Comparison of restorative materials and surface alterations after prebiotic and probiotic beverages: A nanoindentation and SEM study

The purpose was to investigate the surface characteristics of various resin-based materials by immersing in probiotic beverages. A total of 420 disc-shaped samples (5 mm x 2 mm) were prepared from resin-based composites. Samples were divided into four groups and immersed for 10 min/day for 1 month in either a probiotic sachet, kefir, kombucha, or artificial saliva (control). Surface roughness was measured at baseline and 1 month. One sample of each of the tested materials was examined under nanoindentation to evaluate the reduced elasticity modulus and nanohardness scores. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to compare surface differences. Data were analyzed statistically using one-way ANOVA test and the significance was set at p < .05. The lowest roughness scores were observed in Z250, Estelite Bulk Fill, and HRi ENA in most of the test groups. Among conventional composites, Z250 group had the highest nanohardness and elasticity modulus scores. Among bulk-fill composites, Estelite Bulk Fill Flow had the lowest surface roughness after immersion in probiotic beverages and the highest nanohardness values. Reveal HD, as a bulk-fill group showed higher surface roughness and considerably lower nanohardness and elasticity modulus scores. Maximum height levels of samples were recorded. SEM images revealed voids and microcracks on the surfaces of test materials. Dentists may prefer Z250 as microhybrid and Estelite Bulk Fill Flow as bulk-fill composites for the restorations of patients who consume gut-friendly drinks regularly. When there are various types of materials, nanoindentation is a useful method for evaluating surface alterations and sensible comparisons

Long term follow-up of Behcet's syndrome patients treated with cyclophosphamide

Objectives. CYC remains an important treatment option for Behcet's syndrome (BS) patients with life-threatening manifestations. However, adverse events may occur with CYC and this has led to increased use of biologic agents in other vasculitides. We investigated short and long term adverse events associated with CYC use in BS patients

The effects of pre-operative somatostatin analogue therapy on treatment cost and remission in acromegaly

PurposeTo investigate the effects of preoperative somatostatin analogue (SSA) treatment on the annual cost of all acromegaly treatment modalities and on remission rates.MethodsThe medical records of 135 patients with acromegaly who were followed at endocrinology clinic of Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty for at least 2years after surgery between 2009 and 2016 were reviewed.ResultsThe mean follow-up time was 50.925.7months. Early remission was defined according to 3rd month values in patients who didn't achieve remission, and 6th month values in patients who achieved remission at the 3rd month after surgery. The early and late remission rates of the entire study population were 40% and 80.7%, respectively. The early remission of the preoperative SSA-treated group (61.5%) was significantly higher than SSA-untreated group (31.2%) (p=0.002). The early remission of the preoperative SSA-treated patients with macroadenomas (52.2%) was also significantly higher than the SSA-untreated group (23.5%) (p=0.02). In the subgroup analysis; this difference was much more pronounced in invasive macroadenomas (p=0.002). There were no differences between the groups in terms of late remission.The median annual cost of all acromegaly treatment modalities in study population was Euro3788.4; the cost for macroadenomas was significantly higher than for microadenomas (Euro4125.0 vs. Euro3226.5, respectively; p=0.03). Preoperative SSA use in both microadenomas and macroadenomas didn't alter the cost of treatment. The increase in the duration of preoperative medical treatment had no effect on early or late remissions (p=0.09; p=0.8).Conclusions Preoperative medical treatment had no effect on the costs of acromegaly treatment. There was a benefical effect of pre-operative SSA use on early remission in patients with macroadenomas; however, this effect didn't persist long term

The Prevalence of Cyclospora cayetanensis and Cryptosporidium spp. in Turkish patients infected with HIV-1

Opportunistic infections such as cryptosporidiosis and cyclosporiasis are commonly encountered in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). We investigated the existence of opportunistic protozoans that significantly affect the quality of life in HIV-1 infected patients using conventional and molecular methods. The study group comprised 115 HIV-1 positive patients. In the identification of Cyclospora cayetanensis and Cryptosporidium, the formol-ether precipitation method was used and smears were evaluated in optical microscope by staining modified Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN). The primers and probes used for PCR were Heat shock protein 70 for C. cayetanensis and the oocysts wall protein for Cryptosporidium spp.. Cyclospora and Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were detected in one and two patients, respectively, by staining, whereas we detected C. cayetanensis in three patients out of 115 (2.6%) by PCR, and Cryptosporidium spp. in a further three patients (2.6%). C. cayetensis was detected in patients with CD4 counts of 64 cells/mu m, 182 cells/mu m and 287 cells/mu m, respectively. Cryptosporidium spp. was detected in patients with CD4 counts of 176 cells/mu m, 241 cells/mu m and 669 cells/mu m. As conclusion, PCR method is faster and more sensitive than microscopic methods and to screen intestinal pathogens routinely in patients infected with HIV should not be neglected in developing countries like Turkey

Frequency of AA amyloidosis has decreased in Behcet's syndrome: a retrospective study with long-term follow-up and a systematic review Amyloidosis in Behcet's syndrome

Objective A decline in the frequency of AA amyloidosis secondary to RA and infectious diseases has been reported. We aimed to determine the change in the frequency of AA amyloidosis in our Behcet's syndrome (BS) patients and to summarize the clinical characteristics of and outcomes for our patients, and also those identified by a systematic review. Methods We identified patients with amyloidosis in our BS cohort (as well as their clinical and laboratory features, treatment, and outcome) through a chart review. The primary end points were end-stage renal disease and death. The prevalence of AA amyloidosis was estimated separately for patients registered during 1976-2000 and those registered during 2001-2017, in order to determine whether there was any change in the frequency. We searched PubMed and EMBASE for reports on BS patients with AA amyloidosis. Risk of bias was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) tool. Results The prevalence of AA amyloidosis was 0.62% (24/3820) in the earlier cohort and declined to 0.054% (3/5590) in the recent cohort. The systematic review revealed 82 cases in 42 publications. The main features of patients were male predominance and a high frequency of vascular involvement. One-third of patients died within 6 months after diagnosis of amyloidosis. Conclusion The frequency of AA amyloidosis has decreased in patients with BS, which is similar to the decrease observed for AA amyloidosis due to other inflammatory and infectious causes. However, AA amyloidosis is a rare, but potentially fatal complication of BS

Developing a Core Set of Outcome Measures for Behcet Disease: Report from OMERACT 2016

Objective. The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Vasculitis Working Group has been working toward developing a data-driven core set of outcome measures for use in clinical trials of Behcet's syndrome [Behcet disease (BD)]. This paper summarizes the group's work through OMERACT 2016, discussions during the meeting, and the future research agenda

Leading Infectious Diseases Problems in Turkey

Clin Microbiol Infect 2012; 18: 10561067 Abstract Turkey has significant geographical and socio-economic differences throughout a vast area of the country. These characteristics affect the epidemiology of infectious diseases, some of which are rarely seen in western Europe. However, effectively implemented control measures have resulted in decreased rates of many community-acquired infections, including tuberculosis and malaria, that were major health problems only a few decades ago. There are high rates of antimicrobial resistance in various nosocomial isolates of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. A recently implemented, nationwide, electronic resistance surveillance system in hospitals is expected to produce reliable data, and possibly will help to develop an effective strategy to decrease antimicrobial resistance in bacteria that currently plague many tertiary-care hospitals in the country. This article summarizes the most frequently encountered community-acquired infections, and gives an overview of current antimicrobial resistance in both outpatient and hospital settings in Turkey.WoSScopu