Effect of novel pre-sintered zirconia surface treatment on shear bond strength between zirconia and veneering porcelain compared to conventional surface treatments: an in-vitro study / Efeito de um novo tratamento de superfície de zircônia pré-sinterizada na resistência ao cisalhamento entre zircônia e porcelana em comparação com os tratamentos de superfície convencionais: estudo in vitro

Objective: to evaluate the effect of novel zirconia surface treatment method on shear bond strength between zirconia and veneering porcelain compared to air abrasion and CoJet surface treatment methods. Material and Methods: twenty-one zirconia ceramic discs were fabricated with diameter of 7mm and 3mm thickness and divided according to surface treatment into three subgroups, control group I: Air Abrasion (n=7), group II: CoJet (n=7) and group III: Z-etch (n=7). Porcelain was built over the zirconia specimens with a customized mold and fired in a ceramic furnace. All specimens were thermocycled (20000 cycles) between 5°C ­ 55 °C with a dwell time of 30 seconds in distilled water and shear bond strength of veneering porcelain to each zirconia specimen was tested using a universal testing machine. Results: numerical data were explored for normality by checking the distribution of data and using tests of normality (Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests). One-way ANOVA test was used to compare between the groups. There was a statistically significant difference between the three groups (P-value = 0.002, Effect size = 0.503). Pair-wise comparisons between groups revealed that Z-etch showed the statistically significantly highest mean shear bond strength. Conclusion: zirconia coating using z-etch is showing promising results in promoting higher bond strength than conventional surface treatment methods as air abrasion and silica coating (AU)

Objetivo: avaliar o efeito do novo método de tratamento de superfície de zircônia na resistência ao cisalhamento entre a zircônia e a porcelana de cobertura em comparação com os métodos de abrasão a ar e jateamento com CoJet. Material e Métodos: vinte e um discos de zircônia foram confeccionados com diâmetro de 7mm e espessura de 3mm e divididos de acordo com o tratamento de superfície em três subgrupos, grupo controle I: Abrasão a ar (n=7), grupo II: CoJet (n=7) e grupo III: Z-etch (n=7). A porcelana foi aplicada sobre os espécimes de zircônia com um molde personalizado e sinterizada em forno de cerâmica. Todos os espécimes foram termociclados (20.000 ciclos) entre 5°C - 55°C com um tempo de permanência de 30 segundos em água destilada e a resistência ao cisalhamento da porcelana de cobertura foi testada através de uma máquina de ensaio universal. Resultados: os dados numéricos foram avaliados quanto à normalidade, verificando a distribuição dos dados e utilizando testes de normalidade (testes de Kolmogorov-Smirnov e Shapiro-Wilk). O teste ANOVA de um fator foi utilizado para comparar os grupos. Houve uma diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os três grupos (P-valor = 0,002, tamanho do efeito = 0,503). As comparações pareadas entre os grupos revelaram que o Z-etch apresentou a resistência de união ao cisalhamento estatisticamente significativamente mais alta. Conclusão: o revestimento de zircônia utilizando Z-etch mostrou resultados promissores para o aumento da resistência de união em comparação aos métodos convencionais de tratamento de superfície, como abrasão a ar e revestimento de sílica (AU)

Therapeutic impacts of almond oil and olive oil on cholesterol dynamics and oxidative status in rats fed on atherogenic diet: mechanism of action

Diet plays a seminal role in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Therefore the present study was conducted to verify the cholesterol lowering and antioxidant activities of two promising Mediterranean oils namely almond and olive oils and to elucidate some of their mechanism of actions. The study included 60 rats classified into 6 groups [10/group].Gl: rats fed on standard basal diet [-ve controls];G2 and G3: rats fed on standard diet supplemented with either 10% almond oil or 10% olive oil;G4: rats fed on atherogenic diet [+ve controls]; G5 and G6:rats fed on atherogenic diet supplemented with either l0% almond oil or 10% olive oil. The experiment lasted for 10 weeks. Comparing to the +ve control group supplementations of the atherogenic diet with either almond or olive oils induced significant reductions [p<0.05] in plasma levels oftotal cholesterol [TC] and LDL-C, VLDL-C, triglycerides [TG], free fatty acids[FFA] levels and TC/HDL ratio.The same was observed for the%beta-apo lipoprotein[LDL],% pre beta-apo LP [VLDL], malodialdehyde [MDA] and liver HMG-CoA reductase activity. However, these supplementations also induced significant elevations [p<0.05] in plasma HDL-C level,% of alpha-apo LP [HDL] plasma total antioxidant capacity [TAOC] and for almond oil only, plasma lipoprotein lipase activity [LPL] The overall results, therefore, is toward a less atherogenic lipid profile. In conclusion almond oil was as effective as olive oil in improving blood lipids and in ameliorating oxidative stress and this may be due to the interactive or additive effects of thenumerous bioactive constituents of these oils, resulting in down-regulation of HMG-CoA reductase in the liver and up-regulation of LPL in plasma

