Research Spotlight

Cabanes-Gumbau, G., Agustín-Panadero, R., Revilla-León, M. and Zubizarreta-Macho, Á. (2021). “Prosthetically-Driven Full-Mouth Implant-Supported Prostheses Using Guided Surgical Implant Planning with Composite Resin Markers: A Case Report.” J Prosthodont April 17. [Epub ahead of print].

Full text of this article.

This report describes a prosthetically-driven implant planning method, guided by the alignment procedures between the cone beam computed tomography, intraoral digital scans, and digitized maxillary and mandibular interim complete dentures using intraoral composite resin markers as a common reference. The markers were attached to the keratinized oral mucosa of the edentulous ridges using cyanoacrylate and kept in place during the digitizing procedures. The technique provides a simpler and more economical alternative to conventional prosthetically-driven static implant planning methods.

Alqahtani, A.R., Gufran, K., Silva, F., Rocha, M.G. and Chang, J. (2021). “A Clinical Case Report of a Potential Acute Allergic Reaction with Titanium Dental Implant.” Case Rep Dent 2021: 5592934.

Full text of this article.

Titanium hypersensitivity is rare, but it may exist among patients who need dental implant treatment. It could contribute to mild or severe peri-implant tissue hypersensitivity reactions and affect patients’ oral and general health according to some clinical reports. In extreme cases, it may lead to implant failure or extraction. In this case report, a 64-year-old Caucasian female patient received a titanium implant placement on #5. Right after the implant placement, she reported the symptoms of pain, eczema, and slight extraoral swelling, along with significant burning sensation occurring intra- and extraorally. The symptoms were not released after the systemic intervention of antibiotics for six days. On retrieving her medical history, the patient reported a previous allergic reaction to jewelry-like earrings in her childhood. The diagnosis of titanium hypersensitivity was made based on the rapid onset of symptoms and her metal allergy history. Therefore, the dental implant was removed after diagnosis, and a bone allograft was used to preserve the alveolar bone volume. Immediately after implant extraction, the swelling and burning sensation were receded. A complete recovery was achieved three weeks later. The dimension of the alveolar ridge bone was found well maintained in 10 weeks follow-up visit. Conclusion. Rapid onset of peri-implant gingival swelling may indicate a hypersensitivity to titanium implant in the clinic. For patients with a history of allergy to jewelry, the hypersensitivity tests to titanium alloy such as patch test or lymphocyte transformation test should be recommended as part of the dental implant treatment plan.

Young, S., Larson, L., Bermudez, J., Mohei, H., Rostambeigi, N., Golzarian, J. and Mahgoub, A. (2021). “Evaluation of the frequency and factors predictive of hernia incarceration following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement.” Clin Radiol 76(4): 287-293.

Full text of this article.

AIM: To examine the frequency and predictive factors for bowel incarceration following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) placement to treat refractory cirrhosis-induced ascites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-nine patients with known hernias at the time of TIPS placement were identified. Their electronic medical records were reviewed and pertinent pre-procedural, procedural, and outcome variables were recorded. Patients were divided between those that suffered incarceration (study group) and a control group of those with a hernia who did not suffer incarceration. RESULTS: Twelve of the 99 patients (12.1%) suffered hernia incarceration, of which seven (7.1%) suffered incarceration in the first 90 days. One patient who suffered incarceration ultimately died from complications of the incarceration. When comparing all patients who suffered incarceration to controls, incarceration patients were found to have significantly higher albumin levels (mean 3.13 versus 2.73, p=0.02). When just considering those who had incarcerations in the first 90 days to controls, incarceration patients were less likely to have improvement in their ascites (p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Incarcerated hernias occur frequently after TIPS placement and can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Clinicians should be aware of this complication and counsel patients on presenting symptoms prior to placement.

