Trends in the Clinical Characteristics and Outcome of Infective Endocarditis: A Nationwide Study From 2016 to 2021.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is still a fatal disease, and given its rarity, ongoing updates to patient characteristics and outcomes of IE are essential for providing precision diagnoses and effective treatments. This study sought to examine temporal trends in the clinical characteristics and in-hospital occurrence of adverse outcomes of IE.

Methods And Results: Using the Japan nationwide administrative database, we identified patients with IE in Japan from 2016 to 2021.

Automated design prediction for definitive obturator prostheses: A case-based reasoning study.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a case-based reasoning (CBR) system in predicting the design of definitive obturator prostheses for maxillectomy patients.

Materials And Methods: Data from 209 maxillectomy cases, including extraoral images of obturator prostheses and occlusal images of maxillectomy defects, were collected from Institute of Science Tokyo Hospital. These cases were organized into a structured database using Python's pandas library.

Custom Ocular Prosthesis With Intraoral Obturator for Orbital and Intraoral Defects Resulting From Mucormycosis: A Technical Case Report.

Orbital defects can result from a myriad of underlying diseases and injuries. Treatment of malignant neoplasms and maxillofacial trauma are common reasons for orbital exenteration. Recently, a growing number of cases of orbital defects have been reported due to mucormycosis in patients with COVID-19.

Digitization of Dentate and Edentulous Maxillectomy and Mandibulectomy Defects with Three Different Intraoral Scanners: A Comparative In Vitro Study.

: The objective of this study was to compare the trueness and precision of three intraoral scanners (IOSs) for the digitization of dentate and edentulous maxillectomy and mandibulectomy defects in artificial models. Four representative defect models-a dentate and an edentulous maxillectomy model and a dentate and an edentulous mandibulectomy model-were used for digital scanning. After a reference scan of each model, they were scanned with three IOSs: CEREC AC Omnicam, True Definition, and cara TRIOS 3.

Hospitalized Patients, Treatments, and Quality of Care for Cardiovascular Diseases in Japan - Outline of the Nationwide JROAD Investigation.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have imposed a substantial burden on population health and society. In Japan, the National Plan for the Promotion of Measures Against Cerebrovascular and Cardiovascular Disease, grounded in national legislation, seeks to improve the quality of care and standardize treatment for cerebrovascular disease and CVD. The plan emphasizes the need to develop standardized systems for collecting and disseminating medical information, as well as promoting data-driven research.

Contemporary Use of β-Blockers in Heart Failure Patients With and Without Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Database Analysis.

Evidence of the effectiveness of β-blockers in heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) in a contemporary cohort is controversial. This study investigated the association between the use of β-blockers and prognosis in hospitalized HF patients with and without AF in Japan. Patients hospitalized with the first episode of acute HF were identified from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan between April 2014 and March 2021.

Maxillary sinus floor augmentation using sponge- and cotton-like graft materials in a rabbit model.

Objectives: Bone graft materials commonly used for maxillary sinus floor augmentation (MSFA), including hydroxyapatite (HAp) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), are mostly granular and have poor handleability. HAp/collagen composite material (HAp/Col) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP)/poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) have shown promise but their application in MSFA as bone graft materials remains unclear. Here, we investigated the bone-forming behavior of HAp/Col and β-TCP/PLGA in an MSFA rabbit model.

Influence of Blowing Musical Instruments on Geometrical Face Changes: 3D Evaluation Study.

This study examined changes in facial geometry while playing wind instruments. Nine musicians participated (6 men, 3 women, mean age 52 years) in part 1 of the study, and 3 musicians participated (3 women, mean age 41 years) in part 2. In part 1, the high and low notes of each instrument were selected as test sounds.

Radioprotection Performance Evaluation of 3D-Printed and Conventional Heat-Cured Dental Resins for Radiotherapy Prostheses.

3D printing is increasingly used in dentistry, with biocompatible resins playing a key role. This study compared the radioprotective properties of a commonly used 3D-printed resin (Formlabs surgical guide resin) with traditional heat-cured resin and examined the relationship between material thickness and radiation attenuation. The specimens consisted of 3D-printed and heat-cured resin specimens, each measuring 45 × 45 mm, with five different thicknesses (6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 mm), totaling 100 samples.

Treatment strategies for patients over 80 years of age with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma aged ≥80 years, focusing on surgical treatments.

Study Design: We reviewed patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma aged ≥80 years who underwent surgery between 2005 and 2018. Basic information, comorbidities, multiple primary cancers, initial treatment, complications, and outcomes were evaluated.

CAD-CAM for removable partial denture fabrication after marginal mandibulectomy based on a well-adjusted pre-existing denture.

This clinical report summarizes a workflow that introduces two approaches for fabricating a metal framework removable partial denture for a marginal mandibulectomy patient. First, the pre-existing denture was adjusted according to the piezographic technique to determine the optimal configuration for adhering to the available denture space. Second, computer-aided design-computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technology was used to fabricate a new removable partial denture by digitally scanning the oral condition and the well-adjusted denture and then using the obtained data to design and fabricate the new denture.

