Retrospective Evaluation of Implants Placed in Iliac Crest Autografts and Pristine Bone.

OBJECTIVE Iliac crest autografts can compensate for severe mandibular atrophy before implant placement. However, the implant success in the augmented bone is not entirely predictable. Here we performed a retrospective cohort study to determine the success and related parameters of implants placed in augmented bone and pristine bone for up to 11 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS We analyzed 18 patients where 72 implants were placed six months after iliac crest transplantation and 19 patients where 76 implants were placed in pristine bone. The primary endpoint was implant loss. Secondary endpoints were the implant success, peri-implant bone loss, and the clinical parameters related to peri-implantitis. Moreover, we evaluated the oral-health-related quality of life (OHIP). RESULTS Within a mean follow-up of 5.8 ± 2.2 and 7.6 ± 2.8 years, six but no implants were lost when placed in augmented and pristine bone, respectively. Among those implants remaining in situ, 58% and 68% were rated as implant success (p = 0.09). A total of 11% and 16% of the implants placed in the augmented and the pristine bone were identified as peri-implantitis (p = 0.08). Bone loss was similar in both groups, with a mean of 2.95 ± 1.72 mm and 2.44 ± 0.76 mm. The mean OHIP scores were 16.36 ± 13.76 and 8.78 ± 7.21 in the augmentation and the control group, respectively (p = 0.35). CONCLUSIONS Implants placed in iliac crest autografts have a higher risk for implant loss and lower implant success rates compared to those placed in the pristine bone

The First Post-Kepler Brightness Dips of KIC 8462852

We present a photometric detection of the first brightness dips of the unique variable star KIC 8462852 since the end of the Kepler space mission in 2013 May. Our regular photometric surveillance started in October 2015, and a sequence of dipping began in 2017 May continuing on through the end of 2017, when the star was no longer visible from Earth. We distinguish four main 1-2.5% dips, named "Elsie," "Celeste," "Skara Brae," and "Angkor", which persist on timescales from several days to weeks. Our main results so far are: (i) there are no apparent changes of the stellar spectrum or polarization during the dips; (ii) the multiband photometry of the dips shows differential reddening favoring non-grey extinction. Therefore, our data are inconsistent with dip models that invoke optically thick material, but rather they are in-line with predictions for an occulter consisting primarily of ordinary dust, where much of the material must be optically thin with a size scale <<1um, and may also be consistent with models invoking variations intrinsic to the stellar photosphere. Notably, our data do not place constraints on the color of the longer-term "secular" dimming, which may be caused by independent processes, or probe different regimes of a single process

Is Topical Application of Hyaluronic Acid in Oral Lichen Planus Effective? A Randomized Controlled Crossover Study

Hyaluronic acid (HA) has anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effects and, thus, could be promising in the treatment of oral lichen planus (OLP). The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of topical hyaluronic acid, compared to placebo, on salivary levels of calprotectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and bacteria, as well as clinical and subjective parameters. Fourteen patients with confirmed OLP were included. After random selection, patients started with either 0.2% hyaluronic acid or a placebo gel for 6 weeks. Following a wash-out period, the groups changed the application. Whole saliva, clinical parameters, and questionnaires were evaluated before and after the intervention, as well as after the crossover phase. Salivary calprotectin, IL-6, and inflammation-related bacteria were determined by ELISA and PCR, respectively. There were no significant differences in clinical or subjective outcome parameters, salivary levels of IL-6, calprotectin, or bacteria after the application of hyaluronic acid, compared to placebo. However, only nine patients completed the study, as five out of seven patients starting with placebo were lost to follow-up. Significant effects of HA on inflammatory mediators and clinical parameters in OLP patients could not be proven, although a trend in clinical severity improvement could be observed

Alveolar bone regeneration in response to local application of calcitriol in vitamin D deficient rats

