In vitro study on the solubility of zinc phosphate and polycarboxylate as orthodontic band cements

Different cements are used to attach orthodontic bands which require special considerations in terms of technique sensitivity during setting reaction, water solubility and decomposition over time each of which may result in attachment failure, decalcification and caries in long term. This study was designed to assess the weight changes of different zinc phosphate and polycarboxylate cements used in orthodontics. An experimental study was designed to compare two available conventional cements [zinc phosphate and polycarboxilate] in the department of dental materials, SBMU School of Dentistry, Tehran, Iran. The cements were categorized according to ADA 8 index and the data were analyzed with electronic balance. Weight variations were recorded after 6 weeks floating the samples in water and data were subjected to analysis using Repeated Measured ANOVA test. There was the maximum mean value of weight loss for Aria Dent zinc phosphate cement and the least with Adhezor zinc phosphate within the period of study. Regarding plycarboxylate cement, Aria Dent polycarboxylate displayed the greater weight variation over the time compared to other conventional cement and the minimum value of weight loss was for Durelon cement. It is concluded that Aria Dent zinc phosphate and polycarboxylate cement display greater weight variations over time compared to other conventional cements

Oral health of Iranian children in 2004: a national pathfinder survey of dental caries and treatment needs

A second nationwide survey in 2004 aimed to describe the oral health status of children in the Islamic Republic of Iran and to provide baseline data for the organization and evaluation of the national oral health promotion programme. WHO pathfinder sampling procedures were used to select representative samples of children aged 3, 6, 9 and 12 years. Data on decayed/missing/filled teeth, caries-free rates and treatment needs were collected from 18 946 children using WHO standard methods. The mean dmft/DMFT indices were 1.9/- for 3-year-olds, 5.0/0.2 for 6-year-olds, 3.6/0.9 for 9-year-olds and 0.6/1.9 for 12-year-olds. Significant differences in dental caries prevalence were found according to sex, province, urban/rural residence, family income and parents' level of education

study on psycho-social factors related to children's suicide

Over the last 45 years, mortality due to suicide has increased in some developed and developing countries, among both children and adults. This study was undertaken to determine the cases suicide in 6-15 years old children. Between Jan. 2005 and Jan. 2008, data from 292 children [239 girls and 53 boys] aged 6-15 years who attempted suicide and were referred to the Loghman Hakim Medical Poison Centre affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran were enrolled. The Children Suicide Questionnaire [CSQ] was applied. The percentage of girls who attempted suicide was 81.8% against 18.2% for boys. Most of them were from 12 to 14 years old. 43.8% of the children were in a poor socio-economic class. 55.5% of the study period was between 6.00 pm and 12.00 pm. 41% of the respondents reported cases of mental illness in their family. 41.6% of the children had previously attempted suicide while 95% of suicide attempts took place at home and in 36.6% of suicides, there was a family argument. Depression [28%] and epilepsy [27.1%] were the most cited cases of personal problems using antiepileptic drugs [23%], benzodiazepine [23%], and antidepressants [20%]. This study suggests a collaboration between pediatricians, psychiatrists and psychologists

Treatment of migraine: How effective is biofeedback assisted relaxation training?

Behavioral interventions such as relaxation training and biofeedback are some of the most effective interventions for management of migraine headaches. In this study we evaluated the utility of biofeedback-assisted progressive muscle relaxation training [PRT] in the treatment of migraine. In this prospective study, twenty patients [12-18 years old] with a confirmed diagnosis of migraine headache, admitted to the Talie counseling center between March 2005 and December 2005, were evaluated; they were randomly assigned into an experimental group receiving biofeedback-assisted PRT and a control group in waiting list. All patients recorded the intensity of the headache and its frequency and duration before and 12 weeks after the treatment. The data was analyzed using Independent sample t-test for mean differences. In the biofeedback-assisted progressive muscle relaxation trained group, a statistically and clinically significant decrease was detected in intensity [p<0.001; mean difference 31.7; SD=1.86], frequency [mean difference = 4.4; SD = 1.58], and duration [mean difference 3.55; SD=1.32] of headaches. It can be concluded that biofeedback-assisted progressive muscle relaxation training is a successful form of therapy in treatment of migraine

