Biostimulatory effects of boar seminal gel, saliva and semen on sexual behavior of young boars, gilts and sows.

The present study aimed to identify novel biostimulatory compounds in boar seminal gel (SG), saliva and semen using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The bio-stimulatory effect of SG, SG + saliva and SG + semen on young boar for semen collection as well were employed to study bio-stimulatory effects on gilts and sows. Distilled water (DW) exposure was kept as control. SG, saliva and semen were screened for total 105, 96 and 89 compounds. The highest concentration was of alkanes followed by sugar alcohols, then hydrocarbons, amino acids and fatty acids. Elaidic acid was the novel compound identified in pigs. Significantly higher (p < 0.05) number of males got trained in exposure to SG (80%), SG + saliva (75%) and SG + semen (75%) than control (0%). The time (hrs) taken by young boars to get trained on exposure to combination of SG + saliva (244 ± 22.19) and SG + semen (216 ± 13.14) was lesser (p < 0.05) than SG (356 ± 61.85) alone. Interval (hrs) from initiation of exposure for exhibition of different sexual behaviour by males on exposure to SG, saliva and semen was lesser (p < 0.05) than control. Significantly (p < 0.05) higher number of females showed estrus response to exposure of SG (72.72%), SG + saliva (69.23%) and SG + semen (76.92%) than control (0). Interval (hrs) taken to exhibit estrus was shorter (p < 0.05) in females exposed to SG + saliva (201.88 ± 12.66), SG + semen (198.20 ± 9.42) than SG (262.14 ± 20.06) alone. Interval (hrs) for exhibition of different sexual behaviour by females on exposure to SG + saliva and SG + semen was lesser (p < 0.05) than control. In conclusion, novel compounds were identified in boar seminal gel, saliva and semen with biostimulatory properties have been identified in boar SG, saliva and semen. The combined exposure of SG with saliva and semen has more intense biostimulation effect than SG alone for training of young boars and estrus induction in gilts and sows. Such compounds biostimulatory effects can be exploited for augmenting reproductive efficiency in pigs.

Performance Evaluation of the Commonly-Used Portable Cholesterol Sensors for Telehealth Services in the Unreached Communities.

Portable medical sensors play an important role in healthcare services, especially in rural communities. Many telehealth systems use these devices for providing patients' vital information from a distance to remote doctors. Erroneous data will not only mislead the remote doctor for correct diagnosis but it will cause health threats to these unreached community people. Therefore, it is very important to identify good sensors with an acceptable level of accuracy but within the affordable price of the available sensors in the market. This study aims to identify quality portable cholesterol sensors with high accuracy with the reference of the Japanese clinical pathology laboratory as a gold standard. We have considered cholesterol sensors that measure total cholesterol for this study that are commonly used in the developing countries of Asia. We found that out of four, three of them were very much erroneous and cannot be recommended even for primary healthcare.

DNDI-6174 is a preclinical candidate for visceral leishmaniasis that targets the cytochrome bc1.

New drugs for visceral leishmaniasis that are safe, low cost, and adapted to the field are urgently required. Despite concerted efforts over the last several years, the number of new chemical entities that are suitable for clinical development for the treatment of Leishmania remains low. Here, we describe the discovery and preclinical development of DNDI-6174, an inhibitor of Leishmania cytochrome bc1 complex activity that originated from a phenotypically identified pyrrolopyrimidine series. This compound fulfills all target candidate profile criteria required for progression into preclinical development. In addition to good metabolic stability and pharmacokinetic properties, DNDI-6174 demonstrates potent in vitro activity against a variety of Leishmania species and can reduce parasite burden in animal models of infection, with the potential to approach sterile cure. No major flags were identified in preliminary safety studies, including an exploratory 14-day toxicology study in the rat. DNDI-6174 is a cytochrome bc1 complex inhibitor with acceptable development properties to enter preclinical development for visceral leishmaniasis.

