Effect of shade and light curing mode on the degree of conversion of silorane-based and methacrylate-based resin composites

Statement of Problem: The degree of conversion depends on the material composition, light source properties, distance from light source, light intensity, curing time, and other factors such as shade and translucency

Objectives: In the present study, we evaluated the effects of different light- curing modes and shades of methacrylate and silorane-based resin composites on the degree of conversion of resin composites [DC]

Materials and Methods: The methacrylate-based [Filtek Z250, 3M, ESPE] and low-shrinkage silorane-based [Filtek P90, 3M, ESPE] resin composites were used in three groups as follows: group 1-Filtek Z250 [shade A3], group 2-Filtek Z250 [shade B2], and group 3-Filtek P90 [shade A3]. We used a light-emitting diode [LED] curing unit for photopolymerization. 10 samples were prepared in each group to evaluate the degree of conversion; 5 samples were cured using soft-start curing mode, and the other 5 were cured using standard curing mode. The DC of the resin composites was measured using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy [FTIR]. The data were analyzed using Kruskal Wallis and one- way ANOVA statistical tests

Results: The degree of conversion of silorane-based resin composite was 70 - 75.8% and that of methacrylate-based resin composites was 60.2 - 68.2% [p = 0.009]. The degree of conversion of the composite with brighter colour [B2] was statistically more than the darker composite [A3]. Higher degree of conversion was achieved applying the standard curing mode

Conclusions: The results of the study showed that the colour and type of the resin composite and also the curing mode influence the degree of conversion of resin composites

[Endocarditis associated with Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in a fat-tailed ram]

Endocarditis is rarely reported in sheep and information presented for ovine endocarditis is based mostly on comparative findings in the cattle. Infective vegetative endocarditis of the right heart was diagnosed in a 3-year-old fat-tailed ram. Clinical findings included tachycardia, marked brisket edema, jugular veins distention and pulsation and pale mucous membranes. Hematologic abnormality included neutrophilic leukocytosis. Necropsy confirmed severe right atrioventricular and pulmonary valves vegetative endocarditis with evidence of right heart failure. Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was isolated from those vegetative lisions.

[Providing national draft on bridging education service gap in Iran]

Theory-practice gap or education-service gap is one of the most important challenges and important issues in today's nursing care which is an important issue in Iran health care system. In this study we aimed at providing national draft on bridging the theory-practice gap of nursing care in Iran. We designed the study in three phases. In the first phase, a systematic review was done. In the second phase, a qualitative content analysis was conducted and in the last phase, we conducted a study using Delphi method. After analyzing the data, we prepared a draft with 12 documents in three structural, educational and clinical sections. After examining structural, educational and clinical components; this draft tried to provide an internalization strategy on nursing needs in Iran. Evidently, the draft belongs to specific period; hence, continuous updating of the draft is a significant key to its dynamics

In-hospital course of early invasive strategy in acute coronary syndromes

Unstable angina is emerging as a major public health problem worldwide. Two approaches - an early invasive strategy or a conservative strategy - are used of the management of non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome [MSTE-ACS]. An early invasive strategy involves the use of early coronary angiography and revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] or coronary artery bypass graft surgery [CABG]. A conservative strategy involves initial treatment with aggressive pharmacologic treatment, and coronary angiography with revascularization is used if there is evidence of spontaneous or provoked ischemia within the hospital stay. Two hundred sixty-one patients coronary syndrome were enrolled in this study for early invasive strategy. Patients received aspirin, heparin, clopidogrel, and lipid-lowering therapy. The primary endpoint was a composite of death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, cerebrivascular accident, and recurrent chest pain. Angiograms were assessed qualitatively by two expert invasive cardiologists. Sixty-seven percent of the patients underwent percutaneous [33%] or surgical [34%] revascularization. The overall death rate was 1.1%. In-hospital major adverse cardiac event [MACE] rate was 3.2% in the revascularization groups. According to the favorable in-hospital course in patients referred for PCI or CABG, it seems that accurate selection of patients who may be candidates for early invasive strategies is of paramount importance. We found that diabetes, cardiac enzyme elevations [Troponin T], ST/T changes, and the presence of two or more risk factors besides diabetes are powerful predictors of the patients who will undergo revascularization. Proper selection of patients admitted with ACS for invasive strategy is warranted. Positive cardiac enzymes [Troponin T], diabetes mellitus, and presence of two or more major CAD risk factors are helpful for patient selection

[ long-term results of transsternal thymectomy and its related factors in patients with myasthenia gravis presenting at Loghman Hakim hospital in Tehran during 1993-2007: a descriptive study]

