Search Results (330)

Background/Objectives: Periodontitis (P), a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the supportive tissues around the teeth, is three to four times more prevalent in individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM), with a direct correlation between its severity and the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). This study aimed to evaluate the periodontal clinical parameters following non-surgical periodontal treatment (NSPT) in P patients with or without type 2 DM. Methods: Forty patients with P were divided into two groups: Group DM/P and Group P. All the patients were assessed at baseline and at 90 and 180 days after receiving NSPT. The parameters evaluated included the HbA1c level, plaque index (PI), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BoP). A statistical analysis was performed with a significance level set at α = 5%. Results: There were significant differences in the HbA1c levels between the DM/P and P groups at baseline, 90, and 180 days, as expected. Importantly, the HbA1c levels did not change after NSPT. Group P showed a significant reduction in both the PI and the BoP values at 90 and 180 days (p < 0.05). In contrast, Group DM/P demonstrated a significant increase in the percentage of sites with a PPD ≥ 5 mm at 180 days (p < 0.05). Additionally, Group P exhibited an increase in sites with a PPD ≤ 4 mm and a decrease in sites with a PPD ≥ 5 mm at both 90 and 180 days (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that DM may compromise the effectiveness of NSPT, potentially hindering favorable outcomes during the follow-up period. Full article

Background: High-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) is the most lethal of gynecological cancers in developed countries. It usually presents late with non-specific symptoms and most cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, with 5-year overall survival being around 40%. Biomarkers for screening and early diagnosis of this aggressive disease are, thus, a research priority. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) that reflect the cell of origin and that can be isolated from local fluid and plasma by minimally invasive liquid biopsy are such promising biomarkers. Besides EV concentration and molecular profile, which have been the main focus of research for many years, recent studies have also called attention to EV size distribution. The aim of our study was to evaluate the potential of EV concentration and size distribution in local fluid and plasma as diagnostic biomarkers for HGSC. Methods: Paired pretreatment ascites and plasma samples from 37 patients with advanced HGSC and paired pretreatment free peritoneal fluid (FPF) and plasma samples from 40 controls with benign ovarian pathology (BOP) were analyzed using nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Results: We observed a significant difference in EV concentration in local fluid, but not in plasma, between HGSC patients and the control group. We also found a significant difference in EV size distribution in both local fluid and plasma between HGSC patients and the control group. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis of EV characteristics showed excellent diagnostic performance for the mode, D10, and D50 in local fluid and acceptable diagnostic performance for EV concentration and mean EV size in local fluid, as well as for the mode and D10 value in plasma. Conclusions: The results of our study show that EV concentration in local fluid and more importantly EV size distribution in both local fluid and plasma are significantly changed in the presence of HGSC. Future research of size-dependent molecular profiling of EVs could help identify novel diagnostic biomarkers for HGSC. Full article

Background: Periodontal disease is an inflammatory, chronic, and multifactorial disease. The objective of this study is to analyze the association between periodontal disease and some disorders such as papillomas (benign lesions), lichen planus (a chronic immune-mediated disorder), leukoplakia (potentially malignant lesions), and oral cancer (malignant lesions). Methods: For this study, 42 patients were recruited whose supragingival and subgingival plaque was qualitatively analyzed using a phase-contrast microscope, which allowed for the detection of compatible bacterial flora (immobile and composed mainly of cocci) indicative of periodontal health and incompatible bacterial flora (mobile and composed mainly of spirochetes) indicative of periodontal pathology. Patients with incompatible bacterial flora were then subjected to a laser-assisted periodontal treatment with irrigation with hydrogen peroxide within the periodontal pockets (a non-surgical laser-assisted periodontal protocol which is referred to as dye-free photodynamic therapy). Results: Based on the 42 patients recruited, there was no association between oral cavity lesions and periodontal pathogenic bacteria. Four of them were found to have incompatible bacterial flora. Indeed, it was found that almost all the patients had been previously instructed in the proper techniques of home oral hygiene, and more than half of them reported that they carried out periodic check-ups by a dental hygienist. Of the four patients with signs and symptoms of periodontitis, two stated a willingness to undergo the non-surgical laser-assisted periodontal protocol and showed improvements in periodontal indices such as CAL, PPD, and BoP. Conclusions: hygienists and dentists are determining factors in the prevention of periodontal disease and for the maintenance of good oral health. Full article

Hydrogen technologies have the potential to reduce aviation’s CO₂ emissions but come with many challenges. This paper introduces a scalable hydrogen fuel cell model tailored for system integration analysis in early aircraft design phases. The model focuses on Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) and is based on thermodynamic equations and empirical data to simulate performance under different ambient and operating conditions; it also includes a simplified model of the Balance of Plant (BOP) systems and is implemented in OpenModelica. The model performance is validated through a comparison of the simulated polarization curves with real datasheet data. A case study highlights the peculiarities of this model by studying the sizing of the fuel cell stacks for a modified ATR 72 aircraft. The developed model effectively supports the early design exploration of the aircraft with a greater level of detail for system integration studies, essential to better explore the potential of aircraft featuring hydrogen-based power systems. Full article

