Thrombotic risk and features of patients with inferior vena cava agenesis: a multicentre, retrospective, observational study.

BACKGROUND: Inferior vena cava agenesis (IVCA) is a rare anomaly predisposing affected people to lower-limb venous thrombosis with low frequency of pulmonary embolism. Antenatal thrombosis and inherited thrombophilia have been suggested as causes of IVCA. However, there is little evidence on the clinical course and management of this condition. We designed a patient registry to assess the thrombotic risk and features of IVCA. METHODS: In this this multicentre, retrospective, observational study, we included patients with IVCA diagnosed by routine imaging from 20 hospitals in Spain (n=18), Portugal (n=1), and Italy (n=1). Patients were identified from a systematic search in radiology databases using data extraction software (cohort A) and alternative searches in medical records for confirmed IVCA (cohort B; option allowed when systematic approaches were unapplicable). Primary outcomes were clinical and imaging features, thrombotic risk, phenotype of IVCA-associated thrombosis, anticoagulant treatment, and the results of thrombophilia testing. FINDINGS: We included patients with IVCA diagnosed by routine imaging studies done between Jan 1, 2010, and Dec 31, 2022. In the systematic search, 4 341 333 imaging exams were screened from the radiology databases of eight centres. 122 eligible patients were enrolled in cohort A. A further 95 patients were identified by screening medical records at 12 centres, of whom 88 were eligible and included in cohort B, making a combined cohort of 210 patients. 96 (46%) of 210 patients were female and 200 (95%) were European or Hispanic. 60 (29%) of 210 patients had hepatic IVC interruption, whereas 150 (71%) had extrahepatic IVCA. In cohort A, 65 (53%) of 122 patients had venous thrombosis, with an estimated annual risk of 1·15% (95% CI 0·89-1·46). Extrahepatic IVCA was associated with a greater risk of venous thrombosis than hepatic IVCA (56 [67%] of 84 patients vs nine [24%] of 38 patients, odds ratio 5·31, 95% CI 2·27-12·43; p<0·0001). Analysis of 126 patients with venous thrombosis pooled from cohorts A and B showed early-onset (median age 34·6 years, IQR 23·3-54·3) and recurrent events (50 [40%] of 126 patients). Patients with extrahepatic IVCA had greater proportions of lower-limb venous thrombosis (95 [87%] of 109 vs nine [53%] of 17, p=0·0010) and recurrence (48 [44%] of 109 vs two [12%] of 17, p=0·015), but lower rates of pulmonary embolism (10 [10%] of 99 vs four [33%] of 12, p=0·044) than did patients with hepatic IVCA. 77 (63%) of 122 patients with thrombosis underwent indefinite anticoagulation. 32 (29%) of 111 patients (29 [34%] of 86 with thrombosis) had coexisting thrombophilias. The recurrence risk was lower for patients receiving indefinite anticoagulation (adjusted odds ratio 0·24, 95% CI 0·08-0·61; p=0·010), and greater for thrombophilias (3·19, 1·09-9·32; p=0·034). INTERPRETATION: This evaluation of a large patient cohort demonstrates the high thrombotic burden of IVCA. We have identified two distinct forms of IVCA, hepatic and extrahepatic, suggesting different underlying mechanisms. Beyond clinical characterisation, we draw attention to this orphan disease and highlight the need for its study and improved care. FUNDING: Spanish Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, FEDER, Fundación Séneca.

Decision-making on peri-implant mucositis management and treatment approaches.

Peri-implant mucositis is characterised by inflammation of soft tissues surrounding a dental implant without associated bone loss beyond initial remodelling. Early detection and timely intervention are critical to prevent its progression to peri-implantitis. This paper focuses on various treatment options for treating peri-implant mucositis. The cornerstone of professional treatment lies in the mechanical disruption and removal of microbial biofilms around the implant. This can be achieved through careful use of manual or powered instruments, such as ultrasonic scalers or air polishing devices. However, there is a need for further research to determine the most effective single approach for treating peri-implant mucositis. Current evidence does not support the combination of mechanical debridement with locally administered antibiotics. Contrarily, evidence strongly supports the removal, cleaning, and modifications of prostheses to improve both self-performance and professional cleanability. The use of adjunctive therapies like photodynamic therapy and diode laser, in conjunction with mechanical instrumentation, is not currently recommended due to the limited strength of available evidence. Preventive measures emphasise the importance of comprehensive oral hygiene care, encompassing professional guidance and at-home practices, to manage biofilms effectively. This encompasses oral hygiene instruction, regular debridement, and maintenance care. Supporting peri-implant therapy is also vital for ongoing implant monitoring, preventing the recurrence of mucositis, and halting its progression to peri-implantitis. This multifaceted approach is key to effectively managing and treating peri-implant mucositis.

