Impact of the loss of smell on the sleep quality and fatigue level in COVID­19 survivors.

PURPOSE: Patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are reported to have symptoms such as shortness of breath, dry cough, headache, fatigue, and diarrhea. Loss of smell is a symptom that some patients have suffered from due to inflammation of olfactory epithelium and neuroinvasion of COVID-19 resulting in damage to the olfactory nerves and olfactory bulb. Losing an important sense such as smell might have unfavorable consequences on the lives of COVID-19 survivors; however, these unfavorable consequences have not been sufficiently investigated. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study, 81 COVID-19 survivors (51.85% male) answered the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Fatigue Severity Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire. RESULTS: COVID-19 survivors who lost their smell were more likely to have poor sleep quality, high fatigue severity, and depression symptoms compared to others who did not lose their smell. Most COVID-19 survivors who lost their smell were women and had breathing difficulties. CONCLUSION: Our knowledge of this relationship will assist in establishing more efficient treatment regimens that consider both psychological and physiological factors. Future research is needed to investigate the causality relationship between poor sleep quality, increased fatigue, and depression symptoms in COVID-19 survivors who experienced loss of the sense of smell.

Prevalence of mental disorders among patients attending primary health care centers in the capital of Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of common mental disorders at primary health care (PHC) centers in Saudi Arabia using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study carried out at a single PHC center in Riyadh city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A self-medication questionnaire was utilized to collect the data. The prevalence of mental disorders has assessed by the Self-Reporting Questionnaire that consists of 20 items with binary answers (Yes/No). RESULTS: This study reports that the prevalence of mental disorders among patients attended primary health care center was 28.5%. Moreover, prevalence did not significant differ by sociodemographic (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of mental disorders was slight high. The rates of untreated mental disorders necessitate the healthcare makers in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to implement efficient strategies to halt the progression of untreated mental disorders.

Inter-individual variation in morphine clearance in children.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine the extent of inter-individual variation in clearance of intravenous morphine in children and to establish which factors are responsible for this variation. METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed to identify papers describing the clearance of morphine in children. The following databases were searched: Medline, Embase, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, CINAHL, and Cochrane library. From the papers, the range in plasma clearance and the coefficient of variation (CV) in plasma clearance were determined. RESULTS: Twenty-eight studies were identified. After quality assessment, 20 studies were included. Only 10 studies gave clearance values for individual patients. The majority of the studies were in critically ill patients. Inter-individual variability of morphine clearance was observed in all age groups, but greatest in critically ill neonates (both preterm and term) and infants. In critically ill patients, the CV was 16-97% in preterm neonates, 24-87% in term neonates, 35 and 134% in infants, 39 and 55% in children, and 74% in adolescents. The CV was 37 and 44% respectively in non-critically ill neonates and infants. The mean clearance was higher in children (32 and 52 ml min(-1) kg(-1)) than in neonates (2 to 16 ml min(-1) kg(-1)). CONCLUSIONS: Large inter-individual variation was seen in morphine clearance values in critically ill neonates and infants.

Malignant transformation of calcifying cystic odontogenic tumour - a review of literature.

Calcifying cystic odontogenic tumour (CCOT) has been classified as an odontogenic tumour. Ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma (GCOC) is the malignant counterpart of CCOT. This paper aims to review the literature regarding malignant transformation of CCOT. A literature search was done via the National Library of Medicine PubMed interface, searching for articles relating to malignant transformation of CCOT. From these articles, references were obtained, and from their references lists, pertinent secondary references were also identified and acquired. After reviewing the literature, we found 26 cases of GCOC which developed from CCOT. Malignant transformation of CCOT was seen more commonly in the maxilla. Histologically, changes such as increased nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, atypical mitotic figures have been reported after malignant transformation. Immunohistochemical analysis has shown an increased expression of ki-67 and p53 in tumour cells. Malignant transformation of CCOT, although rare, mostly takes place in recurrent and long standing cases.

