Rate of reformation of tongue coatings in young adults.

BACKGROUND: Reviewing the literature, no study on the rate of regrowth of tongue coatings after tongue cleaning was found. Therefore, the purpose of this study in young adults was to study the rate of reformation of tongue coatings after mechanical removal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-five dental students participated in the present study. Following preparatory study instructions, baseline examinations were carried out followed by 3 days of observation. At baseline, tongue coating scores (prescraping) were obtained followed by tongue scrapings and determination of the wet weights of the coatings. A second tongue coating score was then obtained within 5 min of the first score (immediate post-scraping). The subjects returned for repeated tongue coating scores after 1 and 2 days and for final examination after 3 days, which included both tongue coating scores (prescraping and immediate post-scraping) and determination of the wet weights of the coatings. RESULTS: Prior to scraping the tongue at day 0 (baseline), mean tongue coating amounted to a surface extension of 33% of the entire dorsum of the tongue. Scraping the tongue reduced the score to 9%. On average, tongue coating scores had returned to baseline levels on day 2. The mean wet weights of tongue scrapings at days 0 and 3 were similar and amounted to 0.09 +/- 0.07 and 0.09 +/- 0.06 g, respectively. CONCLUSION: If tongue cleaning is to be recommended, the results of this study in dental students indicate that tongue cleaning should be performed on a daily basis.

Evaluation of tongue coating indices.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine inter-examiner reproducibility of two modified Winkel tongue coating indices and to study the relationship between each of these two indices and the amount of tongue coating as determined by wet weight of scrapings from the dorsum of the tongue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five participants were selected for the study from among dental students. The selection was made to assure that a wide range of degrees of tongue coating were represented. Two independent examiners scored the tongue coatings using the two modified Winkel tongue coating indices (mWTCI 1 + 2 and mWTCI 2). After completion of index recordings, tongue scrapings were performed by one of the examiners. RESULTS: Inter-examiner reproducibility of mWTCI 1 + 2 and mWTCI 2 using Pearson's coefficients of correlation amounted to r = 0.48 and 0.93 respectively. Overall, mWTCI 2 showed higher correlations to wet weight of tongue scrapings than mWTCI 1 + 2. CONCLUSION: The mWTCI 2 was found to be highly reproducible and also valid as related to wet weight of tongue scrapings. This index would seem suitable for further studies on tongue coatings; effect of tongue cleaning; and rate of reformation of coatings after cleaning.

[Ticks bite in foresters]. / Punture di zecche in operai forestali.

The objective of the study is evalutation of the risk for ticks strings on foresters. The sample constituted by 325 foresters belong to Messina province as been submitted to medical examination venous tests. Whole sample had to answer to a questionnaire to consider. The prevalence of systemic and skin reactions and we have dose Immunoglobulines versus Brucella Melitensis, Rickettsie Conorii e Borrelia Burgdorferi. The results showed that the 19% has declared past stings of tick, and 4.9% reported symptoms probably deriving to a past infections determined by inquired microorganisms. The serum tests showed that 70% was positive for all microorganisms, instead only 31%. Was never infected by inquired microorganisms. In conclusion our study shows that zoonos is risk linked to stings of tick is relatively high in foresters.

[Evaluation of ambulatory medical care in Milan]. / Analisi del consumo di prestazioni ambulatoriali nella città di Milano.

Ambulatory procedures are an essential component of health care both for their number and for their cost. We aim therefore to identify and to quantify the volume of ambulatory procedures performed in Milan during 2003. The data come from the Outpatient Care Information Report that collect much information by characteristics of patient, health care institution and procedure categories. The analyses in this report are based on absolute measures, utilization rates and concentration index. During the year 2003 nearly 20 millions of ambulatory procedures were performed in the public and private outpatient facilities of Milan for the resident population. The average annual rate was 15 procedures per person. Utilization varied according to patient age and sex, higher in women and in the elderly group, statistically significant variability is observed (p<0.001). Outpatient care accounts for high density supply (124 specialty points for 100,000 inhabitants). Utilization rate was not homogenous both for the medical specialties and for the geographical district distribution, all that, it seems depending on the activity concentration differences and complexity supply of services than on a different distribution of health needs. This analysis may be useful as methodological starting point for further investigating current outpatient care data and for identifying those sectors in need of corrective actions.