Physical properties, microbial adhesion, and biocompatibility of additively manufactured ceramic-reinforced resin: Effect of zwitterionic polymer content.

Statement Of Problem: Studies focusing on the effect of zwitterionic polymer content on the physical and biological properties of additively manufactured (AM) ceramic-reinforced resin for dental applications are lacking.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) on the surface properties, mechanical properties, microbial adhesion, and cellular responses of ceramic-reinforced resins.

Material And Methods: Four different groups of AM resins filled with 60 wt% silicate-based composites and varying concentrations of MPC were prepared: 0 wt% (CRN), 1.

Surface properties and biofilm formation on resins for subtractively and additively manufactured fixed dental prostheses aged in artificial saliva: Effect of material type and surface finishing.

Statement Of Problem: Additive manufacturing (AM) and subtractive manufacturing (SM) have been widely used for fabricating resin-based fixed dental prostheses. However, studies on the effects of material type (AM or SM resin) and surface finishing (polishing or glazing) on the surface properties and biofilm formation are lacking.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the effects of material type and surface finishing on the surface roughness, wettability, protein adsorption, and microbial adhesion of the AM and SM resins marketed for fixed restorations under artificial saliva-aged conditions.

Can deep learning-designed anterior tooth-borne crown fulfill morphologic, aesthetic, and functional criteria in clinical practice?

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the design outcomes of anterior crowns generated using deep learning (DL)-based software with those fabricated by a technician using conventional dental computer-assisted design (CAD) software without DL support, with a focus on the evaluation of crown morphology, function, and aesthetics.

Methods: Twenty-five in vivo datasets comprising maxillary and mandibular arch scans of prepared maxillary central incisors were utilized to design anterior crowns by using three methods: 1) a DL-based method resulting in as-generated outcome (DB), 2) a DL-based method further optimized by a technician (DM), and 3) a conventional CAD-based method (NC, control). Evaluations were conducted for crown morphology (total discrepancy volume (TDV), root mean square (RMS), positive average (PA) and negative average (NA) deviations), functional aspects (incisal path: deviations, length, and mean inclination), and aesthetics (crown width, height, width-to-height ratio, angular radius of mesioincisal line angle, proximal contact length, and tooth axis angle).

Use of Advanced Energy Devices and Fiberoptic Retractors in Single-Incision Breast-Conserving Surgery for Breast Cancer.

Purpose: The use of advanced energy devices for mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection can reduce perioperative blood loss, seroma formation, and drainage duration/volume. Retraction using fiberoptic retractors can help visualize deep and narrow surgical fields. We aimed to compare the postoperative outcomes between single-incision breast-conserving surgery (SIBCS) and conventional breast-conserving surgery (CBCS) with axillary staging using advanced energy devices and conventional equipment, respectively.

Deep learning-designed implant-supported posterior crowns: Assessing time efficiency, tooth morphology, emergence profile, occlusion, and proximal contacts.

Objectives: To compare implant supported crowns (ISCs) designed using deep learning (DL) software with those designed by a technician using conventional computer-aided design software.

Methods: Twenty resin-based partially edentulous casts (maxillary and mandibular) used for fabricating ISCs were evaluated retrospectively. ISCs were designed using a DL-based method with no modification of the as-generated outcome (DB), a DL-based method with further optimization by a dental technician (DM), and a conventional computer-aided design method by a technician (NC).

Topographical and crystalline change on surface by sandblasting improve flexural and shear bond strength of niobia-modified yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of sandblasting on the physical properties and bond strength of two types of translucent zirconia: niobium-oxide-containing yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals ((Y, Nb)-TZP) and 5 mol% yttria-partially stabilized zirconia (5Y-PSZ). Fully sintered disc specimens were either sandblasted with 125 µm alumina particles or left as-sintered. Surface roughness, crystal phase compositions, and surface morphology were explored.

Tooth morphology, internal fit, occlusion and proximal contacts of dental crowns designed by deep learning-based dental software: A comparative study.

Objectives: This study compared the tooth morphology, internal fit, occlusion, and proximal contacts of dental crowns automatically generated via two deep learning (DL)-based dental software systems with those manually designed by an experienced dental technician using conventional software.

Methods: Thirty partial arch scans of prepared posterior teeth were used. The crowns were designed using two DL-based methods (AA and AD) and a technician-based method (NC).

