An Approach to Intersectionally Target Mature Enteroendocrine Cells in the Small Intestine of Mice.

Enteroendocrine cells (EECs) constitute only a small proportion of -expressing intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) of the gastrointestinal tract; yet, in sum, they build the largest endocrine organ of the body, with each of them storing and releasing a distinct set of peptides for the control of feeding behavior, glucose metabolism, and gastrointestinal motility. Like all IEC types, EECs are continuously renewed from intestinal stem cells in the crypt base and terminally differentiate into mature subtypes while moving up the crypt-villus axis. Interestingly, EECs adjust their hormonal secretion according to their migration state as EECs receive altering differentiation signals along the crypt-villus axis and thus undergo functional readaptation.

Journey towards a dental career: the career decision-making journey and perceived obstacles to studying dentistry identified by London's secondary school pupils and teachers.

Objective To explore the career decision-making journey towards dentistry and identify possible challenges and supports in this process as perceived by academically able, science-minded, London school pupils and their careers teachers.Methods A mixed-methods study was conducted using a purposive sample of London schools. Focus groups (n = 13) with 91 pupils aged 14-18 years and a survey of career teachers (n = 12) were conducted at a range of school-types.

Neural gut-to-brain communication for postprandial control of satiation and glucose metabolism.

The brain is tuned to integrate food-derived signals from the gut, allowing it to accurately adjust behavioral and physiological responses in accordance with nutrient availability. A key element of gut-to-brain communication is the relay of neural cues via peripheral sensory neurons (PSN) which harbor functionally specialized peripheral endings innervating the muscular and mucosal layers of gastrointestinal (GI) tract organs. In this review, we detail the properties of GI tract innervating PSN and describe their roles in regulating satiation and glucose metabolism in response to food consumption.

Dentistry as a professional career: the views of London's secondary school pupils (2011-2017).

Aim To explore young people's perceptions of dentistry as a potential future career, including features which would attract or deter them from wanting to become dentists and the perceived influences on these views.Methods Purposive sampling of London schools was undertaken. Exploration of academically-able, science-minded young people's (aged 14-18 years) perceptions of dentistry as a potential career was achieved through a series of focus groups conducted at various types of school in the Greater London region (13 focus groups and 91 students).

Embarking on a professional career: social advantage in dentistry and medicine. UK dental and medical student applications and admissions, 1996-2011.

Objectives The objectives of this research were to compare trends in applications and admissions to dentistry and medicine by sociodemographic status, country/region, academic experience and attainment, for UK domiciled students, and also to compare the odds of gaining admission to each course.Methods Secondary analysis of student data from University and College Admissions Services (UCAS) for focused, successful, UK domiciled applicants whose preferred subject was medicine or dentistry from 1996-2011. Trends for both programmes were examined using univariate and multivariate analysis including logistic regression, both with and without tariff scores.

Impact of irrigated agriculture on groundwater resources in a temperate humid region.

The groundwater irrigation expansion, and its multiple potential impacts on the quantity and quality of water resources, is not just restricted to areas that are water limited. In this study we present the seasonal impacts irrigation practices can have on groundwater resources in a temperate humid region, where the average annual rain/PET ratio is 1.0.

Do high tuition fees make a difference? Characteristics of applicants to UK medical and dental schools before and after the introduction of high tuition fees in 2012.

Aim To compare trends in the volume, socio-demography and academic experience of UK applicants and entrants to medicine and dentistry in the UK with university in general, before and after the major increase in university fees in England in 2012.Methods Descriptive trend analyses of University and College Admissions Services (UCAS) data for focused (preferred subject was medicine or dentistry) and accepted applicants, 2010-14, compared with university in general in relation to socio-demography (age, sex, ethnicity, POLAR 2, region) and academic experience (school type). POLAR2 data provide an indication of the likelihood of young people in the area participating in further or higher education.

Students' perceived stress and perception of barriers to effective study: impact on academic performance in examinations.

Aims: To identify students' perceptions of barriers to effective study and the relationship between these and demographic characteristics, levels of perceived stress and examination performance.

Materials And Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to first (BDS1) and final year (BDS5) King's College London dental undergraduates, during Spring 2013. Data were collected on students' social and working environment using a Likert scale from zero to four.

Can I be a student again? How medical graduates make the decision to return to dental school prior to a career in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Introduction: Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) trainees in the UK have traditionally completed their dental undergraduate studies prior to returning to medical school. Recently, there have been increasing numbers of medical graduates who return to dental school before embarking on OMFS specialist training. There is limited research into the career motivation within this group and little guidance on how they may integrate the dental undergraduate course into their postgraduate training path.

Widening participation - a comparison of the characteristics of successful UK applicants to the five-year and four-year dental programmes in 2007 and 2008.

Aim: To compare the demographics (age, sex, ethnicity, social status, disability, country/region) and academic experience (school type) of accepted UK applicants to the five-year and four-year dental programmes in 2007 and 2008.