Periodontal outcomes of surgically exposed and orthodontically aligned buccally impacted maxillary canines: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to compare periodontal outcomes of surgically exposed and orthodontically aligned buccally impacted maxillary canines to spontaneously erupted maxillary canines. DATA SOURCES: An unrestricted search was carried out of indexed databases (Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science and Scopus), reference lists of included studies, and grey literature published until December 2023. DATA SELECTION: Observational and experimental studies that addressed the focused question 'Do periodontal outcomes of buccally impacted maxillary canines that were surgically exposed and subsequently extruded and aligned using orthodontic alignment differ from those of spontaneously erupted maxillary canines?' were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Study screening, selection and data extraction were performed independently by two authors, with disagreement resolved by a third reviewer. The risk of bias was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist and GRADE approach. RESULTS: A total of 857 citations were found and five studies were eligible for inclusion. Supragingival plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation were similar between impacted canines and their contralaterals in most studies. Meta-analyses revealed no significant differences in keratinised tissue width (prospective studies: MD = -0.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -1.13-0.56, I² = 78%; retrospective studies: MD = 0.61, 95% CI = -1.51-2.72, I² = 94%). However, a meta-analysis of prospective studies showed slightly greater mean probing depth for impacted canines compared to their contralateral canines (prospective studies: MD = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.04-0.28, I² = 0%). The evidence certainty for keratinised tissue width and probing depth outcomes was low. CONCLUSION: Surgically exposed and orthodontically aligned buccally impacted canines have slightly greater probing depths, potential bone loss and increased clinical crown length, compared to their counterparts. However, these small differences (<1 mm) are unlikely to be clinically significant.

Factors influencing the impact of randomized clinical trials on dental implants: A bibliometric analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze bibliometrics, characteristics, and the risk of bias of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on dental implants published in six high-impact factor journals and to identify factors contributing to citation number. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic electronic search was conducted in four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) to identify RCTs on dental implants published in six dental journals between 2016 and 2017. Twenty-five bibliometric variables and paper characteristics were extracted to evaluate their contribution to the citation count. Risk of bias analysis was performed using the RoB2 tool. Negative binomial regression was used to examine the effects of predictor variables on the Citation count. Significance level was set to 5%. RESULTS: A total of 150 RCTs included received a cumulative citation count of 3452 until July 2022. In the negative binomial regression analysis, open-access RCTs exhibited 60% more citations, and RCTs that presented statistical significance received 46% more citations. Conversely, first author affiliations from Africa, Asia and Oceania continents showed 49% fewer citations than publications from Europe. Regarding the risk of bias, 73.3% of the RCTs had some concerns, while 26% were deemed to have a high risk of bias. Only one RCT (0.07%) showed a low risk of bias. CONCLUSION: Within the limitation of the study, factors such as open access, statistically significant results, and country influence the number of citations received by the RCTs on dental implants.

Clinical outcomes following atrophic alveolar ridge reconstruction using collagenated xenogeneic bone block or autogenous bone block: One-year follow-up of a randomized controlled clinical.

AIM: This investigation aimed to evaluate the 1-year survival of implants placed after staged lateral alveolar ridge augmentation using equine-derived collagenated xenogeneic bone blocks (CXBBs) or autogenous bone block (ABB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients who underwent lateral augmentation in a previous trial were included. The primary outcome measure was implant survival at the 1-year follow-up, and secondary outcomes included implant success, peri-implant clinical and volumetric parameters, pink aesthetic scores (PES) and patient-reported outcome measures. Data analysis involved Fisher's exact test, the Mann-Whitney U-test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: In this study, no late implant failures were observed. The cumulative survival rates were 78.6% for the CXBB group and 90.9% for the ABB group, with no difference between the groups. Similarly, the success rates were 53.6% and 63.6%, respectively, showing no significant difference. Peri-implant clinical and volumetric parameters indicated the presence of healthy peri-implant tissues surrounding implants placed in both CXBB- and ABB-augmented sites. PES were 8.5 and 11.0 for implants placed in CXBB- and ABB-augmented sites, respectively. Furthermore, patient satisfaction rates were high and similar between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Dental implants placed in both CXBB- and ABB-augmented ridges demonstrated no statistically significant differences in clinical, volumetric and aesthetic outcomes, along with high patient satisfaction rates.

