Rehabilitation of the Completely Edentulous Mandible by All-on-Four Treatment Concept: A Retrospective Cohort Study with Up to 10 Years Follow-Up

(1) Background and Objectives. Currently, there are no definitive long-term data about clinically significant difference in the failure of prosthesis and implant or marginal bone loss related to the rehabilitation of the completely edentulous mandible by all-on-four treatment concept. The main aim of present investigation was to report the long-term outcomes (10-years follow-up) of complete-arch mandibular rehabilitations based on the all-on-four concept. (2) Materials and Methods. Patients in need of extractions of teeth due to the occurrence of caries and/or severe periodontal disease and patients presented with edentulous mandibles were enrolled to the study. A total of 96 participants (mean follow-up period after intervention of 3185.2 days) were enrolled in the study. Participants were evaluated at the first visit, 10 days after intervention and every year after the intervention. Implant and prosthesis survival, bone loss and both local biological and mechanical complications were evaluated during the follow-up period. (3) Results. An implants’ survival rate of 97.9% was observed at the end of the follow-up period. Biological complications were reported in 19.8% of patients, whereas mechanical complications were reported in 27.1% of cases. The average marginal bone level at baseline was −0.03 mm. A significant marginal bone loss was observed after 10-years follow-up (2.5 mm). Binary logistic regression analysis showed significant association between smoke and both marginal bone loss and local biological complications. Lastly, a significant association was observed between bruxism and mechanical complications. (4) Conclusions. The high implant and prosthesis survival rate and the moderate incidence of biological and mechanical complications observed in present investigation can be associated to several factors such as high implant primary stability, prosthetic design, and control of the occlusal forces.

Patients’ experiences of self-administered electrotherapy for spasticity in stroke and cerebral palsy: A qualitative study

Objective: To explore patients’ experiences of a self-administered electrotherapy treatment for muscle spasticity in cerebral palsy and stroke; the Exopulse Mollii Suit®. Design: Qualitative design with an inductive approach Subjects: Fifteen patients with spasticity due to stroke or cerebral palsy, participating in a previous randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the treatment concept. Methods: Information letters were sent to all potential participants (n = 27) in the previous study. Semi-structured interviews (21–57 min) were carried out with all subjects who volunteered (n = 15), administered by an experienced interviewer who was not involved in the previous study. Transcribed interviews were subject to content analysis. Results: The 5 categories that emerged from the content analysis were “New method gives hope”, experiences related to “Using the assistive technology”, “Outcome from training with the assistive technology”, “The assistive technology” and “Taking part in the study”. Respondents felt hopeful when included in the previous study, motivated when experiencing a treatment effect, and disappointed when not. Conclusion: The qualitative approach used in this study elicited complementary information that was not evident from the previous RCT. This included statements regarding increased mobility, reduced spasticity, reduced use of medication, and problems related to using the treatment concept.

Trimethylamine oxide: a potential target for heart failure therapy

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome in the late stage of cardiovascular disease and is associated with high prevalence, mortality and rehospitalisation rate. The pathophysiological mechanisms of HF have experienced the initial ‘water-sodium retention’ mode to ‘abnormal hemodynamics’ mode, and subsequent to ‘abnormal activation of neuroendocrine’ mode, which has extensively promoted the reform of HF treatment and updated the treatment concept. Since the Human Microbiome Project commencement, the study on intestinal microecology has swiftly developed, providing a new direction to reveal the occurrence of diseases and the mechanisms behind drug effects. Intestinal microecology comprises the gastrointestinal lumen, epithelial secretion, food entering the intestine, intestinal flora and metabolites. Choline and L-carnitine in the diet are metabolised to trimethylamine (TMA) by the intestinal micro-organisms, with TMA being absorbed into the blood. TMA then enters the liver through the portal vein circulation and is oxidised to trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) by the hepatic flavin-containing mono-oxygenase (FMO) family, especially FMO3. The circulating TMAO levels are associated with adverse outcomes in HF (mortality and readmission), and lower TMAO levels indicate better prognosis. As HF progresses, the concentration of TMAO in patients gradually increases. Whether the circulating TMAO level can be decreased by intervening with the intestinal microflora or relevant enzymes, thereby affecting the prognosis of patients with HF, has become a research hotspot. Therefore, based on the HF intestinal hypothesis, exploring the treatment strategy for HF targeting the TMAO metabolite of the intestinal flora may update the treatment concept in HF and improve its therapeutic effect.

