Description of the culture of childbirth and parenting classes in Cyprus: An ethnographic approach.

Introduction: Childbirth and parenting classes are very important because they potentially help couples to make the right decisions during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, which has a direct effect on the health of the mother and neonate. However, in Cyprus, the culture of childbirth and parenting classes has not been previously explored.

Methods: An ethnographic study design was adopted, specifically non-participant observation was undertaken of 19 classes.

Diffusivity of -, -, -cyclodextrin and the inclusion complex of -cyclodextrin: Ibuprofen in aqueous solutions; A molecular dynamics simulation study.

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are widely used in drug delivery, catalysis, food and separation processes. In this work, a comprehensive simulation study on the diffusion of the native -, - and -CDs in aqueous solutions is carried out using Molecular Dynamics simulations. The effect of the system size on the computed self-diffusivity is investigated and it is found that the required correction can be as much as 75% of the final value.

Insulin Metabolism and Assessment of Hepatic Insulin Extraction During Liver Regeneration. A Study in a Rat Model.

: Liver regeneration is a complex procedure in which insulin metabolism has been implicated. The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the role of insulin in rat hepatic regeneration following major hepatectomy (70%), employing an isolated perfused rat liver (IPRL) model to assess the extraction of insulin from the regenerating liver. : Eighty-six male rats were randomized in 9 groups.

Evaluation of the frequency and temperature dependence of the dynamic mechanical properties of acetal resins.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the dynamic mechanical properties of two acetal resins (different colored samples of the same resin), an autopolymerized reline resin, and a heat-polymerized denture base resin. Measurements were obtained in two conditions, the frequency- and temperature-dependent conditions, using a dynamic viscoelastometer. The acetal resins exhibited lower loss tangent values than the autopolymerized reline resin and heat-polymerized denture base resin.

Color changes of autopolymerized silicone or acrylic soft denture reliners: the effect of accelerated aging.

The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the effect of accelerated aging on the color stability of six autopolymerized silicone and acrylic soft reliners. Ten specimens for each material were fabricated. Initial color was measured with a tri-stimulus colorimeter.

The effect of immersion cleansers on gloss, colour and sorption of acetal denture base material.

Objective: To study the effect of peroxide and hypochlorite cleansers on gloss, colour and sorption of acetal denture resins.

Materials And Methods: Pink acetal and thermoplastic acrylic resins were evaluated. Thirty-five specimens 39 × 39× 1.

Effect of immersion cleansing in color stability and hardness of soft denture reliners.

Hygienic care of removable prostheses is important, and denture cleansers selected must be efficient and maintain the physicomechanical properties of soft reliners. Microwave energy has been reported to increase the sanitation effectiveness of denture cleansers. The purpose of the study was to evaluate hardness and color stability of some visible light polymerized and autopolymerized soft reliners after exposure in different denture-cleansing treatments.

Flexural and bond strengths of relined denture polymers assessed by four-point bending tests and Weibull analysis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to (1) investigate the flexural strengths of three denture resins i.e. heat, photopolymerised and microwaved and how it was affected by relining with auto- and visible light-polymerised hard reliners, (2) investigate the bond strengths between denture resins and hard reliners and (3) interpret the results of both tests by utilising Weibull analysis.

Efficacy of denture adhesives in maxillary dentures using gnathodynamometry: a comparative study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of four commercially available denture adhesives on the incisal and premolar dislodgement forces of maxillary complete dentures by using an electronic and disposable gnathodynamometer and compare the measured incisal forces for differences. This study was conducted with 12 complete maxillary denture wearers. Four commercially available denture adhesives Super Corega(®), Corega Ultra(®), Super Corega Powder(®) and Fittydent Cationic(®) were investigated.

The effect of accelerated ageing on colour stability of visible light-cured (VLC) chairside denture liners.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the colour stability of seven visible light-cured (VLC) hard and soft denture liners by an in vitro accelerated ageing test and compare them with two autopolymerised hard and soft liners.

Materials And Methods: Ten specimens of each material were fabricated. The initial colour was measured with a tri-stimulus colorimeter.

Partial edentulism and removable partial denture design in a dental school population: a survey in Greece.

Objectives: To investigate the pattern of partial edentulism and the most frequent designs of cobalt-chromium removable partial dentures (RPDs), constructed at the Dental School of Athens, Greece.

Methods And Materials: Five hundred and fifty-three patients, between 42 and 81 years old, mostly males, treated by undergraduate dental students, were included. The survey was based on visual evaluation of master casts and work authorisation to dental technicians.

The effect of disinfecting solutions on bending properties and weight changes of Co-Cr and Ti-6Al-7Nb alloys for dentures.

We aimed to evaluate the effect of a denture cleanser and NaOCl 5.25% solution on the modulus of elasticity, the ultimate stress, and the weight changes of Co-Cr and Ti-6Al-7Nb alloys. To evaluate the modulus of elasticity and ultimate stress, 24 Co-Cr and 24 Ti-6Al-7Nb castings were fabricated, immersed in Corega Extradent, NaOCl 5.

The combined effect of erythropoietin and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor on liver regeneration after major hepatectomy in rats.

Background: The liver presents a remarkable capacity for regeneration after hepatectomy but the exact mechanisms and mediators involved are not yet fully clarified. Erythropoietin (EPO) and Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) have been shown to promote liver regeneration after major hepatectomy.Aim of this experimental study is to compare the impact of exogenous administration of EPO, GM-CSF, as well as their combination on the promotion of liver regeneration after major hepatectomy.

