Comparison of the effect of pharmacotherapy and neuro-feedback therapy on oral health of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic and progressive mental disorder related to the childhood period. This study aims to compare the oral health of two groups of ADHD children: those under pharmacotherapy and those under neuro-feedback therapy. 72 ADHD children (aged 6?12) were divided into two 36 member groups: The pharmacotherapy group and the neuro-feedback therapy group. Unstimulated salivary flow (USF), DMFT, and plaque index were assessed in these children. Statistical analysis was carried out on the data with the independent t-test, which was performed using SPSS 16. The significance level of the study was p<0.05. In this study, the USF of ADHD children who used Ritalin was found to be significantly less than that of the neuro-feedback group (1.25 ± 1.21 vs. 1.91 ± 1.16 ml/min; p=0.002). Also, the plaque index (5.9 ± 3.1 vs. 3.94 ± 1.9; p=0.018) and DMFT scores (39% ± 9% vs. 31% ± 9%; p=0.018) were significantly higher for the pharmacotherapy group. Neuro-feedback therapy is preferable to Ritalin treatment for ADHD children in terms of their oral health status

Involvement of central opiate receptors in modulation of centrally administered oxytocin-induced antinociception

Objective(s): Oxytocin is involved in modulation of many brain-mediated functions. In the present study, we investigated the central effects of oxytocin and its receptor antagonist, atosiban on inflammatory pain. The contribution of opiate receptors was explored using non-selective and selective antagonists. Materials and Methods: The fourth ventricle of the brain of anesthetized rats was implanted with a guide cannula. Inflammatory pain in the orofacial region was induced by subcutaneous (SC) injection of formalin into the vibrissa pad, and time duration of face rubbing behavior was measured for 45 min. Results: A typical biphasic pain was observed after formalin injection. This biphasic pain behavior was attenuated by intra-fourth ventricle administration of oxytocin (12.5, 50, and 200 ng/rat). Central prior administration of 400 ng/rat atosiban (an oxytocin receptor antagonist), naloxone (a non-selective opiate receptor antagonist), naloxonazine (a selective µ-opiate receptor antagonist), and nor-binaltorphimine (a selective κ-opiate receptor antagonist), but not naltrindole (a δ-opiate receptor antagonist), prevented oxytocin-induced (200 ng/rat) antinociception.  Except for naltrindole, other antagonists increased pain intensity when used alone. Above-mentioned drugs did not alter locomotor activity. Conclusion: Oxytocin, as a neuropeptide neurotransmitter, may be involved in the supraspinal modulation of inflammatory pain through µ- and κ-, but not δ-opiate receptors

Laser-Casein phosphopeptide effect on remineralization of early enamel lesions in primary teeth

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Nd:YAG laser irradiation following casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) application on calcium and phosphate concentration and surface microhardness (SMH) of enamel surface in artificial white spot lesions of primary teeth. Material and Methods: Eighty teeth with artificial white spot lesions were randomly divided into four groups: (A) distilled and deionized water, (B) Nd:YAG laser, (C) CPP-ACP crème, & (D) CPP-ACP plus laser. SMH was measured using Vickers diamond indenter in Vickers Hardness Number (VHN). Two samples of each group were analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results were analyzed with the SPSS 17/win. Results: The subjects of group D demonstrated a significant increase in the calcium and phosphate contents of enamel surface compared to those of groups A ( P < 0.001, P < 0.001), B ( P < 0.001, P < 0.001) and C ( P = 0.024, P = 0.04), respectively. A statistically significant difference was seen for mean VHN between groups A and B ( P = 0.002). SEM evaluations confirmed the results. Conclusions: The combination of Nd:YAG laser and CPP-ACP crème could be recommended as an effective preventive modality for remineralizing of white spot lesions in primary teeth

