Comparative evaluation of cervical pulpotomy and pulpectomy for primary molars with irreversible pulpitis: a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

PURPOSE: The objective of this multicentre randomised controlled trial was to compare the clinical/radiographic outcomes of cervical pulpotomy using calcium-enriched mixture cement (PCEM) and pulpectomy using Metapex (PM) in primary molars with irreversible pulpitis (IP). METHODS: A total of 134 primary molars from 94 children were randomly assigned to two intervention groups: the PCEM group (n = 74) and the PM group (n = 60). Baseline characteristics including age/gender/molar type/tooth type/jaw were recorded. The primary outcome measures were clinical/radiographic success rates assessed at the first and second follow-up appointments. Secondary outcomes included reasons for clinical/radiographic failures. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the impact of various factors on the success rates. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants in both groups was similar (PCEM group: 5.4 years, PM group: 5.5 years). Gender distribution, molar type, tooth type, jaw, and number of practitioners were comparable between the groups. The clinical success rate at the first follow-up was 98.6% in the PCEM group and 96.4% in the PM group. At the second follow-up, the clinical success rate was 97.1% in the PCEM group and 91.1% in the PM group. The radiographic success rates at the first and second follow-up were 98.6% and 96.4% in the PCEM group and 96.4% and 91.1% in the PM group, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis did not reveal any significant association between the success rates and age/gender/molar type/jaw, or treatment groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In primary molars with IP, both simple/conservative cervical pulpotomy using calcium-enriched mixture cement and pulpectomy using Metapex demonstrated high clinical/radiographic success rates. No significant differences were observed between the two treatment modalities. These findings suggest that both techniques can be considered effective treatment options for managing primary molars with IP. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Trial registration number: IRCT20201226049838N1, retrospectively registered on 12 January 2021.

Modified Heider balance on Erdös-Rényi networks.

The lack of signed random networks in standard balance studies has prompted us to extend the Hamiltonian of the standard balance model. Random networks with tunable parameters are suitable for better understanding the behavior of standard balance as an underlying dynamics. Moreover, the standard balance model in its original form does not allow preserving tensed triads in the network. Therefore, the thermal behavior of the balance model has been investigated on a fully connected signed network recently. It has been shown that the model undergoes an abrupt phase transition with temperature. Considering these two issues, we examine the thermal behavior of the structural balance model defined on Erdös-Rényi random networks within the range of their connected regime. We provide a mean-field solution for the model. We observe a first-order phase transition with temperature for a wide range of connection probabilities. We detect two transition temperatures, T_{cold} and T_{hot}, characterizing a hysteresis loop. We find that with decreasing the connection probability, both T_{cold} and T_{hot} decrease. However, the slope of decreasing T_{hot} with decreasing connection probability is larger than the slope of decreasing T_{cold}. Hence, the hysteresis region gets narrower until it disappears in a certain connection probability. We provide a phase diagram in the temperature-tie density plane to accurately observe the metastable or coexistence region behavior. Then we justify our mean-field results with a series of Monte Carlo simulations.

Heider balance under disordered triadic interactions.

The Heider balance addresses three-body interactions with the assumption that triads are equally important in the dynamics of the network. In many networks, the relations do not have the same strength, so triads are differently weighted. Now, the question is how social networks evolve to reduce the number of unbalanced triangles when they are weighted? Are the results foreseeable based on what we have already learned from the unweighted balance? To find the solution, we consider a fully connected network in which triads are assigned with different random weights. Weights are coming from Gaussian probability distribution with mean µ and variance σ. We study this system in two regimes: (I) the ratio of µ/σ≥1 corresponds to weak disorder (small variance) that triads' weight are approximately the same; (II) µ/σ<1 counts for strong disorder (big variance) and weights are remarkably diverse. Investigating the structural evolution of such a network is our intention. We see disorder plays a key role in determining the critical temperature of the system. Using the mean-field method to present an analytic solution for the system represents that the system undergoes a first-order phase transition. For weak disorder, our simulation results display the system reaches the global minimum as temperature decreases, whereas for the second regime, due to the diversity of weights, the system does not manage to reach the global minimum.

