Search

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a significant contributor to global morbidity and death, underscoring the importance of their prevention and treatment. The association between the development and progression of CVD and several risk factors has been extensively studied. Among these risk factors, the gut microbiota has garnered considerable attention of the scientific community during the last two decades. In particular, dysbiosis is directly associated with many risk factors of CVD in the host, such as diabetes. Prior research has demonstrated a robust correlation between dysbiosis and the development of CVD. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics are considered important regulators of microbiota imbalances as they increase the colonization of beneficial bacteria and thereby alter the gut microbiota. Although these beneficial effects of biotics are now widely recognized, new evidence has demonstrated that target therapy of the microbiota affects many other organs, including the heart, through a process commonly referred to as the gut–heart axis. In this review, we will discuss the potential benefits of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics for the beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease by modulating gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospital‐acquired infections (HAIs) are considered a major challenge in health care systems. One of the main HAIs, playing an important role in increased morbidity and mortality, is surgical wound infection. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the incidence rate and risk factors of surgical wound infection in general surgery patients. This cross‐sectional study was performed on 506 patients undergoing general surgery at Razi hospital in Rasht from 2019 to 2020. Bacterial isolates, antibiotic susceptibility pattern, antibiotic administration, and its type, operation duration and shift, the urgency of surgery, people involved in changing dressings, length of hospitalisation, and levels of haemoglobin, albumin, and white blood cells after surgery were assessed. The frequency of surgical wound infection and its association with patient characteristics and laboratory results were evaluated. The SPSS software package (version 16.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used to analyse the data. Quantitative and qualitative variables were presented using mean (standard deviation) and number (percentage). The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to evaluate the normality of the data in this study. The data did not have a normal distribution. Hence, χ2 and Fisher's exact tests were used to evaluate the relationship between variables. Surgical wound infection occurred in 4.7% (24 cases) of patients with a mean age of 59.34 (SD = 14.61) years. Preoperative (>3 days) and postoperative (>7 days) hospitalisation, history of immunodeficiency (P < 0.001), and interns responsible for changing dressings (P = 0.021) were associated with surgical wound infection incidence. About 9.5% and 4.4% of surgical wound infection cases were significantly associated with pre‐ and postoperative antibiotic use. Gram‐positive cocci were the most prevalent strains isolated from 24 surgical wound infection cases (15/24, 62.5%). Among these, Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant species, followed by coagulase‐negative staphylococci. In addition, the most common Gram‐negative isolates identified were Escherichia coli bacteria. Overall, administration of antibiotics, emergency surgery, surgery duration, and levels of white blood cells and creatinine were identified as surgical wound infection‐associated risk factors. Identifying important risk factors could help control or prevent surgical wound infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the case report presented, three cases of large endodontic lesions, which were the consequences of endodontic treatment failure, were studied. In all cases, a novel combination of triple antibiotics was used to successfully manage and heal the lesions, showing the promising potential of the antibiotic combination in resolving pathosis. The recently introduced combination of triple antibiotics (penicillin G, metronidazole, and ciprofloxacin; PMC) seems to be an effective medication against intracanal microbiota and appears to be able to assist in the preparing a matrix for the healing of endodontic lesions, making PMC a promising medicament against the dental root canal originated diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study suggests that tampon‐based coronal pulpotomy using a calcium silicate–based biomaterial can be a reliable approach for the treatment of vital primary molars with irreversible pulpitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this systematic review was to identify animal preclinical studies and randomized controlled trials that looked at the effects of R. damascena in any form on different mental diseases. Up to September 2021, the online databases of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane trials, as well as SID and MagIran, were searched. This study included 10 animal studies. Except for one research, the rest of the studies confirmed the positive effects of the plant in treatment of mental disorders. A total of 38 studies met the criteria for inclusion. Individuals who have encountered various sorts of mental problems, such as anxiety, sleep disturbance, and depressive disorder, were studied. R. damascena essential oil (EO), essence, extract, and dried plant were used in aromatherapy and oral administration. A decrease in sympathetic nervous system activity, induction of neurotransmitters, induction of nerve growth factors by neurogenesis and synaptogenesis mechanisms, a decrease in prolactin and an increase in noradrenaline, estradiol, and progesterone secretion are some of the mechanisms of action. In general, R. damascena is an effective herb for the treatment of mental disorders. However, further research timing and duration of intervention are needed to extrapolate the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nosrat A, Asgary S. Apexogenesis of a symptomatic molar with calcium enriched mixture. International Endodontic Journal, 43, 940–944, 2010. Aim This article describes the apexogenesis of a mandibular right second molar in a 12-year-old girl who was referred with a history of lingering pain and pain on chewing. Clinical and radiographic examinations revealed extensive coronal caries and immature roots. Treatment was performed under rubber dam isolation and included caries removal followed by pulp exposure and access cavity preparation. Pulpotomy was completed, and the remaining radicular pulp was capped with calcium enriched mixture (CEM) cement (BioniqueDent, Tehran, Iran). Clinical and radiographic examinations at 3, 6, and 12 months revealed the tooth was functional with no clinical signs or symptoms of pulpal disease. The final examination confirmed complete root development as well as formation of a calcified bridge beneath the CEM cement. Key learning point • Pulpotomy with a CEM cement allowed root development to continue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation and infection are two main factors predisposing a wound to become a chronic one. Degradable wound dressings involving the controlled release of suitable drugs at the ulcer site are one of the solutions to make wounds healing progress smoothly and rapidly. In this research, biodegradable dressings made of polyglycerol sebacate/polycaprolactone (PGS/PCL) containing curcumin/ciprofloxacin (CUR/CIP) and simvastatin/ciprofloxacin (SIM/CIP) were prepared by using the coaxial electrospinning method. Transmission electron microscopy for uniform core/shell structure, swelling ratio, and drug release pattern of the wound dressings were evaluated. At the in vivo study, histometric, histopathologic, and collagen expression study was performed. The PGS/PCL samples containing SIM/CIP showed a burst release pattern of CIP with a delay in the release of SIM; meanwhile, in the samples containing CUR/CIP, both drugs showed a burst release behavior. No cytotoxicity response was observed in the study groups. The in vivo study showed that wound closure was almost completed only in the SIM/CIP group after 14 days. After 14 days, in the wound treated with SIM/CIP dressing, the amount of collagen deposition and angiogenesis was higher