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Background: Celiac disease is popular and needs a proper and constant gluten-free diet. However, data on the experience of the disease by children are insufficient. A few children have difficulty adjusting their lifestyles, and gluten-free foods are difficult for them. The present study aimed to find influential factors in the growth disorders and nonresponse to the treatment diet in celiac patients. Materials and Methods: We gave a list of all children with celiac disease to the project manager and according to the criteria extracted additional information from their files. Duodenal biopsies on 382 patients with suspected celiac disease and 93 patients with positive pathology were included in the study, regardless of antibody and genetic titer, then analyzed their information using appropriate statistical tests. Results: The mean age of individuals was 9.48 ± 3.88, and 35 were male and 58 female. At the age of

Casting is a manufacturing process in which molten metal is poured through the gating system to fill the mould cavity where it solidifies. Variations in casting parameters by different researchers have led to significant variations in casting guidelines, which have forced Foundry Engineers to carry out a number of trial-and-error runs to create guidelines based on their own experience. These variations in guidelines have led to defects occurring in casting during the mould filling process. This work aimed at determining the critical drop height and critical flow velocity of a certain molten aluminum alloy as it flow down the mould sprue in gravity sand casting. The continuity equation was used to describe the velocity distribution of the aluminum alloy as it flows down the sprue. The mathematical tool used in this research is the finite element method. It involves the discretization of the domain of interest into smaller finite elements. The weak form of the governing equation was obtained and integrated over the domain of interest. The results obtained, established the critical flow velocity of aluminum alloy, down the sprue, as 2.565 × 10³ mm/s and the critical drop height as 377mm. Results obtained were compared with literature and were also used to produce various casts, it was observed that casts produced, using sprue height below the critical drop height obtained prevented casting defects, while at sprue height above the critical drop height, the danger of casting defects could not be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundPancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency (PEI) is a possible cause of recurrent/persistent symptoms in celiac disease. Although pancreatic enzyme supplementation may be used to treat non-responsive celiac disease (NRCD) in clinical practice, clinical outcomes are variable and there is limited and low quality evidence to support this practice. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of pancreatic enzyme supplements (PES) for improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms in NRCD.MethodsProspective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over trial in adults with NRCD examining Celiac Disease-Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (CeD-GSRS) scores on PES (pancrelipase co-administered with omeprazole) versus placebo (omeprazole only) during a 10-day treatment period. The study was registered under the clinical trials registry (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ number, NCT02475369) on 18 Jun 2015.ResultsTwelve participants (nine female) were included in the per-protocol analysis; one participant had low fecal elastase-1. Pancrelipase was not associated with significant change in CeD-GSRS compared to placebo (−0.03 versus −0.26; P = 0.366). There was a significant decrease in mean values of total CeD-GSRS scores (3.58 versus 2.90, P = 0.004), abdominal pain (2.92 versus 2.42, P = 0.009), and diarrhea sub-scores (3.44 versus 2.92, P = 0.037) during the run-in period with omeprazole.ConclusionIn this prospective, cross-over randomized, placebo-controlled study, PES did not improve symptoms in patients with NRCD. It is unclear whether this is a trial effect or related to administration of omeprazole.

