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This study utilizes high-resolution sea surface temperature (SST) reanalysis data (0.25° × 0.25°) to investigate the relationship between SST anomalies in the South China Sea and ENSO events. The main findings are as follows: First, there is a delayed correlation between ENSO and SST anomalies in the South China Sea, with the correlation being stronger during El Niño years than during La Niña years. Second, the correlation with the peak values of the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) is strongest for El Niño events with a 9-month lead, while for La Niña events, it is strongest with a 2-month lead. Seasonally, during El Niño events, the strongest correlations are observed in summer with a 3-month lead and in winter with a 1-month lag. For La Niña events, the strongest correlations are seen in summer with an 8-month lag and in winter with a 9-month lag. Finally, an analysis of atmospheric anomalies and shear kinetic energy anomalies relative to SST anomalies reveals a significant seasonal SST response, particularly during the summer of El Niño years and the winter of La Niña years. Overall, these results enhance our understanding of ENSO’s influence on the South China Sea and provide valuable insights for climate prediction and ecosystem protection in the region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Physical Oceanography)

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16 pages, 386 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association Between Sociodemographic Variables, Healthy Habits, and Stress with Risk Scales for Liver Disease Associated with Metabolic Dysfunction

by Ángel Arturo López-González, Emilio Martínez-Almoyna Rifá, Hernán Paublini Oliveira, Cristina Martorell Sánchez, Pedro Juan Tárraga López and José Ignacio Ramírez-Manent

Life 2025, 15(1), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15010116 - 16 Jan 2025

Abstract

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, with a multifactorial etiology. This study aims to evaluate the associations between various sociodemographic variables, healthy habits, and stress with risk scale values for MAFLD. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 16,708 Spanish workers to assess how sociodemographic variables (age, gender, and socioeconomic status), healthy habits (smoking, Mediterranean diet adherence, and physical activity), and stress correlate with values from three MAFLD risk scales: fatty liver index (FLI), hepatic steatosis index (HSI), and lipid accumulation product (LAP). Results: All analyzed variables were associated with the values of the three MAFLD risk scales. Among them, the variables showing the strongest associations (represented by odds ratio values) were age and physical activity. Conclusions: The profile of an individual at higher risk of elevated MAFLD risk scale values is a male, aged 50 or older, belonging to lower socioeconomic levels (manual laborers), a smoker, sedentary, with low adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and with high stress scale scores. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Health: The Interplay between NAFLD, MAFLD, MASLD and Cardiovascular Disease)

16 pages, 2749 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Data Checking of Asymmetric Catalysis Literature Using a Graph Neural Network Approach

by Eduardo Aguilar-Bejarano, Viraj Deorukhkar and Simon Woodward

Molecules 2025, 30(2), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30020355 - 16 Jan 2025

Abstract

The range of chemical databases available has dramatically increased in recent years, but the reliability and quality of their data are often negatively affected by human-error fidelity. The size of chemical databases can make manual data curation/checking of such sets time consuming; thus, automated tools to help this process are highly desirable. Herein, we propose the use of Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) to identifying potential stereochemical misassignments in the primary asymmetric catalysis literature. Our method relies on the use of an ensemble of GNN models to predict the expected stereoselectivity of exemplars for a particular asymmetric reaction. When the majority of these models do not correlate to the reported outcome, the point is labeled as a possible stereochemical misassignment. Such identified cases are few in number and more easily investigated for their cause. We demonstrate the use of this approach to spot potential literature stereochemical misassignments in the ketone products resulting from catalytic asymmetric 1,4-addition of organoboron nucleophiles to Michael acceptors in two different databases, each one using a different family of chiral ligands (bisphosphine and diene ligands). Our results demonstrate that this methodology is useful for curation of medium-sized databases, speeding this process significantly compared to complete manual curation/checking. In the datasets investigated, human expert checking was reduced to 2.2% and 3.5% of the total data exemplars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Transition Metal Catalysis, 2nd Edition)

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Graphical abstract

20 pages, 7488 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards the Measurement of Sea-Ice Thickness Using a Time-Domain Inductive Measurement System

by Danny Hills, Becan Lawless, Rauan Khangerey, Jeremy Wilkinson and Liam A. Marsh

