Comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of two innovative methods in the management of anxiety in a dental office: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The first dental experience is vital in molding a child's attitude towards dentistry and dental outcomes. The cooperation of a child during dental treatment is essential to render successful and high-quality treatment. Dental anxiety is common in children undergoing dental treatment. The success of pediatric dental treatments and patient comfort depends on controlling the levels of patient anxiety in clinical settings. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of the recorded maternal voice and virtual cognitive tool (Roogies application) in the management of pediatric dental patients. Methods: The study was carried out with children aged of 4-7 years [n = 80, (40 male and 40 female)], without any past dental history, and were randomly allocated into two groups. After informed consent was obtained, the entire procedure was explained to the parents. Anxiety was assessed pre-, during, and post-treatment by measuring pulse rate, and recording Venham Picture Test (VPT) scores. Group A [n = 40; 20 boys and 20 girls)] was provided with a headphone that played a recorded maternal voice. Group B [n = 40; 20 boys and 20 girls)] was administered the virtual cognitive tool. After conditioning the children, oral prophylaxis was performed for both groups. A comparative evaluation was conducted for each treatment session. Results: The intra-group comparison of VPT scores and heart rate for patients assigned to the recorded maternal voice showed a statistically significant difference in dental anxiety (P-value ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that a reduction in dental anxiety with the help of recorded maternal voice forms an important component of non-pharmacological behavior management. Alternatively, the use of a virtual cognitive tool as an anxiety-reducing technique can also be advocated.

Dual Crosslinked Collagen/Chitosan Film for Potential Biomedical Applications.

The application of polymeric biomaterial scaffolds utilizing crosslinking strategy has become an effective approach in these days. In the present study, the development and characterization of collagen-chitosan hydrogel film has been reported on using dual crosslinking agent's, i.e., tannic acid and genipin simultaneously. Incorporation of genipin imparts a greenish-blue color to the polymeric film. The effect of dual crosslinking and their successful interaction within the matrix was evaluated by infrared analysis spectroscopy. The porosity of the film was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results of TGA determine the intermediate thermal degradation. Further, the crosslinking phenomenon has found primary impact on the strength of the films. Enzymatic degradation for the films was performed with lysozyme and lipase. The cell adhesion and proliferation was also accomplished using mouse embryonic cell lines wherein the cells cultured on the dual crosslinked film. The thriving utilization of such dual crosslinked polymeric film finds their applications in ophthalmology especially as an implant for temporary injured cornea and skin tissue regeneration.

PVP - CMC hydrogel: An excellent bioinspired and biocompatible scaffold for osseointegration.

Fabrication of porous and biologically inspired biomaterials that mimic the formation of microstructural structures of nacre in the form of calcite (CaCO3) and evaluation of the biocompatibility of such organic-inorganic composite scaffold for bone tissue engineering, are focus of this paper. Nacre's self-assembly characteristics are concerned about the development of calcite filled biomineralized scaffold following the nature based biomineralization process and biomimetic applications. The PVP-CMC hydrogel film, comprised of PVP:0.2, CMC:0.8, PEG:1.0, Agar:2.0, Glycerene:1.0 and water:95.0 w/v%; acts as catalyst and template for the nucleation and growth of the inorganic CaCO3 within the scaffold. The PVP-CMC hydrogel (in the dry state) was immersed in ionic solutions (g/100 ml) of Na2CO3 and CaCl2·H2O in different concentrations sets i.e. Set-1: 10.50/14.70; Set-2: 5.25/7.35; Set-3: 4.20/5.88; Set-4: 2.10/2.94; Set-5: 1.05/1.47, Set-6: 0.55/0.55 for 90 min. As a result, "PVP-CMC-CaCO3" hydrogel scaffold was fabricated having bio-inspired structural and functional properties. Cell proliferation and cell viability were examined until 7 days in the presence of "PVP-CMC-CaCO3" scaffolds using permanent cell lines MG63 (human osteosarcoma), L929 (murine fibroblasts) as well as cultures from mouse bone explants (CC-MBE), confirmed that the said hydrogel scaffolds are biocompatible. But, from mechanical strength as well as biocompatibility point of view, scaffolds prepared in Set-1 to 3 ionic solutions were superior. In conclusion, these three calcite filled hydrogel scaffolds are recommended and can be used for osseointegration.

Influence of temperature, pH and simulated biological solutions on swelling and structural properties of biomineralized (CaCO3) PVP-CMC hydrogel.

ABSTRACT: Biomaterials having stimuli response are interesting in the biomedical field. This paper reports about swelling response and internalstructural of biomineralized (CaCO3) polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) hydrogel having various thicknesses (0.1-0.4 mm). Samples were tested in aqueous solution using temperature ranges from 10 to 40 °C; pH varies from 4 to 9, time 60 min. In addition, an experiment was conducted in the presence of simulated biological solutions (SBS): glucose (GS), physiological fluid (PS) and urea (US) at temperature 37 °C and pH 7.5 for 180 min. It is noticed that the maximum swelling ratio reached in 30-40 °C at pH 7 in aqueous solution. Among biological fluids, the swelling ratio shows: US > PS > GS at temperature 37 °C, pH 7.5, time 150 min. The equilibrium swelling ratio of the test sample in SBS and their non-reformative apparent structure confirm that biomineralized (CaCO3) PVP-CMC hydrogel can be acclaimed for medical application like bone tissue engineering.

In vitro study of partially hydrolyzed poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazolines) as materials for biomedical applications.

Polymers based on 2-oxazoline, such as poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazolines) (PETOx), are considered to be a type of 'pseudopeptide' with the ability to form novel biomaterials. The hydrolysis of PETOx was carried out to evaluate its use in biomedical applications. In the present work, PETOx samples with a range of molar masses were prepared by living cationic polymerization. Hydrolysis was carried out at time intervals ranging from 15 to 180 min to prepare copolymers with different amounts of ethylene imine units. (1)H NMR spectroscopy was used to identify the structure of the hydrolyzed polymers. The dependence of in vitro cell viability on the degree of hydrolysis was determined using three different model cell lines, namely, mouse embryonic 3T3 fibroblasts, pancreatic ßTC3 cells, and mouse lymphoid macrophages P388.D1. It was demonstrated that increasing the degree of hydrolysis decreased cell viability for all cell types. Fibroblast cells displayed the highest tolerance; additionally, the effect of polymer size showed no observable significance. Macrophage cells, immune system representatives, displayed the highest sensitivity to contact with hydrolyzed PETOx. The effect of polymer hydrolysis, polymer concentration and the incubation time on cell viability was experimentally observed. Confocal laser-scanning microscopy provided evidence of cellular uptake of pyrene-labeled (co)polymers.

Cervical cancer knowledge and prevention among college women.

The purpose of this study was to assess cervical cancer knowledge and prevention practices among college women and to determine predictors of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in this group. A quantitative approach using two varying groups of women was undertaken. College women and women visiting a local community health center were surveyed on items assessing cervical cancer knowledge and prevention practices. Altogether, 410 women were sampled, 217 college women and 193 from the local community health center. HPV vaccine initiation was higher among the college group (36%) compared to (5%) among the community health center group. Seventy three (73%) percent of women in the community group had a Papanicolaou test in the preceding 3 years compared to (61.8%) in the college group. College women reported higher cervical cancer knowledge than community women. This study highlights that cervical cancer knowledge and preventive practices are variable among women and that significant differences exist among college and community women. This calls for more strategic and accessible services incorporating group specific messages and interventions.