AIDS knowledge and attitudes in a Turkish population: an epidemiological study

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate and present some pertinent comments concerning Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) knowledge, attitudes and misconceptions among the general population in a city of west Turkey. This study was deemed important and relevant due to the increasing importance of AIDS in Turkey and the other countries. METHODS: Using a multistage area sampling method, a random sample of individuals aged 11–83 years, living in 65 different quarters in the city of Eskisehir, Turkey during September, October and November 2004 were interviewed. RESULTS: In all, 1048 respondents completed the survey. In most items, respondents displayed a fairly good to excellent degree of knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Individuals with higher degrees of education indicated more correct responses in all items relating to knowledge of HIV/AIDS. In general, the respondents' attitudes towards AIDS and people with AIDS were found to be tolerant and positive, with one answer choice showing that the majority of the respondents agreed with the statement that those with HIV/AIDS must be supported, treated and helped (90.7%). Moreover, the proportions of the respondents' misconceptions were found to be significantly low for all the items. However, nearly one fourth of the respondents agreed with the misconceptions 'AIDS is a punishment by God' and 'One is not infected with HIV/AIDS if engaged in sport and well nourished'. CONCLUSION: In general HIV/AIDS related knowledge was high and people showed positive attitudes. However, people continue to hold misconceptions about AIDS and these need to be addressed by health education programs targeting those at higher risk

Strategy for the management of diabetic macular edema: the European Vitreo-Retinal Society macular edema study

Objective. To compare the efficacy of different therapies in the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). Design. Nonrandomized, multicenter clinical study. Participants. 86 retina specialists from 29 countries provided clinical information on 2,603 patients with macular edema including 870 patients with DME. Methods. Reported data included the type and number of treatment(s) performed, the pre-and posttreatment visual acuities, and other clinical findings.The results were analyzed by the French INSEE (National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies). Main Outcome Measures. Mean change of visual acuity and mean number of treatments performed. Results.The change in visual acuity over time in response to each treatment was plotted in second order polynomial regression trend lines. Intravitreal triamcinolone monotherapy resulted in some improvement in vision. Treatmentwith threshold or subthreshold grid laser also resulted in minimal vision gain. Anti-VEGF therapy resulted in more significant visual improvement. Treatment with pars plana vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling alone resulted in an improvement in vision greater than that observed with anti-VEGF injection alone. In our DME study, treatment with vitrectomy and ILM peeling alone resulted in the better visual improvement compared to other therapies

Amyloid and tau pathology associations with personality traits, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and cognitive lifestyle in the preclinical phases of sporadic and autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease

Background Major prevention trials for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are now focusing on multidomain lifestyle interventions. However, the exact combination of behavioral factors related to AD pathology remains unclear. In 2 cohorts of cognitively unimpaired individuals at risk of AD, we examined which combinations of personality traits, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and cognitive lifestyle (years of education or lifetime cognitive activity) related to the pathological hallmarks of AD, amyloid-β, and tau deposits. Methods A total of 115 older adults with a parental or multiple-sibling family history of sporadic AD (PREVENT-AD [PRe-symptomatic EValuation of Experimental or Novel Treatments for AD] cohort) underwent amyloid and tau positron emission tomography and answered several questionnaires related to behavioral attributes. Separately, we studied 117 mutation carriers from the DIAN (Dominant Inherited Alzheimer Network) study group cohort with amyloid positron emission tomography and behavioral data. Using partial least squares analysis, we identified latent variables relating amyloid or tau pathology with combinations of personality traits, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and cognitive lifestyle. Results In PREVENT-AD, lower neuroticism, neuropsychiatric burden, and higher education were associated with less amyloid deposition (p = .014). Lower neuroticism and neuropsychiatric features, along with higher measures of openness and extraversion, were related to less tau deposition (p = .006). In DIAN, lower neuropsychiatric burden and higher education were also associated with less amyloid (p = .005). The combination of these factors accounted for up to 14% of AD pathology. Conclusions In the preclinical phase of both sporadic and autosomal dominant AD, multiple behavioral features were associated with AD pathology. These results may suggest potential pathways by which multidomain interventions might help delay AD onset or progression

Assessment of root surfaces of apicected teeth: A scanning electron microscopy evaluation

