Frameless Fractionated Linear Accelerator-Based Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Brain Metastases: Results of a Single-Arm Phase II Multi-Institutional Clinical Trial

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) yields high rates of local control for brain metastases while minimizing neurocognitive side effects. While advanced SRT platforms are widely available in urban centers, rural/suburban patients face geographic and socioeconomic barriers to access SRS. For this reason, we conducted a multi-institutional Phase 2 clinical trial to test the safety and efficacy of 3-5 fraction frameless fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FFSRT) for brain metastases in an integrated academic satellite network MATERIALS/METHODS: This IRB-approved Phase 2 trial was conducted for patients ≥18-years-old with 1-4 brain metastases. Brain metastases involving the optic pathway or brainstem were excluded. Gross tumor volume (GTV) was delineated with a volumetric brain MRI and planning target volume (PTV) was GTV + 2 mm margin. Radiation dose was based on GTV size: < 3.0 cm, 27 Gy in 3 fractions, and 3.0-3.9 cm, 30 Gy in 5 fractions. Toxicity was evaluated using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.

RESULTS

Of 76 evaluable patients, the median age was 67 years, 56.6% were female, 82.9% were white/Caucasian and 89.6% had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤ 2. Most brain metastases were from lung cancer (51.3%) and breast cancer (15.7%). With median follow-up of 10 months, local control was 93%, median survival was 1.8 years (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5-2.4 years), 1-year OS was 73.8% (95% CI: 0.59-0.84), and 2-year OS was 31% (95% CI: 0.12-0.52). There were no CTCAE Grade ≥ 3 protocol-related adverse events.

CONCLUSION

Outcomes of this trial compare favorably with contemporary SRT trials for brain metastases. FFSRT may provide opportunities to expand SRS access for underserved populations across the MDACC enterprise and in future clinical trials for brain metastases.

Effect of Twin Block Therapy Versus Fixed Functional Appliances on Pharyngeal Airway Space in Skeletal Class II Patients: A Prospective Cephalometric Study

BACKGROUND

Class II malocclusion is one of the most common malocclusion with varied prevalence. Functional therapy with appliances like Twin Block or Fixed functional appliances forms the mainstay of treatment in growing Class II patients. These patients might demonstrate narrow airway due to the retrognathic position of the mandible. This study investigated the effects of twin block and fixed functional appliance therapy (Forsus™ FRD) on the pharyngeal airway space in skeletal Class II patients.

METHODS

Forty patients with Class II malocclusion were selected and divided into two equal groups of 20 patients each for both Twin block and Forsus group. Lateral cephalograms were obtained before and after the functional appliance therapy. Evaluation was done for changes in hyoid bone position, pharyngeal airway dimensions and tongue position.

RESULTS

The variables of the study showed better hyoid position in both the groups. In Twin Block group, an increase in hy-apw2 and hy-PoFH suggested anterior positioning of hyoid and a decrease in H-MP and hy-ML indicated superior positioning. In Forsus group an increase in H-H', hy-FH, hy-ML, hy-NL, hy-NSL and hy-OL suggested inferior positioning of hyoid, while an increase in hy-apw2, hy-CVT, hy-PoFH, hy-RL and hy'-tgo indicated anterior positioning of hyoid bone after functional therapy.

CONCLUSION

Both the twin block and Forsus™ FRD improved the position of the hyoid bone after the functional appliance therapy however the changes were not statistically significant. Twin block and Forsus™ had similar effect on the hyoid bone position, pharyngeal dimensions and the tongue position.

Comparative effect of micro-osteoperforation and Photo-biomodulation on the rate of maxillary canine retraction: A split mouth randomized clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

The lengthy duration of comprehensive orthodontic treatment has always been a major concern. Various modalities have been proposed to accelerate the orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) with varying degree of success. However, there is limited literature, comparing the efficiency of two commonly used modalities which are relatively simple, safe and comfortable chair-side procedures to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement viz. Photo-biomodulation (PBM) being non-invasive and micro-osteoperforations (MOPs) being minimally invasive. The aim was to evaluate the comparative effect of PBM and MOPs on the rate of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM).

METHODS

In this split mouth study, thirty patients requiring ma-xillary first premolar extraction were randomly allocated for Photo-biomodulation (PBM) on one side and for micro-osteoperforations (MOPs) on other side of maxilla. Separate canine retraction was performed and movement was measured over a three month period.

RESULTS

Micro-osteoperforations (MOPs) significantly increased the rate of maxillary canine retraction by 1.1 fold when compared to the Photo-biomodulation (PBM).The MOPs can successfully reduce the comprehensive fixed orthodontic treatment time by around 9% as compared to PBM.

CONCLUSIONS

Micro-osteoperforation is a more efficient modality of accelerating tooth movement as compared to Photo-biomodulation which can be used in routine orthodontic practice.

