Background and Objective: One of the important steps in making a complete denture is impression making, which is performed using different materials and techniques with differences in the accuracy of recording details, cost, time, etc. Using a technique that is simple yet accurate is beneficial for dentists and patients. The present study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of two complete denture impression techniques compared to traditional technique using a laboratory 3D scanner. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted using impressions taken from the maxilla of 12 randomly selected patients. For each patient, impressions were taken using three techniques: traditional (zinc oxide eugenol) as the reference and comparative techniques (alginate and compression silicone). To compare the techniques, a laboratory 3D scanner and an analysis software were used which expressed the difference between the two surfaces in millimeters (mm). The mean results obtained from comparing each technique with the reference technique were expressed for the entire jaw surface and also for different areas. Findings: In examining the surface of the impression, the difference with the traditional technique was 0.56±0.14 mm for alginate and 0.491±0.136 mm for silicone. In the border area, obtained values were 1.303±0.423 mm for alginate and 1.119±0.318 mm for silicone. The side alginate and posterior palatal seal areas in both techniques showed a median difference of about 0.5 mm, and the side silicone, alveolar ridge and central sulcus areas in both techniques showed a smaller difference (about 0.2 mm) (p≤0.001). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that alginate and compression silicone technique are more accurate in impression making compared to the traditional technique.
Background and Objective: Kidney is one of the organs that is damaged after liver cirrhosis. This damage to kidney tissue following liver tissue failure is called cholemic nephropathy. Since one of the main mechanisms in the development of cholemic nephropathy is oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant reserves, the present study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of carvacrol as an antioxidant on cholemic nephropathy in cholestatic rats. Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 40 male Wistar rats in 5 groups of 8. Cholestasis was induced by bile duct ligation (BDL). Animals received different doses of carvacrol (25, 50, 100 mg/kg) via gavage. At the end of the period and after carvacrol administration, serum biochemical factors such as creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and urinary factors including glucose and protein, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation (MDA) as well as the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) were evaluated in kidney tissue of cholestatic rats. Findings: Serum levels of BUN and Cr in cholestatic rats were (59±2, 0.8), respectively, which were increased compared to the control groups (17±2, 0.18) (p=0.002). Serum levels of oxidative stress indicators MAD, ROS in cholestatic rats were (17±1, 154109), respectively, which were significantly higher than the control groups (5±1, 37124±11) (p=0.007). Moreover, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GPx) in cholestatic rats were (200±11, 19±3, 20±1), respectively, which were significantly decreased compared to the control groups (600±34, 64±2, 43±1) (p=0.001). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that administering carvacrol can reduce oxidative stress caused by bile duct ligation in the kidneys.
Background and Objective: Endometrial cancer is the sixth most common cause of cancer-related death in women. Out of 320,000 women diagnosed with endometrial cancer, 76,000 die each year. Considering the prevalence and mortality rate of this disease in Iran, the present study was conducted to determine the factors affecting survival and the recurrence rate in patients with endometrial cancer. Methods: In this cohort study, all patients who referred to the Oncology Clinic of Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital and the Gynecological Cancer Center from 2008 to 2020 with endometrial carcinoma undergoing surgical and chemoradiotherapy treatment were studied. Demographic and clinical data were recorded in a checklist, and survival, recurrence, and recurrence-free survival rates were assessed during follow-up 1-5 years after surgery by telephone or based on available information, and finally, the findings were statistically analyzed and reported. Findings: The follow-up period was 42.32±72.5 months, the mean age was 56.63±8.83 years, and 82.3% of patients had no recurrence after surgery. The median overall survival was 122.46±7.30 months and was significant based on disease grade (p=0.001). The effect of age, stage, and grade on survival was significant (p=0.004). The risk of death in high-risk individuals was 6.48 times higher than low-risk individuals (p=0.004), and most deaths (81.2%) occurred in the surgery-radiotherapy group. Compared with chemoradiotherapy, surgery and surgery-radiotherapy significantly reduced the risk of death by 98% and more than 80%, respectively (p=0.002, p=0.024). Recurrence was significant based on stage and was more frequent in high-risk patients (p=0.01), and the majority of those without recurrence were low-risk patients. Most recurrences were abdominal in high-risk individuals, and pelvic and vaginal in low-risk individuals. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, tumor stage and grading, age, and treatment methods are among the factors affecting the survival of patients with endometrial cancer, and appropriate follow-up of patients with endometrial cancer can lead to timely identification of recurrence and treatment of these patients.
Background and Objective: Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous industrial and traditional medicines have been proposed and used to treat this disease. Given the lack of standard treatment and effective medicine for COVID-19 and the effectiveness of Mentha longifolia on pulmonary diseases, this study was designed and conducted to determine the effect of aqueous extract of Mentha longifolia on the clinical and paraclinical status of patients with COVID-19. Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 60 patients with COVID-19 hospitalized at Razi Hospital in Ghaemshahr (Mazandaran) in 2021. Patients were selected through purposive sampling. 30 people were randomly assigned into control group with standard treatment, and 30 people in the intervention group who received Mentha longifolia extract in the form of a nasal spray 2 puffs every 12 hours in addition to standard treatment. The main clinical variables included fever, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and chills. Chest radiography was interpreted by a radiologist. The clinical definition of complete recovery included the absence of fever for two days, respiratory rate less than or equal to 15-20 breaths per minute, oxygen saturation greater than 95%, no cough or mild dry cough, and the clinical definition of partial recovery included body temperature less than or equal to 37.9 ºC orally or 37.2 ºC axillary, respiratory rate 20-24 breaths per minute, oxygen saturation between 93-95%, no cough or mild dry cough. Findings: The two groups did not differ significantly in terms of gender, age, BMI, and underlying disease. The mean length of stay in the intervention group was 2.5 days shorter than in the control group (12.1±6.8 days in the control group and 9.6±7.1 days in the intervention group) (p=0.171). The number of deaths was not statistically significant but was clinically significant (6.7% in the intervention group and 16.7% in the control group). 26.7% of the control group and 50% of the intervention group had a complete recovery within the first 7 days after discharge. 30% of the control group still did not feel better 15 days after discharge, while this rate was zero in the intervention group. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that aqueous extract of Mentha longifolia reduced the length of hospital stay and improved symptoms in patients with COVID-19.
Background and Objective: Rational prescribing is one of the important and challenging tasks of physicians, and this part is often neglected. Given its importance, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of a training course for early exposure to pharmacology principles and prescription writing on satisfaction and knowledge level of pre-clerkship students. Methods: The present quasi-experimental study was conducted on 60 pre-clerkship students at Babol University of Medical Sciences. In the present study, students participated in a four-hour workshop that focused on familiarization with the principles of prescription writing and medications. In addition, questions related to prescription writing principles and familiarization with medications were completed before and after the intervention. Moreover, a satisfaction survey was completed after the intervention and the results were analyzed. Findings: The mean scores of students regarding familiarity with the principles of pharmacology before the intervention were 5.90±1.20, which increased significantly to 6.80±1.57 after the intervention (p=0.001). Furthermore, regarding familiarity with the principles of prescription writing and in general after the intervention, the average scores of students increased significantly (p=0.001). The average scores of students' satisfaction with the workshop were also high. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that early exposure to pharmacology principles is effective in improving students' knowledge of pharmacology principles and prescription writing. Therefore, educational policymakers should plan for continuous education and training throughout their studies until they achieve competency in this field.
