Effect of Thermocycling and Type of Restorative Material on Microleakage of Class II Restorations

Objectives: Microleakage is a major cause of failure of dental restorations and results in development of secondary caries, tooth hypersensitivity and pulp pathosis. This study aimed to compare the microleakage of class II cavities filled with two types of composite resins and a compomer and subjected to thermocycling.Methods: In this in vitro experimental study, class II cavities with a gingival margin below the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) and beveled enamel margins were prepared in proximal surfaces of 60 molar teeth. The teeth were randomly divided into three groups of 20 and restored with Spectrum TPH3 and Esthet X composites and Dyract eXtra compomer. Each group was randomly divided into two subgroups (n=10) of control and thermocycling (1000 thermal cycles). Dye penetration in occlusal and cervical margins was scored under a stereomicroscope. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal Wallis test and Mann Whitney U test (P<0.05).Results: No significant difference was noted in microleakage of the three groups neither in the occlusal nor in the cervical margins in presence or absence of thermocycling (P>0.05). But, the microleakage in the cervical margins of compomer restorations was slightly higher than that of other groups especially after thermocycling.Conclusion: Microleakage of composite restorations was not significantly different from that of compomer restorations in the occlusal or gingival margins in presence or absence of thermocycling

Evaluating the additive effect of Persica and chlorhexidine mouthwashes on oral health status of children receiving chemotherapy for their hematomalignancy : a randomized clinical trial

No definitive protocol has been introduced for treatment or prevention of chemotherapy induced mucositis. The aim of this study was to assess the additive effect of Persica and chlorhexidine on chemotherapy induced mucositis of children with hematomalignancies. This randomized clinical trial was performed on 44 children aged 6 to 12 years who were under a similar maintenance chemotherapy protocol for their hematomalignancies. The clinician instructed oral hygiene cares to the patients and their parents and the severity of the mucositis and oral health status of patients were evaluated according to Oral Assessment Guide index. Then, the patients were randomly assigned to one of two experimental groups and were instructed to rinse either with Persica oral drops or normal saline, twice a day for two weeks. Subsequently, the patients in both groups were educated to rinse with chlorhexidine for 30 seconds and avoid eating for an hour. Second and third oral examinations were performed on the 8th and 15th day using the same questionnaire. Comparing severity of mucositis and oral health status of patients did not show any significant difference between treatment groups in either of examination sessions (p>0.05). However, both treatment groups showed statistically significant oral health improvement, in terms of mucositis, plaque accumulation and gingival condition, in 14 days following mouthrinses administration (p<0.05). Both mouth-rinse combinations were effective on mucositis, plaque and gingival status of children receiving chemotherapy. However, Persica does not seem to pose additional effect on chlorhexidine in decreasing severity of chemotherapy induced mucositis

Can primary optimal cytoreduction be predicted in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer preoperatively?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Prediction of optimal cytoreduction in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian caner preoperatively.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent surgery for the first time from Jan. to June 2008 at gynecologic oncology ward of TUMS (Tehran University of Medical Sciences) were eligible for this study. The possibility of predicting primary optimal cytoreduction considering multiple variables was evaluated. Variables were peritoneal carcinomatosis, serum CA125, ascites, pleural effusion, physical status and imaging findings.</p> <p>Univariate comparisons of patients underwent suboptimal cytoreduction carried out using Fisher's exact test for each of the potential predictors. The wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare variables between patients with optimal versus suboptimal cytoreduction.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>41 patients met study inclusion criteria. Statistically significant association was noted between peritoneal carcinomatosis and suboptimal cytoreduction. There were no statistically significant differences between physical status, pleural effusion, imaging findings, serum CA125 and ascites of individuals with optimal cytoreduction compared to those with suboptimal cytoreduction.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Because of small populations in our study the results are not reproducible in alternate populations. Only the patient who is most unlikely to undergo optimal cytoreduction should be offered neoadjuvant chemotherapy, unless her medical condition renders her unsuitable for primary surgery.</p

The Effect of Implementation of Truth-Telling Protocol on Life Expectancy in Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer

