Background: Schneiderian membrane thickness (SMT) has been regarded as a key factor for influencing membrane perforation, which may jeopardize the final clinical outcome of sinus augmentation. Hence, this systematic review aims at studying the mean SMT and further investigating patient‐related factors that may affect SMT. As a secondary goal, the association between SMT and membrane perforation rate was studied.Methods: Three independent reviewers in several databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register databases, conducted electronic and manual literature searches. This review was written and conducted according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses) and MECIR (Methodological Expectations of Cochrane Intervention Reviews) guidelines. Quantitative assessment was performed for articles that met the inclusion criteria to investigate the mean SMT, its contributing factors, and the influence on membrane damage and surgical complications.Results: Thirty‐one studies that reported maxillary SMT were considered for qualitative analysis. Nineteen were further meta‐analyzed. Overall mean ± SE SMT was 1.17 ± 0.1 mm (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.89 to 1.44). Although mean SMT for the three‐dimensional radiography (3DR) group was 1.33 mm (95% CI = 1.06 to 1.60), for the histology group, it was 0.48 mm (95% CI = 0.12 to 1.1). Random‐effects model showed that, although there is a trend for thicker SMT as determined using 3DR compared with histologic analysis, such difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.15). Also, regression analyses demonstrated that the variables periodontitis (P = 0.13) and smoking (P = 0.11) showed thicker SMT. Inconclusive data were obtained when correlating SMT and perforation rate, although it seems that thicker SMT might be more prone to perforation (P = 0.14).Conclusions: SMT is, on average, 1 mm in patients seeking sinus augmentation. Three‐dimensional technologies overestimate approximately 2.5 times SMT when compared with histologic analysis. Periodontitis and smoking may result in thickening of the sinus membrane. However, current data were inconclusive to link SMT to the rate of membrane damage.

Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic clinical condition characterized by pain and other associated symptoms that have a negative impact on the quality of life of the affected person. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a core stability training physiotherapy program compared to an acupuncture treatment on quality of life, pain, joint stiffness, difficulty to work and depression of women with fibromyalgia. Methods: This was a single-blind, randomized clinical controlled trial. Women with fibromyalgia were randomized to a core stability physiotherapy program group (n = 45), an acupuncture treatment group (n = 45) and a control group (n = 45) for 13 weeks. Measurements were taken at baseline (week 0), post-intervention (week 6) and at follow-up (week 13). The primary outcome measure was quality of life (Spanish Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire). The secondary outcome measures were pain, joint stiffness, difficulty to work and depression (Visual Analogue Scale). Results: In total, 103 participants completed the study. The results, from a descriptive perspective, showed improvements in all the outcome measures in both intervention groups (physiotherapy and acupuncture) at weeks 6 and 13 in relation to week 0 and in comparison to the control group. Only the difficulty to work measure in the acupuncture group showed a slight decrease at week 13. In particular, mean (±SD) Spanish Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire score at 6 weeks was 62.89 ± 16.91 for the physiotherapy group, 62.5 ± 18.09 for the acupuncture group and 67.45 ± 17.07 for the control group. However, these improvements were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Core stability-based physiotherapy and acupuncture showed non-significant improvements in quality of life, pain, joint stiffness, difficulty to work and depression in women with fibromyalgia.

In the context of kernel density estimation, we give a characterization of the kernels for which the parametric mean integrated squared error (MISE) rate n ⁻¹ may be obtained, where n is the sample size. Also, for the cases where this rate is attainable, we give an asymptotic bandwidth choice that makes the kernel estimator consistent in mean integrated squared error at that rate and a numerical example showing the superior performance of the superkernel estimator when the bandwidth is properly chosen.

Purpose: To study implant primary stability and bone healing using resonance frequency analysis in different anatomical locations 4 months after placement. Material and Methods: Fifty-six partially edentulous patients restored by dental implants were included. Overall, 214 implants were placed without bone or soft tissue augmentation. All implants were placed with the same drilling protocol and implant insertion torque (35–40 N·cm). Results: The mean implant stability quotient (ISQ) value at baseline for all the locations was 75.4 mm (95% confidence interval, 74.20–76.59 mm). Higher ISQ values were found in the mandible. A significant difference between ISQ values of each location (P < 0.001) was identified. The mean values obtained showed an increase (3.4%) in all the locations, being greater in the posterior lower and upper maxillae (3.8%), whereas for the anterior maxilla, it was the least (1.5%) 4 months after healing. This increase was statistically significant in the posterior upper and lower maxillae (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Higher implant stability was found in mandible compared with maxilla in both periods, immediately after insertion and 4 months later. Therefore, according to ISQ values, restoring implants immediately after insertion or after a healing period of 4 months represents safe time points.

To observe whether any relationship exists between the concentration of plasma estradiol (E2) and the plasma concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) or whether a relationship exists between the concentration of plasma E2 and the activity of the erythrocyte enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, in ovariectomized female Wistar rats (treated and untreated with E2). We used 40 ovariectomized Wistar rats randomly assigned to four groups. The first group was allowed to evolve freely with no treatment. A gel containing 17beta-estradiol was administered transdermally to the other three groups at doses of 4, 8, and 16 microg/day, respectively. After 15 days of treatment, blood samples were obtained from the four groups. The concentrations of plasma MDA and E2 and the activities of erythrocyte catalase and SOD were determined. There were significant correlations between the MDA levels and the logarithm (base 10) of the plasma E2 concentrations in both linear (p = 0.00093) and quadratic (p = 0.000001) regression analyses. No relationship was found between the E2 concentrations and the catalase and SOD activities. There was a clear relationship between the plasma levels of MDA and the logarithm of the plasma E2 concentrations, which was best demonstrated with a quadratic regression. This model may explain the contradictory findings presented by estrogens with respect to their pro-or antioxidant action.