Development of artificial intelligence model for supporting implant drilling protocol decision making

Purpose: This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) model to support the determination of an appropriate implant drilling protocol using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Methods: Anonymized CBCT images were obtained from 60 patients. For each case, after implant placement, images of the bone regions at the implant site were extracted from 20 slices of CBCT images. Based on the actual drilling protocol, the images were classified into three categories: protocols A, B, and C. A total of 1,200 images were divided into training and validation datasets (n = 960, 80%) and a test dataset (n = 240, 20%). Another 240 images (80 images for each type) were extracted from the 60 cases as test data. An AI model based on LeNet-5 was developed using these data sets. The accuracy, sensitivity, precision, F-value, area under the curve (AUC) value, and receiver operating curve were calculated. Results: The accuracy of the trained model is 93.8%. The sensitivity results for drilling protocols A, B, and C were 97.5%, 95.0%, and 85.0%, respectively, while those for protocols A, B, and C were 86.7%, 92.7%, and 100%, respectively, and the F values for protocols A, B, and C were 91.8%, 93.8%, and 91.9%, respectively. The AUC values for protocols A, B, and C are 98.6%, 98.6%, and 99.4%, respectively. Conclusions: The AI model established in this study was effective in predicting drilling protocols from CBCT images before surgery, suggesting the possibility of developing a decision-making support system to promote primary stability.Sakai T., Li H., Shimada T., et al. Development of artificial intelligence model for supporting implant drilling protocol decision making. Journal of Prosthodontic Research 67, 360 (2023); https://doi.org/10.2186/jpr.JPR_D_22_00053

Effect of Salivation by Facial Somatosensory Stimuli of Facial Massage and Vibrotactile Apparatus

We studied the effects of salivary promotion of fluid secretion after hand massage, and the apparatus of vibrotactile stimulation (89 Hz frequency, 15 min) in normal humans. Personal massage cannot be performed on handicap and stroke patients, and then giving hand massage to them for 5 min massage gives a tired feeling. So, we focused 3 min stranger massage. Salivary glands can discharge the accumulated saliva by extrusion from the acinus glands’ massages as described in the recent Japanese textbook. We think that this method may not produce realistic recovery. Our aim ideas are to relieve stress and increase temperature with lightly touch massage of the skin and for a 1 cycle of 1 s. We recorded RR interval of ECG, total salivation, facial skin temperature, OxyHb of fNIRS on the frontal cortex, and amylase activity for the autonomic changes. In increased 2°C of the facial skin temperature, the hand massage had a need for 3 min and the vibrotactile stimulation for 15 min. Increase from 700 to 1000 ms of RR intervals had a need for 3 min in the hand massage and had 15 min in the vibrotactile stimulation. Although vibrotactile stimulation needs long time of 4–7 years as effective recovery, hand massage may have more effect with a repetition of day after day

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Possibilities and Challenges Identified in Early Childhood Education and Care Using Teleconferencing System Tools During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Picture Book Reading and Cultivation Activities for Classes of Three-year-olds

This study examined the possibilities of and issues in using teleconferencing system tools in early childhood education and care (ECEC)—for this, it focused on children’s words and actions and clarified how they participate in ECEC based on video recordings of such participation through these tools; these video recordings were analyzed using a time sample method. The analysis revealed that even three-year-olds who had not yet started preschool could concentrate for a certain period of time during picture book reading if they were in a relaxed state. However, it became apparent that the children were concentrating too hard and getting too close to the camera, which made it difficult for the ECEC teacher to discern their responses. In addition, during the vegetable cultivation activity, it was found that the children’s participation level increased when the caregiver conducted quiz-style activities while interacting with a person nearby. On the other hand, it was also found, the presence of that person affected concentration, which can impact participation. From the above, it can be said that the possibilities and challenges in ECEC using teleconferencing system tools are inextricably linked. The reason for this is that each family’s situation easily impacts the use of such tools. In particular, for three-year-olds who have not yet started kindergarten, receiving ECEC at home can easily turn a single event into both a possibility and a challenge because the boundary between the two is blurred

Laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh for pediatric incisional hernia—a case report

Abstract Background The incidence of incisional hernia in pediatric patients is low in comparison with that reported in adults. In the pediatric population, primary closure has generally been favored. However, synthetic or biomedical mesh offers advantages in the repair of larger defects when primary closure is difficult. The use of laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM) in the adult population has been well documented. In the pediatric population, a few laparoscopic approaches with direct suturing have been proposed; however, there are no reports of laparoscopic repair with the use of IPOM. Case presentation The patient was a 1-year-old girl with epigastric incisional hernia after an operation to correct a complete arteriovenous septal defect. The fascial defect (size 30 × 35 mm) was large; thus, direct suturing was considered to be associated with a high risk of thoracic deformation and recurrence. Laparoscopic IPOM was performed. The fascial defect was detected precisely through the laparoscopy, and non-absorbable mesh was placed through a 12-mm trocar. Minimal incisions were required for the trocars, and extensive dissection of the abdominal wall structure was not needed. This procedure allowed for the integrity and functional status of the abdominal wall to be maintained. Conclusion Laparoscopic IPOM is a minimally invasive and cosmetically acceptable method that can be applied to the treatment of large incisional hernias in children

Sb-Te Alloy Nanostructures Produced on a Graphite Surface by a Simple Annealing Process

