Evaluation of preventive treatment by risk of caries among 13-year-olds

Abstract Implementation of caries preventive treatment in relation to the risk of caries was studied among 13-year-olds (n=132) in two groups treated in the same public dental clinics in Helsinki: caries patients (n=100) had the greatest numbers of decayed teeth (DT+dt), 5.5 on average, whereas cavity-free patients (n=32) had intact teeth. Data taken from patients' personal oral health records served for evaluation of individual need for caries prevention, risk of caries, and preventive treatment given to each patient. Patients with any caries lesions or erupting teeth or poor oral hygiene were considered to be at risk of caries and in need of preventive treatment. The more caries lesions a patient had, the more prevention was expected to have been given. Preventive treatment of caries was weakly or only moderately in accordance with patients' individual needs and risk of developing caries, although patients with more caries lesions tended to have been given more preventive treatment than did those with none or only a few lesions. The majority of preventive measures given were applications of fluoride varnish, whereas motivation of and instruction in oral health care habits remained weak. However, patients whom their dentists had judged to be at high risk of caries received more intensified preventive treatment than did other caries patients. As a conclusion, intensification of caries prevention among high-risk patients is still needed. Dentists should always consider each patient's risk of developing caries to improve quality of preventive treatment.     

Labelling of cervival and thoracic spinal neurones following injections of horseradish peroxidase in the leg muscles of rats

Following injection of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) solution in the gastrocnemius muscle or the extensor digitorum longus muscle in neonatal and developing albino rats, some neurones in the cervical enlargement, mid-thoracic region and sacral region were labelled in addition to the region of the spinal cord from where the sciatic nerves emerged. The labelling was most probably the result of diffusion of HRP solution from the site of injection to nearby structures.     

Taurine levels in developing rabbit brain and other organs

The levels of taurine in brain, heart, liver, kidney, spleen, muscle, and blood of rabbit were determined during development. Taurine was found to be present in a very high concentration at birth and to decrease during maturation in all parts studied except heart.     

Neuropharmacological effects of isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane—3. An account of the convulsant activity of the γ-isomer in rats

A study was made of the somatomotor responses of rats to y-hexachlorocyclohexane, the insecticide lindane, with a view to assessing its properties as a convulsant in mammals. The drug was known to successively elicit a (myo-)clonic and a (myo-)clonic-tonic seizure on slow intravenous infusion as does pentylenetetrazol. The correspondence with pentylenetetrazol is now shown to include, apart from premonitory signs and a certain form of postictal state (1) the ontogenetic development of the two different types of seizure; (2) the antagonistic action of trimethadione and of the α-isomer of hexachlorocyclohexane; (3) a facilitatory action of reserpine. Further, an identical series of locomotor behaviours has been found to be elicited by γ-hexachlorocyclohexane and pentylenetetrazol upon injection into basal strata of allo- and neocortex overlying the tectum or into the superior colliculus none of which, however, constitutes a significant early part of the sequence of effects seen after systemic administration. The implications of this discrepancy are considered with reference to evidence which would seem to indicate that the response obtained by topical application into the tectum might be initiated through interference with GABAergic neurotransmission. Consideration is also given to the pharmacokinetic properties of the insecticide which bear on onset of action and apparent potency in relation to pentylenetetrazol. It is concluded that γ-hexachlorocyclohexane exerts its somatomotor effects in a manner akin to pentylenetetrazol with respect to target sites and modes of excitation.     

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis detection, Latvia

To improve multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) detection, we successfully introduced the rpoB gene mutation line probe assay into the national laboratory in Latvia, a country with epidemic MDR-TB. The assay detected rifampin resistance with 91% sensitivity and 96% specificity within 1 to 5 days (vs. 12-47 days for BACTEC).     

