The effect of chloroform,orange oil and eucalyptol on root canal transportation in endodontic retreatment

The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of solvents on root canal transportation in endodontic retreatment. Sixty extracted human permanent mandibular first molars with curved root canals were selected. All of the root canals were prepared using Twisted File Adaptive instruments (SybronEndo, Orange, CA, USA) and filled with gutta‐percha and AH Plus sealer (Dentsply DeTrey, Konstanz, Germany) using the cold lateral compaction technique. The teeth were assigned to four retreatment groups as follows (n = 15): eucalyptol, chloroform, orange oil and control. The canals were scanned using cone‐beam computed tomography scanning before and after instrumentation. The chloroform group showed a significantly higher mean transportation value than the orange oil and control groups at the 3 and 5 mm levels (P = 0.011 and P = 0.003, respectively). There was no significant difference among the orange oil, eucalyptol and control groups in terms of canal transportation (P > 0.61). The chloroform led to more canal transportation than the eucalyptol and orange oil during endodontic retreatment.     

The effect of oral and parenteral vitamin D supplementation in the elderly: a prospective, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study

Hypovitaminosis D in the elderly causes falls and fractures as a result of impaired neuromuscular functions and also may be a reason for nonspecific musculosceletal pain. The aim of this study is to investigate the benefits of a single dose per os or parenterally administrated vitamin D on increasing the quality of life and functional mobility and decreasing the pain in the elderly. The community-dwelling elderly subjects over 65?years age were included in the study. The subjects were given 300.000?IU Vitamin D via per os and parenteral route and assessed after 4?weeks. The serum creatinine, calcium, phosphorous, ALT, ALP, 24-h urine calcium excretion, PTH, and vitamin D levels, as well as VAS (visual analog scale) for pain assessment, functional mobility with TUG (timed up and go test) and quality of life with SF-36 before and after the treatment were evaluated. The serum vitamin D levels were measured by the RIA method. The subjects were divided into four groups each consisting of 30 subjects. The 1st group took i.m. vitamin D, the 2nd group took i.m. placebo, the 3rd group took p.o. vitamin D, and the 4th group took p.o. placebo. The mean age of all the participants was 70.1?±?4.3?years. There was no difference in the age and gender between the groups (P?>?0.05). After treatment, the PTH level of first group was decreased (P?=?0.0001) and the vitamin D level increased (P?=?0.0001) significantly. In the third group, the PTH level of first group was decreased (P?=?0.0001) and the vitamin D level increased (P?=?0.004) and the 24-h calcium excretion in urine (P?=?0.015) increased significantly. When the pain, the functional mobility, and the quality of life were evaluated, in the first group, the TUG (P?=?0.0001) and the VAS (P?=?0.0001) decreased significantly, whereas the SF-36 subtitles: physical functioning (P?=?0.0001), role physical (0.006), bodily pain (P?=?0.0001), general health (P?=?0.007), social functioning (P?=?0.05), and mental health (P?=?0.048) increased significantly. In group two, the VAS (P?=?0.001) decreased, the role physical (P?=?0.009), and role emotional (P?=?0.034) increased significantly; In group three, the TUG (P?=?0.0001) and the VAS (P?=?0.002) decreased, whereas the physical function (P?=?0.0001) and role physical (0.001) increased significantly; In group four, the VAS (P?=?0.007) decreased significantly. The megadose vitamin D administration increases quality of life, decreases pain, and improves functional mobility via po or im route in the elderly.     

The cellulose synthase BcsA plays a role in interactions of Salmonella typhimurium with Acanthamoeba castellanii genotype T4

Parasitology Research - Pathogenic bacteria share their natural habitat with many other organisms such as animals, plants, insects, parasites and amoeba. Interactions between these organisms...     

Diagnostic and prognostic value of Ischemia‐modified albumin in patients with Crimean‐Congo hemorrhagic fever

The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic and prognostic significance of ischemia modified albumin (IMA) levels in patients with Crimean‐Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). This retrospective study was conducted with patients with CCHF. IMA levels in patients with CCHF were determined using the rapid colorimetric method. IMA levels of CCHF patients were significantly higher compared with the control group (P = 0.0001). At an IMA cut‐off point of 0.555 ABSU (absorbance units), sensitivity was 65.1%, specificity 82.5%, positive predictive values (PPV) 82.5%, and negative predictive values (NPV) 65.1%. IMA levels of patients with hemorrhage were significantly higher compared with patients without hemorrhage (P = 0.005). IMA has been validated as both a new and sensitive ischemia and oxidative stress biomarker. In addition to its diagnostic significance, IMA investigated in CCHF patients at time of arrival may be an important marker with its prognostic role in determining in the early stage whether the disease will follow a hemorrhagic course. J. Med. Virol. 85:684–688, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Lateralization of Neurobiological Response in Adolescents with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Related to Severe Childhood Sexual Abuse: the Tri-Modal Reaction (T-MR) Model of Protection

This study inquires into neurobiological response to stress and its clinical correlates among adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of cerebral anatomy were carried out on 23 female adolescents with PTSD related to severe childhood sexual abuse and 21 matched healthy controls. Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents, Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children, Beck Depression Scale, and a set of neuro-cognitive tests were administered to all participants. Compared to controls, PTSD group bilaterally had smaller amygdala, hippocampus, anterior cingulate, and thinner prefrontal cortex but normal thalamus. Further analyses within the PTSD group suggested an association between symptoms of PTSD and sizes of right brain structures including smaller amygdala but larger hippocampus and anterior cingulate. Thinner right prefrontal cortex and larger right thalamus seemed to be related to denial and response prevention, respectively. Being related to both hemispheres, dissociative amnesia was negatively associated with proportion of the right amygdala to right thalamus and to both left and right prefrontal cortex. Suggesting a neuro-protective effect against traumatic stress at least through adolescence, depersonalization–derealization and identity alteration were correlated with thicker left prefrontal cortex. Unlike the lateralization within PTSD group, correlations between regions of interest were rather symmetrical in controls. The graded response to stress seemed to be aimed at mental protection by lateralization of brain functions and possibly diminished connection between two hemispheres. A Tri-Modal Reaction (T-MR) Model of protection is proposed.     

Use of chemotherapy at the end of life in Turkey

Background

An increasing number of patients receive palliative chemotherapy near the end of life. The aim of this study is to evaluate the aggressiveness of chemotherapy in Turkish individuals near the end of life.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with solid tumors and died from 2010 to 2011 in the medical oncology department of Akdeniz University were included in the study. Data about the diagnosis, treatment details and imaging procedures were collected.

Results

Three hundred and seventy-three people with stage IV solid tumors died from 2010 to 2011 in our clinic. Eighty-nine patients (23.9%) patients underwent chemotherapy in the last month of life while 39 patients (10.5%) received chemotherapy in the last 14 days. The probability of undergoing chemotherapy in the last month of life was influenced by: age, ‘newly diagnosed’ patients, and performance status. There was no significant association of chemotherapy in the last month of life with gender and tumor type. Having a PET-CT scan did not alter the chemotherapy decision.

Conclusion

In conclusion, chemotherapy used in the last month of life in a tertiary care center of Turkey is high. Increasing quality of life should be a priority near the end of life and physicians should consider ceasing chemotherapy and direct the patient to early palliative care.