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Abstract Background The main task of dental schools is to prepare professional dentists with a high social responsibility. This study provided some practical suggestions from experts regarding desirable clinical settings, in order to establish an infrastructure for practical studies in Endodontics, Periodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Restorative Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine, Prosthodontics, Oral Health, and Social Dentistry. Methods This research was conducted using a modified Delphi technique in two rounds. The first round involved qualitative content analysis. Participants in interviews were selected purposeful and maximum diversity across the country. To determine the validity and reliability of the data, the four axes proposed by Lichon and Guba were utilized. The second round involved a researcher-made questionnaire, which consisted of 55 questions. This questionnaire was distributed to all dental schools across the country. The validity of the questionnaire were evaluated and by experts and then reviewed. The reliability of the tool was determined to be 0.96 using the alpha coefficient method. Results The final codes from the interviews of the first round were divided into two categories: settings and educational programs. The final results of research were placed into 2 section: educational settings and instructors, and educational infrastructures. 70% participants agreed to use the college’s clinical morning sessions. More than 80% agreed to start up a main clinic with the proposed structure and professors. The use of the hospitalization area also had an agreement of more than 80%. Additionally, community areas such as health service centers, welfare centers, special patient centers, factories, schools, etc. obtained an agreement of over 70%. Conclusions The results of this study are presented in the form of suggestions for improving the general dentistry program in relation to educational setting, educators, and educational infrastructures. The common agreement among participants regarding educational settings and their diversity, educational programs, and desired instructors reviewed in the research shows the necessity of reviewing and changing their educational programs in Endodontics, Periodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Restorative Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine, Prosthodontics, Oral Health, and Social Dentistry.

Background. The success rate of dental implants diminishes over time; the lack of osseointegration and infection are the major causes of most implant failures. One of the effective methods to improve the surface properties is to irradiate ultraviolet (UV) light. This study investigated the effect of UV photofunctionalization on the ultrasuperficial properties of sandblasted, large-grit, acid-etched (SLA) titanium discs. Methods. In this in vitro study, 24 sandblasted and acid-etched titanium discs, with a lifespan of more than four weeks, were categorized into three groups (n=8): control, ultraviolet C (UVC), and ultraviolet B (UVB). Then, they were exposed to a UV light source for 48 hours at a 1-cm distance. In addition to measuring the contact angle between the liquid and the disc surface in each of the three groups, the atomic concentrations of carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen atoms were measured at three different sites on each disc. One-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey tests were used to analyze data. Results. The mean concentration of carbon atoms significantly differed in the control, UVC, and UVB groups (P

Dental implants are now the best treatment method to replace missing teeth. However, complications may necessitate further therapeutic interventions because of anatomic limitations and mistakes during surgical procedures. In this case report, a nasopalatine duct cyst (NPDC) due to implant placement was studied. After clinical and radiographic evaluation, unilocular radiolucency with disturbance to the nasopalatine canal was observed. Following that, flap elevation was performed. Subsequently, the cyst was enucleated, and the bone defect was filled with xenograft and further covered with a resorbable membrane. Histopathology results confirmed NPDC as the definite diagnosis. After six months, the defect was completely resolved.

Background. Xenograft and allograft bone substitutes are widely used to replace the missing bone in defects. Since removing the packaging of these grafts can nullify their sterilization, this study aimed to evaluate the sterility and bioactivity changes of an allograft and a xenograft following uncapping/recap. Methods. Two types of commercial allograft and xenograft vials were unpacked and further exposed to operating room air, where implant surgery was performed for one second, ten minutes, and one hour. After three repetitions, samples were analyzed using microbiological tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX) for sterility and bioactivity evaluation. Results. None of the bone graft samples showed microbial growth or bioactivity-negative changes after seven days of unpacking the vials. Conclusion. Despite the positive results of this study, future studies and more analysis considering influential factors are required. Also, disinfection and air exchange must still be observed during biomaterial application and bone grafting procedures.

