Frequently used extraoral maxillofacial prosthetic materials and their longevity - A comprehensive review.

The longevity of an extraoral prosthesis depends on its physical and mechanical properties and user maintenance. Faced with multiple outcome measures, researchers find it difficult to determine the most appropriate extraoral prosthetic material. This comprehensive review evaluates the most used extraoral prosthesis materials and qualitatively assesses their longevity and function. The study aims to identify and interpret the results of current updates on the factors that affect longevity and functionality. This comprehensive review summarizes and evaluates differences in the properties of commonly used extraoral maxillofacial prosthetic materials. The review was planned to focus on all factors related to the longevity and function of the extraoral maxillofacial prosthetics. An electronic search covered English articles in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and grey literature. Manual searching was also performed. Six authors participated in the screening. Search engines extracted 1107 records, and 88 studies were included for qualitative and bias assessments. Silicones are the most frequently used extraoral maxillofacial prosthetic materials. Heat-cured silicones are more color-stable than those cured at room temperature. Additional ingredients and processing techniques affect prosthesis longevity.

A Comparative Evaluation of the Cleaning Efficacy of Five Different Root Canal Irrigation Devices: A Histological Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study is aimed to evaluate the cleaning efficacy of five different irrigation systems as SonicMax, RinsEndo, EndoVac, passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), and manual needle irrigation (MNI) to histologically evaluate the presence of organic structures and the penetration of irrigation solution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two single-rooted, extracted human mandibular premolars were used in the study. Each tooth was decoronated at the cementoenamel junction and the root canals were instrumented using ProTaper rotary instruments in a crown-down manner. The specimens were randomly divided into five experimental groups (n = 7) Group (1) SonicMax, group (2) RinsEndo,group (3) EndoVac, group (4) PUI, group (5) MNI, and the control groups (n = 7). Each system used 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 17% ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), and 2.5% NaOCl, respectively, in the experimental groups. The control group did not receive any final irrigation.The measurements were analyzed by employing two-way analysis of variance multivariate results to show significant differences between the length of the dentin tubules in the apical, middle, and coronal of the six groups. The post-hoc test was used when groups were compared by pairs. RESULTS: The results of this study indicate that among the five groups, the RinsEndo and EndoVac were found to be most effective in the cleaning of root canals. The RinsEndo shows highly significant results in the cleaning efficiency of the coronal and middle parts compared with the other groups. The cleaning efficiency in the apical area was the same for RinsEndo and EndoVac. CONCLUSION: The result of our study indicates that RinsEndo and EndoVac may be more effective in clinical practice.

Esthetic Rehabilitation of Pediatric Patients Using Direct Bonding Technique-A Case Series Report.

Pediatric esthetic dentistry is a sensitive technique, as children can be less cooperative; hence, minimal appointments are preferred. The most conservative treatment modality for anterior esthetic rehabilitation is using direct composite veneer restorations. In many instances, esthetic improvements using composite resin are the only possible option until the growth phase of the pediatric patient is complete. In this article, we present three different case scenarios in young teenagers with different treatment needs requiring esthetic restorations. The first case report is a patient with amelogenesis imperfecta, the second is with generalized spacing, and the third is with localized microdontia. All three patients were followed up for six months post direct composite veneering and were highly satisfied with their treatment outcomes, which boosted their self-confidence.

Direct Measurement of Resonances in

We have performed the first direct measurement of two resonances of the ^{7}Be(α,γ)^{11}C reaction with unknown strengths using an intense radioactive ^{7}Be beam and the DRAGON recoil separator. We report on the first measurement of the 1155 and 1110 keV resonance strengths of 1.73±0.25(stat)±0.40(syst) eV and 125_{-25}^{+27}(stat)±15(syst) meV, respectively. The present results have reduced the uncertainty in the ^{7}Be(α,γ)^{11}C reaction rate to ∼9.4%-10.7% over T=1.5-3 GK, which is relevant for nucleosynthesis in the neutrino-driven outflows of core-collapse supernovae (νp process). We find no effect of the new, constrained reaction rate on νp-process nucleosynthesis.

Students Perception toward Effectiveness of Online Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic among University Dental Students in India and United Arab Emirates: A Multi Centric Study.

