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Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of Viola odorata extract, with or without the addition of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), against Streptococcus mutans.Methods: Two series of V. odorata hydroalcoholic extracts were prepared at concentrations of 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/ml. Five hundred ppm ZnO NPs were added to 500 ml of the V. odorata extracts in half of the samples. The antibacterial activity of the extracts was then tested using the agar well diffusion method against S. mutans, and the inhibition zones were determined. The control groups were 0.2% chlorhexidine and Salvadora persica mouthwashes. Statistical analysis was performed using an independent-sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Duncan's post-hoc test (α=0.05).Results: Adding ZnO NPs significantly improved the inhibition zone of V. odorata extract at all concentrations (P < 0.05). The largest inhibition zone was observed in the 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash, significantly greater than all other groups (P < 0.001). The inhibition diameter for S. persica mouthwash was significantly greater than that of all the V. odorata extracts (P < 0.001), except for the group containing 200 mg/ml extract with ZnO NPs (P > 0.05).Conclusions: Adding 500 ppm ZnO NPs enhanced the antibacterial activity of the V. odorata extract. The antibacterial effect of the 200 mg/ml V. odorata extract combined with ZnO NPs was comparable to that of S. persica mouthwash against S. mutans. Given the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of the V. odorata extract, this formulated mouthwash shows potential for improving patients' oral health.

Abstract Background The desirable properties of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) make it an effective agent for managing dental caries and tooth hypersensitivity. There are several clinical instances that SDF application might precede the placement of direct tooth-colored restorations. On the other hand, SDF stains demineralized/carious dental tissues black, which might affect the esthetic outcomes of such restorations. Color is a key parameter of esthetics in dentistry. Therefore, this study aims to systematically review dental literature on color/color change of tooth-colored restorations placed following the application of SDF on dentine. Methods Comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus and ISI Web of Science databases (until August 2023) as well as reference lists of retrieved studies was performed. In vitro studies reported color or color change of tooth-colored restorative materials applied on SDF-treated dentine were included. Methodological quality assessment was performed using RoBDEMAT tool. Pooled weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was calculated. Results Eleven studies/reports with a total of 394 tooth-colored restorations placed following a) no SDF (control) or b) SDF with/without potassium iodide (KI)/glutathione dentine pre-treatments were included. Color change was quantified using ∆E formulas in most reports. The pooled findings for the comparison of resin-based composite (RBC) restorations with and without prior 38% SDF + KI application revealed no statistically significant differences in ∆E values at short- and long-term evaluations (~ 14 days: WMD: -0.56, 95% CI: -2.09 to 0.96; I2: 89.6%, and ~ 60 days: WMD: 0.11; 95% CI: -1.51 to 1.72; I2: 76.9%). No studies provided sufficient information for all the items in the risk of bias tool (moderate to low quality). Conclusions The limited evidence suggested comparable color changes of RBC restorations with and without 38% SDF + KI pre-treatment up to 60 days. The included studies lacked uniformity in methodology and reported outcomes. Further studies are imperative to draw more definite conclusions. Protocol registration The protocol of this systematic review was registered in PROSPERO database under number CRD42023485083.

Abstract Background Dentin hypersensitivity, often occurring after dental treatments or from erosive lesions, is a prevalent patient complaint. This study introduces a paste combining 8% L-arginine, calcium carbonate, and potassium nitrate to evaluate its impact on dentinal tubules occlusion, dentin permeability, and tooth sensitivity. Methods Dentin surfaces from 24 third molars (thickness: 2 mm) were divided into two groups of 12. One received the experimental paste, while the other received a placebo without desensitizer. Permeability and sealing ability were assessed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dentin permeability measurement. The pastes’ effects on hypersensitivity were then examined in a triple-blind, randomized parallel-armed clinical trial with 16 eligible patients. Sensitivity to cold, touch, and spontaneous stimuli was recorded using the VAS scale at various intervals post-treatment. Statistical analysis was conducted using Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney U, Friedman, and Wilcoxon tests (α = 0.05). Results The permeability test demonstrated a significant reduction in dentin permeability in the experimental group (P = 0.002) compared to the control (P = 0.178). SEM images revealed most dentinal tubules in the intervention samples to be occluded. Clinically, both groups showed a significant decrease in the three types of evaluated sensitivity throughout the study. However, no significant difference in sensitivities between the two groups was observed, with the exception of cold sensitivity at three months post-treatment (P = 0.054). Conclusion The innovative desensitizing paste featuring 8% L-arginine, calcium carbonate, and potassium nitrate effectively occluded dentinal tubules and reduced dentin permeability. It mitigated immediate and prolonged dentin hypersensitivity to various stimuli, supporting its potential role in managing dentin hypersensitivity. Trial registration http://irct.ir : IRCT20220829055822N1, September 9th, 2022.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of adding CPP-ACP into a daily-use toothpaste on the remineralization of enamel caries lesions.Methods: Thirty enamel blocks were obtained from bovine incisors. Each specimen was divided into three equal parts. One-third of each block was coated with varnish to serve as a sound control area, while the remaining two-thirds underwent a demineralization process. After demineralization, another one-third of the surface was varnished, leaving only one-third of the enamel to undergo remineralization. The enamel blocks were divided into three groups (n=10), according to the remineralization treatment applied as follows: Group 1: fluoride-containing toothpaste, Group 2: CPP-ACP-containing toothpaste, and Group 3: fluoride- and CPP–ACP–containing toothpaste. Remineralization was assessed through the Vickers microhardness test at various depths (20, 50, 120 and 200 µm). The data were analyzed by ANOVA and LSD test, and P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: There was a significant difference in remineralization efficacy between the groups at the depth of 20 µm (P 0.001). Pairwise comparisons revealed that the toothpaste containing both fluoride and CPP-ACP had a significantly greater microhardness than other experimental groups (P 0.05). No significant difference was observed between the study groups concerning microhardness at 50, 120 and 200 µm depths (P 0.05).Conclusions: CPP-ACP can serve as a suitable alternative to fluoride in daily-use toothpaste for enamel remineralization. The concurrent use of fluoride and CPP-ACP in toothpaste can generate a synergistic remineralizing effect at the enamel surface layer.