Introduction: It is important to construct the sprue in a way that ensures that the mold gets an appropriate supply of metal at the right speed. Many manufacturers now offer sprue designs that have not been advocated in textbooks or publications for their normal use. Aim: The goal of this research was to compare the sprue design's marginal fit to that of the other designs. Methods: During this investigation, we attempted to see whether the fabrication of metal copings could be improved. Three sprue designs were used in this research for the assessment of casting accuracy: normal cylindrical, funnel-shaped, and cuboidal or flattened sprue forms. Results: The mean marginal disparity of nickel-chromium (Ni-Cr) alloy copings made by three distinct brands was determined to be statistically insignificant. Conclusion: Within the limitation of the study, it was concluded that the marginal accuracy of metal copings fabricated with three different brands of Ni-Cr alloy did not reveal a statistically significant result. However, out of the three different sprue designs, that is, cylindrical, cuboidal, and funnel shape, the marginal accuracy of cylindrical and cuboidal sprue designs was found to be better than that of the funnel shape sprue design because the funnel shape sprue design is narrow at the point of attachment, thereby increasing the flow pressure and decreasing the turbulence of the molten metal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latitudinal gradient effect is described for several autoimmune diseases including celiac disease in the United States. However, the association between latitude and global celiac disease prevalence is unknown. We aimed to explore the association between latitude and serology-based celiac disease prevalence through meta-analysis. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus databases from their beginning through June 29, 2018, to identify screening studies that targeted a general population sample, used serology-based screening tests, and provided a clear location from which we could assign a latitude. Studies were excluded if sampling was based on symptoms, risk factors, or referral. Study selection and data extraction were performed by independent reviewers. The association measures between latitude and prevalence of serology-based celiac disease were evaluated with random-effects meta-analyses and meta-regression. Of the identified 4667 unique citations, 128 studies were included, with 155 prevalence estimates representing 40 countries. Celiac disease was more prevalent at the higher latitudes of 51° to 60° (relative risk [RR], 1.62; 95% CI, 1.09–2.38) and 61° to 70° (RR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.36–3.89) compared with the 41° to 50° reference level. No statistically significant difference was observed at lower latitudes. When latitude was treated as continuous, we found a statistically significant association between CD prevalence and latitude overall in the world (RR, 1.03, 95% CI, 1.01–1.05) and a subregional analysis of Europe (RR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02–1.07) and North America (RR, 1.1; 95% CI, 1.0–1.2). In this comprehensive review of screening studies, we found that a higher latitude was associated with greater serology-based celiac disease prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cytotoxic effects of COVID-19 raise the question of a possible relation between COVID-19 infection and new-onset type 1 diabetes. We report the case of an eight-year-old boy with new-onset type 1 diabetes and an asymptomatic COVID-19 infection. Case presentation: The eight-year-old boy was hospitalized on December 18th, 2020 due to increased polyuria during the preceding 1 week. Type 1 diabetes was diagnosed with autoantibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase, tyrosine phosphatase and insulin. The Hba1c value was 11.6%. Upon admission, the PCR test for COVID-19 was positive, the duration of the infection was not clear due to the asymptomatic course, and antibodies were initially negative. Significantly elevated antibodies against COVID-19 were detected 15 days later. Conclusion: The laboratory findings led us to the hypothesis that the boy already had an increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases (HLA DR3-DQB1*02:01 and DR4-DQB1*03:02 positive). The Hba1c value allows speculation that the diabetes manifestation was already "on the way" and that a relatively recent COVID-19 infection could have accelerated the process. The findings are in contrast to a recent report in which COVID-19 infection preceded the manifestation of an insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus by about 5–7 weeks. Due to the paucity of reports, cases with a suspected connection between diabetes mellitus and COVID-19 infection should be entered into the CoviDiab registry (https://covidiab.e-dendrite.com). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Narrow band imaging (NBI) with magnification better visualizes the duodenal microsurface and mucosal vascularity. NBI delineates villous atrophy better than conventional white light endoscopy. Aims: This study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of narrow band imaging with magnification (NBI-ME) in celiac disease (CD). Methods: In this prospective study, consecutive patients of suspected CD and controls were subjected to tissue transglutaminase antibody test and endoscopic evaluation initially with white light followed by NBI-ME, and biopsies were taken from duodenum. Duodenal villous patterns on NBI were interpreted as normal, blunted distorted, and absent. Severity of villous atrophy was reported according to the modified Marsh criteria. Results: One hundred and twenty-two patients (mean age of 27.53 ± 13.37 years and a male to female ratio of 1:1.26) and 40 controls were studied. The sensitivity and specificity of NBI-ME in predicting villous atrophy were found to be 95.54% and 90%, respectively. The specificity and negative predictive value of NBI-ME in predicting villous atrophy amongst controls was 100% and 97.5%, respectively. Abnormal findings (blunted and absent villous patterns) combined with elevated transglutaminase antibody (> 5-fold) were found to have high accuracy in predicting villous atrophy. Conclusion: NBI with magnification has high sensitivity and specificity in predicting villous atrophy in patients with celiac disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Casting defects that are closely related to entrapped air bubbles and metallic oxides occur very frequently in the sand mold casting process. Many researchers have shown that these defects can be reduced by adopting an appropriate gating system design. However, it is difficult for field engineers to identify a specific gating system that is more appropriate for their products. In this study, we tried to draw a comparison between two gating system designs with and without a ceramic foam filter. The ceramic foam filter was added to the horizontal runner just after the down sprue to prevent air bubble generation and reduce turbulence without a change of gating system design. The water modeling experiment was conducted with four different amounts of the initial volumes of water in the reservoir to verify the effects of initial pouring velocity. The results of the experiment applying the filter showed remarkably changed flow characteristics. The use of the filter was found to convert the flow pattern of water in the desired direction. The ceramic foam filter performed well to reduce flow velocity and stabilize the water stream.The flow pattern without a filter can be improved significantly even with the the use of just a 10 PPI irregular filter. Although the study confirmed that use of the filter may change the flow characteristics, it needs to be noted that the use of the ceramic filter alone cannot solve all the problems caused by a poorly designed gating system.

