Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of chitosan nanoparticles and calcium hydroxide against endodontic biofilm of Enterococcus faecalis: An in vitro study.

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess and evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) with calcium hydroxide in the elimination of Enterococcus faecalis. Materials and Methods: Using the broth microdilution method, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of calcium hydroxide and CSNPs were measured. The antibiofilm effect of calcium hydroxide and CSNPs against E. faecalis biofilm was qualitatively analyzed using a crystal violet assay. A 7-day-old biofilms of E. faecalis grown on dentine discs were assigned to the following three groups (n = 11 dentine discs), normal saline (group I), calcium hydroxide (group II), and CSNPs (group III). Quantification of live and dead cells using confocal microscopy was done to evaluate the antibiofilm efficacy of the medicaments included in the study. Results: MIC of calcium hydroxide and CSNPs against E. faecalis was observed at 2.5 mg/mL and 0.31 mg/mL, respectively. MBC of calcium hydroxide and CSNPs was observed at 2.5 mg/mL and 0.31 mg/mL, respectively. Using Crystal Violet (CV) assay, calcium hydroxide and CSNPs showed biofilm inhibition at concentrations of 2.5 mg/mL and 0.625 mg/mL, respectively. Confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis found that both calcium hydroxide and CSNPs showed a significant decrease in viable cells at their MBC values compared to the control group's normal saline. CSNPs showed a significantly lower percentage of live cells than calcium hydroxide (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The study results reveal that the antimicrobial efficacy of CSNPs is better than calcium hydroxide and normal saline against E. faecalis biofilm.

Cellular prion protein acts as mediator of amyloid beta uptake by caveolin-1 causing cellular dysfunctions in vitro and in vivo.

INTRODUCTION: Cellular prion protein (PrPC) was implicated in amyloid beta (Aß)-induced toxicity in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the precise molecular mechanisms involved in this process are unclear. METHODS: Double transgenic mice were generated by crossing Prnp knockout (KO) with 5xFAD mice, and light-sheet microscopy was used for whole brain tissue analyses. PrPC-overexpressing cells were developed for in vitro studies, and microscopy was used to assess co-localization of proteins of interest. Surface-plasmon resonance (SPR) was used to investigate protein-binding characteristics. RESULTS: In vivo, PrPC levels correlated with reduced lifespan and cognitive and motor function, and its ablation disconnected behavior deficits from Aß levels. Light-sheet microscopy showed that PrPC influenced Aß-plaque burden but not the distribution of those plaques. Interestingly, caveolin-1 (Cav-1) KO neurons significantly reduced intracellular Aß-oligomer (Aßo) uptake when compared to wild-type neurons. DISCUSSION: The findings shed new light on the relevance of intracellular Aßo, suggesting that PrPC and Cav-1 modulate intracellular Aß levels and the Aß-plaque load. HIGHLIGHTS: PrPC expression adversely affects lifespan and behavior in 5xFAD mice. PrPC increases Aß1-40 and Aß1-42 levels and Aß-plaque load in 5xFAD mice. Cav-1 interacts with both PrPC and Aß peptides. Knocking out Cav-1 leads to a significant reduction in intracellular Aß levels.

Defect-Free, Few-Atomic-Layer Thin ZnO Nanosheets with Superior Excitonic Properties for Optoelectronic Devices.

Two-dimensional (2D) wide bandgap materials are gaining significant interest for next-generation optoelectronic devices. However, fabricating electronic-grade 2D nanosheets from non-van der Waals (n-vdW) oxide semiconductors poses a great challenge due to their stronger interlayer coupling compared with vdW crystals. This strong coupling typically introduces defects during exfoliation, impairing the optoelectronic properties. Herein, we report the liquid-phase exfoliation of few-atomic-layer thin, defect-free, free-standing ZnO nanosheets. These micron-sized, ultrathin ZnO structures exhibit three different orientations aligned along both the polar c-plane as well as the nonpolar a- and m-planes. The superior crystalline quality of the ZnO nanosheets is validated through comprehensive characterization techniques. This result is supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, which reveals that the formation of oxygen vacancies is energetically less favorable in 2D ZnO and that the c-plane loses its polarity upon exfoliation. Unlike bulk ZnO, which is typically dominated by defect-induced emission, the exfoliated nanosheets exhibit a strong, ambient-stable excitonic UV emission. We further demonstrate the utility of solution processing of ZnO nanosheets by their hybrid integration with organic components to produce stable light emitting diodes (LEDs) for display applications.

