Laser bio-stimulation may enhance soft and hard peri implant tissues after 1-stage ridge splitting in narrow mandibular ridges: Study

Laser bio-stimulation may enhance soft and hard peri-implant tissues after 1-stage ridge splitting in narrow mandibular ridges suggests a study published in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry.

The management of patients with narrow-mandibular ridges who seek prosthetic rehabilitation is challenging. The purpose of this one-year preliminary clinical study was to compare the effects of laser biostimulation and placebo on peri-implant tissues for a 2-implant-retained mandibular polyetheretherketone (PEEK) overdenture on expanded narrow mandibular ridges. Eighteen completely edentulous participants were enrolled for mandibular ridge splitting in the canine regions, followed by expansion, the placement of implants, and the application of a bone graft. In the test group, laser therapy was applied labially and lingually at the surgical sites, while a placebo laser was used in the control group. PEEK overdentures retained by LOCATOR attachments were provided after 6 months. Clinical evaluations were performed using probing depth, plaque, bleeding, and gingival indices at insertion and 3, 6, and 12 months after insertion. Vertical bone loss (VBL) was evaluated with a periapical radiograph at insertion and 6 and 12 months later. The Mann-Whitney test was used to test the difference between the 2 different groups at each evaluation time (α=.05). The Friedman test was used, followed by the Wilcoxon signed rank test, to test the change over time in the same group, and the Bonferroni adjusted significance level was used for multiple comparisons. Results: Some clinical and radiographic parameters significantly increased with time in both groups (P<.001). Significant differences between the 2 groups were revealed in bleeding scores at 3 months (P=.006) and 6 months (P=.018). Also, significant differences between the 2 groups were observed in gingival scores at 3 months (P=.002), 6 months (P=.015), and 12 months (P=.019) after overdenture insertion in favor of the laser group. Peri-implant VBL was significantly higher in the non-laser group at 6 months (P=.015), and 12 months (P=.001). Within the limitations of this clinical study, respecting the small sample size and the short follow-up period, laser bio-stimulation after 1-stage ridge splitting in narrow mandibular ridges enhanced the soft and hard peri implant tissues when used with LOCATOR attachments and PEEK overdentures.

Reference:

El-Waseef FA, Helmy MA, Said Ahmed WM, Hegazy SA, El-Shaheed NH. Efficacy of laser biostimulation for mandibular narrow ridges treated with one-stage ridge splitting and two-implant overdentures: A one-year preliminary study. J Prosthet Dent. 2024 Apr 25:S0022-3913(24)00239-7. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2024.03.045. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38670908.

Keywords:

Laser, bio-stimulation, enhance, soft, hard peri implant, tissues, after, 1-stage, ridge splitting, narrow mandibular ridges, study , Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, El-Waseef FA, Helmy MA, Said Ahmed WM, Hegazy SA, El-Shaheed NH

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Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement alternative option for end-stage shoulder arthritis: Study

Researchers found that for patients aged 60 years or older with osteoarthritis and intact rotator cuff tendons, reverse total shoulder replacement (RTSR) is comparable to anatomical total shoulder replacement (TSR). Both procedures showed similar outcomes in terms of revision surgery, adverse events, reoperations, prolonged hospital stay, and lifetime healthcare costs. This study was published in the BMJ journal by Valsamis E. M. and colleagues.

National research priorities led to a study comparing the risk-benefit and costs associated with RTSR and TSR in patients undergoing elective primary shoulder replacement for osteoarthritis. Utilizing data from the National Joint Registry and Hospital Episode Statistics for England from 2012 to 2020, this population-based cohort study aimed to address the need for evidence-based guidance in selecting the appropriate surgical intervention for patients with osteoarthritis.

The key findings of the study were as follows:

  • The study included 7124 RTSR or TSR procedures, with 126 revisions in the propensity score matched population and 12,968 procedures, with 294 revisions in the inverse probability of treatment weighted population.

