-
Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience 2022Although neural plasticity is now widely studied, there was a time when the idea of adult plasticity was antithetical to the mainstream. The essential stumbling block...
Although neural plasticity is now widely studied, there was a time when the idea of adult plasticity was antithetical to the mainstream. The essential stumbling block arose from the seminal experiments of Hubel and Wiesel who presented convincing evidence that there existed a critical period for plasticity during development after which the brain lost its ability to change in accordance to shifts in sensory input. Despite the zeitgeist that mature brain is relatively immutable to change, there were a number of examples of adult neural plasticity emerging in the scientific literature. Interestingly, some of the earliest of these studies involved visual plasticity in the adult cat. Even earlier, there were reports of what appeared to be functional reorganization in adult rat somatosensory thalamus after dorsal column lesions, a finding that was confirmed and extended with additional experimentation. To demonstrate that these findings reflected more than a response to central injury, and to gain greater control of the extent of the sensory loss, peripheral nerve injuries were used that eliminated ascending sensory information while leaving central pathways intact. Merzenich, Kaas, and colleagues used peripheral nerve transections to reveal unambiguous reorganization in primate somatosensory cortex. Moreover, these same researchers showed that this plasticity proceeded in no less than two stages, one immediate, and one more protracted. These findings were confirmed and extended to more expansive cortical deprivations, and further extended to the thalamus and brainstem. There then began a series of experiments to reveal the physiological, morphological and neurochemical mechanisms that permitted this plasticity. Ultimately, Mowery and colleagues conducted a series of experiments that carefully tracked the levels of expression of several subunits of glutamate (AMPA and NMDA) and GABA (GABAA and GABAB) receptor complexes in primate somatosensory cortex at several time points after peripheral nerve injury. These receptor subunit mapping experiments revealed that membrane expression levels came to reflect those seen in early phases of critical period development. This suggested that under conditions of prolonged sensory deprivation the adult cells were returning to critical period like plastic states, i.e., developmental recapitulation. Here we outline the heuristics that drive this phenomenon.
PubMed: 36762289
DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.1086680 -
Current Environmental Health Reports Jun 2023Despite increasing awareness of the ubiquity of microplastics (MPs) in our environments, little is known about their risk of developmental toxicity. Even less is known... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Despite increasing awareness of the ubiquity of microplastics (MPs) in our environments, little is known about their risk of developmental toxicity. Even less is known about the environmental distribution and associated toxicity of nanoplastics (NPs). Here, we review the current literature on the capacity for MPs and NPs to be transported across the placental barrier and the potential to exert toxicity on the developing fetus.
RECENT FINDINGS
This review includes 11 research articles covering in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo models, and observational studies. The current literature confirms the placental translocation of MPs and NPs, depending on physicochemical properties such as size, charge, and chemical modification as well as protein corona formation. Specific transport mechanisms for translocation remain unclear. There is emerging evidence of placental and fetal toxicity due to plastic particles based on animal and in vitro studies. Nine out of eleven studies examined in this review found that plastic particles were capable of placental translocation. In the future, more studies are needed to confirm and quantify the existence of MPs and NPs in human placentas. Additionally, translocation of different plastic particle types and heterogenous mixtures across the placenta, exposure at different periods of gestation, and associations with adverse birth and other developmental outcomes should also be investigated.
Topics: Animals; Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Placenta; Plastics; Microplastics; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 36848019
DOI: 10.1007/s40572-023-00391-x -
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.... Mar 2021Vaginoplasty aims to create a functional feminine vagina, sensate clitoris, and labia minora and majora with acceptable cosmesis. The upward trend in the number of...
UNLABELLED
Vaginoplasty aims to create a functional feminine vagina, sensate clitoris, and labia minora and majora with acceptable cosmesis. The upward trend in the number of transfemale vaginoplasties has impacted the number of published articles on this topic. Herein, we conducted an updated systematic review on complications and patient-reported outcomes.
METHODS
A update on our previous systematic review was conducted. Several databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus were assessed. Random effects meta-analysis and subgroup analyses were performed.
