Effect of Sterilization and Irrigating Solutions on Nanostructure Alteration of Ni-Ti Rotary Instruments in Endodontics: An Atomic Force Microscopic Study.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and sterilization on the nanostructural alteration of nickel titanium (Ni-Ti) rotary file systems in endodontics using the atomic force microscopy (AFM). Materials and Methods: The study was performed on four commercially available rotary Ni-Ti files: group I-Vortex Blue (Dentsply), group II-ProTaper Next (Dentsply), group III-Mtwo (VDW), and group IV-iRaCe (FKG). Each group was divided into four subgroups (n = 4), that is, subgroup A-control (new rotary file), subgroup B-subjected for five cycles of autoclave, subgroup C-immersed in 5.25% NaOCl for 5 minutes, and subgroup D-immersed in 17% EDTA solutions for 5 minutes. All the specimens were evaluated with AFM using roughness average (RA) and root-mean-square (RMS) values for surface roughness. Results: Among control groups, Vortex Blue showed the least RA and RMS values; the highest surface roughness was seen with Mtwo files. All the Ni-Ti rotary files showed a statistically significant (P <0.05) increase in surface hardness when subjected to autoclave and treatment with different irrigating solutions. In particular, 17% EDTA caused the highest surface deterioration in all the groups. Conclusion: AFM analysis revealed increased surface roughness values recorded for all the rotary files when treated with irrigating solutions and autoclave cycles.

Sturge-Weber Syndrome: A Report of a Rare Case.

Sturge-Weber Syndrome (SWS) is a rare congenital developmental disorder that arises from the abnormal persistence of the embryonic vascular plexus. The syndrome encompasses hamartomatous malformations that can impact the skin, eyes, and nervous system. The broad array of clinical manifestations and potentially life-threatening complications underscores the crucial and imperative need for an accurate diagnosis. An effective treatment strategy for SWS patients involves a multidisciplinary approach. Dental procedures in these individuals pose challenges due to the potential risk for substantial bleeding during both intra- and postoperative phases. This article aims to document a rare case of Sturge Weber Syndrome in a 21-year-old female patient who presented with seizures, unilateral facial port wine stains, gingival hyperplasia, and intracranial calcifications.

Development of a reliable and valid psychosocial measure of self-perception of health in type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to develop a reliable and valid psychosocial measure of self-perception of health in type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Item analysis and factor analyses were done in order to stabilize and establish principal components of the questionnaire. Reliability (internal consistency aspect) was established using Chronbach's alpha method. Concurrent and discriminant validities were established using conventional methods. RESULTS: Factor analysis yielded 12 significant factors (eigen value > or =1), but first six components were retained based on Scree test. These six principal varimax factors explain 49.7% of variance of psychosocial measure of self-perception of health. CONCLUSIONS: The final version after all these psychometric procedures had 27 items with six principal components. They were appropriately named as follow: (I) Positive self-feeling; (II) Sociality; (III) Attention seeking; (IV) Feel healthy; (V) Worry about health; (VI) Dependence. Total variance explained is 49.7%.

Older women with breast carcinoma are less likely to receive adjuvant chemotherapy: evidence of possible age bias?

BACKGROUND: Older women with breast carcinoma are less likely than younger women to receive adjuvant chemotherapy. The authors hypothesized that after controlling for confounders (i.e., variables related to both age and chemotherapy use) and effect modifiers (i.e., variables that have a significant interaction with age), age would become a less significant factor for predicting adjuvant chemotherapy use. METHODS: Data on 480 women with localized breast carcinoma were entered into the National Comprehensive Cancer Network database at The Ohio State University Medical Center. Women were divided into 3 groups: women age < 50 years (n = 143 [30%]), women ages 50-65 years (n = 216 [45%]), and women age > 65 years (n = 121 [25%]). Chi-square and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used for univariate analyses of the variables of interest, and logistic regression was used for multivariate analyses. RESULTS: After adjustment for confounders (stage, tumor size, progesterone receptor status, and lymph node involvement) and effect modifiers (namely, estrogen receptor [ER] status), the odds of not receiving chemotherapy for women ages 50-65 years and women age > 65 years with ER-positive breast carcinoma were approximately 6 (odds ratio [OR], 6.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.1-13.3; P < 0.001) and 62 (OR, 62.4; 95% CI, 21.8-178.7; P < 0.001) times greater, respectively, than the odds for women age < 50 years. Women ages 50-65 years with ER-negative breast carcinoma were not significantly different from women age < 50 years with respect to chemotherapy use (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 0.5-7.3; P = 0.374). However, the odds of not receiving chemotherapy for women age > 65 years with ER-negative breast carcinoma were 7 times (OR, 6.7; 95% CI, 1.5-30.6; P = 0.013) greater than the odds for women age < 50 years. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study indicate that based on older age alone, women are less likely to receive adjuvant chemotherapy. In addition, the results suggest that age bias may contribute to undertreatment and lack of accrual of older women into clinical trials.

Quality of life and diabetes integration among subjects with type 2 diabetes.

UNLABELLED: Diabetes integration indicates that a person with diabetes makes an appropriate emotional adjustment to the requirements of diabetic way of life. Diabetes integration and a sense of well-being are expected to be correlated. The aim of diabetes treatment should be to enable a patient to adjust himself to his being a diabetic person. This should ensure a sense of well-being. Aims of this study was to assess the role of diabetes integration and psychological factors in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHOD: A sample of 227 type 2 diabetes patients participated in the study. They were all in the upper middle class social stratum. Diabetes integration scale yields one composite score of adjustment, has 19 items applicable to both type 1 and type 2 diabetic subjects. The psychological well-being scale has 22 items, measures depression (6 items), anxiety (6 items), energy (4 items), positive well-being (6 items) and a general sense of well-being score by the whole test of 22 items. RESULTS: The psychological well-being subscales and the whole scale scores significantly correlated with diabetes integration scale (all P values were < 0.0001). However, we found that diabetes integration and the psychological well-being subscales were not significantly correlated with metabolic and other medical indices. There were gender differences in depression (p < 0.04), anxiety (p < 0.0001), energy (p = 0.004), positive well-being. (p = 0.02) and general sense of well-being (p < 0.0001), men fared in a better than women subjects. No such gender differences were found in diabetes integration score. CONCLUSION: Diabetic patients who integrate themselves and emotionally adjust to diabetes experience a psychological sense of well-being.

Costs incurred by families having Type 1 diabetes in a developing country--a study from Southern India.

The aim of the study was to estimate the direct family costs of Type 1 diabetes in India. The study was carried out with the participation of the families of 209 Type 1 DM patients (M:F 126:83, mean age 26.6+/-12.7 years). The annual family income varied from Rs. 10,000 to 600,000/- (US$ 212-12,765) with a median of Rs. 60,000/- (US$ 1276). A median figure of Rs. 13,980 (US$ 310) was spent annually on diabetes by the families of patients; range Rs. 2046-87,150 (US$ 45-1936). Fifty six percent of patients were not earning. The median percentage of income spent on diabetes was 22% for the entire group, varying from 59% in the low socioeconomic group, 32% in the middle socioeconomic group, 18% in the upper middle income group and 12% in the high-income group. Patients managed on an outpatient basis alone incurred an expenditure of 16% of income while 23% of income was spent on those requiring hospitalisation.