Heifers don't care: no evidence of negative impact on animal welfare of growing heifers when using virtual fences compared to physical fences for grazing.

Virtual fencing (VF) represents a way to simplify traditional pasture management with its high labour and cost requirements for fencing and to make better use of the 'beneficial' agronomic and ecological effects of livestock grazing. In this study, the VF technology (® Nofence, AS, Batnfjordsøra Norway) was used with Fleckvieh heifers to investigate possible welfare impacts on the animals compared to conventionally fenced animals when they were trained to respond correctly to the system. The Nofence® collars (attached to the neck of the heifers) send acoustic signals as a warning when the animals approach the VF line, which was set up by GPS coordinates within the Nofence®-App, followed by an electric pulse when they do not stop or return. The heifers had no experience with VF prior to the study. Two treatments (VF versus physical fencing (PF)) were applied to six groups of four heifers each (three groups per treatment) over three 12-day time replicates. One VF line separated the pasture of the VF group into an accessible or non-accessible area. The control group had a PF line. Both groups were equipped with Nofence® collars (deactivated for the PF group). The trial took place on two adjacent paddocks of 1 000 m2 each following a 12-day schedule which was divided into three sections: visual support of the VF line by a physical barrier (first 2 days), only virtual border without visual support, moving the VF line (on day 8). Each time replicate followed the next successively on different paddocks with two new groups of heifers, which were grazed 5 h daily. During the whole experiment, the behaviour of each of the four animals per group was continuously observed; 2 h a.m., 2 h p.m. Exclusion by the VF line was effective in our trial. None of the heifers crossed the virtual boundary, i.e. the time spent in exclusion zone was zero. The heifers received 2.70 ± 2.63 acoustic signals and 0.30 ± 0.36 electric pulses (mean ± SD) per heifer and hour during all time replicates. Main cattle behaviour on pasture was not affected by the fencing system. Live weight gain, herbage consumption and faecal cortisol metabolites also revealed no significant differences. The duration until the heifers restarted grazing after an electric pulse from the Nofence® collar was significantly shorter than after an electric pulse from the physical fence. We can summarise that in our study, cattle well-being on pasture was not negatively affected by VF compared to PF.

The effect of ascorbic acid and bio fertilizers on basil under drought stress.

Evaluate the effect of ascorbic acid application and coexistence of Mycorrhiza fungus and Azospirillium on basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) under drought stress. This experiment was performed as a split factorial in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the crop year 2017-2018 in Shahriar, Iran. In this experiment, irrigation was the main factor in three levels, including drought stress based on 40-70-100 mm from the evaporation pan of class A. Biofertilizer including growth-promoting bacteria (Azospirillium) and mycorrhiza fungus in four levels, including a(Non-consumption) B (Seeds of growth-promoting bacteria (Azospirillium)) C (Consumption of mycorrhiza fungus as seeds) D (Concomitant use of growth-promoting bacteria Azospirillium with mycorrhiza fungi as seeds) and ascorbic acid in two levels of foliar application, including A (Absence Application of ascorbic acid) and B (Application of ascorbic acid (two days after irrigation treatment)) was considered as a factorial factor. The results showed that the highest biological yield was obtained in drought stress of 40 mm and application of biological fertilizers in the form of mycorrhiza application with an average of 3307.1 kg/ha, which was about 70% more than 100 mm evaporation stress and no application of biological fertilizer. The use of ascorbic acid under drought stress conditions improved by 10%, the essential oil using ascorbic acid evaporated under drought stress conditions of 100 mm. As a general conclusion, the use of ascorbic acid and Mycorrhiza + Azospirillium biological fertilizer improved the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of basil under drought stress.

Legacy effect of short-term alirocumab in familial hypercholesterolaemia: A case report.

