Comparison of accuracy in digital and conventional cross-mounting.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The use of digital interocclusal registration scans for virtual articulation and mounting has been studied extensively; however, the accuracy of the cross-mounting procedures in a digital workflow is not well understood. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the accuracy of digital and conventional cross-mounting by measuring the 3-dimensional deviation at each step of sequential cross-mounting. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A set of reference casts and complete-arch interim restorations was prepared for complete-arch complete-coverage restorations, hand-articulated, and mounted in an articulator. The reference casts were then scanned with and without the interim restorations to generate 4 reference casts for cross-mounting. For the conventional group, 15 sets of the 4 casts were printed. Polyvinyl siloxane interocclusal registration records were made of the reference casts for each set, and casts were sequentially cross-mounted. For the digital workflow, 15 sets of bilateral interocclusal registration scans were made of the mounted reference casts and used to align the cast scans. Three-dimensional deviations at 2 anterior and 2 posterior points were recorded between the experimental mountings and the reference casts on each set of casts. Nonpaired t test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to compare the average discrepancy between the 2 groups, and the pooled anterior versus posterior discrepancies were compared (α=.05). RESULTS: A significant difference was found between conventional and digital cross-mounting procedures (P<.001), but no significant difference was found in either group, conventional (P=.116) or digital (P=.987), at each step of the sequential mountings. The mean ±standard deviation at the final set of related casts in the conventional workflow was 201.6 ±137.0 µm and that in the digital group was 50.3 ±47.5 µm, with a significant difference between anterior and posterior deviations in the digital group (P=.028), but not in the conventional group (P=.143). The mean ±standard deviation anterior conventional deviation was 175.6 ±119.2 µm and that in the digital group was 36.9 ±30.9 µm. The mean ±standard deviation posterior conventional deviation was 227.6 ±50.2 µm and that in the digital group was 63.7 ±57.2 µm. CONCLUSIONS: Digital cross-mounting was more accurate than conventional cross-mounting, although increased deviation was found in the anterior region compared with the posterior region.

Color biogenesis data of tomatoes treated with hot-water and high temperature ethylene treatments.

Controlled postharvest stresses were used to induce the synthesis of carotenoids in tomato fruit. The accumulation of carotenoids was observed by the change of color of the tomato fruit from green to red. This change of color was monitored by the a* value and hue of the CIELAB* color coordinates in which the a* value increased following a sigmoidal curve and hue decreased in a similar trend. This sigmoidal curve marked the transition from chloroplasts to chromoplasts; in other words, the change of color tracked the disorganization or degreening, which was simultaneously accompanied by chromoplast biogenesis or red color development when tomatoes were at the Turning stage of development. The color data and photographic images provides information on how heat stress affected the synchronicity of chloroplast disorganization and chromoplast biogenesis in the early developmental stages of tomato ripening.

A brief hot-water treatment alleviates chilling injury symptoms in fresh tomatoes.

BACKGROUND: Reducing the negative effects of chilling injury (CI) in tomatoes after harvest is essential to ensure good quality and to minimize losses. CI is a postharvest disorder associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the fruit. Therefore, antioxidant accumulation can counteract ROS, alleviating CI symptoms. In this sense, it has been confirmed that a brief hot-water (HW) immersion promotes the synthesis of antioxidants. RESULTS: HW treatment at 52 °C for 5 min significantly reduced chilling-associated decay, from 66.7% to 17.2% in breaker turning (BT) and from 55.8% to 9.8% in mature green (MG) 'BHN-602' tomatoes stored at 5 °C for 2 weeks and from 26.7% to 6.7% in BT tomatoes stored at 5 °C for 1 week. Also, HW treatment significantly increased lycopene content by 17% in BT tomatoes stored at 5 °C for 2 weeks, as well as ascorbic acid by 11%, lipophilic phenolics by 18% and total phenolics by 6.5% in BT tomatoes stored at 12.5 °C for 1 week. Despite the increase of antioxidants, HW treatment did not enhance the sensory aromatic profile, color and antioxidant capacity. Interestingly, HW treatment reduced ripening time by 3 days in MG tomatoes stored at 5 °C for 2 weeks or at 12.5 °C for 1 week. CONCLUSION: HW treatment applied to MG or BT 'BHN-602' tomatoes can alleviate the development of some CI symptoms, particularly decay, possibly by increasing antioxidants that scavenge ROS. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Testicular Metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Testicular metastases from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are extremely rare. To the best of our knowledge, only 33 cases have been described in the literature. Most of the reported cases are of unilateral testicular metastasis from RCC. We report a case of metachronous ipsilateral testicular metastasis from RCC in a 78-year-old man 6 years after nephrectomy. Scrotal ultrasonography showed a 4 × 5 cm mass in the right testis. Right inguinal orchiectomy was performed for diagnosis. Computed tomography revealed liver and lung metastases. First-line therapy with sunitinib was started in November 2016 for metastatic RCC.