Antimicrobial activity, surface properties, and cytotoxicity of microencapsulated phytochemicals incorporated into three-dimensionally printable dental polymers.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial properties of three dimensionally-printed dental polymers (3DPs) incorporated with microencapsulated phytochemicals (MPs) and to assess their surface characteristics and cytotoxicity.

Methods: MPs derived from phytoncide oil and their specific chemical components were introduced into suspensions of three microbial species: Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus oralis, and Candida albicans. Optical density was measured to determine the microbial growth in the presence of MPs for testing their antimicrobial activity.

Baseline eGFR cutoff for increased risk of post-contrast acute kidney injury in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the emergency department.

Acute myocardial infarction is an acute-stage disease that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a high-risk factor for post-contrast acute kidney injury (PC-AKI). This retrospective cohort study analyzed the data of 754 patients with STEMI who underwent pPCI and were integrated into the Fast Interrogation Rule for STEMI critical pathway program between 2015 and 2019.

Time efficiency, occlusal morphology, and internal fit of anatomic contour crowns designed by dental software powered by generative adversarial network: A comparative study.

Objectives: To evaluate the time efficiency, occlusal morphology, and internal fit of dental crowns designed using generative adversarial network (GAN)-based dental software compared to conventional dental software.

Methods: Thirty datasets of partial arch scans for prepared posterior teeth were analyzed. Each crown was designed on each abutment using GAN-based software (AI) and conventional dental software (non-AI).

Biological effects of gamma-ray sterilization on 3 mol% yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal: An in vitro study.

Statement Of Problem: Selecting the sterilization method is important because sterilization can alter the surface chemistry of implant materials, including zirconia, and influence their cellular biocompatibility. Studies on the biological effects of sterilization on implant materials are lacking.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the biocompatibility of gamma-ray irradiated 3 mol% yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (3Y-TZP) compared with unirradiated titanium, 3Y-TZP, and pure gold.

GraS signaling in is regulated by a single D35 residue in the extracellular loop.

Bacterial two-component systems are crucial features of bacterial pathogens such as methicillin-resistant to overcome environmental and antimicrobial stresses by activating regulons to interfere with the bactericidal mechanisms. GraRS is a unique subset of two-component systems belonging to the intramembrane-sensing histidine kinase family (IM-HK) and is responsible for resistance to cationic host defense peptides. However, the precise manner by which the short 9-residue extracellular loop of the membrane sensor GraS detects the antimicrobial peptides and transduces the signal is not comprehensively understood.

Improved patient mortality predictions in emergency departments with deep learning data-synthesis and ensemble models.

The triage process in emergency departments (EDs) relies on the subjective assessment of medical practitioners, making it unreliable in certain aspects. There is a need for a more accurate and objective algorithm to determine the urgency of patients. This paper explores the application of advanced data-synthesis algorithms, machine learning (ML) algorithms, and ensemble models to predict patient mortality.

Oncologic Outcomes in Nipple-sparing Mastectomy with Immediate Reconstruction and Total Mastectomy with Immediate Reconstruction in Women with Breast Cancer: A Machine-Learning Analysis.

Background: This study used a single-institution cohort, the Severance dataset, validated the results by using the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) database, adjusted with propensity-score matching (PSM), and analyzed by using a machine learning method. To determine whether the 5-year, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients undergoing nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) with immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) are not inferior to those of women treated with total mastectomy/skin-sparing mastectomy (TM/SSM).

Methods: The Severance dataset enrolled 611 patients with early, invasive breast cancer from 2010 to 2017.

Effect of CAD-CAM restorative materials and scanning aid conditions on the accuracy and time efficiency of intraoral scans.

Purpose: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effects of restorative materials and scanning aid conditions on the accuracy and time efficiency of intraoral scans.

Materials And Methods: Identical anatomic contour crowns were fabricated using the following materials: hybrid ceramic, 3 mol% yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia, 4 mol% yttria-partially stabilized zirconia, 5 mol% yttria-partially stabilized zirconia, cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr), resin, lithium disilicate, and feldspathic ceramic. The models were digitized and analyzed for accuracy (n = 10) under three scanning aid conditions (powder-based, liquid-based, and none).

