The role of deep learning for periapical lesion detection on panoramic radiographs.

OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to detect automatically periapical lesion on panoramic radiographs (PRs) using deep learning. METHODS: 454 objects in 357 PRs were anonymized and manually labeled. They are then pre-processed to improve image quality and enhancement purposes. The data were randomly assigned into the training, validation, and test folders with ratios of 0.8, 0.1, and 0.1, respectively. The state-of-art 10 different deep learning-based detection frameworks including various backbones were applied to periapical lesion detection problem. Model performances were evaluated by mean average precision, accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, precision-recall curves, area under curve and several other Common Objects in Context detection evaluation metrics. RESULTS: Deep learning-based detection frameworks were generally successful in detecting periapical lesions on PRs. Detection performance, mean average precision, varied between 0.832 and 0.953 while accuracy was between 0.673 and 0.812 for all models. F1 score was between 0.8 and 0.895. RetinaNet performed the best detection performance, similarly Adaptive Training Sample Selection provided F1 score of 0.895 as highest value. Testing with external data supported our findings. CONCLUSION: This work showed that deep learning models can reliably detect periapical lesions on PRs. Artificial intelligence-based on deep learning tools are revolutionizing dental healthcare and can help both clinicians and dental healthcare system.

The effect of heart failure on gut microbial richness and diversity.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: With recent advances in genome sequencing technology, a large body of evidence has accumulated over the last few years linking alterations in microbiota with cardiovascular disease. In this study, we aimed to compare gut microbial composition using 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing techniques in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and stable heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction and patients with CAD but with normal ejection fraction. We also studied the relationship between systemic inflammatory markers and microbial richness and diversity. METHODS: A total of 40 patients (19 with HF and CAD, 21 with CAD but without HF) were included in the study. HF was defined as left ventricular ejection fraction <40%. Only stable ambulatory patients were included in the study. Gut microbiota were assessed from the participants' fecal samples. The diversity and richness of microbial populations in each sample were assessed by the Chao1-estimated OTU number and the Shannon index. RESULTS: The Chao1-estimated OTU number and Shannon index were similar between HF and control groups. There was no statistically significant relationship between inflammatory marker levels (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin 1-beta, endotoxin, C-reactive protein, galectin-3, interleukin 6, and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein) and microbial richness and diversity when analyzed at the phylum level. CONCLUSION: In the current study, compared to patients with CAD but without HF, stable HF patients with CAD did not show changes in gut microbial richness and diversity. At the genus level Enterococcus sp. was more commonly identified in HF patients, in addition to certain changes in species levels, including increased Lactobacillus letivazi.

Characterization of Pediococcus acidilactici PFC69 and Lactococcus lactis PFC77 Bacteriocins and Their Antimicrobial Activities in Tarhana Fermentation.

Tarhana is a traditional cereal product fermented by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast strains that has gained special interest recently as an infant nutrition. Tarhana contains wheat flour, yogurt, and various vegetables that might create a microbiological toxicological risk, especially for Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. In this study, characterization of the metabolites responsible for antibacterial activity of Pediococcus acidilactici PFC69 and Lactococcus lactis PFC77 strains obtained from tarhana was performed, and antibacterial effects were detected against B. cereus ATCC 11778 and S. aureus ATCC 29213 during the fermentation. A total of 12,800 AU/mL antibacterial activity was observed for the supernatants of the PFC69 and PFC77 strains that were found to be stable at high temperature and in low pH conditions and sensitive to proteases, suggesting the antimicrobial metabolite is a bacteriocin. These bacteriocins were further purified and their molecular sizes were determined as 4.5 and 3.5 kDa, respectively. Importantly, inoculation of PFC69 and PFC77 to tarhana dough significantly decreased B. cereus ATCC 11778 and S. aureus ATCC 29213 amounts from the fifth day of fermentation compared to the control dough samples. P. acidilactici PFC69 and L. lactis PFC77 strains were concluded as bioprotective cultures for tarhana and these strains were offered for other cereal-based fermentations.

Probiotic characteristics of Lactobacillus fermentum strains isolated from tulum cheese.

The aim of this study was to characterize the probiotic characteristics of Lactobacillus fermentum strains isolated from Tulum cheese. Seven L. fermentum strains were selected among the isolated and identified lactobacillus strains due to their abundance. When the gastric condition was considered, L. fermentum LP3 and LP4 were able to tolerate pH 2.5 and 1% bile salt. All L. fermentum strains had similar enzymatic activity and antibiotic resistance pattern but the highest antagonistic effect was detected within LP3, LP4 and LP6. Cholesterol assimilation amount of L. fermentum strains ranged between 12.1 and 45.3% in MRS and 20.7-71.1% in MRS with bile. The highest cholesterol assimilation in MRS and MRS with bile was occurred by LP3 and LP4, respectively. L. fermentum LP2 adhered to caco-2 cells more than Lactobacillus rhamnosus LGG where LP3, LP4 and LP5 adhered at similar level. In conclusion, L. fermentum LP3 and LP4 fulfilled sufficient criteria to be probiotics for use as a starter culture in the production of tulum cheese or other dairy products. Also this study indicated that some food-associated Lactobacillus strains non-predominant for gut biota have significant probiotic potential.

Synthesis, characterization, electrospinning and antibacterial studies on triphenylphosphine-dithiphosphonates Copper(I) and Silver(I) complexes.

BACKGROUND: The novel amido and O-ferrocenyldithiophosphonates [FcP(S)(SH)(NHR1)] (Fc = Fe(η5-C5H5)(η5-C5H4), R1 = 1-(4-fluorophenylethyl and benzyloxycyclopentyl) and [FcP(S)(OR2)S-][H3N+C(CH3)3] (R2 = myrtanyl) were synthesized by the reaction of [(FcPS2)]2 (Fc = Fe(η5-C5H5)(η5-C5H4)) and chiral amines, such as (S)-(-)-1-(4-fluorophenylethyl) amine and (1S,2S)-(+)-benzyloxycyclopentyl amine, and of (1S), (2S), (5S)-myrtanol in toluene. The reaction of ferrocenyldithiophosphonates and [Cu(PPh3)2]NO3 or AgNO3 and PPh3 gave rise to copper(I) and silver(I) complexes in THF. [Ag2{FcP(OMe)S2}2(PPh3)2] and [Cu(PPh3)2]NO3 were embedded into nanofibers and their antimicrobial activities on fibers were also investigated. RESULTS: The compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR, NMR (1H-, 31P-) spectroscopy as well as MS measurements. Nanofibers were obtained by electrospinning method which is the simplest and most effective method to produce nanoscale fibers under strong electrical field. Antimicrobial activity of the compound 5, [Ag2{FcP(OMe)S2}2(PPh3)2], and [Cu(PPh3)2]NO3 on fibers were studied. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the new dithiophosphonate ligands were synthesized and utilized in the preparation of copper(I) and silver(I) complexes with ferrocenyldithiophosphonate and triphenylphosphine. Then, the compounds [Ag2{FcP(OMe)S2}2(PPh3)2] and [Cu(PPh3)2]NO3 were added into the PAN solutions (Co-PAN dissolved in dimethylacetamide) and the solutions were electrospun onto microscope slides and PP meltblown surfaces. Antimicrobial activity of the compounds [Ag2{FcP(OMe)S2}2(PPh3)2] and [Cu(PPh3)2]NO3 on fibers were determined in vitro against two indicator strains; M. luteus NCIB and E. coli ATCC25922. The obtained results indicated that these metals showed moderate level antimicrobial activities.