Knowledge and Practice of Kerman Dentists about Infection Control in Digital Radiography.

Statement of the Problem: Infection control is essential for a safe clinical environment during patients' treatment in dentistry. Transmission of the infection can occur due to contact with patients' saliva and blood in radiology clinics. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge and practice of dentists in Kerman about infection control in digital radiology. Materials and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 162 dentists who worked either in private office or clinic or both. The samples were selected through simple sampling method. Data were collected through demographic data, and valid and reliable questionnaire consisted of 7 questions about knowledge and 12 questions about practice on infection control in digital radiology. Data were analyzed in SPSS 26 software using T, ANOVA, and linear regression tests. The p value was considered at 0.05% significant level. Results: 86(53.1%) of participants were men and 76 (46.9%) were female. The mean age of participants and work experience were 36.32±8.88 and 11.03±8.53 years, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of knowledge, practice, and total were 5.20±1.26, 7.98±2.00, and 13.22±2.72, respectively. There was a positive significant correlation between knowledge with age of participants (p= 0.009). There was also a direct significant correlation between knowledge and practice with work experience (p= 0.045 and p= 0.01 respectively). Conclusion: Knowledge and practice of dentists in Kerman about infection control in digital radiology were good and medium respectively. However, there was a direct significant correlation between knowledge and practice of dentists. Knowledge and practice scores in dentists who worked in private office were significantly better than those who worked only in clinics.

Use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Food Quality Control: A Review.

Modern challenges of food science require a new understanding of the determinants of food quality and safety. Application of advanced imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has seen impressive successes and fast growth over the past decade. Since MRI does not have any harmful ionizing radiation, it can be considered as a magnificent tool for the quality control of food products. MRI allows the structure of foods to be imaged noninvasively and nondestructively. Magnetic resonance images can present information about several processes and material properties in foods. This review will provide an overview of the most prominent applications of MRI in food research.

Comparison of the accuracy of conventional and digital radiography in root canal working length determination: An invitro study.

Background. Digital radiography has widespread use in endodontics. Determining a correct working length is vital for a proper endodontic therapy. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of conventional and digital radiographic techniques for root canal working length determination. Methods. After determining the real working lengths of 50 permanent maxillary central incisors (gold standard), the conventional (E- and F-speed films) and digital (CCD, PSP) images were obtained using the parallel technique. The mean registered working length of each modality was compared with the other and with the gold standard using one-way ANOVA at P<0.05. Results. No significant difference was found between the recorded working length values using the conventional and digital radiographic techniques (P=0.828). Conclusion. Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that there was no difference between the measurement accuracy of CCD, PSP and conventional imaging techniques in root canal working length determination.

Molecular Imaging and Oral Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy.

Oral cancer is known as one of relatively common type of cancer worldwide. Despite the easy access of the oral cavity to examination, oral tumors are diagnosed in more advanced stages of the disease. Imaging techniques have been recently emerged as non-invasive approaches to detect molecular and cellular changes in living cells and organisms. These techniques such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) could help physicians to screen patients with oral tumors particularly oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in early stage of the disease. In this review, we discuss that early detection and diagnosis of oral tumors through using more robust and precise imaging techniques and a variety of cellular/molecular biomarkers not only could lead to more effective and less aggressive form of treatment for the disease but also could improve survival rates and lower treatment costs. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 3055-3060, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Postoperative Pain following Pulpotomy of Primary Molars with Two Biomaterials: A Randomized Split Mouth Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this randomized clinical trial split-mouth study was to compare the postoperative pain following use of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement as pulpotomy agents in carious primary molars. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Forty-seven children aged between 6-10 years old were enrolled in this study. Each child had two cariously involved primary molar in need of pulpotomy. After caries removal and preparing access cavity in one of the carious teeth, either MTA or CEM cement was randomly used as the pulpotomy agent, while the other cariously involved primary molar tooth was capped with the other material in a separate visit. After covering the radicular pulp with one of the capping materials the teeth were permanently restored with stainless steel crown (SSC). Postoperative pain was recorded by using Wong-Baker faces pain rating scale (Wong-Baker FPRS) up to seven days following the treatment. Data was analyzed using the Wilcoxon, McNemar, and chi square tests. RESULTS: Forty-five patients fulfilled the treatment procedure and returned the Wong-Baker FPRS forms. Overall 65.6% of the patients reported pain irrespective of the pulpotomy agents used. There was no significant difference in postoperative pain between the teeth that received either MTA or CEM cement as pulpotomy agents in the first, second and the third day (P=0.805, P=0.942, P=0.705, respectively) following the procedure. The trend of the pain scores showed decreasing manner during the study period for the teeth in either groups of MTA or CEM cement. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the number of analgesics used following the treatment (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study showed that a majority of the children felt pain following pulpotomy and SSC placement; however, there was no significant difference in pain reported when either MTA or CEM cement was used as pulpotomy agents.