Abstract Objective This study evaluates the efficacy of a novel mucoadhesive patch containing Nigella sativa 10% extract compared to triamcinolone 0.1% in alleviating symptoms and reducing lesion severity in patients with erosive‐atrophic oral lichen planus. Methods and Materials A pilot study comprising two groups, each with 10 patients, was conducted. The intervention group received mucoadhesive patches containing N. sativa 10% extract, while the control group received triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% patches. Pain and burning intensity, measured through visual analog scale, and lesion severity based on the Thongprasom scale were assessed weekly for 4 weeks. Descriptive records were kept for side effects and patient satisfaction. Results Pain and burning intensity decreased in both groups throughout the sessions, with the N. sativa group showing a greater reduction than the triamcinolone group. The reduction in burning intensity within each group was significant (p .05). Lesion severity also decreased significantly in both groups (p

Background: In this study, the effect of conventional in-person education and in-person education based on videos and posters on the level of knowledge and satisfaction of students was compared in the course of clinical applications of laser in dentistry.Materials & Methods: In this comparative applied study, 66 dental students were divided into two groups to take the course on clinical applications of lasers. The first group underwent conventional in-person education, and the second group underwent in-person education based on learning aids. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire that the students completed after completing the course and included 15 questions in two fields, including knowledge level (9 questions) and satisfaction level (6 questions). The data were analyzed with SPSS software (version 24). Independent sample T-test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Significance level was set at 0.05. Results: The mean and standard deviation of the knowledge and satisfaction scores of the students who completed the course through conventional in-person education were 24.06 ± 6.8 (out of 36 scores) and 17.09 ± 5.15 (out of 24 scores), respectively. The mean and standard deviation of the knowledge and satisfaction scores of the students who had taken the in-person education based on learning aids were 24.56 ± 7.05 and 17.73 ± 5.1, respectively. Statistical analysis did not show a significant difference between the two study methods (P

Abstract This study evaluated the efficacy of a formulated remineralizing gallic acid (GA) varnish in treating artificial enamel caries lesions. Fifty-five intact bovine incisors were collected. Enamel blocks (5 × 9 mm) were prepared. A third of each block’s surface remained intact. Primary carious lesions were induced on the middle and bottom thirds of the blocks by immersing the samples in a demineralization solution for 6 h. The bottom third of the blocks were further remineralized by randomly applying 0.5%, 2%, or 8% GA varnishes and 2.26% fluoride varnish (V varnish, Vericom, Seoul, Korea), or the varnish base without active ingredients (n = 11 each). The specimens were immersed in a remineralizing solution for 4 h and then subjected to a 2-hour immersion in the demineralizing solution. After six days of pH cycling, the surface microhardness was measured at depths of 30, 75, and 120 μm. The percentage of surface microhardness recovery (SMHR%) was compared among the groups using the Shapiro-Wilk, ANOVA, and Tukey HSD post-hoc tests (α = 0.05). The SMHR% of all experimental groups was higher than the control group at 30 μm (p

Abstract Aim To investigate the effect of increasing duration of family members' presence on sleep status in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) admitted to the cardiac care unit. Design Randomized controlled trial. Methods Ninety patients with ACS randomly assigned into two groups. No intervention was performed in control group. In the intervention group, the time of family members presence was changed from 1 h per day to 2 h per day from the second to the fourth day. Then, ST Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire was completed by the patients every day during the study. Results The patients in the intervention group had statistically significantly better sleep status during the course of intervention compared to the control group. Patient or Public Contribution The increasing duration of family members' presence can improve the sleep quality and quantity of ACS patients.

Objectives: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common peripheral entrapment neuropathy with squeezing of the median nerve and the patient is unable to function properly. There are different physiotherapy interventions for the management of these patients and recently, shock wave therapy and low-power laser (LPL) have been widely used, but there is no strong evidence comparing the effect of shock wave therapy and LLLT. Therefore, this trial was designed to compare the effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), LPL, and routine interventions on clinical outcomes and electrophysiological parameters in patients with moderate CTS. Methods: Fifty-four patients were randomly assigned to the control (routine interventions), ESWT, and LPL therapy groups. All participants received transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapeutic ultrasound, hot pack, mobilization, and stretching for ten sessions over two weeks. Additionally, the ESWT group received radial ESWT in four sessions, and the LPL therapy group received laser in ten sessions. The primary outcomes were pain (assessed by the visual analog scale), function (assessed using the Boston questionnaire (BQ)), hand grip, and finger pinch strength. Secondary outcomes were electrophysiological parameters (distal motor and sensory latency and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) of the median nerve. Results: Time group interactions were significant for pain, the symptom severity subscale of BQ, finger pinch, and hand grip strength (p0.05). Discussion: Although laser therapy increased the efficacy of routine interventions, it seems adding ESWT to the routine treatment may be superior for the management of moderate CTS patients. Coresponding author: Khadijeh Otadi, E-mail: k_otadi@sina.tums.ac.ir You can also search for this author in: PubMed, Google Scholar

Objective: Smart ion-releasing restorative materials may increase the success and survival rate of composite dental restorations. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of sintering temperature on the mechanical properties and ion-releasing behavior of fluorohydroxyapatite (FHA)-filled dental resin composites.Methods: The FHA was synthesized via a sol-gel method and sintered at three temperatures (250, 500, and 1000ºC). FHA fillers were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, then coated with citric acid and incorporated (40% w/w) into a photo-curable resin matrix (Bis-GMA, TEGDMA, HEMA; weight ratio 2:1:1). Flexural strength (FS) and diametral tensile strength (DTS) were measured, as well as the depth of cure, which was determined by the Vickers microhardness test. The release of calcium and fluoride ions was monitored for a month in diluted citric acid (pH=4.3), and the effect of acidic storage on mechanical properties was evaluated via DTS testing. The filler distribution was observed via scanning electron microscopy. The influence of sintering temperature on the measured variables was statistically analyzed using one-way and two-way ANOVA (α=0.05).Results: The XRD results revealed increased crystallinity with higher sintering temperatures. Correspondingly, mechanical properties improved with increasing sintering temperature (P

tement of the Problem: Due to the unfavorable properties of eugenol, the eugenol content can be reduced to improve the properties of zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) by making a new combination of nanocurcumin called curcumin pulpal paste (CPP).Purpose: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the solubility and tooth discoloration of three concentrations of CPP compared to ZOE, and Metapex.Materials and Method: In this in vitro study for evaluating of the solubility, five groups including ZOE, Metapex, and three concentrations of CPP (5%, 10%, and 20%) were tested. For evaluating the solubility, the changes in of the weight of samples were measured at 1, 3, 7 and 30 days after initial setting. In order to evaluate the tooth discoloration, 75 bovine maxillary anterior teeth were filled with one of five pulpal pastes. The changes in tooth color were evaluated at 1 hour, 1 week, 1 and 3 months after material placement.Results: The solubility increased by increasing the nano-curcumin percentage in CPPs. After 30 days, the solubility of the 5%CPP, and ZOE was not significantly different (p= 1.000). According to the colorimetric test, after 3 months, the highest discoloration was recorded for 20%CPP (8.45), and the smallest discoloration was registered for Metapex (4.06). The discoloration of 5%CPP, and 10% CPP was similar to ZOE’s color change (p> 0.05).Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the solubility of pulpal paste has increased with increasing curcumin concentrations. Therefore, pulpal paste with different nanocurcumin concentrations can be used considering the patient's age and the desired time of deciduous tooth loss, and dissolution of pulpal paste. Concerning the discoloration after 3 months, Metapex was the best material and the most discoloration rate was related to 20%CPP, and there was no difference between the 5% CPP, and 10% CPP with ZOE.

