Matched Unrelated Donor Peripheral Blood Stem Cells or Bone Marrow Grafts.

Data comparing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) using bone marrow (BM) or peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) grafts in children after alemtuzumab-based conditioning are lacking. We investigated whether in vivo T cell depletion using alemtuzumab could reduce the risk of severe acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and chronic GVHD (cGVHD) after HSCT with matched unrelated donor (MUD) BM or PBSCs. This retrospective multicenter study included 397 children (BM group, n = 202; PBSC group, n = 195) who underwent first MUD HSCT at 9 pediatric centers in the United Kingdom between 2015 and 2019. The median age at transplantation was 7.0 years (range, .1 to 19.3 years), and the median duration of follow-up was 3.1 years (range, .3 to 7.5 years). The 3-year overall survival was 81% for the entire cohort (BM group, 80%; PBSC group, 81%). The incidence of grade II-IV aGVHD was significantly higher in the PBSC group (31%) compared to the BM group (31% versus 19%; P = .003), with no difference in the incidence of grade III-IV aGVHD (BM, 7%; PBSC, 12%; P = .17). CD3+ T cell dose >5 × 108/kg and the use of PBSCs were independent predictors of grade II-IV aGVHD. When considering CD3+ T cell dose and GVHD prophylaxis, PBSC transplantation with a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and a CD3+ T cell dose ≤5 × 108/kg had a comparable grade II-IV aGVHD to BM transplantation plus a CNI (20% versus 18%; P = .52). PBSC transplantation was associated with a lower incidence of cGVHD compared to BM transplantation (6% versus 11%; P = .03). Within the limits of this study, we identified a potential strategy to reduce the risk of severe GVHD in pediatric PBSC recipients that includes a combination of in vivo T cell depletion using alemtuzumab and dual GVHD prophylaxis (with a CNI and MMF) and limiting the CD3+ T cell dose to ≤5 × 108/kg.

Donor Cell-Derived Myelodysplastic Syndrome Following Allogenic Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant.

Donor cell-derived leukemia is a rare but well-described complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). This clinical case report aims to highlight the importance of recognizing this unusual disorder and thus, ensuring its appropriate management. We herein describe a case of a 9-year-old male diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and relapsed after initial chemotherapy. Subsequently, the patient had an allogenic peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBSCT) from an HLA-matched, unrelated donor. Unfortunately, the patient then developed progressive thrombocytopenia, and following investigation, including bone marrow examination and cytogenetic analysis, he was diagnosed with donor cell-derived myelodysplastic syndrome. The literature review emphasizes the importance of considering it as a differential diagnosis of disease relapse following allogeneic HSCT.

Association of Apical Periodontitis with Different Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease Measured by Glomerular Filtration Rate and Systemic Markers: An Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and severity of apical periodontitis (AP) in subjects with different stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its association with systemic markers. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 105 patients with CKD (n = 35 each in the early, predialysis, and hemodialysis groups) and 105 healthy controls were included. The prevalence, number of teeth with AP (endodontic burden [EB]), and the severity of AP were recorded. High- sensitivity C-reactive protein, blood urea, and serum creatinine levels were also recorded. Logistic regression was applied to determine the possible association between CKD and AP in the study population, and linear regression was performed to predict the effect of AP on systemic markers in CKD patients. RESULTS: AP in at least 1 tooth was found in 75.2% of CKD patients and 40.9% of the controls (P < .05). CKD patients were 4 times more likely to have AP than controls (P < .05; odds ratio = 3.954; 95% confidence interval, 2.09-7.45). EB and the severity of AP were also significantly higher in CKD patients than the healthy controls (P < .05). Although higher values of EB and severe AP were observed with the progression of disease, the difference was not significant. The severity of AP was significantly associated with an increase in serum creatinine, blood urea, and a decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (P < .05) in CKD patients. CONCLUSIONS: AP was significantly more prevalent in the CKD group. The association between the severity of AP and CKD markers suggests that AP could possibly alter the progression of CKD. However, these findings do not establish a cause-and-effect relationship.