Periapical Microsurgery: The Effects of Locally Injected Dexamethasone on Pain, Swelling, Bruising, and Wound Healing.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this prospective, double-blind, randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the postoperative healing of endodontic periapical microsurgery after local administration of dexamethasone. METHODS: Sixty patients were divided into 2 groups. The dexamethasone group received a single local submucosal injection of 4 mg dexamethasone, and the placebo group received a submucosal injection of saline solution at the conclusion of standardized periapical microsurgery. Acetaminophen and hydrocodone/acetaminophen were prescribed for pain relief. A Likert-like 6-point scale was used for self-evaluation of pain, bruising, swelling, and wound healing at 24, 48, 72, 96 hours and at 1 week. The number of tablets taken was registered. Data were analyzed using the chi-square and Fisher exact tests at a significance level of P < .05. RESULTS: No improvements in pain, bruising, and wound healing were registered at any time interval. No difference was found in the number of tablets taken for pain relief. Subjects who received the dexamethasone injection reported less swelling 24 hours after periapical microsurgery (P < .05) but showed no significant benefit for the longer follow-up periods. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that a 4-mg dose of dexamethasone administered through a local submucosal injection after periapical microsurgery has minimal impact on pain, bruising, and apparent wound healing at any time over a 7-day interval, and the impact on swelling seems limited.

Spatio-temporal analyses of cropland degradation in the irrigated lowlands of Uzbekistan using remote-sensing and logistic regression modeling.

Advancing land degradation in the irrigated areas of Central Asia hinders sustainable development of this predominantly agricultural region. To support decisions on mitigating cropland degradation, this study combines linear trend analysis and spatial logistic regression modeling to expose a land degradation trend in the Khorezm region, Uzbekistan, and to analyze the causes. Time series of the 250-m MODIS NDVI, summed over the growing seasons of 2000-2010, were used to derive areas with an apparent negative vegetation trend; this was interpreted as an indicator of land degradation. About one third (161,000 ha) of the region's area experienced negative trends of different magnitude. The vegetation decline was particularly evident on the low-fertility lands bordering on the natural sandy desert, suggesting that these areas should be prioritized in mitigation planning. The results of logistic modeling indicate that the spatial pattern of the observed trend is mainly associated with the level of the groundwater table (odds = 330 %), land-use intensity (odds = 103 %), low soil quality (odds = 49 %), slope (odds = 29 %), and salinity of the groundwater (odds = 26 %). Areas, threatened by land degradation, were mapped by fitting the estimated model parameters to available data. The elaborated approach, combining remote-sensing and GIS, can form the basis for developing a common tool for monitoring land degradation trends in irrigated croplands of Central Asia.

Gas-to-cluster effects in S 2p-excited SF(6).