Sensors 2025, 25(2), 510; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25020510 - 16 Jan 2025

Abstract

Frequency-domain electromagnetic induction (EMI) is routinely used to detect the presence of seawater due to the inherent electrical conductivity of the seawater. This approach is used to infer sea-ice thickness (SIT). A time-domain EMI sensor is presented, which demonstrates the potential for correlating the spectroscopic properties of the received signal with the distance to the sea surface. This is a novel approach to SIT measurement, which differs from existing methods in that it uses measurements from 10 kHz to 93 kHz rather than a single frequency. The sensor was tested at a tidal pool containing seawater and measured to have a conductivity of 57.3 mS/cm. Measurements were performed at a range of heights between 0.2 m and 1.9 m above the sea surface and for inclinations from 0

^{\circ}

to 45

^{\circ}

. These measurements were correlated with Finite Element Modeling (FEM) simulations performed in COMSOL. The measured and simulated datasets are presented along with a proposed form of post-processing, which establishes a correlation between the distance to the sea surface and the measured EMI response. This forms a proxy measurement for the absolute distance from the EMI sensor to the sea surface. Because the air gap between the sensor and the seawater is indicative of the properties of sea ice, this study demonstrates a novel approach to non-destructive measurement of sea-ice thickness. The measurements show that this distance to the sea surface can be estimated to within approximately 10% of the known value from 0.2–1.5 m and 15% from 1.5 to 1.9 m. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensor Technologies for Ocean Environments: Impact Assessment, Monitoring and Protection)

20 pages, 34227 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Atmospheric Chemical Potential Anomalies Associated with Major Seismic Events (Ms ≥ 7) in Western China: A Multi-Case Study

by Qijun Jiao, Qinqin Liu, Changgui Lin, Feng Jing, Jiajun Li, Yuxiang Tian, Zhenxia Zhang and Xuhui Shen

Remote Sens. 2025, 17(2), 311; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17020311 - 16 Jan 2025

Abstract

Focusing on major earthquakes (EQs; MS ≥ 7) in Western China, this study primarily analyzes the fluctuation in Atmospheric Chemical Potential (ACP) before and after the Wenchuan, Yushu, Lushan, Jiuzhaigou, and Maduo EQs via Climatological Analysis of Seismic Precursors Identification (CAPRI). The distribution of vertical ACP revealed distinct altitude-dependent characteristics. The ACP at lower atmospheric layers (100–2000 m) exhibited a high correlation, and this correlation decreased with increasing altitude. Anomalies were detected within one month prior to each of the five EQs studied, with the majority occurring 14 to 30 days before the events, followed by a few additional anomalies. The spatial distribution of anomalies is consistent with the distribution of fault zones, with noticeable fluctuation in surrounding areas. The ACP at an altitude of 200 m gave a balance between sensitivity to seismic signals and minimal surface interference and proved to be optimal for EQ monitoring in Western China. The results offer a significant reference for remote sensing studies related to EQ monitoring and the Lithosphere–Atmosphere–Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) model, thereby advancing our understanding of pre-seismic atmospheric variations in Western China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing Monitoring for Earthquakes, Tectonics and Seismic Hazards)

17 pages, 2154 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Investigation of Heat Transfer and Flow Dynamics in Tubes with DNA-Inspired Slotted Inserts

by Penglong Zhu, Guoxiu Sun, Ruimeng Liu, Sicong Zhou, Baisong Hu and Shaofeng Zhang

Energies 2025, 18(2), 376; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18020376 - 16 Jan 2025

Abstract

Within the realm of industrial energy conservation, the optimization of heat exchanger performance is paramount for the augmentation of energy utilization efficiency. This investigation employs computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to elucidate the effects of an innovative DNA-Inspired Slotted Insert (DSI) on the convective heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics within heat exchange tubes. The study provides a thorough analysis of fully turbulent flow (Re = 6600−17,200), examining the effects of various DSI pitches, key lengths, and geometries. The findings reveal that the DSI instigates a three-dimensional spiral flow pattern, which is accompanied by an escalation in the Nusselt number (Nu) and friction factor (f) with increasing Reynolds numbers. An inverse relationship between Nu and both pitch and key length is observed; conversely, f exhibits a direct correlation with these parameters. The study identifies an optimal configuration characterized by a pitch of 10 mm and a key length of 1.5 mm, with square keys demonstrating superior heat transfer performance relative to other geometrical configurations. This research contributes significant design and application insights for double-helical inserts, which are pivotal for the enhancement of heat exchanger efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section J1: Heat and Mass Transfer)

