Transcutaneous versus percutaneous bone-anchored hearing aids: A quality of life comparison.

PURPOSE: To determine whether patients have improved quality of life outcomes with percutaneous bone conduction implant (p-BCI) versus transcutaneous bone conduction implant (t-BCI). MATERIALS & METHODS: Retrospective chart review of patients who have undergone placement of a BCI in the Ascension St John Providence Health System from 2013 to 2018. Patient satisfaction of t-BCI and p-BCI was measured using a questionnaire that incorporated the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) and BAHA, aesthetic, hygiene & use (BAHU) survey. Key outcome variables were separated into 2 categories: (1) evaluation of wound healing and implant-associated complications, and (2) quality of life improvements. RESULTS: Comparative analysis of the 27 p-BCI patients and 10 t-BCI patients showed overall positive benefit with no statistically significant difference on quality of life improvement between the two groups. Total complication rates for p-BCI (48.1 %) vs t-BCI (10 %) was marginally significant (p = 0.056). Rate of revision for p-BCI versus t-BCI was 14.8 % vs 0 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study provides a much-needed comparative insight in patient's experience with these two devices. Understanding which device is preferable in the patient's view will offer helpful information for guiding proper implant selection.

Thermodynamics and Mechanism of the Membrane Permeation of Hv1 Channel Blockers.

The voltage-gated proton channel Hv1 mediates efflux of protons from the cell. Hv1 integrally contributes to various physiological processes including pH homeostasis and the respiratory burst of phagocytes. Inhibition of Hv1 may provide therapeutic avenues for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, breast cancer, and ischemic brain damage. In this work, we investigate two prototypical Hv1 inhibitors, 2-guanidinobenzimidazole (2GBI), and 5-chloro-2-guanidinobenzimidazole (GBIC), from an experimentally screened class of guanidine derivatives. Both compounds block proton conduction by binding the same site located on the intracellular side of the channel. However, when added to the extracellular medium, the compounds strongly differ in their ability to inhibit proton conduction, suggesting substantial differences in membrane permeability. Here, we compute the potential of mean force for each compound to permeate through the membrane using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations with the adaptive biasing force method. Our results rationalize the putative distinction between these two blockers with respect to their abilities to permeate the cellular membrane.

Assessment of functional and aesthetic outcomes in septorhinoplasty.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to review the aesthetic and functional outcomes of septorhinoplasty using questionnaires that have never been collectively used, as well as surgeons' evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study was conducted prospectively among 100 patients who underwent septorhinoplasty operation. We evaluated the effects of septorhinoplasty's functional and aesthetic outcomes on patients' emotional status using a combination of NOSE, ROE, DAS-24, and GBI questionnaires as well as surgeons' evaluations. RESULTS: Our study did not detect any significant difference between preoperative and postoperative levels of patient satisfaction with regard to age, sex, and surgery type and the number of surgeries. Our study, on the other hand, revealed significantly higher postoperative GBI scores among patients with higher preoperative DAS-24 and NOSE scores. However, we showed no significant difference between the preoperative ROE score and postoperative GBI score CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that septorhinoplasty can not only significantly alter a nose's functional and aesthetic appearance, but it can also boost patient satisfaction.

Prospective evaluation of disease-specific quality of life measurements after stapes surgery using Nitinol Head Prostheses.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and audiological results after stapes surgery using a Nitinol Head Prosthesis (NHP). METHODS: Study-Design Prospective longitudinal study. Patients Patients undergoing stapes surgery for otosclerosis and stapes reconstruction with a NHP between January 2018 and December 2018 (n = 48). Intervention Audiological measurements preoperatively and at 6 months follow-up as well as two questionnaires assessing HRQoL, i.e., the Stapes Plasty Outcome Test 25 (SPOT-25) and the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI). Main outcome measures Correlation of pure tone average (4PTA 0.5-3 kHz) with questionnaires assessing HrQOL preoperatively and at follow-up after stapes surgery. RESULTS: Patients showed a significantly reduced air-bone-gap (ABG, 0.5, 1, 2, 3 kHz) at the follow up visit (median: 11.3 dB, IQR 5.0-14.4) compared to the preoperative measurements (median 27.5 dB, IQR 21.9-36.3). Disease-specific HRQoL improved significantly in all scales of the SPOT-25 apart from the subscore "tinnitus". Postoperatively, the subscore "hearing function" correlated well only with the ABG (r = 0.59, p = 0.001). The SPOT-25 and GBI total scores showed a moderate negative correlation (r = - 0.59, p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Stapes surgery leads to significant improvements of hearing and the HRQoL. However, correlations between HRQoL questionnaire scores and the audiometric outcomes were inconclusive, indicating that the use of HRQoL measures for the assessment of stapedotomy outcomes to complement objective outcomes should be encouraged.

