Assessment of metal artefact reduction around dental titanium implants in cone beam CT

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate if the metal artefact reduction (MAR) tool used in the software of the ORTHOPANTOMOGRAPH(®) OP300 (Instrumentarium Dental, Tuusula, Finland) can improve the gray value levels in post-operative implant scans.

METHODS

20 potential implant sites were selected from 5 edentulous human dry mandibles. Each mandible was scanned by a CBCT scanner, and images were produced under three different conditions: implant sites drilled but no implants inserted, implants inserted without application of MAR and implants inserted with application of MAR. Using Geomagic(®) Studio 2012 (Geomagic, Morrisville, NC) and 3Diagnosys(®) v. 5.3.1 (3Diemme(®) SRL, Cantù, Italy) software, three scans of each mandible were superimposed. The mean gray value of identical regions of bone around the implants was derived for each condition. The differences between gray value measurements at implant sites derived from different conditions were assessed.

RESULTS

A significant difference was found between mean gray values from the scans with no implants inserted and with implants inserted (with and without MAR) (p = 0.012). No significant difference was revealed for gray values measured from scans with and without MAR (p = 0.975).

CONCLUSIONS

The MAR tool in the software of the ORTHOPANTOMOGRAPH OP300 CBCT scanner does not significantly correct the voxel gray values affected by the metal artefact in the vicinity of an implant in human dry mandibles.

Hepatoprotective effect of Caesalpinia gilliesii and Cajanus cajan proteins against acetoaminophen overdose-induced hepatic damage

This study aims to evaluate two proteins derived from the seeds of the plants Cajanus cajan (Leguminosae) and Caesalpinia gilliesii (Leguminosae) for their abilities to ameliorate the toxic effects of chronic doses of acetoaminphen (APAP) through the determination of certain biochemical parameters including liver marker enzymes: alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin. Also, total protein content and hepatic marker enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase were studied. Moreover, liver antioxidants, glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide, and lipid peroxides were determined in this study. Hepatic adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), adenylate energy charge (ATP, adenosine diphosphate, adenosine monophosphate, and inorganic phosphate), and phosphate potential, serum interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and myeloperoxidase were also examined in the present study. On the other hand, histopathological examination of intoxicated and liver treated with both proteins was taken into consideration. The present results show disturbances in all biochemical parameters and hepatic toxicity signs including mild vascular congestion, moderate inflammatory changes with moderate congested sinusoids, moderate nuclear changes (pyknosis), moderate centrilobular necrosis, fatty changes, nuclear pyknosis vascular congestion, and change in fatty centrilobular necrosis liver. Improvement in all biochemical parameters studied was noticed as a result of treatment intoxicated liver with C. gilliesii and C. cajan proteins either paracetamol with or post paracetamol treatment. These results were documented by the amelioration signs in rat's hepatic architecture. Thus, both plant protein extracts can upregulate and counteract the inflammatory process, minimize damage of the liver, delay disease progression, and reduce its complications.

Albumin-bound nanoparticles of practically water-insoluble antimalarial lead greatly enhance its efficacy

We recently showed that the indolone-N-oxides can be promising candidates for the treatment of chloroquine-resistant malaria. However, the in vivo assays have been hampered by the very poor aqueous solubility of these compounds resulting in poor and variable activity. Here, we describe the preparation, characterization and in vivo evaluation of biodegradable albumin-bound indolone-N-oxide nanoparticles. Nanoparticles were prepared by precipitation followed by high-pressure homogenization and characterized by photon correlation spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray powder diffraction. The process was optimized to yield nanoparticles of controllable diameter with narrow size distribution suitable for intravenous administration, which guarantees direct drug contact with parasitized erythrocytes. Stable nanoparticles showed greatly enhanced dissolution rate (complete drug release within 30 min compared to 1.5% of pure drug) preserving the rapid antimalarial activity. The formulation achieved complete cure of Plasmodium berghei-infected mice at 25mg/kg with parasitemia inhibition (99.1%) comparable to that of artesunate and chloroquine and was remarkably more effective in prolonging survival time and inhibiting recrudescence. In 'humanized' mice infected with Plasmodium falciparum, the same dose proved to be highly effective: with parasitemia reduced by 97.5% and the mean survival time prolonged. This formulation can help advance the preclinical trials of indolone-N-oxides. Albumin-bound nanoparticles represent a new strategic approach to use this most abundant plasma protein to target malaria-infected erythrocytes.