P27 expression in pleomorphic salivary gland adenoma.

AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to characterise alterations in the immunohistochemical expression of p27 in normal tissue of the salivary gland surrounding pleomorphic adenoma and in the tumour cells of pleomorphic adenoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study of data including 120 cases of pleomorphic adenomas (66 female, 54 male) retrieved from the files of the Oral Pathology Departments of Aleppo University, Syria and Al-Farabi Dental and Nursing College. Immunohistochemical expression against p27 was examined in the selected cases. The percentage of p27-positive nuclei was semi-quantitatively assessed by two independent observers and scores were given. The statistical analysis included the use of descriptive statistics and proportional frequencies. RESULTS: The results showed that P27 nuclear staining with high staining (moderate to strong positive staining in more than 50% of nuclei, depending on the percentage of nuclei for the cells) was noted in tumour duct cells of pleomorphic adenoma in 90 (75%) cases out of 120, while 30 (25%) cases showed low staining (positive staining in less than 5% of nuclei, depending on the percentage of nuclei for the cells). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests that p27 might have a minor role in the development of pleomorphic adenoma.

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.

Diagnosis of oral pigmentations and malignant transformations.

BACKGROUND: Oral pigmentation is a common finding in the mouth. Pigmentation can be either normal or abnormal discoloration of oral mucous membrane. The purpose of this review mainly focuses on the main oral pigmented lesions, in order to help the clinicians establish a better approach towards the patients with pigmented oral lesions and to provide thorough knowledge regarding such lesions for patient reassurance, early definitive diagnosis and prompt treatment. METHODS: Relevant data concerning oral pigmented lesions, clinical features and the possibility of malignant transformation of such lesions were reviewed thoroughly from pubmed literature published in English. Pigmented lesions affecting the skin were not included in our review. RESULTS: Few pigmented lesions have been identified and their tendency to become malignant has been reported in the literature. The oral lesions showing malignant transformation reported were mostly case series. Unfortunately, due to lack of long-term studies, follow ups and randomized controlled studies in this respect it was difficult to draw a statistical analysis. This information is quite crucial for general dental practitioners to improve their understanding regarding oral lesions and to differentiate between normal and diseased conditions, so that they can master the skill of differential diagnosis, definitive diagnosis and prompt treatment. CONCLUSION: Oral pigmentation may present as focal, multifocal or diffused macular or tumefactive lesions. They may greatly vary in color as blue, purple, brown, gray or black depending on the quantity and site of melanin in the tissues [1]. Etiology of pigmentation can be multi factorial. Mostly pigmentation is physiologic but at times it can be a precursor of severe diseases. Lesions may be caused by localized harmless accumulations of melanin, hemosiderin or exogenous metals or they may be a sign of underlying systemic or genetic disease. A few lesions may be associated with life-threatening medical conditions that require immediate intervention. The differential diagnosis for any pigmented lesion is extensive, as it includes examples of endogenous and exogenous pigmentations. Although biopsy is a helpful and necessary aid in the diagnosis of focally pigmented lesions, with diffuse pigmentation lesions require a thorough dental and medical history and laboratory investigations.

ANAD: Arabic news article dataset.

In this paper, we present a modern standard Arabic dataset based on Arabic news articles collected over a one-year period from 01/01/2021 to 12/31/2021. In total, from 12 Arabic news websites, over 500,000 articles were collected, the selection of which was driven by a variety of topics, including sports, economies, local news, politics, tech, tourism, entertainment, cars, health, and art. The development of this dataset will enable data scientists to explore and experiment effectively in the field of natural language processing, and the dataset can also be used to develop machine learning and deep learning models to classify articles according to topic. The dataset is available for download at https://github.com/alaybaa/ArabicArticlesDataset/tree/main.

Acute Myocardial Infarction Associated With Amphetamine Use and Smoking in a Young Healthy Individual.

