Carotid calcifications in panoramic radiographs can predict vascular risk.

Objectives: Carotid artery calcification (CAC) is occasionally detected in panoramic radiographs (PRs). Bilateral vessel-outlining (BVO) CACs are independent risk markers for future vascular events and have been associated with large plaque area. If accounting for plaque area, BVO CACs may no longer be an independent risk marker for vascular events.

DNA digestion and formation of DNA-network structures with Holliday junction-resolving enzyme Hjc_15-6 in conjunction with polymerase reactions.

The recently identified novel Holliday junction-resolving enzyme, termed Hjc_15-6, activity investigation results imply DNA cleavage by Hjc_15-6 in a manner that potentially enhances the molecular self-assembly that may be exploited for creating DNA-networks and nanostructures. The study also demonstrates Pwo DNA polymerase acting in combination with Hjc_15-6 capability to produce large amounts of DNA that transforms into large DNA-network structures even without DNA template and primers. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that Hjc_15-6 prefers Holliday junction oligonucleotides as compared to Y-shaped oligonucleotides as well as efficiently cleaves typical branched products from isothermal DNA amplification of both linear and circular DNA templates amplified by phi29-like DNA polymerase.

Students' perceptions of post-exam feedback in oral radiology-A comparative study from two dental hygienist educational settings.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate how students perceive the benefit of participating in a teacher-organised session providing feedback on exams, termed post-exam feedback, in two dental hygienist programmes.

Methods: The study was based on interviews with 22 participants, including 18 students and 4 faculty teachers. The data were approached on the basis of thematic analysis, allowing us to generate insights on how the participants reflected on their participation in the post-exam feedback sessions and how they perceived this arrangement as learners.

The use of post-exam feedback in oral radiology: A survey study of dental and dental hygienist schools in Europe.

Introduction: A combination of summative assessments and post-exam feedback can create a formative environment to support student learning. It remains unknown to what extent feedback sessions are conducted after exams in oral radiology courses for dental and dental hygienist students in Europe. This survey study aimed to explore whether post-exam feedback sessions were conducted, and if so, in what format.

Calcified carotid artery atheromas in individuals with cognitive dysfunction.

Objective: The aim of this case-control study was to investigate whether cognitively impaired individuals have a higher burden of calcified carotid artery atheroma (CCAA) than controls without cognitive impairment.

Material And Methods: The study included 154 cases with Alzheimer's disease ( = 52), mild cognitive impairment ( = 51), or subjective cognitive decline ( = 51) diagnosed at a university memory clinic. Seventy-six cognitively healthy controls were sampled through the Swedish population register.

Crystal structure of DNA polymerase I from Thermus phage G20c.

This study describes the structure of DNA polymerase I from Thermus phage G20c, termed PolI_G20c. This is the first structure of a DNA polymerase originating from a group of related thermophilic bacteriophages infecting Thermus thermophilus, including phages G20c, TSP4, P74-26, P23-45 and phiFA and the novel phage Tth15-6. Sequence and structural analysis of PolI_G20c revealed a 3'-5' exonuclease domain and a DNA polymerase domain, and activity screening confirmed that both domains were functional.

Success Factors for Scaling Up the Adoption of Digital Therapeutics Towards the Realization of P5 Medicine.

Introduction: Digital therapeutics (DTx) can be a valuable contribution to the successful scale up of P5 Medicine (personalized, participatory, predictive, preventive, precision medicine) as they offer powerful means of delivering personalization and active patient participation in disease self-management. We investigated how the approval and adoption of DTx within health systems have been approached in five selected European countries and regions, with a view to proposing success factors scaling up their adoption.

Methodology: Preliminary research established best countries or region candidates as being Germany, UK, France, Belgium, and the Spanish Region of Catalonia.

Crystal structure and initial characterization of a novel archaeal-like Holliday junction-resolving enzyme from Thermus thermophilus phage Tth15-6.

This study describes the production, characterization and structure determination of a novel Holliday junction-resolving enzyme. The enzyme, termed Hjc_15-6, is encoded in the genome of phage Tth15-6, which infects Thermus thermophilus. Hjc_15-6 was heterologously produced in Escherichia coli and high yields of soluble and biologically active recombinant enzyme were obtained in both complex and defined media.

Association of high cardiovascular risk and diabetes with calcified carotid artery atheromas depicted on panoramic radiographs.

