Evaluation of the antibacterial and cytotoxic properties of TotalFill and NeoSEALER flo bioceramic sealers.

Aim: Evaluation of the antibacterial and cytotoxic properties of TotalFill and NeoSEALER Flo bioceramic sealers compared to AH Plus resin sealer. Materials and Methods: Modified direct contact test was used on three sets of sealers: Freshly mixed sealers, sealers that were 1-day old, and sealers that were 7-day old. After 24 h of incubation, the colony-forming units were digitally counted using Promega Colony Counter after 30 and 60 min of exposure to Enterococcus faecalis. For cytotoxic effect evaluation, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was performed at three different time points: 24 h, 48 h, and 120 h after adding the sealer eluates to human gingival fibroblasts, to assess cell viability. Data were analyzed using mixed model analysis of variance followed by post hoc test. Results: TotalFill bioceramic sealer showed the highest bacterial reduction against E. faecalis throughout all intervals. AH Plus showed great antibacterial activity initially which reduced drastically after 7 days. All the sealers showed a reduction in their antibacterial activity with time. TotalFill and NeoSEALER Flo showed very high cell viability in contrast to AH Plus. Conclusion: TotalFill and NeoSEALER Flo demonstrate superior antimicrobial properties against E. faecalis which reduces with time. TotalFill and NeoSEALER Flo demonstrate acceptable biocompatibility against human gingival fibroblasts, which decreased over time.

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.

Evaluation of the Dunning-Kruger Effects among Dental Students at an Academic Training Institution in UAE.

Background: The Dunning-Kruger effect (cognitive bias) is a psychological phenomenon that implies that individuals with a lack of knowledge and skills have an unrealistically optimistic image of their abilities compared to others. Purpose: The study aimed to examine the presence of the Dunning-Kruger effect in fifth (final) year dental undergraduate students at Gulf Medical University, UAE, in clinical domains related to pediatric dentistry. Methods: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted at Gulf Medical University, College of Dentistry, to evaluate cognitive bias among 5th-year dental students at GMU in the competency domains of communication, diagnosis, and clinical skills in Pediatric dentistry. Results: Overall, compared to the level of confidence of students in September, there was a decline in the level of confidence in January. With an increase in time, the percentage shifted to a higher level in May across all domains. Conclusion: Characteristic patterns of fluctuations in students' self-confidence during clinical exposure are observed. The research results prove that the Dunning-Kruger effect, the cognitive bias of the perception pattern, is present in the examined group of dental students.

Therapeutic potential of sulforaphane: modulation of NRF2 mediated PI3/AKT/mTOR pathway in oral fibrosis / Potencial terapêutico do sulforafano: modulação do NRF-2 mediado o pela via PI3/AKT/mTOR na fibrose oral

Oral Submucous Fibrosis is a potentially malignant disorder caused by habitual areca nut chewing, which contributes to the dispersion of active alkaloids into subepithelial tissues, stimulating excessive extracellular matrix deposition. Various treatment modalities are available; however, their efficacy in inhibiting fibrosis progression remains limited. Sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate found abundantly in cruciferous plants, is known to have effective antifibrotic properties. Objective: The present study investigated the antifibrotic effect of SFN via phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), Serine/Threonine Kinase 1 (AKT-1), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in arecoline (AER) induced fibrosis in human gingival fibroblasts [HGFs]. Material and Methods: MTT assay determined the half-maximal inhibitory concentration of AER and SFN at 24h in the HGF cell line. Expression levels of transforming growth factor ß1 (TGFß1), collagen type 1 alpha 2 (COL1A2), hydroxyproline (HYP), PI3, AKT, mTOR, and nuclear factor erythroid 2­related factor 2 (NRF2) were assessed post-AER and SFN treatment using qPCR and western blot analysis. Results: The findings of the study revealed that AER elicited a stimulatory effect, upregulating TGFß1, COL1A2, HYP, PI3K, AKT, and mTOR and downregulating NRF2 expression. Conversely, SFN treatment significantly upregulated NRF2, inhibiting TGFß1 mediated PI3/AKT/mTOR pathway. Conclusion: These observations suggest that SFN can be used as a promising synergistic antifibrotic agent to combat fibrogenesis via the non-Smad pathway (AU)