Monoamines as Drug Targets in Chronic Pain: Focusing on Neuropathic Pain

Monoamines are involved in regulating the endogenous pain system and indeed, peripheral and central monoaminergic dysfunction has been demonstrated in certain types of pain, particularly in neuropathic pain. Accordingly, drugs that modulate the monaminergic system and that were originally designed to treat depression are now considered to be first line treatments for certain types of neuropathic pain (e.g., serotonin and noradrenaline (and also dopamine) reuptake inhibitors). The analgesia induced by these drugs seems to be mediated by inhibiting the reuptake of these monoamines, thereby reinforcing the descending inhibitory pain pathways. Hence, it is of particular interest to study the monoaminergic mechanisms involved in the development and maintenance of chronic pain. Other analgesic drugs may also be used in combination with monoamines to facilitate descending pain inhibition (e.g., gabapentinoids and opioids) and such combinations are often also used to alleviate certain types of chronic pain. By contrast, while NSAIDs are thought to influence the monoaminergic system, they just produce consistent analgesia in inflammatory pain. Thus, in this review we will provide preclinical and clinical evidence of the role of monoamines in the modulation of chronic pain, reviewing how this system is implicated in the analgesic mechanism of action of antidepressants, gabapentinoids, atypical opioids, NSAIDs and histaminergic drug

A study of Knowledge, Attitude and Self-Assessment of Residents on Evidence-Based Dentistry at Faculty of Dentistry of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Evidence-based dentistry is the combination of individual clinical experiences withthe highest-quality evidence available as the result of systematic studies.Evidence-based dentistryis an approach in which the clinician uses the best evidence available to make the most appropriatedecision for the patient. In this descriptive study, the knowledge, attitude and self-assessment ofTabriz dental school residents were examined on evidence-based dentistry in the academic year2014-2015. Methods: All residents of Tabriz Dentistry Faculty (100 in total) were enrolled in the study.Thedata collection tool was a questionnaire, and the validity of the questionnaire was determined inprevious studies. To determine the reliability of the questionnaire, it was distributed among the20 residents ina pilot study. Descriptive statistical methods were used to study the data obtained.Chi-square, t-test, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to assess the relationship between variablesusing SPSS 20. Results: The results showed that the level of residents’ knowledge on evidence-based dentistrywas moderate and 94.4% of residents had a positive attitude toward EBD. The highest and lowestself-assessments were related to the terms PubMed and Cochrane Collaboration (CI=29.27-30.73,CI=42.06-43.32 CI=28.69-31.09with 95%confidence interval), respectively. Conclusion: Given the increasing importance of evidence-based dentistry and considering themoderate knowledge of the residents on the topic, a need is felt for proper planning to teach itat Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Considering dentists’ positive attitude toward EBD, Itseems that there is an appropriate background for EBD education in the countr

The effects of crocin and safranal on the yawning induced by intracerebroventricular injection of histamine in rats

Objective: Crocin and safranal, as the major constituents of saffron, have many biological activities. This study investigated the effects of crocin and safranal on yawning response induced by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of histamine in rats. Materials and Methods: In ketamine/xylazine-anesthetized rats, a guide cannula was implanted in the right ventricle of the brain and yawning induced by i.c.v. injection of histamine. Crocin and safranal were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected alone and before i.c.v. injection of histamine. Results: Histamine at the doses of 10 and 20 µg/rat produced yawning. Mepyramine (a histamine H1 receptor antagonist) 40 µg/rat significantly (

Effects of crocin and safranal, saffron constituents, on the formalin-induced orofacial pain in rats