Effects of Short-Term Exposure of Chloramine-T Solution on the Characteristics of Light-Cured and Chemical-Cured Adhesives.

This study evaluated the effect of a 0.5% chloramine T solution on a chemical-cured universal adhesive by comparing the light-cured, one-step, self-etch adhesive for the bonding performance, mechanical properties, and resin-dentin interfacial characteristics. Caries-free human molars were randomly assigned into eight groups based on the bonding systems employed (Bond Force II, BF and Bondmer Lightless, BL), the immersion solutions used before bonding (0.5% chloramine T solution and distilled water), and the immersion durations (5 and 60 min). Microtensile bond strength (µTBS), nanoleakage evaluation, and nanoindentation tests were performed, and the surface morphology of the resin-dentin interface was examined using a focus ion beam/scanning ion microscopy system. Immersion in chloramine-T for 5 min significantly decreased the µTBS of Bondmer Lightless (from 22.62 to 12.87 MPa) compared with that in distilled water. Moreover, there was also a decreasing trend after immersing in chloramine-T for 60 min (from 19.11 to 13.93 MPa). Chloramine T was found to have no effect on the hardness, elastic modulus, or morphological characteristics of the ion-beam milled resin-dentin interfacial surfaces in the tested adhesives, suggesting that chloramine T might reduce the bond strength by interfering with the interaction and the sealing between the adhesive resin and dentin in the chemical-cured universal adhesive, albeit without affecting the mechanical properties.

Efficacy of clove and tulsi supplementation in drinking water in broiler immunity.

BACKGROUND: Medicinal plants or their products are popular substitutes for antibiotics or other synthetic growth promoters for their beneficial effects and cost-effectiveness. Clove (Cv) and tulsi (Ts) are rich in phytochemicals and are used to augment the growth performance of poultry. OBJECTIVES: The current investigation was carried out to evaluate the effects of Cv and Ts supplementation in drinking water on the morphologic and morphometric adaptations in the lymphoid organs. METHODS: The experiment was conducted on 60 broiler chicks, divided into 4 homogenous groups (5 pens/group and 3 broilers/pen) named T0 (control), T1 (0.5% Cv and 2% Ts), T2 (1% Cv and 3% Ts) and T3 (1.5% Cv and 4% Ts). The treatments were administered from days 8 to 28. Lymphoid organs (thymus, spleen and bursa of Fabricius) were collected on days 14, 21 and 28 after sacrificing five broilers from each group. RESULTS: The treatment groups had higher thymus and spleen weights on day 21, whereas the weights of the bursa of Fabricius were higher on days 14, 21 and 28. In the histomorphologic study, no noticeable difference in the histoarchitectures of the lymphoid organs was noticed. However, substantial differences in the cortico-medullary ratio and the number of follicles in the thymus and bursa of Fabricius, respectively, were found in the histomorphometric investigation. CONCLUSION: The inclusion of Cv and Ts in drinking water augments the weight of lymphoid organs with histomorphometric adaptations that might improve the immune status in broilers.

Enhancing IoT Security: An Innovative Key Management System for Lightweight Block Ciphers.

This research paper presents a study on designing and implementing a robust key management scheme for lightweight block ciphers in Internet of Things (IoT) networks. Key management is a critical concern for IoT devices due to their limited resources and susceptibility to security threats. The proposed scheme utilises partial key pre-distribution to achieve lightweight and secure key management. The protocol's security has been analysed against various attacks, demonstrating its resistance. Performance evaluation results indicate that the proposed key management technique is suitable for resource-constraint IoT networks, as it reduces communication overhead, power consumption, and storage space requirements. The methodology employed in this research includes designing and implementing the proposed key management scheme and conducting scenario-based analyses of its functionality. The results affirm that the proposed solution effectively ensures secure communication in IoT networks. Overall, this research contributes to developing a secure and efficient key management scheme for lightweight block ciphers in IoT networks.

