Despite widespread mass rollout programs, the rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant called into question the effectiveness of the existing vaccines against infection, hospitalization, severity, and mortality compared to previous variants. This systematic review summarizes and compares the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines, with respect to the above outcomes in adults, children, and adolescents. A comprehensive literature search was undertaken on several databases. Only 51 studies met our inclusion criteria, revealing that the protection from primary vaccination against Omicron infection is inferior to protection against Delta and Alpha infections and wanes faster over time. However, mRNA vaccine boosters were reported to reestablish effectiveness, although to a lower extent against Omicron. Nonetheless, primary vaccination was shown to preserve strong protection against Omicron-associated hospitalization, severity, and death, even months after last dose. However, boosters provide more robust and longer-lasting protection against hospitalizations due to Omicron as compared to only primary series.
Surgical procedures in the facial region are associated by a variety of difficulties. The anatomy of the maxillofacial region, the complexity of the bony architecture as well as the esthetic implications. The three dimensional imaging and 3D printing, have been applied for the restoration the complex anatomy of craniofacial structures. In addition, mirror-imaging techniques advocating 3D computed tomographic (CT) scanning and 3D printing can maximize the surgical outcome on both the functional and esthetic reconstruction levels. A synthetic scaffold can be pre-molded to the individual prototype skull model to resemble the anatomic contour before applying it to cover the orbital defects. Our aim is to show the importance and present our experience with three-dimensional virtual planning in solving a variety of acute and chronic clinical deformities within the scope of trauma in the cranio maxillofacial region. 25 patients were retrospectively recruited. Mean age was 33.5 years (range 13-59), male: female ratio = 2.6:1 (18:7). Eleven patients had acute injuries (44%) while the remaining 14 patients (56%) had chronic (malunited) fractures performed in 2 different centers treating maxillofacial deformities operated utilizing 3D planning protocols. The advocation of the virtual planning techniques, three dimension printing and printed custom implant enabled an accurate reduction and fixation procedure of complex acute and chronic complex upper and midface fracture, which is reflected in very satisfactory aesthetic outcome.
Objective: Orthognathic occlusal repositioning wafers could be constructed virtually and 3D printed. This paper assessed the accuracy of a suggested virtual model to the conventionally established Glasgow model surgery. Design: Prospective study of the orthognathic surgery models digitally. Participants: Seven patients who received bi-maxillary orthognathic surgeries for correction of dentofacial deformities. Methods: The patients were clinically assessed and their cone beam cmputerized tomography (CBCT) studied. Model surgery of each patient was performed conventionally using face-bow and semi-adjustable articulator. Same plan was executed virtually using Mimics (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium) and 3Matic (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium). Conventionally fabricated acrylic wafers as well as 3D printed wafers were CBCT scanned with the casts reflecting the archived repositioning dictated by the wafers. Paired sample t test was performed to compare accuracy between intermediate and final occlusal repositioning wafers within conventional and virtual technique groups. Results: The mean deviation in intermediate wafer group was 0.64 ± 0.33 mm; whereas the mean deviation in final wafer group was 0.53 ± 0.10 mm. Paired sample t test showed that there was no statistically significant difference in mean deviation between both groups (P = 0.403). Conclusions: This virtual surgical wafer achieves a similar level of accuracy to the conventional Glasgow model surgery.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.