A systematic review of the behaviours associated with depression in people with severe-profound intellectual disability.

The assessment of depression in people with severe to profound intellectual disability (severe-profound ID) is challenging, primarily due to inability to report internal states such as mood, feelings of worthlessness and suicidal ideation. This group also commonly presents with challenging behaviours (e.g. aggression and self-injury) with debate about whether these behaviours should be considered 'depressive equivalents' or are sensitive for, but not specific to, depression in severe-profound ID. We conducted a systematic review exploring behaviours associated with depression and low mood in individuals with severe-profound ID. The review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (2009) guidelines. Three electronic databases were searched (Embase, PsycINFO and Ovid MEDLINE), and 13 studies were included and rated for quality. Few studies were rated as having high methodological quality. Behaviours captured by standard diagnostic schemes for depression (e.g. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and International Classification of Diseases) showed a relationship with depression in severe-profound ID, including the two core symptoms (depressed affect and anhedonia), as well as irritability, sleep disturbance, psychomotor agitation, reduced appetite and fatigue. Challenging behaviours such as aggression, self-injury, temper tantrums, screaming and disruptive behaviour were associated with depression. Challenging behaviours show a robust relationship with depression. Whilst these behaviours may suggest an underlying depression, study limitations warrant caution in labelling them as 'depressive equivalents'. These limitations include not controlling for potential confounds (autism, other affective disorders and pain) and bias associated with comparing depressed/non-depressed groups on the same behavioural criteria used to initially diagnose and separate these groups. Future studies that use depressive measures designed for ID populations, which control for confounds and which explore low mood irrespective of psychiatric diagnosis, are warranted to better delineate the behaviours associated with depression in this population (PROSPERO 2018: CRD42018103244).

Morphological and molecular identification of Corynosoma caspicum, and its histopathological effect on the intestinal tissue of a Caspian seal (Pusa caspica).

BACKGROUND: Corynosoma is a parasite from the Acanthocephala phylum with worldwide distribution. Corynosoma parasites are found in pinnipeds as their definitive host. AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the morphological and molecular characteristics of Corynosoma, and its histopathological effect on the intestinal tissue of Pusa caspica. METHODS: A severe Corynosoma infection was observed in the small intestine of a juvenile male Caspian seal (P. caspica). The morphological descriptions were done using light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The molecular diagnosis was performed using partial sequences of internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) and 5.8S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene. RESULTS: According to the results, the Corynosoma specimens were identified as Corynosoma caspicum. The histopathological inspection of intestinal tissue revealed lesions in epithelial cells, mucosa, submucosa and muscle layers, destruction of intestinal glands, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. CONCLUSION: Presence of such a severe infection in one of the individual Caspian seals can suggest the possibility of morbidity among other seals in the landlocked Caspian Sea. Thus, further research on their parasite infections is required for understating the status of the Caspian seal population and conserving this endangered species.

A rare disease with a rare presentation: hemi-atrophy caused by fibromuscular dysplasia in a 27 month old girl.

We discuss the case of a 27-month-old girl afflicted with fibromuscular dysplasia. She presented with hemiatrophy of left upper and lower limbs, nail dystrophy, ulcers on the tips of her toes, cold and painful limbs, foot drop, and hypertension. The initial appearance started at 2 months of age and other diagnoses such as complex regional pain syndrome, reflex sympathetic syndrome, vasculitis and coagulation disorders had been considered. Angiography revealed that all the arterial branches of the left lower and upper limbs, from brachial to ulnar and radial, and from iliac and femoral to tibialis arteries were affected. Sural nerve biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. In the follow-up visits until 2 years after the patient's discharge she did not develop any new problem and her blood pressure was controlled by enalapril and amlodipine.

Sirtuin inhibition and anti-cancer activities of ethyl 2-benzimidazole-5-carboxylate derivatives.

New benzimidazoles were synthesized based on the previously identified sirtuin inhibitor BZD9L1. The compounds were screened for their sirtuin (SIRT1, SIRT2 and SIRT3) inhibitory activities. Compound BZD9Q1 was determined to be a pan-SIRT1-3 inhibitor. Furthermore, the proliferation of various cancer cells was inhibited by BZD9Q1. It was shown that BZD9Q1 elicits a cytostatic effect by inducing cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase while also showing a prominent induction of apoptosis against oral cancer cells.

