Level Set Research Articles

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus infection (HBsAg) and associated factors among antenatal clinic attendees in a secondary-level facility in southern Ghana

IntroductionVertical transmission of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is the predominant mode of HBV transmission in highly endemic settings worldwide where the HBV seroprevalence is above 8%. Newborns who contract HBV at birth have a higher risk of chronic infections that can result in liver cancer and liver cirrhosis. Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HBV through screening of pregnant women during the antenatal period and universal vaccination of newborns are important strategies for eliminating new childhood HBV infections. This study sought to estimate the prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant women in the study area and to determine the factors associated with a positive HBV disease status. The findings from this study will help in obtaining a baseline for comparing future trends and identifying risk factors for HBV that need to be eliminated in southern Ghana. MethodsThis was a cross-sectional hospital-based analytic study in which 225 pregnant women were surveyed using a semi structured questionnaire. Blood samples were taken and analysed qualitatively for HBsAg. The data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported into STATA version 17 for analysis, with a significance level set at <0.05. ResultsThis study revealed that the seroprevalence of HBV infection (HBsAg positivity) was 8.0% CI (5%–12.4%) among the pregnant women. The HBV vaccination coverage was 50.2%. Pregnant women with a history of sexually transmitted diseases were six times more likely to test positive for HBsAg aOR: 6.36 (CI = 0.35–2.92, p = 0.019). Additionally, women who had received at least one dose of the HBV vaccine had lower odds of having HBV infection than did those who failed to vaccinate (aOR = 0.08, 95% CI = 0.01–0.66, P = 0.020). ConclusionsThe prevalence of HBV infection is relatively high in this population. HBV vaccination and sexually transmitted infections play significant roles in HBV infection and transmission in the study area. Interventions to promote HBV vaccination among the adult population as well as among newborns and STI prevention strategies are needed to reverse the trend of HBV infections in the study area.

Comparison of Hand Grip Strength in Hypertensive and Non-Hypertensive Middle-Aged People

Background: Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, affecting millions globally. Previous studies have suggested an inverse relationship between hand grip strength (HGS) and hypertension, indicating the potential of HGS as a non-invasive marker for cardiovascular health. However, research exploring this relationship within the middle-aged population of Pakistan remains limited. Objective: This study aims to compare hand grip strength between hypertensive and non-hypertensive middle-aged individuals and to assess the potential of HGS as a predictive marker for hypertension. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted over six months, from August 2022 to February 2023, involving 220 participants (110 hypertensive and 110 non-hypertensive), aged 35-45 years, at PSRD and Jinnah Hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan. Hand grip strength was measured using a CAMRY digital dynamometer, and blood pressure was assessed with a Certeza sphygmomanometer. Participants were excluded if they had wrist joint problems, neurological disorders, a history of frozen shoulders, limb fractures, cognitive impairments, diabetes, or were pregnant. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, employing independent sample t-tests with a significance level set at p&lt;0.05. Results: The mean age of participants was 39.81±3.16 years. Hypertensive individuals showed significantly lower hand grip strength compared to non-hypertensive individuals, with mean dominant HGS at 34.10±8.75 kg for hypertensives and 39.40±7.37 kg for non-hypertensives. Non-dominant HGS followed a similar pattern, with hypertensives at 31.87±8.75 kg and non-hypertensives at 36.97±7.57 kg. Additionally, a higher proportion of males was observed in the hypertensive group compared to the non-hypertensive group. Conclusion: The study found a significant association between lower hand grip strength and hypertension among middle-aged individuals, supporting the potential of HGS as a screening tool for hypertension risk. This finding underscores the importance of incorporating hand grip strength assessment into routine health evaluations to identify individuals at higher risk of hypertension.

