Genotype and corticosteroid treatment are distinctively associated with gray matter characteristics in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

This study investigated if structural variation in specific gray matter areas is associated with corticosteroid treatment or genotype, and if cerebral morphological variations are related to neuropsychological and behavioral outcomes. The CAT12 toolbox in SPM was used for MRI segmentations, assessing subcortical structures, cortical thickness, gyrification, and sulci depths for DMD patients (n = 40; 9-18 years) and age-matched controls (n = 40). Comparisons were made between DMD vs.

Evaluating the reproducibility and validity of maximal mouth opening measurement techniques.

Objectives: A limitation of the maximal mouth opening (MMO) is a frequent complication of oral (cancer) surgery. The measurement between the right central incisors is considered the golden standard for assessing MMO, although it has been noted to overestimate MMO in edentulous patients. This study aims to evaluate the reproducibility and validity of four MMO techniques and to determine the extent to which they are dependent on the remaining dentition.

Biocompatibility and osteogenic capacity of additively manufactured biodegradable porous WE43 scaffolds: An in vivo study in a canine model.

Magnesium is the most promising absorbable metallic implant material for bone regeneration and alloy WE43 is already FDA approved for cardiovascular applications. This study investigates the cyto- and biocompatibility of novel additively manufactured (AM) porous WE43 scaffolds as well as their osteogenic potential and degradation characteristics in an orthotopic canine bone defect model. The cytocompatibility was demonstrated using modified ISO 10993-conform extract-based indirect and direct assays, respectively.

Virtual reconstruction of orbital defects using Gaussian process morphable models.

Purpose: The conventional method to reconstruct the bone level for orbital defects, which is based on mirroring and manual adaptation, is time-consuming and the accuracy highly depends on the expertise of the clinical engineer. The aim of this study is to propose and evaluate an automated reconstruction method utilizing a Gaussian process morphable model (GPMM).

Methods: Sixty-five Computed Tomography (CT) scans of healthy midfaces were used to create a GPMM that can model shape variations of the orbital region.

Bridging the knowledge-Practice gap: Insights from a survey of Belgian dental professionals on diagnosis and supportive oral cancer treatment in comparison with international guidelines.

Objective: Early detection significantly improves the prognosis of oral cancer patients, contingent upon the knowledge of dental professionals. This study aimed to assess and compare the knowledge, practices and perceptions regarding oral cancer among dental professionals in Belgium.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed via Qualtrics to general dentists, dental specialists, dental hygienists, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

CD4 T cell activation distinguishes response to anti-PD-L1+anti-CTLA4 therapy from anti-PD-L1 monotherapy.

Cancer patients often receive a combination of antibodies targeting programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA4). We conducted a window-of-opportunity study in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to examine the contribution of anti-CTLA4 to anti-PD-L1 therapy. Single-cell profiling of on- versus pre-treatment biopsies identified T cell expansion as an early response marker.

OrthoCalc: The six degrees of freedom measurement workflow of rotational and displacement changes for maxilla positioning evaluation.

Background: This study is undertaken to establish the accuracy and reliability of OrthoCalc, a 3D application designed for the evaluation of maxillary positioning.

Methods: We registered target virtual planned models, maxillary models from pre-operative and post-operative CT scans, and post-operative intra-oral scans to a common reference system, allowing for digital evaluation. To assess rotational changes, we introduced a novel measurement method based on virtual cuboid models.

Exploring long-term responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors in recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have introduced a new era in the treatment of recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). Optimal duration for ICI therapy is still unclear and the long-term outcomes and toxicity in patients responding to these therapies warrant further exploration. This study attempts to identify the clinical and biological determinants of a durable response and evaluate outcomes following ICI treatment discontinuation.

Biomechanical feasibility of non-locking system in patient-specific mandibular reconstruction using fibular free flaps.

Mandibular reconstruction with free fibular flaps is frequently used to restore segmental defects. The osteosythesis, including locking and non-locking plate/screw systems, is essential to the mandibular reconstruction. Compared with the non-locking system that requires good adaption between plate and bone, the locking system appears to present a better performance by locking the plate to fixation screws.

Comparison of two corticosteroid regimens on brain volumetrics in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Objective: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a neuromuscular disorder in which many patients also have neurobehavioral problems. Corticosteroids, the primary pharmacological treatment for DMD, have been shown to affect brain morphology in other conditions, but data in DMD are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the impact of two corticosteroid regimens on brain volumetrics in DMD using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

The predictive and prognostic value of weight loss and body composition prior to and during immune checkpoint inhibition in recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer patients.

Background: Response rates of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy for recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) are low.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective multicentre cohort study evaluates the predictive and prognostic value of weight loss and changes in body composition prior and during therapy. Patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics of 98 patients were retrieved, including neutrophil and platelet-lymphocyte-ratio (NLR and PLR).

Dynamic changes in tooth displacement and bone morphometry induced by orthodontic force.

This study used a novel 3D analysis to longitudinally evaluate orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) and bone morphometry. Twelve-week-old male Wistar rats were subjected to OTM by applying a constant orthodontic force (OF) of 25cN between one of the upper first molars and a mini-screw. In vivo micro-CTs were taken before and after 10, 17, 24 and 31 days of force application, and superimposed by a novel and rigid voxel-based registration method.

High doses of zoledronic acid induce differential effects on femur and jawbone microstructure.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the long-term effects on jaw and femur bone induced by oncologic doses of zoledronic acid in a young rat model.

