Development and implementation of new educational concepts in a dental curriculum

The Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam introduced a fully renewed 5-year dental curriculum in September 2003. In this article, the educational principles and didactic choices that form the basis of the curriculum development are presented and attention is given to the process of development and the implementation strategy that constitute such an important part of the success of introducing a new curriculum. Special characteristics of the new curriculum are the clinical training practice, professional conduct, the elective profiles and academic education. In clinical practice, groups of students from different levels run a group practice in which they learn to work together, delegate tasks, solve clinical problems and apply evidence-based dentistry. In the new curriculum students learn to conduct themselves as professionals. In the third and in the fifth year, students choose an elective profile oriented, respectively, on research and on clinical knowledge and skills. Academic education is an important spearhead in this curriculum in which students not only learn why research is important to dentistry but also how dentists can use research to their own benefit. In development and implementation, a stepwise approach was used in which as many people as logistically possible were involved.     

Technical variability of the GT3X accelerometer

To analyze the intra- and inter-instrument reliability of the ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer using a vibration table on each orthogonal axis and at five frequencies of motion. Ten GT3X units were subjected to a specific vibration using a motorized vibration table along the vertical, horizontal right-left and horizontal front-back axis, and at 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1 and 10.2 Hz. The 5 min data for each frequency were analyzed separately for frequency, axis effects, and inter- and intra-instrument variability. We found overall high intra-and inter-instrument reliability for the GT3X accelerometer at frequencies between 2.1 and 4.1 Hz. For frequencies ranging between 2.1 and 4.1 Hz, the intra-instrument coefficient of variation was ≤2.5%. The inter-instrument coefficient of variation ranged widely along axes and frequencies, with the lowest values (≤9%) corresponding to 2.1-4.1 Hz. The intra-class correlation coefficient for activity counts across frequencies and for all axes was 0.97. Overall, our findings support the use of the GT3X accelerometer as an accurate tool to estimate free-living physical activity, at least within those frequencies that are common to most types of human daily activities.     

Osseointegrated Titanium Implants for Limb Prostheses Attachments: Infectious Complications

Background  

The concept of osseointegration involves direct contact between titanium implant and bone. This transcutaneous prosthetic system for amputees is intended to assure stable long-term fixation. Most metal transcutaneous implants have failed, primarily owing to infection.     

Field-based fitness assessment in young people: the ALPHA health-related fitness test battery for children and adolescents

The present study summarises the work developed by the ALPHA (Assessing Levels of Physical Activity) study and describes the procedures followed to select the tests included in the ALPHA health-related fitness test battery for children and adolescents. The authors reviewed physical fitness and health in youth findings from cross-sectional studies. The authors also performed three systematic reviews dealing with (1) the predictive validity of health-related fitness, (2) the criterion validity of field-based fitness tests and (3) the reliability of field-based fitness tests in youth. The authors also carried out 11-methodological studies to determine the criterion validity and the reliability of several field-based fitness tests for youth. Finally, the authors performed a study in the school setting to examine the reliability, feasibility and safety of the selected tests. The selected fitness tests were (1) the 20 m shuttle run test to assess cardiorespiratory fitness; (2) the handgrip strength and (3) standing broad jump to assess musculoskeletal fitness, and (4) body mass index, (5) skinfold thickness and (5) waist circumference to assess body composition. When there are time limits, the authors propose the high-priority ALPHA health-related fitness test battery, which comprises all the evidence-based fitness tests except the measurement of the skinfold thickness. The time required to administer this battery to a group of 20 youth by one physical education teacher is less than 2 h. In conclusion, the ALPHA fitness tests battery is valid, reliable, feasible and safe for the assessment of health-related physical fitness in children and adolescents to be used for health monitoring purposes at population level.