Clinical and radiographic outcomes of laser pulpotomy in vital primary teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: This was to compare clinical and radiographic success rates of laser pulpotomy with those of other pulpotomy techniques in primary teeth. METHODS: PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, Cochrane and ISI Web of Knowledge databases were searched electronically without time or language limitations. Clinical trials in which laser pulpotomy was compared with at least one other pulpotomy modality in primary teeth were selected. The bibliographic reference lists of eligible articles were also hand-searched. Odds ratios, risk differences and 95% confidence intervals were calculated with the aid of Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (Version 2.2.050, Biostat, Englewood, NJ, USA). The methodological quality of articles included in the meta-analysis was determined using the Jadad scale. RESULTS: Twelve pulpotomy studies were selected for systematic review and underwent data extraction. Of these studies, statistical analysis was conducted on 11. All clinical trials had low to moderate risks of methodological bias. The meta-analysis showed no significant differences in clinical and radiographic pulpotomy outcomes with laser compared with other techniques (p > 0.05). Likewise, no differences were found in the outcomes at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 or ≥ 18 months (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For primary molar pulpotomy, the laser technique showed comparable clinical and radiographic results to other conventional pulpotomy medicaments, including formocresol and mineral trioxide aggregate.

Flowable composite as fissure sealing material? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate fissure sealant retention in clinical studies in which investigators used flowable composites as pit and fissure sealants compared with conventional resin-based pit and fissure sealants.Data sources and data selection The authors conducted a literature search (all articles published until April 13, 2017) to identify studies for inclusion in this systematic review. They assessed the quality of the evidence provided by using the modified Jadad scale and performed meta-analyses by using a random-effects model.Data extraction and data synthesis The authors found 11 studies that met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review and nine studies that could be used for the meta-analysis. Of the 11 studies identified in the systematic review, four scored as having a low risk of bias, and seven scored as having a medium risk of bias. Our meta-analysis showed a significant positive effect of using flowable composites as a fissure sealant material (odds ratio, 2.387 [95% CI, 1.047, 5.444; P = 0.039]).Conclusion It seems that the use of flowable composite as a fissure sealing material can slightly increase the retention rate of sealants compared with conventional resin-based sealants.

The Anti-apoptotic Mechanism of Metformin Against Apoptosis Induced by Ionizing Radiation in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.

BACKGROUND: In a previous article, we showed that metformin (MET) can reduce ionizing radiation (IR) induced apoptosis in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. However, the anti-apoptotic mechanism of MET against IR remains unclear. The present study attempts to investigate the mechanism of action of MET in limiting X-ray induced apoptosis in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Mononuclear cells were treated with MET for 2 hours and irradiated with 6 MV X-rays. The gene expression levels of BAX, CASP3 and BCL2 were determined 24 hours post irradiation using real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique. Furthermore, the protein levels of BAX, CASP3 and BCL2 were analyzed by Western blotting assay. RESULTS: Radiation exposure increased the expressions of BAX and CASP3 genes, and decreased the expression of BCL2 gene in mononuclear cells. Conversely, an increase in BCL2 gene expression along with a decrease in BAX and CASP3 genes expression was observed in MET plus irradiated mononuclear cells. It was found that radiation increased BAX/BCL2 ratio, while MET pretreatment reduced these ratios. Also, treatment with MET without irradiation did not change the expressions of BAX, CASP3 and BCL2 genes. On the other hand, downregulated expression of BCL2 protein and upregulated expressions of BAX and CASP3 proteins were found in 2 Gy irradiated mononuclear cells, while pretreatment with MET significantly reversed this tendency. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that MET can protect mononuclear cells against apoptosis induced by IR through induction of cellular anti-apoptotic signaling.Key words: ionizing radiation - metformin - apoptosis - genes - proteins - blood cells.

