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Journal of the American Veterinary... Jun 2024To describe the process whereby the screening of racing Thoroughbreds with accelerometer-based inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors followed by clinical evaluation...
OBJECTIVE
To describe the process whereby the screening of racing Thoroughbreds with accelerometer-based inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors followed by clinical evaluation and advanced imaging identified potentially catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries in 3 horses.
ANIMALS
3 Thoroughbred racehorses.
CLINICAL PRESENTATION
All cases demonstrated an abnormal stride pattern either during racing (cases 1 and 2) or while breezing (case 3) and were identified as being at very high risk of catastrophic musculoskeletal injury by an algorithm derived from IMU sensor files from > 20,000 horses' race starts. Veterinary examination and 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) positron emission tomography were performed within 10 days of the respective race or breeze in each of the cases.
RESULTS
The intensity and location of the 18F-NaF uptake in the condyles of the third metacarpal bone in cases 1 and 2 identified them as at potential increased risk of condylar fracture. The pattern and intensity of the 18F-NaF uptake in case 3 indicated that the third carpal bone was likely responsible for the horse's lameness, with an impending slab fracture subsequently identified on radiographs. Following periods of convalescence, cases 1 and 2 returned to racing and were identified by the sensor system as no longer being at high risk of catastrophic musculoskeletal injury. Case 3 returned to training but has yet to return to racing.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
When worn by Thoroughbreds while racing or breezing, these IMU sensors can identify horses at high risk of catastrophic musculoskeletal injury, allowing for veterinary intervention and the potential avoidance of such injuries.
PubMed: 38906169
DOI: 10.2460/javma.24.02.0114 -
PloS One 2024At present, the mechanism of fluorosis-induced damage to the hepatic system is unclear. Studies have shown that excess fluoride causes some degree of damage to the...
At present, the mechanism of fluorosis-induced damage to the hepatic system is unclear. Studies have shown that excess fluoride causes some degree of damage to the liver, including inflammation. The SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling axis has been reported to have an impact on the regulation of inflammation in human cells. In this study, we investigated the role of the SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling axis and related inflammatory factors in fluorosis through in vitro experiments on human hepatic astrocytes (LX-2) cultured with sodium fluoride. CCK-8 assays showed that the median lethal dose at 24 h was 2 mmol/l NaF, and these conditions were used for subsequent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. The protein expression levels of SDF-1/CXCR4 and the related inflammatory factors nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) were detected by ELISAs from the experimental and control groups. The mRNA expression levels of these inflammatory indicators were also determined by qPCR in both groups. Moreover, the expression levels of these factors were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group at both the protein and mRNA levels (P < 0.05). Excess fluorine may stimulate the SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling axis, activating the inflammatory NF-κB signaling pathway and increasing the expression levels of the related inflammatory factors IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β. Identification of this mechanism is important for elucidating the pathogenesis of fluorosis-induced liver injury.
Topics: Receptors, CXCR4; Humans; Chemokine CXCL12; Sodium Fluoride; Hepatocytes; Signal Transduction; NF-kappa B; Cell Line; Interleukin-1beta; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Interleukin-6; Inflammation
PubMed: 38905184
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302530 -
Journal of Dentistry Jun 2024To compare the effectiveness of two 5% sodium fluoride (NaF) varnishes containing casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) (Clinpro White) or...
OBJECTIVES
To compare the effectiveness of two 5% sodium fluoride (NaF) varnishes containing casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) (Clinpro White) or tricalcium phosphate (TCP) (MI Varnish ) to the conventional 5% NaF varnish (Duraphat®) in preventing early childhood caries (ECC) in high-risk preschool children.
METHODS
A double-blinded, randomized controlled trial recruited healthy 3-4-year-old children (N= 582) having at least one carious lesion (pre-cavitated or cavitated) after obtaining written informed consent from parents. Using a computer-generated random-number table, children were assigned to one of the 3 groups: Control group (n= 196): 5% NaF varnish (Duraphat®) or two test groups: 5% NaF with TCP (Clinpro White) (n= 193) and 5% NaF varnish with CPP-ACP (MI Varnish ) (n= 193) to receive quarterly (every 3 months) application over 24 months.