RESULTS
After compiling the results of the update with the previous systematic review, a total of 57 studies pooling 4680 cases were included in the systematic review, and 52 studies were used in the meta-analysis. Overall pooled data including any surgical technique showed rates of 1% [95% confidence interval (CI) <0.1%-2%] of fistula, 11% (95% CI 8%-14%) of stenosis and/or strictures, 4% (95% CI 1%-9%) of tissue necrosis, and 3% (95% CI 1%-4%) of prolapse. Overall satisfaction was 91% (81%-98%). Regret rate was 2% (95% CI <1%-3%). Average neovaginal depth was 9.4 cm (7.9-10.9 cm) for the penile skin inversion and 15.3 cm (13.8-16.7 cm) for the intestinal vaginoplasty.
CONCLUSIONS
Transfemale vaginoplasty is a key component of the comprehensive surgical treatment of transfemale patients with gender dysphoria. Over time, we will see an increased demand for these procedures, so adequate surgical training, clinical/surgical experience, and research outcomes are required, as we continue to strive to provide the best care possible for a population in need.
PubMed: 33767943
DOI: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000003510 -
PloS One 2018Provisional restorations represent an important phase during the rehabilitation process, knowledge of the mechanical properties of the available materials allows us to... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Meta-Analysis Review
Provisional restorations represent an important phase during the rehabilitation process, knowledge of the mechanical properties of the available materials allows us to predict their clinical performance. At present, there is no systematic review, which supports the clinicians' criteria, in the selection of a specific material over another for a particular clinical situation. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess and compare the mechanical properties of dimethacrylates and monomethacrylates used in fabricating direct provisional restorations, in terms of flexural strength, fracture toughness and hardness. This review followed the PRISMA guidelines. The searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, the New York Academy of Medicine Grey Literature Report and were complemented by hand-searching, with no limitation of time or language up to January 10, 2017. Studies that assess and compare the mechanical properties of dimethacrylate- and monomethacrylate-based provisional restoration materials were selected. A quality assessment of full-text articles were performed according to modified ARRIVE and CONSORT criteria and modified Cochrane Collaboration's tool for in vitro studies. Initially, 256 articles were identified. After removing the duplicates and applying the selection criteria, 24 articles were included in the qualitative synthesis and 7 were included in the quantitative synthesis (meta-analysis). It may be concluded that dimethacrylate-based provisional restorations presented better mechanical behavior than monomethacrylate-based ones in terms of flexural strength and hardness. Fracture toughness showed no significant differences. Within the monomethacrylate group, polymethylmethacrylate showed greater flexural strength than polyethylmethacrylate.
Topics: Dental Materials; Humans; Materials Testing; Polymethacrylic Acids; Stress, Mechanical
PubMed: 29489883
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193162 -
Annals of Medicine Dec 2023Patients with walled-off necrosis (WON) are still challenging to treat safely and effectively. Recently, double-pigtail plastic stents (DPS), bi-flanged metallic stents... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Safety and efficacy of lumen-apposing metal stents and double-pigtail plastic stents for endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage of walled-off necrosis; a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Patients with walled-off necrosis (WON) are still challenging to treat safely and effectively. Recently, double-pigtail plastic stents (DPS), bi-flanged metallic stents (BFMS), and lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) have been employed with endoscopic ultrasound-guided (EUS-guided) drainage. However, there is little solid evidence to support the effectiveness and safety of using stents. This study aims to compare the outcomes of the LAMS and the PS.
METHOD
Till July 2022, a thorough database search was done, and studies that met the criteria were chosen. By using the RevMan software, the technical and clinical success and other secondary outcomes were calculated. Subgroup analysis was performed between the LAMS and the BFMS.
RESULTS
Fifteen studies (two randomized controlled trials and thirteen observational) with 687 patients receiving metal stents and 771 patients receiving plastic stents were selected for final analysis. There was no significant risk of bias or publication bias. The odds ratios (OR) for technical and clinical success were 0.36 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.08, 1.52) and 2.26 (95%CI 1.62, 3.15), respectively. The OR for overall adverse events was 0.74 (95% CI 0.41, 1.34). In subgroup analysis, the LAMS and the BFMS showed the same outcomes.
