Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHQoL) among Adolescents Seeking Orthodontic Treatment

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different orthodontic treatment needs on the OHQoL of adolescents. Materials and methods: 200 subjects (100 males and 100 females), 11 to 15 years of age were recruited for the study. OHQoL was assessed with the short form of the oral health impact profile (OHIP-14), and malocclusion severity was assessed with the index of orthodontic treatment need (IOTN). The Chi-square test was used to analyse the qualitative data. The level of significance was 0.05. Results: The more severe the malocclusion the worse was the impact on the OHQoL. Orthodontic treatment need had almost similar impact on the daily activities of both males and females. Pronunciation and taste was not significantly affected by the need for orthodontic treatment in either males or females. The proportions of orthodontic patients who found it uncomfortable to eat any food and had to interrupt their meals were significantly correlated with orthodontic treatment needs in both males and females. Conclusion: Orthodontic treatment need had an impact on OHQoL of adolescents with no significant difference between males and females. Clinical significance: Orthodontists should be aware of the impact caused by malocclusion and orthodontic treatment on the quality of life of the patients and should provide regular positive reinforcements to them. Keywords: Oral health-related qualtiy of life, Orthodontic treatment need, Malocclusion. How to cite this article: Manjith CM, Karnam SK, Manglam S, Praveen MN, Mathur A. Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHQoL) among Adolescents Seeking Orthodontic Treatment. J Contemp Dent Pract 2012;13(3):294-298. Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: None declared.     

Magnesium lithospermate B possesses inhibitory activity on Na^＋,K^＋-ATPase and neuroprotective effects against ischemic stroke

AIM: To examine if magnesium lithospermate B (MLB) extracted from Danshen, the dried roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza, may act as an active component responsible for the cardiac therapeutic effect of this traditional Chinese herb via the same molecular mechanism triggered by cardiac glycosides, such as ouabain and digoxin. Moreover, we wanted to test if MLB may provide neuroprotection against ischemic stroke as observed for cardiac glycosides. METHODS: Similarity in the chemical structure and molecular configuration between MLB and ouabain was analyzed. The inhibition potency of MLB and ouabain on Na( +),K( +) -ATPase activity of a commercial product, as well as in purified membrane fractions from rat brain and heart tissues, was examined and compared. Neuroprotective effect of MLB against ischemic stroke was also evaluated using a cortical brain slice-based assay model. RESULTS: Dose-dependent inhibition on the commercial Na( +),K( +)-ATPase equivalent to that for ouabain was observed for MLB of approximately half dosage by weight. This relative potency of ouabain and MLB was also observed for their inhibition on Na( +),K( +)-ATPase activity of plasma membrane purified from rat tissues, although these 2 inhibitors exhibited somewhat lower competence in these crude extracts. In ischemic gerbil brains, post-treatment with MLB significantly reduced the infarct size, visualized by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, by approximately 55% when compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: These results evidently suggest that the cardiac therapeutic effect of Danshen should be at least partly attributed to the effective inhibition of Na( +),K( +)-ATPase by MLB, and that MLB provides anti-ischemic neuroprotection in gerbils subjected to focal ischemia and reperfusion.     

Pesticide exposure and self-reported Parkinson's disease in the agricultural health study

Previous studies based on limited exposure assessment have suggested that Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with pesticide exposure. The authors used data obtained from licensed private pesticide applicators and spouses participating in the Agricultural Health Study to evaluate the relation of self-reported PD to pesticide exposure. Cohort members, who were enrolled in 1993-1997, provided detailed information on lifetime pesticide use. At follow-up in 1999-2003, 68% of the cohort was interviewed. Cases were defined as participants who reported physician-diagnosed PD at enrollment (prevalent cases, n = 83) or follow-up (incident cases, n = 78). Cases were compared with cohort members who did not report PD (n = 79,557 at enrollment and n = 55,931 at follow-up). Incident PD was associated with cumulative days of pesticide use at enrollment (for highest quartile vs. lowest, odds ratio (OR) = 2.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.2, 4.5; p-trend = 0.009), with personally applying pesticides more than half the time (OR = 1.9, 95% confidence interval: 0.7, 4.7), and with some specific pesticides (ORs > or = 1.4). Prevalent PD was not associated with overall pesticide use. This study suggests that exposure to certain pesticides may increase PD risk. Findings for specific chemicals may provide fruitful leads for further investigation.     