One of the primary causes of death among methamphetamine users is cardiovascular disease, which is a result of the narrowing and spasm of blood vessels caused by the drug. This leads to increased blood pressure and heart rate, which can damage the heart muscle at the molecular level. The most common forms of chronic cardiovascular disease associated with methamphetamine use are coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathy. Here, we report a case of myocardial infarction (MI) due to amphetamine use and smoking in a young healthy male who developed ST-elevation myocardial infarction, ventricular fibrillation (VF), and cardiac arrest. A 28-year-old male presented to the emergency department with chest pain and shortness of breath during exercise. Immediately upon presentation, electrocardiography was done which initially showed sinus tachycardia that progressed to right bundle branch block and ST elevation with a shark fin morphology, followed by VF and cardiac arrest. He was resuscitated and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting of the left anterior descending artery. Cardiotoxic manifestations such as acute MI, heart failure, or arrhythmia related to misuse of amphetamines have been rarely documented. This case report describes the clinical course and management of a young male patient who suffered a life-threatening cardiac event triggered by smoking and amphetamine abuse.

The outcome of heart failure in women: a study from a tertiary heart function clinic.

BACKGROUND: Women have unique risk factors for heart disease and a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality. Heart failure (HF) prevalence in women is affected by age, pregnancy, and menopause. More understanding of HF etiology, management, and outcome in women is needed. METHOD: a retrospective study of women diagnosed with HF following at a heart function clinic (HFC) in a tertiary cardiac center. RESULTS: A total of 1988 HF patients were screened. Women accounted for 561 (28.2%). The mean age at first HF presentation was 47.7 ± 17.9 years. The most common diagnosis was HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF ≤ 40%) 473 (84%). The most frequent cause of HF was dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in 304 patients (54.2%). Prevalence of diabetes (DM) was 272 (48.5%), hypertension (HTN) 267 (47.6%), and body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 was 332 (59%). Adverse pregnancy events included miscarriages 151 (38.6%), preeclampsia 15 (3.8%), and spontaneous coronary dissection 3 (0.8%). Left ventricle recovery to EF ≥ 50% occurred in 116 (20.7%) patients, while death occurred in 32 (5.7%) patients during follow-up. Women living with chronic HF were 240 (42.8%). The use of beta-blockers occurred in (96%), renin-angiotensin enzyme inhibitors (86.6%), mineralocorticoids (55.4%), and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (31.6%). Women who had a heart transplant were 19 (3.75%). CONCLUSION: Referral to specialized heart function clinics remains low for women. There is high burden of obesity among women and the majority of women have chronic HF but advanced HF therapy consideration is low in women.

Impact of Asthma Education Program 2020-2021 on Asthma Control Among Bronchial Asthma Children in Madinah City, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Asthma control among asthmatic children still remains suboptimal. Saudi literature are scarce in this context, and there is a paucity of reports that compare asthma control level pre- and post-education program directed to asthmatic patients and their parents. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of asthma education and flu vaccination on asthma control in asthmatic children in Madinah region from 2020 to 2021, in terms of ED visits, hospitalization, pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission, and asthma control level. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at primary health care (PHC) centers in Al-Madinah City, Saudi Arabia. The study analyzed data from 804 asthmatic children patients from randomly selected six PHC centers. The data were collected by a valid structured questionnaire. The questionnaire included socio-demographic and clinical data. Child asthma symptoms control was examined by the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) for children aged 5-12 years, and the Test for Respiratory and Asthma Control in Kids (TRACK) for children less than five years of age. The collected data were analyzed using the appropriate statistical tests. RESULTS: The mean age of the studied children was 6.1±3.0 (1-14 years), with 59.8% of them being males. There have been statistically significant reductions for asthmatic children in ED visits/month, hospitalization, and pediatric ICU admission/years in the post-education groups for all studied patients and patients

