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BACKGROUND: Erythema Nodosum (EN) is the most common skin manifestation in sarcoidosis and has often been associated with a good prognosis. OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical characteristics and treatment-related features in patients with sarcoidosis according to whether or not EN was seen as a presenting symptom at the time of diagnosis. METHODS: A 20-year single-center retrospective study was performed. The following two groups were identified: one group with EN as one of the presenting symptoms at the time of diagnosis of sarcoidosis (EN group) and a second group without EN as a presenting symptom at diagnosis (non-EN group). The clinical characteristics and treatment modalities were collected from the medical records. RESULTS: A total of 122 patients (31 in the EN group, 91 in the non-EN group) were included. Radiological stages of pulmonary disease were significantly lower in the EN group. Articular involvement was more common in the EN group (p = 0.001), whereas other systemic organ involvements (p = 0.025), especially neurological involvement (p = 0.036), were significantly more common in the non-EN group. In the EN group, a higher percentage of patients were managed without systemic therapy (71.0% vs. 54.9%) and spontaneous remission was more frequent (25.0% vs. 14.1%), however, this wasn't statistically significant. STUDY LIMITATIONS: Retrospective design. CONCLUSIONS: The lower radiological stage of pulmonary sarcoidosis and lower frequency of systemic organ involvement in patients with EN augment the prognostic value of EN highlighted in the literature. However, this study couldn't confirm that the patients with EN would need less systemic therapy in the course of their disease.

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ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to investigate the fracture strength of different composite resins and the quantity of voids in conventional posterior composite, high- flow flowable composite, bulk-fill flowable composite, and fiber-reinforced composite. Forty-four caries-free, freshly extracted mandibular premolars were used for this study. Teeth were prepared for cavity and root canal treatment. Subsequently, root canal treatment was applied to the teeth and cavities in order to prepare them for restorations. The specimens were then divided into four groups: group-1: Estelite Posterior; group-2: Estelite Flow Quick High Flow; group-3: Estelite Bulk-fill Flow; group-4: everX Posterior. One specimen from each experimental group was examined using micro-CT to perform measurement of voids. The fracture strength values of high-flow flowable, bulk-fill flowable, fiber-reinforced, and conventional micro- hybrid composites were found to be similar (p=0.497). EverX Posterior showed the highest fracture strength values (841.1±149.4 N), followed by Estelite Bulk-fill Flow (822.8±170.8 N). Volume of voids (%) obtained from Micro-CT analysis revealed that restorations with high-flow liner or bulk-fill flowable exhibited more voids. The fiber-reinforced composite showed the lowest percentage volume of incorporating voids and the highest fracture strength results.

RESUMEN: El objetivo del estudio fue investigar la resistencia a la fractura de diferentes resinas compuestas y la cantidad de burbujas en resinas posteriores convencionales, resinas fluidas de alto flujo, resinas fluidas tipo bulk-fill y resinas reforzados con fibras. Cuarenta y cuatro premolares mandibulares libres de caries, recién extraídos, fueron usados para este estudio. Los dientes se prepararon para el tratamiento de conductos radiculares y las cavidades para prepararlos para las restauraciones. Los especímenes se dividieron en cuatro grupos: Grupo-1: Estelite Posterior; Grupo-2: Estelite Flow Quick High Flow; Grupo-3: Estelite Bulk-fill Flow; Grupo-4: everX Posterior. Un espécimen de cada grupo experimental fue examinado usando micro-CT para realizar la medición de las burbujas. Los valores de resistencia a la fractura de los compuestos de alto flujo, flujo de relleno, reforzados con fibra y microhíbridos convencionales fueron similares (p=0,497). EverX Posterior mostró los valores más altos de resistencia a la fractura (841,1±149,4 N), seguido de Estelite Bulk-fill Flow (822,8±170,8 N). El volumen de las burbujas (%) obtenido del análisis de Micro-TC reveló que las restauraciones con revestimiento de alto flujo o con flujo de relleno a granel presentaban más huecos. El compuesto reforzado con fibra mostró el menor porcentaje de volumen de incorporación de vacíos y los resultados más altos de resistencia a la fractura.