17 pages, 4616 KiB

Open AccessArticle

All-Metal Metamaterial-Based Sensor with Novel Geometry and Enhanced Sensing Capability at Terahertz Frequency

by Sagnik Banerjee, Ishani Ghosh, Carlo Santini, Fabio Mangini, Rocco Citroni and Fabrizio Frezza

Sensors 2025, 25(2), 507; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25020507 - 16 Jan 2025

Abstract

This research proposes an all-metal metamaterial-based absorber with a novel geometry capable of refractive index sensing in the terahertz (THz) range. The structure consists of four concentric diamond-shaped gold resonators on the top of a gold metal plate; the resonators increase in height by 2 µm moving from the outer to the inner resonators, making the design distinctive. This novel configuration has played a very significant role in achieving multiple ultra-narrow resonant absorption peaks that produce very high sensitivity when employed as a refractive index sensor. Numerical simulations demonstrate that it can achieve six significant ultra-narrow absorption peaks within the frequency range of 5 to 8 THz. The sensor has a maximum absorptivity of 99.98% at 6.97 THz. The proposed absorber also produces very high-quality factors at each resonance. The average sensitivity is 7.57/Refractive Index Unit (THz/RIU), which is significantly high when compared to the current state of the art. This high sensitivity is instrumental in detecting smaller traces of samples that have very correlated refractive indices, like several harmful gases. Hence, the proposed metamaterial-based sensor can be used as a potential gas detector at terahertz frequency. Furthermore, the structure proves to be polarization-insensitive and produces a stable absorption response when the angle of incidence is increased up to 60°. At terahertz wavelength, the proposed design can be used for any value of the aforementioned angles, targeting THz spectroscopy-based biomolecular fingerprint detection and energy harvesting applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in THz Sensing and Imaging)

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14 pages, 612 KiB

Open AccessArticle

DNA Methyltransferase Expression (DNMT1, DNMT3a, and DNMT3b) as a Potential Biomarker in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

by Pedro Camacho, Edna Ribeiro, Bruno Pereira, João Nascimento, Paulo Caldeira Rosa, José Henriques, Sandra Barrão, Silvia Sadio, Bruno Quendera, Mariana Delgadinho, Catarina Ginete, Carina Silva and Miguel Brito

J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(2), 559; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14020559 - 16 Jan 2025

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a global cause of vision loss, with limited therapeutic options highlighting the need for effective biomarkers. This study aimed to characterize plasma DNA methyltransferase expression (DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B) in AMD patients and explore divergent expression patterns across different stages of AMD. Methods: Thirty-eight AMD patients were prospectively enrolled and stratified by disease severity: eAMD, iAMD, nAMD, and aAMD. Comprehensive ophthalmological assessments were performed, including best-corrected visual acuity, digital color fundus photographs, and Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography. Peripheral blood samples were collected for RNA extraction and qRT-PCR to access epigenetic effectors’ transcriptional expression, namely DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B genes. The collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 29. Results: DNMT1 expression was significantly downregulated in late AMD (−0.186 ± 0.341) compared to early/intermediate AMD (0.026 ± 0.246). Within late AMD, aAMD exhibited a marked downregulation of DNMT1 (−0.375 ± 0.047) compared to nAMD (0.129 ± 0.392). DNMT3A and DNMT3B showed similar divergent expression patterns, correlating with disease stage. Conclusions: This study identified stage-specific transcriptional differences in DNMT expression, emphasizing its potential as a biomarker for AMD progression and a target for future research into personalized therapeutic strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Ophthalmology)

