Comparison of conventional imaging techniques and CBCT for periodontal evaluation : a systematic review

Purpose: This study aimed to carry out a systematic review of studies in the literature comparing conventional imaging techniques with cone-beam computed tomography in terms of the role of these techniques for assessing any of the following periodontal conditions and parameters: infrabony defects, furcation involvement, height of the alveolar bone crest, and the periodontal ligament space.Materials and methods: Interventional and observational studies comparing conventional imaging techniques with cone-beam computed tomography were considered eligible for inclusion. The MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched for articles published through 2017. The PRISMA statement was followed during data assessment and extraction.Results: The search strategy yielded 351 publications. An initial screening of the publications was performed using abstracts and key words, and after the application of exclusion criteria, 13 studies were finally identified as eligible for review.Conclusion: These studies revealed cone-beam computed tomography to be the best imaging technique to assess infrabony defects, furcation lesions, the height of the alveolar bone crest, and the periodontal ligament space.peer-reviewe

Methylthioadenosine (MTA) inhibits melanoma cell proliferation and in vivo tumor growth

BACKGROUND: Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer without effective treatment. Methylthioadenosine (MTA) is a naturally occurring nucleoside with differential effects on normal and transformed cells. MTA has been widely demonstrated to promote anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic responses in different cell types. In this study we have assessed the therapeutic potential of MTA in melanoma treatment. METHODS: To investigate the therapeutic potential of MTA we performed in vitro proliferation and viability assays using six different mouse and human melanoma cell lines wild type for RAS and BRAF or harboring different mutations in RAS pathway. We also have tested its therapeutic capabilities in vivo in a xenograft mouse melanoma model and using variety of molecular techniques and tissue culture we investigated its anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic properties. RESULTS: In vitro experiments showed that MTA treatment inhibited melanoma cell proliferation and viability in a dose dependent manner, where BRAF mutant melanoma cell lines appear to be more sensitive. Importantly, MTA was effective inhibiting in vivo tumor growth. The molecular analysis of tumor samples and in vitro experiments indicated that MTA induces cytostatic rather than pro-apoptotic effects inhibiting the phosphorylation of Akt and S6 ribosomal protein and inducing the down-regulation of cyclin D1. CONCLUSIONS: MTA inhibits melanoma cell proliferation and in vivo tumor growth particularly in BRAF mutant melanoma cells. These data reveal a naturally occurring drug potentially useful for melanoma treatment

Phosphoproteomic analysis of neoadjuvant breast cancer suggests that increased sensitivity to paclitaxel is driven by CDK4 and filamin A

Precision oncology research is challenging outside the contexts of oncogenic addiction and/or targeted therapies. We previously showed that phosphoproteomics is a powerful approach to reveal patient subsets of interest characterized by the activity of a few kinases where the underlying genomics is complex. Here, we conduct a phosphoproteomic screening of samples from HER2-negative female breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant paclitaxel (N = 130), aiming to find candidate biomarkers of paclitaxel sensitivity. Filtering 11 candidate biomarkers through 2 independent patient sets (N= 218) allowed the identification of a subgroup of patients characterized by high levels of CDK4 and filamin-A who had a 90% chance of achieving a pCR in response to paclitaxel. Mechanistically, CDK4 regulates filamin-A transcription, which in turn forms a complex with tubulin and CLIP-170, which elicits increased binding of paclitaxel to microtubules, microtubule acetylation and stabilization, and mitotic catastrophe. Thus, phosphoproteomics allows the identification of explainable factors for predicting response to paclitaxel

Correlation among alveolar bone assessments provided by CBCT, micro-CT, and 14 T MRI

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate bone mineral adipose tissue (BMAT) volume in 21 alveolar bone specimens, as determined by 14 T MRI, and correlate them to the radiodensity values obtained pre-operatively of regions of interest (ROIs) by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), and to the bone-volume-to-tissue-volume ratio values obtained by micro-CT, the gold-standard for morphometric data collection. Methods: Partially edentulous patients were submitted to a CBCT scan, and the radiographic bone densities in each ROI were automatically calculated using coDiagnostiX software. Based on the CBCT surgical planning, a CAD/CAM stereolithographic surgical guide was fabricated to retrieve a bone biopsy from the same ROIs scanned preoperatively, and then to orientate the subsequent implant placement. The alveolar bone biopsies were then collected and scanned using the micro-CT and 14 T MRI techniques. Pearson’s correlation test was performed to correlate the results obtained using the three different techniques. Results: In the 21 eligible bone specimens (6 females, 15 males), age (mean age 52.9 years), micro-CT, and 14 T MRI variables were found to be normally distributed (p > 0.05). The strongest—and only statistically significant (p < 0.05)—correlation was found between micro-CT and 14 T MRI values (r = 0.943), and the weakest, between 14 T MRI and CBCT values (r =–0.068). Conclusions: The findings suggest that 14 T MRI can be used to evaluate BMAT as an indirect marker for bone volume, and that CBCT is not a reliable technique to provide accurate bone density values.peer-reviewe