Correction: Soda et al. Electrochemical Detection of Global DNA Methylation Using Biologically Assembled Polymer Beads. Cancers 2021, 13, 3787.

In the original publication [...].

Antimicrobial efficacy of Odontopaste in endodontics: a systematic review.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of Odontopaste in reducing the microbial load in endodontics compared to other intracanal medicaments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The literature was electronically searched on PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Ovid Medline and Web of Science. In-vitro, ex-vivo and in-vivo studies that evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of Odontopaste were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for In Vitro Studies. RESULTS: A total of four in-vitro studies were included in the systematic review. One study showed that Odontopaste had significantly more microbial cell growth on roots in all dentine depths compared to other medicaments or test agents. Another study found that Odontopaste significantly decreased colony-forming units compared to propolis and chlorhexidine. Further results showed that Odontopaste did not significantly decrease microbial numbers when used in isolation. Additionally, combining Odontopaste and calcium hydroxide did not enhance the effectiveness of calcium hydroxide. The studies had a medium to high risk of bias. CONCLUSION: There is insufficient high-quality evidence to assess the antimicrobial efficacy of Odontopaste compared to other intracanal medicaments. Further research is required to determine Odontopaste's efficacy as an antimicrobial medicament in endodontics.

Efficacy and outcome of indocyanine green-based intraoperative cholangiography using near-infrared fluorescence imaging: A prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: The most dreaded complication during laparoscopic cholecystectomy still remains to be injury to the common bile duct. The primary cause for bile duct injury during LC is misinterpretation of the biliary anatomy. Intra-operative cholangiography was introduced as a means of reducing the chances of biliary injury, done using Fluoroscopic imaging or Near-infrared fluorescence imaging method. NIRF is one of the most popular imaging methods in biomedical sciences. Indocyanine Green is sterile and water soluble which completely binds to albumin and is excreted in bile. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted among 70 patients between July 2020 and December 2021. Subjects were administered 5mg of ICG dye pre-operatively and procedure performed using Karl Storz HD image S1 system with a D-light P light source for NIRF imaging. RESULTS: The average duration of surgery was 58.10 minutes. After calot's dissection, the CBD was visualized in 88.71 % patients, with a mean time to visualization at 26.33 minutes. The cystic duct was visualized in 87.3% cases with a mean time of visualization of 32.10 minutes. The hepatic duct was visualized in 28.57% and the hepatic duct-CBD confluence was visualized in 34.28% patients. CONCLUSION: Near infrared imaging based intra-operative cholangiography, using Indocyanine Green dye, during Lap. Cholecystectomy is an easy, useful and inexpensive method of visualizing the biliary ductal anatomy.

Digitally manufactured partial coverage restorations: is it time to down the impression trays or still a work in progress?

