Caries reduction over 5 years from a singie application of a fissure sealant

ABSTRACT – This paper is a continuation of three previously published papers giving a long-term clinical evaluation of an ultraviolet hght polymerizable fissure sealant method. The present findings revealed that of the 156 permanent teeth available for study 5 years after initiation, 59.6% retained the sealants in good condition, while 25.6% of the sealants were missing or partly missing. During the test period, 37 (32.2%) of the 115 sealed permanent first molars had become carious, while 92 (80.0%) of the respective paired controls had decayed. An analysis of the efficacy of the treatment on the test-control tooth pairs showed a net gain of 55 and a percentage effectiveness of 59.8%. The sealed teeth were found to be highly significantly less decayed than the respective controls ( P < 0.001). Of the individual subjects, 73.4% were found to have benefited from the treatment.     

PROPHYLAXIS OF ATOPIC DISEASE BY SIX MONTHS' TOTAL SOLID FOOD ELIMINATION

ABSTRACT. One hundred and thirty-five infants of atopic parents were exclusively breast-fed for 6 months without any cow's milk based supplements. Of these infants 70 received no nourishment except breast milk during the 6 months, and 65 were started on solid foods at the age of 3 months. The diet of all the infants was similar during 6 to 12 months of age. The children were examined at the age of one year. In the exclusive breast milk group atopic eczema and food allergy were less frequent than in the solid food group. The results suggest that total solid food elimination for the first 6 months of life, in addition to exclusive breast milk feeding, is prophylactic for atopic disease in children who are at hereditary risk.     

Electron microscopic stereological study of collagen fibrils in bovine articular cartilage: volume and surface densities are best obtained indirectly (from length densities and diameters) using isotropic uniform random sampling

Results obtained by the indirect zonal isotropic uniform random (IUR) estimation were compared with those obtained by the direct point and interception counting methods on vertical (VS) or IUR sections in a stereological study of bovine articular cartilage collagen fibrils at the ultrastructural level. Besides comparisons between the direct and indirect estimations (direct IUR vs indirect IUR estimations) and between different sampling methods (VS vs IUR sampling), simultaneous comparison of the 2 issues took place (direct VS vs indirect IUR estimation). Using the direct VS method, articular cartilage superficial zone collagen volume fraction (V_v 41%) was 67% and fibril surface density (S_v 0.030 nm²/nm³) 15% higher (P<0.05) than values obtained by the indirect IUR method (V_v 25% and S_v 0.026 nm²/nm³). The same was observed when the direct IUR method was used: collagen volume fraction (V_v 40%) was 63% and fibril surface density (S_v 0.032 nm²/nm³) 21% higher (P<0.05) than those obtained by the indirect IUR technique. Similarly, in the deep zone of articular cartilage direct VS and direct IUR methods gave 50 and 55% higher (P<0.05) collagen fibril volume fractions (V_v 43 and 44% vs 29%) and the direct IUR method 25% higher (P<0.05) fibril surface density values (S_v 0.025 vs 0.020 nm²/nm³) than the indirect IUR estimation. On theoretical grounds, scrutiny calculations, as well as earlier reports, it is concluded that the direct VS and direct IUR methods systematically overestimated the V_v and S_v of collagen fibrils. This bias was due to the overprojection which derives from the high section thickness in relation to collagen fibril diameter. On the other hand, factors that during estimation tend to underestimate V_v and S_v, such as profile overlapping and truncation (‘fuzzy’ profiles), seemed to cause less bias. As length density (L_v) and collagen fibril diameter are minimally biased by the high relative section thickness, the indirect IUR method, based on utilisation of these estimates, is here regarded as representing a ‘gold standard’. The sensitivity of these 3 methods was also tested with cartilage from an in vitro loading experiment which caused tissue compression. In the superficial zone of articular cartilage V_v and S_v of collagen fibrils increased (P<0.05). This difference in the stereological estimates was only detected by the indirect IUR estimation but not by the direct VS or direct IUR methods. This indicated that the indirect IUR estimation was more sensitive than the direct VS or direct IUR estimations. On the basis of these observations, the indirect zonal IUR estimation can be regarded as the technique of choice in the electron microscopic stereology of cartilage collagen.     

Nurse entrepreneurs’ attitudes to management,their adoption of the manager’s role and managerial assertiveness

Aim This study explores the attitudes of Finnish nurse entrepreneurs to management, their adoption of the manager’s role, managerial assertiveness, development and training needs in management and associated factors. Methods The research was conducted as part of a questionnaire survey among 335 entrepreneurs with different educational backgrounds. The sample for the study reported here consisted of those respondents who had a registered nurse degree. The data were analysed using SPSS statistical software. Results Nurse entrepreneurs took a positive attitude towards management, but there were obvious shortcomings in their adoption of the manager’s role. They also showed a lack of managerial assertiveness. Half of the respondents had development needs and one‐third had training needs in relation to management. Conclusions Nurses who are planning to start up in business should have earlier leadership experience and should attend some form of management training. Implications for nursing management The provision of care and nursing services is increasingly taking place in the private sector. This study contributes to our understanding of the managerial role of nurse entrepreneurs in this new environment.     

Reduction of enamel solubility and plaque development with chlorhexidine-fluoride solutions

abstract — Pretreatment of the enamel with chlorhexidine did not modify enamel solubility, nor did it interfere with the enamel protective action provided by the fluoride. Oral rinses twice a day with the chlorhexidine-fluoride solution, pH 5.8, reduced the spread of plaque (Pl I) by 44% and the total plaque mass (total plaque N) by 38% compared with the effect of rinses with distilled water. Rinses with the NaF solution reduced the plaque mass by 41% while the plaque spread remained unaffected.     

SERUM IMMUNOGLOBULIN E IN ATOPIC AND NON-ATOPIC CHILDREN AGED 6 MONTHS TO 5 YEARS

ABSTRACT. In order to obtain serum IgE reference values for small children we measured the total serum IgE concentration at the ages of 6 months, 1, 3, and 5 years in 66 healthy, non-atopic children who were followed from birth to 5 years of age. From this reference group we had excluded children with symptoms or signs of atopy during the follow-up period, as well as children with blood or nasal smear eosinophilia or positive skin prick tests. We also studied serum IgE levels in groups of children having latent atopy, symptomatic atopy, or severe atopic disease. We suggest that in the definition of reference values the upper limit of normal should be replaced by a zone of uncertainty, lying between the 95th and 97.5th percentiles. Serum IgE is a useful test with high specificity but low sensitivity in the differentiation between atopy and non-atopy. Thus high levels suggest atopy, while normal or low values yield little information. A normal serum IgE level does not necessarily exclude atopic disease.