Objectives. This study aimed to develop a gel with dentin-remineralizing properties, integrating nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA), sodium fluoride (NaF), and bioactive glass (BG). Materials and Methods. The enamel layer of 40 bovine incisors was removed. The samples were allocated into four groups of 10 each, based on varying concentrations of nHA, BG, and NaF in the gel compositions (wt%): (1) 2.5%–7.5%−0.05%, (2) 5%−5%−0.05%, (3) 7.5%–2.5%−0.05%, and (4) a control group with a base gel lacking remineralizing agents. After 8 hr of demineralization, the dentin surface microhardness was measured at depths of 30, 60, and 140 µm. After a 20-day pH cycling, the percentage of surface microhardness recovery (SMHR%) was measured and compared among the groups using the ANOVA and Tukey HSD post hoc tests (α = 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy analysis evaluated each specimen’s superficial morphology. Results. At all depths, the SMHR% of the Group 2 and Group 3 was significantly higher than the control group (p

Introduction: Dental sensitivity is one of the most prevalent clinical consequences among patients who receive in-office bleaching therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of adding sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) to an in-office bleaching gel on tooth whitening and sensitivity after the treatment. Methods: The right and left maxillary lateral incisors of 34 patients were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. In the control side, a bleaching gel containing 37.5% hydrogen peroxide was used, whereas in the intervention side, a combination of the same bleaching gel with 1% SHMP was applied for 30 minutes. Tooth sensitivity to cold, tactile sensitivity, and spontaneous sensitivity was measured before the treatment, and immediately, 24 hours, one week, and one month after therapy. Color changes were measured objectively by a spectrophotometer using the total variation in color (ΔE), and subjectively by a Vita Classical Shade Guide (ΔSGU). Results: Immediately after bleaching, cold and tactile sensitivity was higher in the control group compared with the intervention group, but there was no significant difference between groups in any of the sensitivity parameters at different measurement intervals (P>0.05). Spontaneous and tactile sensitivity decreased significantly in both groups over one month (P0.05). Conclusion: The addition of SHMP to the bleaching gel could not reduce sensitivity to cold, as well as tactile and spontaneous sensitivity; however, it showed no adverse effect on the bleaching effectiveness. (J Dent Mater Tech 2023;12(1): 1-9)

Introduction: This study evaluated the effect of central cavitation depth and the presence of ferrule on the mechanical retention of zirconia endo-crowns.Methods: A mandibular molar was selected and scanned after different preparations. The preparation designs were grouped as follows: Group 1 (Control): Full coverage complete crown, group 2 (EF4): endo-crown with 4 mm central cavity depth and ferrule, group 3 (E4): butt joint endo-crown with 4 mm central cavity depth, group 4 (E2): butt joint endo-crown with 2 mm central cavity depth, and group 5 (EF2): endo-crown with 2 mm central cavity depth and ferrule. Then zirconia copings were made using computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) and cemented by glass ionomer. After thermocycling, the specimens were subjected to a tensile test along the axis and at an angle of 30°.Results: All restorations in E2 were deboned during thermocycling. There was no significant difference between the other groups in pulling-out forces. Pulling-out forces under the axial test were 75.7 N, 84.7 N, 98.7 N, and 80.9 N, and under the lateral force were 21.2 N, 27.5 N, 35.4 N, and 28.5 N, for the control, E4, EF4, and EF2 groups, respectively. The difference in pulling-out forces was not significant between the control, E4, EF4, and EF2 groups (P=0.46).Conclusion: The presence of ferrule increased mechanical retention to some extent. It appears that peripheral reduction in the aims of gaining a ferrule may increase mechanical retention in teeth with shallow cavity depths. (J Dent Mater Tech 2023;12(1): 35-42)

Pain at the injection site is one of the most common complaints in the clinic and is the most important symptom affecting the quality of life of hemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of this study was to determine the effect and compare the topical application of peppermint and cold compresses on the intensity of pain caused by the insertion of a needle into the fistula of HD patients. In this parallel randomized clinical trial, 99 HD patients were assigned to three groups receiving peppermint, a cold compress, or a control using six blocks. For the peppermint group, 20 min before the needle's insertion, a peppermint gel was used; for the cold compress group, an ice pack was used; and for the control group, the usual method was applied. The patients' pain was assessed with the Visual Analog Scale immediately after the needle's insertion. The results showed that after the intervention, the mean and standard deviation of the pain score in the intervention groups receiving peppermint (4.81 ± 1.13) or a cold compress (4.78 ± 1.13) were significantly less than those of the control group (8.42 ± 1.22) (P

Introduction: Plaque accumulation during orthodontic treatment is commonly seen around orthodontic brackets and the cervical margin of the bands. Glass ionomer cement is generally used for cementing orthodontic bands. Although glass-ionomer can release fluoride, it cannot prevent tooth demineralization during orthodontic therapy. This experimental study aimed to determine the effect of adding propolis on mechanical and antimicrobial properties of glass ionomer luting cement used in orthodontics.Materials and Methods: Initially, ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) was prepared. To evaluate the antibacterial activity, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum inhibitory bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the mixture of glass ionomer with different concentrations of EEP were determined using the broth dilution method. To assess the shear bond strength, 75 sound premolar teeth were selected and randomly divided into three groups. In the first group, premolar bands were cemented with glass ionomer cement. In the second and third groups, the bands were cemented with glass ionomer cement mixed with 0.05 and 0.075 g propolis, respectively. The maximum force required for debanding was measured with an Instron machine. Mean shear bond strength was compared between the three groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test.Results: The MIC and MBC values of the mixture of glass ionomer and propolis were determined at 0.05 mg/ml and 0.1 mg/ml propolis, respectively. There was not a significant difference between the three groups regarding their mean bond strength.Conclusion: Adding propolis extract to glass ionomer cement increased the antibacterial propolis without adverse effects on the shear bond strength of orthodontic bands.

Abstract Background Acceptance of diabetes is a psychological adaptation to the potential limitations of the disease. Poor acceptance of diabetes impairs effective self-management of diabetes, leading to worsening metabolic control. This study aimed at determining the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Diabetes Acceptance Scale. Methods This cross-sectional methodological study was performed on diabetic patients in Iran in 2021. The questionnaire consisted of two parts: demographic characteristics and Diabetes Acceptance Scale. The questionnaire was translated into Persian through the forward–backward translation method. The face validity and content validity were performed qualitatively and quantitatively. Exploratory (n = 200) and confirmatory (n = 200) factor analysis were performed to evaluate the validity of the structure. Internal consistency and temporal stability were estimated to determine reliability. Results Exploratory factor analysis on the polychoric correlation matrix obtained three factors: Rational dealing, Resentment and Avoidance, which explained 68.8% of the total DAS variance. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the 3-fractor model had a good fit to a second independent data set. Finally, Ordinal Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.96, 0.94 and 0.93, respectively for the Rational dealing, Resentment, and Avoidance factor. Also, using intraclass correlation coefficient, the stability of the instrument was 0.97. Conclusion Based on the findings of this study, the Persian version of DAS has sufficient validity and reliability to measure the admission of Iranian diabetic patients.

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding 10-MDP to resin-modified glass ionomer on its dentin bond strength and fluoride release.

