Topographic Features of Five K-file Brands in Iranian Market: A Scanning Electron Microscopic Study

Introduction: Endodontic files which are used to clean and shape the root canal space differ from each other regarding technical specifications. Recently, K-type files are repeatedly studied on their cutting efficiency. This study aims to evaluate the tip design and cutting efficiency of 5 brands of K-files, available in Iran dental market (naming Dentsply, Thomas, Mani, Perfect and Larmrose). Methods and Materials: In this descriptive study, topographic features of file tips were investigated by the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Those features included tip symmetry, tip design, tip angle, and the distance from the tip to the lowest flute. SEM images (×250 magnification) of files were prepared. Statistical tests (Fisher's exact test, Chi-square, ANOVA, and t test) were used and P<0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Dentsply files had the most number of morphologically pyramidal sharp tips and the greatest tip angles. However, Larmrose files were the most frequent files having cutting sharp tips. Symmetrical tips existed among 100% of Dentsply and Mani brands. No significant differences were found with respect to distance from the file tip to the lowermost flute between different file brands of this study (P=0.2, One way ANOVA). Conclusion: Dentsply and Mani files possessed the most symmetrical tips and greatest tip angles. With respect to tip length, all 5 brands were satisfactory. However, neither of 5 brands evaluated topographically were outstanding in every aspect.Keywords: Endodontic K-files; Scanning Electron Microscopy; Topograph

Neurobehavioral Effects of Occupational Exposure to Organic Solvents among Pharmaceutical Laboratory Workers in Iran

Background: Workers exposed to organic solvents are at risk of developing chronic central nervous system disorders. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the neurobehavioral effects of occupational exposure to organic solvents among pharmaceutical laboratory workers. Methods: The study groups consisted of 78 laboratory workers as the exposed group and 98 office workers as unexposed controls. The subjects were studied with the World Health Organization neurobehavioral core test battery (WHO-NCTB) by running Simple Reaction Time (SRT), Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT) and Purdue Pegboard tests. Results: The SRT and BVRT test scores were poorer among the laboratory workers. However, no significant differences were found between the two groups for the Purdue Pegboard Test. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that occupational exposure to organic solvents could induce a neurobehavioral deficiency in pharmaceutical laboratory workers. Therefore, objective neurobehavioral tests should be used for assessing the relation between exposure and effect and also as a guide for establishing standards in the control of workplace exposure

Sickness absenteeism of Healthcare Workers in a Teaching Hospital

Background: Absence from work for health reasons is known as “sickness absenteeism”. Frequent sick leave is a major concern to any organization, especially hospitals. Objective: This study analyzed the extent and causes of sickness absenteeism in a teaching hospital and evaluated its corelation with demographic and occupational factors. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, data was extracted from computerized records regarding sickness absenteeism of healthcare workers (HCWs) in the Occupational Health Department of a teaching hospital in Tehran. Studied variables included demographic characteristics, occupational factors, and causes of sickness absenteeism. The sickness absence rate (SAR) and absence frequency rate (AFR) in the study period were calculated. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests were used for the comparison of categorical and quantitative variables, respectively. Results: In the current study, SAR and AFR were 0.011 and 0.68, respectively. Job type was the only factor that had a significant correlation with sickness absenteeism. The major disease-causing sicknesses were flu (21%) and musculoskeletal disorders (18.9%). Conclusion: A significant relationship was found between the nursing group and sickness absence episodes. Flu, musculoskeletal disorders, and infectious diseases were the most frequent causes of sickness absence. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that factors such as availability of the flu vaccine and providing principles of personal protection and infection control can reduce sickness absence due to infectious disease

Neurobehavioral Effects of Occupational Exposure to Organic Solvents among Pharmaceutical Laboratory Workers in Iran

Background: Workers exposed to organic solvents are at risk of developing chronic central nervous system disorders. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the neurobehavioral effects of occupational exposure to organic solvents among pharmaceutical laboratory workers. Methods: The study groups consisted of 78 laboratory workers as the exposed group and 98 office workers as unexposed controls. The subjects were studied with the World Health Organization neurobehavioral core test battery (WHO-NCTB) by running Simple Reaction Time (SRT), Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT) and Purdue Pegboard tests. Results: The SRT and BVRT test scores were poorer among the laboratory workers. However, no significant differences were found between the two groups for the Purdue Pegboard Test. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that occupational exposure to organic solvents could induce a neurobehavioral deficiency in pharmaceutical laboratory workers. Therefore, objective neurobehavioral tests should be used for assessing the relation between exposure and effect and also as a guide for establishing standards in the control of workplace exposure

Immunological and hematological changes in patients with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism

Aims: Thyroid hormones have been shown to influence the immune system and haematopoiesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate some immunological and hematological parameters in peripheral blood of hypo- or hyperthyroid women. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 50 women with hypothyroid disease, 50 women with hyperthyroid disease and a control group consisting of 50 sex - and age - matched euthyroid subjects. Thyroid function assesed according to measurent of T3, T4 and TSH levels. The complete blood count (CBC), total and differential counts of white blood cells (WBC), serum levels of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE) and C3 and C4 complement components determined in three groups by using standard immunological and hematological methods. Results: In hyperthyroid women the mean serum concentrations of IgG (2312.4±584 mg/dl), IgA (296± 87 mg/dl) and IgE ( 301± 264 IU/ml) were significantly higher than those found in the control group (1539± 974 mg/dl, P < 0.0003; 234± 116 mg/dl, P < 0.01; 109.8±115 IU/ml, P < 0.0001, respectively) and the mean MCV was significantly lower in comparison with the euthyroid group (P < 0.05). Hypothyroid patients had higher serum IgE concentrations in comparison with the euthyroid group (179.8± 218 IU/ml vs. 109.8± 115 IU/ml; P < 0.047). The mean serum C3 concentration in hypothyroid patients was also significantly higher in comparison with the euthyroid group (138.7± 36.6 mg/ml vs. 117.8± 32.1 mg/dl; P < 0.01). In the hypothyroid group the mean eosinophil count was markedly higher in comparison with the hyperthyroid group (P < 0.06) and the mean count of RBC and the levels of some RBC-related indices, such as hematocrit and hemoglobin, were significantly lower in comparison with the euthyroid group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: These results indicate hypergammablobulinemia and lower MVC in hyperythyroid patients, and higher IgE levels, C3 levels and eosinophil count as well as anemia in hypothyroid patients

