Most COVID-19 cases are treated as outpatients, while the majority of studies on COVID-19 focus on inpatients. Little is known about the self-reporting and self-rating of the disease’s symptoms, and the associations of prophylactic use of dietary supplements with COVID-19 severity have not been addressed. The aims of this study are to evaluate COVID-19 severity and to relate them to sociodemographic characteristics and prophylactic dietary supplements. An observational patient-based study conducted through an online questionnaire on recovered COVID-19 patients. The patients were assessed for several severity parameters, sociodemographic parameters, and prophylactic dietary supplement use. A total of 428 patients were evaluated. Age and presence of comorbidities had positive associations with the severity parameters. The severe infection group had the highest proportion of patients stressed about COVID-19 (P < 0.05). Cigarette, but not hookah, smoking was significantly associated with less severe symptoms. Vitamin D negatively predicted disease severity (P < 0.05). In conclusion, stress, age, and presence of comorbidities were the most important positive predictors of COVID-19 severity, while prophylactic vitamin D use and smoking were significant negative predictors. The use of protective measures and other prophylactic dietary supplements was not significantly associated with symptom severity.

Objectives The present study aims to reveal the systemic effects of submucosal injection of plasma-rich platelets (PRP) on blood inflammatory markers which was used in an attempt to reduce the retraction time of the upper canine following extraction of upper maxillary premolars for patients with bimaxillary protrusion. Hypothesis No change on comparing the values of blood inflammatory markers before and after submucosal injection of PRP. Methods Eighteen female patients with bimaxillary protusion were selected from patients seeking orthodontic treatment from the College of Dentistry/University of Sulaimai, whose maxillary and mandibular first premolars were decided to be extracted after proper diagnosis. Thirty-three blood markers (twenty hematological and thirteen biochemical markers) were estimated before orthodontic bracketing, 24 hours and 7 days following submucosal injection of PRP (5 cc) to reveal the systematic effect of PRP on blood inflammatory markers that were used in an attempt to reduce the retraction time of the upper canine following extraction of upper maxillary premolars for patients with bimaxillary protrusion. Results The results indicate nonsignificant differences in the values of all blood markers except for gamma GT (GGT), PDWa, serum albumin, serum total protein, and total calcium. Gamma level significantly increased for both test intervals. On the other hand, there was a significant drop in the value of PDWa while for alkaline phosphatase, there was a drop within the first 24 hr of PRP injection while after 7 days the value was significantly increased. On the other hand, there was a drop in the level of serum albumin, while there was an increase in the serum total protein and total calcium. Conclusion Submucosal injection of PRP could lead to systematic alteration of blood parameters including ALK phosphatase, gamma GT, serum albumin, and serum total protein, which may be related to liver function in addition to increase in the level of PDWa and serum calcium. We present evidence that PRP contains and may trigger systemic effect. Thus, further investigation is recommended to follow up the patient for a longer period of time and on a larger sample. This trial is registered with U1111-1221-8829 by Sri Lanka Clinical Trial Registry, SLCTR/2018/040, and No. 64 on 6th August 2018 at the local clinical studies database, College of Dentistry.

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The current study aimed to find a prediction equation to estimate the arch perimeter (AP) depending on various arch dimensions including intercanine width (ICW), intermolar width (IMW), interpremolar width (IPMW), and arch length (AL) in a sample of the Kurdish population in Sulaimani City. The study sample was 100 pairs of preorthodontic dental casts. Calculations of dental arch dimensions and perimeter were performed by a digital vernier. Statistical analysis was performed via using the SPSS version 25 software. The developed prediction equation for the upper arch was Y = + 1.3 × arch   length + 1 × intermolar   width , whereas the equation for the lower arch was Y = + 0.9 × intermolar   width + 0.92 × intercanine   width . Paired t -test revealed no statistical difference between predicted and real arch perimeters. Two separate prediction equations for upper and lower arches were developed based on the arch length (AL) and intermolar width (IMW) for the maxillary arch, intermolar (IMW), and inter canine widths (ICW) for the lower arch. The developed equations could have further beneficial impacts on orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.

Background: Numerous studies have investigated the applicability of Pont’s index using a variety of selection criteria. The morphology of teeth and the shapes of the face are significantly influenced by racial, cultural, and environmental factors, so the current study focused on these demographics. Methods: This study is a retrospective study and included one hundred intraoral scanned images selected from patients seeking orthodontic treatment. Medit design software was used to obtain the real measurements and compare them to the predicted values from Pont’s index. Paired t tests were used to test the validity of Pont’s index, and regression equations were advocated to predict the inter-molar, inter-premolar, and anterior arch widths via SPSS version 25. Results: There were significant differences between the real anterior, inter-premolar, and inter-molar widths and the predicted values obtained from Pont’s index, and there were weak positive correlations between the real values and the predicted values from Pont’s index. Conclusions: Pont’s index is not reliable to predict the arch widths for the Kurdish population, and new formulas are advocated. Hence, space analysis, malocclusion treatment, and arch expansion therapy should all take into account these results. Therefore, the derived equations may have further positive effects on diagnoses and treatment preparation.