Introduction: Although carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is an incident entrapment neuropathy disorder, there has been inadequate evidence about the effect evaluation of adding low-level laser therapy to ultrasound (US) plus median nerve glide exercises in these patients. Hence, this research investigated the trace of US plus median nerve glide exercises with and without low-level laser therapy (LLLT). Materials and Methods: Thirty-six patients with moderate CTS in two groups of intervention were assessed. One group received 10 sessions of adding LLLT to median nerve glide exercises plus US and the other group received median nerve glide exercises plus US without LLLT. Outcome measures were hand grip strength (HGS), visual analogue scale (VAS), Boston questionnaire (BQ), and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve. Results: Baseline analysis revealed similarities between the two groups in all parameters. Statistical analysis indicated significant improvement of HGS, VAS, BQ, and CSA of the median nerve in two groups of intervention. Conclusion: In patients with CTS, US and median nerve glide exercises with and without LLLT significantly improved without the superiority of adding LLLT to mentioned treatment.

Objective: To determine the effect of ozonated water on the color stability of denture tooth and denture bases. Material and Methods: Thirty denture base discs consisting of 15 Acropars and 15 ProBase Hot specimens with the dimensions of 40 × 5 mm were prepared. Fifteen denture teeth in shade A1 (Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein) were mounted in a specific acrylic jig. All specimens were immersed in three solutions (1% sodium hypochlorite, ozonated water, and distilled water) for four months (one year of clinical use). Color measurements were done with a spectrophotometer and assessed using the CIE L*a*b* colorimetric system (0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks). Data were analyzed using the three-way ANOVA and Tukey test ( α =0.05). Results: Tukey's post hoc test revealed a significant change in color in the Acropars denture base for the distilled water group compared to the ozonated water and 1% hypochlorite (p

In order to study the concentration of heavy metals in important rivers in the southern part of the Caspian Sea, samples were collected in three upstream points, estuary and depth of 1 to 10 m of the sea, a surface sediment sample and a core sample. Granulation analysis, organic matter assay, and determination of heavy metal concentrations were performed on each sample. The highest concentrations of iron (45000 ppm), aluminum (74000 ppm), chromium (142.78 ppm), cobalt (33.67 ppm) and lead (56.70 ppm) in Ramsar, arsenic (18.45 ppm) and Zinc (110.3 ppm) was observed in Gorganrood river, nickel (60 ppm) in Qarahsu river and copper (52.63 ppm) in Sefidrood. Moreover, the lowest concentration of elements in the core of Gorgan Bay (K5) and a depth of 85 cm with an approximate age of 1400 years was obtained, which was used as the baseline reference. Based on the contamination degree (Cd) index, three rivers of Babolrood, Cheshmeh Kileh and Sardabroud were classified in the range of moderate contamination and Gorganrood, Qarahsoo, Tajan, Ramsar and Sefidrood rivers were classified in the area of ​​significant contamination. Based on the modified contamination degree index (mCd), all rivers were in the range of low to medium contamination degree, and pollution load index (PLI) was in the range of more than 1 (slightly polluted to polluted) at most stations. In terms of ecological risk index (RI), rivers were in the low-risk range. Enrichment index (EF) in sediments of estuarine sections showed that the rivers are probably enriched by various factors such as geology, climatic conditions, and human factors having moderate to severe pollution.

Background: The role of fluorescein in detecting dental plaque has been introduced recently. However, the effect of adding fluorescein to toothpastes and its cytotoxic effects on gingival cells are still unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of fluorescein on human gingival fibroblasts using MTT assay.Methods and Materials: In this in-vitro study, 0.1% fluorescein was added to three different toothpastes including Sensodyne ProNamel, Signal Complete 8, and Darougar 1. Next, different concentrations of each toothpaste (3%, 25% and 50%) were prepared. The same concentrations of each toothpaste without fluorescein were served as controls. Human gingival fibroblast cells in contact with various concentrations of toothpastes were incubated for 2, 5 and 10 minutes. The mean cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay.Results: The mean cell viability of toothpastes with and without fluorescein was reported to be 40.88% ± 31.62% and 47.18% ± 31.82%, respectively. No significant difference was found between the cell viability of these groups (P=0.73). There was a significant difference in cell viability between the three different concentrations of each toothpaste (P

Crop classification using remote sensing data has emerged as a prominent research area in recent decades. Studies have demonstrated that fusing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and optical images can significantly enhance the accuracy of classification. However, a major challenge in this field is the limited availability of training data, which adversely affects the performance of classifiers. In agricultural regions, the dominant crops typically consist of one or two specific types, while other crops are scarce. Consequently, when collecting training samples to create a map of agricultural products, there is an abundance of samples from the dominant crops, forming the majority classes. Conversely, samples from other crops are scarce, representing the minority classes. Addressing this issue requires overcoming several challenges and weaknesses associated with the traditional data generation methods. These methods have been employed to tackle the imbalanced nature of training data. Nevertheless, they still face limitations in effectively handling minority classes. Overall, the issue of inadequate training data, particularly for minority classes, remains a hurdle that the traditional methods struggle to overcome. In this research, we explore the effectiveness of a conditional tabular generative adversarial network (CTGAN) as a synthetic data generation method based on a deep learning network, for addressing the challenge of limited training data for minority classes in crop classification using the fusion of SAR-optical data. Our findings demonstrate that the proposed method generates synthetic data with a higher quality, which can significantly increase the number of samples for minority classes, leading to a better performance of crop classifiers. For instance, according to the G-mean metric, we observed notable improvements in the performance of the XGBoost classifier of up to 5% for minority classes. Furthermore, the statistical characteristics of the synthetic data were similar to real data, demonstrating the fidelity of the generated samples. Thus, CTGAN can be employed as a solution for addressing the scarcity of training data for minority classes in crop classification using SAR–optical data.

Abstract Aim Adherence to lifestyle recommendations, medical regimens and cardiac rehabilitation is poor among patients with acute coronary syndrome. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of nurse‐led counselling and education using a person‐centred care approach on short‐term cardiac self‐efficacy in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Design A parallel, two‐armed, randomized controlled trial was conducted. Methods One hundred twenty patients who were hospitalized with diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome were selected and randomly assigned into intervention (n = 60) or control (n = 60) groups. In the intervention group, in addition to routine care, the nurse‐led counselling and education programme included two face‐to‐face sessions, two telephone counselling and education sessions, using the person‐centred care approach. Participants in the control group received only routine care. Data were collected using the cardiac self‐efficacy scale before the intervention and 1 month after discharge. Results After the intervention, we found that cardiac self‐efficacy, including the perceived self‐efficacy to control symptoms and maintain function, was statistically significantly higher in the intervention group than the control group.