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease characterized by production of autoantibody directly against acetylcholine receptors on postjunctional membranes. The complete removal of the thymus has been the logical goal of operation, but there has been controversy on its relation to long term results. In this study, we try to describe the efficacy of long term result of transsternal thymectomy, and the rate of improvement in patients with myasthenia gravis that presented to Loghman Hakim Hospital, in Tehran, between 1993 and 2007. The study descriptively analyzed all patients with general myasthenia gravis with transsternal thymectomy. At first all patients with myasthenia gravis on the study year's period were found and invited. Efficacy of surgery was studied with dosage of used drug, signs, age, sex, thymus pathology, etc. and was statistically expressed. A maximum of 15 years of postsurgery followup was studied [Mean= 9 yrs]. In study years, 63 patients underwent thymectomy, 48 of whom met the criteria to enroll in our study [76.2%]. Overall, surgical benefit after thymectomy was 77% and 31.2% of the patients were completely cured. In 45.8% of the patients, drug doses were reduced. In 18.7% of the patients drug dose had not changed. In 4.2% of patients, the disease had progressed. Most of the improvement was seen in the first 2 years postthymectomy. Thymectomy is a beneficial treatment modality in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis. The efficacy of transsternal thymectomy for myasthenia gravis had satisfactory results by examining and long-term follow-up of patients. But further investigation in mass population in clinical trials is needed

Incidence and genetic characterization of Gongylonema pulchrum in cattle slaughtered in Mazandaran Province, Northern Iran

The gullet worm, Gongylonema pulchrum Molin, 1857, is a thread-like spirurid nematode found in a variety of mammals worldwide. Its incidences in Iranian cattle of different breed or age have not been reported. The aims of the present study are to disclose the infection status of G. pulchrum in cattle slaughtered in northern region of Iran. Full-length esophagi of cattle of 97 native dairy breed and 41 Holstein-Friesian breed were collected at four local abattoirs in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran, from March 2006 to August 2007, and were examined parasitologically. Eight overlapping segments of the small-and large-subunits of rDNA were amplified by PCR, and the obtained nucleotide sequences were characterized. The incidences of G. pulchrum in female and male native dairy breed were 38.9% and 24.0%, respectively, whereas those in female and male Holstein-Friesian breed were 4.2% and 0%, respectively. The first internal transcribed spacer [ITS1] region of G. pulchrum rDNA showed an intra-individual variation in the sequence and length, and the variation was ascribed to some unstable repeats of "A" or "CA". Distinct incidences of G. pulchrum infection in native dairy breed and Holstein-Friesian breed might be ascribed to different animal husbandry manners for each breed in Iran; the former breed grazes freely in the pasture, but the latter breed is usually held in a pen. The rDNA sequence of Iranian G. pulchrum, obtained for the first time by us, might facilitate a reliable species identification of the parasite with a wide spectrum of morphological variations

Serological study of Neospora caninum in pregnant dairy cattle in Tehran, Iran

Seven hundred and sixty-eight blood samples of pregnant cattle from four Holstein dairy herds that are farmed in the vicinity of Tehran were used to evaluate the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum infection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. Two hundred and ninety-eight of the 768 blood samples [38.8%] were positive for this infection. The prevalence of infection in the herds varied from 18.7% to 65.1%. The abortion rate in seropositive and seronegative animals was 20.67% and 10.11%, respectively. Thus, the risk of abortion was approximately double the rate in seropositive cows [p<0.0005]. There was a high correlation between the infection rate and the age in one herd. In other three herds, no significant correlation was found between infection rate and age. This is the first extended study with regards to the rate of Neospora caninum infection in pregnant cattle in the vicinity of Tehran

Molecular and pathological study of bovine aborted fetuses and placenta from Neospora caninum infected dairy cattle

The objective of the study was to evaluate the presence of Neospora caninum organisms in the brain of aborted fetuses and placentas of full-term calves born of seropositive cows. During 2006-2007, 12 brains of aborted calves from Neospora seropositive cattle and 7 placentas from seropositive dams giving birth to full-term calves, from four dairy cattle farms located around Tehran province, Iran were examined by Nested-PCR and histopathology techniques. The Nested-PCR demonstrated that all of 12 aborted fetal brain samples and 5 of 7 placentas were infected by N. caninum. Mild to severe placentitis was observed in 5 placentas. Severe hyperemia and perivascular and perineuronal edema revealed in all fetal brain. In 3 out of 12 brains, scattered foci of hemorrhages, neuropilar necrosis and gliosis were present. In addition, nonpurulent encephalitis with severe lymphohistiocytic perivascular cuffing in one case and a small tissue cyst like Neospora caninum cyst in other calf were observed. Our results confirmed the molecular and histopathologic findings of other studies about Neospora caninum infection and it seems to support the hypothesis that Neospora infection is associated with bovine abortion in Iran

[Aquracy of modified alvardo score in diagnosis of pediatric acute appendicitis in loqman Hospital]

