[Evaluation of criteria for successful periodontal therapies in the posterior teeth using delphi technique in Iran]

Statement of Problem: Periodontists use different criteria to assess the success of periodontal treatments so that there is no consistent approach regarding the important parameters to be used for successful treatment

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine success criteria of periodontal treatment using Delphi method based on the experience of expert panel of periodontists

Materials and Method: In this cross-sectional study using Delphi method, 15 periodontitists in Iran determined the level of importance of attachment level, probing depth, furcation involvement, mobility, plaque, inflammation and patient satisfaction following periodontal treatment of the posterior teeth in a patient with moderate to severe chronic periodontitis. The periodontists were questioned concerning the relative importance of each outcome measure, a minimally acceptable level for success for each criterion and the length of time for these parameters to remain stable

Results: Following two rounds of Delphi surveys, the periodontists considered the attachment level, bone loss and plaque to be a ''very important'' parameter for successful periodontal treatment. Probing depth, furcation involvement, inflammation, function, esthetics, mobility and patient satisfaction were considered to be" important" factors for successful periodontal treatment. The panelists agreed that a minimal of 1mm attachment gain, 1mm reduction in probing depth, Glickman grade I furcation involvement, Miller degree I mobility, and no change in the bone level are acceptable outcomes following 1 year of treatment. Finally, the periodontists considered that 1 year results of treatment should remain stable for a minimum of 5 years

Conclusion: These studies suggest that Delphi method is a practical approach which can establish minimal standards for successful therapy of the posterior teeth based on the opinions of expert periodontists

Phenotypic characterization and PCR-ribotyping of pseudomonas fluorescens isolates, in tracking contamination routes in the production line of pasteurized milk

Contamination sites of Pseudomonas fluorescens were traced in the production line for milk pasteurization in a large dairy plant in Shiraz, Iran. Samples of raw and pasteurized milk were collected at six sites along the line. All milk samples were incubated at 7[degree sign] C until the aerobic plate count had reached 10[6] - 10[7] cfu mL[-1]. Colonies were picked randomly and identified. No growth of gram negative psychrotrophic bacteria [GNP] was detected in the immediately pasteurized milk samples [just after the pasteurization], during long incubation at 7 [degree sign] C. Recontamination most often occurred in the filling step. In this study 34.1 and 4.9% of the milk packages showed contamination with GNP and P. fluorescens, respectively. Twenty three P. fluorescens isolates were examined for phenotypic characteristics and 16S-23S PCR ribotyping. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted on the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. The P. fluorescens isolates were shown to belong to 6 biotypes [B1-B6]. The predominance of a particular ribotype was often observed for a given biotype, although there were two ribotypes in each of the B2 and B6 biotypes. The 16S-23S PCR-ribotyping technique allowed differentiation between the isolates. Based on this method, the isolates belonged to 5 subtypes. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S-23S PCR-ribotyping and phenotypic characterization could be helpful in tracking contamination routes in the production line form milk pasteurization

Combined neoadjuvant chemotherapy and celecoxib in locally advanced breast cancer

Locally advanced breast cancer is a presentation form of cancer with poor prognosis. The optimal method of treatment for these cases remains unclear. In this trial, the role of low dose celecoxib combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced breast cancer was evaluated. Fifty women with pathologically proven locally advanced breast cancer were enrolled. All patients received preoperative chemotherapy with CAF [Cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m[2], doxorubicin 60 mg/m[2], 5-FU 600 mg/m[2]] regimen. They were randomly assigned into two groups. The first group received oral celecoxib [100mg twice daily] concurrently with chemotherapy and the second group was offered placebo. Chemotherapy was administered every three weeks and celecoxib continued until one week before the surgery. The patients received an average of 3 months treatment. The size of breast mass was measured before each cycle of chemotherapy by a caliper. The pathologic response rate was the primary endpoint of the study. In this trial, 50 patients were eligible, of whom 44 were evaluable. There were 25 patients in the celecoxib group and 25 patients in the placebo arm. Two patients in each group developed metastasis during the treatment course and two patients in group one could not tolerate celecoxib and quit it, so they were excluded from the trial. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of partial or complete response [90.5% vs. 87.0%] between celecoxib and placebo groups. Histological type, grade and hormonal receptor were similar in the two groups. No significant association was observed between menstrual status, size of mass at presentation and response to celecoxib. This study suggests that the use of celecoxib with a dose of 100 mg twice daily combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy does not improve response rate in locally advanced breast cancer