Article Reviews Research Articles

Management of Gingivitis: Contemporary Approaches and Recent Therapeutic Advancements

Background: Gingivitis, commonly known as gum disease, refers to several types of inflammatory diseases that impact the connective tissues that surround the teeth. Gingivitis causes swelling, redness, and bleeding of the gums in its early stages. Objective: This article aims to describe the standard gingivitis medication. It emphasizes recent advancements in the initial therapy, treatment, and healing mechanisms of gingivitis for achievement in the clinical testing of medicines that promise to enable disease modification in patients. Also, it aims to review recent advancements and emerging therapeutic developments in the management of gingivitis, including gene-based therapies, nanotherapies, anti-cytokine therapies, stem cell-based therapies, and probiotic therapies. Methods: The information for the review articles was acquired by using Google Scholar and PubMed as search engines, as well as a number of publishers, including Springer Nature, Ben-tham Science, Taylor & Francis, Elsevier, and Frontier. Result and Discussion: Gingivitis is a gum disease and scaling root planning (SRP) is now the most common kind of periodontitis therapy available. It has the potential to deliver significant therapeutic success, but it can also have substantial problems that reduce the quality of life of a patient. Stem cell therapies, gingivitis genetic engineering, nuclear-based medicines, and other advances have given people hope that a wide range of illnesses, especially genetic disorders, can be cured. Conclusion: The current gingivitis therapies are successful and continually evolving, with sev-eral drugs currently in clinical trials. These innovative medicines, when combined, may alter gingivitis treatment in the next few years. Finally, gingivitis therapy requires professional dental care and patient education on oral hygiene. Nonetheless, further research and clinical studies are necessary to validate the efficacy, safety, and long-term benefits of these novel treatment modalities.

Analysis and Exploration of Achievement Transformation Models in Chinese and Japanese Universities

With the global economy entering the knowledge economy era, technological innovation has become the core driving force for the development of various countries. Only by transforming technological achievements into goods or services can their economic and social value be truly realized. Especially in developing countries like China, whether technological achievements can be quickly and effectively transformed into real productivity is of decisive significance for economic growth, industrial upgrading, and international competitiveness enhancement. The outline of China's 14th Five Year Plan proposes to accelerate the construction of a strong country in science and technology and enhance the country's capacity for scientific and technological innovation. Universities, as the main base for talent cultivation and the main force of the national scientific and technological innovation system, should become an important platform for achievement transformation. However, the conversion rate of patent achievements in Chinese universities has always been low. This article reviews and draws on Japan's experience and practices in promoting achievement conversion, and explores new models of achievement conversion that are suitable for China's national conditions.

A Scoping Review of the Positive and Negative Bacteria Associated With the Gut Microbiomes of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects multiple systems of the body. Recent research on the gut microbiota dysbiosis associated with SLE patients has gained traction and warranted further exploration. It has not been determined whether the change in the gut microbiota is a cause of SLE or a symptom of SLE. However, based on the physiological and pathophysiological role of the bacteria in the gut microbiome, as levels of the bacteria rise or fall, symptomatology in SLE patients could be affected. This review analyzes the recent studies that examined the changes in the gut microbiota of SLE patients and highlights the correlations between gut dysbiosis and the clinical manifestations of SLE. A systematic search strategy was developed by combining the terms "SLE," "systemic lupus erythematosus," and "gut microbiome." Biomedical Reference Collection, CINAHL, Medline ProQuest, and PubMed Central databases were searched by combining the appropriate keywords with "AND." Only full-text, English-language articles were searched. The articles were restricted from 2013 to 2023. Only peer-reviewed controlled studies with both human and animal trials were included in this scoping review. Review articles, non-English articles, editorials, case studies, and duplicate articles from the four databases were excluded. Various species of bacteria were found to be positively or negatively associated with SLE gut microbiomes. Among the bacterial species increased were Clostridium, Lactobacilli, Streptococcus, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella. The bacterial species that decreased were Bifidobacteria, Prevotella, and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Literature shows that Clostridium is one of several bacteria found in abundance, from pre-disease to the diseased state of SLE. Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae are both part of the family of butyrate-producing anaerobes that are known for their role in strengthening the skin barrier function and, therefore, may explain the cutaneous manifestations of SLE patients. Studies have also shown that the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio is significantly depressed, which may lead to appetite changes and weight loss seen in SLE patients. Based on the established role of these bacteria within the gut microbiome, the disruption in the gut ecosystem could explain the symptomatology common in SLE patients. By addressing these changes, our scoping review encourages further research to establish a true causal relationship between the bacterial changes in SLE patients as well as furthering the scope of microbiota changes in other systems and autoimmune diseases.

