Psychosocial Predictors of Relapse Among Patients with Alcohol Problems.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol abuse is a common problem that is socially, psychologically and economically devastating to health of individuals. OBJECTIVES: the purpose of this study was to examine the interrelationship between alcohol relapse, self efficacy, perceived social support, and perceived stress among individual diagnosed with alcohol dependence. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was utilized to collect data using self-administered questionnaire from a purposeful sample of 111 Jordanians diagnosed with alcohol dependence. Data collected in regards to self efficacy, perceived social support, and perceived stress. RESULTS: patients reported moderate to severe psychological distress, moderate level of self-efficacy, and moderate perception of social support. The analysis also showed that self-efficacy and perceived social support from other and from friends have negative and not significant correlation with relapse. Also age had significant and positive correlation with relapse. Marital status and duration of alcohol dependence were significant predictors of relapse. CONCLUSION: Stress and socio-demographic characteristic are significant factors to be considered while planning for alcohol relapse prevention.

Systemic review of dry socket: aetiology, treatment, and prevention.

Our systemic review is to make a comprehensive review about the aetiology, treatment and the prevention of dry socket, the inclusion criteria were all the studies that discuss the dry socket and its etiology, treatment and prevention and exclusion criteria were all the studies that discuss the other complications of tooth extraction, the materials and methods used for this systemic review was to search in the Pub Medline database between 2008 to 2013, using specific words "dry socket, aetiology, treatment and prevention" and published in the English language, the articles were screened by abstract for relevance to aetiology, treatment and prevention of dry socket, 82 papers were identified in pub med but a total of 36 out of Publications were included in the final systemic review according to the specific keywords and materials mentioned above. The occurrence of dry socket in an everyday oral surgery or dental practice is unavoidable. The risk factors are smoking, surgical trauma, single extractions, age, sex, medical history, systemic disorder, extraction site, amount of anaesthesia, operator experience, antibiotics use prior to surgery, difficulty of the surgery and the previous surgical site infection in addition to oral Contraceptives, menstrual cycle and immediate postextraction socket irrigation with normal saline. The traditional options of treatment are directed toward palliative care, such as the irrigation of the surgical site, avoiding curetting the extraction socket, Packing with a zinc oxide- eugenol paste on iodoform gauze can be considered to relieve acute pain episodes, there is also new agents in the market can accelerate the healing of the socket such as PRGF and GECB. The prevention methods include avoiding smoking before and after surgery and a traumatic surgery, the use of antibiotics, such as, azithromycin, can be considered, the other preventive measures such as chlorhecidine rinse or gel can be effective in the reduction of dry socket incidence.

Psychosocial and sociodemographic correlates of life satisfaction among patients diagnosed with cancer in Jordan.

Cancer is a worldwide disease, and the psychosocial concerns are nearly universal among patients with cancer. The purpose of this study is to investigate the psychosocial correlates of life satisfaction among patients diagnosed with cancer in Jordan. A cross-sectional survey using 92 patients diagnosed with cancer used to collect data in regard to life satisfaction, depressive symptoms, psychological distress, coping, and perceived social support. In general, about 50% of patients reported high level of life satisfaction and 50% of the patients reported moderate levels of ability to effectively cope with life situations. Moreover, 78% of patients reported that they had depressive symptoms and 45.3% of them reported that they had moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms had significant and negative correlation with life satisfaction (r = -0.50, p < 0.001), and stress had weak nonsignificant correlation with life satisfaction (r = 0.05, p > 0.05). On the other hand, social support from others has positive and significant correlation with life satisfaction (r = 0.32, p < 0.01). Marital status, times of admission, perceived social support from others, and depressive symptoms were significant predictors of life satisfaction. Health professionals need to integrate their medical care with psychosocial intervention early at admission and during follow-up care, so early detection of psychological disturbances will help to implement effective treatment plans.

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in colorectal adenocarcinoma: an immunohistochemical and histopathological study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) immunoreactivity in colorectal adenocarcinomas and to find correlations with different pathological features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 35 cases of colorectal carcinoma for which surgical colectomy specimens were collected. Immunohistochemical staining of COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) is done by using the Streptavidin-biotin technique. RESULTS: This work reveals that COX-2 is positive in most cases of colorectal carcinoma and negative in normal colon tissue with statistically non significant relations between COX-2 immunostaining and different pathological features. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest overexpression of COX-2 protein in colorectal carcinoma in contrast to normal mucosa, with a possible role in cell proliferation in carcinogenesis.

Knowledge and attitudes of Saudi dental undergraduates on oral cancer.

Oral cancer awareness among future dental practitioners may have an impact on the early detection and prevention of oral cancer. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken to assess the current knowledge of future Saudi dentists on oral cancer and their opinions on oral cancer prevention. A pretested questionnaire was sent to 550 undergraduate dental students in the fourth, fifth, and sixth year of the Al-Farabi College for Dentistry and Nursing, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Questions relating to knowledge of oral cancer, risk factors, and opinions on oral cancer prevention and practices were posed. Four hundred seventy-nine students returned the questionnaire (87.1 %). Eighty-one percent of respondents correctly answered questions relating to oral cancer awareness. Eighty-seven percent of respondents felt confident in performing a systematic oral examination to detect changes consistent with oral malignancy. Interestingly, 57 % of respondents had seen the use of oral cancer diagnostics aids. Thirty-seven percent of respondents felt inadequately trained to provide tobacco and alcohol cessation advice. There is a need to reinforce the undergraduate dental curriculum with regards to oral cancer education; particularly in its prevention and early detection. Incorporating the use of oral cancer diagnostic aids should be made mandatory.