Assessment of the Relationship Between Genetic Determinants of Obesity, Unhealthy Eating Habits and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Mendelian Randomisation Study

Background: Clinical studies have shown that the onset and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are related to obesity and dietary behaviours, but the genetic relationship between them is not clear. Aims: To investigate the relationship between the genetic determinants of obesity, dietary habits (alcohol consumption, intake of sweets, salt intake) and COPD. Methods: Exposure and outcome datasets were obtained from the IEU Open GWAS project. The exposure dataset includes dietary habits (Salt added to food, Sweets intake, Alcohol consumption), obesity level (represented by body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BFP) data sets.). The outcome dataset includes COPD and acute COPD admissions. The collected data were imported into the RStudio software and conducted Mendelian randomisation analysis. Additionally, heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy tests were conducted on the data to ensure the veracity of the results. Results: The results showed that BMI was positively correlated with the risk of acute COPD admission (OR = 1.74, 95% CI 1.39–2.18) and COPD (OR = 1.81, 95%CI 1.41–2.33). In addition, BFP was also a risk factor for COPD (OR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.42–2.77) and acute exacerbation of COPD admission (OR = 1.99, 95%CI 1.43–2.77). The increase of salt, sugar and alcohol consumption will not increase the risk of COPD and the risk of hospitalisation due to COPD. Conclusion: Therefore, we should strengthen the guidance of diet and living habits of obese patients. For patients with heavier weight and higher body fat rate, they should be instructed to lose weight and fat to prevent the occurrence of COPD. For obese patients with COPD, more attention should be paid to prevent the occurrence of acute exacerbation of COPD in advance.

Exploring the impact of targeted overhand serve practice intervention: An approach to improve volleyball players' overhand serving skills

Background Problems: The precision of serves in volleyball plays a crucial role in shaping the outcome of a match, potentially altering the game's dynamics, scoring points, and elevating the overall team performance. Research Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the impact of targeted overhand serve drill exercises on overhand serve accuracy. Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental approach, utilizing a one-group pretest-posttest design, with 30 volleyball extracurricular participants engaging in targeted overhand service drill exercises over 6 weeks. Data were collected using the AAHPER overhand serve accuracy test, followed by analysis through a paired-sample t-test to assess the effectiveness of the training and determine if there were any differences in outcomes between the two groups, with a significance level set at 5%. Before conducting parametric tests, data normality is examined using the Shapiro-Wilk test, and homogeneity is assessed using Levene's test. Findings and Results: In summary, the finding of this study showed that targeted overhand serve drill exercises have a positive effect on enhancing the accuracy of overhand serves in volleyball extracurricular participants. Conclusion: In addition, this intervention can be a valuable training method and reference for designing training programs aims at improving overhand serve accuracy in volleyball matches. Future research should implement stricter controls throughout the experimental process.

Density of the Level Sets of the Metric Mean Dimension for Homeomorphisms

AbstractLet N be an n-dimensional compact riemannian manifold, with $$n\ge 2$$ n ≥ 2 . In this paper, we prove that for any $$\alpha \in [0,n]$$ α ∈ [ 0 , n ] , the set consisting of homeomorphisms on N with lower and upper metric mean dimensions equal to $$\alpha $$ α is dense in $$\text {Hom}(N)$$ Hom ( N ) . More generally, given $$\alpha ,\beta \in [0,n]$$ α , β ∈ [ 0 , n ] , with $$\alpha \le \beta $$ α ≤ β , we show the set consisting of homeomorphisms on N with lower metric mean dimension equal to $$\alpha $$ α and upper metric mean dimension equal to $$\beta $$ β is dense in $$\text {Hom}(N)$$ Hom ( N ) . Furthermore, we also give a proof that the set of homeomorphisms with upper metric mean dimension equal to n is residual in $$\text {Hom}(N)$$ Hom ( N ) .

CORRELATION OF DIAGNOSTIC RADIOGRAPHERS’ KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF THEIR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE WITH THEIR SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES IN NNEWI METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand, use, and manage one’s own emotions in positive ways so as to avoid regrets after. This ability is seriously needed by diagnostic radiographers so as to promote interpersonal relationships in healthcare settings. This study aimed at determining the correlation between emotional intelligence and diagnostic radiographers’ socio-demographic variables. This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey conducted in healthcare facilities in Nnewi metropolis to include 30 diagnostic radiographers. The completed questionnaires were retrieved by the researchers. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for statistical analysis with confidence level set at p &lt; 0.05. Out of the 30 participants, 19(63.3%) were males while females accounted for the remaining 11(36.7%). Sixty percent (n=18) of the participants had good knowledge of their emotional intelligence. There was a negative and non-statistically significant correlation between age and level of awareness of the participants’ emotional intelligence (r = -.011, p=.953). There was a positive and non-statistically significant correlation between work experience and emotional intelligence (r = 0.346, p = 0.061) There was weak, positive and statistically significant correlation between work experience and level of awareness of the participants’ emotional feeling and why (r =0.602, p =0.000). Being that a good number of the population of this study had good knowledge of their emotional strength and weaknesses, it will not be very difficult to create an atmosphere where patients and staff enjoy a care environment that is both supportive and beneficial.

