Clinical assessment of two inlay -retained bridge designs (proximal box-shaped and inlay shaped) in missing posterior teeth cases. (Randomized Clinical Trial) / Avaliação clínica de dois modelos de ponte fixa inlay (forma de caixa proximal e em forma de inlay) em casos de dentes posteriores ausentes. (Ensaio clínico randomizado)

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical performance of two inlay-retained bridge designs (proximal shaped and inlay shaped) in single missing posterior teeth cases. Material and Methods: A total of 70 cases with missing single posterior teeth were included in this study and divided into two groups with a 1:1 allocation ratio (n = 35 for each group). Group 1 (the control group): this group received an inlay retained bridge with inlay design on both abutments. Group 2 (the intervention group): this group received an inlay retained bridge with a proximal box on both abutments. PMMA resin (YAMAHACHI PMMA) was used for the try-in stage and monolithic zirconia (Katana, Kuraray) was used for the final restorations. The restoration surfaces were treated using sandblasting and Z-prime S (Bisco) and the cementation was done by using self-adhesive resin cement (Bisco). Fracture, marginal adaptation, postoperative sensitivity, caries, and gingivitis were assessed using the modified United States Public Health Service for restoration clinical assessments (MUSPHS standards) over 12 months of follow-up. Results: The results show there was no significant difference between the two groups. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was constructed to calculate the mean survival estimates of the two groups and we found that the two groups were clinically successful during a one-year follow-up. Conclusion: Both designs of inlay retained fixed dental prostheses revealed successful clinical performance in terms of Fracture, marginal adaptation, postoperative sensitivity, caries, and gingivitis (AU)

Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o desempenho clínico de dois modelos de ponte fixa por inlay (formato proximal e formato inlay) em casos de dentes posteriores perdidos. Material e Métodos: Um total de 70 casos com perda de um único dente posterior foi incluído neste estudo e dividido em dois grupos com uma razão de alocação de 1: 1 (n = 35 para cada grupo). Grupo 1 (grupo controle): Este grupo recebeu uma ponte fixa por inlay com deseho de inlay em ambos os pilares. Grupo 2 (grupo intervenção): Este grupo recebeu uma ponte fixa inlay com uma caixa proximal em ambos os pilares. Resina de PMMA (YAMAHACHI PMMA) foi usada para a etapa de try-in e a zircônia monolítica (Katana, Kuraray) foi utilizada para as restaurações finais. As superfícies das restaurações foram jateadas com Z-prime S (Bisco) e a cimentação realizada com cimento resinoso autoadesivo (Bisco). Fratura, adaptação marginal, sensibilidade pós-operatória, cárie e gengivite foram avaliadas usando o Serviço de Saúde Pública dos Estados Unidos modificado para avaliações clínicas de restauração (padrões MUSPHS) ao longo de 12 meses de acompanhamento. Resultados: Os resultados mostraram que não houve diferença significativa entre os dois grupos. A curva de sobrevida de Kaplan-Meier foi construída para calcular as estimativas de sobrevida média dos dois grupos e foi concluído que os dois grupos foram clinicamente bem-sucedidos durante um acompanhamento de um ano. Conclusão: Ambos os modelos de próteses dentárias fixas de inlay revelaram desempenho clínico bem-sucedido em termos de fratura, adaptação marginal, sensibilidade pós-operatória, cárie e gengivite(AU)

The prevalence of Temporomandibular disorders among a group of Libyan dental students

Background: It has been reported that Tempro-Mandibular-disorders (TMD) is the most common orofacial pain source of non-dental origin. The aim of this cross-sectional observational study is to explore the prevalence of signs and symptoms of TMD among a group of dental students in Benghazi-Libya.Methods: The examined group comprised 100 students [17 males and 83 females; mean age: 24.8±2.23 years. The assessment was undertaken following Helkimo's measures. The prevalence and severity of TMD was determined using a self-reported anamnestic questionnaire and clinical examination. Descriptive statistics was employed to explore the frequencies of the examined variables. Linear correlation coefficient was conducted between the reported symptoms and recorded signs and between the reported symptoms and the clinical dysfunction scores (CDS). The level of significance was set at P<0.05.Results: A total of 37% of the students reported some level of TMD symptoms [32% mild (Ai1); 5% severe (AiII)]. On the other hand, majority of the students (93%) demonstrated a range of TMD signs [76% mild (DiI); 17% moderate (DiII)].Although linear correlation coefficient between the reported symptoms (Ai) and the recorded signs (Di) (r=0.32) and between the reported symptoms (Ai) and the CDS (r=0.37) were low, they were statistically significant (P<0.05.Conclusion: Mild to moderate prevalence of TMD appears to exist among Libyan dental students

