Room-temperature phosphorescence from organic materials in aqueous media.

In recent years, organic materials with room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) features have gained significant attention due to their wide applications in the fields of bioimaging, light-harvesting materials, encryption technology, etc. Although several examples of organic RTP materials in the crystalline state and polymer-based systems have been reported in the last decade or so, achieving organic RTP in the solution phase, particularly in the aqueous phase has remained a challenging task. Herein in this review, we summarize the progress in this direction by highlighting design strategies based on supramolecular scaffolding and host-guest complexation and the applications of such aqueous organic RTP materials in bioimaging, sensing, etc.

pH-tunable phosphorescence and light harvesting in cucurbit[8]uril host-guest assemblies.

Host-guest assemblies of halo-phenyl pyridine derivatives and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) exhibited pH-responsive room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) in aqueous media. Moreover, they acted as efficient light-harvesting systems demonstrating triplet-singlet energy transfer to various acceptor dyes.

Can epicardial and pericardial adipose tissue volume predict the presence and severity of coronary artery disease?

Purpose: Excessive accumulation of free fatty acids in the coronary arteries can lead to coronary artery disease (CAD). Quantification of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) is beneficial to understand its relationship with CAD, hypertension (HT), and diabetes. Material and methods: This retrospective study included 54 patients who underwent CT coronary angiogram using a multidetector row CT scanner. The EAT and PAT volumes from cardiac images were quantified using Image J software. The severity of CAD was graded using the CAD-RADS score. Results: Twenty-nine patients had no CAD, 21 patients had significant CAD, and 4 patients had insignificant CAD. Out of 21 patients with significant CAD, 14 had involvement of multiple coronary arteries. The EAT and PAT volumes were higher in patients with HT, DM, CAD-present group and significant-CAD-present group, but this was not statistically significant except the PAT volume with respect to diabetes. Significant correlation was found between EAT volume and calcium score (p = 0.035) and between EAT volume and total cholesterol level (p = 0.017). Significant differences in the EAT volumes were found in different CAD-RADS categories in the right coronary artery (RCA). From the threshold values, it was observed that CAD can develop in LAD even at lower of EAT and PAT volumes. Conclusions: Quantification of EAT and PAT volumes is beneficial in understanding its relationship with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease and its risk factors.

The Bone Lid Technique in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: A Scoping Review.

This scoping review aimed at reporting the outcomes of the bone lid technique in oral surgery in terms of bone healing, ridge preservation, and incidence of complications. Bone-cutting instruments and stabilization methods were also considered. PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials were searched using a combination of terms, including bone lid, bony window, piezosurgery, microsaw, cysts, endodontic surgery, impacted teeth, and maxillary sinus. A hand search was also performed. The last search was conducted on 30 November 2021. No date limitation was set. Searches were restricted to human clinical studies published in English. All types of study design were considered except reviews and case reports. After a two-step evaluation, 20 (2 randomized studies, 2 case-control studies, 3 cohort studies, 13 case series) out of 647 screened studies were included, reporting on 752 bone lid procedures. The bone lid technique was associated with favorable bone healing when compared to other methods, and with a very low incidence of major complications. Clinical indications, surgical procedures, study design, follow-up duration, and outcomes varied among the studies. Overall, favorable outcomes were reported using the bone lid approach, though evidence-based studies were scarce.

Stability of biomaterials used in adjunct to coronally advanced flap: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