Background: Autogenous soft-tissue graft is the gold-standard approach to augment oral soft tissues. However, tissue engineering is increasingly surveyed to overcome its substantial drawbacks, including the secondary site of operation, patient's pain and discomfort, limited tissue of donor site, and so on. Chitosan and gelatin have been utilized in this field over the years due to their great biological virtues. Zeolite, another remarkable candidate for tissue engineering, possesses outstanding biological and mechanical properties, thanks to its nanostructure. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the biodegradability and DNA content of seeded human gingival fibroblasts on a New Chitosan-Gelatin-Zeolite Scaffold for the perspective of oral and mucosal soft tissue augmentation. Materials and Methods: DNA contents of the human gingival fibroblast cell line (HGF.1) seeded on the chitosan-gelatin (CG) and CGZ scaffolds were evaluated by propidium iodide staining on days 1, 5, and 8. Scaffolds' biodegradations were investigated on days 1, 7, 14, 28, 42, and 60. Results: Although both scaffolds provided appropriate substrates for HGF.1 growth, significantly higher DNA contents were recorded for the CGZ scaffold. Among experimental groups, the highest mean value was recorded in the CGZ on day 8. CGZ showed a significantly lower biodegradation percentage at all time points. Conclusions: The incorporation of zeolite into the CG scaffold at a ratio of 1:10 improved the cell proliferation and stability of the composite scaffold. CGZ scaffold may offer a promising alternative to soft-tissue grafts due to its suitable biological features.

Abstract Background The rapidly developed vaccines against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 carry a risk of provoking side effects. This study aimed to evaluate current vaccination non-serious/serious side effects. Methods A multicenter electronic questionnaire via an online platform was conducted over a 1-week period among vaccinated dental staff and dental students inquiring whether they experienced vaccine-related side-effects after vaccine administration. Results A total of 1205 respondents with a mean age of 39 (SD: 12) were retained for the analyses. The following vaccines were reported; Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V), ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AstraZeneca), BBV152 (Covaxin), or BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm). The majority of respondents received ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (51.1%) and Gam-COVID-Vac (37.6%). The symptoms most frequently reported after vaccination were fatigue (79%), local pain in the injection site (77.4%), malaise (73%), and body pain (71.1%). Enrollees reported more onset of reactions on 0–12 h (44.1%) and 12–24 h (29.0%) after vaccine administration (p value

Background: Oral health is an integral part of general health and one of the necessities of a good life. Having a healthy mouth and teeth requires individual care, the development and implementation of community-based intervention programs, and professional care. The purpose of this study was to design a model for the management of dental services in Iran. Methods: This was an applied research in terms of purpose, descriptive in terms of implementation method, and a survey research in terms of descriptive typology. The statistical population included dental experts. To conduct the study among policy makers, planners, managers, university professors and the staff of the dental services, dental experts were chosen using purposive non-probability sampling for in-depth interviews based on grounded theory method to collect indicators of dental services management for providing a suitable selection model. To reach theoretical saturation, the text of the interviews was analyzed, phrase by phrase and sentence by sentence, through constant comparative analysis. For analysis, the grounded theory method was used, and the collected data were coded in 3 steps. In order to assess the validity of the research regarding interviews, the participants' feedback and the opinions of colleagues were used. To ensure the reliability of the interviews, 2 methods of test-retest and double coding were used. In this study, Delphi method was used in designing the model. Results: According to the obtained model, 29 factors were effective in managing dental services. The obtained indicators were included in the Delphi survey. During the Delphi stages, consensus was reached on 29 indicators which were classified into 5 dimensions (components) including planning, organizing, mobilizing of resources and facilities, guiding, monitoring and controlling. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that a 5-component model is suitable for the management of dental services in Iran, and health planners and policy makers can use it to improve the delivery of dental services.

Background: One method for the assessment of dentistry curricula is to evaluate dentistry graduateschr('39') satisfaction with their acquired clinical skills. Given the lack of data on this subject at the national level, this study aimed to evaluate the satisfaction with clinical skills training in general dentistry graduates in Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 614 general dentistry graduates participating in the dentistry residency exam in 2019 in Iran. Data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of three sections. The validity and reliability of the designed questionnaire were approved using statistical tests. The questionnaires were distributed among the participants before the residency exam. After collecting the completed questionnaires, their data were extracted and analyzed in SPSS-26 using Mann-Whitney’s U-test and the Kruskal-Wallis test to compare the distribution of satisfaction according to entrance year and university type. Results: The response rate was 100%, which must be because the questionnaires were distributed during the residency exam session. According to the participants, the highest level of satisfaction with the practical skills acquired pertained to pediatric dentistry (76.5%), operative dentistry (71.4%) and radiology (64.7%), and the lowest pertained to endodontics (38.1%), orthodontics (41.9%) and oral maxillofacial pathology (45.3%). Conclusion: Overall, the general dentistry graduateschr('39') satisfaction with the acquired skills was above average (more than 50%) in most of the skills. Nevertheless, entrance year, practical skills and faculties had a significant impact on the level of satisfaction.

