The prognostic value of Dickkopf-3 (Dkk3), TGFB1 and ECM-1 in prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is considered one of the most common cancers worldwide. Despite advances in patient diagnosis, management, and risk stratification, 10%-20% of patients progress to castration-resistant disease. Our previous report highlighted a protective role of Dickkopf-3 (DKK3) in PCa stroma. This role was proposed to be mediated through opposing extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM-1) and TGF-ß signalling activity. However, a detailed analysis of the prognostic value of DKK3, ECM-1 and members of the TGF-ß signalling pathway in PCa was not thoroughly investigated. In this study, we explored the prognostic value of DKK3, ECM-1 and TGFB1 using a bioinformatical approach through analysis of large publicly available datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TGCA) and Pan-Cancer Atlas databases. Our results showed a significant gradual loss of DKK3 expression with PCa progression (p < 0.0001) associated with increased DNA methylation in its promoter region (p < 1.63E-12). In contrast, patients with metastatic lesions showed significantly higher levels of TGFB1 expression compared to primary tumours (p < 0.00001). Our results also showed a marginal association between more advanced tumour stage presented as positive lymph node involvement and low DKK3 mRNA expression (p = 0.082). However, while ECM1 showed no association with tumour stage (p = 0.773), high TGFB1 expression showed a significant association with more advanced stage presented as advanced T3 stage compared to patients with low TGFB1 mRNA expression (p < 0.001). Interestingly, while ECM1 showed no significant association with patient outcome, patients with high DKK3 mRNA expression showed a significant association with favourable outcomes presented as prolonged disease-specific (p = 0.0266), progression-free survival (p = 0.047) and disease-free (p = 0.05). In contrast, high TGFB1 mRNA expression showed a significant association with poor patient outcomes presented as shortened progression-free (p = 0.00032) and disease-free survival (p = 0.0433). Moreover, DKK3, TGFB1 and ECM1 have acted as immune-associated genes in the PCa tumour microenvironment. In conclusion, our findings showed a distinct prognostic value for this three-gene signature in PCa. While both DKK3 and TGFB1 showed a potential role as a clinical marker for PCa stratification, ECM1 showed no significant association with the majority of clinicopathological parameters, which reduce its clinical significance as a reliable prognostic marker.

The Scope of Virtual Reality Simulators in Radiology Education: Systematic Literature Review.

Background: In recent years, virtual reality (VR) has gained significant importance in medical education. Radiology education also has seen the induction of VR technology. However, there is no comprehensive review in this specific area. This review aims to fill this knowledge gap. Objective: This systematic literature review aims to explore the scope of VR use in radiology education. Methods: A literature search was carried out using PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar for articles relating to the use of VR in radiology education, published from database inception to September 1, 2023. The identified articles were then subjected to a PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)-defined study selection process. Results: The database search identified 2503 nonduplicate articles. After PRISMA screening, 17 were included in the review for analysis, of which 3 (18%) were randomized controlled trials, 7 (41%) were randomized experimental trials, and 7 (41%) were cross-sectional studies. Of the 10 randomized trials, 3 (30%) had a low risk of bias, 5 (50%) showed some concerns, and 2 (20%) had a high risk of bias. Among the 7 cross-sectional studies, 2 (29%) scored "good" in the overall quality and the remaining 5 (71%) scored "fair." VR was found to be significantly more effective than traditional methods of teaching in improving the radiographic and radiologic skills of students. The use of VR systems was found to improve the students' skills in overall proficiency, patient positioning, equipment knowledge, equipment handling, and radiographic techniques. Student feedback was also reported in the included studies. The students generally provided positive feedback about the utility, ease of use, and satisfaction of VR systems, as well as their perceived positive impact on skill and knowledge acquisition. Conclusions: The evidence from this review shows that the use of VR had significant benefit for students in various aspects of radiology education. However, the variable nature of the studies included in the review reduces the scope for a comprehensive recommendation of VR use in radiology education.

Tunable theranostics: innovative strategies in combating oral cancer.

