The effect of beverage temperature on the surface roughness, microhardness, and color stability of the monoshade composite resin: An in vitro study.

Objective: This study assessed the impact of beverage temperature on the surface roughness, microhardness, and color stability of monoshade composite resin. Materials and Methods: A batch of 70 monoshade composite resin specimens manufactured by Charisma Diamond ONE (Kulzer, Hanau, Germany) was prepared. Initial readings for surface roughness, microhardness, and color were recorded. The specimens were then divided into seven groupings of ten each: Distilled water (control group), Nescafe coffee at 70 °C and 5 °C, Arabic coffee at 70 °C and 37 °C, and cola at 7 °C and 24 °C. These samples underwent 30-min daily immersion in their respective beverages for a duration of 30 days. Final measurements were then taken. A non-contact profilometer was used for measuring surface roughness, a Vickers microhardness machine from Contour GT-I (Bruker Nano GmbH, Berlin, Germany) for microhardness, and a Color-Eye 7000A Spectrophotometer (X-Rite, GretagMacbeth, Michigan USA) for color stability. Statistical analyses, including repeated measure ANOVA for microhardness, roughness, and color, were executed using SPSS version 23. Results: All beverages led to changes in composite color and properties. Notably, coffee at 70 °C resulted in significant discoloration of the composite resin surface (p < 0.0001). The beverage that most affected the surface hardness and roughness of the monoshade composite resin was cola at 7 °C (p = 0.008). Conclusion: The inherent chemicals in beverages, coupled with their temperatures, can influence the composite properties of resin, specifically surface discoloration, hardness, and roughness. Clinicians may, therefore, consider instructing patients about the potential negative effects of these beverages.

Efficacy of curcumin and Boswellia for knee osteoarthritis: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The unfavorable safety profiles of commonly prescribed knee osteoarthritis (OA) treatments have led clinicians and patients to seek safer alternatives. Research has suggested that curcuminoid and boswellia formulations could moderate key inflammatory pathways that are associated with worsening symptoms and disease progression. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of these treatments vs. placebo or NSAIDs for knee OA. METHODS: We searched Medline, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Web of Science and the Cochrane database from inception to February 21, 2018. We also hand searched reference lists and reviewed conference proceedings. We included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing curcuminoid or boswellia formulations with placebo or NSAIDs for knee OA. We calculated standardized mean differences (SMD) or risk ratios (RR) for all relevant outcomes. Meta-analyses were conducted using random effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. RESULTS: Eleven RCTs (N = 1009) were eligible for analysis. Study quality was low overall, and most included RCTs were conducted on fewer than 100 participants. Both curcuminoid and boswellia formulations were statistically significantly more effective than placebo for pain relief and functional improvement. There were no significant differences between curcuminoids or boswellia and placebo in safety outcomes. Curcuminoids showed no statistically significant differences in efficacy outcomes compared to NSAIDs; patients receiving curcuminoids were significantly less likely to experience gastrointestinal adverse events. No RCTs compared boswellia against approved NSAIDs. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that curcuminoid and boswellia formulations could be a valuable addition to the knee OA treatment regimens by relieving symptoms while reducing safety risks. The current body of evidence is not adequate in size or quality to make any meaningful clinical practice recommendations. Further research through large, high quality RCTs probably investigating the synergistic effect of these products with other OA treatments is warranted.

Inflammation and glucose homeostasis are associated with specific structural features among adults without knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study from the osteoarthritis initiative.

BACKGROUND: Greater age and body mass index are strong risk factors for osteoarthritis (OA). Older and overweight individuals may be more susceptible to OA because these factors alter tissue turnover in menisci, articular cartilage, and bone via altered glucose homeostasis and inflammation. Understanding the role of inflammation and glucose homeostasis on structural features of early-stage OA may help identify therapeutic targets to delay or prevent the onset of OA among subsets of adults with these features. We examined if serum concentrations of glucose homeostasis (glucose, glycated serum protein [GSP]) or inflammation (C-reactive protein [CRP]) were associated with prevalent knee bone marrow lesions (BMLs) or effusion among adults without knee OA. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study using baseline data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. We selected participants who had no radiographic knee OA but were at high risk for knee OA. Blinded staff conducted assays for CRP, GSP, and glucose. Readers segmented BML volume and effusion using semi-automated programs. Our outcomes were prevalent BML (knee with a BML volume > 1 cm3) and effusion (knee with an effusion volume > 7.5 cm3). We used logistic regression models with CRP, GSP, or glucose concentrations as the predictors. We adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) scores. RESULTS: We included 343 participants: mean age = 59 ± 9 years, BMI = 27.9 ± 4.5 kg/m2, PASE score = 171 ± 82, and 64% female. Only CRP was associated with BML prevalence (odds ratio [OR] = 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09 to 1.87). For effusion, we found an interaction between BMI and CRP: only among adults with a BMI <25 kg/m2 was there a significant trend towards a positive association between CRP and effusion (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.00 to 1.97). We detected a U-shaped relationship between GSP and effusion prevalence. Fasting glucose levels were not significantly associated with the presence of baseline effusion or BML. CONCLUSIONS: Among individuals without knee OA, CRP may be related to the presence of BMLs and effusion among normal weight individuals. Abnormal GSP may be associated with effusion. Future studies should explore whether inflammation and glucose homeostasis are predictive of symptomatic knee OA.