Background: The advent of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (so-called SARS-CoV-2) causing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (so-called COVID-19) occurred in Dec. 2019 in Wuhan, China. Having an inconceivable worldwide contagion, the outbreak was labeled a pandemic by the WHO. Dental services and related professions (including dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists and the personnel of cleansing, remedial, triage, dental laboratories, radiographic laboratories and other related paraclinicals), facing galore aerosol and droplets, are in the topmost risk groups exposed to the queer virus. This study was fulfilled to round up evidence-based data to break a link at any part of the virus transmission chain in dental services and related professions. Methods: Relevant online databases, as PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar and TripDatabase were searched meticulously and evaluated for relevant published original research papers. Subsequently, to fulfill the investigation, ADA, CDC and WHO websites were reviewed to gain relevant guidelines and protocols. Consequently, 476 resources were included considering the canonical inclusion criteria. For the sake of quality assessment of the resources, an authentic checklist was exploited to score the resources from 1 to 15, wherein the admissible score was 10. After deliberation of resources, 366 of them were excluded and finally, 110 resources were selected and overhauled to attain a comprehensive perception on the subject of the investigation. Results: Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 includes direct transmission (via droplet and aerosol inhalation) and indirect transmission (via surface and instrument contamination), which can amply occur in dental services and related professions. Therefore, an all-inclusive evidence-based miscellany was rallied on several exigent topics, containing genuine esteem in reputable scientific authorities, to present a consummate report for the dental clinicians and related practitioners, working in the course of the running pandemic. Conclusion: Contemplating the ongoing crisis, undertaking a set of miscellany elected guidelines and protocols, is indispensable in this vital interval of history to bridle the current pandemic, which has been abridged via this systematic perusal.

Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes serious acute respiratory diseases including pneumonia and bronchitis with approximately 2.3% fatality occurrence. Main body This study argues the main concepts that need to be considered for the gradual reopening of dental offices include treatment planning approaches, fundamental elements needed to prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus in dental healthcare settings, personal protection equipment (PPE) for dental health care providers, environmental measures, adjunctive measures, and rapid point of care tests in dental offices. Conclusion This article seeks to provide an overview of existing scientific evidence to suggest a guideline for reopening dental offices.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have crucial roles in lncRNAs in periodontal development and disorders of this tissue. A number of lncRNAs especially those regulating immune responses contribute in the pathophysiology of periodontitis. In the current case-control study, we assessed expression levels of two immune response-related lncRNAs namely the antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) and metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) in gingival tissues and blood samples of patients with periodontitis and healthy subjects. Expression of ANRIL was significantly lower in peripheral blood of patients compared with controls (Posterior Beta RE = -1.734, P value = 0.035). However, when diving study participants based on their gender, no significant difference was found between patients and sex-matched controls. Expression of this lncRNA was not different between periodontitis tissues and normal tissues. Expression of MALAT1 was not different between samples obtained from cases and controls. Tissue or blood expressions of ANRIL or MALAT1 were not correlated with age of either patients or controls. There were significant correlations between expression levels of ANRIL and MALAT1 in gingival tissues both in cases (r = 0.62, P

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that causes an infectious disease named COVID-19. Respiratory distress syndrome and multiple organ failure are the common outcomes of COVID-19 that may finally lead to death. During COVID-19, cytokine storm takes place that is known by the release of notable amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α. The Hypothesis: Periodontal disease are a group of inflammatory diseases in which elevated levels of some cytokine such as IL-1, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α are observed in patients’ serums. Due to the similarity of cytokine expressions in these two diseases, there might be a possible association between COVID-19 and periodontitis, especially the chronic type. Also, genotype polymorphisms of IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α have been proposed to be in association with chronic periodontitis susceptibility. Evaluation of the Hypothesis: assessment of these polymorphisms may also play a significant role in detection of these diseases.