Reducing marginal bone resorption is a challenge in implant dentistry. Sub-gingival implant placement has been suggested as a suitable strategy to avoid long-term esthetic and biological complications. A total of 38 healthy patients received bone-level (BLG-Control) or 2 mm sub-crestal (SCG-Test) conical connection, platform-switched implants. The test group received an immediate tissue-level abutment, following the one-time abutment (OTA) concept. Marginal bone modification (MBM) was calculated on standardized radiographs at surgery (T0), loading (T1), and 6 (T2) and 12 (T3) months after loading and classified as bone loss (BL) if it occurred below the implant neck and bone remodeling (BR) if above. Pocket-probing depth (PPD), Bleeding on probing (BoP), and Plaque Index (PI) were collected. At 12 months, the mean MBM was 0.61 mm in the test group and 0.52 mm in the control group. In all the cases of the test group (SCG), MBM occurred only above the implant neck, therefore being classified as BR, and no BL was observed. In the control group (BLG), MBM occurred below the implant neck, thus corresponding entirely to BL. The test group had an average PPD of 2.38 mm compared to 3.04 mm in the control group, with BoP at 50% and 43%, and PI at 33% and 19.44%, respectively. At one year after loading, sub-crestal conical connection, platform-switched implants show comparable MBM to bone level implants; however, no bone loss was observed. Full article

The rapid advancement of digital technology has blurred the line between online and brick-and-mortar stores, leading to the proliferation of omnichannel retailing. Two widely adopted strategies are Buy Online and Pick Up in Store (BOPS) and Ship from Store (SFS). This study examines a supply chain where a manufacturer sells national brand products through an e-commerce platform (e-platform) that also offers its own brand products. We analyze the optimal omnichannel strategies for both the e-platform and the manufacturer, considering scenarios of cooperation and brand competition, across four strategy combinations. Our findings highlight that the profits of both the e-platform and manufacturer are primarily influenced by the commission rate, product category valuation and competition intensity. The commission rate plays a pivotal role in shaping the e-platform’s strategy: a low rate leads to direct competition with the manufacturer, while a high rate prioritizes the manufacturer’s products. When the spillover profit is less than the net difference between the customer’s additional benefits and the firm’s additional costs for SFS compared to BOPS, and the commission rate is high, an equilibrium is achieved. Sensitivity analyses reveal that as the product differentiation decrease, the manufacturer’s profits decline, while the e-platform’s profits rise with an increasing commission rate. Full article

Reducing hot cracking is essential for ensuring seamless production of nickel superalloys, which are extensively used in welded structures for aircraft engines. The prevalence of hot cracking in precipitation-strengthened alloy 718 is primarily governed by two factors: firstly, the chemical composition and the coarse microstructure formed during solidification, and secondly, the activation of hot cracking mechanisms, which is particularly critical in mushroom-shaped welding morphologies. In this study, different nickel-based superalloys welded using laser beam welding (LBW), more specifically bead on plate welding (BoP), specimens are compared. The cracking susceptibility of both wrought and two investment casting 718 alloys with tailored chemical compositions is examined through the application of both continuous and pulsed LBW. Additionally, various pre-weld treatments, including with and without Pre-HIP (hot isostatic pressing), are analyzed. The influences of chemical composition, LBW parameters and pre- and post-welding treatments on both internal and external cracks determined by conventional and advanced non-destructive tests are studied. A clear reduction of hot cracking susceptibility and overall welding quality improvement was observed in a tailored 718 alloy with relatively high Ni (55.6% wt) and Co (1.11% wt) contents. Full article

Background: Despite clinical interventional studies on the influence of diet on periodontal inflammatory parameters, there has been no practice-based cross-sectional study from a German population to date that has conducted both a comprehensive dental and periodontal examination and a thorough validated assessment of dietary behavior. Therefore, the aim of this pilot study was to evaluate, in a proof of concept, whether there is a correlation between the overall periodontal inflammatory surface area (PISA), periodontal clinical parameters (pocket probing depths (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), furcation involvement (FI), tooth mobility (TM)), and the dietary behavior of patients with periodontal disease when utilizing a practice-based research network. The primary outcome was the correlation between the periodontal inflammatory surface (PISA) and the dietary assessment data. Materials and Methods: The practice-based research network, consisting of eight Master’s graduates, recruited patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and performed a periodontal examination together with the assessment of dietary behavior using a digital version of the validated retrospective dietary recall (DEGS/RKI). Statistical analyses included linear regression models adjusted for age and smoking and unpaired t-tests, conducted using STATA 17.0 with a significance level of 5%. In addition, the data obtained were classified according to the currently recommended amounts of daily intake. Results: A total of 1283 teeth were analyzed, with 60.25% (773 teeth) requiring treatment. The average PISA was 753.16 mm² (SD ± 535.75 mm). Based on dietary guidelines, the studied population consumed excessive amounts of extrinsic sugars and fats, while their fiber and legume intake was insufficient. The intake of certain nutrients, including water-soluble fibers, specific fatty acids, vitamins (D, B1, B2, B6, and B12), iron, and zinc, was associated with reduced PISA, PPD, CAL, and BOP. Conclusion: Within the limits of the current study, including its cross-sectional design and cohort size, the outcomes demonstrated the influence of nutrition on periodontal health. Full article

