The ripple effect of animal disease outbreaks on food systems: The case of African Swine Fever on the Chinese pork market.

Research on animal health economics has emphasised the importance of accounting for the indirect economic effects of animal disease outbreaks. Although recent studies have advanced in this direction by assessing consumer and producer welfare losses due to asymmetric price adjustments, potential over-shifting effects along the supply chain and spill-overs to substitute markets have been under-examined. This study contributes to this field of research by assessing the direct and indirect effects of the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak on the pork market in China. We employ impulse response functions estimated by local projection to calculate the price adjustments for consumers and producers, as well as the cross-effect in other meat markets. The results show that the ASF outbreak led to increases in both farmgate and retail prices but the rise in retail prices exceeded the corresponding change in farmgate prices. Furthermore, beef and chicken prices also rose, demonstrating the spill-over impacts of the outbreak to other markets. Overall, the evidence illustrates that a disruption in one part of a food system can have significant ripple effects across other parts of the system.

Temporomandibular disorders-review of evidence-based management and a proposed multidisciplinary care pathway.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a prevalent but complex group of conditions that cause orofacial pain. Temporomandibular disorders are recognized as one of the most common chronic pain conditions, alongside back pain and headache disorders. Given the competing theories surrounding what causes TMDs and limited high-equality evidence on optimally treating TMDs, clinicians often encounter challenges in developing an effective management plan for patients. Furthermore, patients will often seek advice from multiple health care providers from varying specialties, seeking curative management, often resulting in inappropriate treatments and no improvement in pain symptoms. Throughout this review, we explore the existing evidence base surrounding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of TMDs. An existing United Kingdom-based multidisciplinary care pathway for the management of TMDs is described herein, highlighting the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach to patient care for TMDs.

Pyogenic granuloma: a rare side complication from an orthodontic appliance.

This case report discusses a rare side effect associated with the use ofa fixed quad helix orthodontic appliance. A 14-year-old healthy girl presented with a painful enlarging mass on her tongue, which was causing distress to both her and her parents. Investigations confirmed that the mass was a pyogenic granuloma and management involved surgical excision of the mass and removal of the quad helix appliance. At least once previous case associated with an orthodontic quad helix appliance has been reported in the literature.

A new style of orthognathic clinic.

The Orthognathic Team at the Eastman Dental Hospital has developed a new style of multidisciplinary clinic to supplement the traditional orthognathic consultation. The aim of the new clinic is to increase patient satisfaction and involvement in the consent and decision making process, as well as optimizing the information given to prospective patients regarding all aspects of this complex elective treatment. Results of a survey of patients attending the clinic found that 80% thought that the information given was 'just the right amount' and 96% were satisfied with the new structure. They particularly found it useful to meet a patient who had completed treatment. All of those who attended said that they understood the information given to them and would recommend the clinic to those considering orthognathic treatment. They also liked having other patients there with them on the clinic.

Computer-assisted design and manufacture of implants in the late reconstruction of extensive orbital fractures.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of computer-assisted designed and manufactured (CAD/CAM) orbital wall and floor implants for late reconstruction of extensive orbital fractures. METHODS: We performed a retrospective data review on 29 patients treated for extensive orbital fractures from January 1, 1997, through December 31, 2007, at the University College London Hospitals. The use of a CAD/CAM technique based on cross-sectional computed tomographic scans, generating an accurate stereolithographic model, enabled surgeons and technicians to plan and create the best dimension and position of the implant. Sheet titanium was then pressed to shape from a design outlined on a counterdie of the new reconstructed model. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients with late enophthalmos due to complex orbital fractures underwent successful reconstruction surgery. Enophthalmos was corrected in all patients. Diplopia was improved in 14 patients, and extraocular movement was improved in 13. CONCLUSIONS: The CAD/CAM implants represent a financially viable method for secondary reconstruction of the orbit. This method enables the surgeon to plan the operation in detail, facilitates the surgical procedure, and can help to improve the outcome.

Myosin proteins identified from masseter muscle using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction--a pilot study of the relevance to orthodontics.

There is a clearly established relationship between masticatory muscle structure and facial form. Human studies in this area, however, have been limited, especially in consideration of the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) family of contractile proteins. The aim of this pilot study was to assess if differences were detectable between genotype with respect to MyHC isoforms and the vertical facial phenotype in a sample of nine Caucasian female patients, age range 18-49 years, using a novel rapid technique. Masseter muscle biopsies were taken from patients with a range of vertical facial form. The levels of expression of the MyHC isoform genes MYH 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8 were compared with the expression in a female calibrator patient aged 23 years with normal vertical facial form, using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Statistical analysis was undertaken using Pearson correlation coefficient. The results showed that there were distinct differences in gene expression between patients with a wide range of variation although changes in MYH1 were consistent with one cephalometric variable, the maxillo-mandibular angle. The full procedure, from start to finish, can be completed within half a day. Rapid genotyping of patients in this way could reveal important information of relevance to treatment. This technology has potential as a diagnostic and prognostic aid when considering correction of certain malocclusions.

The effect of the new "24 hour alcohol licensing law" on the incidence of facial trauma in London.

On 24 November 2005 the new 2003 Licensing Act was implemented. It permits licensed premises to close at different times under English and Welsh law, rather than at 2300h as under the previous law. The aim of this study was to assess whether head and neck trauma secondary to alcohol-associated assaults had increased, decreased, or stayed the same since the introduction of the act. Data were collected from the Accident and Emergency Department, University College Hospital, attendance databases for two six-month periods: 24 November 2004 to 30 April 2005, and 24 November 2005 to 30 April 2006. There were 1102 attendances for head and neck trauma secondary to alcohol-associated assaults during the six months before the introduction of the 2003 Licensing Act and 730 such attendances during the similar period after the introduction of the law, with fewer cases in each corresponding month during the later period. There were more cases at weekends than on weekdays during both periods. There were fewer cases but more at weekends in 2005-6 than in 2004-5 (423, 58% compared with 584, 53%, respectively). Neither rainfall nor temperature had any influence on the results. The 2003 licensing Act seems to have reduced the number of attendances at the A&E department for head and neck trauma secondary to alcohol associated assaults.

Oral manifestations of systemic diseases.

In the clinical examination for systemic diseases, inspection of the oral cavity is often overlooked. This area provides a wide array of clinical signs that may help the clinician establish a diagnosis. This article provides a summary of the more common oral manifestations of systemic disease.

Management of maxillofacial injuries.

Maxillofacial injuries account for 5% of all acute attendances at accident and emergency units, and are often seen in the multiply injured patient. A systematic method of examining and investigating these patients is required for all staff involved with trauma patients and an understanding of the principles of their management will help to prioritize treatment needs.