Secondary Caries in the Posterior Teeth of Patients Presenting to the Department of Operative Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti Dental School

Objective: Secondary caries is a common problem in dental treatments and its occurrence is attributed to several factors. The present study aimed at assessing the prevalence of secondary caries in posterior teeth of patients presenting to the Department of Operative Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti Dental School.Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 350 patients with 1,339 posterior teeth restored with amalgam or composite resin. Restorations older than 3 years were evaluated. Data regarding presence or absence of secondary caries, age of restoration, location of receiving dental care, tooth brushing technique and use of dental floss and mouthwash were recorded in a questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done using chi-square test.Results: The prevalence of secondary caries was 26% among the understudy patients. Mesio Ocluso Distal restorations (19.2%) had the highest prevalence of secondary caries. Composite restorations had higher prevalence of secondary caries compared to amalgam restorations (p=0.01). Teeth restored in private dental offices had a higher prevalence of secondary caries compared to those restored in university clinics (p=0.007). Patients who used mouthwash had a significantly lower prevalence of caries recurrence (p=0.05).Conclusion: The prevalence of secondary caries in patients presenting to the Department of Operative Dentistry of Shahid Beheshti Dental School was higher in the MOD restorations, composite restorations and teeth restored in private dental offices finally it was less in the patients using mouthwash

The effect of Coronavirus disease pandemic on maternal and neonatal health: A cohort study from Isfahan, Iran

Background: The Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may profoundly impact on maternal and neonatal health worldwide. However, a few studies have investigated this topic. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and neonatal health. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed collected data from March to May 2020, and the same period in 2019, involving 5711 pregnant women referring to comprehensive healthcare centers in Isfahan province health facilities, Iran. Pregnant women and neonates were followed-up until 40 days after the delivery. Demographic characteristics, pre-pregnancy, antenatal care, and postpregnancy variables were collected. Results: A total of 5,711 pregnant women were studied, of whom 3477 (61%) were referred in 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic as nonexposed) and 2234 (39%) during the COVID-19 pandemic (as exposed group) in 2020. For those living in cities with a population of > 20,000, the number of antenatal care were lower about 2% compared to nonexposed group (p = 0.01). The number of mothers with a history of the underlying disease who referred to a comprehensive healthcare center during the COVID-19 pandemic (47%) was lower about 6% compared to nonexposed group (41%) (p < 0.001). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of hypertension and gestational diabetes mellitus was 5% (n = 109) and 20% (n = 445), which were higher about 2% and 4%, respectively, compared to nonexposed group. The COVID-19 pandemic had no other significant effect on mothers’ and neonates’ other characteristics than nonexposed group. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic imposes no significant effect on mothers’ and neonates’ health compared to nonexposed group. Key words: Maternal health, Neonatal health, Pregnancy, COVID-19

Dental Students’ Perceptions on Restorative Dentistry Education in Shahid Beheshti Dental School

Objective: Numerous studies have emphasized on the importance of developing an ideal educational system for high-quality dental education. The present study sought to assess the perception of dental students on operative dentistry education in Department of Restorative Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti Dental School, Tehran, Iran.Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 220 students were selected and given a questionnaire including demographic , grades in operative dentistry clinical and didactic courses, the efficacy of preclinical courses in preparing students for clinical practice, ways to improve competency and expertise of students for clinical setting, student’s opinion on relating the  assessment tests with the taught topics, required instructional resources for assessment of students’ proficiency in restorative dentistry and satisfaction rate of students with clinical courses offered in the current curriculum.  Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (SPSS 18).Results: The Clinical Operative Dentistry 3 and Preclinical Dental Anatomy received a mean satisfaction score of 3.31 and 2.74, respectively. Furthermore, 57.3% of students highly emphasized the necessity of studying textbooks of restorative dentistry. 50.5% of students believe that lectures  by instructors along with active participation of students were the best method for didactic operative dentistry courses. In addition, 60.5% were in favor of using a combination of textbooks, lectures, and class notes for the assessment of students’ learning.Conclusion: The present study revealed that Department of Restorative Dentistry in Shahid Beheshti Dental School is successful in its teaching and achieving students’ satisfaction. However, some revisions need to be made in educational methods and contents and active participation of students in class discussions should be encouraged as well

Treatment Approaches Based on Neuroscientific Data in Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

   Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a severe psychological disorder that can be very disabling. Recent increasing neuroscientific data about OCD has provided important evidence that has started to change our knowledge about treatment. This paper offers an applied perspective of neuroscience on diagnosis and treatment preparation for people with OCD disease. The main aim is to enhance clinician-researcher communication to promote the conversion of developments in neuroscience research into better treatment for patients with OCD. Methods: A PubMed search was performed using the keywords “obsessive-compulsive disorder”, “neuroimaging methods”, “neuroscience”, and “neurological treatment”. The search provided sufficient articles published in peer-reviewed journals from 1995 to 2021. The data were obtained from these various sources and were included in this review. Results: The advancement of neurotherapeutic techniques targeting the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuit is the subject of a circuit dysregulation system. Also, according to neuroimaging studies, reductions in D2 receptors (about -18%), GABAA receptors (-15%), and cingulate 5-HT1A receptors (-18%) in patients with OCD were reported compared with healthy controls. Conclusion: The result suggests that DA, 5-HT, and GABA have considerable roles in anxiety- and compulsion-related disorders such as OCD. For patients with OCD, these core neuroscience themes collectively guide formulation and clinical preparation

Loading of Gentamicin Sulfate into Poly (Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid) Biodegradable Microspheres

Objective: In dental treatments, use of carriers for targeted antibiotic delivery would be optimal to efficiently decrease microbial count. In this study, gentamicin was loaded into polylactic co-glycolic acid (PLGA) microspheres and its release pattern was evaluated for 20 days.Methods: In this experimental study, PLGA microspheres loaded with gentamycin were produced  by the W/O/W method. The correct morphology of loaded microspheres was ensured using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The rate of drug release from polymeric microspheres into the phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution was measured during a 20-day period using spectroscopy. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA.Results: SEM micrographs showed that the produced microspheres had smooth and nonporous surfaces and 30-micron diameter. Assessment of the pattern of drug release from the PLGA microspheres loaded with gentamycin revealed a burst release on day six followed by a  stable pattern of release until day 20.Conclusion: Considering the biocompatibility of PLGA and optimal pattern of drug release, PLGA microspheres loaded with gentamicin can be successfully used for infection control and reduction of microbial count in dental treatments

The Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders and its Predictors among Iranians’ Housewives

ABSTRACT Background and aims: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common among housewives. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of MSDs and its predictors among a group of Iranian housewives. Methods: This cross-sectional study carried out on 600 Iranian housewives in 2014 that were selected using multistage random sampling from three cities including Karaj, Kashan and Yazd. The data were collected using Nordic questionnaire and were analyzed in SPSS software using chi-square and multiple linear regressions with Hosmer-Lemshow method. Results: The total prevalence of MSDs was 53 and was not different in three cities (P>0.05). The highest prevalence of pain was found to be in the back region (51.33), followed by neck (51) and shoulder (41.5) and least at wrist (40.5). The possibility of pain in neck was related to husband’s job (governmental compared to self-employed OR=1.6, CI 95:1.09-2.63), older age (OR=1.06, CI 95:1.01-1.11), higher height (OR=1.09, CI 95:1.03-2.09), and more marriage duration (OR=1.08, CI 95:1.01-2.05). The possibility of pain in back was related to educational level guidance (OR=0.38, CI 95%:0.15-0.95) and high school (OR=0.31, CI 95%:0.13-0.94) compared to primary school and heavier weight (OR=1.07, CI 95%:1.04-2.19), and finally the possibility of pain in shoulder was related to dominant hand right hand compared to both hand (OR=4.6, CI 95%:1.2-17.8). Conclusion: Present study showed that the prevalence of MSDs in Iranian housewives is high and the educational level, height, weight and having husband with governmental job are as important predictors of MSDs among housewives. However, ergonomic training and informing the housewives about the risk factors of MSDs could prevent and postponed the occurrence of these disorders

The Role of Traumatic Experiences and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies in Predicting High-risk Behaviors among Adolescents

Introduction: The goal of the present study was to investigate adolescents’ tendency to engage in high-risk behaviors based on traumatic life experiences and adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. Method: A descriptive/correlational design was used. The participants included 220 adolescents (154 girls and 66 boys) who were selected among high-school students in Shiraz, using a convenience sampling method. The Traumatic Experiences Checklist (TEC), the Iranian Adolescents Risk-taking Scale (IARS), and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies Questionnaire (CERQ) were used collect data. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, and regression analysis. Results: According to the results, among traumatic experiences, only emotional abuse (P<0. 001), and among maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies, only rumination (P<0. 001) had a significant effect on high-risk behaviors. In addition, no significant relationship was found between adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and tendency to engage in high-risk behaviors. Conclusion: The results suggest that providing training on emotion regulation can help students select adaptive emotion regulation strategies in coping with high-risk situations. Declaration of Interest: None.

Differential combination of cytokine and interferon- gamma +874 T/A polymorphisms determines disease severity in pulmonary tuberculosis.