19 pages, 2566 KiB

Open AccessArticle

MOX Nanosensors to Detect Colorectal Cancer Relapses from Patient’s Blood at Three Years Follow-Up, and Gender Correlation

by Michele Astolfi, Giulia Zonta, Cesare Malagù, Gabriele Anania and Giorgio Rispoli

Biosensors 2025, 15(1), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15010056 - 16 Jan 2025

Abstract

Colorectal cancer represents 10% of all the annual tumors diagnosed worldwide, being often not timely diagnosed, because its symptoms are typically lacking or very mild. Therefore, it is crucial to develop and validate innovative low-invasive techniques to detect it before becoming intractable. To this aim, a device equipped with nanostructured gas sensors has been employed to detect the airborne molecules of blood samples collected from healthy subjects, and from colorectal cancer affected patients at different stages of their pre- and post-surgery therapeutic path. Data was scrutinized by using statistical standard techniques to highlight their statistical differences, and through principal component analysis and support vector machine to classify them. The device was able to readily distinguish between the pre-surgery blood samples (i.e., taken when the patient had cancer), and the ones up to three years post-surgery (i.e., following the tumor removal) or the ones from healthy subjects. Finally, the correlation of the sensor responses with the patient/healthy subject’s gender was investigated, resulting negligible. These results pave the path toward a clinical validation of this device to monitor the patient’s health status by detecting possible relapses, to parallel to clinical follow-up protocols. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano Biosensors and Their Applications for In Vivo/Vitro Diagnosis—2nd Edition)

17 pages, 5495 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancement of Fertilizer Efficiency Through Chinese Milk Vetch and Rice Straw Incorporation

by Tahir Shah, Adnan Anwar Khan, Yahya Mohammed Ali Aljerib, Muhammad Tariq, Donghui Li, Mingjian Geng, Yajun Gao and Qiang Zhu

Plants 2025, 14(2), 246; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14020246 - 16 Jan 2025

Abstract

The incorporation of rice straw (RS) and Chinese milk vetch (CMV) with reduced chemical fertilizers (CFs) is a viable solution to reduce the dependency on CF. However, limited research has been conducted to investigate the impact of CMV and RS with reduced CF on rice production. A field trial was conducted from 2018 to 2021 with six treatments: CK (no fertilizer), F100 (100% NPK fertilizer (CF)), MSF100 (100% CF+CMV and RS incorporation), MSF80 (80% CF+CMV+RS), MSF60 (60% CF+CMV+RS), and MSF40 (40% CF+CMV+RS). The results revealed that compared with the F100, the MSF80 treatment maintained a significantly higher mean grain yield over the four years, with an increase of 5.8~24.5%. MSF80 treatment also improved nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) use efficiencies, sustainable yield index, and partial factor productivity. Soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), ammonium N (NH₄⁺-N), nitrate N (NO₃⁻-N), available phosphorus (AP), and available potassium (AK) contents were significantly enhanced under MSF80 across different growth stages in both 2020 and 2021 seasons over F100. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a strong positive correlation among SOM, TN, NH₄⁺-N, AP, AK, and rice yield. Additionally, Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLS-PM) demonstrated significant relationships between organic amendments, soil nutrients, nutrient uptake, and yield. The above findings suggest that combining RS returning with CMV incorporation is a long-term sustainable strategy for maintaining soil health, and it could reduce fertilizer addition by 20% without prejudicing rice grain yield under a rice-green manure rotation system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches of Plant Nutrient and Environment Management to Plant Production)

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15 pages, 2879 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hyaluronan-Mediated Motility Receptor (HMMR) Overexpression Is Correlated with Poor Survival in Patients with B-ALL

by Josselen Carina Ramírez-Chiquito, Vanessa Villegas-Ruíz, Isabel Medina-Vera, Itzel Sánchez-Cruz, Christian Lizette Frías-Soria, Marcela Concepción Caballero Palacios, Gabriela Antonio-Andrés, Alejandra Elizabeth Rubio-Portillo, Liliana Velasco-Hidalgo, Mario Perezpeña-Diazconti, Cesar Alejandro Galván-Diaz, Norma Candelaria López-Santiago, Sara Huerta-Yepez and Sergio Juárez-Méndez

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(2), 744; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26020744 - 16 Jan 2025

