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Background Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI) are rapidly progressing and life-threatening conditions that require prompt diagnosis. However, differentiating NSTI from other non-necrotizing skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) remains challenging. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of the biochemical analysis of soft tissue infectious fluid in distinguishing NSTIs from non-necrotizing SSTIs. Methods This cohort study prospectively enrolled adult patients between May 2023 and April 2024, and retrospectively included patients from April 2019 to April 2023. Patients with a clinical suspicion of NSTI in the limbs who underwent successful ultrasound-guided aspiration to obtain soft tissue infectious fluid for biochemical analysis were evaluated and classified into the NSTI and non-necrotizing SSTI groups based on their final discharge diagnosis. Common extravascular body fluid (EBF) criteria were applied. Results Of the 72 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 10 patients with abscesses identified via ultrasound-guided aspiration were excluded. Based on discharge diagnoses, 39 and 23 patients were classified into the NSTI and non-necrotizing SSTI groups, respectively. Biochemical analysis revealed significantly higher albumin, lactate, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and total protein levels in the NSTI group than in the non-necrotizing SSTI group, and the NSTI group had significantly lower glucose levels and pH in soft tissue fluids. In the biochemical analysis, LDH demonstrated outstanding discrimination (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.955; p  < 0.001) among the biochemical markers. Albumin (AUC = 0.884; p  < 0.001), lactate (AUC = 0.891; p  < 0.001), and total protein (AUC = 0.883; p  < 0.001) levels also showed excellent discrimination. Glucose level (AUC = 0.774; p  < 0.001) and pH (AUC = 0.780; p  < 0.001) showed acceptable discrimination. When the EBF criteria were evaluated, the total scores of Light’s criteria (AUC = 0.925; p  < 0.001), fluid-to-serum LDH ratio (AUC = 0.929; p  < 0.001), and fluid-to-serum total protein ratio (AUC = 0.927; p  < 0.001) demonstrated outstanding discrimination. Conclusion Biochemical analysis and EBF criteria demonstrated diagnostic performances ranging from acceptable to outstanding for NSTI when analyzing soft tissue infectious fluid. These findings provide valuable diagnostic insights into the recognition of NSTI. Further research is required to validate these findings.

The objective of this work is to showcase the ortho-positronium lifetime as a probe for soft-tissue characterization. We employed positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy to experimentally measure the three components of the positron annihilation lifetime—para-positronium (p-Ps), positron, and ortho-positronium (o-Ps)—for three types of porcine, non-fixated soft tissues ex vivo: adipose, hepatic, and muscle. Then, we benchmarked our measurements with X-ray phase-contrast imaging, which is the current state-of-the-art for soft-tissue analysis. We found that the o-Ps lifetime in adipose tissues (2.54 ± 0.12 ns) was approximately 20% longer than in hepatic (2.04 ± 0.09 ns) and muscle (2.03 ± 0.12 ns) tissues. In addition, the separation between the measurements for adipose tissue and the other tissues was better from o-Ps lifetime measurement than from X-ray phase-contrast imaging. This experimental study proved that the o-Ps lifetime is a viable non-invasive probe for characterizing and classifying the different soft tissues. Specifically, o-Ps lifetime as a soft-tissue characterization probe had a strong sensitivity to the lipid content that can be potentially implemented in commercial positron emission tomography scanners that feature list-mode data acquisition.

Introduction: Soft-tissue analysis has become an important component of orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. Photographic evaluation of an orthodontic patient is a very close representation of the appearance of the person. The previously established norms for soft-tissue analysis will vary for different ethnic groups. Thus, there is a need to develop soft-tissue facial profile norms pertaining to Indian ethnic groups. Aim and Objectives: The aim of this study is to establish the angular photogrammetric standards of soft-tissue facial profile for Indian males and females and also to compare sexual dimorphism present between them. Materials and Methods: The lateral profile photographs of 300 random participants (150 males and 150 females) between ages 18 and 25 years were taken and analyzed using FACAD tracing software. Inclusion criteria were angles Class I molar occlusion with acceptable crowding and proclination, normal growth and development with well-aligned dental arches, and full complements of permanent teeth irrespective of third molar status. This study was conducted in Indian population, and samples were taken from various cities across India. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out, and sexual dimorphism was evaluated by Student's t-test between males and females. Results: The results of the present study showed statistically significant (P < 0.05) gender difference in 5 parameters out of 12 parameters in Indian population. Conclusion: In the present study, soft-tissue facial measurements were established by means of photogrammetric analysis to facilitate orthodontists to carry out more quantitative evaluation and make disciplined decisions. The mean values obtained can be used for comparison with records of participants with the same characteristics by following this photogrammetric technique.

