This research is designed to study the diagnostic yield of brush cytology for biliary
strictures. Brush cytology technique is of a great value to provide cytological samples
during ERCP for patients with biliary strictures .
The study included 34
patients with biliary stricture, ERCP was performed to all
patients and cellular samples were taken using a brush for cytology . During the study
period (one year) , the final diagnosis was made using a systematic approach based on
clinical, radiological, laboratory or histopathological diagnosis . Sensitivity and specificity
of brush cytology were studied .
The sensitivity of biliary brushing was 57.1% , specificity was 100%, positive
predictive value was 100% , negative predictive value was 76.9% and accuracy was 82% .
Conclusions: Brush cytology has a very high specificity but an intermediate
sensitivity for the diagnosis of malignant biliary strictures . Despite that , brush cytology
is of a high diagnostic utility to distinguish between malignant and benign causes of biliary
strictures .
A clinical trial cross over was carried out to compare the clinical effectiveness of the use of conventional toothbrush (Oral-B Indicator Plus) and (Soladey-eco) which is equipped with a rod of semiconductor of titanium dioxide (TiO2) to remove dent
al plaque and their impact on Streptococcus mutans counts (CFU) .
The Sample included 60 patients aged 13-19 years. The sample was equally divided into two groups: the first group used toothbrush (Oral-B Indicator Plus) and the second used toothbrush (Soladey-eco) twice daily for one month, followed by (wash out) period for two weeks, after which the exchange of the two groups for the two types of brushes, the examiner was blind.
To determine the effectiveness of the two brushes, the dental plaque index was calculated for every brush before and after brushing. The S .mutans (CFU) in saliva was calculated too but just for (n=30) before and after brushing.
Results showed that the use of the brush (Soladey-eco) has greater effectiveness in removing dental plaque and caused a reduction of Streptococcus mutans counts compared with the brush (Oral-B Indicator Plus) in the research sample
The aim of this clinical study is to determine the efficiency of miswak (cleaning
sticks – chewing sticks) in comparison with toothbrush in
removingdental plaque from facial, lingual and interproximal surfaces and
reducing Gingivitis.
A total of
56 dental students who were divided into two groups were included in
the study. This study was divided into two stages.
The first stage, and after the experimental plaque accumulation, the volunteers
cleaned their teeth (toothbrush or miswak) for five minutes.
Then the clinical measurements were recorded.
The second stage, the volunteers used according to their group either toothbrush
and dentifrice or miswak twice a day for five minutes for three weeks.
In the first stage, there was no difference between the two groups in gingivitis.
The values of Turesky’s index to assess the plaque on facial and lingual surfaces
were a little higher for miswak users, but the difference was statistically
insignificant. While the cleaning of interproximal spaces was more evident in
toothbrush users, either facial or lingual, and the difference was significant (P <
0.01).
Generally, neither miswak nor toothbrush were able to produce completely
interproximal dental health. So, the cleaning of facial surfaces by using
toothbrush or miswak was better than lingual surfaces (P <0.05).
In the second stage, the plaque and gingival values were higher in miswak users,
but the difference was not significant.
The result: miswak cannot remove dental plaque completely, but the site of
plaque on the facial and lingual surfaces were almost similar to those among
toothbrush users.
Finally, a toothbrush possessed a clear superiority in cleaning interproximal
spaces, thus making it the oral Hygiene aid of choice.
