Orthodontic therapists--the first Bristol cohort.

This paper outlines the development of the training of orthodontic therapists in the UK, the experiences of the first cohort to pass through the Bristol course, the roles and responsibilities of the therapist and possible issues with future orthodontic manpower planning.

An evaluation of clinicians' choices when selecting archwires.

The aim of this research was to determine the choices made by clinicians with respect to archwires and arch form during the initial and latter stages of orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. A questionnaire-based study was carried out at Bristol Dental Hospital between November 2005 and March 2006. Questionnaires were distributed within the dental hospital and at local meetings in order to obtain a mixed sample of hospital and practice-based orthodontists.

Applying the Gene Ontology in microbial annotation.

The ever-increasing number of microbial sequencing projects necessitates a standardized system for the capture of genomic data to ensure that the flood of information produced can be effectively utilized. The Gene Ontology (GO) provides the standard for gene product annotations in the areas of molecular function, biological process and cellular component. A recent effort by the Plant-Associated Microbe Gene Ontology (PAMGO) Consortium has produced more than 800 new GO terms specific for annotating interactions between microbes and their hosts and other symbiotic interactions.

Piloting a patient-based questionnaire to assess patient satisfaction with the process of orthodontic treatment.

Objective: To test the scientific properties of a patient-based questionnaire developed to measure adolescent patient's satisfaction with the process of orthodontic treatment.

Materials And Methods: Forty-nine consecutive patients aged 9 to 17 years undergoing orthodontic treatment were asked to complete the questionnaire on two separate occasions. Test-retest reliability, readability, ease of administration, criterion validity, and construct validity were tested.

Nanoindentation of orthodontic archwires: The effect of decontamination and clinical use on hardness, elastic modulus and surface roughness.

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of decontamination and clinical exposure on the elastic moduli, hardness and surface roughness of two frequently used orthodontic archwires, namely 0.020in.x0.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of particulate production during simulated clinical orthodontic debonds.

Objectives: The objectives of this investigation were firstly to quantitatively and qualitatively determine particulate production during orthodontic debond and enamel cleanup procedures, and secondly to examine what methods can be employed to minimize operator exposure to such dust particles.

Methods: A qualitative study was performed to determine the aerodynamic diameters and compositions of particulates produced during simulated clinical debonds and enamel cleanup procedures on extracted teeth. In each case the enamel was cleaned using tungsten carbide burs in either a high or slow speed handpiece, with or without water coolant spray, with or without high volume evacuation (HVE) or a face mask.

Palatally impacted canines and the modified index of orthodontic treatment need.

The aim of this study was to assess the severity of any underlying malocclusion in subjects presenting for treatment of a palatally impacted canine (PIC) using a modification of the Dental Health Component (DHC) of the Index of Treatment Need (MIOTN), which does not factor in the impacted canine. The pre-treatment study models of 54 subjects who had previously undergone surgical exposure of a PIC, followed by fixed appliance orthodontic alignment, were scored independently by two examiners on two occasions using the MIOTN system. Unweighted kappa statistics revealed good intraoperator agreement for the two examiners and a moderate level of interexaminer agreement.

Natural variation in Drosophila stressed locomotion meets or exceeds variation caused by hsp70 mutation: analysis of behavior and performance.

Thermotolerance involves more than life or death. Investigating the complexity of this trait will aid identification of its genetic contributors. We examined variation in thermally stressed walking behavior and performance in natural Drosophila melanogaster strains and strains mutant for the heat shock protein Hsp70, to determine which aspects of locomotion are affected by heat shock and genotype.

Cocaine-associated lower limb ischemia.

Cocaine-associated thrombosis has been reported in the literature with reports of vascular injuries to cardiac, pulmonary, intestinal, placental, and musculoskeletal vessels; however, injury of the pedal vessels is rare. We report on a 31-year-old man who presented 2 months following a cocaine binge with limb-threatening ischemia without an otherwise identifiable embolic source. Angiography confirmed extensive occlusive disease of the tibioperoneal vessels.

Are emergency department staffs' perceptions about the inappropriate use of ambulances, alcohol intoxication, verbal abuse and violence accurate?

Objectives: To examine three opinions voiced by nightshift emergency department (ED) staff. First, that a significant proportion of adult patients arriving by emergency ambulance lack a clear indication for emergency transport. Second, that at night a high proportion of ambulance arrivals are drunk, abusive or leave without treatment.

AmiGO: online access to ontology and annotation data.

AmiGO is a web application that allows users to query, browse and visualize ontologies and related gene product annotation (association) data. AmiGO can be used online at the Gene Ontology (GO) website to access the data provided by the GO Consortium; it can also be downloaded and installed to browse local ontologies and annotations. AmiGO is free open source software developed and maintained by the GO Consortium.

3D surface imaging in dentistry - what we are looking at.

3D imaging has been widely used within various fields of dentistry to aid diagnosis, in treatment planning and appliance construction. Whereas traditionally this has involved the use of impression materials together with plaster or stone models, modern techniques are continually evolving which use virtual 3D images. These electronic virtual images are created using either contact or non-contact optical scanning techniques, but there are limitations, the most important of which is that any new virtual surface image is created from a series of discrete data points.