Objective: This study aims to assess and compare the potential of advanced nano/micro delivery systems, including quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, magnetic nanoparticles, dendrimers, and microneedles, as theranostic platforms for oral cancer. Furthermore, we seek to evaluate their respective advantages and disadvantages over the past decade. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed using Google Scholar and PubMed, with a focus on articles published between 2013 and 2023. Search queries included the specific advanced delivery system as the primary term, followed by oral cancer as the secondary term (e.g., "quantum dots AND oral cancer," etc.). Results: The advanced delivery platforms exhibited notable diagnostic and therapeutic advantages when compared to conventional techniques or control groups. These benefits encompassed improved tumor detection and visualization, enhanced precision in targeting tumors with reduced harm to neighboring tissues, and improved drug solubility and distribution, leading to enhanced drug absorption and tumor uptake. Conclusion: The findings suggest that advanced nano/micro delivery platforms hold promise for addressing numerous challenges associated with chemotherapy. By enabling precise targeting of cancerous cells, these platforms have the potential to mitigate adverse effects on surrounding healthy tissues, thus encouraging the development of innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for oral cancer.

Efficiency of Near-Infrared Technology in the Clinical Detection of Carious Lesions: A Systematic Review.

The field of dentistry has seen various technological advances regarding caries detection, some lesions still prove to be difficult to detect. A reasonably new detection method, near-infrared (NIR), has shown good results in caries detection. This systematic review aims to compare NIR with conventional methods in terms of caries detection. Online databases (PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, EBSCO, and ProQuest) were used for the literature search. The search was performed from January 2015 till December-2020. A total of 770 articles were selected, of that 17 articles qualified for the final analysis as per Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The articles were assessed according to a modified Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist, and then synthesis of the review started. The inclusion criteria were clinical trials done in vivo on teeth with active caries of vital or nonvital teeth. This review excluded nonpeer reviewed articles, case reports, case series, opinions, abstracts, non-English written articles, studies of subjects with arrested caries, or teeth with developmental defects of tooth structure and teeth having environmental defects of tooth structure, as well as in-vitro studies. The review compared near-infrared technology with radiography, visual inspection, and laser fluorescence in terms of caries detection, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. The sensitivity of NIR ranged from 99.1 to 29.1%. Studies showed that NIR exhibited higher sensitivity for occlusal enamel and dentin caries. The specificity of NIR ranged from 94.1 to 20.0%. In enamel and dentinal occlusal caries, NIR demonstrated lower specificity than that of radiograph. The specificity of NIR in early proximal caries was low. Accuracy was determined in 5 out of 17 studies where the values ranged from 97.1 to 29.1%. The accuracy of NIR was the highest for dentinal occlusal caries. NIR shows promising evidence as an adjunct in caries examination due to its high sensitivity and specificity; however, more studies are required to determine its full potential in different situations.

Efficiency and accuracy of artificial intelligence in the radiographic detection of periodontal bone loss: A systematic review.

Purpose: Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to play a major role in medical diagnostics. Periodontal disease is one of the most common oral diseases. The early diagnosis of periodontal disease is essential for effective treatment and a favorable prognosis. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of AI in diagnosing periodontal bone loss through radiographic analysis. Materials and Methods: A literature search involving 5 databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Health and Medical Collection, Dentistry and Oral Sciences) was carried out. A specific combination of keywords was used to obtain the articles. The PRISMA guidelines were used to filter eligible articles. The study design, sample size, type of AI software, and the results of each eligible study were analyzed. The CASP diagnostic study checklist was used to evaluate the evidence strength score. Results: Seven articles were eligible for review according to the PRISMA guidelines. Out of the 7 eligible studies, 4 had strong CASP evidence strength scores (7-8/9). The remaining studies had intermediate CASP evidence strength scores (3.5-6.5/9). The highest area under the curve among the reported studies was 94%, the highest F1 score was 91%, and the highest specificity and sensitivity were 98.1% and 94%, respectively. Conclusion: AI-based detection of periodontal bone loss using radiographs is an efficient method. However, more clinical studies need to be conducted before this method is introduced into routine dental practice.

Mechanisms underlying sex bias in oral immune-mediated conditions, an insight.