Objectives: The rationale of this study was to compare the efficiency of online learning and the differences in outcome between the two universities in India and United Arab Emirates (UAE). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a validated questionnaire among dental students of a dental college in India and a dental college in the UAE. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 22, and comparison was done using the Chi-square test, ANOVA, correlation, and regression analysis. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: A total of 491 students responded to the questionnaire, of which 314 were from India and 177 from UAE. The awareness of online learning among students had increased after COVID-19, and Zoom was the most common platform (30.9%). The satisfaction ratio was 78.4%, and smartphones were commonly used by students. Based on the satisfaction of online learning, study participants from UAE had a higher mean attitude score (2.72 ± 0.98) as compared to Indian students (2.47 ± 0.77) (P < 0.027*). Conclusion: The study results show that online learning was comparable to traditional method of learning. Although poor network connectivity was a deterrent for online learning among students from India and UAE, future teaching methods could inculcate online teaching methods and hence encourage blended learning as part of the teaching curriculum.

Thymoquinone Alterations of the Apoptotic Gene Expressions and Cell Cycle Arrest in Genetically Distinct Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women worldwide, and it is one of the leading causes of cancer death in women. triple-negative breast Cancer (TNBC), a subtype of BC, is typically associated with the highest pathogenic grade and incidence in premenopausal and young African American (AA) women. Chemotherapy, the most common treatment for TNBC today, can lead to acquired resistance and ineffective treatment. Therefore, novel therapeutic approaches are needed to combat medication resistance and ineffectiveness in TNBC patients. Thymoquinone (TQ) is shown to have a cytotoxic effect on human cancer cells in vitro. However, TQ's mode of action and precise mechanism in TNBC disease in vitro have not been adequately investigated. Therefore, TQ's effects on the genetically different MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines were assessed. The data obtained show that TQ displayed cytotoxic effects on MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner after 24 h, with IC50 values of 25.37 µM and 27.39 µM, respectively. Moreover, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells in a scratched wound-healing assay displayed poor wound closure, inhibiting invasion and migration via cell cycle blocking after 24 h. TQ arrested the cell cycle phase in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells. The three cell cycle stages in MDA-MB-468 cells were significantly affected at 15 and 20 µM for G0/G1 and S phases, as well as all TQ concentrations for G2/M phases. In MDA-MB-468 cells, there was a significant decrease in G0/G1 phases with a substantial increase in the S phase and G2/M phases. In contrast, MDA-MB-231 showed a significant effect only during the two cell cycle stages (S and G2/M), at concentrations of 15 and 20 µM for S phases and all TQ values for G2/M phases. The TQ effect on the apoptotic gene profiles indicated that TQ upregulated 15 apoptotic genes in MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells, including caspases, GADD45A, TP53, DFFA, DIABLO, BNIP3, TRAF2/3, and TNFRSF10A. In MDA-MB-468 cells, 16 apoptotic genes were upregulated, including TNFRSF10A, TNF, TNFRSF11B, FADD TNFRSF10B, CASP2, and TRAF2, all of which are important for the apoptotic pathway andsuppress the expression of one anti-apoptotic gene, BIRC5, in MDA-MB-231 cells. Compared to MDA-MB-231 cells, elevated levels of TNF and their receptor proteins may contribute to their increased sensitivity to TQ-induced apoptosis. It was concluded from this study that TQ targets the MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells differently. Additionally, due to the aggressive nature of TNBC and the lack of specific therapies in chemoresistant TNBC, our findings related to the identified apoptotic gene profile may point to TQ as a potential agent for TNBC therapy.

The retrieval of a surgical blade broken within the alveolar bone during minimally traumatic tooth extraction.

Minimally traumatic tooth removal is the norm for removing teeth when a dental implant is planned at that site. The quantity of available bone is the primary requisite to place an implant. The initial use of a scalpel blade to widen the periodontal space followed by the use of luxators is one of the techniques that is being followed for atraumatic extraction. A case of accidental breakage of a number 11 scalpel blade while attempting tooth removal and the method adopted in removing this portion of the blade without further bone destruction is reported here. The authors have not found any previously published cases, reporting the breakage of a scalpel blade during the bone expansion procedure and its management.

Genetic Control of Plasticity in Root Morphology and Anatomy of Rice in Response to Water Deficit.

Elucidating the genetic control of rooting behavior under water-deficit stress is essential to breed climate-robust rice (Oryza sativa) cultivars. Using a diverse panel of 274 indica genotypes grown under control and water-deficit conditions during vegetative growth, we phenotyped 35 traits, mostly related to root morphology and anatomy, involving 45,000 root-scanning images and nearly 25,000 cross sections from the root-shoot junction. The phenotypic plasticity of these traits was quantified as the relative change in trait value under water-deficit compared with control conditions. We then carried out a genome-wide association analysis on these traits and their plasticity, using 45,608 high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms. One hundred four significant loci were detected for these traits under control conditions, 106 were detected under water-deficit stress, and 76 were detected for trait plasticity. We predicted 296 (control), 284 (water-deficit stress), and 233 (plasticity) a priori candidate genes within linkage disequilibrium blocks for these loci. We identified key a priori candidate genes regulating root growth and development and relevant alleles that, upon validation, can help improve rice adaptation to water-deficit stress.

