Readiness to change dietary restriction predicts outcomes in the eating disorders

This study examined the relationship between readiness and motivation to change eating disorder symptoms and clinical outcomes during and following intensive residential eating disorder treatment. Sixty-four women completed the Readiness and Motivation Interview (RMI) at baseline, and a subset of participants were reassessed at post-treatment (n=45) and at 6month follow-up (n=38). The RMI provides readiness scores for each of four symptom domains: restriction, cognitive, bingeing, and compensatory strategies. RMI scores were used to predict decision to enroll in treatment, dropout, symptom change following treatment, and maintenance of symptom change at six-month follow-up. The extent to which participants did not want to make changes to their dietary restriction at baseline (restriction precontemplation) was the most consistent predictor of short-term clinical outcome. The extent to which participants reported changing their restriction for themselves versus others (restriction internality) predicted outcome at 6-month follow-up. These preliminary findings suggest that assessing client readiness and motivation to change dietary restriction is most useful in predicting short and long-term clinical outcomes.     

Hybrid Organic‐Inorganic Nanostructured Acrylic Films Based on Methacylate Modified Zirconium Oxocluster

Organic‐inorganic nanostructured acrylic films, based on methacrylate‐modified zirconium oxocluster, were prepared by UV‐induced polymerization, which yielded transparent and crack‐free layers. TEM analysis evidenced that all the inorganic particles are well dispersed with no significant macroscopic agglomerations. FT‐IR kinetic investigations showed that the presence of the zirconium oxocluster does not affect the photopolymerization rate or acrylic double bond conversion. An increase on T_g values of the cured films is evident at 15 wt.‐% load of the inorganic filler. A thermal stability increase was also achieved in the presence of the zirconium oxocluster. Surface studies performed by XPS analyses showed the presence of homogeneously distributed zirconium oxoclusters, which induces important improvements of the surface hardness evidenced on the basis of the pencil test.

     

Oligodontia and associated characteristics: assessment in view of prosthodontic rehabilitation

Bibliographic evidence regarding oligodontia was reviewed to extract information necessary for a systematic review for a prosthodontic approach to management. Syndromic oligodontia, appearing as a symptom of many syndromes, was distinguished from isolated, or non-syndromic, which is an independent trait. Although a rare disorder, oligodontia has always been considerably researched, especially concerning its prevalence and genetic background. Non-syndromic oligodontia has been associated with the presence of small and misshapen natural teeth, orofacial clefting and reduced saliva secretion. A typical maxillofacial morphology has also been reported, which seems to result from the lack of dental and functional compensation and not from an altered growth pattern. Syndromic oligodontias also exhibit the above basic features but are complicated by each syndrome's specific characteristics. Prosthodontic treatment of individuals with oligodontia must anticipate the dental and oral clinical characteristics and provide with continuing support and preservation of proper maxillofacial relationships.     

Extended-release naltrexone for treatment of alcohol dependence in primary care

The feasibility of using extended-release injectable naltrexone (XR-NTX) to treat alcohol dependence in routine primary care settings is unknown. An open-label, observational cohort study evaluated 3-month treatment retention, patient satisfaction, and alcohol use among alcohol-dependent patients in two urban public hospital medical clinics. Adults seeking treatment were offered monthly medical management (MM) and three XR-NTX injections (380 mg, intramuscular). Physician-delivered MM emphasized alcohol abstinence, medication effects, and accessing mutual help and counseling resources. Seventy-two alcohol-dependent patients were enrolled; 90% (65 of 72) of eligible subjects received the first XR-NTX injection; 75% (49 of 65) initiating treatment received the second XR-NTX injection; 62% (40 of 65), the third. Among the 56% (n = 40) receiving three injections, median drinks per day decreased from 4.1 (95% confidence interval = 2.9–6) at baseline to 0.5 (0–1.7) during Month 3. Extended-release naltrexone delivered in a primary care MM model appears a feasible and acceptable treatment for alcohol dependence.