New Cochrane Systematic Reviews – Cochrane Oral Health Group

ENAMEL MATRIX DERIVATIVE (EMDOGAIN®) FOR PERIODONTAL TISSUE REGENERATION IN INTRABONY DEFECTS (Cochrane Review). In: THE COCHRANE DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS, ISSUE 4, 2005.Esposito M, Grusovin MG, Coulthard P, Worthington H

Background

Periodontitis is a chronic infective disease of the gums caused by bacteria present in dental plaque. This condition induces the breakdown of the tooth-supporting apparatus until teeth are lost. Surgery may be indicated to arrest disease progression and regenerate lost tissues. Several surgical techniques have been developed to regenerate periodontal tissues including guided tissue regeneration (GTR), bone grafting (BG), and the use of enamel matrix derivative (EMD). EMD is an extract of enamel matrix and contains amelogenins of various molecular weights. Amelogenins are involved in the formation of enamel and periodontal attachment formation during tooth development.

Objectives

The objectives were to test whether EMD is effective, and to compare EMD versus GTR and various BG procedures for the treatment of intrabony defects.

Search strategy

We searched the Cochrane OHG Trials Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, and EMBASE. Several journals were hand searched. No language restrictions were applied. Authors of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) who were identified, personal contacts, and the manufacturer were contacted to identify unpublished trials. The most recent search was May 2005.

Selection criteria

Selected studies were RCTs on patients affected by periodontitis having intrabony defects of at least 3 mm treated with EMD compared with open flap debridement, GTR, and various BG procedures with at least 1 year of follow-up. The outcome measures considered were tooth loss, changes in probing attachment levels (PAL), pocket depths (PPD), gingival recessions (REC), bone levels from the bottom of the defects on intraoral radiographs, esthetics, and adverse events. The following time points were to be evaluated: 1, 5, and 10 years.

Data collection & analysis

Screening of eligible studies, assessment of the methodological quality of the trials, and data extraction were conducted in duplicate and independently by 2 authors. Results were expressed as random-effects models using mean differences for continuous outcomes and risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous outcomes with 95% confidence intervals (CI). It was decided not to investigate heterogeneity, but a sensitivity analysis for the risk of bias of the trials was performed.

Main results

Ten trials were included out of 29 potentially eligible trials. No included trial presented data after 5 years of follow-up, therefore all data refer to the 1-year time point. A meta-analysis including 8 trials showed that EMD-treated sites displayed statistically significant PAL improvements (mean difference 1.2 mm, 95% CI 0.7 to 1.7) and PPD reduction (0.8 mm, 95% CI 0.5 to 1.0) when compared to placebo or control treated sites, although a high degree of heterogeneity was found. Significantly more sites had less than 2 mm PAL gain in the control group, with RR 0.48 (95% CI 0.29 to 0.80). Approximately 6 patients needed to be treated (NNT) to have 1 patient gaining 2 mm or more PAL over the control group, based on a prevalence in the control group of 35%. No differences in tooth loss or esthetic appearance as judged by the patients were observed. When evaluating the only 2 trials at a low risk of bias in a sensitivity analysis, the effect size for PAL was 0.6 mm, which was less than 1.2 mm for the overall result. Comparing EMD with GTR (5 trials), GTR showed a statistically significant increase of REC (0.4 mm) and significantly more postoperative complications. No trials were found comparing EMD with BG.

Reviewers' conclusions

One year after its application, EMD significantly improved PAL levels (1.2 mm) and PPD reduction (0.8 mm) when compared to a placebo or control, however, the high degree of heterogeneity observed among trials suggests that results have to be interpreted with great caution. In addition, a sensitivity analysis indicated that the overall treatment effect might be overestimated. The actual clinical advantages of using EMD are unknown. With the exception of significantly more postoperative complications in the GTR group, there was no evidence of clinically important differences between GTR and EMD.

Abstract

INTERVENTIONS FOR REPLACING MISSING TEETH: DENTAL IMPLANTS IN ZYGOMATIC BONE FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE SEVERELY DEFICIENT EDENTULOUS MAXILLA (Cochrane Review). In: THE COCHRANE DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS, ISSUE 4, 2005.Esposito M, Worthington HV, Coulthard P

Background

Dental implants are used for replacing missing teeth. Placing dental implants is limited by the presence of adequate bone volume permitting their anchorage. Several bone-augmentation procedures have been developed to solve this problem. Zygomatic implants are long screw-shaped implants developed as a partial or complete alternative to bone augmentation procedures for the severely atrophic maxilla. One to 3 zygomatic implants can be inserted through the posterior alveolar crest and maxillary sinus to engage the body of the zygomatic bone. A couple of conventional dental implants are also needed in the frontal region of the maxilla to stabilize the prosthesis. The potential main advantages of zygomatic implants could be that in some situations bone grafting may not be needed and a fixed denture could be fitted sooner. Another specific indication for using zygomatic implants could be the need for maxillary reconstruction after maxillectomy in cancer patients.

