Evaluation of marginal fit and microleakage of monolithic zirconia crowns cemented by bio-active and glass ionomer cements: In vitro study / Avaliação da adaptação marginal e microinfiltração de coroas monolíticas de zircônia cimentadas com cimentos bioativos e ionômero de vidro: estudo in vitro

Objective: to evaluate the marginal fit and microleakage of monolithic zirconia crowns cemented by bio-active cements (Ceramir) compared to that cemented with glass ionomer cement, and to evaluate the effect of thermocycling on marginal fit. Material and Methods: Twenty sound human molar teeth were prepared to receive monolithic zirconia crowns. Teeth were divided randomly into two equal groups according to the type of luting cement: Group I (glass ionomer cement) and group II (Ceramir cement). After cementation, the vertical marginal gap was assessed using stereomicroscope before and after thermocycling. Twenty equidistant measurement points were taken for each crown. Leakage assessment was carried out using Fuchsin dye penetration followed by digital photography under a stereomicroscope. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test to compare between the two luting cements. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to evaluate the effect of thermocycling on the marginal fit (P ≤ 0.05). Results: Whether before or after thermocycling, the results showed no significant difference between the marginal gap values of the two tested groups. For both groups, there was a significant increase in marginal gap values after thermocycling. Also, there was no significant difference between leakage scores of the two tested groups. Conclusion: Similarity in the physical properties and chemical composition of the two cements resulted in a nonsignificant effect on the vertical marginal fit and the extent of microleakage of translucent zirconia crowns. Thermocycling had a negative impact on the vertical marginal gap of the two tested luting agents. (AU)

Objetivo: avaliar a adapatação marginal e a microinfiltração de coroas monolíticas de zircônia cimentadas com cimentos bioativos (Ceramir) em comparação com o cimento de ionômero de vidro e avaliar o efeito da termociclagem na adaptação marginal. Material e Métodos: Vinte molares humanos sadios foram preparados para receber coroas monolíticas de zircônia. Os dentes foram divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos iguais, de acordo com o tipo de cimento: Grupo I (cimento de ionômero de vidro) e grupo II (cimento Ceramir). Após a cimentação, a adaptação marginal vertical foi avaliada com estereomicroscópio antes e após a termociclagem. Vinte pontos de medição equidistantes foram obtidos para cada coroa. A avaliação da infiltração foi realizada utilizando a penetração do corante de fucsina, seguida de fotografia digital sob estereomicroscópio. Os dados foram analisados pelo teste de Mann-Whitney para comparação entre os dois cimentos. O teste de Wilcoxon foi usado para avaliar o efeito da termociclagem na adaptação marginal (P ≤ 0,05). Resultados: Antes ou depois da termociclagem, os resultados não mostraram diferença significativa entre os valores de fenda marginal dos dois grupos testados. Para ambos os grupos, houve um aumento significativo nos valores de fenda marginal após a termociclagem. Além disso, não houve diferença significativa entre os escores de infiltração dos dois grupos testados. Conclusão: A similaridade nas propriedades físicas e na composição química dos dois cimentos resultou em um efeito não significativo na adaptação marginal vertical e na extensão da microinfiltração de coroas translúcidas de zircônia. A termociclagem teve um impacto negativo na fenda marginal vertical dos dois agentes de cimentação testados. (AU)

Effects of Ultrasound, Laser and Exercises on Temporomandibular Joint Pain and Trismus Following Head and Neck Cancer

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of low intensity ultrasound (LIUS), traditional exercise therapy (TET), low level laser therapy (LLLT) and TET on temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and trismus following recovery from head and neck cancer (HNC). METHODS: Sixty participants following, who had experienced HNC, were randomly allocated to three groups of 20 people each. Each group received different therapy. Group A received LIUS and TET; group B received LLLT and TET; while group C received TET. All 60 participants were evaluated under the visual analog scale (VAS), the University of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire (UW-QOL) and the Vernier caliper scale (VCS) at the beginning of the therapies and after 4 weeks. RESULTS: ANOVA test revealed significant improvements across all three groups with outcomes of p 0.05). The VCS results showed more improvement for the individuals in group B as compared to those in group C (p 0.05). CONCLUSION: The LIUS and TET are more effective than LLLT and/or TET in reducing TMJ pain and trismus following HNC.

Pheromones in sex and reproduction: do they have a role in humans?

Pheromones are found throughout the living world and are a primal form of communication. These chemical messengers are transported outside the body and have a direct developmental effect on hormone levels and/or behaviour. This review article aims to highlight the role of human pheromones in sex and reproduction. A review of published articles was carried out, using PubMed, medical subject heading [MSH] databases and the Scopus engine. Key words used to assess exposure, outcome, and estimates for the concerned associations, were; olfaction; sex; pheromones; libido; behaviour; reproduction; humans; and smell. Although there are studies to support this phenomenon, they are weak because they were not controlled; others have proposed that human olfactory communication is able to perceive certain pheromones that may play a role in behavioural as well as reproductive biology. Unfolding the mysteries of smells and the way they are perceived requires more time and effort as humans are not systems that instinctively fall into a behaviour in response to an odour, they are thinking individuals that exercise judgment and subjected to different motivations

Morbidity and mortality following colostomy in penetrating colonic injuries

To study the complications and mortality associated with colostomy in penetrating colonic injuries; besides gathering additional information regarding the mechanism, pattern and the type of colonic injuries. Retrospective study from Jan. 1997 to Dec. 2005. Surgical Unit III, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi. All patients with penetrating colonic injuries who underwent colostomy as a mode of treatment. The data of the above mentioned patients was collected from records and analyzed. A total of 83 patients, majority being young [78.3% <40 years] and males [91.5%], underwent colostomy for penetrating colonic injuries. In most [89%] of the patients the mechanism of trauma was gunshot injury. The over-all morbidity was 28.9%, while the colostomy related complications were 8.4%. The mortality in this series was 2.4%. Colostomy is a safe and effective method of treating patients with penetrating colonic injuries

Evaluation of the clinical and socioeconomic characteristics of diarrhoeal cases at Bab El-Sha'reya University Hospital

Evaluation of diarrhoeal cases attending Diarrhoeal Disease Research and Rehydration Centre DDRRC at Bab EL Sha'reya hospital is very important to know the characteristics of the patients and to plan for further research in the centre. We selected, 5% of patient by systematic random sample. A special sheet questionnaire aimed at collecting demographic socio-economic and clinical characteristics was done. Weight, length, tempera ture, respiratory rate, midarm circumference, vedenuisigns of dehydration, serum sodium and potassium were recorded. The number of cases was 101 [78 of them had mild or no dehydration, while 23 of cases had moderate dehydration. Age of most cases were below 1 year [54.5%]. Males were more than females [1.2:1]. Hot months attendance to cold months attendance was [2:1]. Moderately dehydrated cases were related to mothers educated for less than 6 years [82.6%]. Birth control measures were not practiced by 44.5% of the families. Bloody diarrhoea was observed in [12.9%] of cases. Cases that did not take ORS before coming to hospital were 71.3%. Cases that did not use any medication before coming to the centre were 56.4%. Breast feeding was not given to 54.6% of cases and they had a moderate degree of dehydration. Instruction must be given to mothers about the use of ORS and continuation of feeding during diarrhoea