SMF/FSO integrated dual-rate reliable and energy efficient WDM optical access network for smart and urban communities

To handle the massive high-speed internet traffic, free space optics (FSO) or single-mode fiber (SMF) based fiber optic communication is being used everywhere across the world. These technologies are capable of providing huge bandwidth and transmitting the data at very high speed with low energy consumption. FSO is a very convenient technology to quickly expand the legacy network in the adverse geographical areas. However, its link performance is highly dependent of inconsistent weather conditions. SMF based fiber optic link has a very low loss and its performance is almost independent on the weather conditions. Though, the installation and maintenance of fibers are quite complex and costly. Individually, FSO or SMF links have their limitations and have to be integrated to leverage their benefits. In this paper, we integrated FSO/SMF links and compared the performance of the proposed architecture which is capable of providing high-speed dual-rate data transmission. The proposed architecture transmits data over either FSO or SMF or both links simultaneously and has 100% more reliability against any one of the link failures. In case of operational link failure (FSO/SMF), data may be switched to the alternative working link (SMF/FSO), simply by tuning the transmitted signal by 50 GHz. The proposed architecture is also reliable against the optical line terminal transceiver (TRx) failure as each user located in the network can be served by two transceivers (1 Gbps and 10 Gbps). The proposed architecture also supports the wavelength division multiplexing overlay transmission for broadcasting the common signal to all the available users in the networks. The architecture reduces ~ 27% of the energy consumption by utilizing the appropriate link of hybrid architecture and TRx according to weather conditions and traffic load. The integrated architecture looks attractive for providing energy-efficient, high speed, and reliable internet coverage to the areas where there is a difficulty of laying fibers and has frequent fiber faults. The architecture is useful for strengthening and boosting rural and urban development.

Repair of a Perforation Defect With Calcium Silicate-Based Cement Using an Internal Matrix

This case report describes the nonsurgical endodontic management of a distolingual floor perforation in a mandibular first molar using an internal matrix and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) cement. The pulp chamber was properly cleaned, and after placement of a synthetic collagen material that served as a barrier at the level of furcation, MTA was used to repair the perforation defect. Root canal treatment was completed and the tooth was restored with a composite restoration followed by a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown.

Design and Analysis of Multi Junction Solar Photovoltaic Cell with Graphene as an Intermediate Layer

An efficacious Intermediate Layer (IML) is important for multi junction solar Photo Voltaic Cell (PVC) owing to its good electrical conductivity and optical transparency. In this research work, the use of Graphene as an IML with varied thickness on InGaP/GaAs/InGaAs multi-junction solar PVCs is investigated using virtual fabrication TCAD tool SILVACO-Atlas. The detail absorption rate from wavelength 300 nm (ultraviolet)-2500 nm (middle infra-red region) is determined and the effected modelling stages are recounted. The results after simulation are further confirmed with experimental data to prove accuracy of the research work proposed. The performance parameters with J_sc = 33.4 mA/cm², V_oc = 1.27 V, fill factor (FF) = 99.5% and conversion efficiency of 30.91% (1 sun) are obtained under AM1.5G illumination.

Egg production performance, egg yolk antioxidant profile and excreta concentration of corticosterone in golden pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus) fed diets containing different levels of green vegetables

In order to study the effect of feeding graded levels of green vegetables on egg production performance and egg yolk antioxidant status, 27 female golden pheasants (GP) were randomly distributed into three groups of nine each in an experiment based on completely randomized design. The diets of the birds in groups T₁ , T₂ and T₃ contained 1.4%, 2.7% and 5.0% of green vegetables respectively. Feeding of experimental diets started on 12th February (day 1) and was continued till 30 June 2012. Average number of eggs laid and egg mass produced by the hens in group T₃ was higher (p < 0.004) than those of T₁ and T₂ . Hen day egg production was lowest (p < 0.001) in group T₁ . Roche yolk colour score was highest (p < 0.01) in T₃ followed by T₂ and was lowest in T₁ . Other external and internal egg quality parameters were similar among the groups. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of egg yolk was higher (p < 0.04) in group T₃ as compared to other two groups. Egg yolk concentration of total carotenoids, β-carotene, total sulfhydryl, protein-bound sulfhydryl and non-protein-bound sulfhydryl was higher (p < 0.05), whereas concentration of malondialdehyde was lower (p < 0.024) in group T₃ as compared to other two groups. Excreta concentration of corticosterone was highest (p < 0.012) in T₁ , followed by T₂ , and was lowest in T₃ . Egg yolk concentration of TAC and TSH was positively and that of malondialdehyde was negatively correlated with carotenoids intake. Excreta concentration of corticosterone was negatively correlated with carotenoids intake. It was concluded that incorporation of green vegetables in the diet at 5% on dry matter basis would improve egg production, egg yolk antioxidant status and the ability of the captive GP to combat stress.

Rethinking peer support for diabetes in Vancouver's South-Asian community: a feasibility study

AIM

To examine the feasibility and potential health impact of a diabetes self-management education and support intervention involving peer support on glycaemic control and diabetes distress.

METHODS

A total of 41 South-Asian adults with Type 2 diabetes were recruited for a 24-week diabetes self-management education and support pilot intervention involving peer support. The intervention consisted of six weekly education sessions co-facilitated by a certified diabetes educator and two peer leaders, followed by 18 weekly support sessions facilitated by two peer leaders. Education sessions were guided entirely by participants' self-management questions and also emphasized goal setting and action planning. Support sessions were based on empowerment principles and participants discussed self-management challenges, shared emotions, asked self-management questions, problem-solved in a group, set goals, and developed and evaluated action plans. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment and retention. Primary health-related outcomes included HbA1c levels and diabetes distress (measured at baseline, 6 and 24 weeks). Programme satisfaction was also assessed.

