Impact of Subjective Masticatory Difficulty on Malnutrition and Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Objectives: This study evaluated the impact of masticatory difficulty on the development and progression of malnutrition, frailty, sarcopenia, and disability in community-dwelling adults, using data from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study.

Methods: Participants were categorised by presence of masticatory difficulty. The Fried frailty phenotype, mini-nutritional assessments, and diagnostic criteria proposed by Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia were adopted to diagnose frailty, malnutrition, and sarcopenia respectively.

Performance and durability of additively and subtractively manufactured resin-based onlay restorations after thermomechanical aging.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of material type on dimensional stability, occlusal surface wear, fracture resistance, and failure behavior of resin-based onlay restorations.

Material And Methods: A mandibular right first molar typodont was prepared and digitized using an intraoral scanner to virtually design an onlay restoration with the minimum occlusal thickness of 1.5 mm.

Three-dimensional digital anatomical measurements of pterygoid plates and posterior maxillary region.

Background: The posterior maxilla and skull base is a region with a complex anatomy. Accurate resection of the pterygoid plate is critical during a maxillectomy procedure. However, there is a paucity of functional and anatomical studies on the pterygoid plate and skull base.

STABLE trial of spectacle provision and driving safety among myopic motorcycle users in Vietnam: study protocol for a stepped-wedge, cluster randomised trial.

Background: Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death globally for people aged 5-29 years, with 90% of mortality occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The STABLE (Slashing Two-wheeled Accidents by Leveraging Eyecare) trial was designed to determine whether providing spectacles could reduce risk among young myopic motorcycle users in Vietnam.

Methods: This investigator-masked, stepped-wedge, cluster randomised naturalistic driving trial will recruit 625 students aged 18-23 years, driving ≥ 50 km/week, with ≥ 1-year driving experience and using motorcycles as their primary means of transport, in 25 clusters of 25 students in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Developing institution-specific admission competency criteria for prospective health sciences students.

Background: Given the critical role of health professionals in societal health, the development of robust and effective selection methods is of fundamental concern for educational institutions within the field of health sciences education. Conventionally, admission competencies have been determined by institutional authorities. Developing institution-specific competency criteria enables an admission process that is mission- and value-aware, evidence-based, and strategically adaptable.

Biomechanical stability of magnesium plate and screw fixation systems in LeFort I osteotomy: a three-dimensional finite element analysis.

Background: Titanium (Ti-6Al-4 V) is used for fixation in LeFort I osteotomy, a procedure for treating midface deformities. This study assessed the biomechanical stabilities of two Mg alloys (WE43 and ZK60) as biodegradable alternatives and compared them against Ti using finite element analyses. The LeFort I osteotomy procedure was simulated, and various plate and screw configurations were tested.

Critical Considerations in Calling Disease-Causing Mutations in Nonsyndromic Oligodontia.

Oligodontia, the absence of six or more teeth excluding third molars, is a rare genetic condition, unlike hypodontia (missing one or more teeth), which is a relatively common human disease. To identify the genetic etiology of nonsyndromic oligodontia (NSO) families, we performed mutational analysis and investigated the functional effects of identified mutations. Whole-exome sequencing was conducted on recruited families with NSO.

Targeting Age-Related Impaired Bone Healing: ZnO Nanoparticle-Infused Composite Fibers Modulate Excessive NETosis and Prolonged Inflammation in Aging.

Bone defects present significant challenges in clinical contexts, particularly among the elderly, and are often linked to altered innate immune responses; however, underlying mechanisms remain to be understood. This study investigates immune changes in early bone healing in aged mice, emphasizing the effects of zinc in modulating inflammatory processes. By exploring the role of zinc and NETosis in this process, we seek to develop novel therapeutic strategies that could improve bone repair in aging populations.

The Occurrence and Risk Factors of Black Triangles Between Central Incisors After Orthodontic Treatment.

To assess the incidence of and risk factors for black triangles between the central incisors after orthodontic treatment; Methods: Ninety-seven post-treatment patients (29 men and 68 women; mean age, 22.7 years) were retrospectively divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of black triangles, using intraoral photographs. Based on the Jemt Index, the black triangle occurrence group was further classified into mild, moderate, and severe groups.

Long-term assessment of a modified tunneling technique for root coverage in lower anterior gingival recession: a retrospective study.

Purpose: Root coverage (RC) procedures require long-term evaluation. This study assessed the clinical validity and long-term stability of a modified tunneling technique for lower anterior gingival recession (GR) using a subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) and a volume-stable collagen matrix.

Methods: Across 39 patients, 66 mandibular incisors with ≥1.

