Low muscle volume of the anal sphincter complex: A novel prognostic factor in children with anorectal malformations?

Background/purpose: The anal sphincter complex (ASC) plays a key role in continence and is often dysfunctional in infants born with anorectal malformations (ARM). The ASC is well depicted by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging but volumetric reference data are lacking in infants. Thus, we tested the feasibility of MR based ASC volumetry, collected reference data, and compared them with cases of favorableprognosis and unfavorable prognosis (as defined by the type of ARM).

Assessment of sacral ratio in patients with anorectal malformations: Can magnetic resonance imaging replace conventional radiograph?

Introduction: In patients with anorectal malformations (ARM), the sacral ratio (SR) serves as an established predictive marker for functional prognosis and is derived from conventional radiographs. More recently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as a diagnostic alternative for preoperative/baseline assessment of patients with ARM. With this study we aimed to evaluate if the SR could be reliable be measured from MRI images and if it correlated to SR measurements obtained from radiographs.

Decreased Compressional Sound Velocity Is an Indicator for Compromised Bone Stiffness in X-Linked Hypophosphatemic Rickets (XLH).

To assess the diagnostic potential of bidirectional axial transmission (BDAT) ultrasound, and high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) in X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH, OMIM #307800), a rare genetic disorder of phosphate metabolism caused by mutations in the gene. BDAT bone ultrasound was performed at the non-dominant distal radius (33% relative to distal head) and the central left tibia (50%) in eight XLH patients aged between 4.2 and 20.

Reduced hypoxic ventilatory response with preserved blood oxygenation in yoga trainees and Himalayan Buddhist monks at altitude: evidence of a different adaptive strategy?

Yoga induces long-term changes in respiratory function and control. We tested whether it represents a successful strategy for high-altitude adaptation. We compared ventilatory, cardiovascular and hematological parameters in: 12 Caucasian yoga trainees and 12 control sea-level residents, at baseline and after 2-week exposure to high altitude (Pyramid Laboratory, Nepal, 5,050 m), 38 active lifestyle high-altitude natives (Sherpas) and 13 contemplative lifestyle high-altitude natives with practice of yoga-like respiratory exercises (Buddhist monks) studied at 5,050 m.

A comparison of 5 gutta-percha obturation techniques to replicate canal defects.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of five different methods of compaction of thermoplasticized GP to replicate four artificially-created defects in the canal walls of an extracted tooth. One of the instruments tested was the EndoTwinn which was recently introduced to the U.S.

Rater reliability: short- and long-term effects of calibration training.

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the immediate effects of calibration on inter-rater agreement to a gold standard (GS) and to determine whether the effects can be sustained over a ten-week period. Valid criteria for a Class II amalgam preparation, a three-point rating scale, and a grade form were developed. Three tests were administered: prior to calibration training, immediately following training, and ten weeks later.

Effect of two types of latex gloves and surfactants on polymerization inhibition of three polyvinylsiloxane impression materials.

Statement Of Problem: Polymerization inhibition of polyvinylsiloxane impression materials has been reported when in sustained contact with some types of latex gloves.

Purpose: This study examined the polymerization inhibition of 3 polyvinylsiloxane impression materials placed in contact with surfaces subjected to prior contact with gloves or commonly used surfactants.

Material And Methods: A 2 x 3 x 4 x 2 design was used (n = 20), with 2 types of gloves (powdered and unpowdered), 3 types of polyvinylsiloxane impression materials (Aquasil, Extrude, and Affinis), 4 surfactant conditions (water, soap/water-rinse, alcohol, and unexposed), and 2 ambient temperatures of 22 degrees C and 36 degrees C.

Intentional use of the Hawthorne effect to improve oral hygiene compliance in orthodontic patients.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the home care of noncompliant adolescent orthodontic patients with "poor" oral hygiene could be improved through the use of a deception strategy designed to intentionally induce the Hawthorne effect. This effect is often cited as being responsible for oral health improvements of control groups that receive placebo treatments. It is thought that participating in and fulfilling the requirements of a study alters subjects' behavior, thereby contributing to the improvement.