Digital surveillance: The interest in mouthwash-related information.

BACKGROUND: The comprehension of the interests of Internet users regarding their health-related searches may reveal the community's demands about oral health. The study aimed to characterize the interests of Google users related to mouthwash in Australia, Brazil, Chile, Japan, Mexico, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Saudi Arabia and South Africa applying the Google Trends. METHODS: This longitudinal retrospective study analysed the mouthwash-related interest of Google users from January 2004 to December 2020. The monthly variation of relative search volume (RSV) and the main queries related were determined using Google Trends. Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) forecasting models were built to establish the predictive RSV values for mouthwash for additional 12 months. Auto-correlation plots and a general additive model (GAM) were used to diagnose trends and seasonality in RSV curves. In addition, the influence of social isolation related to the outbreak of COVID-19 were analysed. RESULTS: The RSVs curves showed a considerable increase in searches related to mouthwash to AUS, BRA, JAP, MEX, GBR and USA (RSV > 25), while the growth was slight to CHI, KSA, RSA and RUS (RSV < 25) over the years, without influence of monthly seasonality. All countries showed a significant increase in mouthwash interest after the outbreak of COVID-19, except for KSA and RUS. The mouthwash-related searches were associated to specific brands or chemical compositions, treatments, whitening agents, homemade mouthwash and indications for the 'best mouthwash'. CONCLUSIONS: In general, there was an increasing interest of Google users in mouthwash-related topics between 2004 and 2020. In addition, in most countries, there was an expansion in searches during the social isolation of the COVID-19 pandemics.

Toothpaste-related interests of Google users from different countries.

The Internet is a growing source of knowledge and can provide information about oral health. This ecological study aimed to characterize the interests in toothpaste among Google users from different countries. Our hypothesis was that there would be an increase in Google users' interest in information about toothpaste. This retrospective longitudinal ecological study analyzed the toothpaste-related interest of Google users from 10 countries between January 2004 and December 2020. The monthly variation in relative search volume (RSV) and the main related queries were determined using Google Trends. Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) forecasting models were built to establish the predictive RSV values for toothpaste for an additional 12 months. Autocorrelation plots and the generalized additive model (GAM) were used to diagnose trends and seasonality in RSV curves. Additionally, the influence of social isolation related to the outbreak of COVID-19 was analyzed. Although not detected by autocorrelation function (ACF) and partial autocorrelation function (PACF) analyses, the heuristic analysis showed an increase in the interest in toothpaste-related information in all countries, with a stable trend observed in the 12-month forecasts, except for the increases in the United Kingdom and South Africa. Also, GAM analyses demonstrated a non-significant monthly or quarterly seasonal influence on data. In addition, social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic did not influence the online information-seeking behavior of Google Search users linked to this topic. We confirmed the hypothesis that the interest of Google Search users in information about toothpaste increased in all of the 10 assessed countries.

First description and validation of a new method for estimating aortic stenosis burden and predicting the functional response to TAVI.

Background: Up to one-fifth of patients continue to have poor quality of life after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), with an additional similar proportion not surviving 1 year after the procedure. We aimed to assess the value of a new method based on an integrated analysis of left ventricular outflow tract flow velocity and aortic pressure to predict objective functional improvement and prognosis after TAVI. Methods: In a cohort of consecutive patients undergoing TAVI, flow velocity-pressure integrated analysis was obtained from simultaneous pressure recordings in the ascending aorta and flow velocity recordings in the left ventricular outflow tract by echocardiography. Objective functional improvement 6 months after TAVI was assessed through changes in a 6-min walk test and NT-proBNP levels. A clinical follow-up was conducted at 2 years. Results: Of the 102 patients studied, 82 (80.4%) showed objective functional improvement. The 2-year mortality of these patients was significantly lower (9% vs. 44%, p = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, parameter "(Pressure at Vmax - Pressure at Vo)/Vmax" was found to be an independent predictor for objective improvement. The C-statistic was 0.70 in the overall population and 0.78 in the low-gradient subgroup. All echocardiographic parameters and the valvuloarterial impedance showed a C-statistic of <0.6 for the overall and low-gradient patients. In a validation cohort of 119 patients, the C-statistic was 0.67 for the total cohort and 0.76 for the low-gradient subgroup. Conclusion: This new method allows predicting objective functional improvement after TAVI more precisely than the conventional parameters used to assess the severity of aortic stenosis, particularly in low-gradient patients.

