The Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Workforce.

Importance: A core component of delivering care of head and neck diseases is an adequate workforce. The World Health Organization report, Multi-Country Assessment of National Capacity to Provide Hearing Care, captured primary workforce estimates from 68 member states in 2012, noting that response rates were a limitation and that updated more comprehensive data are needed.

Objective: To establish comprehensive workforce metrics for global otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) with updated data from more countries/territories.

Patterns in Oral Hygiene and Dietary Habits in School Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Aim: To assess oral hygiene and dietary patterns in school children participating in a school-based preventive oral health program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, an anonymous questionnaire exploring oral hygiene and dietary patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic was completed by parents of school children. Data were compared among different schools, school years, and between genders using nonparametric tests.

Exploitation of a Type 1 Toxin-Antitoxin System as an Inducible Counter-Selective Marker for Genome Editing in the Acetogen .

Targeted mutations in the anaerobic methylotroph have previously been obtained using CRISPR-based mutagenesis methods. In this study, a RelB-family toxin from was placed under the control of an anhydrotetracycline-sensitive promoter, forming an inducible counter-selective system. This inducible system was coupled with a non-replicative integrating mutagenesis vector to create precise gene deletions in B2.

Dental Public Health in Action: Experiences and Responses of Oral Health Care Professionals during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Malta.

Initial impetus for action: Maltese Oral Health Care Professionals (OHCP) experienced changes to clinical practice and redeployment during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the early stages, there were few data on the resultant changes to the provision of dental services or their impact on the wellbeing of dental professionals. Solutions Suggested: Two questionnaires were designed to explore different domains in OHCP working on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as in other areas/sectors.

Are There Epigenetic Oxytocin-Mediated Effects on the Mother and Infant during Physiological Childbirth?

Introduction: Studies have shown that long-term positive behavioural and physiological changes are induced in connection with vaginal, physiological birth, and skin-to-skin contact after birth in mothers and babies. Some of these effects are consistent with the effect profile of oxytocin. This scoping review explores whether epigenetic changes of the oxytocin gene and of the oxytocin receptor gene (OTR) are involved in these effects.