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Statement of the Problem: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) presents with a shooting pain in maxillofacial region which compels the involved patients to visit many medical and dental physicians to relieve the pain. Hence, assessing the outcomes of different treatment modalities may help the patients and their clinicians choose a suitable practical method of treatment. Purpose: The study was aimed to evaluate the outcomes of different treatments of TN and to determine which surgical or non-surgical treatment is better for controlling the pain. Materials and Method: This study included 42 patients with trigeminal neuralgia. A questionnaire was completed for each patient in order to evaluate the pain control status of patients' treatment with non-surgical (pharmaceutical) and surgical modalities. The questionnaire consisted of questions on an datasheet , concerning the duration of involvement with the condition, type and dose of the medication(s) used, the surgical technique administrated, patient satisfaction with the treatment modality and the intensity and frequency of the pain if present. The purpose of the study and the necessary information regarding the questions of the data sheet was given in detail to the patients for a careful completion of the questionnaires. Data was analyzed by adopting t-test using SPSS software. Results: The results showed that the patients treated with pharmaceutical modalities had relatively lower improvement rate than those treated with surgery combined with medication (p< 0.035). Carbamazepine was the most consumed medication for pain control and the microvascular decompression was the most performed surgical method in patients. Conclusion: Although medication therapy alone was less effective than surgery combined with medication, both treatment modalities were significantly effective in controlling the pain of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cryosurgery is one of the simplest, most effective gingival depigmentation methods.Repigmentation may happen after a while in each method. The aim of this study is to compare the recurrence rate after treatment by liquid nitrogen swap and a cryoprob in 18 months.Materials and Methods: A total of 26 patients with physiologic gingival pigmentation were selected.The anterior sextant was divided into left and right segments; each segment was treated random lyby swap technique or cryoprob. Standard photos were evaluated with photoshop software (Red,Green, Blue, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black [RGB, CMYK]) before and at 2 week, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15,18 months after the treatment. The results were compared, by the independent t-test and repeated measure ANOVA thereafter least signifi cant difference post-hoc. The viewpoints of patients and physicians regarding the treatment outcomes were obtained by a questionnaire and consequentlyevaluated qualitatively by McNemar test (P < 0.05 was considered as significant level).Results: The statistical analysis showed a significant difference in color change after the treatment during 18 months, in each group (P < 0.001). The mean values of RGB had significantly increased after 2 weeks in both methods (P < 0.001), but the differences from 2 weeks to 18 months after treatment were not significant (P > 0.05). The mean values of CMYK significantly decreased after2 weeks in both methods (P < 0.001), but the differences from 2 weeks to 18 months after treatment were not significant (P > 0.05). Qualitative evaluation showed the preference of the cryosurgery with swap method (P < 0.001). No significant recurrence was observed during 18 months follow-up.Conclusion: Both methods of cryosurgery are appropriate in treatment of gingival depigmentation because no significant recurrence was observed during 18 months follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the introduction of engine-driven nickel-titanium (NiTi) instruments, attempts have been made to minimize or eliminate their inherent defects, increase their surface hardness/flexibility and also improve their resistance to cyclic fatigue and cutting efficiency. The various strategies of enhancing instrument surface include ion implantation, thermal nitridation, cryogenic treatment and electropolishing. The purpose of this paper was to review the metallurgy and crystal characteristics of NiTi alloy and to present a general over review of the published articles on surface treatment of NiTi endodontic instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is challenging and plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and staging of the disease. A variety of imaging modalities, such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear medicine are currently used in evaluating patients with HCC. Although the best option for the treatment of these cases is hepatic resection or transplantation, only 20% of HCCs are surgically treatable. In those patients who are not eligible for surgical treatment, interventional therapies such as transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), radio-frequency ablation (RFA), percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMC), laser ablation or cryoablation, and acetic acid injection are indicated. In this paper, we aimed to review the evidence regarding imaging modalities and therapeutic interventions of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydatid cysts of soft-tissue organs occur in five forms: univesicular, multivesicular, calcified (aborted), ruptured (into adjacent body cavities or host organ ducts), and infected. Each of these distinct forms requires an appropriate surgical approach. For uni- or multivesicular cysts uncontrolled spillage of fertile elements of the parasite is a major hazard. A new method using local freezing of the cyst's outer layer and 0.5% silver nitrate as a scolicidal agent effectively overcomes this problem. Calcified cysts can be left alone. Suppuration or rupture into adjacent body cavities or internal organ channels must be handled according to basic surgical principles and all of the parasitic material removed.