RESUMO
Objectives: Disclosing information on diagnosis, prognosis and treatment is a delicate process in oncology, although awareness levels have over time increased in people with cancer. However, individual characteristics should be considered when communicating difficult information. We conducted a multicentric study to explore the moderating role of coping styles on the relationship between information about cancer, quality of life and psychological distress. Methods: In the period between October 2015 and February 2016, 288 patients with a diagnosis of a solid tumor were recruited from seven Italian oncology units. All participants were administered the Distress Thermometer (DT), the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer (Mini-MAC), the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30), and the EORTC QLQ 25-item information module (INFO25). We explored the moderating effect of coping style with quality of life (QoL) and distress (DT) as dependent variables and information on cancer treatment as independent variable. Results: Low levels of anxious preoccupation significantly moderated the relationship between information on treatment and QoL (R2 6%, p < 0.001), while low and medium levels of hopelessness significantly moderated the relationship between information on treatment and DT (R2 = 14%, p = 0.033). Adaptive coping strategies, such as fighting spirit and fatalism, and borderline strategies such as avoidance, did not play a role in this relationship. Conclusion: Taking into account and evaluating coping mechanisms in cancer care is a priority when disclosing information on treatments, in order to tailor communication style to individual features.
RESUMO
AIM: Periradicular surgery is a procedure that includes surgical exposure of the diseased apex, root-end cavity preparation, and retrofilling of the root canal. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of periradicular surgery in vitro using different dental materials and storage methods for human teeth specimens. METHODS: The sample comprised 60 human single-rooted teeth, divided into two groups according to mode of storage (hydrated or non-hydrated); each group was then subdivided by retrofilling material (mineral trioxide aggregate or resin-modified glass ionomer cement). Each specimen was analyzed by digital radiography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Quantitative assessment of the gap between the retrofilling material and dentin surface was conducted by observation of apical views (2000x magnification) of four areas of each specimen. RESULTS: The gap between retrofilling material and the internal dentin surface of the root was found to be significantly wider in hydrated teeth (P=0.002). Comparison of the two retrofilling materials showed that, regardless of tooth storage method, use of glass ionomer cement was associated with significantly wider gaps between the filling material and dentin surface (P=0.001). Comparisons of tooth storage mode versus retrofilling material showed a statistical interaction (P=0.009) between these factors. CONCLUSION: Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA®) provided the best apical sealing, regardless of storage medium. Resin-modified glass ionomer cement (Vitremer®) was associated with substantially larger mean gap values when used in hydrated teeth.