Effect of endodontic treatment on endothelial dysfunction and subclinical atherosclerosis-a prospective intervention study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of endodontic treatment on flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT) in patients with apical periodontitis (AP). MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study includes 32 young men having AP with a mean age of 25.78 years free from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors, including periodontitis. All subjects underwent complete physical and dental examination, echocardiography, and ultrasound assessment of FMD on the brachial artery and c-IMT on the carotid artery at baseline and 12 months after the endodontic treatment. Data were analyzed using paired Student's t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) test using SPSS 26 version. RESULTS: Endodontic treatment leads to the improvement of FMD significantly from a pooled baseline value of 4.84 ± 1.55% to 7.68 ± 2.08% (p < 0.05). The study also depicts a statistically significant difference between c-IMT (mean = 0.62 ± 0.11 mm) before treatment as compared to 12 months after treatment (mean = 0.59 ± 0.11 mm) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Endodontic treatment leads to improved FMD and decreased c-IMT suggesting that treating AP can be help revert the early stages of CVD. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: AP could be a potential etiological factor of future CVD and should be treated as soon as diagnosed.

Comparative histological evaluation of two PRF formulations (PRF High and PRF Medium) on quality of life and healing outcome of apicomarginal defects: A randomized clinical trial.

The objective of this randomized clinical trial was to investigate the effects of two PRF formulations (PRF High and PRF Medium) on quality of life and healing outcome (2D and 3D) of apicomarginal defects. Patients presenting with endodontic lesions and concomitant periodontal communication were randomly allocated to PRF High and PRF Medium groups. The treatment protocol in each group included a periapical surgical procedure with placement of PRF clot and membrane in the bony defect and on the denuded root surface, respectively. Quality of life was assessed for 1 week after surgery following a modified version of the patient's perception questionnaire. Postoperative pain was assessed using a visual analog scale. Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed using Rud and Molven 2D criteria and Modified PENN 3D criteria. Buccal bone formation was assessed using sagittal and corresponding axial sections in CBCT. Histological analysis was performed using hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) staining and attaching primary antibodies to tissue sections. In total, 40 patients were enrolled in the trial (N = 20 per group). PRF Medium group patients reported significantly less swelling on the 1st (p = 0.036), 2nd (p = 0.034), and 3rd (p = 0.023) days, and average pain on the 2nd (p = 0.031), 3rd (p = 0.03), and 4th (p = 0.04) days postoperatively. The difference in success rate for periapical healing was non-significant between the PRF Medium group (89.5%) and PRF High group (90%), in both 2D and 3D imaging (p = 0.957). The formation of buccal bone was observed in five cases (26.3%) and four cases (20%) in the PRF Medium and PRF High groups, respectively, with a non-significant difference (p = 0.575). PRF Medium clots had a loose fibrin structure with a significantly higher number of neutrophils (473.79 ± 82.89 per mm2) than PRF High clots, which had a dense structure and fewer neutrophils (253.15 ± 63.86 per mm2) (p = 0.001). Autologous platelet concentrates (APCs) promoted satisfactory periapical healing, with no significant difference between the groups. Within the limitations of the study, it seems that PRF Medium should be preferred over PRF High when the patients' quality of life is the priority.

Acupuncture for Management of Endodontic Emergencies: a Review.

Root canal treatment (RCT) employed for painful endodontic conditions like apical periodontitis and irreversible pulpitis is associated with a high incidence of postoperative pain. Pharmacological management for this purpose is effective, but not entirely free from side effects and in some cases may fail to provide adequate relief. Furthermore, concerns have been raised regarding the transmission of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) as a result of the aerosols generated and prolonged chair side time required for RCT. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese therapy commonly employed as an alternative for the treatment of pain. And what's more, the use of acupuncture has been recently reported as treatment for the management of endodontic pain as well as on the anesthetic success in patients with irreversible pulpitis. This review aims to evaluate the current evidence for acupuncture in endodontics and its potential role in emergency pain relief and management for patients. To combat this, a thorough search for literature within the field was performed in five electronic databases. Retrieved studies were screened according to the pre-defined eligibility criteria. After both an electronic and manual search, five studies were selected for review. These studies reported the beneficial effects of acupuncture in reducing the failure of nerve block in patients with irreversible pulpitis and in controlling both intraoperative and postoperative pain following RCT. In addition, it was also reported to reduce anxiety surrounding the dental procedure and minimized the intake of analgesics after the endodontic procedure, which can result in some unwanted side effects. However, more in depth clinical research is required before any recommendation regarding the application of acupuncture in endodontic patients can be made.