DATA SOURCES: Pubmed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane library databases were used as the data sources for this systematic review. Manual search of the reference lists of the included studies was also conducted. STUDY SELECTION: The aim of the systematic review was to compare a fully digital workflow to a fully conventional workflow in the fabrication of partial coverage restorations. Partial coverage restorations were defined as inlays, onlays, overlays and endocrowns. Four independent calibrated reviewers screened studies that fulfilled a predefined PICOS framework. Population was specified as an abutment tooth requiring a partial coverage restoration. The intervention was a fully digital workflow compared to a fully conventional workflow. Outcomes were accuracy, marginal and internal fit, success, survival, complication rates and patient-reported outcomes. Study design included both clinical and in vitro studies. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: A total of 23 articles were included in qualitative synthesis ranging from 2007 to 2021. Twenty-one of these were in vitro studies. Two authors independently reviewed the included articles, performed data extraction, and evaluated the risk of bias via an adapted Checklist for Reporting In Vitro studies (CRIS) for in vitro studies and Reporting Randomised Clinical studies (RoB2) for clinical studies. RESULTS: Seventeen studies assessed the marginal and internal fit of onlay and inlay restorations, eight of which found that a conventional workflow demonstrated improved fit compared to digital, whilst the remaining nine studies found the contrary. Differing methods were utilised across the studies to assess fit, including: the silicone replica method, microcomputed tomography, microscopy and software-based measurements. Similar fracture strengths were reported between both conventional and digital workflows in three studies. One clinical study assessed survival rates of both pressed and CAD/CAM ceramic restorations and found the survival outcomes to be similar after seven years. No studies were found that investigated patient-reported outcomes or endocrowns. CONCLUSIONS: No consensus was reached as to whether the digital or conventional workflow is better.

Quantum Machine Learning Predicting ADME-Tox Properties in Drug Discovery.

In the drug discovery paradigm, the evaluation of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) and toxicity properties of new chemical entities is one of the most critical issues, which is a time-consuming process, immensely expensive, and poses formidable challenges in pharmaceutical R&D. In recent years, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and cloud technologies have garnered great attention to predict the ADME and toxicity of molecules. Currently, the blend of quantum computation and machine learning has attracted considerable attention in almost every field ranging from chemistry to biomedicine and several engineering disciplines as well. Quantum computers have the potential to bring advances in high-throughput experimental techniques and in screening billions of molecules by reducing development costs and time associated with the drug discovery process. Motivated by the efficiency of quantum kernel methods, we proposed a quantum machine learning (QML) framework consisting of a classical support vector classifier algorithm with a kernel-based quantum classifier. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed QML framework, the simplified molecular input line entry system (SMILES) notation-based string kernel, combined with a quantum support vector classifier, is used for the evaluation of chemical/drug ADME-Tox properties. The proposed quantum machine learning framework is validated and assessed via large-scale simulations. Based on our results from numerical simulations, the quantum model achieved the best performance as compared to classical counterparts in terms of the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC ROC; 0.80-0.95) for predicting outcomes on ADME-Tox data sets for small molecules, with a different number of features. The deployment of the proposed framework in the pharmaceutical industry would be extremely valuable in making the best decisions possible.

Analysis of 'enhanced-view totally extra-peritoneal' (eTEP) approach for ventral hernia: Early results.

Introduction: Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair is undergoing a paradigm shift with the introduction of numerous new techniques to improve the outcomes. Enhanced-view totally extra-peritoneal (eTEP) is a novel approach for the repair of ventral herniae introduced by Belyansky et al. The key innovation lies in placing the mesh in a large retrorectus-pre-peritoneal space contrary to the widely practiced intra-peritoneal placement. This approach can be easily coupled with a component separation in the form of transversus abdominis release (TAR) for large herniae. We conducted a midterm analysis of 'eTEP' approach to ventral hernia at a high-volume tertiary care centre and present our results of over 3 years of employing this technique. Methodology: A retrospective study of 150 cases of ventral hernia repaired using eTEP approach from January 2018 to February 2021 at a tertiary care centre by a team of three surgeons. The procedures were performed by a single team of three members headed by the first author. Results: Out of total 150 cases, incisional hernia occurred in 73 cases (48.7%), primary hernia occurred in 48 cases (32%) and recurrent hernia in 29 cases (19.3%). Although the majority of incisional (87.7%) and recurrent (79.3%) ventral hernias occurred in female, the incidence of primary ventral hernia was equal at 24 cases in both genders. The majority of the cases (80.7%) underwent eTEP RS procedure, and the rest were W3 hernias, which were managed by including a component separation in the form of eTEP TAR. The operating time for eTEP TAR (222.24 min ± 32.56) compared to eTEP RS (124.33 ± 23.68) was significantly longer. The mean length of stay was significantly shorter for primary hernias (3.75 days ± 1.62) compared to recurrent (5.21 days ± 2.51) and incisional hernias (4.36 days ± 2.19) (F = 4.376) (P = 0.014). The peri-operative period was uneventful in majority of the cases. We experienced a seroma rate of 5.8% in our series. At follow-up of 1 year, 3.3% of patients complained of discomfort/bulge in the upper abdomen. There were no other surgical site occurrences (SSO) in the form infection, posterior rectus sheath disruption and skin necrosis. We observed no recurrences till date with a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Conclusion: eTEP approach to ventral hernia is a promising abdominal wall reconstruction technique. It is safe and offers good functional outcomes with restoration of abdominal wall dynamics. It is a reproducible and safe technique for tackling various types of ventral hernia. It is specifically useful in managing unusual lateral hernias, incisional and recurrent hernias with ease.

