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The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry Aug 2022Which surface treatment provides the optimal bond strength (BS) for the repair of resin nanoceramics (RNCs) and polymer-infiltrated ceramics (PICs) is unclear. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Which surface treatment provides the optimal bond strength (BS) for the repair of resin nanoceramics (RNCs) and polymer-infiltrated ceramics (PICs) is unclear.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro studies was to determine the best surface treatment protocols for the repair of PICs and RNCs.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science electronic databases were searched to select in vitro studies in English up to March 2020. Studies with fewer than 5 specimens, those that did not evaluate the BS of PICs or RNCs, and those with aging for fewer than 30 days and 5000 cycles were excluded. Data sets were extracted, and the mean differences were analyzed by using a systematic review software program.
RESULTS
Among 284 potentially eligible studies, 21 were selected for full-text analysis, and 9 were included in the systematic review, of which 6 were used in the meta-analysis. The meta-analyses were performed for each treatment surface versus their respective control group and their combinations according to material: RNCs and PICs. For RNCs, airborne-particle abrasion with aluminum oxide (AlO) treatment was statistically higher than tribochemical silica airborne-particle abrasion (CoJet) (P=.02, I=90%) and that in the hydrofluoric acid (HF) (P<.001, I=0%) groups and was statistically similar to diamond rotary instrument grinding (P=.40, I=54%). For PICs, the treatment with hydrofluoric acid (HF) was statistically significantly higher than with CoJet (P=.03, I=62%) and airborne-particle abrasion with AlO (P<.001, I=98%).
CONCLUSIONS
The best surface treatment protocol for repair varied according to the restorative material. HF followed by silanization is suggested for PICs, and airborne-particle abrasion with AlO or preparation with a diamond rotary instrument for RNCs.
Topics: Aluminum Oxide; Ceramics; Dental Bonding; Diamond; Hydrofluoric Acid; Materials Testing; Polymers; Resin Cements; Silanes; Surface Properties; Zirconium
PubMed: 33573835
DOI: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2020.06.009 -
Cancer Treatment and Research... 2022Recent advances in nanotechnology sciences lead to the development of new treatment approaches for various diseases such as cancer. Nanotechnology advances can... (Review)
Review
Recent advances in nanotechnology sciences lead to the development of new treatment approaches for various diseases such as cancer. Nanotechnology advances can potentially minimize the side effects of drugs through the employment of effective and controlled drug delivery systems (DDSs). Polymers are optimal tools providing drug delivery mechanisms through the unique features of pharmacokinetics, circulation time, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. This systematic review aimed to evaluate polymer-based DDSs for anticancer drugs and their various therapeutic applications in cancer treatment. This study was conducted with no time limitation by November 2021. Related articles were collected through a deep search in English and Persian databases of SID, MagIran, Scopus, Web Of Science (WoS), PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Keywords included drug delivery system, anticancer agent, polymeric nanostructure-based drug delivery, polymer-based drug delivery, and polymeric system. As the results showed, polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) have influential roles in cancer treatment than conventional chemotherapy procedures. PNPs can reduce cytotoxicity following chemotherapy drug administration, improve the solubility characteristics of these therapeutic agents and inhibit the rate of tumor growth.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Drug Delivery Systems; Humans; Nanoparticles; Neoplasms; Polymers
PubMed: 35816909
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctarc.2022.100605 -
Clinical Oral Investigations Sep 2023The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the comparative clinical success and survival of intracoronal indirect restorations using gold, lithium... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the comparative clinical success and survival of intracoronal indirect restorations using gold, lithium disilicate, leucite, and indirect composite materials.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and PRISMA guidelines. The protocol for this study was registered in PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42021233185). A comprehensive literature search was conducted across various databases and sources, including PubMed/Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, and gray literature. A total of 7826 articles were screened on title and abstract. Articles were not excluded based on the vitality of teeth, the language of the study, or the observation period. The risk difference was utilized for the analyses, and a random-effects model was applied. All analyses were conducted with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). The calculated risk differences were derived from the combined data on restoration survival and failures obtained from each individual article. The presence of heterogeneity was assessed using the I statistic, and if present, the heterogeneity of the data in the articles was evaluated using the non-parametric chi-squared statistic (p < 0.05).
RESULTS
A total of 12 eligible studies were selected, which included 946 restorations evaluated over a minimum observation period of 1 year and a maximum observation period of 7 years. Results of the meta-analysis indicated that intracoronal indirect resin composite restorations have an 18% higher rate of failure when compared to intracoronal gold restorations over 5-7 years of clinical service (risk difference = - 0.18 [95% CI: - 0.27, - 0.09]; p = .0002; I = 0%). The meta-analysis examining the disparity in survival rates between intracoronal gold and leucite restorations could not be carried out due to methodological differences in the studies.