The melatonin immunomodulatory actions in radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy has a key role in cancer treatment in more than half of patients with cancer. The management of severe side effects of this treatment modality is a limiting factor to appropriate treatment. Immune system responses play a pivotal role in many of the early and late side effects of radiation. Moreover, immune cells have a significant role in tumor response to radiotherapy, such as angiogenesis and tumor growth. Melatonin as a potent antioxidant has shown appropriate immune regulatory properties that may ameliorate toxicity induced by radiation in various organs. These effects are mediated through various modulatory effects of melatonin in different levels of tissue reaction to ionizing radiation. The effects on the DNA repair system, antioxidant enzymes, immune cells, cytokines secretion, transcription factors, and protein kinases are most important. Moreover, anti-cancer properties of melatonin may increase the therapeutic ratio of radiotherapy. Clinical applications of this agent for the management of malignancies such as breast cancer have shown promising results. It seems anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenesis, and stimulation or suppression of some immune cell responses are the main anti-tumor effects of melatonin that may help to improve response of the tumor to radiotherapy. In this review, the effects of melatonin on the modulation of immune responses in both normal and tumor tissues will be discussed.

Expression Levels of Two DNA Repair-related Genes under 8 Gy Ionizing Radiation and 100 Mg/Kg Melatonin Delivery In Rat Peripheral Blood.

BACKGROUND: After radiation therapy (RT), some health hazards including DNA damages may occur where melatonin can play a protective role due to free radical generation. On the other hand, serious accidental overexposures may occur during RT due to nuclear accidents which necessitate the need for study on exposure to high-dose radiations during treatments. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to study the expression level of two genes in non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathways named Xrcc4 and Xrcc6 (Ku70) in order to examine the effect of melatonin on repair of DNA double-strand breaks (BSBs) caused by 8Gy ionizing radiation. METHODS: One hundred eight male Wistar rats were irradiated with a whole body gamma radiation dose of 8Gy with or without melatonin pretreatments. They were divided into six different groups of control, 100 mg/kg melatonin alone, 8Gy irradiation alone, vehicle alone, vehicle plus 8Gy irradiation and 100 mg/kg melatonin plus 8Gy irradiation. Peripheral blood samples were collected at 8, 24 and 48 h after irradiation. Ku70 and Xrcc4 gene expression were evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique and analyzed by one-way ANOVA test. RESULTS: Expression of Ku70 and Xrcc4 genes normalized against Hprt gene showed significant difference in melatonin plus irradiation group at 8h compared to the control group (p<0.05). At 24h post irradiation, gene expression changes were significantly upregulated in irradiation-alone group as well as melatonin plus irradiation group (p<0.05). No significant change was found in any groups compared to control group at 48 h time point. CONCLUSION: We concluded that, by increasing expression level of Ku70 and Xrcc4 genes, 100 mg/kg melatonin administration 8 and 24 h before 8 Gyionizing radiation can significantly affect the repair of DNA DSBs in NHEJ pathway.

Melatonin as an anti-inflammatory agent in radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy is one of the most relevant treatment options for cancer therapy with or without other treatment modalities including immunotherapy, surgery and chemotherapy. Exposure to heavy doses of ionizing radiation during radiotherapy results in short and long term side effects. It appears that many of these side effects are linked to inflammatory responses during treatment or after prolonged use. Inflammation is mediated by various genes and cytokines related to immune system responses caused by massive cell death following radiotherapy. This phenomenon is more obvious, particularly after exposure to clinical doses of radiotherapy. Inflammation is involved in the amplification of acute responses, genomic instability and also long term pathological changes in normal tissues. Moreover, inflammation attenuates responses of the tumor to radiotherapy through some mechanisms such as angiogenesis. Thus, the management of inflammation is one of the most interesting aims in cancer radiotherapy. Melatonin, known as a natural product in the body, has been of much interest for its anti-inflammatory properties. Some studies have proposed melatonin as a novel anti-inflammation agent. This literature review will concentrate on the anti-inflammatory properties of melatonin that may help the management of different inflammatory signaling pathways in both tumor and normal tissues.

Transition from glass- to gel-like states in clay at a liquid interface.