The predilection for women in systemic autoimmune diseases is well established. However, this sex bias in oral autoimmune diseases has been classically reported from an epidemiological perspective without any elaborate attempts to unveil the underlying mechanisms. The unique nature of the oral environment is likely to impose a combination of systemic and local factors that ultimately result in the sex bias in autoimmune diseases of the oral cavity. Variations of immune responses, target organ vulnerability, endocrine and genetic factors, sex chromosomes and modes of parental inheritance are potential systemic factors, while the oral microbiome, oral tolerance, saliva, and oral epithelial stem cells may account for local contributing factors. This review will discuss the preponderance of women in oral immune-mediated diseases, the potential systemic and local mechanisms underlying this predominance and highlight the crucial need for further research in this area.

Impact of fully guided implant planning software training on the knowledge acquisition and satisfaction of dental undergraduate students.

BACKGROUND: A majority of dental school students do not undergo hands-on clinical training in implantology in the undergraduate curriculum. Training is usually restricted to pre-implant evaluation and post-implant prostheses. Virtual implant planning software (VIPS) provides an alternative opportunity for undergraduate students to experience implant planning much before gaining hands-on experience. However, not many studies have the contribution of VIPS to the knowledge acquisition of students. We conducted a preliminary study to evaluate the knowledge acquisition of the students when exposed to a hands-on session of VIPS. We also evaluated students' satisfaction levels, when exposed to hands-on training in fully guided implant planning software. METHODS: A two-part theory lecture on fully guided implant planning was delivered to 90, 5th (final)-year dental undergraduate students by the oral radiology faculty. The students were then randomly divided into three groups. Group A was exposed to didactic lectures only. Group B was shown a video for fully guided implant planning in addition to the didactic lecture. Group C was shown a video for fully guided implant planning in addition to a didactic lecture and then performed a hands-on session of virtual implant planning under faculty guidance. Students from all groups were given an MCQ-based test. After the completion of the test students from group A and B also received VIPS hands-on training. Students from all three groups answered and a feedback questionnaire regarding their satisfaction levels with VIPS. RESULTS: The overall test score of students in Group C was higher than their colleagues in both Groups A and B and the differences were statistically significant (p = 0.01). More than 85% of the students were satisfied with the teaching approach. CONCLUSIONS: The utilization of VIPS in the training of dental undergraduate students improves their performance confirming better knowledge acquisition and content mastery.

The Association Between Periodontal Disease and Chronic Migraine: A Systematic Review.

Migraine is a neurologic illness that produces intense throbbing pain on one side of the head and affects roughly 1 billion people worldwide. Recent research indicates a relationship between periodontitis and chronic migraines. This study aimed to review the association between chronic migraines and periodontitis through a systematic literature review. Four research databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, ProQuest, and SpringerLink) were searched according to PRISMA guidelines to retrieve the studies included in this review. A search strategy was developed to answer the study question with appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria. Out of 34 published studies, 8 studies were included in this review. Three of the studies were cross-sectional, 3 were case-control, and 2 were clinical report and medical hypothesis papers. Seven of the 8 included studies showed that there is an association between periodontal disease and chronic migraine. The elevated blood levels of some biomarkers such as leptins, ProCalcitonin (proCT), calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRPs), Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), and Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor-like Weak Inducer Of Apoptosis (sTWEAK) play a significant role in this association. The limitations include a small sample size, the influence of anti-inflammatory drugs, and a self-reported headache measure that is subject to misclassification bias. This systematic review reveals a supposed correlation between periodontal disease and chronic migraine, as evidenced by various biomarkers and inflammatory mediators. This suggests that periodontal disease could potentially contribute to the development of chronic migraine. However, to further assess the potential benefits of periodontal treatment in patients with chronic migraine, additional longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes and interventional studies are needed.