Dental Caries Prevention Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice among Patients at a University Hospital in Guangzhou, China.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) of patients regarding dental caries prevention in a university hospital in Guangzhou, China. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based KAP survey was conducted in a cross-sectional manner at the First Affiliated Hospital in Guangzhou, China, from 1 September to 30 September 2022. Questionnaires were distributed to eligible patients, resulting in the participation of 251 individuals. The questionnaire consisted of five sections capturing socio-demographic data and exploring participants' knowledge, attitudes, practice, and accurate preventive dental caries knowledge. Descriptive statistics and a generalized linear model with univariate tests were used for analysis. Results: The study results show that the knowledge score 7.97 (±0.91) and attitudes score 7.67 (±0.89) among the participants were good while the practice score was 6.80 (±0.81) moderate. The majority of participants identified tooth infections (81.3%), bacteria (92%), and sugar (89.2%) as the main causes of gum bleeding and tooth decay. Brushing (96%) and fluoride (80.5%) were also recognized as essential for preventing tooth decay. Of oral diseases, 94% were recognized as potentially affecting overall health. The vast majority ranging from 92.8% to 98%, believed that oral health is crucial to overall health and that regular check-ups and proper brushing habits are beneficial. There is a significant association of gender with age (p = 0.018), occupation (p = 0.050), lifestyle habit (p = 0.012), and knowledge score; whole education is significantly associated with practice score (p = 0.050). Conclusions: The majority of patients exhibited accurate knowledge and attitudes with moderate practice towards dental caries prevention, with socio-demographic factors playing a major role. However, effective implementation of dental health education programs across the healthcare system is still required to further enhance outcomes.

Effect of sodium hypochlorite on bonding performance of universal adhesives to pulp chamber dentin.

Abstract Background/purpose: The most widely utilized irrigation solution in endodontic therapy is sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of NaOCl on the bond strength of four universal adhesives and one two-step self-etch adhesive to pulp chamber dentin. Materials and methods: One hundred sixteen extracted sound human third molars were used in this study. All the teeth were divided into two groups: (1) with NaOCl treatment and (2) without NaOCl treatment. These two groups were subdivided into five bonding groups: G-Premio Bond (GP), Beautibond Xtreme (BBX), Scotchbond Universal (SBU), Clearfil Universal Bond Quick (UBQ), and Clearfil Megabond 2 (MB2). The microtensile bond strength (µTBS), the fracture mode analysis, resin-dentin interface and dentin surface were observed by SEM. Two-way ANOVA was performed to analyze the µTBS (α = 0.05). Results: The µTBS of the NaOCl group significantly decreased for GP and MB2 (P < 0.05). Significant effects of adhesive (F = 12.182, P < 0.001), and irrigation (F = 27.224, P < 0.001) on the µTBS were observed, whereas interaction between adhesive and irrigation was not significant (F = 1.761, P = 0.144). The adhesive layer with variable thickness was observed in all groups with different morphological structures. Conclusion: The effect of NaOCl treatment on the µTBS differs depending on the type of adhesives.

The effect of an extra hydrophobic resin layer on the bond strength and durability of one-step universal adhesives used as a primer.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of an extra hydrophobic resin layer (EHL) on the bond strength and durability of three different pH one-step universal adhesives (UAs) utilized in self-etch (SE) mode, and to explore whether UAs can be used as a primer in two-step bonding system. METHODS: Three different pH UAs were utilized: G-Premio Bond (GPB), Scotchbond Universal (SBU), All-Bond Universal (ABU), while the bonding agent of Clearfil SE Bond 2 (SE2) was selected as the EHL. For the EHL groups, EHL was applied after the air blow of each UA and before light curing. The microtensile bond strength (µTBS), fracture modes, interfacial structures and nanoleakage (NL) were evaluated after 24 h water storage and after 15,000 thermal cycling (TC). Elastic modulus (EM) and hardness (H) was tested by a nanoindenter after 24 h. RESULTS: Significantly higher µTBS was achieved in the GPB+EHL group compared with GPB both at 24 h and after 15,000 TC, while the additional use of EHL did not improve the µTBS of SBU and ABU significantly both at 24 h and after 15,000 TC. GPB+EHL demonstrated lower NL than GPB. The mean EM and H of the adhesive layer in GPB+EHL was significantly decreased compared with GPB. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that the bond strength and durability of low pH one-step UA (GPB) were significantly improved by additional application of EHL both at 24 h and after 15,000 TC, while no significant improvement was observed for ultra-mild one-step UAs (SBU and ABU). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study indicates that GPB can be used as a primer in a two-step bonding system, while SBU and ABU may not be as effective. These findings may help guide clinicians in selecting the appropriate UAs and bonding techniques for different clinical scenarios.

