The Effect of a Constant Electrical Field on Osseointegration after Immediate Implantation in Dog Mandibles: A Preliminary Study

PURPOSE: The long time span between insertion of implants and functional rehabilitation often inconveniences patients. Accelerating bone growth around dental implants can shorten this time span. This in vivo study evaluated the effect of a constant electrical field on bone growth around dental implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four mongrel dogs were used in this study. Sixteen dental implants were placed immediately after extraction of the first premolar and molar teeth. A constant electrical field (CEF) generator was placed in the mucoperiostal pouch created from the subperiostral dissection under the inferior border of the dog's mandible and connected to the experiment side fixtures. CEF provided 3 V of electrical potential during osseointegration. Histologic sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and observed under light microscopy. The sections were analyzed histomorphometrically to calculate the amount of newly formed bone. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 11.0 computer software (alpha= 0.05). RESULTS: At the end of the first stage of the osseointegration (90 days) CEF group sections showed enhanced growth of the trabeculae compared with the control group. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between experimental and control groups. Bone contact ratio was statistically significant in the experimental group (p= 0.001). An increase in the local bone formation and bone contact ratio was observed with direct electrical stimulation of the implant and the bone area around the implant. CONCLUSION: Minimal direct electrical current, which can produce an electrical field around the implant, can increase the amount of bone formation and decrease the time of osseointegration.     

Coordinate‐based (ALE) meta‐analysis of brain activation in patients with fibromyalgia

There are an increasing number of neuroimaging studies that allow a better understanding of symptoms, neural correlates and associated conditions of fibromyalgia. However, the results of these studies are difficult to compare, as they include a heterogeneous group of patients, use different stimulation paradigms, tasks, and the statistical evaluation of neuroimaging data shows high variability. Therefore, this meta‐analytic approach aimed at evaluating potential alterations in neuronal brain activity or structure related to pain processing in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) patients, using quantitative coordinate‐based “activation likelihood estimation” (ALE) meta‐analysis. 37 FMS papers met the inclusion criteria for an ALE analysis (1,264 subjects, 274 activation foci). A pooled ALE analysis of different modalities of neuroimaging and additional analyses according functional and structural changes indicated differences between FMS patients and controls in the insula, amygdala, anterior/mid cingulate cortex, superior temporal gyrus, the primary and secondary somatosensory cortex, and lingual gyrus. Our analysis showed consistent results across FMS studies with potential abnormalities especially in pain‐related brain areas. Given that similar alterations have already been demonstrated in patients with other chronic pain conditions and the lack of adequate control groups of chronic pain subjects in most FMS studies, it is not clear however, whether these findings are associated with chronic pain in general or are unique features of patients with FMS. Hum Brain Mapp 37:1749–1758, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc .     

Evaluation of the effect of static magnetic field in treatment of tendon injuries in dog

To assess the effect of magnetic field in experimental tendon injuries, ten clinically healthy adult indigenous dogs were divided into two equal groups (control and experimental). The left superficial digital flexor tendon was exposed and three windows of 6 mm thickness, 3 mm length, and 2 mm intervals were made under general anesthesia. In the experimental group, the dogs were subjected to a magnetic field of 6?×?800 G for 30 days. The tendon biopsy was collected from the site of operation on the postoperative day 30. Histomorphological changes indicated low rate of inflammatory cells, high rate of mature fibroblast, and increased normal collagen fibers, and these were better in the experimental group. The biomechanical test revealed that the tendons of the dogs in the experimental group were more resistant than tendons of the dogs in the control group. The result of this study indicated that magnetic field therapy reduced edema and local swelling, enhanced proliferation of fibroblasts, and regulated arrangement of collagen fibers, providing a good noninvasive physical therapy for tendinous injuries.     

A genetic risk score based on direct associations with coronary heart disease improves coronary heart disease risk prediction in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC), but not in the Rotterdam and Framingham Offspring, Studies

ObjectiveMultiple studies have identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with coronary heart disease (CHD). We examined whether SNPs selected based on predefined criteria will improve CHD risk prediction when added to traditional risk factors (TRFs).MethodsSNPs were selected from the literature based on association with CHD, lack of association with a known CHD risk factor, and successful replication. A genetic risk score (GRS) was constructed based on these SNPs. Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate CHD risk based on the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) and Framingham CHD risk scores with and without the GRS.ResultsThe GRS was associated with risk for CHD (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–1.13). Addition of the GRS to the ARIC risk score significantly improved discrimination, reclassification, and calibration beyond that afforded by TRFs alone in non-Hispanic whites in the ARIC study. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) increased from 0.742 to 0.749 (Δ = 0.007; 95% CI, 0.004–0.013), and the net reclassification index (NRI) was 6.3%. Although the risk estimates for CHD in the Framingham Offspring (HR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.10–1.14) and Rotterdam (HR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.02–1.14) Studies were significantly improved by adding the GRS to TRFs, improvements in AUC and NRI were modest.ConclusionAddition of a GRS based on direct associations with CHD to TRFs significantly improved discrimination and reclassification in white participants of the ARIC Study, with no significant improvement in the Rotterdam and Framingham Offspring Studies.     

Hematological changes before and after treatment in dairy cows with clinical and subclinical endometritis

The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment-related changes in hematological parameters in dairy cows affected by clinical endometritis (CE) and subclinical endometritis (SE). One hundred seventy postpartum Holstein dairy cows were selected from a large commercial dairy farm. Cows of the SE group presented a significant decrease in PCV (P?<?0.05) and red blood cell (RBC) (P?<?0.05) values, when compared to healthy group, while the CE group presented a significant decrease (P?<?0.01) in PCV and RBC count, when compared to healthy and SE animals. Significant increases in white blood cell (WBC) (P?<?0.05), neutrophil (P?<?0.001), and lymphocyte (P?<?0.001) counts, in the CE and SE groups, were observed when compared to healthy cows. After treatment for CE, PCV and RBC count dropped significantly, whereas WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte counts decreased significantly (P?<?0.05). In the SE group, WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte counts decreased significantly after treatment (P?<?0.05). The results obtained in this study confirm endometritis-induced changes in hematological parameter which improve after treatment.     

Integrating the CEREC technology at UT College of Dentistry

The computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) has evolved during the past 25 years, and this evolution has improved the speed and precision in which dentists can deliver high quality esthetic restorations. CEREC is an acronym for "ceramic reconstruction" and is one of the CAD/CAM systems available to dentists in private practice. The University of Tennessee College of Dentistry was one of the first dental schools in the United States to embrace this technology and integrate it into the four-year curriculum. In a dental school setting, this technology can prove to be an educational tool for the dental students, cost effective for the University and provide exceptional service for the patients.     

The effectiveness of web-based and face-to-face continuing education methods on nurses' knowledge about AIDS: a comparative study

Background  

Information about web-based education outcomes in comparison with a face-to-face format can help researchers and tutors prepare and deliver future web-based or face-to-face courses more efficiently. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of web-based and face-to-face continuing education methods in improving nurses' knowledge about AIDS.