Quality evaluation of oral health record-keeping for Finnish young adults

The objective of this study was to assess the quality of oral health record-keeping in public oral health care in relation to dentists' characteristics. A random computerized selection of 239 subjects, born in 1966-71 and clinically examined during 1994 in an administrative unit of the public oral health service in southern Finland, included 4-5 cases per dentist, the number of dentists being 50. Data concerning actual clinical examinations and treatment courses carried out in public dental clinics came from original oral health records. Criteria for assessment of oral health record entries were based on Finnish health legislation and detailed instructions of health authorities. The results showed that each patient's identity was available in 90% of documents. Recordings concerning continuity of comprehensive care were infrequent; a questionnaire concerning each patient's up-to-date health history was in only 26% of the oral health records. Notes concerning each patient's bite and function of the temporomandibular joint were in 37% of the records, notes about oral soft tissues were in 11%, and the check-up interval was recorded in 21%. Recording of indices on periodontal and dental status varied greatly; the community periodontal index of treatment need was found in 93% and the index of incipient lesions in 16% of the records. Female dentists and dentists younger than 37 years tended to record more information. Dentists should be encouraged to better utilize the options offered by oral health records for individual treatment schemes.     

Novel retinal findings in β-thalassemia major: older age and higher ferritin level as the risk factors

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology - To investigate retinal changes in β-thalassemia major patients and identify their association with systemic risk factors. In...     

Intra-word consistency and accuracy in Finnish children aged 3–6 years

This study examined intra-word consistency and accuracy in typically developing Finnish children and their relation to children’s vocabulary size and phonological skills. A total of 80 typically developing Finnish children aged 3;0 to 6;11 were asked to name 20 words three separate times during a single assessment session. Responses were classified into four categories: 1) consistently correct productions, 2) consistently incorrect productions, 3) variable productions with hits (variable productions including at least one matched adult target), and 4) variable productions with no hits. The results revealed that 5- and 6-year-old children produced significantly more often consistently correct responses than younger children. However, even for the 3- and 4-year old children the most frequent response type was consistently correct production. Between these two youngest age groups (3 and 4), the only significant difference was in consistently incorrect responses, which the 3-year-olds produced more often than the older children. There was a significant negative correlation between consistently incorrectly produced words and children’s phonological skills, but no other relationships were found. The results indicate that when assessing children with speech sound disorder (SSD), Finnish clinicians need to take into account the fact that even 3-year-old typically developing children generally produce words correctly, either consistently or inconsistently.     

The effect of alfuzosin on renal resistive index,urinary electrolytes and β2 microglobulin levels and TGF β-1 levels of kidney tissue in rats with unilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction

Background: In this study, it was aimed to determine the effects of alfuzosin on experimentally generated unilateral partial ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPO) in rats.

Materials and methods: Thirty Long–Evans rats were randomly allocated into five groups. In control group (C), nothing was performed; in group Sham (S) only laparotomy was done; in Alfuzosin group (A) only alfuzosin was administered for two weeks (10?mg/kg/day p.o.) without any surgery; in UPO group, unilateral UP junction obstruction was produced; and in the Group UPT (ureteropelvic obstruction?+?treatment), alfuzosin was administered for two weeks (10?mg/kg/day p.o.) in addition to UPO production. Renal pelvic anteroposterior diameters were determined with ultrasonography (USG) and renal arterial resistivity indexes by color Doppler USG. Urine was collected both at the beginning and at the end of the experiment for 24?h in all the groups and at the end of the experiment, blood samples were obtained. Blood and urine electrolytes and TGF-β1, urine density, urine β₂ microglobulin levels were determined. Renal tissue samples harvested from all of the rats were histopathologically evaluated. Results were determined using one-way ANOVA t-test; p?<?0.05 was accepted as significant.

Results: Urine density in the UPT group was lower with respect to UPO group and blood electrolytes were preserved as close to normal (p?<?0.05). In the UPT group, urine TGF-β1 and blood TGF-β1, blood β₂ microglobulin levels and histopathologic damage scores were lower compared to the UPO group (p?<?0.05).

Conclusion: It is shown in this experimental unilateral partial UPO model that alfuzosin treatment prevents obstructive renal damage.     

Ewing’s Sarcoma of the Peritoneum: a Rare Location for Extraskeletal Ewing’s Sarcoma

A 38-year-old male presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain and bulge. He had a history of irritable bowel syndrome for 1 year with complaint of dyspepsia. Physical examination revealed a distended abdomen with a huge palpable mass located in the paraumblical region. Laboratory findings revealed a high white blood cell count with neutrophil predominance. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed a 23-cm, oval-shaped, grossly necrotic, low-attenuation mass with peripherally located dominant vessels. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) suggested a highly malignant tumor with prominent diffusion restriction especially at the periphery of the mass. On surgery, macroscopic examination showed a macrolobulated, hypervascular, reddish brown mass attached to the parietal peritoneum with a stalk. Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) was diagnosed on histopathological examination with small round cells.     

Surgical treatment of selected tumors via the navigated minimally invasive presigmoidal suprabulbar infralabyrinthine approach without rerouting of the facial nerve

Neurosurgical Review - The feasibility of a novel skull base approach — the navigated minimally invasive presigmoidal suprabulbar infralabyrinthine approach (NaMIPSI-A) without rerouting of...     

Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty in eyes previously treated with collagen crosslinking for keratoconus: 3-year results

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology - To evaluate the 3-year results of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) using the big-bubble technique in keratoconus...