Rheumatoid arthritis associated recurrent pleural effusion.

Pleural effusions and pulmonary nodules are known complications of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) though pleural extra-articular manifestations without clinical arthritis are rare. We present a 66-year-old male with dyspnea and weight loss, whose imaging revealed pleural effusions and lung nodules, multiple exudative pleural effusions, and a thoracoscopic biopsy showing chronic pleuritis and granulomatous inflammation. Subsequent joint stiffness and positive rheumatoid markers led to a RA diagnosis.

A novel functionalized CuTi hybrid nanocomposites: facile one-pot mycosynthesis, characterization, antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antifouling and wastewater disinfection performance.

Background: The continuous progress in nanotechnology is rapid and extensive with overwhelming futuristic aspects. Through modernizing inventive synthesis protocols, a paradigm leapfrogging in novelties and findings are channeled toward fostering human health and sustaining the surrounding environment. Owing to the overpricing and jeopardy of physicochemical synthesizing approaches, the quest for ecologically adequate schemes is incontestable.

Fetal protective effect of Indonesian propolis from against rifampicin-pyrazinamide induced impaired pregnancy in BALB/c mice.

Objectives: Anti-tuberculosis drugs rifampicin and pyrazinamide combination in pregnancy can cause morphological, visceral and skeletal damage. Several studies showed that propolis improves pregnancy outcomes. This study aims to determine the fetal protective effect of propolis in BALB/c mice given the anti-tuberculosis drug combination rifampicin and pyrazinamide.

Dental students' academic performance before and after the Covid-19 pandemic: A retrospective analysis.

Delivering quality education to students with fair assessment strategies is a key indicator of an excellent educational institution. The present study explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the academic performance of dental students in terms of the evaluations/grades awarded to them before and during the pandemic. The targeted groups were dental students, studying in the third year of 2018-2019 and 2020-2021 academic years.

Adhesive sonic agitation improves bonding durability to class-II cavity preparation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of adhesive sonic agitation on resin-dentin micro-tensile bond strength (µTBS) and interfacial morphology at the gingival wall of class-II cavity preparation. Seventy-two molars with prepared class-II cavities were divided into six groups (n = 12) according to the bonding mode; etch-and-rinse (E&R) or self-etch (SE) and application protocol of the universal adhesive (UA) employed (Clearfil Universal Bond Quick, Kuraray Noritake); following the manufacturer instructions (MI), manual agitation for 20 s (20s), or sonic agitation for 20 s using a modified sonic micro-brush mounted on EndoActivator device, Dentsply Sirona, (sonic). Restored teeth were sectioned into resin-dentin beams and slaps and µTBS was evaluated at 1 week (1w) and after thermocycling (10k).

Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system versus systemic progestins in management of endometrial hyperplasia: A systemic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Endometrial hyperplasia is associated with varying risk of endometrial cancer. The aim of this review is to assess effectiveness of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS), compared to systemic progestins, in management of endometrial hyperplasia MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search on studies comparing LNG-IUS to systemic progestins was conducted on Scopus, Web of science, Cochrane, PubMed and Embase databases, from the date of inception to September 20, 2020. Studies were excluded if they were non-comparative, animal studies, review articles, case reports, case series, and conference papers.

Blood pressure and blood sugar-lowering effects of purified gambir on diabetic hypertensive Wistar Kyoto rats.

Objectives: Antioxidants protect people from diabetes and its cardiovascular complication. Purified gambir ( Roxb.) is a potential medicinal plant for treating this condition based on the antioxidant activity of its catechin compound.

Microtensile Bond Strength of Bioactive Pit and Fissure Sealants Bonded to Primary and Permanent Teeth.

Background: Sealing occlusal pits and fissures is an effective preventive measure against dental caries. Pit and fissure sealants (PFS) should be strongly bonded to the teeth to prevent partial or complete loss of the sealant, which may limit its preventive effect.

Objective: The objective of the study was to compare the microtensile bond strength (μTBS) of bioactive resin-based sealants (Bio-RBS) and resin-based sealants (RBS), with and without the use of a bonding agent, to the enamel of primary and permanent teeth.

Effect of Aging on the Microhardness of Different Resin-based Fluoride-releasing Fissure Sealants: An Study.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of aging on the microhardness score [Vickers hardness number (VHN)] of different resin-based fluoride-releasing sealants compared to non-fluoride resin-based sealants.

Materials And Methods: A total of 48 extracted sound molars that were sectioned mesiodistally were used. In the current study, four types of sealants were compared: Group A, a resin-based non-fluoride-releasing pit and fissure sealant (Eco-S sealant) served as a control.

Prognostic value of systematic lymphadenectomy in patients with ovarian cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To appraise clinical outcomes of systematic lymphadenectomy in women with ovarian cancer based on stage, control group and type of chemotherapy.

Study Design: A literature search was conducted on SCOPUS, PUBMED, COCHRANE, MEDLINE, and WEB OF SCIENCE databases. All comparative studies that assess outcomes of systematic lymphadenectomy in patients with ovarian cancer were eligible.

Using bonding agent prior to pits and fissure sealant application enhances the microtensile bond strength and the interface morphology.