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disabling worldwide disorder in which the knee osteoarthritis range of motion (ROM) is particularly reduced. Mobilization with Movement (MWM) has shown rapid improvements in pain and functions. The muscle energy technique (MET) is claimed to be effective in muscle lengthening, strengthening, and increasing joint ROM. Materials and Methods: A clinical trial was conducted to compare knee Mulligan (lateral, medial, and rotational glides) techniques (n=15), and post-isometric relaxation muscle energy techniques (quadriceps, hamstring, and tensor fascia latae) (n=15) on pain and function in OA. Results: Twenty-two subjects (73.3%) were grade-II of knee OA and 8 subjects (26.7%) with grade III. The visual analogue scale (VAS) showed significant changes in the reduction of pain. In the VAS, the main effect of time of treatment shows that the mean value of the VAS score was statistically significant between at least two assessment stages (before the first session, after the third session, and after a month) (P

High-tone external muscle stimulation (HTEMS) or high-tone therapy is a new type of electrotherapy. Unlike the conventional electrotherapy that uses a fixed frequency, in HTEMS, the frequency and amplitude are simultaneously modulated, delivering much higher energy into the tissues. Recently, considerable attention has been paid to applying high-tone therapy in managing different disorders. This systematic study, therefore, was set out to assess the effect of high-tone therapy in various neuro-musculoskeletal disorders. After an exclusive search in databases of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, seven relevant studies were selected, including 3 studies for low back pain, 2 studies for peripheral neuropathy, 1 study in multiple sclerosis patients, and 1 preprint study on the subjects with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. PEDro (the physiotherapy evidence database) scale was used to assess the quality of the included articles. Although the studies reported that high-tone therapy significantly improved signs and symptoms, the low number and poor methodological quality of included studies do not allow determining certain effectiveness of HTEMS, and it could be an important reason for performing more research in the future.

Objective: To compare the high-cycle fatigue behavior of four commercially available NiTi orthodontic wires. Material and Methods: Twelve NiTi orthodontic wires, round, 0.016-in, three per brand, were selected and divided into four groups: G1 - Heat-activated NiTi, G2 - Superelastic NiTi, G3 - Therma-Ti, and G4 - CopperNiTi. The atomic absorption spectrometry method was used to determine the chemical composition of investigated NiTi wires. We also performed a fatigue test at three-point bending using a universal testing machine for 1000 cycles in a 35 °C water bath. For the first and thousandth cycle, the average plateau load and the plateau length were determined in the unloading area of the force versus displacement diagram. In addition, we calculated the difference between the average plateau load of the first and thousandth cycle (∆F), as well as the difference between the plateau length of both cases (∆L). Results: According to our results, there were no significant differences between the average plateau load of the first and thousandth cycles of each group (p>0.05) and in the plateau length of the first and thousandth cycles of the groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: There were no significant differences between the groups changing the superelasticity property after high-cycle fatigue.

In normative studies, which provide qualitative result to promote children's independent mobility (CIM), enough attention is not paid to the attitudes of children, parents, and experts. Positive research that investigates children's independent mobility using measuring instruments, the researcher understanding of the study context and perceptual characteristics of children and parents is limited. The present study aims at investigating the variables of children's independent mobility using exploration and confirmatory methods, respectively. Analysis of 1896 behavioral places made possible discovering 9 selected range of independent mobility and 4 principles related to the promotion of children's independent mobility . Expert attitudes were assessed by Delphi technique and the exploratory principles were ranked by Shannon’s entropy. Factor analysis was used to confirm the effect of 5 factors on improving children's independent mobility (N= 204). The housing type, number of floors, level of residency, street type, green-space, perceived safety and gender differences were variables related to children's independent mobility .

Introduction: Different surface treatments were preposed to prepare the tooth structure for resin composite bonding. One of the most common preparation is using of phosphoric acid etching. This study conducted to determine the etching effectiveness of a new formulated acid etchant (Exir) and compared it with two commercial products. Methods: To determine the physical properties, the viscosity and shelf life were evaluated by a viscometer and a centrifuge over the time, respectively. SEM micrographs were uesd to show the geometry of bovine enamel and dentin surfaces which were treated by three etchants. The µSBS of composite to treated dental tissues was also investigated. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey test (α=0.05). Results: Exir etchant showed the lower viscosity compared with two other gels and two-phase separation did not significantly increase during suggested period. The SEM images of enamel samples treated with Exir etchant showed regular etching patterns and less remnant in comparison with other groups. The SEM mages of dentin samples treated with Exir etchant, unlike others, showed wide open dentin tubules with clear exposed collagen fibers. Enamel and dentin µSBS were 30.08±6.79 and 7.29±1.27 for Exir etchant, 23.31±6.64 and 8.49±3.61 for Morva Etch and 23.22±7.05 and 6.16±1.68 for Ultra-Etch, respectivley. The µSBS values ​​for enamel was significantly higher in Exir treated group (P=0.017), while there was no significant difference in dentin µSBS values among three tested etchants (P=0.07). Conclusion: The results of this study showed Exir etchant can provide acceptable results used on dentin and enamel substrates.

Introduction: After being discharged, patients with heart failure, are exposed to the problems of disease management in the family and community, and follow-up interventions after discharging can play a significant supportive role in promoting a sense of worth in them. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of post-discharge telephone follow-up on the inherent dignity of patients with heart failure. Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 70 patients with heart failure referred to cardiac and cardiac care units of a hospital in an urban area of Iran were selected and assigned into two intervention and control groups using the block randomization with block size of 4. The intervention group was followed up by telephone for one month once a week with regard to drug use, symptoms, daily activities, and type of nutrition. The patients' inherent dignity was assessed using the Inherent Dignity Questionnaire (IDQ) before and after one month of the intervention. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 16. Results: In this study, 70 patients with heart failure were compared in two groups of intervention and control with mean and standard age deviation of 65±10.68, and 67±13.31 years (P꞊0.46). Independent t-test showed a statistically significant difference between the groups in the mean score difference of intrinsic dignity (0.8±0.3 and 0.07±0.2, respectively), before and after the intervention (P

Statement of the Problem: Some patients may report moderate-to-severe pain and/or swelling following root canal treatment, which is undesirable for both the patient and dentist and may require an unscheduled emergency visit by patients to relieve their symptoms. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the post-treatment flare-up incidence following application of nano zinc oxide-eugenol (NZOE) sealer in mandibular first molars with irreversible pulpitis. Materials and Method: This single-blinded study was performed on 60 patients having mandibular first molars with irreversible pulpitis. After signing the written consent form, the patients were randomly divided into two groups considering their age range (20-34 and 35-50 years). Individuals without systemic diseases and with a first mandibular molar diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis due to caries, no sinus track and abscess, normal periapical radiographic appearance, no spontaneous pre-treatment pain, not taken any medication for at least 8 hours before the treatment visit were included in this study. Patients of both sexes with age range of 20 to 50 years were selected. In order to obturate the root canal space, AH26 sealer was used in the one group and the synthesized NZOE was applied in another group. The patients were then given questionnaires to report the severity of pain and presence of swelling during 6, 18, 24, and 48 hours of follow-up. The data was analyzed using SPSS v.19 software applying repeated measures ANOVA. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results: The severity of pain was significantly lower in NZOE group at 24 hours post-treatment (p= 0.003). Patients reported no symptoms of swelling in any group. Conclusion: NZOE sealer manifested satisfactory results and could be regarded as a promising substitute to routine sealers since patients may experience less pain during the first hours after receiving root canal therapy.

