Effect associated with cuff difficulties of computerized sphygmomanometers upon heartbeat oximetry measurements

The aim and objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the cutting efficacy of two different nickel titanium rotary instruments by a novel methodology the operative torque (torque and time needed to progress toward the apex).
Ten fresh extracted upper first premolars with two canals were instrumented with a KaVo (Biberach, Germany) and a KaVo 11 handpiece at 300 rpm with maximum torque set at 2 N. One canal was instrumented with ProGlider NiTi rotary instruments (Dentsply Sirona Endodontics, Ballaigues, Switzerland), with tip size of 16.02, and the other one with EgdeGlidePath rotary instrument (EdgeEndo, Albuquerque, New Mexico). Mean instrumentation time, mean torque values, and maximum torque values were evaluated for each instrument. The significance level was set at
<0.05.
EdgeGlidePath instruments reached the working length in significantly less time with a significantly smaller amount of torque when compared to ProGlider (
>0.05). No instruments exhibited flute deformation or underwent intracanal failure.
Operative torque is related to the capability to cut dentin and progress toward the apex the smaller the torque values, the higher the cutting ability (and safety). Operative torque is also dependent on debris removal and irrigation techniques. Nevertheless, both operative torque and instrumentation time are clinically relevant parameters for evaluating instruments' performance (i.e., cutting ability).
Operative torque during endodontic instrumentation helps understanding the overall performance in terms of both cutting efficiency and safety.
Operative torque during endodontic instrumentation helps understanding the overall performance in terms of both cutting efficiency and safety.
This study assesses changes in the sella turcica area (STA) and location of the cephalometric point sella (S) on lateral cephalograms acquired by charge-coupled device (CCD)-based cephalostats with and without simulated patient head movements.
A real skull was placed on a robot, able to simulate four head movements (anteroposterior translation/lifting/nodding/lateral rotation) at three distances (0.75/1.5/3 mm) and two patterns (returning to 0.5 mm away from the start position/staying at maximum movement excursion). click here Two ProMax-2D cephalostats (Dimax-3, D-3 or Dimax-4, D-4), and an Orthophos-SL cephalostat (ORT) acquired cephalograms during the predetermined movements ("cases," 48 images/unit) and without movement ("controls," 24 images/unit). Three observers manually traced the contour of sella turcica and marked point sella using a computer mouse. STA was calculated in pixels
by dedicated software based on the tracing. S was defined by its
and
coordinates recorded by the same software in pixels. Ten percent of the images were assessed twice. The difference between cases and controls (case
control) for the STA and S (namely Diff-STA and Diff-S) was calculated and assessed through descriptive statistics.
Inter- and intraobserver agreement ranged from moderate to good for STA and S. Diff-STA ranged from -42.5 to 12.9% (D-3), -15.3 to 9.6% (D-4), and -25.3 to 39.9% (ORT). Diff-S was represented up to 50% (D-3), 134% (D-4), and 103% (ORT) of the mean sella turcica diameter in control images.
Simulated head movements caused significant distortion in lateral cephalograms acquired by CCD-based cephalostats, as seen from STA and S alterations, depending on the cephalostat.
Patient-related errors, including patient motion artifacts, are influential factors for the reliability of cephalometric tracing.
Patient-related errors, including patient motion artifacts, are influential factors for the reliability of cephalometric tracing.Variolation is an important phenomenon in the field of immunology and has a rich historical background that has changed the perception of immunity reinforcement in human beings.1 This methodology was first used to immunize humans against smallpox infection by inoculating the infective material taken from infected patients.2 The intention was to induce a mild form of infection that would germane antibody response for tackling the future smallpox infection. To be more precise the procedure involves the application of powered smallpox scabs or fluid obtained from the pustules of the infected patients. This application is on the superficial scratches made on the skin surface of normal healthy individuals.3 Thus, the variolation is the process in which the virus is inoculated in the patient to produce an antibody response. This process produces signs and symptoms similar to the intended viral infection but usually of the milder form, possibly due to mild quantum exposure of virus particles. In the case of smallpox, this methodology was first used in China, India, and the Middle East before it was introduced into England and North America in the 1720s.4 Due to advancements done in the field of vaccination, this crude method is no longer used today. However, this process was a milestone in science that has led to the development of many vaccines available nowadays.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disease characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and bowel dysfunction. However, the majority of previous neuroimaging studies focus on brain structure and connections but seldom on the inter-hemispheric connectivity or structural asymmetry. This study uses multi-modal imaging to investigate the abnormal changes across the 2 cerebral hemispheres in patients with IBS.
Structural MRI, resting-state functional MRI, and diffusion tensor imaging were acquired from 34 patients with IBS and 33 healthy controls. The voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity, fractional anisotropy, fiber length, fiber number, and asymmetry index were calculated and assessed for group differences. In addition, we assessed their relevance for the severity of IBS.
