Efficacy of an electric toothbrush on plaque control compared to two manual toothbrushes

Objectives: This study aimed to compare an electric toothbrush with two manual toothbrushes, in their relative efficacy to control plaque. Design: Randomised clinical trial. Setting: Kerman Dental School, Iran. Participants: Forty‐five volunteer dental students were randomly assigned to one of three groups. All subjects received a baseline plaque assessment using O’Leary plaque index, and then a prophylaxis to achieve the plaque index of zero. Subjects were trained to brush twice daily, with their assigned device and return after 1 week and then after 2 weeks for plaque assessment. Chi‐squared and ANOVA were mainly used. Main outcome measure: Plaque assessment using O’Leary plaque index. Results: Although Jordan toothbrush consistently resulted in lower plaque indices compared to both manual toothbrushes, those differences were not statistically significant, F(2, 42) = 2.45, P = 0.10. Plaque reduction from week 1 to week 2 was significant in Jordan Power group (60%, from 13.46 to 5.44, P = 0.010) and Panbehriz Classic group (53%, from 20.92 to 9.91, P = 0.007). Conclusion: The results of this study shows no evidence of statistically significant difference in respect to plaque control, between Jordan Power electric toothbrush and either of Oral‐B Advantage or Panbehriz Classic manual brushes in a group of dental students after 2 weeks.     

Reinfection risk of novel coronavirus (COVID-19): A systematic ‎review of current evidence

BACKGROUNDThere is recently a concern regarding the reinfection and reactivation of previously reCoVered coronavirus disease 2019 (CoVID-19) patients.AIMTo summarize the recent findings and reports of CoVID-19 reinfection in patients previously reCoVered from the disease.METHODSThis study was a systematic review of current evidence conducted in August 2020. The authors studied the probable reinfection risk of novel coronavirus (CoVID-19). We performed a systematic search using the keywords in online databases. The investigation adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist to ensure the reliability and validity of this study and results.RESULTSWe reviewed 31 studies. Eight studies described reCoVered patients with reinfection. Only one study reported reinfected patients who died. In 26 studies, there was no information about the status of the patients. Several studies indicated that reinfection is not probable and that post-infection immunity is at least temporary and short.CONCLUSIONBased on our review, we concluded that a positive polymerase chain reaction retest could be due to several reasons and should not always be considered as reinfection or reactivation of the disease. Most relevant studies in positive retest patients have shown relative and probably temporary immunity after the reCoVery of the disease.     

Finding genetic contributions to sporadic disease: a recessive locus at 12q24 commonly contributes to patent ductus arteriosus

The causes of many sporadic diseases are unexplained; the contribution of recessive loci with reduced penetrance is one possibility that has been difficult to explore. We describe an approach to this problem by first searching for diseases with higher prevalence in populations with high rates of consanguinity, then determining whether disease cases are more commonly the product of consanguinous union than controls in such populations, followed by analysis of genetic linkage in consanguinous cases. We demonstrate the utility of this approach by investigation of congenital heart disease in Iran. We found that patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a common congenital heart disease, accounts for a higher fraction of congenital heart disease in Iran (15%) than in the United States (2-7%). Moreover, Iranian PDA cases demonstrated a marked increase of parental consanguinity (63%), compared with the general Iranian population (25%) or control cases with tetralogy of Fallot (30%). The recurrence of PDA among siblings was 5%. A genomewide analysis of linkage in 21 unrelated consanguinous PDA cases demonstrated a multipoint logarithm of odds score of 6.27 in favor of linkage of PDA to a 3-centimorgan interval of chromosome 12q24, with 53% of kindreds linked. These findings together establish a recessive component to PDA and implicate a single locus, PDA1, in one third or more of all PDA cases in Iran; they further suggest a role for this locus in PDA worldwide. Finally, these results suggest a general approach to the identification of recessive contributions to sporadic diseases.     

Back Muscle Function in Older Women With Age-Related Hyperkyphosis: A Comparative Study

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to compare static maximal back extensor muscle force, endurance, and characteristics of flexion relaxation phenomenon (FRP) in older women with and without age-related hyperkyphosis.MethodsMaximum back extensor force and endurance measured in a sitting position with a designed load cell setup; appearance, onset, and offset angles of FRP; and extension relaxation ratio (ERR) during a dynamic flexion-extension task were compared between 24 older women with hyperkyphosis (thoracic kyphosis angle ≥50°), mean age 65 ± 4.4 years, and 24 older women without hyperkyphosis (thoracic kyphosis angle ?50°), mean age 63 ± 4.3 years. Variables of force, endurance, angles of FRP, and ERR were analyzed using an independent sample t test. A χ² test was used to identify differences between groups in FRP appearance.ResultsStatic back extensor force and endurance were significantly lower among those with versus those without hyperkyphosis (P ? .001). Although the 2 groups did not differ in FRP appearance and ERR in the superficial erector spinal muscles (P ? .05), FRP in the hyperkyphosis group started sooner and ended later than in the group without hyperkyphosis (P ? .05).ConclusionOur study indicates that women with age-related hyperkyphosis had decreased static maximal force and endurance of the back extensor muscles and prolonged myoelectrical silence of the superficial erector spinal muscles. Reduced endurance of the superficial erector spinal muscles may trigger early onset of FRP and prolonged relaxation of these muscles.     