Colloidal clay in water suspensions are known to exhibit a multitude of bulk phases depending on initial colloidal concentration and ionic strength, and examples of this include repulsive Wigner colloidal glasses at low ionic strength and attractive gels at higher ionic strength due to screened electrostatic forces by the electrolyte. From confocal Raman microscopy combined with elasticity measurements, we infer that clay trapped at quasi two-dimensional interfaces between oil and water also exhibit confined glass-like or gel-like states. The results can be important for the preparation of particles stabilized colloidal emulsions or colloidal capsules, and a better understanding of this phenomenon may lead to new emulsion or encapsulation technologies.

Association of interleukin-16 polymorphisms with disease progression and susceptibility in endometriosis.

Interleukin-16 (IL-16) is a multifunctional pro-inflammatory cytokine that was previously found in association with complex disorders, and it is now cleared that this cytokine plays a critical role in regulation of cellular functions such as homoeostasis. Due to the complexity of endometriosis and its resemblance to cancer, we designed present case-control study to determine the effects of genetic polymorphisms of the human IL-16 gene on Iranian women's susceptibility to endometriosis. A total of 126 patients with endometriosis (stages I-IV) and 144 healthy women as control group were recruited to the study. We genotyped four single nucleotide polymorphisms of IL-16 gene (rs11556218 T>G, rs4778889 T>C, rs4072111 C>T and rs1131445 C>T). Genotyping was performed using PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Our results showed that genotype distribution in two exonic polymorphisms including rs11556218 and rs4072111 was significantly different between Endometriosis patients and healthy individuals (P < 0.05). We have also found an association between rs4072111 and rs1131445 with progression to the severe stages (III-IV) of endometriosis (P < 0.05). Finally, we may conclude that IL-16 gene polymorphisms are highly associated with increased risk of endometriosis and could be considered as a susceptibility factor for endometriosis.

Expression of bovine Ecat1 gene in immature and in vitro matured oocytes as well as during early embryonic development.

Ecat1 is a maternal effect gene that is exclusively expressed in oocytes and embryonic stem cells, and has an important role in pre-implantation development. This study was designed to investigate the expression of bovine Ecat1 gene in immature and in vitro matured oocytes as well as during early embryonic development, and also Ecat1 protein localization. Samples were obtained from slaughtered animals. RNA extractions were carried out from ovary, immature and in vitro matured oocytes and also different stages of embryonic development (2-, 4-, 8- to 16-cell stages and blastocysts). RT-PCR analysis revealed the expression of Ecat1 in ovary, oocytes and embryos. Analysis in FGENESH online tool predicted three exons and one transcription start site (TSS) in Ecat1 gene, and the 3' RACE-PCR result showed that just one splice variant was amplified. By quantitative real-time PCR technique, we showed that Ecat1 transcript increased at 8- to 16-cell-stage embryos and decreased in blastocyst stage (p < 0.05). Immunofluorescence analysis showed cytoplasmic localization of Ecat1 protein in bovine oocytes. Results demonstrated bovine Ecat1 expression at protein level and also indicated that Ecat1 has a significant higher embryonic expression at 8- to 16-cell stage. This embryonic expression is probably required for further developmental stages.

Comparison of the effects of cognitive behavioural therapy and inhalation sedation on child dental anxiety.

AIM: To compare the effectiveness of inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide/oxygen (N2O/O2) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in reducing dental anxiety in preschool children. STUDY DESIGN: Randomised controlled clinical trial. METHODS: This study was conducted on 45 preschoolers with moderate to severe dental anxiety (determined by the Children's Fear Survey Schedule Dental Subscale), who required pulp treatment of at least one primary mandibular molar. Baseline anxiety and cooperation levels were determined using Venham Clinical Anxiety and Cooperation Scales (VCAS and VCCS) and Venham Picture Test (VPT) at the first dental visit (dental prophylaxis and fluoride treatment). Before the second dental visit (pulp treatment), the children were randomly assigned to one of three groups--1: control, 2: N(2)O/O(2) and 3: CBT. In group 1, the usual behaviour management techniques were used, in group 2, nitrous oxide/oxygen gas was used and in group 3, unrelated play, Benson's breathing and positive self-talk and modelling were used. Anxiety and cooperation levels were determined at three periods: injection, rubber dam placement and the application of a high-speed handpiece with VCAS and VCCS and VPT. Finally, anxiety and cooperation differences between the two dental visits were compared within the three groups. STATISTICS: Chi square, ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used. RESULTS: N(2)O/O(2) and CBT significantly resulted in lower anxiety and higher cooperation in the second visit (at all three periods) compared to the control, although there was no significant difference between these two treatment methods. CONCLUSION: Both test methods were effective in reducing dental anxiety in preschoolers. Considering the adverse effects and necessity of equipment and trained personnel when using nitrous oxide and oxygen inhalation sedation, cognitive behavioural therapy is preferable because of its better applicability.

