Can the intra-examiner variability of Little's Irregularity Index be improved using 3D digital models of study casts?

Objectives: To compare contact point displacement measurements, used to determine the Little's Irregularity Index (LII) score on study casts and digital models of study casts by an independent examiner.

Methods: The contact point displacement measurements of the six maxillary anterior labial teeth were measured on ten study casts using digital callipers and their associated digital models using Creo Parametric software on five occasions following scanning using a LAVA Chairside Oral Scanner (LCOS) three-dimensional (3D) intra oral scanner. Means, standard deviations and coefficients of variation (CoV) were determined, data analyses (Pearson's correlation coefficients (PCCs) and Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs)) and statistical analyses (three and two-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) and Independent Sample Student's t-tests) were carried out (p<0.

A cluster randomised controlled trial of a nutrition education intervention in the community.

Background: Patients with enteral feeding tubes are increasingly managed in their home environment and these patients require support from a range of healthcare professionals.

Methods: A cluster randomised trial of an educational intervention was undertaken among General Practitioners and nurses both in the community and in nursing home caring for patients recently discharged to primary care. This was a short, duration (<1 h), nutrition education programme delivered in the work place soon after the patient was discharged from hospital.

Using Little's Irregularity Index in orthodontics: outdated and inaccurate?

Objectives: Little's Irregularity Index (LII) was devised to objectively score mandibular incisor alignment for epidemiological studies but has been extended to assess the relative performance of orthodontic brackets, retainer or treatment modalities. Our aim was to examine the repeatability and precision of LII measurements of four independent examiners on the maxillary arch of orthodontic patients. The hypothesis was that the reproducibility of individual contact point displacement measurements, used to calculate the LII score, are inappropriate.

Effect of accelerated rehabilitation on function after ankle sprain: randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To compare an accelerated intervention incorporating early therapeutic exercise after acute ankle sprains with a standard protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation intervention.

Design: Randomised controlled trial with blinded outcome assessor.

Setting: Accident and emergency department and university based sports injury clinic.

American Chemical Society-239th national meeting--Investigating new therapeutic candidates: part 1. 21-25 March 2010, San Francisco, CA, USA.

The American Chemical Society 239th National Meeting, held in San Francisco, included topics covering developments related to the chemical optimization of therapeutics. This conference report highlights selected presentations on agents under investigation for the treatment of neurological disorders, malaria, HBV and diabetes. Investigational drugs discussed include PF-4888086, PF-4778574 and SAM-531 (all Pfizer Inc), a series of spirotetrahydro-beta-carbolines from Novartis AG, a series of biaryl ether analogs from Merck & Co Inc, and PF-04620110 (Pfizer Inc/Bristol-Myers Squibb Co).

American Chemical Society--238th National Meeting & Exposition. Developments in medicinal chemistry: part 2. 16-20 August 2009, Washington DC, USA.

The 238th National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society, held in Washington DC, included topics covering new compounds and developments in the field of medicinal chemistry. This conference report highlights selected presentations on inhibitors of PARP, a heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) inhibitor, NS3 protease inhibitors, a corticotrophin-releasing factor 1 (CRF-1) receptor antagonist, a cannabinoid receptor antagonist, diacylglycerol acyltransferase inhibitors, cathepsin and chymase receptor inhibitors, and MAPK inhibitors. Investigational drugs discussed include veliparib (Abbott Laboratories), MK-4827 (Merck & Co Inc), OB-24 (Osta Biotechnologies), BMS-339, BMS-764459, BMS-812204 and BMS-640994 (all Bristol-Myers Squibb Co), and JNJ-10311795 (Johnson & Johnson).

American Chemical Society--238th National Meeting & Exposition. Developments in medicinal chemistry: part 1. 16-20 August 2009, Washington DC, USA.

The 238th National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society, held in Washington DC, included topics covering new compounds and developments in the field of medicinal chemistry. This conference report highlights selected presentations on a novel KV1.5 blocker, a state-dependent CaV2.

Asthma and COPD--SMi's Fifth Annual Conference. 20-21 April 2009, London, UK.

While the treatment of mild asthma is already effective, better therapies are needed for severe asthma and COPD, and improved formulations are required to aid patient compliance and pediatric use. Improvements in patient training would also be beneficial. Overall, an improved understanding of the mechanisms of both diseases, as well as a universal definition of the factors involved, are of the utmost importance.

Family communication, genetic testing and colonoscopy screening in hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer: a qualitative study.

Objective: Genetic testing and colonoscopy is recommended for people with a strong history of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, families must communicate so that all members are aware of the risk. The study aimed to explore the factors influencing family communication about genetic risk and colonoscopy among people with a strong family history of CRC who attended a genetic clinic with a view to having a genetic test for hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC).

Some conservative strategies are effective when added to controlled mobilisation with external support after acute ankle sprain: a systematic review.

Questions: Which intervention(s) best augment early mobilisation and external support after an acute ankle sprain? What is the most appropriate method of preventing re-injury?

Design: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials published from 1993 to April 2005.

Participants: People with an acute ankle sprain.

Intervention: Any pharmacological, physiotherapeutic, complementary or electrotherapeutic intervention added to controlled mobilisation with external support.

The PRICE study (Protection Rest Ice Compression Elevation): design of a randomised controlled trial comparing standard versus cryokinetic ice applications in the management of acute ankle sprain [ISRCTN13903946].

Background: Cryotherapy (the application of ice for therapeutic purposes) is one of the most common treatment modalities employed in the immediate management of acute soft tissue injury. Despite its widespread clinical use, the precise physiological responses to therapeutic cooling have not been fully elucidated, and effective evidence-based treatment protocols are yet to be established. Intermittent ice applications are thought to exert a significant analgesic effect.

General Practitioners involvement in enteral tube feeding at home: a qualitative study.

Background: Complex medical treatment is moving from hospital to primary care and General Practitioners (GPs) are increasingly asked to undertake new roles. There are now an estimated 19,500 patients being fed in the UK in the community on enteral tube feeding using a variety of different feeding tubes (Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), Jejunostomy, or nasogastric (NG). The majority of patients are over the age of 65 years when they had artificial feeding initiated and mainly because of dysphagia.