Evaluation of Dimensional Accuracy of Panoramic Cross‐Sectional Tomography,Its Ability to Identify the Inferior Alveolar Canal,and Its Impact on Estimation of Appropriate Implant Dimensions in the Mandibular Posterior Region

Objectives: To evaluate the dimensional accuracy of panoramic cross‐sectional tomography, its impact on implant size estimation and its ability in identifying the inferior alveolar canal in the mandibular posterior region. Material and Methods: Eight partially edentulous mandibles with 18 edentulous sites were obtained. Orthopantomograms and tomograms were made and the mandible's outline and the position of mandibular canals on tomograms were traced on a clear acetate paper. Horizontal and vertical magnification factors were calculated. The mandibular height, distance between mandibular canal and alveolar crest, maximum bucco‐lingual width, distance between buccal cortex and mandibular canal, and cortical thickness at the inferior border of the mandible were measured. Potential implant sites were identified and implant sizes were estimated. Location and visibility of mandibular canals were also evaluated. The mandibles were sectioned at each site and all the above mentioned parameters were assessed which served as gold standard. Results: Mean horizontal and vertical magnification factors were 1.47 ± 0.048 and 1.53 ± 0.038. Total height and maximum bucco‐lingual width were underestimated by 1.88% and 1.59%. Crest to canal distance, cortical thickness at the inferior border of the mandible and buccal cortex to mandibular canal were overestimated by 0.59%, 5.16%, and 3.64%. Implant sizes were estimated for 11 sites and changes were recorded at 2 sites between record 1 and record 2. However, there was no disagreement between record 2 and record 3. Of the canals, 61.11% were located lingually and the visibility of mandibular canals was poor in 44.44% of cases. Conclusions: The tomograms were found to be accurate for the measurements in both horizontal and vertical planes and reliable for implant size estimation, taking into consideration proper magnification factors. They were also found to be useful in assessing the location of mandibular canal but were not very effective in discerning it.     

Two-Stage Arthroplasty for Prosthetic Joint Infection : A Systematic Review of Acute Kidney Injury,Systemic Toxicity and Infection Control

Periprosthetic infections of hip and knee joints are now treated by two-stage revision arthroplasty with an infection control rate of 91%. The present systematic review studied the reported incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and infection recurrence from January 1989 to June 2012 to assess the risk–benefit ratio of antibiotic spacer use. Ten observational studies (n = 544 patients) with clinical outcomes showed an average incidence of AKI of 4.8%. The average reported persistence or recurrence rate of infection was 11% during a follow-up period that ranged from 13 to 108 months. The risk–benefit ratio presently favors treatment although there appears to be higher complication rates and incidence of AKI than previously reported. Marked heterogeneity in practice and lack of detail in reporting precluded more robust quantitative synthesis. Clinicians need to be aware of the potential risk of AKI, particularly in high-risk patients; practice patterns for the use of antibiotic spacers need to be standardized.     

Reassessing the gender differences in type and place of health care utilisation in India: does the gender gap no longer exist?

Purpose

Two of the crucial components of health care service utilisation are the type of health care services received (government, private, others) and the place visited (same village, another village, another district/town, a metro city, abroad, etc.). The association between health care facilities and gender is important for understanding the disparities between males and females. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to reassess the gender differences in the type and place of health care utilisation.

Methods

Data from the second round of the India Human Development Survey (2011–2012) were used for this study. Analysis was done using both bi- and multivariate techniques (multinomial logistic regression).

Results

Results indicate an improvement in the female health care-seeking behaviour. We found that females have a higher tendency to visit private health care centres, whereas a higher percentage of males used government health care services for the treatment of both long- and short-term morbidities. Males and females reported visiting health care centres within the village, in another village, in another district/town and in a metro area/abroad for treatment approximately to the same extent.

Conclusion

The analysis of the male and female treatment-seeking behaviour revealed a clear picture of proliferating gender neutrality. The increase in the health care-seeking behaviour of women can be considered an upshot of improved female education and increased awareness among males regarding female empowerment. Government interventions in different sectors have also improved the plight of women directly or indirectly.

     

In Situ Formation of ZrB2 and Its Influence on Wear and Mechanical Properties of ADC12 Alloy Mixed Matrix Composites

In this work, aluminium alloy ADC12 reinforced with various amounts of ZrB₂ (0 wt.%, 3 wt.%, 6 wt.%, 9 wt.%) were synthesized by an in-situ reaction of molten aluminium with inorganic salts K₂ZrF₆ & KBF_4. XRD, EDAX, and SEM techniques are used for the characterization of the fabricated composite. XRD analysis revealed the successful in situ formation of ZrB₂ in the composite. From the SEM images, it was concluded that the distribution of reinforcement was homogeneous in the composites. A study of mechanical and tribological properties under the dry sliding condition of ZrB₂-reinforced ADC12 alloy has also been carried out. It is seen that there is an increase in tensile strength by 18.8%, hardness by 64.2%, and an increase in wear resistance of the material after reinforcement. The ductility of the material decreased considerably with an increase in the amount of reinforcement. The composite’s impact strength decreased by 27.7% because of the addition of hard ZrB₂ particulates.     

Long-term safety and effectiveness of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation ablation using a porous tip contact force-sensing catheter from the SMART SF trial

Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology - The prospective, multicenter SMART SF trial demonstrated the acute safety and effectiveness of the 56-hole porous tip irrigated contact force...