Childhood disability in rural Niger: a population-based assessment using the Key Informant Method.

Background: Data on childhood disability is essential for planning health, education and other services. However, information is lacking in many low- and middle-income countries, including Niger. This study uses the Key Informant Method, an innovative and cost-effective strategy for generating population-based estimates of childhood disability, to estimate the prevalence and causes of moderate/severe impairments and disabling health conditions in children of school-going age (7-16 years) in the Kollo department of western Niger.

Four-Millimeter-Long Posterior-Mandible Implants: 5-Year Outcomes of a Prospective Multicenter Study.

Background: There is lack of evidence on long-term success of short dental implants in reduced alveolar bone.

Purpose: In this prospective 5-year study, survival and marginal bone loss of 4-mm implants, which supported fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) in severely resorbed posterior mandibles, were evaluated.

Material And Methods: In 28 patients, evaluation of 86 osseointegrated 4-mm-long implants, which supported a 3- or a 4-unit FDP by crown splinting without the use of pontics or cantilevers, was performed over a 5-year period.

The influence of relining or implant retaining existing mandibular dentures on health-related quality of life: a 2-year randomized study of dissatisfied edentulous patients.

Purpose: The purpose was to assess and compare self-reported oral health and oral and general health related quality of life (OHRQoL and HRQoL) in two groups of edentulous adults who reported dissatisfaction with their mandibular dentures, and who were treated with a conventional relining of this denture or by having it converted into an implant-retained one.

Materials And Methods: Sixty subjects were randomly allocated into two equal groups, a relined conventional denture (RCD) group and an implant-retained overdenture (IOD) group. Data on demographics, oral health, OHRQoL, and HRQoL were recorded by means of a self-administered questionnaire at baseline, 3 months, and 2 years.

The ARV roll out and the disability grant: a South African dilemma?

Background: Prior to the antiretroviral (ARV) drug roll out in 2004, people living with HIV (PLHIV) in South Africa received disability grants when they were defined as "AIDS-sick". In the absence of available and effective medication, a diagnosis of AIDS portended disability. The disability grant is a critical component of South Africa's social security system, and plays an important role in addressing poverty among PLHIV.

Four-millimeter implants supporting fixed partial dental prostheses in the severely resorbed posterior mandible: two-year results.

Background: Reduced alveolar bone volume complicates implant dentistry.

Purpose: In this prospective multicenter study, a new, 4-mm long Straumann SLActive implant (Ø 4.1 mm) supporting a fixed dental prosthesis (FDP) in the severely resorbed posterior mandible was evaluated for two years.

Host response to titanium dental implant placement evaluated in a human oral model.

Background: Recent reports have questioned if metal sensitivity may arise from exposure to titanium. The objective of this study was to histologically evaluate non-perforated mucosa covering submerged maxillary titanium implants with regard to induced tissue reactions.

Methods: Thirteen patients, 21 to 69 years of age, without previous implants were included.

Four years of clinical experience with an adverse reaction unit for dental biomaterials.

Objectives: We describe the function of, and results from, the Norwegian National Dental Biomaterials Adverse Reaction Unit after 4 years of activity from 1993 to 1997.

Methods: During this period of time, 296 patients were examined at the unit, which is located at the Dental School, University of Bergen. The most prevalent age group was 40-49 years, and 70% were women.

Reporting on adverse reactions to dental materials--intraoral observations at a clinical follow-up.

Objectives: A national reporting system designed to monitor adverse reactions to dental materials was established in Norway in 1993. The activities have also included clinical examination of patients with suspected reactions to dental materials. The ongoing activities are coordinated by the Dental Biomaterials Adverse Reaction Unit at the University of Bergen.

Brain operations guided by real-time two-dimensional ultrasound: new possibilities as a result of improved image quality.

Objective: In 1995, a project was initiated in Trondheim, Norway, to investigate various possibilities for more frequent use of ultrasound in brain surgery. Since that time, the quality of ultrasonic images has improved considerably through technological adjustment of parameters. The objective of the present study was to explore essential clinical parameters required for the successful use of ultrasonic guidance in brain surgery.

Fixed partial dentures supported by natural teeth and Brånemark system implants: a 3-year report.

Purpose: To evaluate fixed partial dentures (FPDs) supported by a combination of natural teeth and implants in a variety of clinical situations.

Materials And Methods: In 30 patients, 86 teeth and 85 implants were used as supports for 30 FPDs of varying extension (mean = 8.6 units); 23 in the maxilla and 7 in the mandible.

Neuronavigation by intraoperative three-dimensional ultrasound: initial experience during brain tumor resection.

Objective: Three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound is an intraoperative imaging modality used in neuronavigation as an alternative to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This article summarizes 4 years of clinical experience in the use of intraoperative 3-D ultrasound integrated into neuronavigation for guidance in brain tumor resection.

