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Clinical Laboratory Parameters in Different Stages, Zones, and Remission/Progression statuses of Retinopathy of Prematurity
Full text linkBackground: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vasoproliferative retinal disease in premature infants that causes lifetime visual impairment and blindness in the early ages. In this study, we investigated the differences in the values of clinical laboratory parameters between different ROP and its remission/progression statuses regarding stages and zones. Methods: This historical cohort study includes 828 infants divided into two groups after the first examination containing ROP infants and controls. The biochemical and hematological parameters of the two groups have been collected from the patient’s history. Results: In infants with ROP, the hematopoiesis-related parameters, including the mean level of hemoglobin, total bilirubin, potassium, calcium were significantly less than controls (P =0.039, P =0.001, P =0.001, and P=0.046, respectively). The percentages of reticulocyte and the levels of BUN in ROP patients were significantly higher than in normal infants (P=0.015 and p <0.001, respectively). Moreover, the levels of hemoglobin and BUN were significantly different in the different zones of ROP (P=0.017 and P=0.001, respectively). Also, higher hemoglobin levels, total bilirubin, and CRP were observed in the reduced stages of ROP (P=0.041, P=0.045, and P=0.039, respectively). Conclusion: Laboratory parameters are different in different stages, zones and remission/progression ROP infants
Application of Radiomics in Radiotherapy: Challenges and Future Prospects
Full text linkBackground and Objective: Specific treatment for each patient based on their clinical data is one of the medical prospects of the future. Using data mining and machine learning techniques based on computer science in extracting the quantitative features of an image to improve the process of diagnosis, prognosis, prediction and response to cancer treatment is known as radiomics. This article examines the workflow, findings, challenges ahead, and the role of radiomics in precision medicine and individual therapy.
Methods: In this review article, we searched well-known indexes such as ISC, web of science, Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed without time limit and based on the keywords radiomics, radiotherapy, cancer and quantitative imaging and relevant articles were collected.
Findings: Radiomics is a combination of everyday computer-aided diagnosis, machine learning methods, deep learning and human skills that can be used for quantitative description of the phenotypes of cancerous tumors. Image collection and processing, tumor segmentation, extraction of features, processing and modeling are some of the basic steps of the process of radiomics. Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and ultrasound (US) methods are among the used images.
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the prerequisite for the clinical implementation of radiomics is the elimination of deficiencies such as the dependence of the features on the imaging parameters, and the unrepeatability of the features. Therefore, a comprehensive approach should be adopted, stable and reproducible patterns should be developed to accept radiomics as a clinical prognostic tool
Frequency of Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 in Patients with Rare Bleeding Disorders
Full text linkBackground and Objective: Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a virus that is endemic in some parts of the world, and as a pathogen, it can lead to severe infections in humans. Since no antiviral treatment is currently available and the only way of confrontation is prevention and identification of infected blood, this study was performed to determine the frequency of antibodies against HTLV-1 in patients with rare bleeding disorders receiving blood in Zahedan.
Methods: The study population included 180 patients with rare bleeding disorders referred to Ali Asghar Hospital in Zahedan selected by census method and 90 healthy individuals who referred to hospital lab selected by convenience sampling method in 2020. Age range was 1 to 39 years. Blood samples were collected from all participants and antibody test against HTLV-1 was confirmed using ELISA kit and positive ELISA test was confirmed using Real-time PCR.
Findings: In the case group, there were 86 men (47.8%) and 94 women (52.2%) and in the control group there were 43 men (47.8%) and 47 women (52.2%). Antibodies against HTLV-1 were found in 2 patients (1.1%) with rare bleeding disorders and none in healthy individuals. The first was a 29-year-old man with Glanzmann's disease who had severe Glanzmann's thrombasthenia. The second case was a 23-year-old woman with severe forms of factor V and factor VIII deficiency whose family history of Rare Bleeding Disorders (RBD) was positive.
Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the risk of HTLV-1 transmission through plasma-induced blood products and new types of coagulation factors seems negligible
The Association between Carbohydrate Intake and Periodontal Health in the Elderly
Full text linkBackground and Objective: Periodontal disease is one of the most common chronic oral diseases worldwide. A variety of foods may affect periodontal health. Due to the importance of periodontal health in the old age, this study was designed to investigate the association between carbohydrate intake and periodontal health in the elderly in Amirkola, northern Iran.
Methods: This cross-sectional study is part of the second phase of the Amirkola Health and Ageing Project (AHAP). The evaluated participants included 400 elderly people (200 men and 200 women). Socio-demographic data of all subjects were recorded in the information form. Periodontal status, including plaque index (PI), periodontal disease index (PDI) and Oral Hygiene Index (OHI) were evaluated. Then, the Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SQFFQ) was completed in order to receive daily carbohydrates in grams per day for all Participants. Then, the relationship between carbohydrate intake and periodontal health was evaluated.
