Restoring a Fractured Endodontically Treated Incisor Using Fiber Post: A Case Report

Coronal fractures of the anterior teeth arising after endodontic treatment are sequelae of dental trauma. Endodontically treated teeth presents a higher risk of biomechanical failure than vital teeth. Posts are needed for restoring teeth with insufficient coronal tooth structure to retain a core for definitive restoration. Fiber posts are more easily and safely removed "by hollowing them out from the inside”. This present case report depicts a 23 year old male patient with fracture of tooth number 21 which had undergone an RCT 8-10 months ago and was restored using fiber post

Health information-seeking behavior among hypothyroid patients at Saveetha Medical College and Hospital

BACKGROUND: Hypothyroidism causes considerable morbidity. Low knowledge coupled with inadequate health literacy may lead to poor prevention and management. This study aimed to assess health information-seeking behavior and hypothyroid knowledge among South Indian hypothyroid patients.METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2013 in Saveetha Medical College, Chennai, India. Hundred clinically diagnosed hypothyroid patients >18 years were interviewed in a hospital using a 57-item questionnaire to gather information on their socio-demographics, self-reported disease history, hypothyroid-related knowledge, health information sources, health literacy and health information-seeking behavior. Hypothyroidism was assessed by free T3 and T4 levels.RESULTS: Mean age of participants was 38 years (SD=12) with median age of 39.5 years, majority of the participants being females (77%) and living in urban setting (52%). Mean free T3 level was 0.0137ng/dl (SD= 0.003) and mean free T4 was 0.7ng/dl (SD= 0.06). Ninety three percent of the participants received initial hypothyroidism education from their physicians at the time of diagnosis. Half of the participants had incorrect hypothyroidism-related knowledge; similar between both genders. Participants with inadequate health literacy had poor knowledge about the hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism-related health information was sought almost exclusively from health professionals, predominantly regarding treatment, linked to their faith in qualified medical assistance. Economic status primarily determined healthcare-seeking behavior. Marital status, education level, annual household income and health literacy were significantly associated with knowledge.CONCLUSION: Participants having higher educational qualification, higher annual household income and adequate health literacy had considerable knowledge about hypothyroidism. Developing multi-factorial and tailored health education for patients with marginal or inadequate health literacy is needed. Exploring healthcare institutions as a medium for delivery of such education should be explored.KEYWORDS: Hypothyroidism, Health Information-seeking Behavior, Knowledge, Health Literac

Planes of isotropic Poisson's ratio in anisotropic crystalline solids

It is shown that loading directions can exist in all single crystals for which Poisson’s ratio is isotropic in the plane transverse to the loading direction. The body diagonals and the cube axes of cubic crystals, the four-fold axis in tetragonal crystals and the six-fold axis in hexagonal crystals are examples of such loading directions. However, these loading directions do not necessarily just lie only along high rotational symmetry axes. A new three-dimensional “anisotropy surface” is introduced to represent the degree of anisotropy of the Poisson’s ratio within the plane normal to a loading direction for a particular choice of single crystal.This work is part of the Early Career Research (ECR) grant award (Ref. no.: ECR/2016/001953) funded by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) of Department of Science and Technology (DST), India. Dr. Suresh Neelakantan acknowledges the support

A comparison of salivary testosterone measurement using immunoassays and tandem mass spectrometry

Enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) are widely used to measure salivary testosterone. However, little is known about how accurately different EIAs assess testosterone, partially because estimates across various EIAs differ considerably. We compared testosterone concentrations across EIAs of three commonly used manufacturers (DRG International, Salimetrics, and IBL International) to liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Relative to EIAs from Salimetrics and IBL International, EIAs supplied by DRG International provided the closest approximation to LC–MS/MS testosterone concentrations, followed closely by EIAs from Salimetrics, and then IBL. Additionally, EIAs tended to inflate estimates of lower testosterone concentrations in women. Examining our results and comparing them to existing data revealed that testosterone EIAs had decreased linear correspondence with LC–MS/MS in comparison to cortisol EIAs. Overall, this paper provides researchers with information to better measure testosterone in their research and more accurately compare testosterone measurements across different methods

Testosterone fluctuations in response to a democratic election predict partisan attitudes toward the elected leader

Intergroup competitions such as democratic elections can intensify intergroup polarization and conflict. Partisan attitudes toward the elected leader can also shift from before to after an election, but the biology underlying these attitudinal shifts remains largely unknown. An important factor could be the hormone testosterone, which is theorized to fluctuate during competition and to influence status seeking. In a naturalistic study of 113 registered voters, we measured changes in testosterone levels and attitudes toward the winner of the 2012 US Presidential Election. We found that supporters of the losing candidate (Mitt Romney) showed acute increases in testosterone levels compared to supporters of the winner (Barack Obama) on the evening of Election Day. Supporters of the losing candidate also demonstrated flatter diurnal testosterone slopes on Election Day that persisted up to two days after the election. Furthermore, greater increases in acute testosterone levels and flatter diurnal slopes among supporters of the losing candidate were associated with less positive evaluations of the winning candidate. These testosterone-moderated attitudinal shifts observed in the days after the election showed a directionally similar pattern with a weaker effect size six months later. Finally, we confirmed that the main results were robust to alternative data analytic choices using multiverse specification curve analysis. The findings from this paper suggest that hormonal responses to large-scale intergroup competitions may shape how we perceive our elected leaders, shedding light on the biology of intergroup relations

