High prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Behcet’s disease

Background: Behcet’s disease (BD) is a multisystem disease of unknown etiology. There are several clues which may indicate an ethiopathogenesis role for Helicobacter pylori infection in this disease. Methods: In a case control study in an out patient department, 48 patients with BD were compared to age, sex matched controls regarding presence of H. pylori infection by serology and urea breath test (UBT). Results: Ongoing H. pylori infection was more prevalent among patients with BD using result of UBT with odds ratio of 3.1 (95% CI: 1.34 – 7.26, PV < 0.001). Conclusion: H. pylori infection may have a role in the pathogenesis of BD

Comparing the Effectiveness of Three Different Psychological Treatments on Depression and Dysfunctional Beliefs of Patients with Systemic Lupus

Introduction: Lupus is a disease that causes tension in a person in response to threatening conditions. This research aims to compare the effectiveness of three different psychological treatments on depression and dysfunctional beliefs of patients with systemic lupus.Methods: The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with a three-month follow-up phase. The statistical population of this research included all lupus patients undergoing treatment in Shiraz hospitals in 2017; 80 people were selected from the population of 750 people using the purposive sampling method and assigned to 4 groups (a control group, including 20 people, and three experimental groups, each one including 20 people). The experimental groups received the educational intervention (treatment) of acceptance and commitment therapy during three months in 12 90-minute sessions, of compassion-focused therapy during three months in 8 90-minute sessions, and, of combined therapy during three months in 6 90-minute sessions. The questionnaires used in this research included Beck's depression questionnaire (1972) and Weisman's (1987) dysfunctional attitudes questionnaire. The data obtained from the research were analyzed by analyzing variance with repeated measurements using SPSS-24 statistical software.Results: The results showed that the third-wave treatments' educational protocols significantly reduced depression and dysfunctional beliefs of women with lupus (p≤/0001).Conclusion: According to the present study's findings, it is possible to use the educational packages of acceptance and commitment, compassion, and combined therapy to improve depression and dysfunctional beliefs of women with lupus

In Vitro Transportation of Curved Canals Following Glide Path Preparation by Path File and Scout RaCe Rotary Systems versus Manual Instrumentation Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess root canal transportation of curved canals following glide path preparation by PathFile and Scout RaCe rotary systems compared with manual instrumentation with stainless steel (SS) hand files using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This in-vitro experimental study was conducted on extracted human mandibular first and second molars (n=51) with 25–45° canal curvature in their mesiobuccal root. All teeth underwent CBCT and were randomly divided into three groups (n=17). In group 1, a glide path in the mesiobuccal canal was created using SS hand files to the working length. In groups 2 and 3, after canal negotiation with a #8 SS hand file, a glide path was created with PathFile and Scout RaCe systems, respectively. The teeth underwent CBCT. Pre- and postoperative CBCT scans were compared to calculate the magnitude of canal transportation at 3, 6, and 9 mm from the apex. The results were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Freedman tests (P<0.05). RESULTS: Manual instrumentation caused significantly higher canal transportation at 3 and 9 mm from the apex compared with rotary systems (P<0.05). PathFile and Scout RaCe were not significantly different at 3 (P=0.39) or 9 mm (P=0.99). No significant difference was noted in canal transportation among the three groups at 6 mm (P=0.15). CONCLUSION: Scout RaCe and PathFile cause less canal transportation than manual instrumentation with SS files when used for glide path preparation in curved canals, especially in the apical third

Randomized Clinical Trial of Peganum Oil for Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis affects about 50% of people aged older than 65 years. Pain is the most important symptom in this disease. Today public interest in the use of complementary medicine, especially traditional herbal medicines has increased. The present study was designed to investigate the efficacy of traditional preparation of Peganum harmala L oil on patients with knee osteoarthritis. The product has been analyzed and standardized by high-performance liquid chromatography. A double blind controlled randomized clinical trial consisting of 54 patients were performed. Patients rubbed the drug or control (olive oil) on the knee 4 drops 3 times a day for 4 weeks. The patients were asked to fill out the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index and Visual Analogue Scale questionnaires at week 0 and 4. The adapted results from the questionnaires showed that pain and difficulty in function were significantly decreased in Peganum oil group after 4 weeks. There was no significant difference in stiffness change between 2 groups

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field