Evaluation of the significance of keratinized mucosa on peri-implant tissue health: a prospective clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The effect of keratinized mucosa on peri-implant tissue health is still inconclusive. This study aimed to evaluate the importance of keratinized mucosa and investigate the impact of the free gingival graft procedure on peri-implant health. METHODS: At prosthesis delivery, the implants were allocated into three groups, based on the width of keratinized mucosa (KM) and patients' agreement on the free gingival graft procedure: KMS (KM ≥2 mm), KMD (KM <2 mm), and FGG (KM <2 mm initially and having surgically increased keratinized mucosa). Modified plaque index (mPI), probing depth (PD), modified bleeding index (mBI), KM, and marginal bone loss (MBL) were assessed at the baseline, 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-up periods. RESULTS: Of the 47 patients, 17 belonged to the KMS group, 17 belonged to the KMD, and the remaining 13 patients belonged to the FGG. KMD demonstrated significantly fewer mPI and higher mBI than KMS and FGG at 6 and 12 months. At 24 months, MBL did not differ between the groups; however, PD was significantly greater in the KMD group. CONCLUSIONS: Implants with inadequate keratinized mucosa had higher bleeding and pocket depth values despite less plaque accumulation. According to the results, soft tissue grafting should be performed as early as possible. © 2023 Australian Dental Association.

Our endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) experience in pediatric patients in a training and research hospital.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was first applied in 1976 in children for diagnosing and treating pancreaticobiliary diseases based on experience with adult patients. Its application was limited initially but has become widespread in recent years with technical developments. This study evaluated the efficacy, indications, and complications of the ERCP's diagnostic and therapeutic use in pediatric patients. Case Series: We evaluated retrospectively the files of 16 pediatric patients aged 5-18 years who underwent ERCP between January 2015 and June 2022 in the Endoscopy Unit of Prof. Dr. Cemil Tasçioglu City Hospital. We recorded and analyzed the demographic data, admission complaints, pre-procedure diagnostic tests, ERCP findings, and early and late post-procedure complications. Five of the 16 patients (31 %) who underwent ERCP were male, 11 (69 %) were female, and their mean age was 12.7 ± 5.44. We utilized as a diagnostic tool the Fujifilm ED-580XT duodenoscope with a 13.4 mm outer diameter and a 4.4 mm diameter channel connected to a Fujinon Eluxeo 6000 light source, not specifically designed for children but in use for adult patients. While biochemistry and ultrasonography were conducted for all patients before the procedure, only ten patients (62 %) underwent magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. Indications for performing ERCP included suspected biliary pathology (8 patients, 50 %), pancreatitis attack (6 patients, 38 %), bile leakage after cholecystectomy (one patient, 6 %), and mass lesion in the ampulla (one patient, 6 %). Seven patients (44 %) underwent cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis 4-6 weeks after the ERCP (one cholecystectomy was performed in another center). In one of the patients, ERCP was performed for diagnostic-only purposes, while in fifteen patients was performed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes (partial sphincterotomy and stent placement). While none of the patients had complications in the early post-procedure period, one experienced an acute pancreatitis episode in the late post-procedure period. Conclusion: With the increase in endoscopists' experience and technological developments in different age groups, ERCP is a safe and effective method for diagnosing and treating pancreaticobiliary diseases in children. HIPPOKRATIA 2022, 26 (4):152-156.

Effects of adding yeast cell walls and Yucca schidigera extract to diets of layer chicks.

