Evaluation of the effect of Echium amoenum on pain control after clinical crown lengthening surgery.

Background: Pain after periodontal surgeries is one of the most common complications. Echium amoenum is among the important therapeutic herbs in Iranian traditional medicine. Various studies have shown its pain control properties. This study aimed to evaluate this herb's efficacy in controlling pain after periodontal surgeries. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 50 patients referred to Tabriz Dental School for clinical crown lengthening surgery were divided into two equal groups: control and test. In the test group (using E. amoenum), 24 hours before surgery, E. amoenum was administered to the patient at home every 12 hours, and a dose of E. amoenum was administered one hour before the procedure. The postoperative pain was assessed using VAS 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 3 hours after the surgery and verbal rating scale (VRS) 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively. A chi-square test was used to compare the pain severity between the two groups. Results: The VAS index was significantly lower in the E. amoenum group compared to the control group (30 minutes, 1 hour, and 3 hours after the procedure) (P<0.05). In both groups, pain severity increased significantly up to 3 hours postoperatively (P<0.05). In the first 24 hours, the VRS index of the E. amoenum group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05), with no significant differences between the two groups at 48 and 72 hours (P>0.05). Conclusion: The E. amoenum herb reduced the pain severity after clinical crown lengthening surgeries.

Prevalence of proximal contact loss between implant-supported fixed prosthesis and adjacent teeth and associated factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the prevalence of proximal contact loss and its associated factors. Methods. A bibliographic search was conducted in June 2021 with no limitation in the article date or language and updated in January 2022 by hand searching. There was no time limit on the search to retrieve all studies. The search included randomized controlled trials or quasi-experiments, and cross-sectional or cohort studies were included in the absence of these studies. Two authors screened the title and abstract. After evaluating the full texts of selected articles, irrelevant studies and or non-English papers that were impossible to translate were excluded. Disagreements between the re-viewers' selection process were resolved by debate on the eligibility of studies. Standardized critical appraisal instruments from the Joanna Briggs Institute for different types of studies were used to assess the studies' quality. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software (Version 2.2; Biostat, Englewood, NJ) was used for data analysis. Results. The proximal contact loss (PCL) frequency was %29. According to the results, the frequencies of PCL for the distal and mesial aspects were %7 and %21, respectively. The meta-analysis results showed that the contact loss events on the mesial aspect were statistically higher than on the distal aspect (P<0.0001). There were no significant differences between other associated factors such as the mandibular or maxillary arch, retention type, opposing dentition, implant type, molar or non-molar, parafunction behaviors, and vitality of adjacent teeth. There was a significant association between bone loss and PCL, and in individuals with bone loss >%50, the proximal contact loss was higher (OR: %95[ 2.43 CI: 4.03‒1.47], P=0.0006). The PCL in the anterior area was lower than in the posterior area (P=0.004). Although the frequency of contact loss in females was higher than in males, this rate was not statistically significant. Conclusion. The PCL on the mesial aspect and the posterior area was high. In individuals with bone loss >%50, the proximal contact loss was higher than in others.

Mitochondrial membrane disruption by aggregation products of ALS-causing superoxide dismutase-1 mutants.

More than 140 mutations in the SOD1 gene cause aggregation of the affected protein in familial forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS) which is a fatal progressive neurodegenerative disorder selectively affecting motor neurons. The causes of motor neuron death in ALS are poorly understood in general, but for fALS, aberrant oligomerization of SOD1 mutant proteins has been strongly concerned. Increasing evidences indicate that the interaction of amyloid aggregates with membranes is critical in the onset and progression of amyloid diseases. In spite of gathering reports describing mechanisms of membrane permeabilization by aggregates in model membranes, studies focused at characterizing the events occurring in biological membranes are exceptional. To gain insight into possible mechanisms of cytotoxicity at the membrane level, we describe interaction of the fibrillation products of the wild type (WT) and two mutants (E100K, D125H) of SOD1 obtained under destabilizing conditions with mitochondrial membranes. Release of mitochondrial enzymes, malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and adenylate kinase (AK), upon exposure to SOD1 aggregates demonstrates that these aggregates could affect membrane integrity. This effect correlates with the surface hydrophobicity of oligomers and their tendency toward amyloid formation, with the most toxic oligomers having high hydrophobicity and increased amount of amyloid formation.