than that of the others. These results clearly showed the effect of SIM/CIP on the improvement of the wound healing efficiency in the long term (14 days) and the effect of CUR/CIP on wound contraction in the short term (4 day). It seems, therefore, that the use of SIM and CUR simultaneously in a wound dressing could cause a synergistic effect in the wound repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Apart from junctional rhythms during slow pathway ablation, there is limited knowledge about the junctional tachycardia persisting following ablation cessation. This study is conducted to determine the characteristics and significance of this rare arrhythmia. Methods and results: This study was done on 487 patients with AVNRT undergoing the radiofrequency ablation. The RF delivery‐induced Supraventricular Tachycardia, persisting for a few minutes following the termination of ablation (post‐ablation SVT) was investigated in this research. Atrial Overdrive Pacing (AOP) was applied to the post‐ablation SVT to distinguish AVNRT from Junctional Tachycardia(JT). A total of 2337 RF‐current deliveries were applied, and post‐ablation SVT was observed in 81 of them. According to the electrophysiological studies, five of them (in five separate cases) were definitely diagnosed as JT. The overall incidence of post‐ablation JT was about 1% of all patients. In these cases, RF energy was applied to the posteroseptal region and roof of the proximal coronary sinus. The mean Cycle Length (CL) of JTs was equal to 446 ±67ms. Following post‐ ablation JT termination, four cases met endpoints of successful ablation, demonstrating a positive predictive value of 80%. Atrioventricular (AV) block did not occur in any of the cases and reappearance of JT was not observed during procedure or mean follow‐up period of 19.8 ± 8.4 months. Conclusions: Post‐ablation JT is probably a transient Ischemia‐induced arrhythmia that does not require further ablation. Thus, it is recommended to differentiate between the AVNRT and JT in post‐ablation arrhythmias to avoid unnecessary RF application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pulpitis characterized by spontaneous pain can result in debilitating pain. Dogma has existed to offer only have two treatment options, namely root canal treatment (RCT) or extraction, although pulpotomy has always remained a potential treatment modality. Objective: This review aimed to answer the following research question: 'Does pulpotomy (partial or full) (I) result in better patient and clinical reported outcomes (O), compared with RCT (C) in permanent teeth with pulpitis characterized by spontaneous pain (P) evaluated at various time intervals?' (T). Methods: Two authors independently performed study selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessment. The literature search was conducted in the following electronic databases: Clarivate Analytics' Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. English language clinical trials comparing the patient and clinical reported outcomes between RCT and pulpotomy were included. The meta‐analysis was performed on a fixed‐effect model and the quality of evidence assessed by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. Results: Two randomized clinical trials were included. Amongst two trials, one has published four reports at different time points involving the same cohorts. The meta‐analysis revealed no difference in postoperative pain (Day 7) between RCT and pulpotomy (OR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.63–1.55, I2 = 0%) and quality of evidence was graded as 'High'. Clinical success was high at year 1, 98% for both interventions, however, decreased over time to 78.1% (pulpotomy) and 75.3% (RCT) at 5 years. Discussion: Pulpotomy is a definitive treatment modality that is as effective as RCT. This could have a significant impact on treatment of such patients affording the advantages of retaining a vital pulp and preventing the need for RCT. Conclusion: This review could only include two trials, hence there is insufficient evidence to draw robust conclusions. The clinical data accumulated so far suggests no difference in pain between RCT and pulpotomy at Day 7 postoperatively and a single randomized control trial suggests that the clinical success rate for both treatment modalities is similar long term. There is a need for more well‐designed trials by different research groups to develop a stronger evidence base in this area. Registration: PROSPERO database (CRD42021259744). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) was first occurred in China in December 2019 and subsequently spread all over the world with cardiovascular, renal, and pulmonary symptoms. Therefore, recognizing and treating the cardiovascular sign and symptoms that caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) can be effective in reducing patient mortality. To control the COVID‐19‐related cardiovascular symptoms, natural products are considered one of the promising choices as complementary medicine. Scientists are struggling to discover new antiviral agents specific to this virus. In this review, the natural products for management of cardiovascular symptoms of COVID‐19 are categorized into three groups: (a) natural products with an impact on angiotensin II type 1 receptor; (b) natural products that inhibit angiotensin‐converting enzyme activity; and (c) natural products that mimic adenosine activity. All these natural products should undergo clinical investigations to test their efficacy, safety, and toxicity in the treatment of cardiovascular symptoms of COVID‐19. This article summarizes agents with potential efficacy against COVID‐19‐related cardiovascular symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degree to which exercises improve the collaboration among different organizations during an emergency is under debate. This study aims to contribute to the scarce research on this topic by giving insight into the perceived effects of exercises on collaboration, learning, usefulness and interorganizational trust. In particular, this quantitative study looked into the differences between the effects of tabletop and full‐scale exercises. A questionnaire assessing collaboration, learning, usefulness and trust—the CLUT instrument—was developed. Data were collected from 173 full‐time emergency management personnel in Norway and Canada. Usefulness, learning and collaboration outcomes were perceived to be high for both types of exercises, but full‐scale exercises were perceived to have greater learning and usefulness outcomes than tabletop exercises. Stronger relationships were identified between the perceived effects on learning and usefulness, collaboration and trust in tabletop compared to full‐scale exercise, whereas the relationship between the perceived effects upon collaboration and trust was stronger in full‐scale exercises. Multiple regression analysis showed that the variables used to measure exercise usefulness can better predict tabletop exercise outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tabarsi B, Parirokh M, Eghbal MJ, Haghdoost AA, Torabzadeh H, Asgary S. A comparative study of dental pulp response to several pulpotomy agents. International Endodontic Journal  43, 565–571, 2010. Aim To examine the in vivo response of dental pulps in dogs to three pulp-capping agents: calcium hydroxide (CH), mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and a new endodontic calcium enriched mixture (CEM) cement. Methodology Thirty-six second and third premolar teeth in six beagle dogs were randomly assigned to three experimental groups; CH, MTA or CEM cement. Following isolation and exposure, pulp tissues were removed with a fissure bur and haemostasis achieved. The pulps were dressed with appropriate materials, and the access cavity restored with amalgam. Histological analysis was performed 8 weeks after treatment; the samples were assessed by an independent observer for calcified bridge formation, pulp vitality and pulp inflammation. The data were analysed by Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney and one-wayanova tests. Results The number of root canals that showed calcified bridge formation, pulp vitality and lack of inflammation was significantly higher for teeth capped with either MTA or CEM cement in comparison with CH ( P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the CEM cement and MTA in terms of calcified bridge formation, pulp vitality