Differences in finished case quality between Invisalign and traditional fixed appliances:

ABSTRACT Objectives To compare the treatment and posttreatment effects of Invisalign aligners that incorporated SmartForce features and attachments to traditional fixed appliances. Materials and Methods This randomized controlled trial included 66 patients, 32 aligners, and 34 fixed-appliance patients. The median ages of the aligner and braces patients were 26.7 (interquartile range [IQR]: 9.8) and 25.9 (IQR: 16.6) years, respectively. Pretreatment occlusion was assessed using the ABO Discrepancy Index. Posttreatment (T1) and 6-month retention (T2) occlusions were quantified using the ABO Objective Grading System (OGS) scores. Results The braces group finished treatment significantly (P < .001) earlier (0.4 years) than the aligner group. The median DI scores for the aligner and braces groups were 4.5 and 7.0, respectively, which was a statistically significant (P = .015), but clinically insignificant, difference. There were no statistically significant between-group differences for the total OGS scores or any of the individual component scores at debond (T1) or after 6 months of retention (T2). During the posttreatment period, alignment and overjet worsened significantly in the aligner group, while buccolingual inclinations and occlusal relations improved. Over the same period, alignment worsened in the braces group and buccolingual inclinations improved. There was no statistically significant between-group difference in posttreatment changes of the total OGS scores. Conclusions While patients with simple malocclusions require 4.8 months longer treatment times with aligners than traditional braces, the treatment and 6-month posttreatment occlusal outcomes are similar.

Impact of the social deprivation on the psychosocial difficulties of pediatric cancer survivors: a prospective multicentric study

Background The posttreatment period is a key part of the management of pediatric cancer care. At this period, psychosocial effects (scholarly and psychological difficulties) have been described in pediatric cancer patients and can be prognostic for the success of social reintegration. Psychosocial effects and their impact may be related to the household’s socioeconomic background. The aim of this study was to estimate psychosocial difficulties during the posttreatment period based on a social deprivation score. Design This study is based on a prospective multicentric study database, and focused on the children who had received psychosocial evaluation during their follow-up after cancer treatment since 01/01/2013. We retrieved data on their learning and psychological difficulties. Socioeconomic status of the household was estimated by a social deprivation score. Results 1003 patients were analyzed. Learning difficulties at school were noted in 22% of patients. A greater social deprivation was significantly associated with learning difficulty (OR=1.09 per unit of the deprivation score). Tumor relapse, treatment with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and diagnosis of a CNS tumor remained significant risk factors. In the subgroup analysis of children with CNS tumors, learning difficulties were increased and associated with greater social deprivation. By contrast, psychological difficulties were not associated with the deprivation score. Conclusion There is a link between SE status and learning difficulties in survivors of childhood cancer. Further investigations should be carried out to confirm these results for children with CNS tumors, which is the population of the greatest concern.

Experimental evidence of limited attention at the gym

In a randomized field experiment, we show that a low-cost intervention, weekly email reminders, increases the weekly exercising frequency of gym members by 13%, with the effect being larger for class training (19%) than for free training (11%). We find that nearly all types of individuals benefit from the reminders (e.g., students, nonstudents, women, men, new members, recurring members), and this effect persists in a three-month posttreatment period. Furthermore, the increase in class visits is partly driven by an increase in the number of bookings of gym classes and a slight decrease in the share of bookings that are canceled. Limited attention and habit formation can best explain these results. In contrast to the increase in gym attendance, we do not find any effect on the duration and renewal of membership contracts.

Can Restructuring Gains Be Sustained Without Ownership Changes? Evidence from Withdrawn Privatizations

By employing a novel, hand-collected sample of withdrawn and completed share issue privatizations, we show that both groups undergo comparable restructuring processes over the 3 years preceding the event. We employ matching procedures to explicitly control for the restructuring effect, isolating the effect of the ownership transfer from state to private investors on corporate policies and performance. We document that, absent the ownership transfer, most of the gains realized during the restructuring process are reabsorbed over the posttreatment period. The transition from state to private ownership thus represents a necessary condition for the long-term success of privatization programs.