RESULTS

Pre-established criteria for recruitment and retention were met. Paired t-tests showed no changes in HbA1c and diabetes distress at 6 weeks. At 24 weeks, HbA1c levels deteriorated [54 mmol/mol (7.1%) vs 61 mmol/mol (7.7%)] while diabetes distress scores improved (2.0 vs 1.7).

CONCLUSIONS

Although feasible, findings suggest this peer-support model may have a positive impact on diabetes distress, but not on HbA1c levels. Culturally responsive modifications (e.g. intervention location) to the pilot model are needed and could lead to more favourable health outcomes for this community. Such a re-designed peer-support model will require further investigation.

Coincidental diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis: a case report

The aim of this case report was to present a case of multiple calcified tuberculous lymph nodes found on a panoramic radiograph coincidently diagnosed in an endodontic clinic. A detailed discussion on the differential diagnosis of similar such calcification found in the same region is also presented. A 14-year-old girl was referred to our department with the complaint of painless swelling in the left side of the lower jaw. Clinical and radiographical examinations were performed, leading to the initial diagnosis of chronic periapical abscess. The patient's medical history was re-evaluated. Advanced imaging and excisional biopsy were performed in order to confirm the final diagnosis. Regarding the presenting signs and symptoms of bilateral carious mandibular molars, a periapical inflammatory process was considered in the provisional diagnosis. A thorough examination and investigations were suggestive of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis (scrofula), and the patient underwent excision of the same. The clinician should consider the possibility of chronic granulomatous inflammatory lesions in the differential diagnosis of radiopaque lesions.

Endodontic management of mesiobuccal-2 canal in four-rooted and five-canalled mandibular third molar

AIM

A case of unusual Root morphology is presented to demonstrate anatomic variations in mandibular third molar.

BACKGROUND

The most common configuration of mandibular third molar is two Roots and three canals; however they may have many different combinations. Endodontic treatment was performed in mandibular third molar having aberrant anatomy.

CASE DESCRIPTION

Four Root canal orifices were located with the aid of dental operating microscope (DOM) and three separate Roots were diagnosed with radiographs. Spiral computed tomography (SCT) showed the presence of an extra canal and extra Root, indicating a rare anatomic configuration. Looking for additional canals and Roots are important part of successful endodontics, as the knowledge of their existence enable clinicians to treat a case successfully that otherwise might end in failure.

CONCLUSION

The use of DOM and SCT in this case greatly contributed toward making a confirmatory diagnosis and successful endodontic treatment of four-rooted and five-canalled mandibular third molar.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Variation in Root canal anatomy is very common. Knowledge of these variations is very essential for successful Root canal outcome, inability to do so can lead to missed canals and failures. Hence, thorough knowledge of Root canal anatomy and advances in diagnostic aids are essential.

Prevalence of Three-Rooted Mandibular First Molars among Indians Using SCT

Undetected extra roots or root canals are a major reason for failure of endodontic treatment. Failure to recognize an extra distolingual (DL) root in mandibular first molar may lead to incomplete debridement of the root canal system and eventually treatment failure. Therefore, it is crucial that atypical anatomy is identified before and during dental treatment. Spiral computed tomography (SCT) images can show 3D images, and therefore much detail can be used when traditional methods prevent adequate endodontic treatment. The overall incidence of DL roots on the mandibular first molars was 6.40% for all patients and 5.00% for all teeth, respectively. The occurrence of DL roots on the right side and on the left side showed a statistically significant difference. The bilateral incidence of symmetrical distribution of DL roots was 56.25%. The DL root canal orifice was separated from DB canal orifice by 2.79 ± 0.34 mm, from the MB canal orifice by 4.23 ± 0.81 mm, and from the ML canal orifice by 3.29 ± 0.52 mm. The high prevalence of the DL root in permanent mandibular first molars among the Indian population by using SCT and estimations of the interorifice distance of such teeth might be useful for successful endodontic treatments.

Evaluating a diabetes self-management support peer leader training programme for the English- and Punjabi-speaking South-Asian community in Vancouver

AIMS

The purpose of this single-cohort study was to implement and evaluate a programme that trains peers to deliver a diabetes self-management support programme for South-Asian adults with Type 2 diabetes and to assess the perceived efficacy of and satisfaction with this programme.

METHODS

We recruited eight South-Asian adults who completed a 20-h peer-leader training programme conducted over five sessions (4 h per session). The programme used multiple instructional methods (quizzes, group brainstorming, skill building, group sharing, role-play and facilitation simulation) and provided communication, facilitation, and behaviour change skills training. To graduate, participants were required to achieve the pre-established competency criteria in four training domains: active listening, empowerment-based facilitation, five-step behavioural goal-setting, and self-efficacy. Participants were given three attempts to pass each competency domain.