and lack of inflammation ( P > 0.05). Conclusions Mineral trioxide aggregate and CEM cement were associated with a similar favourable biological response to pulpotomy treatment and demonstrated a more effective induction of dentinal bridge formation compared to CH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The current systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to assess the efficacy of prophylactic oral antibiotics in the management of post‐operative endodontic symptoms in adults with necrotic pulp. Materials and methods: A systematic search up to April 2020 was performed to find all randomised controlled trials (RTCs) comparing oral antibiotics with placebo to manage post‐endodontic symptoms. The outcome measures were post‐operative pain, swelling and/or the combined pain and swelling at different follow‐ups. Standardised mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using random‐effect inverse‐variance method. Additional analysis was performed if heterogeneity existed (P <.05). Results: For post‐endodontic pain, 8 RCTs (n = 690) were included. Antibiotic prescription had no significant effect on endodontic pain at 6 (SMD = −0.008, 95% CI −0.279 − 0.264, P =.95), 12 (SMD = −0.080, 95% CI −1.39 − 1.23, P =.90), 24 (SMD = −0.044, 95% CI −0.29 − 0.20, P =.72), 48 (SMD = 0.18, 95% CI −0.26 − 0.62, P =.42) and 72 h (SMD= −0.050, 95% CI −0.33 − 0.23, P =.723) post‐operatively. For post‐endodontic swelling, 4 RCTs (n = 149) were included. Antibiotic prescription had no significant effect on endodontic swelling at 24 (SMD = 0.29, 95% CI −0.72 − 1.32, P =.56), 48 (SMD = −0.23, 95% CI −0.98 − 0.51, P =.54) and 72 hours (SMD= −0.03, 95% CI −1.25 − 1.33, P =.96), post‐operatively. For combined pain and swelling, no meta‐analysis was performed. Conclusion: The administration of prophylactic antibiotics to prevent post‐operative endodontic symptoms is not supported by the current evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since in cell therapy, there are always concerns about immune rejection, genetic disability, and malignancies, special attention has been paid to extracellular vesicles (EVs) which are secreted by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In the present study, we assessed and compared the therapeutic effects of human adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSC) and hADSC‐EVs from adipose tissue on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). After induction of EAE in C57Bl/6 mice, they were treated with hADSCs, hADSC‐EVs, or vehicle intravenously. The clinical score of all mice was recorded every other day. Mice were killed at Day 30 and splenocytes were isolated for proliferation assay and determination of the frequency of Treg cells by flow cytometry. Leukocyte infiltration by hematoxylin and eosin, percentages of demyelination areas by luxol fast blue, and mean fluorescence intensity of oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (OLIG2) and myelin basic protein (MBP) by immunohistochemistry were assessed in the spinal cord. Our results showed that the maximum mean clinical score and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein‐induced proliferation of splenocytes in hADSC‐ and hADSC‐EV‐treated mice were significantly lower than the control mice (p <.05). We also demonstrated that the frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells was significantly higher in the spleen of hADSC‐treated mice than EAE control mice (p =.023). The inflammation score and the percentages of demyelination areas in hADSC‐ and hADSC‐EV‐treated groups significantly declined compared with the untreated control group (p <.05). We also showed that there was no significant difference in MFI of MBP and OLIG2 in the spinal cord of studied groups. Overall, we suggest that intravenous administration of hADSC‐EVs attenuates the induced EAE through diminishing proliferative potency of T cells, mean clinical score, leukocyte infiltration, and demyelination in a chronic model of multiple sclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial toxins have received a great deal of attention in the development of antitumor agents. Currently, these protein toxins were used in the immunotoxins as a cancer therapy strategy. Despite the successful use of immunotoxins, immunotherapy strategies are still expensive and limited to hematologic malignancies. In the current study, for the first time, a nano‐toxin comprised of truncated pseudomonas exotoxin (PE38) loaded silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared and their cytotoxicity effect was investigated on human breast cancer cells. The PE38 protein was cloned into pET28a and expressed in Escherichia coli, BL21 (DE3), and purified using metal affinity chromatography and was analyzed by 15% sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. AgNPs were biologically prepared using cell‐free supernatant of E. Coli K12 strain. Nanoparticle formation was characterized by energy dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. The PE38 protein was loaded on AgNPs and prepared the PE38‐AgNPs nano‐toxin. Additionally, in vitro release indicated a partial slow release of toxin in about 100 hr. The nano‐toxin exhibited dose‐dependent cytotoxicity on MCF‐7 cells. Also, real‐time polymerase chain reaction results demonstrated the ability of nano‐toxin to upregulate Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio and caspase‐3, ‐8, ‐9, and P53 apoptotic genes in the MCF‐7 tumor cells. Apoptosis induction was determined by Annexin‐V/propidium flow cytometry and caspases activity assay after treatment of cancer cells with the nano‐toxin. In general, in the current study, the nano‐toxin exhibit an inhibitory effect on the viability of breast cancer cells through apoptosis, which suggests that AgNPs could be used as a delivery system for targeting of toxins to cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Pain management during endodontic therapy is an important issue in clinical practice. The objective of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of occlusal reduction to control the post‐operative endodontic pain in adults undergoing root canal therapy. Materials and methods: Electronic database and manual searches of English papers were conducted up to August 2019 to identify randomised placebo‐controlled trials. The MeSH terms used were (endodontics OR root canal therapy) AND (postoperative pain) AND (occlusal reduction). The primary outcome measure was the post‐operative pain intensity up to 72 hours. Pooled standardised mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random‐effects inverse variance method. The statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochrane Q test. The significance level was set at P <.05. Results: In total, six randomised controlled trials including 344 participants were included. Our meta‐analyses showed that relief of occlusal surface did not significantly reduce the pain intensity scores at 12‐ (SMD = −0.46; 95% CI = −1.24, 0.30; P =.239), 24‐ (SMD = −0.17; 95% CI = −0.73, 0.38; P =.533) and 48‐ (SMD = −0.67; 95% CI = −1.38, 0.03; P =.063) when compared to placebo. However, at 72 hours, patients received intervention showed significant more pain reduction than placebo groups (SMD = −1.07; 95% CI = −1.81, −0.32; P =.005). Conclusion: Based on this meta‐analysis, the efficacy of occlusal reduction in post‐endodontic pain control for up to 2 days is not supported. However, on day three, it had a positive influence on the control of post‐endodontic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymptomatic lingual depression in the mandible should be evaluated with advanced radiographic modalities such as cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) using the software features to achieve correct diagnosis and avoid unnecessary endodontic and/or surgical interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2013; 23: 56-63 Objective. To compare clinical and radiographic outcomes of pulpotomy treatment using calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) in carious-exposed vital immature permanent first molars. Design. Fifty-one immature molars with clinical carious exposure with symptomatic/asymptomatic pulpitis met the inclusion criteria and randomly assigned to one of the treatment groups (CEM [26 teeth; 59 roots], MTA [25 teeth; 59 roots]). After performing pulpotomy and covering the radicular pulps with the biomaterials, all teeth were permanently restored. Blinded clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed at 6 and 12 months after operation for signs of success or failure. Radiographs were evaluated for complete/partial apical closure. The data were analysed using chi-square test and generalized estimating equation (GEE) model. Results. There was no significant difference at the baseline between the two experimental groups. All available cases (49 teeth) showed pulp survival and signs of continuous root development after 12 months. Overall, complete apical closure (apexogenesis) occurred in 76.8% and 73.8% of radiographically interpreted roots in CEM cement and MTA groups, respectively. There was no statistical difference in terms of radiographic outcomes between two groups. Conclusions. Calcium-enriched mixture cement and MTA showed similar performance in pulpotomy of immature caries-exposed permanent molars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulpotomy has been used in primary teeth and immature permanent teeth. However, with the advent of new bioactive material, the procedure is shifting towards permanent teeth with mature apices of roots. