Comparing Military and Civilian Dentists' Treatment Planning Decisions: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: Clinical decision-making varies among dentists. However, the literature is limited and narrow in scope regarding the variation between public and private sector dentists. Because both types of dentists' decisions can directly influence military dental readiness, it is important to understand the potential differences in diagnosis, treatment planning, and the delivery of care.

Comprehensive Analysis for Anti-Cancer Target-Indication Prioritization of Placental Growth Factor Inhibitor (PGF) by Use of Omics and Patient Survival Data.

The expression of the placental growth factor (PGF) in cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment can contribute to the induction of angiogenesis, supporting cancer cell metabolism by ensuring an adequate blood supply. Angiogenesis is a key component of cancer metabolism as it facilitates the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to rapidly growing tumor cells. PGF is recognized as a novel target for anti-cancer treatment due to its ability to overcome resistance to existing angiogenesis inhibitors and its impact on the tumor microenvironment.

Temporal Changes in Metabolic Syndrome Indices and Factors of Metabolic Syndrome Development in Patients With Rheumatic Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Patients with rheumatic disease have a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome. The purpose of this study was to investigate temporal changes in metabolic syndrome indices and to identify factors influencing metabolic syndrome development. A prospective cohort study design was adopted.

A reliable and robust method for the upper thigh muscle quantification on computed tomography: toward a quantitative biomarker for sarcopenia.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of the upper thigh level as a landmark to measure muscle area for sarcopenia assessment on computed tomography (CT).

Methods: In the 116 healthy subjects who performed CT scans covering from mid-abdomen to feet, the skeletal muscle area in the upper thigh level at the inferior tip of ischial tuberosity (SMA), the mid-thigh level (SMA), and L3 inferior endplate level (SMA) were measured by two independent readers. Pearson correlation coefficients between SMA, SMA, and SMA were calculated.

Spatial distribution of salinity and heavy metals in surface soils on the Mugan Plain, the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The Republic of Azerbaijan suffers from low agricultural productivity caused by soil salinization and erosion, and limited and insufficient soil data are available for economic and political reasons. In this study, soil salinity and heavy metal levels were assessed. Environmental risk assessment was conducted to evaluate the potential risk posed by soils to human health.

Risk Indicators of Urgent and Extensive Dental Treatment Needs in U.S. Air Force Recruits.

Introduction: Dental Readiness Classifications (DRCs) enable the Military Health System to prioritize dental care in garrison, minimizing dental emergencies and mission degradation during deployments. Over half (52.4%) of 2008 military recruits presented with high-priority urgent needs classified as DRC3 upon initial dental examination and 18.

Development and Validation of a Deep Learning System for Segmentation of Abdominal Muscle and Fat on Computed Tomography.

Objective: We aimed to develop and validate a deep learning system for fully automated segmentation of abdominal muscle and fat areas on computed tomography (CT) images.

Materials And Methods: A fully convolutional network-based segmentation system was developed using a training dataset of 883 CT scans from 467 subjects. Axial CT images obtained at the inferior endplate level of the 3rd lumbar vertebra were used for the analysis.

Reliable and robust method for abdominal muscle mass quantification using CT/MRI: An explorative study in healthy subjects.

Background: Quantification of abdominal muscle mass by cross-sectional imaging has been increasingly used to diagnose sarcopenia; however, the technical method for quantification has not been standardized yet. We aimed to determine an optimal method to measure the abdominal muscle area.

Methods: Among 50 consecutive subjects who underwent abdominal CT and MRI for possible liver donation, total abdominal muscle area (TAMA) and total psoas muscle area (TPA) at the L3 inferior endplate level were measured by two blinded readers.

Comparisons of the Incidence and Critical Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients With a Rheumatic Disease or Gout.

Background: Rheumatic disease and gout are particularly known to be associated with metabolic syndrome.

Purpose: To compare incidence, physiological indices, and risk factors of metabolic syndrome in patients with rheumatic diseases or gout.

Methods: Data were collected from medical records of 220 patients with rheumatic disease or gout.

Identification of symptom clusters and their synergistic effects on quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Aims: To examine the presence of symptom clusters and synergistic effects of symptom clusters on quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis patients frequently experience multiple concurrent symptoms of pain, fatigue, and depression.

Design: A nonexperimental, cross-sectional correlation design.

Predictive value of sarcopenia and visceral obesity for postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy analyzed on clinically acquired CT and MRI.

Objective: To evaluate predictive values of sarcopenia and visceral obesity measured from preoperative CT/MRIs for postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after pancreaticoduodenectomy in patients with periampullary malignancies.

Methods: From the prospectively constructed surgical registry, we included adult patients treated with pancreaticoduodenectomy. Based on CT/MRIs, body morphometric analysis was performed to evaluate the visceral obesity and sarcopenia, based on the areas of visceral fat and skeletal muscle measured at the L3 vertebrae level.

Optimal Phase of Dynamic Computed Tomography for Reliable Size Measurement of Metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Liver: Comparison between Pre- and Post-Contrast Phases.

Objective: The reliability of size measurements of liver metastases from neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) phases made by different readers may be hampered due to transient, variable rim enhancement in arterial phase (AP) or portal venous phase (PVP) images. We aimed to assess the reliability of tumor size measurements in pre- and post-contrast scans.