Effect of the dose of equine chorionic gonadotrophin [ECG] on ovarian response and embryo recovery in Egyptian baladi goats

The effects of doses of equine chorionic gonadotrophin [eCG] for a simple superovulation method in does [Goats] were investigated on ovulation rate, proportions of fertilized oocytes and normal embryos at recovery. The does were treated with intravaginal sponges impregnated with medroxy progesterone acetate [MAP] for 12 days. For superovulation, an intramuscular injection of eCG was given at 24 h before sponge removal. Does were divided into nine equal groups [n = 5] A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I. Each received 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900 IU of eCG respectively. All does were naturally inseminated by four healthy fertile bucks. Laparotomy and embryo recovery were done for does on day six. The mean numbers of corpora lutea of nine groups were [2.8 +/- 4.34, 4.4 +/- 0.55, 2.8 +/- 1.10, 4.2 +/- 1.79, 6.8 +/- 2.39, 9.6 +/- 4.45, 6.8 +/- 5.81, 6.6 +/- 3.05 and 5.8 +/- 5.17] respectively. While mean of unovulated follicles were counted after laparotomy for nine groups respectively [3.4 +/- 1.14, 5.8 +/- 1.30, 7.0 +/- 2.35, 5.6 +/- 1.82, 6.8 +/- 2.05, 7.2 +/- 1.92, 9.8 +/- 4.71, 11.2 +/- 5.02 and 10.6 +/- 3.58]. On the other hand the percentage of normal embryos were 0, 15.0, 42.86, 42.11, 54.84, 66.67, 48.64, 38.0 and 45.24] of normal embryos. The present study indicates that an appropriate eCG dose would be 600-700 IU for a simple superovulation method in does pre-treated with Progestagen-impregnated vaginal sponges

Parenteral use of iron and ascorbic acid [vitamin C] in haemodialysis patients

The aim of this work was to study the effect of supplementation of iron and vitamin C therapy to hemodialysis patients, hoping that this therapy is effective in the treatment of anaemia in these patients. In this work, 40 stable hemodialysis patients suffering from severe to moderate anemia not receiving any form of replacement therapy [i.e., neither erythropoietin [EPO] nor iron], were selected and divided into two groups: The first group was treated by injection with ferrosac 100 mg/5ml twice a week for 3 months, and the second group was treated by injection with 500 mg/2.5ml of vitamin C in combination with 100 mg/5ml ferosac twice a week for three months. The results of this study indicated that: There was a significant decrease in both urea and creatinine in hemodialysis patients after i.v. treatment of ferosac alone [100 mg/5ml] [group I] and combined ferosac [100 mg/5ml] with ascorbic acid [500 mg/2.5ml] [group II] twice weekly for 3 months. There was a significant increase in hemoglobin concentration and serum iron in both hemodialysis patient groups [I and II] after treatment, the highly increase markedly occurred in group II rather than group I after treatment. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in serum ferritin concentration in group I and a more pronounced decrease in group II after treatment, indicating the importance of vitamin C in decreasing the serum ferritin level and therefore the better correction of anemia

effect of different coating formulations on the percentage load of short ragweed pollen extract on sugar spheres using a spray coating technique

