Influence of socio-economic status on Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection incidence, risk factors and clinical features.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection can cause serious illness including haemolytic uraemic syndrome. The role of socio-economic status (SES) in differential clinical presentation and exposure to potential risk factors amongst STEC cases has not previously been reported in England. We conducted an observational study using a dataset of all STEC cases identified in England, 2010-2015. Odds ratios for clinical characteristics of cases and foodborne, waterborne and environmental risk factors were estimated using logistic regression, stratified by SES, adjusting for baseline demographic factors. Incidence was higher in the highest SES group compared to the lowest (RR 1.54, 95% CI 1.19-2.00). Odds of Accident and Emergency attendance (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.10-1.75) and hospitalisation (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.36-2.15) because of illness were higher in the most disadvantaged compared to the least, suggesting potential lower ascertainment of milder cases or delayed care-seeking behaviour in disadvantaged groups. Advantaged individuals were significantly more likely to report salad/fruit/vegetable/herb consumption (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.16-2.17), non-UK or UK travel (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.40-2.27; OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.35-2.56) and environmental exposures (walking in a paddock, OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.22-2.70; soil contact, OR 1.52, 95% CI 2.13-1.09) suggesting other unmeasured risks, such as person-to-person transmission, could be more important in the most disadvantaged group.

Nonprecious alloys for use in fixed prosthodontics: a literature review.

The physical properties of nonprecious alloys can differ significantly from those of alloys containing a high percent of gold. Relationships among constituents, physical properties, and handling characteristics of base metal alloys were surveyed. Toxicity of nickel, beryllium, and their compounds was discussed with attention given to the dental environment. Allergic contact dermatitis appears to be a health risk to certain patients from nickel-containing prostheses. Beryllium dust is apparently not a hazard in properly ventilated and exhausted grinding and polishing areas. Lack of data on nickel-related health problems in dental laboratory workers should be interpreted with caution. This article also reviewed research on porcelain bonding and corrosion of nonprecious alloys. Although this research cannot yet predict an alloy's porcelain bonding behavior in mouths, little or no porcelain bond problems have been reported. A few controlled clinical studies report little corrosion in up to 4 years.

Absorbed bone marrow dose in certain dental radiographic techniques.

Dosages of radiation absorbed in the bone marrow of the calvaria, mandible, and cervical spine were measured during dental diagnostic exposures using intraoral, panoramic, and cephalometric radiographic techniques. The use of rectangular collimation in intraoral radiography reduced the total absorbed dose to the bone marrow of the mandible and cervical spine. Doses from the dental radiographic techniques are compared with environmental levels of background irradiation.