Influence of Nicotine from Diverse Delivery Tools on the Autonomic Nervous and Hormonal Systems

Background: Through measurements of the heart rate variability (HRV) accompanied by the pertinent biomarker assays, the effects of nicotine and byproducts derived from alternative nicotine delivery systems (ANDS) on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and hormonal system have been investigated. Methods: HRV was studied in a group of volunteers (17 people), involving non-smokers, i.e., who never smoked before (11), ex-smokers (4) and active smokers (2). ANDS and smoking simulators, including regular, nicotine-free and electronic cigarettes; tobacco heating systems; chewing gums and nicotine packs of oral fixation (nic-packs), were used. Blood pressure, levels of stress hormones in saliva and catecholamines in the blood were also monitored. Results: HRV analysis showed relatively small changes in HRV and in the other studied parameters with the systemic use of nic-packs with low and moderate nicotine contents (up to 6 mg) compared to other ANDS. Conclusions: The HRV method is proven to be a promising technique for evaluation of the risks associated with smoking, dual use of various ANDS and studying the biomedical aspects of smoking cessation. Nic-packs are shown to be leaders in biological safety among the studied ANDS. A sharp surge in the activity of the sympathetic division of the ANS within the first minutes of the use of nicotine packs implies that nicotine begins to act already at very low doses (before entering the blood physically in any significant amount) through fast signal transmission to the brain from the nicotinic and taste buds located in the mouth area.

Radiotherapy for head and neck tumours using an oral fixation and parameter acquisition device and TOMO technology: a randomised controlled study

IntroductionRadiotherapy has become one of the main methods used for the treatment of malignant tumours of the head and neck. Spiral tomographic intensity-modulated radiotherapy has the many advantages of precision radiotherapy, which puts forward high requirements for postural reproducibility and accuracy. We will aim to ensure that the accurate positioning of the tumour will reduce the side effects of radiotherapy caused by positioning errors. We will design and implement this clinical trial using the patent of ‘a radiotherapy oral fixation and parameter acquisition device (patent number: ZL201921877986.5)’.Methods and analysisThis will be a randomised, controlled, prospective study with 120 patients with head and neck tumours. Using the random number table method, a random number sequence will be generated, and the patients will be enrolled in the experimental group (oral fixation device) and the control group (conventional fixation) in a 2:1 ratio. The primary outcome will be the progression-free survival time after the treatment. Secondary outcomes will include the oral mucosal reaction and the quality of life. Follow-ups will be carried out according to the plan. This is V.1.0 of protocol on 1 April 2021. The recruitment process for this clinical trial commenced on 1 May 2021, and will end on 1 October 2022.Ethics and disseminationThe trial received ethical approval from Medical Ethics Committee of Liaoning Provincial Cancer Hospital (number 20210131X). The final results will be presented at a scientific conference and published in a peer-reviewed journal in accordance with the journal’s guidelines.Trial registration numberChiCTR2100045096.

Clinical Application of Direct Radiographic Image in the Repair of Oral Cleft Pulpitis

Cleft pulpitis is a clinically common oral disease. The teeth in the early stage mainly show small cracks. The patient has no obvious discomfort and is difficult to observe with the naked eye. At present, root canal treatment is the main method for clinical treatment of cracked pulpitis, which means that the source of the medullary cavity is removed, and then the root canal is closed by filling with materials. Traditional root canal treatment of cracked pulpitis needs to be divided into multiple times. In order to determine the best clinical effect of root canal treatment for patients with cracked pulpitis, they are treated with different treatment methods. In this article, we selected patients with repaired cleft pulpitis as the research object, all patients underwent radiographic imaging examination, and observed the crown, root, and root canal of the patients, and selected the most appropriate treatment according to the details of the patients. The results show that in the research process, using direct-view radiography can determine the lesion more clearly than traditional X-ray imaging technology, and assist in the completion of tooth root cleaning and treatment and wound treatment at the root of the disease. Its accuracy is improved by 25%. The repair success rate is more than 90%, which is much higher than the traditional method. In terms of bacterial suppression, the use of direct-view radiography can effectively inhibit the proliferation of bacteria. Compared with the traditional control group (107/ml), the concentration of fungi is kept at around 105/mL one month after the repair experiment is completed, which is in line with the oral cavity. This shows that the application of direct-view radiography in oral fixation and restoration has a significant effect, which can improve the success rate of the patient’s operation, and can ensure the curative effect and avoid the occurrence of adverse phenomena.

Current trends in dental implant practice among dentists in Nepal

Introduction: Implant dentistry is one of the fastest growing specialty in the field in dentistry. Yet there is a paucity of literature regarding the prevalence and the current trends of implant dentistry practice among dentists working in Nepal. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and current trends of dental implants practice among the dentists working in Nepal. Method: A cross sectional, online study was done among 267 Nepalese dentists from October, 2020 to December, 2020 by convenience sampling method. Data collection was done with the help of a proforma that included socio-demographic details and predesigned questionnaire adopted from a study done in Mumbai, India.13 The questions were developed in google form and shared to the study participants through various social media for the study duration of 3 months. Results: Out of 267 participants, 142 (53.2%) were BDS, 107 (40.1%) were MDS and remaining had other degrees. Of the total participants, only 83 (31.1%) placed dental implants in their practice. Those who did not place dental implants referred the case mostly to periodontist (51.1%), followed by prosthodontist (34.8%). Only 72 (26.9%) had undergone formal implant training program. All the study participants prescribed radiograph as CBCT alone or in combination with the other radiographs. Most of the participants, who placed dental implant, did both the surgical and the prosthodontic phases. Bone level implants (74.7%), Screw retained (50.6%) and extra oral fixation (50.6%) type prosthetics were used by most of the participants. Most frequently used implant systems were Bredent (46.9%), Nobel Biocare (46.9%) and Straumann (46.9%) followed by Adin (44.5%). Conclusion: The current study showed that dental implants practice is adopted by less than one third of the dentists in Nepal, that suggests the need for implementation of Continuing Professional Development in dental implants in Nepal to increase the knowledge and skills among dental professionals.