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a rare genetic disorder with aberrantly high level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) requiring multiple combined aggressive lipidlowering therapy to reduce the progression of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Alirocumab, a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor (PCSK9i) has been approved for treatment of FH, which requires further lowering of LDL-C in addition to diet modification and maximally tolerated statin therapy. We report the response of short-term alirocumab treatment on a young patient with clinically and genetically confirmed FH, who suffered from acute coronary syndrome, and in particular, discussed the hypothesised legacy effect of PCSK9i. The patient was initially treated with a combination of high-intensity statin and ezetimibe for 12 weeks. Subsequently, alirocumab was added to the patient's lipid-lowering regime and he managed to attain guideline recommended LDL-C target within 10 weeks. However, alirocumab was stopped at week 54 due to financial constraint. Interestingly, despite cessation of PCSK9i therapy for a period of 30 weeks, the patient's LDL-C level rose slightly not returning to his baseline level.

A prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial of one nano-hybrid and one high-viscosity bulk-fill composite restorative systems in class II cavities: 12 months results.

BACKGROUND: Recently, manufacturers have introduced bulk-fill composite resins that reportedly can be placed in increments of 4 mm or greater. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article was to report the results of 12 months prospective randomized clinical trial that evaluated the clinical performance of one high-viscosity bulk-fill composite resin in Class II cavities of posterior teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four participantshad at least two Class II cavities included the study. Class II cavities restored with either a Tetric EvoCeram bulk-fi fill or universal nano-hybrid resin composite (Tetric EvoCeram). A total of 74 restorations (37 with each material) on 34 patients were placed according to the manufacturers' instructions by one calibrated operator. RESULTS: Seventy restorations were evaluated after 12 months evaluation period. No postoperative sensitivity, anatomic form, retention, and secondary caries were observed after 6 and 12 months. Regarding the items color match, marginal discoloration, and marginal adaptation, the statistical analysis did not detect any statistical significance between two materials (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: After 12 months of clinical service, all restorations evaluated for both materials were classified as ideal, receiving predominantly Alfa scores for all parameters analyzed. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study presents that high-viscosity bulk-fill resin composites (RCs) perform just as well as nano-hybrid RCs with the 2 mm RC layering technique, therefore could be alternative to conventional nano-hybrid RCs.

A review of biocompatible metal injection moulding process parameters for biomedical applications.

Biocompatible metals have been revolutionizing the biomedical field, predominantly in human implant applications, where these metals widely used as a substitute to or as function restoration of degenerated tissues or organs. Powder metallurgy techniques, in specific the metal injection moulding (MIM) process, have been employed for the fabrication of controlled porous structures used for dental and orthopaedic surgical implants. The porous metal implant allows bony tissue ingrowth on the implant surface, thereby enhancing fixation and recovery. This paper elaborates a systematic classification of various biocompatible metals from the aspect of MIM process as used in medical industries. In this study, three biocompatible metals are reviewed-stainless steels, cobalt alloys, and titanium alloys. The applications of MIM technology in biomedicine focusing primarily on the MIM process setting parameters discussed thoroughly. This paper should be of value to investigators who are interested in state of the art of metal powder metallurgy, particularly the MIM technology for biocompatible metal implant design and development.

Non-technical skills of surgeons and anaesthetists in simulated operating theatre crises.

