The effects of gastric acid on pediatric restorative materials: SEM analysis.

In this study, we aimed to demonstrate changes in the surface roughness and microhardness of three different restorative materials routinely used in pediatric dentistry (composite, compomer and resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMCIS)) in response to continuous daily exposure to gastric acid. Twelve samples of each of type of restorative material were prepared. Eleven of the specimens were included in the gastric acid cycle. The microhardness and surface roughness of ten samples were measured before and after the cycle. Another sample included in the cycle was compared with the sample not included in the cycle by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). There was a significant difference between the groups in terms of roughness scores following gastric acid cycle (p = 0.039). RMCIS material possessed the highest roughness value. A significant difference was identified in terms of microhardness levels before and after the gastric acid cycle (p = 0.001). The most significant change was observed in the compomer material. SEM analysis, performed after the gastric acid cycle, revealed that most cracks were identified in RMCIS material; this was followed by compomer and composite materials, respectively. Our analysis indicates that the restorative materials used frequently in pediatric dental procedures, show increased surface roughness and reduced microhardness when exposed to gastric acid.

Retrospective evaluation of the effectiveness of teledentistry approach during COVID-19 in pediatric dentistry: A parental perspective.

Objective: Dentistry necessarily requires close face-to-face contact with patients, so it was largely halted during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this pandemic, teledentistry (TD) could be a novel way to resume dental practice. It was aimed to investigate the satisfaction of the parents who received teledentistry (TD) service in a pediatric dentistry clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other factors that may have contributed to this satisfaction. Methods: It was conducted using a telephone survey to interview the parents who used the TD system between June and December 2020. The survey includes participant demographics, COVID-19 anxiety, TD system, reasons for using TD, and Internet use in the field of health. Five-point Likert scale was used. A Chi-squared test was used and p < 0.05 was accepted as significant. Results: Most of the participants stated that they had no trouble connecting to the TD system (82.5%), and 119 participants reported that the system helped them to solve their health problems. Significant relationships (p < 0.05) were found between overall satisfaction and parental job, level of education, anxiety level (3 questions), and use of the Internet in healthcare (4 questions), whereas no associations were found regarding the other variables (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Parents benefited greatly from the TD system and would be open to using it after the pandemic. The education and parental job categories of parents, anxiety level, and use of the Internet in healthcare seem to have relationships with overall satisfaction.

Altered chromatin landscape in circulating T follicular helper and regulatory cells following grass pollen subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Allergen-specific immunotherapy is a disease-modifying treatment that induces long-term T-cell tolerance. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the role of circulating CXCR5+PD-1+ T follicular helper (cTFH) and T follicular regulatory (TFR) cells following grass pollen subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) and the accompanying changes in their chromatin landscape. METHODS: Phenotype and function of cTFH cells were initially evaluated in the grass pollen-allergic (GPA) group (n = 28) and nonatopic healthy controls (NAC, n = 13) by mathematical algorithms developed to manage high-dimensional data and cell culture, respectively. cTFH and TFR cells were further enumerated in NAC (n = 12), GPA (n = 14), SCIT- (n = 10), and SLIT- (n = 8) treated groups. Chromatin accessibility in cTFH and TFR cells was assessed by assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (ATAC-seq) to investigate epigenetic mechanisms underlying the differences between NAC, GPA, SCIT, and SLIT groups. RESULTS: cTFH cells were shown to be distinct from TH2- and TH2A-cell subsets, capable of secreting IL-4 and IL-21. Both cytokines synergistically promoted B-cell class switching to IgE and plasma cell differentiation. Grass pollen allergen induced cTFH-cell proliferation in the GPA group but not in the NAC group (P < .05). cTFH cells were higher in the GPA group compared with the NAC group and were lower in the SCIT and SLIT groups (P < .01). Time-dependent induction of IL-4, IL-21, and IL-6 was observed in nasal mucosa following intranasal allergen challenge in the GPA group but not in SCIT and SLIT groups. TFR and IL-10+ cTFH cells were induced in SCIT and SLIT groups (all, P < .01). ATAC-seq analyses revealed differentially accessible chromatin regions in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, we showed dysregulation of cTFH cells in the GPA group compared to NAC, SCIT, and SLIT groups and induction of TFR and IL-10+ cTFH cells following SCIT and SLIT. Changes in the chromatin landscape were observed following allergen-specific immunotherapy in cTFH and TFR cells.

Bipolar Spectrum Disorder May Be Associated With Family History of Diseases.