The inspection of patients’ soft tissues and the effects of various dental procedures on their facial physiognomy are quite challenging. To minimise discomfort and simplify the process of manual measuring, we performed facial scanning and computer measurement of experimentally determined demarcation lines. Images were acquired using a low-cost 3D scanner. Two consecutive scans were obtained from 39 participants, to test the scanner repeatability. An additional ten persons were scanned before and after forward movement of the mandible (predicted treatment outcome). Sensor technology that combines red, green, and blue (RGB) data with depth information (RGBD) integration was used for merging frames into a 3D object. For proper comparison, the resulting images were registered together, which was performed with ICP (Iterative Closest Point)-based techniques. Measurements on 3D images were performed using the exact distance algorithm. One operator measured the same demarcation lines directly on participants; repeatability was tested (intra-class correlations). The results showed that the 3D face scans were reproducible with high accuracy (mean difference between repeated scans <1%); the actual measurements were repeatable to some extent (excellent only for the tragus-pogonion demarcation line); computational measurements were accurate, repeatable, and comparable to the actual measurements. Three dimensional (3D) facial scans can be used as a faster, more comfortable for patients, and more accurate technique to detect and quantify changes in facial soft tissue resulting from various dental procedures.

Background The aim of the study was to assess the thickness of the soft tissue facial profile (STFP) in relation to the skeletal malocclusion, age and gender. Methods All patients, aged 7–35 years, who were seeking orthodontic treatment at the Department of Orthodontics, Medical University of Warsaw between 2019 and 22 were included in the study. All patients had lateral head radiographs taken before the treatment. The cephalometric analysis was performed including the STFP analysis. The patients were allocated to one of six groups based on age and skeletal relations (ANB angle). The minimum number of patients in each group was 60 with equal gender distribution. The STFP analysis included ten linear measurements. Results A total of 300 patients were included in the study and allocated to five groups. Group 6 (growing patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion) was not included in the study as it failed to achieve the assumed group size. There were significant differences in the thickness of the STFP in relation to the skeletal malocclusions. Adults with skeletal Class III malocclusion had significantly thicker subnasal soft tissues compared to patients with skeletal Class I and Class II malocclusions. The thickness of the lower lip in patients with Class II skeletal malocclusion was significantly bigger compared to the other groups. Children and adolescents with Class II malocclusions had thicker lower lip in comparison to the group with Class I malocclusion. The majority of the STFP measurements were significantly smaller in children and adolescents compared to adults. The thickness of the STFP in males was significantly bigger in all age groups compared to females. Conclusions The thickness of facial soft tissues depends on the patient’s age and gender. The degree of compensation of the skeletal malocclusion in the STFP may be a decisive factor during orthodontic treatment planning regarding a surgical approach or a camouflage treatment of skeletal defects.

Excessive mobility of the bladder neck and urethra are common features in stress urinary incontinence. We aimed at assessing, through computational modelling, the bladder neck position taking into account progressive impairment of the pelvic ligaments. Magnetic resonance images of a young healthy female were used to build a computational model of the pelvic cavity. Appropriate material properties and constitutive models were defined. The impairment of the ligaments was simulated by mimicking a reduction in their stiffness. For healthy ligaments, valsalva maneuver led to an increase in the α angle (between the bladder neck-symphysis pubis and the main of the symphysis) from 91.8° (at rest) to 105.7°, and 5.7mm of bladder neck dislocation, which was similar to dynamic imaging of the same woman (α angle from 80° to 103.3°, and 5mm of bladder neck movement). For 95% impairment, they enlarged to 124.28° and 12mm. Impairment to the pubourethral ligaments had higher effect than that of vaginal support (115° vs. 108°, and 9.1 vs. 7.3mm). Numerical simulation could predict urethral motion during valsalva maneuver, for both healthy and impaired ligaments. Results were similar to those of continent women and women with stress urinary incontinence published in the literature. Biomechanical analysis of the pubourethral ligaments complements the biomechanical study of the pelvic cavity in urinary incontinence. It may be useful in young women presenting stress urinary incontinence without imaging evidence of urethral and muscle lesions or organ descend during valsalva, and for whom fascial damage are not expected.

