A descriptive survey study in endocrinology clinic: evaluation of the use of natural products.

OBJECTIVE: The use of herbal products/dietary supplements (HP/DS) in endocrinal chronic diseases is growing. However, no studies have evaluated their use in patients who present to endocrinology and metabolic diseases clinics. This descriptive study aims to investigate the rate of HP/DS use and the factors affecting this in patients who presented to Karadeniz Technical University (KTU) Farabi Hospital Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases Clinic, Türkiye between 01.11.2021 and 01.05.2022. METHODS: Five hundred six questionnaires with acceptable data quality were included this investigation. The data were analyzed on SPSS version 23.0 software. The factors with the greatest effect on the use of HP/DS were determined using binary logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Analysis showed that 49.4% of the participants used HP/DS. The main factors affecting the use of herbal products were age, diagnosis of the disease, and treatment compliance problems. The most frequently used products were lemon, cinnamon, black cumin, ginger, turmeric, and dill. The participants main sources of information about HP/DS were friends/relatives, the internet/social media, and television, respectively. 74.8% of the participants using HP/DS did not inform their physcisian/pharmacist about such use, although 81.8% of these nevertheless wished to receive information from these occupational groups. CONCLUSION: Herbal product monitoring in patients should be performed in collaboration with pharmacists, herbal product use should be investigated, and counseling services should be made available in order to maintain and promote public health.

Influence of diode laser application on the efficiency of QMiX and EDTA solutions in removing smear layer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of QMiX and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solutions with diode laser treatment in smear layer removal. BACKGROUND DATA: Removing the smear layer from the apical thirds of root canals is difficult, regardless of the solution used. Researchers have been improved some irrigation agitation methods to overcome this challenge, and agitation of irrigants with laser devices has become popular. METHODS: Seventy-five extracted mandibular premolars were used. After root canals were, prepared the specimens were divided into five groups (n = 15): Group 1, no irrigation; Group 2, 17% EDTA; Group 3, QMiX solution; Group 4, 17% EDTA with diode laser; and Group 5, QMiX with diode laser. The roots were split longitudinally and prepared for scanning electron microscopic (SEM) investigation. The smear layer was evaluated under × 500, × 1000, and × 2000 magnifications. RESULTS: The amount of smear layer was found significantly high in the control group (p < 0.001). In the EDTA group, the amount of smear layer was significantly high at the apical thirds, and the differences among the three regions were statistically significant (p < 0.001). In the QMiX group, no difference was found between the coronal and middle thirds; however, the amount of smear layer was significantly high at the apical thirds (p < 0.001). In the EDTA plus laser and the QMiX plus laser groups, the smear layer was found significantly high at the apical thirds (p < 0.001). However, no differences were found between the coronal and middle thirds in either group. CONCLUSIONS: None of the solutions completely removed the smear layer, especially at the apical thirds. Diode laser treatment with solutions decreased the amount of smear layer, without significance.

Comparison of Nd:YAG and diode laser irradiation during intracoronal bleaching with sodium perborate: color and Raman spectroscopy analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the color and enamel structure changes after intracoronal bleaching with sodium perborate under neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) and diode laser irradiation. BACKGROUND DATA: Although some studies investigated the efficacy of laser irradiation during intracoronal bleaching, no study has been conducted to investigate the changes in both color and enamel structure during intracoronal bleaching with laser irradiation. METHODS: Thirty-six extracted mandibular incisors were used. The root canals were prepared and filled with AH Plus and gutta-percha. Baseline color values and Raman spectra were obtained from all samples. The samples were randomly divided into three groups as follows: group 1, intracoronal bleaching with sodium perborate plus NdYAG laser irradiation; group 2, intracoronal bleaching with sodium perborate plus diode laser irradiation; and group 3, intracoronal bleaching with sodium perborate without any laser irradiation. Following the bleaching procedures, the final baseline color values and Raman spectra were obtained. The baseline and final values were statistically analyzed. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 18.0 software using Anova and the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the Nd:YAG laser and control groups (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the diode laser group and the control group, or the diode laser group and the Nd:YAG laser group. There was no significant difference among all groups in terms of Raman relative intensity (RRI) and fluorescence intensity (FI) percentage values (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Laser application, especially Nd:YAG laser irradiation, was able to increase the efficacy of intracoronal bleaching with sodium perborate. Laser irradiation significantly increased the bleaching efficacy without any changes in the enamel surface structure.