BACKGROUND: This study aims at investigating into the presence of family history of diabetes, ischemic heart disease, thyroid disease, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, and epilepsy in bipolar patients. METHODS: Totally 1,148 patients admitted to our outpatient unit between January 2018 and January 2020, who were diagnosed with bipolar disorder according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-V), from whom informed consent was obtained, were cross-sectionally and consecutively evaluated. Each patient was questioned regarding a family history of diabetes, ischemic heart disease, thyroid disease, cancer (gastrointestinal, breast and prostate cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma), cerebrovascular disease and epilepsy in first- and second-degree relatives. RESULTS: Diabetes, ischemic heart disease, cancer, cerebrovascular disease and epilepsy were more common in the family histories than in bipolar patients. A strong correlation was found between family history positive for epilepsy and bipolar disorder with psychotic symptoms. Also, a correlation was found between family history for diabetes and seasonal course and family history positive for thyroid disease and comorbid anxiety disorder. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to investigate into the frequency of physical diseases in the family histories of bipolar patients. Current therapies target the association between common leading pathways and symptoms whereas it is the association between stress and neural circuits that underlie the pathophysiology that should be targeted.

Association between sociodemographic characteristics and anxiety levels of violence-exposed patients admitted to emergency clinic.

BACKGROUND: Here we aimed to investigate sociodemographic characteristics, psychiatric history, and association between sociodemographic characteristics and anxiety levels of violence-exposed patients admitted to emergency clinic. METHODS: This study consists of 73 violence-exposed patients admitted to emergency clinic who were literate and agreed to participate in the study. A sociodemographic data form created by us to investigate alcohol-substance abuse, suicide attempt, previous history of trauma, self and family history of psychiatric disorders and Beck Anxiety Inventory was given to the patients. RESULTS: Of the patients exposed to violence 63% (n=46) were female and 27% (n=27) were male. Of these patients, 68.5% (n=50) were married, 43.8% (n=25) were workers, 34.2% were housewives, 11% were unemployed, and 11% were civil servants. Of the violence-exposed patients, 56.2% (n=41) were primary school, 21.9% (n=16) were high school, and 21.9% (n=16) were university graduates. Smoking and alcohol use rates were 54.8% (n=40) and 17.8% (n=13), respectively. The most common trauma type was assault using physical force with a ratio of 78.1% (n=57). In addition, anxiety scores were high in 42.5% (n=31) and moderate in 9.6% (n=7) of the patients. Mentioned psychiatric disorder was present in 17.8% (n=13) of the patients and 19.2% (n=14) of the patients' relatives. The correlation between sociodemographic characteristics and anxiety scores revealed that married patients had higher anxiety scores (P<0.01) and patients assaulted by their parents had lower anxiety scores (P<0.00). CONCLUSION: A total of 63% of the violence-exposed patients admitted to emergency room were females, 56.2% were primary school graduates, and 43.8% were factory workers; this result shows that low socioeconomical status and education level affect exposure to trauma especially in females. In addition, ~20% of the patients and patients' relatives had a psychiatric disorder and 53.4% of perpetrators were parents, spouses, and children; this result shows that psychiatric history and family relations are one of the issues that should be taken into account and treated.

The differences in temperament-character traits, suicide attempts, impulsivity, and functionality levels of patients with bipolar disorder I and II.

BACKGROUND: The primary aim of this study was to compare the differences in temperament-character traits, suicide attempts, impulsivity, and functionality levels of patients with bipolar disorder I (BD-I) and bipolar disorder II (BD-II). METHODS: Fifty-two BD-I patients and 49 BD-II patients admitted to Erenköy Mental and Neurological Disease Training and Research Hospital psychiatry clinic and fifty age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. A structured clinical interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition Axis I Disorders, Temperament and Character Inventory, Barrett Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11), Hamilton Depression Inventory Scale, Young Mania Rating Scale, and Bipolar Disorder Functioning Questionnaire (BDFQ) were administered to patients and to control group. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference in sociodemographic features existed between the patient and control groups (P>0.05). Thirty-eight subjects (37.62%) in the patient group had a suicide attempt. Twenty-three of these subjects (60.52%) had BD-I, and 15 of these subjects (39.47%) had BD-II. Suicide attempt rates in BD-I and II patients were 60.52% and 39.47%, respectively (P<0.05). Comparison of BD-I and II patients with healthy control subjects revealed that cooperativeness (C), self-directedness (Sdi), and self-transcendence (ST) scores were lower and novelty seeking (NS1 and NS2), harm avoidance (HA4), and reward dependence (RD2) subscale scores were higher in patients with BD-I. When BD-I patients were compared with BD-II patients, BIS-11 (attention) scores were higher in patients with BD-II and BIS-11 (motor and nonplanning impulsivity) scores were higher in patients with BD-I. According to BDFQ, relations with friends, participation in social activities, daily activities and hobbies, and occupation subscale scores were lower and taking initiative subscale scores were higher in patients with BD-I. Social withdrawal subscale scores were higher in patients with BD-II. CONCLUSION: In our study, NS, HA, and RD scores that may be found high in suicide attempters and Sdi scores that may be found low in suicide attempters were as follows: NS1, NS2, HA4, and RD2 subscale scores were high and Sdi scores were low in patients with BD-I, suggesting a higher rate of suicide attempts in this group of patients. In addition, C and Sdi scores that indicate a predisposition to personality disorder were significantly lower in patients with BD-I than patients with BD-II and healthy controls, suggesting a higher rate of personality disorder comorbidity in patients with BD-I. Higher impulsivity and suicidality rates and poorer functionality in patients with BD-I also suggest that patients with BD-I may be more impulsive and more prone to suicide and have poorer functionality in some areas.

