A Turning Point Towards Recovery: An Interview Study with Participants in the Culture and Health Programme for Clients with Long-Term Mental Health Disorders in Sweden

The study aimed to explore participants’ perceptions and experiences of the Culture and Health programme in Sweden for clients with long-term mental health disorders. A qualitative approach with interviews was applied. Grounded Theory guided the analysis and selection of informants. A total of 15 informants were interviewed. A core category ‘A turning point in dealing with everyday life beyond the mental illness’ with three categories: inner life, social life and occupational life emerged. A theory indicating the importance of asking clients about their expectations, was formulated. Further studies are warranted, including studies of effects.     

Pemphigus-like eruption as a complication of molluscum contagiosum treatment with imiquimod in a 5-year-old girl

Pemphigus and pemphigus-like reactions can be triggered by a variety of medications including topical therapies, such as imiquimod. While the association between imiquimod and pemphigus-like reactions has been reported in adults, this is the first report of a generalized reaction beyond the site of imiquimod application in a child. The mechanism by which this occurs may be through a unique pathway, separate from the classic antibody-mediated pathway. Our patient had a full recovery without recurrence after cessation of the inciting drug.     

Caries and associated factors in a group of Swedish children 2- 3 years of age

The reported skew distribution of caries prevalence in preschool children, with a small group of children with very high caries prevalence, stresses the importance of early identification for prevention.The present study aimed to describe the caries prevalence in a group of Swedish preschool children and to identify caries risk factors in this population. 221 children, 2 to 3 years old, agreed to participate in the study (82%). A standardized questionnaire was used to describe socio-economic factors, dietary and oral hygiene habits and exposure to fluoride. Initial and manifest dental caries was diagnosed and the presence of plaque was visually observed without disclosing solution. Saliva and plaque samples were collected for identification of mutans streptococci (MS). For statistical analysis,the Student's t-test,the Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used. The caries prevalence among the 2 to 3 year-olds was 7 and 18 percent respectively. An association between early childhood caries and a number of factors was found e.g. the presence of MS and visible plaque, nocturnal meals, frequent sugar consumption, mothers' state of employment and immigrant background. The Public Dental Health Service has been successful in decreasing the number of children with caries, but the challenge remains to be able to control caries in the high-risk group. The skew distribution, with many children without caries and a smaller group with very high caries prevalence, was confirmed.The study provided insight into various factors, useful for monitoring children at risk of developing early childhood caries.     

Comparison of methods for measurement of hypoplastic lesions

Enamel hypoplasia is a quantitative defect of enamel thickness. Methods previously used for its measurement have limitations in clinical studies. The aim of this study was to investigate new methods of measurement using image analysis. Lesions on 8 teeth affected by enamel hypoplasia were quantified from study models and impression surfaces using an image-analysis system. The measurements made included lesion area and tooth surface area; from these the proportion of tooth surface area affected was calculated. For comparison, manual measurement was performed on impression surfaces and study models, using digital callipers. Images were also acquired of lesions on 12 exfoliated teeth, and the lesion area and total tooth area were calculated. For assessment of intra-operator reliability, the +/– repeatability coefficient was calculated. Measurement of the surface of lesions direct from the exfoliated teeth gave the best results overall, followed by direct image analysis of the silicone impression.