Browsing by Author "Eckert, G. J."

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    Bone marrow fat is increased in chronic kidney disease by magnetic resonance spectroscopy
    (Springer-Verlag, 2015-06) Moorthi, R. N.; Fadel, W.; Eckert, G. J.; Ponsler-Sipes, K.; Moe, S. M.; Lin, C.; Department of Medicine, IU School of Medicine
    In aging, the bone marrow fills with fat and this may lead to higher fracture risk. We show that a bone marrow fat measurement by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), a newer technique not previously studied in chronic kidney disease (CKD), is useful and reproducible. CKD patients have significantly higher bone marrow fat than healthy adults. INTRODUCTION: Renal osteodystrophy leads to increased morbidity and mortality in patients with CKD. Traditional bone biopsy histomorphometry is used to study abnormalities in CKD, but the bone marrow, the source of osteoblasts, has not been well characterized in patients with CKD. METHODS: To determine the repeatability of bone marrow fat fraction assessment by MRS and water-fat imaging (WFI) at four sites in patients with CKD, testing was performed to determine the coefficients of reproducibility and intraclass coefficients (ICCs). We further determined if this noninvasive technique could be used to determine if there are differences in the percent bone marrow fat in patients with CKD compared to matched controls using paired t tests. RESULTS: The mean age of subjects with CKD was 59.8 ± 7.2 years, and the mean eGFR was 24 ± 8 ml/min. MRS showed good reproducibility at all sites in subjects with CKD and controls, with a coefficient of reproducibilities ranging from 2.4 to 13 %. MRS and WFI assessment of bone marrow fat showed moderate to strong agreement (ICC 0.6-0.7) at the lumbar spine, with poorer agreement at the iliac crest and no agreement at the tibia. The mean percent bone marrow fat at L2-L4 was 13.8 % (95 % CI 8.3-19.7) higher in CKD versus controls (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MRS is a useful and reproducible technique to study bone marrow fat in CKD. Patients with CKD have significantly higher bone marrow fat than healthy adults; the relationship with bone changes requires further analyses.
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    Impact of COVID-19 on Life Experiences of Essential Workers Attending a Dental Testing Facility
    (Sage, 2021) Fontana, M.; McCauley, L.; Fitzgerald, M.; Eckert, G. J.; Yanca, E.; Eber, R.; Biostatistics and Health Data Science, School of Medicine
    Objectives: 1) To compare the impact of COVID-19 on the life experiences of essential workers attending a COVID-19 antibody testing clinic at a dental school. 2) To compare responses of dental, non-dental health care, and non-health care essential workers. 3) To assess acceptability/satisfaction of testing done in a dental setting. Method: A total of 984 participants completed a self-administered online questionnaire. Results: Over 90% were healthy (i.e., not in a high-risk health-related group for COVID-19), did not have COVID-19 symptoms within 30 d, and always/frequently engaged in preventive measures. Fifty-eight percent thought that they had a 0% to 25% chance of having immunity/antibodies to COVID-19. Non-dental health care workers thought that their chance was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than others. Over 70% were sometimes, frequently, or always worried about their friends and loved ones getting COVID-19 and of resulting financial problems. Dental workers were significantly less afraid than non-dental health care and non-health care providers. For all groups, more than half of the respondents stated that the pandemic had a negative (somewhat worse or worse) impact on daily life (59%), interactions with others (65%), stress levels (66%), and enjoyment of life (56%). There were significant differences among all 3 groups regarding the percentage of individuals with a negative impact on job security (dental, 47%; non-dental health care, 34%; non-health care, 31%). However, more than half of the respondents stated that the pandemic had a positive impact (same, somewhat better, or much better) on caring about one another, self-care, and exercise. Knowing the results of an antibody test would decrease the level of stress and anxiety in 67% of respondents. Over 80% found a COVID-19 test received in a dental setting acceptable, were "definitely" satisfied, and would "definitely" recommend it to a friend, family, or coworker. Conclusions: These findings support that dental workers are as vulnerable as other essential workers to threats and psychological impacts of COVID-19. They also support the acceptability and satisfaction of testing for a pandemic done in a dental setting. Knowledge transfer statement: The results of this study highlight the impact that pandemics such as COVID-19 can have on life experiences of essential workers, including dentists. It also highlights a role that dentistry can play within the broader health care system, during and beyond the current pandemic, to help with surveillance efforts of community health. Testing may also help alleviate stress and anxiety associated with these pandemics.
