Simultaneous 3D reconstruction and implant placement using allogenic laminar bone membranes in atrophic Mandible. A comparative clinical study

Objective: to compare the outcome of allogenic bone sheets clinically and radiographically in posterior mandibular vertical augmentation in Luhr class III cases with simultaneous implant placement using autogenous versus xenografts. Patients and methods: this study was based on a total of 12 implants placed in 4 patients, 2 of which were males and 2 females. Patients were divided into 2 groups, both treated with implants placed with exposed threads 3 mm crestally and covered buccolingually with the laminar bone membrane; group 1 received autogenous bone obtained from the same surgical site using 4.5 diameter ACM bur mixed with PRP and packed around the crestally exposed implant threads. Group 2 received xenograft bone particles mixed with PRP and packed around the crestally exposed implant threads in the same manner. Results: CBCT was done pre-operatively, immediate post-operatively and 4 months post-operatively for each implant to compare the bone gain radiographically. In group 1, the mean amount of residual bone height pre-operatively was 7.8 mm (SD 0.86) and increased to 14.44 mm (SD 1.75) and 14.1 mm (SD 1.85) immediate and 4 months post-operatively, respectively. The mean amount of bone gain after 4 months was 6.3 mm, denoting a minimal amount of graft loss during the first 4 postoperative months was 0.27 mm (less than 2%). In group 2, the mean amount of residual bone height pre-operatively was 8.37 mm (SD 0.99) and increased to 12.86 mm (SD 1.75) and 12.53 mm (SD 1.65) immediate and 4 months post-operatively, respectively. The mean amount of bone gain after 4 months was 4.16 mm, denoting a minimal amount of graft loss during the first 4 postoperative months was 0.33 mm (less than 3%). Upon comparing bone gain in both groups, Group I (Autogenous) had a bone gain of 6.33 mm versus 4.16 mm for Group II (Xenograft). Denoting more gain in Group I (autogenous). While the amount of graft loss between the immediate and 4 months postoperative CBCT was less than 2% and less than 3% in the autogenous versus the xenograft group respectively . Conclusion: Cases initially lacking keratinized mucosa will need soft tissue intervention along with this technique. Exposure after 4 months appeared to have been too early, which lead to bone loss and exposed threads. Bilateral augmentation has led to patients using the grafted edentulous sites for mastication early following soft tissue healing, prior to prosthetics, which might suggest that tooth-bounded posterior edentulous sites might be a better candidate for such technique. Results were clinically different than radiographically in the CBCT, so longer lag time is recommended before loading. Keywords: mandibular atrophy, bone graft, implants, laminar bone sheet

A low Complexity Wireless Gigabit Ethernet IFoF 60 GHz H/W Platform and Issues

6 pagesInternational audienceThis paper proposes a complete IFoF system architecture derived from simplified IEEE802.15.3c PHY layer proposal to successfully ensure near 1 Gbps on the air interface. The system architecture utilizes low complexity baseband processing modules. The byte/frame synchronization technique is designed to provide a high value of preamble detection probability and a very small value of the false detection probability. Conventional Reed-Solomon RS (255, 239) coding is used for Channel Forward Error Correction (FEC). Good communication link quality and Bit Error Rate (BER) results at 875 Mbps are achieved with directional antennas

Modelling complex cracks with finite elements: a kinematically enriched constitutive model

A continuum constitutive framework with embedded cohesive interface model is presented to describe the failure of quasi-brittle materials. Both cohesive behaviour for cracking inside the fracture process zone and elastic bulk behaviour are treated at integration points making implementation straightforward. In this sense, the proposed approach is simpler than existing ones that focus on element enrichments, such as the extended finite element method, while share similarities with smeared crack models, and offers the capability to correctly model quasi-brittle failure in post-peak regime at constitutive level. In this work, the formulation is introduced, numerical algorithms described and static and dynamic fracture simulations with complex crack patterns are conducted to demonstrate the capability and advantage of the proposed approach.ARC DP140100945, ARC FT140100408, ARC DE 15010170

Modelling complex cracks with finite elements: a kinematically enriched constitutive model

A continuum constitutive framework with embedded cohesive interface model is presented to describe the failure of quasi-brittle materials. Both cohesive behaviour for cracking inside the fracture process zone and elastic bulk behaviour are treated at integration points making implementation straightforward. In this sense, the proposed approach is simpler than existing ones that focus on element enrichments, such as the extended finite element method, while share similarities with smeared crack models, and offers the capability to correctly model quasi-brittle failure in post-peak regime at constitutive level. In this work, the formulation is introduced, numerical algorithms described and static and dynamic fracture simulations with complex crack patterns are conducted to demonstrate the capability and advantage of the proposed approach.ARC DP140100945, ARC FT140100408, ARC DE 15010170

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and “Near MIS-C”: A continuum?

