Antibacterial suture vs silk for the surgical removal of impacted lower third molars. A randomized clinical study

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and microbiological impact of an antibacterial suture (Monocryl(R) Plus) in the surgical removal of I3M. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A "split-mouth", prospective pilot clinical study was designed involving 20 patients programmed for the surgical removal of I3M. Each side was randomly sutured with Monocryl(R) Plus or silk suture and removed for microbiological study 72 hours and 7 days after surgery. Presence of SSI, wound bleeding and the degree of discomfort associated with each type of suture material (scored by means of a visual analog scale) were evaluated. The level of contamination of each material was observed under the scanning electron microscope. RESULTS: Wound bleeding upon suture removing was slightly greater after 72 hours and 7 days with black silk suture, though the differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.752 and p = 0.113, respectively). Patient discomfort was very similar with both types of suture material (p = 0.861). Only one case of SSI was recorded with black silk suture after 72 hours. Microbiologically, the antibacterial suture showed a lesser presence of microorganisms (p < 0.001, at 72h and p = 0.033 at 7th day, respectively). The most common bacterial species included grampositive cocci (Streptococcus viridans group, Neisseria spp., Coagulasenegative Staphylococcus and Peptostreptococcus), gramnegative cocci (Veillonella), grampositive Bacilli (Lactobacillus), and gramnegative Bacilli (Prevotella). CONCLUSIONS: The greatest antibacterial effect of Monocryl Plus suture was observed after 72 hours. According to most authors, there is no doubt that this antibacterial suture can provide little safety in the control of SSI

Robotic Rehabilitator of the Rodent Upper Extremity: A System and Method for Assessing and Training Forelimb Force Production after Neurological Injury.

Rodent models of spinal cord injury are critical for the development of treatments for upper limb motor impairment in humans, but there are few methods for measuring forelimb strength of rodents, an important outcome measure. We developed a novel robotic device--the Robotic Rehabilitator of the Rodent Upper Extremity (RUE)--that requires rats to voluntarily reach for and pull a bar to retrieve a food reward; the resistance of the bar can be programmed. We used RUE to train forelimb strength of 16 rats three times per week for 23 weeks before and 38 weeks after a mild (100 kdyne) unilateral contusion at the cervical level 5 (C5). We measured maximum force produced when RUE movement was unexpectedly blocked. We compared this blocked pulling force (BPF) to weekly measures of forelimb strength obtained with a previous, well-established method: the grip strength meter (GSM). Before injury, BPF was 2.6 times higher (BPF, 444.6 ± 19.1 g; GSM, 168.4 ± 3.1 g) and 4.9 times more variable (p < 0.001) than pulling force measured with the GSM; the two measurement methods were uncorrelated (R(2) = 0.03; p = 0.84). After injury, there was a significant decrease in BPF of 134.35 g ± 14.71 g (p < 0.001). Together, our findings document BPF as a repeatable measure of forelimb force production, sensitive to a mild spinal cord injury, which comes closer to measuring maximum force than the GSM and thus may provide a useful measure for quantifying the effects of treatment in rodent models of SCI.

Antibacterial suture vs silk for the surgical removal of impacted lower third molars. A randomized clinical study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and microbiological impact of an antibacterial suture (Monocryl® Plus) in the surgical removal of I3M. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A "split-mouth", prospective pilot clinical study was designed involving 20 patients programmed for the surgical removal of I3M. Each side was randomly sutured with Monocryl® Plus or silk suture and removed for microbiological study 72 hours and 7 days after surgery. Presence of SSI, wound bleeding and the degree of discomfort associated with each type of suture material (scored by means of a visual analog scale) were evaluated. The level of contamination of each material was observed under the scanning electron microscope. RESULTS: Wound bleeding upon suture removing was slightly greater after 72 hours and 7 days with black silk suture, though the differences were not statistically significant (p=0.752 and p=0.113, respectively). Patient discomfort was very similar with both types of suture material (p=0.861). Only one case of SSI was recorded with black silk suture after 72 hours. Microbiologically, the antibacterial suture showed a lesser presence of microorganisms (p<0.001, at 72h and p=0.033 at 7th day, respectively). The most common bacterial species included grampositive cocci (Streptococcus viridans group, Neisseria spp., Coagulasenegative Staphylococcus and Peptostreptococcus), gramnegative cocci (Veillonella), grampositive Bacilli (Lactobacillus), and gramnegative Bacilli (Prevotella). CONCLUSIONS: The greatest antibacterial effect of Monocryl Plus suture was observed after 72 hours. According to most authors, there is no doubt that this antibacterial suture can provide little safety in the control of SSI.

Effort, performance, and motivation: insights from robot-assisted training of human golf putting and rat grip strength.