Entomophagous insects: Predators and parasitoids that shape insect communities and offer valuable tools for insect pest management

AbstractThis special issue comprises papers presented at the 7th International Entomophagous Insects Conference (IEIC7), in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2023. Entomophagous insects, which prey on or parasitize other insects, play a pivotal role in ecosystems and are widely utilized as biocontrol agents. This special issue includes two review articles and nine research papers covering diverse subjects such as ecology, physiology, behavior, genetics, chemical ecology, and biological control, which reflects the diversity of topics presented and discussed during the conference.

Prevalence of Maternal Chagas Disease and Vertical Transmission Rates in Bolivia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Bolivia has one of the highest burdens of Chagas disease in the world. Vertical transmission from mother to infant accounts for a growing number of cases. We performed a systematic review of articles assessing the prevalence of Chagas disease in pregnant women and rates of vertical transmission to infants in Bolivia. Studies were not excluded based on year of publication or language. Random-effects analyses were performed to estimate a pooled prevalence of maternal Chagas disease and pooled vertical transmission rate. Our search yielded 21 articles describing over 400,000 cases of Chagas disease among pregnant women in Bolivia. The reported prevalence of maternal Chagas disease ranged from 17.3% to 64.5%, with a pooled prevalence of 33.0% (95% CI, 27.4-38.7%). The prevalence of maternal Chagas disease trended down over time (P = 0.006), decreasing by approximately 25% to 30% over the last 40 years. Vertical transmission rates ranged from 2.0% to 13% with a pooled average of 6.2% (95% CI, 4.4-7.5%); rates did not significantly change over time. Our study is the first systematic review and meta-analysis of Chagas disease maternal prevalence and vertical transmission in Bolivia. Our findings indicate that maternal Chagas disease has fallen in prevalence but still affects 20% to 30% of pregnant women and poses a considerable risk of vertical transmission. Pregnant women and infants are an important target for public health interventions to limit the mortality and morbidity of Chagas disease and to reduce intergenerational spread.

Rising challenges of head and neck cancer in Nigeria: The burden, trends, issues and prospects

Head and neck cancers exert a rising toll on healthcare in developing countries, Nigeria inclusive. The population has been growing in geometric progression, so is the number of people living with head and neck cancers in the country, yet few efforts have been targeted at improving existing resources and manpower dedicated to providing quality care for head and neck cancer patients. This review presents up-to-date assessment of the burden of head and neck cancers and challenges of managing patients with the disease in Nigeria, based on current literature and published peer reviewed studies in Medline, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Database of systematic reviews for articles in English language.

A case of transdisciplinarity and collaborative decision making: the co-construction of Gendered Food Product Profiles.