BACKGROUND: Deficiencies in non-technical skills (NTS) have been increasingly implicated in avoidable operating theatre errors. Accordingly, this study sought to characterize the impact of surgeon and anaesthetist non-technical skills on time to crisis resolution in a simulated operating theatre. METHODS: Non-technical skills were assessed during 26 simulated crises (haemorrhage and airway emergency) performed by surgical teams. Teams consisted of surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses. Behaviour was assessed by four trained raters using the Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons (NOTSS) and Anaesthetists' Non-Technical Skills (ANTS) rating scales before and during the crisis phase of each scenario. The primary endpoint was time to crisis resolution; secondary endpoints included NTS scores before and during the crisis. A cross-classified linear mixed-effects model was used for the final analysis. RESULTS: Thirteen different surgical teams were assessed. Higher NTS ratings resulted in significantly faster crisis resolution. For anaesthetists, every 1-point increase in ANTS score was associated with a decrease of 53·50 (95 per cent c.i. 31·13 to 75·87) s in time to crisis resolution (P < 0·001). Similarly, for surgeons, every 1-point increase in NOTSS score was associated with a decrease of 64·81 (26·01 to 103·60) s in time to crisis resolution in the haemorrhage scenario (P = 0·001); however, this did not apply to the difficult airway scenario. Non-technical skills scores were lower during the crisis phase of the scenarios than those measured before the crisis for both surgeons and anaesthetists. CONCLUSION: A higher level of NTS of surgeons and anaesthetists led to quicker crisis resolution in a simulated operating theatre environment.

Drug-conjugated PLA-PEG-PLA copolymers: a novel approach for controlled delivery of hydrophilic drugs by micelle formation.

A conjugate of the antihypertensive drug, lisinopril, with triblock poly(lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic acid) (PLA-PEG-PLA) copolymer was synthesized by the reaction of PLA-PEG-PLA copolymer with lisinopril in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and dimethylaminopyridine. The conjugated copolymer was characterized in vitro by hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance (HNMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) techniques. Then, the lisinopril conjugated PLA-PEG-PLA were self-assembled into micelles in aqueous solution. The resulting micelles were characterized further by various techniques such as dynamic light scattering (DLS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results revealed that the micelles formed by the lisinopril-conjugated PLA-PEG-PLA have spherical structure with the average size of 162 nm. The release behavior of conjugated copolymer, micelles and micelles physically loaded by lisinopril were compared in different media. In vitro release study showed that in contrast to physically loaded micelles, the release rate of micelles consisted of the conjugated copolymer was dependent on pH of media where it was higher at lower pH compared to the neutral medium. Another feature of the conjugated micelles was their more sustained release profile compared to the lisinopril-conjugated copolymer and physically loaded micelles.

Evolution of antimicrobial resistance and serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from children with invasive and noninvasive pneumococcal diseases in Algeria from 2005 to 2012.

Pneumococcal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) has dramatically reduced the incidence of pneumococcal diseases. PCVs are not currently being used in Algeria. We conducted a prospective study from 2005 to 2012 in Algeria to determine antimicrobial drug resistance and serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae from children with pneumococcal disease. Among 270 isolated strains from children, 97 (36%) were invasive disease; of these, 48% were not susceptible to penicillin and 53% not susceptible to erythromycin. A high rate of antimicrobial nonsusceptibility was observed in strains isolated from children with meningitis. The serotype distribution from pneumococci isolated from children with invasive infections was (by order of prevalence): 14, 1, 19F, 19A, 6B, 5, 3, 6A and 23F. Multidrug resistance was observed in serotypes 14, 19F, 19A and 6B. The vaccine coverage of serotypes isolated from children aged <5 years was 55.3% for PCV7, 71.1% for PCV10 and 86.8% for PCV13. Our results highlight the burden of pneumococcal disease in Algeria and the increasing S. pneumoniae antibiotic resistance. The current pneumococcal vaccines cover a high percentage of the circulating strains. Therefore, vaccination would reduce the incidence of pneumococcal disease in Algeria.

Radiographic evaluation of the prevalence of enamel pearls in a sample adult dental population.

