Combined simulation and ex vivo assessment of free-edge length in bicuspidization repair for congenital aortic valve disease.

Objective: The study objective was to investigate the effect of free-edge length on valve performance in bicuspidization repair of congenitally diseased aortic valves.

Methods: In addition to a constructed unicuspid aortic valve disease model, 3 representative groups-free-edge length to aortic diameter ratio 1.2, 1.

2024 Visionary Leader Crystal Lawson.

The following article is the winning 2024 Richard Hader Visionary Leader Award entry submitted to Nursing Management in recognition of Crystal Lawson, DNP, RN, CENP, during her tenure as interim director of education at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital in Marina del Rey, Calif. She currently serves as CEO and founder of We Rise Up, an organization dedicated to equipping, inspiring, and empowering nurse leaders, and continues working in a leadership development consultant capacity for Cedars Sinai.

Evaluation of the reliability of palatal rugae as a reference area in digital superimposition after slow maxillary expansion treatment.

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the stability of palatal rugae patterns after slow maxillary expansion (SME) treatment and the reliability of the rugae region as a reference region in digital superimposition.

Methods: The SME group comprised 21 subjects with Angle Class I or Class II dental malocclusion with unilateral or bilateral crossbite and constricted maxilla and were selected before the pubertal peak. Intraoral scans were captured via the intraoral scanner iTero Element software (version 1.

A Guide to Pediatric Antibiotic Allergy Testing: A Report From the US Drug Allergy Registry.

Pediatric antibiotic labels are common, and unnecessary antibiotic avoidance is associated with negative personal and public health outcomes; as a result, there is an increasing emphasis on the importance of pediatric antibiotic allergy evaluations. Different testing strategies have been advised, including skin testing and challenge testing with varied doses and duration. Established consensus testing protocols are lacking.

Bond strength comparison of chemically activated hard reline materials on CAD-CAM milled and conventional heat-polymerized PMMA denture bases.

Statement Of Problem: Comprehensive data are needed on the performance of chemically activated, chairside hard reline materials when used with computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) milled polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture bases and conventionally processed bases. This lack of data affects decisions regarding the chairside reline material to be used for improving the fit and retention of relined complete dentures.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate and compare the shear bond strength (SBS) of 3 chemically activated, chairside hard reline materials on CAD-CAM milled and conventional heat-polymerized PMMA denture bases.

Preliminary study of the upper limb with the use of ultrasound transmission imaging.

A biologically safe, noninvasive method for visualizing bone and soft tissue relationships has been developed recently. Termed the ultrasonic transmission imaging system, its advantages include visualization of soft tissues in real time while motion is underway. The image can be correlated to standard x-ray films, but since no ionizing radiation is involved, repeated risk-free visualization of extremities for either diagnostic assessment or biomechanical studies is permitted.

Oral Manifestations of Vitamin C Deficiency in a Toddler.

Vitamin C deficiency, colloquially known as scurvy, has become rare in modern times due to the widespread availability of ascorbic acid-rich foods. Despite this, it continues to be a concern in certain at-risk populations. The purpose of this report is to describe the case of a two-year-old girl who initially presented to a pediatric dental clinic with the chief complaint of hypertrophic gingiva and bleeding.

The Elements of Style for Interruptive Electronic Health Record Alerts.

Background: The proliferation of electronic health record (EHR) alerts has led to widespread alert fatigue and clinician burnout, undermining the effectiveness of clinical decision support and compromising patient safety.

Objective: We introduce a comprehensive style guide for designing interruptive alerts (IAs) in EHR systems to improve clinician engagement and reduce alert fatigue that has been approved by our institutional alert governance committees. This style guide addresses critical aspects of IAs, including format, typography, color-coding, title brevity, patient identification, and introductory text.

Ascertainment of small airway dysfunction using oscillometry to better define asthma control and future risk: are we ready to implement it in clinical practice?

The small airways comprise generations 8 to 23 of the bronchial tree, consist of airways with an internal diameter <2mm, and are classically difficult to assess and treat in persistent asthma. Small airways dysfunction (SAD) is integral to the asthma management paradigm as it is associated with poorer symptom control, greater levels of type 2 inflammation, and has been proposed as a potential treatable asthma trait. Although identification of SAD by oscillometry has been found to be clinically useful in managing asthma, very few physicians, including specialists, use this technique as part of standard or adjunct evaluation of lung function to diagnose asthma, grade severity of airway obstruction, ascertain disease control or the risk for future exacerbations or to make management decisions.

Early-life microRNA signatures in cord blood associated with allergic rhinitis and asthma development.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the biological regulation of asthma and allergies.

Objective: We sought to investigate the association between cord blood miRNAs and the development of allergic rhinitis and early childhood asthma.

Methods: miRNAs were sequenced from cord blood of subjects participating in the Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial.

Interplay between on-demand treatment trials for hereditary angioedema and treatment guidelines.

