Introduction: Bracket bonding to porcelain has high failure rate compared to bonding to enamel. Aim: This study aimed to assess the shear bond strength (SBS) of metal brackets to porcelain using a universal adhesive. Material and Methods: In this in vitro experimental study, 40 porcelain blocks (1x1x1 cm 3 )were divided into four groups (n=10). The porcelain surfaces were etched with 10% hydrofluoric (HF) acid and bonded to metal brackets using Transbond XT composite and the following bonding protocols: Transbond XT bonding agent alone in group 1, silane plus Transbond XT bonding agent in group 2, silane plus universal adhesive (G-Premio bond) in group 3 and universal adhesive alone in group 4. The SBS was measured using a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/minute. Fracture surfaces were evaluated under a stereo microscope, and the adhesive remnant index (ARI) scores were determined. Results: The highest and the lowest SBS values were noted in groups 3 (17.06±2.58 MPa) and 4 (9.85±4.76 MPa), respectively. Type of adhesive had no significant effect on SBS (P=0.611). However, the effect of application of silane on SBS was significant (P=0.000). Groups subjected to the application of silane showed higher SBS values than others. The mode of failure was mainly adhesive in groups 2 and 3, and adhesive and mixed in groups 1 and 4. The difference in ARI scores was statistically significant (P=0.016). Conclusion: Universal adhesive and Transbond XT were not significantly different in SBS. However, application of silane significantly increased the bond strength.

Introduction. Bronchopulmonary lophomoniasis (BPL) is a protozoan pulmonary disease that has been reported sporadically, but its incidence has been increasing. However, the epidemiology and risk factors of the disease have not been clearly identified. The current study aims to identify BPL cases molecularly and assess the demographic and some environmental factors for the first time on the prevalence of BPL as a national registry-based study in Iran. Methodology. The study tested 960 patients with lower respiratory tract symptoms whose bronchoalveolar lavage samples were submitted from seven provinces of Iran to the Iranian National Registry Center for Lophomoniasis. They were tested for BPL by a newly developed polymerase chain reaction test. The study assessed the association of Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), digital elevation model (DEM), and geographic latitude as environmental factors and sex and age as demographic factors on the prevalence of BPL. Geospatial information systems methods and chi-squared and Pearson’s correlation tests were used for the assessment of geographical and environmental factor effects and statistical analysis, respectively. Results. Of the 960 patients, 218 (22.7%) tested positive for BPL; the highest and lowest prevalence rates were reported from the south and northeast of Iran, respectively. The study found a correlation between geographic latitude and age with BPL prevalence, but no association was found for gender, NDVI, or DEM. Most patients were over 40 years old, and the rate of disease was higher in southern latitudes. Conclusion. Age and geographical latitude were found to be risk factors for BPL. More exposure to dust and/or chronic pulmonary problems may explain the higher prevalence of the disease in older adults. Higher rates of BPL in lower latitudes may be due to warmer weather and longer days, which can confine individual activities indoors and result in more contact with domestic insects and infected dust.

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Background and Objectives: Low birth weight is one of the most widespread public health problems associated with high infant mortality. This study aimed to identify maternal risk factors affecting low birth weight neonates in Rafsanjan hospitals. Materials and Methods: This case-control study consisted of 120 low birth weight infants (less than 2500 grams) as the case group and 120 normal weight infants (2500 grams and more) as controls in 2018. The data were collected by a randomized checklist from the records of the delivery mothers in the hospitals of Rafsanjan and were analyzed using Chi-square, independent t-test and logistic regression. Results: According to the results of the tests, the number of prenatal care and gestational age at birth was lower in the case group than in the control group, but the history of low birth weight was higher in the case group. Logistic regression for the history of low birth weight (OR=4.196, p=0.008) in the case group was more than the control and mean birth interval (OR=0.992, p=0.036) and gestational age at birth delivery (p<0.001, OR=0.61) was lower in the case group than in the control group. Conclusion: Findings showed that low number of prenatal care, having low birth weight, preterm delivery, and low birth interval have a role in low birth weight. Therefore, increasing pregnancy care coverage and paying attention to mothers who have low birth weight and preterm birth and increasing the interval between births can decrease low birth weight infants.

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