Methods: Patients were selected for inclusion in the study on the basis of the size and location of their lesion.

Survival of single crystal sapphire implants supporting mandibular overdentures.

One hundred and sixteen sapphire (Bioceram, Kyocera) implants were inserted in 30 patients between 1984 and 1991 to support mandibular overdentures. Survival analyses were made on the basis of clinical and radiographic follow-up evaluation for 15 patients with 56 implants. For the 15 patients who were lost to follow-up, 7 of whom were deceased, reviews of records and available radiographs determined outcome and observation time.

SonoWand, an ultrasound-based neuronavigation system.

Objective: We have integrated a neuronavigation system into an ultrasound scanner and developed a single-rack system that enables the surgeon to perform frameless and armless stereotactic neuronavigation using intraoperative three-dimensional ultrasound data as well as preoperative magnetic resonance or computed tomographic images. The purpose of this article is to describe our two-rack prototype and present the results of our work on image quality enhancement.

Description Of Instrumentation: The system consists of a high-end ultrasound scanner, a modest-cost computer, and an optical positioning/digitizer system.

Initial experience with stereoscopic visualization of three-dimensional ultrasound data in surgery.

Initial in vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to evaluate the feasibility of stereoscopically displaying three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound data from neurosurgery, laparoscopic surgery, and vascular surgery. Stereoscopic visualization was illustrated by four video sequences, which can be downloaded from http://www.us.

[Mercury and dental amalgam fillings].

During 1993-95 a total of 169 patients (112 women, 57 men) with a wide range of complaints associated with earlier or present amalgam fillings were seen by the "Dental Biomaterials Adverse Reaction Unit" in Norway. Most patients had amalgam fillings; 19 had removed all amalgam, and 14 were in the process of replacing the amalgam fillings with other materials. Predominant symptoms were of a subjective and general nature (96% of the patients).

Ultrasound imaging during endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair using the Stentor bifurcated endograft.

Purpose: To evaluate different ultrasound modalities during implantation and follow-up of endovascular grafts for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) exclusion.

Methods: Between February 1995 and May 1996, 18 patients (14 men; aged 49 to 80 years, mean 67) were treated with endovascular intervention for infrarenal AAA. Seventeen patients received Mialhe Stentor bifurcated grafts, while one patient was treated with a straight graft for pseudoaneurysm.

Ultrasound-guided neurosurgery: a feasibility study in the 3-30 MHz frequency range.

This study, which includes seven patients, illustrates some potential values of the interactive use of ultrasound technology prior to, during and after brain tumour resection. Ultrasound B-scan and colour flow imaging were applied during open surgery using a cardiac scanner in the 3.25-7.

Angiographic and intravascular ultrasonographic findings after endovascular stent implantation.

The study was an attempt to evaluate the benefit of intravascular ultrasound imaging (IVUS) as a supplement to follow-up angiography after endovascular stent implantation. A consecutive series of 15 patients underwent stent implantation in the peripheral or coronary arteries. Ten Palmaz stents, 3 Palmaz-Schatz stents and 2 Wallstents were used.

[Allogeneic transplantation--two case reports].

After a brief discussion on the transplantation of teeth, two cases of allogeneic transplantation, respectively from brother to sister, and from daughter to mother, are presented. Based on the two cases and a limited number of case histories found in dental literature, it is suggested that immunological screening of donor and recipient may help improve the prognosis of allogeneic transplantation of teeth.

A clinical and roentgenological study of 55 cases of root perforation.

The treatment outcome of 55 root perforations in man were related to pretreatment conditions and various treatment procedures used, with a mean recall period of 3 years 5 months. In this study maxillary teeth were perforated three times more often (74.5 per cent) than mandibular teeth (25.

[Evaluation of symptoms and clinical findings in patients in the oral surgery/medicine department in a university clinic].

The paper present a survey of data of 353 outpatients from the Department of oral surgery and oral medicine, Dental faculty, and the Department of maxillofacial surgery, Haukeland Hospital, University of Bergen, collected and evaluated during two separate weeks (weeks 9 and 47) in 1985. The patients are described according to age, sex, risk factors due to general diseases, symptoms and clinical findings. Out of a total of 353 patients 15 were hospitalized, 3 of them needing urgent help and 12 treated according to long-time plans.

EMG feedback in the treatment of myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome.

The effect of electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback on frontalis and masseter muscle activity was compared with control conditions in two groups of patients with a diagnosis of myofascial pain dysfunction (MPD) syndrome. Patients were selected on the basis of clinical symptoms, radiographic evaluation, and a clinical examination. Depressed patients and patients with signs of a pathological condition in the temporomandibular joint were excluded.