Therapeutic Effect of Combined Dabrafenib and Trametinib Treatment of BRAF V600E-Mutated Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid: A Case Report

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Primary squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) of the thyroid is an exceptionally rare malignancy accounting for &#x3c;1% of all primary thyroid cancers. Therapy is multimodal including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy but with no consensus for management and therapy. Here, we describe a case of a male patient who presented with a BRAF V600E-mutated PSCC of the thyroid gland showing response to combined dabrafenib and trametinib therapy over a period of &#x3e;12 months. <b><i>Case Presentation:</i></b> A 78-year-old male patient presented with a 3-week history of dysphonia and dyspnoea. Laryngoscopy revealed a mechanical obstruction by a right-sided, subglottical mass, which on cervical ultrasound was highly suggestive of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Additional workup including esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed compression of the oesophagus but no oesophageal infiltration by the tumour. Immunohistochemistry displayed CK19-positive cells indicating epithelial origin of the tumour. CK5/6 and P40 immunohistochemistry confirmed the morphological impression of squamous cell differentiation while staining with thyroid markers TTF-1 and TPO was negative and PAX8 showed a nuclear positive signal. Based on immunohistopathology, presence of TP53 and BRAF V600E mutations, and exclusion of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of other origin, the diagnosis of a PSCC of the thyroid was established. As an individualized treatment concept, we decided to advocate combined BRAF V600E targeting by the multikinase inhibitors dabrafenib and trametinib. This led to drastic improvement in patient’s quality of life without severe side effects over a period of &#x3e;12 months. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> In this case, molecular diagnosis allowed a highly individualized treatment concept with combined dabrafenib and trametinib therapy.

Three-dimensional (3D) facially driven workflow for anterior ridge defect evaluation: a treatment concept

The esthetic rehabilitation of anterior ridge defects and the achievement of patient satisfaction has become major clinical challenges for dentists and technicians. Poor diagnosis and treatment planning are frequently associated with multiple surgical procedures which fail to meet patient expectations. The loss of hard and soft tissues in esthetic compromised zone is commonly associated with anterior ridges and affects the rehabilitation prognosis. The presence of interdental papilla and papillary configuration play a decisive role in patient satisfaction. A treatment planning considering esthetic parameters, prosthetic needs, and morphological defects must be conducted to improve treatment outcomes. Therefore, this study aims to propose a treatment concept for anterior ridge defects focusing on digital evaluation systems and guided by an ideal facially driven smile design project. In addition, the relevance of the papilla for the esthetic outcomes and the treatment alternatives for anterior ridge defects are also addressed.

Left Atrial Isolation and Appendage Occlusion in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation at End Stage Left Atrial Fibrotic Disease

Background - Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in an end-stage left atrial (LA) fibrotic disease is more complex, has more recurrences and may compromise transport function and stroke risk. We explored whether a total left atrial isolation procedure (TLAI) followed by left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is a feasible treatment concept for rhythm and stroke risk control. Methods - Symptomatic AF patients with extended LA fibrosis were enrolled consecutively for TLAI followed by LAAO. At enrollment all patients received a sinus rhythm LA voltage map. For TLAI, LA anterior and paraseptal ablation lines were placed, combined with right atrial and epicardial line completion and right pulmonary vein isolation - as needed. Rhythm follow-up was provided through continuous monitoring using implantable cardiac devices. Results - 92 patients (71±9y, 41% male, 84% persistent AF, CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc 4) underwent 104 ablation procedures. Follow-up duration measured 48±22 months. At 12-month follow-up 70 out of 92 (76%) patients were free from any atrial arrhythmia recurrence, off antiarrhythmic drugs. All intended LAAO procedures were successfully performed 6-8 weeks after TLAI. Combination of TLAI and LAAO attenuated the native 4% annual stroke risk to <1% over the entire course of the study. Patients' clinical AF and heart failure symptoms (EHRA and NYHA classification) significantly improved and remained stable during further follow-up. Invasive hemodynamic assessment as well as echocardiographic transport function analysis did not show evidence of detrimental hemodynamic effects of the treatment concept. Conclusions - This is the first report on a structured concept of interventional electrical LA isolation and LA appendage occlusion for rhythm and stroke risk control in AF patients at an end-stage left atrial fibrotic disease. We report feasibility, safety, and efficacy of such a treatment approach.