Crop breeding in sub-Saharan Africa has made considerable gains; however, postharvest and food-related preferences have been overlooked, in addition to how these preferences vary by gender, social difference and context. This context is changing as participatory approaches using intersectional gender and place-based methods are beginning to inform how breeding programmes make decisions. This article presents an innovative methodology to inclusively and democratically prioritise food quality traits of root, tuber and banana crops based on engagement with food systems actors and transdisciplinary collaboration. The outcome of the methodology is the Gendered Food Product Profile (GFPP) - a list of prioritised food quality characteristics - to support breeders to make more socially inclusive decisions on the methods for trait characterisation to select genotypes closer to the needs of food system actors. This article reviews application of the methodology in 14 GFPPs, presents illustrative case studies and lessons learned. Key lessons are that the transdisciplinary structure and the key role of social scientists helped avoid reductionism, supported co-learning, and the creation of GFPPs that represented the diverse interests of food system actors, particularly women, in situ. The method partially addressed power dynamics in multidisciplinary decision making; however, effectiveness was dependent on equitable team relations and supportive institutions committed to valuing plural forms of knowledge. Actions to address power asymmetries that privilege particular types of knowledge and voices in decision making are crucial in techno-science projects, along with opportunities for co-learning and long-term collaboration and a transdisciplinary structure at higher level. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Novel clinical phenotypes, drug categorization, and outcome prediction in drug-induced cholestasis: Analysis of a database of 432 patients developed by literature review and machine learning support

BackgroundSerum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin are common parameters used for DILI diagnosis, classification, and prognosis. However, the relevance of clinical examination, histopathology and drug chemical properties have not been fully investigated. As cholestasis is a frequent and complex DILI manifestation, our goal was to investigate the relevance of clinical features and drug properties to stratify drug-induced cholestasis (DIC) patients, and to develop a prognosis model to identify patients at risk and high-concern drugs. MethodsDIC-related articles were searched by keywords and Boolean operators in seven databases. Relevant articles were uploaded onto Sysrev, a machine-learning based platform for article review and data extraction. Demographic, clinical, biochemical, and liver histopathological data were collected. Drug properties were obtained from databases or QSAR modelling. Statistical analyses and logistic regressions were performed. ResultsData from 432 DIC patients associated with 52 drugs were collected. Fibrosis strongly associated with fatality, whereas canalicular paucity and ALP associated with chronicity. Drugs causing cholestasis clustered in three major groups. The pure cholestatic pattern divided into two subphenotypes with differences in prognosis, canalicular paucity, fibrosis, ALP and bilirubin. A predictive model of DIC outcome based on non-invasive parameters and drug properties was developed. Results demonstrate that physicochemical (pKa-a) and pharmacokinetic (bioavailability, CYP2C9) attributes impinged on the DIC phenotype and allowed the identification of high-concern drugs. ConclusionsWe identified novel associations among DIC manifestations and disclosed novel DIC subphenotypes with specific clinical and chemical traits. The developed predictive DIC outcome model could facilitate DIC prognosis in clinical practice and drug categorization.

Focal Points in Recent Tourism Price Research

The article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent academic studies on pricing in tourism and to deepen the understanding of the recently prevailing research streams on this topic. This article reviews research articles on tourism pricing published in journals in the Scopus database between 2017 and early 2023. An analysis of the selected literature identifies three research streams on pricing: research on price determinants, price development and customers’ price decisions. In terms of methodology, empirical studies predominate, and in terms of period, the distribution over the years shows a stable and consistent level of research activity. The article is essential for further research in the field by presenting a synthesis of recent academic work.

Co-development of a training programme on disability for healthcare workers in Uganda