RESULTS

On the first attempt six (75%), eight (100%), five (63%) and five (63%) participants passed active listening, empowerment-based facilitation, five-step behavioural goal-setting, and self-efficacy, respectively. Those participants who did not pass a competency domain on the first attempt were successful in passing on the second attempt. As a result, all eight participants graduated from the training programme and became peer leaders. Satisfaction ratings for programme length, balance between content and skills development, and preparation for leading support activities were uniformly high. Ratings for the instructional methods ranged between effective and very effective.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest it is feasible to train and graduate peer leaders with the necessary skills to facilitate a diabetes self-management support intervention.

The cross cultural adaptation and validity of the child-OIDP scale among school children in Karnataka, South India

OBJECTIVE

To carry out a cross-cultural translation and adaptation of the Child-O1DP instrument and to assess its reliability and validity among 11-12 year olds in Karnataka, South India.

METHODS

The original Child-OIDP was obtained from the author, cross-culturally adapted to the Kannada language then the translation's content, face criterion and construct validity and internal and external reliability were evaluated. Children recorded their oral health problems and rated their oral health in a cross sectional study of 505, 11-12 year olds selected from a list of Karnataka schools by using simple random sampling (89.7% participation rate).

RESULTS

The child OIDP revealed good validity and reliability. In relation to construct validity; an exploratory factor analysis provided two factors with eigenvalues greater than 1, which represented the physical and psychosocial health components. Cronbach's alpha was 0.60 and test-retest reliability, 0.85 (intra-class correlation coefficient).

CONCLUSIONS

The Kannada Child-OIDP is a valid and reliable interviewer-administered instrument to measure the impact of the oral conditions on quality of life in children in Karnataka, South India.

Sequential therapy (triple drug-based induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy) in locally advanced inoperable head and neck cancer patients - Single institute experience

Context:

India has a high incidence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) mostly presenting in advanced stage. In the majority of inoperable patients a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CRT) is considered as the treatment of choice. Adding induction chemotherapy (ICT) before CRT has shown to decrease systemic relapse. Incorporation of taxanes to the cisplatin and 5-FU-based ICT has shown increase in response rates.

Aims:

To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of triple drug-based ICT followed by CCRT in locally advanced, inoperable HNSCC in the Indian context.

Settings and Design:

Prospective, non-controlled, observational study, a single-institute experience.

Materials and Methods:

Consecutive, locally advanced inoperable HNSCC patients were put on sequential therapy consisting of docetaxel, 5-FU and cisplatin for three cycles followed by concurrent weekly cisplatin and radiotherapy for responding or stable disease patients.

Results:

Forty-four patients were enrolled with male,female ratio of 33/44(75%) and 11/44(25%). Hypopharynx 16/44(36.36%) was the most common site followed by oral cavity 12/44(27.27%) and oropharynx 12/44(27.27%); 38/44(86.36%) patients could complete the planned treatment. Seven patients required dose reduction in ICT. As per the RECIST criteria, 16 patients had Complete Response (CR) and 15 had partial response (PR), 10 had stable disease (SD) and three had progressive disease (PD) after ICT. Thirty-eight patients received concomitant chemo radiotherapy (CCRT); 28/44 (66.63%) patients achieved CR, 10/44 (22.72 %) had PR. The main toxicity was mucositis 18/44 (40.90%) secondary to ICT. Grade III and IV hematological toxicity was seen in 16/44(36.36%), of which 6/44 (13.63%) had febrile neutropenia.

Conclusions:

Triple drug-based sequential therapy is tolerable in our context. In this trial from a single institute the results are very encouraging.

Influence of sodium selenite on growth, nutrient utilization and selenium uptake in Cavia porcellus

A 70 day experiment on forty guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) was conducted to find the influence of different level of sodium selenite (inorganic selenium supplementation) on growth, nutrient utilization and selenium uptake. The sodium selenite was supplemented into a basal diet at 0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 ppm, respectively and the basal diet comprised of 25% ground cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) hay, 30% ground maize (Zea mays) grain, 22% ground gram (Cicer arietinum) grain, 9.5% deoiled rice (Oryza sativa) bran, 6% soybean (Glycine max) meal, 6% fish meal, 1.5% mineral mixture (without Se), ascorbic acid (200 mg kg) and 0.1 ppm Se to meet their nutrient requirements. Daily feed intake and weekly body weights were recorded. Intake and digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, ether extract, crude fiber and nitrogen-free extract as well as uptake of calcium and phosphorus, total body weight and average daily gain were similar (p>0.05) among the four groups. However, there was a trend of increase in Se absorption of the guinea pigs with the increasing levels of Se, in the groups given 0.2 and 0.3 ppm of Se. It can be concluded that requirement of Se in guinea pigs is 0.1 ppm, as supplementation of > or =0.1 ppm sodium selenite in the diet (having 0.1 ppm Se) did not enhanced their growth rate and nutrient utilization.

Single Step Endodontic Management of Immature Apices using MTA

Aim

To examine the clinical and radiographic appearance of teeth with immature apices that were treated by single step procedure using mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA).