RESULTS
Incidence of new caries over 2 years was 59.2% in MI Varnish group (n= 125), 65.1% in the Clinpro White group (n= 129) and 66.1% in the Duraphat® group (n=127) (p= 0.466). The mean cavitated lesions increment was not significant among the 3 groups (p=0.714), as was the mean increment in non-cavitated carious lesions (p= 0.223). There was no significant difference (p= 0.630) in the distribution of total fluoride varnish applications among the three groups. Also, no significant difference was found in comparison of outcomes among the different number of fluoride varnish applications received by children in each group.
CONCLUSIONS
Both calcium- and phosphate-containing NaF varnishes showed similar efficacy against cavitated and non-cavitated carious lesions as compared to conventional NaF varnish in high-risk preschool children.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Randomized trial provided a crucial opportunity to advance the understanding of the clinical effectiveness of different fluoride varnishes in preventing early childhood caries. Varnishes containing tricalcium phosphate or casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate when compared to sodium fluoride varnish, demonstrated a similar efficacy against early childhood caries in high caries-risk preschool children.
PubMed: 38901821
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2024.105141 -
Journal of Environmental Management Jul 2024Planting rice is a beneficial strategy for improving soda saline-alkali soil, but it comes with the challenge of increased runoff discharge of salt and fluoride (F)...
Planting rice is a beneficial strategy for improving soda saline-alkali soil, but it comes with the challenge of increased runoff discharge of salt and fluoride (F) ions. The use of different nitrogen (N) fertilizers can impact this ion discharge, yet the specific characteristics of ion runoff under different N-fertilizer applications remain unclear. A field experiment was conducted in this study, applying five commonly used N-fertilizer types to monitor the ion runoff throughout an entire rice growing season. Salt ions and F runoff discharge was significantly affected by N-fertilizer type, runoff event, and their interaction (p < 0.001). Regardless of N-fertilizer types, sodium (Na) and bicarbonate (HCO) ions were consistently discharged from runoff in soda saline-alkali fields, constituting 20.55-25.06 % and 47.57-50.49 % of total ion discharges, respectively. Compared to no N-fertilizer (CK) and other N-fertilizer treatments, the organic-inorganic compound fertilizer (OCF) application significantly reduced Na and HCO runoff discharge, causing a decrease in the competitive adsorption capacity between HCO and F (p < 0.05). The use of OCF and inorganic compound fertilizer (ICF) lowered pH in runoff water, resulting in reduced dissolution capacity of calcium fluoride in the soil and thereby decreasing total F runoff discharge. In conclusion, OCF proves to be an effective N-fertilizer in mitigating salt ions and F runoff discharge in soda saline-alkali paddy fields. Additionally, ICF demonstrates the ability to control F runoff discharge.
Topics: Fertilizers; Fluorides; Oryza; Soil; Alkalies; Agriculture; Nitrogen
PubMed: 38889648
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121489 -
International Journal of Stroke :... Jun 2024Microcalcification and macrocalcification are critical processes in atherosclerotic plaque progression, though how these processes relate to the risk of stroke...
BACKGROUND
Microcalcification and macrocalcification are critical processes in atherosclerotic plaque progression, though how these processes relate to the risk of stroke recurrence in symptomatic carotid atherosclerosis is poorly understood.
METHODS
We performed a post-hoc analysis of data from the ICARUSS study, where individuals with acute ischemic stroke originating from ipsilateral carotid stenosis of ≥50% underwent 18F-sodium fluoride-positron emission tomography (NaF-PET) to measure microcalcification. Tracer uptake was quantified using maximum tissue-to-background ratio (TBRmax). Macrocalcification was measured on computed tomography (CT) using Agatston scoring. Patients were followed up for six months for recurrent ipsilateral neurovascular events.