Allergens extracts encapsulated with an aqueous coating system of a polymethacrylic acid copolymer over a core of allergen-coated nonpareil microsphera were found effective in achieving immunologic effects when given orally to allergic patients, however, the spray coating manufacturing process used to encapsulate the allergens always resulted in allergen loss and low percentage allergen load onto the spheres. The purpose of this study was to develop a coating formulation to increase the percentage short ragweed pollen extract [SRW] load on sugar spheres using a fluid-bed bottom spray [Wurster] coaling process. In this work the use of a solution made of lactose and a film-forming agent such as hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose [HPMC] to coat the allergen was found to significantly [p= 0.018] increase the percentage allergen load on sugar spheres [80%] when compared to a coating solution made of PVP and lactose [68%]. The processing time was also significantly decreased from about 7 hours when using the PVP-lactose coating solution to only 2 hours when using the HPMC-lactose coating solution. When a precoat made of HPMC alone was first coated on the sugar spheres before coating the allergen layer the percentage allergen load was further significantly increased from 80% to 92% [p=0.015]. The coating technique did not alter the allergenic epitopes and released the SRW allergen in their native form as indicated by an ELISA inhibition test. The use of trehalose, a non-reducing sugar, instead of lactose was also found to increase the percentage allergen load from 92% to 96%, however this increase was not significant [p =0.16]. An HPMC coat between the allergen layer and the enteric layer, on the other hand, was found unnecessary and had no significant effect on the allergen percentage load [p= 0.3]

Further studies an antoclaved cercarial vaccine against Schistosomasis: Safety, longevity and stability

This study was performed to adjust the dose and to assess vaccine safety, longevity and stability as well as the possibility of transplacental transmission of immune response from pregnant mice to their offspring. The results showed that two doses of the lowest most effective concentration of autoclaved cercarial vaccine [ACV] that achieved the high percentage reduction of worm burden were safe as demonstrated by the absence of any local or systemic side effects, normal blood picture and normal liver and kidney function tests. ACV is stable when kept either at 4C for 6 months or at-35C for up to 12 months and it offers a considerable duration of longevity. The offspring of vaccinated mothers did not show any signs of protection against challenge infection

Autoimmune Thyroiditis is in type I versus type 2 diabetics

to determine the prevalence of autoimmune thyroiditis [AIT] as evidenced by thyroid peroxidase antibodies [TPO-ABs] in both types of diabetes Seventy five subjects from the Main Alexandria University Hospital were selected and divided into 3 groups. Group I included 30 type 1 diabetics. Group II included 30 type 2 diabetics, while group III included 15 healthy subjects of matched age and sex. Thorough history taking and physical examination were done. Fasting plasma glucose [FPG] and glycated haemoglobin [HbA1c] were estimated the following parameters were measured in serum: TPO-ABs, tyrosine phosphate-like proteins antibodies [IA2-ABs] and glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies [GAD-ABs], Also, thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] and free thyroxine [FT4 levels were measured in all subjects. Type l diabetics had the highest frequency of TPO-ABs positivity [26.7%], while in type 2, it was 10% vs control 6.7%, but it did not reach significant levels. TPO-ABs positivity was significantly associated with higher levels of IA2-ABs and GAD-ABs. It was also significantly associated with elevated TSH levels and insignificantly related to low free T4 levels. Conclusions: AIT, as evidenced by TPO-Abs, was present in type 1 diabetics and some type 2 with late life onset [LADA], a/though it did not reach significant levels. Results obtained were encouraging for diabetes and AIT prediction and for immunointervention measures to be used in high risk subjects

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 [Mmp-9] circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [Cicam-1], and procollagen III peptide [PIIIP] in hepatocellular carcinoma and various chronic liver diseases