Current prevalence of goiter determined by ultrasonography and associated risk factors in a formerly iodine-deficient area of Turkey.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of goiter and related risk factors in an adult population in a formerly iodine-deficient area of Turkey. In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 2,500 subjects (1,270 women and 1,230 men, aged over 20 years) by multistage sampling. Blood and urine specimens were collected for the assessment of thyroid function. Thyroid ultrasonography (USG) was performed to measure thyroid volume and evaluate nodules. The overall goiter prevalence was 26.5 % (28.4 % in women, 24.5 % in men, P < 0.05). Median thyroid volume was 15.59 mL (13.65 mL in women, 17.96 mL in men, P < 0.0001). Median urinary iodine was 122.79 µg/L. USG revealed thyroid nodules in 35.2 % of the subjects (38.4 % in women, 31.8 % in men, P < 0.005). Age group analysis revealed the lowest rate in the 20-29-year age group (12.5 %), which increased with age, reaching the highest level (38.4 %) in the 70+ years age group. The prevalence of goiter was negatively correlated with education level and positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) and positive family history. According to occupation, goiter prevalence was highest in farmers (35.3 %) and housewives (32.2 %). Despite a normal range of current urinary iodine excretion levels, prevalence of goiter in this adult population in a formerly iodine-deficient province of Turkey remained high, even about 10 years after salt iodine supplementation program introduction. In addition, the goiter prevalence was higher for female gender, advanced age, positive family history of goiter, low education level, and high BMI.

In vitro evaluation of the minimum bactericidal concentrations of different root-end filling materials.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of root-end filling materials ProRoot MTA, MTA Angelus and IRM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Macrodilution broth method was used. Microorganisms used were: Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) and Streptococcus mutans. Serial two-fold dilutions of root-end filling samples were prepared in macrodilution tubes with concentrations ranging from 1/2 to 1/512. The samples dilutions were incubated for 24 hours. After incubation, 0.1 ml of diluted culture was inoculated onto the surface of supplemented sheep blood agar (Merck, Germany) and all plates were incubated at 37°C in aerobic condition for 24 hours. The MBC was defined as the lowest concentration of root-end filling samples where no growth was recorded. RESULTS: MBC of both mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) products against S. aureus were recorded as 15.62 mg/ml and for IRM 31.25 mg/ml MBC for both MTA groups against E. faecalis were recorded as 31.25 mg/ml and for IRM 62.5 mg/ml. MBC of all root-end filling samples against S. mutans were recorded as 62.5 mg/ml. CONCLUSION: All tested root-end filling materials showed acceptable MBC against S. aureus and E. faecalis. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: All tested materials can be used safely for filling of a root-end cavity.

Increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, decreased tissue factor pathway inhibitor, and unchanged thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor levels in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Little is known about hemostatic features of patients with PHPT. To our knowledge, plasma tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) levels in these patints have not been investigated. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to evaluate the markers of endogenous coagulation/fibrinolysis, including TFPI and TAFI, and to investigate the relationships between serum calcium and PTH and these hemostatic parameters in patients with PHPT. DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients with PHPT and 20 age-, sex-, and-weight-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), TFPI, and TAFI were measured. The relationships between serum calcium, phosphorus, and PTH and these hemostatic parameters were examinated. RESULTS: Compared with the control subjects, t-PA, PAI-1, and PAI-1/t-PA ratios were significantly increased in patients with PHPT (P<0.0001), whereas TFPI levels were significantly decreased (P<0.0001). Plasma TAFI Ag levels did not significantly change in patients with PHPT compared with the controls. In patients with PHPT, serum phosphorus was negatively correlated with plasma PAI-1 Ag levels and PAI-1/t-PA ratio (r: -0.453, P<0.05; r: -0.580, P<0.01 respectively). There was a positive correlation between Cl/P ratio and plasma PAI-1 levels and PAI-1/t-PA ratio (r: 0.434, P<0.05; r: 0.528, P<0.05 respectively). iPTH was positively correlated with plasma PAI-1/t-PA ratio (r: 0.429, P<0.05). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we found some important differences in the hemostatic parameters between the patients with PHPT and healthy controls. Increased PAI-1, PAI-1/t-PA ratios and decreased TFPI levels in these patients represent a potential hypercoagulable and hypofibrinolytic state, which might augment the risk for atherosclerotic and atherothrombotic complications. This condition may contribute to the excess mortality due to cardiovascular disease seen in patients with PHPT.