RESULTS
Five (27.8%) of 18 individuals had a recurrent ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack. Ipsilateral carotid plaque NaF uptake at baseline was higher in those with recurrent events compared to those without, and this association remained after adjustment for other vascular risk factors (OR 1.24, 1.03-1.50). Macrocalcification score in the symptomatic artery was also significantly independently associated with ipsilateral recurrence, but the effect size was relatively smaller (OR 1.12, 1.06-1.17 for each 100 unit increase).
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that microcalcification in symptomatic carotid plaques is independently associated with ipsilateral ischemic stroke recurrence. Furthermore, differences in the extent of active microcalcification in macrocalcified plaques may help explain variation in the relationship between calcified carotid plaques and stroke recurrence reported in the literature. Our pilot study indicates that evaluation of carotid artery microcalcification using NaF-PET may be a useful method for risk-stratification of carotid atherosclerosis, though our findings require confirmation in larger cohorts.
PubMed: 38888039
DOI: 10.1177/17474930241264734 -
Nuclear Medicine Communications Jun 2024The objective of this retrospective study was to identify the uptake patterns and suggest a quantitative method to detect hyperostosis frontalis interna (HFI) on...
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this retrospective study was to identify the uptake patterns and suggest a quantitative method to detect hyperostosis frontalis interna (HFI) on fluorine-18 sodium fluoride ([18F]NaF) PET/computed tomography (CT).
METHODS
Between January 2019 and December 2021, patients who underwent [18F]NaF PET/CT with a BMI of 30 and above, were included. Three nuclear medicine consultants reviewed the studies to determine the presence and identify the uptake patterns of HFI. Quantitative evaluation was performed on PET images using the total number of counts over the frontal bone and the ratio of counts between the frontal bone and iliac crest.
RESULTS
A total of 105 out of 249 cases were included in this study. Among these scans, there were 67 positive HFI in [18F]NaF PET scans representing 64% of the studied population. As for the [18F]NaF PET uptake pattern, there were 53 with uniformly diffused and 14 with heterogeneous uptake pattern. There were 17 out of 67 with positive HFI in [18F]NaF PET scans but negative CT scans.
CONCLUSION
HFI is a common finding on [18F]NaF PET in obese patients and is probably underdiagnosed. HFI may present with a heterogeneous and diffuse pattern of uptake on [18F]NaF PET. The proposed quantitative analysis using the count ratios is in agreement with the visual evaluation of [18F]NaF PET images regardless of the CT findings. Awareness of this condition and its scintigraphic patterns is warranted since it can have clinical significance and may mimic other pathologies including metastasis in cancer patients.
PubMed: 38884454
DOI: 10.1097/MNM.0000000000001873 -
Journal of Dental Research, Dental... 2024In recent years, fluoride concentrations in toothpaste for children and adults have increased. However, the effects of different concentrations on bacterial activity...
BACKGROUND
In recent years, fluoride concentrations in toothpaste for children and adults have increased. However, the effects of different concentrations on bacterial activity have rarely been compared. We aimed to investigate and compare the antibacterial activity of children's and adults' toothpaste containing 500, 1000‒1100, and 1450‒1500 ppm fluoride.
METHODS
Three strains of bacteria (, , and ) were cultured in brain heart infusion agar. Thirty commercially available toothpaste products for children and adults containing 500, 1000‒1100, and 1450‒1500 ppm fluoride were selected and tested. Toothpaste's ability to inhibit bacterial growth was evaluated by agar diffusion assay, in which plates were incubated for 24 hours, and then the diameter of the microbial inhibition zone was measured. Comparisons between children's and adults' fluoride toothpastes were made using the Mann-Whitney U test. The association between bacterial growth inhibition and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) was analyzed by the chi-square test. A value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS
No difference in the inhibition zone was observed for different fluoride concentrations. However, there were significant differences between toothpastes for children and adults, with higher inhibition zones for adults' toothpastes. Most toothpastes for adults contained SLS, which was associated with antibacterial activity.
CONCLUSION
Fluoride concentrations ranging from 500 to 1500 ppm did not affect bacterial growth. The antibacterial activity of toothpastes for adults was significantly higher than that of toothpastes for children, which was mainly attributed to the SLS usually added to adult formulations.