Transabdominal gastrointestinal ultrasound (GIUS) is unique in its capacity to examine the bowel non-invasively and in its physiological condition, including extra-intestinal features such as the splanchnic vessels, mesentery, omentum and lymph nodes- even at the bedside. Despite this, and its extensive documentation for its usefulness, it has only been fully implemented in a few European countries and expert centres. Therefore, the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB) established a GIUS Task Force Group in 2014 consisting of international experts from 9 European countries with the objectives to standardize and promote the use of GIUS in a clinical setting. This is achieved by publishing clinical guidelines and recommendations on indications and use of GIUS and so far,4 guidelines have been published: first on "examination techniques and normal findings", second on "inflammatory bowel disease", third on "acute appendicitis and diverticulitis" and fourth on "transrectal and perineal ultrasound".This paper describes the ultrasound features of miscellaneous disorders such as celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, omental infarction, Meckel's diverticle, endometriosis, intestinal neoplasia, mucocele, amyloidosis, GVHD, foreign bodies, vasculitis, and pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis. Bowel ultrasound can be indicated in most of these conditions to investigate intestinal symptoms but in other cases the alterations of the bowel can be also an incidental finding that suggest other examinations which finally help to discover an unknown pathological condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Celiac disease (CD) is commonly found in women. Given the sex differences in diagnosed patients, we hypothesized sex differences in physicians obtaining biopsies for CD may exist. We retrospectively reviewed duodenal biopsies for suspected CD excluding pre-existing CD patients. Appropriate biopsy practice was defined as ≥5 specimens per ACG guidelines. We included 125 patients (females, 92). There were 85 properly (68%) biopsied. Presence of a female endoscopist was associated with better adherence to biopsy guidelines (OR, 2.99, 95% CI, 1.19–7.54; p =.02) which remained significant after multivariable adjustment (adjusted OR, 2.7; p =.047). Physician sex-based differences in biopsy patterns may exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Synthesis, crystal structure data and biological evaluation of four novel NHC∗-Ag(I)-Benzoate and four novel Triphenyl Phosphine Ag(I)-Benzoate complexes against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) , Escherichia coli , Candida parapsilosis and Candida albicans , with antifungal data indicating several complexes can complete with medicinal grade antifungal agents. Highlights • Synthesis of four novel triphenylphosphino-silver(I) benzoate complexes through simple benchtop methods. • Synthesis of four novel NHC∗-silver(I) benzoate complexes through in-situ free carbene generation. • Biological evaluation of the eight novel complexes against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli to determine antibiotic activity, resulting in an MIC 50 comparable to previous antibiotic candidate SBC3. • Biological evaluation of the eight novel complexes against Candida parapsilosis and Candida albicans resulting in all NHC∗-silver(I) benzoate complexes showing better activity against C. parapsilosis than the clinical standard Caspofungin. Abstract The rising threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) requires a novel approach to the treatment of infectious diseases. Covalently bonded silver, which has known antibacterial and antifungal properties and multiple mechanisms of action, may provide a treatment strategy when used alone or in combination with already known antimicrobial compounds. Here we describe the synthesis of eight novel silver(I) complexes, which were screened for in vitro activity against two pathogenic bacterial strains, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), and against two pathogenic fungal strains, Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis. Complexes 5 – 8 were synthesized by reacting triphenylphosphine in relative equivalents with the relevant silver benzoates (1 , 2 & 4), whilst complexes 9 – 12 were synthesized by generation of a free carbene NHC∗ (1,3-dibenzyl-4,5-diphenyl-imidazol-2-ylidene) and