Healthcare use and costs associated with children’s behavior problems

The objective of the study was to investigate associations between severity of behavior problems, specific symptom domains with healthcare use and costs in school-aged children. A cross-sectional study using data from the 10-year follow-up of two population-based birth cohorts was conducted on four rural and urban communities in Germany. There were 3,579 participants [1,834 boys (51%), 1,745 girls (49%)] on average aged 10.4 years. The severity levels (normal, at risk, abnormal) and symptom domains of behavioral problems were assessed by parent-reported strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ).The outcomes were medical use categories (physicians, therapists, hospital, and rehabilitation), medical costs categories and total direct medical use and costs (calculated from parent-reported utilization of healthcare services during the last 12 months). Total direct medical costs showed a graded relationship with severity level (adjusted p < 0.0001). Average annual cost difference in total direct medical costs between at risk and normal total difficulties was Euro (€) 271 (SD 858), and € 1,237 (SD 2,528) between abnormal and normal total difficulties. A significant increase in physician costs showed between children with normal and at risk total difficulties (1.30), and between normal and abnormal total difficulties (1.29; p < 0.0001). Between specific symptom domains, children with emotional symptoms showed highest costs for physicians, psychotherapist, and hospitalization as well as total direct medical costs. Children with hyperactivity/inattention showed highest costs for therapists and emergency room costs. Healthcare use and costs are related to the severity of child behavior problems. In general, children’s costs for psychotherapy treatments have been low relative to general medical treatments which may indicate that some children with behavioral problems did not get appropriate care. To some degree, medical conditions may be attributable to some of the high hospitalization costs found in children with emotional symptom.     

Surgical and prosthetic concepts for predictable immediate loading of oral implants

Immediate loading of oral implants is an established concept for lower jaw restoration using four intraforaminal implants splinted together with a bar. There is a lot of misunderstanding in the literature and not exact definition of the term "immediate loading." Moreover, the number of implants to restore edentulous jaws is relatively high to compensate for the loading forces and dependent on the bone quality and quantity. This report presents the different surgical and prosthetic concepts for immediate loading to get long-term success in the upper and lower jaw. When the primary stability is adequate, only six implants may be loaded immediately after surgery, if the implants are splinted using a provisional fixed restoration. Using a number of six primary stable implants, it is possible to restore edentulous jaws independent on the clinical situation. This concept may be used successfully in the posterior part of the mandible when three implants are splinted with provisional crowns and loaded immediately. The biomechanical aspects, the implant design and surface seem to be of great importance for the long-term success in compromised and advanced surgical cases. In conclusion, immediate loading of oral implants may be successful if a primary stability as well as immobilization (splinting) immediately after surgery are taken care.     

Treatment of advanced malignant eccrine poroma with locoregional chemotherapy

Malignant eccrine poroma is a rare disease with approximately 200 cases reported in the literature. Regional cutaneous and systemic metastases are rarely observed and their management has been generally unsuccessful. We report on a case in which topical 5-fluorouracil application and intra-arterial chemotherapy with docetaxel resulted in a histologically confirmed complete response of multiple regional skin metastases for more than 2 years. Despite intravenous administration of docetaxel, slow progression of systemic disease was observed.