Recurrent herpes labialis among health school students in Kahramanmaraş, Turkey: A cross-sectional survey

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the epidemiologic characteristics of, and the treatments used for, recurrent herpes labialis (RHL) in health students.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted with the participation of 333 nursing and midwifery students. Data on the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, their history of RHL, and the treatments were collected by means of a standard self-reported questionnaire form.ResultsThe point prevalence of RHL was 3.9%, the annual prevalence was 44.7%, and the lifetime prevalence was 52.5%. These prevalences were not related to the participants' place of residence, level of income, school, gender, marital status, or smoking status (p > 0.05). RHL was frequently seen on the right side of the lower lip (17.9%). One third of the students who experienced RHL stated that they had applied treatment to the lesion. However, only 20.1% stated that they had used antiviral therapy. Treatment was recommended by a physician for only 16.1% of the subjects.ConclusionsThe prevalence of RHL was high among the health students, who were considered to represent young adults. Although they were students in a school of health, they lacked knowledge about RHL.     

Microleakage of self-etch primer/adhesives in endodontically treated teeth

BACKGROUND: The authors evaluated the coronal marginal leakage of endodontically treated teeth bonded with four self-etching adhesives and one total-etch adhesive system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The investigators prepared Class II cavities in 60 extracted human premolars. They performed conventional endodontic therapy using a resin-based sealer and gutta-percha points. They randomly assigned each tooth to a group receiving one of the following adhesives: Adper Prompt L-Pop (3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany), Clearfil SE Bond (Kuraray, Osaka, Japan), FL Bond (Shofu, Kyoto, Japan), Single Bond (3M ESPE) or Xeno III (Dentsply De Trey, Konstanz, Germany). They restored all teeth with resin-based composite material (Z250, 3M ESPE). Specimens underwent thermocycling and dye penetration and were sectioned longitudinally. The authors photographed the sections under a stereomicroscope. They transferred the images to an IBM-compatible personal computer for quantitative assessment of dye penetration using image analysis software. They analyzed data by means of Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests (P = .05) and evaluated two specimens from each group under scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: None of the tested self-etch adhesives completely eliminated microleakage. Dye leakage was restricted to the coronal cavity walls; it did not migrate toward the pulp chamber or toward the root canal. Single Bond and Clearfil SE Bond showed significantly lower dye penetration values at occlusal and gingival margins. CONCLUSIONS: The coronal sealing performance of the tested self-etch adhesive systems in endodontically treated teeth was material-dependent. The use of Clearfil SE Bond in such teeth can help achieve a marginal seal comparable to that achieved with Single Bond.     

Protective effect of L-arginine on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Introduction:

L-arginine has a protective effect on gentamicin-induced renal failure and it may decrease the tubular reabsorption of another cationic substance, gentamicin due to its cationic structure. The aim of this study is to compare the possible protective effects of L-arginine and its inactive isomer D-arginine on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Materials and Methods:

Wistar albino rats were housed in metabolic cages and assigned to six groups as: control group, gentamicin (100 mg/kg), gentamicin + L-arginine (2 g/l), gentamicin + D-arginine (2 g/l), gentamicin + L-arginine + Nv-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (100 mg/l) and gentamicin + D-arginine + L-NAME. Gentamicin was administered by subcutaneous injections and the other drugs were added in drinking water for seven consecutive days. The animals were killed by decapitation and intracardiac blood and urine samples were obtained on the seventh day. Blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, sodium, potassium, urine gamma glutamyl transferase, creatinine, sodium, potassium and gentamicin levels were measured using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) technique.

Results:

Gentamicin treated group had significant increase in blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, fractional Na excretion and urine gamma glutamyl transferase levels, and significant decrease in creatinine clearance compared to the control group. L-arginine and D-arginine reversed these findings. L-NAME abolished the nephroprotective effect of L-arginine. The urinary levels of gentamicin were significantly increased in rats treated with L-arginine or D-arginine compared to those treated with gentamicin. L-arginine and D-arginine reversed the advanced degenerative changes due to gentamicin administration in histopathological examination.

Conclusion:

Our study revealed the protective effect of L-arginine on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity, the contribution of the cationic feature of L-arginine, and the major role of NO in this protective effect.KEY WORDS: D-arginine, gentamicin, HPLC, L-arginine, nephrotoxicity     

Determination of iodine concentration in urine by isotope dilution analysis and thyroid volume of school children in the west coast of Turkey after mandatory salt iodization

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate iodine deficiency status in children 6-12 years in the west coast (Aegean Region) of Turkey after 5 years of mandatory iodine prophylaxis. A total of 2300 children from 72 populations (rural and urban area) were evaluated with urinary iodine excretion and thyroid volume. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, observational study designed and performed according to surveillance methods for iodine deficiency disease (IDD) prevalence recommended by WHO/UNICEF/ICCIDD. SUBJECTS: The study population consisted of 2300 school children age ranging from 6 to 12 years. The children were selected by multiple stage randomization from 91 primary schools of 76 zones (91 clusters). Information about the use of iodized salt was obtained from the families. MEASUREMENTS: Data on the following were collected: birth date, sex, weight, height, thyroid size by palpation and ultrasonography; and urinary iodine by isotope dilution analysis method. Thyroid volumes above 97th percentile according to the WHO/ICCIDD by age and body surface area (BSA) were accepted as goitre. RESULTS: Iodized salt consumption was 51.7%. The prevalence of goitre determined by palpation was 12.1% and by ultrasound based on BSA and age were 9.8% and 5.5%, respectively. Median urinary iodine was 53 (2-142) microg/l. CONCLUSION: Mild to severe degree of iodine deficiency was detected in the west coast of Turkey.     

Reactive Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis After Hepatitis A Infection

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a clinical condition which result in cytotoxic Tcell and antigen presenting cell overproduction and also their cytokines. Hepatitis A Virus associated HLH is very rare condition among other viruses. This condition is often difficult to diagnose, so treatment is often delayed. Here we present a case of adolescent boy with secondary virus associated HLH diagnosis with Hepatitis A infection and successfull treatment by short course of intravenous immunoglobulin and steroid.     

Evaluation of the efficacy of 99mTc-labeled ascorbic acid on common cold–cough drugs in rats

Multiple-drug therapy is common in current clinical practice. Because of this, people have been ready to embrace simplistic approaches to cold treatment, such as vitamin C and zinc. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is mostly administrated together with cough–cold drugs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cough–cold drugs on the uptake of ascorbic acid using ^99mTc-ascorbic acid (^99mTc-AA) in male albino Wistar rats. Ascorbic acid was labeled with Tc-99m and the distribution of ^99mTc-AA was investigated. The uptake of ^99mTc-AA was evaluated when administrated alone (group I), with chlorpheniramine maleate (CPR) (group II), with phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride (PPA) (group III), and with acetaminophen (APAP) (group IV). In some organs (apart from kidneys, intestinal system, and stomach) the uptake of ^99mTc-AA was not significantly affected by the administration of ^99mTc with CPR or ^99mTc with APAP at 120 min. On the other hand, there was significant difference in the uptake of ^99mTc-AA between groups I and III. The administration of ^99mTc-AA with PPA in rats caused an increase of the uptake of ^99mTc-AA at 120 min in the investigated organs compared to the administration of ^99mTc-AA alone. The present data show that vitamin C might be more effective for the treatment of common cold when coadministered with PPA compared to with CPR, with APAP, or alone.