Sonographic features of various dental materials and foreign bodies

Objective: To reveal the sonographic characteristics of various foreign bodies and dental materials to aid diagnosis. Methods and materials: 24 objects consisting of various dental materials and foreign bodies were included in the study. Objects were embedded in bovine gelatin. Images of the objects were obtained by conventional radiography and ultrasonography (USG). Opacities were evaluated by conventional radiography. Their visibility and posterior acoustic behaviors were examined by USG. In addition, the actual sizes of the objects and their dimensions measured by USG were compared. Results: All objects included in the study, including non-opaque ones, could be visualized by USG. When the posterior acoustic behavior of objects was examined, 15 of the objects (62.5%) caused posterior acoustic shadowing on USG. While 6 of the objects (25%) did not have any USG artifacts, 2 of them (8,3%) had comet tail artifact and 1 of them (4,2%) had reverberation artifact. There was no statistically significant difference between the actual dimensions of the objects and their dimensions measured by USG (p > 0,05). Conclusion: USG is a very useful technique for imaging foreign bodies and dental materials, it can even show objects that cannot be seen in X-rays on in-vitro environment.

RNAseq analysis reveals dynamic metaboloepigenetic profiles of human, mouse and bovine pre-implantation embryos

Metaboloepigenetic regulation (metabolites regulating the cellular epigenome inducing long-term changes), has been reported in stem cells, germ cells and tumor cells. Embryonic metaboloepigenetics, however, have just begun to be described. Here we analyzed RNAseq data to characterize the metaboloepigenetic profiles of human, mouse and bovine pre-implantation embryos. In embryos, metaboloepigenetic reprogramming is species specific, varies with the developmental stage and is disrupted with in vitro culture. Although the idea that the in vitro environment may influence embryo development is not new, there has been little progress on improving pregnancy rates after more than 43 years using in vitro fertilization. Hence, the present data on embryonic metaboloepigenetic will contribute to understanding how the in vitro manipulation affects the metaboloepigenetic status of early embryos, which can be used to establish culture strategies aimed at improving the in vitro environment and, consequently, pregnancy rates and offspring health.

Novel microwell with roof capable of buoyant spheroid culture

Microwells are used in studies to mimic the in vivo environment through an in vitro environment by generating three-dimensional cell spheroids. These microwells have been fabricated in various shapes using...