Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Volume:29 Issue: 6, Nov-Dec 2022

This study aimed to investigate age- and gender-specific soft and hard tissue cephalometric features in an Iranian population with normal class I occlusion. A total of 111 Iranians (56 females and 55 males) in two age groups including individuals aged between 12-16 years and individuals aged over 16 years, with well-balanced faces and class I occlusion, were selected. Overall, 81 (40 soft tissue and 41 hard tissue) cephalometric measurements of the selected samples were traced on all cephalograms. The obtained values were compared in terms of gender and age differences and also ethnic differences between Iranian and European races. This study indicated significant differences between Iranian men and women of different ages and Caucasians in terms of hard and soft tissue cephalometric measurements, which should be considered in orthodontic and surgical treatments. Some of the most important differences are greater values of facial convexity angle, nasolabial angle, and soft tissue chin thickness in Iranians than in Caucasians. In general, slightly more convex profiles, more protruded lips, less prominent noses, higher nose tips, and proclined and protruded central incisors are acceptable in the Iranian population. Also, Iranian women have more convex soft and hard tissue profiles, shorter anterior and posterior facial heights, larger interlabial gaps, less deep superior sulci, thinner and shorter upper lips, and thinner soft tissue chins than men. Also, non-growing adults have more advanced mandibles, larger noses, more sloping nasal tips, and larger skeletal dimensions compared with growing ones.

Osteomyelitis is a bone infection. The most common treatment is use of antibiotics, which might have many side effects and may induce antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Strengthening the body›s antioxidant system may be effective on preventing the disease progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum and L. plantarum enriched with selenium (Se) on osteomyelitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Thirty-six male rats were randomly divided into the 6 groups. A group was control group. Groups B and C were respectively treated with L. plantarum, and L. plantarum enriched with Se. Osteomyelitis was induced in group D. Groups E and F were induced with osteomyelitis and treated like groups B and C. At the end of the treatment period, in order to evaluate hematological parameters, the acute phase protein, interleukin 6 and 1- levels were assessed in the rat’s blood samples. Bone was stained with hematoxylin-eosin to evaluate histopathological changes. The number of white blood cells (WBCs) in groups D and E and interleukin 6 levels in groups D, E and F were significantly increased compared to the control group. There was no significant change in other factors in the experimental groups compared to the control group. Histopathological changes were less severe in groups E and F than in group D. The treatment of animals with osteomyelitis by probiotics, especially Se-enriched probiotics, to some extent can prevent the distribution of bone infection to the surrounding tissues.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a human opportunistic pathogen that is known to be responsible for various diseases. However, its antibiotic-resistant isolates often cause serious infections. This study for the first time investigated a total of 80 P. aeruginosa isolates collected from patients admitted to Amir Al-Momenin hospital. The isolates were identified by biochemical assays. The combination disc test method was used to measure antibiotic susceptibility and confirm the presence of extended spectrum-beta lactamases-producing enzymes. Also, the presence of enzyme-producing genes bla CTXM-1, bla CTXM-2, bla CTXM-3, bla SHV, and bla OXA of the target enzymes was examined using polymerase chain reaction. Out of 80 P. aeruginosa isolates, 32 isolates (40%) were beta-lactamase generators. Resistance to the studied antibiotics was found to be 97.5%, 90%, 81.3%, 75%, 75%, 72.5%, 60%, 52.5%, 50%, 32.5%, 28.8%, and 0% for amoxicillin, amoxiclav cephalexin, nitrofurantoin, cotrimoxazole, azithromycin, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, gentamicin, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, and imipenem, respectively. Therefore, the highest antibiotic resistance was against amoxicillin, co-amoxiclav, and cephalexin, respectively, while the lowest was detected for imipenem. Besides, 17.5% of the studied isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Among extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-producing genes, bla CTXM-3 displayed the highest frequency of 84.4%. The findings demonstrated the wide resistance of P. aeruginosa isolates against various antibiotic classes. According to the results, it is suggested to identify different patterns of antibiotic resistance of P. aeruginosa isolates prior to the onset of treatment for any P. aeruginosa-related infections.

The influence of orthodontic treatment on self-confidence and quality of life is a major reason for patients to seek treatment. This study was designed to assess the relationship between orthodontic treatment need and psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics in patients seeking orthodontic treatment. This descriptive analytical cross-sectional study was performed on 165 patients referred to orthodontic clinics in Kerman to start treatment. Patients were selected by census method to reach the specified sample size. The data collection tools included 3 forms: demographic information form, Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ) and a form for recording information obtained from clinical examination to determine orthodontic treatment need based on Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). Data analysis was performed through SPSS 22 and using t test, ANOVA, and linear regression at a significance level of 0.05. The educational level of subjects and their parents and economic status showed no significant relationship with total PIDAQ score and any of its domains (P>0.05). In psychological impact domain, women’s score was significantly higher (P=0.016) and there was a significant relationship between the treatment need based on aesthetic component (AC) and the domains of dental self-confidence (P=0.003), social impact (P=0.049) and psychological impact (p=0.066), as well as the total score of questionnaire (P=0.012). Treatment need based on dental health component had no statistically significant relationship with PIDAQ score (P>0.05). AC of IOTN had significant relationship with dental self-confidence, social impact and psychological impact as well as the total score of PIDAQ. In orthodontic treatments, in addition to malocclusion, the psychological aspects should also be considered.

Cardiac arrhythmias, especially atrial fibrillation, are among the most common early complications of open-heart surgery. Hypomagnesemia is one of the clinical mechanisms associated with the pathogenesis of postoperative atrial fibrillation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of magnesium sulfate on the prevention of atrial fibrillation in patients with abnormal P-wave duration who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)surgery.

In this clinical trial, 150 patients participated who had undergone CABG surgery at Imam Khomeini hospital in Ahvaz in 2014. According to the inclusion criteria, the intervention and control groups were randomly matched. The intervention group, consisting of 57 patients, received 2.4 g of magnesium sulfate daily for three days and 75 patients of the control group received a placebo. Prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation by magnesium sulfate was evaluated in patients and data were analyzed using SPSS software.

The two groups did not have a significant difference in terms of gender, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. Also, mean P-wave duration, length of intensive care unit stay, the total length of hospitalization, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), distribution of creatinine, atrial fibrillation, and aortic clamp time in intervention and control groups were not statistically significant. Only, the total pump duration difference was reported to be statistically significant between groups.

The results of our study showed that the administration of magnesium sulfate alone cannot be helpful in the prevention of atrial fibrillation among patients with long P-wave duration.Trial Registration: https://www.irct.ir/, Identifier: IRCT2015092814190N9

Reconstruction of teeth using partial or complete dentures is the only treatment for most edentulous patients. The duration of edentulism and the use of complete dentures can affect the patient’s quality of life. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the quality of life associated with oral health in patients referring to the Prosthodontics Department, School of Dentistry, Sari, Iran. In total, 235 patients treated in the Prosthodontics Department, School of Dentistry, Sari, Iran were selected and studied in this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study. The required information was collected using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 questionnaire (OHIP-14). Data were analyzed through SPSS22 and using descriptive and analytical tests, such as Mann-Whitney, t test, one-way analysis of variance, and multivariate regression. In total, 103 men (43.8%) and 132 women (56.2%) with mean age of 58 ± 10.3 years participated in this study. The duration of denture use was between 3 and 108 months. The mean score of patients’ quality of life had a statistically significant relationship with the type of treated jaw, the type of removable prosthesis, and the duration of prosthesis use (P < 0.05). However, no statistically significant relationship was observed between the mean score of quality of life with age and gender (P > 0.05). Based on the obtained results, the quality of life was higher among those who used dentures for a longer period of time and also in patients with complete dentures. However, the quality of life was lower in people who used mandibular dentures, compared to other groups.

Oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation are common factors in patients with chronic kidney disease and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death in these patients, particularly in hemodialysis (HD) cases. Exercise training is a therapeutic approach to reduce morbidity and mortality in these patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of aerobic exercise training on OS factors in HD patients. This case-control study was performed over one year (From March 2019 to February 2020) at Kerman (south of Iran). Nineteen outpatient HD patients participated in an aerobic exercise training program during HD. Cycling was performed by mini-cycle in the first hour of HD, pedaling was started with the least tolerable time by the patients, and increased up to three-quarters of an hour based on the patient’s tolerance, three times a week for eight weeks. Also control group, 18 outpatient HD patients were selected and did not enter the exercise training program. Blood samples were collected before and after the intervention in both groups. Inflammatory factors such as albumin (Alb), C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, white blood cell (WBC) as well as, oxidative and nitrogenous factors such as malondialdehyde (MDA), carbonyl groups, uric acid, and ionic regenerating capacity were measured. Chi-square and independent t test were used to analyze the data and compare the two groups. There were no significant differences in CRP, Alb, and uric acid between the two groups. In the test group, variables such as total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione (GSH), protein carbonyl (PC), lipid peroxidation (LPO) products, ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARST) showed a significant difference after the intervention. The values of TAC, GSH, and FRAP in the case group were significantly higher than the same values in the control group (P ≤ 0.0001 for all), but PC (P ≤ 0.006) and TBARS (P ≤ 0.026) values were higher in the control group after the intervention. The intervention had no effect on Alb and ferritin. But, uric acid levels decreased significantly in both groups after the intervention. In the case group, TAC, GSH, and FRAP increased (P = 0.0001 for all), but PC, LPO, and TBARST decreased (P = 0.0001, P ≤ 0.03, and P ≤ 0.02 respectively). The results of the present study showed that aerobic exercise training had no effect on inflammatory factors such as CRP, ferritin, and Alb.

The chemical disinfectants used for reducing the plaque accumulation should have the least side-effects on the surface of the denture base. This study investigates the impact of Nanosil D2 solution on the surface roughness of acrylic denture base in the laboratory. This experiment was conducted on 44 Acropars acrylic resin samples that were divided equally into the experimental (n = 22) and control (n = 22) groups through random selection. The surface roughness of all samples was measured by using the PS1 profilometer according to Ra and Rz. Then, for eight hours, the control samples were put in the water and the experimental samples were put in Nanosil disinfectant solution, and then the samples were extracted and put in distilled water for 16 hours. The disinfectant solution was changed once in a day and this process continued for 180 days. After 180 days, the surface roughness of the samples was measured once again. The data was evaluated through SPSS software 17. There was no significant difference in the mean Ra between pre-test and post-test values in each group (P > 0.05); however, after immersion in the solutions, the mean Ra was significantly more in Nanosil group (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference between the mean Rz in Nanosil group before and after immersion in the solution, (P < 0.05); however, there was not any difference in the control group (P > 0.05). The use of Nanosil D2 solution for disinfecting the acrylic denture base in 180 days and 8 hours per day simulating four years, does not cause significant changes in its surface roughness.

While the exact prevalence of bacterial co-infection and superinfection in children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains unclear, numerous scattered reports of it are on the rise.

Our case was a 14-month-old infant with fever, truncal erythema, and scalded skin in flexor folds and also in perianal and perioral regions. A positive Nikolsky’s sign was observed. The oropharyngeal mucosa was intact. The patient was diagnosed with staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) according to clinical features and a skin culture report. Due to the general impact of COVID-19 these days, the patient was evaluated for coronavirus via a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, and the result was positive. The patient successfully responded to the treatment which included hydration, wet compress, topical emollient, topical mupirocin for periorificial regions, and intravenous clindamycin. He was discharged after nine days without any complications.

