DENTAL PATIENTS’ KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS ABOUT TRANSMISSION WAYS OF ACQuIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the patients’ attitude, knowledge and awareness about HIV/AIDS. And secondary aim was to assess the need for further education about HIV/AIDS. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire of 39 items was used to evaluate the patients’ knowledge. 301 patients were included (mean age 37.12 ±7.85 years, 41.5% male, 58.5% female) in the study. Results were calculated by Students t-test, Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test. Results: Most of the patients had accurate knowledge about transmission ways, however transmission through breastfeeding (31.6%), public restrooms (44.9%), and insects and mosquitos bite (47.2%) were less recognized. Saliva (32.2%), urine (36.9%), tears (58.5%), sweat (54.5%), breast milk (30.6%), feces (36.9%) and cerebrospinal fluid (7.3%) were less recognized body fluids. Generally university and postgraduate educated patients had more accurate knowledge than other groups. 63.1% of patients thought that they need further education about HIV/AI DS. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the knowledge level about HIV/AIDS was almost agreeable. However, the patients had deficiencies with respect to their knowl-edge. Therefore the authors of this study believe that there must be education programs related to HIV/AIDS

Preventive effect of doxycycline sponge against bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws: an animal study

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of doxycycline collagen sponge on bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) and the level of serum biomarkers as an indicator of osteonecrosis. Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups. Animals in the control group were injected with saline and animals in Groups I, II and III were injected with zoledronate three times a week for eight weeks. After eight weeks, the following procedures were performed in each group. In Group I: extraction of maxillary first molar, in Group II: extraction of maxillary first molar and mucoperiosteal coverage was performed and in Group III: extraction of maxillary first molar and mucoperiosteal coverage with doxycycline collagen sponges was performed. At the end of 16 weeks, all animals were sacrificed. Serum collagen type I C-telopeptide (CTx), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP 5b) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels’ analysis, clinical examination, histological and histomorphometrical analysis were performed. As a result no significant difference in CTx, TRACP 5b and ALP levels was observed between groups. Complete mucosal healing was observed in all animals in the control group and 66.7% of animals in Group III. The necrotic bone area in Group III was significantly lower than the other groups (p < 0.01). Statistically significant difference was observed between groups in terms of detached osteoclast number (p < 0.01). In conclusion, local application of doxycycline could have a positive effect in reducing the risk of BRONJ in rats

Histopathological evaluation of the effect of systemic thymoquinone administration on healing of bone defects in rat tibia

The aim of the present study was to assess the systemic effect of thymoquinone (TQ) on bone healing by starting TQ administration, either 40 days before, or on the day of the surgical procedure and continuing during the healing period of 28 days. Eighteen experimental rats were divided into three groups and defects were created in their tibias. The following procedures were performed for each group: Control group (C): No systemic drug administration (n = 6); Test group 1 (T1): Systemic TQ was administered daily starting 40 days before creation of the defect and additionally during the post-operative healing period of 28 days (n = 6); Test group 2 (T2): Systemic TQ was administered daily after creation of the defect and during the healing period of 28 days (n = 6). Quantitative measurement for new bone formation, osteoblast lining and semi-quantitative measurement of capillary intensities were examined and statistically analysed. There was a significant increase in the ratio of new bone per total defect area and new bone trabeculae lined by active osteoblasts in both test groups (T1 and T2) compared to control group (p < 0.05). However the difference between T1 and T2 was not statistically significant. TQ-administered groups also showed an increase in capillary intensity in the defect area compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Systemic administration of TQ either starting 40 days before or on the day of surgery accelerated new bone formation in a rat model and can be advocated as an adjunct to expedite bone healing