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Objective: The current study evaluated the effectiveness of endoscopic transcanal facial nerve decompression in patients with post-traumatic facial nerve paralysis. Methods: This retrospective study included 10 patients with post-traumatic complete facial nerve paralysis who underwent endoscopic transcanal facial nerve decompression. The surgical technique was explained step by step, and the surgical complications, hearing status and facial nerve function 12 months post-operatively were reported. Results: Endoscopic transcanal facial nerve decompression allowed exposure of the geniculate ganglion to the mastoid segment. The facial nerve function improved from House–Brackmann grade VI to grades I and II in 8 of 10 (80 per cent) patients, and 2 patients experienced partial recovery (House–Brackmann grades III and IV). No severe complication was reported. Conclusion: Endoscopic transcanal facial nerve decompression, involving the nerve from the geniculate ganglion to the mastoid segment, is a safe and effective approach in patients with post-traumatic facial nerve paralysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: One of the most important effects of nanomaterials on cells is the induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis). The aim of this study is to investigate the toxicity of graphene oxide-gold nanoparticles and to evaluate the expression of caspase 3 gene in HepG2 liver cancer cell line. Methods: In this experimental study, hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) was prepared from Pasteur Institute of Iran. Cells were treated with concentrations of 10 to 500 µg/ml Gold-rGO and untreated cells were used as control. The level of caspase 3 gene expression and cell viability were investigated and compared within 24 and 48 hours in three groups of A, B and control (C). The effect of concentration was investigated by XTT method and acridine orange ethidium bromide staining. Caspase 3 gene expression was measured by relative quantification using real time PCR test. Findings: Based on XTT results, EC20, EC50, EC80 values were calculated as 386.420, 90.680, 24.151 µg/ml in 24 hours and 358.146, 89.536, 22.384 µg/ml in 48 hours. Examining the level of caspase 3 gene expression change in these concentrations compared to untreated cells showed mean fold changes (mean±SEM) of 3.436±1.022 in 24 hours and 4.054±0.02 in 48 hours, according to which the level of gene expression changes significantly. The viability of control cells (C) compared to cells treated with concentrations higher than 50 μg/ml (B) has a relative increase, which was statistically significant (p<0.0001). Examination with AO/EB staining to determine the level of apoptosis showed a higher level of apoptosis with increasing dose. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that shorter times and lower concentrations should be used in the application of this nanoparticle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel heterojunction plasmonic photocatalyst [Co(Saloph)(His)]/Ag-TiO2 as a nanohybrid material was applied to the photocatalytic activities ranging from the CH bond cleavage of alcohols to aldehyde using different oxidants, O2, H2O2, or TBHP under irradiation of visible-light and NHPI as co-catalysts. The mentioned material was synthesized by photo-deposition of metallic silver nanoparticles on titanium oxide surface, followed by a modification of cobalt(II) Saloph complex under ultrasonic agitation conditions using a histidine linker to reach a photocatalyst under 50 nm and bandgap of 2.64 eV. The [Co(Saloph)(His)]/Ag-TiO2 nanohybrid was characterized by EDS, XRD, DRS, FT-IR, PL spectroscopies, FESEM imaging, and BET technique. This three-component plasmonic photocatalyst revealed a high rate of photocatalytic efficiency with 95% conversion and 99% selectivity in aerobic conditions. The higher photocatalytic performance of [Co(Saloph)(His)]/Ag-TiO2 than those of Co(Saloph)/TiO2 and Ag-TiO2 NPs can be attributed to Localized Surface Plasmonic Resonance (LSPR) of these motives. Therefore, this three-component nanohybrid provides an efficient interfacial electron transfer process through a synergistic effect, which in turn produces a nanocatalyst, benefiting from stability and fast selective C-H bond activation of alcohols at ambient temperature using O2 as an inexpensive environmentally-friendly oxidant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: This case‐control study aimed to compare patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and healthy controls in terms of oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) considering Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS) scores, pain duration, psychological impairment and demographic characteristics. Methods: A total of 75 patients with TMD and 75 healthy controls were recruited. The short version of Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP‐14) was administered for evaluating the OHRQoL. Psychosocial impairments