Summary

Creation of a physiological hard tissue barrier with calcium hydroxide in a nonvital tooth although quite predictable has certain limitations, such as the very long duration of the treatment spread over multiple visits and increased risk of root fracture. Plugging the root canal end with MTA has been advocated as an alternative treatment modality for open apices. The technique has been proven to be successful in many recently reported cases. The cases reported here present the successful treatment of two traumatized maxillary central incisors with open apices and periapical lesions using MTA. In this case report, MTA has been used to create a hard tissue barrier after disinfection of the root canal.

Clinicopathological Spectrum of Renal Biopsies in Children

BACKGROUND

Renal biopsy has revolutionized the study of glomerular diseases. A retrospective analysis of 104 consecutive renal biopsies performed in children at a tertiary care referral centre over five years is presented.

METHODS

All the biopsies were performed non-ultrasound guided by a single consultant nephrologist. Trucut needles were used in the initial few years and a Magnum biopsy gun (Bard) over subsequent three years. There were 66 boys and 38 girls.

RESULT

A male predominance occurred in the older and younger patients. The male: female ratio was 2.2:1, 1:1, and 2.7:1 for the age groups below five years, 5-10 years and above 10 years respectively. All patients tolerated the biopsy well and success rate was 94%. There were minimal complications in the form of post biopsy haematuria (33.3%). Haematuria was mild in most of the cases and settled down within 24 hours. None required transfusion. However, 60% patients had mild discomfort in the form of local pain. There was no mortality, infection or renal loss. The most common indication for a kidney biopsy was nephrotic syndrome. Out of 104 biopsies, 85 were in children with nephrotic syndrome. The commonest primary renal pathology was mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (38%), minimal change disease (19%), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (15%) and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (7%).

CONCLUSION

Renal biopsy is a safe procedure in experienced hands and the commonest indication for a biopsy in children remains nephrotic syndrome.

Intake and utilization of sorghum and maize green fodder in spotted deer under captivity

PURPOSE

The feeding value and nutritional adequacy of two cereal fodder, viz. sorghum (Sorghum vulgare) and maize (Zea mays), were evaluated in spotted deer (Axis axis) and compared with that in sheep in two consecutive feeding trials of 35 days each.

METHODS

Four spotted deer (2 years of age, 68.3 kg average body weight) and six sheep (1.5 years of age, 18.0 kg average body weight) were fed on the above two fodder types as sole feed. Nutrient digestibility and evaluations were made through two digestion studies that ended with each feeding period.

RESULT

Both sorghum and maize fodder provided 11% CP and 4.4 kcal DE per gram of TDN in the two species studied. A lower intake of DM (40.6 vs 47.5 g/kg(0.75)) and other nutrients was observed in deer during maize feeding period. It was similar but lower in sheep compared to deer. The digestibility of nutrients from both fodder types was higher in deer (66-77%) than sheep (45-62%). Numerically, most of the nutrients from sorghum fodder were better digested than maize except CP and EE. Maize fodder provided a higher percentage of NDF (70.85% vs 67.90%) and ADF (37.22% vs 30.74%) with a digestibility depression of about two units in deer and three to five units in sheep. Deer and sheep lost body weight during both the sorghum (2.0 and 0.7 kg) and the maize (2.5 and 0.4 kg) feeding periods.

CONCLUSION

Although the nutritive value of cereal fodder seemed optimum, a lower voluntary feed intake in both deer and sheep contributed to inadequate nutrient intake compared to standard recommendation.

An Efficient Network Utilization Scheme for Optical Burst Switched Networks

Optical Burst Switching (OBS) is one of the most important switching technologies for future IP over wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) networks. In OBS Network, the burst assembly technique is a challenging issue in the implementation of the system. Burst assembly influences burst characteristics, which negatively impacts network performance. In this paper, the authors propose an efficient hybrid burst assembly approach, which is based on approximate queuing network model. To reduce the time complexity, an approximate queuing network model has been considered. Throughput performance has been investigated, taking into account both burst loss probability and time complexity. Simulation results have shown that the proposed hybrid approach based on variable burst length threshold and fixed maximum time limitation provides Simulation results have also shown a good trade-off between burst blocking performance and scheduling time.

Radix Entomolaris: A Clinical Challenge

A major anatomical variant of the two-rooted mandibular first molar is a tooth with an additional distolingual third root: The radix entomolaris (RE). It is essential to anticipate and find all roots and canals during root canal treatment. Proper angulations and interpretation of radiographs help to identify pulp chamber and root anatomy. If present, an awareness and understanding of this unusual root and its root canal morphology can contribute to the successful outcome of root canal treatment.

The studies on nutrient balances in crossbred cattle bulls fed chopped green sugarcane tops supplemented with some agro industrial by- products

Fifteen adult crossbred cattle bulls, 18-22 months old (mean body weight 286.33 + 9.43) were divided into 3 groups following RBD design and were fed sugarcane tops (SCT) supplemented with some agro-industrial byproducts and concentrate feeds to determine nitrogen, Ca and P in crossbred cattle bull. For this purpose, crossbred cattle bulls were fed for 30 days ad lib SCT supplemented with Wheat bran (WB), Lentil chuni (LC) and WB + LC (50:50) in Group I, II, and III respectively. The balance values were 15.28 + 2.70, 26.85 + 4.35 and 18.00 + 3.17 for nitrogen, 11.77 + 1.34, 12.94 + 2.96 and 15.38 + 1.15 for calcium, 11.74 + 0.64, 11.26 + 1.58 and 11.69 + 0.79 for phosphorus in group I, II and III, respectively. There were no significant differences among the experimental groups in Ca and P balance values but balance of nitrogen was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in group II as compared to group I and III. It may indicated that the rumen fermentation was more appropriate in group III where animals were fed 50% lentil chuni and 50% wheat bran (supplementation of both protein and energy).

