Oxytocin and Vasopressin Levels and Related Factors in Adolescents with Social Phobia and Other Anxiety Disorders

Objective@#This study aimed to determine whether a difference exists in plasma oxytocin and vasopressin levels among social anxiety disorder, other anxiety disorders, and healthy control groups in adolescents. The relationship between several psychiatric variables (i.e., state and trait anxiety, social anxiety, childhood trauma, and behavioral inhibition) and oxytocin or vasopressin levels were also investigated in adolescents with anxiety disorders. @*Methods@#The study included three groups of adolescents: social anxiety disorder (n = 29), those with other anxiety disorders (n = 27), and the control group (n = 28). The participants filled out self-report scales to determine various psychological variables. Oxytocin and vasopressin levels were determined from the blood samples of the participants. @*Results@#The oxytocin levels did not show a significant difference between the social anxiety disorder group and the other anxiety disorders group. However, the oxytocin levels were significantly higher in the social anxiety disorder and other anxiety disorders groups than in the control group. The vasopressin levels did not show a significant difference among the groups. According to the hierarchical regression analysis, the state and trait anxiety levels predicted oxytocin in opposite directions. Oxytocin showed positive and negative relationship with trait and state anxiety respectively. No predictive factors were found for the vasopressin levels. @*Conclusion@#We found that the oxytocin levels of adolescents with social anxiety disorder were not different from those of adolescents with other anxiety disorders. Further studies can improve our knowledge of the relationship among anxiety disorders and oxytocin or vasopressin.

Investigation of Relaxin-3 Serum Levels in terms of Social Interaction, Communication, and Appetite as a Biomarker in Children with Autism

Objective@#To investigate the possible relationship between relaxin-3 and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). @*Methods@#Serum relaxin-3 was measured in 80 children (50 children diagnosed with ASD and 30 controls). Symptom severity in the ASD group was evaluated by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Behavioral and nutritional problems in the groups were evaluated using the Abnormal Behavior Checklist (ABC) and the Childrenʼs Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ). @*Results@#Our findings showed that serum relaxin-3 levels were higher in children with ASD than in the controls. The listening response sub-scale score of the CARS scale was found to decrease as the level of relaxin-3 increased. However, as relaxin-3 levels increased in children with ASD, it was found that the speech problem sub-scale score on the ABC scale and the desire to drink score on the CEBQ scale increased, but the satiety responsiveness and food fussiness scores decreased. @*Conclusion@#This study the first to investigate serum levels of relaxin-3, which has a role in regulating social behavior and nutritional behavior in children with ASD.

Thiol-disulfide homeostasis in acute appendicitis

This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of thiol-disulfide homeostasis in patients with acute appendicitis [AA]. A total of 43 patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis in the emergency department and 59 healthy individuals were evaluated. Age, gender, white blood cell count, and thiol-disulfide homeostasis parameters [native thiol, total thiol, disulfide, disulfide/native thiol, native thiol/total thiol, and disulfide/total thiol ratios] were compared between groups. Thiol-disulfide homeostasis was determined using a newly developed method by Erel and Ne?elio?lu. White blood cell counts were statistically significantly higher in the AA group, but no significant difference [P = 0.742] was found between native thiol, total thiol, and disulfide levels of the patient and control groups. Also, no statistically significant difference was observed in disulfide/native thiol, disulfide/total thiol, and native thiol/total thiol ratios [P = 0.117] between groups. This was thought to be a result of early diagnosis of AA in patients at the emergency department. Hence, the inflammatory response did not increase significantly at the time of diagnosis

Evaluation of the resin cement thicknesses and push-out bond strengths of circular and oval fiber posts in oval-shapes canals

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the push-out bond strength varies between oval and circular fiber posts, and to examine the effect on the resin cement thicknesses around the posts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen mandibular premolar roots were separated into two groups for oval and circular fiber posts systems. Post spaces were prepared and fiber posts were luted to the post spaces. Roots were cut horizontally to produce 1-mm-thick specimens. Resin cement thicknesses were determined with a metallographic optical microscope and push-out tests were done. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in terms of push-out bond strength between the oval and circular fiber posts (P>.05) The resin cement thicknesses of the oval posts were greater than those of the circular posts group in the coronal, middle and apical specimens (P<.05). CONCLUSION: In the light of these results, it can be stated that resin cement thickness does not affect the push-out bond strength.

