Radiographic Evaluation of Root Canal Fillings Accomplished by Undergraduate Dental Students

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiographic quality of root canal fillings by fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-year undergraduate students at Tabriz Faculty of Dentistry between 2006 and 2012. Methods and Materials: A total of 1183 root canal fillings in 620 teeth were evaluated by two investigators (and in case of disagreement by a third investigator) regarding the presence or absence of under-fillings, over-fillings and perforations. For each tooth, preoperative, working and postoperative radiographs were checked. The Pearson’s chi-square test was used for statistical evaluation of the data. Inter-examiner agreement was measured by Cohen’s kappa (k) values. The level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: Total frequencies of over-filling, under-filling and perforation were 5.6%, 20.4% and 1.9%, respectively. There were significant differences between frequencies of over- and under-fillings (P<0.05). Unacceptable quality, under- and over-fillings were detected in 27.9% of 1183 evaluated canals. Conclusion: The technical quality of root canal therapies performed by undergraduate dental students using step-back preparation and lateral compaction techniques was unacceptable in almost one-fourth of the cases

A Comparative Study of 25 (OH) Vitamin D Serum Levels in Patients with metabolic syndrome and healthy individuals

Background: The incidence of metabolic syndrome has been rising in the Iran population. In parallel, vitamin D deficiency has also been increasing in Iran. This study aims to explore the association of vitamin D serum concentrations with metabolic syndrome and its components in the Iranian population.  Materials and Methods: A case-control study was managed. We enrolled 110 metabolic syndrome patients, according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria as a case group and 130 healthy individuals as a control group. The serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25 (OH)D), lipid profile, and fasting blood glucose(FBS) status were determined using a commercially available ELISA method. Enzymatic methods determined total cholesterol (Chol), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglyceride (TG) levels.  Results: In case group, the prevalence rate of 25 (OH)D deficiency (<10 ng/mL) was 10%, 25 (OH)D insufficiency (10–29 ng/mL) was 71.0%, and 25 (OH)D sufficiency (>30 ng/mL) was 19.0%. A non-significant association between Chol level and age was noted (p=0.46, p=0.124). The levels of FBS and TG were significantly higher, and the levels of 25 (OH)D, LDL, and HDL were significantly lower in the case of the group compared to the control group. Conclusion: We found that the serum level of 25 (OH)D in patients with metabolic syndrome is lower than in the healthy group, and a low level of 25 (OH)D is related to increased risk of metabolic syndrome and its components. &nbsp

Evaluation of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D Serum Levels and Thyroid-related Parameters in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Healthy People in Shiraz, Iran

Background and Aim: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing globally. There is increasing evidence in the correlation between altered vitamin D levels, thyroid dysfunction, and T2DM. The goal of this study was to evaluate the association between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH) D), lipid profile, glucose and thyroid-related parameters among patients with T2DM and non-diabetic individuals. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 228 individuals (110 type two diabetics and 118 healthy controls). The serum concentration of 25(OH) D was determined by chemiluminescence assay. Photometric methods measured serum levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), calcium, phosphorous, total Cholesterol (TC), triacylglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and VLDL levels were estimated from the Friedewald equation (LDL-C=TC–HDL-C–(TG/5)). The Elisa kit measured serum T4 and TSH. Results: 80% of Patients with T2DM and 71% of healthy individuals were suffering from vitamin D insufficiency. A non-significant relationship between TG (P=0.36), HDL (P=0.33), VLDL (P=0.36), T4 (P=0.56) calcium (P=0.39) and phosphorus (P=0.41) levels were showed in control and diabetic groups.  The levels of FBG (P=0.000), TC (P=0.001), LDL (P=0.004), TSH (P=0.000) were significantly higher, and the levels of 25 (OH) D (P=0.001) was significantly lower in the T2DM group compared to the non-diabetic group. Conclusion: We revealed that the serum level of 25 (OH) D is lower in patients with T2DM, and the TSH level is significantly higher compared to the non-diabetic group. Thyroid dysfunction and a low level of 25 (OH) D are associated with a high risk of T2DM. *Corresponding Author: Zakieh Sadat Sheikhalishahi; Email: [email protected] Please cite this article as: Rostami E, Najafi V, Behmard V, Panji M, Moravej FS, Dalvand S, Namdari A, Yavari N, Sheikhalishahi ZS. Evaluation of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D Serum Levels and Thyroid-related Parameters in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Healthy People in Shiraz, Iran. Arch Med Lab Sci. 2020;6:1-6 (e22). https://doi.org/10.22037/amls.v6.3130

Reference Interval for Fasting Blood Sugar, Triglycerides, Total Cholesterol, Low-Density Lipoprotein, and High-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol in Healthy Babolian Individuals

Background and Aim: Sugar and Lipid disorders are the main risk factors for vascular abnormalities. Due to the gender and age, other variables can influence serum Fasting blood sugar and lipid levels, certifying the determination of population-specific reference interval. This study was designed to investigate the age- and gender-specific reference values for serum Fasting blood sugar (FBS), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL) in healthy Babolian adults. Methods: FBS, TC, TG, and HDL were calculating applying the colorimetric method. The Friedewald equation (LDL=TC−HDL−TG/5) was used to calculate LDL concentrations in individuals. After using the exclusion parameters, 519 participants (199 men and 320 women) aged ≥23 years were included. The Clinical Chemistry guidelines of the International Federation applied for characterizing the reference values for samples. Results: Reference values for serum FBS, TG, TC, LDL, HDL were 77.01-107.69 mg/dL, 35.34-204.38 mg/dL, 117.97-242.81 mg/dL, 47.6-137.16 mg/dL and 33.29-67.13 mg/dL in men. In women, reference values for serum FBS, TG, TC, LDL, HDL were 75.03-107.99, 27.49-192.33 mg/dL, 125.84-244.32 mg/dL, 44.08-139.48 mg/dL and 36.66-81.1 mg/dL. FBS, TG, and LDL parameters were higher in men, and TC and HDL parameters were higher in women. Conclusion: Reference values for serum FBS, TC, TG, LDL, HDL in healthy Babolian adults were specified, and these data could supply a clear pathway for better decision making in both clinical settings and prevention. *Corresponding Author: Negar Yavari; Email: [email protected] Please cite this article as: Gholami Bahnemiri M, Amiri M, Khanicheragh M, Safizadeh F, Mohammadi Tahroodi F, Akbari Javar A, Aram H, Mir SM, Yavari N. Reference Interval for Fasting Blood Sugar, Triglycerides, Total Cholesterol, Low-density Lipoprotein, and High-density Lipoprotein-cholesterol in Healthy Babolian Individuals. Arch Med Lab Sci. 2019;5(4):14-20. https://doi.org/10.22037/amls.v5i4.2992

The investigation of the relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome with metabolic changes in women

Background: For exploring the relationship between metabolic changes and thyroid function in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients, metabolic, endocrine, and thyroid parameters were assessed. Materials and Methods: alterations in endocrine, metabolic, and clinical characteristics in PCOS patients compared with healthy women were studied within a prospective investigation. Also thyroid parameters were considered. Results: 300 women with normal ovulatory as controls and PCOS patients were included and matched by age. There were significant increases in triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHL), and total dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in PCOS patients. Also, overall levels of Fast Blood Sugar (FBS), Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Testosterone (T), Prolactin, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were higher in compared with the normal women, but these higher amounts were not significant. There was an insignificant decrease in Luteinizing hormone(LH), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and Free T4 in PCOS patients compared with the controls. Conclusions: Our manuscript suggests the negative metabolic alterations in PCOS patients.The small increases of TG, CHL, and DHT levels may depend on these alterations in metabolic parameters in PCOS patients. Further investigations may clear a vague understanding of the relationship between metabolic parameters alteration and thyroid function

A Comparative Study of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level and associated Parameters in CKD and Dialysis Patients in Shiraz, Iran

Background: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency generally observed in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and dialysis patients. The goal of this work was to compare the serum levels of vitamin D and its-related metabolic parameters in CKD patients and hemodialysis patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 109 dialysis patients and 99 CKD patients who had not consumed vitamin D for ≥ 1 year were enrolled in this study. 25-Hydroxy vitamin D (25-(OH) D) levels, calcium, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and phosphorous were evaluated in the serum of the patients. Results: 25-(OH) D levels in patients with CKD and dialysis patients were 31.73±13.34 ng/mL and 15.52±5.36 ng/mL, respectively. The levels of calcium (P=0.000), ALP (P=0.006), 25(OH) D (P=0.000), FBS (P=0.000), Hb (P=0.002), HCT (P=0.002) and TIBC (P=0.000) were significantly higher, and the levels of PTH (p=0.000) and phosphorous (P=0.000) were significantly lower in the CKD group compared to dialysis group. Conclusion: 25-(OH) D levels and its metabolic parameters except PTH and phosphorus are lower in patients on dialysis compared with the patients with CKD

Iranian future healthcare professionals' knowledge and opinions about rare diseases: cross-sectional study

Background Rare diseases are a new global health priority, requiring evidence-based estimates of the global prevalence of diseases to inform public policymakers and provide a serious challenge to the healthcare system that must not be ignored. The purpose of this study is to investigate Iranian future healthcare professionals' knowledge and opinions about rare diseases. Results A total of 6838 students responded to the questionnaire. Nursing and medical students had the highest participation. Almost 85% of participants rated their knowledge about rare diseases as poor or insufficient. While nearly 70 percent of participants took courses about rare diseases at university. Finally, 72.7% of future healthcare professionals did not feel ready to take care of a patient with a rare disease. Conclusion The present study has indicated a gap in Iranian medical students' knowledge of rare diseases. The researchers believe that health science policymakers should make a joint effort to improve knowledge about rare diseases. Including courses with regard to rare diseases would be of benefit to future healthcare professionals