Findings: The participants consumed an average of 316±102.4 gr/day carbohydrates. The mean range of PI, OHI, PDI and in the high carbohydrate intake (>300 gr) group were 2.18±1.39, 2.84±1.51 and 1.51±0.86, respectively, and this rate was lower than the group with low carbohydrate intake (<300 gr) (1.96±1.52, 2.56±1.53 and 1.37±0.91), but the difference between the two groups was not significant.
Conclusion: In the present study, there was no relationship between periodontal health indices and carbohydrate intake
Effect of concentration of hydrofluoric acid and etching time on microtensile bond strength of Zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate ceramics
Full text linkIntroduction: Etching the internal surface of ceramic restorations with hydrofluoric (HF) acid and silane is a well-accepted technique to enhance the bond strength. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of concentration of hydrofluoric acid and etching time on microtensile bond strength (µTBS) of zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (ZLS) ceramics in 2021.
Materials & Methods: This in vitro study was conducted on 8 Celtra-Duo ceramic blocks size 14 measuring 12×14×18 mm. Each ceramic block was divided into three equal pieces by a cutting machine to obtain a total of 24 specimens. The specimens were randomly divided into 6 groups for etching with 5% and 10% HF acid for 30, 60, and120 seconds. Silane (Clearfil porcelain activator) and bonding agent (Clearfil SE Bond) were applied to the etched specimens. Panavia F2 resin cement was applied on the surfaces and light-cured. The mTBS of resin cement to porcelain was measured by a universal testing machine. The mode of failure was determined under a stereomicroscope at x40 magnification. Data were analyzed by one- and two-way ANOVA (P<0.05).
Results: The mean mTBS of Celtra-Duo ceramics subjected to etching for 30, 60, and 120 seconds was not significantly different in the use of 5% and 10% HF acid concentrations (P>0.05). Two-way ANOVA showed that the effects of HF acid concentration and etching time, and their interaction effect were not significant on µTBS of CAD/CAM Celtra-Duo ceramics (P>0.05). The mode of failure was dominantly adhesive in both concentrations of 5% and 10% HF acid. No mixed failure occurred in both concentrations.
Conclusion: Considering the non-significant difference in µTBS of ceramics subjected to different concentrations of HF acid for different times, the application of HF acid with lower concentration for a shorter period is recommended to prevent possible adverse effects on ceramic strength
Laboratory Evaluation of Color Change and Surface Roughness of White Spot Lesions Treated with Resin Infiltration and Fluoride Therapy
Full text linkBackground and Objective: Two non-invasive treatment methods for treating white spot lesions (WSLs) include resin infiltration and fluoride therapy. Contradictions have been raised regarding the color change and surface roughness of the lesions based on these methods. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the color change and surface roughness of white spot lesions after treatment with resin infiltration and fluoride therapy.
Methods: In this laboratory study, 40 buccal and lingual sections were prepared from 20 extracted healthy premolar teeth. 10 samples were considered as the control group, and in the other 30 samples, decayed lesions were created artificially. White spot lesions were randomly prepared in three groups without treatment, 0.05% sodium fluoride solution and resin infiltration (n=10). Then, the rate of color change and surface roughness of the samples after being placed in black tea and also after brushing were measured and compared using spectrophotometer and profilometer.
Findings: The surface roughness of samples in resin infiltration, intact enamel and fluoride groups were 163.46±64.67, 259.6±43.12 and 293.92±41.36 micrometers, respectively (p<0.001). Before placing in tea and after brushing, no significant difference was observed in the color of the samples, but after staining, the color change in WSL (9.14±5.85), fluoride (17.40±4.13) and resin infiltration (12.13±4.88) groups was significant (p=0.004); the fluoride group showed significantly more color change compared to the WSL group (p=0.003), but the difference between the other groups was not significant.
Conclusion: The results of this study show that if the resin infiltration method is used in the treatment of white spot lesions, less surface roughness and color change is observed compared to fluoride therapy
The Association between Antihypertensive Drugs and Falls in Older Adults in Amirkola, Northern Iran
Full text linkBackground and Objective: Being familiar with the factors that are effective in causing falls plays an important role in reducing the issues and costs related to its treatment. Considering the contradictory results about the use of antihypertensive drugs and falls in older adults, the present study was conducted to determine the association between the use of antihypertensive drugs and falls in older adults.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was a part of the first phase of Amirkola Health and Ageing Project (AHAP), which was conducted on three groups of 250 people including healthy elderly, and hypertensive patients with and without taking antihypertensive drugs. Antihypertensive drugs were divided into 6 groups based on the mechanism of action. The variables of age, gender, body mass index, physical activity, diabetes, number of medications, depression symptoms, cognitive status, number of comorbidities, and the frequency of falls during one year before the beginning of the study and during the six-month follow-up were evaluated and compared in different categories of antihypertensive drugs by asking older adults in the three groups.