High resolution X-ray spectroscopic studies on free SF6 molecules and SF6 clusters near the S 2p ionization thresholds are reported. Spectral changes occurring in clusters for the intense molecular-like S 2p1/2,3/2 → 6a1g-, 2t2g-, and 4eg-resonances are examined in detail. Neither gas-to-cluster spectral shifts nor changes in peak shape are observed for the pre-edge 6a1g-band. Significant changes in band shape and distinct gas-to-cluster shifts occur in the S 2p1/2,3/2 → 2t2g- and 4eg-transitions. These are found in the S 2p-ionization continua. The quasiatomic approach is used to assign the experimental results. It is shown that a convolution of asymmetric and symmetric contributions from Lorentzian and Gaussian line shapes allows us to model the spectral distribution of oscillator strength for the S 2p1/2,3/2 → 2t2g-, and 4eg-transitions. The asymmetry is due to trapping of the photoelectron within the finite size potential barrier. The Lorentzian contribution is found to be dominating in the line shape of the S 2p → 2t2g- and 4eg-bands. The spectroscopic parameters of the spin-orbit components of both the 2t2g- and 4eg-bands are extracted and their gas-to-cluster changes are analyzed. The photoelectron trapping times in free and clustered SF6 molecules are determined. Specifically, it is shown that spectral changes in clusters reflected in core-to-valence-transitions are due to a superposition of the singly scattered photoelectron waves at the neighboring molecules with the primary and multiply scattered waves within the molecular cage.

Ameloblastic fibroodontoma of the mandible with normal karyotype in a pediatric patient.

Background. Ameloblastic fibroodontoma (AFO) is a rare mixed odontogenic tumor with epithelial and mesenchymal components. AFO presents as a painless swelling in the mandible or maxilla. Radiographs show a well-defined radiolucent area containing various amounts of radiopaque material of irregular size and form. The common treatment is enucleation. It is not an aggressive tumor but recurrence and malignant transformation are possible. Methods. An AFO of the mandible of a 3-year-old female is reported. Panoramic radiograph and CT scan revealed a unilocular lesion with radiopaque center and radiolucent margins. Enucleation was performed with a good outcome. Results. Histopathology was a classic AFO. The karyotype was normal. No recurrence was noted at 12 months. Conclusions. As it is a benign tumor with low recurrence rate, conservative surgery is the treatment of choice. As malignant transformation to ameloblastic fibrosarcoma or ameloblastic odontosarcoma is possible despite the normal karyotype, long-term followup is recommended.

Alterations in the primary diagnosis of lymphomas pretreated with corticosteroid agents.

Little is known of the role of preliminary corticosteroids in clinical and morphological modifications and in difficulties in reaching a diagnosis in patients with lymphoma. We identified 31 patients who were given steroids before biopsy for primary diagnosis. We looked for the reason for steroid pretreatment, its dose, and duration. We evaluated the difficulty in reaching the primary diagnosis and whether a secondary diagnosis was made. The patients' slides were reviewed to identify secondary histological changes. Our findings suggest a variable effect of prior glucocorticoids on the clinical and histopathological alterations developing in malignant lymphomas, as well as on the complexity of the process of reaching a diagnosis.

Splenic micronodular T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma: effect of prior corticosteroid therapy.

We report on three patients who were treated with corticosteroids only prior to the diagnosis of splenic lymphoma. Corticosteroids were administered for different conditions, at different doses, and for various periods of time. The primary diagnosis was splenic micronodular T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma in the three cases, and it was reached with variable difficulty. We suggest that the corticosteroid treatment was one of the causes for the complications in reaching a diagnosis. The morphologic appearance of the microscopic splenic nodules was the most variable feature and may possibly reflect the dose and duration of the corticosteroid therapy. However, the histopathologic changes are probably not related with Epstein-Barr virus-induced immunosuppression.

Splenic micronodular T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma.

A case showing the typical clinical and pathological features of splenic micronodular T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma is presented. Since the series recorded by Dogan et al (Am J Surg Pathol 2003;27:903-911), there have been very few reports on this lymphoma variant. Our case presents minor variations on the recorded features. Possible reasons for the scarcity of reports and for the confirmation of this lymphoma as a variant of T-cell-rich large B-cell lymphoma are discussed.