Role of Clove and Tulsi on broiler health and meat production.

The role of Clove (Cv) and Tulsi (Ts) supplementation on broiler growth performance and gut health as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters has already been established. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the role of Cv and Ts on the serum biochemical profile and meat quality traits in broilers. A total of sixty (60) one-day-old commercial broiler chicks were randomly allotted into four homogenous groups (15 birds per group). They were then fed Cv powder and Ts extract from day (d) 8 to d 28 with drinking water i.e. zero level of Cv or Ts (T0), 0.5% Cv + 2% Ts (T1), 1.0% Cv + 3% Ts (T2), 1.5% Cv + 4% Ts (T3). Blood and meat samples were collected on d 14, 21, and 28 to analyze the serum-biochemical profile and meat quality. Supplementation of Cv and Ts improved serum-biochemical profile by reducing total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels in broilers. However, they did not affect the serum protein levels while the 0.5-1% Cv and 2-3% Ts supplemented groups had higher glucose levels on d 21. Production of breast and thigh meat increased with increased size, and density of myofibers while fed 0.5-1% Cv and 2-3% Ts. On the contrary, 1.5% Cv powder and 4% Ts extract supplementation improved thigh meat color, breast and thigh meat pH as well as the water-holding capacity. The current study findings suggest that Cv and Ts can be used in combination to improve broiler health, production, and meat quality.

Effect of dietary dexamethasone on the morphologic and morphometric adaptations in the lymphoid organs and mortality rate in broilers.

BACKGROUND: Thymus, bursa of Fabricius and spleen are the major lymphoid organs of avian species that plays a crucial role in their immunity. Though glucocorticoids are reportedly used as growth promoters, they also suppress the immune system. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the morphologic and morphometric adaptations in the lymphoid organs as well as the mortality rate in broilers in response to long-term treatment with dexamethasone (DEX). METHODS: A total of 80 one-day-old broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were randomly divided into four homogenous groups (control - C and treatment groups - T1, T2, and T3). The treatment groups received DEX at the rate of 3, 5, and 7 mg/kg commercial feed. Samples, i.e. thymus, bursa of Fabricius, and spleen, were collected on 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of the experiment. Relative weight of the organs was calculated on each sampling day. The tissues were then processed and stained with haematoxylin and eosin stain for morphological and morphometric study. RESULTS: The relative weight of lymphoid organs was found substantially (p < 0.05) less in the DEX-treated groups. Significant (p < 0.05) reduction in lobular size and the cortical-medullary ratio was observed in the thymus of the DEX-treated broilers. Follicular atrophy and massive depletion of lymphocytes were evident in the bursa of Fabricius. The mortality rate was also increased which was largely dependent on the dose and duration of DEX treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The study results indicate that DEX treatment can alter the morphology and morphometry of lymphoid organs which might result in severe immunosuppression and increased mortality rate in broilers.

Enhancing genetic gain through the application of genomic selection in developing irrigated rice for the favorable ecosystem in Bangladesh.