Depression, Anxiety, and Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients’ Husbands Before and After Treatment

Introduction: The incidence of breast cancer poses a variety of physical and psychological stresses to the patients and their families, especially husbands. The aim of this study was to evaluate anxiety, depression, and quality of life of husbands of breast cancer patients before and after cancer treatment. Methods: In this descriptive study, we recruited husbands of breast cancer patients (n = 142) under treatment at the Breast Cancer Clinic of the ACECR. The participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and SF-36 before and after completion of their wives’ treatments. Results: The husbands had significantly lower anxiety (p < 0.001) and depression (p < 0.002) following their wives’ treatment However, their sexual satisfaction had declined at the posttreatment period. The mean scores on three dimensions of quality of life, i.e., physical functioning, general health perception, and mental health, were also declined after the treatment. Most of the husbands had more physical problems after the treatment of their spouses. Conclusion: It is necessary for health and medical organizations to provide extensive educational services and behavioral interventions to the patients and their families at different stages of diagnosis and treatment.

Efficacy and Safety of a Stimulator Using Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Combined with Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Patients with Painful Knee Osteoarthritis

Objective. Studies regarding the combination of ultrasound and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are rarely reported. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the efficacy and safety of a stimulator using low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) combined with TENS in patients with painful knee osteoarthritis (OA). We evaluated the effectiveness of this therapy against pain, physical function, and cartilage regeneration. Moreover, we aim to prove the superiority of the effects of LIPUS combined with TENS therapy compared with only TENS therapy.Methods. Of the 40 included patients, aged 45–85 years with painful knee OA, 20 patients received only TENS therapy and 20 patients received LIPUS combined with TENS therapy for 8 weeks (a total of more than 80 treatment sessions). We evaluated visual analogue scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) osteoarthritis index, MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and femoral articular cartilage (FAC) thickness. The evaluation was performed at three visits: visit 1 (V1, pretreatment, within 28 days after screening), visit 2 (V2, posttreatment period 1, ±3 days after treatment), and visit 3 (V3, posttreatment period 2, 21 ± 3 days after treatment).Results. We expected that LIPUS combined with TENS therapy would be superior to only TENS therapy. However, there was no significant difference between the two therapies. In the within-group comparison, both treatments (only TENS therapy and LIPUS with TENS therapy) demonstrated statistical differences from baseline values for pain and physical function outcomes. FAC thickness showed no significant differences after treatment in both groups.Conclusion. The effects of a stimulator using LIPUS with TENS on pain relief and functional improvement were not superior to the only TENS therapy. Cartilage regeneration, which was expected as an additional benefit of LIPUS, was also not significantly evident. Therefore, further investigation is warranted to determine whether the combination therapy is beneficial. This trial is registered withKCT0003883.

Percutaneous Fat Transfer to Treat Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms: Preliminary Results

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of autologous aspirated and purified fat tissue injected percutaneously into the knee joint for the treatment of symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA). Methods We reviewed 30 patients, who received an autologous percutaneous fat injection for the treatment of knee OA, from January 2012 to March 2015. Mean patients' age was 63.3 ± 5.3 years (range, 50–80 years). Body mass index was 25.1 ± 1.7. Clinical evaluation was based on pain visual analog scale (VAS) and WOMAC score for functional and subjective assessment. We also noted the adverse reactions and the consumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the posttreatment period. Results All patients reported improvements with respect to pain: average VAS was 7.7 ± 1.2 at baseline, 5.2 ± 0.2 at 1-month follow-up, and 4.3 ± 1 at 3-month follow-up. A slight deterioration (5.0 ± 1.1) was evidenced at 1 year. Total WOMAC score was 89.9 ± 1.7 at baseline, 66.3 ± 1 at 1 month, 68.6 ± 1.7 at 3 months, and 73.2 ± 1.8 at 12 months of follow-up. Conclusion Our preliminary findings suggest that autologous percutaneous fat injections are a valid treatment option for knee OA. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic case series.