Retrospective study of descending cervical mediastinitis

OBJECTIVE

Descending cervical mediastinitis can occur as a complication of oropharyhgeal and cervical space that spread to the mediastinum vis cervical space. Descending mediastinitis represent a virulent form of mediastinal infection requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment to reduce high morality associated with the disease. Surgical management and a particularly optimal form of mediastinal drainage remain controversial.

METHOD

From 1998-2004, eighteen patients were treated in our institution. Surgical treatment consisted more than 2 times. Cervical drainage associated with drainage of the mediastinum through a thoracic approach in 11 patients with pleural drainage in 8 patients.

RESULT

The outcome was favorable in eleven patients who had mediastinum drained through thoracotomy. One patient who was not drained died with tracheo-oesophageal fistula. Main culprit neck space is pre and para tracheal space which lead to anterior, superior and posterior mediastinal collection in our series. The tracheostomy is of immense help not only in opening cervical space collections and also to secure a partially compromised airway.

The use of osseointegrated implants in craniofacial trauma

The objective in treating patients with injuries sustained in craniofacial trauma is to reinstate preinjury facial projection and function. The capability of providing spatially related facial reconstruction is predicated on basic craniofacial surgical principles, generally accepted as the standard of care. These principles include early surgical intervention, immediate bone grafting, and the use of internal rigid fixation. The introduction of osseointegrated dental implants has significantly improved the overall reconstruction of patients with cranio-maxillofacial injuries, including soft tissue repair and cosmetic surgery. The purpose of this article is to review the utilization of dental implants in the context of maxillofacial trauma, using three cases to document the clinical procedure.

Immediate loading of titanium hexed screw-type implants in the edentulous patient: case report

Histologic and histomorphometric studies in both animals and humans have shown that more rapid and greater bone-to-implant contact can be achieved with implants that incorporate certain surface characteristics compared with the original machined-surface implants. Such findings are significant because various implant designs may allow the fixtures to sufficiently resist functional loading sooner than originally thought. The case report presented here indicates that immediate loading of hexed titanium screw-type implants in the anterior mandible can lead to successful osseointegration and clinical outcome. The number of implants placed, their distribution, and the type of rigid connection are critical considerations for immediate loading. A bone height that can accommodate dental implants > or = 10 mm long is recommended. Biomechanically, the implants to be immediately loaded must be stable and resistant to macromovement to ensure good osseointegration.

The use of hydroxyapatite bone cement for sinus floor augmentation with simultaneous implant placement in the atrophic maxilla. A report of 10 cases

BACKGROUND

Dental implant placement associated with sinus floor augmentation in a severely atrophic maxilla can be performed in a 1- or 2-stage surgical procedure, depending on the height of the residual alveolar bone. A minimum of 4 to 5 mm is recommended for a 1-stage procedure.

METHODS

This clinical study describes the use of hydroxyapatite (HA) bone cement to stabilize HA-coated cylindrical implants placed simultaneously during sinus augmentation in 100 patients where insufficient bone volume did not allow primary implant stability. A total of 26 HA-coated dental implants were inserted in 100 grafted sinuses of 10 patients.

RESULTS

None of the cases presented any difficulty in achieving initial stabilization and parallelism. No clinical complications of the sinuses were evident. Prior to exposure, radiographic evaluation revealed the implants embedded in a densely homogeneous radiopaque mass. At second-stage surgery, there was no clinical evidence of crestal bone loss around the implants. All implants were clinically osseointegrated. All patients received fixed implant-supported prostheses. Mean follow-up was 18 months (range 12 to 24 months).

CONCLUSIONS

According to this preliminary study, the hydroxyapatite bone cement appears to hold great promise as a grafting alloplastic material for sinus floor augmentations. Its main advantage is its ability to provide initial stability required for osseointegration and proper implant location and parallelism. Further clinical and histological studies are required before it can be recommended for routine use in sinus lift procedures.

Nine-year follow-up of successful placement of endosseous implants in a mandibular bone graft

Facial trauma injuries secondary to gunshot wounds present a unique challenge. These wounds are avulsive and typically involve the destruction of soft tissue with bone loss. A technique in bone transplantation is that of particulate cancellous bone and marrow. Initial form and stability can be provided by a titanium mesh tray or reconstruction plates while the graft undergoes maturation and consolidation. Dental implants can then be placed in this grafted site to provide stabilization for a functional and comfortable prosthesis and for the support of the peri-oral soft tissues.

