The Effect of Chemical Degradation and Polishing on the Gloss of Composite Dental Materials.

This aim of this study was to investigate surface gloss changes of different composite dental materials after chemical degradation or polishing. Five different composites were used (Evetric, GrandioSO, Admira Fusion, Filtek Z550, Dynamic Plus). The gloss of the tested material was measured with a glossmeter before and after chemical degradation in different acidic beverages. Statistical analysis was performed using a t-test for dependent samples, ANOVA, and a post hoc test. For comparison between groups, a level of significance was set at 0.05. Initial gloss values ranged from 51 to 93 at baseline to 32 to 81 after chemical degradation. The highest values were obtained for Dynamic Plus (93.5 GU) and GrandioSO (77.8 GU), followed by Admira Fusion (82 GU) and Filtek Z550 (70.5 GU). Evetric showed the lowest initial gloss values. After acidic exposures, the gloss measurements revealed different patterns of surface degradation. The results showed that the gloss of the samples decreased with time regardless of the treatment. The interaction between chemical-erosive beverages and the composite could lead to a decrease in the surface gloss of the composite restoration. The nanohybrid composite showed less gloss changes under acidic conditions, suggesting that it is more suitable for anterior restorations.

Comparison of Lanolin and Human Milk Treatment of Painful and Damaged Nipples: A Randomized Control Trial.

BACKGROUND: Painful and damaged nipples are frequently associated with breastfeeding cessation in the early postpartum period. The results of researchers' studies utilizing different treatments have been inconclusive. RESEARCH AIM: To compare the intensity of nipple pain and the healing of damaged nipples during the first 10 days postpartum using either lanolin or human milk treatments. METHODS: This single-blind randomized controlled trial included participants (N = 206) who were primiparous with painful and damaged nipples. Participants were recruited from the tertiary teaching hospital within the first 72 hr after delivery and randomized to the intervention group with lanolin (n = 103) and a human milk control group (n = 103). Data were collected in the maternity ward, 3 and 7 days after randomization. The primary outcome was nipple pain intensity and quality measured 3 and 7 days after randomization by the McGill Pain Questionnaire - short form. The nipple damage self-assessment questionnaire was used for the assessment of nipple healing. Breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding duration, and exclusivity were assessed as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Participants in both groups reported a statistically nonsignificant reduction in pain (quality and intensity of pain) as well as improved nipple healing 7 days after randomization. Participants in the lanolin group exclusively breastfed their infants 3 days after randomization-significantly more often than participants in the control group (p = .026). The study did not reveal any statistically significant differences for other secondary outcomes. CONCLUSION: Both lanolin and human milk are equally effective in treating painful and damaged nipples.Registered with Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04153513).

Prevalence of burnout among health care workers in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

AIM: To investigate the prevalence of burnout syndrome among health care workers in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in May and June 2021 using an online survey based on Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. The questionnaire underwent forward and backward translation, preliminary pilot testing, and was assessed for reliability and validity. Personal burnout, work-related burnout, and patient-related burnout were assessed. The survey was sent to the members of the Union of Physicians and Dentists in FBIH, who were asked to forward the link to their medical technicians and nurses. RESULTS: A total of 77% of participants experienced some form of burnout. As many as 32% experienced all three forms of burnout. Those actively involved in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic more often experienced burnout. In personal and work-related burnout domains, higher level of burnout was reported among female respondents. Higher work-related and patient-related burnout was reported by physicians compared with medical technicians/nurses. Higher level of patient-related burnout was reported in health care workers aged 30-39 and 50-59 years, among respondents working in primary care, and among physicians. CONCLUSION: The majority of health care workers showed moderate or high levels of personal and work-related burnout, with a lower level of patient-related burnout. There is a need for further research into the causes of burnout, as well as for the implementation of organizational interventions aimed to minimize workplace burnout.

20 Years of Follow-up Alloimmunization and Hemolytic Disease in Newborn: Has Anything Changed in the Field Over the Years?

OBJECTIVE: of the study is to research the epidemiological aspects of maternal alloimmunization against erythrocyte antigens of fetuses (AB0, Rhesus, Lewis, Kell, Duffy and others) and to identify the most common types of hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) in the West Herzegovina region. STUDY DESIGN: The 20-year retrospective epidemiological study includes all pregnant women who had been immunologically tested and newborn treated for HDN. RESULTS: The indirect antiglobulin (IAT) detected antibodies against antigens in 545 (1.8%) pregnant women of the 29 663 who were tested at the Department of Transfusion Medicine. During the 20-year-long study 310 (1.0%) newborn with HDN were treated. Our results indicate that 42% (230/545) of the pregnant women had AB0 immunization. The most common form of HDN is AB0 HDN 64% (199/310), whereas RhD HDN was treated in 19% (59/310) of the newborn infants. ETR was performed on 29 (19%) infants, 21 (72.4%) with AB0 HDN, and 7 (26%) with RhD HDN. CONCLUSION: This 20-year-long study concludes that, even though there has been significant progress in the prevention of immunization and proactive treatment of HDN, precautionary measures are still required as is the need for gynecologists and obstetricians to be active. The reasons for this are the non-existence of preventive measures for non-RhD immunization, the irregular immunological screening of RhD positive women in pregnancy in the region encompassed by the study in the past few years. The above raises new questions and recommends further research and monitoring of immunization and HDN treatment worldwide.