Findings: Out of all studied older adults, 126 people (16.8%) fell during the last 12 months and 36 people (4.8%) fell during the six-month follow-up. No significant relationship was found between falls and the use of antihypertensive drugs, and between the use of different classes of antihypertensive drugs and falls. Variables such as depressive symptoms (OR=2.057, p=0.001), number of comorbidities (OR=0.189, p=0.006) and older age (OR=1.033, p=0.040) had an effective role in causing falls.
Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the use of antihypertensive drugs and their different classes was not associated with the increase in the frequency of falls in older adults
Effect of expiration date of universal adhesives on the alterations of microtensile bond strength of composite resin to dentin
Full text linkIntroduction: One of the factors affecting the success of bonded restoration is the use of appropriate adhesives and attention to their maintenance time. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of three time periods related to the expiration date of two universal adhesives on the bond strength of resin composite to dentin.
Materials & Methods: In this in-vitro study, 30 intact third human molars were selected. The roots of the teeth were cut and the crown part was mounted in acrylic resin in such a way that the enamel of the buccal surface was clearly visible. Using abrasive disks, the enamel of the buccal surface of the teeth was abraded to create a flat dentin area with dimensions of 25 mm2. The samples were randomly divided into 2 groups based on adhesive type (All Bond (Bisco, Fchaumburg,IL, USA) G-Permio and each group was divided into 3 subgroups based on expiration date. After the bonding process and fabrication of composite samples, microtensile bond strength (TBS) was measured at a speed of 1 mm/min. The data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and post hoc Tukey's test. P<0.05 was considered as significant level.
Results: Significant differences were found among samples with different expiration dates in both All-Bond Universal (p=0.0001) and G-Premio (p=0.0001) groups in terms of micro TBS (μTBS). In both adhesive groups, a significant difference was found between 2 months after expiration with expiration time and 2 months before expiration, but there was no significant difference between expiration time and 2 months before expiration.
Conclusion: The end of the expiration date has a reducing effect on the μTBS of universal adhesives investigated in this study. However, the amount of this effect varies depending on the type of adhesive
Accuracy of obesity indices alone or in combination for prediction of diabetes: A novel risk score by linear combination of general and abdominal measures of obesity
Full text linkBackground: The predictive power of obesity measures varies according to the presence of coexistent measures. The present study aimed to determine the predictive power of combinations of obesity measures for diabetes by calculation of a linear risk score. Methods: Data from a population-based cross-sectional study of 994 representative samples of Iranian adults in Babol, Iran were analyzed. Measures of obesity including waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), waist–to–height ratio (WHtR), and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were calculated, and diabetes was diagnosed by fasting blood sugar >126 mg/dl or taking antidiabetic medication. Multiple logistic regression model was used to develop a logit risk score based on BMI, WC, WHtR, and WHR. The ROC analysis was applied to determine the priority of every single index and combined logit score for the prediction of diabetes. Results: All four measures of general and abdominal obesity were predictors of diabetes individually in both sexes (P=0.0001). Calculation of risk score for a combination of all measures use full model improved predictive power. Adjustment for age resulted in further improvement in diagnostic power and combined novel risk score differentiated individuals with and without diabetes with an accuracy of 0.747 (95CI: 0.690-0.808) in men and 0.789 (95CI: 0.740, 0.837) in women. Conclusion: These findings indicate that the simultaneous calculation of age-adjusted risk score for all measures provides stronger diagnostic accuracy in both sexes. This issue suggests the calculation of combined risk scores for all obesity indices especially in a population at borderline risk
Investigation of chronic diseases in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a hospital-based case-control study
Full text linkBackground: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a broad term that refers to a group of chronic inflammatory disorders that have an unknown origin and might be associated with other diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of chronic diseases in patients with IBD. Methods: In this case-control study, 280 patients with IBD were compared with 280 healthy individuals, frequency-matched by age, sex, place of residence and marital status. Random sampling was performed in patients that referred to the internal medicine and gastroenterology wards of hospitals affiliated to Babol University of Medical Sciences. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire and a checklist for chronic diseases, which were completed through interviews with the case and control groups. Results: Two hundred and twenty-nine (81.78) patients with IBD had at least one chronic disease. Patients with IBD were at increased risks of rheumatoid arthritis (OR= 4.48, 95CI: 1.48, 13.54, P= 0.008), eye diseases (OR= 3.49, 95CI: 1.68, 7.28, P= 0.001), liver diseases (OR= 2.74, 95CI: 1.40, 5.34, P= 0.003 ), anemia (OR = 2.53, 95CI: 1.56, 4.13, P= 0.000), depression (OR= 2.43, 95CI: 1.58, 3.74, P= 0.000), skin diseases (OR= 2.36, 95CI: 1.18, 4.74, P= 0.015) and hypertension (OR= 1.77, 95CI: 1.06, 2.95, P= 0.028). Conclusion:  The frequency of chronic diseases associated with IBD has been high, therefore, physicians and health care professionals should consider the possibility of other chronic diseases when dealing with IBD patients