Urinary Incontinence during Sleep Associated with Extended Release Form of Bupropion HCI.

Bupropion hydrochloride (HCI) is an antidepressant that acts as a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor and has three different dosage forms including immediate release (IR), sustained release (SR), and extended release (ER). Despite its relatively safe side effect profile bupropion may cause several side effects. Here, we aimed to report a case with major depression using extended release form of bupropion hydrochloride who was presented with urinary incontinence during sleep, an uncommon side effect of bupropion.

P-wave and QT dispersion in patients with conversion disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate QT dispersion (QTd), which is the noninvasive marker of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death, and P-wave dispersion, which is the noninvasive marker of atrial arrhythmia, in patients with conversion disorder (CD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 60 patients with no known organic disease who were admitted to outpatient emergency clinic and were diagnosed with CD after psychiatric consultation were included in this study along with 60 healthy control subjects. Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Scale were administered to patients and 12-lead electrocardiogram measurements were obtained. Pd and QTd were calculated by a single blinded cardiologist. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in terms of age, sex, education level, socioeconomic status, weight, height, and body mass index between CD patients and controls. Beck Anxiety Inventory scores (25.2±10.8 and 3.8±3.2, respectively, P<0.001) and Beck Depression Scale scores (11.24±6.15 and 6.58±5.69, respectively, P<0.01) were significantly higher in CD patients. P-wave dispersion measurements did not show any significant differences between conversion patients and control group (46±5.7 vs 44±5.5, respectively, P=0.156). Regarding QTc and QTd, there was a statistically significant increase in all intervals in conversion patients (416±10 vs 398±12, P<0.001, and 47±4.8 vs 20±6.1, P<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: A similar relation to that in literature between QTd and anxiety and somatoform disorders was also observed in CD patients. QTc and QTd were significantly increased compared to the control group in patients with CD. These results suggest a possibility of increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia resulting from QTd in CD patients. Larger samples are needed to evaluate the clinical course and prognosis in terms of arrhythmia risk in CD patients.

Temperament, character traits, and alexithymia in patients with panic disorder.

BACKGROUND: The primary aim of the present study was to compare temperament and character traits and levels of alexithymia between patients with panic disorder and healthy controls. METHODS: Sixty patients with panic disorder admitted to the psychiatry clinic at Firat University Hospital were enrolled in the study, along with 62 healthy age-matched and sex-matched controls. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV axis I (SCID-I), Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and Panic Agoraphobia Scale (PAS) were administered to all subjects. RESULTS: Within the temperament dimension, the mean subscale score for harm avoidance was significantly higher in patients with panic disorder than in controls. With respect to character traits, mean scores for self-directedness and cooperativeness were significantly lower than in healthy controls. Rates of alexithymia were 35% (n=21) and 11.3% (n=7) in patients with panic disorder and healthy controls, respectively. The difficulty identifying feelings subscale score was significantly higher in patients with panic disorder (P=0.03). A moderate positive correlation was identified between PAS and TAS scores (r=0.447, P<0.01). Moderately significant positive correlations were also noted for PAS and TCI subscale scores and scores for novelty seeking, harm avoidance, and self-transcendence. CONCLUSION: In our study sample, patients with panic disorder and healthy controls differed in TCI parameters and rate of alexithymia. Larger prospective studies are required to assess for causal associations.