[Evaluation efficacy of combination therapy of %0.5 antralin and %2 minoxidil solution in treatment of alopecia areata]

Background: alopecia Areata is a prevalent inflammatory chronic disease which %2 of general population is suffering from it. All current therapies of the disease have their own limitations, so the object of this study is to evaluate efficacy of combination therapy with local %0.5 Antralin and %2 minoxidil solution in treatment of alopecia areata

Materials and Methods: in this placebo-controlled clinical trial, 53 subjects were included. 26 patients received combination therapy for 30 days, they used local %0.5 antralin 20 on their lesions 20 minutes every night, and after washing and drying the area used %2 minoxidil solution the same night and next morning. The rest 27 patients used placebo on their lesions. At the end of study, their hair growth were measured by assessing terminal hair growth

Results: there were 53 subjects with mean age of 18.35±4.23 [%60.4] of the patients were men and the rest %39.6 were women. The drug were more effective than the placebo [%67.9 vs %32.1, P=0.063].Erythema and hyperpigmentation were seen in %96.1 and %100 of patients receiving drug, respectively, while just %29.6 of the placebo group had erythema and no one had hyperpigmentation

Conclusions: most patients who used combination therapy took benefit of the drug and it seems that by increasing number of subjects and continuing the treatment, the rate of efficacy will increase considerably

[Comparing the antipyretic effectiveness of oral and rectal acetaminophen in children]

Introduction: Acetaminophen is the most commonly used drug for temperature reduction in febrile children, which is used orally or rectally. The effectiveness of rectal versus oral Acetaminophen is not well established

Objective: This study is designed to compare the antipyretic effectiveness of rectal acetaminophen dose 15mg/kg to the standard oral dose of 15mg/kg

Materials and Methods: A randomized clinical trial was performed on 60 patients aged 6 months to 6 years with fever>/=39 rectally. The patients were randomly assigned in one of two groups. First 39[degree]c group received 15mg/kg Acetaminophen rectally and the second group received same dose orally and their body temperature was measured one and three hours after Acetaminophen administration

Results: The mean temperature reduction, 60 and 180 minutes after use of acetaminophen were 1.07 +/- 0.16 and 1.74 +/- 0.25

Conclusion: Effectiveness of oral and rectal Acetaminophen with 15mg/kg dose is similar in decreasing children's fever. Standard [15mg/kg] oral and [15mg/kg] rectal acetaminophen has similar antipyretic effectiveness

[ study of the prevalence of skin tumors in chemically injured patients in comparison with the general population]

Background: During Iran-Iraq war between the years 1980-1988, several chemical warefare agents were used which the most common was Mustard gas [SM]. The side effects of mutation and tumor-formation of sulfur mustard in human beings and animals are well described. The aim of current study is to determine the late-onset complications in Iranian veterans exposed by SM in formation of skin tumors

Materials and methods: During this retrospective descriptive-analytic study, 9605 chemically injured patients who were examined by dermatologists and their characteristics were studied

Results: Sixty-two out of 9605 of chemically injured patients exposed to sulfur mustard after 10-15 years from exposure had skin tumors. Four of them were malignant and diagnosed as BCC and the others were benign. Lipoma and Becker nevus where the most common benign lesions

Conclusions: The results showed that no significant difference between prevalence of BCC in the chemically injured patients and the general population based on previous reports and as far as the age range and frequency of exposure was considered[P>0.05]

[ study of x syndrome, Afshar hospital - Yazd]

Background: All the patients with Angina pectoris have not stenotic coronary artery. Syndrome x consists of patients with Angina pectoris and positive Exercise test along with normal coronary angiography. Syndrome x includes 25-30 percent of those who undergo diagnostic coronary arteriography at the different centers. In our study it was attempted to know the prevalence and characteristics of this special group in Afshar cath-lab

Materials and Methods: In a prospective cross sectional descriptive study 200 patients who were admitted for coronary angiography evaluated in terms of Risk factors: HTN, Family history Hyperlipidemia, DM, Cigarette smoking, clinical symptoms, response to TNG, different symptoms, ECG and Exercise test. data in two subgroups with normal and abnormal Coronary angioghraphy were compared. Six patients were excluded because of ambiguous Coronary angiography

