Factors Associated with Unfavourable Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Tuberculosis: A 16-Year Cohort Study (2005-2020), Republic of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a public health burden in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan. This region-wide retrospective cohort study reports the treatment outcomes of patients registered in the TB electronic register and treated with first-line drugs in the TB Programme of the Republic of Karakalpakstan from 2005-2020 and factors associated with unfavourable outcomes. Among 35,122 registered patients, 24,394 (69%) patients were adults, 2339 (7%) were children, 18,032 (51%) were male and 19,774 (68%) lived in rural areas. Of these patients, 29,130 (83%) had pulmonary TB and 7497 (>22%) had been previously treated. There were 7440 (21%) patients who had unfavourable treatment outcomes. Factors associated with unfavourable treatment outcomes included: increasing age, living in certain parts of the republic, disability, pensioner status, unemployment, being HIV-positive, having pulmonary TB, and receiving category II treatment. Factors associated with death included: being adult and elderly, living in certain parts of the republic, having a disability, pensioner status, being HIV-positive, and receiving category II treatment. Factors associated with failure included: being adolescent, female, having pulmonary TB. Factors associated with loss to follow-up included: being male, disability, pensioner status, unemployment, receiving category II treatment. In summary, there are sub-groups of patients who need special attention in order to decrease unfavourable treatment outcomes.

Clinical assessment of an automated fluorescent plaque index scoring with quantitative light-induced fluorescence.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical applicability of a new fluorescent plaque index scoring (FPI) with the Turesky modified Quigley-Hein plaque index (mQH) and to evaluate its relationship with plaque maturity. METHODS: In total 69 subjects participated in this study. White-light and fluorescent images of anterior teeth were acquired using a Qraycam (AIOBIO, Seoul, Korea). FPI was obtained from fluorescent images using the proprietary software (Q-Ray v.1.39, Inspektor Research System BV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands). Teeth were stained with a two-tone disclosing agent. mQH was used to manually score the combined red and blue disclosed plaque (Combi-mQH) and blue disclosed plaque (Blue-mQH) with the white-light images. Linear relationships between FPI and Combi-mQH (or Blue-mQH) were evaluated by using simple linear regression analysis. Differences of Combi-mQH (or Blue-mQH) with respect to FPI scores were statistically evaluated by using ANOVA with Duncan post hoc correction. RESULTS: FPI showed a moderate positive correlation with Combi-mQH (r = 0.66, P < 0.001) and a high positive correlation with Blue-mQH (r = 0.78, P < 0.001). The model explanatory power (R2) between FPI and Blue-mQH was 60.8 %, which is 16.8 % higher than the explanatory power observed with Combi-mQH (44.0 %). Both Combi-mQH and Blue-mQH increased significantly with increasing FPI score (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In this study we found that the FPI scoring system can be used to detect plaque and quantitatively distinguish plaque levels. In addition, FPI was determined to be useful in clinic because of its ability to detect and distinguish old and mature plaque.

Evaluation of the Fluoride Releasing and Recharging Abilities of Various Fissure Sealants.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the fluoride release from different fissure sealants sold mainly in non-Western countries via a curve-fitting method, and to investigate the ability of these materials to be recharged with fluoride. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four different fissure sealants which the manufacturers claim to release F- were tested; glass-ionomer cement Argecem (AC), the composite resins Fisskhim (FK), Fissulight (FL), Helioseal F (HF). Helioseal (HS), a composite resin not declared to release F, was used as a negative control. Of each material, 10 disks 8.0 mm in diameter and 1.8 mm thick were produced. For fluoride measurements, a fluoride-ion specific electrode was used. On day 21, the specimens were recharged with fluoride by immersion in toothpaste slurry. Fluoride release was evaluated and statistically compared by fitting an exponential curve through the cumulative release values and statistically comparing curve parameters (t½, AUC and plateau value) among each other as well as before and after recharging. RESULTS: Two materials (AC and HF) released a considerable amount of F- in the first 3 weeks after sample production. Furthermore, the increase of F- release after F- recharge was statistically significant (p < 0.05) for the materials AC, FL and HF, but not for FK and HS. CONCLUSION: Fluoride release of Fisskhim and Fissulight was negligible, while Helioseal F and Argecem noticeably released fluoride and thus can enhance the caries preventive effect of fissure sealants. Comparing release curve parameters simplifies statistical procedures.

Effect of an oral health education program based on the use of quantitative light-induced fluorescence technology in Uzbekistan adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether an oral health education program using a Qscan device based on quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) technology could improve the oral hygiene status and oral health literacy of adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred adolescents aged 14-16 years attending a school in Tashkent city were included in this study. The participants were assigned to the following two groups using permuted block randomization technique: (i) control group (traditional learning) and (ii) experimental group (Qscan device-based learning). The participants included in the experimental group received additional education and training on dental plaque removal using the Qscan device. The accumulated levels of plaque were assessed in all participants, who also completed questionnaires about their oral health status, oral health knowledge, attitude, and behavior during an 8-week period. RESULTS: There were statistically significant improvements in the experimental group compared to the control group in the plaque index (0.46 vs 0.07, p < .05), oral health knowledge (19.4 vs 28.8, p < .05), attitude (16.7 vs 20.2, p < .05), and behavior (19.9 vs 30.5, p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: This study has demonstrated that an oral health education program based on the use of QLF technology could be useful for improving the oral hygiene status and oral health literacy of adolescents in Uzbekistan.