Background: Immune cells from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients display a reduced in vitro response to Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), which may have functional immune consequences. The aim of this study was to characterize, by flow cytometry, the frequency/activity of monocytes and naturally occurring myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) in peripheral blood samples from patients with periodontitis and patients with periodontitis and RA. Methods: The relative frequency of monocytes and mDCs in the whole blood, the frequency of these cells producing TNFα or IL-6 and the protein expression levels for each cytokine, before and after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli plus interferon-γ (IFN-γ), were assessed by flow cytometry, in peripheral blood samples from 10 healthy individuals (HEALTHY), 10 patients with periodontitis (PERIO) and 17 patients with periodontitis and RA (PERIO+RA). Results: The frequency of monocytes and mDCs producing IL-6 or TNF-α and the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in the PERIO group were generally higher. Within the PERIO+RA group, P. gingivalis and related antibodies were negatively correlated with the monocyte and mDC expression of IL-6. A subgroup of the PERIO+RA patients that displayed statistically significantly lower frequencies of monocytes producing IL-6 after activation presented statistically significantly higher peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD)2/4 activity, anti-arg-gingipain (RgpB) IgG levels, mean probing depth (PD), periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) and bleeding on probing (BoP). Conclusions: In the patients with PERIO+RA, innate immune cells seemed to produce lower amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are correlated with worse periodontitis-related clinical and microbiological parameters. Full article

In recent years, fusion energy has assumed an important role in the energy scenario, being a sustainable, environmentally friendly, and practically inexhaustible energy source. Fusion energy could play a crucial role in fully decarbonized electricity production in the second half of this century, helping to meet the increasing energy demand. One of the studied reactors is ARC, a tokamak fusion device characterized by a compact and high-field design initially conceived by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which the Commonwealth Fusion System (CFS) plans to construct in the next decade. This paper is focused on the analysis and development of different configurations for the ARC Balance of Plant Power Conversion System, with the aim of improving the thermodynamic efficiency, which is one of the pillars of sustainability. Three cycles were studied by using the General Electric GateCycle^TM software: a supercritical steam Rankine cycle, a supercritical CO₂ Brayton cycle, and a supercritical helium Brayton cycle. The thermal efficiency of the three options was compared to select the most promising solution. The results showed that the supercritical steam cycle is the best configuration in terms of cycle efficiency for the ARC FNSF Pilot phase. Full article

Background/Objectives: Alveolar bone augmentation before implant placement is a safe and effective treatment option for the reconstruction of a deficient alveolar ridge. According to recent research, permanent teeth have been used as bone graft materials, with studies confirming their clinical and histological results. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of alveolar ridge augmentation with autogenous tooth roots and staged implant placement, and peri-implant tissue stability in augmented sites. Methods: A total of 20 augmentations with autogenous tooth roots on mandibular alveolar ridges in 15 patients were performed. After 6 months, the ridge width (RWa) and ridge width gain (RWg) were measured. Titanium dental implants were placed in grafted sites and loaded 10 weeks after placement. Clinical parameters (bleeding on probing—BOP; probing depth—PD; mucosal recession—MR; and clinical attachment level—CAL) were assessed 2 months (T1), 3 years (T2), and 5 years (T3) after implant loading. Results: The mean RWa was 6.71 ± 0.74 mm, and the RWg was 3.15 ± 0.54 mm, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed for clinical parameters (BOP, PD, MR, and CAL) among different time points (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Autogenous tooth roots represent a viable solution for alveolar ridge augmentation and implant placement, providing a stable environment for peri implant tissues. Full article

