Immediately provisionalized tapered conical connection implants for single-tooth restorations in the maxillary esthetic zone: a 5-year prospective single-cohort multicenter analysis

Objectives This open, single-cohort, multicenter, prospective study investigated the efficacy of immediately provisionalized tapered conical connection implant for single-tooth restorations in the anterior and premolar regions of the maxilla after 5 years of function. Materials and methods All implants were placed in healed sites and immediately provisionalized. MBLs, soft-tissue parameters, and oral-health impact profile (OHIP) were evaluated at implant insertion, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 60 months. Paired Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used for statistical and implant survival/success analyses, respectively. Results Seventy-seven patients (81 implants) completed the 5-year follow-up. The 5-year cumulative survival and success rates were 97.8%, and the mean MBL change from implant insertion to 5 years was − 0.80 ± 1.13 mm. Optimal papilla index scores were observed at 90.1% of sites at 5 years compared with 32.8% of sites at insertion. Pink esthetic score, modified bleeding and plaque indices, and OHIP showed statistically significant improvement at the 5-year follow-up. Conclusions Immediately provisionalized tapered conical connection implants promote marginal bone stability and excellent esthetic outcomes after 5 years of function. Clinical relevance This treatment is a viable option for patients requiring immediately provisionalized single-tooth restorations in the esthetic zone and shows favorable long-term clinical outcomes, including marginal bone stability and excellent esthetics.

Optical Biopsy for Esophageal Squamous Cell Neoplasia by Using Endocytoscopy

Background Endocytoscopy (ECS) enables microscopic observation in vivo for the gastrointestinal mucosa; however, there has been no prospective study in which the diagnostic accuracy of ECS for lesions that have not yet undergone histological diagnosis was evaluated. We conducted a surveillance study for patients in a high-risk group of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and evaluated the in vivo histological diagnostic accuracy of ECS. Methods This study was a multicenter prospective study. We enrolled 197 patients in the study between September 1, 2019 and November 30, 2020. The patients first underwent white light imaging and narrow band imaging, and ultra-high magnifying observation was performed if there was a lesion suspected to be an esophageal tumor. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was later performed for lesions that were diagnosed to be ESCC by ECS without biopsy. We analyzed the diagnostic accuracy of ECS for esophageal tumorous lesions. Results ESD was performed for 37 patients (41 lesions) who were diagnosed as having ESCC by ECS, and all of them were histopathologically diagnosed as having ESCC. The sensitivity (95% confidence interval (CI)) was 97.6% (87.7%-99.7%), specificity was 100% (92.7%-100%), diagnostic accuracy was 98.9% (94.0%-99.8%), positive predictive value (PPV) was 100% (91.4%-100%) and negative predictive value (NPV) was 98.0% (89.5%-99.7%). Conclusions ECS has a high diagnostic accuracy and there were no false positives in cases diagnosed and resected as ESCC. Optical biopsy by using ECS for esophageal lesions is considered to be sufficient in clinical practice.

Adherence Improvement in Glaucoma Patients: Effects of Educational Intervention Using an Eye Drop Chart

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of an educational intervention using an eye drop chart and supplementary education on glaucoma patients’ adherence.Methods: In this multicenter prospective study, medically treated glaucoma patients were educated on the administration of eye drops using an eye drop chart. At the time of recruitment, all of the patients completed a questionnaire on demographic characteristics and adherence. Three months after the initial educational intervention, the patients were randomly divided into two groups: an education group and a control group. The education group received supplementary education. Immediately thereafter and at 6 months, all of the patients completed the questionnaire on adherence again. Changes in instillation behavior, the relationship between the adherence score and demographic characteristics, and factors contributing to an improvement in adherence and intraocular pressure were then analyzed.Results: The adherence scores were significantly higher in patients with fewer medications, a higher annual income and higher educational level, and an urban residence (p = 0.038, p = 0.033, p = 0.041 and p = 0.047, respectively). Education on the administration of eye drops and use of the eye drop chart improved adherence scores from 23.05 ± 3.52 to 21.30 ± 3.95 (p = 0.021) and significantly reduced the average intraocular pressure from 14.3 ± 2.9 to 12.4 ± 3.1 mmHg (p < 0.001). Working indoors (odds ratio [OR] = 5.47, p = 0.032) and supplementary education at 3 months (OR = 4.53, p = 0.030) were also correlated with improved adherence.Conclusions: An eye drop chart is an effective tool for improving adherence and intraocular pressure control in glaucoma patients. Improvement in adherence was especially notable in patients whose work predominantly involved indoor activity. The effectiveness of the eye drop chart was improved by supplementary education.