The effectiveness of autologous platelet concentrates in prevention and treatment of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws: A systematic review.

The systematic review aims to answer the PICOS question: "Are the autologous platelet concentrates (APCs) an effective strategy in prevention and/or treatment of patients at risk of/affected by medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ)?". A literature search was conducted via PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL (January 2006 - September 2023). 30 articles were included, evaluating preventive (n = 8*) and treatment strategies (n = 23*). The risk of bias and quality of studies were assessed utilising ROB-2, ROBIN-1 and GRADE criteria. Meta-analysis was undertaken for eligible studies. The application of APCs demonstrated a statistically significant effectiveness in prevention of MRONJ in 86.13% (p < 0.001) but failed to achieve the same level of certainty in treatment of established MRONJ in 83.4% (p = 0.08). High levels of bias were identified; thus, the results should be interpreted with caution. More high quality prospective randomised controlled trials are needed to further evaluate the effectiveness of APCs in management of MRONJ.

The success rates and outcomes of mandibular third molar coronectomy: 167 cases.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess success rates and to report complications of coronectomy of mandibular third molars (M3M), including intra-operative failure, pain, infection, dry socket, inferior dental alveolar (IAN) and lingual nerve (LN) injuries and re-operation rates. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 167 coronectomies completed between January 2017 to December 2022 was undertaken. RESULTS: The success of coronectomy was 93%. Intra-operative failure was reported to be 3.6% (n = 8). Complications accounted for pain (15%, n = 24), infection (9%, n = 15) and dry socket (3.6%, n = 6). Three patients required removal of M3M root at 3 months (n = 2) and 24 months (n = 1), accounting for 1.8% re-operation rate. A total of number of patients who suffered a nerve injury was 12; three of these were permanent (LN - 1.2%, n = 2; IAN - 0.6%, n = 1), nine were temporary (IAN - 1.2%; n = 2, LN - 2.4%; n = 4; site not specified - 1.8%, n = 3). No patients with intra-operative failure and re-operation suffered IAN or LN injury post-operatively. CONCLUSION: Coronectomy offers a successful strategy for management of high risk M3M. The treatment outcomes can be improved with careful case selection and adjusting surgical technique, including assessment of root morphology, incomplete crown sectioning technique and avoidance of lingual retraction. Reporting of coronectomy success as a factor of surgical outcome, presence or absence of permanent IAN injury, persistent symptoms or any other long-standing complications (such as LN injury), and the need for re-operation accounting for root migration status may be a useful tool to measure coronectomy outcomes.

Factors Associated With Successful Surgical Exposure of Impacted Maxillary Canines.

PURPOSE: Impacted maxillary canines occur in up to 3% of the population and their eruption is of great importance in establishing, maintaining the shape, aesthetics, and function of the dental arch. Hence, surgical exposure of canines for the purpose of aligning them is a common surgical procedure. This study identifies the frequency and the statistically significant factors associated with successful surgical exposure of impacted maxillary canines and the relative risk factors for repeat surgery. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of 182 patients who underwent surgical exposure of impacted maxillary canines and orthodontic alignment, over a 5-year period between 2014 and 2018. The variables recorded and analyzed included demographics (age and gender), type of surgery (closed or open exposure), grade of surgeon, and radiographic features on orthopantomogram (canine overlap of adjacent tooth root, vertical canine crown height, canine angulation to midline, position of canine root apex). Outcome data recorded were successful surgical exposure and orthodontic alignment and the need for repeat operation or surgical removal due to ankylosis. The data were analyzed to identify the statistically significant correlates of successful surgical exposure and the relative risk factors associated with repeat surgery. RESULTS: A total of 182 patients and 232 bone-impacted maxillary surgical canine exposures were analyzed, as 50 patients had bilateral impaction. Mean age was 15 years (range = 10-38 years), with 122 (67%) female to 60 (33%) male ratio. Total of 222/232 (96%) impacted maxillary canine teeth were successfully surgically exposed and 10/232 (4%) required re-exposure surgery. Correlates of successful surgical exposures were open exposure technique (P < .002) and reduced distance of vertical canine crown height from alveolar bone margin (P < .033). Relative risk factors for repeat surgery were increased age, male, closed surgical exposure, grade of surgeon, central impaction, increased overlap of adjacent root, increased vertical height, increased angulation to midline, canine apex position above second premolar and procedure done under local anesthetics. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest impacted maxillary canine study to date which has identified the factors that result in successful surgical exposure, hence allow selection of the patients most suitable for this treatment. Secondly, patients with relative risk factors for repeat surgical intervention may be consented appropriately, triaged for a closer orthodontic follow-up and prioritized for surgery to reduce overall treatment time.

