Effect on undergraduate student self-confidence in using 3D printed primary molars for root canal treatment simulation training.

PURPOSE: The main purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a root canal treatment (RCT) practical simulation-based session using 3D printed primary molars on the self-confidence of fourth-year undergraduate dental students. Our study was also designed to explore student experiences with both manual and rotary RCT procedures and to investigate the association between the self-confidence in undertaking an RCT and the quality of the RCT. METHODS: Student global self-confidence in undertaking an RCT on a healthy, cooperative child aged 4-5 years was evaluated 2 h before, 1 month after, and 11 months after the simulation training session. Once each instrumental procedure had been completed, the students were also asked to score the level of confidence (specific self-confidence) they felt regarding the use of RP and MP. After each training session, the quality of the RCT was radiographically evaluated by two trained, independent investigators. RESULTS: Overall, student global self-confidence in undertaking an RCT increased significantly immediately after the practical session and remained stable for the ensuing eleven months. The students declared a clear preference for RP and were more self-confident in undertaking an RCT after RP than after MP. The proportion of RCTs considered of good quality was the same for the manual (31.5%) and rotary (30.3%) procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Simulation training is a good way to train dental students who are confident in undertaking RCTs. However, confidence is not directly related to competence. Teachers should be encouraged to develop a comprehensive simulation training program, including feedback, debriefing, and repetitions.

Study of the hooking behaviour of Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer, 1837) copepodids on Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., using a novel in vivo test system.

The screening of putative semiochemicals involved in the interaction between Lepeophtheirus salmonis copepodid and the Atlantic salmon could be used to develop methods to prevent infestation. A bioassay was designed to evaluate the attractiveness of Atlantic salmon for L. salmonis copepodids by counting the number of hooked parasites. A salmon was bathed in a tank with 60 copepodids during 45 min. The salmon was humanely killed and its body was scrubbed above a plastic bag. The content of the bag was filtered to count the number of hooked parasites. This procedure was tested at different water temperatures and for different body mass. The temperature significantly influenced the number of hooked copepodids (p < .05). Smolts presented significantly more hooked copepodids at a higher water temperature (24.6 at 13.8°C) compared to smolts at a lower temperature (18.6 at 6.1°C; p = .011). No correlation was found between the body mass and the number of hooked parasites (p = .65). This bioassay was used to successfully measure the attractiveness of Atlantic salmon for L. salmonis copepodids, making it an interesting tool to screen putative semiochemicals designed to prevent the infestation.

Impact of early childhood caries and its treatment under general anesthesia on orofacial function and quality of life : A prospective comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Early Childhood Caries (ECC) has become a major public health concern worldwide, mostly affecting children from disadvantaged families in increasingly severe forms. This condition has been frequently reported to alter children's nutrition, growth and general development. It negatively impacts their quality of life, through painful episodes and severe eating difficulties. While this period is crucial for oral praxes development, the impact of dental state on oro-facial functions is poorly documented. This study evaluated the impact of ECC and its treatment under general anesthesia on oro-facial functions and quality of life in pre-school children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The dysfunction and quality of life scores from 25 children with ECC were evaluated before treatment (T0), one month (T1) and three months after treatment (T2), using the Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening (NOT-S) and the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS), respectively, in comparison with 16 caries-free children. The number and extent of inter-arch dental contacts were also observed. RESULTS: The pre-operative higher NOT-S score observed in children with ECC decreased to reach the control level at T2. The mastication item was the most affected in the ECC group throughout the study. Their mean ECOHIS score also significantly decreased post-operatively and differences remaining between both groups were no longer clinically relevant. In addition, in children with ECC, values of functional inter-arch surfaces tended to increase over the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Oro-facial functions and quality of life, altered by ECC, could be restored through a conservative treatment approach. Relations between dental state, orofacial functions and particularly chewing, and nutrition should be investigated further.

[ELECTRONIC LOGBOOK: LEARNING TOOL AND TEACHING AID FOR THE EVALUATION OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES]. / LogBook numérique: un carnet de bord réflexif comme outil d'apprentissage en contexte de stage.

A LogBook is a learning tool and teaching aid I where clinical settings lived during training courses are provided. A LogBook is basically a journal which evidences learning and skills. LogBook provides a means for monitoring student learning, both for the student and for the instructor. It provides a feedback loop for the evaluation of learning activities. This LogBook has been developed for the student's training in psychiatry but it may be extended to all medical disciplines. The authors have developed an electronic logbook to support learning and assessment. In the context of Europe, it has become necessary to set up a LogBook of uniform learning outcomes to assist medical students.

