High-volume evacuation mitigates viral aerosol spread in dental procedures.

Dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) are subjected to microbe-containing aerosols and splatters in their everyday work. Safer work conditions must be developed to ensure the functioning of the healthcare system. By simulating dental procedures, we aimed to compare the virus-containing aerosol generation of four common dental instruments, and high-volume evacuation (HVE) in their mitigation. Moreover, we combined the detection of infectious viruses with RT-qPCR to form a fuller view of virus-containing aerosol spread in dental procedures. The air-water syringe produced the highest number of aerosols. HVE greatly reduced aerosol concentrations during procedures. The air-water syringe spread infectious virus-containing aerosols throughout the room, while other instruments only did so to close proximity. Additionally, infectious viruses were detected on the face shields of DHCP. Virus genomes were detected throughout the room with all instruments, indicating that more resilient viruses might remain infectious and pose a health hazard. HVE reduced the spread of both infectious viruses and viral genomes, however, it did not fully prevent them. We recommend meticulous use of HVE, a well-fitting mask and face shields in dental procedures. We advise particular caution when operating with the air-water syringe. Due to limited repetitions, this study should be considered a proof-of-concept report.

Premorbid temperament as predictor of onset of depression: 23-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Previously Cloninger's temperament traits have been researched as a risk factor for depression mostly in cross-sectional studies. In these studies, especially high harm avoidance has been associated with an increased risk of depression. The main objective of this study was to investigate how temperament traits affect the risk of the onset of depression in a previously mentally healthy adult population. METHODS: This study includes a follow-up period of 23 years from the age of 31 until 54 in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 Study. Temperament was measured at the 31-year follow-up using Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). The outcome of the study was depressive disorder diagnosis during the follow-up in both sexes. To be able to take correlations between temperament traits we also did an analysis using temperament clusters. RESULTS: Our sample size was 3999 individuals, out of which 240 were diagnosed with depression. For women an increase in the TCI score for novelty seeking (NS), harm avoidance (HA) or persistence (P) increased the risk of depression during the follow-up. For men only HA was a significant predictor of depression. An increase in reward dependence (RD) was found to reduce the risk of psychotic depression. In the analysis using the temperament clusters, the cluster including shy and pessimistic individuals was associated with risk for depression diagnosis in men. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective general population-based cohort study added to previous knowledge of high HA being a risk factor for depression, but it also found new associations such as higher P and NS.