Acupuncture as a Complementary Therapy in Conservative and Endodontic Procedures: A Narrative Review.

With over two millennia of history, traditional Chinese acupuncture ranks among the most renowned forms of supplementary and other healthcare. The use of acupuncture releases endorphins and serotonin, two naturally occurring painkillers, into the nervous system and stimulates it. It also modifies how pain signals are processed and perceived.

Bibliometric analysis of trends in dental management of the children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

This study aimed to present a complete overview of the trends, difficulties, and improvements in dental treatment for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder through rigorous bibliometric analysis. The dimensional database field was chosen to enable the inclusion and recall of the greatest number of relevant entries. All peer-reviewed international journals published between 2004 and 2023 were included in this study.

Phytonanoparticles as novel drug carriers for enhanced osteogenesis and osseointegration.

Phytonanoparticles have emerged as a promising class of biomaterials for enhancing bone regeneration and osseointegration, offering unique advantages in biocompatibility, multifunctionality, and sustainability. This comprehensive review explores the synthesis, characterization, and applications of phytonanoparticles in bone tissue engineering. The green synthesis approach, utilizing plant extracts as reducing and stabilizing agents, yields nanoparticles with intrinsic bioactive properties that can synergistically promote osteogenesis.

Comparative analysis of salivary antimicrobial resistance genes in dental students: A PCR and questionnaire study.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global healthcare challenge, with limited treatment options due to the decline in new antibiotics. The human oral cavity, home to diverse bacteria, is crucial for maintaining oral and systemic health. Recent studies suggest that saliva may serve as a reservoir for AMR genes.

Assessment of the Quality of Root Canal Fillings-An Ex-Vivo Comparison of CBCT Scans, Conventional Intraoral Sensors, and a Novel Photon-Counting Sensor.

Objectives: To compare a novel photon-counting sensor, two CBCT protocols and two CMOS sensors on the detection of gaps between a gutta-percha cone and root canal walls.

Methods: Twenty-five mandibular incisors were prepared to 45/.04 (size/taper) at working length.

Prediction of Multi-targeting Pharmacological Activity of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants Against Hepatocellular Carcinoma Through Advanced Network Pharmacology and Bioinformatics-Based Investigation.

The primary objective of this study was to identify bioactive compounds from four medicinal plants with multi-targeting activity against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A comprehensive analysis led to the identification of a subset of compounds possessing favorable drug-likeness, pharmacokinetics, and absence of toxicity profiles. Target analysis for 42 phytochemicals revealed 210 potential targets associated with HCC.

Recommendations for mitochondria transfer and transplantation nomenclature and characterization.

Intercellular mitochondria transfer is an evolutionarily conserved process in which one cell delivers some of their mitochondria to another cell in the absence of cell division. This process has diverse functions depending on the cell types involved and physiological or disease context. Although mitochondria transfer was first shown to provide metabolic support to acceptor cells, recent studies have revealed diverse functions of mitochondria transfer, including, but not limited to, the maintenance of mitochondria quality of the donor cell and the regulation of tissue homeostasis and remodelling.

Factors influencing virtual reality use in paediatric acquired brain injury upper limb rehabilitation: a qualitative study.

Objective: Upper limb movement difficulties in children with acquired brain injury (ABI) result in longer recovery times compared with lower limb. Intensive neurorehabilitation promotes a good long-term functional outcome. Virtual reality (VR) and video game technologies are invaluable adjuncts to traditional neurological rehabilitation as they help to motivate, engage and gain children's compliance in goal-directed therapy.

Patient preferences for drug therapy in inflammatory arthritis: protocol for a living systematic review and evidence map to inform clinical practice guidelines.

Introduction: The pharmacological management of inflammatory arthritis often requires choices that involve trade-offs between benefits, risks and other attributes such as administration route, frequency and cost. This living systematic review aims to inform international clinical guidelines on inflammatory arthritis by creating an evidence map of patient preference studies concerning the trade-offs in pharmacological management of inflammatory arthritis.

Methods And Analysis: We will include published and peer-reviewed full-text studies in any language that quantitatively assess preferences of patients for the pharmacological management of inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis).

Precision Medicine in Congenital Heart Disease, Rheumatic Heart Disease, and Kawasaki Disease of Children: An Overview of Literature.

Congenital heart disease and common acquired heart diseases like Kawasaki disease and rheumatic heart disease are prevalent cardiovascular conditions in children worldwide. Despite the availability of treatment options, they continue to be significant contributors to morbidity and mortality. Advancements in early diagnosis, improvements in treatment approaches, and overcoming resistance to available treatments are crucial to reduce morbidity.

Hesperidin Improves Wound Healing and Mineralization of Periodontal Ligament Cells in Elevated Glucose Conditions.

Introduction: Elevated glucose can have a detrimental effect on the function and healing process of periodontal cells in inflammatory conditions. Hesperidin (HPN), a bioflavonoid found abundantly in citrus fruits, has numerous biological benefits, including regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties. The current in-vitro study aimed to assess the impact of HPN on the proliferation, wound healing, and functionality of periodontal cells in optimal and elevated glucose conditions.

Medwakh smoking induces alterations in salivary proteins and cytokine expression: a clinical exploratory proteomics investigation.

Background: Medwakh smoking has radically expanded among youth in the Middle East and around the world. The rising popularity of medwakh/dokha usage is linked to the onset of several chronic illnesses including cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Medwakh smoking is reported to increase the risk of inflammation in the lower respiratory tract owing to oxidative burden.

Impact of clear aligners on gingivitis incidence and prevention strategies in adolescents and adults: a prospective observational study.