Objective: Crocin and safranal are the main components of saffron, and have many biological functions such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In the present study, we investigated the effects of crocin, safranal, morphine, diclofenac and naloxone in combined and separately on formalin-induced orofacial pain in rats. Materials and Methods: Subcutaneous injection of a diluted formalin solution (50 µl, 1.5%) into the upper lip region produced a biphasic pattern of pain response (a neurogenic phase: 0-3 min and an inflammatory phase: 15-33 min). The time each animal spent face rubbing with ipsilateral forepaw was recorded and considered as an index of nociception Results: Intraperitoneal injections of crocin (12.5 and 25 mg/kg), safranal (0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg), diclofenac (5 and 10 mg/kg) and morphine (1 and 2 mg/kg) suppressed the second phase of pain. The second phase of pain was also reduced when low (ineffective) doses of crocin (6.25 mg/kg) and safranal (0.125 mg/kg) were co-administered with low doses of diclofenac (2.5 mg/kg) and morphine (0.5 mg/kg). The more antinociceptive effects were observed when the medium doses of the above-mentioned chemicals used together. Naloxone prevented morphine-induced antinociception, but did not inhibit the suppressive effects of crocin and safranal. Safranal at a high dose (0.5 mg/kg) suppressed locomotor activity. Conclusion: The present results showed antinociceptive effects for crocin and safranal in inflammatory pain. Opioid receptors may not be involved in the antinociceptive effect of crocin and safranal. Crocin and safranal increased diclofenac-induced antinociception

Role of opioid system in verapamil-induced antinociception in a rat model of orofacial pain

Calcium, through its various channels involves in local, spinal and supra-spinal transmission of pain. In the present study, we investigated the separate and combined treatment effects of verapamil (a calcium channel blocker), morphine (an opioid agonist) and naloxone (an opioid antagonist) on pain in the orofacial region of rats. Orofacial pain was induced by subcutaneous (SC) injection of formalin (50 µL, 1.5%) into the left upper lip side, and the time durations spent face rubbing with epsilateral forepaw were recorded in three min blocks for a period of 45 min. Formalin induced a biphasic pattern (first phase: 0-3 min; second phase: 15-33 min) of pain. Intraperitoneal (IP) injections of verapamil (2 and 8 mg kg -1 ) and morphine (2 and 4 mg kg -1 ) suppressed orofacial pain. Co-administration of sub-analgesic doses of verapamil (0.5 mg kg -1 ) and morphine (1 mg kg -1 ) produced second phase analgesia. Both phases of formalin-induced pain were suppressed when an analgesic dose (2 mg kg -1 ) of verapamil co-administered with a sub-analgesic dose (1 mg kg -1 ) of morphine. The SC injection of naloxone (2 mg kg -1 ) alone with no effect on pain intensity, prevented the antinociceptive effects induced by morphine (2 mg kg -1 ), but not verapamil (2 mg kg -1 ). The obtained results showed antinociceptive effects for verapamli and morphine on orofacial pain. Co-administrations of verapamil and morphine produced antinociceptive effects. It seems that opioid analgesic system may not have a role in the verapamil-induced antinociception

The Impact of Child Dental Caries and the Associated Factors on Child and Family Quality of Life

Introduction. Dental caries are considered as common health hazards and a serious lifelong threat to general health and quality of life. The present study aimed at identifying the impact of child dental caries and the associated factors on both child and family quality of life (QoL). Material and Methods. In this cross-sectional study, preschool children were selected randomly through clustered sampling from five educational districts in Tabriz, Iran, 2016. To assess the QoL related to oral health, the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) was used. Clinical oral examination was performed to assess the presence of caries through the index of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft). Descriptive and analytic statistical methods were used. To assess the underlying predictors of ECOHIS as a whole scale and the dimensions as a linear regression model were used as univariate and multivariate. Results: Out of 756 children under 7 years old, 51.5% boys, mean (M) standard deviation (SD) of age 5.76 (0.78). About 85% of children had dental caries. The predictors of suboptimal ECOHIS related to both general and child dimensions were child age 6 year and above: r (756) = 2.43, and P≤0.001, low-socioeconomic status: r (756) = 3.36 and P<0.001 and high dmft: r (756) = 9.10 and P<0.001. The predictors of suboptimal ECOHIS related to family domain were sex (girl): r (756) = 0.39 and P=0.047; mother education (under12): r (756) = −0.92 and P<0.001; mother job (employed) as univariate: r (756) = 0.71 and P=0.002); and dmft: r (756) = −0.58 and P=0.035. Conclusion. Adverse oral health of children imposes adverse effects on the QoL of children and families. Children’s age, family socioeconomic level, presence of dental caries, child’s gender, and mother’s educational level were associated with the impact on QoL