Catalytic reductions of nitroaromatic compounds over heterogeneous catalysts with rhenium sub-nanostructures.

Nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) are key contaminants of anthropogenic origin and pose a severe threat to human and animal lives. Although the catalytic activities of Re nanostructures (NSs) are significantly higher than those of other heterogeneous catalysts containing NSs, few studies have been reported on the application of Re-based nanocatalysts for NAC hydrogenation. Accordingly, herein, catalytic reductions of nitrobenzene (NB), 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), 2-nitroaniline (2-NA), 4-nitroaniline (4-NA), and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (2,4,6-TNP) over new Re-based heterogeneous catalysts were proposed. The catalytic materials were designed to enable effective syntheses and stabilisation of particularly small Re structures over them. Accordingly, catalytic hydrogenations of NACs under mild conditions were significantly enhanced by Re sub-nanostructures (Re-sub-NSs). The highest pseudo-first-order rate constants for NB, 4-NP, 2-NA, 4-NA, and 2,4,6-TNP reductions over the catalyst acquired by stabilising Re using bis(3-aminopropyl)amine (BAPA), which led to Re-sub-NSs with Re concentrations of 16.7 wt%, were 0.210, 0.130, 0.100, 0.180, and 0.090 min-1, respectively.

Lactose Content and Selected Quality Parameters of Sheep Milk Fermented Beverages during Storage.

The aim of the research was to evaluate lactose content and rheological, physical, chemical, and organoleptic parameters during the storage of fermented beverages made from sheep's milk. The research was carried out on natural, probiotic, and Greek-type yogurts, as well as kefir. The products were made using the thermostat method from the milk of 42 East Frisian sheep in the middle lactation period, in duplicate. Lactose contents, active and titratable acidity, color by the L*a*b*C*h* system, and rheological parameters (hardness, consistency, consistency, and viscosity) were tested, and organoleptic assessments were carried out on the first, seventh, fourteenth, and twenty-first days of storing the drinks at 4 °C. Of all drinks, the highest reduction in lactose after 21 days of storage was found to occur in kefir (52% reduction) and, among the yogurts, in the Greek yogurt (41% reduction). The product with the lowest lactose content, regardless of the storage period, was kefir. This indicates that kefir is more suitable than yogurt for people with partial lactose intolerance. Effects of both inoculation type and beverage storage time were shown to exist for all parameters. It was also found that kefirs suffered deterioration in most rheological parameters and, in general organoleptic evaluation in the final period of storage. Based on our analysis, the optimal storage time for natural yogurts and sheep's milk kefirs at 4 °C was 21 and 14 days, respectively.

Palaeoclimate has a major effect on the diversity of endemic species in the hotspot of mountain biodiversity in Tajikistan.