Maxillectomy patients' speech and performance of contemporary speaker-independent automatic speech recognition platforms in Japanese.

Background: Automatic speech recognition (ASR) can potentially help older adults and people with disabilities reduce their dependence on others and increase their participation in society. However, maxillectomy patients with reduced speech intelligibility may encounter some problems using such technologies.

Objectives: To investigate the accuracy of three commonly used ASR platforms when used by Japanese maxillectomy patients with and without their obturator placed.

Dental and bony changes following subtotal glossectomy for cancer: A clinical report.

The impact of tongue size and forces on surrounding tissues have been described, but clinical reports on the influence on dentoalveolar structures after glossectomy for cancer are lacking. This report describes the dental and bony changes after subtotal glossectomy for squamous cell carcinoma by comparing 3-dimensional models generated from computed tomography scans at various time points during the clinical course. Surface comparison showed lingual tipping of the teeth and areas of bone surface remodeling on the alveolar bone, basilar bone, coronoid process, and condyles.

Machine Learning Prediction of Tongue Pressure in Elderly Patients with Head and Neck Tumor: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This investigation sought to cross validate the predictors of tongue pressure recovery in elderly patients' post-treatment for head and neck tumors, leveraging advanced machine learning techniques. By employing logistic regression, support vector regression, random forest, and extreme gradient boosting, the study analyzed an array of variables including patient demographics, surgery types, dental health status, and age, drawn from comprehensive medical records and direct tongue pressure assessments. Among the models, logistic regression emerged as the most effective, demonstrating an accuracy of 0.

Predicting maximum occlusal force and tongue pressure using decision tree analysis in patients diagnosed with head and neck tumors.

Statement Of Problem: Preserving and restoring oral functions, especially mastication and swallowing, is important to the quality of life of patients being treated for head and neck tumors. Studies that help predict maximum occlusal force and tongue pressure during prosthetic treatment, necessary for providing comprehensive, appropriate treatment and encouraging patient adherence and confidence are lacking.

Purpose: The purpose of this clinical study was to develop a decision tree model for predicting maximum occlusal force and tongue pressure in patients diagnosed with head and neck tumors that could help both experienced and less experienced prosthodontists and oral surgeons optimize the treatment plan and support patient compliance and their quality of life.

Factors Related to Masticatory Rhythm in Patients with Oral Tumors.

Older adults who have undergone surgery for oral tumors are at increased risk of impaired masticatory rhythm. This study investigated the correlations between masticatory rhythm, objective masticatory performance, and subjective masticatory performance as well as factors related to masticatory rhythm. The participants were 44 adults (24 men, 20 women; age range 42~90 years old) who had undergone maxillectomy, mandibulectomy, or glossectomy and were rehabilitated with a maxillofacial prosthesis.

Frequently used extraoral maxillofacial prosthetic materials and their longevity - A comprehensive review.

The longevity of an extraoral prosthesis depends on its physical and mechanical properties and user maintenance. Faced with multiple outcome measures, researchers find it difficult to determine the most appropriate extraoral prosthetic material. This comprehensive review evaluates the most used extraoral prosthesis materials and qualitatively assesses their longevity and function.

Advancing maxillofacial prosthodontics by using pre-trained convolutional neural networks: Image-based classification of the maxilla.

Purpose: The study aimed to compare the performance of four pre-trained convolutional neural networks in recognizing seven distinct prosthodontic scenarios involving the maxilla, as a preliminary step in developing an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered prosthesis design system.

Materials And Methods: Seven distinct classes, including cleft palate, dentulous maxillectomy, edentulous maxillectomy, reconstructed maxillectomy, completely dentulous, partially edentulous, and completely edentulous, were considered for recognition. Utilizing transfer learning and fine-tuned hyperparameters, four AI models (VGG16, Inception-ResNet-V2, DenseNet-201, and Xception) were employed.

Assessment of the color stability of two silicone elastomers for maxillofacial prostheses upon exposure to cold beverages.

Purpose: This study investigated the color stability of different commercially available silicone materials for facial prostheses upon exposure to everyday beverages. It was hypothesized that the beverages would not alter the color of the silicone under conditions simulating daily exposure.

Methods: Sixty specimens were fabricated using two materials - VST-50 and Silfy - and exposed to commercially available cold mineral water, tea, or coffee.

Two-Year Clinical Outcome of MitraClip Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair From the J-MITRA Registry Data.

Background: The introduction of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for moderate-to-severe or severe mitral regurgitation (MR) utilizing the MitraClip system became reimbursed and clinically accessible in Japan in April 2018. This study presents the 2-year clinical outcomes of all consecutively treated patients who underwent MitraClip implantation in Japan and were prospectively enrolled in the Japanese Circulation Society-oriented J-MITRA registry.

Methods and results: Analysis encompassed 2,739 consecutive patients enrolled in the J-MITRA registry with informed consent (mean age: 78.