effect of finishing and polishing time on microleakage of composite restorations

Composite resins require time to complete their polymerization. This process usually reaches its maximum rate after 24 hours. On the other hand, immediately after restoration, water sorption results in hygroscopic expansion of composite resins and the mentioned two factors usually reachequilibrium after a week. Considering the effect of mentioned processes on the microleakage of composite restorations, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of finishing and polishing time on the mean microleakage of composite restorations. In this in-vitro experimental study, 60 sound human premolar teeth were selected. A standard Class V cavity was prepared measuring 1.5 mm in depth, 3 mm in width and 2 mm in length on the buccal surface of each tooth and incrementally restored with composite resin. Next, the teeth were randomly divided into 4 groups. The teeth in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 were finished and polished immediately, 15 min, 24 h and one week after storage in distilled water at 37°C, respectively. Specimens in each group were subjected to 500 thermal cycles. The teeth were then coated with adhesive wax and nail varnish and immersed in 2% fuchsin solution for 24h. The specimens were washed and each sample was longitudinally sectioned in half by a diamond saw. Both halves were evaluated in terms of dye penetration under a stereomicroscope at 28X magnification. For each sample, the section with greater degree of microleakage was selected. Kruskal Wallis test and Mann Whitney U test were used for data analysis with a 99.1% confidence interval. The lowest mean microleakage was observed in the occlusal margin of group 3 teeth; while the highest mean microleakage belonged to the occlusal and gingival margins of teeth in group 2. A significant difference was noted between the 4 groups in occlusal margin microleakage [P<0.009]. However, no such difference was found in gingival margin. This study showed that the finishing and polishing timewas effective on the mean microleakage in the enamel margin of composite restorations. The best time of finishing and polishing was 24h after the restoration. Time of finishing and polishing had no effect on microleakage in dentin margins of restorations. Key words: Composite resins, polishing, microleakage

[ relative frequency and socio-demographic correlates of bipolar spectrum disorders in divorced volunteers]

During the recent years, increasing rate of divorce, affects families and community. Identifying divorce risk factors seems to be very important. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and some demographic correlates of mood Bipolar Spectrum Disorder [BSD] in volunteers of divorce referred to Family-Counseling Centers. This was a descriptive-analytic study on divorced volunteers referred to family counseling centers of Isfahan in winter-spring 2007. The sample consisted of 96 volunteers selected through randomized cluster sampling. All participants were administered Mood Disorder Questionnaire [MDQ as well as a demographic questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS13 software, using descriptive statistics, CHI2 and Mann-Whitney tests. BSD was significantly more prevalent among females [p < 0.031] and among housewives [p < 0.05]. No significant difference was seen in the frequency of BSD between different age groups [p = 0.47] and educational levels [p = 0.11]. Our findings indicated that psychiatric disorders including BSD may have a role in divorce. Marriage and/or divorce counseling may serve as a means for recognizing BSD in consults. Hence, it may play a role in reducing the rate of divorce through patients' referral for appropriate specialized treatment

[Exercise test interpretation in patients with major depressive disorder; Are any specific considerations needed?]

Exercise test [ET] is the first line of ischemia assessment in patients with suspected Coronary Artery Disease [CAD]. We conducted this study to evaluate whether Major Depressive Disorder [MDD] influences the parameters of ET performance and affects the interpretation of test results. In an ex-post facto study, 265 patients [191 Men, 74 women; mean age 48 +/- 10 years, 22-75 years old] referred for ET were enrolled through convenient sampling after completing and signing informed consent forms. After exercise testing, Beck Depression Inventory [BDI] was used to assess depression. Data was analyzed using t- paired, k2 and correlation co-efficient tests under SPSS10 software. The prevalence of depression was 41.5%. The proportion of positive ET in depressed and non-depressed groups was 23.6% and 19.4% respectively [p > 0.05]. After adjustment for age, sex, family history of CAD, and smoking habit, total exercise duration showed negative correlation with BDI scores [p < 0.001]. Correlation analysis for Maximum Predicted Heart Rate showed a strong trend of negative relation [p = 0.06]. Duration of performing ET was significantly lower in MDD patients [p = 0.001]. Negative correlation of BDI with ET performing duration was true both before and after corrections for the mentioned variables [p = 0.001]. Decreased psychomotor activity in depression may lead to inadequate exercise duration and affect the performance indices. However, if the performance indices of ET in a depressed patient are acceptable, the test result could be interpreted with confidence

efficacy of rational-emotive-behavioral versus relaxation group therapies in treatment of aggression of offspring of veterans with post traumatic stress disorder

Post traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] in war veterans has been linked with symptoms in their children, including symptoms resembling those of the traumatized parents, especially aggression. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral group therapy in reducing aggressive behaviors of male adolescents whose fathers have war related PTSD. 36 male children [aged 11 19 years] whose fathers had PTSD, were randomly assigned into three groups for Rational-Emotive- Behavioral Therapy [REBT], Relaxation Therapy, and Wait-List control group. Each method had a course of ten therapeutic group sessions of 60 minutes once a week. Rates of aggression were assessed by Aggression Questionnaire [AGQ] at baseline, end of intervention, and two months later. The difference between AGQ scores of three groups was statistically significant. The behaviors of the three groups were not homogenous across the time [group ' time interaction] and showed a statistically significant difference. This study revealed that the intervention groups were superior to control group in reduction of aggressive behaviors in male adolescents of war veterans with PTSD. Further studies with greater sample size, prolonged duration of follow up, and multiple assessment procedures may be needed for better conclusions

Tramadol versus methadone for the management of acute opioid withdrawal: an add-on study

Opioid agonists such as methadone have been used widely in controlling opioid withdrawal symptoms. Tramadol, a partial opioid agonist, also has been prescribed to manage acute and chronic pain. We sought to compare the efficacy of tramadol and methadone in reducing the severity of opioid withdrawal symptoms. In a double blind clinical trial 70 opioid dependent patients who used daily opium equal to 15 mg methadone randomly were assigned in two groups. In one group, methadone was started at 15 mg/day while in the other group 450 mg/day tramadol was prescribed. Both drugs were tapered in a week and placebo was prescribed in the 2nd week. The severity of withdrawal symptoms were assessed five times by short opioid withdrawal scale [SOWS]. Data were analyzed by Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance, Mann-Whitney U, and Wilcoxon tests. There were statistically significant differences between two groups in the severity of anxiety [P = 0.015], irritability [P = 0.044], palpitation [P = 0.018], agitation [P = 0.037], and dysphoria [P = 0.044] that all were more common in methadone group. Comparison of side effects revealed statistically significant differences in sweating [P = 0.003] and drowsiness [P = 0.019] between two groups that were more frequent in methadone group. Tramadol was more efficacious in controlling opioid withdrawal symptoms with lower side effects

Valproate-risperidone versus valproate-lithium combination in acute mania

We evaluated the efficacy of valproate plus risperidone versus valproate plus lithium combination in the treatment of acute mania. In 2-week, randomized, double-blind, parallel group study, 46 acute manic patients according to DSM-IV criteria were randomly assigned to receive combination of valproate 20 mg/ kg/day plus risperidone 2-4 mg/day [n=23] or lithium600-1200 mg/day [n=23]. The assessment of efficacy measures were according to Young Mania Rating Scale [YMRS] and Clinical Global Impressions-Severity [CGI-S] and Improvement [CGI-I] scale. Other effectiveness measures included YMRS response [YMRS reduction >50%] and YMRS remission [YMRS total scores