Background: Periodontal tissue damage is mainly caused by the active form of collagenolytic matrix metalloproteinase-8, aMMP-8, the concentration of which in the mouth rinse can be measured with a mouth rinse chairside-test. The mouth rinse chair side test can be used to identify adolescents with a risk of periodontitis. Methods: The data were collected at the Kotka Health Centre (2004–2005, N = 501 and 2014–2015, N = 47) and at the Hämeenlinna Health Centre (2017–2018, N = 125) consisting of adolescents aged 14–17. They underwent a complete periodontal examination, and some were subjected to the aMMP-8-test. Results: We identified bacterial plaques in combination with increased bleeding on probing (BOP), elevated aMMP-8 concentration, smoking and male sex as the main risk factors for initial periodontitis. Approximately 10% of adolescents had subclinical periodontitis, they were not periodontally healthy, but also not sick. They may not develop periodontitis, but they are at the risk. The aMMP-8 test positivity had a stronger association with initial periodontitis than BOP. Conclusions: In addition to identifying risk factors, these adolescents need individual prevention and, if necessary, early treatment. For the periodontal health biomarker aMMP-8, test negativity ([-], ≤20 ng/mL) should be sought. Full article

The pollen wall protects pollen during dispersal and is critical for pollination recognition. In the Poaceae family, the pollen exine stereostructure exhibits a high degree of conservation with similar patterns across species. However, there remains controversy regarding the conservation of key factors involved in its formation among various Poaceae species. EPAD1, as a gene specific to the Poaceae family, and its orthologous genes play a conserved role in pollen wall formation in wheat and rice. However, they do not appear to have significant functions in maize. To further confirm the conserved function of EPAD1 in Poaceae, we performed an analysis on four EPAD1 orthologs from two distinct sub-clades within the Poaceae family. The two functional redundant barley EPAD1 genes (HvEPAD1 and HvEPAD2) from the BOP clade, along with the single copy of sorghum (SbEPAD1) and millet (SiEPAD1) from the PACMAD clade were examined. The CRISPR-Cas9-generated mutants all exhibited defects in pollen wall formation, consistent with previous findings on EPAD1 in rice and wheat. Interestingly, in barley, hvepad2 single mutant also showed apical spikelets abortion, aligning with a decreased expression level of HvEPAD1 and HvEPAD2 from the apical to the bottom of the spike. Our finding provides evidence that EPAD1 orthologs contribute to Poaceae specific pollen exine pattern formation via maintaining primexine integrity despite potential variations in copy numbers across different species. Full article

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) commonly colonize the gut of individuals with hematologic malignancies or undergoing hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) and may cause bacteremia. In 2012, we identified VRE isolates from patients and patients’ rooms and showed transmission networks of highly genetically related daptomycin-resistant (DR)-VRE strains. This is a follow-up study performing whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and phylogenetic analyses on 82 clinical VRE strains isolated from stools and blood cultures of patients with leukemia and HCT between 2015 and 2019. Here, we observed transmission of highly genetically related strains between rooms on the same or on different floors, including a DR-VRE strain identified in 2012. Eleven of twenty-eight patients with DR-VRE were never exposed to daptomycin, suggesting horizontal transmission. Fifteen of the twenty-eight patients with DR-VRE died within 30 days of positive blood cultures. Amongst those, one DR-VRE strain belonging to ST1471 had the virulence gene bopD responsible for biofilm formation. Additionally, to our knowledge, this is the first report of a DR-VRE strain belonging to ST323 in the United States. In summary, our study demonstrated the emergence and persistence of VRE strains, especially DR-VRE, in our hospital. Adding WGS to routine infection control measures may timely identify potential horizontal VRE transmission including multi-drug-resistant isolates. Full article

Background: Periodontitis and diabetes mellitus (DM) exhibit a bidirectional relationship and are globally significant systemic chronic conditions. The utilization of antibiotics alongside non-surgical periodontal treatment (NSPT) has been a subject of investigation in numerous clinical studies involving human subjects. Thus, the objective of this systematic review is to address the following question: “What is the efficacy of scaling and root planing (SRP) associated with antimicrobials in patients with type 2 DM and periodontitis?”. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted encompassing databases such as MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to July 2024. Additionally, alerts were configured to capture studies published from the initial search until manuscript submission. Randomized clinical trials assessing clinical periodontal parameters in DM patients undergoing SRP and receiving either topical or systemic antibiotics were compared against a control group (SRP only). Two investigators independently screened articles, extracted data, and evaluated their quality. The selection process, study characteristics, risk of bias, impact of antibiotics on clinical parameters, and certainty of evidence were elucidated in both textual and tabular formats. Meta-analysis was performed separately with forest plots generated for treatment modalities, period of evaluation, and type of antibiotics used. Results: Following the analysis of abstracts and full articles, a total of 30 randomized clinical trials were incorporated into this review, comprising 9 studies on the association of topical antibiotics and 21 studies on systemic antibiotic administration. The principal periodontal parameters assessed included probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque index (PI), and bleeding on probing (BoP). Conclusions: Analysis of the results led to the conclusion that adjunctive periodontal treatment with either topical or systemic antibiotics confers subtle clinical benefits. Nevertheless, owing to the heightened emergence of resistant bacteria and potential side effects, the use of antibiotic therapy in periodontal treatment should be judiciously administered. Full article