Three-dimensional-printed scaffolds for periodontal regeneration: A systematic review.

Background: As current ethical codes preclude determining whether the clinical improvements obtained with the use of three-dimensional (3D)-printed scaffolds represent true periodontal regeneration, the histological proof of evidence for regeneration must be demonstrated in animal models. Thus, this systematic review investigated the regenerative potential of 3D-printed scaffolds in animal models of periodontal defects. Materials and Methods: A systematic search was performed in four databases (Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus) to identify preclinical controlled studies that investigated the use of 3D-printed scaffolds for periodontal regeneration. Studies limited to periodontal defects treated with 3D scaffolds were eligible for inclusion. The primary outcome was periodontal regeneration, assessed histologically as new bone, cementum, and periodontal ligament (PDL). This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Quality was assessed according to the SRYCLE score. Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria. Scaffolds were designed using computer-aided design software. While the absence of a scaffold resulted in defects repaired mainly with fibrous connective tissue, the use of nonguiding 3D scaffolds promoted some bone formation. Notably, the regeneration of cementum and functional PDL fibers perpendicularly inserted into the root surface and the alveolar bone was limited to the defects treated with multi-compartment fiber-guiding or ion-containing 3D scaffolds. Nevertheless, the quality of the evidence was limited due to the unclear risk of bias. Conclusions: Despite the limitations of the available evidence, the current data suggest that the use of printed multi-compartment fiber-guiding or ion-containing 3D scaffolds improves periodontal regeneration in animal models.

The effect of a multicomponent oral care regimen on gingival inflammation: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Oral care regimens can be explored to improve oral health in patients with gingivitis. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a multicomponent oral care regimen with a dual zinc plus arginine (DZA) toothpaste and cetylpyridinium chloride with zinc lactate (CPC + Zn) mouthwash in reducing gingival bleeding in patients with gingivitis. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial included 94 participants with gingivitis who were randomized into two groups: the DZA/CPC + Zn group, which used a 1450-ppm fluoride toothpaste containing 0.96% zinc plus 1.5% arginine and a fluoride-containing mouthwash with 0.075% CPC and 0.28% zinc lactate, and the control group, which used a 1450-ppm fluoride toothpaste and a placebo mouthwash for 6 months. All participants were examined by a blinded examiner who measured the gingival index, plaque index, and gingival severity index. Data were analyzed using paired t test, independent t test, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). RESULTS: Both groups presented statistically significant reductions in all clinical parameters compared to baseline. The DZA/CPC + Zn group exhibited significantly greater reductions in gingival index, gingival severity index, proximal gingival index, plaque index and proximal plaque index compared to the control group at 1, 3, and 6 months. Furthermore, DZA/CPC + Zn significantly decreased the percentage of patients with generalized gingivitis over a 6-month follow-up period. However, differences between the DZA/CPC + Zn and the control groups were not maintained after both groups established similar regimens with fluoride toothpaste. CONCLUSION: The multicomponent oral care regimen consisting of DZA toothpaste and CPC + Zn mouthwash is effective in reducing gingival inflammation and supragingival biofilm in patients with gingivitis.

An online home-based exercise program improves autonomic dysfunction in breast cancer survivors.

