Arthropathy, quality of life, depression, and anxiety in Behcet’s disease: relationship between arthritis and these factors

We aimed to determine arthritis frequency, quality of life (QoL), anxiety, and depression levels in Behcet’s disease (BD) and thereby the effect of joint involvement on QoL, anxiety, and depression. Sixty-three patients diagnosed with BD according to the International Study Group Diagnostic Criteria and 45 healthy subjects as control were included in the study. All patients were evaluated in terms of clinical findings, the number and site of the joints involved, sacroiliac joint involvement, pain intensity, QoL, anxiety, and depression scale. The instruments used were Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for depression, State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T) for anxiety, and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) for health status and QoL. Joint involvement was seen in 41.3% of the patients. The most characteristic form was asymmetric oligoarthritis, which was seen in 65.3% of the patients. The joints most commonly involved were found to be in the wrist (53.8%) and knee (50%). Sacroiliitis was found at a rate of 38.1%. In BD patients without arthritis, rates of men (p=0.004) and genital ulcer (p=0.001) were higher, and rates of erythema nodosum (p=0.001) and human leukocyte antigen B5 positivity (p=0.023) were less than those of BD patients with arthritis. Pain intensity (p=0.000), NHP (p=0.004), and HAQ (p=0.003) scores were significantly higher in BD patients with arthritis than those without arthritis. Pain intensity, NHP, BDI, and STAI-T scores were significantly higher in BD patients without arthritis than in healthy controls, while pain intensity, NHP, HAQ, BDI, and STAI-T scores were significantly higher in BD patients with arthritis than in healthy controls (p=0.000). In conclusion, our study establishes that arthropathy is one of the common manifestations of BD. Arthritis in BD affects considerably patients’ pain levels and QoL. A multistep approach is required for these patients. We are of the opinion that this approach may also improve the QoL of these patients and prevent the activation of the disease.     

Compressive shear bond strength of core buildup materials

New tooth-colored restorative materials have been developed with the goal of replacing amalgam. These restoratives are marketed as packable composite and ormocer. The purpose of the present study was to compare the compressive shear bond strengths of these new materials with that of hybrid composite and amalgam as core materials. Standardized core buildups were made on four groups of extracted molars, with 10 teeth per group. Three tooth-colored restorative materials (Filtek Z 250, Filtek P 60, and Definite) and an amalgam (SDI Permite) were used. Specimens were placed in a special jig at a 45-degree angle. The compressive shear bond strength was obtained using a universal testing machine. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the groups, and pairwise comparisons were made by Mann-Whitney U test (P < .05). Filtek P 60, a packable composite resin, had the greatest compressive shear bond strength values in all instances, and the ormocer (Definite) had the lowest. The strengths of packable composite, hybrid composite, and amalgam as core materials were not significantly different (P > .05).     

Integrated STEM curriculum: improving educational outcomes for Head Start children

In this study, the researchers aimed to design, plan and implement a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) model to support Pre-K children’s skills and knowledge in STEM as well as to improve Pre-K teachers’ attitudes and professional skills to plan and integrate STEM concepts in their daily classroom activities. Four classrooms from a Head Start programme in an Eastern North Carolina County participated in the study. A quasi-experimental, pre–post-intervention design was adopted to implement the steps of the project. Data were collected through multiple, convergent methods in which the research team utilized both quantitative and qualitative measures to document the participants’ progress and gains. The research outcomes proved that children attending preschool can attain higher levels of understanding in STEM when they are specifically supported through well-planned, stimulating and developmentally appropriate activities.     

Cortical activation during memory-guided saccades

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we compared responses during visually guided saccades with those evoked during memory-guided saccades, in which participants executed saccades to remembered locations. Eye movements were recorded in the magnetic resonance tomograph. Significantly stronger activation during memory-guided saccades was observed in the posterior portion of the right inferior frontal gyrus, in the left inferior frontal eye field, in the posterior parietal cortex, as well as in the right posterior superior temporal gyrus. The posterior part of the dorsal anterior cingulum and a small voxel cluster in the dorsolateral prefrontal area, anterior to the left inferior frontal eye field, were only active in the memory-guided condition.     

