Background: In vitro and animal studies have demonstrated that bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7), renowned for its osteogenic properties, also exerts beneficial effects on muscle metabolism by enhancing myogenesis and reversing muscle atrophy. Despite being proposed as a common regulatory factor for both muscle and bone, the impact of BMP-7 on human muscle health has not been thoroughly investigated. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 182 community-dwelling older adults who underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment in South Korea. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using Asian-specific cutoffs, and serum BMP-7 levels were quantified via enzyme immunoassay. Results: The mean age of the participants was 72.2±7.3 years, with 62.6% being female. After adjustments for confounders, serum BMP-7 levels were not significantly different between individuals with and without sarcopenia, nor were there differences based on skeletal muscle mass, strength, or physical performance levels (p=0.423 to 0.681). Likewise, no correlations were detected between circulating BMP-7 levels and any sarcopenia assessment metrics such as skeletal muscle index, grip strength, gait speed, or chair stand completion times (p=0.127 to 0.577). No significant associations were observed between increases in serum BMP-7 concentrations and the risk of sarcopenia or poor muscle phenotypes (p=0.431 to 0.712). Stratifying participants into quartiles based on serum BMP-7 levels also indicated no differences in sarcopenia-related parameters (p=0.663 to 0.996). Conclusion Despite experimental evidence supporting BMP-7’s role in muscle metabolism, this study found no significant association between serum BMP-7 levels and clinical indicators of muscle health in older adults. These findings challenge the utility of serum BMP-7 as a biomarker for sarcopenia in this demographic.

Purpose: 11C-Methionine PET/CT is a promising method for detecting parathyroid lesions in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). We aimed to determine the diagnostic ability and correlation of digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT for parathyroid lesions in patients with PHPT, particularly in cases where standard imaging methods yielded inconclusive results. Methods: This retrospective analysis was conducted on patients diagnosed with PHPT who underwent digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT imaging because of ambiguous results on standard imaging work-up ( 99m Tc-MIBI parathyroid scan and/or neck ultrasonography). Quantitative 11C-Methionine PET/CT parameters, including maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), mean SUV (SUVmean), peak SUV (SUVpeak), parathyroid methionine volume (PMV), and whole methionine uptake(WMU: PMV multiplied by SUVmean) were calculated with various thresholds, and their correlations with biochemical andpathologic parameters were investigated. Results: This study included 22 consecutive patients (10 men and 12 women) with a median age of 64.0 years. The lesion detection rate and sensitivity of digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT were 81.8% (18/22) and 100.0% (18/18), respectively.Quantitative analysis revealed that serum PTH (r = 0.490, P = 0.039) and serum calcium (r = 0.583, P = 0.011) were signifi-cantly correlated with PMV50%. Conclusion Digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT offers good performance in the detection of parathyroid lesions in PHPT patients with inconclusive standard imaging work-up. The volume parameter of PMV50% significantly correlated biochemi-cal parameters and can serve as a complementary diagnostic tool.

Objective: To quantitatively analyze and compare the forces and moments generated by thermoformed polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) and direct-printed TC-85 clear aligners (CAs), with various margin designs, during premolar rotation. Methods: In total, 132 CAs were fabricated and divided into four groups (n = 33 per group). Group C consisted of thermoformed PETG aligners with a 2 mm gingival margin. Group E comprised direct-printed TC-85 aligners with equi-gingival margin, whereas Group G utilized direct-printed TC-85 aligners with 2 mm gingival margins.Finally, Group T featured direct-printed TC-85 aligners with an additional 1 mm thickness at the mesial embrasure. The forces and moments were measured using a 6-axis force/moment transducer at 2°, 3°, and 4° of rotation. All measurements were conducted at 37°C to simulate intraoral conditions. Forces were measured in the buccolingual, anteroposterior, and vertical directions, while moments were measured in the mesiodistal, buccolingual, and rotational planes. Results: The PETG aligners (Group C) showed significantly increased buccal and posterior force across the rotation angles (P < 0.05), whereas the intrusive force remained consistent. In contrast, the TC-85 aligners maintained consistent forces across all rotation angles.Direct-printed aligners demonstrated significantly lower intrusive forces than PETG aligners (P < 0.001). Group T exhibited reduced unwanted forces while maintaining effective rotational moments. Furthermore, all direct-printed aligners showed more predictable force delivery patterns than thermoformed aligners. Conclusions Direct-printed TC-85 aligners demonstrated superior force consistency and reduced unwanted side effects compared with traditional PETG aligners. Although marginal design modifications did not significantly improve rotational efficiency, they effectively reduced unwanted intrusive forces.