Yoon, Y.S., Mills, I., Toliver, B., Park, C., Whitaker, G. and Drew, C. (2021). “Comparisons in Frequency Difference Limens Between Sequential and Simultaneous Listening Conditions in Normal-Hearing Listeners.” Am J Audiol Mar 26;1-9. [Epub ahead of print]. 1-9.

Full text of this article.

Purpose We compared frequency difference limens (FDLs) in normal-hearing listeners under two listening conditions: sequential and simultaneous. Method Eighteen adult listeners participated in three experiments. FDL was measured using a method of limits for comparison frequency. In the sequential listening condition, the tones were presented with a half-second time interval in between, but for the simultaneous listening condition, the tones were presented simultaneously. For the first experiment, one of four reference tones (125, 250, 500, or 750 Hz), which was presented to the left ear, was paired with one of four starting comparison tones (250, 500, 750, or 1000 Hz), which was presented to the right ear. The second and third experiments had the same testing conditions as the first experiment except with two- and three-tone complexes, comparison tones. The subjects were asked if the tones sounded the same or different. When a subject chose “different,” the comparison frequency decreased by 10% of the frequency difference between the reference and comparison tones. FDLs were determined when the subjects chose “same” 3 times in a row. Results FDLs were significantly broader (worse) with simultaneous listening than with sequential listening for the two- and three-tone complex conditions but not for the single-tone condition. The FDLs were narrowest (best) with the three-tone complex under both listening conditions. FDLs broadened as the testing frequencies increased for the single tone and the two-tone complex. The FDLs were not broadened at frequencies > 250 Hz for the three-tone complex. Conclusion The results suggest that sequential and simultaneous frequency discriminations are mediated by different processes at different stages in the auditory pathway for complex tones, but not for pure tones.

Wu, M.J., Chung, J.R., Kim, S.S., Jackson, M.L., Jackson, L.A., Belongia, E.A., McLean, H.Q., Gaglani, M., Reis, M., Beeram, M., Martin, E.T., Monto, A.S., Nowalk, M.P., Zimmerman, R., Santibanez, T.A., Singleton, J.A., Patel, M. and Flannery, B. (2021). “Influenza vaccination coverage among persons seeking outpatient medical care for acute respiratory illness in five states in the United States, 2011-2012 through 2018-2019.” Vaccine 39(12): 1788-1796.

Full text of this article.

BACKGROUND: In the United States (U.S.), annual influenza vaccination has been recommended for all persons aged ≥6 months with the Healthy People 2020 coverage target of 70%. However, vaccination coverage has remained around 42-49% during the past eight influenza seasons. We sought to quantify influenza vaccination coverage and factors associated with vaccination in persons seeking outpatient medical care for an acute respiratory illness (ARI). METHODS: We enrolled outpatients aged ≥6 months with ARI from >50 U.S. clinics from 2011 to 2012 through 2018-2019 influenza seasons and tested for influenza with molecular assays. Vaccination status was based on documented receipt of the current season’s influenza vaccine. We estimated vaccination coverage among influenza-negative study participants by study site, age, and season, and compared to state-level influenza coverage estimates in the general population based on annual immunization surveys. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine factors independently associated with receipt of influenza vaccines. RESULTS: We enrolled 45,424 study participants with ARI who tested negative for influenza during the study period. Annual vaccination coverage among influenza-negative ARI patients and the general population in the participating states averaged 55% (range: 47-62%), and 52% (range: 46-54%), respectively. Among enrollees, coverage was highest among adults aged ≥65 years (82%; range, 80-85%) and lowest among adolescents aged 13-17 years (38%; range, 35-41%). Factors significantly associated with non-vaccination included non-White race, no college degree, exposure to cigarette smoke, absence of high-risk conditions, and not receiving prior season influenza vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: Influenza vaccination coverage over eight seasons among outpatients with non-influenza respiratory illness was slightly higher than coverage in the general population but 15% lower than national targets. Increased efforts to promote vaccination especially in groups with lower coverage are warranted to attain optimal health benefits of influenza vaccine.