The management of deep carious lesions and the exposed pulp in fully developed and immature teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a questionnaire-based study among Greek dentists.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to identify the preferred management techniques used by dentists in Greece for treating deep carious lesions or pulp exposure during the removal of carious tissue in teeth with irreversible pulpitis. Additionally, the study sought to explore how patient-related factors (such as age and symptoms) and operator-related factors (like material choice and the use of antibiotics) influence these management decisions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The questionnaire, developed by five investigators, was divided into two parts: the first gathered respondent demographics, and the second presented clinical scenarios of deep carious lesions, requesting treatment strategies, materials used, and antibiotic prescription practices. The scenarios described patients with intense spontaneous pain and very deep carious lesions, differentiated by age and tooth development status.Data collection was via Google Drive, with analysis performed using SPSS 28, Chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The study polled 453 Greek dentists about their treatment choices, for deep carious lesions in mature and immature teeth with irreversible pulpitis The majority favored root canal treatment for mature teeth, however quite a few opted for partial or cervical pulpotomy. MTA emerged as the preferred capping material, emphasizing its biocompatibility. Hemostasis management varied, with saline and sodium hypochlorite as popular choices. In cases of immature teeth, a shift towards vital pulp therapy was evident, reflecting a preference for preserving healthy pulp to avoid complex procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Challenges identified include varying treatment preferences, the significance of bleeding control in vital pulp therapy, and the limited use of antibiotics for irreversible pulpitis. While the study has limitations, including sample size and potential biases, its findings offer valuable insights into the decision-making processes of Greek dentists. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Future research and ongoing education within the dental community could contribute to standardizing treatment approaches and optimizing outcomes for patients with deep carious lesions and irreversible pulpitis.

Beyond the surface: A comparative study of intraoral scanners in subgingival configuration scanning.

OBJECTIVES: This study conducted a comprehensive comparative analysis of three intraoral scanners (CEREC Primescan, TRIOS, CEREC Omnicam) and a lab scanner (inEosX5) assessing their precision in simulating subgingival tooth preparations. METHODS: Utilizing a dental simulation mannequin with a 3D-printed resin structure, 100 structures with depths ranging from 0.5 to 4.0 mm were created within a square mimicking a rectangular tank surface. Four scanner groups (A-D) and five subgroups were established. Two digitization methods, a customized parallelometer and an intraoral simulation, were applied, ensuring a standardized scanning sequence. Trueness was evaluated by comparing CAD-calculated surface areas with actual dimensions, and qualitative trueness analysis was conducted using MeshLab. Surface areas were computed using the formula SA = 2lw + 2lh + 2wh. Statistical analyses, including Pearson's correlation coefficient, Kolmogorov-Smirnoff and Levene's tests, three-way ANOVA, and paired sample t-tests, elucidated relationships and differences (a=0.05). RESULTS: A robust correlation (r = 0.850, p < 0.001) between intraoral scanner choice and scanned area depth was found. Inverse correlations were noted for experimental methods. Three-way ANOVA demonstrated significant scanner-depth interaction (F(12,760) = 760.801, p < 0.001). SIGNIFICANCE: Emphasizing high-resolution sensors and advanced technologies, the study underscores the optimal choice for subgingival digitization, acknowledging variations among scanners.

Multiorgan congestion assessment by venous excess ultrasound score in acute heart failure.

