Incidence of pressure ulcers in intensive care units and direct costs of treatment: Evidence from Iran

Background and objective

Pressure ulcer (PU) is one of the important and frequent complications of hospitalization, associated with high treatment costs. The present study was conducted to determine the incidence of PU and its direct treatment costs for patients in intensive care unit (ICU) in Iran.

Serum vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 as a potential biomarker in psoriasis

To discover novel biomarkers of psoriasis, a target‐specific antibody array screening of serum samples from psoriasis patients was initially performed. The results revealed that vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR‐3) was significantly elevated in the sera of psoriasis patients, compared to healthy controls. Next, ELISA validation studies in a larger cohort of psoriasis patients (N = 73) were conducted, which confirmed that serum VEGFR‐3 was indeed significantly increased in patients with psoriasis compared to healthy controls (P < 0.001). Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that serum VEGFR‐3 exhibited potential in distinguishing healthy controls from psoriasis patients: area under the curve = 0.85, P < 0.001. In addition, serum levels of VEGFR‐3 were correlated with Psoriasis Area Severity Index scores (R = 0.32, P = 0.008) in psoriasis patients. Interestingly, serum VEGFR‐3 levels were significantly elevated in psoriatic arthritis compared to non‐psoriatic arthritis (P = 0.026). A pilot longitudinal study demonstrated that serum levels of VEGFR‐3 could reflect disease progression in psoriasis. Collectively, serum VEGFR‐3 may have a clinical value in monitoring disease activity of psoriasis.     

Validation of Spectrophotometric Method for Determination of Thiamazole in Liquids by Dissolution Test for the Transdermal Form

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal - The purpose of this work was to validate the method of UV absorption spectrophotometry for the determination of thiamazole in transdermal patches during their...     

Shear Bond Strength of Self-etching Adhesive Systems with Different pH Values to Bleached and/or CPP-ACP-treated Enamel

Purpose: To compare shear bond strengths of three different self-etching adhesive systems of different pH values to enamel bleached with carbamide peroxide, treated with casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP), or treated with CPP-ACP subsequent to bleaching with carbamide peroxide. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six human third molars were cut into 4 sections and randomly assigned to 4 groups (n = 36): group I: no treatment; group II: bleaching; group III: CPP-ACP; group IV: bleaching and CPP-ACP. After surface treatments, the samples of each group were further divided into three subgroups (n = 12) based on the adhesive used. The adhesives Clearfil SE Bond (CSE), AdhesE (ADE), and Adper SE Plus (ADP) were applied, and resin composite cylinders with a diameter of 2 mm and a height of 4 mm were bonded to the enamel. Then the specimens were subjected to shear bond strength testing. Two-way ANOVA and a post-hoc Tukey's test were used for statistical analysis (α = 0.05). Results: There were significant differences between the adhesive systems (p < 0.001) and surface treatments (p < 0.001), but no significant interactions were observed between these variables (p = 0.78). The CSE adhesive system showed the highest bond strength, and the bleaching procedure reduced bond strengths (p = 0.001). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in shear bond strength values between the control and CPP groups. However, the differences between other groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Bleaching reduced shear bond strength to enamel, but CPP-ACP application did not affect the bond strength to intact and previously bleached enamel. The bond strength of adhesives with different pH values to enamel was material dependant.     

Synthesis and Anticonvulsant Activity of Some Cyclohexanone Derivatives – Knoevenagel Condensation Products

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal - Aseries of diethyl esters of 2-aryl-4-hydroxy-4-methyl-6-oxocyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylic acids (β-cycloketols) were synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation....     

