White Clinic

Aim: To evaluate the accuracy of common tooth movements performed with clear aligners and to summarize patient-centered outcomes. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, PubMed Central (PMC), Scopus, MDPI, and BMC Oral Health was conducted to identify Englishlanguage articles published between 1 January 2020 and 31 March 2025. The search strategy combined keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms, including "clear aligner", "Invisalign", "aligner accuracy", "tooth movement predictability", "distalisation", "rotation", "expansion", "intrusion", "torque", "overbite correction", "space closure", "quality of life", and "patient satisfaction". Reference lists of the included articles were screened manually to identify additional eligible studies. Conclusions: Distalization and rotation are predictably expressed with clear aligners, whereas transverse expansion, tipping/torque, overbite reduction, and particularly intrusion remain less reliable. Treatment planning should anticipate under-expression, incorporate overcorrections, use attachments and auxiliaries judiciously, and ensure robust patient education to enhance compliance and satisfaction.

This paper highlights findings from a targeted survey of aerial pesticide applicators who specialize in mosquito control space sprays. The questionnaire captured location and site details, aircraft types, and use scenarios, as well as spray system configurations, operational protocols, and pesticide use. By identifying common application settings across different platforms, the survey offers a vital benchmark for ensuring that current and future gathering of empirical data for AGriculturalDISPersal™ (AGDISP) refinement aligns with real-world conditions. These data are discussed in relation to the current mechanistic model AGDISP and relevance to the design of the field trials already underway at Lee County Mosquito Control District, Florida.

Background: Cellulite affects 80-90% of post-pubertal females and, although cosmetic, has proven adverse psychological effects. A new compression garment with patented “vari-pad” technology has been developed, aiming to stimulate lymphatic return from the buttocks and thighs. The primary aim of this small pilot study was to assess participant satisfaction after using this garment in the short term and secondarily, to look for any objective improvements.Methods: 18 female participants (mean 47.5y, range 26-60) completed the study. There were 2 weeks of “stabilisation”, 4 weeks of wearing the garment, and 2 weeks of further assessment. With the initial assessment, there were 9 visits for each participant. At each visit, weight, participant satisfaction (0-10), 3D images (Canfield, USA) and transcutaneous water content (LymphScanner, Delfin Technologies, Finland) were recorded.Results:There was no significant weight change in any of the participants during the trial period. After 4 weeks of wearing the garment there was a significant improvement in participant satisfaction of their cellulite (n=15, p=0.0036) with a mean improvement of 18.5%. 3D image analysis of dimple volume showed no significant change in buttock cellulite, a significant decrease in left thigh cellulite (n=17, p=0.0123), but not on the right (p=14, p=0.6890). There was a significant decrease of localised water (n=36, p=0.0041)Conclusion: The vari-padded compression garment produced a significant improvement in participant satisfaction after just 4 weeks of treatment. Objective measurements failed to show a significant difference in cellulite on the buttocks but showed a significant improvement in the thighs by analysis of both dimple volumes and reduced transcutaneous water measurements. Further study is suggested to demonstrate if longer timeframes for use of the apparel will lead to further significant improvement in the appearance of cellulite.

