Comparison of the Effects of Articaine and Lidocaine Anesthetics on Blood Pressure after Maxillary Infiltration Technique: A Triple-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Background. Many dental procedures begin with local anesthesia. Subsequent increase in blood pressure in healthy individuals commonly occurs and may be affected by several factors such as mental and physical stress, painful stimuli, and action of catecholamines present in local anesthetic solutions.êim of the present study is to compare the effects of 4% articaine with 1 :100000 epinephrine and 2% lidocaine with 1 : 80000 epinephrine on blood pressure after maxillary infiltration technique. Materials and Methods. In this randomized clinical trial, 102 patients were randomly assigned into two groups. One group received 4% articaine with 1 :100000 epinephrine and the other group received 2% lidocaine with 1 : 80000 epinephrine for local maxillary infiltration. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure of both groups was determined twice: once before anesthetic injection and once 10 minutes after injection.%e data were statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics, Shapiro–Wilks test, Levene test, chi-square test, independent t-test, and paired t-test. Results. %e mean systolic blood pressure after anesthetic injection in the articaine and lidocaine groups was 125.00 ± 5.67 and 123.16 ± 6.417 mmHg, respectively, showing no statistically significant difference (p � 0.127). %e mean diastolic blood pressure after injection was 85.02 ± 7.331 in the articaine group and 81.35 ± 12.815mmHg in the lidocaine group. %ese values show no statistically significant difference (p � 0.080). In both groups, the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures have increased significantly (p < 0.001). Conclusion. Articaine can be regarded as a suitable alternative for lidocaine for maxillary local infiltration, as no significant difference was observed between the effects of the two anesthetic solutions on blood pressure

A Novel Sequential Risk Assessment Model for Analyzing Commercial Aviation Accidents: Soft Computing Perspective

Due to the importance of the commercial aviation system and, also, the existence of countless accidents and unfortunate occurrences in this industry, there has been a need for a structured approach to deal with them in recent years. Therefore, this study presents a comprehensive and sequential model for analyzing commercial aviation accidents based on historical data and reports. The model first uses the failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) technique to determine and score existing risks; then, the risks are prioritized using two multi-attribute decision making (MADM) methods and two novel and innovative techniques, including ranking based on intuitionistic fuzzy risk priority number and ranking based on the vague sets. These techniques are based in an intuitionistic fuzzy environment to handle uncertainties and the FMEA features. A fuzzy cognitive map is utilized to evaluate existing interactions among the risk factors, and additionally, various scenarios are implemented to analyze the role of each risk, group of risks, and behavior of the system in different conditions. Finally, the model is performed for a real case study to clarify its applicability and the two novel risk prioritization techniques. Although this model can be used for other similar complex transportation systems with adequate data, it is mainly employed to illustrate the most critical risks and for analyzing existing relationships among the concepts of the system

Association of Paraoxonase-1 Genotype and Phenotype with Angiogram Positive Coronary Artery Disease

Funding Information: This study was supported by Mashhad and Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. The authors would like to thank technicians of Sina, Sadi, Ghaem catheterization laboratory and technicians of Isfahan Alzahra genetics laboratory.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The global burden of adolescent and young adult cancer in 2019 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background In estimating the global burden of cancer, adolescents and young adults with cancer are often overlooked, despite being a distinct subgroup with unique epidemiology, clinical care needs, and societal impact. Comprehensive estimates of the global cancer burden in adolescents and young adults (aged 15-39 years) are lacking. To address this gap, we analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, with a focus on the outcome of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), to inform global cancer control measures in adolescents and young adults. Methods Using the GBD 2019 methodology, international mortality data were collected from vital registration systems, verbal autopsies, and population-based cancer registry inputs modelled with mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs). Incidence was computed with mortality estimates and corresponding MIRs. Prevalence estimates were calculated using modelled survival and multiplied by disability weights to obtain years lived with disability (YLDs). Years of life lost (YLLs) were calculated as age-specific cancer deaths multiplied by the standard life expectancy at the age of death. The main outcome was DALYs (the sum of YLLs and YLDs). Estimates were presented globally and by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintiles (countries ranked and divided into five equal SDI groups), and all estimates were presented with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). For this analysis, we used the age range of 15-39 years to define adolescents and young adults. Findings There were 1.19 million (95% UI 1.11-1.28) incident cancer cases and 396 000 (370 000-425 000) deaths due to cancer among people aged 15-39 years worldwide in 2019. The highest age-standardised incidence rates occurred in high SDI (59.6 [54.5-65.7] per 100 000 person-years) and high-middle SDI countries (53.2 [48.8-57.9] per 100 000 person-years), while the highest age-standardised mortality rates were in low-middle SDI (14.2 [12.9-15.6] per 100 000 person-years) and middle SDI (13.6 [12.6-14.8] per 100 000 person-years) countries. In 2019, adolescent and young adult cancers contributed 23.5 million (21.9-25.2) DALYs to the global burden of disease, of which 2.7% (1.9-3.6) came from YLDs and 97.3% (96.4-98.1) from YLLs. Cancer was the fourth leading cause of death and tenth leading cause of DALYs in adolescents and young adults globally. Interpretation Adolescent and young adult cancers contributed substantially to the overall adolescent and young adult disease burden globally in 2019. These results provide new insights into the distribution and magnitude of the adolescent and young adult cancer burden around the world. With notable differences observed across SDI settings, these estimates can inform global and country-level cancer control efforts. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe

Identification of dust sources in a dust hot-spot area in Iran using multi-spectral Sentinel 2 data and deep learning artificial intelligence machine

The drying of wetlands in Iran due to climate change and indiscriminate human activities has increased dust production. Dust storms have become a major problem in arid and semi-arid regions and cause adverse social, economic, and environmental effects. The Jazmurian wetland in Kerman Province is one such area. To identify dust sources in the Jazmurian basin, high resolution Sentinel 2 data were used. From these, sediment supply was mapped. Three artificially intelligent algorithms—artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine (SVM), and deep-learning neural network (DLNN)—were used to model dust-production potential in the study area. The results show that portions of the Jazmurian basin that have dried up in recent years have a very high potential for dust production. Evaluation of the models’ performances using area-under-curve (AUC) statistics revealed that the DLNN model is more efficient (AUC = 0.97) than either the ANN (AUC = 0.91) or SVM (AUC = 0.92). All three models reveal that NDVI, elevation, annual rainfall, and windspeed are the four most important factors influencing dust-production potential in the study area. This remote sensing-artificial intelligence framework should be tested for mapping dust-production potential in other regions as this study demonstrates highly accurate, high-resolution results. This study yielded fundamental information to identify locations in need of desertification management and mitigation of dust production in the Jazmurian basin

Coinfection of Pulmonary Hydatid Cyst and Aspergilloma: Case Report and Systematic Review

Aspergilloma infection consists of a mass of fungal hyphae, inflammatory cells, fibrin, mucus, and tissue debris and can colonize lung cavities due to underlying diseases such as tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, bronchiectasis, cavitary lung cancer, neoplasms, ankylosing spondylitis, bronchial cysts, and pulmonary infarction. Here we report coinfection of pulmonary hydatid cyst and aspergilloma in a 34-year-old female who had had history of minor thalassemia and suffered from chest pain, dyspnea, non-productive cough for at least five months, and hemoptysis for 20 days. Radiographic sign showed a large cavitary lesion (5 x 6 x 6 cm) involving left lower lobe (LLL). Dichotomous septate hyphae were observed in bronchoalveolar lavage and biopsy specimens from LLL. The patient subsequently improved after combined anti-helminth therapies with albendazole (400 mg/bd) and lobectomy. According to morphological and molecular characterization, Aspergillus niger was confirmed. In vitro antifungal susceptibility tests revealed that the MIC values for the antifungals used in this case in increasing order were posaconazole (0.125 A mu g/ml), itraconazole and voriconazole (0.5 A mu g/ml), and amphotericin B (1 A mu g/ml). The minimum effective concentration for caspofungin was 0.125 A mu g/ml. Subsequently, we systematically reviewed 22 confirmed cases of pulmonary hydatid cyst and aspergilloma during a period of 19 years (1995-2014) and discussed the epidemiology, clinical features, and treatment of this disease

Experimental and numerical study of intermittent drying of rough rice in a combined FIR-dryer

Moisture variation and fissure formation of rice kernels during multi-stage intermittent drying (MSID) were simulated and analyzed based on the experimental data obtained in a laboratory-scale infrared-assisted vibratory bed dryer. The variations of drying parameters included far-infrared radiation (FIR) intensity (0, 1000 and 2000 W m−2), inlet drying air temperature (30, 40 and 50 °C), drying duration (15, 30 and 40 min), and tempering ratio (0, 2, 4 and 6). Two-dimensional moisture distribution within individual kernel was predicted. Drying rate, percentage of the cracked kernel (PCK), and specific energy consumption (SEC) were also determined, experimentally. By assessing PCK and SEC and simulation results, it was found that the magnitude of 10% d.b. mm−1 was considered as an index for the critical value for moisture content gradient (MCG) to achieve the suitable drying and tempering duration. It was further recommended that the intermittent drying duration at each stage should be selected in such a way that the MCG value does not exceed the critical level and the shortest possible tempering duration should be chosen in a manner that at least 40% of critical level of MCG be eliminated. The suitable treatment for intermittent drying was selected at FIR intensity of 1000 W m−2, inlet air temperature in 40 °C, drying duration in 30 min, and tempering ratio in 4