PubMed: 38881638
DOI: 10.34172/joddd.40705 -
Current Medical Imaging 2024Skeletal-related events due to bone metastases can be prevented by early diagnosis using radiological or nuclear imaging techniques. Nuclear medicine techniques such as... (Review)
Review
Skeletal-related events due to bone metastases can be prevented by early diagnosis using radiological or nuclear imaging techniques. Nuclear medicine techniques such as Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) have been used for diagnostic imaging of bone for decades. Although it is widely recognized that conventional diagnostic imaging techniques such as Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) have high sensitivity, low cost and wide availability, the specificity of both techniques is rather low compared to nuclear medicine techniques. Nuclear medicine techniques, on the other hand, have improved specificity when introduced as a hybrid imaging modality, as they can combine physiological and anatomical information. Two main radiopharmaceuticals are used in nuclear medicine: [Tc]-methyl diphosphonate ([Tc]Tc-MDP) from the generator and [F]sodium fluoride ([F]NaF) from the cyclotron. The former is used in SPECT imaging, while the latter is used in PET imaging. However, recent studies show that the role of radiolabeled bisphosphonates with gallium-68 (Ga) and fluorine-18 (F) may have a potential role in the future. This review, therefore, presents and discusses the brief method for producing current and future potential radiopharmaceuticals for bone metastases.
Topics: Humans; Diphosphonates; Radiopharmaceuticals; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; Positron-Emission Tomography; Bone Neoplasms; Bone and Bones; Gallium Radioisotopes; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate
PubMed: 38874043
DOI: 10.2174/0115734056270935231113035620 -
Respiratory Medicine Case Reports 2024Metastatic pulmonary calcification (MPC) is a metabolic disorder characterized by an ectopic deposition of calcium in the lung parenchyma, prevalent in patients with...
Metastatic pulmonary calcification (MPC) is a metabolic disorder characterized by an ectopic deposition of calcium in the lung parenchyma, prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease. A combination of parenchymal lung abnormalities on high resolution chest computed tomography (CT) and pulmonary radiotracer uptake in Tc-methyl diphosphate (MDP) bone scintigraphy can establish diagnosis of MPC. We herein present a case of MPC with documented stability of chest CT abnormalities after renal transplant. We also describe novel findings of diffuse pulmonary uptake of F-sodium fluoride, a calcium-avid radiotracer, in positron emission tomography (PET)/CT performed in the same patient.
PubMed: 38872935
DOI: 10.1016/j.rmcr.2024.102043 -
International Dental Journal Jun 2024Dental caries is a widespread oral health issue in Asia, affecting an estimated 30% to 90% of children and adults. Many caries cases remain untreated, resulting in pain... (Review)
Review
Dental caries is a widespread oral health issue in Asia, affecting an estimated 30% to 90% of children and adults. Many caries cases remain untreated, resulting in pain and infection. In response, the Asian Academy of Preventive Dentistry (AAPD) emphasises comprehensive caries management and organised a fluoride workshop at the 15th International Conference of the AAPD in 2023. The AAPD invited a group of experts to form a fluoride working group to review existing literature and develop fluoride recommendations for stakeholders across Asian countries and regions. The working group assessed caries risk and identified commonly used topical fluoride products for home care, professional, and community settings in Asia. The working group concluded that fluoride is a safe and highly effective strategy to reduce caries prevalence and incidence. The working group provided key recommendations based on successful regional caries management practices: (1) use topical fluoride for prevention and control of dental caries; (2) encourage the use of fluoride toothpaste with a concentration of at least 1,000 ppm for effective caries reduction; (3) advise a 0.05% fluoride mouth rinse as soon as children can spit it out to prevent early childhood caries; (4) deliver professionally administered fluoride, such as 5% sodium fluoride varnish, 2% fluoride gel, or 1.23% acidulated phosphate fluoride preparations, to decrease dental caries in at-risk individuals; and (5) apply 38% silver diamine fluoride to arrest cavitated caries. These recommendations aim to help practitioners, health care providers, and parents/caregivers make informed decisions about fluoride use as part of comprehensive oral health care in the region.
PubMed: 38871599
DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2024.04.016