More than one way to improve a CAT: Outcomes and reflections on two iterations of the Queen Square Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programme.

Background: The field of human expert performance teaches us that high quality, high-dose guided practice is required to make large gains in cognitively driven acts. The same also seems to be true for people with acquired brain injury, yet therapy services for people with aphasia (PWA) have traditionally not been designed with this in mind. Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programmes (ICAPs) are one way to address the chronic under-dosing of therapy that most PWA experience.

Operation clean up: A model for eco-leadership and sustainability implementation.

Healthcare contributes to environmental harm. Trainee-led Research and Audit in Anaesthesia for Sustainable Healthcare (TRASH) is an Australasian network focused on sustainable anaesthesia practice. TRASH hypothesised that trainee-led audits alongside education presented on a scheduled national day, called Operation Clean Up, can improve engagement with sustainability initiatives.

The impact of a change in work posture from seated to stand-up on work-related musculoskeletal disorders among sewing-machine operators.

Background: Work-related postural change could lead to improved musculoskeletal health.

Method(s): In a quantitative, retrospective, longitudinal study, data of work-related musculoskeletal disorders of 123 sewing-machine operators were captured for 4.5 years, and analysed using Poisson regression.

Tooth-Bleaching: A Review of the Efficacy and Adverse Effects of Various Tooth Whitening Products.

Tooth bleaching (whitening) is one of the most common and inexpensive method for treating discolouration of teeth. Dental aesthetics, especially tooth colour, is of great importance to majority of the people; and discolouration of even a single tooth can negatively influence the quality of life. Therefore, a review of the literature was carried out (limited to aesthetic tooth-bleaching) to provide a broad overview of the efficacy and adverse effects of various tooth whitening products on soft and hard oral tissues.

Evaluation of nystatin containing chitosan hydrogels as potential dual action bio-active restorative materials: in vitro approach.

Healing is a specific biological process related to the general phenomenon of growth and tissue regeneration and is a process generally affected by several systemic conditions or as detrimental side-effects of chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced inflammation of the oral mucosa. The objectives of this study is to evaluate the novel chitosan based functional drug delivery systems, which can be successfully incorporated into "dual action bioactive restorative materials", capable of inducing in vitro improved wound healing prototype and containing an antibiotic, such as nystatin, krill oil as an antioxidant and hydroxyapatite as a molecular bone scaffold, which is naturally present in bone and is reported to be successfully used in promoting bone integration when implanted as well as promoting healing. The hydrogels were prepared using a protocol as previously reported by us.

In vitro evaluation of variances between real and declared concentration of hydrogen peroxide in various tooth-whitening products.

Objectives: The aim of this in vitro study was to analyze the real hydrogen peroxide (HP) concentration in various commercially available tooth-whitening products containing HP and/or carbamide peroxide (CP).

Materials And Methods: Sixteen commercially available tooth-whitening products containing various concentrations of CP or HP were investigated. The products were divided into four groups: dentist-supervised home bleaching products (Group 1, n = 5), in-office bleaching products (Group 2, n = 4), over-the-counter bleaching products (Group 3, n = 3) and whitening toothpastes and rinses (Group 4, n = 4).

IPNs from Cyclodextrin:Chitosan Antioxidants: Bonding, Bio-Adhesion, Antioxidant Capacity and Drug Release.

IPNs are unique "alloys" of cross-linked polymers in which at least one network is synthesized and/or cross-linked in the presence of the other. IPNs are also known as entanglements of polymer networks that are ideally held together only by permanent topological interactions. The objectives of this study are to evaluate novel chitosan-based functional drug delivery systems that can be successfully incorporated into "dual action bioactive tooth restorative materials".

The effect of three whitening oral rinses on enamel micro-hardness.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect on human enamel micro-hardness of three over-the-counter whitening oral rinses available in South Africa. Enamel fragments were gathered into three groups of 15 each. One group was exposed to Colgate Plax Whitening Blancheur, the second group to White Glo 2 in 1 and the third to Plus White, in each case for periods recommended by the respective manufacturers.

Insights into and relative effect of chitosan-H, chitosan-H-propolis, chitosan-H-propolis-nystatin and chitosan-H-nystatin on dentine bond strength.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to design and evaluate novel functional chitosan hydrogels (chitosan-H-propolis, chitosan-H-propolis-nystatin and chitosan-H-nystatin) by using the chitosan-H polymer as "dual function restorative materials".

Materials And Methods: The nystatin/antioxidant carrier gel was prepared by dispersion of the corresponding component in glycerol and 3% acetic acid with 5% chitosan gelling agent was then added to the dispersion with continuous mixing. The natural bio-adhesive functionalized chitosan hydrogels were combined with built in drug delivery system and bio-actives such as propolis in order to increase the dentin bond strength capacity and maintain therapeutic properties of the alternative drug delivery system.

Guidelines for the selection of tooth whitening products amongst those available on the market.

Background: Several tooth whiteners are available on the market, and the ideal choice should be determined by efficacy and optimal clinical results.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the reported clinical success rates of different tooth whitening products.

Search Strategy: The relevant literature (1998 - 2011) was studied, using as sources the databases: Google Scholar, Science Direct, Medline and Pubmed.

Evolved design makes ThoraQuik safe and user friendly in the management of pneumothorax and pleural effusion.

Background: We have previously described the utility of ThoraQuik, a device designed to be fit for purpose for aspirations of pneumothorax and pleural effusions. We evaluated the safety, efficacy and operator handling of the evolved prototype, ThoraQuik II, which has a lesser profile and a spring loaded Veres needle for added safety.

Methods: A prospective, observational clinical trial with ethics and MHRA approval was conducted in a single centre.

