How Efficient Are Clear Aligners? Clear Aligners vs Traditional Orthodontic Treatment: A Systematic Review

Purpose:The purpose of the present review is to update knowledge of the literature and better understand the efficiency and abilities of clear aligners and to clarify their indications for use.Materials and Method:The study question was defined as ‘‘How efficient is orthodontic treatment with clear aligners in comparison to fixed orthodontic treatment in patients with permanent dentition?’’ An Internet-based search was performed with 6 databases: Medline, PubMed, Clinical Key, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source (EBSCO Host), and the Cochrane Library. The final search was run in January 2014. Key words used were clear aligner, eCligner, Invisalign, and AsoAligner.Results:We retrieved 110 publications from the databases. After reviewing titles and abstracts, case reports and clinical studies reporting treatment outcomes on segmental dental arches (i.e., anterior dentition) were excluded. Finally, 3 studies that addressed the study question were included in the review.Conclusion:Not enough studies were available to arrive at definite conclusions to compare clear aligner and fixed orthodontic treatment. In simpler cases, Invisalign may result in treatment outcomes as good as those of traditional orthodontic treatment. However, controlled clinical studies are necessary to define and support the abilities and limits of clear aligner therapy with evidence

Mini-implant Usage in Orthodontic Practice

Objective:The present study was designed to investigate the general anchorage protocols and especially the tendencies during mini-implant usage among Turkish orthodontists. The main aim of the survey is to reveal if mini-implants are being used more than once and in different patients.Materials and Method:This is a cross-sectional study conducted with orthodontists who are members of the Turkish Orthodontic Society. The orthodontists were asked to click on a link to complete an automated questionnaire of 27 multiple-choice questions.Results:t was found that mini-implants are used by a great majority of the participants and in various cases. General tendencies during mini-implant usage show compatibility with the literature.Conclusion:This survey displays the preferences of Turkish orthodontists regarding mini-implant usage in their clinical practice. Moreover, it is especially important for documenting the fact that mini-implants are being used more than once and also in different patients

Digital transformation in the book publishing industry : a multiple case study analysis of successful digital transformation strategies

Although businesses today may change at various speeds and in different depths as a result of digital transformation, no industry remains unaffected by it. Entailing a transformational process, this digital revolution enables industries to exploit new business potentials and provide companies with new competitive advantages over less digitized competitors. This thesis sheds light upon the digital transformation of the book publishing industry, which finds itself confronted with its traditional analogue core in a fast-paced digital business environment along with new high customer expectations and emerging digital competitors. The paper at hand identifies strategies that are substantially successful in achieving an impactful digital transformation of book publishers. A multiple case study of five digitally advanced book publishers was conducted, therefore. The analysis exposed 13 core success strategies and revealed that the most digitized players in the industry are currently positioned on an understated moderate digitization level. With regards to the digital maturity level, findings indicate that the main digital deficit lies in building a digitally savvy workforce, while the most substantial progress towards future digitalisation is aimed at creating improved customer value. Taken together, this thesis contributes to the literature on digital transformation by demonstrating that book publishers need to transform seven organizational dimensions to successfully design their digitization journey. Substantial managerial impact is achieved by identifying core success strategies that serve as guidelines for other players in the book publishing industry to successfully manage their digitisation process.Atualmente, embora as empresas possam mudar a diferentes ritmos e a diferentes níveis em função da transformação digital, nenhuma indústria permanece intacta a estas mudanças. Esta revolução digital permite que as indústrias explorem novas oportunidades de negócio e novas vantagens competitivas. Assim, esta tese tem como foco principal a transformação digital no sector editorial de livros, uma industria tradicional que se encontra confrontada com um ambiente digital acelerado, elevadas expectativas dos consumidores e concorrentes digitais emergentes. O presente estudo identifica estratégias substancialmente bem-sucedidas no que toca a conseguir uma transformação digital impactante das editoras de livros. Para tal, um estudo sobre cinco editoras de livros digitalmente avançadas foi conduzido. A análise indicou 13 principais estratégias de sucesso e revelou que, atualmente, as empresas mais digitalizadas do sector encontram-se posicionadas num nível moderado de digitalização. Relativamente ao nível de maturidade digital, os resultados indicam que o principal défice digital está na criação de uma força de trabalho com experiência digital, enquanto o progresso mais substancial para o futuro da digitalização está na criação de valor para o consumidor final. Deste modo, esta tese contribui para a literatura sobre transformação digital, uma vez que demonstra que as editoras de livros precisam de transformar sete dimensões organizacionais para definir com sucesso o progresso de digitalização. Para além disso, um impacto substancial a nível de gestão é alcançado ao identificar as principais estratégias de sucesso que servem como orientações para empresas do sector editorial de livros gerirem os processos de digitalização