were assessed using the General Health Questionnaire‐28 (GHQ‐28). The Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) axis I and II were also used for patient diagnosis and collecting GCPS scores, pain duration, age and gender. Independent‐sample t tests, Pearson's chi‐square tests and multiple logistic and linear regression models were applied for statistical analysis. Results: The mean age of the patients was 34.3±12.4 years. A female‐to‐male ratio of 6:1 was seen in the TMD group. The prevalence and severity of the OHIP were significantly different between the TMD and control groups (66.7% vs 12.0% and 18.0 vs 9.2, respectively). According to multiple logistic regression for OHIP prevalence and multiple linear regression for OHIP severity in the TMD group, GCPS scores and pain duration, followed by psychological impairment, were the most important predictors of the OHRQoL. Conclusion: TMD negatively affected the OHRQoL, particularly in patients with psychological impairments. Meanwhile, age and gender did not seem to have a serious effect. Hence, promoting the quality of life of patients with TMD requires emphasis on chronic pain management and maintaining good mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Previous studies have shown the lack of oral health content in medical school programs. The aim of our study is to investigate knowledge and attitude of pediatric oral health care among public health physicians in non-affluent areas in 2016. Methods Our sample was public health physicians in non-affluent areas of Tehran (n = 107) and the data collection tool was a self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge and attitude toward pediatric oral health, tendency and perceived necessity to gain oral health information, demographic characteristics and practice background were sections of our questionnaire. Results The response rate was 79%. Knowledge scores of 19.5% and attitude scores of 45.3% of the participants were in the highest quartile while the correspondent highest quartile scores for the necessity and tendency of gaining oral health information were 74.1 and 13%, respectively. Those with more knowledge of pediatric oral health, feeling more necessity and reporting more tendency to gain oral health information were more likely to have positive attitude toward pediatric oral health. Conclusion The irrefutable lack of pediatric oral health care knowledge was seen among public health physicians of non-affluent areas of Tehran. If an understanding of preventive care in children become more relevant among public health physicians, they will show better dental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic hepatitis C is a major concern for global health as it causes liver problems, cirrhosis and liver cancer. Immune factors have a determinant role in susceptibility to chronic infection or clearance of infection in body. As a defensive agent, cytokines are important factors of immune system, since they can activate immune response or inhibit virus replication directly. The aim of this study is the evaluation of interleukin 20 polymorphism (rs1518108) in hepatitis C patients. Materials and Methods: This survey was a case-control study. By using PCR-RFLP method, 105 patients and 135 controls were studied randomly. We used SPSS-16 software for statistical analysis. Results: 10TA 10Tsignificant association was found between polymorphism (rs1518108) of interleukin 20 and hepatitis C patients (p=0.035) (OR=2.283). The incidence of hepatitics C in males was observed five times more than that one females (p=0.01) (OR=5.18). In addition, no significant association between polymorphism of genotypes and liver harms (chronic and cirrhosis) was found in this study (p=0.362). Conclusion: 10TOur findings show that variants of interleukin 20 polymorphism (rs1518108) in the population of the study are important factors for being affected by hepatitis C. The incidence of heterozygote allele CT was more than of homozygote genotype TT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Radiographic evaluation of the third molar tooth to determine its position and degree of development is an important part in diagnosis and treatment planning, as well as in forensic dentistry procedures. The objective was to investigate the developmental stages of third molars in relation to chronologic age, gender and location (maxillary/mandibular) in an Iranian population. Materials and Methods: The data were collected in departments of pediatric dentistry and orthodontics, Tehran Faculty of Dentistry and four private offices. Three calibrated observers visited the centers to examine panoramic radiographs and corresponded patients documents in each age cohort in the range of 5- to-25- years old. Data were analyzed by Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) in the linear mode and exchangeable correlation structure. The significance level was defined as 0.05. Results: The mean age of emerging third molars' follicle was 9.29±1.65 years. Early calcification was seen