Force decay and discoloration of thermoplastic and thermoset orthodontic elastomeric chains / Diminuição de força e descoloração de elásticos corrente termoplásticos e termofixos

Objective: Elastomeric chains are commonly used to apply force for orthodontic dental movements. However, force decay and discoloration are two important weak points of these materials. The present study intended to compare the force decay and color stability of different types of elastomeric chains. Material and Methods: This in vitro study evaluated 6 groups of elastomeric chains, including thermoplastic (TP) and thermoset (TS) chains made by the companies American Orthodontics (AO), Ormco (OR), and G&H Orthodontics (GH). The elastomeric chain forces were measured at the baseline, following 1 hour, 1 day, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 weeks of stretching. The elongation required for the chains to exert a force of 250 g was calculated. ΔE of each group was calculated by a spectrophotometer following immersion in black tea solution for 6 days. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 22 software and the statistical methods of repeated measures analysis of variance and two-way analysis of variance (P<0.05). Results: The force decay of the TS chains were significantly lower than the TP chains in the 6-week study duration (P<0.05), and the lowest and highest force decay was observed in the products by AO and GH, respectively. The highest force degradation occurred during the first week in all groups. The elongation rate needed for the TS chains was significantly higher than the TP chains (P<0.05), and the highest elongation rate was observed in the products by OR. TS chains showed significantly higher color stability than TP chains, and products by OR and GH had better color stability than the products by AO. Conclusion: The present study showed that TS chains were superior to TP chains in force decay and color stability in all the brands studied. (AU)

Objetivo: Elásticos corrente são comumente utilizados para aplicar forças para a movimentação ortodôntica. Porém, a diminuição de força e descoloração são duas importantes fraquezas desses materiais. O presente estudo tem o objetivo de comparar a diminuição de força e estabilidade de cor de diferentes tipos de elásticos corrente. Material e Métodos: Este estudo in vitro avaliou 6 grupos de elásticos corrente, incluindo termoplástico (TP) e termofixo (TS) produzidos pelas empresas American Orthodontics (AO), Ormco (OR) e G&H Orthodontics (GH). A força dos elásticos corrente foram mensuradas no início, após 1 hora, 1 dia, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 e 6 semanas de alongamento. A força de alongamento necessária para aplicação de 250g foi calculada. O ΔE de cada grupo foi calculado por um espectrofotômetro após a imersão em solução de chá preto por 6 dias. Os dados foram analizados utilizando o programa SPSS 22 e a análise estatística foi realizada por análise de variância e análise de variância dois fatores (p<0,05). Resultados: A diminuição da força do grupo TS foi significativamente menor que o grupo TP em 6 semanas de estudo (p<0,05), e o menor e maior valor de diminuição de força foi observado nos produtos da empresa AO e GH, respectivamente. A maior degradação de força ocorreu durante a primeira semana em todos os grupos. A taxa de alongamento necessária para o grupo TS foi significativamente maior que o grupo TP (p<0,05), e a maior taxa de alongamento foi observada nos produtos da empresa OR. Os elásticos TS obtiveram resultados significativamente maiores de estabilidade de cor que os elásticos TP, e os produtos da OR e GH tiveram melhor estabilidade de cor que oa produtos AO. Conclusão: O presente estudo demonstrou que os elásticos TS foram superiores aos elásticos TP em diminuição de força e estabilidade de cor em todas as marcas estudadas.(AU)

Horizontal Localization in Simulated Unilateral Hearing Loss

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The ability to localize a sound source is one of the binaural hearing benefits in a horizontal plane based on interaural time difference and interaural intensity difference. Unilateral or bilateral asymmetric hearing loss will affect binaural hearing and lead to sound locating errors. In this cross sectional analytical descriptive study, the localization error was investigated when participants turned their heads to the sound source with closed eyes and after simulating unilateral hearing loss by placing earplugs inside the right ear canal. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross sectional analytical descriptive study was carried out on 30 right-handed adults, 22 female and 8 male (average: 25 years, standard deviation: 3.16). They were selected with the available random access method. Horizontal localization was evaluated with five speakers located at 0, ±30, and ±60 degree azimuths at a 1-meter distance from the examinee. Narrow-band noise signals were delivered at 35 dB SL in two “without earplug” and “with earplug” situations and the results were compared. The study was performed between September and December 2016 in Tehran, Iran. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in localization errors between the “with earplug” and “without earplug” situations. The localization differences were greater for left-side speakers (-30 and -60 degrees) compared with right-side speakers (+30 and +60 degrees). The differences were more apparent at 4,000 and 6,000 Hz, which confirmed the effect of unilateral simulated hearing loss on interaural latency differences. CONCLUSIONS: Simulating hearing loss by using an earplug in one ear (right) increased localization errors at all frequencies. The errors increased at higher frequencies.

Challenges in Providing Rehabilitation Services for People with Disabilities in Iran: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes disability as a global public health issue and a development priority, but unfortunately, the evidence shows that people with disabilities (PWD) often have lower levels of health than the general population.This study targeted to identify challenges in providing rehabilitation services for People with Disabilities. Materials and Methods: This article was undertaken on a qualitative content analysis. Twenty one participants were selected through purposeful sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews from June 2014 to July 2015. Interviews continued until data saturation. Data analysis was performed by MAXQDA version 10. Results: Challenges to providing of rehabilitation services were the most important for PWD that needed to receive medical rehabilitation services. These challenges were grouped into six categories of poor knowledge, negative attitude to disability, insufficient support of PWD, individual problems of providers, problems of accessibility and cost. Conclusions: A proper rehabilitation plan requires common understanding of the challenges in providing of rehabilitation services for PWD. Understanding these challenges will help policy makers, providers, and PWD and their families consider rehabilitation as an effective component of service provision in health system. Based on findings of this study, further research is recommended to elucidate the challenges affecting provision of rehabilitation services for PWD.