Patient-centric outcome assessment of endodontic microsurgery using periapical radiography versus cone beam computed tomography: A randomized clinical trial.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate whether utilizing additional cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging has any effect on quality of life and healing outcome following periapical surgery compared with periapical radiographs (PR). METHODOLOGY: The study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04333940). In this parallel group randomized controlled trial, 52 patients (88 teeth) with persistent apical periodontitis and periapical radiographic evidence of periapical lesion were randomly assigned to either PR or CBCT group. The primary predictor was the type of the imaging method (PR only or with additional CBCT). The primary outcome was patient's quality of life during the first week after periapical surgery and the secondary outcomes were duration of surgery and healing outcome at 12-month follow-up. Participants of both groups received periapical surgery based on the pre-surgical plan provided by the radiographic imaging methods. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed using Modified Shugars questionnaire. Radiographic analysis for healing was conducted using Molven's criteria and modified PENN 3D criteria. The categorical data between groups were analysed using the Chi-square test, whilst intragroup comparisons were analysed using the McNemar test. The average scores for each component of QoL (oral functions, general functions, pain, swelling and other symptoms), combined QoL scores (overall average of values of 13 variables) and analgesic usage on each day were calculated and analysed. RESULTS: At 12 months of follow-up, fifty patients were evaluated. Participants in PR group reported significantly more swelling on first three days compared with CBCT group. The analgesic use was higher in the PR group on 2nd and 3rd day (Mann-Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction; p < .007). A significant difference in the limitation of general functions was observed at the second day (p < .07) with the higher values in the PR group. The combined QoL score between the two groups was found to be non-significant. However, none of the patients experienced intraoperative complications or neurovascular exposure. The mean surgical time was lesser in the CBCT group (p < .05). Radiographic healing revealed a success rate of 96.2% for the PR group and 95.8% for the CBCT group with no significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: Participants in the CBCT group experienced substantially less early postoperative swelling and limitation in general functions, in comparison with the PR group. However, preoperative CBCT had no effect on other QoL parameters and intraoperative complications in medium-risk patients. Furthermore, CBCT did not exhibit any added advantage over periapical radiography in terms of assessing healing outcome following endodontic microsurgery. CBCT offered surgically relevant anatomic information for pre-surgical planning and ensured the treatment rendition with a significantly reduced operative time.

Comparative Evaluation of Serum High-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Complete Hemogram Indices in Subjects with and without Apical Periodontitis: A Prospective Interventional Study.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to compare the levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and complete hemogram (CH) parameters before and after root canal treatment in patients with apical periodontitis (AP) and healthy controls. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with asymptomatic AP in a single permanent tooth were recruited along with age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Baseline serum hsCRP and CH parameters were recorded in both groups. Root canal treatment was performed in teeth with AP, and biochemical parameters were re-evaluated at the 6-month follow-up. Mann-Whitney and chi-square tests were used to analyze data quantitatively and qualitatively, respectively. Spearman correlation was applied to explore the relation between hsCRP with AP and periapical healing. Multivariate linear regression tests were used to assess the effect of independent variables such as age, sex, body mass index, and periapical index score on levels of hsCRP. RESULTS: A baseline comparison between patients with AP (3.37 ± 2.69 mg/L) and controls (1.69 ± 2.2 mg/L) revealed a significant difference in hsCRP levels. However, all CH parameters were within the reference range. A total of 22 patients in the AP group completed follow-up, and based on the periapical index score and clinical presentations, 72.2% of patients were classified as healed. At follow-up, hsCRP significantly reduced to 1.79 ± 1.65 mg/L in the AP group. A significant correlation between AP and hsCRP was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AP had a significantly higher inflammatory burden than healthy controls, which significantly reduced after root canal treatment. No significant change was detected in CH indices.