Morphometric analysis of odontoid process among Arab population: a retrospective cone beam CT study.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans to assess the odontoid process diameter in the Arab population and to determine whether one or two cortical screws can be used for treating odontoid fractures. Methods: The odontoid process of 142 individuals aged 12-75 years, including 72 males (mean age: 35.5) and 70 females (mean age: 36.2), were analyzed using CBCT scans. The sagittal and coronal CBCT views were used to evaluate the antero-posterior (AP) and transverse diameters of the odontoid process. Results: Males had substantially bigger transverse and AP diameters of the odontoid process than females (p < 0.05 & P < 0.01 respectively). Among the sample, 97 individuals (67.4%) had external transverse diameter (METD) of less than 9 mm which is slightly bigger than that of Indians and 48 individuals (31.83%) had enough room for two 3.5 mm or two 2.7 mm screws as their METD was more than 9 mm like that of Greek and Turkish. Age had no significant impact on the morphometric measurements of the odontoid process. Conclusion: More than sixty percent of the sample had METDs of less than 9 millimeters, indicating that a single 4.5-mm Herbert screw may be suggested for fixing fractured odontoid processes in the Arab population.

Anatomical landscape of oral squamous cell carcinoma: A single cancer center study in UAE.

Objectives: This study aimed to present demographic and clinicopathological aspects of OSCC identified in Pathology service in the UAE over a 13-year period and compare these findings to a cohort of 523 cases of Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using the Cancer Genome Atlas's cBioPortal database (http://cbioportal.org). Material and methods: Histological examination of all hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides and assessment of all demographic and clinical information from laboratory records were performed on all OSCC diagnosed between 2005 and 2018. Results: Males made up 71.4% of the sample of 231 OSCCs that were evaluated. The patients' average age was 55.38 years. The two most prevalent afflicted sites were the anterior two-thirds of the tongue (57.6%) and the cheek (28.1%). The most prevalent site among smokers were the floor of mouth, cheek, and jaw bones. There was a link between tumor size and numerous anatomical subsites that was shown to be highly significant. OSCC in the FOM was associated with a 25% mortality rate. Patients with OSCC of the anterior tongue and cheek had the best prognosis, with only 15.7% and 15.3% of patients dying during follow-up. Conclusion: The present investigation found a correlation between the diverse clinicopathological characteristics of the various anatomical subsites in OSCC. Different anatomical subsites also displayed varying degrees of gene mutation.

Identification of p53-target genes in human papillomavirus-associated head and neck cancer by integrative bioinformatics analysis.

Introduction: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a highly prevalent and heterogeneous malignancy. Although extensive efforts have been made to advance its treatment, the prognosis remained poor with increased mortality. Human papillomaviruses (HPV) have been associated with high risk in HNC. TP53, a tumor suppressor, is the most frequently altered gene in HNC, therefore, investigating its target genes for the identification of novel biomarkers or therapeutic targets in HPV-related HNC progression is highly recommended. Methods: Transcriptomic profiles from three independent gene expression omnibus (GEO) datasets, including 44 HPV+ and 70 HPV- HNC patients, were subjected to integrative statistical and Bioinformatics analyses. For the top-selected marker, further in-silico validation in TCGA and GTEx databases and experimental validation in 65 (51 HPV- and 14 HPV+) subjects with histologically confirmed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have been performed. Results: A total of 498 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified including 291 up-regulated genes and 207 down-regulated genes in HPV+ compared to HPV- HNSCC patients. Functional annotations and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed that the up-regulated genes were significantly involved in p53-related pathways. The integrative analysis between the Hub-genes identified in the complex protein-protein network and the top frequent genes resulting from GSEA showed an intriguing correlation with five biomarkers which are EZH2, MDM2, PCNA, STAT5A and TYMS. Importantly, the MDM2 gene showed the highest gene expression difference between HPV+ and HPV- HNSCC (Average log2FC = 1.89). Further in-silico validation in a large HNSCC cohort from TCGA and GTEx databases confirmed the over-expression of MDM2 in HPV+ compared to HPV- HNSCC patients (p = 2.39E-05). IHC scoring showed that MDM2 protein expression was significantly higher in HPV+ compared to HPV- HNSCC patients (p = 0.031). Discussion: Our findings showed evidence that over-expression of MDM2, proto-oncogene, may affect the occurrence and proliferation of HPV-associated HNSCC by disturbing the p53-target genes and consequently the p53-related pathways.

MicroRNA expression in apical periodontitis and pulpal inflammation: a systematic review.