BackgroundApproximately 1.3 billion people worldwide face barriers in accessing inclusive healthcare due to disabilities, leading to worse health outcomes, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). However, there is a lack of training of healthcare workers about disability, both globally and in Uganda.ObjectivesTo use mixed research methods to develop a comprehensive training program with standardisedelements for healthcare workers in Uganda, focusing on improving their knowledge, attitudes, and skills inproviding care for people with disabilities.MethodsThe Medical Research Council (MRC) approach was employed to guide the development of the training intervention. We conducted an umbrella review to gather relevant literature on disability training for healthcare workers. Interviews were conducted with international experts to gain insights and perspectives on the topic. Additionally, interviews were undertaken with people with disabilities and healthcare workers in Uganda to understand their experiences and needs. A participatory workshop was organised involving key stakeholders, to collaboratively design the training material based on the findings from these data sources.ResultsEight review articles examined training programs for healthcare workers on disability. Training settings ranged from specialised clinical settings to non-clinical settings, and the duration and evaluation methods of the training varied widely. Lectures and didactic methods were commonly used, often combined with other approaches such as case studies and simulations. The impact of the training was assessed through healthcare worker reports on attitudes, knowledge, and self-efficacy. Interviews emphasised the importance of involving people with disabilities in the training and improving communication and understanding between healthcare providers and people with disabilities. Five themes for a training on disability for healthcare workers were generated through the workshop, including responsibilities and rights, communication, informed consent, accommodation, and referral and connection, which were used to guide the development of the curriculum, training materials and training approach.ConclusionThis study presents a novel approach to develop a training program that aims to enhance healthcare services for people with disabilities in Uganda. The findings offer practical insights for the development of similar programs in LMICs. The effectiveness of the training program will be evaluated through a pilot test, and policy support is crucial for its successful implementation at scale.

The Price of Wealth: Scarcity and Abundance in an Unequal World

ABSTRACT This article reviews and summarizes six economics papers written as part of a project bringing together economists and anthropologists on conceptions and analyses of wealth. The project paired economists and anthropologists in order to illuminate differences in method, analytic technique, and disciplinary framings between the two fields. Anthropologists comment on the economists’ papers from their discipline’s point of view. The overall project was intended to increase understanding and to encourage future collaborations and learning between the two fields.

PANORAMIC REVIEW OF MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT AND SHOULDER REDUCTION TECHNIQUES

Introduction: The glenohumeral joint combines a wide range of motion and insufficient bony stabilization, making it susceptible to instability and dislocations. Glenohumeral dislocations are commonly attributed to contact sports, as well as bicycle accidents, falls and high impact trauma. Objective: to detail current information related to the incidence, clinical evaluation, imaging assessment, management, conservative treatment and shoulder reduction techniques of shoulder dislocations. Methodology: a total of 30 articles were analyzed in this review, including review and original articles, as well as clinical cases, of which 16 bibliographies were used because the other articles were not relevant for this study. The sources of information were PubMed, Google Scholar and Cochrane; the terms used to search for information in Spanish, Portuguese and English were: shoulder dislocation, glenohumeral dislocation, shoulder reduction maneuvers, shoulder reduction techniques. Results: The shoulder joint is frequently correlated to dislocations, showing up to 45% of all dislocations. Inferior as well as superior dislocations are rare. Chronic glenohumeral dislocations are infrequent injuries accounting for less than 2%. Anterior glenohumeral dislocations account for about 90% of shoulder dislocations. Approximately 50% to 79% of posterior glenohumeral dislocations are overlooked. Conclusions: As the epidemiology indicates, there is a high incidence of shoulder dislocations, so it is important to recognize the importance of adequate clinical assessment, diagnosis and knowledge of reduction maneuvers for the management of glenohumeral dislocations. There are several types of maneuvers that can be used for reduction of a dislocated shoulder, these maneuvers can be chosen according to the case of the affected individual, in addition to the preference and experience of the person who is going to perform the reduction maneuver. Imaging tests play an important role both at diagnosis and post-reduction to confirm reduction. KEY WORDS: shoulder, dislocation, techniques, reduction, conservative.

Adverse childhood experience and depression: the role of gut microbiota.

Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder that burdens modern society heavily. Numerous studies have shown that adverse childhood experiences can increase susceptibility to depression, and depression with adverse childhood experiences has specific clinical-biological features. However, the specific neurobiological mechanisms are not yet precise. Recent studies suggest that the gut microbiota can influence brain function and behavior associated with depression through the "microbe-gut-brain axis" and that the composition and function of the gut microbiota are influenced by early stress. These studies offer a possibility that gut microbiota mediates the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and depression. However, few studies directly link adverse childhood experiences, gut microbiota, and depression. This article reviews recent studies on the relationship among adverse childhood experiences, gut microbiota, and depression, intending to provide insights for new research.