Introduction: The enhancement of osteogenesis by tissue engineering is a challenge in periodontal therapy. Several graft materials in conjunction with carriers, such as blood or saline, are used for this purpose. This study aimed to assess the effect of phosphate buffered saline (PBS), Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) and saline on the activity of MG-63 osteoblast-like cells in the presence and absence of beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). Materials and Methods: In this in vitro experimental study, MG-63 osteoblast-like cells were cultured in 10% PBS, HBSS and saline (10%) with and without β-TCP granules for 24 and 72 h and five days. At 24 and 72 h, cell viability and proliferation were assessed. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity test was used to assess bone activity. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 (IBM Corp. Released 2011. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp) via one-way and two-way ANOVA (P

In the present study, a systematic review was conducted to evaluate the biomaterials and their effectiveness for bone augmentation in implant dentistry. The databases of Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, PubMed (National Center for Biotechnology Information), and Scopus were searched for published studies between 2006 and March 30, 2018. We only included clinical studies in this research. Due to a lack of quantitative evidence and the vast heterogeneity of the biomaterials, implant surgery sites, implant types, follow-up periods, and various implant placement techniques (1-stage or 2-stage), we could not manage to do a meta-analysis on the 13 included studies. Several techniques can result in vertical bone augmentation. Complications can be seen in vertical bone augmentation and especially in the autogenous bone grafting; however, some biomaterials showed promising results to be practical substitutes for autogenous bone. Bio-Oss and beta-tricalcium phosphate are our second-level candidates for vertical bone augmentation due to their promising clinical results with the least infection and immunologic response risk. The gold standard, however, remains the autogenous bone graft. Further clinical studies in the future with exact report of bone measures are needed to develop new comparisons and quantitative analyses.

The Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) treatment concept advocates that regeneration of osseous defects is predictably attainable via the application of occlusive membranes, which mechanically exclude non-osteogenic cell populations from the surrounding soft tissues, thereby allowing osteogenic cell populations originating from the parent bone to inhabit the osseous wound. The use of membrane to exclude non-osteogenic cells, is a key principle of guided bone regeneration. A large number of membranes have been evaluated in clinical and experimental studies. The object of this study was to review the literature regarding guided bone regeneration and all types of membranes that were used in this technique. 72 articles between the years 1968 through the 2016 from PubMed, Medline and Google Scholar using the related keywords, were selected. Finally, we concluded that the modification of mechanical and physico-chemical properties of membranes could improve the process of new bone growth. However, determination of the exact role of membrane porosity in this process, still needs to be clarified. Optimization the chemical composition of membrane with the focus and attention to obstructive property and bioactivity, is an important point in this research field. Various factors such as flexibility, mechanical strength and degradation rate determine the type of membrane used for bone tissue regeneration.

ObjectivesThere is high risk of contamination with COVID-19 virus during routine dental procedures and infection control is crucial. The aim of this study was to determine the factors associated with Covid-19 preventive behaviors among oral health care providers using an extended parallel process model (EPPM).MethodsIn a cross-sectional study, short text message invite surveys were sent to 870 oral health care providers in west part of Iran. Data were collected through validated self-report EPPM questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Fishers exact tests were used for data analysis.ResultsIn total, 300 completed questionnaires were received and the mean age of respondents was 29.89 ± 11.17 years (range: 20-75 years). Among the study population, 284 (94.67%) perceived the threat of infection highly. Washing hands frequently with water and soap and use of hand sanitizer was reported by 93.33%, of participants. Age (P = 0.010), sex (P = 0.002) and occupation field (P = 0.010) were significantly associated with danger control responses. Data identified that those oral health care providers that were on the danger control response adopted preventive behaviors more strictly than those on fear control response.ConclusionThe results of this study showed how degrees of perceived threat and perceived efficacy influenced oral health providers' willingness to perform recommended health behaviors. These findings can assist public health agencies in developing educational programs specifically designed for promoting preventive behaviors among oral health providers in pandemic situations.

Introduction: Zeolite is an aluminosilicate biomaterial which has been used widely in medicine, tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, wound dressing, as an antibacterial agent and also it has been taken into consideration in dental sciences. So the aim of this study is reviewing the application of this amazing substance in dental sciences. Materials and Methods: In recent years there are many investigations on application of Zeolite. This review has been done on the application of this agent in dentistry. According to investigations from 1980, zeolites applications in dentistry were classified to the application in tissue engineering, root canal therapy, prosthodontics, periodontics and implant, restorative dentistry and oral medicine. Results: zeolite is a porous, biocompatible and antibacterial agent and according to its suitable properties it has been used as tissue engineering scaffold, wound dressing and so on. Zeolite is an antibacterial agent that can be used in root canal disinfection and in soft liner dentures. It can inhibit pathogens of dental caries and periodontal disease. According to biocompatibility of Zeolite, it also can be used as implant coating to improve osteointegration. It has also been used to detect squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusion: It seems that Zeolite can be considered as an amazing substance in dental sciences.