Total thyroidectomy for Graves' disease-what do our patients think? A qualitative cohort study to evaluate the surgical management of Graves' disease.

INTRODUCTION: Total thyroidectomy for Grave's disease has been covered extensively in literature. There are established risks and side effects of the procedure, but in experienced hands, this is minimised. Studies show the physical complication rate of total thyroidectomy, but not a holistic view. The authors pose the question, "what do our patients really think"? Has there been a significant improvement in quality of life by doing this surgery? METHODS: A cohort of patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for Graves' disease between the dates 2015-2018. A total of 95 patients were identified. The Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) was used to ascertain patient's opinions on their surgery. RESULTS: There were 54 responders, 46 female and 8 male. Average age was 41, with a range 20-81. Average GBI scores were 13.35 (SD 30.16). A general subset had an average score of 19.21 (SD = 32.59), a social subset average was 9.57 (SD = 25.61), and a physical subset was average -6.79 (SD = 37.40). Patients' feedback included positive and negative statements on their feelings surrounding pre-operative communication and post-operative side effects. CONCLUSION: Overall, the GBI scores are positive, thereby showing an improvement in quality of life since having total thyroidectomy for Graves. Pre-operative communication was of paramount importance. It should be made clear to patients that they will require medication after surgery. The majority of patients stated they would prefer to know about "minor" post -operative side effects like weight gain or mood change post op. This highlights the importance of the consenting process- Montgomery Ruling-that clinicians explain the risks involved with surgery according to what the patient would deem a risk. In addition, they must be informed of the non-surgical options available, therefore, surgeons should be able to discuss risks and benefits of radio-iodine and anti-thyroid drugs too.

HVCN1 Channels Are Relevant for the Maintenance of Sperm Motility During In Vitro Capacitation of Pig Spermatozoa.

The objective of the present study was to determine the physiological role of voltage-gated hydrogen channels 1 (HVCN1 channels) during in vitro capacitation of pig spermatozoa. Sperm samples from 20 boars were incubated in capacitating medium for 300 minutes (min) in the presence of 2-guanidino benzimidazole (2-GBI), a specific HVCN1-channel blocker, added either at 0 min or after 240 min of incubation. Control samples were incubated in capacitating medium without the inhibitor. In all samples, acrosomal exocytosis was triggered with progesterone after 240 min of incubation. Sperm viability, sperm motility and kinematics, acrosomal exocytosis, membrane lipid disorder, intracellular calcium levels and mitochondrial membrane potential were evaluated after 0, 60, 120, 180, 240, 250, 270 and 300 min of incubation. While HVCN1-blockage resulted in altered sperm viability, sperm motility and kinematics and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential as compared to control samples, at any blocker concentration and incubation time, it had a non-significant effect on intracellular Ca2+ levels determined through Fluo3-staining. The effects on acrosomal exocytosis were only significant in blocked samples at 0 min, and were associated with increased membrane lipid disorder and Ca2+ levels of the sperm head determined through Rhod5-staining. In conclusion, HVCN1 channels play a crucial role in the modulation of sperm motility and kinematics, and in Ca2+ entrance to the sperm head.

Stapes surgery leads to significant improvement in quality of life, independently from the surgical method: evaluation of stapes surgery using different prostheses and different quality of life measurements.

