Reassessing leatherback turtle lineages and unveiling the first evidence of nuclear mitochondrial DNA in sea turtles.

A recent study proposed a new genetic lineage of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) based on genetic analysis, environmental history, and local ecological knowledge (LEK), suggesting the existence of two possible species or subspecies on the beaches of Oaxaca, diverging ~ 13.5 Mya. However, this hypothesis may be influenced by nuclear mitochondrial DNA segments (NUMTs), which could have been misamplified as true mtDNA.

Inferring the origin of new D-loop haplotypes of loggerhead sea turtles (Testudinata: Cheloniidae) from the Southwest Atlantic lineage.

The populations of the loggerhead turtles, present four main D-loop mitochondrial haplogroups that are distributed across the Indo-Pacific, Mediterranean, and Atlantic oceans. The Southwestern Atlantic (SWA) is one of the Regional Management Units (RMUs) of loggerheads, characterized by unique haplotypes, high nest density, and distinct life history traits. Detecting new D-loop haplogroups is important, particularly endemic ones, as they can enhance our understanding of their life history within the RMUs and contribute to the resolution of mixed stock analysis.

Clinical protocol selection for alveolar ridge augmentation at sites exhibiting slight, moderate, and severe horizontal ridge deficiencies.

Focused Clinical Question: What factors identify the optimal bone augmentation techniques for managing slight, moderate, and severe horizontal alveolar ridge deficiency (ARD) at dental implant sites?

Summary: Horizontal ARD is a concern at a high proportion of sites receiving dental implants, and clinicians have developed a variety of surgical procedures to address such defects. In a particular case, selection of the optimal treatment may depend predominantly on defect severity, location (anterior versus posterior), and configuration (contained versus noncontained). This report provides a framework for selecting an augmentation method when presented with a slight, moderate, or severe horizontal ARD at a site requiring dental implant placement.

Guided protocol for indirect fabrication of a custom provisional restoration prior to immediate implant surgery in the esthetic zone.

Background: Delivery of a high-quality provisional restoration at a maxillary anterior immediate implant site enhances patient-centered outcomes and promotes development of favorable hard and soft tissue architecture. The purpose of this report is to present a protocol relying upon compatible guided surgery and laboratory systems for fabrication of a custom provisional crown prior to immediate implant surgery in the esthetic zone.

Methods And Results: A female patient, aged 33 years, presented to the Army Postgraduate Dental School, Fort Gordon, Georgia, with an unfavorable prognosis for tooth #9.

Dental implants at sites of focal high and mixed density osseous lesions: Treatment strategies.

Focused Clinical Question: Under what circumstances may a clinician consider dental implant placement at a site exhibiting a focal high or mixed density (HMD) osseous lesion radiologically?

Summary: Some conditions and pathologic entities exhibiting high and mixed density radiological appearance pose low risk for dental implant failure or complications following implant surgery. However, other lesions represent contraindications to implant placement, and implant surgery at such sites can result in severe morbidity.

Conclusion: Potential implant sites exhibiting focal HMD osseous lesions/conditions present varying levels of risk.

The Triangle Suture for Membrane Fixation in Guided Bone Regeneration Procedures: A Report of Two Cases.

Introduction: Existing evidence supports superior treatment outcomes in guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedures employing membrane fixation. The purpose of this report is to present a specific flap design and suturing method for stabilizing GBR barrier membranes.

Case Presentation: Two generally healthy patients received GBR using native collagen membranes stabilized with absorbable sutures.

Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser Photobiomodulation May Improve Neurosensory Function after Surgical Injury to Cranial Nerve V: A Report of Three Consecutive Cases.

Objective: The purpose of this report was to document clinical responses to Nd:YAG laser energy in patients with surgical injury to terminal branches of the trigeminal nerve.

Background: Limited evidence from in vitro, animal, and human studies suggests infrared laser energy may positively influence recovery after peripheral or cranial nerve injury, although clinical effects of neodymiumdoped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers remain unstudied in this context.

Methods: We applied Nd:YAG laser energy in the treatment of three consecutive patients presenting with altered neurosensory function following various oral and maxillofacial procedures.

Global phylogeography of the critically endangered hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).

The hawksbill turtle is a broadly distributed, highly migratory and critically endangered sea turtle species. The paucity of studies restricts the comprehension of its behavior and life history. In this work, we performed a global phylogeographic analysis using a compilation of previously published mitochondrial haplotype data to understand the dynamics and diversity of hawksbill populations worldwide.

Phylogeography, Genetic Diversity, and Management Units of Hawksbill Turtles in the Indo-Pacific.

Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) populations have experienced global decline because of a history of intense commercial exploitation for shell and stuffed taxidermied whole animals, and harvest for eggs and meat. Improved understanding of genetic diversity and phylogeography is needed to aid conservation. In this study, we analyzed the most geographically comprehensive sample of hawksbill turtles from the Indo-Pacific Ocean, sequencing 766 bp of the mitochondrial control region from 13 locations (plus Aldabra, n = 4) spanning over 13500 km.

Nuclear markers reveal a complex introgression pattern among marine turtle species on the Brazilian coast.

Surprisingly, a high frequency of interspecific sea turtle hybrids has been previously recorded in a nesting site along a short stretch of the Brazilian coast. Mitochondrial DNA data indicated that as much as 43% of the females identified as Eretmochelys imbricata are hybrids in this area (Bahia State of Brazil). It is a remarkable find, because most of the nesting sites surveyed worldwide, including some in northern Brazil, presents no hybrids, and rare Caribbean sites present no more than 2% of hybrids.

DNA barcoding of Brazilian sea turtles (Testudines).

Five out of the seven recognized species of sea turtles (Testudines) occur on the Brazilian coast. The Barcode Initiative is an effort to undertake a molecular inventory of Earth biodiversity. Cytochrome Oxidase c subunit I (COI) molecular tags for sea turtle species have not yet been described.

Genetic diversity and origin of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) from the Brazilian coast.

The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) population that nests in Brazil is restricted to a few individuals, but high densities of pelagic individuals are observed along the southern and southeastern Brazilian coast. We investigated the diversity of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region in order to understand the relationship between nesting and pelagic leatherbacks from Brazil and elsewhere. High-quality 711-bp sequences were generated, analyzed, and compared with published data from worldwide populations.