[Effect of incorporating nano-hydroxyapatite and nano-zinc oxide into resin modified glass lonomer cement on metal bracket debonding]

Fluoride releasing adhesives are favorable for bracket bonding since they decrease the risk of demineralization around orthodontic brackets given that they provide acceptably high shear bond strength [SBS]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the SBS of resin-modified glass ionomer cements [RMGIC] reinforced by nano-zinc oxide [NZnO] and nano-hydroxyapatite [NHA] particles in comparison with composite resins.In this experimental study, 80 extracted human premolars were used. The teeth were randomly divided into 4 groups as follows: Group 1: Transbond XT as the control group, Group 2: RMGIC [Fuji II LC], Group 3: RMGIC with 5% NHA and Group 4: RMGIC with 2% NZnO. After enamel etching, brackets were bonded. The SBS was calculated for each group. The percentage of adhesive remained on the enamel was quantified by calculating the adhesive remnant index [ARI]. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the Kruskal Wallis test.According to the results of ANOVA, there were no significant differences in SBS of groups [P=0.075]. The mean SBS in groups 1 to 4 was 15.43 +/- 4.61, 14.95 +/- 4.34, 17.97 +/- 3.65 and 17.08 +/- 3.59 MPa, respectively. According to the Kruskal-Wallis test, there were no significant differences in degree of ARI among groups [P=0.413]. The SBS was similar among all groups and adding NZnO and NHA particles had no negative effect on SBS of RMGIC. In all groups, less than half the adhesive remained on the enamel after bond failure

[Reliability and validity of the Persian version of dental student learning education questionnaire and a researcher made questionnaire about interest of dental students in their field of study]

Improving the quality of dental education significantly enhances the quality of services and promotes public health. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Persian version of dental student learning education questionnaire [DSLES] and a researcher made questionnaire about interest of dental students in their field of study. A questionnaire composed of two major components was designed for this study. The first part, was a researcher made questionnaire related to students' interest in their field of study and the second part was the Persian translation of the DSLES. Delphi approach was used for content validation. Cronbach's Alpha and the Kappa coefficients were determined by SPSS for assessing reliability. All indicators of content validity [except for 6 items in the second part] and the inter-rater agreement were higher than %75. The Cronbach's alpha for all subscales was higher than %75 and the Kappa for all items was higher than%73. According to the results of 375 questionnaires, Cronbach's alpha for the first part was 79% for the second part was 85% and for the entire questionnaire was 86%. The designed questionnaire can serve as an acceptable instrument in the Iranian educational settings

Ultrasonographic assessment of transverse abdominal muscle in healthy subjects and patients with chronic low back pain: a systematic review

Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Low back pain [LBP] is a common and complicated disorder which is influenced by a number of factors, among them is the lack of spinal stability provided by muscle contraction. One of the most important muscles which has a role in spinal stability is musculus transversus abdominis. A literature search for the period of 2000-11 was performed in PubMed, ProQuest, Science Direct, Thomson, EMBASE, OVID, CINAHL and MEDLINE databases using musculus Transversus Abdominis, ultrasonography, chronic nonspecific low back pain as keywords. Nineteen articles were selected according to the inclusion criteria of the study. Evidences demonstrated that thickness of transversus abdominis reduces in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain [LBP] and ultrasonography seemed to be a valid and highly reliable instrument for measuring thickness of transversus abdominis in patients with LBP and healthy subjects on different positions and states. Studies demonstrated that there are adequate evidences to confirm the merit of ultrasonography in the assessment of musculus transversus abdominis in patients with chronic LBP and healthy subjects

[Effect of an 8-week resistance training program on acetylcholinesterase activity in rat muscle]

Background: The neurophysiological mechanism for increasing strength by resistance training has not been understood precisely. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of 8 weeks resistance training [RT] on A12 acetylcholinesterase [AChE] activity in rat muscle

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 16 male rats were randomly assigned into two groups: resistance training and control. The 8 weeks [5 sessions/week] resistance training consisted of climbing [3 sets of 4 repeats with a 3 min rest between the sets] a ladder [1 meter height consisted of 26 stairs] carrying a weight 30% of their body weight [suspended from the tail] in the first week and increased to 200% of body weight in the last week. Forty-eight hours after the last training session, the flexor hallucis longus [FHL] muscles of animals were isolated from the posterior lateral side of hindlimb under sterile conditions. Finally, AChE activity was measured for both groups

Results: No significant difference was seen in AChE activity in FHL muscles of the RT group [resistance: 1.31 +/- 0.48 vs. control: 1.01 +/- 0.29, P=0.226]

Conclusion: It seems that resistance training can not significantly increase AChE activity, as an acetylcholine release marker

Development of novel budesonide pellets based on CODES[TM] technology: In vitro/in vivo evaluation in induced colitis in rats