The Influence of the Demographic Factors of Nigerian Dental Practitioners on their Perception of Accelerated Orthodontics

Background: Although there are many studies on the reviving subject of accelerated orthodontics, there is paucity of information on the factors that could influence a dental practitioner’s perception of the concept.&#x0D; Aim: To investigate the influence of the demographic factors of some Nigerian dental practitioners on their perception of accelerated orthodontics.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: Electronic and physical methods of surveying the Nigerian dental practitioners were carried out between January and June 2023. The contents of the questionnaire involving their perception of accelerated orthodontics were analysed for associations with the participants’ demographics, using the IBM SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics, the ANOVA and independent t-test were used with the significance level set at P&lt; .05.&#x0D; Results: No statistically significant associations were found between the participants’ demographics and their perception of accelerated orthodontics (P &gt; .05), except for age group of 40-49 that revealed significant association with the local use of some medications intraorally (P&lt;.05).&#x0D; Conclusion/Recommendation: Generally, the participants’ demographics did not have significant influence on their perception of accelerated orthodontics, and further related studies are advocated.

The Influence of Demographic Factors of Nigerian Dentists on their Satisfaction with Duration of Orthodontic Treatment and Knowledge of Accelerated Orthodontics

Background: The duration of orthodontic treatment and the knowledge of accelerated orthodontics are very important to the dental practitioner but there are limited information on the relationship between their satisfaction with duration of orthodontic treatment and knowledge of accelerated orthodontics.&#x0D; Aim: To assess the associations between the demographics of the Nigerian dental practitioners and their satisfactions with the duration of orthodontic treatment and their knowledge of accelerated orthodontics.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: Electronic and physical methods of surveying the Nigerian dental practitioners were carried out between January and June 2023. The contents of the questionnaire involving satisfaction with duration of orthodontic treatment and the knowledge of accelerated orthodontics were analysed for associations with the participants’ demographics, using the IBM SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics, the ANOVA and independent t-test were used with the significance level set at P &lt; .05.&#x0D; Results: No statistically significant associations were found between the dentists’ satisfaction with duration of orthodontic treatment and their age, gender and years of practice as dentists (P &gt; .05). Also, no statistically significant associations were found between the dentists’ knowledge of the methods of accelerated orthodontics and age (P &gt; .05). Statistically significant associations were found between the male gender and knowledge of administration of biological substances and piezocision, while the highest number of methods of accelerated orthodontics was statistically significantly associated with the years of practice of dentistry (P &lt; .05).&#x0D; Conclusion: Although no significant associations were found between the participants’ demographics and satisfaction with duration of orthodontic treatment, gender gave significant associations with knowledge of two methods of accelerated orthodontics, while years of practice of dentistry revealed the most significant associations with knowledge of accelerated orthodontics.

Variation of Pain Intensity with Smoking in Knee Osteoarthritis in Males

Background: Knee osteoarthritis is a significant cause of disability, affecting daily living activities predominantly in females but also impacting males. Various factors contribute to its development, including smoking, yet data on its effect on the male population is sparse. Objective: To explore the relationship between smoking and pain intensity in males with moderate-stage knee osteoarthritis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over six months, enrolling 71 male participants aged 30 to 75 years with grade 2 knee osteoarthritis, diagnosed according to the Kellgren and Lawrence scale. Participants were categorized into smokers and non-smokers. Data on smoking habits and pain severity, assessed using the numeric pain rating scale, were collected through questionnaires. The association between smoking and pain intensity was analyzed using the Pearson Chi-square test, with a significance level set at P&lt;0.05. Results: Out of 71 participants, 36 (50.7%) were smokers, and 35 (49.3%) were non-smokers. Severe pain was reported by 25 smokers, while 26 non-smokers experienced moderate pain. The analysis revealed a significant association between smoking and increased pain severity (P&lt;0.05), with a direct correlation between the number of cigarettes smoked and pain intensity. Conclusion: The study identified a significant association between smoking and higher pain intensity in male patients with knee osteoarthritis. These findings suggest that smoking cessation should be a key component of osteoarthritis management strategies to alleviate pain and improve quality of life in affected individuals.