AIM: The objective of this network meta-analysis was to rank different biomaterials used in adjunct to coronally advanced flap (CAF), based on their performance in root-coverage for Miller's Class I and II gingival recessions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic database search was carried out in PUBMED, CENTRAL, SCOPUS, and EMBASE to identify the eligible articles and compiled into the citation manager to remove the duplicates. The primary outcome was keratinized gingival tissue width (KGW) and percentage of root coverage (%RC). The treatment effect of different biomaterials was estimated using predictive interval plots and ranked based on biomaterials performance, using multidimensional scale ranking. RESULTS: CAF + connective tissue graft (CTG), CAF + platelet concentrate matrix (PCM) and acellular dermal matrix (ADM) ranked at the top positions in performance in improving KGW. The highest ranked materials in improving percentage of root coverage in gingival recession were CAF + collagen matrix (CM) + gingival fibroblasts (GF), CAF + ADM + platelet rich plasma (PRP) and CAF + ADM, as compared to CAF alone. CONCLUSION: CTG, ADM, platelet concentrates, and CM + GFs, when used in adjunct to CAF, showed improved stability over ≥12 months of follow-up, better percentage of root coverage, and improved keratinized gingival width.

Recombinant Human Derived Growth and Differentiating Factors in treatment of periodontal intrabony defects: Systematic review and network meta-analysis.

The introduction of recombinant human growth and differentiation factors (rhGFs) for intrabony defects regeneration has represented a considerable breakthrough in recent years. However, they have been used in different concentrations, doses and combined with various scaffolds, and there is no evidence on which the most effective formulation for periodontal regeneration is. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate and rank the various formulations of such bioactive agents through network meta-analysis of clinical studies. The protocol registration was done on PROSPERO with registration ID CRD42020213753. To report NMA, we followed PRISMA guidelines and searched PUBMED, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Central electronic databases. Studies were screened based on specific inclusion criteria. Primary outcomes extracted from included studies were the most common indexes for periodontal regeneration (PPD, CAL, %bone filling). The NMA analysis included network plots, contribution plots, inconsistency plots (if eligible to form the loop), predictive interval plots, SUCRA rankings and multidimensional scale ranking (MDS) plots. SUCRA would demonstrate the rankings of multiple competing bioactive agents based on their best performance. Twelve clinical studies for qualitative and quantitative analysis were considered. Network meta-analysis found that rhFGF + hyaluronic acid was ranked highest in PPD and CAL outcome. rhPDGF-BB + ß-tricalcium phosphate was ranked highest in the percentage of bone filling. In addition, all bioactive agents performed better than control groups without rhGFs. Despite clear benefits deriving from rhGFs for periodontal regeneration, the present results should be interpreted with caution due to several confounding factors affecting the outcome. Nevertheless, further well designed randomized clinical trials will allow establishing guidelines for an appropriate indication of the use of rhGFs.

Utility of cine MRI in evaluation of cardiovascular invasion by mediastinal masses.

BACKGROUND: Accurate imaging assessment of cardiovascular invasion by mediastinal masses is essential for determining surgical feasibility. This can sometimes be difficult on CT owing to limited space available in the mediastinum, resulting in mediastinal masses abutting and indenting adjacent cardiovascular structures. Cine MRI may aid in such situations by demonstrating differential mobility. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the role of cine MRI in assessing cardiovascular invasion by mediastinal masses, by evaluating sliding motion and the presence of chemical shift artifact between the mediastinal mass and apposing structures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 44 patients with mediastinal masses, with equivocal involvement of 162 cardiovascular structures on CT scan, in whom cine MRI was done. Involvement on CT was considered equivocal when there was a loss of intervening fat plane and broad surface (>3 cm) or angle (>90°) of contact between the mediastinal mass and cardiovascular structure. The presence of either sliding movement or type 2 chemical shift artifact or both between mass and the cardiovascular structure was considered as no adherence or invasion. The absence of both the parameters was considered as the presence of invasion or adhesion. Imaging findings were correlated with intraoperative findings. RESULTS: After excluding 25 cardiovascular structures in 7 patients, 137 cardiovascular structures whose involvement was suspected on CT were evaluated in 37 patients with mediastinal masses. In all, 31 cardiovascular structures showed invasion on MRI out of which 28 structures were invaded or adhered intraoperatively and 106 cardiovascular structures showed no invasion on MRI out of which 97 structures were intraoperatively not invaded/adhered. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of our study are 75.7%, 97% and 91.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Cine MRI can be used as an effective tool in patients with equivocal cardiovascular invasion by mediastinal masses on CT scans.

