Background and Objectives: Gingival retraction is a critical pre-impression procedure in fixed prosthodontics, crucial for exposing tooth margins and ensuring accurate impressions for restorations like crowns and bridges. This study aimed to evaluate the absorptive capacity of different gingival retraction cords. Materials and Methods: Ninety samples each of Ultrapak (Ultradent, South Jordan, UT, USA) #00, braided cord, coreless thread, and monofilament thread (totaling 270 samples) were immersed in 0.9% NaCl, 10% aluminum chloride, and 12.7% ferrous sulfate solutions for 120, 300, and 1200 s. The liquid absorption capacity was measured using a gravimetric method, and the data were analyzed using an F-test, setting the significance threshold at p < 0.05. Results: The results revealed statistically significant differences in absorption, particularly for aluminum chloride and ferric sulfate (p < 0.001). Ultrapak demonstrated the highest absorption, followed by the coreless cotton thread, while the monofilament thread absorbed the least, especially at 1200 s. Conclusions: These findings indicate that Ultrapak’s superior absorption could enhance moisture control during procedures, highlighting the importance of selecting an appropriate retraction cord for optimal clinical outcomes. Further research is needed to confirm these findings in a clinical setting.

Background: Obesity and overweight are escalating global public health concerns. This study examined the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and psychological factors in young adults. Methods: A total of 283 participants aged 19–30 years were categorized by BMI (normal weight, overweight, obesity) using self-reported data. Psychological assessments included the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), all with acceptable reliability. Individuals with psychiatric, neurological, or chronic somatic conditions were excluded. Analyses involved MANOVA, ANOVA, ANCOVA, and hierarchical regression, controlling for gender, physical activity, smoking, caffeine, alcohol, medication, and sleep disturbances. Results: MANOVA showed a near-significant multivariate effect of BMI on psychological variables (Wilks’ Lambda = 0.913, p = 0.068). ANOVA revealed significant differences in perceived stress among BMI groups (F (2, 279) = 3.796, p = 0.024), with obese participants reporting lower stress. Hierarchical regression identified perceived stress as the strongest predictor of BMI, followed by resilience and physical aggression. General aggression was negatively associated with BMI, suggesting potential compensatory mechanisms. Conclusions: Perceived stress and resilience showed small but significant associations with BMI in young adults, suggesting a modest contribution of psychological factors to weight-related health.

Situs anomalies, including situs inversus and situs ambiguous (SAMB), are rare congenital conditions typically noted in pediatric populations, with SAMB being particularly uncommon in adults. This case study addresses the incidental discovery of situs ambiguous with polysplenia in a 65-year-old man evaluated for suspected adrenal adenoma. The patient’s medical history included benign prostatic hyperplasia and tuberculous pleurisy. Methods included a thorough physical examination and laboratory tests, which showed normal cortisol levels and ACTH rhythm. Contrast-enhanced CT imaging revealed multiple spleens near the right adrenal region, altered liver positioning, a truncated pancreas, and a right-sided stomach, while the right adrenal gland was not visualized. Notably, the patient exhibited minimal symptoms despite these significant anatomical anomalies. The findings underscore the rarity of situs ambiguous in adults and its unexpected association with endocrine pathology. This case highlights the importance of comprehensive imaging and a multidisciplinary approach in managing patients with unusual anatomical presentations. It suggests that situs anomalies may be more prevalent in adult populations than previously recognized and emphasizes the need for increased clinical awareness and evaluation in similar cases.