Prosthodontic treatment is being performed for morphology and functional restoration due to damage and loss of teeth. As the aesthetic demands of patients increase, interest in ceramic materials with shades and translucency similar to natural teeth has increased.Recently, the manufacturing and processing technology of ceramic materials has greatly improved, and the market for dental ceramic materials is growing rapidly. The purpose of this literature review and evaluation is to provide information on the classification and properties of dental ceramic materials with excellent aesthetics and fracture resistance. In this article, it is classified as follows: I) Dental porcelain; II) Sinterable all-ceramic; III) Glass-ceramic for casting; IV) Glass-infiltrated alumina ceramic; V) Glass-ceramic ingots for heat-pressing technique; Vl) Blocks for CAD/CAM; Vll) Ceramic for CAD/3D printing. Dental ceramic materials and their restoration manufacturing methods have evolved significantly over the past decade. As a result, the manufacturing method of restorations has progressed from the layered firing technique of powdered materials or heat-pressing technique to the cutting and processing of single and multi-layer blocks using CAD/CAM technology, leading to the introduction of CAD/3D printing technology. In this manuscript, we will review the types of ceramic materials used in the fabrication of dental restorations and their advantages and disadvantages.

Objective: We intended to investigate the relationships between visual sensory impairment (VSI) or auditory sensory impairment (ASI) and brain pathological changes associated with cognitive decline in older adults. Methods: We primarily tried to examine whether each sensory impairment is related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology, specifically beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition, through both cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches in cognitively unimpaired older adults. Self-report questionnaires on vision and hearing status were administered at the baseline.Neuroimaging scans including brain [ 11 C] Pittsburgh Compound B PET and MRI, as well as clinical assessments, were performed at baseline and 2-year follow-up. Results: Cross-sectional analyses showed that the VSI-positive group had significantly higher Aβ deposition than the VSI-negative group, whereas there was no significant association between ASI positivity and Aβ deposition. Longitudinal analyses revealed that VSI positivity at baseline was significantly associated with increased Aβ deposition over 2 years (β = 0.153, p = 0.025), although ASI positivity was not (β = 0.045, p = 0.518). VSI positivity at baseline was also significantly associated with greater atrophic changes in AD-related brain regions over the 2-year follow-up period (β = −0.207, p = 0.005), whereas ASI positivity was not (β = 0.024, p = 0.753). Neither VSI nor ASI positivity was related to cerebrovascular injury, as measured based on the white matter hyperintensity volume. Conclusion The findings suggest that VSI is probably related to AD-specific pathological changes, which possibly mediate the reported relationship between VSI and cognitive decline. In contrast, ASI appears not associated with AD pathologies but may contribute to cognitive decline via other mechanisms.

Objective: We intended to investigate the relationships between visual sensory impairment (VSI) or auditory sensory impairment (ASI) and brain pathological changes associated with cognitive decline in older adults. Methods: We primarily tried to examine whether each sensory impairment is related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology, specifically beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition, through both cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches in cognitively unimpaired older adults. Self-report questionnaires on vision and hearing status were administered at the baseline.Neuroimaging scans including brain [ 11 C] Pittsburgh Compound B PET and MRI, as well as clinical assessments, were performed at baseline and 2-year follow-up. Results: Cross-sectional analyses showed that the VSI-positive group had significantly higher Aβ deposition than the VSI-negative group, whereas there was no significant association between ASI positivity and Aβ deposition. Longitudinal analyses revealed that VSI positivity at baseline was significantly associated with increased Aβ deposition over 2 years (β = 0.153, p = 0.025), although ASI positivity was not (β = 0.045, p = 0.518). VSI positivity at baseline was also significantly associated with greater atrophic changes in AD-related brain regions over the 2-year follow-up period (β = −0.207, p = 0.005), whereas ASI positivity was not (β = 0.024, p = 0.753). Neither VSI nor ASI positivity was related to cerebrovascular injury, as measured based on the white matter hyperintensity volume. Conclusion The findings suggest that VSI is probably related to AD-specific pathological changes, which possibly mediate the reported relationship between VSI and cognitive decline. In contrast, ASI appears not associated with AD pathologies but may contribute to cognitive decline via other mechanisms.

