Clinical presentation of young people (10–24 years old) with brain tumors: results from the international MOBI-Kids study

Journal of Neuro-Oncology - We used data from MOBI-Kids, a 14-country international collaborative case–control study of brain tumors (BTs), to study clinical characteristics of the tumors in...     

Management challenges for chronic dysimmune neuropathies during the COVID-19 pandemic

Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the need to re-think the delivery of services to patients with chronic dysimmune neuropathies. Telephone/video consultations have become widespread but have compounded concerns about objective evaluation. Therapeutic decisions need, more than ever before, to be considered in the best interests of both patients, and society, while not denying function-preserving/restoring treatment. Immunoglobulin therapy and plasma exchange, for those treated outside of the home, expose patients to the hazards of hospital or outpatient infusion centers. Steroid therapy initiation and continuation pose increased infectious risk. Immunosuppressant therapy similarly becomes highly problematic, with the risks of treatment continuation enhanced by uncertainties regarding duration of the pandemic. The required processes necessitate considerable time and effort especially as resources and staff are re-deployed to face the pandemic, but are essential for protecting this group of patients and as an integral part of wider public health actions.     

Wie häufig werden Patienten mit depressiven Störungen in der hausärztlichen Praxis erkannt?

Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz - Hausärzte sind als Primärversorger für Patienten mit depressiven Störungen entscheidende Weichensteller...     

Functional and aesthetic treatment outcomes after immediate jaw reconstruction using a fibula flap and dental implants

Purpose

Microvascular fibula flap surgery is a reliable and effective procedure for reconstructing the jaws after tumour surgery. This procedure allows the placement of dental implants after bone consolidation. This study was designed to evaluate the oral, functional, and aesthetic rehabilitation of tumour patients with immediate fibula transfer and dental implants and included assessment of diet, speech, and aesthetics.

Secondary caries in crowned teeth: correlation of clinical and radiographic findings

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The diagnostic value of radiographs for interproximal caries detection on nonrestored teeth is well investigated. However, little is known about the use of radiographs in the diagnosis of secondary caries localized at crown margins. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to correlate clinical findings with regard to secondary caries with the findings of a radiographic evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred randomly selected patients who underwent restorations with fixed prostheses and were exhibiting at least one secondary carious lesion were included in the study. A total of 820 restorations (test group, 730 interproximal surfaces of 365 single crowns and 910 interproximal surfaces of 455 fixed partial denture retainer crowns) and 1024 interproximal surfaces of 512 nonrestored teeth (control group) were investigated clinically, with the use of modified California Dental Association criteria, and radiographically for interproximal carious lesions. The extension of the lesions was rated to be initial (with no cavitation), early (with cavitation limited to orthodentin), or deep (with cavitation). The data were statistically analyzed for normal distribution, and the frequency of the findings was calculated in absolute numbers and as a percentage. Statistically significant differences were determined by use of the chi(2) test (P<.05). A linear regression model was applied for the correlation between the percentage of secondary caries and the duration of the crowns in situ. RESULTS: Secondary caries was diagnosed clinically in 11.2% of 1640 interproximal surfaces but only in 8.3% radiographically. In contrast, the frequency of interproximal carious lesions diagnosed clinically in nonrestored teeth increased with the use of radiographs from 3.3% to 4.1%. CONCLUSION: Within the limits of this study, the results confirm that radiographs improve the diagnostic sensitivity for interproximal caries in nonrestored teeth. However, for the diagnosis of secondary caries in crowned teeth, the clinical examination is more reliable than the radiographic evaluation.     

Cell-based bone reconstruction therapies--cell sources

Over the last few decades, reconstructive surgery has shifted from a resection-oriented approach toward strategies focusing on repair and regeneration of tissues. As the main aim of maxillofacial reconstruction has been the restoration of bone form and function, surgeons used artificial tissue substitutes in the early decades of bone reconstruction. These artificial materials significantly improved the ability of surgeons to restore the form and, to some extent, the function of defective bones. Despite the fact that every artificial material has specific disadvantages, the use of biomaterials is a common treatment option in clinical practice even today. Due to the more detailed understanding that exists concerning transplantation of cells and tissues, autogenous grafts are the second mainstay in clinical practice. However, the main disadvantage of using autogenous grafts is donor site morbidity and donor shortage. Research is currently in progress into the use of cell-based approaches in reconstructive surgery, since cells are the driving elements for all repair and regeneration processes. Various cell populations have been reported on in the relevant literature. These cells can be classified according to differentiation capacity and the tissue from which they originated. In this review, unrestricted cells, multipotential progenitor cells, determined cells, and genetically modified cells are described systematically, and their advantages as well as limitations are discussed. (More than 50 references.)     

Voids and interlayer gaps in Class 1 posterior composite restorations: a comparison between a microlayer and a 2-layer technique.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective was to compare the presence of interlayer gaps between 2 hybrid composites placed using a microlayer and a 2-layer technique. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Standardized Class 1 cavities were prepared in 40 extracted posterior teeth. Two resin composite materials were used. The control group, group A, consisted of samples of the materials extruded out of the manufacturers' syringes. Group B consisted of 10 teeth restored using 2 layers per restoration. Group C consisted of 30 teeth restored using 6 microlayers per restoration. A scanning electron microscope was used to detect voids in the samples. RESULTS: Round, well-defined voids were found in 85% to 100% of the samples within the bulks of the resin composite materials only. A statistically significant relationship between the type of composite and presence of bubbles (Fisher exact test, P = .04) was found among the 2-layer technique group. No statistically significant difference (Fisher exact test, P = .48) was found among the microlayer technique group. Irregular interlayer gaps were found in 5% to 15% of specimens within areas between bulks of composite, as detected by an electron microscope based on the different densities of the bulks of composite and the interlayer areas. No such statistically significant relationship was found (Fisher exact, P = .62) among the study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Voids are routinely found in bulks of composite materials. Higher incidences of interlayer gaps in the 2-layer samples suggest that the use of a microlayering technique may result in fewer gaps.