Maxillary antral mucocele and its relevance for maxillary sinus augmentation grafting: a case report

Paranasal sinus mucoceles are benign, locally expansile cyst-like masses that are filled with mucus and lined with epithelium. Most occur in the frontal sinus. Maxillary sinus mucoceles are presumably uncommon in the United States and European countries, although they have been frequently reported in Japan, particularly following Caldwell-Luc surgery. Clinical symptoms may not appear for at least 10 years postoperatively. Chronic sinus inflammation and allergic disease are also common causes of paranasal mucoceles. This paper provides an overview of maxillary sinus mucoceles and presents a case study involving a 62-year-old Latin male whose asymptomatic maxillary sinus mucocele was not revealed until he presented for maxillary sinus grafting and implant placement.

Depressed taste and smell in geriatric patients

BACKGROUND

Geriatric patients have a number of dental care problems that younger patients do not encounter. The oral changes associated with aging can have a significant effect on the efficacy of dental treatment.

TYPES OF STUDIES REVIEWED

The authors reviewed studies dealing with the causes of depressed sense of taste and smell; the causes included aging, disease, medications and dental problems. Based on their findings, the authors described the location and anatomy of taste buds and receptor cells for smell and explored appetite, saliva, food seasonings, nutrition and dietary recommendations. They also discussed the relationship of smoking and tongue cleaning to taste sensations.

RESULTS

The authors found that considerable differences exist between elderly people and young people in regards to sensory perception and pleasantness of food flavors. Salt and bitter taste acuity declines with age, but sweet and sour perceptivity does not. Olfactory acuity also declines with age. The authors found that most of the studies reviewed suggested that the sense of smell is more impaired by aging compared with the sense of taste. Smoking diminishes the taste of food and makes flavorful foods taste flat, while tongue brushing can increase taste sensation for geriatric patients.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Food can become tasteless and unappetizing for geriatric patients as the result of declining taste and smell perception. Geriatric patients should be encouraged to add seasonings to their food instead of relying on excessive consumption of salt and sugar to give their food flavor. Adequate nutrition, tongue cleaning and smoking cessation are recommended for geriatric dental patients.

Augmentation grafting of the maxillary sinus and simultaneous implant placement in patients with 3 to 5 mm of residual alveolar bone height

This study assessed the efficacy of augmentation grafting of the maxillary sinus with simultaneous placement of dental implants in patients with less than 5 mm of alveolar crestal bone height in the posterior maxilla prior to grafting, although the procedure has traditionally been contraindicated based on empirical data. A total of 160 hydroxyapatite-coated implants was placed into 63 grafted maxillary sinuses in 63 patients whose crestal bone height in this region ranged from 3 to 5 mm. Patients were followed for 2 to 4 years after the placement of definitive prostheses. There were no postoperative sinus complications. Following uncovering of the implants at 9 months after surgery, there was no clinical or radiographic evidence of crestal bone loss around the implants. Histologic examination of bone cores from the grafted sites revealed successful integration and a high degree of cellularity. All patients maintained stable implant prostheses during follow-up. These findings indicate that the single-step procedure is a feasible option for patients with as little as 3 mm of alveolar bone height prior to augmentation grafting, utilizing hydroxyapatite-coated implants and autogenous bone.

Augmentation grafting of the maxillary sinus for placement of dental implants: anatomy, physiology, and procedures

In patients with an inadequate amount of bone for implant placement, sinus lift surgery can be performed to restore a sufficient amount of alveolar bone to allow for successful implant placement and subsequent prosthetic reconstruction. In this article, the anatomy and physiology of the maxillary sinus, the mechanisms of bone grafting, bone grafting material, preoperative evaluation, surgical technique, and the grafting procedure, as well as intraoperative bleeding and postoperative complications, are discussed.

Osseointegration of rough acid-etched titanium implants: 5-year follow-up of 100 minimatic implants

During 1992, 100 Minimatic screw implants made of titanium alloy (titanium-aluminum-vanadium) with a machined rough acid-etched surface were placed in 63 consecutive partially edentulous patients. At second-stage surgery, which was performed after a 4- to 6-month healing period, none of the implants showed signs of mobility, peri-implant infection, or bone loss from the crest of the ridge. Each patient was restored with a fixed prosthesis and reexamined every 3 months during the first year. Periapical radiographs were taken annually up to 5 years. These revealed no signs of peri-implant radiolucencies involving any of the implants, and mean alveolar bone loss was less than 1 mm at the 5-year examination. One implant was considered a late failure because of a peri-implant infection that developed during the first year, although the implant was still functional at year 5. Another patient with 2 implants dropped out during the fifth year of the study, although both implants had been considered successful up to that point. Based on annual measurements of Plaque Index, Sulcular Bleeding index, pocket probing depth, attachment level, width of keratinized mucosa, and hand-tested mobility, 97 of the remaining 98 implants were considered successful, resulting in a 98% success rate. This 5-year study confirms that Minimatic machined acid-etched implants provide predictable osseointegration results and supports the conclusion of other reports that titanium implants with a rough surface can fulfill the requirements of Albrektsson et al (1986) for implant success.