Genome-Wide Transcriptome Analysis During Anthesis Reveals New Insights into the Molecular Basis of Heat Stress Responses in Tolerant and Sensitive Rice Varieties.

Rice is one of the main food crops in the world. In the near future, yield is expected to be under pressure due to unfavorable climatic conditions, such as increasing temperatures. Therefore, improving rice germplasm in order to guarantee rice production under harsh environmental conditions is of top priority. Although many physiological studies have contributed to understanding heat responses during anthesis, the most heat-sensitive stage, molecular data are still largely lacking. In this study, an RNA-sequencing approach of heat- and control-treated reproductive tissues during anthesis was carried out using N22, one of the most heat-tolerant rice cultivars known to date. This analysis revealed that expression of genes encoding a number of transcription factor families, together with signal transduction and metabolic pathway genes, is repressed. On the other hand, expression of genes encoding heat shock factors and heat shock proteins was highly activated. Many of these genes are predominantly expressed at late stages of anther development. Further physiological experiments using heat-tolerant N22 and two sensitive cultivars suggest that reduced yield in heat-sensitive plants may be associated with poor pollen development or production in anthers prior to anthesis. In parallel, induction levels of a set of heat-responsive genes in these tissues correlated well with heat tolerance. Altogether, these findings suggest that proper expression of protective chaperones in anthers is needed before anthesis to overcome stress damage and to ensure fertilization. Genes putatively controlling this process were identified and are valuable candidates to consider for molecular breeding of highly productive heat-tolerant cultivars.

Metabolic and transcriptomic signatures of rice floral organs reveal sugar starvation as a factor in reproductive failure under heat and drought stress.

Heat and drought stress are projected to become major challenges to sustain rice (Oryza sativa L.) yields with global climate change. Both stresses lead to yield losses when they coincide with flowering. A significant knowledge gap exists in the mechanistic understanding of the responses of rice floral organs that determine reproductive success under stress. Our work connects the metabolomic and transcriptomic changes in anthers, pistils before pollination and pollinated pistils in a heat-tolerant (N22) and a heat-sensitive (Moroberekan) cultivar. Systematic analysis of the floral organs revealed contrasts in metabolic profiles across anthers and pistils. Constitutive metabolic markers were identified that can define reproductive success in rice under stress. Six out of nine candidate metabolites identified by intersection analysis of stressed anthers were differentially accumulated in N22 compared with Moroberekan under non-stress conditions. Sugar metabolism was identified to be the crucial metabolic and transcriptional component that differentiated floral organ tolerance or susceptibility to stress. While susceptible Moroberekan specifically showed high expression of the Carbon Starved Anthers (CSA) gene under combined heat and drought, tolerant N22 responded with high expression of genes encoding a sugar transporter (MST8) and a cell wall invertase (INV4) as markers of high sink strength.

Physiological and biochemical characterization of NERICA-L-44: a novel source of heat tolerance at the vegetative and reproductive stages in rice.

The predicted increase in the frequency and magnitude of extreme heat spikes under future climate can reduce rice yields significantly. Rice sensitivity to high temperatures during the reproductive stage is well documented while the same during the vegetative stage is more speculative. Hence, to identify and characterize novel heat-tolerant donors for both the vegetative and reproductive stages, 71 rice accessions, including approximately 75% New Rice for Africa (NERICAs), were phenotyped across field experiments during summer seasons in Delhi, India, and in a controlled environment study at International Rice Research Institute, Philippines. NERICA-L-44 (NL-44) recorded high seedling survival (52%) and superior growth and greater reproductive success exposed to 42.2°C (sd ± 2.3) under field conditions. NL-44 and the heat-tolerant check N22 consistently displayed lower membrane damage and higher antioxidant enzymes activity across leaves and spikelets. NL-44 recorded 50-60% spikelet fertility, while N22 recorded 67-79% under controlled environment temperature of 38°C (sd±1.17), although both had about 87% fertility under extremely hot field conditions. N22 and NL-44, exposed to heat stress (38°C), had similar pollen germination percent and number of pollen tubes reaching the ovary. NL-44 maintained low hydrogen peroxide production and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) with high photosynthesis while N22 avoided photosystem II damage through high NPQ under high-temperature stress. NL-44 with its reproductive stage resilience to extreme heat stress, better antioxidant scavenging ability in both vegetative tissue and spikelets and superior yield and grain quality is identified as a novel donor for increasing heat tolerance at both the vegetative and reproductive stages in rice.

Implant retained auricular prosthesis with a modified hader bar: a case report.