Abstract

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a malignant neoplasm with the highest incidence in the pediatric population. Although the 5-year overall survival is greater than 85%, in emerging countries such as Mexico, the mortality rate is high. In Mexico, B-ALL is the most common type of childhood cancer; different characteristics suggest the presence of the disease; however, the prognosis is dependent on clinical and laboratory features, and no adverse prognostic molecular marker for B-ALL has yet been identified. The present research aimed to identify the prognostic value of HMMR expression in pediatric patients with B-ALL. The differential expression profile of B-ALL cells was determined via in silico analysis, and HMMR expression was subsequently measured via qRT–PCR and immunocytochemistry. The results were statistically analyzed via the ROUT test, Kolmogorov–Smirnov Z test, and Mann–Whitney U test. ROC curves and the Youden index were constructed, and Kaplan–Meier curves were plotted. We found that HMMR expression was increased in B-ALL patients (p < 0.0001). We observed that high expression was related to poor prognosis (p < 0.05). We observed that high expression was related to poor prognosis (p < 0.05). The increase in HMMR expression could be a potential early molecular prognostic marker and/or a new target in childhood B-ALL patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acute Leukemia: From Basic Research to Clinical Application)

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16 pages, 2444 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of Oligopeptides in the Distillates from Various Rounds of Soy Sauce-Flavored Baijiu and Their Effect on the Ester–Acid–Alcohol Profile in Baijiu

by Qiang Wu, Shanlin Tian, Xu Zhang, Yunhao Zhao and Yougui Yu

Foods 2025, 14(2), 287; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14020287 - 16 Jan 2025

Abstract

Endogenous peptides in Baijiu have primarily focused on finished liquor research, with limited attention given to the peptides in base liquor prior to blending. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was employed to identify endogenous peptides in the distillates from the first to seventh rounds of soy sauce-flavored Baijiu. Two hundred and five oligopeptides were identified from these distillates, all of which had molecular weights below 1000 Da and were composed of amino acid residues associated with flavor (sweet, sour, and bitter) and biological activity. Furthermore, full-wavelength scanning, content determination of the main compounds, and molecular docking were performed to analyze these oligopeptides’ effect on the ester–acid–alcohol profile in Baijiu. This determination revealed a negative correlation between the peptide content and total ester content (r = −0.691), as well as the total acid content (r = −0.323), and a highly significant negative correlation with ethanol content (r = −0.916). Notably, the screened peptides (TRH, YHY, RQTQ, PLDLTSFVLHEAI, KHVS, LPQRHRMVYSLL, and NEWH) had specific interactions with the major flavor substances via hydrogen bonds, including esters (ethyl acetate, ethyl butanoate, ethyl hexanoate, and ethyl lactate), acids (acetate acid, butanoate acid, hexanoate acid, lactate acid), and alcohols (ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, and 1-hexanol). These findings elucidate the distribution and dynamic changes of endogenous peptides in the distillates from various rounds of soy sauce-flavored Baijiu, providing a theoretical foundation for further investigation into their interaction mechanisms associated with flavor compounds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)

38 pages, 6260 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wind–Wave Misalignment in Irish Waters and Its Impact on Floating Offshore Wind Turbines

by Thomas Shanahan and Breiffni Fitzgerald

Energies 2025, 18(2), 372; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18020372 - 16 Jan 2025

Abstract

This study examined the impact of wind–wave misalignment on floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) in Irish waters, analysing average weather and extreme events, including hurricane conditions. Using the ERA5 reanalysis dataset validated against Irish Marine Data Buoy Observation Network measurements, the results showed [...] Read more.