Potential Avenues for Exosomal Isolation and Detection Methods to Enhance Small-Cell Lung Cancer Analysis.

Around the world, lung cancer has long been the main factor in cancer-related deaths, with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) being the deadliest form of lung cancer. Cancer cell-derived exosomes and exosomal miRNAs are considered promising biomarkers for diagnosing and prognosis of various diseases, including SCLC. Due to the rapidity of SCLC metastasis, early detection and diagnosis can offer better diagnosis and prognosis and therefore increase the patient's chances of survival. Over the past several years, many methodologies have been developed for analyzing non-SCLC-derived exosomes. However, minimal advances have been made in SCLC-derived exosome analysis methodologies. This Review discusses the epidemiology and prominent biomarkers of SCLC. Followed by a discussion about the effective strategies for isolating and detecting SCLC-derived exosomes and exosomal miRNA, highlighting the critical challenges and limitations of current methodologies. Finally, an overview is provided detailing future perspectives for exosome-based SCLC research.

Microperimetry Reliability Assessed From Fixation Performance.

Purpose: Microperimetry provides an accurate assessment of central retinal sensitivity due to its fundus-tracking capability, but it has limited reliability indicators. One method currently employed, fixation loss, samples the optic nerve blind spot for positive responses; however, it is unclear if these responses arise from unintentional button presses or from tracking failure leading to stimuli misplacement. We investigated the relationship between blind spot scotoma positive responses (termed scotoma responses) and fixation. Methods: Part 1 of the study involved a custom grid of 181 points centered on the optic nerve that was constructed to map physiological blind spots in primary and simulated eccentric fixation positions. Scotoma responses and the 63% and 95% fixation bivariate contour ellipse areas (BCEA63 and BCEA95) were analyzed. In Part 2, fixation data from controls and patients with retinal diseases (234 eyes from 118 patients) were collected. Results: Part 1, a linear mixed model of 32 control participants, demonstrated significant (P < 0.001) correlation between scotoma responses and BCEA95. In Part 2, the upper 95% confidence intervals for BCEA95 were 3.7 deg2 for controls, 27.6 deg2 for choroideremia, 23.1 deg2 for typical rod-cone dystrophies, 21.4 deg2 for Stargardt disease, and 111.3 deg2 for age-related macular degeneration. Incorporating all pathology groups into an overall statistic resulted in an upper limit BCEA95 = 29.6 deg2. Conclusions: Microperimetry reliability is significantly correlated to fixation performance, and BCEA95 provides a surrogate marker for test accuracy. Examinations of healthy individuals and patients with retinal disease are deemed unreliable if BCEA95 > 4 deg2 and BCEA95 > 30 deg2, respectively. Translational Relevance: Microperimetry reliability should be assessed using fixation performance as summarized by BCEA95 rather than the level of fixation losses.

Hybrid 2D perovskite and red emitting carbon dot composite for improved stability and efficiency of LEDs.