Objective: To evaluate whether estimates of risk of future cardiovascular events and death and established or unknown diabetes are significantly associated with calcified carotid artery atheromas (CCAAs) on panoramic radiographs (PRs). The main focus was on men and women without previous myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: The PAROKRANK (Periodontitis and its Relation to Coronary Artery Disease) study included patients with a first MI and matched control subjects.

Going to extremes - a metagenomic journey into the dark matter of life.

The Virus-X-Viral Metagenomics for Innovation Value-project was a scientific expedition to explore and exploit uncharted territory of genetic diversity in extreme natural environments such as geothermal hot springs and deep-sea ocean ecosystems. Specifically, the project was set to analyse and exploit viral metagenomes with the ultimate goal of developing new gene products with high innovation value for applications in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical, and the life science sectors. Viral gene pool analysis is also essential to obtain fundamental insight into ecosystem dynamics and to investigate how viruses influence the evolution of microbes and multicellular organisms.

Development and preliminary evaluation of the psychometric properties of the psychological flexibility in epilepsy questionnaire (PFEQ).

The present study describes the development and preliminary psychometric evaluation of the Psychological Flexibility in Epilepsy Questionnaire (PFEQ), which was developed to measure the construct referred to as Psychological Flexibility (PF) in epilepsy. Results from 81 participants with epilepsy support a one-factor solution, consisting of 12 items, indicating a satisfactory structure and reliability with an alpha coefficient of 0.92.

Comparative evaluation of CLIA and EIA for Quantiferon-TB Gold Plus.

The purpose of this study was to compare the Quantiferon-TB Gold Plus test analysed with chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) to immunoassay (EIA). One hundred and twenty-five clinical specimens submitted to Karolinska University Hospital for Quantiferon-TB Gold Plus analysis were used to analyse agreement of the CLIA and EIA assays. The imprecision on CLIA was determined by analysis of pooled clinical samples of antigen tubes (TB1 and TB2), a reference material from National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC 82/587) and two controls of the test.

Calcifications in the neck region of patients with carotid artery stenosis: a computed tomography angiography study of topographic anatomy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to map the vertical locations of calcified carotid plaques (CCPs), osseous anatomic structures, and calcified soft tissues in the area of the carotid artery, determine to what extent CCPs are superimposed on the cervical spine in coronal images, and analyze the differences between men and women.

Study Design: Computed tomography angiography (CTA) scans of 79 patients were studied. CCPs were discovered in 152 of the total 158 neck sides.

Associations among Periodontitis, Calcified Carotid Artery Atheromas, and Risk of Myocardial Infarction.

Cardiovascular disease is a common cause of morbidity and premature mortality. Cardiovascular disease can be prevented when risk factors are identified early. Calcified carotid artery atheromas (CCAAs), detected in panoramic radiographs, and periodontitis have both been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Bilateral vessel-outlining carotid artery calcifications in panoramic radiographs: an independent risk marker for vascular events.

Background: In odontology, panoramic radiographs (PRs) are regularly performed. PRs depict the teeth and jaws as well as carotid artery calcifications (CACs). Patients with CACs on PRs have an increased risk of vascular events compared to healthy controls without CACs, but this association is often caused by more vascular events and risk factors at baseline.

The use of panoramic images for identification of edentulous persons.

The aim of this study was to determine if edentulous persons could be identified using panoramic images by: I) investigating the possibility of matching two panoramic radiographs of the same person obtained on two different occasions, II) determining what anatomical features are used as the base for matching, III) investigating if oral and maxillofacial radiologists (OMR) and dentists who were not oral and maxillofacial radiologists (NOMR) differed in their ability to match the images, and IV) determining if the time elapsed between the images affected the results or the confidence of the match. Panoramic image pairs from 19 patients obtained on two different occasions were included, plus 10 images from other edentulous patients. The time elapsed between the image pairs varied between 4 months and 6 years.

Long-term skill improvement among general dental practitioners after a short training programme in diagnosing calcified carotid artery atheromas on panoramic radiographs.

Purpose: To study general dental practitioners (GDPs) ability to detect calcified carotid artery atheromas (CCAAs) in panoramic radiographs (PRs) and if their diagnostic accuracy in long term is improved after a short training programme.