CONCLUSIONS
According to the currently available evidence, medium-quality data indicates that lithium disilicate and indirect composite materials demonstrate comparable survival rates in short-term follow-up. Furthermore, intracoronal gold restorations showed significantly higher survival rates, making them a preferred option over intracoronal indirect resin-composite restorations. Besides that, the analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in survival rates between leucite and indirect composite restorations. The short observation period, limited number of eligible articles, and low sample size of the included studies were significant limitations.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Bearing in mind the limitations of the reviewed literature, this systematic review and meta-analysis help clinicians make evidence-based decisions on how to restore biomechanically compromised posterior teeth.
Topics: Dental Porcelain; Aluminum Silicates; Composite Resins; Gold
PubMed: 37597003
DOI: 10.1007/s00784-023-05050-x -
Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy May 2021Literature on bioresorbable-polymer-stents (BPS) and second-generation durable-polymer-stents (DPS) in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for all comer CAD is... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Literature on bioresorbable-polymer-stents (BPS) and second-generation durable-polymer-stents (DPS) in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for all comer CAD is conflicting.
METHODS
Randomized controlled studies comparing PCI among BPS and second-generation DPS were identified up until May-2020 from online databases. Primary outcomes included are all-cause myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac-death, target-vessel-revascularization (TVR), target-vessel MI (TVMI), and stent-thrombosis (ST). Random effect method of risk ratio and confidence interval of 95% was used.
RESULTS
25 prospective randomized controlled trials with 31,822 patients (BPS = 17,065 and DPS = 14,757) were included in the study. Follow-up ranged between a minimum of 6 months to more than 5 years. Cardiac death (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.89-1.45, = 0.16) was comparable in BPS and second-generation DPS. Risk of all-cause MI was similar between BPS and DPS (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.84-1.11, = 0.73). TVMI (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.69-1.11, = 0.33) and ST rates were also comparable in BPS and DPS groups (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.80-1.40, = 1.00). Overall TVR had comparable outcomes between BPS and DPS (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.79-1.14, < 0.001); however, higher TVR was seen among BPS group at follow-up of ≥5 years (RR 1.39, 95% CI 1.12-1.14, = 0.02). Bias was low and heterogeneity was moderate.
CONCLUSION
Patients undergoing PCI treated with BPS had comparable outcomes in terms of cardiac death, TVR, ST, TVMI, and all-cause MI to patients treated with second-generation DPS; however, BPS had higher rates of TVR for follow-up of ≥5-years.
Topics: Absorbable Implants; Coronary Artery Disease; Drug-Eluting Stents; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Polymers; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Stents; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 33884943
DOI: 10.1080/14779072.2021.1915769 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Dec 2022The dispersion of microplastics (MPs) in coastal and marine environments and their potential harmful effects on organisms and ecosystems makes MPs pollution an emerging... (Review)
Review
The dispersion of microplastics (MPs) in coastal and marine environments and their potential harmful effects on organisms and ecosystems makes MPs pollution an emerging problem that has gained increasing attention from the scientific community. Despite the recent increase in the number of studies on MPs presence in different marine environments, investigations in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are still relatively limited. This review presents the spatial distribution (where) and the methods applied (how) in assessing MPs contamination on LAC sandy beaches, identifying the challenges to be faced in advancing the understanding of this emerging contaminant. Most of the 39 papers reviewed were published between 2020 and 2021 (51%) and conducted on Brazilian beaches (43%). The LAC investigations apply spot sampling (69%) on shoreline stretches between 10 and 1000 km (59%). These works used inconsistent sampling methods, incomparable techniques for MPs extraction from sediments, and different measurement units to report their data. The MPs presence on LAC beaches is not negligible, as it varies significantly in its distribution and concentration (0-2457 MP/dw kg and 0-5458 MP/m). Its highest accumulation is on ocean island beaches; however, there are still large stretches of coastline (Cuba, Venezuela, Argentina) with no data on MPs presence and a small number of studies exploring these contaminants' temporal variability. The lack of standardization in the studies' methodologies, particularly their measurement units, hinders their quantitative comparison and our ability to establish baseline values regarding MPs abundance on LAC beaches. In this sense, future works should direct efforts towards the spatial and temporal expansion of their sampling, as well as protocol standardization to facilitate result comparability on MPs on LAC sandy beaches.
