Does the Incredible Years Teacher Classroom Management programme improve child–teacher relationships in childcare centres? A 1-year universal intervention in a Norwegian community sample

European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry - The Incredible Years Teacher Classroom Management (IY TCM) programme has shown promise in reducing behaviour problems among high-risk children in...     

Swedish dentists' decisions on preparation techniques and restorative materials

This study aimed at mapping the preparation techniques and restorative materials that Swedish dentists are using for primary approximal and occlusal carious lesions. It involved sending a pre-coded questionnaire to a random sample of 923 dentists, with eight items concerning approximal and occlusal restorative preparation techniques and dental materials. Responses were received from 651 (70.5%) dentists. To restore a primary approximal carious lesion in an adolescent with low caries activity and good oral hygiene, the tunnel preparation was chosen by 48% of the dentists, the saucer-shaped preparation by 32%, and the traditional Class II preparation by 20%. The most common preparation technique for restoring an occlusal carious lesion was removal of the carious part only, which was chosen by 74% of the dentists. For a lower second molar with a minor occlusal caries lesion combined with a suspected dentin lesion as judged radiographically, about half of the dentists chose to restore the carious part only and 27% would seal the rest of the fissure system in addition. For a similar lesion with no obvious radiolucency in the dentin, about 1/3 chose the 'no treatment' alternative, 1/3 fluoride treatment, and the rest fissure sealing or other techniques. Composite was used most often and amalgam least often for both approximal and occlusal carious lesions.     

The protective effect of TiF4, SnF2 and NaF on erosion of enamel by hydrochloric acid in vitro measured by white light interferometry

The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the protective effect of TiF4, SnF2 and NaF (all 0.5 M F) on the development of erosion-like lesions in human dental enamel. Four enamel specimens from each of 6 extracted molars were polished and embedded in epoxy resin. The enamel surfaces of 3 specimens from each tooth were treated with the different fluoride solutions for 2 min. Following fluoride treatments, the specimens were immersed in 0.01 M HCl (pH 2.0), for 2, 4 and 6 min in order to mimic a gastric reflux situation. One specimen from each tooth was used as a control and was only exposed to acid. The etching depths (in micrometres) after 6 min were: TiF4 0.8 (SD 0.8), SnF2 3.5 (SD 0.7), NaF 5.3 (SD 0.4), and 7.0 (SD 0.3) for the control specimens. Compared to the control, TiF(4) protected the enamel surface from acid attack almost completely (88%), while SnF2 reduced the etch depth after 6 min by 50% and NaF by 25%.     

Effect of sinus rhythm restoration on markers of thrombin generation in atrial fibrillation

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) confers a hypercoagulable state; however, it is not clear whether restoration of sinus rhythm is associated with normalisation of markers of thrombogenesis. We studied the impact of sustained sinus rhythm on prothrombotic markers, and their predictive abilities in foreseeing rhythm outcome after cardioversion.

Methods

In a double blind, placebo-controlled study, 171 patients referred for electrical cardioversion of persistent AF were randomised to receive candesartan or placebo for 3-6 weeks before and 6 months after cardioversion. Endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), prothrombin fragment 1?+?2 (F1?+?2) and D-dimer were measured before cardioversion and at end of study. These markers were also measured in a reference group comprising 49 subjects without AF.

Results

The markers remained unchanged in those 28 patients who maintained sinus rhythm. Discontinuation of warfarin treatment in a subset of 13 low-risk patients in sinus rhythm was associated with significantly higher levels of D-dimer and F1?+?2 compared to the reference group; D-dimer (456 ng/mL (276, 763) vs. 279 ng/mL (192, 348), p?=?0.002) and F1?+?2 (700 pmol/L (345, 845) vs. 232 pmol/L (190, 281), p?<?0.001). None of the markers were associated with rhythm outcome after electrical cardioversion.

Conclusions

Sustained sinus rhythm for 6 months after cardioversion for AF had no impact on ETP, F1?+?2 or D-dimer levels. Discontinuation of warfarin in low-risk patients with sustained sinus rhythm was associated with significantly higher levels of D-dimer and F1?+?2 compared to the reference group. Our results suggest persistent hypercoagulability in AF patients despite long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm.

Trial registration

The CAPRAF study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00130975) in August 2005.