  • RTSR showed a reduced hazard ratio of revision in the first three years and a reduced relative risk of reoperations at 12 months compared to TSR.

  • However, no statistically significant and clinically important differences were found in terms of long-term revision surgery, serious adverse events, reoperations, prolonged hospital stay, or lifetime healthcare costs between RTSR and TSR.

The study utilized propensity score matching and inverse probability of treatment weighting to balance the study groups. Despite a significant difference in the risk profiles of revision surgery over time, outcomes such as serious adverse events, reoperations, prolonged hospital stay, and lifetime healthcare costs were similar between RTSR and TSR. The findings remained consistent after weighting, indicating that RTSR is an acceptable alternative to TSR for patients aged 60 years or older with osteoarthritis and intact rotator cuff tendons.

In conclusion, this study’s results provide reassurance that RTSR is a viable option for patients undergoing elective primary shoulder replacement for osteoarthritis. Despite differences in the risk of revision surgery over time, both RTSR and TSR offer comparable long-term outcomes in terms of adverse events, reoperations, hospital stay, and healthcare costs. These findings support the consideration of RTSR as an alternative to TSR in eligible patients, providing valuable insights for clinical decision-making in the management of osteoarthritis-related shoulder conditions.

Reference:

Valsamis, E. M., Prats-Uribe, A., Koblbauer, I., Cole, S., Sayers, A., Whitehouse, M. R., Coward, G., Collins, G. S., Pinedo-Villanueva, R., Prieto-Alhambra, D., & Rees, J. L. (2024). Reverse total shoulder replacement versus anatomical total shoulder replacement for osteoarthritis: population based cohort study using data from the National Joint Registry and Hospital Episode Statistics for England. BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.), 385, e077939. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-077939

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Stress hormone during pregnancy linked to IQ in children, finds study

Higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol during the third trimester of pregnancy may impede intelligence quotient (IQ) scores in boys aged 7 years old, according to research presented at the 26th European Congress of Endocrinology in Stockholm. Surprisingly, cortisol levels in the blood are not associated with IQ scores in girls, but higher urine cortisone levels improved their scores. The findings highlight the important role cortisol plays in fetal development in boys and girls independently.

Prenatal exposure to cortisol-a steroid hormone that helps the body respond to stress-is needed for fetal development and is thought to affect cognitive function in children later in life. During pregnancy, the levels of cortisol increase and pregnant women carrying girls generally secrete more cortisol than those with boys. However, in the placenta, the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2) regulates the amount of cortisol that reaches the fetus by converting cortisol to its inactive form known as cortisone.

Researchers from the Odense University Hospital in Denmark have previously shown that children between the ages of one and three have more advanced speech and language skills when their mothers have high levels of cortisol during their third trimester. Now, in this study, the researchers analyzed data on the cortisol and cortisone levels of 943 pregnant women during the third trimester and on the IQ tests of their 943 children aged 7 years old, from the Odense Child Cohort. They found that pregnant women carrying a boy had lower cortisol levels circulating in their blood than those women carrying a girl. In addition, boys exposed to higher cortisol levels in the womb scored lower on IQ tests at age 7. Girls the same age scored better on IQ tests when their mothers had higher levels of urine cortisone.

“To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the association between urine cortisone levels during pregnancy and IQ scores in children,” said lead author, Dr Anja Fenger Dreyer. “While other studies have only looked at cortisol circulating in the blood during pregnancy and child IQ, we are the first to look at urine samples as well as blood samples and to investigate boys and girls separately.”

Dr Fenger Dreyer added: “Our results show that girls may be more protected by the activity of placental 11β-HSD2, whereas boys may be more vulnerable to prenatal exposure of maternal physiological cortisol.”

“Although our previous study showed prenatal cortisol exposure was positively associated with language development, in this study prenatal cortisol exposure -‘directly’ by serum cortisol and ‘indirectly’ by urine cortisone-is negatively associated with IQ scores,” continued Dr Fenger Dreyer.