Auricular prostheses for defects of external ear are retained either by mechanical means or implants. All implant retained prostheses are retained by various means such as bar and clip, magnetic attachments or a combination of bar, clip and magnets. The commonest problem encountered with the bar and clip system is loosening of the clip after 3-4 months. When magnets are used as retaining component they tend to corrode over a period of time. So various alternative retention methods which possess good retentive qualities, ease of reparability and patient friendly were tried. In the present case a newly modified Hader bar design which can act as an additional retentive feature apart from the clip is employed to increase retention. The major advantages in the modified Hader bar system were that only two implants were employed, the additional loops in the Hader bar prevented micro movements and the retentive acrylic locks were easy to repair if broken. The modified Hader bar has anti-rotational slots which prevents the sliding or rotation of the prosthesis which gave new confidence to the patient who was otherwise worried of inadvertent displacement of the ear prosthesis while playing.

Oral rehabilitation of a young patient with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia: A clinical report.

Ectodermal dysplasia (ED) represents a group of patients with mild to severe congenital and developmental anomalies. Dentists are the first person to identify ED in young patients. The impairment is not just the form and function but extends to the social outlook as well as the psychology of the affected individual. This case report describes management of ED with a long-span fixed partial denture fabricated using a Broadrick flag.

Advancing the scope of nursing practice: hepatic arterial catheter removal.

A delay in hepatic artery infusion catheter removal may prolong patient discomfort and lead to additional complications. As a result, this article evaluated the effectiveness of shifting the responsibility of catheter removal from advanced practice or medical staff to nurses. Overall, patients were satisfied, felt comfortable, and experienced minimal pain irrespective of whether their catheter was removed by a nurse, physician, or advanced practice staff. Nurses also were satisfied and felt they had enhanced their ability to provide quality patient care.

Relationship between fatigue and quality of life in patients with glioblastoma multiformae.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate changes in fatigue at the time of diagnosis (Time 1) and two weeks after the completion of radiation therapy (Time 2) and to determine the relationship between fatigue and quality of life (QOL) at each time interval in patients with glioblastoma multiformae (GBM). DESIGN: Descriptive study to evaluate fatigue and QOL. SETTING: Neuro-oncology clinic for accrual. Clinic, home, or office for patients interviews. SAMPLE: 60 adult patients diagnosed with GBM who received radiation therapy. METHODS: Participants completed a demographic data sheet, the Profile of Mood States, and the Multidimensional Quality of Life Scale-Cancer Version 2 at both time points. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Fatigue and QOL. FINDINGS: Fatigue significantly increased from Time 1 to Time 2 (t = -2.69, p = 0.009). Increases in fatigue were associated with significant decreases in QOL at Time 1 (r = -0.57) and Time 2 (r = -0.60). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with GBM experience increases in fatigue after radiation therapy. Increases in fatigue are associated with decreases in almost all aspects of patients' QOL. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses must provide patients with information about the occurrence of fatigue during radiation therapy and recommend interventions to deal with this devastating symptom.

Quality of life of brain tumor patients.

OBJECTIVES: To provide a review of the quality of life (QOL) and to delineate nursing implications to increase QOL in brain tumor patients. DATA SOURCES: Review articles and research studies pertaining to quality of life and brain tumor patients. CONCLUSIONS: In general, patients maintain a high physical functional level for a majority of time during their illness. The main problems include memory loss, fatigue, and loss of concentration. QOL is decreased with several debilitating symptoms relating to the tumor or recurrent disease, and increased when being actively treated or in remission. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses must be able to listen carefully to patients with brain tumors and take action when symptoms arise. By assisting the patients to decrease the symptoms and to access support services, QOL is increased.

Reducing nursing home use through community long-term care: an optimization analysis.

Can community services be made more effective in reducing nursing home use through better management of their mix and allocation? To test this idea, we used data from the National Long-Term Care Channeling Demonstration to estimate logistic regression models relating the use of various types of community services to nursing home use. We then used these estimates to form an objective function for a mathematical optimization procedure which minimizes total expected population nursing home use as a function of community service use, subject to a total expenditure constraint. We find through this simulated reallocation that, in theory, significant reductions in nursing home use can be produced without increasing total community expenditures.

The cost-effectiveness of community services in a frail elderly population.

We use an integrated model incorporating simple principles of decision analysis and marginal cost analysis to discuss cost-effectiveness of community long-term care services as a substitute for nursing home care. By taking individuals as the unit of analysis and analyzing different types of community services separately, the model defines the targeting issue precisely and permits key policy parameters to be estimated empirically. When applied to data from the National Long Term Care Channeling Demonstration, 41% of those screened into the control group were found to have some potential for net long-term care cost reduction through program services.