Effect of platelet rich plasma injection on bone formation in the expanded mid-palatal suture in rabbits: a randomized controlled animal study

BackgroundMid-Palatal suture expansion needs long retention period due to delayed bone formation in the expanded suture. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a concentrated source of growth factors which increase bone formation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of PRP injection on bone formation in expanded mid palatal suture in rabbits.MethodsIn this prospective randomized controlled animal study, Twenty male rabbits (8-weeks-old) were subjected to mid-palatal expansion for 5 days. Animals were afterwards randomly divided into control group A & study group B. PRP was prepared and injected in the mid-palatal suture in animals belonging to group B only. After 6 weeks of retention, all animals were euthanized, and premaxillae were prepared for histological, histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analysis. Student t-test and paired t-test were used to compare the means of the two groups and within the same group respectively. Significance level set at p ≤ 0.05.ResultsHistomorphometric analysis revealed a significant increase (p < 0.001) in the mean percentage of new bone in the study group (14.4%) compared to the control (1.4%). Suture width in study group was significantly wider than the control group (278.8 ± 9μms and 120.4 ± 3.4μms, p < 0.001). There was a significant increase in vascular density in study group than control group (309 ± 65.34 and 243.86 ± 48.1, p = 0.021). Osteopontin immuno-expression revealed a significant increase in optical density in study group than control group (0.21 ± 0.02 & 0.12 ± 0.01, p < 0.001).ConclusionsIn rabbit model, PRP injection can accelerate new bone formation in the expanded mid-palatal suture when compared to the control. This could hopefully result in a more stable midpalatal expansion and a reduced retention period.

Integration of automatic implicit geological modelling in deterministic geophysical inversion

Abstract. We propose and evaluate methods for the integration of automatic implicit geological modelling into the geophysical (potential field) inversion process. The objective is to enforce structural geological realism and to consider geological observations in a level set inversion, which inverts for the location of the boundaries between rock units. We propose two approaches. In the first approach, a geological correction term is applied at each iteration of the inversion to reduce geological inconsistencies. This is achieved by integrating an automatic implicit geological modelling scheme within the geophysical inversion process. In the second approach, we use automatic geological modelling to derive a dynamic prior model term at each iteration of the inversion to limit departures from geologically feasible outcomes. We introduce the main theoretical aspects of the inversion algorithm and perform the proof of concept using two synthetic studies. The analysis of the results using indicators measuring geophysical, petrophysical, and structural geological misfits demonstrates that our approach effectively steers the inversion towards geologically consistent models and reduces the risk of geologically unrealistic outcomes. Results suggest that the geological correction may be effectively applied to pre-existing geophysical models to increase their geological realism and that it can also be used to explore geophysically equivalent models.

Abstract WP297: Time-Dependent Effects of Drag-Reducing Polymers Administration on Permanent Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Injury in Rats

Introduction: Current treatments for ischemic stroke are not focused directly on cerebral microcirculation. We previously showed that 2 μg/ml of drag-reducing polymers (DRPs) restore cerebral microcirculation and oxygenation in rats subjected to permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). Here we evaluated the dependence of DRPs efficiency on stroke outcome from the time of application. Methods: DRPs (2 μg/ml) or saline was i.v. injected 0.5, 3, and 6 hrs after filament pMCAO in rats (n=10/group). In-vivo 2-photon laser scanning microscopy (2PLSM) was used to assess the acute effects of DRPs on cerebral microcirculation, hypoxia (NADH), and blood-brain barrier (BBB). Cerebral infarction, blood flow (CBF), and neurological outcomes were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and behavioral testing, respectively, at 24 hours, 1 and 3 weeks after pMCAO. Differences between groups were determined using a two-way analysis of variance for multiple comparisons and posthoc testing with the statistical significance level set at p&lt;0.05. Results: In vivo 2PLSM showed that pMCAO progressively decreased cerebral microcirculation leading to hypoxia and BBB disruption (p&lt;0.05 from baseline). DRPs (0.5-6 hrs) increased near-wall blood flow velocity and flow rate in arterioles, leading to an increase in the number of erythrocytes entering capillaries, capillary perfusion and oxygenation while protecting BBB compared to saline (p&lt;0.05). MRI demonstrated reduced infarct expansion (T2) and mitigated CBF disturbances (arterial spin labeling) in all DRPs-treated groups compared to saline (p&lt;0.05). Neurobehavioral testing revealed more preserved neurological function in all DRPs groups than in the saline group (p&lt;0.05). The obtained results showed that DRPs efficacy reduces with the time of application from 0.5 h to 6 hours after pMCAO but remains significant (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: DRPs (effectively restore cerebral microcirculation after pMCAO reducing tissue hypoxia and BBB damage, leading to reduced infarct size and improved neurological outcome in a time-dependent manner. DRPs can be used as a new effective adjunct therapy for ischemic stroke even without reperfusion and after delayed administration following the stroke onset.