Increasing selection differential and decreasing cycle time, the rate of genetic improvement can be accelerated. Creating and capturing higher genetic with higher accuracy within the shortest possible time is the prerequisite for enhancing genetic gain for any trait. Comprehensive yield testing at multi-locations at early generations together with the shortest line fixation time can expedite the rapid recycling of parents in the breeding program through recurrent selection. Genomic selection is efficient in capturing high breeding value individuals taking additive genetic effects of all genes into account with and without extensive field testing, thus reducing breeding cycle time enhances genetic gain. In the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, GS technology together with the trait-specific marker-assisted selection at the early generation of RGA-derived breeding lines showed a prediction accuracy of 0.454-0.701 with 0.989-2.623 relative efficiency over the four consecutive years of exercise. This study reports that the application of GS together with trait-specific MAS has expedited the yield improvement by 117 kg ha-1·year-1, which is around seven-fold larger than the baseline annual genetic gain and shortened the breeding cycle by around 1.5 years from the existing 4.5 years.

Direct pulp capping procedures - Evidence and practice.

The aim of direct pulp capping (DPC) is to promote pulp healing and mineralized tissue barrier formation by placing a dental biomaterial directly over the exposed pulp. Successful application of this approach avoids the need for further and more extensive treatment. In order to ensure a complete pulp healing with the placement of restorative materials, a mineralized tissue barrier must form to protect the pulp from microbial invasion. The formation of mineralized tissue barrier can only be induced when there is a significant reduction in pulp inflammation and infection. Consequently, promoting the healing of pulp inflammation may provide a favorable therapeutic opportunity to maintain the sustainability of DPC treatment. Mineralized tissue formation was observed as the favorable reaction of exposed pulp tissue against a variety of dental biomaterials utilized for DPC. This observation reveals an intrinsic capacity of pulp tissue for healing. Therefore, this review focuses on the DPC and its healing procedure as well as the materials used for DPC treatment and their mechanisms of action to promote pulpal healing. In addition, the factors that can affect the healing process of DPC, clinical considerations and future perspective has been described.

Androgen receptor gene deficiency results in the reduction of steroidogenic potential in porcine luteal cells.

Luteal steroidogenesis is critical to implantation and pregnancy maintenance in mammals. The role of androgen receptors (AR) in the progesterone (P4) producing luteal cells of porcine corpus luteum (CL) remains unexplored. The aim of the present study was to establish AR gene knock out (KO) porcine luteal cell culture system model by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology and to study the downstream effects of AR gene deficiency on steroidogenic potential and viability of luteal cells. For this purpose, genomic cleavage detection assay, microscopy, RT-qPCR, ELISA, annexin, MTT, and viability assay complemented by bioinformatics analysis were employed. There was significant downregulation (p < 0.05) in the relative mRNA expression of steroidogenic marker genes STAR, CYP11A1, HSD3B1 in AR KO luteal cells as compared to the control group, which was further validated by the significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the P4 production. Significant decrease (p < 0.05) in relative viability on third passage were also observed. The relative mRNA expression of hypoxia related gene HIF1A was significantly (p < 0.05) downregulated in AR KO luteal cells. Protein-protein interaction analysis mapped AR to signaling pathways associated with luteal cell functionality. These findings suggests that AR gene functionality is critical to luteal cell steroidogenesis in porcine.

Modulation of growth performance, gut morphometry, and cecal microbiota in broilers by clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) supplementation.

