An example of adaptation: experience of virtual clinical skills circuits of internal medicine students at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada (Spain) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The state of alarm declared in Spain in response to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has had far-reaching consequences in all areas of life. At the University of Granada's (UGR) Faculty of Medicine, online teaching was implemented immediately without any preexisting plan. Second-year undergraduates in medicine, particularly those enrolled in the subject 'Bases of Internal Medicine,' would normally undergo clinical skills circuits in face-to-face group settings. OBJECTIVE: To facilitate undergraduates' acquisition of specific transversal skills by means of an integrated online working system. DESIGN: Before the pandemic, teaching/learning methods consisted of 1) face-to-face group work; 2) teletutoring; 3) written work uploaded to the PRADO online platform for marking by the teletutor; and 4) presentation of written work to the group. As a result of the lockdown, presentations in class were suspended and replaced by online presentations. The means adopted by students in online presentations were freely chosen using various communication techniques: linear projection systems (6); acting/simulation (4); dramatization (1); and role-playing (1). RESULTS: The number of online clinical skills circuits developed was 12, one for each of the clinical skills circuits established for imparting this subject. A total of 12 presentations were made by the 10 groups, each lasting 15 minutes followed by a 5-minute discussion to settle any questions raised. The presentations were marked jointly by the teaching staff, coordinator, and students. CONCLUSIONS: The transference of classroom learning to the online environment proved an essential resource for teaching/learning clinical/practical skills during the lockdown, which have never before been imparted at distance.

Effects on the osseointegration of titanium implants incorporating calcium-magnesium: a resonance frequency and histomorphometric analysis in rabbit tibia.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the bone formation around titanium surface incorporating the calcium-magnesium (CaMg) deposited by blasted in rabbit tibia bone to determine whether this surface would further enhance bone healing compared with commercially available implant surface. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The deposition of CaMg on the titanium SLA surface were obtained by blasting formed the experimental group (EX group), while implants with traditional SLA surface were used as control group (CO group), in this study. Fifty cylindrical threaded implants with a length of 8 mm were used (P = 25 per group). Five implants of each group were used to surface characterization by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, and optical profilometry. Ten New Zealand white rabbits received 40 implants (n = 20 per group). Resonance frequency analysis was performed three times (0, 4, and 6 weeks). Histomorphometric analysis was performed 4 and 6 weeks after implantation. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Blasted CaMg deposition on SLA implant surface displayed almost identical surface morphologies and R(a) values at the micron scale. In comparing the implant stability quotient at the three time points, highly significant statistic differences were found (P < 0.001). Histomorphological analysis showed higher degrees of bone organization in the samples of test implant surfaces at both implantation times. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, the results indicate that the deposition of CaMg on the SLA titanium surface may be effective in enhancing the osseointegration of moderately rough grit-blasted implants by increasing the degree of bone-implant contact.

Bone healing at implants with different surface configurations: an experimental study in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To study osseointegration of implants with surface modifications by the use of fluoroboric acid and/or H2 O2 installed in conventional sites or sites with circumferential marginal defects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four implants with different surfaces were used. One basic surface (ZirTi(®)) was sandblasted with zirconium microspheres and acid etched additionally with hydrofluoric acid. A second surface was treated with fluoroboric acid instead of hydrofluoric acid. The remainder of the other two surfaces was additionally treated with H2O2. The edentulous mandibles of 6 foxhound dogs were used to randomly install 8.5-mm-long implants with the different surfaces and to study the histological healing after 1 and 3 months. To study osteoconductivity, additional four recipient sites were prepared with the coronal region being widened so that a 4 mm deep and 0.85 mm wide marginal defect resulted after the placement of the four implants with different surfaces. No filler material or membranes were used, and a fully submerged healing was allowed for 3 months. RESULTS: At the conventional sites, new bone formation ranged between 68.5% and 74.9% after 1 month. After 3 months, bone-to-implant contact ranged from 72.6% at the ZirTi(®) surface to 84.1% at the fluoroboric acid-treated implants, the difference being statistically significant. At the sites with marginal defects, bone formation ranged from 0.77 mm at the surface treated with fluoroboric acid and H2O2 , to 1.93 mm at the surface treated with fluoroboric acid alone. CONCLUSIONS: Fluoroboric acid treatment alone of titanium implant surfaces resulted in improved osseointegration and osteoconductivity after 3 months.

Implants failures related to endodontic treatment. An observational retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyze potential etiological risk factors that constitute a complex problem in the clinical management of peri-implantitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational retrospective study was conducted to describe the possible effect of lesions of origin pulpar and/or periapical success or failure of the implant. The sample consisted of review of 800 implants, of which 500 were conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry of the UANL and 300 private clinics of Maxillofacial surgeons experienced in the placement of those who reside in Monterrey, Mexico. Five hundred and eighty cases correspond to female patients while that 220 patients of the male gender. The age of patients at the time of placing the implant ranged from 28 to 81 years. RESULTS: Of 800 study subjects who underwent dental implant treatments, 200 cases (25%) were detected which presented endodontic failure prior and/or adjacent to the placement of the implant. The 50.41% had peri-implantitis, recording 62 cases in the Faculty and 18 cases (23.38%) in private clinics, finding that there was a statistically significant difference between the presence and absence of peri-implantitis in terms of failed endodontic prior and/or adjacent to the placement of the implant. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this observational retrospective study, it could be concluded that the development of inflammatory changes mediated by the presence of remnant bacteria surrounding hard tissues adjacent to implants might induce late failures of implants, and potentially trigger pathological features of apical peri-implantitis.