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The aim of this paper was to evaluate the changes in the mean bone density values of the midpalatal suture in 392 young patients treated with the Rapid Palatal Expander appliance according to sex, gender, vertical and sagittal skeletal patterns. Materials and Methods. The evaluations were performed using the low-dose protocol cone-beam computed tomography scans at t0 (preoperatively) and t1 (1 year after the beginning of the therapy). The region of interest was used to calculate bone density in Hounsfield units (HU) in the area between the maxillary incisors. Results. CBCT scan data of 196 females and 196 males (mean age of 11,7 years) showed homogeneous and similar density values of the MPS at T0 (547.59 HU - 565.85 HU) and T1 (542.31 - 554.20 HU). Class III skeletal individuals showed a significant higher BD than the II class group at T0, but not at T1. Females showed significantly higher BD than males at t0 and t1. No significant differences were found between the other groups and between two-time points in terms of bone density values of the MPS. Conclusions. Females and III class groups showed significantly higher bone density values than males and II class, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found from T0 to T1 in any groups, suggesting that a similar rate of suture reorganization occurs after the use of the RPE, following reorganization and bone deposition along with the MPS.

Satellite phase fractional cycle biases (FCBs) are crucial to precise point positioning with ambiguity resolution (PPP–AR), and they can improve the accuracy and reliability of a solution. Traditional methods need multiple iterations and need to keep the same reference when estimating satellite phase fractional cycle biases. In this paper, we propose an improved fast estimation of FCB, which does not need any iterations and can select any reference when estimating FCB. We compare the suitability and precision of a traditional and a proposed method by BDS-3 experiments. The results of the FCB experiments show that the calculated time of the proposed method is less than the traditional method and that computation efficiency is increased by 34.71%. These two methods have a similar rate of fixed epochs and ambiguities in the static and dynamic models. However, the time to first fix (TTFF) of the proposed method decreased by 19.69% and 28.83% for the static and dynamic models, respectively. The results show that the proposed method has a better convergence time in PPP–AR.

The relationship of mind and body has long claimed man's attention. Early enquiries into the relationship of these two aspects of development have presumed that physical and mental growth were related functionally, that their growth proceeded together at a similar rate, and that any defect of one would immediately show itself in the other. The relationship occupied the minds of such men as Hippocrates, Plato and Aristotle, and many since have seen the relationship and guessed its nature.

The relationship of mind and body has long claimed man's attention. Early enquiries into the relationship of these two aspects of development have presumed that physical and mental growth were related functionally, that their growth proceeded together at a similar rate, and that any defect of one would immediately show itself in the other. The relationship occupied the minds of such men as Hippocrates, Plato and Aristotle, and many since have seen the relationship and guessed its nature.

Given the rareness of available data, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on therapeutic strategy microsurgical resection and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for brainstem cavernous malformations (BSCMs) and assessed mortality, permanent neurological deficits (PNDs), rebleeding rate, and patients who require reintervention to elucidate the benefits of each treatment modality. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) were used for protocol development and manuscript preparation. After applying all inclusion and exclusion criteria, six remaining articles were included in the final manuscript pool. In total, this meta-analysis included 396 patients, among them 168 patients underwent microsurgical treatment and 228 underwent SRS. Findings of the present meta-analysis suggest that regarding the total group of patients, in terms of mortality, late rebleeding rate, and PNDs, there was no superiority of the one method over the other. Applying the leave-one-out method to our study suggests that with low robust of the results for the bleeding rate and patients who require reintervention outcome factor, there was no statistical difference among the surgical and SRS treatment. Microsurgical treatment of BSCMs immediately eliminates the risk of rehemorrhage; however, it requires complete excision of the lesion and it is associated with a similar rate of PNDs compared with SRS management. Apparently, SRS of BSCMs causes a marked reduction in the risk of rebleeding 2 years after treatment, but when compared with the surgical treatment, there was not any remarkable difference.

Background. Dexmedetomidine is a selective α-2 agonist commonly used for sedation that has been used in obstetric anesthesia for multimodal labor analgesia, postcesarean delivery analgesia, and perioperative shivering. This study evaluated the role of intravenous dexmedetomidine to provide rescue analgesia and/or sedation during cesarean delivery under neuraxial anesthesia. Methods. We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study of all parturients undergoing cesarean delivery under neuraxial anesthesia between December 1, 2018, and November 30, 2019, who required supplemental analgesia during the procedure. Patients were divided into two groups: patients who received intravenous dexmedetomidine (Dexmed group) and patients who received adjunct medications such as fentanyl, midazolam, ketamine, and nitrous oxide (Standard group). Primary outcome was incidence of conversion to general anesthesia. Results. During the study period, 107 patients received adjunct medications. There was no difference in conversion to general anesthesia between the Dexmed group and the Standard group (6% (4/62) vs. 9% (4/45); p = 0.718 ). In the Dexmed group, the mean dexmedetomidine dose received was 37 μg (range 10 to 140 μg). While the use of inotropic/vasopressor medications was common and similar in both groups, there was an increase in the incidence of bradycardia (Dexmed 15% vs. Standard 2%; p = 0.042 ) but not hypotension (Dexmed 24% vs. Standard 24%; p = 1.00 ) in the Dexmed group. Conclusion. In patients who required supplemental analgesia for cesarean delivery, those who received dexmedetomidine versus other medications had a similar rate of conversion to general anesthesia, a statistically significant increase in bradycardia, but no difference in the incidence of hypotension.