Behavioral Acoustic Emanations: Attack and Verification of PIN Entry Using Keypress Sounds.

This paper explores the security vulnerability of Personal Identification Number (PIN) or numeric passwords. Entry Device (PEDs) that use small strings of data (PINs, keys or passwords) as means of verifying the legitimacy of a user. Today, PEDs are commonly used by personnel in different industrial and consumer electronic applications, such as entry at security checkpoints, ATMs and customer kiosks, etc. In this paper, we propose a side-channel attack on a 4-6 digit random PIN key, and a PIN key user verification method. The intervals between two keystrokes are extracted from the acoustic emanation and used as features to train machine-learning models. The attack model has a 60% chance to recover the PIN key. The verification model has an 88% accuracy on identifying the user. Our attack methods can perform key recovery by using the acoustic side-channel at low cost. As a countermeasure, our verification method can improve the security of PIN entry devices.

The Impact of Bioceramic Scaffolds on Bone Regeneration in Preclinical In Vivo Studies: A Systematic Review.

Bioceramic scaffolds are appealing for alveolar bone regeneration, because they are emerging as promising alternatives to autogenous and heterogenous bone grafts. The aim of this systematic review is to answer to the focal question: in critical-sized bone defects in experimental animal models, does the use of a bioceramic scaffolds improve new bone formation, compared with leaving the empty defect without grafting materials or using autogenous bone or deproteinized bovine-derived bone substitutes? Electronic databases were searched using specific search terms. A hand search was also undertaken. Only randomized and controlled studies in the English language, published in peer-reviewed journals between 2013 and 2018, using critical-sized bone defect models in non-medically compromised animals, were considered. Risk of bias assessment was performed using the SYRCLE tool. A meta-analysis was planned to synthesize the evidence, if possible. Thirteen studies reporting on small animal models (six studies on rats and seven on rabbits) were included. The calvarial bone defect was the most common experimental site. The empty defect was used as the only control in all studies except one. In all studies the bioceramic materials demonstrated a trend for better outcomes compared to an empty control. Due to heterogeneity in protocols and outcomes among the included studies, no meta-analysis could be performed. Bioceramics can be considered promising grafting materials, though further evidence is needed.

Adjunctive Use of Plasma Rich in Growth Factors for Improving Alveolar Socket Healing: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the adjunctive use of plasma rich in growth factors in postextraction sites could be beneficial in terms of hard- and soft-tissue healing and patients' comfort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic search was performed on MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and CENTRAL. Only controlled clinical trials or randomized clinical trials that used plasma rich in growth factors in the test group were included. The primary outcomes were pain assessment, complications, and adverse events. Secondary outcomes were hard-tissue healing, bone remodeling, and soft-tissue healing. RESULTS: Eight comparative studies (5 randomized clinical trials) were included. Four studies had a split-mouth design. Six hundred fourteen teeth were extracted in 338 patients. Only qualitative analysis could be performed. Postoperative pain and the incidence of complications such as alveolar osteitis were consistently lower in the test group. Hard-tissue healing, evaluated by clinical, radiographic, histologic, and histomorphometric techniques, showed significantly better results for the test group in almost all studies. Better epithelialization, keratinized tissue thickness, and healing score were also reported. CONCLUSION: Plasma rich in growth factors may bring advantages in some relevant clinical and radiographic outcomes, such as bone density and soft-tissue healing, after tooth extraction. It could also represent a useful tool for reducing adverse events, complications, and patients' discomfort, although it is still not quantifiable.

