Cost-effectiveness of vector control for supplementing mass drug administration for eliminating lymphatic filariasis in India.

Background/methodology: Despite progress using mass drug administration (MDA), lymphatic filariasis (LF) remains a major public health issue in India. Vector control could potentially augment MDA towards LF elimination. We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis of MDA alone and MDA together with vector control single (VCS) modality or vector control integrated (VCI) modalities.

Magnesium-enhanced porcine particles using hydrothermal technique improve the osteogenic differentiation of cells.

: Guided bone regeneration (GBR) uses bone grafts and barrier membranes to block soft tissue invasion and eventually create a new bone. Some studies indicate that a porcine bone graft demonstrates excellent biocompatibility and holds promise as a xenograft for GBR. However, only a few studies have investigated the effectiveness of this biomaterial after magnesium coating in improving osteoblast performance.

Allylamine coating on zirconia dental implant surface promotes osteogenic differentiation in vitro and accelerates osseointegration in vivo.

Objectives: The glow discharge plasma (GDP) procedure has proven efficacy in grafting allylamine onto zirconia dental implant surfaces to enhance osseointegration. This study explored the enhancement of zirconia dental implant properties using GDP at different energy settings (25, 50, 75, 100, and 200 W) both in vitro and in vivo.

Materials And Methods: In vitro analyses included scanning electron microscopy, wettability assessment, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and more.

Automatic recognition of teeth and periodontal bone loss measurement in digital radiographs using deep-learning artificial intelligence.

Background/purpose: Artificial Intelligence (AI) can optimize treatment approaches in dental healthcare due to its high level of accuracy and wide range of applications. This study seeks to propose a new deep learning (DL) ensemble model based on deep Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) algorithms to predict tooth position, detect shape, detect remaining interproximal bone level, and detect radiographic bone loss (RBL) using periapical and bitewing radiographs.

Materials And Methods: 270 patients from January 2015 to December 2020, and all images were deidentified without private information for this study.

3D-Printed PLA Scaffold with Fibronectin Enhances In Vitro Osteogenesis.

Background: Tricalcium phosphate (TCP, Molecular formula: Ca(PO)) is a hydrophilic bone graft biomaterial extensively used for guided bone regeneration (GBR). However, few studies have investigated 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) combined with the osteo-inductive molecule fibronectin (FN) for enhanced osteoblast performance in vitro, and specialized bone defect treatments.

Aim: This study evaluated PLA properties and efficacy following glow discharge plasma (GDP) treatment and FN sputtering for fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printed PLA alloplastic bone grafts.

Accuracy of implant site preparation in robotic navigated dental implant surgery.

Background: Modern technological advancements have led to increase in the development of surgical robots in dentistry, resulting in excellent clinical treatment outcomes.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the accuracy of automatic robotic implant site preparation for different implant sizes by correlating planned and posttreatment positions, and to compare the performance of robotic and human freehand drilling.

Method: Seventy-six drilling sites on partially edentulous models were used, with three different implant sizes (Ø = 3.

Functionalization of zirconia ceramic with fibronectin proteins enhanced bioactivity and osteogenic response of osteoblast-like cells.

To overcome the genuine bioinert properties of zirconia ceramic, functionalization of the surface with the bioactive protein fibronectin was conducted. Glow discharge plasma (GDP)-Argon was first used to clean the zirconia surface. Then allylamine was treated at three different powers of 50 W, 75 W, and 85 W and immersed into 2 different fibronectin concentrations (5 µg/ml and 10 µg/ml).

Fabrication of Solvent-Free PCL/β-TCP Composite Fiber for 3D Printing: Physiochemical and Biological Investigation.

Manufacturing three-dimensional (3D) objects with polymers/bioceramic composite materials has been investigated in recent years. In this study, we manufactured and evaluated solvent-free polycaprolactone (PCL) and beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) composite fiber as a scaffold material for 3D printing. To investigate the optimal ratio of feedstock material for 3D printing, the physical and biological characteristics of four different ratios of β-TCP compounds mixed with PCL were investigated.

Outcomes of a Phase II Study of Intraperitoneal Paclitaxel plus Systemic Capecitabine and Oxaliplatin (XELOX) for Gastric Cancer with Peritoneal Metastases.

Background: Adding intraperitoneal paclitaxel (IP-PTX) to paclitaxel/5-fluoropyrimidine has shown promising results in patients with gastric cancer peritoneal metastases (GCPM) but has not been studied with standard-of-care platinum/fluoropyrimidine combinations. Our goal to was evaluate IP-PTX with capecitabine/oxaliplatin (XELOX) in GCPM.

Methods: Forty-four patients with GCPM received IP PTX (40 mg/m, Days 1, 8), oral capecitabine (1000 mg/m twice daily, Days 1-14) and intravenous oxaliplatin (100 mg/m, Day 1) in 21-day cycles.

Equation for Tooth Size Prediction from Mixed Dentition Analysis for Taiwanese Population: A Pilot Study.

Background: In mixed dentition analysis, estimation of the mesiodistal width of unerupted permanent canines and premolars is essential for successful diagnosis and treatment planning. The present study aimed to develop a simple linear equation to predict permanent tooth sizes from mixed dentition analysis for Taiwanese people.