Study of potential impacts of using sewage sludge in the amendment of desert reclaimed soil on wheat and jews mallow plants

This investigation was conducted to study the impacts of using sewage sludge at different concentrations (0, 10, 25, 50, 75 percent) in amendment of desert reclaimed soil properties and some physiological aspects in wheat and jews mallow plants. Generally adding sewage sludge to desert soil improved the soil texture, raised the organic matter contents, water holding capacity and lowered pH value. The contents of NPK gradually increased as the ratio of sewage sludge increased. The fresh and dry weights and biosyntheses of pigment contents of the variously treated test plants were increased by increasing the sewage sludge levels in the soil. Also, total carbohydrate and protein contents of sewage sludge-treated test plants were positively affected. With respect to the proline content and total free amino acids, in most cases, it decreased significantly, expect at 75 percent sewage sludge, which was higher than that of other concentrations. Also, the accumulation of metal was generally higher, especially in the root than that in the shoot system in the test plant tissues.

Endoscopic versus open approaches in trating huge locally advanced angiofibromas

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma [JNA] is a combined vascular and fibrous neoplasm arising in the nasopharynx of prepubertal and adolescent males. Studies indicate that surgery is a good form of treatment, especially when there is no intracranial involvement. The surgical approach depends on the pre-operative findings. Recurrence is a common problem in JNA treatment. A recent study by Radkowski et al. found that pre-operative tumor stage was the most important factor in determining the chances of recurrence after surgery. A retrospective chart analysis study was done for 42 cases of histologically proved angiofibromas staged II or III -according to Andrew's [Modified Fisch] classification- managed in the department of otolaryngology faculty of medicine Cairo University in the period between February 1996 and March 2003 with Minimal follow up of 3 years. Group 1, 29 patients were subjected to open surgical approach [Mainly before 2001] in the form of 1-ateral rhinotomy in 14 cases, and 2-facial degloving approach in 15 cases. Group 2, 13 patients mainly after 2001 were treated with endoscopic removal of tumor. Comparative analysis was done between both groups as regard local control parameters and morbidity parameters. Endoscopic approaches were superior to open approaches as regard total eradication of neoplasm as the incidence of residual tumor was nearly the double with open approaches compared to endoscopic approaches. As regard recurrent tumor both techniques were nearly equal as regard the incidence of recurrent tumors As regard the Morbidity Parameters, endoscopic approaches were associated with much less morbidity than open approaches. From previous results it is quite clear that endoscopic approach offers patients with huge advanced angiofibromas less morbidity with equal or even better local control

Validity of red blood indices in screening for iron deficiency anemia in exclusively breast fed infants

Iron deficiency anemia [IDA] is a public health problem of widespread prevalence in developing countries. The rapidly growing infants are the most vulnerable to iron deficiency if they are not supplemented with sufficient iron during weaning. The aim of this work is to study the importance of red cell distribution width [RDW] and RDW-MCV [mean corpuscular volume] combination in the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia. Infants within the age group 6-12 months who were exclusively breast fed for the first six months attending the pediatric outpatient clinic of Suez Canal University Hospital, Ismailia, were assessed for full nutritional history, general examination, hemoglobin level, MCV, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration [MCHC], RDW, serum ferritin [SF], serum iron [SI], transferrin saturation [Trns.S%] and total iron binding capacity [TIBC]. The study revealed that in the anemic blood group [based on a hemoglobin level less than 10 g/dL]. RDW had a high sensitivity, specificity and efficiency as a diagnostic test for IDA [83.3%, 67.2% and 86.6% respectively] and that RDW-MCV in combination were 95% sensitive, 83.3% specific and 92% efficient for the diagnosis of IDA. In conclusion, diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia can be made more accurately and with less expense by combining hemoglobin level measurement with MCV and RDW