Bone structure, metabolism, and physiology: its impact on dental implantology

When placing implants in the mandible or maxilla, it is important for clinicians to understand the process of bone remodeling, the different types of bone, and how these factors can affect the integration of osseous dental implants. Approximately 0.7% of a human skeleton is resorbed daily and replaced by new healthy bone. With aging and metabolic disease states, the normal turnover process may be reduced, resulting in an increase in the mean age of the present bone. This increase can affect the placement and integration of implants. Herein follows a discussion of different types of bone cells, the metabolism of bone, the microscopic, macroscopic, and molecular structure of bone, and the process of bone modeling and remodeling.

Clinical evaluation of the treatment of class II furcation involvements with bioabsorbable barriers alone or associated with demineralized freeze-dried bone allografts

BACKGROUND

Class II furcation lesions are a challenging scenario for periodontal therapy and a serious threat for tooth prognosis. Guided tissue regeneration represents a viable treatment option, but some aspects remain to be clarified as to the efficacy of bone substitutes used in GTR procedures. The clinical efficacy of demineralized freeze-dried bone allografts (DFDBA) for regenerative procedures is presently under scrutiny.

METHODS

This study evaluated the adjunctive clinical effects of DFDBA associated with a bioabsorbable (polylactic acid) barrier membrane in the regenerative treatment of human Class II furcation lesions as compared to the same type of barrier alone. Twelve patients with bilateral Class II furcation defects on lower first molars participated in the study. In each patient, one tooth was randomly assigned to treatment consisting of open surgical debridement followed by the placement of DFDBA (GTR+DFDBA, or test group) and a bioabsorbable barrier, while the contralateral side received the same flap surgery followed by use of the bioabsorbable membrane alone (GTR, or control group). The clinical efficacy of the 2 treatment modalities was evaluated at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Measurements included vertical probing depth (VPD), horizontal probing depth (HPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), amount of gingival recession (GR), and change in class of clinically detectable furcation involvement (FC).

RESULTS

Both treatments yielded significant improvements for all clinical parameters between baseline and 6 and 12 months (P<0.05). The comparison between test and control groups revealed significantly greater reduction in HPD (P=0.01) and higher values of GR (P=0.008) for the test group. The mean gain in HPD for test sites was 2.3 mm, while it amounted to 1.7 mm for controls. A significantly greater proportion of test sites could be classified postoperatively as Class I defects compared to controls (91% versus 50%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study indicate that significant improvements from baseline occurred in VPD, HPD, CAL, and clinically detectable furcation involvement after the treatment of Class II furcation lesions with a bioabsorbable membrane with or without the adjunctive use of DFDBA. In addition, the placement of DFDBA in the furcation defect under the bioabsorbable membrane resulted in a greater mean reduction of horizontal probing depth when compared to the regenerative therapy alone.

Sinus floor augmentation with simultaneous implant placement in the severely atrophic maxilla

Dental implant placement associated with augmentation of the sinus floor in the severely atrophic maxilla can be performed in 1- or 2-surgical stages, depending on the height of the residual alveolar bone. A minimum of 4 to 5 mm of residual alveolar bone height is recommended for a 1-stage surgical procedure. The present study describes a 1-stage procedure in cases where the residual alveolar bone height in the posterior maxilla was 1 to 2 mm. A total of 55 hydroxyapatite-coated dental implants were inserted in 20 grafted sinuses of 20 patients. No case presented any difficulty in achieving initial stabilization and parallelism. No perforation of the sinus membrane or clinical complications of the sinuses were evident. Prior to exposure, radiographic evaluation revealed bone consolidation and a close bone-implant relation. At second-stage surgery, there was no clinical evidence of crestal bone loss around the implants. All implants were clinically osseointegrated. All patients received fixed implant-supported prosthesis. The mean follow-up was 26.4 months (range 15 to 39 months). There was no implant loss after loading. The following surgical modifications are essential: a wide lateral window opening, the use of a bone mill to homogenize the bone graft, meticulous condensation, and clinical measurements to ensure implant parallelism.

Autogenous mandibular bone grafts in the treatment of the resorbed maxillary anterior alveolar ridge: rationale and approach

Patients can present with a variety of conditions that limit, or prevent, the ideal placement of endosteal implants. One of these situations is depicted by an insufficient amount of bone for implant placement in the maxillary anterior alveolar ridge. Autogenous bone grafting can be used to augment the ridge to provide a sufficient amount of bone for implant placement. Using the mandibular symphysis as a donor site offers ease of access, good bone quality for localized repair, a corticocancellous block graft morphology, low morbidity, and minimal graft resorption. A procedure for harvesting and placing an autogenous mandibular bone graft is presented; as are the advantages of using this location as a donor site compared with other locations.

Lateralization of the inferior alveolar nerve with simultaneous implant placement: surgical techniques

In the event of moderate to severe mandibular bone resorption posterior to the mental foramen, repositioning of the inferior alveolar nerve provides a greater amount of available bone for implant placement and reduces the risk of nerve injury. While neural paresthesia may initially occur, this altered sensation generally resolves spontaneously. Alveolar nerve repositioning may be possible in cases in which other procedures cannot be performed due to the extent of atrophy of the posterior mandibular alveolar crest. This article presents the surgical technique to achieve this objective.