Assessment of correlation between the Modified Schirmer Test and unstimulated salivary flow testing.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and subjects' perception of the Modified Schirmer Test (MST) to the traditional Unstimulated Salivary Flow Test (USFT) when measuring salivary flow rate for screening and monitoring patients' dry mouth.

Methods: A total of 100 subjects were enrolled including subjects with and without dry mouth. All subjects answered a brief self-reported survey about dry mouth before and after the two types of saliva tests and their preference for the type of test administered.

Color match and stability of single-shade resin-based composites before and after artificial aging.

Purpose: To evaluate the color match and stability of single-shade resin-based composites (RBCs) in Class V restorations before and after ultra-violet light artificial aging.

Methods: Acrylic resin teeth of A1 and A3 were randomly assigned into seven groups to be restored with single-shade RBCs and universal-shade RBCs, shades A1 and A3. Standardized Class V cavities were restored using RBC and underwent accelerated aging for 480 hours.

Identifying the Gaps in Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Uptake: An Exploratory Factor Analysis of Adults in Tennessee.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) remains the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection in the United States (U.S.).

A Cohort Study Exploring HPV Vaccination Beliefs Among Oral Health Providers: Broadening the Scope of Education and Administration.

Background/objectives: There is potential utility and increasing interest in engaging professionals in non-traditional vaccination settings to participate in efforts to reduce human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancer. This study assessed the impact of a multi-disciplinary HPV educational intervention on oral health care professionals' perceived role, comfort level, and scope of practice in HPV-related cancer prevention efforts.

Methods: The virtual educational intervention was provided by a multi-disciplinary panel of experts.

Oral Pathogens' Substantial Burden on Cancer, Cardiovascular Diseases, Alzheimer's, Diabetes, and Other Systemic Diseases: A Public Health Crisis-A Comprehensive Review.

This review synthesizes the findings from 252 studies to explore the relationship between the oral pathogens associated with periodontitis, dental caries, and systemic diseases. Individuals with oral diseases, such as periodontitis, are between 1.7 and 7.

Inhibiting De Novo Biosynthesis of Ceramide by L-Cycloserine Can Prevent Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration in Albino BALB/c Mice.

Retinal degenerative diseases lead to irreversible vision loss due to photoreceptor cell death, driven by complex genetic and environmental factors. Ceramide, a sphingolipid metabolite, emerges as a critical mediator in the apoptotic cascade associated with retinal degeneration. Our previous work demonstrated L-Cycloserine's ability to protect photoreceptor-derived cells from oxidative stress by inhibiting the de novo ceramide pathway and thus prompting further investigation on its effect in the in vivo retina.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Classical Biomarker Levels in Mixed vs. Pure AT (AT) Alzheimer's Disease.

: Alzheimer's disease (AD) may present with pure (typical or atypical) and mixed phenotypes, sometimes causing difficulties in (differential) diagnosis. In order to achieve a diagnostic accuracy as high as possible, the diagnosis of AD during life depends on various biomarkers, including the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers. : Classical CSF AD biomarkers were determined in a total of 61 patients, classified as both beta amyloid- and tau-positive AT (or AT according to the recently revised Alzheimer Association criteria for diagnosis and staging of AD).

Medicine and Pharmacy Students' Role in Decreasing Substance Use Disorder Stigma: A Qualitative Study.

Background: A strong body of research has established stigma as a barrier to care for patients with substance use disorders (SUDs), which can lead to poorer patient outcomes. Prior qualitative research on healthcare practitioners' perceptions is limited. This study aimed to describe healthcare professional students' perceived roles in decreasing SUD stigma.

Clearing Amyloid-Beta by Astrocytes: The Role of Rho GTPases Signaling Pathways as Potential Therapeutic Targets.

Astrocytes, vital support cells in the central nervous system (CNS), are crucial for maintaining neuronal health. In neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), astrocytes play a key role in clearing toxic amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides. Aβ, a potent neuroinflammatory trigger, stimulates astrocytes to release excessive glutamate and inflammatory factors, exacerbating neuronal dysfunction and death.

Galantamine-Memantine Combination in the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease Dementia.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects over 1% of population over age 60. It is defined by motor and nonmotor symptoms including a spectrum of cognitive impairments known as Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD). Currently, the only US Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for PDD is rivastigmine, which inhibits acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase increasing the level of acetylcholine in the brain.

Oncological resection and perioperative outcomes of robotic, laparoscopic and open pancreatoduodenectomy for ampullary adenocarcinoma: a propensity score matched international multicenter cohort study.

Background: Ampullary adenocarcinoma (AAC) typically presents at an early stage due to biliary obstruction and therefore might be specifically suitable for minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy (MIPD). However, studies assessing MIPD specifically for AAC, including the robotic and laparoscopic approach, are limited. The aim of this study is to compare short- and long-term oncological resection and perioperative outcomes of robotic (RPD), laparoscopic (LPD) and open pancreatoduodenectomy (OPD) performed specifically for AAC.

Optical detection of the spatial structural alteration in the human brain tissues/cells and DNA/chromatin due to Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is considered one of the most frequent neurological diseases in the world. There is a need to study the early and efficient biomarkers of Parkinson's, such as changes in structural disorders like DNA/chromatin, especially at the subcellular level in the human brain. We used two techniques, Partial wave spectroscopy (PWS) and Inverse Participation Ratio (IPR), to detect the changes in structural disorder in the human brain tissue samples.