Characterization of microbubble aggregation in a double-T microfluidic chip

The coalescence phenomenon of air bubbles affects the flow field, bubble morphology, bubble velocity, and mass transfer efficiency in bioreactors, air bubble generators, and other devices. This article combines the level set method with COMSOL to simulate the formation process of two-phase fluid bubbles in microfluidic chips. The result shows that when the contact angle exceeds 90°, significant agglomeration occurs and the size of bubbles decreases with the increase in liquid flow velocity. However, as the gas velocity increases, agglomeration does not occur at liquid flow rates below 0.1 m/s. In addition, the agglomeration phenomenon occurs above the threshold, and when the gas flow rate is less than 0.02 m/s, there is no agglomeration phenomenon. The numerical simulation results exhibit an error rate of less than 10% compared to the experimental values, indicating that microfluidic chips can accurately predict the process of bubble coalescence.

Buckling optimization of curvilinear fiber-reinforced composite structures using a parametric level set method

Buckling optimization of curvilinear fiber-reinforced composite structures using a parametric level set method

A Green’s Function Proof of the Positive Mass Theorem

In this paper, a new proof of the Positive Mass Theorem is established through a newly discovered monotonicity formula, holding along the level sets of the Green’s function of an asymptotically flat 3-manifolds. In the same context and for 1<p<3\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$1<p<3$$\\end{document}, a Geroch-type calculation is performed along the level sets of p-harmonic functions, leading to a new proof of the Riemannian Penrose Inequality under favourable assumptions. A new characterisation of scalar curvature lower bounds in terms of the monotonicity formulas is also given.

Nongradient-Based Tracking of Environmental Field Isolines in a Changing Medium by Dubins-Vehicle Type Robots

A non-holonomic robot of a Dubins-vehicle type moves in a changing resistant medium, like water or air. The objective is to exhibit the extension of a spatial phenomenon (e.g., a critically contaminated area) related to a dynamic environmental field (e.g., a distribution of the contaminant concentration). Specifically, the robot should arrive at a certain level set of the field and repeatedly sweep it afterwards. The field data comes exclusively from online and point-wise measurements of the field value at the current location of the robot. An additional problem is related to the significant uncertainty on the field and the medium, including their variation with time and the effect of the medium on the robot's motion. The conditions for the accomplishability of the mission objective are found under these uncertainties and constraints on the kinematics of the robot. A navigation algorithm is presented that solves the mission with a slight enhancement of these necessary conditions. The performance of the algorithm is rigorously justified by the non-local convergence result and validated by computer simulation tests with a 6-DOF catamaran-like vessel and real-world environmental data.

A Theoretical Analysis of Density Peaks Clustering and the Component-Wise Peak-Finding Algorithm.

Density peaks clustering detects modes as points with high density and large distance to points of higher density. Each non-mode point is assigned to the same cluster as its nearest neighbor of higher density. Density peaks clustering has proved capable in applications, yet little work has been done to understand its theoretical properties or the characteristics of the clusterings it produces. Here, we prove that it consistently estimates the modes of the underlying density and correctly clusters the data with high probability. However, noise in the density estimates can lead to erroneous modes and incoherent cluster assignments. A novel clustering algorithm, Component-wise Peak-Finding (CPF), is proposed to remedy these issues. The improvements are twofold: 1) the assignment methodology is improved by applying the density peaks methodology within level sets of the estimated density; 2) the algorithm is not affected by spurious maxima of the density and hence is competent at automatically deciding the correct number of clusters. We present novel theoretical results, proving the consistency of CPF, as well as extensive experimental results demonstrating its exceptional performance. Finally, a semi-supervised version of CPF is presented, integrating clustering constraints to achieve excellent performance for an important problem in computer vision.