Materials And Methods: The study coordinator selected target lesions according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.

Causal Relationships Between Modifiable Risk Factors of Cognitive Impairment, Cognitive Function, Self-Management, and Quality of Life in Patients With Rheumatic Diseases.

Background: Rheumatic diseases are one of the most common types of chronic conditions that affect cognitive functions.

Purpose: To develop and verify a hypothetical model of causal relationships between modifiable risk factors for cognitive impairment, cognitive function, self-management, and quality of life in patients with rheumatic diseases.

Methods: A hypothetical model was developed on the basis of empirical evidence.

Predictive value of basal cell carcinoma biopsies with negative margins: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Pathology reports of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) biopsies often contain comments of positive or negative margins, with only 1%-2% of the margin evaluated. The negative predictive value (NPV) of biopsy margin status on residual BCC is unknown.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the NPV of BCC biopsy margin status on the absence of residual BCC in the corresponding excision.

Comparison of Clinical Features in a Population of Basic Military Trainees Versus the General Department of Defense Beneficiary Population Presenting With Influenza.

Introduction: Upper respiratory tract infection (URI) is a well-documented cause of morbidity, extra expense, and lost training time among basic military trainees (BMTs). The goal of this study was to characterize the clinical presentation of influenza in the BMT population and to better understand how this presentation differs from that of the general Department of Defense (DoD) beneficiary population (non-BMTs).

Materials And Methods: Clinical and demographic data were collected in a prospective study that enrolled DoD beneficiaries presenting to medical treatment facilities in San Antonio, Texas, with URI symptoms between January 2005 and March 2011.

CT gastrography for volumetric measurement of remnant stomach after distal gastrectomy: a feasibility study.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of post-operative CT gastrography for volumetry of the remnant stomach in gastric cancer patients treated with distal gastrectomy.

Methods: CT gastrography was performed with oral administration of effervescent granules in 35 gastric cancer patients who underwent distal gastrectomy. Two readers independently rated the degree of gastric distension on a four-point scale, one (near-total collapse) to four (well distended) and measured the volume of remnant stomach using either 3D or 2D volumetry.

[Correlates of Cognitive Impairment of Rheumatic Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis].

Purpose: This study was conducted to synthesis the results of research on relationships of cognitive impairment with multi-dimensional correlates of rheumatic disease through a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Methods: For the study purpose, 23 studies were selected through a systematic process of searching the literature.

Results: The study results showed that among general characteristics, age and education were the variables having a significant relationship with cognitive impairment.

Feasibility of a Low-Power Radiofrequency Ablation Protocol to Delay Steam Popping.

Purpose: Steam popping frequently occurs during conventional high-power radiofrequency (RF) ablation, increasing the risk of tumor spread. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a low-power RF ablation protocol on the intensity and timing of steam popping in ex vivo bovine liver.

Materials And Methods: High-power (maximum 200 W; group 1) and low-power (maximum 70 W; group 2) RF ablation protocols were established.

Enhanced efficacy of CKD-516 in combination with doxorubicin: pre-clinical evaluation using a hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft model.

Aim: To evaluate the anticancer efficacy of CKD-516, a novel vascular-disrupting agent, alone and in combination with doxorubicin in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: In mice bearing luciferized HCC cells, therapeutic efficacy was assessed for seven days after single administration of CKD-516, doxorubicin, or combination of CKD-516 and doxorubicin.

Results: Bioluminescence-imaging (BLI) signals in the CKD-516 group abruptly decreased initially, but recovered at seven days after treatment.

Pulsed high-intensity focused ultrasound enhances apoptosis of pancreatic cancer xenograft with gemcitabine.

We sought to investigate whether concurrent exposure to pulsed high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and the chemotherapeutic drug gemcitabine would enhance apoptosis in pancreatic cancer. A pancreatic cancer xenograft model was established using BALB/c nude mice and human pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1). In the first study, mice were randomly allocated into one of four groups: control (n = 4), HIFU alone (n = 4), gemcitabine (GEM) alone (n = 28) and concurrent treatment with HIFU and gemcitabine (HIGEM) (n = 28).

Vascular disrupting effect of CKD-516: preclinical study using DCE-MRI.

Vascular disrupting agents (VDAs) are new class of anti-cancer drugs targeting pre-existing tumor vasculature which lead to tumor ischemia and necrosis. An innovative tubulin polymerization inhibitor, CKD-516, was recently developed as a VDA. We attempted to evaluate its tubulin destabilizing effect using immunofluorescence staining on human endothelial cells (HUVECs) and to ascertain its antivascular effect in a rabbit VX2 tumor model using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI by measuring the changes in kinetic parameters such as K-trans and IAUGC.

Terahertz dynamic imaging of skin drug absorption.

Terahertz (THz) imaging is a nondestructive, label-free, rapid imaging technique which gives the possibility of a real-time tracing of drugs within the skin. We evaluated the feasibility of THz dynamic imaging for visualizing serial changes in the distribution and penetration of a topical agent, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) containing ketoprofen, using excised mouse skins. THz imaging was performed for 6 h after drug application to the skin and was compared with the results obtained using the Franz cell diffusion test, a standard in vitro skin absorption test.