Background: A pits and fissures sealant is an effective method for preventing dental caries. Using a bonding agent before applying the sealant may increase its retention. This study aimed to compare the microtensile strength (µTBS) of a fissure sealant with and without a bonding agent and to characterize the enamel-sealant interface using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).

Influence of Photodynamic therapy and different gingival retraction agents on bond integrity of composite to dentin.

Aim: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of gingival retraction agents (Expasyl and Viscostat) and different conditioning methods (Total-etch, Self-etch, and PDT) on bond integrity of composite to dentin.

Material And Methods: One hundred and eighty, third molars were collected cleaned and disinfected in thymol solution. The specimens were rooted vertically up to cementoenamel junction within polyvinyl cylinders (PVC).

Post-orthodontic cephalometric variations in bimaxillary protrusion cases managed by premolar extraction - A retrospective study.

Background: Bimaxillary protrusion is a common dentofacial condition associated with proclination of maxillary and mandibular incisors in relation to the dental and cranial bases resulting in soft tissue procumbency. The present retrospective study aimed to investigate dental and soft tissue profile changes using cephalometric analysis to evaluate bimaxillary protrusion patients after extraction of the first four premolars and subsequent retraction of the anterior teeth.

Materials And Methods: Pre-treatment and post-treatment cephalometric radiographs of 46 Saudi patients (16 males and 30 females), 18-30 years of age with bimaxillary protrusion, were selected based on inclusion criteria.

Effect of universal adhesives on microtensile bond strength to hybrid ceramic.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of universal adhesives (UA) and silane on the microtensile bond strength (μTBS) of resin cement to a hybrid ceramic Vita Enamic (VE).

Methods: VE specimens were acid etched using hydrofluoric acid (HF) and were assigned to three groups (n = 10) based on the applied bonding technique. In group 1 (S), a silane-based primer was used as a surface treatment prior to the application of a resin cement (Variolink Esthetic DC).

Wound-Healing Effect of Honey Gel and Film.

Background: Honey has been formulated into gel and film dosage forms for burn wound as previously reported.

Aims: In this study, we evaluated the ability of honey gel and film to promote the healing of burns and incision wounds on the skin of Sprague-Dawley female white rats.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-four female rats were divided into four groups, which were treatment groups (for honey gel or film), negative control, and positive control (treated with marketed product "B"), respectively.

Comparison of the antibacterial activity of calcium silicate- and epoxy resin-based endodontic sealers against Enterococcus faecalis biofilms: a confocal laser-scanning microscopy analysis.

This study assessed the antibacterial activity of BioRoot RCS in comparison with that of the Totalfill BC and AH Plus sealers against Enterococcus faecalis biofilms in dentinal tubules using confocal laser-scanning microscopy. Sixty-six root dentin halves were prepared and sterilized. Three sections were used to ensure sterilization.

The Effect of Chlorhexidine and Listerine® Mouthwashes on the Tensile Strength of Selected Absorbable Sutures: An Study.

Background: Suturing plays a critical role in the healing of surgical wounds. The tensile strength of suture materials indicates the ability of the material to withstand stress during knotting and protect the wound during an extended period of healing.

Objective: An in vitro study was conducted to determine the effect of two commercially available mouthwashes on the tensile strength and breakage mode of two absorbable intraoral sutures.

Association Between Dental Caries and Body Mass Index in Schoolchildren Aged Between 14 and 16 Years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Dental caries and obesity are multifactorial diseases that have common risk factors. Studies worldwide reported varied outcomes about the association between dental caries and obesity. There is no published study that investigates this association among schoolchildren in Arabic countries.

An MMP-inhibitor modified adhesive primer enhances bond durability to carious dentin.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of adding a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor (BB94, Batimastat) to the primer of a three-step etch and rinse adhesive system on caries-affected dentin (CaD) MMP activity, and to assess the effect of such an inclusion on the chemical content of the CaD-adhesive interface.

Methods: Caries-infected dentin (CiD) was excavated selectively from freshly extracted human carious teeth using a chemo-mechanical agent. Each tooth was sectioned into three slabs through the CaD retained cavity.

Microbiochemical analysis of carious dentine using Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate and correlate objectively the microspectroscopically derived biochemical components of sound, infected and affected carious dentine with their microhardness and autofluorescence (AF) characteristics. Over 3 million high-resolution Raman spectra from 8 extracted human carious teeth were recorded using Raman spectrometer with parallel spectrum acquisition. Green AF signals across each carious lesion from all samples were acquired with a similar spatial resolution using confocal fluorescence microscopy.

Effects of MMP inhibitors incorporated within dental adhesives.

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibition has been shown to reduce adhesive bond degradation when applied as a pre-conditioner, adding to clinical steps in the placement of adhesives, but their incorporation within dental adhesives has not been fully explored. This study examined the effect of including 2 MMP inhibitors (BB94 and GM6001) within the primers of 3 commercially available adhesives. Fluorometric assay and zymography showed that adhesives with MMP inhibitors had high affinity toward both synthetic fluorogenic FRET peptides (95%) and dentin powder substrates, respectively.