Needle stick injuries among nurses in sub-Saharan Africa

OBJECTIVES: Despite a heavy burden of HIV/AIDS and other blood borne infections, few studies have investigated needle stick injuries in sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted a cross-sectional study at Mulago national referral hospital in Kampala, Uganda, to assess the occurrence and risk factors of needle stick injuries among nurses and midwives. METHODS: A total of 526 nurses and midwives involved in the direct day-to-day management of patients answered a questionnaire inquiring about occurrence of needle stick injuries and about potential predictors, including work experience, work load, working habits, training, and risk behaviour. RESULTS: A 57% of the nurses and midwives had experienced at least one needle stick injury in the last year. Only 18% had not experienced any such injury in their entire career. The rate of needle stick injuries was 4.2 per person-year. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the most important risk factor for needle stick injuries was lack of training on such injuries (OR 5.72, 95% CI 3.41-9.62). Other important risk factors included working for more than 40 h/week (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.20-3.31), recapping needles most of the time (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.11-2.86), and not using gloves when handling needles (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.10-3.32). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed a high rate of needle stick injuries among nurses and midwives working in Uganda. The strongest predictor for needle stick injuries was lack of training. Other important risk factors were related to long working hours, working habits, and experience.     

Childhood cancer in developing countries

The problem of childhood cancer cannot be evaluated separately from developmental levels and states of health of the countries. Rapid increase in population, poverty, poor hygiene, lack of education, and multitude health problems impede the development of pediatric oncology and success of the management of childhood cancer in developing countries. More than 85% pediatric cancer cases occur in developing countries that use less than 5% of world resources. The rate will exceed 90% in the next two decades, due to the increase of youth population in favor of developing countries. Incidence rates, pathology, and clinical characteristics of various cancers seem different in developing and developed countries. Different environments, life styles, dietary habits, and hygienic conditions are the main reasons for those differences. Unprecedented changes in diagnostic techniques, treatment methods and supportive care have occurred during the last decades. Consequently, management has improved and the mortality rates have decreased. Most of the children with cancer living in developing countries could not profit from those advances in pediatric oncology because of the cost.     

Epidemiology of childhood type 2 diabetes in the developing world

Type 2 diabetes in the young is an increasing problem with potentially serious outcomes. Our understanding of the worldwide burden of this condition is incomplete, with many studies adopting different methodologies to assess the condition and reporting on specific communities or ethnic groups. Most of the data come from developed nations, with few studies from developing nations. The purpose of this review is to bring together the available data on type 2 diabetes in the young from the developing world, in order to highlight deficiencies in the knowledge of the condition and also to promote strategies to deal with it. Noted also are some of the factors associated with the condition, such as family history, genetic influences, intrauterine environment as well as the importance of birth weight, insulin resistance, obesity, and development of complications. These are of relevance in both developed and developing nations.     

A survey of resources and activities in the MISPHO family of institutions in Latin America: a comparison of two eras

BACKGROUND: In developing countries, implementation of effective pediatric cancer programs can reduce the overall rate of childhood mortality. To promote this objective, Monzas International School of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology (MISPHO)--for 14 countries with limited resources in Latin America--was launched in 1996. METHODS: A survey was conducted to evaluate the possible impact of MISPHO on the following areas: research, educational, and clinical activities, diagnostic services, transfusion medicine, supportive care, ancillary staffing complement, and parents' associations--before and after 1996. RESULTS: No institution lost resources or activities after 1996 and there were overall gains, in particular in educational activities, diagnostic capabilities, creation of single and multiple institutional treatment protocols. CONCLUSIONS: Although notable improvements have occurred, there are still important needs that have to be satisfied.     

Evaluation of familial influences on the course and severity of schizophrenia among US and Indian cases

Abstract.Background: Prior studies suggest familial (possibly genetic) influences on the course of schizophrenia.Aims: The aim of this study was to compare familial influences on the course and severity of schizophrenia in two independent samples.Method: Thirteen selected measures were compared among affected sibling pairs (ASPs) from Pittsburgh, USA and New Delhi, India (48 US pairs, 53 Indian pairs). For each ASP proband, an unrelated patient was selected randomly from a suitable pool of cases ascertained in the same study (Sibpair proband—comparison case or S-C pairs). Correlations between these pairs were compared.Results: The correlations varied by item and by site. Significant correlations for longitudinal course and pattern of severity were noted among the ASPs from USA, but did not remain significant following corrections for multiple comparisons. Comparisons between the correlations for ASPs and the S-C pairs, used to estimate familial effects, yielded trends for the ASP correlations to be numerically larger than the S-C correlations in both samples. Separate cross-site comparisons revealed several significant differences with regard to several demographic and clinical variables. The possible impact of the cross-site variations on the observed ASP correlations is discussed.Conclusions: Though familial factors did not appear to have a significant impact on course/severity using this novel design, the suggestive trends need to be examined in larger samples.