Respiratory problems among cotton textile workers

Background: Long term occupational exposure to cotton dust is associated with respiratory symptoms and loss of pulmonary function. Aim: This study was conducted to explore respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function tests and chest radiography of workers, and to evaluate the findings of high resolution computed tomographyand its correlation with pulmonary function tests (PFT). Material and Methods: The study was conducted on 100 cotton workers as exposed group and 100 unexposed subjects. Smokers were excluded from the study. All workers were interviewed and examined by the pulmonologist. PFT and chest radiography were conducted for all subjects. HRCT was performed for those with abnormal PFT or chest radiography. Results: A total of 51% and 31% of the cotton textile workers had one or more respiratory symptoms and respiratory signs respectively. 28% of subjects in the exposed group and 5% of subjects in unexposed group had obstructive pattern. Bronchia wall thickening and air trapping were the most frequent chest radiography and HRCT abnormalities respectively. There was a significant correlation between HRCT and the results of PFT. Conclusion: We conclude that long term exposure to cotton dust is associated with obstructive disease that increase with duration of exposure (history of working years), also use of HRCT as a sensitive tool in the assessment of pathologic changes and it's correlation with PFT, confirms the expected pathophysiology of airway obstruction in cotton workers

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment of Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus/Postherpetic Neuralgia

Herpes zoster (HZ) and herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) are the result of reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) from a dormant condition. Although HZ symptoms typically subside after a few weeks, HZO and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) can persist at least 90 days after the appearance of the HZ rash. Presently, there is no gold standard for a disease-modifying therapy for postherpetic neuralgia and the current treatment is focused on early intervention and management of symptoms and dermatological complications. In the present case, a 74-year-old Caucasian male initially developed severe right-sided eye pain and headache. He was diagnosed with HZO and treated with acyclovir, but later developed swelling over the right eye and skin rash over the right side of the forehead and face. He presented to the office after the acute manifestation of the infection disappeared, but the headache and scalp hypersensitivity persisted and increased. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) included correction of cranial strains, inhibition, myofascial release, balanced ligamentous tension, and facilitated positional release. In one week, the patient reported a reduction in pain from 10/10 to 2/10. Two weeks later, he reported complete resolution of his initial symptoms. There are a limited number of cases that illustrate the benefit of OMT in diminishing pain and associated symptoms in different types of neuralgias. OMT ensures the restoration of normal anatomical structure and associated function through correcting somatic dysfunction, normalization of blood supply, muscle tone, and lymphatic drainage, therefore, providing pain relief. Better documentation of case reports and more research in this area would greatly benefit the medical community. The present case demonstrates the successful treatment of PHN with OMT. OMT can be successfully used as an adjunct therapy in cases of HZ and PHN

Association between maternal work activity on birth weight and gestational age

Objective: To evaluate the effect of maternal employment on birth weight and gestational age. Methods: In this project, 1 272 pregnant women were recruited from whom referred to Tehran hospitals during 1 year via randomized sampling. Data were gathered through history taking and medical records. In this study, 564 employed women were classified as exposure group and 708 housekeepers were as the control group. Chi square test, t-test, One-way ANOVA and logistic regression were used to analyze data. Results: In this study, mean mother age was 25.01 years and mean birth weight was (2 884±684) g. The mean birth weight in housekeepers was significantly higher (2 991±457 g) than employees (2 726±476 g) (P=0.002). The infants' mean birth weights in farmer were the lowest and in office workers (2 831±526 g) was the highest (P<0.01). Gestational age less than 37 weeks was more common among employees. The mean birth weight decreased when the working hours increased (P<0.01). In those mothers who were working less than 3 months there were a higher mean birth weight (P<0.01). Also the mean birth weight decreased due to the hours of standing during a day. Conclusion: Women employment during pregnancy has an important role in low birth weight and preterm labor compared to those who do not work

Assessment of peripheral neuropathy in male hospitalized patients with lead toxicity in Iran

Background: This study assessed the effect of lead exposure on the peripheral nervous system in 40 hospitalized patients with lead toxicity [blood lead level (BLL) >70 μg/dl] and compared their electrodiagnostic indices with the results of the control group. Materials and Methods: We assessed signs and symptoms of neuropathy in patients and conducted nerve conduction velocity (NCV) in patients and control groups, then compared the results between the two groups. Results: Average duration of exposure to lead was 10.85 years. The mean BLL of patients was 100.32 μg/dl (SD = 18.42). The most common symptoms in patients were mood and sleep disturbance (64.1%) and paresthesia (47.5%). Among the patients, all of the NCV indices in median, ulnar, and radial nerves were normal. On comparing the average indices of NCV in lead-exposed men with controls, significant reductions were noted in most of the indices and with prolonged distal motor latency and peak latency. Significant but weak correlations were found between BLL and some of the indices (P value < 0.05, r = 0.33-0.52). Conclusion: Comparing electrophysiological study indicators between case vs controls and considering the symptoms of patients, our study showed that patient may progress to sensory neuropathy