IntroductionReports of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, have been increasing worldwide, with an incidence varying significantly across studies based on the definition used for the diagnosis. At our tertiary medical center in Lebanon, we encountered several cases that presented a diagnostic challenge because they mimicked MIS-C but did not meet the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definition. We decided to review these cases and describe their features in comparison with cases that met the CDC criteria of MIS-C and those that had an alternative diagnosis.MethodsThis is a retrospective chart review of subjects aged <19 years old admitted to the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) between March 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021, with suspected or confirmed MIS-C, following documented COVID-19 infection, with sufficient or insufficient criteria for diagnosis. Subjects were classified into 3 groups: “MIS-C”, “Near MIS-C” and “Alternative Diagnosis”.ResultsA total number of 29 subjects were included in our cohort. Fever was present in all subjects. In the MIS-C group, evidence for cardiovascular system involvement was the most common feature followed by the mucocutaneous and gastrointestinal systems. In the “Near MIS-C” and “Alternative Diagnosis” group, gastrointestinal symptoms were the most common with only one patient with cardiac abnormalities and none with coagulopathy. Subjects with typical MIS-C presentation had higher inflammatory markers when compared to subjects in the other groups. Almost all the subjects had positive IgG for SARS-CoV-2. Of the 29 subjects, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) case definition would have identified all suspected cases without an alternative diagnosis as MIS-C, whereas the World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC definitions would have excluded 6 and 10 subjects, respectively.ConclusionMIS-C presents a diagnostic challenge due to the nonspecific symptoms, lack of pathognomonic findings, and potentially fatal complications. More research is needed to fully understand its pathogenesis, clinical presentation spectrum, and diagnostic criteria. Based on our experience, we favor the hypothesis that MIS-C has a continuum of severity that necessitates revisiting and unifying the current definitions

A predictive model relating daily fluctuations in summer temperatures and mortality rates

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the context of climate change, an efficient alert system to prevent the risk associated with summer heat is necessary. The authors' objective was to describe the temperature-mortality relationship in France over a 29-year period and to define and validate a combination of temperature factors enabling optimum prediction of the daily fluctuations in summer mortality.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study addressed the daily mortality rates of subjects aged over 55 years, in France as a whole, from 1975 to 2003. The daily minimum and maximum temperatures consisted in the average values recorded by 97 meteorological stations. For each day, a cumulative variable for the maximum temperature over the preceding 10 days was defined.</p> <p>The mortality rate was modelled using a Poisson regression with over-dispersion and a first-order autoregressive structure and with control for long-term and within-summer seasonal trends. The lag effects of temperature were accounted for by including the preceding 5 days. A "backward" method was used to select the most significant climatic variables. The predictive performance of the model was assessed by comparing the observed and predicted daily mortality rates on a validation period (summer 2003), which was distinct from the calibration period (1975–2002) used to estimate the model.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The temperature indicators explained 76% of the total over-dispersion. The greater part of the daily fluctuations in mortality was explained by the interaction between minimum and maximum temperatures, for a day <it>t </it>and the day preceding it. The prediction of mortality during extreme events was greatly improved by including the cumulative variables for maximum temperature, in interaction with the maximum temperatures. The correlation between the observed and estimated mortality ratios was 0.88 in the final model.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although France is a large country with geographic heterogeneity in both mortality and temperatures, a strong correlation between the daily fluctuations in mortality and the temperatures in summer on a national scale was observed. The model provided a satisfactory quantitative prediction of the daily mortality both for the days with usual temperatures and for the days during intense heat episodes. The results may contribute to enhancing the alert system for intense heat waves.</p

Estimates of DNA damage by the comet assay in the direct-developing frog Eleutherodactylus johnstonei (Anura, Eleutherodactylidae)

The aim of this study was to use the Comet assay to assess genetic damage in the direct-developing frog Eleutherodactylus johnstonei. A DNA diffusion assay was used to evaluate the effectiveness of alkaline, enzymatic and alkaline/enzymatic treatments for lysing E. johnstonei blood cells and to determine the amount of DNA strand breakage associated with apoptosis and necrosis. Cell sensitivity to the mutagens bleomycin (BLM) and 4-nitro-quinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) was also assessed using the Comet assay, as was the assay reproducibility. Alkaline treatment did not lyse the cytoplasmic and nuclear membranes of E. johnstonei blood cells, whereas enzymatic digestion with proteinase K (40 μg/mL) yielded naked nuclei. The contribution of apoptosis and necrosis (assessed by the DNA diffusion assay) to DNA damage was estimated to range from 0% to 8%. BLM and 4NQO induced DNA damage in E. johnstonei blood cells at different concentrations and exposure times. Dose-effect curves with both mutagens were highly reproducible and showed consistently low coefficients of variation (CV ≤ 10%). The results are discussed with regard to the potential use of the modified Comet assay for assessing the exposure of E. johnstonei to herbicides in ecotoxicological studies