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the success of pulpotomy on mature permanent teeth with acute irreversible pulpitis and to compare it with root canal treatment or between the effectiveness of the bioactive material used. The following databases were searched: PubMed, Cochrane Library: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. After using the keywords predefined, the electronic search yielded a total of 86 articles. After undergoing a thorough screening and eligibility process, only four articles were finally selected. Unexpectedly, pulpotomy demonstrated a better tendency for success in such cases over the years. This shows that pulpotomy is not inferior to root canal treatment for permanent treatment of irreversible pulpitis. In addition, the results obtained showed that pulpotomy is rapid, biologically reliable and more cost‐effective in all situations compared to root canal therapy. Complete pulpotomy appears to have a high success rate as a permanent treatment of irreversible pulpitis and could be considered as an alternative to root canal therapy. Pulpotomy is not inferior to root canal treatment for a permanent treatment of irreversible pulpitis. In addition, the results obtained have shown that complete pulpotomy is faster and more profitable in all situations compared to root canal treatment. Furthermore, with the advent of new so‐called bioactive materials, the use of this therapeutic is increasingly considered. This is why a review based on studies of reliable articles is above all necessary to be able to generalise the indication of this therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parirokh M, Asgary S, Eghbal MJ, Stowe S, Eslami B, Eskandarizade A, Shabahang S. A comparative study of white and grey mineral trioxide aggregate as pulp capping agents in dog's teeth.Dent Traumatol 2005; 21: 150–154.© Blackwell Munksgaard, 2005.Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is widely used for different perforation repairs, root-end filling, pulp capping and many other endodontic procedures. Because of potential discoloration effect of gray MTA, white MTA has been introduced into endodontic treatment for the same purposes. This study examined the dental pulp responses in dogs to both types of MTA used as a pulp-capping agent. The pulps of 24 teeth of four male dogs were exposed with a No.1 round bur and capped with either gray or white MTA. Histologic analysis was performed one and 2 weeks after treatment. Calcified bridge could be seen 1 week after treatment with both types of MTA, with no significant differences between the two treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parirokh M, Asgary S, Eghbal MJ, Stowe S, Kakoei S.A scanning electron microscope study of plaque accumulation on silk and PVDF suture materials in oral mucosa.International Endodontic Journal,37, 776–781, 2004.To examine plaque accumulation on silk and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) sutures at different time intervals.Twenty-one male albino rabbits received sutures under general and local anaesthesia. After 3, 5 and 7 days sutures were removed and processed for scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation. The Friedman and the Wilcoxon tests were used to compare contamination on PVDF and silk suture materials at different time intervals.At all time intervals, the whole surface of silk sutures was covered with a thick layer of bacterial plaque and debris. Microorganisms and blood cells on the surface and between the filaments of the silk suture material were observed. Light debris appeared around the knot area of PVDF sutures after 3 days. At 5 and 7 days, contamination could be seen in scattered areas along the suture material. The average contaminated area was smaller on PVDF suture materials, which were removed at 5 than at 7 days after insertion. At 3 days, PVDF sutures showed significantly less contamination than at 5 and 7 days (P = 0.002). There were statistically significant differences between silk and PVDF sutures at 3, 5 and 7 days.SEM observation showed that PVDF sutures were contaminated less than silk sutures at 3, 5 and 7 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of silymarin on performance, jejunal morphology and ileal bacterial population in broiler chicks intoxicated with a mix of aflatoxins. A total of three hundred thirty six 7-day-old Ross broiler chicks were randomly distributed between seven experimental groups with four replicates of 12 birds each. Experimental treatments consisted of a control group (unchallenged), and a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, including two aflatoxin levels (0.5 and 2 ppm) and three levels of silymarin (0, 500 and 1000 ppm). Birds were challenged with a mix of aflatoxins from 7 to 28 days of age. Results showed that increasing aflatoxin level resulted in decreased average daily feed intake ( ADFI) and weight gain ( ADWG), consequently impaired feed conversion ratio ( FCR) throughout the trial period. Dietary supplementation of silymarin resulted in the marked increases in ADFI and ADWG, and improved FCR values in aflatoxin-challenged chicks. Ileal bacterial populations at days 28 and 42 of age were increased by incremental levels of aflatoxins. On the other hand, dietary silymarin supplementation suppressed ileal populations of Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella and total negative bacteria in aflatoxicated birds. Increase in dietary aflatoxin level resulted in the decreased villi height, villi height-to-crypt depth ratio ( VH: CD), villi surface area and apparent villi absorptive area, while it increased crypt depth, goblet cell count and lymphoid follicular diameter. Feeding silymarin at the level of 1000 ppm increased villi height and VH: CD in aflatoxicated birds. Present results indicate that dietary inclusion of silymarin could improve performance by suppressing ileal bacteria and enhancing absorptive surface area in aflatoxin-challenged broiler chicks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of non-narcotic analgesics including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs) and/or paracetamol in the treatment of post-operative endodontic pain. Additionally, we aimed to examine the possible association of study covariates on the pain scores using meta-regression analysis. An electronic search was performed in 2016. After data extraction and quality assessment of the included studies ( n = 27, representing 2188 patients), meta-analysis was performed using a random-effect inverse variance method. Meta-regression analysis was conducted to examine the associations between effect sizes and study-level covariates ( P < 0·05). The results showed that administration of non-narcotic analgesic was more effective than placebo in the management of post-operative pain, resulting in a lower pain scores with a standardised mean difference of −0·50 (95% CI= −0·70, −0·30), −0·76 (95% CI= −0·95, −0·56), −1·15 (95% CI= −1·52, −0·78), −0·65 (95% CI= −1·05, −0·26) for immediately after the procedure, 6−, 12− and 24 h post−operative follow-ups (test for statistical heterogeneity: P = 0·000, P = 0·000, P = 0·000 and P = 0·001), respectively. Our meta-regression analysis provided the evidence for association between some study covariates with treatment