Characterization of an injectable, degradable polymer for mechanical stabilization of mandibular fractures.

This study investigated the use of injectable poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) formulations for mandibular fracture stabilization applications. A full factorial design with main effects analysis was employed to evaluate the effects of the PPF:N-vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP, crosslinking agent) ratio and dimethyl toluidine (DMT, accelerator) concentration on key physicochemical properties including setting time, maximum temperature, mechanical properties, sol fraction, and swelling ratio. Additionally, the effects of formulation crosslinking time on the mechanical and swelling properties were investigated. The results showed that increasing the PPF:NVP ratio from 3:1 to 4:1 or decreasing the DMT concentration from 0.05 to 0.01 v/w % significantly decreased all mechanical properties as well as significantly increased the sol fraction and swelling ratio. Also, increasing the crosslinking time at 37°C from 1 to 7 days significantly increased all mechanical properties and decreased both the sol fraction and swelling ratio. This study further showed that the flexural stiffness of ex vivo stabilized rabbit mandibles increased from 1.7 ± 0.3 N/mm with a traditional mini-plate fixator to 14.5 ± 4.1 N/mm for the 4:1 (0.05 v/w % DMT) PPF formulation at day 1. Overall, the formulations tested in this study were found to have properties suitable for potential further consideration in mandibular fracture fixation applications.

Occupational therapy in mother and child health care centers.

This paper describes the results of an infant stimulation program that involved mothers and their infants registered at Mother and Child Health Care centers in Jerusalem. A questionnaire was used to evaluate the mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the developmental needs of their infants. A developmental assessment was used to evaluate the infants' reaching and grasping abilities at 4 months of age. The questionnaire was completed by 175 mothers in the program (the experimental group) and a control group of 124 mothers. The results showed that, despite demographic differences that were likely to positively affect the control group's scores, the experimental group's scores were significantly higher. The results of the developmental assessment administered to 107 infants in the experimental group and 74 infants in the control group also indicated that, on 4 out of 5 reaching and grasping items, the experimental group performed significantly better. This study emphasizes the value of structuring a developmental curriculum for newborn infants and their mothers within an occupational therapy program.

[Segev health promotion project in Jerusalem elementary schools].

The health-promotion and education project, Segev, is an Israeli version of the American Health Foundation's Know Your Body project. The aim of this cohort study was to change knowledge, attitudes, health behavior and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in elementary school children. We present the results of questionnaires about knowledge of, and attitudes to health in 656 Jewish children who started first grade in 1983-4 and completed 4 questionnaires in the first and third grades. The results indicate a statistically significant increase in knowledge and attitude scores in the experimental group after 1 and 3 years of intervention. They indicate that changes in knowledge of, and attitudes to health are possible after even a relatively short school health education program.

Comparative genomics of the lactic acid bacteria.

Lactic acid-producing bacteria are associated with various plant and animal niches and play a key role in the production of fermented foods and beverages. We report nine genome sequences representing the phylogenetic and functional diversity of these bacteria. The small genomes of lactic acid bacteria encode a broad repertoire of transporters for efficient carbon and nitrogen acquisition from the nutritionally rich environments they inhabit and reflect a limited range of biosynthetic capabilities that indicate both prototrophic and auxotrophic strains. Phylogenetic analyses, comparison of gene content across the group, and reconstruction of ancestral gene sets indicate a combination of extensive gene loss and key gene acquisitions via horizontal gene transfer during the coevolution of lactic acid bacteria with their habitats.

Bicycle helmets in Israel: observed change in usage following a nationwide campaign.

Bicycle-related head injuries are an important cause of injury and death among bicycle riders. The use of bicycle helmets could reduce the rate of serious head trauma among bicyclists involved in accidents. A nationwide survey was conducted in Israel to determine the usage of such helmets. This survey preceded a media campaign encouraging the use of bicycle helmets. A second survey compared the rates of helmet usage following the media campaign with those rates prior to the campaign. A modest but significant increase in the use of bicycle helmets was observed. In order to further increase this rate, additional educational campaigns are needed and possibly the enactment of legislation.

The prevalence of middle ear pathologies in Jerusalem school children.

In the years 1984-85, 2,664 Jerusalem school children aged between 8 and 13 years were checked for middle ear pathologies. This pilot study was part of a preventive medicine project that was also on the alert for cases where hearing problems had led to academic underachievement. The children were checked at school by an otolaryngologist using a pneumatic otoscope. 1.5% of them suffered from secretory otitis media, 3% from attic retractions, 0.3% from chronic otitis media, and 0.07% from cholesteatoma. The total number of children who had middle ear pathologies was 132 (4.95%). In a parallel group of 2,486 children checked by the routine pass/fail portable audiometry test performed by a nurse, only 1% were found to have middle ear pathologies. According to these middle ear findings, we concluded that the vast majority of the pathologies can be detected by a simple tympanometry and we recommend routine audiometric and tympanometric examinations for school children in grades A and B, and a repeated tympanometry at age 10 years.