The aim of this study was to evaluate the interconnection between the type of nasopalatine canal (NPC) and morphometric characteristics of the anterior maxilla. The investigation involved 113 subjects, and the morphometric parameters were obtained using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). NPC shapes were classified into four types: banana-, hourglass-, cylindrical-, and funnel-shaped (distribution of approximately 9, 25, 31, and 35%, respectively). The analysis revealed that the NPC shape was significantly connected with the morphometric properties of anterior maxilla horizontal dimensions. In general, a banana-shaped NPC was accompanied with an overall reduction in anterior maxilla diameters when compared to other NPC shapes, with no significant difference between the other three NPC shapes. Furthermore, the morphometric characteristics that depend on NPC shape at the sagittal cross-section were significantly correlated with diameters of the incisive foramen, nasal foramen, and NPC length. According to the results of our study, it seems that the presented analyses of morphometric data may allow useful insight into the algorithms of various interconnections between the measures obtained in the region of the anterior maxilla, which could be of interest for a time rationale approach when planning some surgical procedures, such as immediate dental implant placement planning.

This research aimed to investigate factors associated with vitamin D deficiency and to provide data about its prevalence in patients suffering from different psychiatric illnesses. The study had a cross-sectional design and it included 220 patients of both genders, aged from 19-81 y, with a wide range of mental disorders (F00-F89), and treated in routine ambulatory and hospital practice. The researchers collected data from three sources: medical records, a study questionnaire and biochemical analysis of patients’ serum samples (concentration of vitamin D measured as 25(OH)D, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, methods for hypothesis testing and binary logistic regression, at the p≤0.05 level. A total of 140 patients (64%) had a deficiency of vitamin D (20 ng/mL). Among variables related to demographics, life style habits, mental illness, comorbid disorders and drugs, two of them, female gender (odds ratio (OR)=2.5, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.3-4.9, p=0.006) and using clozapine (OR=15.6, 95% CI 1.7-144.7, p=0.02), were significantly associated with vitamin D deficiency. Physical activity (OR= 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.9, p=0.02), exercising (OR=0.2, 95% CI <0.1-0.7, p=0.02) and offal in the diet (OR=0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.9, p=0.03) significantly aggregated in the patients who had a 25(OH)D serum concentration above the deficiency cut-off level. Patients with mental disorders are at high risk for vitamin D deficiency, particularly females and clozapine users as well as those having no adequate physical activity or dietary habits.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for the development of postoperative pain following total hip arthroplasty, particularly those connected with psychological distress and personality traits. Methods: The study included 90 patients with complaints of postoperative pain following cemented total hip replacement divided into two groups based on the intensity of postoperative pain as measured using the numerical rating scale (NRS). Patients with NRS scores of 5 or higher were included in the study group and those with NRS of less than 5 were included in the control group. The Hamilton scales for anxiety and depression and the DS14 test for the identification of Type D personality were used for psychological evaluation. Results: In the study group, more patients were female (29 vs. 13) and had more anxiety (13 vs. 3), depression symptoms (11 vs. 2), and Type D personality (18 vs. 9) than the control group. Mean preoperative NRS was 7.2±1.7 in the study and 6.0±1.2 in the control group (p<0.001). Factors associated with development of strong postoperative pain was female gender (OR=4.91, 95% CI=2.01 to 12.01, p<0.001), Type D personality (OR=2.81, CI=1.17 to 7.32, p=0.030), severe anxiety (OR=6.01, CI=1.58 to 22.90, p=0.009), depressive symptoms (OR=7.33, CI=1.52 to 35.34, p=0.013) and subjects with marked preoperative painful condition (OR=2.64, CI=1.17 to 5.44, p<0.001). Conclusion: Patients with severe anxiety, depression and Type D personality appear to be at risk of developing severe postoperative pain. In addition, female gender and the intensity of pain immediately after procedure were found to be important risk factors. Özet Amaç: Bu çalışmada, total kalça artroplastisi sonrası, özellikle psikolojik sıkıntı ve kişilik özellikleri ile bağlantılı gelişebilecek postoperatif ağrıya dair risk faktörlerinin belirlenmesi amaçlandı. Çalışma planı: Çimentolu total kalça replasmanı sonrası postoperatif ağrı şikayeti ile başvuran 90 hasta, sayısal değerleme ölçeği (SDÖ) ile ölçülen ağrının şiddetine göre iki gruba ayrıldı. SDÖ puanı 5 veya daha yüksek olan hastalar çalışma grubuna, 5 puanın altında kalan hastalar ise kontrol grubuna dahil edildi. Psikolojik değerlendirmede, anksiyete ve depresyon için Hamilton ölçekleri, Tip D kişiliğin saptanması için ise DS14 testinden yararlanıldı. Bulgular: Çalışma grubundaki bireylerin çoğunluğu kadındı ve anksiyete, depresyon semptomları ve Tip D kişilik özellikleri saptanan olguların kontrol grubuna kıyasla daha yüksek sayıda olduğu belirlendi (sırasıyla, 13’e karşı 3, 11’e karşı 2 ve 18’e karşı 9 olgu). Cerrahi öncesi ortalama SDÖ puanı çalışma grubunda kontrol grubunda ise olarak bulundu (p<0.001). Postoperatif ağrı gelişimiyle ilişkilendirilen faktörler kadın cinsiyet (OO=4.91, %95 GA=2.01-12.01, p<0.001), Tip D kişilik (OO=2.81, GA=1.17-7.32, p=0.030), şiddetli anksiyete (OO=6.01, GA=1.58-22.90, p=0.009), depresif semptomlar (OO=7.33, GA=1.52-35.34, p=0.013) ve cerrahi öncesi dikkat çekici derecede ağrısı bulunan olgular (OO=2.64, GA=1.17-5.44, p<0.001) oldu. Çıkarımlar: Şiddetli anksiyete, depresyon ve Tip D kişilik özelliklerine sahip olgularda şiddetli postoperatif ağrı görülme riski bulunmaktadır. Bunlar dışında, kadın cinsiyet ve cerrahiden hemen sonraki ağrı şiddetinin de önemli risk faktörleri olduğu belirlenmiştir.

The Mineral Resources of the Bor Metallogenic Zone: A Review