Robotic Wireless Sensor Networks

In this chapter, we present a literature survey of an emerging, cutting-edge, and multi-disciplinary field of research at the intersection of Robotics and Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) which we refer to as Robotic Wireless Sensor Networks (RWSN). We define a RWSN as an autonomous networked multi-robot system that aims to achieve certain sensing goals while meeting and maintaining certain communication performance requirements, through cooperative control, learning and adaptation. While both of the component areas, i.e., Robotics and WSN, are very well-known and well-explored, there exist a whole set of new opportunities and research directions at the intersection of these two fields which are relatively or even completely unexplored. One such example would be the use of a set of robotic routers to set up a temporary communication path between a sender and a receiver that uses the controlled mobility to the advantage of packet routing. We find that there exist only a limited number of articles to be directly categorized as RWSN related works whereas there exist a range of articles in the robotics and the WSN literature that are also relevant to this new field of research. To connect the dots, we first identify the core problems and research trends related to RWSN such as connectivity, localization, routing, and robust flow of information. Next, we classify the existing research on RWSN as well as the relevant state-of-the-arts from robotics and WSN community according to the problems and trends identified in the first step. Lastly, we analyze what is missing in the existing literature, and identify topics that require more research attention in the future

Correlation between magnetic resonance imaging and cone-beam computed tomography for maxillary sinus graft assessment

Purpose: Little is known regarding the accuracy of clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols with acceptable scan times in sinus graft assessment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlations between MRI and cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) measurements of maxillary sinus grafts using 2 different clinical MRI imaging protocols. Materials and methods: A total of 15 patients who underwent unilateral sinus lift surgery with biphasic calcium phosphate were included in this study. CBCT, T1-weighted MRI, and T2-weighted MRI scans were taken 6 months after sinus lift surgery. Linear measurements of the maximum height and buccolingual width in coronal images, as well as the maximum anteroposterior depth in sagittal images, were performed by 2 trained observers using CBCT and MRI Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine files. Microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) was also performed to confirm the presence of bone tissue in the grafted area. Correlations between MRI and CBCT measurements were assessed with the Pearson test. Results: Significant correlations between CBCT and MRI were found for sinus graft height (T1-weighted, r=0.711 and P<0.05; T2-weighted, r=0.713 and P<0.05), buccolingual width (T1-weighted, r=0.892 and P<0.05; T2-weighted, r=0.956 and P<0.05), and anteroposterior depth (T1-weighted, r=0.731 and P<0.05; T2-weighted, r=0.873 and P<0.05). The presence of bone tissue in the grafted areas was confirmed via micro-CT. Conclusion: Both MRI pulse sequences tested can be used for sinus graft measurements, as strong correlations with CBCT were found. However, correlations between T2-weighted MRI and CBCT were slightly higher than those between T1-weighted MRI and CBCT.peer-reviewe

Updating the Food-Based Dietary Guidelines for the Spanish Population: The Spanish Society of Community Nutrition (SENC) Proposal

Diet-related risk factors and physical inactivity are among the leading risk factors for disability and are responsible for a large proportion of the burden of chronic non-communicable diseases. Food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) are useful tools for nutrition policies and public health strategies to promote healthier eating and physical activity. In this paper, we discuss the process followed in developing the dietary guidelines for the Spanish population by the Spanish Society of Community Nutrition (SENC) and further explain the collaboration with primary healthcare practitioners as presented in the context of the NUTRIMAD 2018 international congress of SENC. From a health in all policies approach, SENC convened a group of experts in nutrition and public health to review the evidence on diet-health, nutrient intake and food consumption in the Spanish population, as well as food preparation, determinants and impact of diet on environmental sustainability. The collaborative group drafted the document and designed the graphic icon, which was then subject to a consultation process, discussion, and qualitative evaluation. Next, a collaborative group was established to plan a dissemination strategy, involving delegates from all the primary healthcare scientific societies in Spain. A product of this collaboration was the release of an attractive, easy-to-understand publication