Effects of clear aligners on the vertical position of the molar teeth and the vertical and sagittal relationships of the face: a preliminary retrospective before-after clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the popularity of clear aligners, their predictability has not been assessed adequately. Moreover, no study has investigated their effects on numerous dentomaxillary variables. Therefore, this study was conducted for the first time, assessing several new or controversial items. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of clear aligners on the vertical position of the molar teeth and the vertical and sagittal relationships of the face. METHODS: This preliminary retrospective before-after non-randomized clinical trial was performed on 168 observations of 84 patients (33.60±9.28 years, 54 females) treated with 0.75mm Invisalign appliances. Pretreatment and posttreatment values were measured for: mandibular plane angle, occlusal plane angle, Y-Axis, ANB, facial angle, lower anterior facial height, overbite, and the distances of the molars from the palate and mandibular plane were measured. The alterations in parameters caused by treatment (delta values) were calculated for each measurement. Effects of treatment and some parameters on delta values were analyzed statistically (α=0.05). RESULTS: Mean±SD of ΔMP-FH, ΔOP-FH, ΔY-Axis, ΔLAFH, ΔNPog-FH, ΔANB, ΔOverbite, ΔSNB, Δ6-PP, Δ7-PP, Δ6-MP, and Δ7-MP were respectively 0.11±1.61, 0.80±1.56, 0.15±1.18, 0.07±0.91, -0.22±1.25, 0.03±0.62, 0.04±1.15, -0.06±1.14, -0.36±0.94, -0.32±1.14, 0.19±0.96, 0.18±1.10. Only the alterations in OP-FH, 6-PP, and 7-PP were significant (P≤0.011). Age, sex, treatment duration, or pretreatment mandibular plane angle were not correlated with any delta values. However, the pretreatment occlusal plane angle was negatively correlated with ΔOP-FH and ΔY-Axis. Crowding was correlated negatively with ΔOP-FH and ΔY-Axis and positively with ΔNPog-FH. Overjet was negatively correlated with ΔANB and ΔOverbite (P≤0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Invisalign intruded first/second maxillary molars and increased the occlusal plane angle. Age, sex, and treatment duration were not correlated with post-treatment anatomic alterations.

Developing and validating of educational-therapeutic package based on psychological flexibility for nurses in the intensive care unit of COVID-19: Application of grounded theory.

BACKGROUND: Caring for COVID-19 patients has caused high stress and burnses. Therefore, the current research aims to develop and validate an educational-therapeutic package based on psychological flexibility for COVID-19 nurses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The approach of this research was Exploratory Sequential Mixed Method, which was carried out in 2019 to 2021. In the qualitative phase, to identify the paradigm model of the research, the grounded theory of the Strauss and Corbin model, purposeful sampling, and in-depth semi-structured interviews with 12 nurses were used. Goba and Lincoln's criteria were used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data. In the quantitative phase, based on the Paradarim model, a training package according to psychological flexibility was developed with the approval of 10 experts from the fields of medical, psychology and nursing education. RESULTS: The qualitative analysis of the data obtained from the interviews led to the identification of 29 primary concept codes, 8 subcategories, and 3 categories in the conceptual format of context, process, and consequence. The categories included "psychological insecurity in the workplace," "strategic immunization in facing special conditions," and "safe communication." "Psychologically safe exposure" was identified as the central category. In several stages, based on the findings of the qualitative stage, the educational-therapeutic package was compiled. The validity of the package was confirmed by calculating two relative coefficients of content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI) equal to 0.91 and 0.85, respectively. CONCLUSION: This research led to the development of an educational-therapeutic package of safe psychological exposure for nurses, which can be used by managers and nurse educators through in-service training courses. Therefore, it is suggested to use training and safe coping strategies to improve the quality of life in nurses.

Characterization and identification of sediment forming agents in barberry juice.

Cloud and sediment formation is a major problem in juices and drinks. Barberry juice, as a functional and healthy product, is faced with the sedimentation problem, as an emerging issue. The present study was carried out to identify the sediment forming agents in barberry juice concentrate. The sediment was characterized by a range of different analytical techniques including FTIR, UV spectrophotometry, HPLC and LC-MS analysis. The findings of this research revealed that sugar derived organic acids, which were present in high amounts in barberry juice, were mainly responsible for sedimentation of barberry juice concentrate during cold storage. It was reported that such sugar derived acids with active carboxylic groups could cause instability in products rich in these compounds. The isolated sediment could re-crystalize at different juice concentrations with different shapes and sizes as affected by nucleation and crystal growth rates.