Objective: We intended to investigate the relationships between visual sensory impairment (VSI) or auditory sensory impairment (ASI) and brain pathological changes associated with cognitive decline in older adults. Methods: We primarily tried to examine whether each sensory impairment is related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology, specifically beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition, through both cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches in cognitively unimpaired older adults. Self-report questionnaires on vision and hearing status were administered at the baseline.Neuroimaging scans including brain [ 11 C] Pittsburgh Compound B PET and MRI, as well as clinical assessments, were performed at baseline and 2-year follow-up. Results: Cross-sectional analyses showed that the VSI-positive group had significantly higher Aβ deposition than the VSI-negative group, whereas there was no significant association between ASI positivity and Aβ deposition. Longitudinal analyses revealed that VSI positivity at baseline was significantly associated with increased Aβ deposition over 2 years (β = 0.153, p = 0.025), although ASI positivity was not (β = 0.045, p = 0.518). VSI positivity at baseline was also significantly associated with greater atrophic changes in AD-related brain regions over the 2-year follow-up period (β = −0.207, p = 0.005), whereas ASI positivity was not (β = 0.024, p = 0.753). Neither VSI nor ASI positivity was related to cerebrovascular injury, as measured based on the white matter hyperintensity volume. Conclusion The findings suggest that VSI is probably related to AD-specific pathological changes, which possibly mediate the reported relationship between VSI and cognitive decline. In contrast, ASI appears not associated with AD pathologies but may contribute to cognitive decline via other mechanisms.

Objective: We intended to investigate the relationships between visual sensory impairment (VSI) or auditory sensory impairment (ASI) and brain pathological changes associated with cognitive decline in older adults. Methods: We primarily tried to examine whether each sensory impairment is related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology, specifically beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition, through both cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches in cognitively unimpaired older adults. Self-report questionnaires on vision and hearing status were administered at the baseline.Neuroimaging scans including brain [ 11 C] Pittsburgh Compound B PET and MRI, as well as clinical assessments, were performed at baseline and 2-year follow-up. Results: Cross-sectional analyses showed that the VSI-positive group had significantly higher Aβ deposition than the VSI-negative group, whereas there was no significant association between ASI positivity and Aβ deposition. Longitudinal analyses revealed that VSI positivity at baseline was significantly associated with increased Aβ deposition over 2 years (β = 0.153, p = 0.025), although ASI positivity was not (β = 0.045, p = 0.518). VSI positivity at baseline was also significantly associated with greater atrophic changes in AD-related brain regions over the 2-year follow-up period (β = −0.207, p = 0.005), whereas ASI positivity was not (β = 0.024, p = 0.753). Neither VSI nor ASI positivity was related to cerebrovascular injury, as measured based on the white matter hyperintensity volume. Conclusion The findings suggest that VSI is probably related to AD-specific pathological changes, which possibly mediate the reported relationship between VSI and cognitive decline. In contrast, ASI appears not associated with AD pathologies but may contribute to cognitive decline via other mechanisms.

Titanium mesh is commonly employed to reinforce missing alveolar ridges and promote bone regeneration around implants. However, the bioinertness of titanium mesh must be improved. This study evaluated the effect of improving bioactivity and bone regeneration by loading a calcium phosphate coating layer and ibandronate onto a titanium mesh with a nanotube-structured TiO2 layer. The surface treatment of titanium mesh was divided into four groups: (1) No treatment; (2) Formation of nanotube TiO2 layer; (3) Cyclic calcification pretreatment (calcium phosphate coating layer) after the formation of a nanotube TiO2 layer; (4) Calcium phosphate coating and ibandronate loading after the formation of a nanotube TiO2 layer. The release amount of ibandronate was analyzed using a UV spectrophotometer, and bioactivity was assessed through XRD, EDS, and HR FE-SEM to observe changes in the surface layer after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). Hydroxyapatite was uniformly distributed on the surface of the (4) group immersed in SBF, and calcium and phosphorus content also increased over time. This result supported that bioactivity was improved. The continuous release of ibandronate over 10 days may contribute to realizing a mechanism that improves osseointegration between bone and titanium mesh. These results showed that bioactivity was improved as calcium phosphate precipitated on the surface of the nanostructured titanium mesh. Additionally, it is believed that combined ibandronate can effectively increase the stability of titanium mesh and promote bone regeneration.

The purpose of this study was to observe the surface morphology and roughness of micro-hybrid and nano-filled resin composites and compare wear resistance by conducting a toothbrushing wear test with toothpastes with different abrasive ingredients. Two types of resin composites containing micro-hybrid fillers (Z100 Restorative, Filtek Z250) and one type of resin composite containing nanofillers (Filtek Z350 XT) were used. For the toothbrushing wear test, 90 resin composite samples with a diameter of 10 mm and a thickness of 1 mm were prepared. A force of 2 N and 100,000 cycles of brushing were performed using a pin-on-disk wear tester. The toothpastes used in the test were classified into 4 groups according to the abrasive ingredients (hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and zeolite-M). After the toothbrushing wear test, the surface morphology of the samples was observed using an optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the surface roughness was measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Relatively large filler particles (micro size) protruded from the surface of the micro-hybrid resin composite groups, and small crater-shaped defects were observed. The surface roughness values of the groups that performed the wear test with toothpaste containing zeolite-M were significantly higher than the other groups (P<0.05). The surface roughness value was significantly (P<0.05) highest in the group where the nanofilled resin composite was wear-tested with toothpaste containing zeolite-M. However, regardless of the type of toothpaste, the surface roughness showed low values of less than 0.1 μm. The surface appeared uniform and smooth compared to the surface of micro-hybrid resin composites. Finally, the nano-filled resin composite showed relatively higher wear resistance than the micro-hybrid resin composite. This means that wear resistance during brushing may indicate the durability of the material in the clinic.

Odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) accounts for 3-11% of all odontogenic cysts. OKC is a benign intra-osseous odontogenic tumor, but what makes this cyst special is its aggressive behavior and high recurrence rate. OKC is relatively aggressive compared to other odontogenic cysts, but its malignant transformation is considered extremely rare. Squamous cell carcinoma associated with odontogenic keratocysts have rarely been reported in the medical literature. We recently experienced a case of a 63-year-old man finally confirmed with squamous cell carcinoma of the mandible, which was initially diagnosed as a benign odontogenic keratocyst. Surgical resection was performed as definitive treatment. Therefore, we present this unique case with a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The use of a low-volume bowel cleansing agent is associated with a greater willingness to undergo repeat colonoscopy. Oral sulfate solution (OSS) is a recently approved low-volume agent; however, its efficacy and safety in the elderly population remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and acceptability of the OSS preparation, in comparison to those of a standard polyethylene glycol (PEG; 4 L) preparation, in elderly patients. METHODS: A multicenter, randomized, investigator-blinded study was conducted. Participants were randomized to receive OSS or 4-L PEG with a split-dose regimen. Bowel cleansing efficacy was assessed using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS). Acceptance, satisfaction, and preparation-related symptoms were recorded. Additionally, blood parameters were analyzed for electrolyte abnormalities and nephrotoxicity. RESULTS: A total of 193 patients were analyzed. No group differences in overall bowel cleansing efficacy were observed, with “adequate” preparations achieved in 95.9% (93/97) and 94.8% (91/96) of patients in the OSS and 4L PEG groups, respectively (p=0.747). However, mean BBPS scores for the entire (p=0.010) and right colon (p=0.001) were significantly higher in the OSS group than in the 4-L PEG group. The severity of clinical adverse events and frequency of acute kidney injury were similarly low, and no clinically meaningful electrolyte changes were identified. Self-reported scores regarding amount (p<0.001) and feeling (p=0.007), as well as overall satisfaction (p=0.001) and willingness to repeat the preparation (92.8% vs 67.7%, p<0.001), were significantly better in the OSS group than in the 4-L PEG group. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly individuals, OSS with a split-dose regimen has greater acceptability and comparable efficacy in bowel cleansing compared to 4-L PEG. (Clinical trials registration number: NCT03112967)
Acute Kidney Injury ; Aged ; Cathartics ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Detergents ; Humans ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Few studies have reported on breakthrough urinary tract infection (UTI) associated with the susceptibility of index UTI to prophylactic antibiotics in children with primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) receiving continuous antibiotic prophylaxis (CAP). We assessed the impact of the susceptibility of index UTI to prophylactic antibiotics in breakthrough UTIs in children with primary VUR receiving CAP. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 81 children with primary VUR who were diagnosed after febrile or symptomatic UTI and subsequently received trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) as CAP between January 2010 and December 2013. We allocated children to a susceptible group or a resistant group based on the susceptibility of index UTI to TMP-SMX. We evaluated patient demographics and clinical outcomes after CAP according to the susceptibility of index UTI to TMP-SMX. Multivariate analysis was used to identify the predictive factors for breakthrough UTI. RESULTS: Of the 81 children, 42 were classified into the susceptible group and 39 into the resistant group. The proportion of breakthrough UTI was 31.0% (13/42) in the susceptible group and 53.8% (21/39) in the resistant group (P = 0.037). Progression of renal scarring was observed in 0% of children in the susceptible group and 15% in the resistant group (P = 0.053). Multivariate analysis showed that TMP-SMX resistance and initial renal scarring were significant predictors of breakthrough UTI. CONCLUSION: Susceptibility of index UTI to prophylactic antibiotics is a risk factor of breakthrough UTI and is associated with poor clinical outcomes in children with primary VUR receiving CAP.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antibiotic Prophylaxis ; Child ; Cicatrix ; Demography ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Urinary Tract ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux