Large variation exists amongst patients with regards to treatment outcomes following Functional appliance treatment in growing children. Various factors have been assessed with regard to this variation, but evidence is scarce. Recent studies suggest that the initial condition of the masticatory muscles may be one of the factors that influences treatment and post-treatment Functional appliance outcomes. Children with weaker masticatory muscles show greater dentoalveolar change, as witnessed by incisor compensation and molar movement. Following Functional appliance treatment, children who show greater dentoalveolar treatment change may also be those with a more likely post-treatment sagittal relapse. The gonial angle may also be a variable determining treatment outcomes with Functional appliances in that more incisor compensation and a greater likelihood for relapse is evident in those with a more open gonial angle. The gonial process is the site of muscle attachment for the masseter and median pterygoid muscles, and the thickness and force of these muscles can have an effect on the process and its contribution to mandibular morphology. By extrapolation, cephalometric analysis of the gonial angle can perhaps provide insight into the amount of incisor proclination expected to be observed during and after Functional appliance treatment.

Background: Being exposed to cooking fumes, kitchen workers are occupationally at risk of multiple respiratory hazards. No conclusive evidence exists as to whether occupational exposure to these fumes is associated with acute and chronic pulmonary effects and symptoms of respiratory diseases. Objective: To quantify the exposure levels and evaluate possible chronic and acute pulmonary effects associated with exposure to cooking fumes. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 60 kitchen workers exposed to cooking fumes and 60 unexposed employees were investigated. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms among these groups was determined through completion of a standard questionnaire. Pulmonary function parameters were also measured before and after participants' work shift. Moreover, air samples were collected and analyzed to quantify their aldehyde, particle, and volatile organic contents. Results: The mean airborne concentrations of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein was 0. 45 (SD 0. 41), 0. 13 (0. 1), and 1. 56 (0. 41) mg/m3, respectively. The mean atmospheric concentrations of PM1, PM2. 5, PM7, PM10, and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) was 3. 31 (2. 6), 12. 21 (5. 9), 44. 16 (16. 6), 57 (21. 55) μ g/m3, and 1. 31 (1. 11) mg/m3, respectively. All respiratory symptoms were significantly (p<0. 05) more prevalent in exposed group. No significant difference was noted between the pre-shift mean of spirometry parameters of exposed and unexposed group. However, exposed workers showed cross-shift decrease in most spirometry parameters, significantly lower than the pre-shift values and those of the comparison group. Conclusion: Exposure to cooking fumes is associated with a significant increase in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms as well as acute reversible decrease in lung Functional Capacity.

Aims- Echocardiography-derived strain rate and strain may provide new insights into right ventricular (RV) function in repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) patients in whom evaluation of RV function and Functional Capacity has an important role in further management.Methods & Results- In 45 rTOF patients with severe pulmonary regurgitation, the routine echocardiography-derived indices for evaluation of RV function (TAPSE, RVOT Excursion and eyeball method) and longitudinal strain rate and strain were acquired from basal, mid and apical segments of RV free wall (RVFW) and interventricular septum; Functional Capacity was measured by standard Bruce protocol exercise testing. All patients had some degrees of RV dysfunction with no correlations between results of routine indices and Functional Capacity. Reduced RVFW average systolic strain was correlated directly with reduced Functional Capacity (r=0.86 [P<0.001]), this was also true for peak systolic strain of basal and mid segments of RVFW. Derivation of ROC curves showed that a cut-off value of 15.8% for average RVFW systolic strain predicts good exercise Capacity (³10 METs) with a sensitivity of 91.2% and a specificity of 100%.Conclusion- Although routine echocardiography indices are not accurate tools in rTOF patients, systolic strain of RVFW seems to be reliable in estimation of RV function and Functional Capacity.