Organic-inorganic hybrid lead trihalide perovskites have shown promise consistently in optoelectronic devices such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), solar cells, photodetectors, sensors, and other optoelectronic devices. Perovskite-based LEDs (PSK-LEDs) have shown enormous potential, mostly due to their lower cost, easy synthesis via solution processibility, and highly tunable light-emitting behavior with higher performance. Despite the recent developments in green and blue PSK-LEDs over the years, there has been less development in the research area of red-emitting PSK-LEDs. Although some developments have led to spectrally, stable red-emitting PSK-LEDs, the stability of those devices still needs to be improved upon further for any practical application. In this work, to the best of our knowledge, for the first time, we used red-emitting 2D PSK as an active light-emitting layer which was further stabilized by red-emitting carbon dots (CDs). The CD-PSK composite films were used as an active layer in red emitting LEDs, and they showed high operational stability, and improved performance compared to the control device with only PSK film as the active layer. The composite device showed improved maximum luminescence (3011 cd m-2), charge density (330 mA cm-2), operational stability (8 hours), better EQE (10.2%), and low turn-on voltage of 2.6 V compared to the control device with maximum luminescence (1512 cd m-2), charge density (134 mA cm-2), operational stability (<2 hours), EQE (2.6%) and turn on voltage of 3.2 V. The low-cost hybrid approach using PSK building blocks together with CDs opens a new approach leading to a composite material, which has immense possibilities for tuning the structure further to maximize the performance.

Planned organ preservation for elderly patients with rectal cancer using short course radiotherapy and a contact brachytherapy boost-an International multi-institution analysis.

Background and purpose: The use of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and contact X-Ray brachytherapy (CXB) is emerging as an effective alternative in patients with early stage rectal cancer with the intent of organ preservation (OP). Short course radiotherapy (SCRT) is an alternative EBRT schedule for patients not fit for chemotherapy or for longer courses of EBRT. There are no multicentre studies that have reported on the outcomes of SCRT with a CXB boost, therefore we present these from patients from centres from the UK and Sweden. Materials and methods: From the Guildford Colorectal Database or local databases, 258 patients who underwent SCRT and CXB with the intent of OP from five centres treated between 2007 and 2019 were identified. Response and survival data was analysed and presented. Results: With a median age of 81, 226 patients were treated with radiotherapy alone (RTA) and 32 immediately after local excision (ILE). Median follow-up was 24 months. 70% and 97% of patients in the RTA and ILE groups respectively had a complete clinical response (cCR) after SCRT with CXB. Of those, local relapse was seen in 16% of the RTA and 3% of the ILE group. Median survival was 40 months after CXB in the RTA and 52 months in the ILE group. 94% of patients remained stoma-free to the point of latest follow-up. Conclusion: This data suggests that CXB when combined with SCRT, in a mainly elderly and comorbid population, provides good palliation with stoma-avoidance. Oncological outcomes compare with previously published work. A greater focus is required on quality of life outcomes after OP.

Endoscopic versus surgical management for colonic volvulus hospitalizations in the United States

Background/Aims@#Colonic volvulus (CV), a common cause of bowel obstruction, often requires intervention. We aimed to identify hospitalization trends and CV outcomes in the United States. @*Methods@#We used the National Inpatient Sample to identify all adult CV hospitalizations in the United States from 2007 to 2017. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and inpatient outcomes were highlighted. Outcomes of endoscopic and surgical management were compared. @*Results@#From 2007 to 2017, there were 220,666 CV hospitalizations. CV-related hospitalizations increased from 17,888 in 2007 to 21,715 in 2017 (p=0.001). However, inpatient mortality decreased from 7.6% in 2007 to 6.2% in 2017 (p<0.001). Of all CV-related hospitalizations, 13,745 underwent endoscopic intervention, and 77,157 underwent surgery. Although the endoscopic cohort had patients with a higher Charlson comorbidity index, we noted lower inpatient mortality (6.1% vs. 7.0%, p<0.001), mean length of stay (8.3 vs. 11.8 days, p<0.001), and mean total healthcare charge ($68,126 vs. $106,703, p<0.001) compared to the surgical cohort. Male sex, increased Charlson comorbidity index scores, acute kidney injury, and malnutrition were associated with higher odds of inpatient mortality in patients with CV who underwent endoscopic management. @*Conclusions@#Endoscopic intervention has lower inpatient mortality and is an excellent alternative to surgery for appropriately selected CV hospitalizations.

