[Comparison of salivary cotinine concentration in cigarette smokers, water pipe smokers and non smokers]

Water pipe smoking has become a public health hazard. The aim of this study was to measure and compare the concentration of salivary cotinine in cigarette smokers, water pipe smokers and nonsmokers. Forty-eight volunteers [16 cigarette smokers, 16 water pipe smokers and 16 nonsmokers] participated in this cross-sectional study. High sensitivity Salivary Cotinine Quantitative enzyme immunoassay kit was used to measure the salivary cotinine concentration. Non-parametric Kruskal Wallis test, Pearson's correlation coefficient and linear regression were used to determine the correlation between number of cigarettes smoked and concentration of cotinine. The mean concentration of salivary cotinine was 223.74[ +/- 181.56] ng/ml [the highest] in cigarette smokers, 106.24 [ +/- 135.23] ng/ml in water pipe smokers and 0.73[ +/- 1.24] ng/ml in nonsmokers. The difference in this respect among the 3 groups was statistically significant [P<0.0001]. In smokers, the level of salivary cotinine increased by 1.84 ng/ml per each time of cigarette smoking per week. This increase was 14.57 ng/ml per each time of water pipe consumption per week. The mean concentration of salivary cotinine was significantly higher among cigarette smokers compared to water pipe smokers and nonsmokers. However, one time consumption of water pipe caused a greater rise in salivary cotinine level compared to cigarette smoking

[Complication of post radiation in patients with head and neck cancer]

Radiotherapy is a main therapeutic regiment in the treatment of head and neck cancers. Radiation not only eradicate cancer but it also cause damage to healthy surrounding tissues, giving rise to objective and subjective problems. This study was done to evaluate the subjective complications of post radiation in patients with head and neck cancer. This descriptive -analytic study was carried out on 45 patients with head and neck cancer [28 males and 17 females] whom were gone under radiotherapy in Rasht, Iran. Subjective complications evaluated before, during, 1 month and 3 months after radiotherapy. Persian version of LENT-SOMA questionnaire was used. Pain, xerostomia, dysphagia, trismus and dysgeusia were recorded for each subject. 80% of subjects experienced Pain. In the study period, pain intensity, frequency and analgesic consumption were belonging to ear and throat. One month after post radiation, pain intensity, frequency and analgesic consumption belong to ear, throat, jaw, mouth and teeth which were significantly more than 3 months after radiotherapy [P<0.05]. One month after post treatment, xerostomia, dysphagia, trismus and dysgeusia were significantly more than 3 months after radiotherapy [P<0.05]. Pain in ear and jaw had significant correlation with radiation dosage [P<0.05]. Intensity of subjective complains were aggravated and merge one month after radiotherapy and can be reduced to nearly the initial stage of treatment, three months after radiotherapy

[Assessment of postural response after sudden perturbation in subjects with genu valgum]

The lower extremity deformities have been co nsidered to change the relations between body segments. Postural stability could be affected by these changes in the alignment and positioning of the body segments. The purpose of this study was to examine postural response and surface electromyographic activity of selected lower limb muscles to recover upright posture following a sudden external perturbation among individuals with genu valgum in comparison with age matched healthy controls. In this case-control study, sixteen subjects with genu valgum and sixteen agematched healthy controls were participated. With unexpected perturbation, the displacement of the center of pressure [COP] and surface electromyographic activity of selected lower limb muscles were collected. Data were analyzed using independent t-test [P<0.05]. The genu valgum group had a greater COP displacement after perturbation in comparison with the control group [P<0.05]. Activities of some of the lower limbs muscles were significantly higher in genu valgum group in comparison with controls group after perturbation in different directions. These findings illustrate that abnormal lower limb alignment as risk factor can decrease postural reaction strategy in response to a sudden balance perturbation. Designing a strength training program for vastus medialis muscle may have beneficial effects in the prevention of knee injuries in individuals with knee valgus deformity

Dental status among urban and rural elderly of Talesh [2009]