Etiology Of Vaginal Discharge In Sexually Inactive Adolescents

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Factors affecting the recurrence in patients with venous thromboembolism: A retrospective cohort study

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of recurrence and the risk factors for recurrence in patients who were diagnosed with venous thromboembolism

Nitric Oxide May Mediate Nipple Erection

The nipple is a specialized structure that can become erect by cold, sexual arousal, breast-feeding, or other tactile stimulations, which can induce the milk ejection reflex and sexual arousal because of intense sensory innervation. The studies that have been conducted thus far to identify the mechanism of nipple erection (NE) are not sufficient. It has been stated that NE occurs via activation of the sympathetic nervous system and smooth muscle contraction. The purposes of this study were to investigate the existence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the nipple-areola complex (NAC) to explain the NE mechanism. Considering that smooth muscle relaxation might be effective in NE, endothelial and neuronal NOS expression and localization were investigated via immunohistochemical methods on sagittal sections from 17 human NACs. The results of this study indicate that eNOS is expressed in the vascular endothelium, ductal epithelium, and smooth muscles, whereas nNOS is expressed in the neural fibers, smooth muscles, ductal epithelium, and vascular endothelium in the NAC. Sinusoidal spaces with endothelial layers similar to those found in penile cavernosal tissue are not found in the NAC. Various mediators are known to affect the function of the NAC smooth muscles; however, this study demonstrates that enzymes (eNOS and nNOS) that synthesize nitric oxide are expressed in the NAC

Pre-Sternal Abscess Associated With Deep Neck Infection

PubMe

The Value Of Mean Platelet Volume In The Determination Of Community Acquired Pneumonia In Children

Background Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a reflection of platelet size, which has been shown to correlate with platelet function and activation. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether MPV could be used for the diagnostic tool of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and for making the decision for hospitalization. Methods The computerized records of children aged 1 to 18 years who were diagnosed with CAP based on WHO criteria were evaluated. A standard protocol was followed, and patients with severe CAP were hospitalized. CAP patients were divided into two groups based on disease severity. The control group consisted of age and gender matched healthy children during the study period. Values for hemoglobin, white blood cell count (WBC), platelet count, MPV and C-reactive protein (CRP) obtained on first presentation were recorded for each patient. Results A total of 196 patients were diagnosed with CAP during the study period, 108 (55.1%) of which had severe disease, which required hospitalization (Group 1a), while the remaining 88 (44.9%) were followed-up as outpatients (Group 1b). The control group consisted of 100 healthy children (Group 2). Patients with CAP had lower MPV values than their healthy counterparts (7.1±0.68 vs. 8.31±1.2 fL; p<0.001). MPV value was significantly higher in hospitalized CAP patients compared to outpatients (7.32±0.71 vs. 6.83±0.5 fL; p=0.012). ROC curve analysis suggested that MPV level cut-off point for making a diagnosis of CAP was 8.1 fL, with a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 91%, 51%, 80.8% and 70.5%, respectively. Conclusions Our findings suggest that MPV may be a useful predictor for diagnosed CAP but low specificity and NPV rates may lead to the false-negative diagnosis.PubMedWoSScopu