Robotic devices can modulate success rates and required effort levels during motor training, but it is unclear how this affects performance gains and motivation. Here we present results from training unimpaired humans in a virtual golf-putting task, and training spinal cord injured (SCI) rats in a grip strength task using robotically modulated success rates and effort levels. Robotic assistance in golf practice increased trainees feelings of competence, and, paradoxically, increased their sense effort, even though it had mixed effects on learning. Reducing effort during a grip strength training task led rats with SCI to practice the task more frequently. However, the more frequent practice of these rats did not cause them to exceed the strength gains achieved by rats that exercised less often at higher required effort levels. These results show that increasing success and decreasing effort with robots increases motivation, but has mixed effects on performance gains.

Inverted ductal papilloma of the oral cavity secondary to lower lip trauma. A case report and literature review.

Inverted ductal papilloma of the oral cavity is an infrequent benign neoplasm of papillary appearance that originates in the secretory duct of a salivary gland. The etiology is unknown, though some authors have related it to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. We present the case of a 40-year-old woman with a tumor of the lower lip mucosa. Histopathological study of the lesion diagnosed inverted ductal papilloma of the oral cavity. Human papillomavirus DNA detection and typing based on tumor lesion DNA amplification and posterior hybridization, revealed no presence of viral DNA. The antecedents of trauma reported by the patient could have played an important role in the development of this tumor. Key words:Inverted ductal papilloma, intraductal papilloma, oral papilloma, papillary epidermoid adenoma.

Squamous odontogenic tumor-like proliferation in a radicular cyst: A case report.

The squamous odontogenic tumour is a rare benign neoplasm whose aetiology remains unknown. It usually appears in the jaw and its origin could be related to the ephitelial remnants of Malassez. Histologically comprises numerous islets of squamous, non-keratinized, well-differentiated and rounded epithelial cells a fibrous stroma without signs of atypical cells. There is a non-neoplastic lesion with the same histological pattern than the squamous odontogenic tumour. This entity is characterized by squamous odontogenic tumour proliferations isolated into the cyst wall of an odontogenic cyst. It is rare and has a benign behavior. It has been suggested that these epithelial proliferations could be the former expression of the neoplastic form. It is very important to carry out clinical and radiological controls periodically. So far it has not been documented any change towards a squamous odontogenic tumour nor toward malignancy in a squamous odontogenic tumour like proliferation. Key words:Radicular cyst, squamous odontogenic tumour.

A comparative study between two different suture materials in oral implantology.

OBJECTIVE: The prospective study compares, in split-mouth design, the use of two different suture materials, silk vs. Teflon-coated, multi-filament braided polyester threads suture. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten edentulous or partially edentulous patients were surgically treated for implant installation. Each side was sutured with either, randomly selected one or the other suture material. Seven days postsurgically, the sutures were removed and three knots per patient and side were collected for microbiological testing. Additionally, a piece of each suture thread was analysed before clinical use to test its susceptibility for bacterial adherence. To evaluate the patient's subjective opinion, a questionnaire based on Visual Analogue Scale had to be filled out by all included patients 1 week after the intervention. RESULTS: The results showed a more pronounced plaque accumulation for silk sutures but there was not a statistical difference. The intraoperative handling of the silk sutures was less comfortable and the patient comfort was worse than Teflon-coated polyester suture. CONCLUSION: The bacterial adherence on Teflon-coated polyester suture was slightly inferior than silk suture although it did not show the expected differences.

Smart calibration for video game play by people with a movement impairment.

People with movement impairment often cannot move with the range, speed, or acceleration required to play an off-the-shelf video game. This paper describes a smart calibration algorithm designed to facilitate video game play by people with movement impairment. The algorithm continuously adapts the calibration of the gaming input device by comparing the maximum range of motion measured in previous time periods, then adjusting the current required range of motion based on their difference. In several experiments with simple acceleration-based video games using a Nintendo Wiimote, we show that the algorithm adapts the calibration to allow healthy users to play the game with their full available range of acceleration without need for a special calibration protocol. Importantly, the algorithm described here can be used without altering the game software by inserting a hardware or software module between the gaming input device and the game console. Thus, the algorithm can be used with off-the-shelf video games without altering their source code.

Bifid mandibular condyle: a disorder in its own right?

BACKGROUND: The authors present six cases of mandibular condyle malformation. They also conducted a literature review of bifid mandibular condyle (BMC) to analyze the various hypotheses that have been made regarding the etiopathogenesis of this entity. Type of Studies Reviewed. The authors searched the PubMed database for all instances of BMC and similar anatomical alterations, and they included non-English-language published reports. The inclusion criterion was the presence of a multilobular mandibular condyle. RESULTS: Mandibular condyle may manifest in different anatomical forms; bilobular is the most common, although triple lobular morphology also has been observed. A congenital origin has been suggested as the primary cause. In addition, trauma may alter the growth of the condylar cartilage, inducing an anatomical defect. However, the majority of participants in this study had no history of trauma. The authors reviewed a total of 198 cases in study participants and cadavers. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: In the absence of traumatic antecedents or other alterations of the temporomandibular joint, the presence of a BMC may be associated with developmental anomalies.