Impact of toilet hygiene training program: results from 11- to 16-year-old secondary school Turkish children

Objectives

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of toilet hygiene education in secondary school students.

Methods

The study was quasi-experimental with a pre-test–post-test design and includes a control group. The study was conducted at a secondary school in Istanbul, Turkey with 100 students (50 students for experiment and 50 students for control). The experiment and control groups were in the same school population. Data were collected with the student information form and toilet hygiene evaluation form (THEF), which were developed by the researchers.

Results

When we examined the toilet hygiene techniques used by the students, they indicated 58 % (n = 58) wiped perinea from front to back, 25 % (n = 25) back to front and 17 % (n = 17) randomly. It was found that 69 % (n = 69) of the students changed their underwear every 2–3 days; 80 % (n = 80) were trained by parents on toilet hygiene. Total THEF scores, which were obtained pre and post (shortly after) education, showed significant differences in the experiment group (p = 0.000). Total THEF scores obtained post education (shortly after and 1 month later) showed significant differences in the experiment group (p = 0.009).

Conclusions

The toilet hygiene education program is found to be successful in secondary school students.     

Effect of EDTA,Sodium Hypochlorite,and Chlorhexidine Gluconate with or without Surface Modifiers on Dentin Microhardness

Introduction

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of root canal irrigants on the microhardness of root canal dentin in the presence and absence of surface-modifying agents.

Methods

Forty-eight root halves were prepared by longitudinal splitting of the distal roots of 24 freshly extracted mandibular human third molars and embedded in autopolymerizing acrylic resin, leaving the dentin surface exposed. After polishing, the microhardness values of the untreated dentin surfaces were recorded by using Vickers tester at the mid-root level. The root halves were randomly assigned to 6 groups composed of 8 samples each and treated for 5 minutes with one of the following irrigants: 17% EDTA, REDTA, 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX), 2% CHX with surface modifiers (CHX-Plus), 6% NaOCl, or 6% NaOCl with surface modifiers (Chlor-XTRA). After surface treatment, dentin microhardness values were recorded at close proximity to the initial indentation areas. Experimental data were statistically analyzed by using the t test and one-way analysis of variance, followed by Tukey honestly significant difference test at α = 0.05.

Results

EDTA, REDTA, NaOCl, and Chlor-XTRA significantly decreased the microhardness of root dentin compared with intact controls (P < .05).

Conclusions

The addition of surface modifiers to the irrigants did not affect the microhardness of the samples.     

Cerebro-facio-thoracic dysplasia: expanding the phenotype

We report a further two patients with cerebro-facio-thoracic dysplasia, a rare autosomal recessive condition with thoracic costovertebral dysplasia, developmental delay and characteristic facial features. One of our patients has the additional features of large, bilateral colobomas of the optic nerve, ptosis, small conical teeth and severe left-sided talipes. He also has hypermobile joints, especially in his hands and anterior subluxation of the shoulders. The second patient has hypodensity of the grey matter on magnetic resonance imaging, which is the second report of this finding in cerebro-facio-thoracic dysplasia. In addition, he has hypoplasia of the corpus callosum. These cases illustrate the expanding phenotype of this condition, and support the hypothesis that this is an autosomal recessive condition.     

Effect of apoptosis and reactive oxygen species production in human granulosa cells on oocyte fertilization and blastocyst development

Purpose: The aim was to establish the impact of human granulosa cell apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production on fertilization competence of the oocyte, embryo developmental stage and implantation rate. Methods: Thirty women undergoing IVF-ET for tubal factor infertility were included; GnRH antagonists and gonadotrophins were used for ovarian stimulation. Granulosa cells were isolated from each aspirated follicle using gradient centrifugation. Apoptosis was studied by flow cytometry using annexin V and propidium iodide. ROS production was studied with hydroethidine staining and analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: There were no differences in characteristics of granulosa cells between the follicles with fertilized and non-fertilized oocytes. The analyzed characteristics of granulosa cells in corresponding follicles had no effect on embryo developmental stage on day 5. The percentage of ROS producing granulosa cells was lower in the follicles giving rise to blastocysts that resulted in implantation compared to those that did not (39.9% versus 69.9%, P = 0.031). Conclusions: Apoptosis and ROS production in granulosa cells have no significant impact on fertilization and do not correlate with the development of blastocysts. An increased percentage of ROS producing granulosa cells results in fewer oocytes retrieved and diminishes implantation rate.     

Feasibility of Fibroscan in Assessment of Hepatic Steatosis and Fibrosis in Obese Patients: Report From a General Internal Medicine Clinic

BackgroundIn metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) vibration controlled transient elastography (VCTE) by Fibroscan has emerged as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for the measurement of controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM), which are surrogate markers for hepatic steatosis and fibrosis, respectively. However, obesity constitutes a limitation in terms of creating unreliable examinations due to increased skin to liver capsule distance. Here, we aimed to investigate the feasibility of VCTE in the evaluation of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in obese individuals.MethodsA total of 126 consecutive obese patients (body mass index ≥30 kg/m²) without a known history of MAFLD enrolled in the study. We performed CAP and LSM measurements and calculated Fibrosis-4 Index for each patient and included data of those patients to the analysis, from whom valid measurements were able to be taken.ResultsReliable VCTE measurements were able to be obtained in 122 patients (97%), from those in 34 patients with M and 88 patients in XL probe (median age: 50 [18-75], 45 males and 77 females). In 1 patient VCTE failed to take any measurements and in 3 the measurements were classified as unreliable. The mean CAP value was 323 ± 48 dB/m and the median LSM value 5.3 [1.8-34.3] kPa.ConclusionCAP and LSM assessments by Fibroscan are reliable diagnostic tools for the early diagnosis of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in obese individuals.     

Biglycan protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury: Role of nitric oxide

Biglycan, a proteoglycan component of extracellular matrix, has been suspected to contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, but overexpression of biglycan in transgenic mice has been shown to induce cardioprotective genes including nitric oxide (NO) synthases in the heart. Therefore, here we hypothesized if exogenous administration of biglycan exerts cytoprotection. Primary cardiomyocytes from neonatal rats were subjected to 150 min hypoxia and 2 h reoxygenation. Mortality of cardiomyocytes was dose-dependently attenuated by pretreatment with 1-100 nM biglycan. Biglycan enhanced eNOS mRNA and protein, and significantly increased NO content of cardiomyocytes. The NO synthase inhibitor l-nitro-arginine-methyl-ester significantly attenuated the cytoprotective effect of biglycan. This is the first demonstration that biglycan leads to cytoprotection against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, and that this phenomenon is partially mediated by an NO-dependent mechanism.     

The anatomical and radiological evaluation of the Vidian canal on cone-beam computed tomography images

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - The aim of this study is to explore the anatomy of the Vidian nerve to elucidate the appropriate surgical approach based on preoperative cone-beam...