This prospective randomized, double-blind factorial study aimed to compare the efficacy of three different intracanal medicaments with the placebo in controlling the postoperative pain after complete root canal preparation. The study was performed on 64 mandibular molars of 64 patients with diagnosis of pulp necrosis and acute apical periodontitis. After chemomechanical procedures using the stepback technique and 1% sodium hypochlorite, the teeth were randomized into four treatment groups (n=16). In group I, canals were filled with calcium hydroxide paste mixed with 2% chlorhexidine gel, group II received 2% chlorhexidine gel, group III was treated with calcium hydroxide paste, and group IV received no dressing (control). Before dismissal, preoperative pain experience was recorded using a visual analog pain scale. Patients were then instructed to quantify the degree of pain experienced 4h after treatment and daily for a further 24, 48, 72 and 96h. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA test and post hoc Tukey's HSD test revealed that at each time interval groups I and II were significantly more effective in reducing the postoperative pain values than groups III and IV (p<0.05). Dunnett's test showed that groups I and II differed significantly from control whereas difference between group III and control was not significant (p>0.05). Patients with pulp necrosis and acute apical periodontitis that had been dressed with chlorhexidine alone and calcium hydroxide plus chlorhexidine gave rise to less pain than that experienced by patients who had a calcium hydroxide dressing alone or no dressing at all.

No abstract

The functional outcome and factors influencing improvement after pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction are still debated. This retrospective study was aimed at evaluating the factors associated with functional improvement in symptomatic unilateral hydronephrosis (HDN). Patients (n = 68) who underwent successful pyeloplasty for unilateral symptomatic UPJ obstruction without any other associated urological abnormality were included. Preoperative evaluation included a diuretic renogram (DR) to confirm obstruction and assess the split renal function (SRF). A follow-up DR was obtained 3 months and 1, 2, and 5 years postoperatively. An absolute increase in the differential function of the operated kidney by over 5% was considered significant; such kidneys were classified as improved (group A) and the others as unimproved (group B). The difference between the preoperative and 3-month SRF was highly significant (P < 0.001). Significant (P < 0.01) improvement in SRF continued until 1 year after pyeloplasty. Patients who presented with a mass had significantly greater improvement (P < 0.05) than those who presented with other clinical features. In group A, a significantly higher number of patients presented with a mass. It was also evident that patients aged less than 1 year showed significantly greater (P < 0.01) improvement in SRF than older patients. Thus, in unilateral symptomatic HDN with impaired function, patients who present with a mass or those in whom pyeloplasty was performed before 1 year of age showed significantly greater improvement.

No abstract

Objective: Previous studies evaluating neurophysiological correlates of long-term meditation are constrained by some methodological limitations. The objective of this study was to measure changes in the regional cerebral glucose metabolism during meditation using a novel methodological approach. Design: The present study was a part of a larger, nonrandomized, single-center open-label study.