BACKGROUND: This study sought to explore the prevalence and clinical utility of different patterns of multi-organ venous congestion as assessed by the Venous Excess Ultrasound (VExUS) score in hospitalized patients with acute heart failure (HF). METHODS: Consecutive patients admitted for acute HF were prospectively enrolled. Inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter, hepatic vein, portal vein and renal vein Doppler waveforms were assessed at admission and patients were stratified based on VExUS score from 0 to 3, with higher values indicating worse congestion. The clinical score Get With The Guidelines (GWTG)-HF for predicting in-hospital mortality in HF was evaluated. In-hospital mortality was recorded. RESULTS: Two-hundred-ninety patients admitted with acute HF were included and 114 (39%) of them were classified as VExUS score 3 which was the most prevalent group. Patients with VExUS score 3 suffered more frequently from chronic atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease and anemia. Parameters independently associated with VExUS score 3 were higher mean E/e' ratio, larger right ventricular size, severe tricuspid regurgitation and impaired right atrial function. VExUS score 3 was associated with in-hospital mortality [OR 8.03, 95% CI (2.25-28.61), p=0.001]. The addition of VExUS score on top of the GWTG-HF score improved the predictability of the model (Δx2=+8.44, p=0.03) for in-hospital mortality, whereas other indices of venous congestion (right atrial function, IVC size) did not. CONCLUSION: Patients admitted with acute HF commonly had severe venous congestion based on VExUS score. VExUS score improved the prediction of in-hospital mortality as compared to other indices of venous congestion.

Cardio-Oncoimmunology: Cardiac Toxicity, Cardiovascular Hypersensitivity, and Kounis Syndrome.

Cancer therapy can result in acute cardiac events, such as coronary artery spasm, acute myocardial infarction, thromboembolism, myocarditis, bradycardia, tachyarrhythmias, atrio-ventricular blocks, QT prolongation, torsades de pointes, pericardial effusion, and hypotension, as well as chronic conditions, such as hypertension, and systolic and diastolic left ventricular dysfunction presenting clinically as heart failure or cardiomyopathy. In cardio-oncology, when referring to cardiac toxicity and cardiovascular hypersensitivity, there is a great deal of misunderstanding. When a dose-related cardiovascular side effect continues even after the causative medication is stopped, it is referred to as a cardiotoxicity. A fibrotic response is the ultimate outcome of cardiac toxicity, which is defined as a dose-related cardiovascular adverse impact that lasts even after the causative treatment is stopped. Cardiotoxicity can occur after a single or brief exposure. On the other hand, the term cardiac or cardiovascular hypersensitivity describes an inflammatory reaction that is not dose-dependent, can occur at any point during therapy, even at very low medication dosages, and can present as Kounis syndrome. It may also be accompanied by anti-drug antibodies and tryptase levels. In this comprehensive review, we present the current views on cardiac toxicity and cardiovascular hypersensitivity, together with the reviewed cardiac literature on the chemotherapeutic agents inducing hypersensitivity reactions. Cardiac hypersensitivity seems to be the pathophysiologic basis of coronary artery spasm, acute coronary syndromes such as Kounis syndrome, and myocarditis caused by cancer therapy.

"When," "Where," and "How" of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Affects the Human Cardiovascular System: A Narrative Review.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the novel severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Several explanations for the development of cardiovascular complications during and after acute COVID-19 infection have been hypothesized. The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has emerged as one of the deadliest pandemics in modern history. The myocardial injury in COVID-19 patients has been associated with coronary spasm, microthrombi formation, plaque rupture, hypoxic injury, or cytokine storm, which have the same pathophysiology as the three clinical variants of Kounis syndrome. The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), reninaldosterone system (RAAS), and kinin-kallikrein system are the main proposed mechanisms contributing to cardiovascular complications with the COVID-19 infection. ACE receptors can be found in the heart, blood vessels, endothelium, lungs, intestines, testes, neurons, and other human body parts. SARS-CoV-2 directly invades the endothelial cells with ACE2 receptors and constitutes the main pathway through which the virus enters the endothelial cells. This causes angiotensin II accumulation downregulation of the ACE2 receptors, resulting in prothrombotic effects, such as hemostatic imbalance via activation of the coagulation cascade, impaired fibrinolysis, thrombin generation, vasoconstriction, endothelial and platelet activation, and pro-inflammatory cytokine release. The KKS system typically causes vasodilation and regulates tissue repair, inflammation, cell proliferation, and platelet aggregation, but SARS-CoV-2 infection impairs such counterbalancing effects. This cascade results in cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, cardiomyopathy, cytokine storm, heart failure, ischemic myocardial injuries, microvascular disease, Kounis syndrome, prolonged COVID, myocardial fibrosis, myocarditis, new-onset hypertension, pericarditis, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, stroke, Takotsubo syndrome, venous thromboembolism, and thrombocytopenia. In this narrative review, we describe and elucidate when, where, and how COVID-19 affects the human cardiovascular system in various parts of the human body that are vulnerable in every patient category, including children and athletes.

