Turbine effect on dental students' lateral pinch modulation and performances.

BACKGROUND: Dental turbines can generate significant vibrations that may be transmitted to dentists' hands. The vibrations contribute to neural impairment and decrease dexterity over the long duration. It is unclear whether such vibration effects would be detected in the short time during the pre-clinical year of dentistry study. AIMS: To investigate the effect of vibrations on lateral pinch modulation and manual performance of dentistry students. METHODS: Four lateral pinch modulation tests by a square-shaped force sensing resistor (FSR) were administered to 30 dental students during their phantom course. Tests were performed with dominant and non-dominant hands at two time points: T0 (2 months after commencing phantom training) and T1 (end of phantom training). At each time point, students accomplished two manual performance tests on plastic teeth. Comparisons were made between lateral pinch modulation test scores at different times, considering the differences between hands and gender. The relationships between the FSR tests and manual performance were also determined. RESULTS: The participating 19 female and 11 male students had a combined 50% response rate. At T1, the lateral pinch modulation for all tests significantly decreased for the dominant hand (P < 0.05) and non-dominant hand (P < 0.05). For the non-dominant hand at T1, the lateral pinch modulation of females significantly decreased as compared to males (P < 0.05). No significant correlations were found between lateral pinch modulation and manual tasks at T0 and T1. CONCLUSIONS: The lateral pinch modulation of the fingers of dental students deteriorated after only 8 months of training at phantom (short-time exposure), with females at higher risk and possibly earlier symptoms manifestation.

Effects of hydroxocobalamin on carboxyhemoglobin measured under physiologic and pathologic conditions.

CONTEXT: Pre-hospital administration of hydroxocobalamin (B12a) is used for empiric treatment of cyanide poisoning because cyanide poisoning is difficult to identify and requires immediate treatment. B12a interferes with the accuracy of several blood laboratory tests. This study aimed to explore how B12a affects carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) measurements in human blood at both physiologic and pathologic COHb levels. METHODS: Several clinically relevant concentrations of B12a were added to human blood samples containing physiologic (∼ 3%) and pathologic (30% and 50%) COHb levels. We then measured the COHb levels of the samples using two different co-oximeters, the Radiometer ABL 700 and the Rapidpoint 500, and compared to their actual baseline COHb levels. RESULTS: B12a had minimal effects on the COHb measured at both physiologic and pathologic levels when measured on the Radiometer. In contrast, the Rapidpoint B12a caused a dose-dependent decrease in the COHb measured, especially of pathologic COHb levels (∼ 30 and 50%). CONCLUSION: The magnitude of B12a interference on measured COHb is dependent upon the specific co-oximeter used, the actual COHb level and the serum B12a concentration. These errors may potentially influence clinical decision making and thus affect patient outcomes. Our findings emphasize the importance of measuring COHb levels on blood samples collected prior to B12a administration.

[Human basophil degranulation test (HBDT) for diagnosis of respiratory allergic disorders. A study of eighty-four HDBT performed in forty-seven patients (author's transl)]. / Le test de dégranulation des basophiles humains (TDBH). Son application dans le diagnostic des allergies respiratoires. Etude à propos de quatre-vingt-sept TDBH effectués sur quarante-sept patients.

The HBDT uses basophils of patients with respiratory allergic disorders. In this simple method the basophils are stained by toluidine blue and the erythrocytes are destroyed. The basophils are then exposed to solutions containing different concentrations of the antigen. The basophil degranulation rate in response to a given antigen can be determined. The test is positive if the degranulation rate is over 50% and negative if the rate is under 30%. Our clinical study induces 47 patients. The correlate rate between HBDT and skin tests is 81,5%. This test's technical simplicity allows it's routine use by a non specialized laboratory.