reacting this with the silver benzoates 1 – 4 , under Schlenk conditions. Complexes 9 – 12 showed the strongest antimicrobial activity, resulting in 50% inhibition of growth against MRSA and C. parapsilosis at concentrations of 12.5 and 3.25 µg/mL, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Volanesorsen, an investigational inhibitor of apoC-III synthesis, significantly reduced triglyceride levels in clinical trials in patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS), a rare genetic disorder characterized by marked chylomicronemia leading to a spectrum of symptoms, including recurrent abdominal pain and episodes of potentially fatal acute pancreatitis (AP).Objective: To determine the effect of volanesorsen on burden of disease on patients with FCS Methods: ReFOCUS was a retrospective global web-based survey open to patients with FCS who received volanesorsen for ≥3 months in an open-label extension study. The survey included questions about patients' experiences before and after volanesorsen treatment.Results: Twenty-two respondents had received volanesorsen for a median of 222 days. Volanesorsen significantly reduced the number of symptoms per patient across physical, emotional, and cognitive domains. Significant reductions from baseline were reported for steatorrhea, pancreatic pain, and constant worry about an attack of pain/AP. Respondents reported that volanesorsen improved overall management of symptoms and reduced interference of FCS with work/school responsibilities. Reductions in the negative impact of FCS on personal, social, and professional life were also reported.Conclusions: Treatment with volanesorsen has the potential to reduce disease burden in patients with FCS through modulation of multiple symptom domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pancreas. This study aimed to compare the natural course of alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (ACP) and idiopathic chronic pancreatitis (ICP). Methods: CP patients admitted to our center from January 2000 to December 2013 were enrolled. Characteristics were compared between ACP and ICP patients. Cumulative rates of diabetes mellitus (DM), steatorrhea, pancreatic stone, pancreatic pseudocyst, biliary stricture, and pancreatic cancer after the onset and the diagnosis of CP were calculated, respectively. The cumulative rates of DM and steatorrhea after diagnosis of pancreatic stone were also calculated. Results: A total of 2,037 patients were enrolled. Among them, 19.8% (404/2,037) were ACP and 80.2% (1,633/2,037) were ICP patients. ACP and ICP differs in many aspects, especially in gender, age, smoking, complications, morphology of pancreatic duct, and type of pain. The development of DM, steatorrhea, PPC, pancreatic stone, and biliary stricture were significantly earlier and more common in ACP patients. No significant difference was observed for pancreatic cancer development. There was a rather close correlation between exocrine/endocrine insufficiency and pancreatic stone in ACP patients, which was much less correlated in ICP patients. Conclusion: The long-term profile of ACP and ICP differs in some important aspects. ACP patients usually have a more severe course of CP. These differences should be recognized in the diagnosis and treatment of CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim: To investigate whether coeliac disease (CD) was associated with periodontitis among a nationally representative sample of US adults. Materials and Methods: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009–2012 enrolled 6,661 subjects with full‐mouth periodontal examination and serological testing for antitissue transglutaminase (tTg) and antiendomysial (EMA) antibodies. CD was defined as (i) self‐reported physician diagnosis while on a gluten‐free diet; or (ii) tTg levels >10.0 U/ml and positive EMA results. Positive serology without self‐reported diagnosis was defined as undiagnosed CD (UdxCD). Periodontitis was defined according to the CDC/AAP definition. Multivariable linear and logistic models were used to regress the mean probing depth (PD) or attachment loss (AL) outcomes across CD categories (none, diagnosed and undiagnosed). Results: The prevalence of moderate/severe periodontitis and diagnosed/undiagnosed CD was 40% and 0.74%, respectively. Mean AL was lower among those with CD although results were not statistically significant (p = .67). The odds of periodontitis among individuals with diagnosed and undiagnosed CD were: 0.5(0.22, 1.16) and 0.62(0.1, 3.75), respectively. Mean PD levels among those without CD or with diagnosed or undiagnosed CD were 1.49 ± 0.02, 1.36 ± 0.11 and 1.31 ± 0.11 (p = .03). Conclusion: CD is associated with modestly lower levels of mean PD but was not associated with mean AL or periodontitis. Larger studies are necessary to enhance precision and strengthen conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a gap in research focused on gender-based differences in non-referral populations with celiac disease.Aims: The aim of this study was to estimate those differences in a unique population-based cohort of patients with celiac disease with respect to (1) presenting symptoms, (2) associated autoimmune disorders, and (3) survival.Methods: Clinical data were systematically abstracted from the electronic medical record of a population-based incident cohort of patients with celiac disease. Logistic regression was used to assess the strength of the association of presenting symptoms and gender. Survival differences between genders were evaluated with Cox regression.Results: We included 282 patients (females 65%, median age 39 years) diagnosed between 1990 and 2015. The female to male ratio was 1.85:1. Men and women presented similarly. Women were more likely to present with constipation (OR 2.33; 95% CI 1.06-5.12; p = 0.035). Anemia and abdominal distention or bloating were more frequently seen in women, but not on a statistically significant level. Overall autoimmune diseases were equally prevalent (31.6%) in males (30.2%) and females (32.2%) (p = 0.74). Hypothyroidism predominated in women. Age-adjusted survival was lower among men than women (HR 3.00; 95% CI 1.26-7.21, p = 0.014), but not more so than in the general population. Cancer was the most common cause of death, and there were two possible celiac disease-related deaths.Conclusions: This study showed that men and women are more alike than unalike when it comes to celiac disease presentation and prevalence of concurrent autoimmune disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statement of Problem: Sprue design is a factor that controls the velocity and adequate supply of metal to the mould. Currently various manufacturers recommend different shapes of sprue, which have not been advocated in textbooks and literature is lacking for their routine applications. Purpose: This in vitro study was carried out to determine the efficacy of four sprue shapes in producing complete, void free cobalt-chrome removable partial denture frameworks. Materials and Methods: A brass metal die with a Kennedy class III, modification 1, partially edentulous arch was used and four sprue shapes (Group A-Ribbon, Group B-Square, Group C-Round and Group D- Round with reservoir) were evaluated. 40 refractory casts were made, 10 wax patterns for each sprue design were waxed up, invested with phosphate bonded investment material and castings done with induction casting machine by the same operator under standardized protocols. The cast frameworks were evaluated for 1.The defects observed visually before finishing and polishing procedures, 2. Fit on the master die as seen with naked eye and 3.Defects on radiographic evaluation. Data were tabulated and statistically analyzed with 1-way ANOVA followed by Student ′t′ test. Results: The results differed significantly (P < 0.0001) between the Groups with maximum defects in the castings of Group A followed in decreasing order by Group B, Group C and Group D. When comparing between the Groups (P < 0.05), the defects in Groups C and D was significantly lower than Group A and Group B. Conclusions: Round sprues with reservoir produced most satisfactory fit of castings with minimum number of internal and external defects.

Our current understanding of tropical sprue is that it is a malabsorption syndrome that responds to treatment with folic acid and a broad spectra antibiotic. This realization came only after countless years of research by legions of investigators. Twenty-seven individual studies on various aspects of tropical sprue were published in the Puerto Rico Journal of Public Health and Tropical Medicine from 1925 to 1949. This article summarizes significant findings, presented chronologically, and speculates on the direction of future investigations into tropical sprue.