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the apical surface characteristics and presence of dental cracks in single‑rooted premolars, resected 3.0 mm from the root apex, using the Er: YAG laser, tungsten carbide bur, and diamond‑coated tip, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).Experimental design: Thirty single‑rooted premolar teeth were collected. The instrumented and obturated teeth were divided into three groups according to the root resection method (2.94 μm, 100 mj, 20‑Hz Er: YAG laser, plain tapered fissure tungsten carbide bur at a low speed of 40,000 rpm, or a diamond‑coated SG6D tip coupled to the handpiece of a conventional ultrasound device). The specimens were prepared for SEM and analyzed by the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney statistical tests.Results: The SEM images showed that tungsten carbide burs produced significantly smoother resected root surfaces than the diamond‑coated tip. There was no statistically significant difference between the Er: YAG and tungsten carbide bur groups. The analysis of scores obtained for the cut quality by the Kruskal–Wallis test revealed no significant differences among the groups. In our study, five teeth had no cracks after the apical resection. The mean number of cracks per tooth was 3.5 ± 1.780 (Er: YAG laser group), 2.5 ± 1.716 (tungsten carbide bur group), and 4.5 ± 2.593 (diamond‑coated tip group).Conclusions: Under the tested conditions smoother surfaces were observed in the groups treated with the tungsten carbide bur and Er: YAG laser when compared with the diamond‑coated tips.Key words: Apicoectomy, dental cracks, Er: YAG Laser, surface roughnes

Study of kissing molars in Turkish population sample

Background: “Kissing” or “rosetting” of molars are extremely rare phenomenon with limited cases in the dental literature. It was first described in 1973, refers to contacting occlusal surfaces of the impacted mandibular second and third molars. The aim of the present study was to report the incidence of kissing molars (KMs), classification, incorporated pathologies, and its management in a group of Turkish population.Materials and Methods: The panoramic radiographs of the patients who referred to Gaziantep University Faculty of Dentistry between January 2012 and November 2014 for surgical treatment retrospectively were evaluated. The cases of KM were determined and evaluated with respect to its type, combined pathology, and treatment.Results: Of the 6570 radiographs included in the study, 4 were seen to present as KM illustrating 0.060% of the sample. Three cases were Class II (0.045%), and only one case was encountered as Class III (0.015%). The mean age at the time that the KM teeth were identified was 34 years with a range from 29 to 40 years. Three of the patients were male, one of the patients was female, and all cases were seen unilaterally. One of the KMs was associated with dentigerous cyst formation.Conclusion: KM is a very rare clinical condition and few treatment options described. Early detection is essential to preclude complications and to provide more successful treatment. In this study, we evaluated the cases of KM and review of the literature also presented.Keywords: Dentigerous cyst, fourth molars, kissing molar, mucopolysaccharidosi

Biomechanical comparison of transoral and transbuccal lateral cortical plate fixation for the management of mandibular angle fractures

Objectives: The purpose of this experimental study was to compare the biomechanical behaviors of two different types of osteosynthesis that are used in the treatment of mandibular angle fractures.Materials and Methods: Twenty synthetic polyurethane human mandible replicas, with medullar and cortical portions, were used in this study. These polyurethane hemimandibles were randomly divided into two groups (n = 10). The transbuccal group (Group A) was fixed with 7 mm long self‑tapping 2.0 mm titanium screws at 85° to the reference line and the transoral group (Group B) was fixed with the same screws at 15° to the reference line. All testings were performed on a servo‑hydraulic testing machine. The data were transmitted directly from the load cell to a computer, which showed the emergent results of the material characteristics under resisted forces as a graphic containing force and displacement. The peak point loading and displacement for each subject were measured.Results: The comparison between the groups was analyzed with an independent‑samples t‑test, and P < 0.05 was considered to be significant. The results show that there were no significant differences between the groups for the peak loads and displacement values at the peak loads.Conclusion: The results of this experimental study demonstrated that there were no significant differences between the transbuccal and transoral methods in terms of fixation stability. In other words, the screw position and angle seemed to no have influence on the fixation stability in single miniplate treatments of a mandibular angle fracture.Keywords: Miniplate fixation, stability, transbucca