Immunohistochemical expression of p16 in pleomorphic salivary adenoma.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize alteration in the immunohistochemical expression of p16 in normal tissue of the salivary gland surrounding pleomorphic adenoma, and the tumor cells of pleomorphic adenomas. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A selected series of 120 cases of pleomorphic adenomas were examined. RESULTS: The results showed that p16 expression in non tumor duct cells was strong positive nuclear staining in 98 (81.6%) cases out of 120, while there were 20 (16.6%) with moderate staining, and 2 (1.6%) with weak staining in the components of normal tissue of the salivary gland surrounding pleomorphic adenoma. p16 expression in pleomorphic adenomas showed 71 (59.1%) cases with moderate nuclear staining in the duct cells, 45 (37.5%) cases with nuclear weak staining, and 4 (3.3%) cases with negative staining. p16 nuclear staining in myxochondroid tissue was identified in 4 (3.3%) cases with strong staining, 65 (54.1%) cases had moderate staining, and 51 (42.5%) cases had weak staining. CONCLUSION: This study suggests alteration of p16 expression in pleomorphic adenomas. P16 might have a role in the development of pleomorphic adenoma.

Investigation of the effect of ibuprofen on the healing of osseointegrated oral implants.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a 1-week postoperative course of 600 mg of ibuprofen taken four times a day on marginal bone level around oral implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight patients were allocated to the ibuprofen group (14 patients) or no-ibuprofen group (14 patients). Overall, 57 implants were inserted, 31 implants in the ibuprofen group and 26 in the no-ibuprofen group. The primary outcome measure was the change in marginal bone level around oral implants from baseline (2 weeks postplacement) to the 3- and 6-month radiographic examinations. The paralleling technique and a film holder coupled to a beam-aiming device were used to take the periapical radiographs. Measurement of changes in bone level was made using a viewing box and ×8 magnifier. RESULTS: Three subjects were withdrawn from the therapy early as they did not complete the dose of ibuprofen (e.g. because of self-reported stomach upset). The mean marginal mesial bone loss from the baseline was 0.37 mm at the 3-month and 0.27 mm at the 6-month follow up for the ibuprofen group, while the corresponding values for the no-ibuprofen group were 0.15 mm and 0.08 mm. The mean marginal distal bone loss from the baseline was 0.42 mm at the 3-month and 0.2 mm at the 6-month follow up for the ibuprofen group, while the corresponding values for the no-ibuprofen group were 0.08 mm and 0.15 mm. There were no significant differences between the ibuprofen and no-ibuprofen groups when comparing the bone changes. CONCLUSION: Administration of a short course of systemic ibuprofen for postoperative pain management following implant insertion may not have a significant effect on the marginal bone loss around oral implants in the early healing phase.

Possible recurrence of keratocyst in nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome: A review of literature.

This review will highlight some current areas of difficulty or controversy in diagnosis and treatment of nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS). The odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) has significant growth capacity and recurrence potential and is occasionally indicative of the NBCCS. The objective of this study is to clarify the causes of the recurrence of OKC in NBCCS. A literature search was conducted using Medline, accessed via the National Library of Medicine PubMed interface, searching for articles relating to the cause of recurrence of keratocyst in NBCCS written in English. This study has described the previous and the current outcomes of the treatment of OKC (recurrent cause). A protocol was then agreed to search for the possible causes of keratocyst recurrence in NBCCS. The general treatment of other manifestation of NBCCS has excluded from this study. Studies describing cohort, case series and miscellaneous clinical reports were retrieved and evaluated from 2010 to 2012.

Expression of p21 is dependent on or independent of p53 in carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (undifferentiated and adenocarcinoma types).

Our study is aimed to characterize alteration in the immunohistochemical expression of p21 and p53 in normal tissue of the salivary gland surrounding carcinoma arising in pleomorphic adenoma, and the tumor cells of carcinoma arising in pleomorphic adenoma as well as to identify whether the induction of expression p21 is dependent on or independent of p53 in carcinoma arising in pleomorphic adenoma. A selected series of 27 cases of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (undifferentiated and adenocarcinoma types) was examined. The results showed that p21 and p53 expression was negative in the most components of normal tissue of the salivary gland surrounding carcinoma arising in pleomorphic adenoma. p21 was strongly expressed in carcinoma cells in 9 (33.3%) cases out of 27. p53 was strongly expressed in carcinoma cells in 10 (37%) cases out of 27. Also a co-expression of p21 and p53 showed negative nuclear staining in 9 cases, while 8 cases expressed positive staining. p21 expressed negative nuclear staining in 4 cases but p53 expressed positive staining in the same cases. p21 expressed positive nuclear staining in 6 cases but p53 expressed negative nuclear staining in the same cases. Our data suggest that inactivation of p53 and p21 may play an important role in the evolution of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma. Also p21 behaves as dependent on or independent of p53 in carcinoma arising in pleomorphic adenoma.