The geriatric population is the most rapidly growing segment of the society regarding the evolution and improvement of health programs. To assess the oral health associated with oral health behavior in independent elderly outpatients referred to public dental health centers in Talesh [Guilan, Iran]. A cross -sectional study with total of 203 elderly patients [+65 years old] were investigated by means of interview and oral examination. Based on a simple cluster sampling, the demographic information, oral behavior, dental status, and systemic conditions were noted. Clinical examinations were conducted by a specialist in oral medicine on the basis of WHO criteria in urban and rural dental centers of Talesh. Statistical tests including the chi-square test, t-test, and the logistic regression were employed to analyze the data using the SPSS version 17. The mean age was 72 +/- 6.44 years with an age range from 65 to 79 years old. Of total patients, 125 [61.5%] were males and 78 [38.4%] females with 102 cases from urban and 101 from rural areas. Furthermore, 160 patients [more than two third of cases] were completely without teeth among those 95% with dentures and 10 without denture. The mean numbers of remaining teeth in partially dentate people were 7.34 +/- 4 and 95% found to have root caries vs. 18.5% with coronal caries. Oral hygiene practices such as times of tooth brushing, inter-dental cleaning, and toothpaste use were significantly higher in urban than the rural residents. Sixty seven percent had at least one general health problem and hypertension was more prominent among both the female and rural people [p<0.00l]. Moreover, diabetes mellitus was dramatically more prevalent among females [p<0.004] than males. On account of this study, more than two third of the population were edentulous. Under such circumstances, routine oral examination as part of health program with or without welfare services in elderly people is recommended

Oral soft tissue pathologies among diabetic patients in Rasht- 2005

Diabetes can affect organs including the oral mucosa. There is a disagreement about the prevalence of oral mucosal disease in diabetic patients. We therefore decided to investigate more about that. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of soft tissue pathologies by assessing burning mouth and xerostomia in diabetic patients on the basis of type of diabetes and control status of diabetes. This descriptive, analytic study was done by visiting 486 known diabetic patients who were referred to the Endocrine Clinic in summer of 2005. Their demographic information with history of systemic diseases accompanied by the amount of HbAIC and duration of disease was recorded in their questionnaire. Diagnosis of oral lesions was done by clinical examination. Burning mouth was assessed by visual analog scale in persons who suffered and subjective xerostomia was evaluated by standard questionnaire. Data collection was done by software SPSS 10, and statistical analysis was done by X2 and logistic regression test. In this study, 34 patients were type I and 434 were type II patients with mean age of 47.84 +/- 9.77 years. Frequency of all candidasis lesions was 15.4% which included denture stomatitis 5.3%, angular cheilitis 4.1%, median rhomboid glossitis 1.5%and papillary atrophy of tongue 4.5%. Frequency of non-candidal lesions was 20.1%, which included fissured tongue 10.5%, geographic tongue 7.9% and lichen planus 1.7%. 6.2% of patients suffered from glossodyna. 15.6% of patients had xerestomia. By logistical regression test, we found that type of diabetes affects denture stomatitis, angular cheilitis, tongue atrophy and amount of HbAlc. All of the pathologies were greater in type I than type II diabetes patients. Level of HbAlc had an important role in appearance of oral lesions and level changes can cause problems in the mouth. Thus, patients should maintain their oral hygiene and control their glucose regularly

[Comparison of spinal analgesia with lidocaine plus buprenorphine and lidocaine alone]

Background and Objective: The control of postoperative pain that is one of the main goals of anesthesia care can lead to patients' satisfaction and reduce time and expense of hospitalization. This study was done to compare the postoperative analgesia indices of free Lidocaine spinal anesthesia with Lidocaine plus Buprenorphine

Methods: This clinical trial study was performed on 100 patients aged 17-80 years in ASA Class I. They were randomly divided into two groups [Each group=50]. In group 1 [Control], 75-100 mg Lidocaine [5%] with 0.5ml distilled water and in group 2 [Study], 75-100 mg Lidocaine [5%] plus 50microg Buprenorphine were injected intrathecally equal volumes. Patients were followed up for 24 hrs because of vital sign, severity of pain and respiratory rate and then compared to each other

Findings: The mean duration of postoperative analgesia in group 1 and 2 were 2.1 and 22.7 hours, respectively [P=0.000]. The difference of range of hemodynamic changes was not statistically significant

Conclusion: According to the results, the mean duration of postoperative analgesia in study group [Buprenorphine+Lidocaine] was longer than the control group and there were no hemodynamic changes between two groups