Evaluation of enamel pearls by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of enamel pearls according to population, sex and tooth groups on Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) or Dental Volumetric Tomography (DVT) scans of patients, retrospectively. STUDY DESIGN: In this study, 15185 teeth belonging to 768 patients, 430 female and 338 male, was performed cross-sectional examination by CBCT. The volumetric Computed Tomography used in the study is Newton FP based on flat-panel. The data were analyzed with Pearson chi-squared test. RESULTS: Enamel pearls were detected in 36 subjects (4.69%). Of these enamel pearls, 19 were detected in male and 17 were in male. There was no statistically a significant association between prevalence of enamel pearls and sex. All of enamel pearls were detected in molar teeth, for prevalence 0.83%. CONCLUSION: All of enamel pearls are found upper and lower molar teeth, especially the most commonly in maxillary second and third molars.

Inactivation of different strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in various apple ciders treated with dimethyl dicarbonate (DMDC) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) as an alternative method.

Escherichia coli has been identified as the causative agent in numerous foodborne illness outbreaks associated with the consumption of fresh apple cider. Apple cider has a pH which is normally below 4.0 and would not be considered a medium capable of supporting the growth of foodborne pathogens. The association of unpasteurized apple cider with foodborne illness due to E. coli O157:H7 has however, led to increased interest in potential alternative methods to produce pathogen free cider. Apple cider was prepared from eight different apple cultivars, inoculated with approximately 10(6)-10(7) CFU of three strains of E. coli O157:H7 per ml (933, ATCC 43889, and ATCC 43895) and tested to determine the effectiveness of sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) and dimethyl dicarbonate (DMDC). Bacterial populations for treated and untreated samples were then enumerated by using non-selective media. Eight different ciders were treated with DMDC (125 and 250 ppm) and SO(2) (25, 50, 75, 100 ppm). Greater than a 5-log reduction was achieved at room temperature with 250 ppm of DMDC and 50 ppm of SO(2) after the incubation time of 6h and 24h, respectively. Addition of DMDC and/or SO(2) may offer an inexpensive alternative to thermal pasteurization for the production of safe apple cider for small apple cider producers.

Quantitative assessment of the impacts of stoppa repair and total extraperitoneal repair on the lower extremity muscular functions in cases of unilateral inguinal hernia: a randomized controlled study.

PURPOSE: Choosing the best operative technique for unilateral inguinal hernia is a challenge for surgeons. Therefore, anticipating loss of strength in the lower extremity muscles could be the initial step to make the right decision. To this end, this prospective randomized controlled study compared the physical activity parameters of the lower extremity muscles in patients who underwent total extraperitoneal repair (TEP) and Stoppa repair. METHODS: Fifty patients with unilateral inguinal hernia who were 18-65 years of age were admitted to a single institution in a metropolitan city in Turkey. Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to parallel study arms of TEP and STOPPA repair. They were evaluated in the preoperative period and on the postoperative day 3 for an objective isometric and isokinetic assessment of the pain-related functional changes in the lower extremity muscles. RESULTS: The measurement results obtained with the Cybex device on the postoperative day 3 were presented as numeric parameters in the digital setting, where the Stoppa repair resulted in a higher loss of strength in the lower extremities compared to the TEP repair. With respect to the total workforce loss in isokinetic muscular measurements at 90 °C/s extension, 90 °C/s flexion, 180 °C/s extension and 180 °C/s flexion, the difference between the TEP repair and Stoppa repair was statistically significant in favor of TEP repair (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study is the first comparative study in the literature to demonstrate the favorable impact of the laparoscopic hernia repair on the physical activity on the same anatomic site compared to the open surgical procedure by using quantitative values. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT02813057.

A histopathological and stereological study of liver damage in female rats caused by mercury vapor.