A prospective study of 'circumferential purse-string approximation' vs. primary linear skin closure in stoma reversal.

Introduction: surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common complications that can occur after stoma closure. To date, there is no consensus on the ideal closure technique of the stoma wound to minimize postoperative SSI and multiple techniques have been proposed. We performed this study to assess the clinical outcome of wound healing after 'Primary Linear Closure' (PC) and 'Circumferential Purse-String Approximation' (CPA) techniques. Methods: this prospective observational study included all patients admitted to our tertiary care center, fulfilling the inclusion criteria for elective stoma closure from 1st March 2018 to 1 March 2020 and prospective study was conducted on wound healing after stoma closure to compare difference in SSI rate between the PC group and the CPA group and to discuss the differences in patient satisfaction with wound healing. The following study was carried out with 36 patients in purse-string group and 66 patients in linear closure group. Results: surgical site infection (SSI) was observed only in primary linear closure group in 24% patients as opposed to 0% in purse string closure group. (p=0.039). Although the mean healing time of wound in linear closure group was significantly less than the purse string group (10.76 ± 5.68 days and 14.17 ± 2.04 days respectively), the overall total satisfaction score was higher in the purse string group. The purse string closure group showed significantly higher satisfaction score for expectations regarding appearance of scar/cosmesis, level of postoperative pain and difficulty of wound care (p>0.05). Conclusion: in our study, 'Circumferential Purse-String Approximation' is a superior technique than Primary Linear Closure for Stoma reversal in terms of rate of SSI and better overall patient satisfaction. CPA is a good alternative option, but further prospective randomized trials involving more patients are necessary before a definitive conclusion can be drawn.

Clinical Diagnosis, Management and Microbiological Profiling of Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections - A Prospective Study of North India Region.

Background: Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections (NSTIs) are rapidly progressive, potentially fatal illnesses characterized by necrosis of soft tissue. The disease is highly lethal if left untreated. However, its early diagnosis and management can result in significant decrease in mortality, saving the life of patient and preventing limb loss ; but its diagnosis in early stage is difficult. Therefore, the present work describes a step-by-step protocol for early diagnosis of NSTIs and its application for successful management of NSTIs (type III) in the North Indian population. Methods: This prospective study was conducted over a period of 1 year and 9 months (December 2017 to September, 2019) in a single tertiary center (Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India) with 115 patients suffering from NSTIs. Demographic, symptomatic and clinical features were recorded. After initial resuscitation, debridement or amputation was done and collected samples were subjected to microbial profiling and drug sensitivity tests. Based on results, suitable pharmacological treatment was started to minimize the risk of mortality and fasten the recovery of patient. Results: The present work showed that in the selected population, monomicrobial gram negative infections are more prominent, more so, among diabetic males. The most prominent pathogen was found to be "Escherichia coli" (40% of cases). Enrolled patients had NSTIs in stage 1 and had no blood infection which means they sought medical attention in the early stages of the disease and the clinician was able to detect it. Debridement or amputation resulted in a significant decrease in the mortality rate (10.4%) even when the selected population had lethal Type III NSTIs. Conclusion: The presented approach can aid in early detection and management of NSTIs, thus, helping in saving patient's life and limb.