Antioxidant effects of clove bud (Syzygium aromaticum) extract used with different extenders on ram spermatozoa during cryopreservation.

Clove bud (Syzygium aromaticum) extract was added at concentrations of 0, 35, 75, and 115 µg/ml to ovine semen extenders in order to investigate the antioxidant activities of clove bud extract and its effects on semen quality parameters after cryopreservation of ram spermatozoa. The basic extender was composed of Tris, egg yolk, and glycerol. Two other extenders were prepared by substitution of egg yolk with either LDL or egg yolk+SDS. The DPPH inhibition test was employed to assess the antioxidant activity of clove bud extract. Results showed that, compared to vitamin E, clove bud extract had a higher antioxidant activity. Better sperm motility and movement characteristics (P<0.05) were observed in the semen diluted with medium containing egg yolk+SDS than in that containing egg yolk and LDL. Progressive motility and movement characteristics of the sperm were significantly improved (P<0.05) by adding 35 and/or 75 µg/ml of clove bud extract to semen extenders. Sperm viability and plasma membrane integrity were also higher (P<0.05) in the semen exposed to medium containing egg yolk+SDS and 75 µg of clove buds extract after cryopreservation processes. Higher levels of clove bud extract, however, had adverse effects on all the sperm quality parameters and significantly reduced (P<0.05) the motility, movement parameters, viability, and plasma membrane integrity of ovine sperm. It was concluded that the clove bud extract had an antioxidant potential that makes it useful for addition to semen extenders and that the best results are obtained with a maximum clove bud extract of 75 µg/ml. Moreover, the combination of egg yolk and a detergent was found to improve sperm quality after the cooling and freeze-thawing processes.

Two-year outcomes of electrosurgery and calcium-enriched mixture pulpotomy in primary teeth: a randomised clinical trial.

AIM: The purpose of this prospective split-mouth, randomised clinical trial was to assess the clinical and radiographic success rate of pulpotomy in primary molars using calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement or placement of zinc oxide eugenol after electrosurgery (ES/ZOE). METHODS: Pulpotomy was performed for 102 primary second molars in 51 children aged between 4 and 6 years. Considering a split-mouth design, for each patient the right and left second primary molars randomly underwent pulpotomy using CEM cement or ES/ZOE. All teeth were restored using preformed metal crowns. Following pulpotomy procedure, teeth were blindly evaluated for clinical and radiographic success after 6, 12 and 24 months. McNemar test and SPSS 16 software were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: After 24 months, clinical success rates were 100% in both groups, however, radiographic success rates of ES/ZOE and CEM were calculated as 95.2 and 90%, respectively, with no significant difference (p = 0.625). The most common radiographic sign of failure was internal resorption. CONCLUSION: The results of this investigation show that the treatment success rate with CEM cement was similar to the electrosurgical pulpotomy.

National guidelines for outbreak investigation: an evaluation study.

This paper reports an independent epidemiological study to evaluate the validity of the results of an official investigation into an outbreak of gastroenteritis at a university campus in Yasuj, central-south Islamic Republic of Iran. The official report of the outbreak by the Department for Disease Control at the provincial health centre found only 65 cases over a 5-day period, all females, living in the student halls of residence. This contrasts with a questionnaire survey of 963 students at the same university, which found 395 students (192 males and 203 females), living in residences and at home, who reported at least 1 gastrointestinal symptom over a 12-week period. Within this period at least 2 outbreaks occurred. Such a large discrepancy between the official report and the current study suggests that the health services and the public may have been misled about the proper response to the outbreak.