Factors Influencing the Selection of Dentistry as a Career Among Prospective Candidates: A Multicentre Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: This study aimed to analyse the impact of sociodemographic factors on dental school candidates' decision to pursue dentistry as their career of choice.

Materials And Methods: Candidates shortlisted by three dental schools were invited to participate in a self-administered questionnaire study, featuring a validated instrument containing sociodemographic questions and 16 motivational items grouped into four domains: economic, professional, vocational and personal background reasons. The variations in motivational item scores across sociodemographic factors were assessed using the Mann-Whitney U test (age, sex, ethnicity, having relatives in the dental profession and dentistry as the first choice) and Kruskal-Wallis test (dental school and family income).

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) exon 3 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) 2-repeat allele.

To investigate the association of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with the 48-base pair (bp) variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) in exon 3 of the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) gene, we genotyped 240 ADHD patients and their parents from Hong Kong. The 4R allele was most common, followed by 2R. We examined association between the 2R allele (relative to 4R) and ADHD by Transmission Disequilibrium Test (TDT).

Tooth-Supported Overdentures Revisited.

The goal of prosthodontics is to provide a functional prosthesis to restore aesthetics, functions, and masticatory efficiencies. Tooth-supported overdentures are one of the treatment options for removable dentures. This article aims to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of tooth-supported overdentures and the principles of using various overdenture attachments, including non-attachment overdentures.

Acupuncture for de Quervain's tenosynovitis: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Acupuncture has been an alternative approach for de Quervain's tenosynovitis (DQt), but trial evidence is still lacking.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of acupuncture in patients with DQt.

Study Design: A randomized controlled trial.

Development and validation of a progressive web application to educate partial denture wearers.

Effective delivery of post-insertion instructions is essential for denture care and oral health. This study aimed to develop a progressive web application (PWA) to educate patients' chairside and serve as a reference material. A need analysis was conducted before prototype development.

Effect of types of resin cements on the bond strength of fiber post under simulated dives.

Background: Changes in barometric pressure conditions that occur during flying and diving under hyperbaric oxygen conditions were found to influence the retention of dental restorations.

Aim: This experimental laboratory study aimed to evaluate the bond strength of glass fiber posts after being cemented with self-adhesive resin cement (RelyX™ Unicem, 3M ESPE) and self-etch adhesive resin cement (RelyX™ Ultimate, 3M ESPE) under normal atmospheric pressure and hyperbaric pressure cycles that simulate diving conditions.

Methods: A total of 40 extracted, single-rooted mandibular premolars were treated endodontically and randomly divided into two groups according to the cements used for fiber post cementation.

Effect of training on time efficiency and marginal adaptation of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing crowns among dental students.

Introduction: The computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology has revolutionised dentistry at present. An operator's skills can affect the overall clinical duration and marginal accuracy of the prosthesis fabricated through this workflow. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of CAD/CAM hands-on training compared with that of a self-instructional video on the performance of dental students in digital impression and fabrication of a CAD/CAM crown.

Effect of educational progressive web application on patient's oral and denture knowledge and hygiene: A randomised controlled trial.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a novel progressive web application (PWA) on the patient's oral and denture knowledge and hygiene. Fifty-two removable partial denture wearers were randomised to receive education using the PWA, or verbal instructions accompanied by demonstration of hygienic procedures. Changes in the participants' knowledge score, plaque index, gingival index and denture plaque was evaluated during a follow-up period of 3 months.

Effectiveness of enhanced video-based learning on removable partial denture module.

Introduction: The application of video-based learning in dentistry has been widely investigated; however, the nature of on-screen video enhancements of the video has been minimally explored in the literature. This study investigated the effectiveness of an in-class and on-demand enhanced video to support learning on removable partial dentures in terms of knowledge acquisition, perception and clinical skill performance.

Methods: Fifty-four dental students enrolled in 2018 were recruited as participants and assigned to two groups.