The use of specific dental school-taught restorative techniques by practicing clinicians.

In 1995, a survey requesting information about the utilization of certain prosthodontic techniques was mailed to 3,544 graduates of a midwestern dental school. Responses were received from 1,455 alumni, representing a 41 percent return rate. In general, the results are consistent with international and national trends and show significant disparity in the utilization rates of certain procedures between general dentists and prosthodontists, as well as a disconnect between what is taught in the undergraduate dental educational program and what is applied in practice.

Peripheral arterial vascular function at altitude: sea-level natives versus Himalayan high-altitude natives.

Objectives: Regulation of the vascular system may limit physical performance and contribute to adaptation to high altitude. We evaluated vascular function in 10 Himalayan high-altitude natives and 10 recently acclimatized sea-level natives at an altitude of 5,050 m.

Methods: We registered electrocardiogram, blood flow velocity in the common femoral artery, and blood pressure in the radial artery using non-invasive methods under baseline conditions, and during maximal vasodilation after 2 min leg occlusion.

Knowledge of ethical lapses and other experiences on clinical licensure examinations.

While clinical licensure examinations claim to protect the public from incompetent practitioners, serious problems related to issues of validity, reliability, and ethics have been reported. The ethical lapses are difficult to document, and reports of problems have been strictly anecdotal. This study's primary purpose was to verify those anecdotal reports by mailing a twenty-one-item survey to a national random sample of one thousand general dentists who graduated from a United States-accredited dental school between 1980 and 1994.

Using questions to facilitate motor skill acquisition.

For the process of question-guided problem-solving to work successfully, several conditions must exist: 1) presence of valid and reliable criteria for evaluating product (DO) and performance (DP), 2) development of learning resources such as life-sized examples, 3) training sessions in the application of criteria and use of the process for both faculty and students, and 4) faculty commitment to the process. The process helps to establish conditions in which learning occurs. Underlying its structure is the requirement for incorporation of discrimination tasks.

Increased intracellular levels of lysosomal beta-glucuronidase in peripheral blood PMNs from humans with rapidly progressive periodontitis.

Release of potent lysosomal enzymes by degranulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in host gingiva may contribute significantly to tissue destruction and the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. A pilot study established that peripheral blood PMNs from humans with rapidly progressive periodontitis (RPP) contained significantly increased amounts of intracellular lysosomal beta-glucuronidase as compared to healthy controls. This investigation gained insight into the question: are the increased levels of beta-glucuronidase in persons with RPP an a priori genetically determined PMN characteristic, or a reactive phenomenon induced by the periodontal disease process during granulopoiesis? Twelve healthy controls and twelve otherwise healthy individuals with RPP participated in a repeated measures design to T0 (initial, baseline), T1 (four weeks after disease control therapy), and T2 (two months later).

Reproducibility of occlusal contacts relative to mounting cast variables.

This study evaluated the accuracy of occlusal contacts relative to the mode in which casts are mounted. Specifically, the direct effect on occlusal contacts was assessed with respect to: (a) the type of mounting stone used; (b) the amount of material used relative to the distance between the mounting plate and the cast base; and (c) the presence or absence of a restriction of the articulator's vertical opening. A 3 x 2 x 2 factorial analysis of variance and a Dunn's Multiple Comparison Procedure (P < .

Validation of a motor skills performance theory with applications for dental education.

While several investigations assessing applications of contemporary motor learning theory to preclinic laboratory instruction have been successful, they provide only indirect and incomplete validation of theoretical constructs. This study's purpose was to further evaluate the validity of salient constructs through the use of a validation technique called verbal self-reporting, and to describe applications for dental education. Subjects were videotaped completing a preparation.

Interrater agreement on subgingival calculus detection following scaling.

Accurate and reliable detection of subgingival calculus is a difficult skill which relies on subjective tactile sensations for determinations. This one year retrospective study examined the interrater agreement among a large, generalized pool of clinical examiners who scored residual subgingival calculus after student scaling. Four thousand one hundred and sixty tooth surfaces were analyzed for examiner agreement.