Background: For root canal procedures to be successful, adequate bond strength between endodontic sealer and post material is necessary. For postendodontic restorations, glass fiber posts and carbon fiber posts are frequently used. Depending on the type of root canal sealer used, such posts may work differently. The chemical composition and characteristics of calcium hydroxide-based, resin-based, and bioceramic-based sealers vary, which may have an impact on the posts' binding strength. Therefore, optimizing rehabilitative results requires an understanding of these connections.
Objective: This study aims to evaluate and compare the push-out bond strength of glass fiber posts and carbon fiber posts in root canals treated with calcium hydroxide-based, resin-based, and bioceramic-based endodontic sealers.
Methods: A total of 60 extracted human premolars will be used in this in vitro investigation. After canal preparation, specimens will be separated into 3 groups according to the type of sealer used (bioceramic-based, resin-based, and calcium hydroxide-based). The type of post (carbon fiber or glass fiber) will be used to further split each group into 2 subgroups. A universal testing machine will be used to exert a compressive force on each post to test its push-out bond strength. Bond strength data will be recorded in megapascals and analyzed using ANOVA and post hoc tests.
Results: The results are expected to demonstrate significant differences in push-out bond strength among different post and sealer combinations. Glass fiber posts are expected to have higher bond strength values than carbon fiber posts across all sealer groups, with the highest bond strength anticipated in the bioceramic-based sealer group. Resin-based sealers are expected to exhibit intermediate bond strength values, whereas calcium hydroxide-based sealers are expected to show the lowest bond strength values across both types of post.
Conclusions: Glass fiber posts are expected to offer superior push-out bond strength in comparison to carbon fiber posts, especially when used with bioceramic-based sealers. The type of root canal sealer significantly affects bond strength, with bioceramic-based sealers providing the most reliable bond. Findings are expected that will suggest that careful selection of both post material and sealer type is necessary to enhance the long-term success of root canal restorations.
International registered report identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/76621.
Background: The global burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) continues to rise, with these conditions significantly increasing risks of cardiovascular disease, disability, and mortality. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation, a cornerstone of TCM practice, guides diagnosis and treatment by identifying patterns of disharmony. However, large-scale studies investigating TCM syndrome patterns in T2DM comorbid with MetS remain scarce.
Objective: This cross-sectional study aims to characterize TCM syndrome profiles in a population diagnosed with T2DM and MetS and evaluate their diagnostic relevance.
Methods: This cross-sectional study will enroll a cohort of 470 participants diagnosed with T2DM and MetS. All participants will undergo comprehensive assessments, including the Syndrome Differentiation Questionnaire for T2DM and MetS, demographic and anthropometric measurements, biochemical profiling (eg, fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and lipid panel), dietary measurement (Food Frequency Questionnaire), physical activity measurement (International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form), sleep quality evaluation (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), quality-of-life assessment (Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life), stroke risk estimation (Framingham Stroke Risk Score), and retinal imaging. Latent class analysis will be used to identify the TCM syndrome patterns. Factor analysis will be employed to identify core TCM syndrome factors. Hierarchical cluster analysis will be performed to classify TCM syndrome elements, and logistic regression will examine associations between syndrome differentiation, metabolic parameters, lifestyle factors, and disease progression.
Results: This trial was registered on November 17, 2024. Participant recruitment for this study was initiated in November 2024. As of October 2025, more than 450 eligible participants have been enrolled and have completed data collection. Recruitment is scheduled to conclude on December 31, 2025.
Conclusions: As the first large-scale clinical study to systematically characterize TCM syndrome differentiation in T2DM-MetS comorbidity, this research will establish syndrome profiles associated with metabolic parameters, lifestyle factors, and disease progression. The findings are expected to provide a framework for integrating TCM syndrome differentiation into chronic disease management, ultimately contributing to personalized treatment strategies and improved patient outcomes in integrative medicine.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06703684; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06703684.
International registered report identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/86217.
Background: Searching for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) references within large academic databases can be a challenging process, partly due to the dynamic and diverse definitions of words and terminologies used by multiple interest holders. Search hedges are preestablished search strings that aid in the efficacy of identifying and screening relevant articles. Validated search hedges focused on TGD people and topics will aid in identifying relevant literature.
Objective: This study aims to develop and validate the sensitivity and precision of 2 interdisciplinary and cross-cultural TGD search hedges designed for retrieving references from MEDLINE and APA PsycInfo, both on the Ovid platform.
Methods: Searches were conducted using the finalized search hedges via Ovid on June 7, 2024, yielding 31,055 references from MEDLINE and 22,924 references from APA PsycInfo. A random sample of 2330 records from MEDLINE and 2293 records from APA PsycInfo will be independently screened by at least 2 team members. At the title and abstract screening stage, references will be excluded if they (1) use solely binary terminology to describe gender, (2) focus on psychometric measurement of gender, or (3) focus on intersex or differences of sex development (DSD) topics. References will be included if they (1) report on transgender or gender diverse people, or both, in their sample; or (2) specifically discuss TGD communities or TGD topics. References without an abstract will be categorized as No_Abstract. References in which the TGD population is unclear will be categorized as LGB_Maybe_T or Mixed_Topics. Only references in the No_Abstract, LGB_Maybe_T, or Mixed_Topics categories will proceed to the full-text screening phase. In the full-text screening phase, references will be categorized as included if they (1) clearly distinguish between sexual identity and gender identity, (2) mention or discuss TGD topics or experiences in the Methods or Results sections, (3) communicate consideration for participants' gender self-identification and experiences, or (4) consider TGD populations as a distinct subpopulation. The results of the screening process will be used to calculate precision and sensitivity, with a targeted sensitivity of 100% and a targeted precision of 76% for each search hedge.
Results: Validation and data analysis are projected to be finished by December 2025, with results expected to be published in 2026.
Conclusions: Rigorous and transparent knowledge synthesis processes, starting with a high-quality search hedge, can help inform and equip community members, clinicians, policymakers, and other key decision-makers with scientifically sound evidence.
International registered report identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/76055.
Background: University students' mental health problems are prevalent globally, which underlines the need for accessible and cost-effective mental health services in universities. Loneliness is a key risk factor for mental health problems, and it disproportionately affects students from minority backgrounds. Therefore, addressing loneliness and fostering inclusion and equality can be crucial strategies for enhancing students' well-being.
Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate a social-identity group intervention called Groups 4 Health (G4H) for university students' well-being using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Here, we present the research protocol and report preliminary descriptive findings from the study cohort.
Methods: The quantitative part of the study is a 4 parallel-arm nonrandomized controlled trial aiming to recruit 600 student participants from the University of Helsinki. The experimental group, which receives the G4H intervention, includes 5 group meetings held over a 7-week period. The experimental group will be compared with 2 active comparators: groups organized by the University of Helsinki study psychologists and a 7-week online intervention course focused on well-being and study skills, and to a no-intervention control group. The primary quantitative outcomes of the study are loneliness and depression; secondary outcomes include several measures of students' well-being, academic performance, and cost-effectiveness of the intervention. Quantitative data are collected before the intervention, during the intervention (at week 3), immediately post intervention (at week 7 after baseline), and at 1- and 3-month follow-ups. The qualitative part of the study explores the challenges and opportunities related to inclusion and equality identified in the G4H intervention using observations, interviews, and focus group discussions.
Results: In the preliminary findings based on the first data freeze in March 2025, we observed differences in the background characteristics between the trial arms, highlighting the need to address group selection bias. First results from the study are expected in 2026.
Conclusions: If proven effective, these interventions have significant potential to improve students' well-being in both short and long term, fostering mental health and supporting academic success and future career paths.
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：