Introduction: Exercise interventions for breast cancer survivors have proved their potential to improve clinical, physical, and psychosocial outcomes. However, limited studies have explored exercise effects on autonomic dysfunction and the measurement of exercise tolerance and progression through daily heart rate variability (HRV). Purpose: To analyze the effects of a 16-wk exercise intervention on the autonomic modulation of breast cancer survivors, as well as to examine the evolution of daily measured HRV and its interaction with exercise sessions in this population. Methods: A total of 29 patients who had undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy were randomly assigned to the exercise group or to the control group. The exercise intervention was delivered remotely through online meetings and consisted of supervised training resistance and cardiovascular exercise 3 times per week. During the intervention all patients measured their HRV daily obtaining the napierian logarithm of the root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats (lnrMSSD) and the napierian logarithm of the standard deviation of the interbeat interval of normal sinus beats (lnSDNN) values at four moments: day 0 (the morning of the training sessions), 24, 48, and 72 h after exercise. Results: The results revealed a significant interaction between group and months during the intervention period for lnrMSSD and lnSDNN (p < 0.001). Additionally, there were significant differences in lnSDNN recovery time between months (p < 0.05), while differences in lnrMSSD become apparent only 24 h after exercise (p = 0.019). The control group experienced a significant decrease in both variables monthly (p < 0.05) while exercise group experienced a significant increment (p < 0.05). Conclusion: HRV is daily affected by exercise training sessions in cancer patients. Although results strongly support the role of exercise as a post-chemotherapy and radiotherapy rehabilitation strategy for breast cancer survivors to improve autonomic imbalance, further research is necessary to validate these initial findings.

Exploring autonomic modulation: day-to-day recovery after exercise sessions in breast cancer survivors.

Purpose: The current study aimed to analyze the changes in heart rate variability (HRV) 24h, 48h and 72h after exercise sessions in breast cancer survivors. Methods: Sixteen survivors who had undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy were included. Participants trained resistance and cardiovascular components 3 times per week. The intervention was supervised and delivered online for 4 weeks. In this period, patients measured their HRV daily obtaining the lnrMSSD and lnSDNN values of: day 0 (the morning of the training sessions), 24h, 48h and 72h after exercise. Results: Significant changes in lnrMSSD (p=0.015) and lnSDNN (p=0.031) during recovery times and lnSDNN during the weeks were found (p=0.015). The most prominent differences were identified between the baseline measurement taken on day 0 and 24h after exercise (p=0.007 and p=0.048, respectively) and between measurements obtained 24h and 48h after the training session (p=0.019 and p=0.026, respectively). Conclusion: Our study suggests that patients may decrease their lnrMSSD and lnSDNN values 24h after exercise and they were close to recover 48h after the sessions. In this regard, HRV may be an useful tool to monitor their recovery and exercise tolerance.

Radiographic outcomes of ridge reconstruction with autogenous bone block versus collagenated xenogeneic bone block: A randomized clinical trial.

AIM: To compare, at different levels from the alveolar crest, the radiographic outcomes of equine-derived collagenated xenogeneic bone blocks (CXBB) and autogenous bone blocks (ABB) used for lateral alveolar ridge augmentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-four patients with tooth gaps in atrophic alveolar ridges with ≤4 mm were randomly assigned to lateral augmentation using CXBB or ABB. The lateral bone thickness (LBT) was measured 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mm below the alveolar crest using CBCT scans obtained before augmentation surgery and at 30 weeks, prior to implant placement. Statistical analysis was performed using Shapiro-Wilk, Fisher's exact, Mann-Whitney, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. RESULTS: Both CXBB and ABB resulted in significant total and buccal LBT gains at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mm. LBT gains were similar between CXBB- and ABB-augmented sites, except for greater buccal LBT gains at 8 mm at CXBB-augmented sites. While ABB-augmented sites gained vertical bone height, CXBB-treated sites suffered vertical bone loss (CXBB: -0.16 mm; ABB: 0.38 mm, p < .0009). CONCLUSIONS: CXBB and ABB were both associated with significant and similar LBT gains at 30 weeks.