15-year follow-up of a case of amelogenesis imperfecta: importance of psychological aspect and impact on quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) represents a group of hereditary conditions which affects enamel formation in the primary and permanent dentitions. Gene mutations alter the quality and/or quantity of enamel. AI often has severe consequences for the patient such as high tooth sensitivity, low aesthetic quality of the dentition, and poor mechanical properties of the dental tissues. This can result in reduced oral health-related quality of life. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a child affected by AI which had been diagnosed at the age of 9 years. Teeth presented many enamel defects. The patient presented thin brown to yellow enamel and the surface was rough and granular. He revealed short clinical crowns, occlusal wear with exposed dentine in posterior areas. He also presented a lateral open bite and lingual lateral interposition due to partial destruction of deciduous molars. Panoramic radiograph showed no differences between enamel and dentine appearance and also coronary destruction of permanent molars. TREATMENT: The initial treatment consisted of adaptation of composite resins on permanent incisors to improve aesthetics. Preformed metal crowns were placed on first permanent molars to prevent their premature destruction. FOLLOW-UP: This was disrupted for a variety of reasons. Fourteen years later, after a dental nomadism, the patient consulted by chance a dentist who identified his genetic pathology and was aware of its consequences. Extensive prosthodontic treatment was needed, but oral hygiene was poor and gingivitis remained. CONCLUSION: Dealing with high loss of motivation has been one of the main challenges because this patient had a lot of psychological problems. He was concerned, as are many patients affected by AI or other enamel abnormalities. This paper highlights the difficulties of long-term care of this dental abnormality. Psychological aspects of the quality of life, which is a common feature in patients suffering from many kinds of enamel anomalies, are very important.

Potential use of milk mid-infrared spectra to predict individual methane emission of dairy cows.

This study investigates the feasibility to predict individual methane (CH(4)) emissions from dairy cows using milk mid-infrared (MIR) spectra. To have a large variability of milk composition, two experiments were conducted on 11 lactating Holstein cows (two primiparous and nine multiparous). The first experiment aimed to induce a large variation in CH(4) emission by feeding two different diets: the first one was mainly composed of fresh grass and sugar beet pulp and the second one of maize silage and hay. The second experiment consisted of grass and corn silage with cracked corn, soybean meal and dried pulp. For each milking period, the milk yields were recorded twice daily and a milk sample of 50 ml was collected from each cow and analyzed by MIR spectrometry. Individual CH(4) emissions were measured daily using the sulfur hexafluoride method during a 7-day period. CH(4) daily emissions ranged from 10.2 to 47.1 g CH(4)/kg of milk. The spectral data were transformed to represent an average daily milk spectrum (AMS), which was related to the recorded daily CH(4) data. By assuming a delay before the production of fermentation products in the rumen and their use to produce milk components, five different calculations were used: AMS at days 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 compared with the CH(4) measurement. The equations were built using Partial Least Squares regression. From the calculated R(2)(cv), it appears that the accuracy of CH(4) prediction by MIR changed in function of the milking days. In our experimental conditions, the AMS at day 1.5 compared with the measure of CH(4) emissions gave the best results. The R(2) and s.e. of the cross-validation were equal to 0.79 and 5.14 g of CH(4)/kg of milk. The multiple correlation analysis performed in this study showed the existence of a close relationship between milk fatty acid (FA) profile and CH(4) emission at day 1.5. The lower R(2) (R(2) = 0.76) obtained between FA profile and CH(4) emission compared with the one corresponding to the obtained calibration (R(2)(c) = 0.87) shows the interest to apply directly the developed CH(4) equation instead of the use of correlations between FA and CH(4). In conclusion, our preliminary results suggest the feasibility of direct CH(4) prediction from milk MIR spectra. Additional research has the potential to improve the calibrations even further. This alternative method could be useful to predict the individual CH(4) emissions at farm level or at the regional scale and it also could be used to identify low-CH(4)-emitting cows.

[Consumption of fruit juices and fruit drinks: impact on the health of children and teenagers, the dentist's point of view]. / Impact des jus de fruits et des boissons fruitées sur la santé de l'enfant et de l'adolescent: le point de vue du chirurgien dentiste.

OBJECTIVES: The French dietary guidelines published in 2001 recommend daily consumption of 5 portions of fruit or vegetable. Despite this advice, the consumption of fruit in France, especially in the north of France, is low, whereas sale of 100% fruit juices, fruit drinks, and fruit-flavored beverages is increasing. The impact of contemporary changes in beverage patterns on dental caries has received less attention than the impact on childhood obesity. Nevertheless, the cariogenic potential of soft drinks is known. Drinking fruit juices, fruit drinks, or fruit-flavored beverages over a long period of time and continuous sipping could therefore be harmful for the teeth. The aim of this study was to examine the sugar content of such beverages. METHODOLOGY: Four different major supermarkets were visited to select a representative sample of beverages for sale. Fruit juices, nectars, fruit drinks (water and fruit juices) and fruit-flavored waters were included. Lemonades, teas, and drinks containing artificial sweetener were not included. The data were collected in April 2010 by reading nutrition labels. The variables studied were the sugar content (g/100mL), the presence of added sugar, and the percentage of fruit juices. A descriptive analysis of the variables studied was conducted. The mean sugar content of the French population's favorite juices (orange, grapefruit, pineapple, apple, and grape) was compared to the sugar content of a corresponding 100-g portion of fresh fruit. The data were processed using Microsoft Excel. RESULTS: Hundred and eighty-seven different beverages were analyzed: 89 fruit juices, 26 nectars, 51 fruit drinks (sparkling or flat), and 21 fruit-flavored waters. Unlike fruit-flavored waters, nectars and fruit drinks contained fruit juices. Nectars and fruit drinks contained an average of 44.5% (± 10.7%) and 10.5% (± 3.8%) fruit juice, respectively. The sugar content varied from 0 g/100mL to 17.5 g/100mL. The average sugar content was 2.4 (± 2.1) g/100mL, 8.8 (± 2.3) g/100mL, 10.7 (± 1.9) g/100mL, and 10.8 (± 1) g/100mL for fruit-flavored waters, fruit drinks, fruit juices, and nectars, respectively. High sugar content was reported for grape juice, with an average of 15.6 (± 1.9) g/100mL. Nectars, fruit drinks, and 71.4% of fruit-flavored waters contained added sugar. CONCLUSION: These beverages are rich in sugar and labels should better inform consumers on the sugar content. Dental caries is a chronic disease of childhood, which has common risk factors with obesity. General practitioners, dieticians, and dentists must work together to provide preventive guidance: fruit juice intake has to be limited and other beverages restricted to occasional use; fruit juice may contribute to only one portion of the recommended five a day.