Effect of four over-the-counter tooth-whitening products on enamel microhardness.

Objectives: This in vitro study evaluated the effect of four over-the-counter tooth-whitening products on enamel microhardness.

Methods: Fifty enamel blocks were prepared from extracted human molar teeth. The enamel surfaces were polished up to 1200 grit fineness and the specimens randomly divided into five groups.

A clinical study of the effectiveness of a light emitting diode system on tooth bleaching.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) System (BriteWhite) on tooth bleaching.

Method: eeth 11 and 21 of twenty one subjects were treated in the chair with a LED light and 44% carbamide peroxide gel, followed by an at-home treatment period of 14 days with 35% carbamide peroxide. The color of the teeth was measured with a spectrophotometer (L*; a*; b*) before treatment (control) and after the above mentioned two stages.

The pH Levels of Different Methamphetamine Drug Samples on the Street Market in Cape Town.

The purpose of this study was to determine the pH levels of 29 different samples of methamphetamine on the street market in Cape Town. The sample was dissolved in water and the pH of each sample determined. The pH levels varied from 3.

Whitening efficacy of three over-the-counter oral rinses.

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the whitening efficacy of three different oral rinses.

Materials And Methods: Eighty extracted teeth were randomly divided into four groups, cleaned with a slow-speed handpiece with pumice and placed in a staining broth for 14 days. Measurements of tooth shades were measured with a spectrophotometer.

A clinical study of the effectiveness of two different 10% carbamide peroxide bleaching products: a 6-month followup.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two different 10% carbamide peroxide bleaching products just after treatment and after a 6-month follow-up period. Methods. Two 10% carbamide peroxide products (Opalescence PF and Nite White ACP) were applied nightly for 14 days, according to the manufacturers' instructions.

The pH of various tooth-whitening products on the South African market.

Objectives: The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the pH of 21 commercially available tooth-whitening products.

Methods: Tooth-whitening products were divided into four categories: dentist supervised-home bleaching products (n = 5); in-office bleaching products (n = 5); over-the-counter bleaching products (n = 4) and whitening toothpastes and rinses (n = 7). The pH of three samples of each product was measured using an Orion Expandable Ion Analyzer EA940 with a Sure-Flow, Epoxy-body combination pH electrode.

In vivo Spectrophotometric Assessment of the Tooth Whitening Effectiveness of Nite White 10% with Amorphous Calcium Phosphate, Potassium Nitrate and Fluoride, Over a 6-month Period.

Unlabelled: To clinically evaluate the effectiveness of Nite White 10% carbamide peroxide with amorphous calcium phosphate, potassium nitrate and fluoride over a 6-month follow-up period. Nite White was applied nightly for 14 days, according to the manufacturer's instructions. The color of teeth 11 and 21 of twenty one subjects was measured with a spectrophotometer (L(*); a(*); b(*)).

Orthodontic molar brackets: the effect of three different base designs on shear bond strength.

The purpose of the study was to assess the relative base designs of three different maxillary molar stainless steel brackets with reference to the shear bond strength of three different adhesive resins. The molar brackets used were Victory series (3M Unitek), Upper Molar (GAC) and Optimesh XRT (Ormco). The adhesives used were Transbond XT (3M Unitek), Enlight (Ormco) and Sure Ortho Light Bond (Sure Orthodontics).

Effect of various tooth-whitening products on enamel microhardness.

Objectives: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of various tooth-whitening products containing carbamide peroxide (CP) or hydrogen peroxide (HP), on enamel microhardness.

Methods: Enamel blocks were exposed to: Nite White ACP 10% CP (Group 2, n=10); Yotuel Patient 10% CP (Group 3, n=10); Opalescence PF 10% CP (Group 4, n=10); Opalescence PF 20% CP (Group 5, n=10); Opalescence Treswhite Supreme 10% HP (Group 6, n=10); Yotuel 10 Minutes 30% CP (Group 7, n=10); Opalescence Quick 45% CP (Group 8, n=10), Yotuel Special 35% HP (Group 9, n=10), Opalescence Boost 38% HP (Group 10, n=10) according to the instructions of the manufacturers. The control (Group 1, n=10) was enamel blocks kept in artificial saliva at 37 degrees C without any treatment.

Spectrophotometric assessment of the effectiveness of Opalescence PF 10%: a 14-month clinical study.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of Opalescence PF 10% just after treatment, at 6-month follow-up and at a 14-month follow-up period.

Methods: Opalescence PF 10% was applied nightly for 14 days. The color of teeth 11 and 21 of 17 subjects were measured with a spectrophotometer (L*; a*; b*) before treatment, just after treatment (14 days), after 6 months and after 14 months.

The relationships between two different drinking water fluoride levels, dental fluorosis and bone mineral density of children.

This field study included the whole population of children aged 10-15 years (77 from a 0.19 mg/L F area; 89 from a 3.00 mg/L F area), with similar nutritional, dietary habits and similar ethnic and socioeconomic status.

Cytotoxicity of recent dentin bonding agents on mouse fibroblast cells.

Objectives: To compare the cytotoxicity of the polymerized bonding agents Scotchbond 1 (3M ESPE), Prime and Bond NT (Dentsply DeTrey), Xeno III (Dentsply DeTrey), and Clearfil Protect Bond (primer and bond parts; Kuraray) on mouse fibroblast cells. Xeno III was also tested through thin dentin disks.

Method And Materials: Near-confluent 3T3 cells were exposed to Dulbecco modified eagle's medium extractions from the above-mentioned agents, and the cell viability (survival rate) was measured using the standard MTT assay and related to the nonexposed controls.