Traumatic dental injuries and associated factors among Brazilian preschool children

Abstract –  The main objective of this study was to assess the epidemiology of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) to the primary teeth of preschool children and second, to investigate whether TDI were related to anterior open bite and, third, whether TDI are related to socio-economic circumstances in an urban Brazilian population. A clinical examination was performed during the National Day of Children's Vaccination. TDI were classified according to the modified classification proposed by Ellis. In addition to those criteria the presence of tooth discoloration was recorded. An interview was carried out with mothers or guardians. The data collected included mother's level of education and living conditions. The prevalence of TDI was 9.4%. The maxillary central incisors were the most affected teeth. Most children with a TDI experienced traumatic injuries to one tooth (6.3%), while 2.8% had two and 0.4% had three traumatized teeth. The most common crown fracture was in enamel only (68.8%), followed by crown fracture of enamel and dentin (13.8%). Missing teeth following trauma occurred in 10.9% of those with TDI. The prevalence of tooth discoloration was 5.1%. Children with anterior open bite had twice the level the level of TDI compared to those with normal occlusions ( P  = 0.001). Socio-economic factors were not statistically significantly associated with the occurrence of TDI. The prevalence of dental injuries in Brazilian preschool children was low. Children with anterior open bite experienced more dental injuries. Neither of the indicators of socio-economic status was related to the prevalence of TDI.     

Effect of Temperature on the Longitudinal Variability of Quantitative Ultrasound Variables

It is unclear whether longitudinal change in phantom measurements bears any relation to the long-term in vivo instrument performance of quantitative ultrasound devices. Longitudinal quantitative ultrasound phantom data were obtained by measuring the manufacturer-provided phantom at ambient temperature and two different sets of Leeds phantoms at either ambient temperature or following a phantom temperature-control protocol. Measurements were performed using the Achilles Plus bone densitometer. Changes in longitudinal phantom data were compared to in vivo quantitative ultrasound data obtained from seven healthy, young volunteers. A cosinor model with linear trend and Hotelling's T2-test were used to quantify seasonal rhythms and long-term drift in quantitative ultrasound variables. Temperature effects and marked seasonal rhythms on quantitative ultrasound phantom measurements were evident but were far less apparent in vivo. Longitudinal precision of quantitative ultrasound variables was poorer for the manufacturer-provided phantom than for phantoms that were subjected to a temperature-control protocol or for healthy volunteers. This study has shown that longitudinal precision and longitudinal change differs between in vivo and phantom data. Longitudinal quantitative ultrasound measurements for monitoring change in skeletal status cannot, as yet, be properly controlled.     

Composite indicators of dental health: functioning teeth and the number of sound-equivalent teeth (T-Health)

Abstract –This study investigated whether two new composite dental indicators -"the number of functioning teeth" and "the number of sound-equivalent teeth" are more efficient than the conventional DM FT index in revealing the social and behavioural factors which are significantly related to oral health status. The arbitrary set of weights given to the T-Health indicator was also evaluated. The number of functioning teeth was defined as the aggregate of filled (otherwise sound) and sound teeth. The T-Health was defined as a weighted average of sound teeth, filled (otherwise sound) teeth and teeth with some decay, the weights intended in principle to represent the relative amounts of sound tissue in these three categories of teeth. An arbitrary set of weights was used: 4, 2, and 1 for sound, filled, and decayed teeth, respectively. 164 families (father, mother and at least one 13-yr-old child) from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, were randomly selected from 13-yr-old children from private and state schools. The parents'ages ranged from 35 to 44 yr. Socio-economic status, area of residence, level of education, family income, sugar consumption, toothbrushing frequency and type of dental attendance were the social and behavioural oral health risk-factors considered in this study. The results indicated that the two new dental indicators are more sensitive to the influence of social and behavioural factors, such as those investigated here, than is the traditional DM FT index. A different set of weights (4, I, and I for sound, filled, and decayed) was suggested for the construction of the T-Health.     

Adapting industry-style business model to academia in a system of Performance-based Incentive Compensation.

Performance-Based Incentive Compensation (PBIC) plans currently prevail throughout industry and have repeatedly demonstrated effectiveness as powerful motivational tools for attracting and retaining top talent, enhancing key indicators, increasing employee productivity, and, ultimately, enhancing mission-based parameters. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine introduced its PBIC plan to further the transition of the college to a high-performing academic and clinical enterprise. A forward-thinking compensation plan was progressively implemented during a three-year period.After the introduction of an aggressive five-year vision plan in 2002, the college introduced a PBIC plan designed to ensure the retention and recruitment of high-quality faculty through the use of uncapped salaries that reflect each faculty member's clinical, research, and education duties. The PBIC plan was introduced with broad, schoolwide principles adaptable to each department and purposely flexible to allow for tailor-made algorithms to fit the specific approaches required by individual departments.As of July 2006, the college had begun to reap a variety of short-term benefits from Phase I of its PBIC program, including increases in revenue and faculty salaries, and increased faculty morale and satisfaction.Successful implementation of a PBIC plan depends on a host of factors, including the development of a process for evaluating performance that is considered fair and reliable to the entire faculty. The college has become more efficient and effective by adopting such a program, which has helped it to increase overall productivity. The PBIC program continues to challenge our faculty members to attain their highest potential while rewarding them accordingly.     

The value of deletion analysis for carrier detection in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)

We performed genetic analysis for carrier detection for several at-risk females in a four-generation Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) pedigree using deletion analysis. We demonstrated that dosage analysis is a suitable alternative method to determine the carrier status of female relatives of DMD patients shown to have a deletion within the DMD gene. Subsequently, we diagnosed an affected male fetus for an at-risk female shown to be a DMD carrier by deletion analysis. The usefulness of deletion and linkage analysis are compared. In this family, linkage analysis was complicated by the unavailability of key family members, two recombination events and by previously undisclosed nonpaternity. We found that dosage analysis was more efficient than linkage for carrier evaluation in this family.     

Cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic studies of a case of interstitial deletion of proximal 15q

A 4-month-old child with multiple anomalies was determined to have an interstitial deletion of chromosome 15, i.e., del(15) (q12q14). The deletion appears not to be a typical deletion of 15q12 such as seen in Angelman and Prader-Willi syndromes, but appears to be more distal, involving either loss of all of 15q12 and part of 15q14, or part of 15q12 and most of 15q14. In either case, 15q13 is missing. Fluorescent in situ hybridization with probes for 15 centromere (D15Z), pericentromeric satellite sequences (D15Z1), and chromosome 15 painting probes shows the deleted chromosome to involve only 15 and no other acrocentric chromosome. Hybridization with probes for the AS and PWS loci (D15S11 and GABAB3, Oncor) show both sites to be intact in the deleted 15. The case is compared with two other reports with overlapping interstitial deletions of proximal 15q, neither of which shows typical features of Angelman or Prader-Willi syndromes.     

Duplication 18q syndrome

Some variation in the phenotype of patients with dup(18q) is recognized. Our patient has the phenotype described for dup(18qter).     

Derivation and characterization of a monoclonal hybridoma antibody specific for human alpha-fetoprotein

A monoclonal antibody specific for human alpha-fetoprotein (HAFP) was derived by the hybridoma technique. Spleen cells from mice immunized with pure HAFP were fused with a mouse myeloma cell line (P3×63-Ag-8) and an anti-HAFP secreting hybridoma cell line was cloned in soft agarose. The HAFP specific antibody was shown to be a monoclonal IgG₁ subclass with extremely high avidity for HAFP.