A scientometric, bibliometric, and thematic map analysis of hydraulic calcium silicate root canal sealers.

Objectives: This scientometric and bibliometric analysis explored scientific publications related to hydraulic calcium silicate-based (HCSB) sealers used in endodontology, aiming to describe basic bibliometric indicators and analyze current research trends. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in Web of Science and Scopus using specific HCSB sealer and general endodontic-related terms. Basic research parameters were collected, including publication year, authorship, countries, institutions, journals, level of evidence, study design and topic of interest, title terms, author keywords, citation counts, and density. Results: In total, 498 articles published in 136 journals were retrieved for the period 2008-2023. Brazil was the leading country, and the universities of Bologna in Italy and Sao Paolo in Brazil were represented equally as leading institutions. The most frequently occurring keywords were "calcium silicate," "root canal sealer MTA-Fillapex," and "biocompatibility," while title terms such as "calcium," "sealers," "root," "canal," "silicate based," and "endodontic" occurred most often. According to the thematic map analysis, "solubility" appeared as a basic theme of concentrated research interest, and "single-cone technique" was identified as an emerging, inadequately developed theme. The co-occurrence analysis revealed 4 major clusters centered on sealers' biological and physicochemical properties, obturation techniques, retreatability, and adhesion. Conclusions: This analysis presents bibliographic features and outlines changing trends in HCSB sealer research. The research output is dominated by basic science articles scrutinizing the biological and specific physicochemical properties of commonly used HCSB sealers. Future research needs to be guided by studies with a high level of evidence that utilize innovative, sophisticated technologies.

A Bibliometric Analysis of Platelet Derivate Uses in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

PURPOSE: Concentrated platelet derivatives (PDs) such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) have been extensively applied in tissue engineering, and particularly in various fields of regenerative dentistry. The purpose of the present citation analysis was to compile the 100 top-cited articles on the PDs uses in oral and maxillofacial surgery. METHODS: A cross-sectional search of the relevant studies in the Web of Science citation database was conducted to identify the 100 most-cited articles. All the included papers consisted of independent variables of this analysis. Covariates that were further considered were basic bibliometric indexes, such as publication year, publishing journal, authorship, institution and country of origin, study design, and field of study. The primary outcome variables were citation counts and citation density. A descriptive analysis of secondary outcome variables, namely bibliographic data such as keyword, abstract, title term co-occurrence analysis, thematic map and wordcloud analysis, was performed using the bibliometrix R and VOSviewer software. RESULTS: The total citation count for the 100 most-cited articles ranged from 85 to 1821, with 2002 being the most productive year. With 15 articles, the Journal of Periodontology was the most represented journal, followed closely by the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Clinical Oral Implants Research. The United States published the largest number of papers. Original basic science research studies on implantology and biology dominated the top-cited list. Randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews were adequately represented in the top-cited list. Platelet-derived growth factor and osteoprotegerin represented emerging minimally developed themes, while PRP, growth factors and fibrin, along with the applications of PRF in gingival recession and intra bony defects, were considered important motor themes. CONCLUSIONS: The current study provides a complete list and in-depth analysis of the 100 most-cited publications relevant to PDs use in oral and maxillofacial surgery, identifying the most important research topics, most impactful authors, institutions, and countries. Though PRP studies were leading the top-cited list, publications focusing on PRF pesented higher citation density values, indicating a continuously increasing citation rate.

Intradiscal Gelified Ethanol Nucleolysis versus Endoscopic Surgery for Lumbar Disc Herniation Radiculopathy.

