Bleaching effect on bonding performance of composite to enamel.

This study aimed to assess the effects of dental bleaching on the immediate shear bond strength (SBS) of composite to enamel. Different bleaching methods and time intervals between bleaching and composite restoration were examined. A total of 45 enamel specimens were divided into three groups (n = 15) based on the applied bleaching protocol: in-office (A), at-home (B), and unbleached control (C). Groups A and B were then subdivided into three time intervals until bonding: 1, 3, and 7 days. The composite was bonded to enamel using self-etch adhesive technique and submitted to SBS testing. The enamel surface and adhesive interface were observed under scanning electron microscope (SEM). The highest average SBS was measured in the control (unbleached) group (31.1 ± 3.4). A significant difference in SBS was found between the control and in-office bleaching (p < .001), as well as between control and at-home bleaching (p = .034), while the difference between in-office and at-home bleaching methods was insignificant. In relation to the waiting period, a significant reduction in SBS (p < .001) was found 1 day post-bleaching. The weakest marginal sealing to enamel under SEM was observed also 1 day after bleaching. Both bleaching methods significantly reduced the SBS of composite to enamel, especially immediately after the bleaching procedure. Reduction in SBS is temporary and 3-day waiting period seems to be sufficient to reverse the adverse effects of bleaching. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: SBS of composite to enamel is significantly reduced by bleaching procedures, especially immediately after bleaching. The reduction in SBS is temporary and reversible by delaying the restoration for a minimum of 3 days.

Risk Factors and Predictive Value of Depression and Anxiety in Cervical Cancer Patients.

Background and Objectives: Women with cervical cancer may experience depression or anxiety, influencing their quality of life and even their adherence to cancer treatments. This study aimed to explore and measure the levels of anxiety and depression in patients suffering from cervical cancer and to identify the possible predictors among known risk factors such as age, cancer stage, smoking status, number of partners, use of contraceptives, and annual gynecological visits. Materials and Methods: In total, 59 patients with cervical cancer were included. A consecutive sampling method was used to select participants in this research. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Zung Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Zung Depression Scale (SDS). The subjects were divided into three groups, according to the stage of cancer. Results: Scores of depression and anxiety were increased in all recruited cervical cancer patients. A significant correlation was found between disease stage and the scores of depression (p = 0.002) and anxiety (p = 0.016). More severe depressive symptoms correlated to a more advanced stage of the disease. A multiple linear regression showed that disease stage and annual visits to the gynecologist are the risk factors associated with higher depression scores. Conclusions: Patients diagnosed with cervical cancer are a vulnerable group for the development of the psychiatric disorders and they require screening programs, which could potentially detect candidates for co-psychiatric and/or psychotherapeutic treatment. They demand particular attention because anxiety and depression are associated with the significant burden of the underlying disease and unfavorable survival rates.

Temporal Changes in Incidence Rates of the Most Common Gynecological Cancers in the Female Population in Central Serbia.

Background and Objectives: There were 1,335,503 newly diagnosed cases of the most common gynecological cancers in women (cervical, uterine and ovarian cancer) worldwide in 2020. The main objective of this paper was to assess temporal changes in incidence rates of the most common gynecological cancers and to determine the age group with the greatest increase in incidence in the Serbian female population in the period 2003-2018. Material and Methods: Trends and annual percentage change (APC) of the incidence rate with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by Joinpoint regression analysis. The trend was considered to be significantly increasing (positive change) or decreasing (negative change) when the p-value was below 0.05 (p < 0.05). Results: The total number of newly registered cancer cases from 2003 to 2018 was 35,799. There was a significant increase of age standardized rate (ASR) for all cancer incidences in women from 2012 to 2018 with APC 6.9% (95% CI from 0.9 to 13.3, p = 0.028) and for uterine cancer during the 2014-2018 period with APC of 16.8% (95% CI: from 4.0 to 31.1, p = 0.014), as well as for ovarian cancer incidence in the 2012-2018 period with APC of 12.1% (95% CI: from 6.7 to 17.8, p < 0.001). A non-significant decrease of ASRs of incidence for cervical cancer was determined from 2003 to 2015 with APC of -0.22% (95% CI: from -3.4 to 3.1, p = 0.887) and a non-significant increase of ASRs incidence from 2015 to 2018 with APC of 14.21% (95% CI: from -13.3 to 50.5, p = 0.311). The most common gynecological cancers were present in all age groups and only ovarian cancer was registered in the youngest age group (0-4 years). Cervical cancer showed a typical increase after the age of 30, with peak incidence in women aged 40-44 and 65-69 years. The increased incidence trend regarding age for cervical cancer (y = 1.3966x + 0.3765, R2 = 0.3395), uterine cancer (y = 1.7963x - 5.4688, R2 = 0.5063) and ovarian cancer (y = 1.0791x - 0.8245, R2 = 0.5317) is statistically significant. Conclusion: Based on our presented results, a significant increase of incidence trend for the most common gynecological cancers in the Serbian female population from 2012 to 2018 was determined. There has been a significant increase in the incidence of uterine cancer from 2014 up to 2018, as well as for ovarian cancer from 2012 up to 2018, while cervical cancer showed a non-significant decrease of incidence trend from 2003 until 2015 and then a non-significant increase. In women below 20 years of age, ovarian cancer was significantly more prevalent, while cervical cancer was significantly more prevalent in the age groups 20-39 and 40-59 years. In the age group of 60-79, uterine cancer had a significantly higher incidence than the other two cancers. Measures of primary prevention, such as vaccination of children against Human Papilloma Virus and screening measures of secondary prevention, for the female population aged 25 to 64 years of age are needed, as well as educating females about healthy lifestyles via media and social networks to help prevent the most common gynecological cancers.