Assessment of natural radioactivity levels in rocks and their relationships with the geological structure of Johor state, Malaysia

The distribution of natural radionuclides ((238)U, (232)Th and (40)K) and their radiological hazard effect in rocks collected from the state of Johor, Malaysia were determined by gamma spectroscopy using a high-purity germanium detector. The highest values of (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K activity concentrations (67±6, 85±7 and 722±18 Bg kg(-1), respectively) were observed in the granite rock. The lowest concentrations of (238)U and (232)Th (2±0.1 Bq kg(-1) for (238)U and 2±0.1 Bq kg(-1) for (232)Th) were observed in gabbro rock. The lowest concentration of (40)K (45±2 Bq kg(-1)) was detected in sandstone. The radium equivalent activity concentrations for all rock samples investigated were lower than the internationally accepted value of 370 Bq kg(-1). The highest value of radium equivalent in the present study (239±17 Bq kg(-1)) was recorded in the area of granite belonging to an acid intrusive rock geological structure. The absorbed dose rate was found to range from 4 to 112 nGy h(-1). The effective dose ranged from 5 to 138 μSv h(-1). The internal and external hazard index values were given in results lower than unity. The purpose of this study is to provide information related to radioactivity background levels and the effects of radiation on residents in the study area under investigation. Moreover, the relationships between the radioactivity levels in the rocks within the geological structure of the studied area are discussed.

Influence of object location in different FOVs on trabecular bone microstructure measurements of human mandible: a cone beam CT study

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of different object locations in different fields of view (FOVs) of two cone beam CT (CBCT) systems on trabecular bone microstructure measurements of a human mandible. A block of dry human mandible was scanned at five different locations (centre, left, right, anterior and posterior) using five different FOVs of two CBCT systems (NewTom™ 5G; QR Verona, Verona, Italy and Accuitomo 170; Morita, Kyoto, Japan). Image analysis software (CTAn software v. 1.1; SkyScan, Kontich, Belgium) was used to assess the trabecular bone microstructural parameters (thickness, Tb.Th; spacing, Tb.Sp; number, Tb.N; bone volume density, BV/TV). All measurements were taken twice by one trained observer. Tb.Th, Tb.Sp and Tb.N varied significantly across different FOVs in the NewTom 5G (p < 0.001) and the Accuitomo 170 (p < 0.001). For location, a significant difference was observed only when measuring BV/TV (p = 0.03) using the NewTom 5G. The trabecular bone microstructural measurements obtained from CBCT systems are influenced by the size of FOVs. Not all trabecular bone parameters measured using different CBCT systems are affected when varying the object location within the FOVs.

The effect of scan parameters on cone beam CT trabecular bone microstructural measurements of the human mandible

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different cone beam CT scan parameters on trabecular bone microstructure measurements. A human mandibular cadaver was scanned using a cone beam CT (3D Accuitomo 170; J.Morita, Kyota, Japan). 20 cone beam CT images were obtained using 5 different fields of view (4×4 cm, 6×6 cm, 8×8 cm, 10×10 cm and 10×5 cm), 2 types of rotation steps (180° and 360°) and 2 scanning resolutions (standard and high). Image analysis software was used to assess the trabecular bone microstructural parameters (number, thickness and spacing). All parameters were measured twice by one trained observer. Intraclass correlation coefficients showed high intraobserver repeatability (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.95-0.97) in all parameters across all tested scan parameters. Trabecular bone microstructural measurements varied significantly, especially in smaller fields of view (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference in the trabecular parameters when using different resolutions (number, p = 0.988; thickness, p = 0.960; spacing, p = 0.831) and rotation steps (number, p = 1.000; thickness, p = 0.954; spacing, p = 0.759). The scan field of view significantly influences the trabecular bone microstructure measurements. Rotation steps (180° or 360°) and resolution (standard or high) selections are not relevant.