Topics: Microplastics; Plastics; Ecosystem; Latin America; Environmental Monitoring; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Caribbean Region; Geologic Sediments
PubMed: 36152712
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120231 -
Pharmacotherapy Apr 2017To compare and contrast the efficacy and safety of patiromer and sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (ZS-9) in the treatment of hyperkalemia. (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To compare and contrast the efficacy and safety of patiromer and sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (ZS-9) in the treatment of hyperkalemia.
DESIGN
A systematic review and meta-analysis of phase II and III clinical trial data was completed.
PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS
Eight studies (two phase II and four phase III trials with two subgroup analyses) were included in the qualitative analysis, and six studies (two phase II and four phase III trials) were included in the meta-analysis.
MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS
Significant heterogeneity was found in the meta-analysis with an I value ranging from 80.6-99.6%. A random-effects meta-analysis was applied for all end points. Each clinical trial stratified results by hyperkalemia severity and dosing; therefore, these were considered separate treatment groups in the meta-analysis. For patiromer, a significant -0.70 mEq/L (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.48 to -0.91 mEq/L) change was noted in potassium at 4 weeks. At day 3 of patiromer treatment, potassium change was -0.36 mEq/L (range of standard deviation 0.07-0.30). The primary end point for ZS-9-change in potassium at 48 hours-was -0.67 mEq/L (95% CI -0.45 to -0.89 mEq/L). By 1 hour after ZS-9 administration, change in potassium was -0.17 mEq/L (95% CI -0.05 to -0.30). Analysis of pooled adverse effects from these trials indicates that patiromer was associated with more gastrointestinal upset (7.6% constipation, 4.5% diarrhea) and electrolyte depletion (7.1% hypomagnesemia), whereas ZS-9 was associated with the adverse effects of urinary tract infections (1.1%) and edema (0.9%).
CONCLUSION
Patiromer and ZS-9 represent significant pharmacologic advancements in the treatment of hyperkalemia. Both agents exhibited statistically and clinically significant reductions in potassium for the primary end point of this meta-analysis. Given the adverse effect profile and the observed time-dependent effects, ZS-9 may play more of a role in treating acute hyperkalemia.
Topics: Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Hyperkalemia; Polymers; Potassium; Severity of Illness Index; Silicates; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 28122118
DOI: 10.1002/phar.1906 -
Sexual Medicine Reviews Oct 2022Vaginal stenosis is a distressing side effect of radiation therapy that can impair quality of life. Dilator therapy is an option for patients undergoing pelvic... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Vaginal stenosis is a distressing side effect of radiation therapy that can impair quality of life. Dilator therapy is an option for patients undergoing pelvic radiotherapy to mitigate vaginal stenosis. Currently, the dilators given to patients by most hospitals are made of plastic, compared to silicone dilators which are available on the market for purchase.
OBJECTIVES
We conducted a systematic literature review to find information to guide clinical recommendations to pelvic radiotherapy patients on potential differences regarding the use of plastic vs silicone dilators with regard to efficacy, cost, and patient preferences.
METHODS
A systematic literature review was conducted in Embase, MEDLINE, and PubMed using Emtree terms. To be included in the review, papers needed to: focus on female patients undergoing radiation therapy, assess a vaginal dilator, measure any dilator intervention outcome, and specifically compare plastic vs silicone dilators for any measured outcome (either qualitative or quantitative).
RESULTS
The initial search yielded 195 articles. Two area experts, with a third expert for arbitration, read each article and found that none met all review inclusion criteria. No studies were found that compared silicone to plastic dilators with regard to efficacy in treating vaginal stenosis due to radiation therapy, no studies were found that compared cost or cost-effectiveness of the 2 dilator types, and no studies were found comparing patient preferences or experiences (eg, comfort, adherence, ease of use) between the 2 dilator types.
CONCLUSION
The materials used to create dilators have never been rigorously compared in the context of radiotherapy-related vaginal stenosis. Institutions and patients have no data to guide their choice. Significantly more research at the patient and institutional level is needed to explore the potential long-term quality of life and cost benefits of improved adherence with silicone dilator use, and to guide shared decision-making regarding dilator choice. Morgan O, Lopez MD, Martinez AJC, et al. Systematic Review of Comparisons Between Plastic and Silicone Dilators: Revealing a Knowledge Gap. Sex Med Rev 2022;10:513-519.
