Objectives: To compare 3D cephalometric analysis performed using AI with that conducted manually by a specialist orthodontist. Methods: The CBCT scans (a field of view of 15 × 15 cm) used in the study were obtained from 30 consecutive patients, aged 18 to 50. The 3D cephalometric analysis was conducted using two methods. The first method involved manual tracing performed with the Invivo 6 software (Anatomage Inc., Santa Clara, CA, USA). The second method involved using AI for cephalometric measurements as part of an orthodontic report generated by the Diagnocat system (Diagnocat Ltd., San Francisco, CA, USA). Results: A statistically significant difference within one standard deviation of the parameter was found in the following measurements: SNA, SNB, and the left interincisal angle. Statistically significant differences within two standard deviations were noted in the following measurements: the right and left gonial angles, the left upper incisor, and the right lower incisor. No statistically significant differences were observed beyond two standard deviations. Conclusions: AI in the form of Diagnocat proved to be effective in assessing the mandibular growth direction, defining the skeletal class, and estimating the overbite, overjet, and Wits parameter.

In this study, using the Box–Behnken model, we optimized the ethanolic extraction of phytochemicals from Enantia chloranta bark for the first time, assessed the composition with HPLC-MS/MS, performed the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and characterized them with UV-Vis spectrophotometry, photon cross-correlation spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The antibacterial and antibiotic-resistance reversal properties of optimized extract (O-ECB) and AgNPs were assessed on various microorganisms (15 Gram−, 7 Gram+, and 2 fungi) using the well diffusion method and microbroth dilution assay. The mechanism of action was investigated on growth kinetic and proton pumps of Escherichia coli. The in vivo antimicrobial activity and toxicity were assessed on Galleria mellonella larvae. The optimal mass yield (14.3%) related to the highest antibacterial activity (31 mm vs. S. aureus ATCC 6538) was obtained with the following operating conditions: % EtOH—100%; ratio m/v—20 g/mL; and extraction time—6 h. All the compounds identified in O-ECB were alkaloids and the major constituents were palmatine (51.63%), columbamine +7,8-dihydro-8-hydroxypalmatine (19.21%), jatrorrhizine (11.02%), and pseudocolumbamine (6.33%). Among the minerals found in O-ECB (S, Si, Cl, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Zn, and Br), Br, Fe, and Cl were the most abundant with mean fluorescence intensities of 4.6529, 3.485,4, and 2.5942 cps/uA, respectively. The synthesized AgNPs revealed a strong absorption plasmon band between 430 and 450 nm and an average hydrodynamic diameter ×50 of 59.74 nm, and the presence of Ag was confirmed by a characteristic peak in the spectrum at the silver Kα line of 22.105 keV. Both O-ECB and AgNPs displayed noteworthy and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities against 20/24 and 24/24 studied microorganisms, respectively, with recorded minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 8 to ≥1024 µg/mL and 2 to 64 µg/mL. O-ECB and AgNPs showed antibiofilm properties and significantly enhanced the efficacy of conventional antibiotics against selected multidrug-resistant bacteria, and the mechanistic investigations revealed their interference with bacterial growth kinetic and the inhibition of H+-ATPase proton pumps. LD50s were 40 mg/mL and 0.6 mg/mL for O-ECB and AgNPs, respectively. In conclusion, the current study provides a strong experimental baseline to consider Enantia chlorantha bark and their green synthetized AgNPs as potent antimicrobial compounds in this era of antimicrobial resistance.

Aim. The aim of the study is to evaluate the difference in MB2 prevalence with different slice thicknesses in maxillary first molars.Materials and Methods. Two hundred nonfilled MB2 canals in maxillary first molars of 156 people (75 females and 81 males) aged from 20 to 73 years old were evaluated with CBCT with different slice thicknesses: 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 3 mm, and 10 mm. A general analysis was performed out, as well as in the age groups and on gender groups.Results. Visualization with 0.5 mm and 1 mm slice thicknesses was 100% and generally equal, in both the male and the female group. General MB2 visualization with 3 mm slice thickness was 42% and 29% for the male group and 27% for the female group. No canals were visualized with 10 mm slice thickness. The study did not demonstrate a statistical difference in the MB2 prevalence between gender and age groups with the 3 mm slice thickness.Conclusion. The most valuable way to evaluate the root canal system in first maxillary molars with CBCT is using 1 mm slice thickness for both genders and every age group.

Effects of the Ferrule Design on Fracture Resistance to Endodontically-Treated Teeth Restored with Fiber Posts: A Systematic Review

Background and Aim: The use of bioengineered nanocomposites as antimicrobials has increased in recent years, but very few investigations have been conducted to test their effectiveness against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a pathogen presenting public health risks that can impact both humans and animals. The aim of this study was to assess the antimicrobial potential of phytofabricated silver nanoparticles synthesized using lemongrass extract against clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa. Materials and Methods: The extraction of active compounds from the leaves of Cymbopogon citratus was performed using ethanol (80%) as a solvent, high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to analyze the chemical composition of the extract, the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was done using silver nitrate (AgNO3) as a precursor, and the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of the extract and the AgNPs phytofabricated was assessed against 10 clinical strains of P. aeruginosa. Results: Lemongrass extract was found to consist of the following main compounds: Caffeic acid (445.21 ± 32.77 μg/g), p-coumaric acid (393.32 ± 39.56 μg/g), chlorogenic acid (377.65 ± 4.26 μg/g), quinic acid (161.52 ± 17.62 μg/g), and quercetin-3-glucoside (151.35 ± 11.34 μg/g). AgNPs were successfully phytofabricated using 2.5 mM AgNO3. The ultraviolet (UV)-visible absorption spectra of the AgNPs showed a localized surface plasmon resonance at 464 nm with an absorbance of 0.32 A. The 50x hydrodynamic diameter was 50.29 nm with a surface area value of 120.10 m2/ cm3, and the volume mean diameter and Sauter mean diameter were 50.63 nm and 49.96 nm, respectively. Despite the compound found in lemongrass extract, no antimicrobial activity was observed with the extract, while AgNPs exhibited noteworthy dose-dependent antimicrobial activity with inhibition diameters up to 24 mm and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration ranging from 2 to 16 and 4–64 µg/mL, respectively. AgNPs also demonstrated significant antibiofilm activity by inhibiting biofilms up to 99% between MIC/2 and 2MIC. Conclusion: The present study suggests that lemongrass is a good candidate for the synthesis of AgNPs with good physicochemical characteristics and having a strong anti-pseudomonas activity. Further research is needed to assess the stability and safety of these AgNPs. Keywords: antibiofilm capacity, antimicrobial activity, green synthesis, lemongrass, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, silver nanoparticles.