effect, each at different follow-ups. We concluded that the clinicians can manage post-operative endodontic pain by administration of NSAIDs and/or paracetamol. However, analgesic regimens should be considered as important determinants when prescribing a pharmacological adjuvant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, selective blockade of Toll-like receptor ( TLR) signalling has been developed as a new approach for treatment for many inflammatory diseases. As β-D-mannuronic acid (M2000) has been known as an anti-inflammatory molecule in several experimental models, we investigated the antagonistic effects of M2000 on TLR2 and TLR4 downstream signalling transduction pathway in human embryonic kidney ( HEK) 293 cell lines overexpressing TLR2/ CD14 and the TLR4/ MD2/ CD14 complex, respectively. M2000 effectively inhibited mRNA expression of MyD88 and p65, major subunit of nuclear factor- κB, in HEK293 cells stimulated by lipoteichoic acid ( LTA, a TLR2 agonist) and lipopolysaccharide ( LPS, a TLR4 agonist) with no evidence of cytotoxicity. In addition, M2000 also suppressed LTA and LPS-induced production of TNF- α and IL-6 inflammatory cytokines in these cells. Furthermore, the results revealed that M2000 had no significant effect on Tollip mRNA expression as a negative regulator of TLR signalling in aforesaid cells. Overall, these data point to M2000 inhibitory effect on Toll-like receptor ( TLR) 2, 4 signalling in HEK293 cells. This information might provide new insights into the possible roles of this small drug in order to introduce it as a TLR signalling pathway inhibitor. However, more studies are needed to confirm β-D-mannuronic acid antagonistic effects including the effects of M2000 on peritoneal isolated macrophages and also on blood cells in patients with inflammatory diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This randomized clinical trial evaluated clinical sign/symptoms as well as histological pulp reactions in terms of inflammation and mineralized bridge formation after partial pulpotomy of sound human premolars and placement of a bioceramic paste ( iRoot BP) or tooth-colored Pro Root MTA as pulp-covering biomaterials. Methodology Twenty-four human sound premolars were randomly allocated into two experimental groups ( n = 12) treated either with iRoot BP or MTA subsequent to partial pulpotomy. Six weeks after treatment, clinical sign/symptoms and radiographic changes were evaluated. The teeth were then extracted and examined histologically for inflammatory status of the pulp, formation of hard tissue bridge and appearance of the bridge. In terms of pulp inflammation and dentinal bridge formation, the Mann-Whitney U, and for clinical signs, the chi-square test was used (α = 0.05). Results In terms of pulp inflammation, formation of hard tissue bridge and its appearance, the differences between the two experimental groups were not significant. However, clinical sensitivity to cold was significantly less for teeth treated with MTA ( P < 0.05). All cases had formed a hard tissue bridge, and none of the specimens in either group had pulpal necrosis. Conclusion When treating teeth with healthy pulps, the response to partial pulpotomy treatment with both MTA and iRoot BP was favourable. However, pulps covered with iRoot BP were more sensitive to cold stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To assess the effect of light irradiation and different immersion media on discoloration of white mineral trioxide aggregate (WMTA) and calcium enriched mixture (CEM) cement at different time intervals. Methods Enamel sections of 12 teeth were removed and six cavities were prepared in each tooth. The cavities were filled randomly either with WMTA or CEM and covered with transparent sealant. Half the specimens were irradiated for 160 sec (eight exposures of 20 sec each) and the remaining were irradiated for 40 sec (two exposures of 20 sec each); digital images were taken after each exposure. The teeth were stored in phosphate buffer saline, oxygen-rich medium and glycerin ( n = 4). Digital images were obtained after 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days. Commission Internationale de I'E'clairage (CIE) color space system and Photoshop CS5 software were used to evaluate the discoloration. The color change (Δ E) and lightness (Δ L) values was analyzed using repeated measures anova and Tukey's Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) test. Results The materials tested showed significant discoloration over time (WMT > CEM; P < 0.001). Δ E increased significantly while Δ L decreased in three media over time ( P < 0.001). Greater duration of light curing caused a significant decrease in Δ L and Δ E values in both materials (WMTA > CEM; P < 0.001). Conclusion Color stability of WMTA was inferior to CEM samples after exposure to different duration of irradiation and media over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global health problem. Although many aspects of NAFLD pathogenesis have been understood, there is a paucity of effective treatments to be used as the second line when lifestyle modification is insufficient. Curcumin, a natural polyphenol from turmeric, has been shown to be effective against development of hepatic steatosis and its progression to steatohepatitis, yet these beneficial effects have not been explored in clinical practice. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of curcumin on hepatic fat content as well as biochemical and anthropometric features of patients with NAFLD. In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, patients with ultrasonographic evidence of NAFLD were randomly assigned to receive an amorphous dispersion curcumin formulation (500 mg/day equivalent to 70-mg curcumin) or matched placebo for a period of 8 weeks. Liver fat content (assessed through ultrasonography), glycemic and lipid profile, transaminase levels, and anthropometric indices were evaluated at baseline and at the end of follow-up period. The clinical trial protocol was registered under the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials ID: IRCT2014110511763N18. Compared with placebo, curcumin was associated with a significant reduction in liver fat content (78.9% improvement in the curcumin vs 27.5% improvement in the placebo group). There were also significant reductions in body mass index and serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, glucose, and glycated hemoglobin compared with the placebo group. Curcumin was safe and well tolerated during the course of trial. Findings of the present proof-of-concept trial suggested improvement of different features of NAFLD after a short-term supplementation with curcumin. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus ( DM) is a metabolic disorder that is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) is a useful plant with antidiabetic properties in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bilberry against DM. Diabetes was induced using intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (120 mg kg−1 body weight ( BW)). Bilberry powder (2 g d−1) and glibenclamide (positive control; 0.6 mg kg−1 BW) were administered for 4 weeks following alloxan injection. Serum glucose, insulin, total cholesterol ( TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C), very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( VLDL-C), triglycerides ( TG) and C-reactive protein ( CRP) were determined at baseline and at 2nd and 4th week of the study. RESULTS Bilberry supplementation resulted in a significant reduction of glucose compared with the diabetic control as well as glibenclamide treatment. Bilberry elevated insulin, reduced TC, LDL-C, VLDL-C and TG levels, and prevented HDL-C decline. Serum insulin, TC and LDL-C levels were not affected by glibenclamide, and CRP did not significantly change with either bilberry or glibenclamide. Histological examinations revealed a significant elevation of islet size in the bilberry and glibenclamide-treated groups. CONCLUSION Dietary supplementation with bilberry fruits may protect against impaired glucose and lipid metabolism in DM. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disasters have potential short-term and long-term impacts on employment and employment structures in affected regions. While measuring the full economic impact of a disaster requires sophisticated econometrics and mathematical simulations, conventional regional economic models such as shift-share analysis can be used to assess some of these effects. This paper applies shift-share analysis to understand potential long-term impacts of disasters on employment using the December 2003 Bam earthquake as a case study. The results provide further evidence that disasters could have significant long-term effects on the employment structure of affected regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planned and involuntary resettlement after natural disasters has been a major policy in post-disaster reconstruction in developing countries over the past few decades. Studies show that resettlement can result in significant adverse impacts on the resettled population. Conversely, a well-planned and managed resettlement process can produce positive long-term development outcomes. This article presents the results of a case study undertaken 11 years after the 1990 Manjil earthquake in Iran. During the reconstruction period, a policy of involuntary planned resettlement was pursued extensively. The socioeconomic changes that occurred as a consequence of this policy of involuntary resettlement are analysed. Data were collected via a questionnaire survey that involved a sample of 194 relocated households (grouped into a settlement that later became a town). The paper shows that relocated families face difficult socioeconomic challenges after relocation and regrouping. This is especially true with respect to employment, income, the empowerment of women and lifestyle issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to observe the basic morphology and determine the chemical composition of neodentinal bridges adjacent white mineral trioxide aggregate (WMTA) when used as a direct pulp capping material. The experimental procedures were performed on six intact dogs’ teeth. The pulps were exposed and cavities were filled with WMTA. After 2 weeks, neodentinal bridge formation was evaluated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) of cross-sections of the specimens and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) of the pulpal surfaces. Results of SEM observation showed that the most characteristic reaction of pulp cells was the intimate connection of cell processes and secreted extracellular fibres with the crystals of the pulp capping material. Results of EPMA indicated that the mineralisation of neodentinal bridge formation occurred progressively from the periphery to the central area. Based on these results, it appears that WMTA has the potential to be used as a direct pulp capping material during vital pulp therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autogenous tooth transplantation ( ATT) is a simple and economical option for the treatment of missing teeth when a suitable donor tooth is available. This case report presents an unconventional case of successful ATT of a maxillary third molar replacing the adjacent tooth with a perio-endo lesion. Despite complete root development of the third molar, no endodontic treatment was carried out either during or after ATT. After atraumatic extraction of the molars, root-end fillings with calcium-enriched mixture ( CEM) cement was placed in the third molar roots and the tooth was immediately transplanted into the recipient socket. At 6-month and 2-year clinical examinations, the patient was asymptomatic and the transplanted tooth was still functional with no evidence of marginal periodontal pathosis. Radiographic evaluation illustrated bone regeneration of the previous extensive periapical lesion, normal periodontal ligament ( PDL) and absence of root resorption. Transplantation of mature third molars by placing a CEM retrofilling may be considered a simple/practical alternative for replacing lost permanent molar teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pomegranate ( Punica granatum L.) juice (PJ) contains different types of antioxidants and bioactive polyphenols and has been reported to promote cardiovascular health through several mechanisms. The present study aimed to examine the effects of 2-week intake of fresh PJ on blood pressure, flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), serum lipid profile and concentrations of inflammatory and endothelial function biomarkers. Twenty-one hypertensive patients (aged 30-67 years) were recruited into the trial and assigned to receive either PJ (150 ml/day in a single occasion between lunch and dinner; n = 11) or the same amount of water ( n = 10) for a period of 2 weeks. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) pressures together with FMD and serum concentrations of lipid profile parameters, apolipoproteins A and B, intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular endothelial adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured at baseline and at the end of trial. PJ consumption was associated with significant reductions in SBP ( p = 0.002) and DBP ( p = 0.038) but not FMD ( p > 0.05). Serum levels of VCAM-1 ( p = 0.008) were significantly reduced by PJ while those of E-selectin were elevated ( p = 0.039). However, no significant effect was observed from PJ on serum levels of ICAM-1, hs-CRP, lipid profile parameters, apolipoproteins and IL-6 in any of the study groups ( p > 0.05). Consumption of PJ for 2 weeks has effective hypotensive effects, and may improve endothelial function by decreasing serum concentrations of VCAM-1. These findings suggest PJ as a beneficial cardioprotective supplement for hypertensive subjects. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Business continuity planning is an important element of business continuity management and is regarded as a fundamental step towards reducing the negative impacts of business disruptions caused by internal and external hazardous events. Many businesses are not prepared for such events, and very few studies have tried to examine and model the factors that contribute to business continuity management planning by various companies. In this paper we propose and develop a feed-forward neural network for modelling businesses continuity planning by businesses based on a dataset of 283 businesses operating in the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada. The fully connected neural network applied was trained on 65 % of the dataset records using different subsets of input variables. In order to preserve the generalization ability of the trained network, 15 % of the dataset records were used as a validation set for early stopping during the network's training process. Prediction capability of the trained networks was evaluated on 20 % and never-seen records of the dataset. The classification ability of the networks was then analysed using receiver operating characteristic and detection error trade-off curves, where the results obtained were promising. The equal error rate for the best models was 12 %, which reflects a very good accuracy of these models in predicting the existence of business continuity planning for a generic company. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cover image is based on the Case Report Healing of large endodontic lesions using a new combination of triple antibiotics: A case report by Saeed Asgary et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.6879. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The histological success of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) pulpotomy for treatment of irreversible pulpitis in human teeth as an alternative treatment was investigated in this study. Fourteen molars which had to be extracted were selected from patients 16–28 years old. The selection criteria include carious pulp exposure with a history of lingering pain. After isolation, caries removal and pulp exposure, MTA was used in pulpotomy treatment. Patients were evaluated for pain after 24 h. Two patients were lost from this study. Twelve teeth were extracted after 2 months and were assessed histologically. Recall examinations confirmed that none of the patients experienced pain after pulpotomy. Histological observation revealed that all samples had dentin bridge formation completely and that the pulps were vital and free of inflammation. Although the results favour the use of MTA as a pulpotomy material, more studies with larger samples and a longer recall period are suggested to justify the use of MTA for treatment of irreversible pulpitis in human permanent teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flood management problems are inherently complex, time-bound and multi-faceted, involving many decision makers (with conflicting priorities and dynamic preferences), high decision stakes, limited technical information (both in terms of quality and quantity), and difficult tradeoffs. Multi-Criteria Decision Support Systems (MCDSS) can help to manage this complexity and decision load by combining value judgments and technical information in a structured decision framework. A brief overview of MCDSS is presented, an original MCDSS architecture is put forth, and future research directions are discussed, including extensions to Multi-Criteria Spatial Decision Support Systems and group MCDSS (as flood management involves shared resources and broad constituencies). With application to the September 11-12, 2000 Tokai floods in Japan, the proposed multi-criteria decision support instruments enhance communication among stakeholders and improve emergency management resource allocation. In summary, by making the links among flood knowledge, assumptions and choices more explicit, MCDSS increases stakeholder satisfaction, saves lives, and reduces flood management costs, thereby increasing decision-making effectiveness, efficiency and transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antioxidant effect of three different extracts of Morus nigra fruit (fruit juice, hydroalcoholic and polyphenolic) on haemoglobin glycosylation, peroxidative damage to human erythrocytes, liver hepatooytes of rats and human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were studied. The results show that all three extracts inhibited haemoglobin glycosylation induced by glucose to differing degrees. The haemolysis of human erythrocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide was also inhibited. The production of malondialdehyde (MDA) during peroxidative damage to plasma membranes of isolated rat hepatocytes induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBH) was also inhibited. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation of LDL induced by copper (II) ion was achieved during the study. The results suggest that Morus nigra fruit has a protective action against peroxidative damage to biomembranes and biomolecules. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The results of vital pulp treatments in permanent teeth have been encouraging. Currently, pulpotomy treatment for permanent teeth primarily utilizes mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) as the dressing material, followed by calcium hydroxide. While other calcium‐silicate‐based cements have been suggested for pulpotomy, there is a limited number of studies evaluating their long‐term effectiveness. Objectives: The objective of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to evaluate the success rate of pulpotomies performed on permanent teeth, comparing the use of ProRoot MTA with that of calcium hydroxide and other bioceramic materials. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in several electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase and Science Direct until December 2022. The search was guided by PICOS criteria, including only randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that evaluated the success rate of pulpotomy treatments in permanent teeth using ProRoot MTA in comparison to calcium hydroxide and other bioceramic materials. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the RoB‐2 tool to evaluate the risk of bias, and relevant data were extracted and analysed in RevMan software 5.3 using fixed‐effect models. The GRADE tool was used to determine the overall quality of evidence. Results: The initial search retrieved 1072 studies and, after eliminating duplicates, 677 studies were screened and 28 studies were considered for eligibility. In the final selection process, 16 studies were included in the systematic review, with 10 being determined as having a high risk of bias. Pulpotomy showed an overall mean success rate of 92% after 1 year. The meta‐analysis indicated a significantly higher success rate for pulpotomies utilizing MTA in comparison with calcium hydroxide, while no significant difference was seen between MTA and calcium‐enriched mixture (CEM) or Biodentine. The GRADE assessment revealed an overall low level of evidence for the included studies. Discussion: Most randomized controlled trials exhibited a significant absence of control over confounding factors. Conclusions: This systematic review and meta‐analysis demonstrate that pulpotomy is a highly effective treatment for managing permanent teeth. The results indicate that the success rate of pulpotomy using ProRoot MTA is significantly higher than when using calcium hydroxide. However, the certainty of evidence supporting these findings is low, and there is a need for well‐designed RCTs to assess the long‐term outcomes of pulpotomy using newer bioceramic materials. Registration: This systematic review was registered in the PROSPERO database (registration number CRD42023393970). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoestrogens with a biological activity like estradiol are naturally found in many plants. This study was designed to investigate the effect of red clover, a phytoestrogen-rich member of the legume family ( Trifolium pratense) on the development of atherosclerosis in male hyperlipidemic rabbits. Twenty rabbits were semi-randomly distributed into four groups of five each. Two groups received either normal diet or normal diet supplemented with red clover. Two other groups received similar diets to both of which 1% cholesterol was added. Dietary use of red clover (RC) in hyperlipidemic rabbits significantly decreased C-reactive protein (CRP), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) whereas, HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly increased in those animals ( p < 0.05). Fatty streak formation was also significantly lower in aorta and left and right coronary arteries in the same animals due to use of dietary RC supplementation. These findings suggest that dietary RC may reduce cardiovascular risk factors. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TRAIL is a potent death protein that favours the killing of various types of cancer cells to normal cells, but under the right conditions TRAIL can also kill activated human T cells. TRAIL mRNA is widely expressed by normal cells but its expression by primary tumour cells is not known. In this study, primary tumour cells of haemopoietic origin constitutively expressed TRAIL mRNA and protein and were capable of inducing the apoptosis of target Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent manner. This killing effect was reversed by anti-TRAIL antibody. The functional expression of TRAIL by lymphoid and myeloid malignant cells raises the possibility of its involvement in tumour cell evasion of immunosurveillance, and could be related to spontaneous tumour cell death and necrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD40 ligand (CD40L) is involved in the T-cell-dependent regulation of B-cell growth and survival and can rescue normal germinal centre B cells and several types of malignant B cells from apoptosis in vitro. We have previously reported that serum of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia contained elevated levels of biologically active soluble CD40L (sCD40L). Whether an augmented CD40L pathway exists in patients with other types of B-cell lymphoid malignancies and the source of native sCD40L in these patients is currently unknown. Using a sensitive ELISA assay, soluble CD40L (sCD40L) was detected in the sera of both healthy individuals and patients with haematological malignancies; however, its level was significantly elevated only in patients with B-cell lymphomas (P < 0.0001). Several types of malignant B cells coexpressed CD40 and CD40L proteins, and CD40L mRNA was detected in purified resting malignant B cells. The dual expression of CD40 and CD40L in B cells and the presence of native sCD40L in human serum suggest that a direct T–B-cell contact may not be required for CD40L delivery to B cells. This data raises the possibility that an autocrine cytokine loop involving CD40L may contribute to the growth regulation of benign and malignant B cells in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the effects of shortages on the demand for money of Soviet citizens. Past research on the demand for money; Soviet interview project data; Demand for money and liquid assets with and without shortages; Empirical results; Conclusions.

