https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/13459 2026-04-04T18:51:12Z 2026-04-04T18:51:12Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/131813 2025-02-12T10:35:08Z 2025-02-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Beyond convenience : the hidden risks of ultra-processed foods Abstract: In today's fast-paced world, ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are everywhere, offering quick and convenient options. These highly engineered products, from sugary snacks to pre-packaged meals, come at the expense of our health. It's important to grasp the complexities of UPFs, their negative impacts and how to avoid them in order to protect our well-being and promote a healthier future. UPFs undergo extensive industrial processing, often containing additives, preservatives and artificial flavours. These foods typically have a long list of ingredients, many of which are often unrecognisable to the average consumer. Common examples include packaged snacks, sugary beverages, frozen meals and fast food items.

2025-02-01T00:00:00Z Dilek, Ozkan Tezulas, Emre Dincel, Mert https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/131729 2025-02-11T09:35:36Z 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Required minimum primary stability and torque values for immediate loading of mini dental implants : an experimental study in nonviable bovine femoral bone Authors: Dilek, Ozkan; Tezulas, Emre; Dincel, Mert Abstract: Immediate loading of implants decreases the period a patient has to remain edentulous. However, for successful immediate loading in clinical practice, a strong initial fixation with bone is a prerequisite. In the present study, it is aimed to measure the primary stability, minimum placement, and removal torque values of mini dental implants which were originally designed for immediate loading. Therefore, mini dental implants (10, 13, 15, and 18 mm length and 1.8 and 2.4 mm diameter) were inserted into nonviable femoral bovine bone with a physiodispenser which can show the torque values digitally. After the implants were inserted, the primary stability values were measured with Periotest. Then the implants were removed from the bone using the same physiodispenser and the removal torque values of the implants were measured. Finally, 3 related tables were created, which show the match of the 3 different values (primary stability, placement, and removal torque) for each implant. The best Periotest values are -8 to +9, which reveal the best primary fixation range. In the tables, placement and removal torque values that correspond to this range are observed. In conclusion, it is believed that the results will aid the dentists in their decision for the selection of the Periotest value ranges and their related placement and removal torque values to decide for immediate loading of the mini dental implants. Mini dental implants, which are especially designed for immediate loading, can only be loaded immediately if their Periotest values (and their related placement and removal torque values) are measured to be between the range of -8 to +9. It is believed that the placement and removal torque values below the -8 to +9 Periotest range are not suitable for immediate loading procedure. Because this study concentrates only on experimental results, further clinical research is needed to be made in order to draw more definite conclusions about immediate loading of the mini dental implants.

2008-01-01T00:00:00Z Tezulas, Emre Dilek, Ozkan Cem Topcuoglu, Nursen Kulekci, Guven https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/131724 2025-02-11T09:23:19Z 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Decontamination of autogenous bone grafts collected during dental implant site preparation : a pilot study Authors: Tezulas, Emre; Dilek, Ozkan Cem; Topcuoglu, Nursen; Kulekci, Guven Abstract: Dental implant site preparation produces bone particles that can be used as autogenous bone graft material for the reconstruction of alveolar bone defects; however, collected bone particles are contaminated with oral microorganisms that may cause augmentation failure due to complications associated with infection. The stringent aspiration protocol, preoperative oral chlorhexidine rinsing, and antibiotic prophylaxis were implemented before collecting bone particles. Nonetheless, collected bone particles were still contaminated with bacteria, and, therefore, decontamination of the collected bone particles with chlorhexidine or clindamycin was considered. The aims of this study were to quantitatively determine the degree of bacterial contamination of collected bone particles and to quantitatively evaluate the efficacy of treating collected bone particles with clindamycin or chlorhexidine solutions. Both of the agents effectively decontaminated the collected bone particles. Comparison between these antimicrobials in further studies could be useful in determining which is most effective.

2009-01-01T00:00:00Z Pikdöken, Levent Gürbüzer, Bahadır Küçükodacı, Zafer Urhan, Muammer Barış, Emre Tezulas, Emre https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/131717 2025-02-11T12:45:36Z 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Scintigraphic, histologic, and histomorphometric analyses of bovine bone mineral and autogenous bone mixture in sinus floor augmentation : a randomized controlled trial--results after 4 months of healing Authors: Pikdöken, Levent; Gürbüzer, Bahadır; Küçükodacı, Zafer; Urhan, Muammer; Barış, Emre; Tezulas, Emre Abstract: Purpose: To test our null hypothesis stating that the mixture of autogenous cortical bone scrapings and bovine bone mineral (BBM) in a ratio of 1:4, compared with BBM alone, would have no significant effect on new bone formation 4 months after maxillary sinus floor augmentation. Patients and methods: Twenty-four patients presenting with alveolar bone height of less than 5 mm in the narrowest zone between the sinus floor and alveolar crest were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups in this randomized controlled trial. We augmented 12 maxillary sinuses with a mixture of BBM and cortical autogenous bone graft, which was collected from the lateral wall of the maxillary sinus by a bone scraper, and 12 maxillary sinuses with BBM alone. Four months postoperatively, new bone formation in the augmented sinus sites was evaluated through bone scintigraphy, as well as histologic and histomorphometric analyses of the biopsy specimens obtained during implant placement. Data were statistically analyzed by independent-samples t test. Results: Scintigraphically detectable new bone formation did not differ significantly between the groups (P > .05). Histologic findings showed that the new bone bridged between BBM particles and BBM underwent resorption by osteoclasts with or without the addition of autogenous bone graft. According to histomorphometric findings, the difference between the percentages of newly formed bone in the sinuses augmented with graft mixture (25.73%) and BBM alone (24.19%) was statistically nonsignificant (P > .05). Conclusions: The addition of autogenous cortical bone scrapings to BBM in a ratio of 1:4, compared with BBM alone, does not markedly increase new bone formation 4 months after maxillary sinus lifting.

2011-01-01T00:00:00Z