Previous toxicokinetic studies have shown that mussels (Mytilus spp.) can readily absorb the three main mammalian sex steroids, estradiol (E2), testosterone (T) and progesterone (P) from water. They also have a strong ability to store E2 and the 5α-reduced metabolites of T and P in the form of fatty acid esters. These esters were shown to have half-lives that were measured in weeks (i.e. they were not subject to fast depuration). The present study looked at the toxicokinetic profile of two other common steroids that are found in water, the potent synthetic oestrogen, (ethinyl-estradiol) (EE2; one of the two components of ‘the pill’), and cortisol, a natural stress steroid in vertebrates. In the first three hours of uptake, tritiated EE2 was found to be taken up at a similar rate to tritiated E2. However, the levels in the water plateaued sooner than E2. The ability of the animals to both esterify and sulphate EE2 was found to be much lower than E2, but nevertheless did still take place. After 24 h of exposure, the majority of radiolabelled EE2 in the animals was present in the form of free steroid, contrary to E2, which was esterified. This metabolism was reflected in a much lower half-life (of only 15 h for EE2 in the mussels as opposed to 8 days for E2 and >10 days for T and P). Intriguingly, hardly any cortisol (in fact none at all in one of the experiments) was absorbed by the mussels. The implications of this finding in both toxicokinetic profiling and evolutionary significance (why cortisol might have evolved as a stress steroid in bony fishes) are discussed.

Coral bleaching events in the marine environment are now occurring globally, and the frequency and severity of these events are increasing. Critically, these events can cause the symbiosis between Symbiodiniaceae and their coral hosts to break down, but how the microbial community within the coral responds to bleaching is still equivocal. We investigated the impact of thermal stress exposure on the meta-organism responses of the generalist scleractinian coral species Pocillopora damicornis. Using mesocosms to recreate warming scenarios previously observed at Heron Island, we show that P. damicornis symbiont densities and photophysiological parameters declined at a similar rate under thermal stress regardless of the length of pre-bleaching thermal stress, defined here as temperatures above the monthly maximum mean (MMM) for Heron Island but below the local bleaching threshold (MMM + 2°C). However, we find that the P. damicornis microbiome remains stable over time regardless of the degree of thermal stress and the accumulation of pre-bleaching thermal stress. Our study therefore suggests that while P. damicornis is physiologically impacted by bleaching temperatures, the microbial community identified through 16S rRNA sequencing remains unchanged at the ASV level throughout bleaching. Understanding the capacity of a generalist species to withstand bleaching events is imperative to characterizing what coral species will exist on coral reefs following disturbances, as it has been suggested that the success of environmental generalist species may simplify community structure and lead to changes in biodiversity following environmental disturbance.

Background. Prevention of dentinal crack formation is of utmost importance in endodontic treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of RaCe, ProTaper, and V-Taper rotary systems on dentinal crack formation in three root regions during endodontic treatment. Methods. Seventy human mandibular first molars were selected randomly, and their distal roots were used. Ten samples were assigned to the control group, and sixty samples were assigned to three groups (n=20). Each group was prepared with RaCe, ProTaper, or V-Taper rotary files according to the manufacturers’ instructions. A stereomicroscope was used to view cracks at ×40 magnification. Friedman’s, chi-squared, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for statistical analysis of data (P<0.05). Results. A comparison of the three rotary systems did not reveal any significant differences in the number of cracks between the three root thirds evaluated (P>0.05). A comparison of the number of cracks in the coronal, middle, and apical thirds in each rotary system showed that the number of cracks in the middle third was fewer than that in the two other thirds only in the V-Taper group (P<0.05), with no significant differences in the ProTaper and RaCe groups between the different root regions (P>0.05). Conclusion. The application of RaCe, ProTaper, and V-Taper rotary files resulted in a similar rate of crack formation in endodontic treatment. V-Taper files created the minimum number of cracks in the middle third.

Background: In the Republic of Moldova almost 5% of the cases with tuberculosis are diagnosed annually among diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of diabetes mellitus on the evolution and anti-tuberculosis treatment effectiveness in a prospective study. Material and methods: A prospective, longitudinal and case-control study, which included a total number of 252 patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and distributed in a study group, consisting of 93 patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and a control group, consisting of 159 patients without glycemic disorders, was performed. Results: This study identified that one half of the group with diabetes was detected by active screening and one third received anti-tuberculous treatment before actual episode. A similar rate of diabetic and non-diabetic patients was microbiologically positive, as well confirmed with drug-resistance. The anti-tuberculous treatment effectiveness was lower in diabetic patients, the death rate and the low treatment outcome (lost to follow-up and failed) were higher than in non-diabetic patients. The main causes of unfavorable evolution were: glycemic disorders (hyperglycemia), diabetes complications and the history of the anti-tuberculous treatment in the anamnesis. Conclusions: The individualized approach and a tight follow-up should be performed regularly in all patients with glycemic disorders and tuberculosis for the improvement of the disease outcome.