A sound predictive test is lacking for the identification of cirrhotic patients at high risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. In the present study, plasma MMP-9, plasma clCAM-1, serum alpha-feto protein [AFP] and serum PIIIP levels were measured and evaluated in 30 patients suffered from chronic hepatitis [CH], 30 patients suffered from liver cirrhosis [LC] and 30 patients suffered from hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC], in addition to 30 normal healthy individuals as a control group using RIA method for estimation of PIIIP and ELISA methods for estimations of the AFP and clCAM-1 and MMP-9. The study showed that the mean values of plasma MMP-9, plasma clCAM-1, serum PIIIP and serum AFP levels were 44.8 ng/ml, 232.1 ng/ml, 3.4 ug/l, 3.2 ng/Ml respectively among control group, 88.61 ng/ml, 489.5 ng/ml, 11.5 ug/l, 8.7 ng/ml respectively among Chronic hepatitis patients, 96.6 ng/ml, 781.3 ng/ml, 13.9 ug/l, 26.5 ng/ml respectively among Liver cirrhosis patients and 212.1 ng/ml, 999.4 ng/ml, 26.6 ug/l, 784.6 ng/ml respectively among HCC patients. Plasma MMP-9, plasma clCAM-1, serum PIIIP and serum AFP showed statistically highly significantly increase in all patients groups [P <0.001] when compared with the healthy control group. Plasma MMP-9 showed statistically highly significant increase in HCC group when compared with CH and LC groups, while did not show any statistically significant change [P> 0.05] in CH and LC groups when compared with the control group or with each other. clCAM-1 showed statistically highly significant increase in LC and HCC groups when compared with CH group with no significant change between LC and HCC groups and lastly serum AFP and PIIIP levels showed statistically highly significantly increase in HCC group when compared with CH and LC groups. As regard HCC histopathological grading all measured parameters showed statistically nonsignificant changes in different HCC grades except MMP-9 which showed a statistically significant increase in grade III when either compared with grade I or grade II. Receiver operating characterstic curve [ROC curve] was constructed using multiple cut off points for every studied parameter and calculating the sensitivity and the specificity at each cut off point and also calculating the area under each curve. The optimum cut off point for diagnosis of HCC from CH and LC for plasma MMP-9, plasma clCAM-1, serum PIIIP, and serum AFP were 89.8 ng/ml, 905 ng/ml, 25.8 ug/L and 68 ng/ml respectively, also, the study showed that AFP was the best of the studied HCC markers as it had the biggest area under ROC curve [0.86] followed by MMP-9 [0.76], cICAM [0.715] and lastly PIIIP [0.71]

Magnesium sulphate and zinc sulphate status in patients with chronic mild to moderate asthma

The mechanism of magnesium proposed effect on asthma is unknown, but may involve a direct action on bronchial smooth muscle, producing airway dilatation. It was found that magnesium sulphate and zinc sulphate relaxed the contracted bronchial smooth muscle in a concentration-dependent manner. The current study was done to evaluate serum and RBCs level of magnesium in asthmatic and healthy subjects, to assess the effect of B[2] agonists on blood magnesium level and to assess the possible role of magnesium sulphate and zinc sulphate in stable mild to moderate asthmatic patients. Sixty subjects were included, 20 apparently healthy and 40 mild to moderate asthmatics who were subgrouped into two groups: 2a who received intravenous magnesium sulphate for 5 days and group 2b who received oral zinc sulphate for 5days. Serum magnesium was non significantly decreased in asthmatics when compared to normal control subjects, while RBCs content was significantly decreased in asthmatics when compared to controls. It was concluded that RBCs magnesium level is significantly decreased while serum magnesium is trivially decreased in asthmatics. Serum IgE and blood eosinophils are increased in asthmatics and pulmonary functions relate inversely to both of them. Salbutamol decreases significantly the serum and RBCs magnesium levels in asthmatics while non significantly decreases them in healthy subjects. Magnesium sulphate may play a role in management of stable mild to moderate asthma while zinc sulphate has no role in the setting of chronic mild to moderate asthma

Intrapartum amniotic fluid index and its relationship to some parameters of fetal distress

Amniotic fluid index was measured in 100 primigravidae women, in labour, medically free end having single viable cephalic fetus. They are classified into two groups. Group 1 included 30 women with intact membranes and group 2 included 70 women with ruptured membranes.The mean AFI was 12.3 +/- 1.2 in group 1 and 5.1 +/- 1.3 in group 2. There was highly significant difference between AFI and meconium grading Apgar scores at one and five minutes and PH values of the cord blood in both groups [P< 0.001]. The AFI values were classified into 4 groups [group A, B, C and D]. There was highly significant difference as regards AFI values between group 1 and group 2. The AFI value has no significant relationship to the gestational ages in both groups [1 and 2], but had a significant relationship to meconium grading. Apgar scores at one and five minutes and PH value of the cord blood. The intrapartum AFI value below which neoborn is at increased risk of fetal distress, is 9 cms in women with ruptured membranes during labour. So the assessment of intrapartum AFI is a comprehensive admission test with the other fetal distress tests