Residual Periodontal Ligament in Extracted Teeth – Is It Associated With Indication for Extraction?

BackgroundPeriodontal disease is a major cause of tooth loss. Few studies have evaluated the residual area of the periodontal ligament in extracted teeth and, to the best of our knowledge, none from Latin America have done so regarding indications for extraction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the residual periodontal ligament (RPL) with respect to indication for extraction in a sample of teeth from a Brazilian Public Health Service district.Materials and methodsAll teeth extracted within the Public Health Service district of Santa Maria, Brazil, over a 5-month period were requested for analysis. A total of 414 teeth eligible for measurement were stained and evaluated for RPL using a stereo microscope. Participating Public Health Service dentists completed a questionnaire detailing demographic variables and indication for each extracted tooth. The percentage of RPL was determined for each tooth. Comparisons of RPL between teeth extracted on periodontal versus other indications were made using the Mann-Whitney test.ResultsRPL averaged 34.8% for teeth extracted on periodontal indications versus 79.5% for other teeth (P ≤ 0.001). When considering teeth with an RPL ≥ 30% as possible to maintain, 189 (76%) of the teeth extracted on periodontal indications could have been maintained. When RPL cut-off limits of ≥ 40% or ≥ 50% are applied, 93 (37%) and 43 (17%) teeth, respectively, could have been maintained.ConclusionThis study suggests that strictly based on RPL, a large number of teeth extracted on periodontal indications conceivably could be maintained.Key words: Cross-sectional studies, Prognosis, Tooth extraction, Tooth loss     

Anxiety,depression, and stress in caregivers of children and adolescents with mental disorders in Ghana and implications for medication adherence

ObjectiveThis study assessed levels of anxiety, depression, and stress among family caregivers of children and adolescents with mental disorders in Ghana and the implication on medication adherence.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingThe study was conducted at the outpatient departments of the three main public psychiatric hospitals in Ghana.ParticipantsTwo hundred and ten non-paid family caregivers of children and adolescents with mental disorders were recruited for this study.Main Outcome MeasureThe study assessed symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress among the caregivers and estimated caregiver-reported medication adherence.ResultsAbout 56.2%, 66.2% and 78% of the caregivers experienced severe anxiety, severe depression and moderate to severe stress symptoms respectively. From the multiple logistic regression model, while anxiety was significantly affected by religion and education, depression was influenced by sex, age, marital status, proximity to facility, and employment status. Female caregivers had about four times higher odds of being depressed compared to male caregivers (aOR: 3.81, 95% CI: 1.66 – 8.75). The caregiver-reported medication adherence was 11.9%. Anxiety was significantly predictive of medication adherence.ConclusionMost family caregivers of children and adolescents with mental disorders experienced symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress with anxiety having implications for medication adherence. The study findings underscore the need to consider psychological characteristics of caregivers and the provision of mental health support for them, as part of the routine health care for children and adolescents with mental disorders.FundingNone indicated     

Regional differences in extracellular ascorbic acid levels in the rat brain determined by high speed cyclic voltammetry

High speed cyclic voltammetry was used in combination with pressure ejection of ascorbate oxidase for the determination of extracellular ascorbic acid within the brain of the anaesthetized rat. Large variations in absolute levels of ascorbate were found between animals although distribution patterns showed a good degree of reproducibility. Ascorbate levels in the white matter of the corpus callosum were found to be higher than in adjacent areas of grey matter (striatum and cortex).     

The impact of environmental factors on zooplankton communities in the Vistula Lagoon

The Vistula Lagoon, an estuarine system exposed to both continental and marine impacts, is marked by rapid changes in local environmental conditions, including salinity levels, water transparency, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen concentrations, trophic state and wind speed. Here, the effect of environmental factors on the abundance and horizontal distribution of zooplankton was analysed. A higher number of taxa were noted in the saltwater intrusion section of the Vistula Lagoon (Central Basin) compared to the area of freshwater inflow (Western Basin). The average density of the analysed zooplankton in the western section of the Vistula Lagoon reached 654 indiv. dm^?3, three-fold higher than in the central section (224 indiv. dm^?3). Differences in zooplankton biomass were even more pronounced (13.43 mg dm^?3 vs. 2.33 mg dm^?3). The Central Basin of the Vistula Lagoon was dominated by Copepoda (approx. 50% total abundance), mostly Calanoida (genus Acartia) typically found in brackish waters. Marine species, including Acartia bifilosa and Acartia tonsa, were also reported. Species of freshwater Cladocera predominated in the Western Basin (over 50% total abundance, mostly the eutrophic species Chydorus sphaericus) where Copepoda were represented by a single cyclopoid species, Cyclops vicinus. The saline and freshwater environments of the Vistula Lagoon differed significantly (p<0.001) with respect to the abundance and biomass of zooplankton. The above differences resulted not only from salinity and temperature conditions, but also from dissolved oxygen concentrations, the trophic state of the investigated water body, and the existing biocenotic relationships.     

Functional studies on c.1347C>T,a polymorphism modulating phenotypic outcome in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy

Tijdschrift voor Kindergeneeskunde -