Background: Studies have shown that 75% of men and 35% of women over the age of 10 have hamstring tightness. Hamstring tightness is one of the major causes of hamstring injury and loss of function. Dry needling which is a common intervention used by physiotherapists for the treatment of common various conditions can improve hamstring flexibility in less time than other interventions. So, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of dry needling on flexibility and electrophysiological indices in healthy men with hamstring tightness. Methods: In this two-way blind clinical trial with a control group, which was performed from November 2018 to February 2019 in the laboratory of the Faculty of Rehabilitation of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 30 healthy men with hamstring tightness were randomly divided into two groups of dry needling (n=15) and sham needle (n=15). In both groups, dry needling and sham needle, three points of hamstring muscle were needled, each point for one minute during a single session. Outcome measures included flexibility based on passive knee extension test, H-reflex latency, and motor neuron excitability, which were measured three times: before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and one week after the intervention. Results: The results revealed that the mean of passive knee extension test (P=0.54), the mean delay time of H-reflex (P=0.84) and the mean of excitability of the motor neuron (P=0.41) didn’t have significant different between two groups after intervention. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that dry needling had no effect on hamstring flexibility and electrophysiological indices recorded in the soleus muscle of healthy individuals with hamstring tightness.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of photo-activation methods on the shrinkage behavior of bulk-fill resin composites. Materials and Methods: Three bulk-fill resin composites (Tetric N-Ceram bulk-fill, Xtra fill, and Filtek flowable) were compared in terms of polymerization shrinkage, shrinkage stress, and degree of conversion (DC). Two curing methods were used: 1) conventional and 2) soft-start curing. Five disk-shaped specimens of each bulk-fill composite were fabricated. The deflection disk method and custom-made linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) device evaluated the dimensional changes during polymerization. Universal testing machine was used to measure shrinkage stress. To evaluate DC, the absorbance peaks were obtained using Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey test. Results: Tetric N-Ceram bulk-fill (conventional mode) showed the highest polymerization shrinkage rate. Filtek flowable resin composite showed least amount of shrinkage stress and highest DC, while Xtra fill (with conventional curing) showed the highest shrinkage stress. Conclusion: Photo-activation method had no effect on decreasing the polymerization shrinkage except for Tetric N-Ceram; also, polymerization shrinkage stress in Filtek flowable composites with both curing methods was less than other groups. DC was product dependent.

Objective: In this review, we investigated various aspects of Policy Delphi technique to make decision-makers more aware of this pertinent method so that they can use it in their policy decisions in their organizations. Information sources and selected methods for study: This study was conducted using a review method and by searching the related literature in databases such as PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar. In addition, texts in related books or reports were also used. The most important keywords were Policy Delphi, decision making tools, health policy making, decision making, and health. Results: Unlike the traditional Delphi, which seeks consensus on ideas and is a decision-making tool, Policy Delphi is a useful tool for analyzing the policy issues and is more about identifying the opposing views on a policy issue. Policy Delphi seeks to address the policy-related issues and does not seek to reach consensus. In various texts, 6 steps were introduced to this approach: formulating the issues, exposing the options, determining initial positions on the issues, exploring and obtaining the reasons for disagreements, evaluating the underlying reasons, and reevaluating the options. The most important rating scales included desirability, feasibility, importance, and confidence. Conclusion: Application of Policy Delphi in examining policy changes and policy issues is of high importance and can emerge many unintended and negative consequences for a policy. So, it is recommended to use this tool in the health sector due to its wide setting and complexity and since it has different stakeholders with different views and opinions.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Benson relaxation (BR) and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) techniques on the sleep quality of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Method: This study was a three-arm, parallel, randomized controlled trial. 120 patients who underwent CABG surgery at two academic hospitals in an urban area of Iran were randomly allocated into three groups (40 per group): the BR, PMR, and control groups. Patients in the BR and the PMR groups performed relevant exercises twice a day for four weeks. Sleep quality was measured before and immediately after the intervention using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results: Within-group comparison in the BR (t = 3.51, p = 0.001) and the PMR (t = 4.58, p 0.05). Conclusion: The study showed that a four-week program of both PMR and BR can be effective in the overall improvement of sleep quality in patients following CABG. Further research is required to replicate the findings of the present study.

Introduction: During a pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) are exposed to many stresses that predispose them to psychological disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the anxiety and depression level of HCWs and determine the relationship between them in terms of their demographic characteristics. Material and methods: This study used a cross-sectional design. The participants consisted of clinical, administrative, and cleaning staff who were working in a referral COVID-19 hospital in an urban area of Iran. The census sampling method was used for recruiting the participants from May to August 2020. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale were employed to collect data. Then, data were analyzed using multivariable linear regression analysis. Results: One hundred forty HCWs participated in this study. The mean scores of anxiety and depression were 6.64 (4.86) and 18.21 (10.59), respectively. There was a significant direct association between anxiety and depression (P < 0.001). In addition, female gender (P = 0.01) and having a history of infection with COVID-19 (P = 0.001) were associated with a higher level of anxiety. Moreover, having a history of being quarantined due to COVID-19 was associated with a higher level of depression (P = 0.03). Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, considering the mental health of HCWs during the generalized anxiety outbreak of COVID-19 should be a priority, and appropriate interventions should be planned to improve their psychological condition.

Ornamental black mulberry (Morus nigra L.) is used in landscape. Ornamental black mulberry which has high shade, tolerates air pollution and wind. White mulberry (Morus alba L.) is proper for kind of soils conditions. Therefore, this research was conducted to investigate the effects of stenting methods and IBA levels on some characters of black mulberry scions onto white mulberry rootstock for the first time. For this purpose, an experiment was carried out as factorial in completely randomized design with 10 replications. Two factors were including two stenting method (splice and omega) and three levels of Indole-3-butyric acid (0, 500 and 1000 mg L-1). Three months after grafting, percentage of rootstock callus formation, percentage of rooting, percentage of leaf formation, number of leaf formation, the longest shoot and the longest root formation were measured. Results showed that the effect of stenting method was significant on all of evaluated parameters and splice method was superior to omega method. Also, the effects of different levels of IBA were significant on all of measured traits and they are increased by increasing the levels of IBA and the best was with 1000 mg L-1. The interaction effects of these factors are significant on all of measured characteristics except for percentage of rootstock callus formation and rooting percentage. In conclusion, the stenting via splice method had higher success in comparison with omega method and the morphological traits increased by increasing the application of higher levels of IBA. The application of stenting method by splice plus 1000 mg L-1 IBA which was carried out for the first time is recommended for reproduction of ornamental black mulberry onto white mulberry.

Objective: To investigate the antimicrobial activity of colloidal selenium nanoparticles in chitosan solution (Cts-Se-NPs) against Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Candida albicans. Material and Methods: Cts-Se-NPs solution was prepared using a simple chemical reduction method. The MIC and MBC against S. mutans, L. acidophilus, and C. albicans were determined using the broth dilution assay. Results: The Cts-Se-NPs had remarkable antimicrobial activity against S. mutans, L. acidophilus, and C. albicans. The MIC values of the Cts-Se-NPs were lowest for S. mutans (0.068 mg/ml) compared to L. acidophilus (0.137 mg/ml), and C. albicans (0.274 mg/ml). The MBC values of the Cts-Se-NPs against the microorganisms after one, two, six, and 24 hours indicated that the concentration of 0.274 mg/ml of Cts-Se-NPs completely killed S. mutans, L. acidophilus, and C. albicans after one, two, and six hours, respectively. At the concentration of 0.137 mg/ml, S. mutans and L. acidophilus were killed after six and 24 hours, respectively. Conclusion: These findings encourage the potential use of Cts-Se-NPs in dentistry, while further clinical research is required in this area.