Objective: This study aims to analyze the differences in gingivitis incidence among adolescents and adults using clear aligners for orthodontic correction and to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention strategies on orthodontic outcomes.

Methods: This observational study included 120 patients undergoing clear aligner orthodontic treatment from June 2018 to September 2023. Participants were divided into an adolescent group (66 cases) and an adult group (54 cases), each further split into a study group and a control group.

Focal Adhesion Regulation as a Strategy against Kidney Fibrosis.

Chronic kidney fibrosis poses a significant global health challenge with effective therapeutic strategies remaining elusive. While cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions are known to drive fibrosis progression, the specific role of focal adhesions (FAs) in kidney fibrosis is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the role of FAs in kidney tubular epithelial cell fibrosis by employing precise nanogold patterning to modulate integrin distribution.

Thyromimetics and MASLD: Unveiling the Novel Molecules Beyond Resmetirom.

Background: Resmetirom, the first FDA-approved drug for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with fibrosis in obese patients, when combined with lifestyle modifications, improves NASH resolution and reduces fibrosis by at least one stage. Low thyroid hormone (T) levels are linked to a higher risk of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Epidemiological studies have confirmed the positive correlation between hypothyroidism and MASLD.

Patterns and trends in burden of asthma and its attributable risk factors from 1990 to 2021 among south Asian countries: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Objective: Asthma poses a significant health burden in South Asia, with increasing incidence and mortality despite a global decline in age-standardized prevalence rates. This study aims to analyze asthma trends from 1990 to 2021, focusing on prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) across South Asia. The study also assesses the impact of risk factors like high body mass index (BMI), smoking, and occupational exposures on asthma outcomes.

Green Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles Using Ficus benghalensis for Visible Light-Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of Crystal Violet and Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activities.

Crystal Violet (CV) is a vibrant and harmful dye known for its toxicity to aquatic life and potential carcinogenic effects on humans. This study explores the removal of CV through photocatalysis driven by visible light, as well as examining the antibacterial and antibiofilm characteristics of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) synthesized from the aerial roots of Ficus benghalensis. Various characterization techniques were employed to confirm the optical properties, crystal lattices, and morphology of ZnO NPs.

The Relationship Between Physical Activity Levels and Periodontal Health Status Among College Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity levels and periodontal health status among college students in Shanghai, with the goal of informing oral health policy recommendations.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2023 to March 2024 involving 120 university students aged 18-29. Data was collected using the World Health Organization (WHO) oral health survey methods.

Temporomandibular disorders: A new list of key points to summarize the standard of care.

This letter is being sent to editors of major dental journals around the world. Attached to it is an Announcement that summarizes a recently published position paper which deals with the topic of standards of care for Temporomandibular Disorders (TMDs). That paper, entitled "Temporomandibular disorders: INfORM/IADR key points for good clinical practice based on standard of care", was developed by a group of expert researchers and clinicians over a one-year period.

Comparative Evaluation of Deciduous and Permanent Coronal Caries Using Polarizing Light Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy.

Dental caries causes mineral loss and organic damage to teeth. Understanding caries and dentin pulp reactions is crucial for effective caries management strategies. There is a lack of knowledge regarding the microscopic and ultramicroscopic changes that occur during caries destruction and reactive changes.

Engineering geological evaluation of Bowa Dayole dam site, North Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia.

Developing nations like Ethiopia face food and water shortages due to weather and droughts. The Bowa Dayole masonry gravity dam is expected to irrigate farmland downstream. Despite this, the engineering geology is complicated by the presence of highly fractured and weathered aphanitic basaltic rock, along with a weak unwelded to welded tuff rock mass in the dam foundation.

A Prospective Study of a Custom-Made Eco-Friendly Thyroid Shield: A Breakthrough in Radiation Protection.

Background The thyroid gland is the most susceptible organ to radiation during the exposure of teeth because the thyroid area appears to be within the primary beam, and the dose levels are relatively high even after using collimation. This study aims to develop an eco-friendly thyroid shield by reusing lead foils from intra-oral periapical radiographic films and evaluate its effectiveness in intraoral radiography. Methods A total of 16 patients undergoing endodontic procedures who gave written consent to participate in the study were included and divided into four categories: anterior, canine, premolar, and molar.

First-line pembrolizumab-axitinib versus sunitinib in metastatic RCC: subgroup analysis of patients enrolled in the phase 3 KEYNOTE-426 in Eastern Asia.

Background: The phase 3 open-label KEYNOTE-426 study demonstrated that first-line pembrolizumab plus axitinib improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) versus sunitinib for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in a global population. This subgroup analysis investigated the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab-axitinib versus sunitinib in patients enrolled in KEYNOTE-426 in East Asia (Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan).

Methods: Adults with clear cell mRCC were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive intravenous pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks with oral axitinib 5 mg twice daily or oral sunitinib 50 mg once daily (4 weeks on/2 weeks off).

A Theoretically Informed Process Evaluation in Parallel to a Feasibility Study of a Complex Oral Health Intervention Using NICE Guidelines in a Care Home Setting.

Background: A theoretically informed process evaluation was undertaken in parallel to a study examining the feasibility of an oral health intervention based on an existing guideline for care homes. The objectives were to explore the factors that influenced the implementation of the intervention in order to understand the potential pathway to impact. The research team initially utilised Pfadenhauer et al.

Effect of the maternal sleep disturbances and obstructive sleep apnea on feto-placental Doppler: A systematic review.

Literature evidenced an association of maternal sleep disturbances and maternal obstructive sleep apnea with significant obstetric complications. Moreover, the maternal sleep disturbances effect on feto-placental circulation had not been extensively examined. Our objective is to explore the possible maternal sleep disturbances impact on the feto-placental indices evaluated through the Doppler study.