Periodontitis and tooth decay are common dental diseases. There are some bacterial risk factors such as Streptococcus mutans, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Candida albicans fungi. Considering the increasing resistance of bacteria and fungi to antibiotics and their complications, tubers of Cyperus rotundus was used to determine the antimicrobial effect of alcoholic and aqueous extracts and essential oil on Streptococcus mutans, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Candida albicans, as well as an examination cytotoxicity on gingival fibroblast cells. Alcoholic and aqueous extracts and essential oil prepared from tubers of Cyperus rotundus. After bacterial and fungal cultures, the inhibition zone, Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), were studied. Cytotoxicity was also evaluated using the Methyl tetrazolium test (MTT).The results showed that Cyperus rotundus alcoholic extract had the greatest effect on inhibition of growth and death of Streptococcus mutans, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. According to the present study, Cyperus rotundus extract can be considered as a suitable candidate for the treatment and prevention of periodontitis and tooth decay.

Background: Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) are considered as a type of mesenchymal stem cell that is beneficial target for numerous clinical applications in periodontal tissue regeneration therapy. Materials and Methods: This study examined the effects of dexamethasone (Dex) on human PDLSCs in vitro. PDLSCs obtained from the roots of patient’s teeth were cultured with Dex (0.01 μM), and their proliferation was measured. The osteogenic differentiation was assessed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and Alizarin Red-S staining for calcium deposition. Results: After the administration of 0.01 μM Dex, the activity of ALP increased significantly. Furthermore, mineralized nodule formation showing the intracellular calcium deposition was significantly higher in the Dex-treated cells than that of the control cells. Conclusion: Collectively, Dex has positive effects on osteogenic differentiation of human PDLSCs in vitro. It is suggested that PDLSCs may serve as a potential material for periodontal tissue regeneration.

Background: Root surface debridement (RSD) is necessary to create an environment suitable for reattachment of the periodontium. Root surface conditioning may aid the formation of a biocompatible surface suitable for cell reattachment. BioPure™ MTAD (mixture of Doxycycline, citric acid and a detergent) is an endodontic irrigant with antibacterial properties and the ability to remove smear layer. It was hypothesized that MTAD may be useful for root surface conditioning. The efficacy of MTAD as a conditioner was measured by examining fibroblast attachment to root surfaces. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two specimens of human teeth with advanced periodontal disease were used. The surfaces were root planed until smooth. Half of the specimens were treated with 0.9% saline and the other samples with Biopure MTAD. As a negative control group, five further samples were left unscaled with surface calculus. Human gingival fibroblast cells HGF1-PI1 were cultured and poured over the tooth specimens and incubated. After fixation, the samples were sputter-coated with gold and examined with a SEM. The morphology and number of attached, fixed viable cells were examined. The data was analysed using the Mann-Whitney-U statistical test. Results: There was no significant difference between the numbers of attached cells in the experimental group treated with MTAD and the control group treated with saline. Little or no attached cells were seen in the negative control group. Conclusion: RSD created an environment suitable for cell growth and attachment in a laboratory setting. The use of MTAD did not promote the attachment and growth of cells on the surface of human roots following RSD.

Background: Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, exhibits antibacterial effects against a wide range of bacteria. Aim: The objective of this in vitro study was to assess the antibacterial effect of different concentrations of garlic extract against human dental plaque microbiota. Materials and Methods: Antibacterial activities of four different concentrations of garlic extract (5%, 10%, 20%, and 100%) were evaluated against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus salivarius, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and lactobacillus spp. using the disk diffusion method. Papers soaked in 0.2% concentration chlorhexidine gluconate and saline were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. The data were subjected to one-way ANOVA and the Tukey multiple comparisons test at a 5% significance level. Results: All bacterial strains were inhibited by all test materials. The inhibition zones of the different concentrations of garlic extract were not significantly different for S. mutans, S. sanguis, and S. salivarius. For P. aeruginosa and lactobacillus spp. the inhibition zones of 5%, 10% and 20% concentrations were not significantly different from one another, but they were significantly more than that of the 100% extract. Conclusion: The 5%, 10%, 20%, and 100% concentrations of garlic extract had similar effects, so further studies seem to be indicated on the usefulness of the 5% extract.