Cardiovascular risk assessment and coronary artery calcification burden in asymptomatic patients in the initial years of hemodialysis.

The specific tool for cardiovascular risk assessment in hemodialysis population has not yet been proposed, despite high prevalence of cardiovascular morbidity, and mortality in clinically asymptomatic patients. Coronary artery calcium score (CACS), as a reliable predictor of future cardiovascular events, might be a valuable approach. We sought to evaluate coronary artery calcification burden and its association with clinical and laboratory parameters in asymptomatic patients who recently initiated hemodialysis. The cross-sectional study included 60 asymptomatic patients receiving chronic hemodialysis for no longer than 48 months. CACS was assessed by cardiac computed tomography. Intima-media thickness (IMT) of both common carotid and femoral arteries were measured using ultrasonography. The mean total CACS was 160.50 (443). Patients' age correlated significantly with CACS (σ = 0.367; P = 0.004), carotid (σ = 0.375; P = 0.004) and femoral IMT (σ = 0.323; P = 0.013). Patients with CACS = 0 were significantly younger than patients with CACS >400: 52.4 ± 7.91 vs. 63.88 ± 8.37 years old, respectively (P = 0.034). In patients receiving dialysis for longer than 24 months CACS, femoral and carotid IMT were higher than in those dialyzed for less than 24 months; however, none has reached significance. There was a significant positive correlation between CACS and right (σ = 0.312; P = 0.018) and left (σ = 0.521; P < 0.001) femoral IMT, while not with carotid. CACS showed significant negative correlation with the serum iron (σ = -0.351; P = 0.007). Calcification burden varies significantly in asymptomatic patients in early years of dialysis. It correlates with patients' age and tends to increase with dialysis vintage. Femoral IMT might be useful for cardiovascular risk stratification in asymptomatic patients who recently initiated hemodialysis.

Trends of Stomach Cancer in Central Serbia.

Somach cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The objective of the paper was to analyze the incidence and mortality trends of stomach cancer in Central Serbia in the period between 1999-2017. Materials and Methods: trends and annual percentage change (APC) of the incidence and mortality rate with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by joinpoint regression analyses. The optimal number of Joinpoints was identified using the Monte Carlo permutation method. The trend was considered to be significantly increasing (positive change) or decreasing (negative change) when the p-value was below 0.05 (p < 0.05). Results: the total number of new cases was 16,914 (10,873 males and 6041 females) and the total number of mortality cases was 14,790 (9348 in and 5442 in females). Almost one third (30.8%) of new cases were registered in the 60-69-year age group, and new cases were significantly more frequent in males than in females (30.8% vs. 29.02%, p < 0.001). Joinpoint regression analysis showed a significant decrease of incidence trend in females during the 2000-2015 period with APC of -2.13% (95% CI: -3.8 to -0.5, p < 0.001). An insignificant decrease in incidence trend was in males with APC of -0.72% (95% CI: -2.3 to 0.9, p = 0.30). According to the joinpoint analysis, a significant decrease of mortality trends both in males during 2000-2015 with APC of -2.21% (95% CI: -1.6 to -7.5, p ≤ 0.001 and in females, during the same period, with APC of -1.75% (95% CI: -2.9 to -0.6, p < 0.001) was registered. From 2015 to 2017, a significant increase of mortality was registered with APC of 44.5% (95% CI: from 24.2 to -68.1, p ≤ 0.001) in females and in males with APC of 53.15% (95% CI: 13.5 to -106.6, p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: a significant decrease of stomach cancer incidence trend in females and insignificant decrease of incidence trend in males were determined in Central Serbia. Based on presented results, the mortality trend decreased significantly both in males and in females during 2000-2015, and from 2015 to 2017 we recorded a significant increase in mortality in both sexes. We found significantly more new cases in women than in men in the age group of 40-49, and the mortality of stomach cancer was significantly more frequent among females compared to males in the age groups 30-39, as well as in the 50-59 age group. There is a need for improving recording and registration of new cases of stomach cancer, especially in females. Urgent primary and secondary preventive measures are needed-introducing stomach cancer screening and early detection of premalignant changes. Urgent primary and secondary preventive measures are needed.

