1.Assessment of anterior positioning splint in conjunction with lateral pterygoid BTX injection to treat TMJ disc displacement with reduction — a preliminary report
Maram TAEMA ; Nouran Abdel NABI ; Samira IBRAHIM ; Heba Ahmed KAMAL ; Aala’a EMARA
Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2021;43(1):33-
Objective:
Treatment of temporomandibular disc displacement with reduction is controversial. This study assesses the use of an anterior positioning splint with botulinum toxin in the lateral pterygoid muscle (BTX) for such cases.
Methods:
Twelve joints were included; groups I and II received BTX injection while group II also received an anterior positioning splint. Pain scores and clicking status were recorded at regular intervals then a postoperative MRI was done after 4 months.
Results:
Clinical improvement was noted in both groups. Mean pain scores dropped significantly and clicks in the twelve joints disappeared in 83% of group I and 33% of group II. MRIs showed significant disc position improvement with the higher mean change (1.33 ± 0.76) in group I. Group I showed better improvement of discal position and only one joint regained a click. Patients of group II reported discomfort from the splint which may have caused psychological distress and so worst pain scores.
Conclusions
Group I showed slightly better results but the cost of BTX injections and the complications of the splint should be kept in mind and the decision of treatment selection made according to each condition.
2.SARS-CoV-2: Has artificial intelligence stood the test of time.
Mir Ibrahim SAJID ; Shaheer AHMED ; Usama WAQAR ; Javeria TARIQ ; Mohsin CHUNDRIGARH ; Samira Shabbir BALOUCH ; Sajid ABAIDULLAH
Chinese Medical Journal 2022;135(15):1792-1802
Artificial intelligence (AI) has proven time and time again to be a game-changer innovation in every walk of life, including medicine. Introduced by Dr. Gunn in 1976 to accurately diagnose acute abdominal pain and list potential differentials, AI has since come a long way. In particular, AI has been aiding in radiological diagnoses with good sensitivity and specificity by using machine learning algorithms. With the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, AI has proven to be more than just a tool to facilitate healthcare workers in decision making and limiting physician-patient contact during the pandemic. It has guided governments and key policymakers in formulating and implementing laws, such as lockdowns and travel restrictions, to curb the spread of this viral disease. This has been made possible by the use of social media to map severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 hotspots, laying the basis of the "smart lockdown" strategy that has been adopted globally. However, these benefits might be accompanied with concerns regarding privacy and unconsented surveillance, necessitating authorities to develop sincere and ethical government-public relations.
Artificial Intelligence
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COVID-19
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Communicable Disease Control
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Humans
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Pandemics/prevention & control*
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SARS-CoV-2