Background: Various types of materials are used in bone regeneration procedures. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of the enamel matrix derivative (EMD), deproteinized bovine bone mineral (Bio-Oss), and a combination of Bio-Oss plus EMD in the treatment of bone defects created in the rabbits′ calvaria. Materials and Methods: Twenty New Zealand white rabbits were included in this experimental randomized single blind study. Four equal cranial bone defects (3 × 6 × 0.5 mm 3) were created in frontal and parietal bone and randomly grafted with Bio-Oss (Group 1), EMD (Group 2), EMD + Bio-Oss (Group 3) and one of them was left unfilled to serve as a control group (Group 4). After 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks the defects were evaluated by using histological and histomorphometric analysis. Data were analyzed by the Bonferroni test using SPSS 13 statistical software. P value

Background: Many environmental and genetic factors are known as factors that increase the susceptibility to periodontitis. As IL-8 is a chemokine that mediate the inflammatory process in periodontal disease, we decided to evaluate the effect of its polymorphism on chronic and aggressive periodontitis. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study DNA was isolated from the whole blood of 107 periodontitis patients and 199 healthy individuals. All samples were genotyped for the IL-8 polymorphisms using the polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers. The distribution of the interleukin-8 genotype and allele frequencies in control and disease groups was analyzed by the Chi-square test and a P-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The findings revealed that the allele and genotype frequencies of A2767T, T 1 1722T 2 , and C781T polymorphism of IL-8 gene were not significantly differed between controls and patients. However, there was a significant difference in the genotype frequencies of IL-8 A251T (P < 0.0001), G396T (P < 0.0001), and C1633T (P < 0.0001) gene polymorphism between the patient and the control groups. Additionally, there was a significant difference in the genotype frequencies of C1633T (P < 0.05) polymorphism of IL-8 gene between the aggressive and chronic periodontitis. Conclusion: IL-8 gene polymorphism may be protective against periodontitis.

Introduction: Nowadays along with new advances in the methods of diagnosis and treatment , most patients are treated through outpatient services. However in Iran, in spite of numerous cases of outpatient visits, most of medical education is conducted in hospital wards . This study has focused on the viewpoints of medical students of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences about the quality of outpatient clinical education settings in 2007. Method: One hundred fifty interns and stagers were studied in this descriptive – cross- sectional study by a valid and reliable researcher made questionnaire .Data were analyzed by descriptive statistical tests through SPSS. Results: Most of the students evaluated physical conditions of educational ambulatory settings, as average to good . Majority of the obtained viewpoints revealed the shortage of educational facilities and equipments. Educational programs were assessed as average to good in most of the cases ,and the teaching methods were assessed as good. Participation of the students in outpatioant education was assessed as good, while the final student assessment in ambulatory education was rated as poor. Conclusion: From the viewpoint of the students, the physical condition of the outpatient clinics and teachers’ performance in ghem has been good but the students reported the method of education in ambulatory settings as poor . It seems crucial to pay special attention to medical education programs in order to improve the learning quality in outpatient settings.

Introduction: General physicians (GPs) and dentists have to acquire reasonable research capability during academic education in Iran. For this purpose, various educational programs such as: statistics and research methodology course, Health System Research (HSR) workshop and research thesis have been planned in their curriculum. The purpose of this study was to determine knowledge, attitude and research ability of general practitioners and dentists graduated from Hamadan University of Medical Science (HUMS). Methods: In a descriptive study 60 general physicians and dentists who had been graduated in the previous 2 years, were selected randomly and asked to design a research proposal. They were also asked to complete a valid and reliable questionnaire containing 22 questions regarding their knowledge and attitude. The data was analyzed by SPSS software using frequency, mean, standard deviation, frequency and t-test. Results: The mean and standard deviation for knowledge and attitude were 12.5±2.72 (out of 22), and 55.25±6.49 (out of 80), respectively. The mean and standard deviation of research capability was 15±7.27 (out of 34). In total, 27.5% of GPs and dentists had low knowledge, while, only 3% had negative attitude towards research. There was no significant relationship between HSR workshop participation and research capability. Conclusion: The majority of medical doctors and dentists graduated from Hamadan University of Medical Sciences had low but acceptable knowledge about research methodology. More than 50% of them had low research capability, but more than 95% had a positive attitude towards research. In total their research capability was far from optimal situation.