In an epoch of the growing risk of antibiotic resistance, there is a dire need to establish an effective novel feeding practice for broiler nutrition as an alternative to antibiotics. Hence, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the impact of clove powder and tulsi extract on the growth performance, gut morphologic and morphometric indices, and cecal microbial status of broiler, as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). Sixty day-old chicks of Cobb-500 strain were randomly divided into 4 groups, each having 15 birds. Chicks of the control group (T0) were fed commercial broiler feed with no additional supplementation. The treatment groups were offered commercial broiler feed and received clove powder and tulsi extract with drinking water at the rate of 0.5% + 2% (T1), 1% + 3% (T2), and 1.5% + 4% (T3), respectively. Results showed a nonlinear relationship with the dosage of clove and tulsi. All the growth parameters substantially (P < 0.05) improved in T2 while T1 and T3 showed no significant improvement compared to T0. The final body weight was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in T2. Giblet and offal weights showed no noticeable differences except in the intestine and heart where intestine weight markedly (P < 0.05) decreased in T3 and heart weight significantly (P < 0.05) increased in T1 and T2. Clove and tulsi supplementation substantially improved the villus height and villus surface area of the small intestine in T2 while the large intestine remained mostly unaffected by the treatment. Cecal microbial status significantly improved in all the treatment groups having increased (P < 0.05) Lactobacillus spp. count and decreased (P < 0.05) E. coli count compared to T0. Based on the aforementioned findings, it can be concluded that the combination of clove and tulsi can improve the growth performance and gut health of broilers which is largely dose-dependent and might be supplied as a potential alternative to AGPs.

Efficacy of cryodehydration technique in preserving the gross and histoarchitectural details of goat visceral and musculoskeletal specimens.

Objective: This study sought to determine the effectiveness of the cryodehydration technique in preserving the morphologic and morphometric attributes of the anatomical specimens of goats. Materials and methods: Different anatomical parts of a goat, i.e., heart, lungs, spleen, liver, kidney, and musculoskeletal specimens, were collected and fixed in 15% formalin. Later on, the fixed specimens were cryodehydrated by fast freezing (burning process) and repeated freezing-thawing sessions, followed by wood glue coating. Finally, the macroscopic (i.e., weight, color, texture, odor, and durability) and microscopic characteristics (by routine hematoxylin and eosin staining) of the cryodehydrated specimens were studied. Results: The resultant specimens produced excellent color and texture and were lightweight (60%-80% weight loss), soft, dry, odorless, durable, and easy to handle. The histoarchitectural details of the heart and skeletal muscle were well preserved, while some distinctive alterations were observed in the parenchymatous organs, i.e., breach in cellular integrity, loss of cell cytoplasm, loss of cytoplasmic and nuclear clarity, increased sinusoidal space, dilatation of the renal tubules, and reduction in glomerular size. Nevertheless, the basic histoarchitecture of each specimen was yet to be distinctly identifiable. Conclusion: The current study findings suggest that the cryodehydration technique can preserve gross anatomical features as well as histoarchitectural details and can be an effective tool for facilitating veterinary education and research.

Telehealth Care for Mothers and Infants to Improve the Continuum of Care: Protocol for a Quasi-Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: Ensuring an appropriate continuum of care in maternal, newborn, and child health, as well as providing nutrition care, is challenging in remote areas. To make care accessible for mothers and infants, we developed a telehealth care system called Portable Health Clinic for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health. OBJECTIVE: Our study will examine the telehealth care system's effectiveness in improving women's and infants' care uptake and detecting their health problems. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study will be conducted in rural Bangladesh. Villages will be allocated to the intervention and control areas. Pregnant women (≥16 gestational weeks) will participate together with their infants and will be followed up 1 year after delivery or birth. The intervention will include regular health checkups via the Portable Health Clinic telehealth care system, which is equipped with a series of sensors and an information system that can triage participants' health levels based on the results of their checkups. Women and infants will receive care 4 times during the antenatal period, thrice during the postnatal period, and twice during the motherhood and childhood periods. The outcomes will be participants' health checkup coverage, gestational and neonatal complication rates, complementary feeding rates, and health-seeking behaviors. We will use a multilevel logistic regression and a generalized estimating equation to evaluate the intervention's effectiveness. RESULTS: Recruitment began in June 2020. As of June 2022, we have consented 295 mothers in the study. Data collection is expected to conclude in June 2024. CONCLUSIONS: Our new trial will show the effectiveness and extent of using a telehealth care system to ensure an appropriate continuum of care in maternal, newborn, and child health (from the antenatal period to the motherhood and childhood periods) and improve women's and infants' health status. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN44966621; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN44966621. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/41586.