Erythema multiforme: A retrospective study of etiologies, clinical manifestations, and treatments

Background/purposeErythema multiforme (EM) is considered a hypersensitivity reaction associated with drugs and infections, and remains underestimated due to the lack of precise classification and diagnostic criteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the triggering factors and clinical manifestations of EM and to present our experience in the diagnosis and management of this disorder. Materials and methodsAll patient records were reviewed, and records of patients admitted, diagnosed, and treated with EM were retrieved. Data on age, gender, medical history, triggering factor(s), clinical form, mucosal/cutaneous involvement, affected oral site(s), recurrence, and treatment were collected. The data were analyzed statistically at a significance level set at P < 0.05. ResultsA total of 36 EM patients were studied. The triggering factor was identified as infection in 25 %, drugs in 16.7 %, infections and drugs in 41.7 %, and none in 16.7 % of the 36 EM patients. EM minor was diagnosed in 77.8 % of the patients. Labial mucosa (86.1 %) was the most commonly affected oral site. Most patients were treated with topical steroids (25 %). No significant differences were detected between demographic and clinical characteristics with regards to gender, triggering factor, and the number of affected oral sites (P > 0.05). ConclusionThe results of this study, based on the data from 36 EM patients with oral involvement treated at our clinic, can guide dentists in this regard and may be considered as an epidemiological source for the region.

The Effects of Corona Stimulation on the Osseointegration of Dental Implants: An Experimental Study

Aim: Currently, one of the most promising research areas in dental implantology is the exploration of additional procedures to reduce loading time for implants and enhance osseointegration in cases of poor bone quality. Various techniques have been researched and developed for stimulating bone production, including electrical stimulation of the jawbone and surrounding tissues. However, there is limited research on the direct relationship between electrostimulation and osseointegration. This experimental study aims to investigate the effects of corona stimulation (CS) on the rate and quality of osseointegration, as well as its potential to reduce the waiting period for dental implants. Material and Method: In this experimental protocol, 32 dental implants were inserted into the tibia of four male sheep bilaterally. Implants on the right tibia of each male sheep underwent CS treatment, while the other side served as a control group without any stimulation. The animals were sacrificed on the 15th and 30th days after implantation. Bone segments containing the implants were processed using a noncalcified method. It assessed new bone formation and osseointegration around the dental implants using the undecalcified method and histomorphological analysis. An experienced blinded investigator measured percentages of mineralized bone-implant contact (BIC), bone area (BAr), and bone perimeter (BPm) to evaluate the bone-implant interface. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 21 for Windows, with a significance level set at p&amp;lt;0.05. Results: The histomorphometric parameters revealed a significant increase in BIC, BAr, and BPm values in the CS group compared to the control group on both the 15th and 30th days (p&amp;lt;0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in BIC ratio between the second and fourth stimulation groups. Conclusion: The findings of this experimental study suggest that CS may have a positive impact on the early osseointegration period of dental implants.

Epidemiology of Supracondylar Fractures of the Humerus in Children

Background: Supracondylar fracture of the humerus are the second most common fracture in pediatric patients. There are few studies concerning their epidemiology in Brazil. This study aims to assess the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children managed at a tertiary-level hospital within the Brazilian Unified Health System (translation for SUS - Sistema Público de Saúde). Methods: This retrospective study included patients younger than 13 years diagnosed with supracondylar fracture of the humerus assisted at an urgent and emergency referral unit of the Unified Health System from June 2022 to July 2023. The statistical analysis used R software version 4.0.4 with a significance level set at 0.05 using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: 197 children with mean age of 5.4 years (2.4) were diagnosed with a supracondylar fracture of the humerus. The highest temporal incidence occurred in December, being 56.9% male patients, 81.3% identified as African American, and 51.8% had a fracture on the left side. The most prevalent cause for the fracture was a fall from standing height on the outstretched hand. At least 95% of the patients had extension fractures, and the distribution by Gartland classification was: I, 36.7%; II, 26.2%; III, 30.9%; and IV, 6.3%. Three patients had a neurological injury. All patients with III and IV fractures, as well as those with flexion fractures, underwent surgery. However, of the 50 patients with grade II fractures, 11 underwent surgery, and 39 managed with nonoperative methods. We observed an association between the fracture severity, and fall height, neurological impairment, and management received. Conclusion: Targeted education efforts and interventions can prevent the occurrence of supracondylar fractures in our region at the northeast side of the country.