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare efficacy and safety between intradiscal injection of a gelified ethanol product and tubular discectomy in the treatment of intervertebral disk herniation. A bi-central institutional database research identified forty (40) patients suffering from symptomatic contained disc herniation. Nucleolysis Group included 20 patients [mean 50.05 ± 9.27 years-of-age (male/female 14/6-70/30%)] and Surgery Group included 20 patients [mean 48.45 ± 14.53 years-of-age, (male/female 12/8-60/40%)]. Primary outcome was overall 12-month improvement over baseline in leg pain (NVS units). Procedural technical outcomes were recorded, and adverse events were evaluated at all follow-up intervals. CIRSE classification system was used for complications' reporting. Mean pre-operative pain score in Nucleolysis Group was 7.95 ± 0.94 reduced to 1.25 ± 1.11 at month 1 and 0.45 ± 0.75 NVS units at year 1. Mean pre-operative pain score in Surgery Group was 7.65 ± 1.13 reduced to 1.55 ± 1.79 at month 1 and 0.70 ± 1.38 NVS units at year 1. Pain decrease was statistically significant after both procedures (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between pain reduction in both groups (p = 0.347). The decrease differences of the pain effect upon general activities, sleeping, socializing, walking, and enjoying life in the follow-up period between the two groups were not statistically significant. No complications were noted in both groups. Results from the current study report that intradiscal injection of a gelified ethanol and tubular discectomy were equally effective on terms of efficacy and safety for the treatment of symptomatic lumbar intervertebral disc herniation regarding the 12-month mean leg pain improvement. Both achieved similar rapid significant clinical improvement persisting throughout follow-up period.

Impact of erosion and aging simulation on chairside materials.

This study investigates the influence of acid exposure and thermocycling simulating erosion tooth wear, on the optical properties and surface roughness of chairside materials. Resin-ceramic, lithium disilicate, premium zirconium oxide and resin composite material comprise the materials tested. To simulate the dental erosion and aging, specimens from each material were immersed in hydrochloric acid, while the thermocycling procedure included 10,000 cycles. The translucency, the color differences and the surface roughness were calculated. The materials phase composition was tested using X-ray diffraction analysis to evaluate T-M phase transformation. The CIEDE2000 color difference and the translucency parameter were tested different significantly among groups. Data were statistically analyzed via independent samples t-test, and paired samples t-test. The thermocycling procedure and the exposure to the acid solution had different effect on the surface roughness of CAD/CAM materials. The present result demonstrated the negative effect the acid exposure has on the zirconia material in terms of color difference. However, no color differences over the threshold of acceptability were recorded after the thermocycling procedure. Both polymer materials exhibit an increase of the surface roughness when they were immersed in acid but they did not display an increase in roughness when they were thermocycled.

Effects of COVID-19 Infection and Vaccination on the Female Reproductive System: A Narrative Review

Several studies and research papers have been published to elucidate and understand the mechanism of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its long-term effects on the human body. COVID-19 affects a number of organs, including the female reproductive system. However, less attention has been given to the effects of COVID-19 on the female reproductive system due to their low morbidity. The results of studies investigating the relationship between COVID-19 infection and ovarian function in women of reproductive age have shown the harmless involvement of COVID-19 infection. Several studies have reported the involvement of COVID-19 infection in oocyte quality, ovarian function, and dysfunctions in the uterine endometrium and the menstrual cycle. The findings of these studies indicate that COVID-19 infection negatively affects the follicular microenvironment and dysregulate ovarian function. Although the COVID-19 pandemic and female reproductive health have been studied in humans and animals, very few studies have examined how COVID-19 affects the female reproductive system. The objective of this review is to summarize the current literature and categorize the effects of COVID-19 on the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, and hormonal profiles. The effects on oocyte maturation, oxidative stress, which causes chromosomal instability and apoptosis in ovaries, in vitro fertilization cycle, high-quality embryos, premature ovarian insufficiency, ovarian vein thrombosis, hypercoagulable state, women's menstrual cycle, the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis, and sex hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, and the anti-Müllerian hormone, are discussed in particular.

