AbstractObjectives:For various clinical applications, polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) has been used for many years as an antiseptic in medicine. Little is known, however, of its antibacterial activity in the oral cavity and its ability to inhibit plaque formation. In this study, a 0.04% PHMB mout
Abstract Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the suitability of measuring volume differences in the gingival tissue for monitoring changes in the inflammatory status of the gingiva. Materials and Methods: Data for this investigation were obtained from a mouthrinse evaluation which was performed as a 4‐week, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, cross‐over study in which localised experimental gingivitis was induced. 24 volunteers were enrolled in the study. Only the data from the placebo period of each subject were used in the current investigation. During the plaque accumulation periods, plaque guards were worn during routine performance of oral hygiene measures to prevent any plaque removal from the experimental area (1st and 2nd premolars and molars in one upper quadrant). Clinical examinations with assessment of plaque and gingivitis were performed on days 0, 4, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 42. Volume differences in the gingival papillae were determined between day 0 and days 21, 28, and 42, and between days 28 and 42 by taking measurements from replicas of the respective clinical situations using a 3‐D laser scanner and reference‐free automated 3‐D superimposition software. Data were analysed with the Wilcoxon signed ranks test. Results: Plaque accumulation in the experimental area resulted in a highly significant increase ( p <0.001) of inflammation of the gingival papillae. The mean (standard deviation) papillary GI at baseline was 0.23 (0.34) as compared to 1.22 (0.27) and 1.2 (0.31) on days 21 and 28, respectively. The mean increase in volume of all papillae as compared to baseline was 25,478 μm 3 after 21 days and 24,210 μm 3 after 28 days. After resuming a normal oral hygiene regimen, mean volume of the papillae decreased between days 28 and 42 by 19,250 μm 3. Conclusion: With this novel method, gingival papillary edema can be quantified in vivo from replicas of the clinical situation.
Background: Computer technology is increasingly used in practical training at universities. However, in spite of their potential, computer‐assisted simulation (CAS) systems still appear to be underutilised. Objectives: To investigate the practical usage of CAS/computer‐assisted learning (CAL) systems, the familiarity and level of use of CAS systems, as well as the acceptance of approved learning content and English as the language of instruction in CAS/CAL systems. Methods: A survey was conducted in the Departments of Conservative Dentistry and Prosthetic Dentistry of all 32 dental schools in Germany. Besides investigating the usefulness of, familiarity with and level of current usage of CAS systems, the questionnaire also contained questions regarding each respondent's gender, age, academic rank, experience in academia and computer skills, all of which correlated with the responses. Results: The response rate was 90% (112 out of 125). The use of CAS/CAL systems was considered ‘partly’ to ‘very’ useful for evaluating the acquisition of knowledge (83.9%), qualitative issues (73.2%) and processes (72.3%) of dental preparation exercises and complex treatment strategies. However, only about half the respondents reported that they knew of, and even fewer used, the following systems in preclinical or clinical training: EDUnet (KaVo, Germany) (46.3%/0.9 %), PREPassistant (KaVo, Germany) (50%/0.9%), or the DentSim system (DenX, Israel) (52.8%/1.9%). The virtual simulation system VRDTS‐CP (Novint, USA), used by none of the respondents, was known to only 16.5%. Responders agreed at least partly to accept approved learning content (74.9%) and English as the language of instruction (82.1%) as the standards for CAS systems. Conclusion: The survey indicates a distinct discrepancy between a generally positive attitude towards the usefulness of computer technology for dental education, the level of familiarity with current computer systems and their actual use. However, two prerequisites for ultimately decreasing the cost and increasing the usage of CAS systems – the acceptance of approved learning content and English as the language of instruction in CAS systems – seem to be generally accepted by respondents.
Normal prolactin levels were found in two cases of galactorrhoea following surgical procedures to the chest wall and one was treated successfully with bromocriptine. Studies were then carried out to test the claim that chest-wall injury is one of the common causes of hyperprolactinaemia. Serum prolactin levels were measured before and after thoracotomy in 7 patients, following traumatic rib fractures in 8 patients and after burns to the chest in one patient. No evidence was found to suggest that sustained hyperprolactinaemia follows chest wall surgery or injury, and the role of prolactin in the condition 'chest wall injury' galactorrhoea is discussed.
Abstract Background: Compared with its potential, computer technology use is still lacking in medical/dental education. Objectives: To investigate the primary advantages of computer‐assisted learning (CAL) systems in German dental education, as well as the reasons for their relatively low degree of use correlated with personal and professional profiles of respondents. Method: A questionnaire was mailed to heads in the departments of conservative dentistry and prosthetic dentistry in all dental schools in Germany. Besides investigating the advantages and barriers to the use of computer technology, the questionnaire also contained questions regarding each respondent's gender, age, academic rank, experience in academia and computer skills. Results: The response rate to the questionnaire was 90% (112 of 125). The results indicated a distinct discrepancy between the desire for and actual occurrence of lectures, seminars, etc. to instruct students in ways to search for and acquire knowledge, especially using computer technology. The highest‐ranked advantages of CAL systems in order, as seen by respondents, were the possibilities for individual learning, increased motivation, and both objective theoretical tests and practical tests. The highest‐ranked reasons for the low degree of usage of CAL systems in order were the inability to finance, followed equally by a lack of studies of CAL and poor cost‐advantage ratio, and too much effort required to integrate CAL into the curriculum. Moreover, the higher the computer skills of the respondents, the more they noted insufficient quality of CAL systems ( r = 0.200, P = 0.035) and content differences from their own dental faculty's expert opinions ( r = 0.228, P = 0.016) as reasons for low use. Conclusion: The correlations of the attitudes towards CAL with the personal and professional profiles showed not only statistical significant reinforcements of, but also interesting deviations from, the average responses.