Influence of Novel Experimental Light-Cured Resin Cement on Microtensile Bond Strength.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microtensile bond strength (µTBS) and Knoop hardness number (KHN) of a novel experimental light-cured resin cement (HL). Eighteen flat dentin surfaces of human molars were polished using #600 SiC paper and bonded to CAD/CAM resin blocks with the respective resin cements and composites: HL, Panavia V5 (PV), and Clearfil AP-X (AP). All specimens were stored in distilled water at 37 °C for 24 h and 7 days. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) observations were performed to evaluate filler morphology and to detect the elements. The resin cements had a significant effect on the immediate µTBS (F = 22.59, p < 0.05) and after water storage µTBS (F = 22.83, p < 0.05). Significant differences (p < 0.05) in the KHN between the tested materials were observed, and HL indicated the highest KHN when compared with PV. HL showed a combination of the regular-shaped filler and spherical-shaped filler within the matrix. Silicon was detected in HL from the EDX evaluation. HL exhibited better bonding performance and polymerization, which may have contributed to the improvement of the adhesive strength.

A novel method of 3D printing locating guide for abutment screw removal in cement-retained implant-supported prostheses.

Background/purpose: Cement-retained restorations have the advantages of passive fit, less complexity of clinical and laboratory methods, cost, esthetics, and dimensional stability over screw-retained restorations, especially in multiple abutment implant-supported prostheses. A common and difficult technical problem with cement-retained implant prostheses is abutment screw loosening. Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a technology that has been rapidly developed and has become widely accepted in dentistry. The aim of this study was to establish a novel method of using 3D implant planning guide to locate the abutment screw in cement-retained implant prosthesis. Materials and methods: Six standard gypsum complete denture models were used to locate the abutment screw. An implant analog (4.5 mm in diameter and 12 mm in length) was placed in the drilling hole (5 mm in diameter and 14 mm in depth). After scanning with a 3D scanner, the 3D printing software was used to design the abutment screw location guide, which was printed by a resin-based 3D printer. Results: A total of 30 abutment screws were located and removed using the guide. The locating guide's actual diameter was 2.4 mm. The drilling point was accurate and precise, and no excessive loss of the abutment was noticed. Conclusion: The guide would help the dentist in locating the abutment screw access channel, resulting in a more precise and accurate drilling point. The guide for locating the abutment screw enhances the accuracy of screw channel access and reduces damage to the crown and abutment.

Feasibility and acceptability of telepathology system among the rural communities of Bangladesh: A pilot study.

Context: Telepathology is a promising tool for remote communities to receive pathology services where professional diagnosis services are inadequate. Aims: We aimed to clarify how effective telepathology was when compared with conventional pathology service among rural communities of Bangladesh. Methods and Materials: We conducted a cross-sectional study in suburban and rural areas of Bangladesh between June and August 2020. We enrolled 117 participants who received both telepathology services from Thakurgaon Eye Hospital and conventional pathology service experience. The participant's satisfaction with the accessibility and perceptions were statistically compared. In addition, we summarized descriptive statistics using the frequencies and percentages of participants' responses. Statistical Analysis Used: Wilcoxon's Signed-rank test using SPSS statistic software version 25.00. Results: Among the study participants, service cost, travel cost, travel time, waiting time, and travel distance were significantly higher for conventional pathology than telepathology (P < 0.001). The majority of participants (94%) were satisfied with the telepathology experience; however, one out of 117 participants was dissatisfied with this service when their travel distance was far away (≥50 km). Among the participants, 91.5% thought that telepathology service was effective for their treatment, and 98.3% wanted to continue this service in their community. On an average, participants saved 58% (95% CI, 53.4-61.5) of cost using telepathology rather than conventional pathology service. Conclusions: Remote under-resourced communities received professional pathology services with less time-consuming and significantly lower costs using the telepathology approach. Where pathology services are absent/insufficient, telepathology is efficacious for primary diagnosis, screening, and referral through professional pathologists for the satisfactory treatment of unreached communities.