Intraprocedural delayed reassessment of paravalvular regurgitation in TAVR significantly reduces the use of postdilatation.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to investigate the effect of a 15-min delayed intraprocedural reassessment of paravalvular aortic regurgitation (PVR) after an immediate evaluation of posttranscatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) on the regurgitation grading and usage of postdilatation. BACKGROUND: PVR after TAVR is associated with poor prognosis, but postdilatation may increase the risk of other complications. METHODS: In a prospective cohort of consecutive patients treated with balloon-expandable valve ES-3 ultra, the degree of PVR was assessed immediately and 15 min after that first evaluation (excluded severe cases), with the indication of postdilatation based on the delayed assessment. As a control group, the previous consecutive series of patients also treated with the same model of valve prosthesis was used. RESULTS: A total of 180 patients were included in the prospective study cohort and 152 in the retrospective control group. In the study group, the immediate PVR assessment showed none-trace 27.5%, mild 52%, moderate 19%, and severe 1.5%, and the delayed re-evaluation graded PVR as none-trace 83%, mild 15.6%, and moderate 1.2% (p < 0.001 as compared to immediate). In the control group, the immediate PVR assessment showed none-trace 33.5%, mild 52%, moderate 13%, and severe 1.5%. The rate of postdilatation was 2.8% in the study group versus 10.5% in the control group (p = 0.006). At discharge, no differences were observed between groups in PVR echocardiographic grading. CONCLUSIONS: A post-TAVR delayed intraprocedural reassessment of the PVR shows a clearly lower degree of regurgitation as compared to immediate evaluation, which significantly decreased the indication of postdilatation.

Efficacy of mouthrinses in reducing oral SARS-COV-2 load: a review.

Accumulated evidence has shown that the oral cavity may be an important reservoir for SARS-CoV-2. Some authors have suggested that the use of mouthrinses could reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the saliva. Thus, the aim of this review was to synthesize evidence about the efficacy of mouthrinses in reducing the salivary viral load of SARS-CoV-2. 2. Nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have investigated the efficacy of different mouthrinses in reducing salivary SARS-CoV-2 loads. Various active ingredients have been tested in these trials: 0.5%,1% and 2% povidone-iodine, 0.2% and 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX), 0.075% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), 0.075% CPC with Zinc lactate, 1% and 1.5% hydrogen peroxide (HP), 1.5% HP + 0.12% CHX and ß-cyclodextrin and citrox. The studies reported an intra-group reduction in the salivary levels of the virus, when compared with the baseline. However, the majority of these trials failed to demonstrate a significant inter-group difference between active groups and the control group relative to the decrease in salivary SARS-CoV-2 loads. Although promising, these results should be confirmed by larger trials.

A new integrative approach to assess aortic stenosis burden and predict objective functional improvement after TAVR.

Background: A non-negligible rate of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) do not report symptomatic improvement or even die in the short-midterm. We sought to assess the degree of objective functional recovery after TAVR and its prognostic implications and to develop a predictive model. Methods: In a cohort of patients undergoing TAVR, a prospective evaluation of clinical, anatomical, and physiological parameters was conducted before and after the procedure. These parameters were derived from echocardiography, non-invasive analysis of arterial pulse waves, and cardiac tomography. Objective functional improvement 6 months after TAVR was assessed using a 6-min walk test and nitro-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels. The derived predictive model was prospectively validated in a different cohort. A clinical follow-up was conducted at 2 years. Results: Among the 212 patients included, objective functional improvement was observed in 169 patients (80%) and subjective improvement in 187 (88%). Patients with objective functional improvement showed a much lower death rate at 2 years (9% vs. 31% p = 0.0002). Independent predictors of improvement were as follows: mean aortic gradient of ≥40 mmHg, augmentation index75 of ≥45%, the posterior wall thickness of ≤12 mm, and absence of atrial fibrillation. A simple integer-based point score was developed (GAPA score), which showed an area under the curve of 0.81 for the overall cohort and 0.78 for the low-gradient subgroup. In a validation cohort of 216 patients, these values were 0.75 and 0.76, respectively. Conclusion: A total of 80% of patients experienced objective functional improvement after TAVR, showing a significantly lower 2-year mortality rate. A predictive score was built that showed a good discriminative performance in overall and low-gradient populations.

The influence of smoking on the incidence of peri-implantitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to systematically analyze the influence of smoking on the incidence of peri-implantitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The search was performed in the National Library of Medicine (MEDLINE-PubMed), SCOPUS, EMBASE, and ISI Web of Science databases (finished on November 30, 2022). Systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to PRISMA statement. Prospective cohort studies that evaluate the incidence of peri-implantitis in smokers and non-smokers were included. Two authors independently searched for eligible studies, screened titles, and abstracts, did the full-text analysis, extracted data, and performed the risk-of-bias assessment. The results were summarized through random-effects meta-analyses. The GRADE method was used to determine the certainty of evidence. RESULTS: A total of 7 studies with 702 patients and 1959 implants were included for analysis. The meta-analysis revealed a significant difference between smokers and non-smokers for the risk of peri-implantitis in the implant-based (p < .0001) and patient-based analysis (p = .003). A strong association between smoking and the risk for peri-implantitis was verified at the implant level (RR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.46-1.85) and the patient level (RR: 2.79, 95% CI: 1.42-5.50). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate certainty evidence suggests that smoking is associated with peri-implantitis compared to non-smoking at the patient and implant levels.