Methods: Retrospective descriptive analysis was carried out on the University and College Admissions Services (UCAS) data for accepted UK applicants to the five- and four-year dental programmes at UK dental schools in the years 2007 and 2008. Logistic regression was used to model the outcome of dental admission to programmes (four-year vs five-year), controlling for the other explanatory variables.

Awareness of oral and maxillofacial surgery as a specialty and potential career pathway amongst UK medical undergraduates.

Background And Purpose Of The Study: Although traditionally a "dentistry first, medicine second" training route, UK Oral and Maxillofacial surgery is increasingly populated with medicine-first trainees at ST3 level. Despite this, there is little evidence suggesting any increase in exposure at medical undergraduate level. We sought to evaluate the current level of awareness of OMFS as a medical specialty and potential career pathway amongst 'first-degree' medical undergraduates.

Threshold concepts in dental education.

The paper presents a conceptual framework to inform dental education. Drawing from a vast body of research into student learning, the simple model presented here has an explanatory value in describing what is currently observed to happen and a predictive value in guiding future teaching practices. We introduce to dental education the application of threshold concepts that have a transformative role in offering a new vision of the curriculum that helps to move away from the medieval transmission model of higher education towards a dual processing model that better reflects the way in which professionals operate within the discipline.

The graduate entry generation: a qualitative study exploring the factors influencing the career expectations and aspirations of a graduating cohort of graduate entry dental students in one London institution.

Background: Dentistry in the UK has a number of new graduate-entry programmes. The aim of the study was to explore the motivation, career expectations and experiences of final year students who chose to pursue a dental career through the graduate entry programme route in one institution; and to explore if, and how, their intended career expectations and aspirations were informed by this choice.

Method: In-depth interviews of 14 graduate entry students in their final year of study.

An introduction to concept mapping in dental education: the case of partial denture design.

The aim of this paper is to present concept mapping as a tool for enhancing clinical dental education and develops the authors' argument for the use of concept mapping presented previously in the pages of this journal. Materials presented are based on data gathered from extensive observation of learning and teaching in a UK dental school, and upon a case study of student learning of removable partial denture design. Using examples developed with students and teachers, critical elements of the approach are illustrated which can be used to support dialogue between the two parties.

Using concept mapping principles in PowerPoint.

The use of linear PowerPoint templates to support lectures may inadvertently encourage dental students to adopt a passive approach to learning and a narrow appreciation of the field of study. Such presentations may support short-term learning gains and validate assessment regimes that promote surface learning approaches at the expense of developing a wider appreciation of the field that is necessary for development of clinical expertise. Exploitation of concept mapping principles can provide a balance for the negative learning behaviour that is promoted by the unreflective use of PowerPoint.

Dental vocational training: identifying and developing trainer expertise.

Aims: The aims of the study were two fold: to determine the influence of trainer expertise on the Vocational Training (VT) experience, particularly in terms of providing Vocational Dental Practitioners (VDPs) with positive role models; and to ascertain if it is possible to identify attributes of expertise that can signpost a successful path for new/less expert trainers.

Participants: Thirty-five VDPs and each of their Vocational Trainers participated in the study. All training took place in the South East of England.

Dental vocational training: some aspects of the selection process in the South East of England.

Aim: To explore aspects of the dental vocational training (VT) selection process.

Participants: Thirty-five vocational dental practitioners (VDPs) and each of their trainers. The descriptive analysis of the VT year as experienced by these subjects has been previously described.

Aspects of the dental vocational training experience in the South East of England.

Aim: To determine aspects of the 'lived experience' of dental vocational training (VT) for vocational dental practitioners (VDPs) and their trainers.

Design: A qualitative study: semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants halfway through VT and once the VT year had been completed.

Participants: Two consecutive cohorts of 13 and 22 VDPs and their trainers.

Patients with cardiac disease: considerations for the dental practitioner.

The provision of dental treatment under both local anaesthesia and sedation has an excellent safety record, although medical problems may occur. The high prevalence of cardiac disease in the population, particularly ischaemic heart disease, makes it the most common medical problem encountered in dental practice. Additionally, the increasing survival of children with congenital heart disease makes them a significant proportion of those attending for dental treatment.

A study on the use of the dentatus AEB face bow and its modification as an ear bow.

This study investigated the siting of the earbow mounting pins on the Dentatus ARL articulator relative to the condylar axis. Further, it showed the repeatability of registrations using the Dentatus AEB face bow and its modification as an earbow. Three face bow and three earbow recordings were made of 35 subjects.

A clinical teacher's experience with the Open University MA in Education.

In this article, I outline my experience of undertaking the Open University Master of Arts Degree in Education Management. A brief overview of the structure of this modular degree is presented. I then assess the benefits that I have gained during this course of study; I also consider the relevance of this primarily mainstream education higher qualification to those in dental education, in particular those who teach at undergraduate level and in general dental practice.

Are graduates as good as they used to be?

A theme runs through discussions on dental undergraduate education, that 'they are not as good as they used to be'. Based largely on anecdotal evidence, we question whether this is true. Dentistry is changing.