Evaluation of amniotic membrane in the healing of apicomarginal defects using 2D and 3D imaging modalities: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate healing in apicomarginal defects with amniotic membrane (AM) using 2D periapical radiography and 3D cone beam computed tomography imaging. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Thirty-four patients with symptomatic apical periodontitis and apicomarginal communication were allocated to either the AM or control group. Clinical and radiographic assessment was performed at baseline and at 12 months using Molven criteria, modified Penn 3D criteria, and RAC and B indices at resected plane, apical area, cortical plate, and combined apicocortical area, respectively. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the healing outcome in 2D imaging (93.3% control and 86.7% AM) and 3D imaging (80.0% control and 53.3% AM) between the groups. With RAC scoring, a greater percentage of unhealed cases was observed in cortical plate. Radiographic buccal bone formation in the 3D imaging was evident only in six cases. However, both the groups depicted significantly greater percentage reduction in the size of the lesion in 2D than the 3D analysis (AM group 91.69 ± 15.99 2D, 76.06 ± 47.62 3D, P = .020) and (control group 92.06 ± 14.36 2D, 85.12 ± 18.55 3D, P = .005). CONCLUSION: No significant difference in healing was observed between the AM and the control groups with the use of both periapical radiography and CBCT imaging. Despite good clinical healing and radiographic apical bone fill, buccal bone formation was not evident in 3D imaging in most of the cases.

Comparative evaluation of complete and partial pulpotomy in mature permanent teeth with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis: A randomized clinical trial.

AIM: The study aimed to compare the outcome of complete pulpotomy (CP) and partial pulpotomy (PP) techniques when utilised for the management of mature permanent teeth with carious pulpal exposure and symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (SIP). METHODOLOGY: The study protocol was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04397315). One hundred and six permanent mandibular molars with carious pulpal exposure and clinical diagnosis of SIP with periapical index ≤2, from patients aged between 18 and 40 years were randomly allocated in equal proportion to either CP or PP group. Allocated procedures were performed using standardised protocols. The allocated procedure was abandoned in cases where pulpal bleeding could not be controlled within 6 min using cotton pellets soaked in 3% sodium hypochlorite. MTA was used as a pulpotomy agent and teeth were restored using a base of glass ionomer followed by composite restoration. The pain was recorded by the patient preoperatively before administration of local anaesthesia and postoperatively every 24 h for 1 week using visual analogue scale. Success was analysed at 12 months based on clinical and radiographic examination. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare age, pain scores and mean analgesic consumption between the groups. Categorical data were analysed using chi-square test. Fisher's exact test was used to assess the clinical and radiographic success and incidence of pain. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess the survival of teeth. A p-value <.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: One hundred and one patients were analysed at follow up. Higher success was observed in CP (89.8%) in comparison to PP group (80.8%), but the difference was non-significant statistically (p = .202). Although no significant difference was observed in pain incidence between the groups at 24 h (p = .496), a significant difference in pain intensities was observed between groups at all the tested time intervals, with lower values reported in CP group (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Both CP and PP resulted in favourable outcomes in the management of cariously exposed permanent teeth with signs indicative of SIP. Given the more conservative nature of PP, it may be attempted first before proceeding to CP in such cases.