Autologous Platelet Concentrates in Treatment of Furcation Defects-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this review was to evaluate the adjunctive effect of autologous platelet concentrates (APCs) for the treatment of furcation defects, in terms of scientific quality of the clinical trials and regeneration parameters assessment. METHODS: A systematic search was carried out in the electronic databases MEDLINE, SCOPUS, CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), and EMBASE, together with hand searching of relevant journals. Two independent reviewers screened the articles yielded in the initial search and retrieved the full-text version of potentially eligible studies. Relevant data and outcomes were extracted from the included studies. Risk of bias assessment was also carried out. The outcome variables, relative to baseline and post-operative defect characteristics (probing pocket depth (PPD), horizontal and vertical clinical attachment loss (HCAL, VCAL), horizontal and vertical furcation depth (HFD, VFD) were considered for meta-analysis. RESULTS: Ten randomized trials were included in this review. Only one study was judged at high risk of bias, while seven had a low risk, testifying to the good level of the evidence of this review. The meta-analysis showed a favorable effect regarding all outcome variables, for APCs used in adjunct to open flap debridement (p < 0.001). Regarding APCs in adjunct to bone grafting, a significant advantage was found only for HCAL (p < 0.001, mean difference 0.74, 95% CI 0.54, 0.94). The sub-group analysis showed that both platelet-rich fibrin and platelet-rich plasma in adjunct with open flap debridement, yielded significantly favorable results. No meta-analysis was performed for APCs in combination with guided tissue regeneration (GTR) as only one study was found. CONCLUSION: For the treatment of furcation defects APCs may be beneficial as an adjunct to open flap debridement alone and bone grafting, while limited evidence of an effect of APCs when used in combination with GTR was found.

Prospective Clinical and Histologic Evaluation of Alveolar Socket Healing Following Ridge Preservation Using a Combination of Hydroxyapatite and Collagen Biomimetic Xenograft Versus Demineralized Bovine Bone.

PURPOSE: This prospective study is aimed at investigating clinically and histologically the effectiveness of a biomimetic magnesium-enriched-hydroxyapatite (MgHA)/collagen-based bone substitute for alveolar socket preservation. MATERIALS: Patients scheduled for posterior single tooth extraction were included. The alveolar socket was filled either with MgHA or deproteinized bovine bone matrix (DBBM). In DBBM group, a punch of mucosa was taken from the palate and used to cover the graft. Vertical and horizontal dimensional changes of the alveolar process were assessed clinically with a periodontal probe and with 3-dimensional (3D) analysis of a cast model. Postoperative quality of life was assessed through a questionnaire. After 6 months of healing, an alveolar tissue biopsy was taken for histologic and histomorphometric analysis of the newly formed tissue. After checking normality of the distributions, parametric or nonparametric tests were used for statistical comparisons. RESULTS: Twenty patients (12 males, 8 females, mean age 42.8 ±â€Š5.1 years, range 33-50 years) were treated. After 6 months, vertical and horizontal alveolar ridge resorption was similar in the 2 groups. The 3D analysis of the models showed a significantly higher resorption at the buccal side than at the palatal/lingual side. Histomorphometric analysis showed similar new bone formation for MgHA group (23.07 ±â€Š10.3%) and DBBM (22.77 ±â€Š6.95%), and a significantly higher residual material% for DBBM (15.77 ±â€Š1.95%) than MgHA (5.01 ±â€Š1.04%). Significantly less pain was reported in the first 3 days after surgery in patients of the MgHA group. CONCLUSION: The MgHA was as safe and effective as DBBM and may represent a feasible bone substitute for alveolar socket preservation.

Miniscrew Implants for Intrusion of Supraerupted Molar: A Noninvasive Approach for Space Regaining.

Inadequate interocclusal space often leads to difficulty in prosthetic rehabilitation. Dental implant-indicated sites are governed by various factors which include bone availability, adequate mesiodistal width, and most importantly, adequate interocclusal space for proper prosthetic design on the dental implant. The use of miniscrew implant with coil spring for regaining interocclusal space would be an advantageous procedure for biomechanical intrusion of supraerupted teeth, rather than treating the same with invasive clinical crown reduction/intentional endodontic treatment. This case report describes the use of miniscrew implant with coiled spring on a supraerupted maxillary molar for interocclusal space regaining, to facilitate proper prosthetic rehabilitation in the dental implant site.