at the mean age of 10.28±1.66 years. The GEE model controlling for age, gender and tooth location (maxillary/mandibular) revealed that besides age (β=0.43, p<0.001), the tooth location had association with the developmental stage (β=0.11, p<0.001) so that maxillary teeth were prior in calcification stages, but no relationship between gender and developmental stages was seen (β=0.03, p=0.69). Conclusion: Maxillary teeth were ahead of mandibular teeth in calcification stages with no gender difference. The present study may provide a reference for oral surgeons, pediatric dentists and orthodontists practicing in Iran and may have implications for the neighboring countries especially those with Caucasian populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the second prevalent causative agent of acute hepatitis in adults after hepatitis B. Transmission routes of this infection is fecal-oral. There are limited studies on epidemiology of this virus in Iranian general population. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of hepatitis E infection in general population of some towns of Tehran province and Eastern and Northern section of Tehran city. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted in 2006 and 2007 a number of 501 subjects selected by random cluster sampling from Tehran province were studied. Demographic data (through a questionnaire) and blood samples were collected and anti-HEV antibodies were measured by ELISA method. Chi-square test, logistic regression, and T-test were used for statistical analysis. Result: O f the total 493 subjects with mean age of 40.98± 17.10, 180 were men and the rest (313 subjects) were women. Of these numbers, 48 subjects (9.7%) were positive for anti-HEV antibody. There were no significant differences in HEV seropositivity and different sex or age groups. Conclusion: The prevalence in Tehran province was high and this indicates the endemic state of this infection in the studied population. Results are similar to those in eastern section of Golestan province and are in contradiction with results from Isfehan Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Several strains of the Echinococcus granulosus have been described based on morphological characters, intermediate host specificity and/or genetic analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. The aim of this study was to characterize different E.granulosus isolates by using sequences of mitochondrial atp6 gene. Materials and Methods: In this study, Sixty infected liver and lungs of cattle, sheep and goats were collected from the abattoir of Varamin city-Iran during 2008. Protoscoleces were removed from each fertile cyst and DNA extracted. New and specific primers were designed for two existing genotypes (G1 and G6) of E. granulosus known to occur in Iran and applied in PCR reactions. Results: The new primers selectively amplified the G1 and G6 genotypes of E. granulosus with specific bands of 708 and 705 bp respectively. The G1 genotype was identified in all fertile cyst samples. Conclusion: This study showed that the new primer pairs which specifically amplify portions of the mitochondrial atp6 gene of the G1 and G6 strains of Echinococcus granulosus are proper molecular marker for investigating genetic variation in a number of isolates of E. granulosus from a range of hosts (sheep, goats, cattle) in Iran. The result of sequenced samples showed that our sequences were the same as those reported previously for these strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early childhood caries (ECC) remains a serious problem in several developing and developed countries. This cluster randomised trial evaluated the impact of a 6-month educational intervention on ECC. The trial targeted 12- to 15-month-old children (n = 242) and their mothers in Tehran, Iran, visiting 18 public health centres, randomly selected and assigned to two intervention groups and one control group. At baseline, each mother was interviewed and each child underwent a dental examination of all teeth for the number of decayed teeth (dt) and of upper central incisors for the number of teeth with enamel caries (de). All mothers in the two intervention groups (A and B) received oral health instructions from the vaccination staff. In addition, group A received extra reminders. The outcome was defined as increments in the number of teeth with dt or de, as percentages of children developing new dt or de, and as the number needed to treat (NNT). No new de appeared in group A, the mean de increment in group B was 0.2 (SD = 0.6), and in the controls, it was 0.4 (SD = 0.7) (p < 0.05). The percentages of children developing new de were 0, 14, and 26%, respectively. No differences in dt increments were found. Regarding de, NNT for group A was 4 and for B 9; the figures for dt were 13 and 17, respectively. In conclusion, oral health education given to mothers by general health staff is a valuable tool to prevent caries in infants and toddlers. Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]