Nicotine in various delivery systems of it and its effect on the heart-rate variability

n this experimental study heart rate variability (HRV) using electrocardiography was studied in a small group of volunteers (10 people) who have never smoked (4), ex-smokers (4) and active smokers (2). Different nicotine delivery systems and smoking simulators, including regular, nicotine-free and electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating systems, chewing gums and a completely new product on the domestic market – nicotine packs of oral fixation (NPOF) were used. Supplemented with hormonal studies (stress hormones in saliva and catecholamines in the blood), HRV analysis showed relatively small changes in HRV with systemic use of packs with moderate nicotine content (up to 6 mg), which makes this type of product a leader in biological safety among the studied alternative delivery systems nicotine.

THE APPLICATION OF STIMULATOR IN THE TREATMENT OF CLEFT LIP AND PALATE IN GOLDENHAR SYNDROME, TRISOMY 13 AND LOBAR HOLOPROSENCEPHALY WITH A MEDIAN CLEFT LIP

The clinical picture of a newborn with a syndromic cleft lip and palate is severe. The orthodontic and surgical treatment of cleft is complex and long-term. It is further complicated by various birth defects which can be life-threatening for a newborn or can make the therapy itself more difficult. The induction of a newborn into total anesthesia with a view to performing the surgery of a cleft is often made difficult or time-limited. This paper presents pre-surgical orthodontic therapy in newborns with three severe types of cleft, UCLP, BCLP and premaxillary agenesis with median cleft lip which occurred within three rare syndromes Goldenhar syndome, lobar holoprosencephaly with a median cleft lip and trisomy 13 (47XX+13). Pre-surgical orthodontic therapy was conducted by means of RBJ stimulators without extra oral fixation, whose construction was conditioned by the type of cleft. With active treatment of RBJ stimulators, the cleft area in all three types of cleft was significantly reduced, as well as the protrusion of the premaxilla in BCLP. By directing the growth of cleft segments of newborn’s upper jaw, the most approximate shape to a healthy newborn’s jaw shape is achieved. All three types of described stimulators used in the therapy of syndromic cleft lip and palate enabled primarily the feeding of newborns, and thus their survival. With their orthopedic treatment they created optimal conditions for successful performing of surgical care of syndromic cleft lip and palate.

Oral Fixation or Oral Corrective? A Response to Larry Hurtado

Over the last several decades, performance criticism has made significant headway as an interpretive method. However, in a recent issue of this journal, Larry Hurtado argues that the key assumptions of the movement ignore various historical realities regarding the use of texts in the ancient world. The following discussion offers a brief response to what Hurtado suggests are several ‘oversimplifications’. The essay argues that rather than being a ‘fixation’ as Hurtado maintains, the renewed focus on orality and performance is a corrective that helps to provide a broader understanding of how biblical texts were typically experienced in the ancient world.

Pictorial body metaphors in Japanese advertising

This article explores the use of the body metaphor as a core communicative tool in times of economic crisis and national indebtedness, and the ways in which it thwarts political dialogue. It first traces the body metaphor in the manga version of Hitler’s Mein Kampf, following Andreas Musolff’s theory of the ‘body politic’ in Nazi Germany. It then argues that the economic resurrection, or ‘miracles’, in postwar Germany and Japan replaced the discourse of the body nation with that of the body economy. Charles Forceville has shown how advertising uses pictorial metaphors to depict commodities and emphasise their qualities. My analysis of Japanese commercials reveals that their metaphors work to ‘incorporate’ consumers through the act of oral consumption, merging them with the commodities. An ‘oral fixation’ is presumed, rendering the relationship between the body economy and the consumer as one between mother and infant. Advertising functions as the wrapping, or ‘skin’, of this body economy, encouraging us to suckle at the mother’s breasts and at the same time to inject unlimited amounts of money into her veins.

Oral Fixation and New Testament Studies? ‘Orality’, ‘Performance’ and Reading Texts in Early Christianity

In recent decades, emphasising the ‘orality/aurality’ of the Roman world, some scholars have asserted that in early Christian circles texts were ‘performed’, not ‘read’ (and could not have been read), likening this action to descriptions of oratorical delivery of speeches (from memory) or theatrical performance. It has even been suggested that some texts, particularly the Gospel of Mark, were composed in ‘performance’, and not through an author working up a text in written form. These claims seem to be based on numerous oversimplifications (and so distortions) of relevant historical matters, however, and also involve a failure to take account of the full range of relevant data about the use of texts in early Christianity and the wider Roman-era setting. So, at least some of the crucial claims and inferences made are highly dubious. In this essay, I offer corrections to some crucial oversimplifications, and I point to the sorts of data that must be taken into account in drawing a more reliable picture of the place of texts and how they functioned in early Christianity.