Abstract Background and Aims Fatigue is one of the most common complaints of the elderly. This study was conducted to assess the effect of zinc supplements on fatigue among the elderly. Methods This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 150 elderly aged ≥60 years who were recruited from the health centers (Kashan, Iran) with a convenience sampling method. Participants were allocated to intervention and control groups by block randomization. Participants in the intervention group received a daily dose of 30 mg of zinc supplement for 70 days; meanwhile, in the control group, no intervention was performed. The level of fatigue was measured by the multidimensional fatigue inventory before and after the intervention. Both groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic variables, fatigue, and serum zinc level before the intervention. The significance level was considered as 0.05 in all tests. Results Zinc supplementation significantly reduced fatigue (mean difference: −10.41 vs 1.37, P

This study aimed to determine the effects of various lasers on dental implants’ surface characteristics. Nine explanted dental implants were included. Two implants were randomly allocated to four intervention groups, namely, diode (2 W, 810 nm, 10 s), CO2 (2 W, 10600 nm, 10 s), Er : YAG (200 mJ/20 Hz, 2940 nm, 10 s), and Er, Cr : YSGG (200 mJ/20 Hz, 2780 nm, 10 s) groups and one control group. After laser irradiation, all implants were imaged with scanning electron microscopy. Qualitative changes on the surface of implants were evaluated. Quantitative surface changes at the threads and between the threads were assessed by software using depression and prominence plots. The paired t-test was used for statistical analysis. Diode laser irradiation showed the least surface changes while the Er : YAG group showed the greatest surface changes. Furthermore, CO2 and Er : YAG laser irradiation significantly altered the mean profile area at the threads (p

In normative studies, which provide qualitative result to promote children's independent mobility (CIM), enough attention is not paid to the attitudes of children, parents and experts. Positive research that investigates CIM using measuring instruments, the researcher understanding of the study context and perceptual characteristics of children and parents is limited. The present study aims at investigating the variables of CIM using exploration and confirmatory methods, respectively. Analysis of 1896 behavioral places made possible discovering 9 selected ranges of independent mobility and 4 principles related to the promotion of CIM. Expert attitudes were assessed by Delphi technique and the exploratory principles were ranked by Shannon's entropy. Factor analysis was used to confirm the effect of 5 factors on improving CIM (N = 204). The housing type, number of floors, level of residency, street type, green-space, perceived safety and gender differences were variables related to CIM.

Background and Aim: Balance disorders are among common complications of chronic low back pain (LBP). Since the tissue and echogenicity of thoracolumbar fascia changes in chronic LBP, the independent motion of fascia layers would negatively alter, and it may affect the control of spine movements. It has been shown that myofascial release (MFR) improves the function of transversus abdominis as a core muscle in LBP. So, MFR may affect the balance and postural control in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate effects of MFR and core stability (CS) exercises on dynamic balance and pain in women with chronic non-specific LBP. Methods: In this pilot study, with a pretest-posttest design, 10 females aged 30 ± 9.04 participated. The participants received one session of MFR on thoracolumbar fascia and CS exercises. The outcome measures were dynamic balance by Y balance test (YBT) and pain with visual analogue scale (VAS), which were assessed before and immediately after the intervention. Results: Dynamic balance improved significantly (p < 0.02) after intervention. The VAS as an indicator of pain intensity showed significant improvement (p = 0.005). Conclusion: The application of MFR plus CS exercises for a single session is effective in improving dynamic balance and pain in women with chronic non-specific LBP.

This study attempted to investigate the effect of sandblasting and H2O2 treatments on the microshear bond strength of two commercially available resin cements. A total of 90 cube-shaped specimens of commercially pure titanium (cp-Ti) were divided into two groups of Panavia and MHA cements (n = 45). Samples of the Panavia group were randomly divided into three subgroups of 15 samples, including subgroups (no treatment, aluminum oxide sandblasting, and immersion in 35% hydrogen peroxide solution with halogen light). Once the treatment was completed, Panavia V5 was applied on the cp-Ti surface by a Tygon tube. The 45 specimens of the MHA cement group were randomly divided into three subgroups (n = 15) similarly to the Panavia group. Then, the MHA was applied on the surface of cp-Ti. A universal testing machine was used to measure and examine the microshear bond strength of cement to cp-Ti subsequent to the step of thermocycling. According to results, in the Panavia cement group, the SBS of sandblasting treatment was significantly higher than that of the H2O2 treatment subgroup (p < 0.05), which displayed a significantly higher SBS than that of the no-treatment subgroup (p < 0.001). In regard to the MHA group, the SBS of the H2O2 treatment subgroup was significantly lower than that of the sandblasting treatment subgroup (p < 0.001), whereas there were no significant differences between the SBS of the no treatment and H2O2 treatment subgroups (p = 0.35). Considering the comparison between Panavia and MHA cases, there were no significant differences observed among the no-treatment subgroups (p = 0.34), as well as the sandblasting treatment subgroups (p = 0.67), while the SBS of the H2O2 treatment subgroup in Panavia cement was higher than that of the H2O2 subgroup in MHA cement (p < 0.001). In conclusion, in both Panavia V5 and MHA cements, sandblasting treatment could improve the bond strength between the titanium surface. However, H2O2 treatment proved to be capable of enhancing the bond strength of Panavia V5 cement without causing any positive effects on the bond strength of MHA cement.

Abstract Background Ultrasound imaging has been suggested for studying the structure and function of nerves and muscles; however, reliability studies are limited to support the usage. The main aim of this study was to explore the intrarater within-session reliability of evaluating the sciatic nerve and some related muscles morphology by ultrasound imaging. Methods Three B-mode images from two scans (transverse and longitudinal) were acquired from the multifidus, biceps femoris, soleus and medial gastrocnemius muscles bilaterally from 15 participants with sciatica and 15 controls in one session, 1-h apart. The data were collected from March to July 2017. Contraction ratio was measured only by longitudinal scan, while the echo intensity was measured using maximum rectangular region of interest in two scans (transverse and longitudinal) for all muscles. Cross-sectional area, direct (tracing) and indirect (ellipsoid formula) methods were used to measure the sciatic nerve. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC 3,1), standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change were calculated. Results Good to high ICCs (0.80–0.96) were found for muscle contraction ratio in the longitudinal scans in all the muscles in both sciatica and control groups. For echo intensity measurements ICCs ranged from moderate to high, with higher ICCs seen with the maximum region of interest in the transverse scans. The minimal detectable change values ranged between 0.11 and 0.53 cm for contraction ratio. Conclusions Ultrasound imaging has high intrarater within-session reliability for assessing the sciatic nerve Cross-sectional area and muscle contraction ratios. Transverse scans with the maximum region of interest result in higher reliability. The sciatic Cross-sectional area is most accurately measured utilizing the direct tracing method rather than the indirect ellipsoid method.

