Association between convalescent plasma treatment and mortality in COVID-19: a collaborative systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Background: Convalescent plasma has been widely used to treat COVID-19 and is under investigation in numerous randomized clinical trials, but results are publicly available only for a small number of trials. The objective of this study was to assess the benefits of convalescent plasma treatment compared to placebo or no treatment and all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19, using data from all available randomized clinical trials, including unpublished and ongoing trials (Open Science Framework, https://doi.org/10.

Clinical and epidemiological features and prognosis of complicated pyelonephritis: a prospective observational single hospital-based study.

Background: Complicated pyelonephritis (cPN), a common cause of hospital admission, is still a poorly-understood entity given the difficulty involved in its correct definition. The aim of this study was to analyze the main epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological characteristics of cPN and its prognosis in a large cohort of patients with cPN.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational study including 1325 consecutive patients older than 14 years diagnosed with cPN and admitted to a tertiary university hospital between 1997-2013.

Immune response and alveolar bone resorption in a mouse model of Treponema denticola infection.

Treponema denticola is considered to be an agent strongly associated with periodontal disease. The lack of an animal infection model has hampered the understanding of T. denticola pathogenesis and the host's immune response to infection.

From clinician to researcher--a first-hand account.

While teaching and clinical care may be somewhat intuitive, research is much less so, and a lack of research experience or opportunity to do research can be frustrating to the faculty member who is trying to become well-rounded. In an effort to ease the transition from clinical teacher to clinical researcher, the faculty of dentistry at Dalhousie University has developed a research mentorship program. The purpose of this paper is to report on the opportunities and challenges that 2 dental clinicians experienced when they participated in the pilot phase of an epidemiologic survey of the oral health status of seniors.

The role of keratinized tissue and attached gingiva in maintaining periodontal/peri-implant health.

Although the band of keratinized tissue and attached gingiva is determined genetically, it may be affected by the presence of plaque-associated inflammation or by the action of certain mechanical interventions. This article reviews variations in the width of keratinized tissue and attached gingiva and their clinical significance regarding periodontal/peri-implant health.