Material And Methods: Six 12-week-old male Wistar rats received zoledronic acid (0.6 mg/kg) and six control rats received saline solution in the same volume.

Biomechanical validation of structural optimized patient-specific mandibular reconstruction plate orienting additive manufacturing.

Background And Objective: Owing to the unexpected in vivo fracture failure of the original design, structural optimized patient-specific mandibular reconstruction plates (PSMRPs) were created to boost the biomechanical performance of bridging segmental bony defect in the mandibular reconstruction after tumor resection. This work aimed to validate the biomechanical benefit of the structural optimized PSMRPs relative to the original design and compare the biomechanical performance between PSMRP1 with generic contour customization and PSMRP2 with a tangent arc upper margin in mandibular angle region.

Methods: Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was used to evaluate the biomechanical behavior of mandibular reconstruction assemblies (MRAs) concerning these two structural optimized PSMRPs by simulating momentary left group clenching and incisal clenching tasks.

Long-term survival of implant-based oral rehabilitation following maxillofacial reconstruction with vascularized bone flap.

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the 5-year cumulative survival rate of implant-based dental rehabilitation following maxillofacial reconstruction with a vascularized bone flap and to investigate the potential risk factors which might influence the survival rate.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective cohort study was designed. Inclusion criteria involved 18 years old or above patients with the availability of clinical and radiological data and a minimum follow-up 1 year following implant placement.

Value of six comorbidity scales for predicting survival of patients with primary surgery for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Comorbidities influence treatment outcome of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This study compared the predictive performance of six comorbidity scales for overall survival after surgery for OSCC.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed OSCC patients, surgically treated at an academic center in Belgium between January 01, 2000 and January 01, 2020.

A Retrospective Analysis of a Cohort of Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer.

Objective: The treatment approach of recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) has long been similar for all patients. Any difference in treatment strategy was only based on existing comorbidities and on preferences of the patient and the treating oncologist. The recent advance obtained with immune therapy and more specifically immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has been a true game changer.

The Effectiveness of Surgical Methods for Trismus Release at Least 6 Months After Head and Neck Cancer Treatment: Systematic Review.

Background: The objective of this systematic review was to identify the different surgical treatment modalities of severe trismus after head and neck squamous cell cancer treatment.

Methods: An electronic literature database search was conducted in Medline, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, and OpenGrey to determine articles published up to September 2021. Two observers independently assessed the identified papers for eligibility according to PRISMA guidelines.

3D quantification of in vivo orthodontic tooth movement in rats by means of micro-computed tomography.

Objective: (1) To test the accuracy of split-mouth models in rats for the study of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) and (2) to propose an improved 3D model for quantification of OTM in rats.

Methods: Eleven Wistar rats were split into group 1 (dental anchorage) and group 2 (skeletal anchorage). In both groups, no orthodontic force (OF) was applied on the contralateral hemi-maxilla.

Retrospective study on the predictive factors in chronic trismus.

Trismus is one of the most debilitating and treatment-resistant complications resulting from head and neck oncological treatments. The objective of this study was to assess how primary tumour variables could assist in predicting chronic trismus. From a (retrospective) oncological database (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven), tumour-related, surgical, and oral functional variables were reviewed.

Preclinical study of additive manufactured plates with shortened lengths for complete mandible reconstruction: Design, biomechanics simulation, and fixation stability assessment.

Background: A combination of short titanium plates fabricated using additive manufacturing (AM) provides multiple advantages for complete mandible reconstruction, such as the minimisation of inherent implant deformation formed during AM and the resulting clinical impact, as well as greater flexibility for surgical operation. However, the biomechanical feasibility of this strategy is still unclear, and therefore needs to be explored.

Method: Three different combinations of short mandible reconstruction plates (MRPs) were customised considering implant deformation during the AM process.

Application of Three-Dimensional Printed Customized Surgical Plates for Mandibular Reconstruction: Report of Consecutive Cases and Long-Term Postoperative Evaluation.

This study aims to evaluate the use of customized surgical plates in patients with mandibular defects concerning postoperative aesthetics and functional outcomes during the 2-year follow-up. Preoperative virtual surgical plans and patient-specific three-dimensional printed plates were tailored for consecutive patients. Preoperative preparation, surgical produces, postoperative aesthetics, and functional outcomes were described in detail.

The limits of motivational influence in ADHD: no evidence for an altered reaction to negative reinforcement.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have reported a diminished response in the brain's reward circuits to contingent cues predicting future monetary gain in adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The situation with regard to monetary loss is less clear, despite recognition that both positive and negative consequences impact ADHD behaviour. Here, we employ a new Escape Monetary Loss Incentive task in an MRI scanner, which allows the differentiation of contingency and valence effects during loss avoidance, to examine ADHD-related alterations in monetary loss processing.

Biomechanical comparison of locking and non-locking patient-specific mandibular reconstruction plate using finite element analysis.

Patient-specific mandibular reconstruction plate (PSMRP), as one of the patient-specific implants (PSIs), offers a host of benefits to mandibular reconstruction. Due to the limitation of fabricating screw hole threads in the PSMRP, 3D printed PSMRP is applied to the non-locking system directly in the mandibular reconstruction with bone graft regardless of the locking system. Since the conventional manual-bending reconstruction plate (CMBRP) provides better fixation in the locking system, it needs to be validated whether the locking PSMRP performs better than the non-locking PSMRP in the patient-specific mandibular reconstruction.