Inhibition of oral biofilm formation is critical to prevent and treat dental caries and periodontal diseases. In this study, we synthesized zwitterionic poly(carboxybetaine) (pCB) based polymer as a ...nonfouling coating to provide anti-bacterial properties to tooth surfaces. Four catechol derived l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) groups were conjugated to pCB to serve as a surface anchoring group. The pCB-(DOPA)
polymer was coated on the hydroxyapatite (HA) and enamel samples by simple immersion and characterized by Raman spectroscopy. The nonfouling effectiveness of the pCB based coating was determined by protein adsorption and bacterial adhesion assays. The coating was transparent on sample surfaces. The protein adsorption was significantly reduced to 8.2% and 6.9%, respectively, on pCB-(DOPA)
coated HA and enamel samples. The pCB-(DOPA)
-coated samples also demonstrated significantly fewer adhered Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus mutants compared to the control. This novel coating material provides an innovative approach to resist biofilm formation on tooth surfaces and has great potential in future dental clinical applications.
Segmental maxillary osteotomies require precise occlusal control due to variability in individual segment positioning. The role of maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) technique on occlusal control has ...not been validated.
The purpose is to measure and compare the accuracy of occlusal positioning among MMF techniques.
This was a double-blinded in vitro study on experiment models to simulate a 3-piece LeFort I osteotomy. The models were constricted posteriorly and expanded using 3 different MMF techniques and compared to the unaltered baseline occlusion. Based on sample size calculation, 32 separate attempts were made for each MMF technique.
The predictor variable was MMF technique (brackets, MMF screws, and embrasure wires).
The primary outcome variable was the visual occlusal analysis score, a 1.00 to 4.00 continuous scale measuring the similarity of the achieved occlusion to the planned (control) occlusion assessed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and an orthodontist. High visual occlusal analysis score indicated greater occlusal accuracy, with 3.50 defined as the threshold for accuracy. The secondary outcome variable was the linear error of the achieved occlusion at the canine and first molar teeth, with lower error indicating greater accuracy. An a priori accuracy threshold of 0.5 mm was set for this variable.
None.
Kruskal-Wallis test with post hoc testing was used to analyze the difference in the outcome variables of interest. P value < .05 was considered statistically significant.
Thirty-two attempts for each technique showed that brackets had higher VAOS than MMF screws and embrasure wires (median differences 1.49 and 0.48, P < .001), and had lower linear occlusal error (median differences 0.35 to 0.99 mm, P < .001).
MMF technique influences the quality of occlusal control, with greater visual rating scores and lower linear errors seen with brackets than with embrasure wires or MMF screws.
To understand the impact of social distancing policies on the incidence and severity of oral and maxillofacial trauma (OMT) secondary to interpersonal violence (IPV) and domestic violence (DV).
The ...authors designed a retrospective cohort study enrolling subjects who presented to an urban Level 1 trauma center in Seattle, WA, for the evaluation and management of OMT between January 1 and December 31 in the years 2018 through 2020. The primary predictor variable was evaluation of OMT during periods with (2020: investigational group) or without (2018 or 2019: control group) social distancing policies in place. The primary outcome variables were the mechanism and severity of injury, defined as IPV, DV or neither, the abbreviated injury scale (AIS) and the injury severity score (ISS). Descriptive, univariate and bivariate analyses were performed with statistical significance at P < .05.
Eight hundred twenty-eight subjects; 737 (89%) IPV and 91(11%) IPV due to DV. The incidence of OMT secondary to IPV or DV was unchanged (P = .81, P = .57 respectively). There was a nonsignificant increase in ISS for IPV (P = .07) and no change for DV (P = .46). AIS scores were unchanged for IPV (P = .36). For DV, AIS scores were lower in 2020 when compared to 2019 (P = .04) but unchanged from 2018 (P = .58).
At least half of the DV victims were male (50% in 2018, 59% in 2019, and 53% in 2020). Of these, 65% were under 18, and represented the pediatric majority (62%). A nonsignificant increase in non-white subjects presenting with DV in 2020 (P = .15) was seen.
The COVID-19 pandemic did not change the number or severity of OMT cases secondary to IPV or DV in this region of Washington. Pediatric males were more likely to be victims of DV.
Odontogenic infections are preventable yet common in adults and children, and can progress to life-threatening levels if not definitively managed in a timely manner. Children with odontogenic ...infections often first present to the pediatric or general dental practice, making pediatric
and general dentists key players in the management of odontogenic infections. While the pediatric or general dentist can definitively manage several types of infections, their critical role goes well beyond treatment to include timely and appropriate triage as well as facilitation of care
when the severity of the infection exceeds the scope of their practice. Thorough and efficient triage allows the dentist to determine the most appropriate timing and setting of definitive care, thus preventing avoidable delays or inefficient use of health care resources. The purpose of this
narrative review is to discuss key concepts in the overall management of odontogenic infections in children, with a focus on the clinical significance of each concept, in an algorithmic format.