“This may mean that the high levels of prenatal cortisol exposure might have a temporary effect on a child’s cognitive development. It should also be noted that the vocabulary in toddlers was reported by parents in our previous study, while child IQ in this study was assessed by trained psychologists.”

Reference:

Stress hormone during pregnancy linked to IQ in children, European Society of Endocrinology, Meeting: European Congress of Endocrinology.

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Novartis Gets CDSCO Panel Nod to Study Iptacopan in Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

New Delhi: The drug major Novartis has got approval from the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) functional under the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to conduct the Phase III b clinical study to evaluate the long-term safety, tolerability and efficacy of Iptacopan in aHUS (atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome).

This came after the drug maker Novartis presented phase 3b clinical study protocol no.CLNP023F12001B.version 01 dated 28 July 2023. This is a multicenter, single-arm, open-label, extension study to evaluate the long-term safety, tolerability, and efficacy of iptacopan in participants with aHUS.

aHUS (atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome) is a very rare genetic disease that causes tiny blood clots to form in blood vessels, blocking blood flow to important organs. aHUS can cause kidney failure, heart disease, and other serious health problems.

aHUS is a rare, progressive, and life-threatening form of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) caused by dysregulation of the alternative pathway (AP). Inhibiting AP is therefore an attractive therapeutic strategy to slow aHUS disease progression. Iptacopan (LNP023) is an oral, proximal complement inhibitor that specifically binds factor B and inhibits the AP.

Iptacopan is a factor B inhibitor used to treat paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Iptacopan is a small-molecule factor B inhibitor previously investigated as a potential treatment for the rare blood disease paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) by inhibiting the complement factor B.

At the recent SEC meeting for Renal on 21st May 2024, the expert panel reviewed the Phase III b clinical study protocol no. CLNP023F12001B. version 01 dated 28 July 2023 presented by the drug major Novartis.

After detailed deliberation, the committee recommended a grant of permission to conduct the trial as presented by the firm.

Also Read: AstraZeneca Pharma India Gets CDSCO Panel Nod To Import, Market Eculizumab for Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome

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Dr Reddy’s Labs Russian arm collaborate Novartis Pharma for anti-diabetes products

Hyderabad: Through a recent BSE filing, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has informed that Dr Reddy’s Laboratories LLC, Russia, a step down wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company has entered into a distribution agreement with Novartis Pharma LLC to sale and distribute the anti-diabetes products – Galvus and Galvus Met.

Galvus and Galvus Met are the leading brands among
Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (DPP4) molecules having combined sales of approx. Rs 2530 million (approx. USD
30 million) as per IQVIA Moving Annual Total (MAT) March 2024, retail market, in Russia.

DRL LLC shall distribute the products in retail
market and work with health care professionals
using the own sales force team and pharmacy
chains management.
It is a distribution deal with no license fee. There is no upfront or down-payment involved in this arrangement
Under this arrangement, Novartis Pharma LLC shall supply the products to DRL LLC at the agreed price and pay bonus to DRL LLC based on the KPIs achievements.

“DRL LLC is planning to enter into cardio and diabetes space. The Galvus and Galvus Met products will be the anchor products and will give synergy in cardio and diabetes DRL LLC portfolio. DRL LLC can potentially develop cooperation with Novartis Pharma LLC in future for cardio space,” the filing stated.

Read also: Alvotech, Dr Reddy’s collaborate for commercialization of AVT03 in US, Europe and UK

Established in 1984, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. is a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Hyderabad, India. Dr Reddys offers a portfolio of products and services including APIs, generics, branded generics, biosimilars and OTC. Its major therapeutic areas of focus are gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, diabetology, oncology, pain management and dermatology. Dr Reddys major markets include – USA, India, Russia & CIS countries, China, Brazil and Europe.