Objectives To establish the three-dimensional facial soft tissue morphology of adolescent and adult females in the Guangdong population and to study the morphological characteristics of hyperdivergent skeletal class II females in Guangdong compared with that of normodivergent class I groups. Materials and methods The 3dMDface system was used to capture face scans of 160 patients, including 45 normal and 35 hyperdivergent skeletal class II adolescents (aged 11–14 years old) and 45 normal and 35 hyperdivergent skeletal class II adults (aged 18–30 years old). Thirty-two soft tissue landmarks were mapped, and 21 linear, 10 angular and 17 ratio measurements were obtained by 3dMDvultus analysis software. Data were assessed with a t-test of two independent samples between the normal adolescent and adult groups and between the normal and hyperdivergent skeletal class II groups. Results The linear measurements of the Guangdong adult females were larger than those of the adolescents in both Class I and Class II groups. However, the angular and ratio measurements had no significant difference. The vertical linear measurements were higher and the sagittal and transverse linear measurements were smaller in the hyperdivergent class II group ( p  < 0.05). The soft tissue ANB angle, chin-lip angle, and mandibular angle were significantly larger and the soft tissue facial convexity angle and nasal convexity angle were significantly smaller in the hyperdivergent class II group ( p  < 0.05). Additionally, there were significant differences in the ratio measurements between the hyperdivergent class II groups and the control groups ( p  < 0.05). Conclusions The three-dimensional facial morphology of Guangdong adolescent and adult females was acquired. The facial soft tissue measurements of the adults were higher in the three dimensions except for the facial convexity and proportional relationships which were similar, suggesting that the growth pattern remained the same. The three-dimensional facial soft tissue features of hyperdivergent skeletal class II were characterized by the terms “long, convex, and narrow”. Three-dimensional facial measurements can reflect intrinsic hard tissue characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: Lower face soft tissue thickness and dentoskeletal features form the lower facial profile. Sagittal skeletal malocclusions with varying degrees of soft tissue thickness in males and females were herein examined using soft tissue cephalometric radiography. METHODS: Based on their dentoskeletal correlations, a total of 160 lateral cephalometric radiographs of adult males and females (n = 80) seeking orthodontic treatment were classified as class I (n = 40), class II division 1 (n = 40), class II division 2 (n = 40), or class III (n = 40). Holdaway analysis was used to assess soft tissue thickness in seven linear parameters. RESULTS: In class I, class II division 1, class II division 2, and class III dentoskeletal connections, males exhibited larger soft tissue thickness. They have an average lower lip thickness, chin depth H, and depth V for class I males. Males and females differed from one another when it came to the thicknesses of the upper and the lower lips. These lip thicknesses as well as the chin's width differed more between men and women in class II division 1. Except for upper lip strain, all measures in the class II division 2 sample males demonstrated a greater significance. In the class III sample, males also demonstrated more significance than females. CONCLUSION: Males with various sagittal skeletal malocclusions demonstrated a significant difference in lower soft tissue thickness (characterized as thicker lower facial soft tissue) compared to female patients in class I, class II division 1, class II division 2, and class III malocclusions.

We propose a data-driven framework to increase the computational efficiency of the explicit finite element method in the structural analysis of soft tissue. An encoder–decoder long short-term memory deep neural network is trained based on the data produced by an explicit, distributed finite element solver. We leverage this network to predict synchronized displacements at shared nodes, minimizing the amount of communication between processors. We perform extensive numerical experiments to quantify the accuracy and stability of the proposed synchronization-avoiding algorithm.

For patients with facial asymmetry, complete and precise diagnosis, and surgical treatments to correct the underlying cause of the asymmetry are significant. Conventional diagnostic radiographs (submento-vertex projections, posteroanterior radiography) have limitations in asymmetry diagnosis due to two-dimensional assessments of three-dimensional (3D) images. The advent of 3D images has greatly reduced the magnification and projection errors that are common in conventional radiographs making it as a precise diagnostic aid for assessment of facial asymmetry. Thus, this article attempts to review the newly introduced 3D tools in the diagnosis of more complex facial asymmetries.