Evaluation of Flexibility, Microstructure and Elemental Analysis of Some Contemporary Nickel-Titanium Rotary Instruments

BACKGROUND: Contemporary nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary endodontic instruments had a revolutionary impact on the success of root canal treatment. AIM: To evaluate the flexibility, microstructure and elemental analysis of four different recent NiTi rotary instruments, namely; Wave One Gold, TF adaptive, HyFlex EDM and Gr_Reciproc Blue compared to conventional Protaper Universal (F2). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The NiTi rotary files were subjected to cantilever bending test to evaluate their flexibility. The microstructural characteristics and elemental analysis were examined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX). RESULTS: The TF adaptive, HyFlex EDM and Wave One Gold endodontic files showed significantly lower cantilever bending values (i.e., higher flexibility) than Protaper F2 and Gr_Reciproc Blue (p < 0.05). The SEM micrographs showed that the bulk of all examined files showed multiple striations due to the cutting process, on the other hand, their external surfaces were different: The Protaper Universal F2 showed multiple voids, while the TF Adaptive surface exhibited more uniform structure. The Hyflex EDM had a crater-like surface, whereas Wave one Gold showed machining grooves with minimum defects, while Reciproc Blue displayed machining grooves with random scratch lines. There was a significant difference in bulk and surface elemental analysis of the various examined files, yet composed mainly of the same elements. CONCLUSION: Chemical composition, heat treatment, manufacturing process and geometrical design of the NiTi rotary instrument have a great influence on their flexibility and microstructure

Influence of Thermomechanical Treatment on the Mechanical Behavior of Protaper Gold versus Protaper Universal (A Finite Element Study)

AIM: To compare and evaluate the influence of thermomechanical treatment of Protaper Gold file versus Protaper Universal file during testing of bending and torsion using ï¬nite-element analysis. METHODS: Two nickel-titanium NiTi rotary ï¬les (ProTaper Gold and ProTaper Universal) were used in this study. The files were imaged using stereomicroscope to produce 3D models. The behaviour of the instrument during bending and torsion was numerically analysed in CAD/CAM software package. RESULTS: Under bending, ProTaper, Gold showed higher flexibility and flexural resistance than ProTaper Universal. The highest stress was related at the cutting edge of both files. While during testing of torsion, the maximum amount of stresses was related to the base of the flutes in both files. ProTaper Gold showed higher torsional resistance than the ProTaper Universal file. CONCLUSION: Thermomechanical treatment improved the mechanical response (bending and torsional resistance) of NiTi files

Hormonal and inflammatory modulatory effects of hesperidin in hyperthyroidism-modeled rats

The goal of the current study was to investigate the hormonal modulatory efficiency of hesperidin, through its regulatory potential of immunological, inflammatory, and/or antioxidant changes in on hyperthyroidism modeled adult female albino rats. Both normal and hyperthyroidism modeled rats (140-160g) were randomly divided into four groups (10 animals each) as follows: 1) healthy animals were daily ingested with saline for six weeks, and served as control group, 2) healthy animals were intraperitoneally injected with hesperidin (50 mg/kg/day) for a similar period, 3) hyperthyroidism-modeled animals without any treatment acted as positive control, and 4) hyperthyroidism-modeled animals were treated intraperitoneally with hesperidin for a similar period. The findings showed that hesperidin significantly modulated hyperthyroidism deteriorations, this was evidenced by a remarkable decline in serum T4, FT4, T3, FT3, TNF-α, IL1β-, IL4-, IL-6, and IL-10 levels, with a minor increase in TSH and significant raise in CD4+ level. Similarly, valuable improvement was observed in the oxidative status; serum SOD, GPx, CAT, and GSH levels were dramatically enhanced, associated with remarkable drop in MDA and NO levels. Also, hesperidin demonstrated nephro-hepatoprotective and anti-atherogenic potential, this was achieved from the notable reduction in ALAT and ASAT activities as well as urea, creatinine, cholesterol, and triglyceride close to the corresponding values of healthy group. These findings were supported by histological and immunohistochemical ones that showed a notable decrease in the expression of the calcitonin antibody. In conclusion, hesperidin possesses anti-hyperthyroidism, immunoinflammatory regulatory, and antioxidant activities that evidenced from the improvement of physio-architecture of the thyroid gland, reduction of inflammation and restoration of the impaired oxidative stress. This effect might be mechanized through immunological, inflammatory, apoptotic, and/or antioxidant modulatory pathways

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Thermal, chemical and physical analysis of VDW.1Seal, Fill Root ST, and ADseal root canal sealers

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the thermal, chemical, and physical properties of VDW.1Seal, Fill Root ST, and ADseal sealers. Thermal properties were analyzed using Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential thermal analysis (DTA). Attenuated total reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analysis was performed as a complementary test to confirm TGA/DTA analysis. The chemical composition of the set sealer material was identified using an X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) system. Other physical properties of each sealer were investigated; ten specimens were used to measure the solubility (at 24 h and 28 days), and another ten specimens were used to assess pH changes and calcium ion release (after 7 and 14 days). Film thickness was done according to ISO 6876 specs. The data were analyzed using the two-way ANOVA test. Results showed that for all sealers, TGA analysis revealed a direct relationship between sealer mass loss and temperature rise. In addition, the decomposition of the tested sealers started at 145 °C, 135 °C and 91 °C for VDW.1Seal, ADseal sealer, and Fill Root ST, respectively. XRD analysis revealed a higher degree of crystallinity for VDW.1Seal and ADseal. ADseal showed the least solubility; VDW.1Seal exhibited the highest alkalinity, calcium ion release, and the lowest film thickness

Nutritional impact of nano zeolite, probiotic, and fatty acids as feed additives on health status of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Abstract For human consumption, fish is a good and affordable source of several crucial elements. Growing aquaculture management and output is always necessary. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of probiotics, nano zeolite, and/or medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) on fish health and the chemical composition of the fish body. The experimental fish were distributed into eight groups. T1: Control group fed the basal diet without feed additives, T2: Nano zeolite at a rate of 2 mg/kg diet, T3: Pedococcus at a rate of 2 gm kg diet, T4: Medium chain fatty acids used according to produced company recommendation at a rate of 3.5 gm/kg diet, T5: Nano zeolite (2 mg/kg diet) + Pedococcus (2 mg/kg diet), T6: Nano zeolite (2 mg/kg diet) + Medium chain fatty acids (3.5 gm/kg diet), T7: Pedococcus (2 mg/kg diet) + Medium chain fatty acids (3.5 gm/kg diet), and T8: Nano zeolite (2 mg/kg diet) + Pedococcus (2 mg/kg diet) + Medium chain fatty acids (3.5 gm/kg diet). The obtained results showed an insignificant difference in the body composition of Nile tilapia fish fed feed additives alone or in combination. Moreover, the feed additives did not affect the health status of fish, as indicated by normal liver and kidney functions