Compared with healthy controls, the inter-hemispheric functional connectivity of patients with IBS showed higher levels in bilateral superior occipital gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, precuneus, posterior cingulate gyrus, and angular gyrus, but lower in supplementary motor area. The statistical results showed no significant difference in inter-hemispheric anatomical connections and structural asymmetry, however negative correlations between inter-hemispheric connectivity and the severity of IBS were found in some regions with significant difference.
s The functional connections between cerebral hemispheres were more susceptible to IBS than anatomical connections, and brain structure is relatively stable. Besides, the brain areas affected by IBS were concentrated in default mode network and sensorimotor network.
s The functional connections between cerebral hemispheres were more susceptible to IBS than anatomical connections, and brain structure is relatively stable. Besides, the brain areas affected by IBS were concentrated in default mode network and sensorimotor network.
Defecation disorders (DD) are part of the spectrum of chronic constipation with outlet obstruction. Although anorectal physiologic tests are required for the diagnosis of DD, these tests are not available in many institutions. This study aims to investigate the predictivity of DD using rectosigmoid localization of radiopaque markers in a colonic transit study.
A total of 169 patients with refractory constipation with a mean age of 67 years were studied. All patients underwent anorectal manometry, a balloon expulsion test, and a colonic transit study. Barium defecography was performed if needed. The relationship between DD diagnosed by these anorectal tests and the rectosigmoid accumulation of markers was examined.
Seventy-nine (46.7%) patients were identified to have DD based on anorectal test combinations. Rectosigmoid accumulation of markers was observed in 39 (23.1%) patients. The sensitivity and positive predictive value of rectosigmoid accumulation for identifying DD were 31.6% and 64.1%, respectively. Rectosigmoid accumulation provided poor discrimination of DD from normal transit constipation, at a specificity of 82.1% but with a sensitivity of only 10.6%. In discriminating DD from slow transit constipation, rectosigmoid accumulation was found to be useful with a positive likelihood ratio of 5.3.
s Rectosigmoid accumulation of markers can differentiate DD from slow transit constipation. However, non-rectosigmoid accumulation does not exclude the presence of DD.
s Rectosigmoid accumulation of markers can differentiate DD from slow transit constipation. However, non-rectosigmoid accumulation does not exclude the presence of DD.
Gastroparesis is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that frequently presents with symptoms that are difficult to manage, necessitating frequent hospitalizations. link2 We sought to determine the predictors of early readmission due to gastroparesis based on etiology.
We identified all adults discharged with a principal diagnosis of gastroparesis after hospitalization from the 2014 Nationwide Readmission Database. We compared etiology wise (diabetes, post-surgical, and idiopathic) early readmission. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify significant predictors of 30-day readmission.
A total of 12 689 patients were identified, 30.7% diabetic, 2.6% post-surgical, and 66.7% were idiopathic. Patients with diabetic gastroparesis were more likely to be readmitted within 30 days than idiopathic (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69-0.94) and post-surgical gastroparesis (aOR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.34-0.98). Pyloroplasty was associated with less likelihood of 30-day readmisrly hospital readmission. Prospective studies are needed for validation of these results.
The pathoetiology of functional dyspepsia remains unclear; one mechanism could be chemical gastropathy from chronic bile reflux. We aim to examine the association of bile reflux gastropathy with functional dyspepsia and identify predisposing factors.
In a retrospective study, patients with functional dyspepsia (Rome III) who completed symptom assessment, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and biopsies were categorized into 3 groups; bile gastropathy (BG), non-bile gastropathy (NBG), and no gastropathy (NG). Demographics, symptoms, endoscopy, and motility data were compared between groups. link3 Multivariate analysis identified clinical factors associated with BG.
Of 262 patients (77.5% female), 90 had BG, 121 had NBG, and 51 had NG. Baseline demographics were similar, however, patients with BG reported significantly more severe abdominal pain than NBG or NG groups (
= 0.018). Gastric erythema was significantly more common in BG vs NBG groups (
< 0.001). Cholecystectomy was significantly associated (OR, 6.6;
= 0.003) with the presence of gastropathy in BG compared to NBG or NG group. Patients with cholecystectomy had significantly more severe abdominal pain (
< 0.05), gastric erythema (
< 0.03), and gastritis (
< 0.05), and were more likely to be prescribed narcotic medications (
< 0.004) than patients without cholecystectomy.
s Bile reflux gastropathy is associated with functional dyspepsia and causes more severe symptoms. Cholecystectomy predisposes to BG and abnormal pain, and could contribute to the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia.
s Bile reflux gastropathy is associated with functional dyspepsia and causes more severe symptoms. Cholecystectomy predisposes to BG and abnormal pain, and could contribute to the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia.