Levels of Pro-Inflammatory and Bone-Resorptive Mediators in Periodontally Compromised Patients under Orthodontic Treatment Involving Intermittent Forces of Low Intensities.

During orthodontic treatment, diverse cytokines, enzymes, and osteolytic mediators produced within the teeth surrounding periodontal tissues determine the rate of alveolar bone remodeling and consequent teeth movement. In patients with teeth presenting reduced periodontal support, periodontal stability should be ensured during orthodontic treatment. Thus, therapies based on the application of low-intensity intermittent orthodontic forces are recommended. To determine if this kind of treatment is periodontally well tolerated, this study aimed to analyze the production of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17A, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8 in periodontal tissues of protruded anterior teeth with reduced periodontal support and undergoing orthodontic treatment. Patients with periodontitis-associated anterior teeth migration received non-surgical periodontal therapy and a specific orthodontic treatment involving controlled low-intensity intermittent orthodontic forces. Samples were collected before periodontitis treatment, after periodontitis treatment, and at 1 week to 24 months of the orthodontic treatment. During the 2 years of orthodontic treatment, no significant differences were detected in the probing depth, clinical attachment level, supragingival bacterial plaque, and bleeding on probing. In line with this, the gingival crevicular levels of RANKL, OPG, IL-6, IL-17A, and MMP-8 did not vary between the different evaluation time-points of the orthodontic treatment. When compared with the levels detected during the periodontitis, the RANKL/OPG ratio was significantly lower at all the analyzed time-points of the orthodontic treatment. In conclusion, the patient-specific orthodontic treatment based on intermittent orthodontic forces of low intensities was well tolerated by periodontally compromised teeth with pathological migration.

Active video games in fully immersive virtual reality elicit moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and improve cognitive performance in sedentary college students.

BACKGROUND: Active video games are a new method for increasing physical activity (PA). Fully immersive virtual reality (VR) is a hardware device on which an active video game can run. Active (video games in) VR (AVR), might increase immersion, game engagement, and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), thereby yielding greater exercise-related benefits, e.g., cognitive performance. METHODS: We examined the induction of MVPA via an AVR and a sedentary VR (SVR) as well as the effects of VR play on cognitive performance, which was monitored using 2 different methods. Each of 29 sedentary college students attended three 20-min laboratory sessions (AVR, SVR, or control) in a randomized order; during the control session, they sat quietly doing nothing. A fully immersive headset was used for the 2 video game sessions. We monitored and computed participants' PA using hip-worn accelerometers (wGT3x-bt; ActiGraph, Pensacola, FL, USA) and a heart rate band (Polar H7; Polar, Kempele, Finland). After each session, the participants completed a mnemonic similarity test (MST) to measure recognition memory. They also filled out a motion sickness questionnaire and an abbreviated game experience questionnaire. RESULTS: The AVR session induced a significantly greater heart rate and more time spent in MVPA than did either of the other 2 sessions regardless of the PA monitoring method. AVR elicited greater game experience questionnaire-assessed sensory and imaginative immersion, challenge, and positive affect than did SVR. The mnemonic similarity test recognition score was marginally higher post-AVR session than it was post-SVR session. CONCLUSION: AVR elicited MVPA without a significant increase in motion sickness and induced a better game experience and better borderline cognitive performance than did SVR.

The impact of narratives and active video games on long-term moderate-to-vigorous physical activity: A randomized controlled trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: Although physical activity (PA) has been shown in helping prevent and treat obesity, current PA interventions are still not effective in ameliorating the obesity epidemic. Additional forms of PA need to be investigated to improve PA engagement and outcomes. We hypothesize that pairing a narrative (i.e., story) with an active video game (AVG), a less traditional form of PA, will increase participant engagement in PA. This paper presents the rationale, implementation, and pilot results of a study assessing the effect of narrative's impact on PA and a series of other health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This paper presents the rationale, implementation, and pilot results of a study assessing the effect of narrative's impact on PA and a series of other health outcomes. METHODS/DESIGN: The Active Video Game Study is a six-month randomized controlled single-blind trial projected to include 210 participants. The intervention strategy will pair a narrative to an active video game (AVG). Participants will be randomized into 3 groups: condition A [Narrative + AVG], condition B [AVG Only], and condition C [Control]. Participants will undergo three in-person data collection visits over the course of six months. Inclusion criteria are that children are between the ages of 8-12 and have a BMI ≥ 85%. The primary outcome is change in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Secondary outcome measures include change in BMI percentile, fasting insulin and glucose, lipid panel, C-reactive protein, and cognitive function. A pilot trial of n = 6 was conducted to help develop procedures and address problems that could arise in the main trial. DISCUSSION: Successful completion of this study will provide the empirical basis for novel intervention and design strategies to enhance the impact of AVGs on long-term MVPA.

Confocal laser microscopy analysis of resin infiltration in fluorotic teeth / Análisis al microscopio láser confocal de la infiltración con resina en dientes con fluorosis

OBJECTIVE: Resin infiltration is an innovative microinvasive measure, whereby hard tissues are preserved, that has been used to treat medium stages of caries. The aim of this study is to evaluate with Confocal laser scanning microscopy the indirect staining technique of resin infiltration in teeth with different degrees of fluorosis. METHODS: Twenty-four fluorosed human molars and premolars were infiltrated and light cured. Specimens were prepared and lesions, as well as penetration depth were analyzed using dual fluorescence method in confocal laser microscopy. RESULTS: Percentage penetration, was significantly higher in teeth with mild and very mild fluorotic lesions, unlike moderate and control group which was significantly lower (p < 0.05, Bonferroni test). However, there are no statistically significant differences between control and moderate groups neither between very mild and mild groups (p > 0.05, Bonferroni test). CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that resin penetration in mild and very mild fluorotic lesions is higher than in moderate lesions

OBJETIVO: La infiltración con resina es una innovadora técnica microinvasiva, donde los tejidos duros son preservados, que ha sido usada para tratar estadios medios de caries. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar con microscopio laser confocal la técnica indirecta de tinción en dientes con diferentes grados de fluorosis. MÉTODOS: Veinticuatro molares y premolares humanos con fluorosis fueron infiltrados y fotocurados. Los especímenes fueron preparados y las lesiones (FDmax), así como la profundidad de penetración fueron analizadas usando el método de fluorescencia dual en el microscopio láser confocal. RESULTADOS: El porcentaje de penetración fue significativamente mayor en dientes con fluorosis leve y muy leve, a diferencia de los especímenes con fluorosis moderada y grupo control en los que el porcentaje de penetración fue significativamente menor (p < 0,05, test de Bonferroni). Sin embargo, no hubo diferencias significativas entre el grupo mode-rado y control, ni entre los grupos leve y muy leve (p > 0,05, test de Bonferroni). CONCLUSIÓN: Se puede concluir que la penetración de la resina en dientes con fluorosis leve y muy leve es mayor que en los dientes con lesiones moderadas