Management of Isolated Labial Mucosal Fenestration by Endodontic Microsurgery Along With Platelet-Rich Fibrin and Connective Tissue Graft: A Series of Four Cases.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this case report is to present endodontic and periodontal management of mucosal fenestrations with exposed root apices. The treatment protocol in present cases includes a combination of regenerative therapy using platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) with connective tissue graft (CTG) and endodontic microsurgery. Pre-existing condition of these teeth exhibits apical lesion with prominent root position and complete buccal bone dehiscence/fenestration presents a true challenge to successful outcome. CASE PRESENTATION: Four patients having concomitant mucosal fenestrations with an apical lesion and complete denudation/fenestration of the buccal plate were treated with root canal treatment and then by endodontic microsurgery. After the root-end resection and retrograde filling, PRF was placed in the bone defect maintaining intimate contact with the bone surface. CTG was harvested from the palate, placed over the PRF, and beneath the flap corresponding to the mucosal fenestration defect, and sutured with the flap to ensure a secured position. The flap was then repositioned and sutured. All patients showed the complete coverage of the mucosal fenestration with no post-operative complications and were followed up to 2-5 years. CONCLUSION: Peri-radicular endodontic microsurgery and CTG along with PRF may be used as a predictable treatment option to manage the mucosal fenestrations in such challenging cases.

Effect of premedication on postoperative pain after root canal therapy in patients with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review aimed to assess the effect of premedication on postoperative pain after root canal treatment in vital teeth. Five electronic databases were searched for randomized clinical trials, and two independent reviewers selected eligible studies, extracted data, and assessed the quality of studies using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Meta-analysis was conducted using the random-effects model, and the pooled effect estimate of the standardized mean difference (SMD) between premedication and placebo was calculated. Subgroup analysis was conducted based on the class and route of the drug. Studies with a high risk of bias were excluded from the sensitivity analysis. Ten trials satisfied the inclusion criteria, of which eight were included in the meta-analysis. Premedication was more effective in reducing postoperative pain than placebo at 6 hours (SMD = -1.00; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -1.33 to -0.66), 12 hours (SMD = -0.80; 95% CI = -1.05 to -0.56), and 24 hours (SMD = -0.72; 95% CI = -1.02 to -0.43). The results of the sensitivity analysis confirmed the findings of the primary analysis. Based on these results, it can be concluded that premedication is effective in reducing postoperative pain in teeth with irreversible pulpitis. However, additional quality studies are required for further validation.

Comparative analysis of the accuracy of periapical radiography and cone-beam computed tomography for diagnosing complex endodontic pathoses using a gold standard reference - A prospective clinical study.

AIM: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of periapical radiography (PR) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for detecting pathoses of endodontic origin using the gold standard of direct surgical visualization. METHODOLOGY: Seventy-four patients (112 teeth) underwent radiographic examination by periapical radiography and CBCT. The presence of periapical lesions, root perforations and their locations, root fractures, different types of external root resorptive defects, apicomarginal bone defects, through and through bone defects, buccal bone status and proximity of root apices and lesions to vital anatomical structures were assessed. These same parameters were assessed intraoperatively by direct surgical visualization which served as the gold standard reference for the radiographic assessments. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values were determined for comparison of diagnostic accuracy between two modalities. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two imaging modalities for root resorptive defects and root fractures. However, CBCT accurately detected periapical lesions, root perforations, apicomarginal bone defects and through and through bone defects. The overall accuracy of CBCT varied from 91% to 96% in detecting dehiscence and fenestration of buccal cortical plates. CONCLUSION: Overall, CBCT had a higher diagnostic accuracy in complex endodontic pathoses compared to PR. Nevertheless, CBCT failed to diagnose apicomarginal bone defects in 33% teeth. In evaluating the status of buccal cortical plate from CBCT images, observers could detect absence of bone better than its presence. Thus, limited FOV CBCT should be considered for selective cases where periapical radiography has diagnostic ambiguity.

