Factors Affecting Job Satisfaction and Their Correlation with Educational Standards among Dental Assistants

A disparity exists in the educational qualifications of dental assistants working in various public and private institutions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of professional and personal characteristics on job satisfaction among dental assistants. A cross-sectional survey was performed among dental assistants using a 24-item self-administered questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between overall job satisfaction and other variables. The overall response rate was 72.1%. Factor analysis suggested that five underlying factors were related to job satisfaction. The mean score for overall job satisfaction was 3.86 (satisfied) out of 5. Among the work environment factors, the highest mean score, 4.26 (satisfied), was obtained for quality of service, and the lowest mean score, 2.78 (neutral), was obtained for the perception of income. The income and general prospects of the profession was significantly associated with overall job satisfaction. This study suggests that for dental assistants, professional and personal life, quality of service, perception of income and prestige and self-respect are important factors for job satisfaction. Despite differences in professional formation standards, in general, the study participants were considerably satisfied with their jobs.     

Persecutory delusions and psychological well-being

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology - Persecutory delusions are one of the key problems seen in psychotic conditions. The aim of the study was to assess for the first time the levels of...     

Father involvement with three-to-four-year olds at home: giving fathers a chance

This study examined fathers' perceptions regarding their home-based activities (HBA) and the influence of fathers' demographic characteristics on their perceptions and practices at home. A total of 396 fathers completed a survey questionnaire describing their demographic information, perceptions and their practices regarding their involvement in HBA. Results indicated that fathers have moderate level of practice concerning their HBA, yet they have low perception of their actual practice at HBA. In addition, there was a statistical significance in HBA due to fathers' age, educational level and specialisation which had an influence on their perceptions as well. Recommendations and implications of future research were discussed.     

Phylogenetic analysis of New Zealand tomato spotted wilt virus isolates suggests likely incursion history scenarios and mechanisms for population evolution

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is an internationally significant pathogen with a wide host range, vectored by thrips. We have studied the sequence variation and evolutionary mechanisms at play in parts of the L, M and S subgenomes of 23 New Zealand TSWV isolates collected between 1992 and 2009, aiming to identify the possible geographic origins of isolates. Maximum-likelihood-based phylogenetic analyses of New Zealand and overseas TSWV isolates placed the L and M subgenome sequences of two isolates (MAF04 and PFR04) in distinct clades composed primarily of Korean, Japanese and Chinese isolates, in contrast to the remaining 21 isolates, which clustered with a cosmopolitan group of isolates. The nucleocapsid (N) gene sequences of MAF04 and PFR04 plus MAF02 clustered with Japanese isolates. Consequently, we postulate that these isolates may represent a distinct incursion into New Zealand, but we do not have enough evidence to indicate an incursion pathway. Alternately, these isolates may have arrived with an incursion that included a mixture of TSWV isolates of diverse international origins. The sequences of four of the TSWV isolates contained a number of sites with a mixture of nucleotides, suggesting that these isolates either consisted of several sequence variants or were from plants with mixed infections. One isolate (MAF02) was shown to be a either a reassortant or an S subgenome recombinant. Large amounts of low-level polymorphism were detected with low amino acid change fixation rates (purifying selection). Negative selection was indicated at four amino acid sites in the New Zealand TSWV N gene sequences.     

CCL3L1 copy number, CCR5 genotype and susceptibility to tuberculosis

Background

22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is a common microdeletion syndrome, which occurs in approximately 1:4000 births. Familial autosomal dominant recurrence of the syndrome is detected in about 8-28% of the cases. Aim of this study is to evaluate the intergenerational and intrafamilial phenotypic variability in a cohort of familial cases carrying a 22q11.2 deletion.

Methods

Thirty-two 22q11.2DS subjects among 26 families were enrolled.

Results

Second generation subjects showed a significantly higher number of features than their transmitting parents (212 vs 129, P?=?0.0015). Congenital heart defect, calcium-phosphorus metabolism abnormalities, developmental and speech delay were more represented in the second generation (P?<?0.05). Ocular disorders were more frequent in the parent group. No significant difference was observed for the other clinical variables. Intrafamilial phenotypic heterogeneity was identified in the pedigrees. In 23/32 families, a higher number of features were found in individuals from the second generation and a more severe phenotype was observed in almost all of them, indicating the worsening of the phenotype over generations. Both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms may be involved in the phenotypic variability.

Conclusions

Second generation subjects showed a more complex phenotype in comparison to those from the first generation. Both ascertainment bias related to patient selection or to the low rate of reproductive fitness of adults with a more severe phenotype, and several not well defined molecular mechanism, could explain intergenerational and intrafamilial phenotypic variability in this syndrome.     

Isolated brachial artery aneurysm: a rare presentation of paediatric Behçet’s disease

Behçet’s disease is a rare disease characterised by recurrent oral ulcers, with systemic manifestations including genital ulcers, ocular disease, skin lesions, gastrointestinal disease, neurologic disease, vascular disease and arthritis. Most clinical manifestations of Behçet’s disease are believed to be due to vasculitis. The heterogeneous clinical spectrum is influenced by sex, ethnicity and country of residence. Vascular manifestation in the form of isolated large brachial artery aneurysm is rare in children. Treatment involves aneurysmorrhaphy to avoid rupture or ischaemic sequelae in addition to lifelong medical management to control vasculitis.