Acceptance of Orthodontic Therapy according to the Aesthetic Component of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need among Schoolchildren - a Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: Orthodontic anomalies with impaired facial aesthetics and disturbed oral functions have a major effect on emotional and social development. It is necessary to determine the degree of acceptance of treatment. This study includes an evaluation of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) according to the Aesthetic Component (AC) of dental health in schoolchildren. METHODS: The research included 300 schoolchildren (150 girls, 150 boys) with an age range from 12 to 15 years. An evaluation of the need for orthodontic treatment according to the AC consisted of a ten-grade scale illustrated with a sequence of ten intraoral photographs showing different degrees of acceptability of dental appearance. Results were expressed as absolute and relative frequencies. The Chi-square test (in the absence of the expected frequencies of Fisher's Exact test) was used for testing the significance of differences. Cohen's kappa statistic measure was used for measuring the agreement between the children and dentists. RESULTS: There is a significant substantial agreement between children and dentists in assessing the need for orthodontic treatment. Differences in assessment of the degree of orthodontic anomalies by the doctor of dental medicine with respect to boys and girls, are negligible, and statistical analysis did not show any significant difference. Analysis of the need for orthodontic treatment with respect to the age of the children showed a significant difference. CONCLUSION: The need for orthodontic treatment is more pronounced in older children, and there is no difference between boys and girl.

The prevalence of orthodontic treatment needs of school children in northern Herzegovina.

OBJECTIVE: The study was conducted to evaluate the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need based on the Dental Health Component (DHC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 300 students aged 12-15 years were included in this study. The examinations were performed in two elementary schools in the municipality of Prozor-Rama, using standard dental instruments. Children were ranked into five grades according to the DHC. RESULTS: Only 12% of children were found not to have a need for orthodontic treatment. Of the others, 45.33% had a great, and 10% a very great need for orthodontic treatment. The rest of the children were found to have a need for minor or moderate orthodontic treatment. Slightly more girls than boys had a great or a very great need for treatment, although the difference by gender was not statistically significant. Analysis of the level of need by age of children showed no significant difference; children with a great need of orthodontic treatment prevailed in all age groups. About 85% of children with a great and a very great need for orthodontic treatment would agree to orthodontic treatment, while the rate of non-acceptance was about 5%. CONCLUSION: The high rate of need for orthodontic treatment in the examined students is explained by the lack of programs for this type of health care, the insufficient number of qualified orthodontic specialists, and the very low percentage of allocations from the state budget for oral health.

Correlation between water hardness and cardiovascular diseases in Mostar city, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The aim of this study was to determine the association of cardiovascular disease (CVD) of selected human subjects with the hardness of water they consume. Laboratory testing of physical and chemical parameters of water were made using standardized methods: Standard Methods 19th edn, 1995 (APHA, AWWA & WEF, Washington, DC), and ISO 7888:1985, ISO 10523:1998. Pearson's chi-squared test was used for the statistical analysis of data, with the significance level of 0.05. The obtained data were analysed using the statistical program SPSS 16.0. The study sample consisted of 1,021 individuals divided into two groups: soft water consumers, 603 individuals, and, hard water consumers, 618 individuals. Results indicate that a statistically significant (χ(2) = 5.315; df = 1; p = 0.021) number of individuals with CVD drink soft water. The prevalence of CVD in the age group 45-60 years in the study area where soft water is consumed was 21.3% and in the study area where hard water is consumed the prevalence of CVD was 13.7%. The summary results indicate significant correlation between the prevalence of CVD in the population group who drink soft water. The value of the relative risk is 1.127.

Prevalence of periodontal diseases in North Herzegovina.

AIM: To investigate effects of smoking on periodontal tissue and the occurrence of periodontal disease in the population of North Herzegovina. METHODS: The study included 800 persons of 20-49 years of age (400 smokers and 400 non-smokers), inhabitants of Prozor-Rama Municipality, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Periodontal condition assessment was made by the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs index (CPITN) at representative teeth: 16, 17, 21, 26, 27, 36, 37, 31, 46, and 47.Statistically significant difference between non-smokers and smokers was tested by χ2 test with the level of significance set at p=0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of healthy periodontal tissues was lower in smokers than in non-smokers, 25 (6.3%)and 36 (9%), respectively. The prevalence of gingival bleeding, calculus, shallow and deep periodontal pockets was higher in smokers than in non-smokers, although it was not significant. There was a risk between occurrence of deep periodontal pockets and smoking (RR=2). A total of 64 (8%)participants neededonly instructions on proper oral hygiene, 654 (81.8%) prophylaxis and initial treatment,while 21 (2.6%) needed complex periodontal treatment. CONCLUSION: Obtained results indicate a high need of preventive measures and the improvement of oral health in the population of North Herzegovina.

Gender and quality of life after cerebral stroke.

The aim of this work is to investigate the influence of gender on recovery after cerebral stroke.It is believed that functional outcome of cerebral stroke (CS) depends on gender. Female gender is mildly negative prognostic factor in after stroke results. Two hundred and two patients who had first ischemic cerebral stroke were questioned with help of, HADS and WHOQOL-Bref questionnaires, looking for differences in recovery depending on gender. Average patients' age was 72+/-13 (ME+/-IR) years. The youngest patient had 40 years, and the oldest 92 years, and medium range was 52 years. There were 112 males and 90 females. Quality of life was equally graded by both male and female after CS (p=0.208). Male patients had significantly better results in physical (p=0.035) and psychological (p=0.020) domain of life quality. After CS, male patients had better results only in memory dimension (p=0.003). Anxiety was statistically more frequent among female patients (p=0.009). Gender did not influence frequency of metabolic syndrome in patients with CS. Quality of life after CS was better in male patients, and statistically significant difference has been shown in physical, psychological domain and memory dimension. Female patients were more anxious then male after CS.