Introduction: This study was conducted to compare three rotary files of Superfile III Denco, Sp1 Gold v taper, and ProTaper in terms of debris extrusion to find the best treatment option. Methods: In total, 51 extracted mandibular premolars were randomly assigned to three groups (n=17). Rotary systems of Sp1 Gold v taper, Superfile III Denco, and ProTaper Universal were used in the first, second, and third groups, respectively. Canals were prepared up to the F2 file, and this process was conducted only by one operator. Moreover, an Orifice shaper specific to each group was used first, and files were removed from canals and then cleaned by wet gauze. In the preparation procedure, canals were washed to extract all debris from the canal. Eppendorf tubes were used to collect debris. Results: Mean debris values extruded from canals in the Sp1 gold, Superfile Denco, and ProTaper Universal files were 0. 0025, 0. 0008, and 0. 0014, respectively. There was no significant difference among debris extruded by Superfile Denco III, SP1 gold V taper, and ProTaper Universal files (P<0. 05). Conclusions: All instrumentation systems cause the extrusion of debris to the apical area. According to the results of the present study, there was no significant difference among debris extruded by Superfile Denco, SP1 Gold, and ProTaper Universal files. It should be mentioned that because of variations in the study designs, the direct comparison of different studies that addressed this problem is not possible, and in vivo studies should be performed to evaluate its clinical relevance.

Objective: This study compared the retrievability of an epoxy resin-based sealer (AH26) and an MTA-based sealer (EndoSeal MTA) following root canal retreatment. Methods: Twenty-six extracted single-rooted human maxillary central incisors were prepared up to size F3 using the Denco Super Files III rotary system. The teeth were randomly assigned to two groups and obturated with either AH26 or EndoSeal MTA sealers, employing a single-cone technique for all samples. After one week of storage in distilled water, the filling materials were removed by Denco super files III rotary system. The residual sealer was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at x800 and x2000 magnifications. The statistical analysis was done by Two-way ANOVA, and a P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Under the two magnifications, both the type of utilized sealer and the root section assessed had a significant effect on the percentage of remaining sealer (P<0.05), but the interaction was not significant (P>0.05). The overall percentage of residual sealer was significantly lower in the EndoSeal MTA group compared to the AH26 groups as assessed under x800 (P=0.08) and x2000 (P=0.012) magnifications. In each group, the percentage of residual sealer was significantly greater in the apical than in the coronal third. Conclusions: The residual sealer in the AH26 group was greater than that in the EndoSeal MTA in all three root sections. The apical third section showed more sealer than the coronal section, irrespective of the sealer type used.

Background & Aims: Different scoring systems are used in order to assess the functional quality of intensive care units (ICU) and to predict the required costs and facilities of intensive cares. Variety of scoring systems has been explained that each has advantages and disadvantages. In this study Simplified Acute Physiology Score-III (SAPS-III) and Mortality Probability Model-III (MPM-III) were compared. Materials & Methods: The current cross-sectional study was conducted on 240 non-traumatic patients admitted at ICU of Al-Zahra Hospital in 2016-17. Patients' information including demographics, mean of systolic, diastolic and arterial pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, temperature, Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS), WBC, hematocrit, bilirubin, creatinine, arterial blood gas, and the presence of underlying diseases was gathered from the records for measurement of MPM-III and SAPS-III scores and then they were compared. Results: This study was conducted on 240 non-traumatic patients. Discrimination of MPM-III in cutoff point of 0. 17 was 0. 83(P<0. 001; 95%CI: 0. 765-0. 898), sensitivity and specificity of this test in prediction of non-traumatic mortality was 82% and 73%, respectively. Discrimination of SAPS-III in cut-off of 48. 5 was 0. 78(P<0. 001; 95%CI: 0. 72-0. 84), while its sensitivity and specificity was 83% and 70%, respectively. Duration of ICU hospitalization (P=0. 028 and 0. 002) and duration of intubation (P=0. 001 and <0. 001) had direct association with mortality based on both scoring systems while total duration of hospitalization was only significant in SAPSIII (P=0. 002). Conclusion: Comparison of SAPS-III and MPM-III in non-traumatic patients presented a higher discrimination ability for MPM-III. In addition, findings showed that mortality in MPM-III was in association with duration of ICU admission and intubation while for SAPS-III, in addition to previous factors, total duration of hospitalization was associated as well.

Background: Intensive care unit (ICU) is among the most important hospital wards. Variety of scoring systems for evaluation of patients' status and prediction of hospitalization outcomes in ICU has been raised that each has strong and weak points; assessment of these characteristics tends to promote new scoring systems. The current study compared scoring systems of Mortality Probability Model-III (MPM-III) and Simplified Acute Physiology Score-III (SAPS-III) in trauma patients in ICU. Methods: This randomized cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 patients admitted in ICU because of trauma in years 2016-17. Patients' information including demographics, mean of systolic, diastolic, and arterial blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, temperature, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), arterial gas analysis, white blood cell (WBC) counts, hematocrit, bilirubin, creatinine, type of admission, and presence of underlying diseases were extracted from records; MPM-III and SAPS-III were measured for these patients and compared. Findings: MPM-III scoring system had discrimination of 0. 935 [95% confidence interval (95%CI): 0. 89-0. 97; P < 0. 001) in cut-off point of 0. 13, and its sensitivity and specificity was 87% and 84%, respectively. For SAPS-III system, in cut-off point of 0. 13, the discrimination was 0. 77 (95%CI: 0. 69-0. 85; P < 0. 001), with the sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 68%. Based on both MPM-III and SAPS-III systems, mortality was in correlation with duration of ICU admission (P = 0. 001 for both systems) and duration of intubation (P < 0. 001 for both systems), while only for SAPS-III, total duration of hospitalization was in correlation with mortality (P < 0. 001). Conclusion: MPM-III scoring system was superior to SAPS-III regarding discrimination power in trauma patients. In addition, based on both systems, mortality rate was in direct association with days of ICU admission and intubation duration.

This series comprises of a quiz pertaining to the identification of salientand important anatomical structures and landmarks expected to be seen at a given level on the computed tomography (CT) image. The representative image is followed by a series of images showing examples of different commonly encountered pathological entities that can be seen at this level in a routine clinical practice. Readers are encouraged to identify highlighted anatomical structures and landmarks in all the images and appreciate how a given abnormality can alter the appearance of normal structures. It is expected that this series will help nuclear physicians in interpretation of the CT component of the single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) studies.