Unveiling motives for dentistry studies: psychometric validation of a comprehensive questionnaire among aspiring dental students.

Objective: The aim of this study is to develop and validate a questionnaire for dental students in Ecuador to assess their reasons to study dentistry.

Materials And Methods: A 25-item questionnaire was developed by the authors based on similar studies and a qualitative study. The questionnaire had five theoretical factors: economic, professional, vocational, social and academic reasons for study.

The use of information and communication technologies in Latin American dentists: a cross-sectional study from Ecuador.

Background: The use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) provide the tools for enabling fast and reliable real-time communications, as well as the transfer of information between dental professionals and their patients. However, little is known about the frequency and preference of ICTs among Latin-American dentists. Our study aims to fill this gap by assessing different aspects related to ICTs, mainly the frequency of use, perceptions, and barriers among Ecuadorian dentists.

On the properties of calcium-induced permeability transition in neonatal heart mitochondria.

Permeability transition was examined in heart mitochondria isolated from neonate rats. We found that these mitochondria were more susceptible to Ca(2+)-induced membrane leakiness than mitochondria from adult rats. In K(+) containing medium, at 25 °C, mitochondria were unable to accumulate Ca(2+).