The effects of using phase-contrast microscopy on oral hygiene training of patients receiving orthodontic treatment: A randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate of effects of using phase-contrast video technique on education in oral hygiene training. This one blind, parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted in a tertiary clinic. Fifty-three patients who presented to the orthodontics department aged 12-20 years were divided into two groups randomly by computer-generated assigned codes to receive oral hygiene education. The participants were blinded to type of education method. Before orthodontic therapy, the control group was trained only by the conventional method, while the test group was trained by phase-contrast video microscopy method in addition to conventional method. Some images and videos of moving microorganisms in dental plaque were shown to the patients in test group on a computer monitor. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The bacterial count, plaque index, and gingival index scores were compared. Measurements were obtained in baseline and follow-ups which were repeated with 1-month intervals after the training. RESULTS: The plaque index scores (1.05 ± 0.1 vs. 1.43 ± 0.2; P < 0.001) and gingival index scores (0.90 ± 0.1 vs. 1.14 ± 0.2; P < 0.001) in test group was statistically lower than those in control group at the end of the study. The gingival index scores reduced by 39% in test group vs. 14% in control group. The number of bacteria significantly decreased in the group trained with phase-contrast video microscope technique (8,059,133 ± 3016 vs. 10,830,600 ± 4919; 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: The training with phase-contrast microscopy has a more positive effect than the traditional method in oral hygiene education.

Left atrial deformation and nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. A 2D speckle-tracking imaging study.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) is raised by the compromised contraction and impaired ventricular compliance in dilated hearts with systolic dysfunction. Timely recognition and staging of this condition are important for planning of the treatment strategy and making the prognosis. Two-dimensional speckle- tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) has recently enabled the quantification of left atrial (LA) myocardial deformation dynamics. In this study, echocardiographic indicators of increased LVFP and NT-pro-BNP were compared with LA strain measured by 2D-STE. METHODS: A total of 49 nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP) patients were included in the study. All patients underwent standard 2D echocardiography. In the 2D-STE analysis of the LA, global longitudinal LA strain during ventricular systole (GLAs-res) and strain during late diastole (GLAs-pump) were obtained. NT-pro-BNP levels were measured. The patients were divided into two groups--normal (group 1) and increased (group 2) LVFP--according to E/A ratio, E velocity, and E/E' ratio. RESULTS: LAVi-max, LAVi-min, and NT-pro-BNP were higher in group 2, whereas LAtotalEF, LAactiveEF, GLAs-res, and GLAs-pump were lower. In univariate analysis, a good negative correlation was seen between GLAs-res vs. NT-pro-BNP, GLAs-res vs. LAVi-max, and GLAs-res vs. E/E' ratio; a good negative correlation was present between GLAs-pump vs. NT-pro-BNP, GLAs-pump vs. LAVi-max, and GLAs-pump vs. E/E' ratio. LAVi-max, LAactiveEF, NT-pro-BNP, GLas-res, and GLAs-pump were studied by logistic regression analysis. GLAs-res (p = 0.009, OR = 0.593, 95 % CI 0.4-0.877), NT-pro-BNP (p = 0.028, OR = 1.027, 95 % CI 1.003-1.052), and LAactiveEF (p = 0.022, OR = 0.001, 95 % CI 0.001-0.024) were found to be independent predictors of increased LVFP. CONCLUSION: 2D-STE-based LA function is impaired in patients with nonischemic DCMP. LA reservoir and pump function parameters together with NT-pro-BNP levels might be useful in estimating LVFP in this patient group.

Capillary telangiectasia of the brain: imaging with various magnetic resonance techniques.

Brain capillary telangiectasia is an incidental vascular malformation found usually in pons and sometimes in extra- pontine sites. Typical MRI features are enhancement on post contrast T1 weighted images and signal loss on gradient echo images. We evaluated 10 patients with various MR techniques. Susceptibility weighted imaging was superior to GRE T2 in showing decreased signal due to susceptibility effects. Diffusion weighted imaging and diffusion tensor imaging proved not useful in the diagnosis.

Coronary muscular bridge mimicking acute stent thrombosis.

A patient who develops hypotension or angina pectoris after intravenous inotropic agents should be assessed for dynamic left ventricular outflow obstruction or the presence of a muscular bridge. In this case report, we present a patient with low ejection fraction who developed hypotension and angina pectoris with inotropic therapy after coronary intervention. We performed a coronary angiogram to exclude stent thrombosis but a muscular bridge was found in the segment distal to the stent.

Predictors and prognostic significance of troponin-I release following elective coronary angioplasty.

The objective of this study was to investigate the predictors and prognostic significance of post-procedural cardiac troponin (cTn)-I elevations in a consecutive series of patients who underwent elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). cTn-I was measured in 100 patients immediately before and within 24 h after the elective PCI. Post-procedural cTn-I elevation was observed in 27 of the 100 patients. In multivariate analysis, basal haemoglobin values and the number of repeated balloon dilatations were found to be independent predictors of cTn-I elevation. During the follow-up period of 12 +/- 1.2 months, the cTn-I-positive group had more major adverse cardiovascular events than the cTn-I-negative group (33.3% versus 16.4%, respectively), but the difference was not significant. An increase in cTn-I levels following elective PCI procedures was frequent but did not predict a poor long-term outcome.

The effects of taking chronic nitrate by drinking water on thyroid functions and morphology.

Nitrate incorporation in humans takes place via drinking water and food. The water used for drinking and cooking in the goitrous areas is high in nitrate content. The aim of the present study was to evaluate both chronic effects and the dose-response relationship of nitrate on thyroid functions. A total of rats were divided into 5 work groups and sodium nitrate was added to their drinking water in different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 250 and 500 mg/l) over a 30-week period. The radioiodine uptake of thyroid was decreased in the 50 mg/l nitrate group, whereas it was increased in the 250 and 500 mg/l nitrate groups as compared to control. All hormones of thyroid gland except total thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone were decreased in the 50, 250 and 500 mg/l nitrate groups. However, the level of total thyroxin was increased in the 100 mg/l nitrate group. Thyroid gland weights were increased in all experimental groups. Histomorphological changes were observed in the 250 and 500 mg/l nitrate groups. These findings suggest that nitrate impairs thyroid function involving the hypothalamo-hypophysio-thyroid axis. This observation could contribute to the current discussion about the acceptable daily intake of nitrate, as well as drinking water nitrate standard safety margins.