Development of national framework for health status and health system performance indicators in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The global shift to value-based care has highlighted the necessity for performance measurement in healthcare. While the implementation may be incomplete, governments and providers have been moving towards value-based models of care delivery, funding and performance measurement. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this report is to illustrate the steps taken in designing the framework in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), using a 4-step approach: Key Input Analysis, Hierarchy Design, Indicator Analysis and Selection, and Indicator Profile Development. Furthermore, it presents a comprehensive view of the indicators collected to measure performance at the level of the Health System and Health Status in KSA and highlights main patient concerns, thus providing an overview of a new, unified national framework. METHODS: The methodology entailed examined the following components' remits and roles, reporting mechanisms and channels, and performance indicators across all pertinent National Health agencies (NHA), by conducting a SWOT analysis of each of the components across the ecosystem. Engagement with the Steering Committee members was achieved through research and interviews. RESULTS: A total of 109 indicators were identified, of which 51 were Health Status Indicator Profiles and 58 Health System Indicators. The indicator profiles were developed with consideration of the KSA context in terms of the healthcare ecosystem as it stands today. The findings of this report, alongside the best practices arising from the benchmarking, will be key inputs into the design of the National Framework. CONCLUSION: The regulatory entity has set out to establish a National Framework, which aims to unify performance measurement in KSA from both health system and public health perspectives across all sectors providing healthcare services, based on a list of prioritized KPIs and their complete profiles, outlining the formulae, key responsibilities, and reporting mechanisms pertaining to each one.

Healthcare Workers' Assessment of a Visual Triage System (VTS).

Overcrowding and extended waiting times in the emergency department (ED) can pose a significant risk of COVID-19 transmission from patients to healthy individuals. In 2017, the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) introduced a visual triage system (VTS) with scoring to notify healthcare workers (HCWs) in EDs about the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection risk. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the MOH employed a VTS to classify patients according to their potential risk of COVID-19 infection upon their admission to the ED. Suspected patients were then directed along specific pathways to reduce their contact with healthy individuals. This study assessed HCWs' satisfaction with the VTS in the ED of two major government hospitals within the Riyadh region. Additionally, it assessed HCWs' perceptions of VTS effectiveness. This study used a cross-sectional, observational design and relied on surveys for data collection. A total of 127 participants completed the survey, of which 87 (68.5%) were based in the EDs of the two hospitals. Among the ED participants, 18.1% expressed satisfaction with the VTS, 46.4% were neutral, and 33.1% reported dissatisfaction. ED participants provided feedback on the system's effectiveness, with 24.1% finding it effective, 66.7% considering it somewhat effective, and 9.2% deeming it ineffective. Of the total (127) study participants (70.1%) reported that the HCWs required better training to effectively implement the VTS infection control plans for suspected cases. Fewer than half of the participants (35.4%) deemed the time spent by VTS personnel to identify COVID-19 cases to be reasonable, whereas 22% found it too short and 27.6% considered it too long. Of the total 127 participants, 63% reported that language differences between patients and HCWs constituted barriers to the effective application of the VTS. Our study findings indicated that most ED participants had a neutral outlook on their satisfaction with the VTS and a neutral perspective on the effectiveness of VTS, viewing it as only somewhat effective. Reported weaknesses and key obstacles to the successful implementation of the VTS included language barriers. and insufficient training for HCWs, and unclear VTS pathways. The reported strengths of the VTS included its effectiveness in reducing crowds and identification of COVID-19 patients.

A 5-year evaluation of early-and late-onset sporadic colorectal cancer screening in central Saudi Arabia.

