A novel method of maxillary deficiency treatment by tongue plate--a case report

This case illustrates the treatment of a 6-year-old girl with Class III malocclusion and maxillary deficiency. The patient was treated by a tongue plate in the upper jaw. The tongue plate had two Adams clasps on the first maxillary molars, two C clasps on the deciduous maxillary canines and an acrylic plate posterior to the maxillary incisors. The active treatment lasted for 24 months after which favorable correction of the malocclusion was observed. The SNA angle increased by 4 degrees and the IMPA decreased by 11 degrees. This case demonstrates that tongue plate might be an alternative method to extraoral appliances in Class III and maxillary deficient cases.     

Is antibiotic prophylaxis necessary in patients undergoing ureterolithotripsy?

Transurethral Ureterolithotripsy (TUL) is a frequently used procedure in urology departments. Many urologists perform TUL without antibiotic prophylaxis; however the use of chemoprophylaxis before TUL remains a controversial issue in urology. This study was carried out to assess the safety of omitting antibiotic prophylaxis prior to TUL. In a prospective randomized clinical trial from January 2005 to December 2007, 114 patients with ureteral stones were enrolled; Fifty seven had preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis administered before TUL and fifty seven patients underwent TUL without antibiotic prophylaxis. The rate of postoperative infectious complications (fever, positive blood culture, significant bactriuria), the length of hospital stay and overall stone free rate were compared between the two groups. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups in the operation time, length of hospital stay, postoperative bacteriuria, positive urine culture, postoperative fever and overall success rate of TUL. It appears that the incidence of infectious complications does not increase in patients undergoing TUL without antibiotic prophylaxis if they have negative pre-operative urine culture and antiseptic technique have been performed thorough the procedure.     

Leptin level decreases after treatment with the combination of Radiofrequency and Ultrasound cavitation in response to the reduction in adiposity

BackgroundObesity and overweight are major public health problem. Different-strategies have been developed for body contouring including Radiofrequency(RF) and Ultrasound(US). The aim of this study was to investigate changes in serum-leptin as a potential-modulator of food/energy intake, in overweight-women receiving RF/US and diet-therapy as well as the effect of therapy on modulation of lipid-profile and body-fat-mass.MethodsFifty overweight-females were enrolled in current randomized-clinical-trial and randomly divided into two groups. The case group received RF/US twice a week for 5 weeks with a low calorie diet whilst the control-group received just a low calorie diet. Demographic, biochemical markers as well as serum-leptin were determined.ResultsThe level of leptin was reduced from 1.29 ± 0.32 ng/ml to 1.14 ± 0.34 ng/ml in case group, before and after therapy, respectively, whilst no significant differences were observed in the serum leptin levels of subjects in the control group. The combination of RF and US decreased the leptin-level. In particular, the mean reduction of abdominal-circumference and waist-circumference was significant (P < 0.05) after therapy. This reduction was inversely correlated with LDL levels. Weight was reduced in case and control groups and in both was significant, but no statistically significant differences were detected for weight between the groups(P < 0.93).ConclusionOur findings demonstrated the reduction of the leptin after treatment with the combination of Radiofrequency/Ultrasound cavitation, which was associated with reduced body-fat-mass.     

Physico-mechanical analysis of free ethyl cellulose films comprised with novel plasticizers of vitamin resources

This research was conducted to investigate the physico-mechanical characteristics of the EC-based coating membranes plasticized with two informal ingredients of vitamin resources, cholecalciferol and alpha-tocopherol, with respect to the commercial plasticizer DBS. Proceeding the experiment, free thin polymer sheetings of the sample formulations, incorporating incremental weight percents of the individual plasticizers were prepared employing a revised casting method of delayed solvent evaporation whereby similar flat specimens of standard dimensions were subjected to tensile loadings and extensions. The data were analyzed through the known equations of membrane theory in spherical subjects considering the complete symmetry of assumingly spherical pellets and/or granules. The relative tensile parameters of the experimental and commercial plasticizers in the resilient region were also estimated to fairly decide on a moderate explanation of a strong, hard, and tough structure among the specimens. The results implied the great compatibility of the oily soluble vitamins in EC networks projecting higher factors of safety and greater ultimate strength, toughness, and young coefficient of the formulations compared to the specimens plasticized with the commercial DBS within a concentration range of 40-50% (w/w) of the polymer solids. alpha-Tocopherol represented supremacy over colecalciferol to result in relatively a 2-fold (and practically a 4-fold with respect to DBS) greater increase in the modulus of resilience. The vitamin compounds and in essential alpha-tocopherol, in consequence, can properly be applied at concentrations of 40-50% (w/w) as efficient plasticizers to provide a greater protection of the structure against sudden fractures of dynamic and continuously increasing environmental and biological stresses.     

Preparation allergenic pollen extracts; the points should be considered to make high-quality products

ABSTRACT

Atopic diseases have an increasing trend worldwide during the last two decades. Determining the main cause of allergic diseases, allergens, is the first step in managing and improving the issue, usually is done by Skin Prick tests (SPTs). Having allergenic extract in high quality is desired to perform a reliable SPT. Several parameters of extracts are considered including composition, stability, potency, preservation conditions, and unit definition. In this review, these factors have been explained pointing to factors might have profitable points or harmful drawback in the quality of allergen extracts.     

Treatment effects of the R-appliance and twin block in Class II division 1 malocclusion

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a differently designed functional appliance (the R-appliance) with a twin-block (TB)-treated group. Thirty patients (18 girls and 12 boys) with a mean age of 10.5±0.7 years were treated with the R-appliance for 16.2±0.3 months and 25 (11 boys and 14 girls) with a mean age of 11.2±1.3 years with a TB for 16.1±1.4 months (control). All had a Class II division 1 malocclusion due to mandibular deficiency. Lateral cephalograms obtained at the beginning (T1) and end (T2) of the study were analysed. Paired t-tests showed that SNB significantly increased in both groups. The incisor mandibular plane angle (IMPA) was reduced in the R-appliance group by 1.9±4.9 degrees (P<0.04) but increased by 0.5±5.1 degrees (P<0.6) in the TB group. SNA in the R-appliance group showed an increase of 0.2±1.8 degrees (P<0.5), while it was decreased by 0.2±1.3 degrees (P<0.3) in the TB group. Both treatment modalities were successful in moving the mandible forward. However, with the R-appliance, this was achieved without retroclination of the lower incisors.     

Vulnerability and the intention to anabolic steroids use among Iranian gym users: an application of the theory of planned behavior

This correlational study explored the psychological antecedents of 253 Iranian gym users' intentions to use the anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The three predictor variables of (1) attitude, (2) subjective norms, and (3) perceived behavioral control accounted for 63% of the variation in the outcome measure of the intention to use the AAS. There is some support to use the TPB to design and implement interventions to modify and/or improve individuals' beliefs that athletic goals are achievable without the use of the AAS.