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NEET 2024 Results in 2 Weeks! 1,08,940 MBBS Seats up for Grabs

New Delhi: The results of the much anticipated National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024 exam will be released in the upcoming two weeks and as per the data shared by the Union Health Minister earlier this year, altogether 1,08,980 MBBS seats are available for candidates.

Earlier this year, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed the Lok Sabha that India had 1,08.940 MBBS and 70,645 Postgraduate medical seats. 

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the data provided by the Union Health Minister showed that since 2014, the number of medical colleges in India has increased by 82%, MBBS seats by 112% and PG seats by 127%.

Also Read: 1,08,940 MBBS, 70,645 PG Medical Seats in India, Maximum Medical Colleges in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka offers most seats

“The Government has increased number of medical colleges and subsequently increased MBBS seats. There is an increase of 82% in medical colleges from 387 before 2014 to 706 as of now. Further, there is an increase of 112% in MBBS seats from 51,348 before 2014 to 1,08,940 as of now, there is also an increase of 127% in PG seats from 31,185 before 2014 to 70,645 as of now,” the Minister had informed in a written statement.

The NEET UG examination is a centralized common entrance test held in India for admissions to various medical courses like MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, and BHMS. It is an offline, pen-and-paper-based examination conducted annually by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The exam, which is the single-largest national-level exam in India was held this year on May 05, 2024.

This year, NTA received around 24 lakh registrations for NEET UG 2024 for admission to Medical/Dental and Allied Health courses. As per NTA’s official report, around 23.3 lakh candidates out of the record 24 lakh registered candidates appeared for the exam. With this, NEET-UG witnessed the highest-ever number of candidates appearing for any competitive exam in India this year and it “probably” became the world’s largest single-sitting competitive exam.

Also Read: NTA Reports Over 96 percent Attendance of NEET 2024 applicants, Female Candidates More Than Males

As per the earlier announcement by NTA, the authority in charge of conducting the NEET-UG exam, this year’s exam results are scheduled to be declared on June 14, 2024.

Meanwhile, this year, an alleged paper leak scam raised questions of integrity in the NEET UG 2024 examination after around 13 people, including four examinees and their family members, were arrested in Bihar for their alleged involvement in the matter. Patna police sources had previously claimed that the NEET-UG question papers along with their answers were provided to around 20 aspirants a day before the date of the exam i.e. May 5, 2024.

Then, the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police, which took over the investigation, revealed that the brokers involved in the NEET paper leak scam took between Rs 30 lakh to Rs 50 lakh from each of the medical aspirants in exchange of giving them the question paper of the NEET UG 2024 question paper ahead of the examination.

Recently, a PIL was filed before the Patna High Court demanding cancellation of the exam and seeking an investigation of the paper leak scam by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Supreme Court is also considering a similar plea concerning NEET paper leak scam. However, the Apex Court bench refused to grant a stay on the exam results.

Also Read: NEET 2024 Paper Leak matter reaches Supreme Court, Plea seeking Stay on Results declaration Junked

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New study launches following the discovery of a second case of avian influenza spreading from cows to humans

Vaccination remains the most effective strategy for avian influenza prevention and control in humans, despite varying vaccine efficacy across strains.

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Neuroscientists use AI to simulate how the brain makes sense of the visual world

A research team at Stanford’s Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute has made a major stride in using AI to replicate how the brain organizes sensory information to make sense of the world, opening up new frontiers for virtual neuroscience.

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Researchers examine black men’s perceptions of labeling after a violent firearm injury

The way Black men see themselves after a firearm injury—whether as a survivor or victim—could change over time and have implications on their mental health, according to a Rutgers Health study.

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Bronchiolitis: Two French studies demonstrate the effectiveness of nirsevimab to protect infants

After a 2022–2023 season marked by a severe epidemic of bronchiolitis due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), in particular in terms of emergency department visits and hospital admissions, on September 15, 2023 the French Government launched a preventive immunization campaign, administering nirsevimab (Beyfortus), to protect infants and reduce the circulation of the virus.

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