Effectiveness of HIV counseling services on knowledge, attitude, behavior and practice (KABP) among pregnant women attending PPTCT program

Counseling services is an important component of National AIDS Control Program which aims at creating awareness and promoting changes in reducing high risk behavior against HIV/AIDS. Pregnant women attending antenatal clinics are being counseled about HIV/AIDS under prevention of parent to child transmission (PPTCT) program. The objective of this study was to assess (KABP) regarding HIV/AIDS among pregnant women attending PPTCT program before and after counseling at Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi. A Quasi-experimental study was conducted. Data was collected by interviewing 600 pregnant women attending ANC clinic during May 2006 to May 2007 using a pre-test and post-test interview schedule. About 69.2% of the pregnant women had heard about AIDS before the counseling. Knowledge regarding mother to child transmission of HIV was 53.5%. 38.2% knew that mother to child transmission can be reduced by drugs. The knowledge of pregnant women about AIDS was significantly different in pre-test (mean score = 15.3) and post test (mean score = 35.6) (P < 0.0001). Attitude of study participants towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) indicated that individuals with HIV should be allowed to work (79.9%) and all commercial sex workers should compulsorily be tested for HIV (55.1%). There was significant difference between in pre-test and post-test attitude about PLWHA and HIV testing (p < 0.0001). The condom use among the study participants significantly improved after counseling (1.2% in pre-test and 58.6% after counseling) (p < 0.0001). Counseling services were effective in increasing knowledge and changes in attitude and behavior among pregnant women and the efforts needs to be sustained.     

Identification of a novel mutation in the paired domain of PAX3 in an Iranian family with Waardenburg syndrome Type I

Background: Intravenous etoposide is widely used in multiagent chemotherapy regimens for intraocular retinoblastoma despite the lack of phase II data documenting its efficacy. Because oral etoposide has been found to be highly effective in patients with relapsed medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma who had previously received intravenous etoposide, we investigated its use for intraocular retinoblastoma. Procedure: A pilot trial of oral etoposide (50mg/m 2 /day for 21 days) in five children (6 eyes) with relapsed refractory intraocular retinoblastoma was performed. All had previously received chemotherapy, including intravenous etoposide in four patients, and all had received radiation therapy. Three patients (3 eyes) had vitreous seeds. Response was evaluated after one cycle. Results: No serious acute toxicity was encountered, and no responses were noted. Four patients (5 eyes) had progressive disease. Stable disease was noted in one eye without vitreous disease. One patient developed secondary acute myeloid leukemia 30 months after exposure to oral etoposide. Conclusions: Oral etoposide was not an effective agent in this population. The role of etoposide in the treatment of higher risk intraocular retinoblastoma deserves further study.     

Malignant mixed tumor ex eccrine spiradenoma: an unusual pattern of malignant dedifferentiation.

Eccrine spiradenoma (ES) is a benign tumor of the skin adnexal origin. It is often seen in the head and neck region of young adults and may be present for years. While there have been numerous case reports of malignant degeneration within ES, they have been mostly carcinomatous dedifferentiation and rarely carcinosarcomas. A malignant mixed tumor is a neoplasm with a malignant epithelial component and areas of chondroid and myxoid differentiation within the malignant epithelial proliferation. While the epithelial component is malignant, the mesenchymal component is felt to represent a benign, metaplastic response of the stroma. While the malignant mixed tumor has a benign counterpart, the benign mixed tumor, the former is usually not seen in continuity with the latter. We describe a case of ES with malignant degeneration and demonstrate the transformation from benign to malignant. The histology and immunohistochemistry of the neoplasm supports a malignant mixed tumor, an extremely unusual neoplasm to see in association with ES or any benign adnexal neoplasm.     

A comparative study of free and pedicle flaps for lower extremity wounds

Sixty-four flaps were used to treat wounds in 58 patients over a 5-year period. In this series there was a high incidence of healing of both tibial fractures and chronic osteomyelitis when covered with muscle. Better contour is achieved with muscle covered with meshed skin grafts than with musculocutaneous flaps. The survival rate for free flaps was 93% and for pedicle flaps, 100%. Complication rates were higher for pedicle flaps (45%) than for free flaps (30%), although major complications for free flaps (14%) were higher than for pedicled flaps (9%).