In a period of ongoing climate changes, identifying drivers of overall and endemic species diversity is a key element in constructing new ecological patterns and determining the main goals of conservation. Such studies are especially crucial if they concern biodiversity hotspot areas. In this study, we explore patterns and drivers of plant endemism (the proportion of endemic plant species to overall plant species richness; PE) in Tajikistan. We used three groups of climatic measures featuring the contemporary and glacial climates as well as climatic changes since the Last Glacial Maximum in the Pleistocene (LGM). To explore relationships between PE and climatic groups, and the most important climatic variables, we applied the Generalised Additive Model and regression trees method respectively. Glacial climate predicted PE variation the most (74.3%), followed by climate stability (55.4%) and current climate (62.4%). The most important variables represented change in precipitation of driest quarter, glacial mean annual temperature and current annual precipitation. LGM climate and its change to date have the greatest influence on contemporary PE patterns in Tajikistan, revealing the evolutionary dependencies between limited-range plants and past climate. Accordingly, annual temperature and precipitation regimes have been the most crucial drivers of PE since the LGM until today. The study revealed the dependence of the PE on a stabilized water-energy supply. The changing temperature and precipitations regimes during the ongoing climate warming may, therefore, increases the threat to geographically isolated cryophilous plants of Tajikistan, while their escape potential to suitable cold habitats is highly topographically limited.

Immune Response to Therapeutic Staphylococcal Bacteriophages in Mammals: Kinetics of Induction, Immunogenic Structural Proteins, Natural and Induced Antibodies.

Bacteriophages are able to affect the human immune system. Phage-specific antibodies are considered as major factors shaping phage pharmacokinetics and bioavailability. So far, general knowledge of phage antigenicity nevertheless remains extremely limited. Here we present comparative studies of immunogenicity in two therapeutic bacteriophages, A3R and 676Z, active against Staphylococcus aureus, routinely applied in patients at the Phage Therapy Unit, Poland. Comparison of the overall ability of whole phages to induce specific antibodies in a murine model revealed typical kinetics of IgM and IgG induction by these two phages. In further studies we identified the location of four phage proteins in the virions, with the focus on the external capsid head (Mcp) or tail sheath (TmpH) or an unidentified precise location (ORF059 and ORF096), and we confirmed their role as structural proteins of these viruses. Next, we compared the immune response elicited by these proteins after phage administration in mice. Similar to that in T4 phage, Mcp was the major element of the capsid that induced specific antibodies. Studies of protein-specific sera revealed that antibodies specific to ORF096 were able to neutralize antibacterial activity of the phages. In humans (population level), none of the studied proteins plays a particular role in the induction of specific antibodies; thus none potentially affects in a particular way the effectiveness of A3R and 676Z. Also in patients subjected to phage therapy, we did not observe increased specific immune responses to the investigated proteins.

Vitamin D and iron status in children with food allergy.

BACKGROUND: Children with food allergy are at specific risk for nutritional deficiencies. OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively determine prevalence of vitamin D and iron deficiencies in children with or without food allergy (FA). METHODS: We compared the markers of vitamin D and iron status of 0 to 17-year-olds with cow's milk allergy (CMA) (n = 77), those with other FAs (n = 70), and those with atopy without FA (n = 87) at an academic pediatric allergy practice. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the impact of CMA and other FAs on vitamin D levels and iron markers. RESULTS: Vitamin D deficiency was detected in one-fourth and insufficiency in one-third of children with CMA and other FAs and in those with atopic diseases but no FA, respectively. Vitamin D levels were associated with vitamin D supplementation and consumption of breast milk, cow's milk, infant formula, or plant-based milk beverage, but not with CMA or other FAs. Older children with FA who did not consume any cow's milk or alternative milk beverage were at highest risk for vitamin D insufficiency. Children with CMA have a higher rate of iron deficiency anemia (8%) than children with other FAs (1%) or those with no FA (5%, P < .001); however, suboptimal levels of transferrin saturation and iron were detected in up to one-third of children with CMA or other FAs. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is common in children with atopy overall, but children with CMA are at higher risk for iron deficiency anemia. Intensive nutritional counseling and nutrient intake monitoring, specifically for vitamin D and iron in those avoiding cow's milk, are necessary to optimize nutritional status.

Red List of vascular plants of Tajikistan - the core area of the Mountains of Central Asia global biodiversity hotspot.

