Bezmiâlem Vakıf Üniversitesi

In computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) restorations for severely damaged teeth, the cavity floor or proximal margins may be elevated with composite resin to improve adhesion. This in vitro study investigated how different surface pretreatment methods affect the shear bond strength (SBS) of hybrid CAD/CAM materials to dentin or composite surfaces, simulating clinical situations of composite elevation. Hybrid CAD/CAM samples were bonded to dentin or composite substrates following different surface pretreatment protocols and cemented using a dual-cure adhesive resin cement. The samples were thermocycled and subjected to shear bond strength testing, and failure modes were analyzed. The SBS in the sandblasting (SB)+Dentin group and hydrofluoric acid (HF)+Dentin was significantly higher than that in the SB+Composite and HF+Composite groups (p < 0.05). Untreated+composite and untreated+dentin groups showed significantly lower SBS (p < 0.05). Failure mode analysis revealed a predominance of cohesive failures in the SB+Dentin group, while adhesive failures were more frequently observed in most of the other groups. SB-treated and HF-etched hybrid CAD/CAM materials showed more favorable bonding behavior to dentin than to composite, highlighting that bonding to the elevated composite layer may be less effective than bonding directly to prepared dentin.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the color matching and metameric behavior of two different composite resins applied to titanium surfaces anodized to yellow and pink colors. The study aimed to determine the effects of anodization color and composite resin type on color performance in hybrid prosthesis and screw access hole closure applications. A total of 72 Grade 5 titanium discs (10 mm diameter × 2 mm thickness) were allocated to three anodization conditions: nonanodized/gray (0 V, n = 24), yellow (55 V, n = 24), and pink (80 V, n = 24). Each anodization group was subdivided into two subgroups: 3 M Filtek Z250 (microhybrid) and Tokuyama Estelite Sigma Quick (supra-nano hybrid) composite resins (A2 shade, 2 mm thickness; n = 12 per subgroup). Gray titanium + composite specimens were used as the reference for ΔE₀₀ calculations; yellow and pink anodization groups constituted the experimental groups. Color measurements were performed using a spectrophotometer (Konica Minolta CM-3700 A) under four light sources (D65, D50, incandescent A, and F11). Data were analyzed using mixed-design repeated-measures ANOVA, Bonferroni post hoc test, and independent samples t-test (α = 0.05). Anodization color (η² = 0.941) and composite type (η² = 0.952) demonstrated strong effects on ΔE₀₀ values (both p < 0.001). Light source showed statistically significant but clinically negligible effect (η² = 0.521, mean difference < 0.1 ΔE₀₀). Pink anodization exhibited higher color differences than yellow (2.84–2.99 vs. 1.53–1.62), and Tokuyama composite higher than 3 M (2.89–3.12 vs. 1.41–1.54) (both p < 0.001). Yellow+3 M combination showed lowest values (0.91–0.97), while Pink+Tokuyama showed highest (3.68–3.97). Metamerism index remained minimal (MI < 0.21). Careful material selection is essential for optimal esthetics in anodized titanium-composite systems. Yellow anodization combined with a microhybrid composite demonstrated the most favorable color matching performance under the tested conditions. for hybrid prostheses, screw-retained restorations, and esthetic implant applications. Not applicable.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of tVNS treatment in individuals with subjective chronic tinnitus. This pilot study included a total of 13 individuals (6 female and 7 male) aged 25–50 years (41.46 ± 8.04 years) who had complained of subjective tinnitus for at least two years. All participants underwent audiological evaluations, including assessments of tinnitus pitch, tinnitus loudness, and residual inhibition. Participants completed the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for tinnitus severity, the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Additionally, DTI was performed, and both fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were calculated from the inferior colliculus, Heschl’s gyrus, lateral geniculate body, and lateral lemniscus regions. Participants received tVNS treatment with the Vagustim TENS device for 10 sessions (each 30 min long). Initial assessments were repeated after treatment. After two weeks of tVNS treatment, significant improvement was observed in BDI and THI scores in individuals with subjective chronic tinnitus (p = 0.047 and p = 0.007, respectively). Furthermore, a significant decrease was observed in the FA values of the inferior colliculus (p = 0.001). However, no significant changes were detected in BAI scores, VAS, tinnitus pitch, tinnitus loudness, and residual inhibition (p > 0.05). The findings suggest that tVNS has potential benefit in reducing the daily burden of tinnitus and depression levels, and the effects of tinnitus on central auditory pathways may be modulated through neuroplastic changes. The results suggest that DTI can be utilized to assess the outcomes of tinnitus treatment. However, due to the small sample size and the absence of a control group, these results should be interpreted with caution. Further research is needed in this area.

ABSTRACT Rapid access to food and water in disaster‐affected areas is crucial for meeting individuals’ nutritional needs, and the uninterrupted operation of public food service is closely tied to the disaster awareness levels of staff. This study aimed to examine the disaster awareness perception level of public food service staff ( n = 223), and to evaluate these perceptions in relation to socio‐demographic factors. Data was collected using the Disaster Awareness Perception Scale, which consists of 36 items for disaster education awareness, pre‐disaster awareness, false disaster awareness, and post‐disaster awareness, along a socio‐demographic questionnaire. The Cronbach's alpha for the scale was found 0.906. Participants 76.0% ( n = 169) showing good, 15.8% ( n = 35) moderate, and 8.2% ( n = 19) insufficient levels of disaster awareness. Statistically significant differences were found according to age, educational level, and length of employment in the same workplace ( p &lt; 0.05), whereas no significant differences were observed regarding gender, marital status, work seniority, prior disaster experience, service in disaster areas, or having relatives in disaster zones. Consequently, staff with low disaster awareness should be considered a group requiring additional support in disaster preparedness and response processes. It is recommended to provide awareness‐based and practice‐oriented training, clarify disaster‐related responsibilities in job descriptions, and increase the frequency of scenario‐based drills. These findings demonstrate that disaster education and preparedness programs will promote a balanced level of disaster awareness. This study expands the literature on crisis management and disaster awareness perception by highlighting a public food service population that has not been studied in Türkiye or even globally.

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background:</bold> Postoperative pain management in bariatric surgery remains challenging, particularly in patients with obesity-related comorbidities that limit opioid use. Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia techniques are therefore essential components of multimodal analgesia. Among these, the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and the erector spinae plane (ESP) block are commonly used, yet comparative data in bariatric surgery are limited. <bold>Methods:</bold> This retrospective observational study included adult patients who underwent elective laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and received either an ultrasound-guided TAP block or ESP block as part of postoperative analgesia. All patients received standardized general anesthesia and multimodal analgesia. Postoperative pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale and analyzed as categorical pain distributions at predefined time points. Perioperative hemodynamic parameters, time to first rescue analgesia, and postoperative adverse events were also evaluated. <bold>Results:</bold> A total of 64 patients were analyzed (TAP group, n = 30; ESP group, n = 34). Demographic characteristics, intraoperative variables, and perioperative hemodynamic parameters were comparable between groups. The proportion of pain-free patients was significantly higher in the ESP group at postoperative 2 hours, whereas pain distribution at later time points (6–48 hours) was similar between groups. Time to first rescue analgesia and the incidence of postoperative adverse events did not differ significantly. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Both TAP and ESP blocks provided effective and safe postoperative analgesia following laparoscopic bariatric surgery. The ESP block was associated with superior early postoperative pain control, while overall analgesic efficacy and safety profiles were comparable between techniques. ESP block may be preferentially considered when enhanced early postoperative analgesia is desired.