Results: Among 194 patients 51 patients [26.3%] had normal coronary artery. 38.9% of female and 21.4% of males showed normal coronary angioghraphy [P = 0.013]. The prevalence of risk factors among those with syndrome x and abnormal coronary Artery were as follow. HTN 37% vs 42% , Hyperlipidemia 50% vs 51% , smoking 25% vs 37% , DM 12% vs 28% , obesity 45% vs 47% Positive family history for CAD = 21.5% vs 47% respectively. Angina relieved suitably with TNG in 24% of those with syndrome x compared to 76% suitable response in those with abnormal coronary arteries.[P Value = 0.49 ]. Regarding to functional class, 87% of patients with normal coronary artery belonged to class I and II. also 26% had atypical pain 50% had normal rest ECG and 51% achieved stage III or IV of Bruce protocol during Exercise test

Conclusion: Syndrome x was more prevalent among women ,also angina was less typical and less responsive to TNG. Most patients had not positive familial history for CAD. normal ECG was more prevalent among those with syndrome x

[ effect of psychical stress on cause and exacerbation of diabetes mellitus, serum glucose and cortisol levels, and body weight in rats]

Background and Aim: in this study the effects of chronic stress on the serum glucose level [SGL], serum cortisol level [SCL] and body weight were investigated to determine the possible causal link between stress and diabetes

Method: the experiments were performed on nondiabetic and diabetic rats divided to control, sham, and stressed groups. Water immersion was used as chronic psychical stress [one minute every hour, 4 hours every day for a period of 14 days]. After the experiment, a blood sample was collected. The serum glucose level was measured by the glucose oxidase method, and serum cortisol level was measured by radioimmunoassay method. Difference in body weight was also calculated

Results: our results showed that, this psychical stress caused a significant increase in glucose level in both nondiabetic and diabetic rats, but could not produce diabetes in nondiabetic rats. Diabetes caused significant increase in serum cortisol level. This stress caused a small but nonsignificant increase of cortisol level. Also, there was a significant weight loss in stressed rats, that was much higher in diabetic rats. Effect of diabetes on weight loss was much higher than that of the psychical stress

Conclusion: therefore stress exacerbated the disease in the diabetic rats and probably made the nondiabetic rats prone to diabetes

[Prevalence of postpartum depression and factors affecting it in Tehran]

Despite the fact that pregnancy is delightful for most women but it causes apprehension. Post partum period is the most dangerous period for psychological diseases and post partum depression is considered as a severe psychological disroder. Depression after delivery occures in about 10% -15% of women. This situation adversely affects the mother, and retards the developmental, cognitive and emotional growth of children. Since non-recognition of post partum depression after delivery may cause non-effective incompatibility of mothers with children and familty and a decrease in the knowledge and the absence of natural feelding following childbirth, and eventually leading to a change in the family set up, we decided to carry out a research to establish the prevalence of postpartum depression and the factors affecting it in Tehran. This research is descriptive - analytical study. 300 women referred to 16 health and treatment centers in Tehran affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University have been studied for 3 months. These women were between 2 weeks to 6 months after delivery and had referred to health and treatment centers for childcare service or family control. Edin Burgh questionnaire for assessing post partum depression and Enrich questionnaire for evaluating marriage satisfaction and Winfield and Tyggman questionnaire for social support assessement as well as two other questionnaire forms for Dempgraphy, Midwifery, neonatal state were utilized for this research. The results show that 23.7% of women were depressed and 76.3% were non-depressed. Statistical Test of variance analysis shows significant relation between post partum depression and husband's education level [P=0.047], marriage dissatisfaction [P = 0.000] and lack of social support [P = 0.000]. T Statistical Test shows significant relation between post partum depression and unwanted pregnancy [P = 0.021], congenital disorders of the newborn, disorders of newborns and post partum depression [p = 0.019] and nervous - mental disease and post partum depression [p = 0/000]. There was no statistically signticant difference between age, age at marriage, employment status of the women, educational status of the woman, type of delivery, of deliveries, gender of the newborn, economic and social status and postpartum depression