Comparison of Diagnostic Accuracy of Cone Beam Computed Tomography and Digital Radiography for Detection of Vertical Root Fractures with and without Gutta Percha

Objective: Diagnosis of vertical root fractures (VRFs) is critical in endodontics; which most of the times occurs in endodontically treated teeth with root canal fillings such as gutta percha. Despite Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) has significantly enhanced image quality compared to digital radiography (DR) which aid the diagnosis, artifacts has remained as a problem in VRF detection. The aim of this study was to compare accuracy of CBCT and digital radiography system in vertical root fracture with presence and absence of gutta-percha.Methods: In this experimental in vitro study, 60 premolar teeth were cut at the cementoenamel junction .The teeth were randomly divided into two groups; for one group root canal therapy was done and the roots filled with gutta-percha. The other group was the control one .At the first stage CBCT scan and digital radiography was done and subsequently, vertical root fractures were induced for all samples. Then all the teeth were scanned by CBCT and digital radiography system and three observer assessed CBCT images and digital radiographies for presence of vertical root fracture. ANOVA and weighted Kappa tests estimated the diagnostic accuracy values and inter-observer agreement.Results: All values for CBCT were higher than Digital radiography except for absolute specificity and negative predictive value (p=0.409, p=0.053). In both imaging systems, there was no statistical difference between presence and absence of gutta-percha. (p=0.599, p=1.000, p=0.673, p=0.373).Conclusion: Diagnostic accuracy of vertical root fracture was not influenced by presence or absence of gutta-percha. Additionally, CBCT imaging system had higher diagnostic accuracy in comparison of digital radiography

Antileishmania activity of Levandula officinalis essence against Leishmania major in in vitro media

زمینه و هدف: با افزایش ایجاد مقاومت دارویی در درمان بیماری ها به ویژه بیماری های انگلی، همچنین وجود عوارض جانبی ترکیبات شیمیایی، استفاده از داروهای گیاهی در درمان بیماری های انگلی در سرتاسر جهان به شدت افزایش یافته است. مطالعه حاضر با هدف بررسی اثر ضد لیشمانیایی اسانس گیاه اسطوخودوس (Lavendula officinalis) و مقایسه آن با داروی گلوکانتیم انجام شده است. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی ابتدا اسانس روغنی از گیاه تازه خشک و پودر شده به روش تقطیر با بخار آب تهیه شده و سپس غلظت های 5/0، 5/1، 5، 10، 15 و 20 درصد از اسانس و غلظت 8/33 درصد از داروی گلوکانتیم بطور جداگانه به محیط کشت دارای 106 پروماستیگوت انگل لیشمانیا ماژور در هر میلی‌لیتر اضافه شد. تعداد انگل های زنده پس از اضافه کردن اسانس و دارو در زمان های 24، 48 و 72 ساعت به وسیله رنگ تریپان بلو 10 و با استفاده از لام نئوبار شمارش شدند. یافته‌ها: نتایج نشان داد که سرعت تکثیر پروماستیگوت‌ها پس از افزودن اسانس گیاه به میزان قابل توجهی نسبت به گروه شاهد کاهش یافت. در غلظت های 10 درصد و بیشتر اثر کشندگی نیز مشاهده شد، به طوری که در زمان 72 ساعت هیچ انگل زنده‌ای در گروه های مذکور مشاهده نشد. نتیجه گیری: نتایج این مطالعه بیانگر اثر ممانعت کننده رشد و کشندگی اسانس گیاه اسطوخودوس در شرایط آزمایشگاهی بر روی شکل پروماستیگوت لیشمانیا ماژور می‌باشد؛ بنابراین پیشنهاد می‌شود، مطالعات بیشتر برای پی بردن به اثر ضد لیشمانیایی گیاه اسطوخودوس بر روی شکل آماستیگوت انگل صورت گیرد

Prevalence of idiopathic osteosclerosis on cone beam computed tomography images

Objectives This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of idiopathic osteosclerosis on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of patients.Methods In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, 240 CBCT scans of patients (125 women, 115 men) referred to a private oral and maxillofacial radiology clinic in Tehran in 2013 were selected and evaluated. Presence of idiopathic osteosclerosis and its features including its location in the jaw, its association with teeth, presence or absence of root resorption, number, shape and size of lesions and age and gender of patients were assessed. Descriptive statistics were reported. Chi-square test and independent t-test were used for statistical analysis.Results Idiopathic osteosclerosis was seen on CBCT images of 20 patients (8.33%). The lesion was more frequent in women than men, but the difference was not significant (P = 0.50). Also, the lesion was more common in the mandible than the maxilla (95.6% vs. 4.4%). Most lesions were observed in the molar (56.5%) and premolar (34.7%) areas of the lower jaw. Most lesions did not have any association with teeth (73.9%). More than half of the lesions (56.5%) were round in shape and the rest (43.4%) were irregular. The mean size of the lesions was 5.4 ± 1.8 and 5.7 ± 1.4 mm in the mesiodistal and superior-inferior aspects, respectively.Conclusion The prevalence of idiopathic osteosclerosis of the jaws on CBCT images of an Iranian population was within the range reported by other studies. The lesions were more common in the mandibular molar region with no relation to teeth

MicroRNAs and pro-inflammatory cytokines as candidate biomarkers for recent-onset psychosis

