Effect of root perforation repair with mineral aggregate-based cements on the retention of customized fiberglass posts

Odontology - The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the root perforation repair with mineral aggregate-based cements affects the retention of customized fiberglass posts to bovine...     

Treatment of multiple adjacent RT 1 gingival recessions with the modified coronally advanced tunnel (MCAT) technique and a collagen matrix or palatal connective tissue graft: 9-year results of a split-mouth randomized clinical trial

Clinical Oral Investigations - To evaluate t he long-term outcomes following treatment of RT 1 multiple adjacent gingival recessions (MAGR) using the modified coronally advanced tunnel (MCAT) with...     

Does Quantitative Ultrasound at the Calcaneus Predict an Osteoporosis Diagnosis in Postmenopausal Women from the Silesia Osteo Active Study?

The aims of the study were to assess the clinical conformity between quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and densitometry with use of the standard World Health Organization T-score thresholds to determine optimal diagnostic cutoff values for QUS T-scores in different age groups. Three hundred sixty-five postmenopausal Caucasian women were enrolled into the study and divided into two age groups (<65 y and ≥65 y). Skeletal status was assessed using QUS measurements at the calcaneus and bone densitometry at the spine and proximal femur (Hologic Explorer, Bedford, MA, USA). QUS measurement results expressed as the stiffness index (SI) correlated significantly with both femoral neck bone mineral density (r = 0.51, p < 0.0001) and lumbar spine bone mineral density (r = 0.52, p < 0.0001). On the basis of receiver operating characteristic curve analyses, the thresholds for correspondence between QUS T-score values and T-score –2.5SD in dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were established. They ranged between –1.63SD and –1.70SD in relation to femoral neck DXA and between –1.22SD and –1.51SD in relation to lumbar spine DXA, depending on age category. In conclusion, the study described here confirmed that QUS measurements at the calcaneus may provide information comparable to DXA examinations at the femoral neck and lumbar spine in postmenopausal women.     

Treat-to-target strategy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Audit of adherence from real world clinical data

IntroductionThe current paradigm of the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) recommends achieving a state of remission or low disease activity through the treat-to-target strategy. Our study assesses adherence to this strategy.MethodPatients with RA (ACR-EULAR 2010 criteria) were included. From each centre, 19 patients were randomly selected. Clinical histories (CH) were assessed by independent auditors, checking compliance with predefined quality criteria. The study was approved by ethics committees.ResultsWe included 856 patients (mean age 54 years; 71% women). The use of a combined index (CI) was recorded in 61% of cases. Visits were recorded every 4 weeks using a CI in 4% of CH while attempts were made to achieve remission. Monitoring of disease activity every 6–8 months after reaching the target was recorded in 73% of cases.ConclusionsThe implementation of the treat-to-target strategy is barely recorded in patients with RA in routine clinical practice.     

T-cell Subset Profile in Kidney Recipients of Extended or Standard Donors

IntroductionThe usage of extended-criteria donors (ECD) became a routinely accepted manner in the last decade. ECD is a potential risk factor for antibody-mediated rejection. Analysis of lymphocyte subsets might be a complementary diagnostic toolkit because there is limited knowledge about this term.MethodBetween May 12, 2016, and September 4, 2019, a total of 130 patients who had undergone kidney transplant were investigated. Patients were divided in ECD and standard criteria donor (SCD) groups. Blood samples were collected before the operation, then in the first week and after 30, 60, 180, and 365 days. Besides routine laboratory tests, multicolor flow cytometry was performed for lymphocyte subsets.ResultsECD grafts were transplanted to older recipients. The number of CD4+ cells increased in the SCDs from the first week to until the end of first month, and then decreased. The number of CD4+ cells decreased from the beginning of the study until the end of first year to 66% of its original value in ECDs. At the first month, the number of CD19+ cells was higher in SCD compared with ECD cases; the number then decreased in both groups. T-regulatory cells had a drop at the first week that lasted until the first month. A bigger increase in SCD and a moderate increase in ECD group were then observed. The kinetics of CD19+ and CD19+ naive cells are similar in the ECD and SCD groups. In the SCD group, cell count decreased in both CD19+ (13%) and CD19+ naive (12%) between third and sixth month. The count of CD19+ cells decreased by 9%, but the count of CD19+ naive cells increased by 11% between the sixth month and first year.DiscussionThe prolonged postoperative uremic state caused by the poorer initial function, together with an aging immune system, explains the weaker immune response in ECD patients, which may be the cause of the decreased number of memory and regulatory T cells. Older patients with an ECD graft need a tailored, personalized, and less aggressive immunosuppressive treatment.     

Variabilidad del uso intraoperatorio de cristaloides y asociación con los resultados postoperatorios: análisis post hoc de dos estudios prospectivos y multicéntricos de cohortes

BackgroundThe optimal regimen for intravenous administration of intraoperative fluids remains unclear. Our goal was to analyze intraoperative crystalloid volume administration practices and their association with postoperative outcomes.MethodsWe extracted clinical data from two multicenter observational studies including adult patients undergoing colorectal surgery and total hip (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA). We analyzed the distribution of intraoperative fluid administration. Regression was performed using a general linear model to determine factors predictive of fluid administration. Patient outcomes and intraoperative crystalloid utilization were summarized for each surgical cohort. Regression models were developed to evaluate associations of high or low intraoperative crystalloid with the likelihood of increased postoperative complications, mainly acute kidney injury (AKI) and hospital length of stay (LOS).Results7,580 patients were included. The average adjusted intraoperative crystalloid infusion rate across all surgeries was to 7.9 (SD 4) mL/kg/h. The regression model strongly favored the type of surgery over other patient predictors. We found that high fluid volume was associated with 40% greater odds ratio (OR 1.40; 95% confidence interval1.01-1.95, p = 0.044) of postoperative complications in patients undergoing THA, while we found no associations for the other types of surgeries, AKI and LOSConclusionsA wide variability was observed in intraoperative crystalloid volume administration; however, this did not affect postoperative outcomes.     

Outcomes of patients with non-small cell lung cancer and poor performance status treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors in the real-world setting

International Journal of Clinical Oncology - Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are standard treatments for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with poor performance status...