The telephone survey: a methodological strategy for obtaining information

Studies have shown that students and the general population have little knowledge about nursing schools and the nursing profession. This study investigates the extent to which a sample of the population of Brazil is aware of the existence of nursing schools, and how they have obtained this information. Data were collected by telephone interviews. The sample consisted of 326 subjects whose telephone numbers were taken from the telephone book. Analysis showed that 73% of the subjects were aware of the existence of two nursing schools in the city; however, 65.03% did not know the names of these schools. Direct communication with friends and family, as well as indirect communication by television and advertising, were the sources of information mentioned by those questioned.     

Twice daily 4% Sodium Cromoglycate vs. 2% Sodium Cromoglycate used four times daily in seasonal (grass pollen) allergic conjunctivitis

It is well established that 2% Sodium Cromoglycate is an effective treatment for a number of allergic eye diseases. It has been shown to be non-toxic. It can be used longterm and in serious allergic problems it is a useful adjunctive therapy to steroids. The main problem with Sodium Cromoglycate is that the recommended dosage is a four times daily application and patient non-compliance is common. One of the main objectives of any therapy is to reduce the frequency of dosage and the current study has been designed to investigate the efficacy of a 4% solution of Sodium Cromoglycate, used twice daily, versus a 2% solution used four times daily in seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. A multicentre study, therefore, was carried out to assess the efficacy of both drugs and to assess any possibility of side effects. In addition, a unit dose was used, thus eliminating preservatives and it was used specifically in seasonal allergic conjunctivitis in the pollen season. This study showed that 4% Sodium Cromoglycate used twice daily was at least as affective as 2% Sodium Cromoglycate used four times daily.     

Metabolic expression of intrinsic developmental programs for dentine and enamel biomineralization in serumless,chemically-defined,organotypic culture

Summary Biomineralization was investigated using embryonic mouse mandibular first molars (M₁) cultured in the presence or absence of fetal calf serum. Metabolic features including cell division and Ca²⁺ and phosphate incorporation into dentine and enamel extracellular matrices were analyzed. The relative timing and magnitude of DNA synthesis for serumless cultures was comparable toin vivo controls. Isotopic calcium and phosphate incorporation into the mineral phase of dentine and enamel matrices, in the absence of serum, fluctuated during development. Molar tooth morphogenesis, cytodifferentiation, and extracellular matrix formation approximated late crown-stage development in serumless cultures. Von Kossa histochemical staining indicated calcium phosphate salt formation in serumless cultures. Analysis of anhydrous fixation-prepared enamel and dentine representing serumless cultured explants indicated that crystal size and orientation were comparable toin vivo enamel and dentine. In contrast, serum-supplemented cultures showed atypical crystal size and orientation. Calcium/phosphorous (Ca/P) ratio values for serumless cultures after 21 days showed Ca/P enamel values of 2.03 (SD±0.04, p<0.025) and dentine values of 1.89 (SD±0.01, p<0.025). Electron diffraction patterns of enamel and dentine formed in serumless cultures were principally those of highly-ordered crystalline hydroxyapatite. Our results suggest that tissue-specific dentine and enamel biomineralization is regulated by endogenous factors intrinsic to the developmental program of embryonic tooth organs during serumless culture.