International audienceWe have produced Sb\textendashTe alloy nanostructures from a thin Sb2Te3 layer deposited on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite substrate using a simple rf-magnetron sputtering and annealing technique. The size, shape, and chemical composition of the structures were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), respectively. The shape of the nanostructures was found to depend on the annealing temperature; nanoparticles appear on the substrate by annealing at 200 \smwhtcircleC, while nanoneedles are formed at higher temperatures. Chemical composition analysis has revealed that all the structures were in the composition of Sb:Te = 1:3, Te rich compared to the target composition Sb2Te3, probably due to the higher movability of Te atoms on the substrate compared with Sb. We also tried to observe the production process of nanostructures in situ using SEM. Unfortunately, this was not possible because of evaporation in vacuum, suggesting that the formation of nanostructures is highly sensitive to the ambient pressure

Immunohistochemical expression of thymosin ß4 in ameloblastomas and odontomas

Ameloblastoma is regarded to be a benign odontogenic tumor, but it is destructive, locally invasive and presents a high rate of recurrence. Thymosin ß4 (Tß4) is closely associated with tooth germ development. Tß4 also plays a role in malignant progression and invasion. However, little is known about the function of Tß4 in odontogenic tumors. Thus, we investigated Tß4 expression in ameloblastomas and compared it with odontomas. We immunohistochemically evaluated the expression of Tß4, ameloblastin (AMBN), amelogenin (AMEL) and enamelin (ENAM) in 57 samples of ameloblastomas from 40 patients, and also assessed the expression of these molecules in 11 cases of odontomas, two of ameloblastic fibro-odontomas and one of tooth germ-like structures without the formation of enamel and dentin. Tß4 signals were observed in almost all of the ameloblastomas. The signals were observed in both peripheral columnar cells and central polyhedral/angular cells. Similar findings were observed in tooth germ-like structures, and in the ameloblastomatous nests in the ameloblastic fibro-odontomas. These samples had negative results for AMBN, AMEL and ENAM. Meanwhile, Tß4 signals were not seen in the odontomas, although immunolabeling for AMBN, AMEL and ENAM was observed in the enamel matrix and in some ameloblasts. Ectomesenhymal regions in the odontomas were negative for staining with the antibodies for AMBN, AMEL and ENAM. These results suggest that Tß4 could be associated with morphogenesis and tumor invasion in the ameloblastoma, and that Tß4 may play a role in the behavior of ameloblastoma

Arteriovenous fistula in a renal allograft with gross hematuria and subsequent acute kidney injury due to urinary tract obstruction: a case report

Abstract Background Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) due to renal allograft biopsy is mechanical trauma resulting from the penetration of small arteries and veins by a core needle. Most AVFs are reported to resolve asymptomatically and spontaneously. This report presents a patient with acute kidney injury (AKI) due to urinary tract obstruction caused by a bleeding AVF in a renal allograft. Case presentation A 22-year-old Japanese woman who underwent living-donor kidney transplantation (KT) at 3 years due to end-stage renal disease caused by focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) presented with a renal transplant AVF (gourd-shaped; 42 × 19 × 20 mm). The AVF was unexpectedly discovered by ultrasound before a surveillance biopsy at 10 years after KT. The patient had a history of recurrent FSGS, had undergone several renal allograft biopsies after KT, and did not experience symptoms or growth of the AVF for years. Nineteen years after KT, the patient developed AKI with sudden, asymptomatic, gross hematuria and anuria. Plain computed tomography revealed a hematoma in the pelvis of the renal allograft and bladder tamponade. The AVF was successfully treated by coil embolization. Hemodialysis was performed for AKI, and graft function was gradually recovered. Conclusions Unexpected bleeding from a renal transplant AVF may lead to transplant dysfunction. Angiographic embolization against the ruptured renal transplant AVF may prevent rebleeding and rescue the renal allograft

Induction of dental epithelial cell differentiation marker gene expression in non-odontogenic human keratinocytes by transfection with thymosin beta 4

Previous studies have shown that the recombination of cells liberated from developing tooth germs develop into teeth. However, it is difficult to use human developing tooth germ as a source of cells because of ethical issues. Previous studies have reported that thymosin beta 4 (Tmsb4x) is closely related to the initiation and development of the tooth germ. We herein attempted to establish odontogenic epithelial cells from non-odontogenic HaCaT cells by transfection with TMSB4X. TMSB4X-transfected cells formed nodules that were positive for Alizarin-red S (ALZ) and von Kossa staining (calcium phosphate deposits) when cultured in calcification-inducing medium. Three selected clones showing larger amounts of calcium deposits than the other clones, expressed PITX2, Cytokeratin 14, and Sonic Hedgehog. The upregulation of odontogenesis-related genes, such as runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), Amelogenin (AMELX), Ameloblastin (AMBN) and Enamelin (ENAM) was also detected. These proteins were immunohistochemically observed in nodules positive for the ALZ and von Kossa staining. RUNX2-positive selected TMSB4X-transfected cells implanted into the dorsal subcutaneous tissue of nude mice formed matrix deposits. Immunohistochemically, AMELX, AMBN and ENAM were observed in the matrix deposits. This study demonstrated the possibility of induction of dental epithelial cell differentiation marker gene expression in non-odontogenic HaCaT cells by TMSB4X