Targeting NLRP3 signaling with a novel sulfonylurea compound for the treatment of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia.

Background: As a key inflammatory factor, the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome plays a crucial role in neuroinflammation and the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Dysregulation of NLRP3 signaling can trigger various inflammatory responses in the brain, contributing to the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as ischemic stroke, vascular dementia (VaD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Therefore, the NLRP3 signaling pathway is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including VaD.

BETA CELL DYSFUNCTION OCCURS INDEPENDENTLY OF INSULITIS IN TYPE 1 DIABETES PATHOGENESIS.

During type 1 diabetes (T1D) progression, beta cells become dysfunctional and exhibit reduced first-phase insulin release. While this period of beta cell dysfunction is well established, its cause and underlying mechanism remain unknown. To address this knowledge gap, live human pancreas tissue slices were prepared from autoantibody-negative organ donors without diabetes (ND), donors positive for one or more islet autoantibodies (AAb+), and donors with T1D within 0-4 years of diagnosis (T1D+).

Modulatory Effects of Mdivi-1 on OxLDL-Induced Metabolic Alterations, Inflammatory Responses, and Foam Cell Formation in Human Monocytes.

Atherosclerosis, a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, involves lipid accumulation and inflammatory processes in arterial walls, with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) playing a central role. OxLDL is increased during aging and stimulates monocyte transformation into foam cells and induces metabolic reprogramming and pro-inflammatory responses, accelerating atherosclerosis progression and contributing to other age-related diseases. This study investigated the effects of Mdivi-1, a mitochondrial fission inhibitor, and S1QEL, a selective complex I-associated reactive oxygen species (ROS) inhibitor, on OxLDL-induced responses in monocytes.

Fracture Resistance of Chairside CAD/CAM Lithium Disilicate Partial and Full Coverage Crowns and Veneers for Maxillary Canines.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the fracture resistance of chairside computer assisted design and computer assisted manufacturing (CAD-CAM) lithium disilicate partial and full-coverage crowns and veneers for maxillary canines.

Methods And Materials: Forty-eight restorations for maxillary right canines (12 per group) were designed as follows: (1) partial crown with finish line in the upper middle third; (2) partial crown with finish line in the lower middle third; (3) traditional labial veneer; and (4) traditional full-coverage crown. Restorations were fabricated out of lithium disilicate (Amber Mill, Hassbio) using a chairside CAD-CAM system (Cerec Dentsply Sirona).

Knockout or inhibition of DHPS suppresses ovarian tumor growth and metastasis by attenuating the TGFβ pathway.

Deoxyhypusine synthase (DHPS) is an enzyme encoded by the DHPS gene, with high expression in various cancers, including ovarian cancer (OC). DHPS regulates the translation initiation factor EIF5A, and EIF5A2 knockout inhibits OC tumor growth and metastasis by blocking the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the TGFβ pathway. In this study, we show that DHPS is amplified in OC patients, and its elevated expression correlates with poor survival.

Three-year-old development: The relationship of child health and parenting stress to neurocognition.

Purpose: This study examined parenting stress and child special healthcare needs to child neurocognitive development (NCD).

Design And Methods: This secondary analysis used data from the primary study, a longitudinal cohort study of mother-child dyads. Multivariable regression models examined the associations between parenting stress and child special healthcare needs with NCD.

Effect of Finerenone in Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Purpose: Heart failure (HF) management is well-defined for reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) but less so for mildly reduced (HFmrEF) or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This meta-analysis evaluates the impact of Finerenone, a nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, on cardiovascular and renal outcomes in these patient populations.

Methods: A systematic search in PubMed and Embase identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on Finerenone's cardiovascular and renal effects.

Rescue therapy after failed thrombectomy in medium/distal vessel occlusions: A retrospective analysis of an international, multi-center registry.

Background: There are limited therapeutic options in cases of failed reperfusion (modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction [mTICI] score < 2b) after stent-retriever and/or aspiration based endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke. Despite the absence of data supporting its use, rescue therapy (balloon angioplasty and/or stent implantation) is often utilized in such cases. Studies are limited to large vessel occlusions, while the outcomes and complications after rescue therapy in medium/distal vessel occlusions (MDVOs) have not been reported.

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Scores are Associated with Carotid Intima-Media Thickness.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk calculators estimate the 10-year incident risk of myocardial infarction (MI), coronary artery disease (CAD) death, or stroke; however, they lack comprehensiveness and accuracy. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a surrogate marker that may improve risk estimation acumen. The objective of this study was to derive ASCVD risk scores from historical data and determine whether these risk scores are associated with the history of subclinical CAD and CIMT.

Pulmonary hypertension in infancy: a reversible cause.

A term, healthy infant presented with respiratory distress and severe pulmonary hypertension (PH). With an unclear aetiology and the intent to decrease right ventricular afterload, pulmonary vasodilators were initiated. Follow-up imaging revealed a supravalvular mitral ring as the cause of the PH which resolved after surgical resection of the membrane.

The Moreton Lecture Series: The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System-Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacological Inhibition.

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is a complex regulator comprising hormones, proteins, and enzymes. The discovery of the RAAS and its pharmacological manipulation has been essential in the management of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension. Beyond the benefits of hypertension, RAAS inhibition has implications for heart failure, atherosclerotic disease, and kidney disease.