Background:Mycobacterium tuberculosis infects nearly 1/3 of the world population and this reservoir forms the largest pool from which new cases arise. Among the cytokines, IFN-gamma is a key determinant in protection against tuberculosis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IFN-gamma gene (+874 T/A) which determine TT high ((hi)), AA low ((lo)) and TA intermediate ((int)) responder phenotypes have shown variable associations with tuberculosis disease outcome in different ethnic populations. The objective of the current study was to analyze IFN-gamma gene combinations with other IFN-gamma regulating cytokine genes (IL-10, TNF -alpha, IL-6) to see the effect of gene- combinations on disease severity outcome in pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods andFindings:Study groups comprised of pulmonary TB Patients stratified according to lung tissue involvement into mild (Pmd = 74) or advance (Pad = 23) lung disease and compared with healthy controls (TBNA = 166). Genotype analysis was carried out using amplification refractory mutation system-PCR (ARMS-PCR). IFN-gamma gene (+874 T/A) functional SNP combinations in TNFalpha (-308 G/A), IL-10 (-1082 A/G) and IL-6 (-174 G/C) were analyzed. Single gene analysis (Pearson chi) showed a dominant association of IFN-gamma TT (hi) genotype (p = 0.001) and T allele (p = 0.001) with mild disease. IFN-gamma(lo) -IL-10(lo) genotype combination was associated with advanced disease (p = 0.002). IFN-gamma(hi) -IL-6(hi) combination was associated with mild disease (p = 0.0005) while IFN-gamma(lo) -IL-6(int) was associated with protection against both forms of pulmonary disease (p = 0.002).Conclusion:Our results show that a limited number of IFN-gamma gene combinations with other cytokine functional SNPs determine the outcome of disease severity in tuberculosis

Differential Combination of Cytokine and Interferon- γ +874 T/A Polymorphisms Determines Disease Severity in Pulmonary Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium tuberculosis infects nearly 1/3 of the world population and this reservoir forms the largest pool from which new cases arise. Among the cytokines, IFN-γ is a key determinant in protection against tuberculosis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IFN-γ gene (+874 T/A) which determine TT high ((hi)), AA low ((lo)) and TA intermediate ((int)) responder phenotypes have shown variable associations with tuberculosis disease outcome in different ethnic populations. The objective of the current study was to analyze IFN-γ gene combinations with other IFN-γ regulating cytokine genes (IL-10, TNF -α, IL-6) to see the effect of gene- combinations on disease severity outcome in pulmonary tuberculosis. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Study groups comprised of pulmonary TB patients stratified according to lung tissue involvement into mild (Pmd = 74) or advance (Pad = 23) lung disease and compared with healthy controls (TBNA = 166). Genotype analysis was carried out using amplification refractory mutation system-PCR (ARMS-PCR). IFN-γ gene (+874 T/A) functional SNP combinations in TNFα (-308 G/A), IL-10 (-1082 A/G) and IL-6 (-174 G/C) were analyzed. Single gene analysis (Pearson χ²) showed a dominant association of IFN-γ TT (hi) genotype (p = 0.001) and T allele (p = 0.001) with mild disease. IFN-γ(lo) -IL-10(lo) genotype combination was associated with advanced disease (p = 0.002). IFN-γ(hi) -IL-6(hi) combination was associated with mild disease (p = 0.0005) while IFN-γ(lo) -IL-6(int) was associated with protection against both forms of pulmonary disease (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Our results show that a limited number of IFN-γ gene combinations with other cytokine functional SNPs determine the outcome of disease severity in tuberculosis

Diagnostic Accuracy of Digitized Images Using Different Resolution Settings of Digital Camera in Detection of Proximal Caries

Objective: When none of digital systems and scanners is accessible and it is essential to have digitized images of conventional radiographs, digital cameras can be used. The Aim of this study  was to investigate whether digital images obtained by different resolutions of a digital camera are matched to the original radiographs in evaluation of caries.Methods: In this diagnostic accuracy in vitro study the conventional radiographs of168 proximal surfaces of 84 teeth were produced, Then they were digitized with digital camera in three different resolutions; high (2048x1536), medium (1600x1200) and low resolution (480x460). Images were stored in Photoshop7.0 software, and were evaluated by5 observers to show the presence and depth of the caries. Cronbach’s α calculated inter-observers agreement and in order to calculate the agreement with original conventional radiographs Kappa index was used.Results: In assessing the presence of caries, the agreement between low, medium and high resolutions with original radiographs were 0.286, 0.235 and 0 respectively. Also, assessing the depth of the caries agreement was reported0.21, 0.338 and 0.412 respectively. In most instances, there was a fair agreement between the different resolutions and original radiographs. The highest inter- observer’s agreement was reported in diagnosis of the presence of the caries with using high resolution (α=0.837) and the lowest inter-observer’s agreement was reported in diagnosis of the  depth of the caries with medium resolution (α=0.762).There was no significant difference reported in observations of different resolutions and original images.Conclusion: Using of high-resolution cameras did not show a significant difference with medium and low resolutions in caries evaluations. Therefore, considering the increase in the file size and difficulties in cameras selection, using of high-resolution digital cameras is not necessary in order to increase the diagnostic accuracy of digitized images