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Abstract Background: Although right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in pulmonary diseases has been associated with increased morbidity, tools for RV dysfunction identification are not well defined. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the magnitude of RV dysfunction by means of speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to investigate whether STE could be used as an index of RV improvement after a pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program. Methods: Forty-six patients with COPD undergoing PR program and 32 age-sex matched healthy subjects were enrolled. RV function was evaluated at admission and after PR program by conventional two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) and STE. In addition, exercise tolerance of subjects was evaluated using the six-minute walk test (6MWT). Results: COPD patients had worse RV function according to STE and 2DE as well. STE was more sensitive than conventional 2DE in determining RV improvement after PR program - RV global longitudinal strain (LS): 20.4 ± 2.4% vs. 21.9 ± 2.9% p < 0.001 and RV free wall LS: 18.1 ± 3.4% vs. 22.9 ± 3.7%, p < 0.001). RV free wall LS was directly related to distance walked at baseline 6MWT (r = 0.58, p < 0.001) and to the change in the 6MWT distance (6MWTD ∆) (r = 0.41, p = 0.04). Conclusions: We conclude that STE might be as effective as 2DE for evaluation of global and regional RV functions. STE may become an important tool for assessment and follow-up of COPD patients undergoing PR program to determine the relationship between RV function and exercise tolerance.

Resumo Fundamento: Embora a disfunção do ventrículo direito (VD) nas doenças pulmonares tenha sido associada ao aumento da morbidade, as ferramentas para a identificação da disfunção do VD não estão bem definidas. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a disfunção do VD por ecocardiografia speckle tracking (STE) em pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC), e se a STE pode ser usada como indicador de melhora da função ventricular direita após um programa de reabilitação pulmonar (RP). Métodos: Quarenta e seis pacientes com DPOC submetidos ao programa de RP e 32 controles sadios pareados por sexo e idade foram incluídos no estudo. A função do VD foi avaliada na admissão e após o programa de RP por ecocardiografia bidimensional convencional e por STE. Além disso, a tolerância ao exercício foi avaliada pelo teste de caminhada de seis minutos (TC6M). Resultados: Pacientes com DPOC apresentaram pior função do VD segundo STE e ecocardiografia bidimensional convencional. Em comparação ao método convencional, a STE mostrou maior sensibilidade em determinar melhora da função ventricular direita após o programa de RP - strain longitudinal (SL) global do VD: 20,4 ± 2,4% vs. 21,9 ± 2,9% p < 0,001; SL da parede livre do VD: 18,1 ± 3,4% vs. 22,9 ± 3,7%, p < 0,001. O SL da parede livre do VD relacionou-se diretamente com a distância percorrida no TC6M basal (r = 0,58, p < 0,001) e com a variação no TC6M ∆ (TC6M) (r = 0,41, p = 0,04). Conclusões: Concluímos que a STE pode ser tão eficaz como a ecocardiografia bidimensional convencional na avaliação das funções globais e regionais do VD. Ainda, a STE pode se tornar uma importante ferramenta de avaliação e acompanhamento de pacientes com DPOC submetidos à RP para determinar a relação entre função ventricular direita e tolerância ao exercício.

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BACKGROUND: Although right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in pulmonary diseases has been associated with increased morbidity, tools for RV dysfunction identification are not well defined. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the magnitude of RV dysfunction by means of speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to investigate whether STE could be used as an index of RV improvement after a pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program. METHODS: Forty-six patients with COPD undergoing PR program and 32 age-sex matched healthy subjects were enrolled. RV function was evaluated at admission and after PR program by conventional two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) and STE. In addition, exercise tolerance of subjects was evaluated using the six-minute walk test (6MWT). RESULTS: COPD patients had worse RV function according to STE and 2DE as well. STE was more sensitive than conventional 2DE in determining RV improvement after PR program - RV global longitudinal strain (LS): 20.4 ± 2.4% vs. 21.9 ± 2.9% p < 0.001 and RV free wall LS: 18.1 ± 3.4% vs. 22.9 ± 3.7%, p < 0.001). RV free wall LS was directly related to distance walked at baseline 6MWT (r = 0.58, p < 0.001) and to the change in the 6MWT distance (6MWTD ∆) (r = 0.41, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that STE might be as effective as 2DE for evaluation of global and regional RV functions. STE may become an important tool for assessment and follow-up of COPD patients undergoing PR program to determine the relationship between RV function and exercise tolerance.