AIM: Enamel pearls are a tooth anomaly that can act as contributing factors in the development of periodontal disease. Studies that have addressed the prevalence of enamel pearls in populations were scarce. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of enamel pearls in the permanent dentition of Turkish dental patients by means of panoramic radiographs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Panoramic radiographs of 6912 patients were examined for the presence of enamel pearls. All data (age, sex and systemic disease or syndrome) were obtained from the patient files and analyzed for enamel pearls. Descriptive characteristics of sexes, jaws, and dental localization were recorded. The Pearson chi-squared test was used. RESULTS: Enamel pearls were detected in 5.1% of subjects and 0.85% of the teeth examined. Prevalence of enamel pearls was higher in males (6.58%) compared to females (3.96%). The mandibular first was the most commonly affected tooth. Enamel pearls were significantly more common in the mandibula compared with the maxilla (81.2% cf 18.8% respectively, p = 0.000). No statistically significant differences were found between the right-side and left-side occurrences. CONCLUSIONS: With the prevalence of 5.1% among the Turkish population, every possible effort should be made for locating of this anomaly especially in molars because it might be useful for prevention periodontal problems.

PLA-PEG-PLA copolymer-based polymersomes as nanocarriers for delivery of hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs: preparation and evaluation with atorvastatin and lisinopril.

Tri-block poly(lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactide) (PLA-PEG-PLA) copolymers were synthesized and used to prepare polymersomes loaded separately by the hydrophobic and hydrophilic model drugs, atorvastatin and lisinopril, respectively. The resulting nanostructures were characterized by various techniques such as FTIR, DSC, PCS and AFM. The polymersomes exhibited high encapsulation efficiencies of almost 78% and 70.8% for atorvastatin and lisinopril, respectively. Investigation on FTIR and DSC results revealed that such a high encapsulation efficiency is due to strong interaction between atorvastatin and the copolymer. The impact of drug/copolymer ratio and copolymer composition on drug-loading efficiency and drug release behavior were also studied. The results showed that in case of lisinopril, polymersomes exhibited a triphasic drug release, while for atorvastatin a biphasic release profile was obtained. Overall, the results indicated that PLA-PEG-PLA polymersomes can be considered as a promising carrier for both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs.

Investigation of prevalence and characteristics of mesiodens in a non-syndromic 11256 dental outpatients.

AIM: To investigate the prevalence of mesiodens in a sample of Turkish dental patients and their distribution among genders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed using panoramic radiography of 11256 patients, who ranged in age from 15 to 55 years old. All data (age, sex and or syndrome) were obtained from the patient files and analyzed for mesiodens. Statistical evaluation of the presence of mesiodens related to gender was performed by the Pearson chi-squared test. RESULTS: Mesiodens was detected in 15 subjects (0.13%). The prevalence of mesiodens for females and males was 0.20% and 0.057%, respectively (p = 0.037). The most commonly observed mesiodens was maxillary canine-like type (60%). Most of the mesiodens (67%) were found in the vertical position, followed by horizontal position (33%). The age and sex distribution, number of mesiodens per patient, shape, direction, size, and effect on permanent maxillary incisors are also presented in this study. The most common complication caused by mesiodens was midline of the permanent incisors. CONCLUSIONS: Mesiodens is an uncommon developmental anomaly in Turkish dental patients. Early diagnosis allows the most appropriate treatment, often reducing the extent of surgery, orthodontic treatment and possible complications.

Benzathine penicillin G: a model for long-term pharmacokinetic comparison of parenteral long-acting formulations.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE:   Long-acting intramuscular penicillin G injection is an important product for the management of some severe infections. However, testing the bioequivalence of such long-acting formulations is difficult. Our aim was to undertake such a test using a generic formulation containing 1 200 000 IU of benzathine penicillin G powder and an innovator's product (Retarpen(®) 1·2 million units; Sandoz, Switzerland). METHODS:   In an open, double-blind, randomized, two-periods, two-group crossover study, 12 healthy male volunteers received both formulations of benzathine penicillin G on two different days with a 5-month washout period between the doses and a sampling period of over 500 h. A simple, sensitive and rapid high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-UV method was developed and validated for determination of penicillin G plasma concentrations and other pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:   The analytical method used produced linear responses within a wide analyte concentration range with average within-run and between-run variations of below 15% with acceptable recovery, accuracy and sensitivity. The primary PK parameters we used were maximum plasma concentration (Cmax ), time to reach the maximal concentration (Tmax ) and the area under the plasma concentration vs. time curve from time zero to the last sampling time (AUC0→t ) using a standard non-compartmental approach. Based on these parameters, the two formulations were bioequivalent. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION:   We illustrate the bioequivalence testing of a very long-acting product. The data indicate that the generic test formulation and the branded reference formulation were bioequivalent in fasting healthy Iranian male volunteers.

