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).     

Effects of 21 days treatment with fluoxetine on stimulated endogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine overflow in the rat dorsal raphe and suprachiasmatic nucleus studies using fast cyclic voltammetry in vitro

Changes in the extracellular concentration of 5-HT evoked by electrical stimulation of brain slices containing either dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) or suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) from rats treated for 21 days with fluoxetine (5 mg/kg; i.p.) or water were monitored using fast cyclic voltammetry (FCV). Stimulated 5-HT overflow was enhanced significantly in both brain regions after 21 days treatment with fluoxetine but there was no change in the half time for re-uptake (t1/2). Concentration response curves for inhibition of electrically stimulated 5-HT overflow by 8-OH-DPAT (5-HT_1a receptor agonist) or RU24969 (5-HT_1b receptor agonist) in the DRN or SCN respectively were obtained in slices prepared from both groups of animals. There was a significant shift to the right in the dose-response curve for RU24969 in the SCN in fluoxetine treated animals but a shift to the left for the dose-response curve for 8-OH-DPAT in the DRN. These data suggest that down regulation of the 5-HT_1b autoreceptors occurs in an axon terminal region (SCN) but that there is a sensitisation of 5-HT_1a autoreceptor mechanisms controlling 5-HT overflow in the DRN.