This research was conducted to determine the impact of diet supplementation with yeast cell walls and Yucca schidigera extract on the growth performance, antibody titres, and intestinal tissue histology of layer chicks. White, 1-d-old, Hy-Line hybrid chicks (n = 840) were divided into 4 main groups, each comprising 7 replicates of 30 chicks (n = 210): (1) control; (2) 1000 mg/kg yeast cell walls (YCW) added; (3) 1000 mg/kg Yucca schidigera extract (YE) added; and (4) 500 mg/kg YE + 500 mg/kg YCW added. The trial lasted 60 d. Daily weight gain of the chicks was positively affected between d 45-60 in the YE and YCW + YE groups compared with the control group. Overall, feed consumption did not differ between the control and YCW, YE, YCW + YE groups during the 60 d study period. Feed efficiency was better in the YE and YCW + YE groups than in the control group between d 1-60. During the 60 d evaluation period, live weight gain, and final live weight were higher in YE and YCW + YE groups than in the control group. Antibody titres against infectious bronchitis and infectious bursal disease did not differ among the 4 treatments, but those for Newcastle disease were higher in the YE + YCW groups than in the control, YCW and YE groups on d 45. There were differences in intestinal histomorphometry between the 4 treatments. The height of the jejunal and ileal villi was greater in the YE and YCW + YE groups than in the control and YCW groups. It can be concluded that YCW and YE supplementation for layer chicks is beneficial for growth performance and intestinal histology during the 1-60 d growing period.

Effects of Echinacea extract on the performance, antibody titres, and intestinal histology of layer chicks.

1. This research was conducted to determine the effect of diet supplementation with Echinacea extract (cichoric acid) on the growth performance, antibody titres and intestinal tissue histology of layer chicks. 2. White, 1-d-old, Hy-Line hybrid chicks (n = 540) were divided into three treatments, each consisting of 6 groups of 30 chicks (n = 180): (1) control; (2) 2·5 mg/kg cichoric-acid-fed; and (3) 5 mg/kg cichoric-acid-fed. The trial lasted 60 d. 3. While the growth performance of the chicks was depressed between d 1 and 45, it was found to improve between d 45 and 60. 4. Feed consumption was lower in both of the cichoric-acid-fed groups than in the control group between d 1-15 and 15-30, but was higher between d 30 and 45. Overall, mean feed consumption did not differ between the control and cichoric-acid-fed groups during the 60 d study period. 5. During the 60 d evaluation period, live weight gain, feed utilisation rate and final live weight were higher in the control group than in both of the cichoric-acid-fed groups. 6. Antibody titres against infectious bronchitis and infectious bursal disease did not differ between the three groups, but those for Newcastle disease were higher in the 2·5 mg/kg cichoric-acid-fed group than in the control group after 45 d. 7. Height and width of the jejunal villus and the thickness of the muscle layer were lower in the 5 mg/kg cichoric-acid-fed group than in both the control and the 2·5 mg/kg cichoric-acid-fed groups. The height of the ileal villus was also lower in the 5 mg/kg cichoric-acid-fed group than in the other two groups. 8. Echinacea extract supplementation for layer chicks appears not to benefit growth performance and intestinal histology during the growing period.

Differentiation of adrenal adenomas (lipid rich and lipid poor) from nonadenomas by use of washout characteristics on delayed enhanced CT.

BACKGROUND: We describe nonenhanced, early contrast-enhanced, and delayed contrast-enhanced computed tomographic (CT) features and contrast washout characteristics of lipid-poor and lipid-rich adrenal adenomas and nonadenomas to determine the role of these methods in distinguishing one type from the other. METHODS: Sixty-five patients with 77 adrenal masses (16 lipid-poor and 37 lipid-rich adenomas and 24 nonadenomas) were consecutively examined with dynamic helical CT. Nonenhanced CT was followed by early enhanced CT at 5, 10, 15, and 30 min delays after administration of contrast material. RESULTS: The difference between the mean nonenhanced and early contrast-enhanced values of the lipid-poor adenomas and nonadenomas was statistically significant, but the ranges of the values were overlapping. The lipid-poor adenomas had lower mean attenuation values than those of nonadenomas on delayed contrast-enhanced scans at each delay time, but these differences did not reach statistical significance. Even though the relative percentage washout of the lipid-poor adenomas was lower than that of lipid-rich adenomas, it was remarkably different from that of the nonadenomas. CONCLUSIONS: The absolute or relative percentage washout of contrast material on delayed contrast-enhanced CT is a highly specific test for the differentiation of lipid-poor and lipid-rich adrenal adenomas from adrenal nonadenomas.