OBJECTIVES: To compare quality-of-life (QoL) measurements with audiological results after stapes surgery with two different prostheses. METHODS: This is a retrospective longitudinal study. All patients required stapes surgery for otosclerosis and ossicular chain reconstruction with either a titanium band prothesis (TBP) or receiving a nitinol head prosthesis (NHP). Intervention was between January 2011 and March 2017 patients received stapes-surgery with either TBP (n = 95) or NHP (n = 50). Audiological measurements at three different time points (preoperatively, early follow up < 3 months, late follow-up > 3 months) were compared and two different QoL-inventories, the Glasgow-Benefit-Inventory (GBI) and the Stapes-Plasty-Outcome-Test-25 (SPOT-25) were investigated postoperatively. The main outcome measures were Pure tone average (PTA) at 0.5, 1, 2, 3 kHz at early and late follow up after stapes surgery were compared and correlated with the subjective benefit on the QoL inventories. The perforation method and the type of surgery were analyzed as potentially influencing factors. RESULTS: All patients showed a significantly reduced air bone gap (ABG 0.5, 1, 2, 3) at the two follow-up visits (visit 2: mean: 13.6 dB, SD 7.7; visit 3: mean: 12.7 dB SD 8.1) compared to preoperative measurements (mean: 28.9 dB, SD 9.9) and subjectively benefitted from stapes surgery (mean GBI score: 21.55; SD 20.60, mean SPOT-25 score: 28.03; SD 18.53). The outcome of the two questionnaires correlated with each other. Neither the hearing-outcome nor the subjective benefit was significantly influenced by the prosthesis, the perforation method or the type of anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: Both prostheses were safe and led to comparable hearing results as well as to subjective benefits in the Health-related-Quality-of-Life (HrQoL). A combination of the two questionnaires is recommendable for postoperative quality control.

Bone anchored hearing implants without skin thinning: the Gruppo Otologico surgical and audiological experience.

To investigate the surgical and audiological outcomes of an installation of a bone-anchored hearing system (BAHS) procedure without tissue reduction using Ponto implants and abutments. Retrospective consecutive case series. Forty-nine patients, 18 years or older and eligible for treatment with a bone-anchored hearing system with tissue preservation surgery, were included in the study. Following a systematic scheme for medical outcomes, we collected the data regarding surgical intervention, quality of life (GBI), skin and soft tissue reactions (Holgers grading system), pain and numbness (VAS). Hearing performance (aided thresholds and speech recognition in noise) was recorded in 20 patients. No implants were lost, skin, and soft tissue reactions were mild in 96 % of the all visits. Quality of life (GBI) generally improved in the aided condition compared to prior to implantation. Audiologically, 100 % of the 20 patients examined showed improvement of speech reception and sound field thresholds comparing aided to unaided. An average improvement of 33 dB on PTA was recorded. The study, presenting data on a large population, treated with tissue preservation and modern titanium implants, shows that this treatment is a viable solution that results in fewer complications, high degree of predictability and good audiological results.

Fuzzy System-Based Target Selection for a NIR Camera-Based Gaze Tracker.

Gaze-based interaction (GBI) techniques have been a popular subject of research in the last few decades. Among other applications, GBI can be used by persons with disabilities to perform everyday tasks, as a game interface, and can play a pivotal role in the human computer interface (HCI) field. While gaze tracking systems have shown high accuracy in GBI, detecting a user's gaze for target selection is a challenging problem that needs to be considered while using a gaze detection system. Past research has used the blinking of the eyes for this purpose as well as dwell time-based methods, but these techniques are either inconvenient for the user or requires a long time for target selection. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a method for fuzzy system-based target selection for near-infrared (NIR) camera-based gaze trackers. The results of experiments performed in addition to tests of the usability and on-screen keyboard use of the proposed method show that it is better than previous methods.

Oral health and apraxia among institutionalized elderly people--a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Poor oral hygiene and dental health are very common among the institutionalized elderly. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of apraxia with oral hygiene and/or health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-two residents of 13 long-term care homes in southwest Germany participated in the study. For each participant, ideomotor apraxia scoring (AS) was conducted and demographic variables were collected. Participants underwent a comprehensive dental examination to assess the oral health indices gingival bleeding index (GBI), community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN) and denture hygiene index (DHI). Statistical comparison of dental indices among apraxic and non-apraxic individuals (cut-off < 45) was performed by use of t-tests. In addition, linear regression models were constructed with the dental indices as dependent variables. Each model was fitted with the dichotomized variable AS (pathologic or healthy) and adjusted for age and sex. RESULTS: Mean (SD) GBI of 48.5 (25.9), CPITN of 2.9 (0.7) and DHI of 82.6 (14.6) were observed among the participants. Statistical analysis revealed AS was significantly associated with all oral health indicators (p < 0.05). Linear regression models showed apraxia is a predictor of GBI (p = 0.002) and CPITN (p = 0.027), but not of denture hygiene (p = 0.916). CONCLUSIONS: Although this pilot investigation has limitations, the results suggest the presence of apraxia should be considered when planning oral healthcare strategies. Further research with larger samples is encouraged to confirm these relationships.

QoL Following Dacryocystorhinostomy: Linguistic Adaptation of Italian Version of GBI.

The Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) is a generic patient recorded outcome measure assessing the quality of life of patients undergoing ear nose and troth surgery. Although largely used in the clinical practice, it has never been adapted and validated in the Italian language. The aim of the study was to translate the original GBI from English to Italian and to examine its reliability for use in the Italian adult population of patients undergoing endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy. After translation and back-translation of the original English we evaluated the reliability of GBI for use in 79 Italian adults undergoing dacryocystorhinostomies. Reliability of GBI-IT was examined by the internal consistency of the scale (using the Cronbach's alpha coefficient), and by the test-retest analysis. The GBI-IT showed adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.85 for the total scale). The total GBI-IT score showed a strong correlation in retests (CCC 0.87). In conclusion, our study showed that the GBI-IT has satisfactory internal consistency and reliability and is equivalent to the original English version. In addition, it can be considered a valuable measure for both clinical and research uses.

Corporate social responsibilities, sustainable investment, and the future of green bond market: evidence from renewable energy projects in Morocco.

The study mainly focuses on identifying the links between corporate social responsibility disclosure activities and green bond investment performance utilizing GDP growth as a moderating variable in Morocco. The research is based on a unique technique combining a thorough literature review, market data analysis, and interviews with a vast spectrum of green bond market players. The data from 2015 to 2019 for the 450 Moroccan enterprises has been utilized to produce CSR and GDP growth rates based on a serial criterion. The data demonstrate that the more firms publicly disclose their CSR initiatives, and the better the financial outcomes. The relationship between CSR disclosure and green bond investment seems to be tempered by GDP considerably, while the effect of CSR on green bond investment Tobin's Q is dramatically lowered. As a consequence of the benefits that the business stands to get from CSR disclosure, legislators are moving in the direction of ensuring a long-term market. Overall, the issue of green bonds has a good influence on firms, may contribute to environmental development, encourages CSR and value creation, and helps to attract investors to some level. The research provided light on a strategy to measure CSR disclosure indices for emerging markets like Morocco. The results recommend that the business's management pay more attention to CSR disclosure activities owing to the positive advantage their firm may gain and suggest policymakers maintain a stable economic background for a sustainable market.

Exceptional and long-time economic development: CO2 emission reduction and adoption of green marketing in China.

This study aims to boost green bond China's adoption of green marketing; the current research focuses on green defaults as demand-side strategies. This paper panel data collected from 2002 to 2021 used econometric methods. Purposive sampling was used to collect information from respondents. The empirical findings show that the link between income and Green Business Initiatives (GBI) increases emissions of carbon dioxide. Moreover, trade openness raises carbon dioxide emission, but human capital reduces them. This article also makes some predictions about how monetary policies will affect the economy. A policy of open market operations in which the government discounts less for second-hand debt, lowering the market value of money, credit, and interest rates. Results (2) show that the descriptive statistics for the dependent and independent variables of the global market's first-layer model. Green bonds are priced 0.12% more in ask yield than its conventional counterparts on average. The 0.09% point mean of GBI demonstrates that the bid-ask yields of green bonds are somewhat lower on average than those of conventional bonds. The econometric findings of robustness checks reveal that GDP volatility is low and growth rates are higher in economies with GB marketing. Excellent and long-term financial development, as well as strong gross fixed capital formation, are hallmarks China region, which indicate higher levels of economic investment than their control counterparts.

The influence of periodontal status and serum biomarkers on salivary leptin levels in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the influence of periodontal status, clinical data, and serum markers on salivary leptin levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: A case-control study was conducted with 38 patients with SLE and 29 healthy controls. Periodontal data included periodontal probing depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and gingival bleeding on probing (BOP). Stimulated saliva samples were collected to analyze salivary leptin levels. Clinical and serum data were collected from the SLE group. Statistical analysis included the t-test, Mann-Whitney test, Spearman correlation coefficient, and a structural equation model. Results: The SLE group had a lower salivary leptin level than the control group (P = 0.002). The model revealed that SLE had an inverse and independent effect on salivary leptin (standardized estimate =  - 0.289, P = 0.023). Moreover, salivary leptin level negatively correlated with the serum levels of triglyceride, creatinine, and leukocytes, positively correlated with the serum total cholesterol, but was not significantly correlated with the periodontal status. Conclusion: These findings suggest that patients with SLE have a lower salivary leptin level. In addition, the level of salivary leptin does not appear to be related to periodontal status in patients with SLE.

Subjective outcome and quality of life following external dacryocystorhinostomy.