Background: The aim of this systematic review is to determine microRNAs (miRs) that are differently expressed between diseased pulpal and periapical tissues. Design: This systematic review used PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, ProQuest, Cochrane database as well as manual searching to extract studies from January 2012 up to February 2022. Results: A total of 12 studies met the eligibility criteria were included. All selected studies were of case-control type. Twenty-four miRNAs associated with apical periodontitis, 11 were found to be upregulatedand 13 were downregulated. Four out of the 44 miRs associated with pulpal inflammation were upregulated, whereas forty were downregulated. Six miRs, namely hsa-miR-181b, hsa-miR-181c,hsa-miR-455-3p,hsa-miR-128-3p, hsa-miR199a-5p, and hsa-miR-95, exhibited considerable downregulation in both periapical and pulp tissues. Conclusion: MiRs have been investigated for their role in pulpal and periapical biology and may be utilised in diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Further investigations are required to determine why certain irreversible pulpitis situations progress to apical periodontitis and others do not, based on the various miR expressions. Moreover, clinical and laboratory trials are needed to support this theory.

Differential Expression Profile of Salivary oncomiRNAs among Smokeless Tobacco Users.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of selected salivary oncomiRNAs among smokeless tobacco users and nonsmokers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five subjects with chronic smokeless tobacco habit (> 1 year) and 25 nonsmokers were selected for this study. MicroRNA was extracted from saliva samples using the miRNeasy Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). The forward primers used in the reactions include hsa-miR-21-5p, hsa-miR-146a-3p, hsa-miR-155-3p, and hsa-miR-199a-3p. Relative expression of miRNAs was calculated using the 2-ΔΔCt method. Fold change is calculated by raising 2 to the power of the negative ΔΔCT value. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical analysis was carried out using GraphPad Prism 5 software. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The four tested miRNAs were found overexpressed in saliva of subjects with smokeless tobacco habit when compared with saliva from nontobacco users. miR-21 expression was 3.74 ± 2.26 folds higher among subjects with smokeless tobacco habit compared to nontobacco users (p < 0.01). The expression for miR-146a (5.56 ± 8.3 folds; p < 0.05), miR-155 (8.06 ± 23.4 folds; p < 0.0001) and miR-199a (14.39 ± 30.3 folds; p < 0.05) was significantly higher among subjects with smokeless tobacco habit. CONCLUSION: Smokeless tobacco leads to salivary overexpression of the miRs 21, 146a, 155, and 199a. Monitoring the levels of these four oncomiRs may provide insight about the future development of oral squamous cell carcinoma, especially in patients with smokeless tobacco habits.

Influence of parental knowledge and attitudes on the oral and dental health status of autistic children: A systematic review.

AIMS: This paper aims to systematically review the current evidence surrounding the influence of parental knowledge and attitudes on the oral and dental health status of autistic children. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data were sourced from EBSCOhost, ProQuest One Academic, Ovid MEDLINE, and Scopus. Additional records were manually identified through other sources. Literature search identified 610 relevant articles for screening, of which nine were ultimately selected for inclusion following full-text review. A custom data collection sheet was constructed by the authors to extract data based on selected parameters addressing the focused research question. Extracted data were combined in an evidence table based on the collection sheet parameters. Study characteristics and findings were then descriptively summarized and compared. Due to heterogenicity, meta-analysis was not viable. While all included cross-sectional studies have predominantly shown no statistically significant association between parental knowledge and oral health, three experimental studies have conversely reported significant oral health improvements following educational interventions; suggesting a strong correlation. CONCLUSION: Autistic children are susceptible to oral diseases, necessitating parental attention. Current evidence regarding this topic is limited and conflicting. The present systematic review faces limitations: included studies were few and predominantly cross-sectional. Moreover, study samples were small, predominantly male, conveniently recruited, and geographically limited. This paper serves as a foundation to guide future research and inspire oral health education and wellness promotion programs.