Breast cancer and leptomeningeal disease (LMD): hormone receptor status influences time to development of LMD and survival from LMD diagnosis

Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) occurs in 5 % of breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors related to survival and time to development of LMD in breast cancer patients. A retrospective analysis of breast cancer patients with LMD, evaluated in MDACC between 1995 and 2011. 103 patients with diagnosis of breast cancer and LMD were identified (one male). The median age at LMD diagnosis was 49.2 years. 78.2 % had invasive ductal carcinoma. Hormone receptors (HRs) were positive in 55.3 % of patients, 47.4 % were human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive and 22.8 % were triple negative. 52 % of the patients were treated with WBRT, 19 % with spinal radiation, 36 % with systemic chemotherapy and 55 % with intrathecal chemotherapy. Estimated median overall survival from time of breast cancer diagnosis was 3.66 years. Median survival from time of LMD diagnosis was 4.2 months. Time from breast cancer diagnosis to LMD was 2.48 years. In multivariate analysis, HR status and stage at diagnosis were significantly associated with time to LMD diagnosis (p < 0.05). In triple negative patients, time to LMD was shorter. In patients who were HR positive, time to LMD was longer. Survival from LMD diagnosis was significantly associated with both treatment, as well as positive HR status (multivariate analysis p < 0.05). In conclusion LMD has dismal prognosis in breast cancer patients. HR status contributes to time to LMD diagnosis and survival from LMD diagnosis. The impact of treatment aimed at LMD cannot be ascertained in our retrospective study due to the inherent bias associated with the decision to treat.

Diagnostic imaging of trabecular bone microstructure for oral implants: a literature review

Several dental implant studies have reported that radiographic evaluation of bone quality can aid in reducing implant failure. Bone quality is assessed in terms of its quantity, density, trabecular characteristics and cells. Current imaging modalities vary widely in their efficiency in assessing trabecular structures, especially in a clinical setting. Most are very costly, require an extensive scanning procedure coupled with a high radiation dose and are only partially suitable for patient use. This review examines the current literature regarding diagnostic imaging assessment of trabecular microstructure prior to oral implant placement and suggests cone beam CT as a method of choice for evaluating trabecular bone microstructure.

The effect of scan parameters on cone beam CT trabecular bone microstructural measurements of human mandible

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different cone beam CT scan parameters on trabecular bone microstructure measurements. A human mandibular cadaver was scanned using a cone beam CT (3D Accuitomo 170; J.Morita, Kyota, Japan). 20 cone beam CT images were obtained using 5 different fields of view (4×4 cm, 6×6 cm, 8×8 cm, 10×10 cm and 10×5 cm), 2 types of rotation steps (180° and 360°) and 2 scanning resolutions (standard and high). Image analysis software was used to assess the trabecular bone microstructural parameters (number, thickness and spacing). All parameters were measured twice by one trained observer. Intraclass correlation coefficients showed high intraobserver repeatability (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.95–0.97) in all parameters across all tested scan parameters. Trabecular bone microstructural measurements varied significantly, especially in smaller fields of view (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference in the trabecular parameters when using different resolutions (number, p = 0.988; thickness, p = 0.960; spacing, p = 0.831) and rotation steps (number, p = 1.000; thickness, p = 0.954; spacing, p = 0.759). The scan field of view significantly influences the trabecular bone microstructure measurements. Rotation steps (180° or 360°) and resolution (standard or high) selections are not relevant.

Comparative in vivo antioxidant levels in Schistosoma mansoni infected mice treated with praziquantel or the essential oil of Melaleuca armillaris leaves

Plant extracts are continuously investigated for their extensive inclusion of biologically active constituents that exert therapeutic activities against many diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the antioxidant/anti-schistosomal activities of the essential oil of the fresh leaves of Melaleuca armillaris (M. armillaris) compared to Praziquantel (PZQ) on normal and Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice. The oil was isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The oil was rich in 1,8-cineole (33.93%), terpinen-4-ol (18.79%), limonene (10.37%) and B-pinene (6.59%). M. armillaris oil (150 mg kg(-1), orally) was administered from the second week post infection twice per week for six weeks. PZQ (500 mg kg(-1), orally) was administered for two successive days 8 weeks post infection and mice sacrificed one week later. Total protein, Malondialdehyde (MDA), Glutathione (GSH), vitamins C and E, the antioxidant enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase, as well as liver weights and liver/body weight were determined in the liver tissues. Results showed that, both treatments significantly ameliorated the disturbed levels ofGSH and MDA in infected mice. Both vitamins were significantly elevated after treatment with the oil while a significant increase in catalase accompanied by a pronounced decrease in SOD were obtained after treatment with PZQ. Both treatments markedly improved liver and body weights in infected mice compared to the infected-untreated ones. In conclusion, natural plant sources may be used as promising alternative agents to chemical drugs for schistosomiasis treatment, since the latter may result in drug-induced resistance arising from repeated use.