Background: The Al-Kharj colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program was implemented for five years (2017-2022) in a central urban area of Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia, to assess the participation and impact of the program in average-risk individuals. Methods: The high sensitivity-guaiac based-fecal occult blood test (HSgFOBT) was used as a first-line investigation to identify asymptomatic patients, aged 45-75 years, requiring CRC screening using colonoscopy. The program was run in three tertiary hospitals in the area. Results: The five-year participation rate was 73% (35,640/48,897). The average age was 53 years (range 45-75), 49% were female (17,464/35,640), all were asymptomatic, and 77% had adequate bowel preparation. The HSgFOBT (+) rate was 6.3% (n = 2245), and 76% (n = 1701) of these underwent colonoscopy. The prevalence of findings were as follows: CRC, 4.8% (81/1701); advanced adenoma, 9.5% (162/1701); adenoma, 15.9% (270/1701); non-adenomatous polyps, 7.9% (135/1701); and no polyps or tumors, 25.4% (432/1701). Among participants aged 45-50 years, early onset-CRC had female predominance, while those ≥50 years with late onset-CRC were predominantly male. CRC was more prevalent in the left colon (P < 0.005). Conclusions: Approximately one-third of the participants diagnosed with CRC had early-onset CRC. Screening participation was desirable for the defined target population. Public education is necessary along with expanded colonoscopy resources to continue further citizen participation.

The severity of fall injuries in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: fall injuries constitute a major public health concern worldwide, contributing to over 646,000 deaths every year. The aim of this study was to determine the nature and severity of fall injuries at a tertiary hospital in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). METHODS: we conducted a cross-sectional study at the King Khalid Hospital and Prince Sultan Centre for Health Care in Al Kharj. We recruited the patients and followed them through the triage, admission and discharge processes. We analyzed the participant´s clinical notes on the electronic health record (EHR) to obtain information relevant to the study, including the nature, cause, mechanism of injury, demographic characteristics and prognostic factors captured through the injury severity score (ISS), the Glasgow coma scale (GCS) and the presence or absence of shock. RESULTS: of 264 patients, most of the patients were children under the age of ten (25.7%), followed by young adults between the ages of twenty-one and thirty (18.2%). The ISS was associated with severe head, chest, skull, brain, scalp, rib, abdominal, pelvic and lower limb injuries. The GCS was associated with severe the head, chest, skull, brain and rib injuries (p<0.005). The degree of shock was also significantly associated with pelvic, head, chest, skull, brain, scalp, abdominal and upper limb injuries (p<0.05). Conclusion: fall injuries in our setting are severe. Training of staff should prioritize head, chest, skull, brain, abdominal and rib injury management. As a reference hospital, minor injuries are more likely to be managed at lower levels of care.

INTER-INDIVIDUAL VARIATION IN THEOPHYLLINE CLEARANCE IN CHILDREN.

BACKGROUND: Inter-individual variation in pharmacokinetics in children is an area where there has been little research. We wished to determine the extent of inter-individual variation in the clearance of theophylline in paediatric patients of different ages. METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed using the following databases; Embase (1974 to January 2013), Medline (1946 to January 2013), CINAHL (1937 to January 2013), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970 to January 2013) and the Cochrane Library. From the papers, the range in plasma clearance and the coefficient of variation (CV) in plasma clearance were determined. RESULTS: A total of 56 articles reporting on 1,315 patients met our inclusion criteria. Twenty six studies gave individual data. The majority of the studies were in critically ill patients. Inter-individual variation was a major problem in all age groups. The CV was 9-93% in preterm neonates, 20-97% in term neonates, 18-52% in infants, 2-72% in children and 4.5-43% in adolescents. The mean clearance was higher in children (0.85 to 2 ml/min/kg) than in neonates (0.24 to 0.6 ml/min/kg). CONCLUSIONS: Large inter-individual variation was seen, especially in critically ill patients. Inter-individual variation was higher in neonates than children and adolescents.