This case highlights a clear bacterial infection superimposed on COVID-19. Nevertheless, inconspicuous cases of co-infections remain obscure and require a more diagnostic suspicion.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a small biological arbitrator and signaling molecule that has numerous significant biological roles in our body. Most of the neurons produce NO by neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). NO has been involved in the regulation of neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. Also, it contributes to the regulation of circulation and synapses, cerebral map formation, and neuropeptides. In the current review, we focused on previous research that has demonstrated structural aspects, subcellular localization, and some factors that adjust nNOS function. Furthermore, we have characterized the effect of nNOS in the brain in some physiological situations, particularly long-term potentiation and depression (LTP and LTD) and neural plasticity during development . Moreover, the effect of NO on neuropeptidergic neurons, including orexin, in reward systems was reviewed. Also, this study has focused on the NO involvement in brain circulation, the excitability of neurons, and the homeostatic balance of excitatory and inhibitory signaling in the brain.

Blood lipid profiles are known as one of the most important factors in health disorders such as obesity and diabetes, which mostly end in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as coronary heart disease (CHD). Purslane, as an edible herbal plant has shown to have beneficial components for dyslipidemia treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of purslane supplementation on blood lipid profiles in the adult population.

The terms Portulaca, Portulaca, Portulaca oleracea, and Purslane together with lipid profile ingredients including triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were searched in the following databases until 30 October 2020: PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, Science Direct, and SID. A meta-analysis was conducted with eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on 444 patients using the STATA software version 14.

Eight eligible studies on 444 patients were identified for the present study. The purslane supplementation caused significant reduction in TG (-18.55 mg/dL, 95% CI [-31.712, -5.388]), TC (-8.43 mg/dL; 95% CI [-14.99, -1.87]), and LDL-C (-6.45 mg/dL, 95% CI [-11.13, -1.77]); however, no significant effect was observed on HDL-C (1.28 mg/dL, 95% CI [-0.56, 2.93], P = 0.170).

Our results suggested that purslane supplementation could reduce TG, TC, and LDL-C. However, no significant effect was observed on HDL-C.

The authors opinions in physiology books are different on some issues, and this mixes up the readers. The purpose of this article is to clarify the differences between two examples in renal physiology (the autoregulation and the reabsorption of the materials in the proximal tubule) to help better understand; therefore, this paper is especially beneficial for medical students. The latest editions of several physiology books are used in this study including Brenner and Rector›s “The Kidney”, Seldin and Giebisch’s “The Kidney Physiology and Pathophysiology”, Koeppen Stanton›s “Renal Physiology”, Vander’s “Renal Physiology”, Boron’s “Medical Physiology”, Ganong’s “Review of Medical Physiology”, Rose’s “Clinical Physiology of Acid-Base and Electrolyte Disorders”, “Renal Pathophysiology: the Essentials” by Rennke and Denker, “Color Atlas of Physiology”, “Renal Physiology: a Clinical Approach”, and “Medical Physiology” by Guyton. It is concluded that the two above-said methods, in general, adopt similar approaches. However, there are some differences in terms of details that are explained and clarified in this study.

Insufficient serum progesterone level in the implantation phase may reduce the rate of pregnancy during freeze embryo transfer (FET) cycles. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of FET day serum progesterone level on pregnancy outcomes in patients receiving intramuscular plus vaginal progesterone administration for endometrial preparation.

Based on serum progesterone level on FET day, patients were divided into four quartiles: first ( < 25%), second (26–50%), third (51%–75%), and fourth ( > 75%). There was no significant difference among groups in basal characteristics.

No statistically significant difference was seen among groups concerning the mean number of retrieved and mature oocytes, embryos transferred, and endometrial thickness (EnT). The rate of implantation (P = 0.5), biochemical (P = 0.75), clinical (P = 0.54), and ongoing pregnancy (P = 0.5) were not associated with serum progesterone level on embryo transfer day.

We found that there is no association between serum progesterone level on ET day and pregnancy outcome during FET cycles. It seems that combination therapy using intramuscular and vaginal progesterone, keeps the serum progesterone on ET day high enough that eliminates the need for serum progesterone measurement.