In vitro fracture resistance of endodontically-treated maxillary premolars

Many endodontically-treated teeth require quick, simple, low-cost restorations. This study evaluated the effect of horizontal pins and flowable composites on the fracture resistance of endodontically-treated maxillary premolars directly restored with resin composite. In this in vitro study, 64 intact human maxillary premolars, extracted for orthodontic reasons, were randomly divided into four groups of 16. Standard access cavities were prepared in such a way that the buccal cusp had a buccolingual thickness of 3 mm measured at the height of contour. The palatal cusp was reduced to 1.5 mm coronal to CEJ. The specimens were prepared as follows: Group 1: resin composite restoration without horizontal self-threading pins or flowable composite (control group). Group 2: resin composite restoration without horizontal self-threading pins but with a 2 mm thickness of the flowable composite. Group 3: resin composite restoration with two horizontal self-threading pins in the buccal cusp but without flowable composite. Group 4: resin composite restoration with two horizontal self-threading pins in the buccal cusp and flowable composite with a thickness of 2 mm. Subsequent to thermocycling, all specimens were loaded to failure. The data were analyzed using a two-factor ANOVA test (alpha = 0.05). The maximum mean of fracture resistance was in Group 1 (632.86 +/- 119.46 N), and the minimum value was related to Group 3 (533.49 +/- 168.07 N). There was not a statistically significant difference between the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Neither horizontal pin placement nor flowable composite had a significant effect on increasing the fracture resistance of endodontically-treated maxillary premolars restored with composite.     

Predictive role of PI-RADSv2 and ADC parameters in differentiating Gleason pattern 3 + 4 and 4 + 3 prostate cancer

Purpose

To compare the predictive roles of qualitative (PI-RADSv2) and quantitative assessment (ADC metrics), in differentiating Gleason pattern (GP) 3 + 4 from the more aggressive GP 4 + 3 prostate cancer (PCa) using radical prostatectomy (RP) specimen as the reference standard.

Methods

We retrospectively identified treatment-naïve peripheral (PZ) and transitional zone (TZ) Gleason Score 7 PCa patients who underwent multiparametric 3T prostate MRI (DWI with b value of 0,1400 and where unavailable, 0,500) and subsequent RP from 2011 to 2015. For each lesion identified on MRI, a PI-RADSv2 score was assigned by a radiologist blinded to pathology data. A PI-RADSv2 score ≤ 3 was defined as “low risk,” a PI-RADSv2 score ≥ 4 as “high risk” for clinically significant PCa. Mean tumor ADC (ADC_T), ADC of adjacent normal tissue (ADC_N), and ADC_ratio (ADC_T/ADC_N) were calculated. Stepwise regression analysis using tumor location, ADC_T and ADC_ratio, b value, low vs. high PI-RADSv2 score was performed to differentiate GP 3 + 4 from 4 + 3.

Results

119 out of 645 cases initially identified met eligibility requirements. 76 lesions were GP 3 + 4, 43 were 4 + 3. ADC_ratio was significantly different between the two GP groups (p = 0.001). PI-RADSv2 score (“low” vs. “high”) was not significantly different between the two GP groups (p = 0.17). Regression analysis selected ADC_T (p = 0.03) and ADC_ratio (p = 0.0007) as best predictors to differentiate GP 4 + 3 from 3 + 4. Estimated sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the predictive model in differentiating GP 4 + 3 from 3 + 4 were 37, 82, and 66%, respectively.

Conclusions

ADC metrics could differentiate GP 3 + 4 from 4 + 3 PCa with high specificity and moderate accuracy while PI-RADSv2, did not differentiate between these patterns.

     

Dynamic Modeling of Cost-effectiveness of Rotavirus Vaccination,Kazakhstan

The government of Kazakhstan, a middle-income country in Central Asia, is considering the introduction of rotavirus vaccination into its national immunization program. We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis of rotavirus vaccination spanning 20 years by using a synthesis of dynamic transmission models accounting for herd protection. We found that a vaccination program with 90% coverage would prevent ≈880 rotavirus deaths and save an average of 54,784 life-years for children <5 years of age. Indirect protection accounted for 40% and 60% reduction in severe and mild rotavirus gastroenteritis, respectively. Cost per life year gained was US $18,044 from a societal perspective and US $23,892 from a health care perspective. Comparing the 2 key parameters of cost-effectiveness, mortality rates and vaccine cost at <US $2.78 per dose, vaccination program costs would be entirely offset. To further evaluate efficacy of a vaccine program, benefits of indirect protection conferred by vaccination warrant further study.