Behavior of pediatric dental patients throughout the course of restorative dental treatment in a private pediatric dental practice.

The purpose of this study was to describe and quantify patient behavior patterns observed throughout restorative dentistry appointments in a private pediatric dental practice. Patient behavior throughout the course of the first restorative dental visit was recorded using the Sarnat Behavior Scale. Behavior of patients in age groups 0 to 5 (0 to 60 months), 5 to 8 (61 to 96 months) and 8 to 12 (97 to 144 months) was noted at the start of the visit, during the procedure and when the patient was dismissed. Socio-demographic variables such as sex and method of payment as an indicator of socio-economic status were also considered. In addition, it was also noted whether, the child was referred by a general dentist. The results showed that the percentage of patients having Sarnat scores of 3, 4 or 5 (S345), which is indicative of negative behavior, increased after the start of the visit and then decreased to a lower level when the patient was dismissed. This observation was the same for all age groups, although the percentage of patients exhibiting negative behavior during all phases of the restorative appointment decreased with increasing age. In conclusion, pediatric dental patient behavior changes throughout the course of restorative dental treatment. There is an increase in negative behavior, while the teeth are being restored, which then decreases to levels below those observed at the start of the visit. This is related to age more than socio-economic or other factors confirming that as the child ages, the incidence of negative behavior decreases, but the pattern of change during the course of the restorative visit is the same regardless of age.

Comparison of the behavior of children undergoing restorative dental treatment at the first visit versus the second visit in a private pediatric dental practice.

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in the behavior of child patients undergoing restorative dental treatment at the first office visit versus those whose first restorative treatment visit was after an initial non-threatening dental visit in a private pediatric dental practice. For patients up to and including age 9, patient behavior was recorded during the restorative session using the Sarnat scale, which rate behavior in 5 levels, from completely cooperative to completely uncooperative. Variables such as age, method of payment, referral source and sex were also recorded. The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the behavior of children, who had the first restorative dental experience at the initial office visit versus those children who had the first restorative procedure after a non-invasive introductory visit in all instances. There were no differences according to age, sex, socio-economic status or source of referral. It is concluded that a child may not exhibit more negative behavior as a restorative dental patient when the first visit is for restorative therapy than if the restorative treatment is delivered at a later date after a non-threatening introduction to the dental environment. Thus, a pediatric dentist need not hesitate to treat a child at the first visit for fear that it may engender more negative behavior than if the restorative dental treatment was postponed until another time.

Synthesis of diverse and complex molecules on the solid phase.

In this paper we summarize our efforts toward optimizing key reactions on the solid phase which tolerate a variety of functional groups. These groups were sequentially modified, allowing the production of novel and diverse compound libraries on the solid phase.

Child behavior in a private pediatric dental practice associated with types of visits, age and socio-economic factors.

The purpose of this study was to describe child patient behavior patterns seen in a private pediatric dental practice. Patient behavior for every individual visit was recorded over a span of 3 consecutive months using the Sarnat Behavior Scale as the descriptive measurement device. Behavior during 5 categories of procedures was recorded: new patient examination/introduction to the office, periodic recare, restorative dentistry, orthodontic adjustment and quick check observation. Socio-demographic variables such as age, sex, method of payment as an indicator of socio-economic status, prior dental experience and referral source were also recorded. The results of this study showed: 1. the younger the child and the more threatening the procedure, the more often negative behavior was noted, 2. patients whose dental treatment was paid for by Medicaid and who are likely to be in a lower socio-economic strata, often exhibited more negative behavior than the fee-for service counterparts, 3. in general, there was no difference in the behavior between males and females, although males age 8 to 12 had a higher incidence of negative behavior than females when undergoing restorative dental procedures. There are trends between age, type of procedure, source of patient referral, method of payment and familiarity with the office, that may be able to used as behavioral predictors in a private pediatric dental office.

A novel fluorogenic substrate for ribonucleases. Synthesis and enzymatic characterization.

The synthesis and enzymatic characterization of DUPAAA, a novel fluorogenic substrate for RNases of the pancreatic type is described. It consists of the dinucleotide uridylyl-3',5'-deoxyadenosine to which a fluorophore, o-aminobenzoic acid, and a quencher, 2,4-dinitroaniline, have been attached by means of phosphodiester linkages. Due to intramolecular quenching the intact substrate displayed very little fluorescence. Cleavage of the phosphodiester bond at the 3'-side of the uridylyl residue by RNase caused a 60-fold increase in fluorescence. This allowed the continuous and highly sensitive monitoring of enzyme activity. The substrate was turned over efficiently by RNases of the pancreatic type, but no cleavage was observed with the microbial RNase T1. Compared to the dinucleotide substrate UpA, the specificity constant with RNase A, RNase PL3 and RNase U(s) increased 6-, 18-, and 29-fold, respectively. These differences in increased catalytic efficiency most likely reflect differences in the importance of subsites on the enzyme in the binding of elongated substrates. Studies on the interactions of RNase inhibitor with RNase A using DUPAAA as a reporter substrate showed that it was well suited for monitoring this very tight protein-protein interaction using pre-steady-state kinetic methods.

[Improving fiber adhesion by surface oxidation in carbon fiber reinforced bone cement]. / Die Verbesserung der Faserhaftung durch Oberflächenoxydation im kohlefaserverstärkten Knochenzement.

