Educational and career pathways of dental hygienists: comparing graduates of associate and baccalaureate degree programs

The purpose of this study was to compare the educational and career pathways of graduates from associate degree (A.S./A.A.) and baccalaureate degree (B.S./B.A.) entry-level dental hygiene (DH) programs. A thirty-item, closed-ended questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 1,352 dental hygienists who were educated and licensed in California between 1990 and 2000. The response rate was 76 percent. Approximately half of the respondents had a degree prior to entering the DH program, and the elapsed time between degrees was greater for A.S./A.A. graduates (p=0.05). More B.S./B.A. graduates had earned or were seeking master's and other more advanced degrees: 11.9 percent versus 4.3 percent. Graduates from both types of programs were involved in professional and community organizations and held leadership positions. Most were currently practicing in the traditional clinical setting, with means of 3.6 and 3.3 days/week for the A.S./A.A. and B.S./B.A. graduates, respectively (p<0.05). More B.S./B.A. graduates held DH faculty positions (30.3 percent versus 4.3 percent, p<0.05) and other non-DH teaching positions (14.9 percent versus 8.6 percent, p<0.05) and had greater involvement with research (8.0 percent versus 3.6 percent, p<0.05). The two groups did not differ in regard to other dental and DH-related positions. In conclusion, graduates from B.S./B.A. programs are more likely to have positions in nontraditional settings.     

Glinus lotoides ethanolic extract alleviates LPS-induced anxiety and depression-like behavior by modulating antioxidant and inflammatory biomarkers in rats

Objective:To explore the protective role of Glinus lotoides ethanolic extract in a depression model through modulating oxidant/antioxidant enzyme system and inflammatory status.Methods:Phytochemical constituents of Glinus lotoides ethanolic extract were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively along with HPLC.Rats were divided into six groups.The normal control and the intoxicated groups received normal saline,and the standard group received imipramine,while the remaining groups received 100,300,and 500 mg/kg Glinus lotoides ethanolic extract.All groups received treatments for 14 d.Lipopolysaccharides(LPS)were then administered i.p.(0.83 mg/kg)to all groups except the normal control group.After 24 h,anxiety and depression-like behaviors were evaluated by performing behavioral analysis(open field,tail suspension,forced swim,sucrose preference test),and determining total oxidant status,total antioxidant capacity,catalase,and biochemical parameters[malondialdehyde,glutathione,superoxide dismutase,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-alpha and interleukin(IL)-6].Results:Phytochemical studies confirmed the presence of phenols and flavonoids and HPLC analysis showed the presence of gallic acid,quercetin,chlorogenic,and caffeic acid.Total oxidant status was significantly decreased,while total antioxidant capacity was significantly increased in the Glinus lotoides ethanolic extract treated groups.Moreover,Glinus lotoides ethanolic extract diminished malondialdehyde,IL-6,and TNF-alpha levels,while increasing superoxide dismutase,catalase,and glutathione activities.Conclusions:Glinus lotoides ethanolic crude extract shows significant antidepressant activity by modulating oxidative and biochemical parameters that supports its folkloric use in traditional systems of medicine.     

Role of fatty acids and calcium in male reproduction

Both fatty acids (FAs) and calcium ions play important roles in contraceptive cycles via several systems. Polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) act as precursors fo...     

Clinical evaluation of internal joint derangement using sonography

Objectives  Currently, the most precise method for imaging the soft tissue of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but this technique is often unavailable because of its high cost or is otherwise unsuitable. In the absence of complete information about the TMJ disc, treatment decisions are based only on the results of clinical exams and conventional radiography of TMJ hard tissues. This study was performed to evaluate the accuracy of high-resolution ultrasonography (HR-US) in the detection of TMJ disc displacement. Methods  MRI and sonography were performed on 16 TMJs in ten patients who were diagnosed with anterior disc displacement (ADD), and the findings of the sonography and MRI examinations were compared. Results  All cases of ADD diagnosed by sonography were confirmed by MRI. Conclusion  HR-US is a reliable technique for imaging the TMJ disc that can be used for TMJ diagnosis and treatment planning.     

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug modulates oxidative stress and calcium ion levels in the neutrophils of patients with primary dysmenorrhea

Primary dysmenorrhea is a common inflammatory disease with an uncertain pathogenesis, although one consistent finding is increased neutrophil activity. We aimed to investigate the effects of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) on oxidative stress and Ca²⁺ levels in neutrophils from patients with primary dysmenorrhea. Blood samples were obtained for neutrophil isolation from six female patients with primary dysmenorrhea (patients) and six healthy female subjects. The NSAID (diclofenac) was taken daily by the patient group for 6 weeks before a second blood sample was taken. Neutrophils isolated after diclofenac treatment were investigated in three settings: (1) after incubation with verapamil and diltiazem (V + D), (2) after incubation with 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), and (3) with neither exposure. Neutrophil lipid peroxidation and stimulated intracellular Ca²⁺ levels were higher in the patients than in the controls, although their levels were reduced after six weeks of treatment with diclofenac. Ca²⁺ levels from neutrophils obtained after diclofenac treatment were further decreased after incubation with V + D or 2-APB, compared with those exposed to neither agent. Neutrophil glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant status were lower in the patients than in the controls and higher post-treatment with diclofenac. Reduced glutathione levels were similar in the control, patient, and treatment groups. In conclusion, we observed the importance of Ca²⁺ influx into the neutrophils and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of the patients with primary dysmenorrhea. The NSAID diclofenac appeared to provide a protective effect against oxidative stress and Ca²⁺ entry through modulation of neutrophil VGCC and TRP calcium channels.     

Characterization of hospital waste in Lahore, Pakistan

Background It is a common practice in developing countries that medical/infectious waste openly dumped with municipal solid waste.This paper presented a generation and characterization study of hospital waste.Determination of the waste composition is a basic step for selecting the most efficient treatment method of hospital waste.Methods Stratified random sampling was used to collect the samples of general as well as medical wastes for seven days.Medical waste was sorted into 10 categories whereas general waste was classified into 11 categories.Incineration was observed thoroughly for observing flaws in the incineration process.Data was analyzed by using SPSS software version 16.0.Results The studied hospital produced an average 297 kilograms of medical waste daily and it comprises plastics （71.0％）,glass （13.9％）,papers etc.（3.8％）,cotton/dressings （5.7％）,masks/gloves/sheets （0.3％） diapers （0.4％）,wasted machines used in operation theaters （2.0％） and blades （0.1％）.Laboratories,cancer ward,nursery ward,OPD and emergency ward are the largest infectious waste producing departments in the hospital.The hospital produced an average 3 511 kilograms of general waste daily in which organics constitute （44.3％）,diapers etc.（42.8％）,demolition materials （3.7％）,plastic waste mixing medical plastic waste （2.5％）,miscellaneous （2.14％）,cloth/clothes （1.6％）,cardboard （1.3％）,papers （0.8％）,cotton dressings （0.28％）,glass （0.27％） and iron materials （0.18％）.Other alarming facts are：medical waste is recycled in study area,after incineration of hospital waste,ash simply dumped in the premises of the hospital without any liner system.Conclusions The studied hospital produces 10％ of infectious waste and 90％ of general waste.The largest components of the infectious waste are plastic and glass.Organics and diapers are major components of the general waste coming from different sites of the hospital.Lack of training,inadequate knowledge regarding to the composition of the infectious waste and risks associated with the waste are the major issues which must be addressed and resolved.