Abdominal pain is one of the most Important and considerable issues in children. One of the most common causes of abdominal pain in children is acute appendicitis. The course of acute appendicitis in children is very faster than adults. Clinical manifestations in Pediatric patients are less typical and are not able to tell the exact history. In addition, no other signs or diagnostic tests can exactly detect the acute appendicitis in Pediatrics. Purpose of this study was the assessment of MAS in diagnosis is of acute appendicitis in Iranian Pediatrics patients. This prospective study was conducted in Loqman Hakim hospital in 1384-5 .Three hundred children aged from 4 to 12 years old with acute abdominal pain were assessed. All of information were taken from their data sheets and pathologic reports and scored in the form of 24 variables [age, sex ...] The results were analyzed via statistic soft ware spss 12 and absolutes score of MAS was counted on the basis of clinical variables. Based on the MAS the patients were divided to 2 groups: the first group were the patients with score of <7 including 147 cases [49 percent]. The second group were the patients the score of 37 Including 153 cases, [51 percent]. In overall, from 300 cases that operated with the suspicious of appendicitis, 269 cases [89.6%] in the pathologic assessment had acute appendicitis. from the patients with score of <7 [147 cases], 124 cases had diagnosis of acute appendicitis [84/35%] from the patients with score of 37 [153 cases], 145 cases had diagnosis of acute appendicitis [94.77%] this outcomes showed no significant difference between these groups in the diagnosis of appendicitis based of this score. According to this analysis, sensitivity of this scoring system in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis was 53.9% and the specificity was 74.19% showing the MAS in diagnosis of acute appendicitis in Iranian pediatric patients is not soley effective and can't be an absolute clue and should be progressed in sensitivity and specificity

[Posterior capsular opacification: hydrophilic acrylic versus PMMA intraocular lenses]

To compare the effect of implantation of a single-piece hydrophilic foldable acrylic intraocular lens [IOL] with rectangular optic edge and a single-piece polymethyl methacrylate [PMMA] IOL with rounded optic edges on posterior capsular opacification [PCO]. This randomized clinical trial study comprised 74 eyes with senile cataract in an otherwise normal eye in patients older than 50 years. Patients were randomized to receive hydrophilic foldable acrylic or PMMA IOLs. The operations were performed using standard phacoemulsification by the same surgeon. Patients were followed for at least 9 months. PC0 was graded according to slit lamp examination [retroillumination] and best corrected visual acuity [BCVA]. The PC0 values and BCVA at 6 and 9 months after surgery, capsulorrhexis diameter, and post- operative inflammation were compared between the two groups. From 74 patients enrolled in the study, 56 patients including 28 in each group, had complete follow up and examinations. Mean age was 67.64 +/- 7.71 years. Six months after surgery visually significant PCo occurred in 2 patients [7.1%] in the acrylic group and 7 patients [25%] in the PMMA group. [P=0.00l] At 9 months YAG capsulotomy was performed in one eye [3.6%] in the acrylic group and 3 eyes [10.7%] in the PMMA group.[P=0.61] There was no correlation between PC0 with age [P=O.13] or capsulorrhexis diameter [P= 0.8]. Hydrophilic acrylic IOLs cause less PC0 than PMMA IOLs. However, the results cannot attribute to the IOL material alone as they show the importance of both material and design

Evaluation of essential time to reach mature follicle following ovulation stimulation with clomiphene citrate

Ovulation disorders and unexplained infertility are most common infertility causes among women. The first line treatment in these cases is clomiphene citrate. This study has been designed to evaluate the essential time for growth follicle to reach 18 mm of diameter among patients who were stimulated to ovulate with clomiphene citrate. Study was experimental type and 78 women with polycystic ovary syndrome and 92 women with unexplained infertility referring to Royan Institute had taken to this study. These persons were under treatment with clomiphene citrate 100mg from day of 5-9 of menstrual cycle and follicular growth monitoring was performed by vaginal ultrasonograghy. The necessary time for follicular growth was determined separately in patients with polycystic ovary disease and unexplained infertility and its correlation with age, duration of infertility, BMI and hirsutism was studied in both groups. There was no significant association between the essential time for follicular growth groups and in both groups it was day of 14 of cycle and length of this time had no significant correlation with age, duration of infertility, hirsutism and BMI. There were more common cases of no response to follicle as absence of follicular growth or progesterone serum level less than 5ng/ml in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Since the average time of follicle growth in patients with PCO and unexplained infertility who were stimulated to ovulate with clomiphene citrate was the day 14 of the cycle in this study, it has been suggested in cases that follicular growth monitoring with ultrasonography or evaluation of LH peak in urine is not possible, the continuation of treatment can be scheduled on the basis that patients with have a mature follicle on day 14 of their cycle