Purpose: : To assess the patient reported outcome and quality of life in post external dacryocystorhinostomy operated patients. Methods: A prospective questionnaire based study was carried out on 112 patients diagnosed with chronic dacryocystitis who underwent external dacryocystorhinostomy in the department of Orbit and Oculoplasty at a tertiary eye hospital in South India. Results: We included 112 cases in our study. Mean (SD) of the age of patients was 48.03 (12.79) years and ranged from 7 to 72 years of age. 44 (39.3%) patients were males and 68 (60.7%) were females. All cases had subjective symptoms of tearing, pain and swelling at baseline which were relieved by post-operative 3 in all cases. The mean (SD) best corrected visual acuity was 0.28 (0.39) at baseline and 0.25 (0.37) at postoperative 3 (p < 0.001). All four parameters studied in the GBI questionnaire - total mean GBI (32.22 vs 48.86, P < 0.001), general subscale (31.21 vs 44.08, P < 0.001), social health (46.28 vs 61.01, P < 0.001), physical outcome (22.17 vs 55.80, P = 0.0001) scores showed significant improvement from 1 vs 3 months post DCR. Conclusion: : The GBI questionnaire is an effective tool for assessing patients' quality of life following DCR. External DCR can not only produce a successful anatomical outcome but also bring about a measurable improvement in subjective symptoms and quality of life among patients with symptomatic NLDO.

Cochlear Implantation in Children with Usher's Syndrome: A South Asian Experience.

Usher's syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by dual sensory impairment involving both the ears and eyes. Cochlear implantation paves a way to restore hearing loss in such individuals but poor vision among these patients poses additional challenges for the habilitationists. This study aimed to compare the habilitation outcomes and hearing-related quality of life scores of cochlear implantees having Usher syndrome with age-matched cochlear implantees with no such syndromic association. 27 patients aged 1-6 years with Usher syndrome underwent cochlear Implantation over a period of 10 years from 2006 to 2016 and were included in this study along with an age-matched cohort of 30 implantees with no additional disabilities. Category of Auditory Performance (CAP) and Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) scores were compared at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months respectively. Glasgow Benefit Inventory and Health Utility Index (HUI 3.0) questionnaires were used to assess the hearing-related quality of life in both groups at 1 year post implantation. There was significant difference in CAP and SIR scores between children with Usher's syndrome and the control group (p < 0.05). The overall scores in terms of quality of life as well were statistically different (p < 0.05). Though there was improvement in speech and language acquisition after cochlear Implantation this was found to be of lesser extent than the normative cohort. These children with additional visual disabilities required intensive, individualized therapy catering to their complex needs. Their family's perception of expected benefit from cochlear Implantation was guarded and needed to be appraised in detail prior to surgery. This experience helped prepare an institutional protocol for counseling such implantees in future.

Functional insights into voltage gated proton channel (Hv1) in bull spermatozoa.

Acid extrusion and intracellular alkalisation are the key events during sperm capacitation and these are mediated through proton gated channels (Hv1). Role of Hv1 in regulating sperm motility, capacitation and acrosome reaction has been documented in human spermatozoa; but no such data is available in bull spermatozoa; therefore, the present study was undertaken in Hariana bull spermatozoa. Sixty four ejaculates were collected from four Hariana bulls to investigate the functional involvement of Hv1 in regulation of sperm motility, capacitation and acrosome reaction in bull spermatozoa. Immunoblotting revealed the presence of a single band of 31.8 kDa corresponding to Hv1 in Hariana bull spermatozoa and immunoflourescence confirmed the positive immune-reactivity at principal piece of spermatozoa for Hv1. Functional study was carried out using 200 µM 2-Guanidinobenzimidazole (2-Guanidinobenzimidazole,selective Hv1 blocker) and 1 mM zinc chloride (potent Hv1 blocker), and 0.3 µM Anandamide (AEA), an activator of Hv1. Blocking of Hv1 resulted in significant (P < 0.05) reduction in progressive sperm motility (PSM). Activation of Hv1 with AEA also resulted in significant (P < 0.05) reduction in PSM till 1 h and thereafter, the PSM was restored and reduction was almost similar to that in control. However, during activation and inactivation of Hv1, per cent spermatozoa showing hyperactive motility were found to be markedly increased (20-30%) compared to 10-20% in control. 2-Guanidinobenzimidazole, zinc and AEA treated spermatozoa revealed significant (P < 0.05) increase in B-pattern of spermatozoa indicating induction of capacitation. Downstream signalling of Hv1 activation or inactivation seemed to be mediated through cAMP and PKA pathways. Catsper channels were found to be intimately associated with Hv1 function in regulating sperm motility. Blocking as well as activation of Hv1 resulted in significant (P < 0.05) reduction in sperm livability, spermatozoa having intact membrane, intact acrosome, and high mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP). Our findings evidently suggest that Hv1 channels are present in bull spermatozoa and these regulate sperm functions like hypermotility, capacitation and acrosome reaction through complex interplay between different pathways involving cAMP, PKC, and Catsper. Further studies are required to find out the possible relationship between Hv1 channels and other channels in regulating spermatozoa functions.

Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6068 decreases upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tract symptoms in healthy Mexican scholar-aged children by modulating immune-related proteins.

This randomized, double-blind, parallel and placebo-controlled study aimed to evaluate the effect of Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086® probiotic (GanedenBC30®) against upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and gastrointestinal tract infections (GITI) in eighty healthy school-aged children (6-8 years old). The participants received daily a sachet containing either GanedenBC30 (1 × 109 colony-forming units) or placebo (maltodextrin) for three months. GanedenBC30 significantly decreased the incidence of URTI symptoms including nasal congestion, bloody nasal mucus, itchy nose, and hoarseness. The duration of the URTI-associated symptoms of hoarseness, headache, red eyes, and fatigue was also decreased. GanedenBC30 supplementation also significantly reduced the incidence rate of flatulence. These beneficial effects were associated with the modulation of serum TNFα, CD163, G-CSF, ICAM-1, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-2, RAGE, uPAR, and PF4. Therefore, probiotic B. coagulans GBI-30, 6086 modulated immune-related proteins in healthy children, decreasing several URTI and GITI symptoms, thus, this functional ingredient may contribute to a healthier lifestyle.

Effects of functional pasta ingredients on different gut microbiota as revealed by TIM-2 in vitro model of the proximal colon.

Diet-related modulation of gut microbiota and its metabolic activity represents an intriguing research context, particularly in the case of disorders related to imbalances in gut microbial communities. We here explored the effects of Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 (BC30), ß-glucans, and innovative whole-grain pastas, with or without these functional ingredients, on gut microbiota from three groups of children, presenting different susceptibility to type 1 diabetes, by using the well-controlled TNO in vitro model of the proximal colon (TIM-2). Short- and branched-chain fatty acids production and microbiota composition were assessed by means of gas chromatography and 16S rRNA gene profiling, respectively. In most cases, in vitro dietary interventions caused microbiota-dependent modulations as a result of intergroup variability, but also specific changes in microbial groups were shared between the three microbiotas, highlighting specific diet-microbial taxa connections.

Effects of fixed orthodontic treatment and two new mouth rinses on gingival health: A prospective cohort followed by a single-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Routine brushing protocols might not suffice to reduce the increased plaque accumulation in orthodontic patients. Antimicrobial mouth rinses are favorable in this regard. This two-phase study evaluated the effects of orthodontic treatment and the application of two mouthwashes not studied before on oral health indices. METHODS: In this two-phase study (a prospective cohort followed by a parallel randomized controlled trial), plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), gingival bleeding index (GBI), and pocket probing depth (PPD) were measured in 54 orthodontic patients before orthodontic treatment and 4 months later. Then patients were randomized into three groups of mouthrinses: Persica (herbal), Ortho-Kin (containing diluted chlorhexidine), and Placebo (n=18×3). The effects of orthodontic treatment and mouthrinses were analyzed statistically (α=0.05). RESULTS: All the 4 indices increased between the baseline and 4th month of treatment (P values<0.01, paired t-test). They decreased back to baseline levels or below them, after one month of mouthwash application (P values<0.002). Both mouthwashes showed therapeutic effects compared to placebo in terms of PI and GBI. In the case of GI, only Persica showed significantly better results compared to placebo. Regarding PPD, only Ortho-Kin acted better than placebo (P values≤0.05, Tukey). LIMITATIONS OF THE RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL (RCT) PHASE: Lack of positive control (regular chlorhexidine mouth rinse) and negative control (a group with no mouthwashes, even without the placebo). Lack of sample size predetermination based on a priori power calculations. The difference between the regime of Persica with that of Ortho-Kin and placebo (which had similar application protocols) disallowed perfectly effective blinding of the patients (hence, single-blind). CONCLUSION: Fixed orthodontic treatment might disrupt gingival health. Antimicrobial mouthwashes might reverse this. Both evaluated mouthwashes might have therapeutic effects.