Background Knowledge of arch dimensions is useful in providing a smooth occurrence of transient malocclusion, in predicting future orthodontic problems, normal occlusal changes in mixed dentition, and proper sequential exchange of permanent teeth. Moreover, dental arch dimensions change systematically during the period of intensive growth, development and less so in adulthood. The findings of the present study exhibited the highly significant greater mean value for males than females in both mixed and permanent dentitions except dental arch length and total arch length measurements in the permanent dentition in which no significant differences were reported. Objective This longitudinal study was conducted to investigate dental arch width, length and depth changes that happen at two different stages of dentition in 40 (20 males and 20 females) normal occlusion Kurdish children. Materials and Methods Dental casts were obtained and measurements were analyzed twice with 5 years intervals using digital sliding calipers with 0.001 sensitivity. First measurement was in mixed and second one in permanent dentition. The data were analyzed using SPSS (version 15) program. Results The results showed that width changes in maxilla and mandible were significantly more in the permanent dentition than mixed dentition. Additionally, the findings demonstrated a greater mean value of measurements for males than females in both mixed and permanent dentitions except dental arch length (DAL) and total arch length (TAL) in the permanent dentition. Thus, significant sexual dimorphism was observed in most dimensions measured. Conclusion The outcome of the present study demonstrates that changes in dental arch dimensions should be taken in consideration during orthodontic treatments rendering the upshot of the treatment more acceptable.

Background: With the introduction of high-tech appliances, anchorage devices, and improved patient awareness of the risks associated with maxillofacial surgery, treating complex situations with orthodontic treatment has become more difficult in recent years. This study was conducted to demonstrate that orienting the occlusal plane, all the dental, skeletal, and soft tissue parameters, would be improved and to find which of these parameters could be correlated with the steepness of the occlusal plane. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study including 40 cephalometric interpretations for patients who were planned for four-unit extractions (20 cephalometric radiographies before treatment and 20 after finishing the treatment). All were treated in the same orthodontic clinic with the same protocol using the McLaughlin–Bennett–Trevisi (MBT) prescription, with 22 slots and one-step retraction following four-unit extraction based on temporary anchorage devices (TADs). Results: There was no significant change in the canting of the occlusal plane, and it remained relatively stable from 6.31° to 7.55°, while all the soft tissue-related cephalometric measurements were reduced significantly, except the nasolabial angle, as the relation of the upper and lower lip to the esthetic line of Ricketts’ (E-Line) was reduced by 2.91 and 2.46°, respectively; furthermore, the angle of convexity was reduced from 10.92° to 9.79°. Besides, the upper incisor display was reduced by 0.38° Conclusions: Both the Frankfort mandibular angle and upper-incisor-to-Frankfort horizontal plane were significant parametric factors associated with profile change after extraction treatment having a positive 0.01-level Pearson association with occlusal plane steepness. Therefore, using the MBT prescription with TAD-based retraction is one of the favorable methods for the management of complex cases.

Background  The difficulty in differentiating functional gastrointestinal disorders and inflammatory bowel diseases in patients presenting with abdominal symptoms direct us to the use of fecal inflammatory biomarkers that are specific to intestinal inflammation. Objectives  To assess the benefits of fecal calprotectin (FC) in patients presenting with lower abdominal symptoms. Also, correlating the FC and CRP titer with abdominal pain severity. Patients and Methods Prospective cross-sectional study in Kurdistan Center for Gastroenterology and Hepatology (KCGH), Sulaimaniyah city, Northern Iraq. A total of 174 patients with IBS according to Rome IV criteria, who visited KCGH, met the inclusion criteria. FC titer measured before colonoscopy appointment, abdominal pain severity scored according to visual scale, and colonoscopy performed by a specialized gastroenterologist.  Results The FC level was below 50ug/g for 91.3% of patients with normal endoscopy; all of the IBD cases had FC level above 100ug/g. Seven of the eight patients with non-inflamed polyp or diverticuli had an FC level of less than 50ug/g. Moreover, in this study, the CRP level is also significantly higher among IBD cases than in patients with normal colonoscopy.  Conclusion FC titer is a useful measure before the decision for colonoscopy especially in cases not having alarm symptoms and other comorbidities. FC and CRP level is associated with the severity of abdominal pain.