Effect of lullaby and classical music on physiologic stability of hospitalized preterm infants: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Music is considered a subset of developmental supportive care. It may act as a suitable auditory stimulant in preterm infants. Also, it may reduce stress responses in autonomic, motor and state systems. OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare the influence of lullaby and classical music on physiologic parameters. METHOD: This is a randomized clinical trial with cross-over design. A total of 25 stable preterm infants with birth weight of 1000-2500 grams were studied for six consecutive days. Each infant was exposed to three phases: lullaby music, classical music, and no music (control) for two days each. The sequence of these phases was assigned randomly to each subject. Babies were continuously monitored for heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation and changes between phases were analyzed. RESULT: Lullaby reduced heart rate (p < 0.001) and respiratory rate (p = 0.004). These effects extended in the period after the exposure (p < .001 and p = 0.001, respectively). Classical music reduced heart rate (p = 0.018). The effects of classical music disappeared once the music stopped. Oxygen saturation did not change during intervention. CONCLUSION: Music can affect vital signs of preterm infants; this effect can possibly be related to the reduction of stress during hospitalization. The implications of these findings on clinical and developmental outcomes need further study.

Prevalence of dentine hypersensitivity among university students in Turkey.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Dentine hypersensitivity (DH) is a common clinical finding with a wide variation in prevalence values. There is lack of data on the prevalence of dentinal sensitivity in Turkish population. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of DH and to examine some associated factors such as initiating stimuli among university students in Kirikkale, Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among undergraduates of University of Kirikkale, Turkey. An electronic questionnaire was developed and distributed via e-mail to undergraduate students in Kirikkale University. Self-administered questionnaire elicited information on demography, self-reported dentinal sensitivity, the trigger factor, professional treatment taken, and duration time. Test of significance was done with Chi square statistics. P<0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: A total of 1463 responses were evaluated in this study. One hundred and twenty-four students were diagnosed as having DH, giving a prevalence figure of 8.4%. The prevalence of DH in females was significantly higher than that in males. The most common initiating factor was cold drinks. Tooth sensitivity was found to be common among hard toothbrush users. About 46% of patients reported that they had not undergone any treatment for the discomfort and 35% reported having had some sort of treatment. Among the participants with dentinal sensitivity, 58.8% of the respondents reported that they use soft drinks occasionally. Approximately 64.2% of the patients claimed that DH was present for 1-6 days and the majority (87%) of the patients with hypersensitive teeth experienced pain occasionally. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of DH among university students was 8.4%. DH is not a common problem in undergraduate university students.

Prevalence of dentine hypersensitivity among adult patients attending a dental hospital clinic in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of dentine hypersensitivity (DH) and to examine some associated factors such as the initiating stimuli among adult patients attending the Restorative Clinic of the Kirikkale University Dental Faculty, Turkey. METHODS: Questionnaires for 1169 patients, 678 men and 491 women, were completed and necessary clinical examinations performed during a one-year period and patients who were diagnosed with DH were questioned further about their occupation and smoking habits. Patients with at least two different quadrants which had sensitive teeth with sound exposed cervical dentine on the facial surface, were included in the study. The amount of cervical lesions, buccal gingival recession and initiating factors associated with the sensitive teeth were also recorded. RESULTS: Of the 1169 patients examined, 89 were diagnosed as having dentine hypersensitivity, giving a prevalence of 7.6%. The commonest teeth affected were the upper premolars and the commonest initiating factor was cold drinks. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of dentine hypersensitivity in a postgraduate clinic in Turkey was 7.6%. The commonest teeth affected were the upper premolar and the commonest initiating factor was cold drinks.