Background and Aim: One of the important factors in microleakage of fissure sealants is saliva contamination. Researchers believe that applying bonding agents can reduce the microleakage. The present study compared the microleakage of a fissure sealant contaminated with artificial saliva at different curing times with or without using a bonding agent. Materials and Methods: In this in-vitro study, 96 extracted premolars were randomly divided into eight groups. Fissure sealant was applied to all groups; in 4 groups after putting on a bonding agent and in remaining four without a bonding agent. Specimens of each group were contaminated with saliva at different times (5, 10, 15 and 20 sec-onds) during curing. Then the microleakage of samples was measured. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to statistically analyze the collected data. Results: No-bonding groups had significantly higher microleakage values than bonding groups. Among bonding groups, the microleakage values were significantly lower when contamination occurred after 15 and 20 seconds of light curing. Amounts of microleakage were similar in no-bonding groups (P=0.39) when contamination occurred at 5, 10 and 15 seconds of curing; however, contamination after 20 seconds led to significantly lower microleakage (P

Background and Purpose: Candida-associated denture stomatitis is one of the most common forms of oral candidiasis among denture wearers. Regarding this, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the antifungal effects of home-generated ozonated water on the adhesion of the C. albicans attached to the surface of the denture base acrylic resins. Materials and Methods: For the purpose of the study, different concentrations of C. albicans were added to the tubes containing acrylic resin blocks, and then incubated for 2 h at 35°C. The samples were assigned into three groups, each of which contained 42 samples, including normal saline (NS) solution as the negative control, nystatin (N) solution as the positive control, and ozonated water as the test group. The samples were washed and placed in an ultrasonic bath. Subsequently, the saline solution was cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar. The concentrations of Candida were evaluated during the contact times. Results: The test group (i.e., ozonated water) with 114 colony-forming units (CFU) showed a significant reduction of Candida colonies, compared to the NS group with 2,172 CFU. The 120- and 1-minute incubation with ozonated water showed the highest and lowest effects on the viability of Candida adhered to the acrylic resin, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the findings, home-generated ozonated water can be applied to remove the Candida attached to the surface of the denture plates.

Background: Nephrotoxicity is the most recognized side effect of gentamicin. Vitamin E and vitamin C demonstrate their effective role in the prevention of nephrotoxicity. Likewise, previous studies have suggested that women have low risk of end-stage renal disease at premenopausal period. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the possibility of any gender difference in response to antioxidant effects vitamins E and C in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. Materials and Methods: Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 6 groups each including both male and female rats. The first and second groups received saline (control group) and almond oil, the third group received gentamicin. The fourth group received a regular dose of gentamicin + vitamin E. Similarly, the fifth group received a regular dose of gentamicin + vitamin C. The sixth group received a dose of gentamicin + vitamin C and E simultaneously constantly. This protocol continued for 9 days. Results: Gentamicin increased significantly urea, creatinine (Cr) and malondialdehyde (MDA), but it decreased superoxidase dismutase (SOD) level (P < 0.05). Treatment with antioxidant vitamins improved urea, creatinine, MDA, and SOD serum level significantly in both genders (P

Abstract Introduction: Cough is a common complication after anesthesia can lead to serious complications. This study carried out to evaluate the effect of intravenous and intra-cuff hydrocortisone on the severity of cough after anesthesia using endotracheal tube. Methods: In this RCT study, 135 patients with distal limb were selected and randomly assigned in A, B and C group. After intubation, in group A, 100 mg diluted hydrocortisone is injected IV in group B, endotracheal tube cuff is filled with 100 mg hydrocortisone and for group C, cuff is filled by 5-10 ml distilled water. Frequency and severity of cough using VAS at 2, 6 and 24 hours after anesthesia were measured. Results: No significant difference revealed in the frequency of cough at 2, 6 and 24 hours after anesthesia in all three groups (P>0.05). In the group hydrocortisone intravenously, at 2 and 6 hours after anesthesia, equal frequency of cough (4.35%) and at 24 hours after anesthesia, reducing the frequency of cough (2.17%), compared with the control group, was observed. In the hydrocortisone group, at 2 hours after anesthesia, in the experimental group (6.67%) compared to control (6.82%) decreased frequency of cough and at 6 hours after anesthesia in experimental group (8.83%) compared to control (4.55%), increasing in frequency of cough and at 24 hours after anesthesia, the same frequency of cough (0%) was observed. Conclusion: Using intravenous hydrocortisone instead of intra-cuff hydrocortisone to reduce the frequency of cough after intubation and further studies in this area is recommended.

The environment can be an effective factor in inducing positive social behavior, and the residential environment is no exception to this rule. This research aims to identify the effective variables on sociability in housing projects. With reference to the importance of variables in the outcome, the main aim of the research is prioritizing effective elements. While adopting a qualitative method of enquiry, the Delphi technique has been used to collect the opinions of experts about the priority of criteria. The data were collected with questionnaires. Initially and through a literature review, several factors that are strongly related to design field (Architecture, Urban Design, and Residential Spaces) were identified. The questionnaires were consecutively sent to 25 experts. 18 key experts answered the survey forms. Their responses were analyzed for the purpose of identifying major criteria. Following revisions as a result of the comments received from the first round, the participants were asked to repeat the assessment in the second round. A t-test was used to determine whether or not the experts’ opinions on the first and second round were consistant. The results of the research showed that the final set of variables grouped into 5 categories: (1) physical factors; (2) semantic factors; (3) contextual factors; (4) activity factors; and (5) personal factors. Physical factors consisted of functional distance, functional centrality, flexibility and adaptability, functional propinquity, space geography, housing type, human relation with nature, material, and so on. Semantic factors were spiritual experience and place. Contextual factors consisted of neighborhood, services and safety. Activity factors were life style, time and process. Personal factors consisted of privacy and interaction, age, gender, education, occupation type and need to help. We used Shannon’s entropy to determine the importance weights of variables. Physical factors were the most important attribute and activity factors were the least important one. The physical factors of housing have a significant role in increasing sociability. The analysis of the results of the research proved the theory that built environment impacts behavior. This would provide a wealth of data that could be used for future research.

Background: Surface electromyography (sEMG) of muscles is a non-invasive tool that can be helpful in the assessment of muscle function and some motor control evaluations. A loss of force, known as muscle fatigue is accompanied by changes in muscle electrical activity. One of the most commonly used surface EMG parameters which reflects paraspinal muscle fatigue during different tasks and positions is median frequency. Although it is widely known that the electromyography power spectrum shifts to lower frequencies during fatiguing contraction, an opinion exists that the validity of spectral shifts in assessment of fatigue is questionable. Some researchers have examined whether other quantities derived from sEMG signals are better indicators for muscle fatigue. Following cyclic flexion/extension and consequence fatigue, variation in sEMG signals may be complex for study. The aim of this study was to determine which of the median frequency (MF) or entropic (ENTR) is more sensitive for measuring muscular fatigue in erector spinae muscles during cyclic flexion/extension. Methods: Surface electromyography of erector spine muscles was recorded in 25 healthy subjects during cyclic dynamic contractions. The experimental session consisted of two parts: measurement of Maximal Voluntary Contraction (MVC), and performing the fatigue test. All subjects performed rhythmic flexion/extension with 50% MVC loading against B-200 Isostation, about 4-6 minutes. The MF and ENTR of the muscle activities were computed to assess muscular fatigue. Results: Paired sample t-tests showed that MF and ENTR changes after fatigue test were significant (P