Total serum and intraerythrocyte magnesium concentrations in hemodialysis patients using different dialysate solutions.

Beside routinely used 0.5 mmol/L dialysate-magnesium, higher dialysate-magnesium (1.0 mmol/L) was recently introduced. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of different dialysate-magnesium on serum and intraerythrocyte levels of magnesium (Mg) before and after dialysis. The study included 43 patients receiving chronic hemodialysis, divided into two groups based on dialysate-magnesium (0.5 or 1.0 mmol/L) used prior to study initiation and during 12 months of follow-up. Blood samples were taken at the mid-week dialysis; total serum Mg was measured colorimetrically and intraerythrocyte Mg by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Hypermagnesiemia-associated complications were observed for 12 months. Total serum Mg was 1.14 ± 0.19 mmol/L before and 0.95 ± 0.16 mmol/L after dialysis in patients using lower dialysate-Mg (p < 0.001), whereas it was 1.47 ± 0.25 mmol/L before and 1.49 ± 0.18 mmol/L after dialysis in patients using higher dialysate-Mg (p = 0.926). Intraerythrocyte Mg was 1.98 ± 0.34 mmol/L before and 1.97 ± 0.28 mmol/L after dialysis in the lower dialysate-Mg group (p = 0.939), while it was 2.09 ± 0.37 mmol/L before and 2.19 ± 0.48 mmol/L after dialysis in the higher dialysate group (p = 0.067). After 12 months total serum Mg decreased in both the groups, remaining lower in 0.5 mmol/L dialysate-Mg group. No hypermagnesiemia-related symptoms occur during 12 months of follow-up in both the groups. In patients using lower dialysate-Mg total serum Mg remains within the reference range and shows postdialytic decline, while in higher dialysate-Mg group it exceeded reference range before and after dialysis without significant intradialytic change. The intraerythrocyte values remain within reference range with both dialysates used. No clinical signs and symptoms of hypermagnesiemia occur during longer administration of higher dialysate-magnesium despite high total serum Mg level.

Survival of patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer treated with bevacizumab and FOLFOX4.

Purpose: In patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM) a long term survival and a probability of cure might be achieved with the surgical treatment of metastatic sites after prior application of systemic treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess the survival of patients with unresectable CLM treated with bevacizumab (bev) and FOLFOX4 (FOLFOX-bev) and to compare survival according to patient, disease and treatment characteristics. Methods: This research included 110 patients with unresectable CLM treated with FOLFOX-bev. Treatment response and resectability were estimated every 3 months. If resectability was achieved, patients were operated on and followed. Patient, disease and treatment characteristics in patients with and without hepatectomy were compared. Survival was estimated according to Kaplan-Meier method. Comparison of survival according to patient, disease and treatment characteristics was performed using log-rank test. Results: In patients with hepatectomy, treatment response was significantly more frequent (63, 63% vs 16, 66%, p<0.001). One- and three-year survival rate for the whole group was 87, 3% and 36, 1%, respectively; median overall survival (OS) was 23 months (95%CI 19, 63-28, 26). One- and three-year survival for patients with hepatectomy was 98, 48%, and 54, 76%, respectively; median OS was 35 months (95%CI 28, 83-41, 17). Three-year survival was significantly better in patients with hepatectomy (HR=3.775; 95%CI 2.150-6.627, p<0.001), older than 60 years (p=0.033), those without extrahepatic metastases (p=0.008) and those with treatment response (p=0.05). Conclusion: Significantly better survival had patients with hepatectomy, treatment response, older than 60 years and without extrahepatic metastases. FOLFOX4-bev is effective treatment for molecularly unselected patients.