Fibrose submucosa oral é uma desordem potencialmente maligna causada pelo habito de mascar a noz da areca, o que contribui para a dispersão de alcalóides ativos nos tecidos subepiteliais, estimulando a deposição excessiva de matriz extracelular. Há várias modalidades terapêuticas, no entanto, com eficácia limitada no controle da progressão da fibrose. O sulforafano (SFN), isotiocianato encontrado abundantemente em plantas crucíferas, é conhecido por suas propriedades antifibróticas. Objetivo: Investigar os efeitos antifibróticos do SFN na via fosfatidilinositol3-quinase (PI3K), via quinase serina/treonina 1 (AKT-1), via do alvo da rapamicina em mamíferos (mTOR), na fibrose induzida por arecolina (AER) em fibroblastos gengivais de humanos (HGFs). Material e Métodos: A meia concentração inibitória mínima de AER e SFN em 24 horas nas células HGFs foi determinada por MTT. Os níveis de expressão de ß1 (TGFß1), colágeno tipo 1 alfa 2 (COL1A2), hidroxiprolina (HYP), PI3K, AKT, mTOR, fator nuclear eritroide 2 relacionado ao fator 2 (NRF2) foram analisados após tratamento com ERA e SFN através de qPCR e western blot. Resultados: O ERA apresentou efeito estimulatório aumentando a expressão de TGFß1, COL1A2, HYP, PI3K, AKT e mTOR e diminuindo a expressão de NRF2. Por outro lado, tratamento com SFN aumentou significativamente a expressão de NRF2, inibindo a liberação de TGFß1 mediada pela via PI3/AKT/mTOR. Conclusão: Esses achados sugerem que o SFN pode ser um agente antifibrótico promissor no combate à fibrogênese decorrente da via não-Smad (AU)

Application of e-learning in dental radiology education at undergraduate level ­a systematic review / Aplicação do e-learning no ensino de radiologia dentária em nível de graduação - uma revisão sistemática

With the increase in internet technology as well as the electronic content the web-based learning has become the desirable medium in the field of education. In medical, dental and allied health science education, the conventional method involves the use of textbooks, lectures, and images. But trends suggest that a change is poised in this field. Objective: the systematic review aims to evaluate the literature of studies about the application of the e-Learning methods in radiology education at the undergraduate level in comparison to conventional teaching-learning methods. Material and Methods: prominent scientific databases were searched for literature related to the application of e-Learning in undergraduate radiology education. The search keywords used for the search were- E-learning, dental radiology, oral radiology, undergraduate. English language full text of eligible article was systematically reviewed. Results: seven full text articles were obtained after scrutiny of the available literature. Most of the research work was carried out in the past decade and dental schools in different parts of the world. Almost all the studies showed that e-learning was as either equally effective or more effective when compared to conventional teaching in dental radiology. Conclusion: e-learning could be a suitable alternative to conventional teaching-learning method with significant improvement in student attitude and knowledge however, the influence of e-learning in improving the practical or clinical skills of dental radiography is still debatable (AU)

Com o aumento da tecnologia da Internet, como também o conteúdo eletrônico da aprendizagem baseada na web, estes tornaram-se um meio desejável no campo da Educação. Em ciências médicas, odontológicas e afins, o método convencional envolve o uso de livros didáticos, palestras e imagens. Mas tendências sugerem que há uma mudança nesse campo. Objetivos: esta revisão sistemática visa avaliar literatura de estudos sobre a aplicação de métodos de e-Learning no ensino de radiologia no nível de graduação em comparação com os métodos convencional de ensino-aprendizagem. Material e Métodos: bases de dados científicas importantes foram pesquisadas sobre literatura relacionada à aplicação do e-Learning na graduação em radiologia. As palavraschave usadas para a pesquisa foram: E-learning, radiologia dentária, radiologia oral, graduação. O texto completo do artigo elegível em inglês foi sistematicamente revisado. Resultados: sete textos completos foram obtidos após análise minuciosa da literatura. A maior parte dos trabalhos de pesquisa foi realizada na década passada em escolas de odontologia em diferentes partes do mundo. Quase todos os estudos mostraram que o e-learning era igualmente eficaz ou mais eficaz quando comparado ao ensino convencional em radiologia dentária. Conclusão: o e-learning pode ser uma alternativa adequada ao ensino-aprendizagem convencional, com melhoria significativa nas atitudes e conhecimentos aluno. No entanto, a influência de e-learning para melhorar as habilidades práticas ou clínicas da radiolog ia dentária ainda é discutível(AU)