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    An In Vitro Investigation of Anticaries Efficacy of Fluoride Varnishes
    (Allen Press, 2019) Al Dehailan, L.; Martinez-Mier, E. A.; Eckert, G. J.; Lippert, Frank; Cariology, Operative Dentistry and Dental Public Health, School of Dentistry
    Most currently marketed fluoride varnishes (FVs) have not been evaluated for their effectiveness in preventing dental caries. The objective of this study was to investigate the anticaries efficacy, measured as fluoride release into artificial saliva (AS); change in surface microhardness of early enamel caries lesions; and enamel fluoride uptake (EFU) of 14 commercially available FVs and two control groups. Bovine enamel specimens (5×5 mm) were prepared and assigned to 18 groups (n=12). Early caries lesions were created in the specimens and characterized using Vickers microhardness (VHNlesion). FV was applied to each group of specimens. Immediately afterward, specimens were incubated in 4 mL of AS for 18 hours, which were collected and renewed every hour for the first six hours. AS samples were analyzed for fluoride using an ion-specific electrode. Specimens were then brushed for 20 seconds with toothpaste slurry and subjected to pH cycling consisting of a four-hour/day acid challenge and one-minute treatments with 1100 ppm F dentifrice for five days. Microhardness was measured following pH cycling (VHNpost). EFU was determined using microbiopsy. Acid resistance (eight-hour demin challenge) was performed after pH cycling, and microhardness was measured (VHNart) and compared with baseline values to test the FV impact after pH cycling. One-way analysis of variance was used for data analysis (α=0.05). FVs differed in their release characteristics (mean ± SD ranged from 14.97 ± 2.38 μg/mL to 0.50 ± 0.15 μg/mL), rehardening capability (mean ± SD ranged from 24.3 ± 15.1 to 11.7 ± 12.7), and ability to deliver fluoride to demineralized lesions (mean ± SD ranged from 3303 ± 789 μg/cm3 to 707 ± 238 μg/cm3). Statistically significant but weak linear associations were found between ΔVHN(post – lesion), EFU, and fluoride release (correlations 0.21-0.36). The results of this study demonstrated that differences in FV composition can affect their efficacy in in vitro conditions.
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    In vitro visual and visible light transillumination methods for detection of natural non-cavitated approximal caries
    (Springer, 2018-03) Abogazalah, N.; Eckert, G. J.; Ando, M.; Cariology, Operative Dentistry and Dental Public Health, School of Dentistry
    Objectives The objective was to evaluate a visible-light-transillumination (using Digital Imaging Fiber-Optic Transillumination machine: DIFOTI) method using occlusal view (DIFOTI-occl), axial view (buccal and lingual: DIFOTI-axial), and combination of all views (DIFOTI-all) for detecting non-cavitated approximal caries and to compare its performance to visual examination (International Caries Detection and Assessment System: ICDAS). Materials and methods Thirty extracted human premolars were selected (sound to lesions into the outer one-third of the dentine) based on micro-computed tomography (μ-CT). Teeth were mounted in a custom-made device to simulate approximal contact. DIFOTI (Electro-Optical Sciences Inc., Irvington, NY, USA) images were obtained from the occlusal, buccal, and lingual views. DIFOTI image and ICDAS examinations were performed and repeated by three trained/calibrated examiners. Sensitivity, specificity, area under receiver operating characteristics curve (Az), inter- and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs), and correlation were determined. Results Sensitivity/specificity was for DIFOTI-occl: 0.42/0.75, DIFOTI-axial: 0.86/0.93, DIFOTI-all: 0.91/0.69, and for ICDAS: 0.89/0.83. Az for DIFOTI-occl was significantly lower than that of DIFOTI-axial (p < 0.001), DIFOTI-all (p = 0.002), and ICDAS (p = 0.005). Spearman correlation coefficients with μ-CT for DIFOTI-occl (r = 0.39) showed weak association, while DIFOTI-axial (r = 0.80), DIFOTI-all (r = 0.91), and ICDAS (r = 0.90) showed moderate association. ICCs for intra-examiner repeatability/inter-examiner agreement were for DIFOTI-occl (0.64/0.58), DIFOTI-axial (0.92/0.89), DIFOTI-all (0.85/0.83), and ICDAS (0.79/0.72). Conclusions The results of the current in vitro study suggest that, for detection of non-cavitated approximal caries lesions, DIFOTI performs better using axial than occlusal view.