Spirituality and health in the curricula of medical schools in Brazil

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: According to recent surveys, 59 % of British medical schools and 90 % of US medical schools have courses or content on spirituality and health (S/H). There is little research, however, on the teaching of S/H in medical schools in other countries, such as those in Latin America, Asia, Australia and Africa. The present study seeks to investigate the current status of teaching on S/H in Brazilian medical schools. METHODS: All medical schools in Brazil (private and public) were selected for evaluation, were contacted by email and phone, and were administered a questionnaire. The questionnaire, sent by e-mail, asked medical school directors/deans about any S/H courses that were taught, details about those courses, S/H lectures or seminars, importance of teaching this subject for medical school directors, and medical schools characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 86 out of 180 (47.7 %) medical schools responded. Results indicated that 10.4 % of Brazilian Medical Schools have a dedicated S/H courses and 40.5 % have courses or content on spirituality and health. Only two medical schools have S/H courses that involve hands-on training and three schools have S/H courses that teach how to conduct a spiritual history. The majority of medical directors (54 %) believe that S/H is important to teach in their schools. CONCLUSION: Few Brazilian medical schools have courses dealing specifically with S/H and less than half provide some form of teaching on the subject. Unfortunately, there is no standard curriculum on S/H. Nevertheless, the majority of medical directors believe this issue is an important subject that should be taught.     

Development and validation of the medication-based disease burden index

BACKGROUND: Medication lists offer an alternative source of data on comorbidities and disease burden. OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate the Medication-Based Disease Burden Index (MDBI). METHODS: A list of medications corresponding to the leading causes of global death was pilot tested and finalized by an expert panel. The resulting index was tested on drug regimens of patients at risk of medication misadventure. Criterion validity of the index was established against Charlson's index and Chronic Disease Score (CDS). Sensitivity, specificity, predictive validity, convergent and discriminant validity, and interrater and test-retest reliabilities of the index were also assessed. RESULTS: The MDBI consisting of specific medications for 20 chronic medical conditions and corresponding disability weightings was developed. The MDBI was tested on 317 patients with mean +/- SD Charlson's index scores of 2.8 +/- 2.2 and CDS scores of 7.3 +/- 2.8. Mean MDBI scores (0.33 +/- 0.28) demonstrated significant correlations with Charlson's index scores (r = 0.31; p < 0.001) and CDS (r = 0.53; p < 0.001). MDBI had satisfactory sensitivity and high specificity. Age of the patients and number of medications had significant correlation with the MDBI scores, but the MDBI scores were not significantly different in males and females. MDBI scores could successfully predict death and planned or unplanned readmissions (OR = 4.7, 95% CI 1.4 to 15.5; p = 0.01). MDBI demonstrated high inter-rater (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.99) and test-retest reliabilities (ICC = 0.98). CONCLUSIONS: Initial testing suggests that MDBI could offer an alternative low-cost and convenient method for quantifying disease burden and predicting health outcomes.     

三七种子包衣育苗技术研究

目的:研究和筛选适用于三七种子包衣的专用种衣剂产品及配套栽培技术,在三七生产中推广应用。方法:通过室内种子带菌检测、药剂消毒处理效果研究确定3种供试种衣剂配方,并以常规药剂浸种及空白处理为对照,通过田间小区试验比较种衣剂、药-种比和包衣时间对三七出苗率、产量、质量的影响。结果:三七对不同的种衣剂具有明显的适应性差异,种衣剂的使用浓度、包衣时间等因素对三七的出苗率、产量有显著影响。结论:SQ2号种衣剂按照1:50的药、种比,于播种前1～2天包衣处理,能够提高三七种子出苗率和种苗产量。     

Second intention healing after Mohs micrographic surgery

BACKGROUND: Although second intention healing has been used for many years in Mohs micrographic surgery, it has lost popularity. This is due to the long process and functional alteration of important anatomical units if certain wound healing factors are not carefully taken into consideration. OBJECTIVE: To review indications, contraindications, complications, advantages, disadvantages, as well as basic concepts of the wound healing process, wound care and antibiotic prophylaxis in the management of open wounds after Mohs surgery. METHODS: A short but comprehensive review of studies published in the literature dealing with second intention healing as a reconstruction alternative option in certain situations. CONCLUSIONS: Second intention healing is a simple and cost-effective method for reconstruction after Mohs micrographic surgery in well-defined cases. It allows adequate tumoral control with good to excellent functional and cosmetic results.