Budesonide is the drug of choice for treatment of active inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. The aim of this study was to develop budesonide pellets based on a novel colon drug delivery system [CODES]. Pellet cores containing lactulose or mannitol were prepared by extrusion/spheronization and coated with an acid soluble polymer [Eudragit E100], hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose [HPMC] and an enteric coat [Eudragit FS 30D] sequentially. In vitro drug release of coated pellets was studied using USP dissolution apparatus type II in buffers of pH 1.2 [2 hrs], pH of 7.4 [4 hrs] and pH of 6.8 containing 8% rat cecal contents [RCC] [18 hrs]. The efficacy of the optimized formulation [containing 50% lactulose coated with Eudragit E [30% w/w] and Eudragit FS 30D [12% w/w]] was evaluated against 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid [TNBS]-induced colitis in rats. The results of the kind of bacteria in vitro dissolution tests indicated absence of drug release in pHs of 1.2 and 7.4 and controlled release in buffer of pH 6.8 containing RCC. It was found that release rate was controlled by the type and amount of polysaccharide and the thickness of the acid soluble layer. The prepared formulation showed promising results in alleviating the conditions of experimental model of colitis. The results of this study suggest that pellets based on CODES technology could be useful for colonic delivery of budesonide

[Survey the knowledge, attitude and practice [KAP] and educational needs assessment of road traffic injuries among traffic police officers]

Road traffic injuries are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Determining knowledge, attitude and practice among traffic police about road traffic injuries, can improve the desired outcomes. Determination of KAP and educational needs assessment regarding road traffic injuries among traffic police officers. A descriptive study was conducted among 185 traffic police who was randomly selected from all traffic police officers list in 2008. Data was collected by using structural questionnaire [questionnaire was validated by content validity and reliability was determined by test re test r=0.8], after a formal consent by trained experts. Educational need assessment was determined by one open question. Scores was categorized due to statistical quartiles of the subject. Mean +/- SD of age, was 33.4 +/- 6.8 years. There was a significant deference about good knowledge between bachelor officers and other levels of education [p<0.01]. There was lowest rate about knowledge [0.6%] attitude [0.6%] and Practice [0.7%] in Ms Level in comparison with other levels. The rate of good knowledge 63% and good practice 76% was significantly difference among middle level officers [p<0.001]. There was significantly difference about good attitude between operational occupations with other occupations [p<0.005]. High priority allocated to improvement of scientific information about educational need assessment at the level of world. The findings showed; the traffic polices need to planning for improvement traffic injuries education especially in senior officers, MS and upper degree of officers. Suitable educational planning and its continuity is a key issue to reduction of traffic injuries reduction

[Botulinum toxin in treatment of chronic idiopathic anal fissure]

Anal fissure is a chronic condition characterized by painful defecation and rectal bleeding. The aim of this study was to compare the injection of botulinum toxin [BT], versus with surgical lateral internal sphincterotomy [LIS]. In this clinical trial, 40 patients enrolled with chronic idiopathic anal fissure [CIAF] and were divided into 2 groups [20 BT group and 20 LIS group]. Both groups were compared according to complications and healing process during one week, following, 2 and 4 months after interventions. There were no statistical significant differences between 2 groups as a viewpoint of duration of disease, pain and other symptoms at the beginning of the study. The rate of healing in the LIS group was greater than the BT group within the first month [16/0], and second month [16/7] [p<0.05], however, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the 4[th] month [17/11] of the study [p>0.05]. In comparison with the BT group, the severity of pain in the LIS group decreased significantly. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding complications. Healing in the BT group was approximately similar to the LIS; yet it appears to occur slower than LIS. Therefore, according to the results of the study, injection of the BT is recommended within the first step of CIAF treatment. To obtain the maximum healing effects of BT, a minimum period of 4 months is needed

[Evaluation of adverse effects of nasogastric intubations in abdominal surgery]

For the past years, tubes have been inserted into the stomach via the nose [nasogastric Tube: NGT] for the purpose of evacuating gas and liquid routinely, and for the prevention of nausea, and vomiting. However, there are no evidences regarding its efficacy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the post abdominal surgery complications either NGT inserted or not. In this clinical trial comparative study, 100 consecutive patients who underwent abdominal surgery [elective or urgency] were included in the study. They were divided in two groups: one was inserted NGT before anesthesia and remained until after initiation of bowel movement [control] and another without an incubated [case]. Post surgery complications was similar in both groups [P>0.05]: nausea [26% vs. 18%], vomiting [4% vs. 6%], fever [10% vs. 6%], bowel movement time [22.8 +/- 10.84 vs. 21.84 +/- 9.21], pulmonary complications [2% in both], wound infection [4% in both], duration of stay in hospital [2.58 +/- 1.62 vs. 2.47 +/- 1.6 days] in controls and cases respectively. Only sore throat was significantly more frequent in control group [74% vs. 16%]. These results suggest that routine and prophylactic insertion of NGT is not necessary, cannot reduce complications and also leads to patients' discomfort. Therefore, it must be saved in some specific indications

[ effect of metronidazole on hemorrhoidectomy pains]

Topical metronidazole [10 percent] has been previously demonstrated to decrease post operative pain after hemorrhoidectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of topical metronidazole [10 percent] on postoperative and after defecation pains of hemorrhoidectomy. A double-blind randomized trial was conducted to compare post- hemorrhoidectomy pain using topical metronidazole [10 percent] to. placebo carrier applied to surgical site. Forty-seven patients were randomly selected to receive metronidazole [n=25] or placebo [n=22]. Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale [VAS] preoperatively as well as on postoperative hours 6 and 12, and on days 1, 2, 7, and 14. The use of narcotic, additional analgesics and complications were recorded. [Pain scores were calculated and compared with baseline values and control group [t-test, SPSS ver.10]. Patients in the topical metronidazole group had significantly less postoperative pain than those in the placebo group by the day 14 [P