Objectives

The objective was to test the hypothesis of no difference in outcomes between zygomatic implants with and without bone-augmenting procedures in comparison with conventional dental implants in augmented bone for severely resorbed maxillae.

Search strategy

We searched the Cochrane Oral Health Group's Trial Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, and EMBASE. We hand searched several dental journals. No language restrictions were applied. Personal contacts and all known zygomatic implant manufacturers were contacted to identify unpublished trials. The most recent search was May 2005.

Selection criteria

Studies selected were randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) that included patients with severely resorbed maxillae who could not be rehabilitated with conventional dental implants and were treated with zygomatic implants with and without bone grafts versus patients treated with conventional dental implants in conjunction with bone-augmentation procedures having a follow-up of at least 1 year. Outcome measures considered were prosthesis and implant failures, side effects, patient satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness.

Data collection & analysis

Screening of eligible studies, assessment of the methodological quality of trials, and data extraction were to be conducted in duplicate and independently by 2 authors. Results were to be expressed as random-effects models using weighted mean differences for continuous outcomes and risk ratio for dichotomous outcomes with 95% confidence intervals. Heterogeneity was to be investigated including both clinical and methodological factors.

Main results

No RCTs or controlled clinical trials (CCTs) were identified.

Reviewers' conclusions

There is the need for RCTs in this area to assess whether zygomatic implants offer some advantages over alternative bone-augmentation techniques for treating atrophic maxillae.     

Glycemic Control of Surgical Patients. What is Correct,What is Not

Perioperative hyperglycemia is very common among critically ill patients with or without diabetes mellitus (DM). Perioperative elevated levels of blood glucose (BG) have been linked with increases in morbidity, infections, anastomotic failure, autoimmune dysfunction, and raised mortality and prolongation of hospitalization. A variety of different approaches have been taken for the control of BG in the perioperative period, and different methods of measurement have been proposed, among which, point of care (POC) meters, arterial blood gas analysis and venous plasma analysis prevail. The aim of this literature review was to provide evidence-based answers as to how BG levels should be monitored. We conclude that more conservative glycemic control is preferable to “tight glycemic control” (TGC), in order to avoid complications associated with episodes of hypoglycemia.     

Understanding macrographia in children with autism spectrum disorders

It has been consistently reported that children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) show considerable handwriting difficulties, specifically relating to accurate and consistent letter formation, and maintaining appropriate letter size. The aim of this study was to investigate the underlying factors that contribute to these difficulties, specifically relating to motor control. We examined the integrity of fundamental handwriting movements and contributions of neuromotor noise in 26 children with ASD aged 8–13 years (IQ > 75), and 17 typically developing controls. Children wrote a series of four cursive letter l's using a graphics tablet and stylus. Children with ASD had significantly larger stroke height and width, more variable movement trajectory, and higher movement velocities. The absolute level of neuromotor noise in the velocity profiles, as measured by power spectral density analysis, was significantly higher in children with ASD; relatively higher neuromotor noise was found in bands >3 Hz. Our findings suggest that significant instability of fundamental handwriting movements, in combination with atypical biomechanical strategies, contribute to larger and less consistent handwriting in children with ASD.     

An Improved Optimization Model to Predict the MOR of Glulam Prepared by UF-Oxidized Starch Adhesive: A Hybrid Artificial Neural Network-Modified Genetic Algorithm Optimization Approach

The purpose of the present article is to study the bending strength of glulam prepared by plane tree (Platanus Orientalis-L) wood layers adhered by UF resin with different formaldehyde to urea molar ratios containing the modified starch adhesive with different NaOCl concentrations. Artificial neural network (ANN) as a modern tool was used to predict this response, too. The multilayer perceptron (MLP) models were used to predict the modulus of rapture (MOR) and the statistics, including the determination coefficient (R²), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) were used to validate the prediction. Combining the ANN and the genetic algorithm by using the multiple objective and nonlinear constraint functions, the optimum point was determined based on the experimental and estimated data, respectively. The characterization analysis, performed by FTIR and XRD, was used to describe the effect of the inputs on the output. The results indicated that the statistics obtained show excellent MOR predictions by the feed-forward neural network using Levenberg–Marquardt algorithms. The comparison of the optimal output of the actual values obtained by the genetic algorithm resulting from the multi-objective function and the optimal output of the values estimated by the nonlinear constraint function indicates a minimum difference between both functions.     

Primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the breast: a case report.

Mammary non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are uncommon and account for 2% of all extranodal lymphomas. Stringent diagnostic criteria are applied in the diagnosis of primary lymphoma considering that the breast is a recognized site for disseminated extranodal lymphoma. Our case report was established by histology alone.     

Marginal-zone B-cell lymphoma, extranodal-malt-type: report of three cases.

A high proportion of extranodal lymphoid infiltrates are diffuse small lymphocytic proliferations [1, 2] and therefore pose a particularly challenging diagnostic problem [1-4]. Their benign or malignant nature cannot be determined using clinical and radiologic criteria. The application of traditional morphologic criteria (i.e., cytologic maturity and polymorphism favor benignancy, while cytologic atypia and monomorphism favor malignancy) [5, 6], has probably improved diagnostic accuracy. However, these criteria generally have not been helpful in evaluating the large number of lymphoid infiltrates composed of monomorphic collections of small cytologically-mature appearing lymphoid cells [1-4] and, therefore, have not always accurately predicted clinical behavior. Extranodal lymphoid proliferations are also of considerable biologic interest since their pathogenesis and natural history have not been fully elucidated. Localized non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, extranodal-MALT-type. was diagnosed in our Department in three cases: Two arose in the orbit and the third one in the tonsil. The tumors had a typical histologic appearance. The microscopical features and immunohistochemical profile are discussed.     

Clinical contraindications to allergen immunotherapy: an EAACI position paper

Clinical indications for allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in respiratory and Hymenoptera venom allergy are well established; however, clinical contraindications to AIT are not always well documented. There are some discrepancies when classifying clinical contraindications for different forms of AIT as ‘absolute’ or ‘relative’. EAACI Task Force on ‘Contraindications to AIT’ was created to evaluate and review current literature on clinical contraindications, and to update recommendations for both sublingual and subcutaneous AIT for respiratory and venom immunotherapy. An extensive review of the literature was performed on the use of AIT in asthma, autoimmune disorders, malignant neoplasias, cardiovascular diseases, acquired immunodeficiencies and other chronic diseases (including mental disorders), in patients treated with β‐blockers, ACE inhibitors or monoamine oxidase inhibitors, in children under 5 years of age, during pregnancy and in patients with poor compliance. Each topic was addressed by the following three questions: (1) Are there any negative effects of AIT on this concomitant condition/disease? (2) Are more frequent or more severe AIT‐related side‐effects expected? and (3) Is AIT expected to be less efficacious? The evidence, for the evaluation of these clinical conditions as contraindications, was limited, and most of the conclusions were based on case reports. Based on an extended literature research, recommendations for each medical condition assessed are provided. The final decision on the administration of AIT should be based on individual evaluation of any medical condition and a risk/benefit assessment for each patient.     

Study of Optimal Perimetric Testing In Children (OPTIC): developing consensus and setting research priorities for perimetry in the management of children with glaucoma

BackgroundPerimetry is important in the management of children with glaucoma, but there is limited evidence-based guidance on its use. We report an expert consensus-based study to update guidance and identify areas requiring further research.MethodsExperts were invited to participate in a modified Delphi consensus process. Panel selection was based on clinical experience of managing children with glaucoma and UK-based training to minimise diversity of view due to healthcare setting. Questionnaires were delivered electronically, and analysed to establish ‘agreement’. Divergence of opinions was investigated and resolved where possible through further iterations.Results7/9 experts invited agreed to participate. Consensus (≥5/7 (71%) in agreement) was achieved for 21/26 (80.8%) items in 2 rounds, generating recommendations to start perimetry from approximately 7 years of age (IQR: 6.75–7.25), and use qualitative methods in conjunction with automated reliability indices to assess test quality. There was a lack of agreement about defining progressive visual field (VF) loss and methods for implementing perimetry longitudinally.Panel members highlighted the importance of informing decisions based upon individual circumstances—from gauging maturity/capability when selecting tests and interpreting outcomes, to accounting for specific clinical features (e.g. poor IOP control and/or suspected progressive VF loss) when making decisions about frequency of testing.ConclusionsThere is commonality of expert views in relation to implementing perimetry and interpreting test quality in the management of children with glaucoma. However, there remains a lack of agreement about defining progressive VF loss, and utilising perimetry over an individuals’ lifetime, highlighting the need for further research.Subject terms: Paediatrics, Glaucoma