Prediction of Lymphovascular and Perineural Invasion of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Combined Expression of p63 and Cyclin D1.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the value of immune expression of p63 and cyclin D1 in the prediction of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and perineural invasion (PNI) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical and histopathologic features of 65 subjects with histologically confirmed OSCC were collected. Tissue microarray blocks representing all subjects were prepared for the immunohistochemical quantification of the nuclear expression of p63 and cyclin D1 using immune ratio plugin of image J software. Image analysis was performed by two independent pathologists. Independent samples t-test, analysis of variance, and receiver operating characteristic curve tests were used for statistical analysis. The level of significance was set at p≤ 0.05. RESULTS: The optimum cutoff value for the prediction of LVI for p63 and cyclin D1 was found to be 100 and 93.2, respectively, while the optimum cutoff value for the prediction of PNI for p63 and cyclin D1 was found to be 95.9 and 94, respectively. p63 and cyclin D1 expression correlated with several clinicopathologic features of the studied population. p63 expression was a significant predictor of moderate/poorly differentiated OSCC compared with well-differentiated OSCC. A parallel combination of positive p63 and cyclin D1 increased the specificity of predicting LVI from 89.1% and 67.4% for either p63 or cyclin D1, respectively, to 93.5% with a positive predictive value of 92.5%. Similarly, the parallel combination of the two markers raised the specificity of predicting PNI from 70% and 77.5% for either p63 or cyclin D1, respectively, to 90% with a positive predictive value of 86.3%. CONCLUSION: Combined overexpression of nuclear markers p63 and cyclin D1 can be considered as a valuable independent predictor of LVI and PNI, and hence tumor progression, in OSCC.

The impact of reflex-based recreational activities and preclinical training on psychomotor skills in an educational dental environment.

BACKGROUND: Participating in recreational activities from a young age may have the potential enhance psychomotor skills early on, and conversely, low levels of participation in these activities may predict slower development of preclinical hand skills. PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the eye-hand coordination benefits of leisure and reflex-based activities to those of typical instructional techniques among dental students. DATA SOURCES: The databases used were PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Scopus. STUDY SELECTION: Ten articles were selected from a total of 1135 articles found across three databases. DATA EXTRACTION: The articles were screened by four investigators through a series of steps in accordance to inclusion and exclusion criteria and rid of any duplicates. DATA SYNTHESIS: The majority of the 10 featured articles were conducted in the United States. All of the research included was cohort observational studies. This systematic review includes a total of 1975 participants from the publications selected for this purpose. RESULTS: Manual dexterity may be taught and improved by practice, and tests designed to measure it should be used primarily to pinpoint which students would benefit most from individualized, close supervision during their education. CONCLUSION: Researchers found that reflex-based activities helped students develop better hand-eye coordination in a classroom setting. However, more precise dental-related tests and questionnaires can always be developed through further study; doing so would yield a wealth of information that would be immensely useful to the dental sector.

Comparative Analysis of Manual Dexterity of Dental Students at Ajman University following One Academic Year of Preclinical Training Sessions: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: Dental students must complete two stages of training, namely, preclinical training on phantom head models and clinical training on actual patients to acquire the practical skills required by their Bachelor of Dental Surgery program.Our objectives are to evaluate the level of improvement of the manual skills obtained by third-year dental students after one full academic year of preclinical training courses using dexterity tests under direct and indirect vision and to compare the improvement among male and female dental students under the same conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 72 preclinical students participated in our cohort trial, each of whom was assigned a random identification number that was only known to the researchers. After the beginning of the academic year, the experiment was performed under identical conditions for both the O'Connor Tweezer Dexterity Test and the Purdue Pegboard Test. The examinations were conducted at two distinct times: T0 before phantom laboratory training (the beginning of preclinical sessions) and T1 after phantom laboratory training (9 months after T0). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Signed-rank test of Wilcoxon over two separate periods (T0 and T1), comparisons were made between the direct and indirect visual dexterity test scores. In addition, the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare results across gender. The statistical significance (p-value) was set at below 0.05 with a confidence level of 95%. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was detected between the T0 and T1 assessments on the Purdue Pegboard Test and the O'Connor Tweezer Dexterity Test for all selected dentistry students in both direct and indirect conditions (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Further investigation in other dental departments or schools, particularly those with different entry standards, is required prior to making a definitive conclusion about the use of these dexterity assessments as predictors of prospective dental students' performance.

Analysis of inferior nasal turbinate volume in subjects with nasal septum deviation: a retrospective cone beam tomography study.