CONCLUSION
Compared to DPS, LAMS had better clinical outcomes and fewer side effects when treating patients with WON.
Topics: Humans; Plastics; Treatment Outcome; Stents; Drainage; Necrosis; Ultrasonography, Interventional; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 36779694
DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2022.2164048 -
Dental Materials : Official Publication... Dec 2023To answer the PICO(S) question: Is there a difference in clinical longevity between direct and indirect resin composite restorations placed on permanent posterior teeth? (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVES
To answer the PICO(S) question: Is there a difference in clinical longevity between direct and indirect resin composite restorations placed on permanent posterior teeth?
DATA
Randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) investigating direct and indirect resin composite restorations in posterior permanent teeth were considered.
SOURCES
Several electronic databases were searched, with no language or date restrictions. The revised Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias (RoB-2) was used to analyze the studies; meta-analyses were run and the certainty of evidence was assessed by the GRADE tool. A subgroup meta-analysis was performed for resin composite restorations placed on posterior worn dentition.
STUDY SELECTION
Twenty-three articles were included in qualitative synthesis, while 8 studies were used for meta-analyses. According to the RoB-2 tool, 5 studies were ranked as "low risk", 7 had "some concerns", while 11 papers were rated as "high risk" of bias. There were no statistically significant differences in short-term (p = 0.27; RR=1.54, 95% CI [0.72, 3.33]), medium-term (p = 0.27; RR=1.87, 95% CI [0.61, 5.72]) and long-term longevity (p = 0.86; RR=0.95, 95% CI [0.57, 1.59]). The choice of restorative technique had no influence on short-term survival of resin composite restorations placed on worn dentition (p = 0.13; RR=0.46, 95% CI [0.17, 1.25]). The certainty of evidence was rated as "very low".
CONCLUSIONS
Direct and indirect resin composite restorations may show similar clinical longevity in posterior region, regardless of the observation period or substrate (wear-affected and non-affected dentition). The very low quality of evidence suggests that more long-term RCTs are needed to confirm our results.
Topics: Dental Restoration, Permanent; Composite Resins; Molar
PubMed: 37827872
DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2023.10.009 -
Brain Structure & Function May 2023Theta burst stimulation (TBS) is associated with the modulation of a range of clinical, cognitive, and behavioural outcomes, but specific neurobiological effects remain... (Review)
Review
Theta burst stimulation (TBS) is associated with the modulation of a range of clinical, cognitive, and behavioural outcomes, but specific neurobiological effects remain somewhat unclear. This systematic literature review investigated resting-state and task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) outcomes post-TBS in healthy human adults. Fifty studies that applied either continuous-or intermittent-(c/i) TBS, and adopted a pretest-posttest or sham-controlled design, were included. For resting-state outcomes following stimulation applied to motor, temporal, parietal, occipital, or cerebellar regions, functional connectivity generally decreased in response to cTBS and increased in response to iTBS, though there were some exceptions to this pattern of response. These findings are mostly consistent with the assumed long-term depression (LTD)/long-term potentiation (LTP)-like plasticity effects of cTBS and iTBS, respectively. Task-related outcomes following TBS were more variable. TBS applied to the prefrontal cortex, irrespective of task or state, also produced more variable responses, with no consistent patterns emerging. Individual participant and methodological factors are likely to contribute to the variability in responses to TBS. Future studies assessing the effects of TBS via fMRI must account for factors known to affect the TBS outcomes, both at the level of individual participants and of research methodology.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Motor Cortex; Neuronal Plasticity; Long-Term Potentiation; Theta Rhythm
PubMed: 37072625
DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02634-x -
International Journal of Surgery... May 2018The debate over the use of cemented or cementless fixation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has never stopped since cementless fixation was introduced. We undertook a... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
No difference in implant survivorship and clinical outcomes between full-cementless and full-cemented fixation in primary total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
The debate over the use of cemented or cementless fixation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has never stopped since cementless fixation was introduced. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the optimal mode of fixation (full-cementless vs. full-cemented) in TKA.