The mechanical superiority of carbon fiber reinforced PMMA containing additional apatite was shown previously. For further improvement these carbon fibers were now submitted to a superficial oxidation treatment by HNO3. A closer contact between the carbon fibers and PMMA and even trabeculae-like adhesions were detected by Scanning Electron Microscopy. The fatigue strength of the carbon fiber reinforced bone cement could be increased at 17% by this oxidation treatment. This increase, however, is less than that observed in the case of other fiber reinforced composites. Most likely this is caused by the pronounced polymerisation contraction of PMMA. Further improvement of the adhesion of the fibers to cement may be achieved by different oxidation techniques, further extraction of foreign substances or graft polymerization of the carbon fibers by PMMA or other polymers.

Differential validity of the K-ABC for lower functioning preschool children versus those of higher ability.

The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, Form L-M, were administered to 93 preschool children at risk for learning problems. Lower and higher functioning groups were determined by a Stanford-Binet IQ median split. Although the Stanford-Binet and K-ABC yielded nearly identical results in the higher group, K-ABC standard scores were significantly higher than Stanford-Binet IQ in the lower group. The Stanford-Binet and K-ABC correlated more strongly in the higher group than in the lower group. These findings question the ability of the K-ABC to discriminate among at-risk preschoolers functioning in the lower ranges of cognitive ability.

[Morphologic analysis of endoprosthesis materials with scanning electron microscopy]. / Die morphologische Analyse von Endoprothetikmaterialien mit der Rasterelektronen-mikroskopie.

The biomaterials used in endoprosthesis are subject to great dynamic and tribologic stress which they are not always able to withstand. Wear and fatigue fractures may ensue. The SEM is a valuable tool for controlling quality and determining the nature of faults in the material. Examination of the surfaces of a fatigue fracture usually reveals the cause of the fracture. The presence of manufacturing faults shows that the producer's quality control (the non-destructive-method) was not always sufficient. The SEM is also valuable for examining the polished surfaces of the prosthesis before and after load bearing in order to evaluate wear damages.

Methods To Alter the Recovery and Nodule Location of Bradyrhizobium japonicum Inoculant Strains on Field-Grown Soybeans.

Three strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, I17, 110, and 61A76, were evaluated for their ability to form nodules on field-grown soybeans in soil with a highly competitive indigenous B. japonicum population. The predominant indigenous strain, 0336, in the field site used was unlike the more common isolates from Midwestern soils which belong to the 123 or 138 serogroups. This strain persisted in the soil for at least 30 years without any soybean crops. The three inoculant strains differed in their ability to compete with indigenous strains for nodule formation. Four different inoculation treatments were tested in three adjacent fields. When the amount of inoculum was increased, a higher proportion of nodules contained the inoculant strain. The most competitive inoculant strain was I17, a recent field isolate. Strain 61A76 was better than 110. There was no difference in recovery of the inoculant strains on the Hodgson or Corsoy soybean cultivars, nor was there a difference in recovery of the inoculant strains during the growing season. The vertical distribution of nodules containing the inoculant strains was affected by the method of adding the inoculant to the soil. Inoculant added to the seed furrow produced nodules mainly in the top region of the soybean root. Inoculant tilled into the soil produced nodules primarily in the bottom part of the root. The nodules that were produced in the bottom part of the root are younger and may contribute significant amounts of fixed nitrogen to the soybean during seed formation.

Iron-molybdenum cofactor synthesis in Azotobacter vinelandii Nif- mutants.

Nif- mutants of Azotobacter vinelandii defective in dinitrogenase activity synthesized iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMo-co) and accumulated it in two protein-bound forms: inactive dinitrogenase and a possible intermediate involved in the FeMo-co biosynthetic pathway. FeMo-co from both these proteins could activate apo-dinitrogenase from FeMo-co-deficient mutants.

[The interface between hydroxyapatite ceramic and newly formed bone in scanning electron microscopy]. / Die Grenzschicht zwischen Hydroxylapatit-Keramik und neugebildetem Knochen im Rasterelektronenmikroskop.

Bone samples, which have been embedded in methylmethacrylate in an undecalcified state can be evaluated by a scanning electron microscopy after removal of the methylmethacrylate. Hydroxy apatite (HA) has been implanted in 6 mm bore holes of the rabbits' femoral condyle. The animals were sacrificed after 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks and 8 months. The interface between HA and the newly built bone was observed. A direct contact has been found regularly through high magnification (up to 16,000 times). The three dimensional embedding of the implanted HA-particles into the newly built bone can be shown. Collagen filaments are spreading out from bone to HA-particles. We think that there is not only a mechanical but also a chemical connection between both.

Posttranscriptional control of Klebsiella pneumoniae nif mRNA stability by the nifL product.

Posttranscriptional control of nif mRNA stability was demonstrated by functional and chemical analyses, using specific probes for four nif transcripts. In the wild type, nif transcripts (except nifLA) were stable during derepression, with half-lives of approximately 30 min. They were dramatically destabilized by O2 or elevated temperature (41 degrees C) and to a lesser extent by NH4+. In contrast, the nifLA message was not particularly stable, and posttranscriptional control was not evident. In NifL- strains, both forms of analysis indicated that the nifL product was involved in nif mRNA destabilization in the presence of O2 and NH4+.