Fruit phytochemicals: antioxidant activity and health-promoting properties

Synthesized in plants, polyphenols are powerful antioxidants and protect against stressful conditions. We aimed to identify different kinds of phytochemicals in fruits and provide detailed information on the roles they play in promoting good health in the human body. We also discussed the biological activities of phytochemicals found in several fruits. 
 Google Scholar and PubMed databases were used to search for relevant information that could assist in answering our research questions. We selected and reviewed both research and review articles related to the purpose of our study.
 Fruits contain numerous antioxidants which neutralize the negative impact of free radicals on the body. Free radicals are destructive species that can be produced during normal body metabolism or come from exogenous sources such as smoking or exposure to radiation. Due to their unstable nature, they can cause damage to cellular macromolecules, resulting in the development of degenerative diseases. Phytochemicals are diverse groups of bioactive compounds found in fruits that have potent antioxidant activity and exhibit several health-promoting properties in both in vivo and in vitro studies. There are two major groups of antioxidants: natural (or dietary) antioxidants and synthetic antioxidants. Natural antioxidants have gained much popularity in recent times because of the safety concerns surrounding the use of synthetic antioxidants.
 The consumption of fruits plays a critical role in disease prevention, especially diseases resulting from oxidative damage to cells. The inclusion of fruits in one’s daily diet helps improve their overall wellbeing.

A review of modification methods, joints and self-healing methods of adhesive for aerospace.

In recent years, the adhesive technology has been widely used in the production of high-strength joins and precise positioning of various materials, such as metals, glass and composite materials. The adhesive technology has become a promising assembly process in the aerospace field due to its versatility, low creep and high damage tolerance. However, the reliability and predictability of adhesive bonding still require further development due to the complex operating conditions involved. Therefore, this article reviews and discusses the latest advances in aerospace adhesive technology, such as methods for improving bonding performance, bonding techniques (including joints structure and failure modes) and self-healing adhesive layers. Additionally, the current research results are summarised, and possible development trends and research directions in the field of adhesive bonding are prospected.

Equivalent Input Disturbance-Based Control: Analysis, Development, and Applications.

This article reviews the concept, analysis, development, and applications of the equivalent-input-disturbance (EID) approach. First, the definition and existence of the EID are given, and the configuration of the EID estimator is provided. Next, estimation errors in the conventional EID approach are explained, and error-suppression methods are exhibited, which improve the disturbance-rejection performance. Then, this article describes how to apply the EID approach and associate challenges in dealing with nonlinearities, time delays, and uncertainties. Moreover, this article reviews some additional meaningful studies that cannot be categorized into the above-mentioned classes. Finally, some conclusions and future directions are given. The EID approach has been successfully used to suppress the influences of exogenous disturbances, nonlinearities, time delays, and uncertainties in many control systems to improve control performance and robustness. Studies can further rich the theory of the EID approach in the future, such as designing evaluation index, improving disturbance-rejection performance, developing new applications, and combining with other control theory.

ENHANCING BOTANICAL EDUCATION: EXPLORING INTERACTIVE METHODS IN TEACHING BOTANY

Botanical education plays a crucial role in fostering an understanding of plant life, its significance, and its intricate complexities. Traditional teaching methods often rely on passive learning approaches, which may not fully engage students or facilitate deeper comprehension. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on employing interactive teaching methods to enhance botanical education. This article reviews various interactive methods in teaching botany, including hands-on activities, digital simulations, field trips, and collaborative learning techniques. We discuss the benefits of incorporating interactive methods in botanical education, such as improved student engagement, enhanced retention of information, and the development of critical thinking skills. Additionally, we explore challenges associated with implementing interactive teaching methods and provide recommendations for overcoming these obstacles. By embracing interactive approaches, educators caninspire a greater appreciation for the fascinating world of plants and cultivate a new generation of botanists equipped with the knowledge and skills to address emerging environmental challenges.