The effect of chewing simulation on surface roughness of resin composite when opposed by zirconia ceramic and lithium disilicate ceramic.

Objective: To assess the change in surface roughness of nanohybrid resin composite (Tetric EvoCeram) after antagonist wear against monolithic zirconia and lithium disilicate ceramics through a simulated chewing test using a three-dimensional (3D) profilometer.

Methods: A total of 40 Tetric EvoCeram™ resin composite specimens against either a Lava™ Plus zirconia antagonist (n=20) or IPS e.max Press lithium disilicate antagonist (n=20) were prepared for the study.

Family-based association study of DRD4 gene in methylphenidate-responded Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

The 48-basepair (48-bp) variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in exon 3 of the dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4) is implicated in the etiology of attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In particular, ADHD in European-ancestry population is associated with an increased prevalence of the 7-repeat (7R) allele of the exon 3 VNTR. However, it is intriguing to note that the 7R allele has been found to be of very low prevalence in the Chinese general population.

Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects--is balloon sizing still necessary?

Introduction: The device closure of atrial septal defects has evolved over the years. In the early days of transcatheter occlusion, balloon sizing was used to choose an appropriate sized device. We postulate that balloon sizing does not value-add to the procedure and is unnecessary.

A novel "in-situ tulip-bud deployment" method for transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect.

Objective: We devised a new technique for interventional closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) using the Amplatzer Septal Occluder (ASO), and validated this by comparing it with a cohort using the conventional method.

Background: Transcatheter closure of ASD is a widely accepted modality of treatment. Although the outcome is good, there are occasional technical difficulties encountered.

Cardiovascular risks associated with obesity in children and adolescents.

Introduction: The aim of this paper is to review the cardiovascular (CVS) risks associated with obesity in children and adolescents. Both short-term and long-term CVS consequences, the mechanisms of how these develop and the measures that can alter or reverse these CVS events are reviewed.

Materials And Methods: Selected publications include original articles and review papers that report on studies of CVS risks and consequences related to childhood obesity.

Plasma endotoxin and immune responses during a 21-km road race under a warm and humid environment.

Introduction: This study investigated the responses of plasma endotoxin and pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines during a 21-km road race in warm and humid conditions. The influence of carbohydrate-electrolyte (CE)-water (WA) drink mix ingested on leukocyte subset responses and the association between plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentration and fluid balance, exercise intensity, and body core temperature (Tc) were also studied.

Materials And Methods: Thirty runners provided blood samples before and after the half-marathon for leukocyte, LPS and cytokine analyses.

Mapping brain structure in attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder: a voxel-based MRI study of regional grey and white matter volume.

The neuroanatomical basis of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is postulated to involve brain circuitry responsible for attention and executive function. Relatively new automated methods of MRI analysis allow rapid examination of each volume element (voxel) of whole brain, therefore we planned a comprehensive quantitative examination of brain anatomy in children with ADHD using voxel-based methods. We aimed to quantify whole brain, global tissue class and regional grey and white matter volume differences in 28 male children with ADHD and 31 closely matched controls.

Cardiac time intervals of normal fetuses using noninvasive fetal electrocardiography.

Objectives: To evaluate the fetal cardiac time intervals from the longitudinal analysis of noninvasive fetal electrocardiography (fECG) in normal pregnancies.

Methods: One hundred singleton pregnancies were examined in this longitudinal study. Cardiac time intervals were derived from fetal electrocardiograms obtained noninvasively using three electrodes placed on the maternal abdomen.

Ventricular bigeminy misdiagnosed as fetal bradycardia by cardiotocography--the value of non-invasive fetal electrocardiography.

We document the value of non-invasive fetal electrocardiography (fECG) in a case of fetal arrhythmia in which an unnecessary cesarean section was almost performed. The fetal heart rate (fHR) was 60-70 beats per minute (bpm) on the cardiotocography (CTG), with occasional, sudden fluctuations to 130 bpm. This was probably a result of the technical limitations of the CTG.