Over the past 2 decades, guidelines for the on-demand treatment of hereditary angioedema attacks have undergone significant evolution. Early treatment guidelines, such as the Canadian 2003 International Consensus Algorithm, often gated on-demand treatment by attack location and/or severity. Pivotal trials for on-demand injectable treatments (plasma-derived C1 esterase inhibitor, icatibant, ecallantide [United States only], and recombinant human C1 esterase inhibitor), which were approved in the United States and the European Union between 2008 and 2014, were designed accordingly.

A Systematic Review on the Effectiveness and Safety of Combining Biostimulators with Botulinum Toxin, Dermal Fillers, and Energy-Based Devices.

Introduction: Aesthetic medicine has evolved towards minimally invasive procedures, with biostimulators like Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA), Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA), and Polycaprolactone (PCL) gaining attention for their role in collagen induction, improving skin texture, elasticity, and volume. Combining these agents with other treatments-such as botulinum toxin, dermal fillers, and energy-based devices (e.g.

CT- and MRI-based Factors Associated with Rapid Growth in Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background Prediction of the tumor growth rates is clinically important in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but previous studies have presented conflicting results and generally lacked radiologic evaluations. Purpose To evaluate the percentage of rapidly growing early-stage HCCs in each Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) category and to identify prognostic factors associated with rapid growth. Materials and Methods Retrospective study of patients with risk factors for HCC and those with surgically proven early-stage HCC who underwent two or more preoperative multiphasic CT or MRI examinations between January 2016 and December 2020.

Delivering the news of an intraoperative death; literature-based guidance from the American Association for Thoracic Surgery Wellness Committee.

Objectives: Fortunately, operating room deaths and unexpected deaths are infrequent occurrences. However, when they occur, the surgeon is called upon to deliver this news to family and loved ones. There is a paucity of literature on this topic and little guidance preparing cardiothoracic surgeons for this important but difficult situation.

Comparison of physical, mechanical, and optical properties between thermoplastic materials and 3-dimensional printing resins for orthodontic clear retainers.

Introduction: This study investigated the physical, mechanical, and optical properties of 3-dimensional (3D) printing resins compared with thermoplastic materials to evaluate their suitability for the fabrication of orthodontic clear retainers.

Methods: Samples were prepared from thermoplastic sheets (Duran [Scheu-Dental GmbH, Iserlohn, Germany] and Zendura [Bay Materials LLC, Fremont, Calif]) and biocompatible 3D-printing resins (Dental LT Clear V2 [Formlabs Inc, Somerville, Mass] and OrthoFlex [Nextdent BV, Soesterberg, The Netherlands]) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and water sorption tests.

Cyberbullying Victimization Among Transgender and Gender-Questioning Early Adolescents.

Objective: To determine the association between transgender or gender-questioning identity and cyberbullying victimization in a diverse national sample of early adolescents in the United States.

Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (year 3, 2019-2021, 11-14 years old, 48.8% female, 47.

An electrolyte disturbance masquerading as a panic attack.

Because proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are so commonly used, their safety and potential adverse reactions often are not considered. This article describes a patient whose paresthesias and severe muscle cramps were attributed to panic attacks but actually were caused by hypocalcemia secondary to PPI-induced hypomagnesemia. This case serves as a reminder that PPIs should be used cautiously and appropriately with consideration for regular monitoring of electrolytes and vitamin B12.

Physical Performance Effects Associated with a 16-Week Therapeutic Yoga Intervention in Survivors of Cancers in the South Texas Region: A Pilot Study.

Yoga is recognized as a complementary practice that improves physical, mental, and spiritual health in survivors of cancer. The present study assessed associations between a holistic approach and physical function for 30 survivors of cancer in south Texas. Cancer survivors (86% female) of diverse backgrounds (62% underrepresented minorities) performed a battery of physical function tests, including a 6-minute walk test, to assess cardiorespiratory function, isometric shoulder and elbow-flexor strength, dominant-arm grip strength, dominant-arm shoulder range of motion via inclinometer, sit-and-reach test to assess trunk and lower-extremity flexibility, and a 30-second sit-to-stand test to assess lower-extremity endurance.

37th Annual APRN Legislative Update: Past, present, and future.

In this 37th installment of the Annual APRN Legislative Update-released in an anniversary year for both The Nurse Practitioner journal and for the advanced practice nursing profession-progress in terms of the advancement of APRN scope of practice over the years is reviewed. Current status of and updates to APRN practice authority and reimbursement in each US state and Washington, D.C.

Advancing 3D dental scanning: The use of photogrammetry with light detection and ranging for edentulous arches.

Statement Of Problem: The advent of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) has necessitated the acquisition of digital scans. However, there are limitations and problems with acquiring accurate 3-dimensional (3D) casts from edentulous patients, especially in the presence of saliva.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to develop a novel approach for obtaining 3D casts of edentulous arches by using 2-dimensional (2D) images as an alternative to traditional 3D scanners with and without light detection and ranging (LiDAR).