Background: In vitro and animal studies have demonstrated that bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7), renowned for its osteogenic properties, also exerts beneficial effects on muscle metabolism by enhancing myogenesis and reversing muscle atrophy. Despite being proposed as a common regulatory factor for both muscle and bone, the impact of BMP-7 on human muscle health has not been thoroughly investigated. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 182 community-dwelling older adults who underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment in South Korea. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using Asian-specific cutoffs, and serum BMP-7 levels were quantified via enzyme immunoassay. Results: The mean age of the participants was 72.2±7.3 years, with 62.6% being female. After adjustments for confounders, serum BMP-7 levels were not significantly different between individuals with and without sarcopenia, nor were there differences based on skeletal muscle mass, strength, or physical performance levels (p=0.423 to 0.681). Likewise, no correlations were detected between circulating BMP-7 levels and any sarcopenia assessment metrics such as skeletal muscle index, grip strength, gait speed, or chair stand completion times (p=0.127 to 0.577). No significant associations were observed between increases in serum BMP-7 concentrations and the risk of sarcopenia or poor muscle phenotypes (p=0.431 to 0.712). Stratifying participants into quartiles based on serum BMP-7 levels also indicated no differences in sarcopenia-related parameters (p=0.663 to 0.996). Conclusion Despite experimental evidence supporting BMP-7’s role in muscle metabolism, this study found no significant association between serum BMP-7 levels and clinical indicators of muscle health in older adults. These findings challenge the utility of serum BMP-7 as a biomarker for sarcopenia in this demographic.

Purpose: 11C-Methionine PET/CT is a promising method for detecting parathyroid lesions in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). We aimed to determine the diagnostic ability and correlation of digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT for parathyroid lesions in patients with PHPT, particularly in cases where standard imaging methods yielded inconclusive results. Methods: This retrospective analysis was conducted on patients diagnosed with PHPT who underwent digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT imaging because of ambiguous results on standard imaging work-up ( 99m Tc-MIBI parathyroid scan and/or neck ultrasonography). Quantitative 11C-Methionine PET/CT parameters, including maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), mean SUV (SUVmean), peak SUV (SUVpeak), parathyroid methionine volume (PMV), and whole methionine uptake(WMU: PMV multiplied by SUVmean) were calculated with various thresholds, and their correlations with biochemical andpathologic parameters were investigated. Results: This study included 22 consecutive patients (10 men and 12 women) with a median age of 64.0 years. The lesion detection rate and sensitivity of digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT were 81.8% (18/22) and 100.0% (18/18), respectively.Quantitative analysis revealed that serum PTH (r = 0.490, P = 0.039) and serum calcium (r = 0.583, P = 0.011) were signifi-cantly correlated with PMV50%. Conclusion Digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT offers good performance in the detection of parathyroid lesions in PHPT patients with inconclusive standard imaging work-up. The volume parameter of PMV50% significantly correlated biochemi-cal parameters and can serve as a complementary diagnostic tool.

