Behçet's disease. Relation of serum C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rates to disease activity

In a prospective study of 150 patients with Behçet's disease, significant associations were shown between CRP positivity and the presence of erythema nodosum (p less than 0.02) and acute thrombophlebitis (p less than 0.05) and between ESR and erythema nodosum (p less than 0.01), acute thrombophlebitis (p less than 0.001), and acute arthritis (p less than 0.01). Mucocutaneous, ocular, or central nervous system activities did not show significant associations with these indices of inflammation. In 50 patients in whom quantitative CRP determinations were performed, clinical disease activity was accompanied by slight to moderate increases in CRP and ESR.

Effect of atmospheric plasma versus conventional surface treatments on the adhesion capability between self-adhesive resin cement and titanium surface

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of atmospheric plasma (APL) versus conventional surface treatments on the adhesion of self-adhesive resin cement to Ti-6Al-4V alloy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty plates of machined titanium (Ti) discs were divided into five groups (n=12): 1) Untreated (CNT); 2) Sandblasted (SAB); 3) Tribochemically treated (ROC); 4) Tungsten CarbideBur (TCB); 5) APL treated (APL). SEM analysis and surface roughness (Ra) measurements were performed. Self-adhesive resin cement was bonded to the Ti surfaces and shear bond strength (SBS) tests, Ra and failure mode examinations were carried out. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and chi-squared test.

RESULTS

The lowest SBS value was obtained with CNT and was significantly different from all other groups except for APL. The ROC showed the highest SBS and Ra values of all the groups.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that the effect of APL on SBS and Ra was not sufficient and it may not be a potential for promoting adhesion to titanium.

Evaluation of staining susceptibility of resin artificial teeth and stain removal efficacy of denture cleansers

OBJECTIVE

To assess the staining susceptibility of four acrylic resin (Ivostar, SR Vivodent PE, Major Dent, Integral) and a nanocomposite resin (Veracia) artificial teeth and to evaluate the stain removal efficacy of denture cleansers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty maxillary incisors of each brand (total = 300) were divided into three groups according to staining solution as coffee, red wine and tea. Baseline color measurements were performed with a spectrophotometer. Specimens were immersed in staining solutions for 14 h (2 h × 7 days) and then second color measurements were performed. Each group was further divided into four sub-groups according to denture cleanser as Corega tabs, Fittydent, NaOCl (0.5%) and distilled water (control) (n = 5). Specimens were immersed in denture cleansers for 8 h and third color measurements were made. Thus, the weekly simulation period was completed. This cycle was repeated 12 times to simulate a 3-month time period and measurements were performed at the end of the 4th, 8th and 12th cycles. ΔE values were calculated and data were analyzed with 3-way repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni tests.

RESULTS

Significant color differences were found among the teeth and staining solutions, but all of the color differences were in the clinically acceptable range (ΔE < 5.5). Integral showed the highest ΔE values for all solutions, while Ivostar and Vivodent demonstrated the lowest ΔE values for red wine and tea solutions. There was no significant difference among the denture cleansers in terms of stain removal efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

Cross-linked acrylic (Integral) and nanocomposite (Veracia) resin teeth were more susceptible to staining. Denture cleansers were efficient on stain removal from artificial teeth.

The effect of home bleaching agents on the surface roughness of five different composite resins: A SEM evaluation

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hydrogen peroxide (HP) and carbamide peroxide (CP) on the surface roughness of five different composite resins using profilometer and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Thirty-six specimens (1 mm thick, 10 mm in diameter) of five composite resins were fabricated. Each composite group was equally divided into three subgroups as control, CP and HP. In control group, specimens were stored in daily refreshed distilled water during the 14-day testing period. In other groups, 10% HP (Opalescence Treswhite) and 10% CP (Opalescence PF) were applied and surface roughness values (Ra) of each specimen were measured with a profilometer at the end of 14 days. Additionally, SEM analysis was performed to evaluate the surface deformations of composite resins. Data were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. Ra values of composite groups exposed to bleaching agents were statistically higher than control group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between Ra values after HP and CP application within each composite group while SEM micrographs showed higher surface alterations at HP group compared to CP. Among the composite resins tested, Ceram-X Mono revealed the lowest Ra values after CP and HP applications as seen at SEM images. Home bleaching agents increased the surface roughness of all composites. Except CP applied Ceram-X mono specimens, Ra values of all composite resins evaluated in this study exceeded the critical limit of 0.2 μm. Ceram-X mono was the least affected composite material after bleaching application. SCANNING 38:277-283, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The effect of immediate dentin sealing with chlorhexidine pretreatment on the shear bond strength of dual-cure adhesive cement

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of immediate dentin sealing (IDS) with and without chlorhexidine (CHX) pretreatment on the shear bond strength (SBS) of dual-cure adhesive resin cement. Mid-coronal dentin surfaces were obtained from 75 human molars. They were randomly allocated into five groups in accordance to type of IDS [etch&rinse/ER (Adper Single Bond2) and universal/U adhesive systems (Single Bond Universal)] and presence of CHX application (n = 15): Group ER; Group ER + CHX; Group U; Group U + CHX; and Group C (no IDS). Dual-cure adhesive resin cements were bonded with a cylinder-shaped Teflon mold. The SBS was measured using a universal test machine. Fracture type was evaluated with stereomicroscope. The resin/dentin interfaces were examined with an environmental scanning electron microscope. Data were statistically analyzed with two-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni tests (p < .05). Regarding the IDS treatment groups with/without CHX, there were no significant differences in SBS (p > .05). Group U + CHX showed significantly higher SBS than Group C (p < .05). Regarding the presence of CHX, no significant differences in SBS were found (p > .05). The prevalent failure mode was the mixed type for most of the groups. Group C exhibited an intact and regular hybrid layer with no resin tag, whereas longer and clear resin-tag formation was visible for Group U + CHX. CHX pretreatment improved the bond strength between adhesive resin cement and dentin when IDS treatment was performed with a universal adhesive system.

