Youth Beverage Intake and Reported Prediabetes: Choice and Frequency Matter

IntroductionSugar sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption among U.S. adolescents exceeds current recommendations. This study examines relationships between SSB intake and reported prediabetes.MethodData are from the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey (N = 125,375). Logistic regression was used to examine relationships between frequencies for SSB intake and youth reported prediabetes in analytic models adjusting for demographic and other cardiometabolic indicators. Additional analyses examined relationships between consumption of fruit juice, milk, and water, and prediabetes.ResultsOne in four youth reported consumption of at least one SSB daily. In fully adjusted models, a range of SSB intake frequencies were significantly associated with increased odds of reported prediabetes. All intake frequencies for water were associated with reduced odds of prediabetes.DiscussionEfforts to reduce SSB intake among adolescents are warranted to support cardiometabolic health. Study findings are consistent with current guidance identifying water as the preferred drink for adolescents’ hydration needs.     

Contextualizing Relationship Education and Adolescent Attitude Toward Sexual Behavior: Considering Class Climate

Background

Using data from a statewide relationship education (RE) program targeting a diverse adolescent sample, this study examined RE implementation in classroom environments.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to explore (1) whether there is a beneficial RE program effect for change in individual attitudes toward sexual delay, (2) whether individual factors—student gender and sexual activity—predict change in attitudes toward sexual delay for students experiencing the intervention, and (3) whether classmate characteristics influence individual change in attitudes toward sexual delay.

Methods

This study utilized multilevel modeling procedures to examine both individual- and classroom-level predictors of change in attitudes toward sexual delay.

Results

At the individual level, results indicated that females demonstrated more change in attitudes toward sexual delay than males and students who were sexually active demonstrated less change toward sexual delay compared with students who were not sexually active. At the classroom level, both racial composition and the proportion of sexually active classmates influenced individual attitude change. Although students in classrooms with higher proportions of African American peers demonstrated less attitude change toward sexual delay, the proportion of sexually active peers in the classroom appeared to be a more salient aspect of classmate composition.

Conclusions

Overall, this study supports the importance of considering both individual characteristics as well as social context when assessing program experience and effectiveness. Implications for future research and practice are offered.

     

A proposal for a new classification of lesions of exposed tooth surfaces

In the presence of improved methods of identification and treatment of lesions on the exposed surfaces of teeth, it should now be acknowledged that the GV Black "classification of carious cavities" is out of date. This paper describes a new system, proposed in 1997, discussed broadly throughout the profession, and eventually modified. The system has been adopted in several regions around the world as being a useful corollary to the current developing concept of minimal intervention dentistry. It is now desirable to adopt a new approach to the identification and recording of the lesions caused by both caries and non-carious tooth loss. A major advantage arising from its adoption would be that it would encourage the profession to minimise the amount of normal healthy tooth structure that is often sacrificed in pursuit of the cavity designs as suggested by Black. The authors are members of a Project Group of the FDI Science Committee, and this paper explains the concept and offers justification for the adoption of the system.     

Oncocytoid artifact of the parotid gland: A newly reported artifact

Electrocautery can induce significant alterations in the connective tissues and epithelium of specimens removed for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. When electrocautery is used during parotid surgery, it can cause an oncocytoid artifact. The alterations described in this article are enlarged, tightly packed serous acinar cells with coarse to granular eosinophilic cytoplasm, distinct cell borders, and round basal nuclei that on cursory microscopic examination resemble oncocytes with respect to morphology. These changes are seen in conjunction with other, more recognized changes secondary to electrocautery and are believed to occur as a consequence of the electrothermal discharge. On the basis of our findings, this artifact is common in parotid surgical specimens and was misdiagnosed as benign oncocytic lesions in 5 cases.     

Management of Periodontal Tissues for Restorative Dentistry

Proper management of periodontal tissues is required to achieve predictable long-term success with restorative dental procedures. Forced eruption as well as several surgical techniques may be used to achieve and maintain adequate biologic width during restorative and esthetic dental procedures. The technique that will yield optimal results depends on the relationship between the restoration's margins and the surrounding periodontium. A classification system that describes these interrelationships and provides treatment recommendations is included.     

The effect of sprue attachment design on castability and porosity

Sprue attachment design is an important and controversial variable that can affect casting characteristics of castability and porosity. Four sprue attachment designs--straight, flared, abrupt constriction, and gradual constriction--were investigated. Standardized wax copings simulating complete veneer metal ceramic crowns with knife-edge margins were sculpted on refractory investment dies, sprued, invested, and cast with Olympia alloy. The specimens were embedded, sectioned, and polished. Castability was analyzed by measuring the width of the cast meniscus of the margins. The margin widths of the flared and the straight sprue attachment groups were significantly less than the abrupt or gradual constriction attachment group (p less than 0.05). Photomicrographs revealed discernible differences in the relative quantity and location of porosity in the sprue-coping junctions. The straight and flared sprue attachment groups were less porous than the abrupt or gradual constriction groups (p less than 0.01). Flared and straight sprue attachments optimized castability and minimized porosity.