Effect of translucency of CAD-CAM ceramic restorative materials and scanning aid conditions on the accuracy of intraoral scans.

Background/purpose: Subsurface scattering from translucent material would affect the digital scans. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of translucency of ceramic restorative materials and scanning aid conditions on the accuracy of intraoral scans.

Materials And Methods: Identical anatomic contour crowns with ten ceramic restorative materials were fabricated: five zirconia, three lithium disilicate glass-ceramic, and two leucite reinforced glass-ceramic.

Effect of maximum support attachment angle on intaglio surface trueness of anatomic contour monolithic prostheses manufactured by digital light processing and zirconia suspension.

Statement Of Problem: Support structures are essential for the quality of resin-based prostheses made by the digital light processing (DLP), but few studies have evaluated the effect of support structure on the accuracy of zirconia-based anatomic contour prostheses.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of maximum support attachment angle (MSA) on the intaglio surface trueness of anatomic contour prostheses made by DLP and compare the trueness of 2-unit anatomic contour prostheses with that of those produced by milling.

Material And Methods: Anatomic contour single-unit prostheses were manufactured using DLP and a suspension with 3-mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia.

The thematic role of extracellular loop of VraG in activation of the membrane sensor GraS in a cystic fibrosis MRSA strain differs in nuance from the CA-MRSA strain JE2.

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) often suffer recurrent bronchial bacterial infections that lead to deterioration of lung function over time. The infections in CF patients are often due to S. aureus and P.

Regulation of neutrophil myeloperoxidase inhibitor SPIN by the small RNA Teg49 in Staphylococcus aureus.

Teg49 is a Staphylococcus aureus trans-acting regulatory sRNA derived from cleavage of the sarA P3 transcript. We showed by RNA-Seq here that the 5' trident-like structure in Teg49 regulates transcriptionally (direct and indirect) 22 genes distinct from sarA. Among these, Teg49 was noted to repress spn, encoding a 102 residue preprotein which yields the mature 73 residue peptide which inhibits the catalytic activity of myeloperoxidase in human neutrophils.

Spectroscopic sensing and quantification of AP-endonucleases using fluorescence-enhancement by - isomerization of cyanine dyes.

Apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonucleases are vital DNA repair enzymes, and proposed to be a prognostic biomarker for various types of cancer in humans. Numerous DNA sensors have been developed to evaluate the extent of nuclease activity but their DNA termini are not protected against other nucleases, hampering accurate quantification. Here we developed a new fluorescence enhancement (FE)-based method as an enzyme-specific DNA biosensor with nuclease-protection by three functional units (an AP-site, Cy3 and termini that are protected from exonucleolytic cleavage).

Shaping lightwaves in time and frequency for optical fiber communication.

In optical communications, sphere shaping is used to limit the energy of lightwaves to within a certain value over a period. This minimizes the energy required to contain information, allowing the rate of information transmission to approach the theoretical limit if the transmission medium is linear. However, when shaped lightwaves are transmitted through optical fiber, Kerr nonlinearity manifests itself as nonlinear interference in a peculiar way, potentially lowering communications capacity.

Virtual reality-based neurological examination teaching tool(VRNET) versus standardized patient in teaching neurological examinations for the medical students: a randomized, single-blind study.

Background: The conventional methods for teaching neurological examination with real patients to medical students have some limitations if the patient with the symptom or disease is not available. Therefore, we developed a Virtual Reality-based Neurological Examination Teaching Tool (VRNET) and evaluated its usefulness in in teaching neurological examinations for the medical students.

Methods: In this prospective, randomized, single-blind study, we recruited 98 medical students and divided them into two groups: 1) A standardized patient(SP) group that received the clinical performance examination utilizing standard patients complaining of dizziness was provided neurological findings using conventional method such as verbal description, photographs, and video clips; 2) A SP with VRNET group that was provided the neurological findings using the newly developed tool.

Role of the Staphylococcus aureus Extracellular Loop of GraS in Resistance to Distinct Human Defense Peptides in PMN and Invasive Cardiovascular infections.

GraS is a membrane sensor in Staphylococcus aureus that induces and expression to alter the surface positive charge upon exposure to cationic human defense peptides (HDPs). The sensing domain of GraS likely resides in the 9-residue extracellular loop (EL). In this study, we assessed a hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant S.