AIM Vitamin D deficiency is considered to diminish bone regeneration. Yet, raising the serum levels takes months. A topic application of the active vitamin D metabolite, calcitriol, may be an effective approach. Thus, it becomes important to know the effect of vitamin D deficiency and local application on alveolar bone regeneration. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty rats were divided into three groups; two vitamin depletion groups and a control group. Identical single defects (2 mm diameter) were created in the maxilla and mandible treated with calcitriol soaked collagen in one deficiency group while in the other two groups not. Histomorphometric analysis and micro CTs were performed after 1 and 3 weeks. Serum levels of 25(OH)D3 and PTH were determined. RESULTS Bone formation rate significantly increased within the observation period in all groups. Bone regeneration was higher in the maxilla than in the mandible. However, bone regeneration was lower in the control group compared to vitamin depletion groups, with no significant effects by local administration of calcitriol (micro CT mandible p = 0.003, maxilla p < 0.001; histomorphometry maxilla p = 0.035, mandible p = 0.18). CONCLUSION Vitamin D deficiency not necessarily impairs bone regeneration in the rat jaw and a single local calcitriol application does not enhance healing

Topical Cyclosporine in Oral Lichen Planus&mdash;A Series of 21 Open-Label, Biphasic, Single-Patient Observations

Topical cyclosporine (CSA) has been reported as an alternative treatment in steroid-refractory oral lichen planus (OLP), but evidence is limited and conflicting. An N-of-1 trial setting could be appropriate to evaluate interindividual differences in treatment response. We studied a series of 21 open-label, biphasic single-patient observations. Patients (15 women, 6 men) with OLP recalcitrant to topical steroids received four weeks of CSA mouth rinse (200 mg/twice daily) followed by four weeks of drug withdrawal. Pain (visual analogue scale (VAS) score), disease extent (physicians&rsquo; global assessment (PGA) score) and quality of life (Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score,) were assessed at baseline (T0), after four weeks of treatment (T1) and after another four weeks without treatment (T2). Median age was 58 years (interquartile range/IQR = 52&ndash;67) and median disease duration was 18 months (IQR = 12&ndash;44). Median baseline VAS score decreased significantly at T1 (p = 0.0003) and increased at T2 (p = 0.032) (T0 = 5 (IQR = 3&ndash;6.5); T1 = 2 (IQR = 0.5&ndash;3.4); T2 = 3 (IQR = 2&ndash;4.8)). Similarly, median baseline PGA score decreased significantly at T1 (p = 0.001) and increased at T2 (p = 0.007) (T0 = 2 (IQR = 1.3&ndash;2.5); T1 = 1 (IQR = 1&ndash;2); T2 = 2 (IQR = 1&ndash;2)). Median baseline DLQI score also decreased significantly at T1 (p =.027) but did not change at T2 (p = 0.5) (T0 = 2.5 (IQR = 1&ndash;5.8); T1 = 1 (IQR = 0&ndash;3); T2 = 1 (IQR = 1&ndash;4)). CSA responders (n = 16) had significantly higher median baseline VAS scores (5.2 (IQR = 5&ndash;6.5)) than nonresponders (n =5) (2 (IQR = 2&ndash;3.5) (p = 0.02). In our study, pain, disease extent and quality of life of patients with OLP improved significantly during therapy with low-dose CSA mouth rinse and exacerbated after drug withdrawal. Remarkably, patients with high initial VAS scores seemed to profit most

Scientific Reports / Morphometric analysis of sinus depth in the posterior maxilla and proposal of a novel classification

The aim of this study was to analyse the posterior maxillary sinus based on its extension into the alveolar process and to provide a simple clinical classification. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in CT scans of 200 dentate and 200 edentulous patients (100 women and 100 men, respectively). After manual placement of 12 reference points morphometric analysis was performed and sinus depth, residual alveolar ridge height (RH) and the sinus opening angle were calculated. Sinuses were classified according to the quartiles of sinus depth: class I (above the hard palate), class II (06mm below the hard palate) and class III (>6mm below the hard palate). Sinus depth was found to be a reliable anatomical landmark and did not vary significantly between gender (p=0.8940) or dentition groups (p=0.9723). Alveolar height varied significantly between sinus classes (p<21016) and dentition groups (p<21016) but not between genders (p=0.5178). The sinus opening angle was significantly different between sinus classes (p<2.21016) but not between gender or dentition groups. We propose a novel classification built upon the quartiles of sinus depth, dividing the sinuses into three classes. Our classification is the first one that represents the anatomy of the patient independent of gender and dentition.(VLID)470183