Fracture resistance of teeth with Class II bonded amalgam and new tooth-colored restorations

This study compared the cuspal fracture resistance of posterior teeth restored with four different adhesive restorations. Fifty sound, maxillary human premolars were randomly divided into a control group and four experimental groups with 10 teeth in each. Specimens in the first group were intact teeth that were tested as unprepared. The remaining four groups received mesio-oclusodistal cavity preparations and were restored with a hybrid composite (Filtek Z250), a packable composite (Filtek P60), an ormocer (Definite) and an amalgam (SDI Permite) with an amalgam bonding agent (Amalgam Bond Plus). All groups were stored in water at 37 degrees C for 15 days and thermocycled 1000 times between 5 degrees-55 degrees C. The specimens were preloaded five times in compression to 10 kg using two metal rods that contacted only the teeth on the cuspal inclines. The teeth were then loaded occlusally in an Instron Universal Testing Machine until fracture occurred. The means of force required to fracture the teeth in each of the five groups was analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey Test. The difference between the mean cuspal fracture resistance of the unprepared control teeth and those restored with amalgam groups was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). No significant differences in resistance to cuspal fracture were found among the restoration groups, the unprepared control group and those teeth restored with hybrid composite, packable composite and ormocer groups (p > 0.05).     

The impact of familial structure on Parkinson's disease in Istanbul Medical School, Turkey

The prevalence and family structure of idiopathic Parkinson disease (iPD) in Turkey is not known. Patients with iPD were recruited consecutively at the Medical School of Istanbul University over an 18-month period. Clinical details were assessed with standardized forms. Of the 219 iPD patients, 136 had sporadic iPD [26 with parental consanguinity (cs)], 20 autosomal recessive PD (9 with cs) and 63 autosomal dominant or pseudo-dominant inheritances (20 with cs). Age at onset was 49.1 ± 17.1 years (range 3-83) and age at examination 56.4 ± 16.5 years (range 4-93). Ages at examination and at clinical onset of PD were significantly greater in sporadic iPD than in familial iPD patients, but disease duration was similar. Patients with familial PD had significantly lower basal UPDRS III and Hoehn and Yahr scores than sporadic PD patients and brisk reflexes in the lower limbs were significantly more frequent, but they suffered less from mictional problems. The frequency of familial PD and consanguinity in Turkey is higher and age at onset of iPD earlier than in Western countries. Molecular diagnoses and genetic counseling will therefore have a very important impact on the medical, psychological, and familial handling of PD in Turkey.     

Is there a Relationship Between Eagle Syndrome and Cervicofacial Painful Soft Tissue Rheumatisms?

Objectives/Hypothesis: To investigate the incidence of locomotor system pathologies such as myofacial pain syndrome (MPS), fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), and temporomandibular dysfunction in patients with Eagle Syndrome. Study Design: Prospective study. Patients and Methods: Fourteen patients with Eagle Syndrome, who were treated surgically, were enrolled in the study. Etiologic factors for cervicofacial pain were assessed, pain status was compared preoperatively and postoperatively using visual analogue scale. Palpation of tonsillar fossa, neck and shoulder examination, neurologic examination, evaluation of occlusion status, trigger points, and painful zones were done. Plain anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the cervical spine were obtained and the lengths of the transverse processes of the seventh cervical vertebrae were measured bilaterally. Results: MPS, FMS, and temporomandibular dysfunction were diagnosed in 9 (64.3%), 3 (21.4%), and 2 (14.3%) patients, respectively. Visual analogue scale scores decreased significantly after the surgical excision of elongated styloid processes (from 6.7 ± 2.3 to 2.1 ± 1.8), and all the complaints except for headache had diminished (P < .05). Lengths of transverse processes of seventh cervical vertebra were found to be correlated with the length of styloid process (right; r = 0.644, P = .024, left; r = 0.616, P = .033). Conclusions: Cervicofacial pain is a common complaint in patients with Eagle Syndrome. It frequently coexists with rheumatic disorders resulting in chronic pain such as MPS and FMS. Even though Eagle Syndrome is a rare condition, it should be kept in mind in patients suffering from chronic cervicofacial pain that is refractory to treatment. Clinicians should be alert to diagnose and treat coexisting locomotor system disorders.     

Placental Elasticity and Histopathological Findings in Normal and Intra-Uterine Growth Restriction Pregnancies Assessed with Strain Elastography in Ex Vivo Placenta

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences of placental elasticity between intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) and normal pregnancies to show whether or not there is any association between histopathological changes and placental elasticity. Fifty-five human placentas were collected at delivery, including 25 with IUGR and 30 controls. Strain elastography (SE) was performed ex vivo and all placentas were examined histopathologically. Elasticity index (EI) and histopathological findings were compared between groups. The placental stiffness and presence of histopathological changes were higher in the IUGR group than in controls (p < 0.05). Also, histopathological findings were associated with decreased EI values, but no specific patterns of histologic abnormalities were identified except villitis and delayed villous maturity. Distinct reduced placental elasticity could be the result of the cumulative effects of all the histologic findings in IUGR.