Effect of the Piezoelectric Device on Intraoperative Hemorrhage Control and Quality of Life after Endodontic Microsurgery: A Randomized Clinical Study.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the piezoelectric device on intraoperative hemorrhage control during surgery and the quality of life of patients after endodontic microsurgery. METHODS: A total of 40 patients were randomly divided into the piezo group (n = 20) and the control group (n = 20). In the piezo group, after flap reflection, bone cutting, granulation tissue removal, and root-end resection were performed using the piezoelectric surgical device and surgical carbide burs, and curettes were used in the control group. The quality of life of patients was evaluated daily for 1 week postsurgery for limitations of oral and general functions, pain, and other symptoms. Limitation of functions and other symptoms were recorded by a modified version of the patient's perception questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale for mouth opening, chewing, speaking, sleeping, daily routine, missed work, swelling, nausea, and bad taste/breath, and the visual analog scale was adopted for pain. Hemorrhage control during surgery was independently assessed by the surgeon and 2 blinded observers and recorded as 0 (no hemorrhage control), 1 (intermittent control), and 2 (complete control). The chi-square test was used to assess hemorrhage control. For variables related to function and symptoms other than pain and analgesics taken, the Fisher exact test was used. For the assessment of pain between the 2 groups, the Mann-Whitney U test was used. RESULTS: For parameters of quality of life, the piezo group showed significantly less swelling on the first, second, and third days and pain on the first and second days compared with the control group (P < .05). Analgesics taken were also significantly less in the piezo group (P < .05). In the piezo group, complete hemorrhage control was achieved in 10 patients, and in the control group, it was achieved only in 1 patient (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Piezoelectric surgery resulted in improved quality of life of patients in the first week postsurgery with lower levels of pain and swelling as well as the number of analgesics taken and better hemorrhage control during surgery.

Excellent overall and chronic graft-versus-host-disease-free event-free survival in Fanconi anaemia patients undergoing matched related- and unrelated-donor bone marrow transplantation using alemtuzumab-Flu-Cy: the UK experience.

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains the only curative option in Fanconi anaemia (FA). We analysed the outcome of children transplanted for FA between 1999 and 2018 in the UK. A total of 94 transplants were performed in 82 patients. Among the donors, 51·2% were matched related donors (MRD) while the remainder were alternative donors. Most patients received a fludarabine-cyclophosphamide (Flu-Cy)-based conditioning regimen (86·6%) and in vivo T-cell depletion with alemtuzumab (69·5%). Five-year overall survival (OS) was 85·4% [70·4-93.2] with MRD, 95·7% [72·9-99.4] with matched unrelated donors (MUD), 44·4% [6·6-78.5] with mismatched unrelated donors (MMUD) and 44·4% [13·6-71.9] with mismatched related donors (MMRD) (P < 0·001). Other factors significantly impacting OS were pre-transplant bone marrow status, source of stem cells, cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus, preparation with Flu-Cy, use of total body irradiation (TBI) and alemtuzumab as serotherapy. In multivariate analysis, absence of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or leukaemia, bone marrow as source of stem cells, cytomegalovirus (CMV) other than +/- (Recipient/Donor) and Flu-Cy were protective factors for five-year OS. Five-year chronic graft-versus-host-disease (cGVHD)-free event-free survival was 75·4% with the same risk factors except for CMV serostatus. Five-year non-relapse mortality was 13·8% [7·3-22.3]. Only five patients (6·1%) developed grade II-IV acute GVHD and two patients chronic GVHD. These data confirm the excellent outcome of matched related or unrelated HSCT in children with FA.

Can Probiotics Emerge as Effective Therapeutic Agents in Apical Periodontitis? A Review.

Apical periodontitis (AP) is a biofilm-associated disease initiated by the invasion of dental pulp by microorganisms from the oral cavity. Eradication of intracanal microbial infection is an important goal of endodontic treatment, and this is typically accomplished by mechanical instrumentation and application of sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine. However, these agents are tissue-irritating at higher concentrations and cytotoxic. Certain probiotics have been found effective in controlling marginal periodontitis, as evidenced by reduction of pathogenic bacterial loads, gains in clinical attachment levels, and reduced bleeding on probing. In vitro studies have shown inhibitory activity of some probiotics against endodontic pathogens. Similarly, in vivo studies in rats have demonstrated a positive immuno-modulatory role of probiotics in AP, as manifested by decreased levels of proinflammatory markers and increased levels of anti-inflammatory markers. A role for probiotics in effecting a reduction of bone resorption has also been reported. This review provides an outline of current research into the probiotic management of AP, with a focus on understanding the mechanisms of their direct antagonistic activity against target pathogens and of their beneficial modulation of the immune system.