Invasiveness of pharmacokinetic studies in children: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To explore whether pharmacokinetic (PK) studies in paediatric patients are becoming less invasive. This will be evaluated by analysing the number of samples and volume of blood collected for each study within four different decades. METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed to identify PK papers describing number of samples and volume of blood collected in studies of children aged 0-18 years. The following databases were searched: MEDLINE (1946 to December 2015), EMBASE (1974 to December 2015), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970 to December 2015), CINAHL and Cochrane Library. RESULTS: A total of 549 studies were identified between 1974 and 2015. There were 52 studies between 1976 and 1985, 105 between 1986 and 1995, 201 between 1996 and 2005 and 191 between 2006 and 2015. The number of blood samples collected per participant increased between the first two decades (p=0.013), but there was a decrease in the number of samples in the subsequent two decades (p=0.044 and p<0.001, respectively). Comparing the first and last decades, there has been no change in the number of blood samples collected. There were no significant differences in volume collected per sample or total volume per child in any of the age groups. There was however a significant difference in the frequency of blood sampling between population PK studies (median 5 (IQR 3-7)) and non-population PK studies (median 8 (IQR 6-10); p=<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The number of blood samples collected for PK studies in children rose in 1985-1995 and subsequently declined. There was no overall change in the volume of blood collected over the 4 decades. The usage of population PK methods reduces the frequency of blood sampling in children.

Inter-individual variation in midazolam clearance in children.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the extent of inter-individual variation in clearance of midazolam in children and establish which factors are responsible for this variation. METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed to identify papers describing the clearance of midazolam in children. The following databases were searched: Medline, Embase, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, CINAHL and Cochrane Library. From the papers, the range in plasma clearance and the coefficient of variation (CV) in plasma clearance were determined. RESULTS: 25 articles were identified. Only 13 studies gave the full range of clearance values for individual patients. The CV was greater in critically ill patients (18%-170%) than non-critically ill patients (13%-54%). Inter-individual variation was a major problem in all age groups of critically ill patients. The CV was 72%-106% in preterm neonates, 18%-73% in term neonates, 31%-130% in infants, 21%-170% in children and 47%-150% in adolescents. The mean clearance was higher in children (1.1-16.7 mL/min/kg) than in neonates (0.78-2.5 mL/min/kg). CONCLUSIONS: Large inter-individual variation was seen in midazolam clearance values in critically ill neonates, infants, children and adolescents.

Update knowledge of dry mouth- A guideline for dentists.

BACKGROUND: Dry mouth is usually caused by a reduced salivary flow or by changes in the biochemical composition of saliva. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is a review of the update literature of dry mouth. METHODS: We search in pubmed in the past 10 years using the words «dry mouth¼, «causes¼, «symptoms¼, «treatment¼ and «dentistry¼. A large number of papers have been identified. Papers not relevant to the issue were removed reducing the entries to 56 only. RESULTS: There are no clearly established protocols for the treatment of dry mouth in the literature. Most of identified papers were systematic reviews, non-systematic reviews, and observational studies. The most studied patients were Sjögren's syndrome and the irradiated patients. Treatments are focused on the etiology, prevention, symptomatic, local salivary stimulation and systemic treatments. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that there is no clear evidence for the causes and treatment of dry mouth, therefore the majority of the general dental practitioners refer most of the cases to appropriate specialist. Treatment must be individualized, salivary substitutes and mechanical stimulation techniques can be applied.

Effect of vital bleaching on disintegration tendency of glass ionomer restorations.

INTRODUCTION: This study was designed to assess the effect of two bleaching agents on the disintegration tendency of three types of glass ionomers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 90 specimens were prepared by using a split Teflon ring with an internal diameter of 5 mm and a thickness of 2 mm. The tested materials were applied and bleached according to manufacturer's instructions. Dissolution measurements were made by calculating weight loss through different periods of the test; (one week, one month and three months) and they were analyzed by using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey's post-hoc test. RESULTS: All glass ionomer materials exhibited a degree of dissolution. Opalescence Xtra increased the dissolution of Photac Fil and F2000 significantly, while Opalescence Quick had no effect on dissolution of glass ionomer restoratives. CONCLUSION: Bleaching effect on dissolution of glass ionomers is material and time dependant. Care should be taken by clinicians When bleaching teeth that are restored by glass ionomer, because this dissolution may affect the physical properties of these restorations.