The Combined Effects of a Methacrylate Powder Dressing (Altrazeal Powder) and Photobiomodulation Therapy on the Healing of a Severe Diabetic Foot Ulcer in a Diabetic Patient: A Case Report

Weakened wound healing is a popular, severe complication of patients with diabetes that poses a risk for foot infection and amputation. In recent years, researchers have been searching to find new treatments for treating diabetic foot ulcer.  In this case report for the first time, we applied photobiomodulation therapy and Altrazeal powder together to treat and expedite tissue repair in a severe case of diabetic foot ulcer in a 47-year-old woman who suffered from type 1 diabetes.   We observed along with progress of combination therapy, the ulcer area was significantly reduced, and the wound healed within 16 weeks. Also, dermatitis and purulent secretion were treated, and pain was reduced. This reported case study, indicated the beneficial impact of the combination of photobiomodulation therapy and Altrazeal powder for the healing of a severe of diabetic foot ulcer in a patient with type one diabetes. Combined application of photobiomodulation therapy plus Altrazeal powder demonstrated an additive effect. Further clinical trials in clinical setting in is suggested to validate the results further. In addition, more studies in preclinical models are suggested to find mechanism of action of the combination therapy

Oral health and school performance in elementary students: A cross-sectional study in a group of Iranian students, Tehran, Iran

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Dental health plays a key role in the overall health status and quality of life in children. Consequences of dental diseases in children may result in impairments of daily life activities. The aim of this study was to assess the relationships between dental health and educational performances in elementary students. METHODS: A total of 300 elementary students from the second to fifth grades in ninth district of Tehran, Iran, were included in this study according to inclusion criteria. Questionnaire gathering information about the students’ demographic background, medical and dental histories was sent to their parents. The students’ academic performances were assessed based on the school absence in relation to dental problems, their school grades and doing homework. Oral health status was assessed based on the World Health Organization (WHO) standards using caries and oral hygiene indices. Data were analyzed by the Pearson’s correlation and linear regression analysis. All statistical levels were made at 0.05 for the Pearson’s correlation and 0.1 for linear regression analysis. RESULTS: School test grades and school absences due to dental problems were statistically associated with oral hygiene index (OHI) of the students (P = 0.010 and P = 0.040, respectively). The indices of dental caries in primary or permanent teeth were not significantly associated with school performances (P ≥ 0.140). The analysis revealed that the factors i.e., housing status and living with the parents are statistically associated with the oral health indices (P = 0.050 and P =0.080; respectively) and on the other hand with school performances (P = 0.020 and P = 0.010; respectively). CONCLUSION: Children with poorer oral health status were more likely to perform poorly in school. Socio-economic status of the students affects negatively both school performances and oral health care. Also, oral health status and dental problems may cause deterioration in educational conditions. KEYWORDS: Students, Oral Health, Dental Caries, School, Performanc

Evaluation of DIAGNOdent Values Before and After the Application of Opaque Fissure Sealant to Permanent Teeth

Background and Aim: The ability of DIAGNOdent (DD) for detection of occlusal caries under sealant and its reproducibility is a matter of question for dentists. The aim of this study was to evaluate DD values before and after the application of opaque fissure sealant (FS) and to determine the reproducibility of DD for detection of occlusal caries under sealant .   Materials and Methods: This study was carried out on 42 extracted sound human premolar and third molar teeth. Two examinersassessed the deepest occlusal pit of teeth with DD Pen (Kavo, Germany). This evaluation was repeated one week later to assess DD reproducibility. Assessment with DD was also performed after acid etching and FS application. The results were recorded and analyzed using linear regression test and SPSS software .   Results: The intra-examiner reproducibility of DD was 75.49% and 77.56% for the first and second observers, respectively. The mean DD value after etching and FS therapy increased by 28 and 6 units, respectively .   Conclusion: DD has high reproducibility making it suitable for the monitoring of occlusal caries. However, DD value is influenced by the opaque sealant and thus, it should not be used as the sole device for detection of caries under sealants

Effect of organic acids in dental biofilm on microhardness of a silorane-based composite

Objectives This study evaluated the effect of lactic acid and acetic acid on the microhardness of a silorane-based composite compared to two methacrylate-based composite resins. Materials and Methods Thirty disc-shaped specimens each were fabricated of Filtek P90, Filtek Z250 and Filtek Z350XT. After measuring of Vickers microhardness, they were randomly divided into 3 subgroups (n = 10) and immersed in lactic acid, acetic acid or distilled water. Microhardness was measured after 48 hr and 7 day of immersion. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA (p < 0.05). The surfaces of two additional specimens were evaluated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) before and after immersion. Results All groups showed a reduction in microhardness after 7 day of immersion (p < 0.001). At baseline and 7 day, the microhardness of Z250 was the greatest, followed by Z350 and P90 (p < 0.001). At 48 hr, the microhardness values of Z250 and Z350 were greater than P90 (p < 0.001 for both), but those of Z250 and Z350 were not significantly different (p = 0.095). Also, the effect of storage media on microhardness was not significant at baseline, but significant at 48 hr and after 7 day (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Lactic acid had the greatest effect. Conclusions The microhardness of composites decreased after 7 day of immersion. The microhardness of P90 was lower than that of other composites. Lactic acid caused a greater reduction in microhardness compared to other solutions

Clinical and Pathological Characteristics of Mucinous Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: A Comparative Study