- 0.54

m/s and a strong correlation coefficient of

0.92

. Wind–wave misalignment was found to be inversely correlated with wind speed (correlation coefficient:

- 0.41

), with minimum misalignment occurring approximately seven hours after a change in wind direction. The study revealed that misalignment could exceed

30^{\circ}

during hurricanes, contradicting standard assumptions of alignment under extreme conditions. The investigation highlighted that in western coastal areas, average misalignment could reach

57 . 95^{\circ}

, while sheltered Irish Sea regions experienced lower values, such as

23 . 06^{\circ}

. Numerical simulations confirmed that these misalignment events amplified side-to-side turbine deflections significantly. This research underscores the need to incorporate misalignment effects into industry testing standards and suggests that current methodologies may underestimate fatigue loads by up to 50%. This work emphasizes improved design and testing protocols for FOWTs in complex marine environments and highlights the suitability of ERA5 for climate analysis in Ireland. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Turbine and Wind Farm Flows)

21 pages, 1770 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of the Performance of Nonlinear Time-Dependent Constitutive Models Calibrated with Minimal Test Data Applied to an Epoxy Resin

by Rui Miranda Guedes and José Lopes Morais

Materials 2025, 18(2), 404; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18020404 - 16 Jan 2025

Abstract

Epoxy resins are extensively employed as adhesives and matrices in fibre-reinforced composites. As polymers, they possess a viscoelastic nature and are prone to creep and stress relaxation even at room temperature. This phenomenon is also responsible for time-dependent failure or creep fracture due to cumulative strain. Several constitutive equations have been used to describe the mechanical time-dependent response of polymers. These models have been proposed over the past six decades, with minimal direct and practical confrontation. Each model is associated with a specific application or research group. This work assesses the predictive performance of four distinct time-dependent constitutive models based on experimental data. The models were deemed sufficiently straightforward to be readily integrated into practical engineering analyses. A range of loading cases, encompassing constant strain rate, creep, and relaxation tests, were conducted on a commercial epoxy resin. Model parameter calibration was conducted with a minimum data set. The extrapolative predictive capacity of the models was evaluated for creep loading by extending the tests to five decades. The selected rheological models comprise two viscoelastic models based on Volterra-type integrals, as originally proposed by Schapery and Rabotnov; one viscoplastic model, as originally proposed by Norton and Bailey; and the Burger model, in which two springs and two dashpots are combined in a serial and parallel configuration. The number of model parameters does not correlate positively to superior performance, even if it is high. Overall, the models exhibited satisfactory predictive performance, displaying similar outcomes with some relevant differences during the unloading phases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Production, Processing and Characterization of Industrial Materials)

22 pages, 975 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Non-Instrumental and Instrumental Tools Validity in Bruxism Diagnostics

by Adrian Marcel Popescu, Mihaela Ionescu, Diana Elena Vlăduțu, Sanda Mihaela Popescu, Iulia Roxana Marinescu, Monica Scrieciu and Veronica Mercuț

Diagnostics 2025, 15(2), 200; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15020200 - 16 Jan 2025

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The study aimed to validate the diagnostic system proposed by the Standardized Tool for the Assessment of Bruxism (STAB) by correlating the results obtained based on questionnaire and non-instrumental and instrumental tools. Methods: The study had three stages (questionnaire, clinical examination, and electromyographic study). The subjects completed a questionnaire and clinical exam. Positive signs of bruxism included oral mucosal signs and the presence of dental wear according to the BEWE index. In stage three, sEMG was performed after allocating subjects into four groups according to the questionnaire and clinical exam results: sleep bruxism (SB), awake bruxism (AB), sleep and awake bruxism (SB AB), and no bruxism (no B). After the third stage, a new selection was made, and the subjects were divided into four groups, according to sEMG results. Diagnostic accuracy was computed for possible bruxism SB and grinding and clenching sound diagnosis, possible bruxism AB and AB acknowledgment, possible bruxism SB AB, and tooth wear index. Results: For SB, the sensitivity and specificity of the tools were the highest. The non-instrumental questionnaire and clinical assessment identified 67% of SB cases and 89% without SB. For AB, the specificity was higher (84%), while the sensitivity was lower (55%), as almost half of the subjects were not aware of the presence of AB. The tests showed a low sensitivity (15%) but a high specificity (83%) for tooth wear. The absence of tooth wear was frequently associated with the absence of bruxism, while the presence of tooth wear did not necessarily imply the existence of bruxism. Conclusions: Non-instrumental evaluation of bruxism through questionnaires and clinical exams is valuable, especially for SB. Instrumental evaluation through electromyography remains a gold standard for bruxism diagnosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnostics and Management in Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine)

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