Blood Transfusion Components Inducing Severe Allergic Reactions: The First Case of Kounis Syndrome Induced by Platelet Transfusion.

Kounis syndrome is a multisystem and multidisciplinary disease affecting the circulatory system that can be manifested as spasm and thrombosis. It can occur as allergic, hypersensitivity, anaphylactic, or anaphylactoid reactions associated with the release of inflammatory mediators from mast cells and from other interrelated and interacting inflammatory cells, including macrophages and lymphocytes. A platelet subset with high- and low-affinity IgE surface receptors is also involved in this process. Whereas the heart, and particularly the coronary arteries, constitute the primary targets of inflammatory mediators, the mesenteric, cerebral, and peripheral arteries are also vulnerable. Kounis syndrome is caused by a variety of factors, including drugs, foods, environmental exposure, clinical conditions, stent implantation, and vaccines. We report a unique case of a 60-year-old male with a past medical history of allergy to human albumin, alcoholic cirrhosis, and esophageal varices, who was admitted due to multiple episodes of hematemesis. Due to low hemoglobin levels, he was transfused with 3 units of red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma without any adverse reactions. On the third day of hospitalization, severe thrombocytopenia was observed and transfusion of platelets was initiated. Immediately following platelet infusion, the patient developed chest discomfort, skin signs of severe allergic reaction, and hemodynamic instability. The electrocardiogram revealed ST segment elevation in the inferior leads. Given the strong suspicion of Kounis syndrome/allergic coronary spasm, the patient was treated with anti-allergic treatment only, without any anti-platelet therapy. The clinical status of the patient gradually improved and the electrocardiographic changes reverted to normal. Based on these findings, Kounis hypersensitivity-associated acute coronary syndrome, specifically, type I Kounis syndrome, was diagnosed. Although platelet transfusion can be a life-saving therapy, each blood transfusion carries a substantial risk of adverse reactions. The aims of this report are to expand the existing knowledge of patient responses to blood transfusion and provide information on the incidence of various severe transfusion reactions to all blood components and especially to platelets. To the best of our knowledge, Kounis syndrome induced by platelet transfusionhas never been previously reported. Hypersensitivity to platelet external membrane glycoproteins in an atopic patient seems to be the possible etiology. Despite that Kounis syndrome remains an under-diagnosed clinical entity in everyday practice, it should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes.

The Effect of Long COVID-19 Infection and Vaccination on Male Fertility; A Narrative Review.

Earlier research has suggested that the male reproductive system could be particularly vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection, and infections involving this novel disease not only pose serious health threats but could also cause male infertility. Data from multi-organ research during the recent outbreak indicate that male infertility might not be diagnosed as a possible consequence of COVID-19 infection. Several review papers have summarized the etiology factors on male fertility, but to date no review paper has been published defining the effect of COVID-19 infection on male fertility. Therefore, the aim of this study is to review the published scientific evidence regarding male fertility potential, the risk of infertility during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on the male reproductive system. The effects of COVID-19 infection and the subsequent vaccination on seminal fluid, sperm count, sperm motility, sperm morphology, sperm viability, testes and sex hormones are particularly reviewed.

Excessive supraventricular ectopic activity and future onset of atrial fibrillation in patients with cryptogenic stroke.