Background: The association of the linear dimensions of the inferior turbinate hypertrophy with nasal septal deviation has been studied recently. However, the volumetric dimensions provide a more accurate status of the turbinate hypertrophy compared to linear measurements. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of inferior nasal turbinate volume with the degree of nasal septal deviation (NSD). Methods: A retrospective evaluation of the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 412 patients was carried out to obtain 150 scans which were included in the study. The scans were categorized into three groups. Group 1 comprised of 50 scans of patients with no inferior turbinate hypertrophy (ITH) and no nasal septal deviation. Group 2 comprised of 50 scans of patients with ITH and no NSD; whereas Group 3 included 50 scans of patients with ITH and NSD. The total turbinate volume of inferior turbinates (bilateral) were determined by using Vesalius 3D software (PS-Medtech, Amsterdam, Netherlands). Results: The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between the volumetric estimations performed by the two radiologists was 0.82. There were no significant age and gender related changes in the total turbinate volume. Patients in Group 3 had significantly higher (p = 0.001) total turbinate volume compared to Group 2 and Group 1. There was a positive and significant correlation (r = 0.52, p = 0.002) between the degree of septal deviation and total turbinate volume. When the total turbinate volume of the patients with different types of septal deviation was compared in Group 3, a statistically significant difference (p = 0.001) was observed. Regression analysis revealed that the septal deviation angle (SDA) (p = 0.001) had a relationship with total turbinate volume. From the results of the study we can conclude that the total turbinate volume is higher in patients with nasal septal deviation. It can also be concluded that the septal deviation angle has a positive correlation with total turbinate volume. The data obtained from the study can be useful in post-surgical follow up and evaluation of patients with nasal septal deviation and hypertrophied inferior nasal turbinate.

Analysis of the Volumetric Asymmetry of the Mandibular Condyles Using CBCT.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyse volumetric asymmetries between the right and left condyles in relation to age, gender, and dental status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 150 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans was conducted. A single investigator performed the volumetric analysis of the CBCT scans using Vesalius 3D software. The volumetric data were analysed in relation to the gender, age, and dental status. RESULTS: The mean right condylar volume was significantly higher (P < .01) than the left condylar volume. Right and left condylar volumes were significantly higher (P < .01) in male study participants when compared to female study participants. There was no significant difference (P = .47) in the volumetric asymmetry between the male and female study participants. The volumetric asymmetry was significantly higher (P < .01) in the older age groups when compared to the younger age groups. The volumetric asymmetry was significantly higher (P < .01) in the partially and completely edentulous patients when compared to the dentate study participants. The condylar volume on the side having a partially edentulous area was significantly lower than the condylar volume of the contralateral dentate side (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The volumetric asymmetry between the right and left condyle significantly increases with age and edentulousness. The result of the study encourages the clinicians to perform volumetric evaluation of the condyles in cases of radiographically evident condylar asymmetries to obtain a more accurate diagnosis.

The Effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence in Detection of Oral Cancer.

AIM: The early detection of oral cancer (OC) at the earliest stage significantly increases survival rates. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in diagnostic medicine. This study aimed to critically analyse the available evidence concerning the utility of AI in the diagnosis of OC. Special consideration was given to the diagnostic accuracy of AI and its ability to identify the early stages of OC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From the date of inception to December 2021, 4 databases (PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, and OVID) were searched. Three independent authors selected studies on the basis of strict inclusion criteria. The risk of bias and applicability were assessed using the prediction model risk of bias assessment tool. Of the 606 initial records, 17 studies with a total of 7245 patients and 69,425 images were included. Ten statistical methods were used to assess AI performance in the included studies. Six studies used supervised machine learning, whilst 11 used deep learning. The results of deep learning ranged with an accuracy of 81% to 99.7%, sensitivity 79% to 98.75%, specificity 82% to 100%, and area under the curve (AUC) 79% to 99.5%. RESULTS: Results obtained from supervised machine learning demonstrated an accuracy ranging from 43.5% to 100%, sensitivity of 94% to 100%, specificity 16% to 100%, and AUC of 93%. CONCLUSIONS: There is no clear consensus regarding the best AI method for OC detection. AI is a valuable diagnostic tool that represents a large evolutionary leap in the detection of OC in its early stages. Based on the evidence, deep learning, such as a deep convolutional neural network, is more accurate in the early detection of OC compared to supervised machine learning.