Sensors of the innate immune system that detect intracellular nucleic acids must be regulated to prevent inappropriate activation by endogenous DNA and RNA. The exonuclease Trex1 regulates the ...DNA-sensing pathway by metabolizing potential DNA ligands that trigger it. However, an analogous mechanism for regulating the RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) that detect RNA remains unknown. We found here that the SKIV2L RNA exosome potently limited the activation of RLRs. The unfolded protein response (UPR), which generated endogenous RLR ligands through the cleavage of cellular RNA by the endonuclease IRE-1, triggered the production of type I interferons in cells depleted of SKIV2L. Humans with deficiency in SKIV2L had a type I interferon signature in their peripheral blood. Our findings reveal a mechanism for the intracellular metabolism of immunostimulatory RNA, with implications for specific autoimmune disorders.
In environmental participatory modeling (PM), both computer and non-computer-based modeling techniques are used to aid participatory problem description, solution, and decision-making actions in ...environmental contexts. Although many PM case studies have been published, few efforts have sought to systematically describe and understand dominant PM processes or establish best practices for PM. As a first step, we have reviewed a random sample of environmental PM case study articles (n = 60) using a novel PM process evaluation instrument. We found that significant work likely remains for PM to fully support participatory and integrated planning processes. While PM reports systematically address knowledge integration and learning, they often neglect the facilitation of a multi-value perspective within a democratic process, and the integration across organizations within a governance system. If not reported, we suspect these aspects are also neglected in practice. We conclude with key research and practice issues for improving PM as an approach for real-world participatory planning and governance.
•We developed a novel instrument for evaluating participatory modeling, and we used it to review 60 case studies.•The Sustainable Process Framework articulates goals for participatory planning processes.•The only aspect reported by nearly all studies was methods for identifying & integrating knowledges.•Environmental participatory modeling reports & perhaps processes need significant improvement.
Various tools and methods are used in participatory modelling, at different stages of the process and for different purposes. The diversity of tools and methods can create challenges for stakeholders ...and modelers when selecting the ones most appropriate for their projects. We offer a systematic overview, assessment, and categorization of methods to assist modelers and stakeholders with their choices and decisions. Most available literature provides little justification or information on the reasons for the use of particular methods or tools in a given study. In most of the cases, it seems that the prior experience and skills of the modelers had a dominant effect on the selection of the methods used. While we have not found any real evidence of this approach being wrong, we do think that putting more thought into the method selection process and choosing the most appropriate method for the project can produce better results. Based on expert opinion and a survey of modelers engaged in participatory processes, we offer practical guidelines to improve decisions about method selection at different stages of the participatory modeling process.
•Participatory Modeling (PM) is a purposeful learning process for action.•We review some of the methods for PM, and identify their strengths and weaknesses.•We provide guidance for practitioners as they select methods for their PM projects.•A web portal for the Community of Practice on PM can assist in method selection.
Including stakeholders in environmental model building and analysis is an increasingly popular approach to understanding ecological change. This is because stakeholders often hold valuable knowledge ...about socio-environmental dynamics and collaborative forms of modeling produce important boundary objects used to collectively reason about environmental problems. Although the number of participatory modeling (PM) case studies and the number of researchers adopting these approaches has grown in recent years, the lack of standardized reporting and limited reproducibility have prevented PM’s establishment and advancement as a cohesive field of study. We suggest a four-dimensional framework (4P) that includes reporting on dimensions of (1) the Purpose for selecting a PM approach (the why); (2) the Process by which the public was involved in model building or evaluation (the how); (3) the Partnerships formed (the who); and (4) the Products that resulted from these efforts (the what). We highlight four case studies that use common PM software-based approaches (fuzzy cognitive mapping, agent-based modeling, system dynamics, and participatory geospatial modeling) to understand human–environment interactions and the consequences of ecological changes, including bushmeat hunting in Tanzania and Cameroon, agricultural production and deforestation in Zambia, and groundwater management in India. We demonstrate how standardizing communication about PM case studies can lead to innovation and new insights about model-based reasoning in support of ecological policy development. We suggest that our 4P framework and reporting approach provides a way for new hypotheses to be identified and tested in the growing field of PM.
Objective
Biomarkers of Alzheimer disease vary between groups of self‐identified Black and White individuals in some studies. This study examined whether the relationships between biomarkers or ...between biomarkers and cognitive measures varied by racialized groups.
Methods
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), amyloid positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging measures were harmonized across four studies of memory and aging. Spearman correlations between biomarkers and between biomarkers and cognitive measures were calculated within each racialized group, then compared between groups by standard normal tests after Fisher's Z‐transformations.
Results
The harmonized dataset included at least one biomarker measurement from 495 Black and 2,600 White participants. The mean age was similar between racialized groups. However, Black participants were less likely to have cognitive impairment (28% vs 36%) and had less abnormality of some CSF biomarkers including CSF Aβ42/40, total tau, p‐tau181, and neurofilament light. CSF Aβ42/40 was negatively correlated with total tau and p‐tau181 in both groups, but at a smaller magnitude in Black individuals. CSF Aβ42/40, total tau, and p‐tau181 had weaker correlations with cognitive measures, especially episodic memory, in Black than White participants. Correlations of amyloid measures between CSF (Aβ42/40, Aβ42) and PET imaging were also weaker in Black than White participants. Importantly, no differences based on race were found in correlations between different imaging biomarkers, or in correlations between imaging biomarkers and cognitive measures.
Interpretation
Relationships between CSF biomarkers but not imaging biomarkers varied by racialized groups. Imaging biomarkers performed more consistently across racialized groups in associations with cognitive measures. ANN NEUROL 2024;95:495–506
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