The Effects of Inflammatory Tooth Pain on Anxiety in Adult Male Rats.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to examine the effects of induced inflammatory tooth pain on anxiety level in adult male rats. METHODS: The mandibular incisors of 56 adult male rats were cut off and prefabricated crowns were fixed on the teeth. Formalin and capsaicin were injected intradentally to induce inflammatory tooth pain. Diazepam treated group received diazepam 30 minutes before intradental injection. The anxiety-related behavior was evaluated with elevated plus maze test. RESULTS: Intradental application of chemical noxious stimuli, capsaicin and formalin, significantly affected nociceptive behaviors (P<0.001). Capsaicin (P<0.001) and formalin (P<0.01) significantly increased the anxiety levels in rats by decrease in the duration of time spent in open arm and increase in the duration of time spent in closed arm. Rats that received capsaicin made fewer open arm entries compared to the control animals (P<0.05). Capsaicin (P<0.001) and formalin (P<0.01) treated rats showed more stretch attend postures compared to the control and sham operated animals. In diazepampretreated rats, capsaicin induced algesic effect was prevented (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Inflammatory pulpal pain has anxiogenic effect on rats, whereas diazepam premedication showed both anxiolytic and pain reducing effects.

Evaluation of condylar positions in patients with temporomandibular disorders: A cone-beam computed tomographic study.

PURPOSE: This study was performed to compare the condylar position in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) and a normal group by using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the TMD group, 25 patients (5 men and 20 women) were randomly selected among the ones suffering from TMD according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD). The control group consisted of 25 patients (8 men and 17 women) with normal temporomandibular joints (TMJs) who were referred to the radiology department in order to undergo CBCT scanning for implant treatment in the posterior maxilla. Linear measurements from the superior, anterior, and posterior joint spaces between the condyle and glenoid fossa were made through defined landmarks in the sagittal view. The inclination of articular eminence was also determined. RESULTS: The mean anterior joint space was 2.3 mm in the normal group and 2.8 mm in the TMD group, respectively. The results showed that there was a significant correlation between the superior and posterior joint spaces in both the normal and TMD groups, but it was only in the TMD group that the correlation coefficient among the dimensions of anterior and superior spaces was significant. There was a significant correlation between the inclination of articular eminence and the size of the superior and posterior spaces in the normal group. CONCLUSION: The average dimension of the anterior joint space was different between the two groups. CBCT could be considered a useful diagnostic imaging modality for TMD patients.

Diagnostic Efficacy of Digital Waters' and Caldwell's Radiographic Views for Evaluation of Sinonasal Area.

OBJECTIVES: New digital two-dimensional imaging systems are considered as an easily accessible modality for sinonasal evaluation. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic efficacy of digital Waters' and Caldwell's radiographic views for evaluation of sinonasal area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 273 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this descriptive-analytical study. Complete opacification or mucosal thickening of frontal, ethmoidal and maxillary sinuses and nasal septum deviation were assessed on digital Waters and Caldwell images. Considering cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) as the gold standard, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were obtained for the plain films. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of complete opacification were 89.47% and 95.66% (for frontal sinus), 100% and 97.59% (for ethmoidal air cells), and 100% and 96.42% (for maxillary sinuses), respectively. Regarding mucosal thickening, the sensitivity and specificity were 51.43% and 90.70% (for frontal sinus), 60.84% and 84.80% (for ethmoidal air cells) and 81% and 74.74% (for maxillary sinuses), respectively. The sensitivity of Waters and Caldwell images for detecting nasal septum deviation was 84.31% and 87.25%, respectively; whereas, their specificity was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Digital Caldwell image performs well in detecting frontal and ethmoidal opacification and nasal septum deviation. It has moderate efficacy in assessing frontal and ethmoidal mucosal thickening while it has superior performance for detection of healthy cases. Digital Waters' view is a reliable modality for maxillary sinus evaluation.

Epi-Drugs and Epi-miRs: Moving Beyond Current Cancer Therapies.

Epigenetic modifications determine phenotypic characteristics in a reversible, stable and genotype-independent manner. Epigenetic modifications mainly encompass CpG island methylation and histone modifications, both being important in the pathogenesis of malignancies. The reversibility of epigenetic phenomenon provides a suitable therapeutic option that is reactivation of epigenetically silenced tumor-suppressor genes. Inhibition of DNA methyltransferase, histone deacetylase and Aurora B kinase, individually or collectively, could feasibly prevent or reverse the impact of epigenetic silencing. MicroRNAs [miRNAs] are an important layer of epigenetic controlling of gene expression, and serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers as well as treatment targets for several types of cancer. miRNAs are involved inepigenetically silencing or activation of genes, tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes, and their modulation opens new horizons for designing novel cancer therapeutic agents.

Central odontogenic fibroma (simple type) in a four-year-old boy: atypical cone-beam computed tomographic appearance with periosteal reaction.

Central odontogenic fibroma (COF) is a rare benign tumor that accounts for 0.1% of all odontogenic tumors. A case of COF (simple type) of the mandible in a four-year-old boy is described in this report. The patient showed asymptomatic swelling in the right inferior border of the lower jaw for one week. A panoramic radiograph showed a poorly-defined destructive unilocular radiolucent area. Cone-beam computed tomography showed expansion and perforation of the adjacent cortical bone plates. A periosteal reaction with the Codman triangle pattern was clearly visible in the buccal cortex. Since the tumor had destroyed a considerable amount of bone, surgical resection was performed. No recurrence was noted.