Effects of metal surface grinding at the porcelain try-in stage of fixed dental prostheses

PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the effect of grinding of the inner metal surface during the porcelain try-in stage on metal-porcelain bonding considering the maximum temperature and the vibration of samples. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-one square prism-shaped (1 x 1 x 1.5 mm) nickel-chrome cast frameworks 0.3 mm thick were prepared. Porcelain was applied on two opposite outer axial surfaces of the frameworks. The grinding was performed from the opposite axial sides of the inner metal surfaces with a low-speed handpiece with two types of burs (diamond, tungsten-carbide) under three grinding forces (3.5 N, 7 N, 14 N) and at two durations (5 seconds, 10 seconds). The shear bond strength (SBS) test was performed with universal testing machine. Statistical analyzes were performed at 5% significance level. RESULTS: The samples subjected to grinding under 3.5 N showed higher SBS values than those exposed to grinding under 7 N and 14 N (P.05). The types of bur (P=.965) and the duration (P=.679) did not affect the SBS values. On the other hand, type of bur, force applied, and duration of the grinding affected the maximum temperatures of the samples, whereas the maximum vibration was affected only by the type of bur (P<.05). CONCLUSION: Grinding the inner metal surface did not affect the metal-porcelain bond strength. Although the grinding affected the maximum temperature and the vibration values of the samples, these did not influence the bonding strength.

Stress distribution of oval and circular fiber posts in amandibular premolar: a three-dimensional finite element analysis

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of posts with different morphologies on stress distribution in an endodontically treated mandibular premolar by using finite element models (FEMs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A mandibular premolar was modeled using the ANSYS software program. Two models were created to represent circular and oval fiber posts in this tooth model. An oblique force of 300 N was applied at an angle of 45degrees to the occlusal plane and oriented toward the buccal side. von Mises stress was measured in three regions each for oval and circular fiber posts. RESULTS: FEM analysis showed that the von Mises stress of the circular fiber post (426.81 MPa) was greater than that of the oval fiber post (346.34 MPa). The maximum distribution of von Mises stress was in the luting agent in both groups. Additionally, von Mises stresses accumulated in the coronal third of root dentin, close to the post space in both groups. CONCLUSION: Oval fiber posts are preferable to circular fiber posts in oval-shaped canals given the stress distribution at the post-dentin interface.

Computerized analysis of occlusal contacts in bruxism patients treated with occlusal splint therapy

PURPOSE: Occlusal splints are commonly used to prevent tooth wear caused by bruxism. However, the effects of splints on occlusion are still unclear. Although it is rarely alluded in literature, splints can provoke severe occlusal alterations and other complications. This study was aimed to identify differences in the responses of individuals with bruxism and healthy individuals to a full-arch maxillary stabilization splint in terms of occlusal changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Occlusal contacts in 20 (5 male, 15 female) bruxism patients and 20 (5 male, 15 female) controls with normal occlusion were evaluated before and after occlusal splint therapy. T-Scan III, a computerized occlusal analysis system, was used to simultaneously measure occlusion and disclusion times as well as left-right and anterior-posterior contact distributions before splint therapy and 3 months after therapy. Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical analyses (alpha=.05). RESULTS: No differences were found in the posterior contact of bruxism patients before and after stabilization splint treatment. However, differences in posterior contact were observed between bruxists and normal individuals prior to treatment, and this difference disappeared following treatment. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed the use of a stabilization splint may not have an effect on occlusion. However, the area of posterior occlusal contact among bruxists was found to be greater than that of normal individuals. According to this study, the clinical use of splints may be harmless.

Intestinal obstruction caused by meckel diverticules

Meckel diverticulitis is the most common congenital abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract. It is presented with intestinal obstruction and bleeding in early ages of life while it is usually diagnosed incidentally in adults. It is formed with the closure of omphalomesenteric duct at 5-7[th] gestational week. In this study, we present a case with meckel diverticulitis where it connects to anterior abdominal wall with obstructing intestine causing ileus

Effect of different provisional cement remnant cleaning procedures including Er:YAG laser on shear bond strength of ceramics

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of provisional cement removal by different dentin cleaning protocols (dental explorer, pumice, cleaning bur, Er:YAG laser) on the shear bond strength between ceramic and dentin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 36 caries-free unrestored human third molars were selected as tooth specimens. Provisional restorations were fabricated and cemented with eugenol-free provisional cement. Then, disc-shaped ceramic specimens were fabricated and randomly assigned to four groups of dentin cleaning protocols (n = 9). Group 1 (control): Provisional cements were mechanically removed with a dental explorer. Group 2: The dentin surfaces were treated with a cleaning brush with pumice Group 3: The dentin surfaces were treated with a cleaning bur. Group 4: The provisional cements were removed by an Er:YAG laser. Self-adhesive luting cement was used to bond ceramic discs to dentin surfaces. Shear bond strength (SBS) was measured using a universal testing machine at a 0.05 mm/min crosshead speed. The data were analyzed using a Kolmogorov Smirnov, One-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests to perform multiple comparisons (alpha=0.05). RESULTS: The dentin cleaning methods did not significantly affect the SBS of ceramic discs to dentin as follows: dental explorer, pumice, cleaning bur, and Er:YAG laser. CONCLUSION: The use of different cleaning protocols did not affect the SBS between dentin and ceramic surfaces.