Methods: Fourteen GDPs had their diagnostic accuracy regarding CCAA in PR assessed at baseline, 2 weeks and 1 year after training. Comparison was made with a reference standard based on consensus results from two experienced oral and maxillofacial radiologists.

Calcified carotid artery atheromas in panoramic radiographs are associated with a first myocardial infarction: a case-control study.

Objective: The aim of this case-control study was to investigate whether patients with a first myocardial infarction (MI) had a higher prevalence of calcified carotid artery atheromas (CCAAs) on panoramic radiographs (PRs) than age-, gender-, and residential area-matched controls without MI.

Study Design: Six hundred ninety-six cases with a first MI and 696 controls were included in this substudy of the Swedish multicentre PAROKRANK study. All participants underwent panoramic radiography, and the PRs were evaluated for CCAAs.

The use of intraoral radiographs for identification of edentulous patients rehabilitated with implants.

The aims of this study were; i) to determine the accuracy by which two intra-oral radiographic examinations performed on patients with edentulous mandibles treated with dental implants can be matched. ii) to determine whether prosthodontic supra-construction is important for matching. iii) to investigate whether there is a difference between oral and maxilla-facial radiologists (OMR) and dental practitioners, not specialized in oral and maxillofacial radiology (NOMR), regarding their ability to match.

Carotid calcification in panoramic radiographs: radiographic appearance and the degree of carotid stenosis.

Objectives:: Approximately 7% of patients examined with panoramic radiographs (PRs) for odontological reasons, and with incidental findings of carotid artery calcification (CAC), have significant (≥50%) carotid stenosis (SCS). The aim of this study was to determine if the radiographic appearance of CACs in PRs could be categorized such that we could improve the positive-predictive value (PPV) for SCS detection.

Methods:: This cross-sectional study included 278 patients with CACs identified by PRs, 127 with SCS and 151 without SCS.

Atherosclerotic Calcification Detection: A Comparative Study of Carotid Ultrasound and Cone Beam CT.

Background And Aim: Arterial calcification is often detected on ultrasound examination but its diagnostic accuracy is not well validated. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of carotid ultrasound B mode findings in detecting atherosclerotic calcification quantified by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methods: We analyzed 94 carotid arteries, from 88 patients (mean age 70 ± 7 years, 33% females), who underwent pre-endarterectomy ultrasound examination.

Carotid calcifications on panoramic radiographs: a 5-year follow-up study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether people with calcifications in the area of the carotid arteries on panoramic radiographs (CALPANs) have an increased prevalence of vascular risk factors or an increased risk of future vascular events.

Materials And Methods: We included 113 consecutive patients with CALPANs and 116 gender- and age-matched controls without CALPANs. Vascular risk factors were generally known in the study population, since it was recorded in a population-based community-screening program.

Calcium quantity in carotid plaques: detection in panoramic radiographs and association with degree of stenosis.

Objective: To determine calcium volume in extirpated carotid plaques, analyze correlations between calcium volume and degree of stenosis, and analyze whether calcium volume influences the possibility of detecting stenosis in panoramic radiographs.

Study Design: Ninety-seven consecutive patients with ultrasonography-verified carotid stenosis were examined with panoramic radiography before surgery. Extirpated carotid plaques (n = 103) were analyzed for calcium volume by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Cathelicidin LL-37 and HSV-1 Corneal Infection: Peptide Versus Gene Therapy.

Purpose: To evaluate the potential utility of collagen-based corneal implants with anti-Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)-1 activity achieved through sustained release of LL-37, from incorporated nanoparticles, as compared with cell-based delivery from model human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) transfected to produce endogenous LL-37.

Methods: We tested the ability of collagen-phosphorylcholine implants to tolerate the adverse microenvironment of herpetic murine corneas. Then, we investigated the efficacy of LL-37 peptides delivered through nanoparticles incorporated within the corneal implants to block HSV-1 viral activity.

Detection of calcifications in panoramic radiographs in patients with carotid stenoses ≥50%.

Objective: Carotid stenoses ≥50% are associated with increased risk for stroke that can be reduced by prophylactic carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Calcifications in arteries can be detected in panoramic radiographs (PRs). In a cross-sectional study, we analyzed (1) extirpated plaques for calcification, (2) how often PRs disclosed calcified plaques, (3) how often patients with stenoses ≥50% presented calcifications in PRs, and (4) the additional value of frontal radiographs (FRs).