The accuracy of the prediction models for surface roughness and micro hardness of denture teeth

The paper aimed to compare the performance of artificial neural network (ANN) model with the results of in vitro experiments. For these experiments, maxillary molars of four different denture teeth were subjected to tea, coffee, cola, cherry juice, distilled water. Vickers microhardness and surface roughness values were measured. Subsequently, ANN model for the prediction of microhardness and surface roughness of different denture teeth were examined. A back-propagation ANN has been used to develop a model relating to the amount of microhardness and surface roughness. The independent variables of the model are distilled water, tea, filtered coffee, cola, cherry juice, time and denture teeth. Microhardness and surface roughness were chosen as the dependent variables. According to the results, a neural network architecture having one input layer with ten neurons, two hidden layers with six neurons, one output layer with two neurons and an epoch size of 48 gives better prediction. Prediction models for dental materials could also be supportive for in vitro studies.

[Cryptococcal lymphadenitis in a dog.]

We describe a case of canine crytococcosis, the clinical symptoms were: feverish syndrome, vomiting and diarrhoeas and bilateral lymphadenitis in superficial lymph nodes. Microbiology and histopathology study of popliteal lymph node biopsy demonstrated the presence of round yeasts of some 3 microm of diameter, which we identified as Cryptococcus neoformans. Thirty months after suspending the medication the dog returned to the surgery; the dog was very thin and it had nervous symptoms; the owners decided it upon euthanasia. After carrying out the necropsy we take samples for their microbiology and histopathology study, both techniques detect to C. neoformans in marrow, CNS tissue and lymph nodes.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in a case of methanol intoxication

BACKGROUND

Methanol intoxication is an uncommon clinical problem leading to profound metabolic acidosis with serious neurological deterioration. We describe methanol induced brain lesions on diffusion-weighted MR images and discuss the pathophysiology of these lesions in light of diffusion changes.

CASE REPORT

Brain imaging was performed in a 32 year-old man in a coma with focal neurological signs. Bilateral putaminal [hyperintensity] was seen on fast spin echo T2-weighted sequences, on Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) and on diffusion weighted images. Decreased ADC values were observed bilaterally in the putamina. In addition, FLAIR images showed diffuse hypersignal in the subarachnoidal space. The patient showed rapid neurological deterioration while blood chemical tests revealed a severe metabolic acidosis and plasma methanol levels of 21 mmol/L. The patient died from hepatic failure thirty six hours after admission.

CONCLUSION

Although decreased ADC values on diffusion-weighted imaging are commonly associated with arterial ischemic stroke, this pattern can also be observed in the case of putaminal necrosis following methanol ingestion.

Sebum production is increased in Behçet's syndrome and even more so in rheumatoid arthritis

Sebum production is under hormonal control. We had shown that male sex is associated with more severe disease in Behçet's syndrome and the acneiform skin lesion of this disorder is not different from ordinary acne, an androgen-dependent lesion. Sebum excretion rate was higher in patients with Behçet's syndrome than in healthy controls, children and patients with ankylosing spondylitis. On the other hand, patients with rheumatoid arthritis had high levels of sebum excretion rate comparable to those found in patients with acne vulgaris. These suggest the presence of a sebotrophic hormone and/or other hormonal effects in Behçet's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis.

Examination of daily water consumption behaviors of individuals living in a semi-rural area

Background

The aim of this study is to investigate water consumption behaviors and related factors in the summer period of the population over the age of 15 who apply to family health centers in the semi-rural region.

Methods

The universe of this cross-sectional study consisted of adult patients who applied to community health centers of a region in Malatya. A questionnaire was applied to random 303 individuals about sociodemographic information and water and other fluid consumption and water use behavior.And also Chrobach alpha coefficient of 0.83, the validity adopted in Turkey Likert type consisting of 16 questions Water Consumption Behavior Scale-16 (WCBS) was used for data collection. Scale score height is considered good. In the analysis of the data; Mann Whitney-U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used. P &lt; 0.05 was chosen as the level of error.

Results

49.8% of the participants were male and 64.4% were married. The median daily drinking water consumption of the individuals was 2000 ml (320 ml-1000 ml) and the median daily liquid consumption was 3300 ml (718ml-17001ml). There was no significant difference between age groups, marital status and education level and daily water and other fluid consumptions (p &gt; 0,05). 48.8% of individuals stated that they saved water and the most important reason for this was the high level of water consumption prices.In our study, there was no significant difference between gender, place of residence and number of households and total WCBS scale score.(p &gt; 0,05). But the married individuals' scale score were significantly higher than the single individuals (p &lt; 0,05)

Conclusions

Water and fluid consumption of individuals are at moderate levels in the region. Marital status was most important factor influencing the water consumption behaviors has been found in this study.When the most important factors in saving water are examined, the high price water bills were noteworthy.

Key messages

In order to ensure correct water consumption the society should be informed, the necessary sensitivity should be performed to behavioral change and measures should be taken. Adequate daily water consumption is required to protect the health of individuals.

Posterior wall perforation of duodenal ulcers. Report of two cases and survey of the literature

Retroperitoneal perforation of duodenal ulcer is a rare condition. Diagnostic difficulties lead to high mortality. Two cases are presented in this report.