Objective: To quantitatively analyze and compare the forces and moments generated by thermoformed polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) and direct-printed TC-85 clear aligners (CAs), with various margin designs, during premolar rotation. Methods: In total, 132 CAs were fabricated and divided into four groups (n = 33 per group). Group C consisted of thermoformed PETG aligners with a 2 mm gingival margin. Group E comprised direct-printed TC-85 aligners with equi-gingival margin, whereas Group G utilized direct-printed TC-85 aligners with 2 mm gingival margins.Finally, Group T featured direct-printed TC-85 aligners with an additional 1 mm thickness at the mesial embrasure. The forces and moments were measured using a 6-axis force/moment transducer at 2°, 3°, and 4° of rotation. All measurements were conducted at 37°C to simulate intraoral conditions. Forces were measured in the buccolingual, anteroposterior, and vertical directions, while moments were measured in the mesiodistal, buccolingual, and rotational planes. Results: The PETG aligners (Group C) showed significantly increased buccal and posterior force across the rotation angles (P < 0.05), whereas the intrusive force remained consistent. In contrast, the TC-85 aligners maintained consistent forces across all rotation angles.Direct-printed aligners demonstrated significantly lower intrusive forces than PETG aligners (P < 0.001). Group T exhibited reduced unwanted forces while maintaining effective rotational moments. Furthermore, all direct-printed aligners showed more predictable force delivery patterns than thermoformed aligners. Conclusions Direct-printed TC-85 aligners demonstrated superior force consistency and reduced unwanted side effects compared with traditional PETG aligners. Although marginal design modifications did not significantly improve rotational efficiency, they effectively reduced unwanted intrusive forces.

Purpose: 11C-Methionine PET/CT is a promising method for detecting parathyroid lesions in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). We aimed to determine the diagnostic ability and correlation of digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT for parathyroid lesions in patients with PHPT, particularly in cases where standard imaging methods yielded inconclusive results. Methods: This retrospective analysis was conducted on patients diagnosed with PHPT who underwent digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT imaging because of ambiguous results on standard imaging work-up ( 99m Tc-MIBI parathyroid scan and/or neck ultrasonography). Quantitative 11C-Methionine PET/CT parameters, including maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), mean SUV (SUVmean), peak SUV (SUVpeak), parathyroid methionine volume (PMV), and whole methionine uptake(WMU: PMV multiplied by SUVmean) were calculated with various thresholds, and their correlations with biochemical andpathologic parameters were investigated. Results: This study included 22 consecutive patients (10 men and 12 women) with a median age of 64.0 years. The lesion detection rate and sensitivity of digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT were 81.8% (18/22) and 100.0% (18/18), respectively.Quantitative analysis revealed that serum PTH (r = 0.490, P = 0.039) and serum calcium (r = 0.583, P = 0.011) were signifi-cantly correlated with PMV50%. Conclusion Digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT offers good performance in the detection of parathyroid lesions in PHPT patients with inconclusive standard imaging work-up. The volume parameter of PMV50% significantly correlated biochemi-cal parameters and can serve as a complementary diagnostic tool.

Objective: To quantitatively analyze and compare the forces and moments generated by thermoformed polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) and direct-printed TC-85 clear aligners (CAs), with various margin designs, during premolar rotation. Methods: In total, 132 CAs were fabricated and divided into four groups (n = 33 per group). Group C consisted of thermoformed PETG aligners with a 2 mm gingival margin. Group E comprised direct-printed TC-85 aligners with equi-gingival margin, whereas Group G utilized direct-printed TC-85 aligners with 2 mm gingival margins.Finally, Group T featured direct-printed TC-85 aligners with an additional 1 mm thickness at the mesial embrasure. The forces and moments were measured using a 6-axis force/moment transducer at 2°, 3°, and 4° of rotation. All measurements were conducted at 37°C to simulate intraoral conditions. Forces were measured in the buccolingual, anteroposterior, and vertical directions, while moments were measured in the mesiodistal, buccolingual, and rotational planes. Results: The PETG aligners (Group C) showed significantly increased buccal and posterior force across the rotation angles (P < 0.05), whereas the intrusive force remained consistent. In contrast, the TC-85 aligners maintained consistent forces across all rotation angles.Direct-printed aligners demonstrated significantly lower intrusive forces than PETG aligners (P < 0.001). Group T exhibited reduced unwanted forces while maintaining effective rotational moments. Furthermore, all direct-printed aligners showed more predictable force delivery patterns than thermoformed aligners. Conclusions Direct-printed TC-85 aligners demonstrated superior force consistency and reduced unwanted side effects compared with traditional PETG aligners. Although marginal design modifications did not significantly improve rotational efficiency, they effectively reduced unwanted intrusive forces.