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated inflammatory enteropathy triggered by gluten exposure in genetically susceptible individuals. It has a high prevalence approaching 1% of the US population. A high index of suspicion is warranted to diagnose CD as frequently patients present with extraintestinal or atypical manifestations. CD is diagnosed by a combination of serum serologies and duodenal biopsies. The majority of patients will respond to a lifelong gluten-free diet which is the cornerstone of therapy. Complications such as refractory CD, ulcerative jejunoileitis, enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma and small bowel adenocarcinoma occur in a minority of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Collagenous sprue (CS) is a rare form of enteropathy that had been reported to be associated with celiac disease (CD) and collagenous colitis (CC). The aim of our study was to compare the clinical features, treatments, and outcomes of CS, CD, and CC. Methods All patients with histologic diagnosis of CS, CD, or CC with complete clinical data were extracted from our pathology database between 1990 and 2015. Demographic and clinical features were recorded along with treatments and outcomes. Results A total of 21 patients with CS were included. Overall CS patients were more symptomatic with 17 (81.0%) patients with diarrhea and 15 (71.4%) with unintentional weight loss. Positive celiac serology was noted in 5 (23.8%) CS patients. CS patients had higher rates for disease-related temporary total parenteral nutrition (TPN) use (38.1% vs. 1.1% vs. 1.0%, P < 0.0001) and disease-related hospitalization (52.4% vs. 3.3% vs. 8.2%, P < 0.0001) than that in CD and CC patients. Twenty CS patients received treatments, including the combination of gluten-free diet (GFD) and corticosteroids ( n = 12), GFD only ( n = 2), and corticosteroids only ( n = 6). All CS patients showed symptomatic reliefs with treatment. Although CS patients had a higher rate for hospitalization and TPN use, disease-related death was not observed in all three groups. Conclusions Collagenous sprue patients had more severe clinical presentation than patients with CD and CC and therefore had higher demand for temporary TPN and hospitalization. Nevertheless, a prompt use of steroids and/or GFD upon histologic diagnosis of CS may have contributed to an overall excellent prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals' capability to absorb energy and nutrients from food poses a major internal constraint that affects the amount of resources available for allocation to maintenance, growth, signaling, and reproduction. Intestinal surface is the largest area of contact between immune system and microbial antigens; gut thus appears the main arena where trade-offs between immune function and other components of fitness arise. Assessment of the integrity of digestive machinery should therefore be of high priority in ecophysiological research. Traditional methods of digestive physiology, however, appear unsuitable for most ecological applications due to lethality or complexity of the procedure., Here, we test the reliability of a simple, cheap, and noninvasive procedure, an acid steatocrit that assesses fat content in feces. It is based on centrifugation of a fecal sample, diluted in acid medium, in hematocrit capillary tube and quantifying the percentage of fat in fecal matter. The method has been previously validated in humans and mice; here, we apply it for the first time in birds., When applied to captive wild-caught greenfinches, the method showed reasonable internal consistency ( rs = 0.71 for steatocrit values, sampled from the same fecal aliquot in duplicate but processed separately). Individual steatocrit values were significantly repeatable in time in different intervals from eight to at least 20 days ( rs = 0.32-0.49). The relationship between intestinal health and steatocrit values was tested by experimental manipulations. Medication against coccidiosis (a naturally pervasive intestinal infection) reduced, and experimental infection with heterologous coccidian strains increased steatocrit. Individual changes in steatocrit correlated negatively with changes of two markers of nutritional state-plasma triglyceride levels and body mass., Findings of this study suggest that steatocrit has a wide application potential as a marker of intestinal health in ecophysiological research. In particular, we see the perspective of this method for increasingly popular immunoecological research, conservation medicine, and studies of animal coloration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statement of problem : Base metal alloys offers adequate mechanical and bonding properties for fabricating dental prostheses; however, casting difficulties can compromise the accuracy of Nickel-Chromium margins. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sprue numbers and investment types on casting accuracy of base metal alloys. Material and methods: The casting accuracy was evaluated indirectly by determining the deficiency of Base metal alloy margins cast using the lost-wax technique. Crown margins were recorded in a silicone impression material. The degree of marginal rounding was measured and margin deficiencies were calculated. Forty wax patterns were prepared on aluminium dies having a provision for attachment of one sprue and two sprues. A total of 40 wax patterns were made for two different investment materials (M I and M II) and two different sprue number (Group I and Group II).10 wax patterns for each investment and sprue number were prepared with 100 % New alloy and divided into 4 groups namely M I GI, M I G II, M II G I, and M II G II. Margin configurations such as depth and number of depressions in cast specimens were measured and recorded, using silicone impressions of the margins. After polymerization, the silicone material was sectioned precisely in the centre through the margin area so that cross-sections of the margins could be observed. Marginal deficiency was determined using microscopic measurements from the silicone patterns and calculations. Data were subjected to 2-way analysis of variance (a=.05). Results: The mean, standard deviation and test of significance of the number of depressions between different Materials (I and II) and different Groups (I and II). One way ANOVA was used to calculate the p- value. The mean number of depressions in Material I and Group I(MI GI) (6.7±1.6) is significantly higher than Material I Group II(MI GII) (4.4±1.3)and Material II Group II(MII GII) (4.6±1.6) [p<0.05]. The mean number of depressions in Material II and Group I (MI GI) (6.9±2.0) is significantly higher than Material I Group II (MI GII) (4.4±1.3) and Material II. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, investment M I provided better casting accuracy than investment MII. Two sprues provided more accurate results than 1 sprue; however, this effect was more notable for investment MI, as it produced similar results between groups MI GII and MII GII. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS The use of 2 sprues may allow a satisfactory clinical result using both Bella vest and Wiro vest investments when casting crowns from nickel chromium alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Thecystic fibrosis patient registry is a way that collects longitudinal demographic, clinical, and treatment information of persons with cystic fibrosis (CF) and useful in providing an integrated resource for improving patient care and conducting research on the disease. CF is a lifethreatening genetic disorder in whichmalnutrition is one of the main burdens of disease along with lung disease. The aim of this study wasto investigate the trend of change in malnutrition and clinical outcome in CF patients based on CF registry. Method: This longitudinal study was conducted in2017-2021 on 250 CF patients referred to the CF clinic of Akbar hospital in Mashhad. For each patient, the comparative demographic, clinical and laboratory data of patients were recorded. Result: About 54% of studied patients were boys (n=135) and 46% were girls (n=115). The mean patients age (SD) was 9.85 ±6.02 years, with a range of 6 month to 37 years. The mean age of diagnosis was 18.83 ± 38.82 and about 9.6% of patients diagnosed after 5 years. In 75% of patients, family history was positive. The most important clinical presentation at the time of diagnosis was failure to thrives. Other were include Recurrent pneumonia, Steatorrhea and Meconium Ileus. Trend of change in malnutrition showed BMI z score increased significantly from -1.42 ± 1.7to - .72 ± 1.33in 2017 compared with 2021(p<0.05), although 19.8% were moderate to severe undernutrition. Conclusion: It seems thatmulti-disciplinary management particularly nutritional supporthad a significant effect in the final clinical improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the case of an 82-year old woman, who was readmitted with chronic diarrhea of 8-month duration and weight loss of 20 kg. Duodenal biopsies have revealed subtotal villous atrophy with crypt hyperplasia and increased intraepithelial lymphocytes. The tissue transglutaminase antibodies and serum anti-endomysial antibodies were negative.

Introduction: To study the effect of various sprue designs on the properties of base metal alloy castings. The base metal alloys are extensively used for their excellent properties such as an increase in hardness, high melting range, high elastic modulus, its compatibility with ceramic material and low cost. However, to improve the properties of the base metal alloys is an ongoing research leading to various modifications in their fabrication procedure - which include sprue designs and their mode of attachment to the wax pattern. Aims and Objectives: Study compared the effect of three sprue designs viz. conical sprue, cylindrical sprue and bottleneck sprue on the properties of mass and microhardness of base metal alloy castings. Materials and Methods: A prefabricated wax mesh pattern was selected for the fabrication of the alloy test samples in the study. The cylindrical sprue design was connected to the mesh pattern with a straight attachment. The bottleneck sprue design was connected to the mesh pattern with a constricted attachment. The conical sprue design was connected to the mesh pattern with a flared attachment. In this manner, ten samples for each of the three different sprue designs were prepared. Results: The obtained value for mass and microhardness were subjected to statistical analysis. ANOVA test was performed to determine the difference between the sprue designs. Conclusion: The bottleneck sprue, conical sprue, and cylindrical sprue designs did not exert any apparent influence on the mass and microhardness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]