Theoretical investigations on the electronic and optical properties of bridged oligothiophenes.

A study of the structure, electronic, and optical properties of oligothiophenes is reported. Geometry optimizations of the ground state of derivatives of these molecules were carried out using the density functional theory (DFT) with the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G(d) basis set. Bridged oligothiophenes by C═O, C═S, and C═C(CN)(2) functional groups were found to be planar in their electronic ground states (S(0)). The electronic excitation transitions of the bridged oligothiophenes were investigated using the time-dependent TD-DFT method performed on the ground-state optimized geometries. For all the derivatives, excitation to the S(1) state corresponds mainly to the HOMO → LUMO transition. The excitation energies are found in fair agreement with the experimental values. The optimization (relaxation) of the first singlet excited electronic state (S(1)) has been done using the restricted configuration interaction (singles) (RCIS/6-31G(d) approach. The electronically excited geometries favor a more quinoidic type structure. Emission energies have been obtained from TD-DFT calculations performed on the excited-state optimized geometries S(1). The change of group (C═O, C═S, and C═C(CN)(2)) as well as the incorporation of monomer moieties induce a significant decrease in the excitation and emission energies.

Prevalence of three-rooted mandibular permanent first molars among the Turkish population.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of three-rooted permanent mandibular first molars in digital periapical radiographic images obtained from a Turkish patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Periapical radiographs of 640 subjects, which had been obtained in the Department of Oral Diagnosis Radiology, Kirikkale University Dental Faculty, Kirikkale, Turkey from June 2010 to March 2011, were screened and examined retrospectively. All radiographs were evaluated under optimal conditions using double magnifying glasses. Each radiograph was separately evaluated by two authors (H.Ç. and M.M.H.). Comparison of the incidence and the correlations between males and females and left- and right-side occurrences were analyzed by using the Pearson chi-square test with SPSS (15.0; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: The periapical radiographs of 9 patients, 4 females and 5 males, had three-rooted mandibular first molars. Of these three-rooted mandibular first molars, 7 were found on the right side and 5 on the left side. The overall incidence of patients with three-rooted mandibular first molars was 1.41%. The incidence was 1.63% for men and 1.2% for women. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of three-rooted mandibular first molars from all teeth examined was 1% (12 of 1205), 1.17% (7 of 596) for the right side, and 0.82% (5 of 528) for the left side occurrences.

An analysis of the aetiology, prevalence and clinical features of dentine hypersensitivity in a general dental population.

AIM: Dentine hypersensitivity may be defined as pain arising from exposed dentine typically in response to chemical, thermal or osmotic stimuli that cannot be explained as a rising from any other form of dental defect or pathology. The aim to this cross-sectional study was to determine prevalence of dentine hypersensitivity (DH) and to examine some associated etiological factors in a study of patients visiting general dental practitioners in Turkey. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 1368 patients were examined for the presence of cervical dentine hypersensitivity by means of a questionnaire and intraoral tests by (air and probe stimuli). The patients have at least two different quadrants which have sensitive teeth with sound exposed cervical dentin on the facial surface were included the study. RESULTS: A total of 285 teeth were diagnosed as having dentine hypersensitivity in 73 patients, giving an overall prevalence figure for dentine hypersensitivity of 5.3%. 40-49 years age group was the cohort with the greatest number of subjects with DH and females had more predilection than males. Upper premolars were most affected and the commonest initiating factor was cold drinks. Subjects who smoked did not have more sensitive teeth on average than subjects who did not smoke (p > 0.05). Approximately half of the patients reported DH for a duration of within 1-3 days. The commonest etiological factor with the sensitive teeth was the gingival recession. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of dentine sensitivity in this sample was lower compared to studies carried out previously in different populations both general practice and hospital clinics. Further larger scale studies are required to assess its prevalence in Turkish population.