Association of dopaminergic pathway gene polymorphisms with chronic renal insufficiency among Asian Indians with type-2 diabetes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Genetic markers conferring susceptibility to diabetes specific renal disease remains to be identified for early prediction and development of effective drugs and therapies. Inconsistent results obtained from analysis of genes from classical pathways generate need for examination of unconventional genetic markers having role in regulation of renal function. Experimental and clinical evidences suggest that dopamine is an important natriuretic hormone. Therefore, various genes involved in regulation of dopamine bioavailability could play a role in diabetic chronic renal insufficiency (CRI). We investigated the contribution of 12 polymorphisms from five Dopaminergic pathway genes to CRI among type-2 diabetic Asian Indian subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Genetic association of 12 polymorphisms (SNPs) from five genes namely-dopamine receptor-1 (<it>DRD1</it>), <it>DRD2</it>, <it>DRD3</it>, <it>DRD4</it>, andcatechol-O-methyltransferase (<it>COMT</it>) with diabetic CRI was investigated using a case-control approach. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to correlate various clinical parameters with genotypes, and to study pair wise interactions between SNPs of different genes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>SNPs <it>-141 ins/del C and G>A </it>(1 kb upstream from exon 2) in DRD2 gene showed significant allelic and genotypic association. Allele <it>-141 insC </it>and genotype <it>-141 insC/insC </it>of <it>-141 ins/del C </it>polymorphism, and allele A of <it>G>A </it>SNP were found to be predisposing to CRI. Our result of allelic and genotypic association of -<it>141 insC/delC </it>SNP was also reflected in the haplotypic association. Heterozygous genotype of polymorphism <it>900 ins/del C in COMT </it>gene was predisposing towards CRI.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Some polymorphisms in <it>DRD2 </it>and <it>COMT </it>genes are significantly associated with susceptibility to CRI in the Asian Indian population which, if confirmed would be consistent with a suggested role of dopamine metabolism in disease occurrence.</p

Basal cortisol's relation to testosterone changes may not be driven by social challenges

Multiple studies show a negative correlation between basal cortisol and testosterone changes in the presence of competition and social-evaluative stressors. These negative associations are proposed to be derived from psychological responses to competition and social-evaluative stress. However, we argue that the association between basal cortisol and testosterone change may instead be a statistical consequence of positively associated variables. In this paper, we present a mathematical rationale for this alternative explanation and examples from two studies that are consistent with this alternative explanation. Both studies show that the associations between basal cortisol and testosterone change have covariance patterns consistent with this alternative possibility. We conclude that the often-found positive association between basal cortisol and basal testosterone opens the door for alternative explanations of the basal cortisol-testosterone change association rooted in the patterns of associations between hormones measured over time. We also suggest future research directions and methods for testing alternative explanations

Seroprevalenceof HBs Ag and HCV in Healthy Blood Donors at a Tertiary Care Hospital in India

ABSTRACT Hepatitis B and hepatitis C threatens safety of the recipients and the community as a whole and are subject of real concern worldwide. To assess the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV among blood donors at a tertiary care hospital-based blood bank in Punjab.7000 blood donors (5450 voluntary and 1550 replacement donors) were studied. All the blood donors were screened for HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies (third generation ELISA). Seroprevalence of HBsAg and HCV were 0.91% and 0.83% respectively. Seropositivitywas higher among replacement donors than voluntary donors in HBsAg (1.39% vs. 0.79%) and HCV (1.22% vs. 0.72%). Seroprevalence was more in age group 31-40 years and higher in rural area donors. The incidence decreased in repeat donors. Prevalence of HBsAg was higherthan anti HCV. Stringent measures need to be taken including dissemination of information andvigilant donor screening, screening of blood unit with sensitive techniques like NAT,inclusion of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen. Key words: Blood donors, HBsAg, anti-HCV, voluntary donor, replacement donor. Key message: Repeat voluntary donors are safest and inclusion of sensitive techniques like NAT, antibodies to HBcAg and HCV RNA for donor screening will improve blood safety further. Educate rural masses about the prevention of viral diseases

Effect of Zinc Supplementation on Growth of Low Birth Weight Infants Aged 1–6 Mo in Ardabil, Iran

Objective To assess the effect of zinc supplementation on growth of low birth weight (LBW) infants aged 1–6 mo. Methods LBW infants were enrolled at birth and randomly assigned to receive 5 mg elemental Zn per day (n=45) or placebo (n=45) until 6 mo of age. They were followed monthly for information on compliance; anthropometric measurements were performed monthly. Results After randomization, 5 infants from zinc group and 9 from placebo group were excluded. At 6 mo of age, significantly greater weight gains were observed in the zinc than in the placebo group (4995±741g in zinc group vs. 3896±865 g in placebo group, p = 0.036). Length gain during the study period improved in zinc group (16.9±8.2 cm vs. 15.1±4.1 cm, p = 0.039); after zinc supplementation head circumference were increased (8.7±1.4 cm vs.7.4± 1.5 cm p<0.001). In male infants, total weight gain and height and head circumference gain were higher in the zinc than in the placebo group. However, only head circumference change was statistically significant. A similar trend was observed among female infants, but these differences were not statistically significant. There was no significant relation between breast-feeding status and the main outcome variables. Conclusions Infants in the present study showed improve¬ments in growth rate, but more studies are required in this field to confirm this fact

Perforated Meckel diverticulum

Perforation of a Meckel diverticulum (MD) is a rare complication that can often mimic appendicitis. This case report identifies a child who presented to our Emergency Department (ED) with right lower quadrant abdominal pain, free fluid and air in the abdomen and pelvis, and inflammatory changes visualized on Ultrasonography (US) and computer tomography (CT) scan. In our patient, ruptured appendicitis was suspected, and the diagnosis of ruptured MD was ultimately made by laparoscopy. This case demonstrates that a healthy degree of suspicion for complicated MD should be present when dealing with a questionable diagnosis of appendicitis, particularly in the pediatric population