Background: Hope is an important source of human coping when facing problems. Cancer is a common disease which can cause great physical and mental stress for patients, but if the diagnosis is delivered correctly, it can reduce anxiety and confusion for the patient and improve outcomes for both the patient and healthcare staff.Aim: The present study was performed with aim to determine the impact of implementing a truth-telling protocol on life expectancy of patients with gastrointestinal cancer.Method: This randomized clinical trial study with a controlled pre-test post-test design was conducted at Mashhad Ghaem Hospital and Pazh Clinic in 2020-2021. Sixty patients with gastrointestinal cancer were divided into two groups: intervention group who received information about their diagnosis using the "truth-telling" protocol, and control group who received standard hospital disclosure of diagnosis. Miller's life expectancy questionnaire was used to collect data before and one month after the intervention.Results: One month after the intervention, the mean of life expectancy score in the intervention group was 191.56±25.56 and in the control group was 176.93±32.98. The difference between before and after the intervention in the intervention group was -4.41+12.60 and in the control group was -23.02+18.60. There was a significant difference in the mean difference life expectancy score of patients in the control group (p<0.001), but no significant difference was found in intervention group in this regard (p=0.060).Implications for Practice: The "Truth-Telling" protocol did not lower the life expectancy score in patients with gastrointestinal cancer, so it is recommended to inform the patients about their disease

A Comparative Analysis of Clinical Characteristics and Laboratory Findings of COVID-19 between Intensive Care Unit and Non-Intensive Care Unit Pediatric Patients: A Multicenter, Retrospective, Observational Study from Iranian Network for Research in Viral

Introduction: To date, little is known about the clinical features of pediatric COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs).&nbsp;Objective: Herein, we aimed to describe the differences in demographic characteristics, laboratory findings, clinical presentations, and outcomes of Iranian pediatric COVID-19 patients admitted to ICU versus those in non-ICU settings.&nbsp;Methods: This multicenter investigation involved 15 general and pediatrics hospitals and included cases with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection based on positive real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) admitted to these centers between March and May 2020, during the initial peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran.&nbsp;Results: Overall, 166 patients were included, 61 (36.7%) of whom required ICU admission. The highest number of admitted cases to ICU were in the age group of 1–5 years old. Malignancy and heart diseases were the most frequent underlying conditions. Dyspnea was the major symptom for ICU-admitted patients. There were significant decreases in PH, HCO3 and base excess, as well as increases in creatinine, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and potassium levels between ICU-admitted and non-ICU patients. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), shock, and acute cardiac injury were the most common features among ICU-admitted patients. The mortality rate in the ICU-admitted patients was substantially higher than non-ICU cases (45.9% vs. 1.9%, respectively; p&lt;0.001).&nbsp;Conclusions: Underlying diseases were the major risk factors for the increased ICU admissions and mortality rates in pediatric COVID-19 patients. There were few paraclinical parameters that could differentiate between pediatrics in terms of prognosis and serious outcomes of COVID-19. Healthcare providers should consider children as a high-risk group, especially those with underlying medical conditions

Modeling of Environmental Factors Affecting the Prevalence of Zoonotic and Anthroponotic Cutaneous, and Zoonotic Visceral Leishmaniasis in Foci of Iran: A Remote Sensing and GIS Based Study

Background: Leishmaniasis is a re-emerging serious international public health problem, and both visceral and cu­taneous types of leishmaniasis became important endemic diseases in Iran. In this study, the relationships between environmental factors (vegetation and elevation) and the prevalence of diseases have been investigated. Methods: All international and national online databases were searched by terms such as leishmaniasis, incidence, prevalence and other related words attributed to Iran and published until first quarter of 2015. The developed data­base in Excel, later imported to the ArcMap for spatial analyst and mapping. Afterwards, the software was used for modeling the relationship between the prevalence/incidence and environmental variables (vegetation and elevation) by both linear and nonlinear regression. Results: After mapping the prevalence data from 144 studies, considering non-parametric ANOVA, the tendency of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis to presence in high elevation and high vegetation was more than Anthroponotic and zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. While linear regression showed weaker results for modeling, however, additive nonparametric regression analysis suggested that 10km buffers for elevation, and 10 as well as 50km buffers for veg­etation could contribute in better fitness in modeling of these variables. Conclusion: The detailed maps for distribution of disease concluded. The nonlinear regression is a reliable predictor of the relationship between environmental factors and disease incidence, although more and wide researchers are needed to confirm it

An eye-tracking study on the effect of infographic structures on viewer’s comprehension and cognitive load

The basic premise of this research is investigating the effect of layout on the comprehension and cognitive load of the viewers in the information graphics. The term ‘Layout’ refers to the arrangement and organization of the visual and textual elements in a graphical design. The experiment conducted in this study is designed based on two stories and each one of these stories is presented with two different layouts. During the experiment, eye-tracking devices are applied to collect the gaze data including the eye movement data and pupil diameter fluctuation. In the research on the modification of the layouts, contents of each story are narrated using identical visual and textual elements. The analysis of eye-tracking data provides quantitative evidence concerning the change of layout in each story and its effect on the comprehension of participants and variation of their cognitive load. In conclusion, it can be claimed that the comprehension from the zigzag form of the layout was higher with a less imposed cognitive load. </jats:p