Purpose: To investigate the changes in intraocular cytokines after ranibizumab treatment in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).Methods: This multicenter, prospective study enrolled patients with PCV treated with three monthly ranibizumab followed by a <i>pro re nata</i> regimen for 24 weeks. Best corrected visual acuity, slit lamp examination, fundus photography, and optical coherence tomography were performed every 4 weeks. Aqueous humor was collected to measure intraocular cytokines at baseline, week 8, and the time of recurrence or week 20. The association of changes in intraocular cytokines with visual acuity, central macular thickness, central choroidal thickness, area of abnormal vessels, and polyp closure was assessed.Results: This study included 25 eyes. The mean patient age was 70.3 ± 6.1 years. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration decreased at week 8, but only interferon (IFN)-γ, tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP)-2, and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-2 decreased at the time of recurrence. The recurrence interval was positively associated with the baseline epithelial-neutrophil activating peptide (ENA)-78, interleukin (IL)-17, leptin, and transforming growth factor-β1, and baseline central macular thickness was positively correlated with the baseline fibroblast growth factor-4 and IL-10. Thick central choroidal thickness was associated with a low basic fibroblast growth factor and high IFN-γ at baseline. The MCP-3 and Tie-2 levels decreased in two eyes with polyp closure.Conclusions: Ranibizumab significantly reduced intraocular VEGF concentrations and consequently improved PCV. However, the cytokines IFN-γ, TIMP-2, and MCP-2, rather than VEGF, were associated with PCV recurrence. Further studies of intraocular cytokines involved in neovascularization in PCV are needed.

The aim of this study was to investigate the antihistamine activity of steam-exploded oak (Quercus variabilis) extract containing phenolic compounds. The antioxidant activity increased with residence time of the steam explosion process. The 50% EtOH extract had total phenolic compound content of 82.2 % and 46.2 mg GAE/g extract and vanillic acid, ferulic acid, and vanillin were identified. Treatment with 50% EtOH extract decreased the diameters of histamine-induced wheal and erythema responses in human volunteers. In patients with atopic dermatitis, topical administration of 50% EtOH extract led to significant diseases and improvement in terms of sleep disturbance, pruritus, xerosis, desire to scratch, and erythema. This study suggested that steam-exploded oak is rich in phenolic compounds with high antioxidant and antihistamine activities, and the extract may be a promising source of new antihistamine agents and pharmaceuticals.

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In 2018, the Queen’s Collaboration for Health Care Quality: A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence (QcHcQ) spearheaded an incentive to increase collaboration and international partnerships. As part of this initiative, six library scientists from the partner institutions of the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) were invited to Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario to undertake training. The objective was to provide these library scientists with a comprehensive systematic review-training workshop using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for evidence synthesis. The intense six-day training workshop covered evidence synthesis of quantitative evidence and qualitative evidence as well as multiple methodologies for the synthesis of different levels of evidence. As a continuation of the collaboration a joint systematic review was embarked on titled: The role of library scientists in fostering evidence based health care.

Determining the infarct-related artery (IRA) in non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (MI) can be challenging. Delayed-enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (DE-CMR) can accurately identify small MIs. The purpose of this study was to determine whether DE-CMR improves the ability to identify the IRA in patients with non-ST-segment-elevation MI. In this 3-center, prospective study, we enrolled 114 patients presenting with their first MI. Patients underwent DE-CMR followed by coronary angiography. The interventional cardiologist was blinded to the DE-CMR results. Later, coronary angiography and DE-CMR images were reviewed independently and blindly for identification of the IRA. The pattern of DE-CMR hyperenhancement was also used to determine whether there was a nonischemic pathogenesis for myocardial necrosis. The IRA was not identifiable by coronary angiography in 37% of patients (n=42). In these, the IRA or a new noncoronary artery disease diagnosis was identified by DE-CMR in 60% and 19% of patients, respectively. Even in patients with an IRA determined by coronary angiography, a different IRA or a noncoronary artery disease diagnosis was identified by DE-CMR in 14% and 13%, respectively. Overall, DE-CMR led to a new IRA diagnosis in 31%, a diagnosis of nonischemic pathogenesis in 15%, or either in 46% (95% CI, 37%-55%) of patients. Of 55 patients undergoing revascularization, 27% had revascularization solely to nonculprit coronary artery territories as determined by DE-CMR. Identification of the IRA by coronary angiography can be challenging in patients with non-ST-segment-elevation MI. In nearly half, DE-CMR may lead to a new IRA diagnosis or elucidate a nonischemic pathogenesis. Revascularization solely of coronary arteries that are believed to be nonculprit arteries by DE-CMR is not uncommon.