OBJECTIVES: Although evidence has shown the association of excessive supraventricular ectopic activity (ESVEA) with future development of atrial fibrillation (AF), this relationship is not yet fully understood. This study examines whether ESVEA can predict the future onset of AF, in patients presenting with cryptogenic stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort of 124 non-AF, consecutive patients, hospitalized for cryptogenic stroke between 2014 and 2015, was retrieved. 24-h inpatient monitoring with Holter was employed to reveal ESVEA, defined as the presence of more than 20 premature atrial complexes per hour (PACs/h) on average, or a more than 5 s duration of the longest supraventricular run (LSVR). After a median follow-up period of 5.2 years, the patients were examined for AF. RESULTS: From initial 124 patients, 12 died and one was lost during follow-up. For the total of 111 patients finally included, the median age was 56 years and 25.2% were females. The overall baseline median CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3. AF was found in 13 (11.71%) patients. Patients who were finally diagnosed with AF had a significantly higher number of PACs/h and a longer median LSVR duration at baseline (16.67 vs. 0.21, p < 0.001 and 3 vs. 0 s, p < 0.001, respectively). The presence of ESVEA was also significantly more frequent among AF patients (46.15%, 95%CI: 17.78%-74.22%) compared to non-AF ones (6.1%, 95%CI: 1.3%-10.7%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Excessive atrial ectopy, detected with 24 h inpatient Holter monitoring, is a significant indicator of future development of AF in patients presenting originally with a cryptogenic stroke.

The Chemokines CXC, CC and C in the Pathogenesis of COVID-19 Disease and as Surrogates of Vaccine-Induced Innate and Adaptive Protective Responses.

COVID-19 is one of the progressive viral pandemics that originated from East Asia. COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to be associated with a chain of physio-pathological mechanisms that are basically immunological in nature. In addition, chemokines have been proposed as a subgroup of chemotactic cytokines with different activities ranging from leukocyte recruitment to injury sites, irritation, and inflammation to angiostasis and angiogenesis. Therefore, researchers have categorized the chemotactic elements into four classes, including CX3C, CXC, CC, and C, based on the location of the cysteine motifs in their structures. Considering the severe cases of COVID-19, the hyperproduction of particular chemokines occurring in lung tissue as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines significantly worsen the disease prognosis. According to the studies conducted in the field documenting the changing expression of CXC and CC chemokines in COVID-19 cases, the CC and CXC chemokines contribute to this pandemic, and their impact could reflect the development of reasonable strategies for COVID-19 management. The CC and the CXC families of chemokines are important in host immunity to viral infections and along with other biomarkers can serve as the surrogates of vaccine-induced innate and adaptive protective responses, facilitating the improvement of vaccine efficacy. Furthermore, the immunogenicity elicited by the chemokine response to adenovirus vector vaccines may constitute the basis of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopaenia.

Shear Bond Strength of Ah26 to Human Dentin Treated with Dimethyl Sulfoxide (Dmso).

The purpose of this study was to examine the bond strength of AH26 to human coronal dentin exposed to DMSO. A total of 70 dentin specimens were equally divided into two groups. Each dentin surface was pre-treated with 2 mL of 2.5% NaOCl, 3 mL of EDTA 17%, and distilled water. One group was finally rinsed with 50% DMSO. Following the AH26 application, the bond strength was tested by subjecting the samples to a shear load at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min using universal testing equipment. The results according to paired samples t-test indicated that there was a statistically insignificant difference between the two groups. Therefore, DMSO had no effect on the bond strength of AH26 root sealer to dentin.

A case series of skin manifestations of infective endocarditis in contemporary era: just another book finding or a useful clinical sign?

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a disease of high morbidity and mortality. Infective endocarditis rarely involves skin manifestations in the contemporary era. The identification of typical skin lesions could be helpful in establishing early diagnosis of IE. CASE SUMMARY: We present four cases of IE hospitalized in our institution within a 12-month period. All patients were young and had skin manifestations on initial presentation (petechiae, splinter haemorrhages, Janeway lesions, and Osler's nodes), which led to a high clinical suspicion of IE confirmed by echocardiography and positive blood cultures. All cases had a complicated course. One patient died and the other three had prolonged hospital stay due to variable complications. DISCUSSION: Clinicians should always assess for skin manifestations in patients with fever especially when suspicion of IE is high. Occurrence of skin lesions in the course of IE may be associated with higher rate of complications and worse prognosis.

Traditional and minimally invasive access cavities in endodontics: a literature review.