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    The Influence of Distance on Radiant Exposure and Degree of Conversion Using Different Light-Emitting-Diode Curing Units
    (Allen Press, 2019-05) Al-Zain, A.O.; Eckert, G. J.; Platt, J. A.; Biomedical Sciences and Comprehensive Care, School of Dentistry
    Objectives: To investigate the influence of curing distance on the degree of conversion (DC) of a resin-based composite (RBC) when similar radiant exposure was achieved using six different light-curing units (LCUs) and to explore the correlation among irradiance, radiant exposure, and DC. Methods and Materials: A managing accurate resin curing-resin calibrator system was used to collect irradiance data for both top and bottom specimen surfaces with a curing distance of 2 mm and 8 mm while targeting a consistent top surface radiant exposure. Square nanohybrid-dual-photoinitiator RBC specimens (5 × 5 × 2 mm) were cured at each distance (n=6/LCU/distance). Irradiance and DC (micro-Raman spectroscopy) were determined for the top and bottom surfaces. The effect of distance and LCU on irradiance, radiant exposure, and DC as well as their linear associations were analyzed using analysis of variance and Pearson correlation coefficients, respectively (α=0.05). Results: While maintaining a similar radiant exposure, each LCU exhibited distinctive patterns in decreased irradiance and increased curing time. No significant differences in DC values (63.21%-70.28%) were observed between the 2- and 8-mm distances, except for a multiple-emission peak LCU. Significant differences in DC were detected among the LCUs. As expected, irradiance and radiant exposure were significantly lower on the bottom surfaces. However, a strong correlation between irradiance and radiant exposure did not necessarily result in a strong correlation with DC. Conclusions: The RBC exhibited DC values >63% when the top surface radiant exposure was maintained, although the same values were not reached for all lights. A moderate-strong correlation existed among irradiance, radiant exposure, and DC.
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    Monitoring of sound and carious surfaces under sealants over 44 months
    (SAGE Publications, 2014-11) Fontana, M.; Platt, J. A.; Eckert, G. J.; González-Cabezas, C.; Yoder, K.; Zero, D. T.; Ando, M.; Soto-Rojas, A. E.; Peters, M. C.; Department of Restorative Dentistry, IU School of Dentistry
    Although there is strong evidence for the effectiveness of sealants, one major barrier in sealant utilization is the concern of sealing over active caries lesions. This study evaluated detection and monitoring of caries lesions through a clear sealant over 44 mo. Sixty-four 7- to 10-year-old children with at least 2 permanent molars with International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) scores 0-4 (and caries less than halfway through the dentin, radiographically) were examined with ICDAS, DIAGNOdent, and quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) before sealant placement and 1, 12, 24, and 44 mo (except QLF) after. Bitewing radiographs were taken yearly. DIAGNOdent and QLF were able to distinguish between baseline ICDAS before and after sealant placement. There was no significant evidence of ICDAS progression at 12 mo, but there was small evidence of minor increases at 24 and 44 mo (14% and 14%, respectively) with only 2% ICDAS ≥ 5. Additionally, there was little evidence of radiographic progression (at 12 mo = 1%, 24 mo = 3%, and 44 mo = 9%). Sealant retention rates were excellent at 12 mo = 89%, 24 mo = 78%, and 44 mo = 70%. The small risk of sealant repair increased significantly as baseline ICDAS, DIAGNOdent, and QLF values increased. However, regardless of lesion severity, sealants were 100% effective at 12 mo and 98% effective over 44 mo in managing occlusal surfaces at ICDAS 0-4 (i.e., only 4 of 228 teeth progressed to ICDAS ≥ 5 associated with sealants in need of repair and none to halfway or more through the dentin, radiographically). This study suggests that occlusal surfaces without frank cavitation (ICDAS 0-4) that are sealed with a clear sealant can be monitored with ICDAS, QLF, or DIAGNOdent, which may aid in predicting the need for sealant repair.
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    A Potential Biofilm Metabolite Signature for Caries Activity - A Pilot Clinical Study
    (OMICS Publishing Group, 2015-03) Zandona, F.; Soini, H. A.; Novotny, M. V.; Santiago, E.; Eckert, G. J.; Preisser, J. S.; Benecha, H. K.; Arthur, R. A.; Zero, D. T.; Department of Cariology, Operative Dentistry and Dental Public Health, School of Dentistry
    BACKGROUND: This study's aim was to compare the dental biofilm metabolite-profile of caries-active (N=11) or caries-free (N=4) children by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses. METHODS: Samples collected after overnight fasting, with or without a previous glucose rinse, were combined for each child based on the caries status of the site, re-suspended in ethanol and analyzed by GC/MS. RESULTS: Biofilm from caries-active sites exhibited a different chromatographic profile compared to caries-free sites. Qualitative and quantitative analysis suggested a special cluster of branched alcohols and esters present at substantially higher intensity in biofilms of caries-active sites. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study indicates that there are metabolites present in the biofilm which have the potential to provide a characteristic metabolomics signature for caries activity.