High-intensity exercise prescription guided by heart rate variability in breast cancer patients: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is a chronic disease with a large growth in its treatments, prognosis, improvements, side effects and rehabilitation therapies research. These advances have also highlighted the need to use physical exercise as a countermeasure to reduce the cardiotoxicity of pharmacological treatments, increase patients' strength and quality of life and improve body composition, physical condition and mental health. However, new investigations show the need for a closed exercise individualisation to produce higher physiological, physical and psychological benefits in remote exercise programs. To this end, the present study will use, in a novel way in this population, heart rate variability (HRV) as a measure for prescribing high-intensity training. Thus, the primary objective of this randomised clinical trial is to analyse the effects of a high-intensity exercise program daily guided by HRV, a preplanned moderate to high-intensity exercise intervention and a usual care group, in breast cancer patients after chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments. METHODS: For this purpose, a 16-week intervention will be carried out with 90 breast cancer patients distributed in 3 groups (a control group, a moderate to high-intensity preplanned exercise group and a high-intensity exercise group guided by HRV). Both physical exercise interventions will be developed remotely and supervised including strength and cardiovascular exercises. Physiological variables, such as cardiotoxicity, biomarkers, lipid profile, glucose, heart rate and blood pressure; physical measures like cardiorespiratory capacity, strength, flexibility, agility, balance and body composition; and psychosocial variables, as health-related quality of life, fatigue, functionality, self-esteem, movement fear, physical exercise level, anxiety and depression will be measure before, after the intervention and 3 and 6 months follow up. DISCUSSION: Personalized high-intensity exercise could be a promising exercise intervention in contrast to moderate-intensity or usual care in breast cancer patients to reach higher clinical, physical and mental effects. In addition, the novelty of controlling HRV measures daily may reflect exercise effects and patients' adaptation in the preplanned exercise group and a new opportunity to adjust intensity. Moreover, findings may support the effectiveness and security of physical exercise remotely supervised, although with high-intensity exercise, to reach cardiotoxicity improvements and increase physical and psychosocial variables after breast cancer treatments. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov nº NCT05040867 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT05040867 ).

Effects of antimicrobial mouthwashes on the human oral microbiome: Systematic review of controlled clinical trials.

OBJECTIVES: This review aimed to assess the impact of mouthwashes on the composition of the human oral microbiome. METHOD: An electronic search algorithm was adapted to MEDLINE-PubMed, Scopus, Embase and ISI Web of Science, and reference lists of relevant sources were manually searched. Inclusion criteria were controlled clinical trials published in English whose population were adult individuals who rinse with antimicrobial mouthwashes and that analysed changes in the oral microbiome by metataxonomy, metagenomics or phylogenetic microarray. Identified studies were screened and assessed following the PRISMA guidelines, and results were compiled into qualitative synthesis of the evidence. RESULTS: Five controlled clinical studies were included. These studies found associations between the daily use of mouthwashes and changes in the oral microbiome, but the nature of the effect varied according to the mouthwash. Chlorhexidine (CHX) rinses lowered microbial diversity. While 7-day use of CHX led to increases in the abundance of Neisseria, Streptococcus and Granulicatella and a decrease in the abundance of Actinomyces, its prolonged use led to widespread reductions in several genera and species. Cetylpyridinium chloride-containing mouthwashes specifically lowered the abundance of gingivitis-associated genera. In contrast, N-acetyl cysteine-based mouthwashes did not promote changes in the oral microbiome. CONCLUSIONS: Despite substantial heterogeneity, we found evidence to support the hypothesis that CHX and CPC mouthwashes promote changes in oral microbial structure and/or reductions in community diversity that favour the resolution of dysbiosis. However, future large population-based studies of adequate duration are needed to fully understand the extent to which antimicrobial mouthwashes modulate the microbiome.