The Impact of Membrane Stabilization for Alveolar Ridge Preservation in Periodontally Compromised Extraction Sockets: A Non-Inferiority Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the non-inferiority of alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) with membrane stabilization compared with non-stabilization, focusing on changes of soft-tissue contour in periodontally compromised extraction sockets. Secondary outcomes included changes in hard-tissue contour, patient-reported outcomes and new bone formation.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-four patients with periodontally compromised teeth were randomly assigned to ARP with (test group) or without (control group) membrane stabilization.

Effect of coffee roasting level on tooth discoloration.

Purpose: Coffee consumption is a well-known contributor to tooth discoloration, and the extent of staining is influenced by the chemical composition of the coffee. This study investigated the associations of coffee roasting level, chlorogenic acid (CGA) content, absorbance level, and their combined effects with tooth discoloration.

Methods: Bovine tooth enamel specimens were immersed in light, medium, and dark roasts of four coffee types (two Arabica and two Robusta coffees) for 72 h.

Overdiagnosis of dental caries in South Korea: a pseudo-patient study.

Background: To evaluates the tendency of South Korean dentists to over-diagnose clinically healthy teeth in pseudo-patients.

Methods: We conducted a pseudo-patient, cross-sectional study in 196 private dental clinics with 58 pseudo-patients in South Korea between August and December 2018. Trained pseudo-patients with no previous oral diseases, including dental caries, diagnosed by two experienced dentists, were sent to each dental clinic.

Glutathione's Role in Liver Metabolism and Hangover Symptom Relief: Dysregulation of Protein S-Glutathionylation and Antioxidant Enzymes.

Hangovers from alcohol consumption cause symptoms like headaches, nausea, and fatigue, disrupting daily activities and overall well-being. Over time, they can also lead to inflammation and oxidative stress. Effective hangover relief alleviates symptoms, prevents dehydration, and replenishes energy needed for daily tasks.

Successful Secondary Reconstruction and Dental Rehabilitation for a Maxillary Bone Defect with Discontinuity after Partial Maxillectomy: A case report.

Secondary reconstruction of the maxillary defect with discontinuity after partial maxillectomy is extremely challenging due to extensive, severe adhesions between the maxillary sinus membrane and oral mucosa, resulting in no space for the grafted bone and a lack of soft tissue to cover the graft. This case reports a 23-year-old female patient who underwent secondary reconstruction for a bone defect caused by a partial maxillectomy to remove an ameloblastoma that had invaded the maxillary sinus. We incised the existing soft tissue ridge at the bone defect and extensive adhesions below the maxillary sinus to create space for the grafted bone and to form an adequate buccal flap.

A vaccine platform targeting lung-resident memory CD4 T-cells provides protection against heterosubtypic influenza infections in mice and ferrets.

Lung tissue-resident memory T (T) cells induced by influenza vaccination are crucial for heterosubtypic immunity upon re-exposure to the influenza virus, enabling rapid and robust responses upon reactivation. To enhance the efficacy of influenza vaccines, we induce the generation of lung T cells following intranasal vaccination with a commercial influenza vaccine adjuvanted with NexaVant (NVT), a TLR3 agonist-based adjuvant. We demonstrate that intranasal immunization with the NVT-adjuvanted vaccine provides improved protection against influenza virus infections by inducing the generation of CD4 T cells in the lungs in a type I interferon-dependent manner.

Circadian regulation of endoplasmic reticulum calcium response in cultured mouse astrocytes.

The circadian clock, an internal time-keeping system orchestrates 24 hr rhythms in physiology and behavior by regulating rhythmic transcription in cells. Astrocytes, the most abundant glial cells, play crucial roles in CNS functions, but the impact of the circadian clock on astrocyte functions remains largely unexplored. In this study, we identified 412 circadian rhythmic transcripts in cultured mouse cortical astrocytes through RNA sequencing.

Neuroprotective Effects of Ethanol Extract (EEPG) Against Glutamate Induced Neurotoxicity in HT22 Cells.

Oxidative stress induced by glutamate is a significant contributor to neuronal cell damage and can lead to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and ischemic brain injury. At the cellular level, oxidative stress increases Ca ion influx and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which activate the MAPK signaling pathway. Additionally, the generation of ROS causes mitochondrial dysfunction, triggering apoptosis by promoting the translocation of AIF to the nucleus from the mitochondria.

Epigenetic dysregulation of H19/IGF2 in hepatic cells exposed to toxic metal mixtures in vitro.

Exposure to mixtures of toxic metals is known to cause adverse health effects through epigenetic alterations. Here we aimed to examine the unexplored area of aberrant DNA methylation in the H19/IGF2 domain following combined toxic metal exposure. An in vitro epigenotoxicity assay using the human normal liver epithelial cell line THLE-3 was conducted.