Exploratory endodontic surgery

Re-treatment of complicated endodontically treated teeth requires special consideration, particularly if the patient is unable to furnish the proper past history, such as where, when, and how the tooth in question was treated. In such cases most often more than just opening the pulp chamber and root canal(s) is required for a correct diagnosis. Under such circumstances exploratory endodontic surgery may become necessary to help determine prognosis and plan treatment. Thus, the amount of damage can be estimated and the possibility of successful treatment can be better evaluated through surgical exposure and direct visual examination of the area. © 1981

Evaluation of possible toxic effects of spearmint (Mentha spicata) on the reproductive system, fertility and number of offspring in adult male rats

Objective: In this study we investigated the effects of spearmint (Mentha spicata Labiatae) on the reproductive system, fertility and number of offspring in adult male rats. Materials and Methods: Adult Wistar male rats in one control (C) and three experimental groups (I, II and III) received 0, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg spearmint extract orally for 45 days, respectively.  Following this treatment, the animals’ weights, and the standard weight of reproductive tissues, sperm count, sperm motility and serum testosterone concentration were measured, and reproductive tissues were examined histopathologically. To evaluate the effects of spearmint on fertility of male rats and growth of their offspring, male rats of the control and experimental groups mated with untreated female rats. Results: Results showed that spearmint did not affect the rats’ body and reproductive tissue weights. The sperm count, fast and slow progressive motility of sperm and serum testosterone concentration decreased while number of non-progressive sperm and immotile sperm increased in the experimental groups compared to the control group, but none of these changes were statistically significant. Histopathological studies showed no severe changes in reproductive tissues between control and experimental groups. Number and growth of offspring born from mating of male rats with untreated female rats showed no difference. Conclusion: We concluded that spearmint has no significant toxic effect on the reproductive system, fertility and number of offspring in adult male rats at the above  mentioned dose levels. However high levels of this extract may have adverse effects on male fertility

Perceived Risk Modifies the Effect of HIV Knowledge on Sexual Risk Behaviors

BackgroundThere is a large controversy in the literature about the inter-relations between perceived risk, knowledge and risk behavior in different settings, and people at HIV risk are not an exception.Aim To assess additive and multiplicative effect of perceived HIV risk and HIV knowledge on sexual risk behavior of Injecting Drug Users (IDUs).MethodWe enrolled 162 street based IDUs to this analysis. Data came from a national survey of IDUs in Iran, with a cross sectional design. Socio-demographics (employment, education, marital status), HIV knowledge, perceived HIV risk and four different sexual risk behavior were registered. In the first step, using spearman test, the association of HIV knowledge and risk behavior were tested, then possible moderating effect of perceived HIV risk on this association was determined.ResultsAlthough among IDUs with low perceived HIV risk, HIV knowledge was negatively associated with sexual risk behavior (P<0.05 for all), this association was not significant among IDUs with high perceived HIV risk (P>0.05 for all). Thus perceived HIV risk moderated the association between HIV knowledge and sexual risk behavior.ConclusionPerceived risk should be taken into consideration when studying the effect of HIV knowledge on sexual risk behavior of IDUs. Findings may help us better understand negative effects of fear arousing interventions as a part of HIV prevention media campaigns

The correlation of long non-coding RNAs IFNG-AS1 and ZEB2-AS1 with IFN-γ and ZEB-2 expression in PBMCs and clinical features of patients with coronary artery disease

Background Aberrant expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can contribute to the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the expression of lncRNA interferon gamma-antisense 1 (IFNG-AS1), zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 antisense RNA 1 (ZEB2-AS1), and their direct target genes (IFN-gamma and ZEB2, respectively) in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) from CAD and healthy individuals. Methods and results We recruited 40 CAD patients and 40 healthy individuals. After doing some bioinformatics analyses, the expressions of IFNG-AS1/ ZEB2-AS1 lncRNAs and IFN-gamma/ ZEB2 in PBMCs were measured using quantitative real-time PCR. The possible correlation between the putative lncRNAs and disease severity was also assessed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive role of lncRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers in CAD patients. The expressions of IFNG-AS1 lncRNA as well as IFN-gamma and ZEB2 genes were significantly reduced in CAD patients compared to healthy subjects. In contrast, the expression of ZEB2-AS1 was up-regulated in these patients. Linear regression analysis unveiled that there is a positive correlation between the expression of IFNG-AS1 and IFN-gamma, also similarly, ZEB2-AS1 and ZEB2 in PBMCs of subjects. Moreover, the expression of IFNG-AS1 and ZEB2-AS1 correlated with the Gensini score. The area under the ROC curves ranged from 0.633-0.742 for ZEB2-AS1/ZEB2 and IFNG-AS1/IFN-gamma, respectively. Conclusions Our results indicated that the dysregulation of IFNG-AS1/IFN-gamma and ZEB2-AS1/ZEB2 in PBMCs of CAD patients may be involved in CAD pathogenesis

Evaluating and comparing the effect of two liquid polishes on the polish retention of two nanocomposites

Background and Aims: Finishing and polishing of composites is a critical step influencing the clinical service of restorations. The aim of this article was to evaluate and compare the effect of two liquid polishes on the polish retention of two nanocomposites. Materials and Methods: Eighty standardized disk-shaped specimens (4×2 mm) were prepared from two nanocomposites (n=40), including one nano-filled composite (Filtek Z350 XT-3M ESPE, USA) and one nano-hybrid composite (Aelite Aesthetic Enamel-Bisco, Inc. Schaumburg, USA). The specimens were randomly divided into 4 subgroups (n=10) based on the method of finishing (F) and polishing (P) procedures: M: as control, polymerized under Mylar strip; S: finish and polish with a sequence of Sof-Lex discs (3M ESPE, USA); SP: finish and polish with Sof-Lex discs and use of Permaseal liquid polish (Ultradent products, Inc. USA); SB: finish and polish with Sof-Lex discs and use of Biscover liquid polish (Bisco, Inc. Schaumburg, USA). The specimens were undergone pH cycling and brushing machine and then, the average surface roughness (Ra) and average profile changes along the desired area (Rz) of the specimens were determined with profilometer instrument. Two-way and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the mean of surface roughness. Then, Tukey test was used to identify the groups responsible for the difference and t-test was used to compare the mean of surface roughness. Results: The type of composite and the method of polishing procedure had no effect on the mean Ra (P=0.733) but it had significant effect on Rz1 factor (P=0.025). Conclusion: Using liquid polish after polishing discs had no effect on the polish retention of nanocomposites