Radiographs were digitized and compared to the aluminum step-wedge. The radiographic density data were converted into millimeters of aluminum (mm Al), using the Digora 1.51 software. Results were evaluated statistically using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey test. The level of significance was set at 5% (P<.05%).
Results. Radiopacity values
ranged from 1.21 mm Al (light-cured MTA) to 6.45 mm Al (MTA Angelus). Comparison between materials showed significant difference (P<.05) between MTA Angelus and all other materials, between Sealepox RP and MTA Bio, and between light-cured MTA and Portland cement clinker. Light-cured MTA was significantly less radiopaque than all other materials. No significant difference (P>.05)
was found between MTA LDN-193189 chemical structure Bio and Portland cement clinker.
Conclusions. All retrograde filling materials evaluated showed greater radiopacity than dentin. All the materials, SB203580 chemical structure except light-cured MTA met the minimum radiopacity standards of 3 mm Al recognized by the ISO 6876: 2001 and ADA n.57. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2009; 108: e35-e38)”
“Study Design. Content analysis of patient interviews, clinic letters, and radiology reports for patients with chronic low back pain of greater than 12 months duration.
Objective. To explore the language used by patients and healthcare professionals to describe low back pain and any potential effect on patient perceived prognosis.
Summary of Background Data. Diagnostic explanations by healthcare professionals may influence patient coping and uptake of therapy by patients with chronic low back pain. Although the correlation between radiologic changes and chronic low back pain is weak, these investigations are often used by clinicians as an explanation of
the underlying cause for the pain.
Methods. Patients were asked about their understanding of the mechanisms underlying their pain, flares, and future outcome. Notes from these interviews were transcribed, along with correspondence from primary care physicians, orthopedic surgeons and pain physicians, and lumbar spine radiology reports for these patients. Content analysis was performed to identify and group key terms.
Results. Two major categories representing the predominant themes NSC23766 cost emerging from the content analysis were “”Degeneration”" and “”Mechanical.”" Degenerative terms such as “”wear and tear”" and “”disc space loss”" indicated a progressive loss of structural integrity. Examples of phrases used by patients included “”deterioration [...] spine is crumbling”" and “”collapsing [...] discs wearing out.”" The use of degenerative terms by patients was associated with a poor perceived prognosis (P < 0.01). Degenerative and mechanical terms were more commonly used by patients when they were documented in correspondence from secondary care specialists (P = 0.03 and 0.