The efficiency of elemental geochemistry and weathering indices as tracers in aeolian sediment provenance fingerprinting

Confirmation of cost-effective and reliable tracers for aeolian sediment (sand dune) source fingerprinting warrants further research. Accordingly, the main objective of the work reported in this paper was to investigate the efficiency of weathering indices in aeolian sediment fingerprinting using a case study of a fragile arid region in Qom Province, Iran. Eight geochemical elements (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Na, Mg, Si, Ti) and 17 associated weathering indices were measured in 34 aeolian source samples and 10 sand dune target sediment samples in three absolute particulate size fractions. For each fraction, three final composite fingerprints (i.e., geochemical elements only, weathering indices only and a combination of the two) for discerning and ascribing the aeolian sediment sources were selected. The Modified MixSIR Bayesian un-mixing model was used to apportion aeolian source contributions using the final composite fingerprints. Regardless of the composite fingerprint used, all results across the different size fractions suggested that the south-eastern alluvial fan is the dominant (average contribution 50.6%, SD 19.0%) source of the sand dune samples, with the western alluvial fan being the second most important (average contribution 38.4%, SD 20.4%) source. Comparisons of the posterior distributions for the predicted source proportions generated using the nine composite fingerprints (three kinds of composite fingerprints*three particle size fractions) showed that the composite fingerprints combining the geochemical elements and weathering indices generated the most powerful source material discrimination. Our results demonstrate the use of weathering indices alongside more conventional elemental geochemistry tracers for investigations into sand dune sediment provenance

Electrosprayed cefazolin‐loaded niosomes onto electrospun chitosan nanofibrous membrane for wound healing applications

Chronic wounds are among the most therapeutically challenging conditions, which are commonly followed by bacterial infection. The ideal approach to treat such injuries are synergistic infection therapy and skin tissue regeneration. In the recent decades, nanotechnology has played a critical role in eradicating bacterial infections by introducing several carriers developed for drug delivery. Moreover, advances in tissue engineering have resulted in new drug delivery systems that can improve the skin regeneration rate and quality. In this study, cefazolin-loaded niosomes were electrosprayed onto chitosan membrane for wound healing applications. For this purpose, niosomes were obtained by the thin-film hydration method; electrospinning was then conducted to fabricate nanofibrous mats. In vitro characterization of the scaffold was performed to evaluate the physicochemical and biological properties. Finally, in vivo studies were carried out to evaluate the potential use of the membrane for skin regeneration. In vitro results indicated the antibacterial properties of the membrane against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) due to the gradual release of cefazolin from niosomes. The scaffolds also showed no cell toxicity. In vivo studies also confirmed the ability of the membrane to enhance skin regeneration by improving re-epithelialization, tissue remodeling, and angiogenesis. The current study could well show the promising role of the prepared scaffold for skin regeneration and bacterial infection elimination

Effects of Benson Relaxation Technique and Music Therapy on the Anxiety of Primiparous Women Prior to Cesarean Section: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background and Aims. Primiparous women experience high levels of anxiety before cesarean section. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the effects of the Benson Relaxation Technique (BRT) and Music Therapy (MT) on the anxiety of primiparous women prior to cesarean section. Methods. A randomized controlled trial was carried out on 105 women scheduled for cesarean section. They were randomly assigned into three groups: BRT, MT, and control (n = 35 per group). The women in the BRT and MT groups performed exercises and listened to music, respectively, for 20 minutes prior to cesarean section. The State Anxiety Inventory was used to measure the women’s anxiety in the groups before and after the intervention. Results. Within-group comparisons showed that the women in the BRT (t = 5.61, p < 0.001, effect size (Cohen’s d) = 0.94) and MT (t = 3.83, p = 0.001, d = 0.64) groups had significantly lower anxiety after the interventions compared to before the interventions. Also, between-group comparisons revealed that anxiety after the intervention was significantly lower in the BRT and MT groups compared to the control group (p = 0.007). Conclusions. Although both of the BRT and MT helped with the reduction of anxiety among primiparous women before cesarean section, the BRT was shown more effective. These nonpharmacologic methods are safe and cost-effective and can improve well-being among women undergoing this invasive procedure. They can be used along with pharmacologic methods for reducing overreliance on medications