Composition of bone and apatitic biomaterials as revealed by intravital Raman microspectroscopy.

Microcharacterization of biominerals allows a better understanding of the pathophysiological events that occur in calcified tissues and synthetic biomaterials. Different methods have been extensively used to conduct such investigations. A new model for the intravital study of the composition and structure of membranous bone by Raman microspectroscopy is described. Titanium bone chambers equipped with a fused-silica optical window were implanted transcutaneously in the calvaria of New Zealand rabbits. The implanted optical windows were well tolerated, and spectral acquisitions were performed without any additional invasive procedure. Bone and implanted apatitic biomaterials were analyzed at different times after surgery. All Raman bands were unambiguously identified in the bone and biomaterial spectra. The main PO4 and CO3 Raman bands in bone spectra were consistent with those found in the carbonated apatite spectrum. The major collagen bands were always observed around 1200-1300 (amide III) and 1600-1700 (amide I) delta cm(-1) and, 1400-1470 and 2800-3100 delta cm(-1) (bending and stretching modes of CH groups, respectively). The phenylalanine (Phe) band was identified in all spectra at 1003 delta cm(-1) and overlapped that of the weak HPO4(2-) ion. The CH bands frequently overlapped the lipid bands. However a distinct protein and lipid bands were detected at 2950 and 2852 delta cm(-1), respectively. In bone areas close to blood vessels, the Raman signature of hemoglobin was detected with a characteristic band at 754 delta cm(-1). The changes observed in bone varied as a function of time and location. The composition and structure of all of the biomaterials studied--including those that were resorbable--seemed to remain stable over time and location. We report for the first time the complete intravital study of Raman spectra of bone and calcium phosphate biomaterials over a period of 8 months. This new approach does not require specimen preparation and allows simultaneous observation of mineral and organic bone constituents over time, which therefore should provide insightful information about their relationship.

Biological characterization of experimental carbon samples.

The use of carbon is widespread in fields as wide as aeronautics, cars, electricity or electronics. The biomedical applications of carbon are also numerous. The purpose of our work is to test four experimental carbon fibers (A, B, C and D; B being the negative control) to determine the best clinical application. Four tests of cytocompatibility are carried out (cell viability, inflammatory test, cell proliferation and cell morphology). Two different cell lines are used: the L132 cell line (epithelial embryonic pulmonary human cell) and the HaCaT line (human normal spontaneously immortalized skin keratinocytes). The results of the biological tests are compared with those of a carbon fiber sample already marketed as a bandage in the treatment of infected wounds: Actisorb "Plus (J2). The various tests show us that only two experimental samples are slightly cytotoxic (A, D). On the other hand, no sample supports cell adherence. A, B, C and D do not have an inflammatory effect. J2 appears at the same time cytotoxic and inflammatory. Consequently, being given the physical presentation and the biological properties of experimental samples (A, C and D), we intend them for an application in the field of wound healing, as a bandage. Also further experimentation is needed.

Occlusion and rhythm of eruption.

Occlusion through successive phases of dental eruption was the concern of many authors. So that the progressive installation of occlusion is made harmonious way, it is necessary that the dental eruption sequences proceed correctly. The authors have studied rhythm appearance of permanent teeth, and they have determined the average eruption age of canines, first, second premolar and second molar. The results are given for the 574 children of the sample and following to the sex.

Computer model for simulation of emergency medical systems

This study reports the design and development of a computer model that can be utilized to evaluate the requirements for any emergency medical system. The concepts employed represent the logical relationships that exist in the care of the most serious trauma patient. For any given military or civilian emergency, this model encompasses the individual parts required to make the EMS work. The only assumptions are that the problem exists and treatment is required. Patients are categorized according to anatomical location and severity of injury. The user of the model can decide the patient mix, the modes of transportation, the number of facilities, and the number of medical personnel, as well as other variables. It is clear from the results that this model can be a valuable tool in determining the resource requirements for optimal function of any emergency medical system(AU)