Methods: The sample comprised 200 dental casts, derived from Taiwanese patients (100 males and 100 females; age, 12-35 years).

Increasing trends in admissions due to non-communicable diseases over 2012 to 2017: findings from three large cities in Myanmar.

Background: Globally, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, cancers, and diabetes are the four major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) contributing to more than 80% of mortality and morbidity due to NCDs. In Myanmar, the proportional mortality rate due to NCDs increased from 46.9% in 2000 to 68% in 2017.

Clinics in diagnostic imaging (204). Gastro-gastric intussusception due to gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST).

A 95-year-old woman presented with abdominal bloating and anorexia of one week's duration. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed features in keeping with gastro-gastric intussusception with a lead mass. Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy demonstrated a large 5-cm pedunculated fundal mass intussuscepted into the distal stomach.

A Novel Wind Speed Estimation Based on the Integration of an Artificial Neural Network and a Particle Filter Using BeiDou GEO Reflectometry.

Oceanographic remote sensing, which is based on the sensitivity of reflected signals from the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), so-called GNSS-Reflectometry (GNSS-R), is very useful for the observation of ocean wind speed. Wind speed estimation over the ocean is the core factor in maritime transportation management and the study of climate change. The main concept of the GNSS-R technique is using the different times between the reflected and the direct signals to measure the wind speed and wind direction.

A case report of bleeding from a duodenal varix: Rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Introduction: Ectopic variceal bleeding is uncommon, accounts for 2-5% of variceal bleeding, of which 17% is in duodenum.

Presentation Of Case: 62-year-old lady with newly diagnosed liver cirrhosis on admission, presented with severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), was ultimately diagnosed with bleeding duodenal varices with single-balloon enteroscopy, after multiple oesophagogastroduodenoscopies (OGDs) and CT scans which failed to identify the varices. She was treated successfully with duodenectomy.

Pay-for-performance as a cost-effective implementation strategy: results from a cluster randomized trial.

Background: Pay-for-performance (P4P) has been recommended as a promising strategy to improve implementation of high-quality care. This study examined the incremental cost-effectiveness of a P4P strategy found to be highly effective in improving the implementation and effectiveness of the Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA), an evidence-based treatment (EBT) for adolescent substance use disorders (SUDs).

Methods: Building on a $30 million national initiative to implement A-CRA in SUD treatment settings, urn randomization was used to assign 29 organizations and their 105 therapists and 1173 patients to one of two conditions (implementation-as-usual (IAU) control condition or IAU+P4P experimental condition).

Revision Procedures After Failed Adjustable Gastric Banding: Comparison of Efficacy and Safety.

Background: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) was one of the commonly performed bariatric operations; however, it carries a high revision rate. The aim of the present study was to report the long-term outcomes of LAGB and compare the outcomes between the different revision procedures.

Methods: All patients who underwent LAGB in a large bariatric center in Asia between May 2002 and April 2011 were included.

Metabolic Surgery for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Experience from Asia.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a current global health priority and Asia is the epicenter of this epidemic disease. Unlike in the west, where older population is most affected, the burden of diabetes in Asian countries is disproportionately high in young to middle-age adults. The incidence of diabetic nephropathy is alarmingly high in patients with early onset T2DM, especially in those with poor glycemic control.

Genomic skimming for identification of medium/highly abundant transposable elements in Arundo donax and Arundo plinii.

Transposable elements (TEs) are the most abundant genetic material for almost all eukaryotic genomes. Their effects on the host genomes range from an extensive size variation to the regulation of gene expression, altering gene function and creating new genes. Because of TEs pivotal contribute to the host genome structure and regulation, their identification and characterization provide a wealth of useful data for gaining an in-depth understanding of host genome functioning.

Metabolic Surgery for Diabetes Treatment: Sleeve Gastrectomy or Gastric Bypass?

Background: Bariatric surgery has gained reputation for its metabolic effect and is increasingly being performed to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, there is still a gray area regarding the choice of surgical procedure according to patient characteristics due to inadequate evidences, so far. We aim to compare the efficacy of two most commonly performed bariatric/metabolic surgeries, sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and gastric bypass (GB) with regard to remission of T2DM after surgery.

Bariatric Surgery for Patients With Early-Onset vs Late-Onset Type 2 Diabetes.

Importance: The prevalence of early-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which responds poorly to medical treatment, is increasing. Bariatric surgery has been well recognized for its effectiveness in the remission of T2DM, but its effectiveness and durability in the remission of early-onset T2DM has not yet been explored.

Objective: To compare the short- and long-term outcomes of bariatric surgery with a specific focus on the rate of remission of T2DM in patients with early-onset (age <40 years) and late-onset (age ≥40 years) T2DM.

Cost-effectiveness of motivational intervention with significant others for patients with alcohol misuse.

Aims: To estimate the incremental cost, cost-effectiveness and benefit-cost ratio of incorporating a significant other (SO) into motivational intervention for alcohol misuse.

Design: We obtained economic data from the one year with the intervention in full operation for patients in a recent randomized trial.

Setting: The underlying trial took place at a major urban hospital in the United States.