Acute pancreatitis as a rare adverse event among cannabis users: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Cannabis use has been steadily rising in the United States and can have multiple adverse effects, including cannabis-induced acute pancreatitis. This study aims to collate and highlight the significant demographics, clinical presentation, and outcomes in patients with cannabis-induced acute pancreatitis. METHOD: A systematic literature search of electronic databases for peer-reviewed articles was conducted. After an initial search, we found 792 articles through different electronic databases. After manually removing duplicates and articles that did not meet the criteria, 25 articles were included in our review. RESULTS: A total of 45 patients were studied, 35 (78%) cases were male and 10 (22%) cases were female, showing male predominance. The mean age of all participants was 29.2 ± 10.3 years. The most common presenting symptoms were abdominal pain 21 of 21 (100%), nausea 17 of 21 (81%), and vomiting 12 of 20 (60%). Ultrasound was normal in the majority of patients, with findings of mild pancreatitis. Computerized tomography scans revealed pancreatic edema and inflammation in 7 of 20 (35%) patients, and findings of necrotizing pancreatitis and complex fluid collection were visualized in 3 of 20 (15%) patients. Dilatation of intrahepatic or extrahepatic biliary ducts was not seen in any patients. The overall prognosis was good, with reported full recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Cannabis should be included in the differential diagnosis for the etiology of acute pancreatitis, which would help in early intervention and treatment for the mitigation of the rapidly progressive disease.

Dentinal defects after root canal preparation with rotary nickel-titanium files using different irrigants: An in vitro study.

Aim: This in vitro study aims to detect the dentinal defects associated with different irrigants during biomechanical preparation using rotary nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) files (Hyflex CM). Materials and Methods: For the study, 120 extracted mandibular incisors were taken. Depending on the irrigant used, teeth were divided into six groups (n = 20). In Group 1, teeth were not biomechanically prepared considered as, control group. In Group 2, Group 3, Group 4, Group 5, and Group 6, biomechanical preparation was with Hyflex CM rotary Ni-Ti files using saline, 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), SmearClear, and 2% chlorhexidine (CHX), respectively, as irrigant. IsoMet Saw was used to section samples at 3, 6, and 9 mm from the apex perpendicular to the long axis of tooth. Segments were seen at 30x magnification under a digital stereomicroscope. Statistical Analysis: Statistical analysis was done using two-tailed t-test. Results: Maximum number of dentinal defects was seen with 17% EDTA, followed by 3% NaOCl, SmearClear, and 2% CHX. Conclusions: Irrigation with 17% EDTA causes more dentinal defects as compared to irrigation with 3% NaOCl, SmearClear, and 2% CHX.

Characterizing Visual Fields in RPGR Related Retinitis Pigmentosa Using Octopus Static-Automated Perimetry.

Purpose: Peripheral visual fields have not been as well defined by static automated perimetry as kinetic perimetry in RPGR-related retinitis pigmentosa. This study explores the pattern and sensitivities of peripheral visual fields, which may provide an important end point when assessing interventional clinical trials. Methods: A retrospective observational cross-sectional study of 10 genetically confirmed RPGR subjects was performed. Visual fields were obtained using the Octopus 900 perimeter. Interocular symmetry and repeatability were quantified. Visual fields were subdivided into central and peripheral subfields for analysis. Results: Mean patient age was 32 years old (20 to 49 years old). Average mean sensitivity was 7 dB (SD = 3.67 dB) and 6.8 dB (SD = 3.4 dB) for the right and left eyes, respectively, demonstrating interocular symmetry. Coefficient of repeatability for overall mean sensitivity: <2 dB. Nine out of 10 subjects had a preserved inferotemporal subfield, whose mean sensitivity was highly correlated to the central field (r2 = 0.78, P = 0.002 and r2 = 0.72, P = 0.002 for the right and left eyes, respectively). Within the central field, sensitivities were greater in the temporal than the nasal half (t-test, P = 0.01 and P = 0.03 for the right and left eyes, respectively). Conclusions: Octopus static-automated perimeter demonstrates good repeatability. Interocular symmetry permits use of the noninterventional eye as an internal control. In this cohort, the inferotemporal and central visual fields are preserved into later disease stages likely mapping to populations of surviving cones. Translational Relevance: A consistently preserved inferotemporal island of vision highly correlated to that of the central visual field may have significance as a possible future therapeutic site.