Impact of Industrial Noise-Induced Hearing Disorders on Workers Cognition and Auditory Memory

Background and objective: Hearing loss and tinnitus are two auditory effects of hearing system damage due to occupational noise exposure. These factors can have non-auditory effects by themselves and impact on brain cognitive performance. In our study, the effect of occupational noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus on cognition and auditory-verbal memory was investigated

Materials and methods: Our study was done on 42 male workers aged 40 to 56 years in three groups of workers with 1] hearing loss, 2] hearing loss and tinnitus and 3] normal hearing. Workers in two first groups had a long history of working in environments with excessive noise, and third group was matched control workers with normal hearing. Hearing impaired persons had symmetrical moderate falling sensory-neural hearing loss in the both ears. For all subjects, Mini-Mental State Examination and Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Tests were performed in identical conditions

Results: Normal hearing group had higher scores in all stages of the Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning test than two other groups and their means differences in three A1, Sum and Recognition stages were significant [p

Conclusion: Our study revealed effect of noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus due to prolonged exposure to noise over the limit on general cognition and auditory-verbal memory. Given the preventable nature of auditory and non-auditory effects of occupational noise, administration and control of hearing conservation programs and training of workers can be the suitable and proposed solution

Simultaneous detection of caga and cage of helicobacter pylori strains recovered from Iranian patients with different gastroduodenal diseases

To asses the status of two representative genes of cag PAl i.e cagA and cagE of Helicobacter pylori strains infecting Iranian patients suffered from various clinical outcomes using one-step PCR. A total of 120 H. pylori infected patients including non-ulcer dyspepsia, NUD [n=81], peptic ulcer disease, PUD [n=17], and gastric carcinoma, GC [n=22] referred for endoscopy or gastric resection to Amir Alam Hospital or Cancer Institute from 2005 to 2008 were assessed. The status of cagA and cagE genes was determined by gene specific PCR. 84.2% and 90.8% of the tested strains were positive for cagA and cage, respectively. 81.7% strains were positive for both cagA and cagE genes, whereas 8 [6.7%] were found double negative. The prevalence of cagA in GC patients [100%] was slightly higher than PUD patients [94.1%]. All of GC cases were infected with cagA-positive strains. The same distribution pattern was indicated for cagE gene in GC and PUD patients. The cagA-positive strains were significantly associated with GC as compared with NUD [P< 0.05] but this association did not gain statistical significance when cagE gene was assessed. The concurrent detection of cagA/cagE genes allowed rapid and specific clarification of cag PAI status. The strains with cagA/cagE genotype are predominant in Iran regardless of clinical outcome and create a distinct cluster pattern from those in the West and similar to those of East Asian countries. The current study also demonstrated that cagE gene can be explored as a better indication of cag-PAI in Iranian H. pylori strains

[Antimicrobial effects of propolis extract on the most prevalent oral pathogens: an in vitro study]

Topical and systemic antimicrobials are widely used in dental practice. Likewise, antimicrobials may be used in order to reduce the count of oral pathogens before oral surgery in immune compromised patients or other high risk patients as well. Propolis is a wax- or resin-like substance that is collected by bees from fresh flowers, or other botanical sources, and used to reinforce the structural stability of the hive, acting as a barrier in preventing diseases and parasites from entering the hive. Given that there are differences in Propolis property produced around the world, the aim of this study was to compare the antimicrobial effects of the Propolis produced in Hamedan province, Iran, with Nystatin [antifiingal drug] and Chlorhexidine [antibacterial mouthwash]. By using whole technique, the antimicrobial effect of 30% ethanol extract of Propolis was demonstrated against S. mutans, C. albicans and A.a.commitans. The antimicrobial effects of Ethanol-extract of Propolis and Chlorhexidine solution were evaluated at eight different times against S.mutans, C.albicans and A.a.commitans. The 70° ethanol was used as control. The microorganisms under investigation in this study revealed close susceptibility to various concentrations of Propolis extract, and the complete clear zones revealed remarkable effect. For other bacteria, different degrees of susceptibility to Propolis were observed. Based on these findings we may conclude that 30% ethanol extract of Propolis is very effective on oral pathogenic microorganisms [such as Streptococcus mutants, Candida albicans and Actinobacillus a. commitans]

[Assessment the relationship of cagA gene with different gastroduodenal diseases in Helicobacter pylori infected patients]

The gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori is introduced as an etiologic agent of gastritis and peptic ulcer and is associated with development of gastric adenocarcinoma. One of the most studied virulence marker of H. pylori is cytotoxin-associated gene A [cagA] with significant geographical heterogeneity around the world. This study was undertaken to assess the status of cagA gene of H .pylori strains infecting Iranian patients suffering from various gastrointestinal diseases and to evaluate the detection of this gene as a screening marker of high-risk patients. In this study, 180 patients [Mean age: 44 years] with upper gastrointestinal manifestations referred for endoscopy to Amir-Alam Hospital or Cancer Institute in Tehran were included. Among one hundred twenty H. pylori infected patients 81, 17 and 22 had non-ulcer dyspepsia [NUD], peptic ulcer disease [PUD], and gastric carcinoma [GC] respectively. Tissue samples were homogenized and incubation was performed up to 5 days. Identification was based on morphology under Gram staining and biochemical tests. The status of conserved region of cagA gene was determined by gene specific PCR. For statistical analysis, chi square test was used. Among the 180 of studied patients, 120 H. pylori strains were isolated. One hundred and one [84.2%] of the tested strains were positive for cagA and the remaining strains [15.8%] were negative. All of gastric cancer cases were infected with cagA -positive strains. The cagA -positive strains were significantly associated with GC as compared with NUD [p < 0.05] but this association did not gain statistical significance for other clinical outcomes. Although the possession of cagA is associated with GC when compared to NUD, due to the uniform distribution of cagA in all other disease categories detection of cagA alone can not be considered as a discriminative marker for a specific clinical outcome. Hence, the study of other virulence determinants and functional characteristics of cagA gene might be necessary for screening high risk patients

[Comparison of nanoleakage in composite restorations following application of self-etch and total-etch adhesives in primary and permanent teeth]

Nanoleakage can cause discoloration around restoration margins, secondary caries, postoperative sensitivity and finally loss of restoration, thus adequate hybrid layer is of primary importance in prevention of nanoleakage in adhesive restorations. Because of structural differences between primary and permanent dentin, evaluation of nanoleakge in primary teeth is very important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nanoleakage in composite restorations following application of self -etch and total-etch adhesives in primary and permanent teeth. In this experimental study, Cl V cavities were prepared in buccal surfaces of 20 extracted primary molars and 20 extracted premolars. Each group was divided into 2 subgroups: In group [A], Gluma One Bond and in group [B], iBond adhesive materials were applied. After silver nitrate staining, specimens were mesiodistally sectioned and polished and then SEM examination was carried out to measure the nanoleakage .Data were analyzed statistically using, ANOVA and Duncan tests with p<0.05 as the limit of significance. Factors tested had no significant effect on each other. Primary teeth showed more nanoleakage than permanent teeth [P<0.05]. Mean nanoleakage was significantly higher in cervical than occlusal margins [P<0.05] and also in iBond than in Gluma One Bond in primary teeth [P<0.05]. In permanent teeth, the lowest nanoleakage was observed in Gluma One Bond. The result of this study indicates that the use of total etch dentin adhesives [Gluma One Bond] in bonded restorations results in less nanoleakage in primary and permanent teeth

[Evaluation of oral hygiene and periodontal status in hemodialytic children of mashhad Dr. Sheikh hospital]

The purpose of this research was to determine the status of oral and gingival hygiene of dialytic patients [case group] in comparison with healthy children [control group]. The two groups which consisted 19 hemodialytic patients aged between 5-16 years old from the Dr. Sheikh hospital as case group and 19 patients of the dental school as control group, were examined. These two groups were matched according to age, sex and status of tooth-brushing. In both groups, there were 10 girls and 9 boys, 7 aged between 5-10 years and 12 aged between 11-16 years. In both groups the Gingival Index, Debries Index, simplified Calculus Index and oral Hygiene Index were examined. Mann-whitney and kruskal-walis test were used for statistical analysis. Evaluation of the indices mentioned above showed that the DI-S and GI were Significantly higher in Case group than Control group. But there was not any Significant differences between the 2 group in OHI-S and Cl-S. Assesment of the indices according to the age in the case group, displayed that CI-S was higher in patients aged 16 years old. Among the hemodialytic patients, plaque formation and the resultant amount of gingivitis was increased

Oral poliovirus vaccine in management of recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Back ground: The most common cause of mouth ulcers is recurrent aphthous stomatitis [RAS]. There is no effective treatment for RAS and its exact etiology is obscure. One of the postulated causes is viral or bacterial infection and the role of herpes simplex virus was mentioned and treatment with Acyclovir reported to cause reduction in severity of disease. Oral polio virus vaccine [OPV] is reported to be effective in treatment of recurrent herpes simplex [RHS] According to our observation during recent years OPV not only is effective in management of RHS but also in some patient with concomitant RAS reduced its severity and frequency

Objective: Evaluation of the efficacy of OPV in the management of RAS

Material and Method: In a longitudinal, case-controls study forty-eight patients with RAS recruited. 20 patients received OPV and 28 patients received placebo. OPV was given 4 drops in monthly Interval for 3 months and with similar manner for placebo group .The results were studied 3 months after the last doses

Result: In final Assessment, 40% of OPV group had significant reduction in the period of attacks as in placebo group was zero [p=0.048]. The frequency of attacks was reduced in 65% of OPV group, and in 21.4% of placebo group [p=0.006]. The severity of attacks was reduced in 60% of OPV group and in 14.3% of placebo group [p=0.008]

Conclusion: OPV appears to be effective in management of RAS