Clinical incident reporting: wrong time, wrong place.

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to generate a debate regarding the value of incident reporting in the UK.

Design/methodology/approach: This paper critiques the dominant approach to patients in the UK.

Findings: It is suggested that the reliability of health care processes would need to substantially improve before an incident reporting system can have a meaningful impact on patient safety.

Corrosion of orthodontic appliances--should we care?

Contemporary orthodontics relies on various bonded attachments, archwires, and other devices to achieve tooth movement. These components are composed of varying materials with their own distinctive physical and mechanical properties. The demands made on them are complex because they are placed under many stresses in the oral environment.

Sucking habits in childhood and the effects on the primary dentition: findings of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood.

Introduction: Most previous research on non-nutritive sucking habits has been cross-sectional in nature. This study determined the prevalence of non-nutritive sucking habits and the effects on the developing dentition within a longitudinal observational cohort.

Methods: The Children in Focus group of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood study was studied.

Early socioeconomic status is associated with adult nighttime blood pressure dipping.

Objective: To examine the prognostic significance of early socioeconomic status (SES) on 24-hour blood pressure (BP) during early adulthood. Low SES has been related to poor health outcomes, in particular, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Recent cross-sectional research has also linked low levels of SES with several cardiovascular risk factors including poor nighttime BP dipping.

Inhalation of aerosols produced during the removal of fixed orthodontic appliances: a comparison of 4 enamel cleanup methods.

Introduction: During enamel cleanup after the removal of fixed appliances, aerosols, splatter, and dust are produced that can be inhaled. Although most inhaled particles are harmless, some might be associated with chronic diseases. Modern laboratory methods can now accurately simulate the human lung and predict the site of deposition of these inhaled particles.

The effectiveness of Hawley and vacuum-formed retainers: a single-center randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Vacuum-formed retainers (VFRs) are often prescribed by orthodontists in the British National Health Service (NHS). There is no good evidence that VFRs are more effective than Hawley retainers. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical effectiveness of Hawley and VFRs over a 6-month period of retention.

Does atropine sulphate improve orthodontic bond survival? A randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: The antisialagogue atropine sulphate has been used for many years as an adjunct to orthodontic bonding to reduce moisture contamination. The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of atropine sulphate premedication on orthodontic bond failures and to evaluate the attitudes of patients and parents toward its use in orthodontics.

Methods: After ethics committee approval, 51 patients (mean age, 14 years 7 months) were enrolled in this clinical trial.

Which way forward? Fixed or removable lower retainers.

Objective: To determine whether lower lingual, canine to canine, bonded multistrand retainers prevent relapse of lower labial segment alignment following fixed appliance therapy and to compare this with lower Hawley-type removable retainers.

Materials And Methods: Two groups of 29 patients were identified. Group 1 had bonded lower canine to canine multistrand retainers placed following debonding, whereas Group 2 had lower Hawley-type retainers (with acrylic labial to the incisors) fitted following debonding.

The OBO Foundry: coordinated evolution of ontologies to support biomedical data integration.

The value of any kind of data is greatly enhanced when it exists in a form that allows it to be integrated with other data. One approach to integration is through the annotation of multiple bodies of data using common controlled vocabularies or 'ontologies'. Unfortunately, the very success of this approach has led to a proliferation of ontologies, which itself creates obstacles to integration.

Orthognathic cases: what are the surgical costs?

This multicentre, retrospective, study assessed the cost, and factors influencing the cost, of combined orthodontic and surgical treatment for dentofacial deformity. The sample, from a single region in England, comprised 352 subjects treated in 11 hospital orthodontic units who underwent orthognathic surgery between 1 January 1995 and 31 March 2000. Statistical analysis of the data was undertaken using non-parametric tests (Spearman and Wilcoxon signed rank).

A randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy of ibuprofen and paracetamol in the control of orthodontic pain.

Introduction: Previous research has shown that ibuprofen provides effective relief from orthodontic pain. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) provided pain relief of equivalent or greater magnitude.

Methods: A multicenter, noninferiority, randomized clinical trial was conducted in 3 orthodontic clinics; 159 patients aged 12 to 16 years attending for routine orthodontic treatment were randomly allocated to receive either 400 mg of oral ibuprofen or 1 g of oral paracetamol an hour before and again 6 hours after separator placement.

Cost-effectiveness and patient satisfaction: Hawley and vacuum-formed retainers.

In the United Kingdom (UK) over the last 10 years, there has been a significant increase in the use of vacuum-formed retainers (VFRs) rather than conventional Hawley retainers. There are currently no data to compare the cost-effectiveness of this change in practice. The two aims of this study were to compare (1) the cost-effectiveness of VFRs and Hawley retainers over 6 months, from the perspective of the National Health Service, orthodontic practice, and the patient and (2) patient satisfaction in the two retainer groups.