METHODS
PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases up to July 2017 were searched to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs comparing full-cementless TKA and full-cemented TKA. The primary outcome was implant survivorship. Secondary outcomes included radiological outcomes (maximum total point-motion [MTPM], radiolucent line, rotation degree) and clinical outcomes (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC] score, Knee Society Score [KSS] score, postoperative range of movement, blood loss and complications).
RESULTS
Seven studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The mean follow-up was 7.1 years (range from 2 to 16.6 years). There was no difference in implant survivorship (RR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.95-1.01; p = 0.25; I = 0%), MTPM (weighted mean difference [WMD], 0.13 mm; 95% CI, -0.69-0.95; p = 0.75; I = 89.3%) and radiolucent line (RR, 1.36; 95% CI, 0.57-3.23; p = 0.48; I = 54%) between the cementless and cemented methods. There was a mean 0.22° more rotation in the full-cementless fixation group (95% CI, 0.13-0.32; p < 0.01; I = 28.5%). There were no significant differences relating to clinical outcomes (WOMAC score, KSS score, postoperative range of movement, blood loss and complications) between the two fixation groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Although more overall component rotation is found in full-cementless fixation, the implant survivorship and clinical efficacy are likely similar between full-cementless and full-cemented fixation. However, future RCTs with similar cementless prosthetic coating and longer-term follow-up are still needed to confirm our findings.
Topics: Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; Bone Cements; Humans; Knee Joint; Knee Prosthesis; Prosthesis Design; Prosthesis Failure
PubMed: 29656129
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2018.04.015 -
Cureus Dec 2019It is estimated that one in every six patients undergoing solid cancer treatment will develop secondary lymphedema. We conducted a systematic review of publications... (Review)
Review
It is estimated that one in every six patients undergoing solid cancer treatment will develop secondary lymphedema. We conducted a systematic review of publications assessing the potential use of pharmacotherapy agents in lymphedema treatment. The search was conducted on PubMed and eligibility criteria excluded papers that investigated other therapies or focused on primary lymphedema. From 285 potential papers found in the literature, seven studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Different types of therapies were proposed, but all of them interfered with inflammation in the lymphedema tissue. Interestingly, the majority of publications were clinical, and three authors conducted randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical studies. Promising results were observed for the oral administration of ketoprofen or selenium and topical tacrolimus. Pharmacotherapy agents were successfully described in lymphedema treatment in clinical and experimental studies. The benefits of delivering ketoprofen, selenium, or tacrolimus in lymphedema were noticed, and these therapies were easily delivered and well-tolerated.
PubMed: 31815082
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.6300 -
Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark... Oct 2022Microplastics (MPs) and Nanoplastics (NPs) are plastic fragments that spread in the environment and accumulate in the human body, so they have been becoming a worldwide...
BACKGROUND
Microplastics (MPs) and Nanoplastics (NPs) are plastic fragments that spread in the environment and accumulate in the human body, so they have been becoming a worldwide environmental concern because of their potential human health effects. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the prospective impact of MPs and NPs on the inflammatory process.
METHODS
Electronic article search was performed on PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science international databases from 1 Jan 2012 to 31 Dec 2021. Screenings of titles, abstracts and full texts were performed according to the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses (PRISMA). The methodological quality of the studies was checked by the Toxicological data Reliability Assessment Tool.
RESULTS
Electronic article search identified 125 records, from which 6 , 11 and 2 both and studies were included. Both and studies have showed an increase ofdifferent inflammatory outcomes (Interleukines, Tumor necrosis factor, Chemokines, Interferones, Transcription factors, Growth factors, Oxydoreductase, Proteins and others), thus it seems to confirm the association withthe exposure to microplastics of different types, sizes, exposure times and exposed species.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review seems to support the relationship between the exposure to MPs and the inflammatory processboth and . Greater caution is needed about the role of NPs because ofa very small number of studies. Additional high-quality studies are warranted to confirm these results, especially the research should be focused on NPs being lacking literature.
Topics: Humans; Microplastics; Prospective Studies; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 36336869
DOI: 10.31083/j.fbl2710287