Background Mucinous adenocarcinoma accounts for approximately 5% - 15% of all colorectal cancers. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with mucinous colorectal adenocarcinoma. Patients and Methods This retrospective study was carried out by reviewing the medical records of 70 mucinous colorectal cancer (MCC) patients who were diagnosed and treated at a tertiary academic hospital between 2005 and 2010. For the comparative analysis, 491 patients with non-mucinous colorectal cancer (NMCC) were included. Results Of 561 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma, 70 patients (12.5%) had the mucinous type. There were 42 (60%) men and 28 (40%) women, with a median age of 55 years old (range 24 - 81 years) included in the study. We did not find any differences regarding the patients’ mean age (P = 0.408) and male/female ratio (P = 0.700) between the MCC and NMCC; however, there was a predilection for the right colon and sigmoid colon in the MCC, when compared to the NMCC (P = 0.012). In addition, the MCC tended to have a larger tumor size (P = 0.004), higher histological grade (P < 0.001), higher node stage (P < 0.001), higher number of dissected nodes (P = 0.013), higher number of positive nodes (P < 0.001), and a higher rate of perineural invasion (P = 0.013) compared to the NMCC. Conclusions This study indicates that most clinicopathological characteristics of MCC are different from those of NMCC. In addition, there was an association between the mucinous subtype and adverse pathological features in the patients with colorectal cancer

Diagnostic Accuracy of Inverted and Unprocessed Digitized Periapical Radiographs for Detection of Peri-Implant Defects

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of inverted and unprocessed digitized periapical radiographs for detection of peri-implant defects. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 osteotomy sites were prepared in three groups of control, study group 1 with 0.425 mm defects and study group 2 with 0.725 mm defects using the SIC and Astra Tech drill systems with 4.25mm and 4.85mm diameters. Small and large defects were randomly created in the coronal 8mm of 20 implant sites; implants (3.4mm diameter, 14.5mm length) were then placed. Thirty periapical (PA) radiographs were obtained using Digora imaging system (Soredex Corporation, Helsinki, Finland), size 2 photostimulable storage phosphor (PSP) plate sensors (40.0mm×30.0mm) and Scanora software. Unprocessed images were inverted using Scanora software by applying image inversion and a total of 60 images were obtained and randomly evaluated by four oral and maxillofacial radiologists. Data were analyzed using the t-test. Results: Significant differences were observed in absolute and complete sensitivity and specificity of the two imaging modalities for detection of small and large defects (P<0.05). Unprocessed digital images had a higher mean in terms of absolute sensitivity for detection of small defects, complete sensitivity for detection of large peri-implant defects and definite rule out of defects compared with inverted images. Conclusion: Unprocessed digital images have a higher diagnostic value for detection of small and large peri-implant defects and also for definite rule out of defects compared with inverted images

Application of remote sensing techniques and machine learning algorithms in dust source detection and dust source susceptibility mapping

The aim of this research was to develop a method to produce a Dust Source Susceptibility Map (DSSM). For this purpose, we applied remote sensing and statistical-based machine learning algorithms for experimental dust storm studies in the Khorasan Razavi Province, in north-eastern Iran. We identified dust sources in the study area using MODIS satellite images during the 2005–2016 period. For dust source identification, four indices encompassing BTD3132, BTD2931, NDDI, and D variable for 23 MODIS satellite images were calculated. As a result, 65 dust source points were identified, which were categorized into dust source data points for training and validation of the machine learning algorithms. Three statistical-based machine learning algorithms were used including Weights of Evidence (WOE), Frequency Ratio (FR), and Random Forest (RF) to produce DSSM for the study region. We used land use, lithology, slope, soil, geomorphology, NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), and distance from river as conditioning variables in the modelling. To check the performance of the models, we applied the Area Under the Curve (AUC) of the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC). As for the AUC success rate (training), the FR and WOE algorithms resulted in 82 and 83% accuracy, respectively, while the RF algorithm resulted in 91% accuracy. As for the AUC predictive rate (validation), the accuracy of all three models, FR, WOE, and RF, were 80, 81, and 88%, respectively. Although all three algorithms produced acceptable susceptibility maps of dust sources, the results indicated better performance of the RF algorithm

Fourteen Years of Experience of Liver Transplantation for Wilson’s Disease; a Report on 107 Cases from Shiraz, Iran

<div><p>Background and Aim</p><p>Liver transplantation is a potential cure for liver damage from Wilson’s disease but the course of neuropsychiatric manifestations after transplantation remains undetermined.</p><p>Material and methods</p><p>In this study, data on all patients who’d received a liver transplant for Wilson’s disease at the Shiraz Organ Transplantation Center between December 2000 and March 2014 were reviewed and compared to data on a control group who’d received a liver transplant over the same period but due to other causes.</p><p>Results</p><p>Out of 2198 patients who’d received a liver transplant in the period; 107 patients were diagnosed with Wilson’s disease (21 with fulminant hepatic failure); age of patient ranged from 5 to 59 years; 56.07% of patients in this series had some type of neuropsychiatric manifestation before transplantation, of which 66.67% showed improvement after the procedure. 18 patients had aggravation of neuropsychiatric symptoms after transplantation. These neuropsychiatric symptoms were mostly for anxiety, tremor and depression but there were four cases of new onset dysarthria, rigidity and ataxia in various combinations. Survival rates of 1-month, 1-year, and 5-years for patients with Wilson’s disease were 88%, 86%, 82%, respectively, evaluations were not statistically different from that of the control group.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Liver transplantation showed good long-term results in patients with Wilson’s disease, even in those presenting fulminant hepatic failure. Neuropsychiatric manifestations normally show improvement after transplantation but in some cases new onset of manifestations occurred after successful liver transplantation.</p></div