Assessment of the prevalence of pulp stones in a sample of Turkish Central Anatolian population.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of pulp stones (PS) in a Turkish dental patient population with respect to sexes and dental localization in relation between sex and this anomaly. MATERIALS METHODS: A retrospective study was performed using bitewing radiographs of 814 patients ranging in age from 15 to 65. All data (age, sex, and location) was obtained from the files. These patients were analyzed for pulp stones. Descriptive characteristics of sexes, jaws, and dental localization were recorded. The Pearson chi-squared test was used. RESULTS: Of the patients, 462 (56.8%) were female and 352 (43.2%) were male. Sixty (12%) had one or more teeth that contained pulp stones. Pulp stones were identified in 518 (63.6%) of the subjects and in 2391 (27.8%) of the teeth examined. Pulp stone occurrence was significantly more common in the females than in males. With the increasing of age, the prevalence of pulp stones increased. Molars had statistically more pulp stones than premolars. Pulp stones were significantly more common in the maxilla compared with mandible. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of pulp stones in Turkish population was 27.8% but further larger-scale studies are required to assess its prevalence in the general population to compare it with other ethnic groups.

Prevalence of dentine hypersensitivity among adult patients attending a dental hospital clinic in Turkey / Prevalencia de la hipersensibilidad dentinaria entre los pacientes adultos que asisten a la clínica del hospital dental en Turquía

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of dentine hypersensitivity (DH) and to examine some associated factors such as the initiating stimuli among adult patients attending the Restorative Clinic of the Kirikkale University Dental Faculty, Turkey. METHODS: Questionnaires for 1169 patients, 678 men and 491 women, were completed and necessary clinical examinations performed during a one-year period and patients who were diagnosed with DH were questioned further about their occupation and smoking habits. Patients with at least two different quadrants which had sensitive teeth with sound exposed cervical dentine on the facial surface, were included in the study. The amount ofcervical lesions, buccal gingival recession and initiating factors associated with the sensitive teeth were also recorded. RESULTS: Of the 1169 patients examined, 89 were diagnosed as having dentine hypersensitivity, giving a prevalence of 7.6%. The commonest teeth affected were the upper premolars and the commonest initiating factor was cold drinks. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of dentine hypersensitivity in a postgraduate clinic in Turkey was 7.6%. The commonest teeth affected were the upper premolar and the commonest initiating factor was cold drinks.

OBJETIVOS: El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de la hipersensibilidad dentinaria (HD) y examinar algunos factores asociados con ella, tales como los estímulos iniciadores entre los pacientes adultos que asisten a la Clínica Restaurativa la Facultad Dental Universitaria de Kirikkale, Turquía. MÉTODOS: Cuestionarios entregados a 1169 pacientes, 678 hombres y 491 mujeres, fueron respondidos, y se realizaron los exámenes clínicos necesarios por espacio de un ano. Los pacientes que fueron diagnosticados con HD, fueron interrogados ulteriormente acerca de su ocupación y el hábito defumar. Los pacientes con al menos dos cuadrantes diferentes, que tenían dientes sensibles con exposición de dentina cervical sana sobre la superficie facial, fueron incluidos en este estudio. También se registró la cantidad de lesiones cervicales, la recesión gingival bucal y los factores iniciadores asociados con la sensibilidad de los dientes. RESULTADOS: De los 1169 pacientes examinados, 89 se diagnosticaron con hipersensibilidad de la dentina, para una cifra de prevalencia de 7.6%. Los dientes más comúnmente afectados fueron los premolares superiores y los factores iniciadores más comunes fueron las bebidas frías. CONCLUSIONES: La prevalencia de la hipersensibilidad dentinaria en una clínica postgraduada en Turquía fue de 7.6%. Los dientes más comúnmente afectados fueron los premolares superiores y el facgor iniciador más común fueron las bebidas frías.