Topics: Constriction, Pathologic; Female; Humans; Plastics; Quality of Life; Silicones; Vagina
PubMed: 36030181
DOI: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2022.06.008 -
Journal of Environmental Science and... 2022Pollution by plastics and antibiotics are emerging issues in the areas of the environment and human health. In recent years, several studies have documented the...
Pollution by plastics and antibiotics are emerging issues in the areas of the environment and human health. In recent years, several studies have documented the widespread occurrence of plastic particles in various environmental, as well as human, systems, and much research has focused on possible interactions of contaminants with microplastics. Thus, the co-occurrence of plastics and antibiotics has caused another global problem for the environment and human health. Therefore, we focused on the current knowledge in the field of the co-occurrence of plastics and antibiotics to summarize the available studies. In this review, categorization of the topics, contaminants details, such as polymer type, size and source, antibiotic type, and other experimental parameters were summarized and discussed. This study indicated that the sorption of antibiotics on plastics, antibiotic susceptibility in the presence of plastics, and antibiotic resistance gene onto plastics were the most frequently examined categories in this field. Moreover, the variability in the procedures and the processes, and the heterogeneity data of reporting between different studies on similar topic make it difficult to bring all results together and produce a comprehensive picture of the current knowledge. Therefore, it is suggested that further research should be done using this systematic study.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Environmental Monitoring; Humans; Microplastics; Plastics; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 35657775
DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2022.2082222 -
Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society 2021This systematic review aims to identify and interpret results of studies that evaluated the changes in the color stability of maxillofacial prosthetic materials due to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
AIM
This systematic review aims to identify and interpret results of studies that evaluated the changes in the color stability of maxillofacial prosthetic materials due to chemical instability of silicones and pigments and the effect of exposure to environmental conditions and aging factors on the same.
SETTINGS AND DESIGN
This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (PRISMA).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Relevant articles written in English only, before November 15, 2019, were identified using an electronic search in the PubMed/Medline conducted to identify pertinent articles. The relevancy of the articles was verified by screening the title, abstract, and full text, if they met the inclusion criteria. A total of 42 articles satisfied the criteria, from which data were extracted for qualitative synthesis. This review protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO registration number CRD42019124562).
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED
Since considerable data heterogenicity was present in all studies except the ones on incorporation of TiO2 for which meta-analysis using random effects model was performed.
RESULTS
The database search resulted in 234 studies, of which 202 articles were excluded due to lack of relevance, duplication, and unavailability of data. The remaining 32 fulltext articles were assessed for eligibility, out of which 2 articles were excluded. Twelve articles were yielded by manual search. A total of 42 studies were included in the present systematic review. Due to heterogeneous data, meta-analysis could be only carried out with the effect of TiO nano particle on color stability.
CONCLUSIONS
Although there has been extensive amount of research in this field, an ideal maxillofacial silicone exhibiting good color stability in various human and environmental aging conditions is yet to be identified. Human and environmental aging conditions have an adverse effect on the color stability and addition of TiO nano particle seems to improve the same.
Topics: Humans; Silicone Elastomers
PubMed: 33938863
DOI: 10.4103/jips.jips_253_19 -
Clinical Oral Investigations Apr 2022This systematic review investigated the hypothesis that preheated resin composites (RCs) used as luting agents improve the mechanical properties, physicochemical... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVES
This systematic review investigated the hypothesis that preheated resin composites (RCs) used as luting agents improve the mechanical properties, physicochemical performance, and color of indirect ceramic restorations.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Literature search was performed in three databases (Medline/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) and in the grey literature (OpenGrey, ProQuest, and Catalog of Theses & Dissertations from CAPES). Eligibility criteria included only studies comparing at least one preheated RC used as a luting agent with resin cements.
RESULTS
Data regarding the mechanical properties, physicochemical characteristics, and color were analyzed qualitatively, and the microtensile bond strength and film thickness were also evaluated by meta-analysis. The search strategy identified 3894 papers, and 28 were full-text screened. Seven studies were included in the review, and 5 were included in the meta-analysis. No significant difference was found for microtensile bond strength (P = 0.14). Preheated RCs showed significantly higher film thickness than resin cements (P = 0.001).
CONCLUSION
Overall, the use of preheated RCs as luting agents offers similar to poorer performance than using resin cements for bonding indirect restorations.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Despite the claim that preheated RC could be used as a luting agent, further studies should investigate the effect of clinically unacceptable film thickness.
Topics: Composite Resins; Dental Bonding; Dental Cements; Materials Testing; Resin Cements; Surface Properties
PubMed: 35149906
DOI: 10.1007/s00784-022-04406-z