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A total of one hundred and five isolates of Rhizoctonia belonging to 7 anastomosis groups (AGs) were obtained from the diseased roots and rhizosphere soils of bean, cucumber, eggplant, pepper and tomato plants grown in greenhouses in Samsun province (Black Sea region, Turkey) during the period 2011­2012. The isolates of Rhizoctonia spp. were examined for their cultural characteristics, anastomosis groups and pathogenicity. Of these, 83.8% were multinucleate Rhizoctonia solani (AG-2, AG-4, AG-5 and AG-6) and 16.2% were binucleate Rhizoctonia (AG-A, AG-E and AG-F). Sixty five of the isolates belonged to AG-4 which was the most frequent group (61.9%) in all greenhouses surveyed. Numbers of the isolates belonging to AG-2 (7.6%), AG-5 (6.7%) and AG-6 (7.6%) were 8, 7 and 8, respectively. Seventeen isolates recovered from greenhouses surveyed were identified as binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-A (1.9%), AG-E (6.7%) and AG-F (7.6%). All isolates of Rhizoctonia spp. tested for growth rates grew at temperatures of 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30°C, whereas they were completely inhibited at 5°C. The results of pathogenicity tests showed that the differences in virulence among isolates of Rhizoctonia spp. were statistically significant (P < 0.001). The tests on bean seedlings showed that the highest disease severity was caused by AG-4 isolates. The disease severity index (DSI) of the R. solani AG-4 isolates ranged from 3.2 to 3.8. In addition, the isolates of three AGs belonging to binucleate Rhizoctonia spp. were generally found to be moderately virulent (DSI 2.0­2.4).

Um total de cento e cinco isolados de Rhizoctonia pertencentes a 7 grupos de anastomose (AGs) foram obtidos a partir de raízes doentes e solos rizosféricos de plantas de feijão, pepino, berinjela, pimenta e tomate cultivados em estufas na província de Samsun (região do Mar Negro, Turquia) durante o período 2011-2012. Os isolados de Rhizoctonia spp. foram examinados por suas características culturais, grupos de anastomose e patogenicidade. Destes, 83,8% eram Rhizoctonia solani multinucleadas (AG-2, AG-4, AG-5 and AG-6) e 16,2% era Rhizoctonia binucleadas (AGA, AG-E and AG-F). Sessenta e cinco dos isolados pertenciam ao AG-4, que foi o grupo mais freqüente (61,9%) em todas as estufas pesquisadas. O número de isolados pertencentes a AG-2 (7,6%), AG-5 (6,7%) e AG-6 (7,6%) foi de 8, 7 e 8, respectivamente. Dezessete isolados recuperados de estufas pesquisadas foram identificados como Rhizoctonia binucleada AG-A (1,9%), AG-E (6,7%) e AG-F (7,6%). Todos os isolados de Rhizoctonia spp. testados para taxas de crescimento cresceram a temperaturas de 10, 15, 20, 25 e 30ºC, enquanto que foram completamente inibidos a 5ºC. Os resultados dos testes de patogenicidade mostraram que as diferenças de virulência entre os isolados de Rhizoctonia spp. foram estatisticamente significativas (P <0,001). Os testes em mudas de feijão mostraram que a maior severidade da doença foi causada por isolados AG-4. O índice de gravidade da doença (do inglês, disease severity index - DSI) dos isolados de R. solani AG-4 variou de 3,2 a 3,8. Além disso, os isolados de três AGs pertencentes à Rhizoctonia spp. binucleadas foram geralmente encontrados como moderadamente virulentos (DSI 2,0-2,4).

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