Background: Recent studies on the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders showed that alternation of immune system components, particularly microRNAs (miRNAs) and pro-inflammatory compounds, plays a significant role in developing the illness. The study aimed to evaluate serum expression of the miRNA-26a, miRNA-106a, and miRNA-125b as genetic factors and serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α as pro-inflammatory factors in an IranianAzeri population. Methods: Forty patients with recent-onset non-affective psychosis and 40 healthy people as a control group were involved. Expression levels of miRNAs and serum levels of the cytokines were measured using RT-qPCR and ELISA, respectively. T-test, receiver operating characteristics (ROC), and spearman correlation coefficient were carried out data analysis. Results: Findings showed higher levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, miR-26a, and miR-106a in the plasma of the patients’ group compared with the control. miRNA-26a showed a statistically significant higher level (p &lt;.003) compared to the control group, with AUC = 0.84 (95% CI: 0.77 to 0.93, P &lt;.001) and cut-off point = 0.17 in comparison to other miRNAs as mentioned above; in this regard, it might be a suggestive biomarker for schizophrenia in the early stage of the illness. Moreover, miRNAs’ expression level was not substantially associated with the level of any measured cytokines above. Conclusions: miR-26a might be a suggestive biomarker for schizophrenia in the early stage of the illness. Given that the relationship between other miRNAs and cytokines is not yet well understood; accordingly, there are encouragement and support for continued research in this fascinating field.</p

MicroRNAs and pro-inflammatory cytokines as candidate biomarkers for recent-onset psychosis

Background: Recent studies on the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders showed that alternation of immune system components, particularly microRNAs (miRNAs) and pro-inflammatory compounds, plays a significant role in developing the illness. The study aimed to evaluate serum expression of the miRNA-26a, miRNA-106a, and miRNA-125b as genetic factors and serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α as pro-inflammatory factors in an IranianAzeri population. Methods: Forty patients with recent-onset non-affective psychosis and 40 healthy people as a control group were involved. Expression levels of miRNAs and serum levels of the cytokines were measured using RT-qPCR and ELISA, respectively. T-test, receiver operating characteristics (ROC), and spearman correlation coefficient were carried out data analysis. Results: Findings showed higher levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, miR-26a, and miR-106a in the plasma of the patients’ group compared with the control. miRNA-26a showed a statistically significant higher level (p &lt;.003) compared to the control group, with AUC = 0.84 (95% CI: 0.77 to 0.93, P &lt;.001) and cut-off point = 0.17 in comparison to other miRNAs as mentioned above; in this regard, it might be a suggestive biomarker for schizophrenia in the early stage of the illness. Moreover, miRNAs’ expression level was not substantially associated with the level of any measured cytokines above. Conclusions: miR-26a might be a suggestive biomarker for schizophrenia in the early stage of the illness. Given that the relationship between other miRNAs and cytokines is not yet well understood; accordingly, there are encouragement and support for continued research in this fascinating field.</p

MicroRNAs and pro-inflammatory cytokines as candidate biomarkers for recent-onset psychosis

Background: Recent studies on the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders showed that alternation of immune system components, particularly microRNAs (miRNAs) and pro-inflammatory compounds, plays a significant role in developing the illness. The study aimed to evaluate serum expression of the miRNA-26a, miRNA-106a, and miRNA-125b as genetic factors and serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α as pro-inflammatory factors in an IranianAzeri population. Methods: Forty patients with recent-onset non-affective psychosis and 40 healthy people as a control group were involved. Expression levels of miRNAs and serum levels of the cytokines were measured using RT-qPCR and ELISA, respectively. T-test, receiver operating characteristics (ROC), and spearman correlation coefficient were carried out data analysis. Results: Findings showed higher levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, miR-26a, and miR-106a in the plasma of the patients’ group compared with the control. miRNA-26a showed a statistically significant higher level (p &lt;.003) compared to the control group, with AUC = 0.84 (95% CI: 0.77 to 0.93, P &lt;.001) and cut-off point = 0.17 in comparison to other miRNAs as mentioned above; in this regard, it might be a suggestive biomarker for schizophrenia in the early stage of the illness. Moreover, miRNAs’ expression level was not substantially associated with the level of any measured cytokines above. Conclusions: miR-26a might be a suggestive biomarker for schizophrenia in the early stage of the illness. Given that the relationship between other miRNAs and cytokines is not yet well understood; accordingly, there are encouragement and support for continued research in this fascinating field.</p

MicroRNAs and pro-inflammatory cytokines as candidate biomarkers for recent-onset psychosis

Background: Recent studies on the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders showed that alternation of immune system components, particularly microRNAs (miRNAs) and pro-inflammatory compounds, plays a significant role in developing the illness. The study aimed to evaluate serum expression of the miRNA-26a, miRNA-106a, and miRNA-125b as genetic factors and serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α as pro-inflammatory factors in an IranianAzeri population. Methods: Forty patients with recent-onset non-affective psychosis and 40 healthy people as a control group were involved. Expression levels of miRNAs and serum levels of the cytokines were measured using RT-qPCR and ELISA, respectively. T-test, receiver operating characteristics (ROC), and spearman correlation coefficient were carried out data analysis. Results: Findings showed higher levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, miR-26a, and miR-106a in the plasma of the patients’ group compared with the control. miRNA-26a showed a statistically significant higher level (p &lt;.003) compared to the control group, with AUC = 0.84 (95% CI: 0.77 to 0.93, P &lt;.001) and cut-off point = 0.17 in comparison to other miRNAs as mentioned above; in this regard, it might be a suggestive biomarker for schizophrenia in the early stage of the illness. Moreover, miRNAs’ expression level was not substantially associated with the level of any measured cytokines above. Conclusions: miR-26a might be a suggestive biomarker for schizophrenia in the early stage of the illness. Given that the relationship between other miRNAs and cytokines is not yet well understood; accordingly, there are encouragement and support for continued research in this fascinating field.</p