Root canal treatment (RCT) has been considered the conventional standard for the management of teeth with carious pulp exposure, particularly in mature teeth presenting with symptoms. Following a better understanding of the histopathology of deep carious lesions, the histology of the cariously exposed pulp and the healing potential of the inflamed pulp, vital pulp therapy (VPT) is increasingly adopted around the world for the management of permanent teeth with clinical signs and symptoms indicative of irreversible pulpitis. Furthermore, VPT became a recognized treatment modality by the European Society of Endodontology (ESE) and the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) by virtue of its high success rates reported in outcome studies using contemporary hydraulic calcium silicate‐based cements. However, proper case selection, strict asepsis, capping materials and good coronal seal are mandatory for success. The aim of this paper is to review the biological basis for VPT in symptomatic teeth with carious pulp exposure and to report on the outcome of pulpotomy in teeth with clinical diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the push-out bond strength of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and a new endodontic cement (NEC) as root-end filling materials in root-end cavities prepared by ultrasonic technique (US) or Er,Cr:YSGG laser (L). Eighty single-rooted extracted human teeth were endodontically treated, apicectomised and randomly divided into four following groups ( n = 20): US/MTA, US/NEC, L/MTA and L/NEC. In US/MTA and US/NEC groups, root-end cavities were prepared with ultrasonic retrotip and filled with MTA and NEC, respectively. In L/MTA and L/NEC groups, root-end cavities were prepared using Er,Cr:YSGG laser and filled with MTA and NEC, respectively. Each root was cut apically to create a 2 mm-thick root slice for measurement of bond strength using a universal testing machine. Then, all slices were examined to determine the mode of bond failure. Data were analysed using two-way anova. Root-end filling materials showed significantly higher bond strength in root-end cavities prepared using ultrasonic technique (US/MTA and US/NEC) ( P < 0.001). The bond strengths of MTA and NEC did not differ significantly. The failure modes were mainly adhesive for MTA, but cohesive for NEC. In conclusion, bond strengths of MTA and NEC to root-end cavities were comparable and higher in ultrasonically prepared cavities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess and compare the clinical and radiographic outcome of partial pulpotomy and full pulpotomy using Biodentine in cariously exposed mature molar teeth with symptoms indicative of irreversible pulpitis. Methodology: This study is an unicentric, double‐arm, randomized superiority clinical trial with parallel experimental groups, registered under CTRI (CTRI/2019/12/022559). Fifty mature permanent molar teeth with carious exposures with symptoms indicative of irreversible pulpitis were randomly allocated equally into two groups. Partial pulpotomy (PP) and full pulpotomy (FP) were performed in the first and second group, respectively, following standardized protocols. Exposed pulp tissue was removed up to a depth of 2–3 mm for partial pulpotomy, whereas complete coronal pulp tissue was removed up to the level of root orifices for full pulpotomy. Haemostasis was achieved with placement of 2.5% sodium hypochlorite‐moistened cotton pellets placed on amputated pulp tissue for a maximum of 10 min. Biodentine was used as the pulp capping material. Pain scores were evaluated using 11‐point Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) preoperatively, at 24 h, 48 h and 7th day after the intervention(s). Clinical and radiographic evaluation was done at 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. The data were statistically analysed using chi‐squared test, Mann–Whitney U‐test, Friedman's test and Wilcoxon signed‐rank test. The significance level was pre‐determined at p <.05. Cumulative survival probabilities were assessed at 12 months using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Results: Intra‐group analysis of pain scores revealed significant reduction in pain scores preoperatively and at 24 h, 48 h and 7th day in both the groups. However, the difference in the pain score(s) reduction between both the groups was not statistically significant at any time interval (p >.05). At 1‐year follow‐up, the success rate was 88% (22/25) and 91.6% (22/24) for PP and FP respectively (p >.05). Conclusions: Partial pulpotomy showed comparable results to full pulpotomy in terms of clinical/radiographic treatment outcome. If the long‐term results remain the same, partial pulpotomy can be proposed as an alternative treatment modality for mature teeth with cariously exposed pulp tissue presenting with signs of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium enriched mixture (CEM) cement has been recently invented by the last author. It is composed of calcium oxide, calcium phosphate, calcium silicate and calcium sulphate; however, it has a different chemical composition to mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). The purpose of this ex vivo study was to investigate the cytotoxicity of CEM cement, and compare it with intermediate restorative material (IRM) and MTA. The materials were tested in fresh and set states on L929 fibroblasts to assess their cytotoxicity. The cell viability responses were evaluated with methyl-tetrazolium bromide assay and Elisa reader at 1, 24 and 168 h (7 days). The tested materials were eluted with L929 culture medium according to international standard organisation 109935 standard. Distilled water and culture medium served as positive and negative controls, respectively. Differences in cytotoxicity were evaluated by one-way anova and t-tests. The cytotoxicity of the materials was statistically different at the three time intervals ( P < 0.01). The lowest cytotoxic values recorded were expressed by MTA subgroups followed by CEM cement; IRM subgroups were the most cytotoxic root-end/dental material ( P < 0.001). CEM cement and MTA are reasonable alternatives to IRM because of lower cytotoxicity. CEM cement also has good biocompatibility as well as lower estimated cost to MTA and seems to be a promising dental material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New studies have introduced atherosclerosis as an inflammatory disease. Different factors affect the development of inflammation that can be linked to free radicals, hypertention, diabetes mellitus, genetic changes, hypercholesterolemia and some of the microorganisms. Using anti-inflammatory drugs can be useful in preventing atherosclerosis. Finding drugs from natural sources and without side-effects can be useful. Amirkabiria odoratissima (umbelliferae) is from Iranian flora and is used traditionally as an anti-inflammatory drug. This study was designed to assess the effects of this plant on the development and progression of fatty streaks. Male rabbits were fed: (a) rabbit chow; (b) 1% cholesterol diet; (c) cholesterol diet supplemented with the plant; (d) normal diet supplemented with the plant. After 12 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and the aorta, right and left branches of coronary arteries were dissected and histologically processed. Before and after the end of the study, biochemical factors were measured. The amounts of cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglyceride and fasting blood sugar (FBS) were determined by enzymatic methods, quantitative CRP was determined by turbidimetric methods, malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant capacity were determined by speceterophotometric methods. The results indicate that there is a significant difference between the groups supplemented with herbal medicine and others ( p < 0.05) in the mean grade of fatty streak of right and left coronary artery and aorta. At the end of the 12-week period cholesterol, LDL and CRP were significantly reduced in the groups which received herbal medicine ( p < 0.05). The data suggests that Amirkabiria odoratissima Mozaffarian has beneficial effects to prevent development of fatty streak; however, further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms whereby this plant exerts its anti-atherosclerotic effects. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]