Screening of edentulous patients in a dental school population using the prosthodontic diagnostic index.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to classify a number of completely or partially edentulous patients who attended undergraduate clinics at the Dental School of Athens using the prosthodontic diagnostic index (PDI) to identify the complexity of the cases treated by the students.

Background: There is a scarcity of studies, concerning prosthodontic patients and screening them according to a classification system such as the PDI.

Material And Methods: The survey was conducted on 181 patients who attended the clinics for treatment.

The effect of length parameter on the repair strength of acrylic resin using fibers or metal wires.

Fractures of acrylic resin dentures occur quite often in prosthodontic practice. Autopolymerized acrylic resin is the most popular material for denture repair; however, it is significantly weaker than the intact heat-polymerized resin. Metal strengtheners or fibers have been used to reinforce the resin.

Fracture force, deflection, and toughness of acrylic denture repairs involving glass fiber reinforcement.

Purpose: Fractures in acrylic resin dentures occur quite often in the practice of prosthodontics. A durable repairing system for denture base fracture is desired to avoid recurrent fracture. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fracture force, deflection, and toughness of a heat-polymerized denture base resin repaired with autopolymerized resin alone (C), visible light-polymerizing resin (VLC), or autopolymerizing resin reinforced with unidirectional (Stick) (MA-FS) and woven glass fibers (StickNet) (MA-SN).

Dynamic mechanical properties of hard, direct denture reline resins.

Statement Of Problem: Dynamic mechanical properties of hard, direct reline resins are important factors in the clinical success of dentures. However, little information is available on the nature of these properties.

Purpose: This study evaluated the dynamic mechanical properties of a variety of hard, direct reline resins: (1) visible light-polymerized, powder-liquid type, (2) visible light-polymerized, paste-type, (3) autopolymerized, powder-liquid type, as classified by component composition and mode of polymerization activation, namely, type of delivery system, and (4) heat-polymerized denture base materials.

Structural damages of maxillofacial biopolymers under solar aging.

Additional types of silicone biopolymers are widely used in maxillofacial prosthetics. Therefore, the knowledge of the solar radiation's effect on their structural stability is highly important. Four different industrially synthesized biomaterials were examined, called Episil Europe 1, Europe 2, Europe 3 and Africa 3, which were exposed to solar radiation (UVA, UVB) for eight different time periods (from 8 to 168 h).

Evaluation of shear bond strength of microwaveable acrylic resins in denture repair: a comparative study.

Objective: Acrylic denture base fracture is a common mode of failure. Heat-cured, auto-polymerized, visible light-cured, and microwaveable acrylic resins have been used as repair materials. The aim of this study was to evaluate the shear bond strength of two microwaveable resins (Acron MC and Justi) and one auto-polymerizing acrylic resin (ProBase Cold) as denture repair materials as opposed to a heat-cured one using the non-flasking procedure after thermocycling and photoaging.

Bonding of silicone extra-oral elastomers to acrylic resin: the effect of primer composition.

Silicone elastomer is bonded to acrylic resin in many facial or oro-facial prostheses. The silicone elastomer/acrylic resin bond has been reported to be insufficient and primers have been used to enhance the bond. This study investigated the bond strength of silicone elastomer to acrylic resin using different types of primers.

Bonding of silicone prosthetic elastomers to three different denture resins.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the interfacial bond strength between different types of silicone facial elastomers and denture resins.

Materials And Methods: The facial materials studied were Cosmesil and Ideal, whereas SR 3/60, SR 3/60 Quick, and Triad were included in the denture resins group. The "overlap-joint" model was used to evaluate the bond strength, and the samples were placed in tension until failure.

Fracture force, deflection at fracture, and toughness of repaired denture resin subjected to microwave polymerization or reinforced with wire or glass fiber.

Statement Of Problem: The ultimate goal of denture repair is to restore the denture's original strength and avoid further fracture. The best materials and methods for repair have not been conclusively determined.

Purpose: This study investigated the fracture force, deflection at fracture, and toughness of a heat-polymerized denture base material repaired with heat-polymerized resin, autopolymerized resin alone, or autopolymerized resin with glass fiber or wire reinforcement.

Influence of curing method, sealer, and water storage on the hardness of a soft lining material over time.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the hardness of plasticized acrylic resin soft lining materials over time when curing procedures were modified and when surface sealers were either used or omitted.

Materials And Methods: A chairside plasticized acrylic resin material and a heat processed plasticized resin material were made into disks 40 mm in diameter and 10 mm in thickness. Materials were cured by processing at an elevated temperature or at mouth temperature.

Duodenal gangliocytic paraganglioma as a radiological moving defect.

Background: Gangliocytic paraganglioma of the duodenum is a peculiar neuroendocrine tumor, often revealed as an incidental radiographic finding or as a result of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, due to frequent ulceration of the overlying mucosa. Most lesions are pedunculated and submucosal with distinctive histology, consisting of endocrine, ganglion and spindle-shaped Schwann cells.

Methods: A case of a duodenal gangliocytic paraganglioma is reported in a 50-year-old woman presenting with episodes of melena.

Immunohistochemical study of ceruloplasmin, lactoferrin and secretory component expression in neoplastic and non-neoplastic thyroid gland diseases.

The expression of lactoferrin (LF), ceruloplasmin (CP) and secretory component (SC) in various thyroid diseases was investigated using an immunohistochemical method. LF is an iron-binding protein overexpressed in certain human adenocarcinomas. CP is implicated in carcinogenesis and SC is part of the local immune defense system.