The aim of this review was to evaluate the effects of different access cavity designs on endodontic treatment and tooth prognosis. Two independent reviewers conducted an unrestricted search of the relevant literature contained in the following electronic databases: PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, and OpenGrey. The electronic search was supplemented by a manual search during the same time period. The reference lists of the articles that advanced to second-round screening were hand-searched to identify additional potential articles. Experts were also contacted in an effort to learn about possible unpublished or ongoing studies. The benefits of minimally invasive access (MIA) cavities are not yet fully supported by research data. There is no evidence that this approach can replace the traditional approach of straight-line access cavities. Guided endodontics is a new method for teeth with pulp canal calcification and apical infection, but there have been no cost-benefit investigations or time studies to verify these personal opinions. Although the purpose of MIA cavities is to reflect clinicians' interest in retaining a greater amount of the dental substance, traditional cavities are the safer method for effective instrument operation and the prevention of iatrogenic complications.

COVID-19 Disease, Women's Predominant Non-Heparin Vaccine-Induced Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia and Kounis Syndrome: A Passepartout Cytokine Storm Interplay.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) constitute one of the deadliest pandemics in modern history demonstrating cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hematologic, mucocutaneous, respiratory, neurological, renal and testicular manifestations and further complications. COVID-19-induced excessive immune response accompanied with uncontrolled release of cytokines culminating in cytokine storm seem to be the common pathogenetic mechanism of these complications. The aim of this narrative review is to elucidate the relation between anaphylaxis associated with profound hypotension or hypoxemia with pro-inflammatory cytokine release. COVID-19 relation with Kounis syndrome and post-COVID-19 vaccination correlation with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia with thrombosis (HITT), especially serious cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, were also reviewed. METHODS: A current literature search in PubMed, Embase and Google databases was performed to reveal the pathophysiology, prevalence, clinical manifestation, correlation and treatment of COVID-19, anaphylaxis with profuse hypotension, Kounis acute coronary syndrome and thrombotic events post vaccination. RESULTS: The same key immunological pathophysiology mechanisms and cells seem to underlie COVID-19 cardiovascular complications and the anaphylaxis-associated Kounis syndrome. The myocardial injury in patients with COVID-19 has been attributed to coronary spasm, plaque rupture and microthrombi formation, hypoxic injury or cytokine storm disposing the same pathophysiology with the three clinical variants of Kounis syndrome. COVID-19-interrelated vaccine excipients as polysorbate, polyethelene glycol (PEG) and trometamol constitute potential allergenic substances. CONCLUSION: Better acknowledgement of the pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical similarities, multiorgan complications of COVID-19 or other viral infections as dengue and human immunodeficiency viruses along with the action of inflammatory cells inducing the Kounis syndrome could identify better immunological approaches for prevention, treatment of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as post-COVID-19 vaccine adverse reactions.

Synthesis of Novel Dental Nanocomposite Resins by Incorporating Polymerizable, Quaternary Ammonium Silane-Modified Silica Nanoparticles.

Diverse approaches dealing with the reinforcement of dental composite resins with quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) have been previously reported. This work aims to investigate the physicochemical and mechanical performance of dental resins containing silica nanofillers with novel QAC. Different types of quaternary ammonium silane compounds (QASiC) were initially synthesized and characterized with proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Silica nanoparticles were surface modified with the above QASiC and the structure of silanized products (S.QASiC) was confirmed by means of FTIR and thermogravimetric analysis. The obtained S.QASiC were then incorporated into methacrylate based dental resins. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed a satisfactory dispersion of silica nanoclusters for most of the synthesized nanocomposites. Curing kinetics disclosed a rise in both the autoacceleration effect and degree of conversion mainly induced by shorter QASiC molecules. Polymerization shrinkage was found to be influenced by the particular type of S.QASiC. The flexural modulus and strength of composites were increased by 74% and 19%, while their compressive strength enhancement reached up to 19% by adding 22 wt% S.QASiC nanoparticles. These findings might contribute to the proper design of multifunctional dental materials able to meet the contemporary challenges in clinical practice.