Central Pamir-Alai, which is located almost entirely within the area of Tajikistan, is one of the world hotspots of biodiversity, harbouring ca. 4,300 species and 1,400 endemic plants. The first application of the IUCN Red List criteria reveals that among all native species occurring in Tajikistan 1,627 taxa (38.11%) are threatened, including 23 extinct (0.54%), 271 (6.34%) critically endangered (CR), 717 (16.79%) endangered (EN) and 639 (14.96%) vulnerable (VU). Globally, 20 taxa are extinct, 711 (16.65%) threatened, including 144 (3.37%) critically endangered, 322 (7.54%) endangered and 245 (5.73%) vulnerable. As we found positive correlation between human density and the number of threatened species, we suspect this indirect factor responsible for the species diversity decline. Extinct or threatened taxa have short blooming periods in spring or early summer, have limited geographical range and inhabit mainly valley bottoms at lower altitudes. Threatened taxa occupy extremely dry or wet habitats, such as deserts, semi-deserts, water reservoirs and fens. The group of threatened plants consists mostly of Central Asian, Indo-Indochinese and Arctic species. Ornamental plants have a higher extinction risk than other plants, but species collected for medicinal reasons and used for forage or food reveal lower retreatment rate. Our assessment fills a gap for important plant area and provides the data for raising the effectiveness of plant diversity conservation.

Natural and Induced Antibodies Against Phages in Humans: Induction Kinetics and Immunogenicity for Structural Proteins of PB1-Related Phages.

Background: Bacteriophages may induce specific antibodies after natural exposure to phages or after phage therapy. As such, phage-specific antibodies might impact phage bioavailability in vivo, although limited non-neutralizing or insignificant effects have also been reported. Materials and Methods: Here, we report antibody induction against PB1-related phages (Pseudomonas viruses LMA2, F8, DP1) in mice over an 80-day period, for a healthy population of humans, and in patients undergoing phage therapy (oral and/or topical treatment). Results: All phages effectively induced specific immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G in mice. Phage-specific antibodies were observed in humans, whereas recombinant virion proteins (PB1 gp22, gp29) did not induce phage-neutralizing antibodies, either in mice or in humans. The healthy human population was differentiated for frequency of phage-neutralizing antibodies. Conclusions: These data can hold key considerations for phage therapy cocktail design, as highly similar phages can still be highly complementary in cases where specific immune response hinders therapeutic use of phages.

Two novel temperate bacteriophages infecting Streptococcus pyogenes: Their genomes, morphology and stability.

Only 3% of phage genomes in NCBI nucleotide database represent phages that are active against Streptococcus sp. With the aim to increase general awareness of phage diversity, we isolated two bacteriophages, Str01 and Str03, active against health-threatening Group A Streptococcus (GAS). Both phages are members of the Siphoviridae, but their analysis revealed that Str01 and Str03 do not belong to any known genus. We identified their structural proteins based on LC-ESI29 MS/MS and list their basic thermal stability and physico-chemical features including optimum pH. Annotated genomic sequences of the phages are deposited in GenBank (NCBI accession numbers KY349816 and KY363359, respectively).

The effectiveness of plant conservation: a case study of Opole Province, southwest Poland.

This work presents a method of assessing plant conservation effectiveness in a given region, which takes into account the legal, species-centered protection, ecosystem conservation, ex situ conservation, restorations and translocations, reintroductions, and monitoring. In order to illustrate the conservation effectiveness, both legally protected species of plants and threatened species were examined. The conservation effectiveness of legally protected species was estimated to have a low value of 23.328 points (pts) according to the methods of calculation. Habitat conservation is insufficient for these species. Almost 40% of all localities are deprived of any ecosystem protection. The conservation effectiveness of the threatened group of species scored a very low value of 13.46 pts. The major reason for this result is a very low level of species protection. Less than 30% of the threatened taxa are under legal preservation and some species from the Orobanche and Cuscuta genera are treated as harmful organisms, which it is obligatory to control within the province territory. Almost 30% of all localities of threatened species are deprived of any ecosystem protection and only 10% lie inside nature reserves. It is suggested that the conclusion of this investigation be used in the preparation and realization of the regional floristic diversity preservation strategy.