We examined the possible effects of elemental mercury vapor on the liver of the female rats. We divided the animals into an untreated control group and an experimental group that was exposed to mercury vapor for 45 days. Liver samples were obtained for histological and stereological analysis. The total liver, parenchyma and sinusoid volumes were increased significantly in the mercury vapor treated group compared to controls. Also, the mean density, total number and mean nuclear diameter of hepatocytes, except for binucleated hepatocytes, was decreased in the experimental group compared to controls. Light and electron microscopy revealed alterations of liver structure of the experimental animals compared to controls.

A stereological and histopathological study of the effects of exposure of male rat testes to mercury vapor.

Mercury is ubiquitous in the environment; it is an occupational pollutant and a potential toxicant. We investigated the effects of exposure of rat testes to mercury vapor (Hg(0)). Twelve male rats were divided into two groups of six: the rats of the Hg(0) group were exposed to mercury (1 mg/m(3)/day) in a chamber for six weeks; the control group rats were housed under the same conditions without exposure to Hg(0). After the experimental period, the testes were removed, sections of testis were evaluated histopathologically after hematoxylin and eosin staining, and stereologically using the Cavalieri principle and optical fractionator methods. We found significant decreases in the total volume of testis, diameters of seminiferous tubules and total volume of seminiferous tubules. Significant decreases were detected in the numbers of Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids of the Hg(0) group compared to the control group. In the Hg(0) exposed group, spermatogenic cells were degenerated and seminiferous tubules were atrophied.

The histopathological investigation of pulpal tissue following heavy orthopaedic forces produced by rapid maxillary expansion.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of heavy orthopaedic forces, produced by rapid maxillary expansion, on pulpal tissue of pre-molar teeth. Teeth extracted as part of an orthodontic treatment plan, an average of 3 months, 6 months and 18 months after rapid maxillary expansion, were analysed using histopathological techniques. Control teeth were extracted, for orthodontic reasons, before any force treatment. Non-parametric tests were used to compare the results from the three treatment groups and one control group. Vessel diameter, haemorrhage, congestion and inflammatory cell infiltration varied between groups, and the differences between the control and 3-month groups, and the 3-month and 18-month groups were most significant. In conclusion, orthopaedic forces exerted by rapid maxillary expansion caused reversible vascular changes in pulpal tissue of upper pre-molar teeth.

Relationship between mandibular nutrient canals and hypertension.

This study was undertaken to investigate the correlation between the presence of nutrient canals in the mandibular anterior region and hypertension. Periapical radiographs taken from the mandibular anterior region of 139 normotensive and 76 hypertensive edentulous patients were examined. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of nutrient canals between normotensive and hypertensive patients, suggesting that the presence of nutrient canals is not indicative of the existence of hypertension.

Effect of temperature (-5 to 130 degrees C) and fiber direction on the dielectric properties of beef Semitendinosus at radio frequency and microwave frequencies.

The dielectric properties must be defined to design efficient radio frequency (RF) and microwave (MW) processes by the food manufacturers. The objective of this study was to understand how frequency, temperature, and muscle fiber orientation influence the dielectric properties. The eye of round (Semitendinosus) muscle was selected because it contains large, relatively uniform muscle cells with similar muscle fiber orientation and relatively uniform chemical composition throughout the tissue. Dielectric properties were measured using an open-ended coaxial probe technique at 27, 915, and 1800 MHz and temperatures between -5 and 130 degrees C. Power penetration depth was calculated. Since many commercially prepared, thermally processed, ready-to-eat entrees are made with frozen meat, dielectric property measurements were started from -5 degrees C. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss factors were often higher for muscle with the muscle fiber measured in a parallel orientation to the probe compared to samples of the same treatment (for example, fresh or frozen) in a perpendicular tissue orientation at the same frequency and temperature. Dielectric constant and loss values for frozen beef tended to be higher than fresh beef at the same temperature and frequency. Tissue orientation appeared to have a greater effect on dielectric loss values at lower frequencies. Penetration depth tended to be greater when the direction of propagation was perpendicular to the muscle fiber.