Utilization of Diverse Molecules as Receptors by Cry Toxin and the Promiscuous Nature of Receptor-Binding Sites Which Accounts for the Diversity.

By 2013, it had been shown that the genes cadherin-like receptor (Cad) and ATP-binding cassette transporter subfamily C2 (ABCC2) were responsible for insect resistance to several Cry1A toxins, acting as susceptibility-determining receptors, and many review articles have been published. Therefore, this review focuses on information about receptors and receptor-binding sites that have been revealed since 2014. Since 2014, studies have revealed that the receptors involved in determining susceptibility vary depending on the Cry toxin subfamily, and that binding affinity between Cry toxins and receptors plays a crucial role. Consequently, models have demonstrated that ABCC2, ABCC3, and Cad interact with Cry1Aa; ABCC2 and Cad with Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac; ABCC2 and ABCC3 with Cry1Fa; ABCB1 with Cry1Ba, Cry1Ia, Cry9Da, and Cry3Aa; and ABCA2 with Cry2Aa and Cry2Ba, primarily in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Furthermore, since 2017, it has been suggested that the binding sites of BmCad and BmABCC2 on Cry1Aa toxin overlap in the loop region of domain II, indicating that Cry toxins use various molecules as receptors due to their ability to bind promiscuously in this region. Additionally, since 2017, several ABC transporters have been identified as low-efficiency receptors that poorly induce cell swelling in heterologously expressing cultured cells. In 2024, research suggested that multiple molecules from the ABC transporter subfamily, including ABCC1, ABCC2, ABCC3, ABCC4, ABCC10, and ABCC11, act as low-efficiency receptors for a single Cry toxin in the midgut of silkworm larvae. This observation led to the hypothesis that the presence of such low-efficiency receptors contributes to the evolution of Cry toxins towards the generation of highly functional receptors that determine the susceptibility of individual insects. Moreover, this evolutionary process is considered to offer valuable insights for the engineering of Cry toxins to overcome resistance and develop countermeasures against resistance.

“Trust Your Gut”: Promising Precision Approaches in Childhood Neuropsychiatric Disorders

The gut-brain axis has been increasingly linked to pediatric neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Accumulating evidence indicates that there are microbial fingerprints in these conditions, which may lead to personalized therapies. However, few review articles have provided a comprehensive synthesis to guide clinical translation. We aim to summarize current evidence of gut microbiome alterations in these childhood disorders, and opportunities for precision management approaches. There are numerous promising early-life interventions including probiotics and fecal microbial transplants. These treatment modalities may become targeted strategies to reduce both the risk of developing these disorders and their concurrent comorbidity. [ Psychiatr Ann. 2024;54(4):e103–e107.]

Elucidating the pathogenesis behind arteriovenous malformations of the central nervous system: a bibliometric analysis.

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are vascular malformations of the central nervous system (CNS) with potential for significant consequences. The exact pathophysiologic mechanism of AVM formation is not fully understood. This study aims to evaluate bibliometric parameters and citations of the literature of AVMs to provide an overview of how the field has evolved. We performed an electronic search on Web of Science to identify the top 100 published and indexed articles with the highest number of citations discussing the pathogenesis of AVMs. This study yielded 1863 articles, of which the top 100 were selected based on the highest total citation count. These articles included 24% basic science, 46% clinical, and 30% review articles. The most-cited article was a clinical article from 2003, and the most recent was published in 2022. The median number of authors was 6, with the highest being 46 for a clinical article. The top 5 journals were identified, with the highest impact factor being 20.1. 13 countries were identified, with the US contributing the most articles (approximately 70%). Regarding genes of investigation, VEGF was one of the early genes investigated, while more interested in RAS/MAPK has been garnered since 2015. There is a growing interest in AVM genomics and pathogenesis research. While progress has been made in understanding clinical aspects and risk factors, the exact pathophysiological mechanisms and genetic basis of AVM formation remain incompletely understood. Further investigation of key genes in AVM pathogenesis can allow identification of potential therapeutic targets.