Comparison of Six Aptamer-Aptamer Pairs on Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2 by Lateral Flow Assay.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 is a threat to humanity. Both the spike (S) protein and its receptor binding domain (sRBD) are extensively used for rapid detection. Although real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) is mostly used method for the molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2, rapid assays for antigenic detection are always needed. Lateral flow assays (LFAs) are the most commonly used tests for this purpose, and aptamers having stability and long shelf life are used as capture reagents. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop the LFAs based on the aptamer pairs for the antigenic detection of SARS-CoV-2 with the naked eye. METHOD: Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were used as labels, and six sandwich models by three different aptamers were prepared using 4 µM and 8 µM probes and two kinds of membranes for developing the LFAs. RESULTS: The 8 µM probe concentration and M2 membrane showed the best recognition of both the synthetic sRBD and SARS-CoV-2 coming from the naso/oropharingeal swabs by designed LFAs as 100% sensitivity and 93.3% specificity compared to the antibody-detecting LFAs. CONCLUSIONS: Our developed strip assays based on aptamer pairs recognized the target directly in 5-6 min with the naked eye. It was also concluded that aptamer pairs, membrane types, assay buffers, and probe concentrations have a significant role in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 by LFAs. HIGHLIGHTS: The detection of SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples was demonstrated with the best aptamer pairs, sensitively and selectively among the designed six aptamer pairs for LFAs. Developed LFAs can be an alternative method to the conventional antibody-based LFAs for SARS-CoV-2 detection.

The European Association for Sports Dentistry, Academy for Sports Dentistry, European College of Sports and Exercise Physicians consensus statement on sports dentistry integration in sports medicine.

Sports medicine has a multidisciplinary character which allows different medical specialties to investigate the prevention, etiology, and treatment of athletes' diseases. This leads to a decreased risk of injury and a faster return to play as well as an improvement in the overall health and well-being of athletes of any level and in all sports around the world. The oral health of athletes is now the subject of great attention internationally because of the increased prevalence and incidence of health issues such as dental caries and erosion, periodontal disease, defective occlusion, temporomandibular joint disorders, and orofacial injuries. Scientific evidence and research on these issues have also intensified over recent years. The best way to maintain player's health and performance is to include oral health in sports medicine with physicians and dentists working closely together at the individual level as well as with the cooperation between local and international sports medicine and dentistry associations. The European Association for Sports Dentistry, the Academy for Sports Dentistry, and the European College of Sports and Exercise Physicians are leading the way and have worked together to develop a consensus statement describing the main pillars of oral health integration into sports medicine based on the most common oral diseases found in athletes and linked to exercise, sports, and performance.

[Cultural differences concerning depressive disorders and attachment dimensions]. / Kulturelle Unterschiede bezüglich der depressiven Störung und Bindungsorientierung.

BACKGROUND: Attachment is a psychological parameter across cultures and is influenced by childhood experiences. Though the construct of attachment tends to certain stability, different influences, like culture, can change the quality of attachment during lifetime. As can be seen from the example of depression in adulthood the clinical symptoms of this disorder may be different due to the cultural background. METHODS: The present study focuses on inter- and intracultural differences concerning the attachment qualities of Turkish people in the homeland, Turkish migrants in Austria and Austrians (N = 297) by using the self-assessment questionnaire RSQ. Each ethnic group consisted of a healthy control group (N = 153) as well as a patient group currently suffering from a depressive episode (N = 144) and were getting an in or outpatient treatment. OBJECTIVE: The hypothesis tested was whether culture moderates a correlation between depressive disorders and attachment abilities. RESULTS: There were significant differences in attachment ability between cultures whereby controls presented significantly more secure attachment ability in all parameters compared to patients. While the Austrian control group showed the most secure attachment orientation, the Austrian patients had the highest level of insecurity, followed by the migrant group. However, the comparison of healthy and depressive Turks revealed no significant differences. CONCLUSION: Thus, culture shows significant effects concerning depressive disorders and attachment dimensions.

Acceptance rate of palatal implants: a questionnaire study.

Implants have gained popularity in orthodontics because they facilitate maximum anchorage with minimum patient cooperation. However, some orthodontists avoid using implants because psychological aspects of the anchorage systems have not been fully reported. In this study, 85 patients who received orthodontic treatment with palatal implants in 2 clinics in Austria completed questionnaires. The results show that most patients got used to their implants in about 2 weeks; 95% were satisfied with the treatment, and 86% would recommend the treatment to other patients. In addition, 75% of the patients found the orthodontic construction between the anchor teeth and the palatal implant less comfortable than the implant itself, whereas 7% found the palatal implant less comfortable. Approximately 24 months of treatment with the palatal implant is tolerable for patients; this is the average orthodontic treatment time.

Bone regeneration by bodily tooth movement: dental computed tomography examination of a patient.

A 32-year-old man was examined with computed tomography before and after orthodontic treatment, and alveolar bone levels at the edentulous spaces were assessed. When the computed tomography scans were compared, 2.2 to 5.2 mm of additional craniocaudal alveolar bone remodeling by bodily tooth movement was found in the space-opening region. Bodily movement was achieved with single- and crossed-lever-arm mechanics. Root resorption measuring 1 to 4 mm was observed at the mandibular anterior region, where teeth were used for anchorage to upright the molars.

An improved transpalatal bar design. Part I. Comparison of moments and forces delivered by two bar designs for symmetrical molar derotation.

Moments and forces delivered during symmetrical derotation of upper molars by 10 Goshgarian-type (GTPB) and 10 Zachrisson-type transpalatal bars (ZTPB) were measured in laboratory experiments using a computer-based strain gauge. The bar passivity in sagittal, transverse, and vertical planes was first assessed at the measurement apparatus. Then each end of the 20 passive bars was symmetrically activated by 10 mm in the sagittal plane using a template. The activated bars were placed into lingual attachments of the measuring apparatus, and three consecutive measurement steps were done for each bar. Measurements were made when the attachments were at 0 degrees, 5 degrees, and 10 degrees of deactivation. The mesiodistal (sagittal) forces, the horizontal forces, and the moments of rotation at the right and left attachments were measured at each step. The horizontal forces and the moments of rotation of the two designs had statistically significant differences. Greater moments of rotation were produced by the GTPB. The ZTPB produced significantly lower contractive horizontal forces than did the GTPB at 5 degrees and 10 degrees of deactivation.

An improved transpalatal bar design. Part II. Clinical upper molar derotation--case report.

Bilaterally rotated upper first molars (mesial in, distal out) were derotated in two different cases by using a custom-made transpalatal bar. The bars were reactivated, if necessary, at four-week controls. The derotations were fully corrected after about three months.