A multimodal deep learning model for cervical pre-cancers and cancers prediction: Development and internal validation study.

Background: The current cervical cancer screening and diagnosis have limitations due to their subjectivity and lack of reproducibility. We describe the development of a deep learning (DL)-based diagnostic risk prediction model and evaluate its potential for clinical impact.

Method: We developed and internally validated a DL model which accommodates both clinical data and colposcopy images in predicting the patients CIN2+ status using a retrospective cohort of 6356 cases of LEEP-conization/cone-biopsy (gold-standard diagnosis) following an abnormal screening result.

Attention-guided convolutional network for bias-mitigated and interpretable oral lesion classification.

Accurate diagnosis of oral lesions, early indicators of oral cancer, is a complex clinical challenge. Recent advances in deep learning have demonstrated potential in supporting clinical decisions. This paper introduces a deep learning model for classifying oral lesions, focusing on accuracy, interpretability, and reducing dataset bias.

Blockchain for Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry.

The topic discussed in this commentary could serve as an initial inquiry point that deeply probes into the trustworthiness of an AI solution that a user might consider applying in the field of dentistry.

Canada's First National Oral Health Research Strategy (2024-2030).

Recent years have seen significant positive changes and developments in oral health-related policy and data on oral health and oral health care in Canada. Simultaneously, on the international stage, the momentum for oral health and related research continues to build. These changes have led to an initiative to create Canada's first National Oral Health Research Strategy (NOHRS), which was recently published by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research-Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (Allison and Rock 2024).

Early life exposures and risk of inflammatory bowel disease: A nested case-control study in Quebec, Canada.

Background: Early life factors for inflammatory bowel disease are likely to impact the gut microbiota.

Aim: We investigated the associations between early exposures and inflammatory bowel disease.

Methods: This case-control study was nested within the CO·MMUNITY cohort.

Caries lesions progression in adults: A prospective 2-year cohort study.

Objective: Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic non-communicable diseases worldwide. There is a lack of evidence, especially in adult populations, documenting caries disease progression considering lesion severity, activity and tooth surface-level characteristics. The study aimed to investigate the extent to which primary active caries lesions in adults affect caries lesions progression compared with inactive caries lesions over a 2-year follow-up period, considering their severity, surface and tooth type.

The dental COVID-19 paradox: Disparity in behaviors inside and outside dental schools in Canada.

Objective: To describe the personal and professional behavior and assess the perceptions of protection and fear of contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among faculty, staff, and students from all 10 Canadian dental schools during the second year of the pandemic.

Method: Participants from a Pan-Canadian prospective study answered monthly questionnaires about their activities between April 2021 and March 2022. In May 2022, additional questions were asked about their perception of protection, fear of infection, and instances of COVID-19 testing.

Investigating the perceptions and experiences of Canadian dentists on dental regulatory bodies' communications and guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: Dental regulatory bodies aim to ensure the health and safety of dentists, dental staff patients and the public. An important responsibility during a pandemic is to communicate risk and guidelines for patient care. Limited data exist on the perceptions and experiences of dentists navigating new guidelines for mitigating risk in dental care during the pandemic.

Personal protective equipment during COVID-19: A natural history of dental and dental hygiene regulatory guidance in Canada.

Background: Due to the evolving nature of COVID-19, there is evidence that COVID-19-specific infection prevention and control guideline (IPCG) documents formulated for oral health care settings are also changing rapidly. To better inform future policies, a comprehensive review of all IPCG documents across different phases of restrictions for oral health care practitioners is required.

Types Of Studies Reviewed: A search was performed for documents shared from March 2020 through January 2022 on websites of oral health regulatory authorities in Canada's 10 provinces and 3 territories.

Methodological Issues with Head and Neck Cancer Prognostic Risk Prediction Models.

Objective: Prognostic risk prediction models estimate the probability of developing head and neck cancer (HNC), providing valuable information for managing the disease. While different prognostic HNC risk prediction models have been developed worldwide, a comprehensive evaluation of their methods is lacking. We conducted a scoping review with a critical assessment aiming to identify the methodological strengths and limitations of HNC risk prediction models.

A Cluster Analysis of Oral and Cognitive Health Indicators in the CLSA: An Exploratory Study on Cholinergic Activity as the Link.

Introduction: Poor oral health has been suggested as a risk factor for cognitive decline. Yet, biologically plausible mechanisms explaining this relationship remain unknown.

Objectives: We aimed (1) to identify oral and cognitive health clustering patterns among middle-aged to elderly Canadians and (2) to investigate the extent to which these patterns could be explained by bone mineral density (BMD), a proxy measure of the cholinergic neurons' activity.

Protocol: carrageenan for the prevention of oral HPV infection - a feasibility randomised clinical trial.

Introduction: Head and neck cancers (HNCs) are a significant health burden worldwide. Oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a major risk factor for HNCs. Unfortunately, currently available prophylactic vaccines have limited coverage and potential for HPV type replacement.

Validity and reliability of the COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale in Canadian dentists.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a high level of mental health problems for the population worldwide including healthcare workers. Several studies have assessed these using measurements for anxiety for general populations. The COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale (C-19ASS) is a self-report measure developed to assess maladaptive forms of coping with COVID-19 (avoidance, threat monitoring and worry) among a general adult population in the United States.

Salivary Cortisol and Anxiety in Canadian Dentists over 1 Year of COVID-19.

The dental profession has endured unprecedented disruption amid COVID-19. Novel stressors have included a high risk of occupational exposure to COVID-19, financial losses, and stricter infection prevention and control requirements. The present study investigated the longitudinal impact of COVID-19 on the stress and anxiety levels of a cohort of Canadian dentists ( = 222) between September 2020 and October 2021.

Consensus clinical management guidelines for acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (Niemann-Pick disease types A, B and A/B).

Background: Acid Sphingomyelinase Deficiency (ASMD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the SMPD1 gene. This rarity contributes to misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis and barriers to good care. There are no published national or international consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and management of patients with ASMD.

Canadian dental hygienists' experiences and perceptions of regulatory guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative descriptive analysis.

Background: In Spring of 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian provincial dental hygiene regulatory bodies implemented new practice guidelines. Reports of stress, anxiety and conflict experienced by dental hygienists have been linked to miscommunication between oral health regulators at this time. Limited data exists on the perceptions and experiences of dental hygienists navigating new guidelines for dental hygiene care during the pandemic.

COVID-19 incidence and vaccination rates among Canadian dental hygienists.

Background: Oral health care settings potentially carry a high risk of cross-infection due to close contact and aerosol-generating procedures. There is limited evidence of the impact of COVID-19 among dental hygienists. This longitudinal study aimed to 1) estimate COVID-19 incidence rates among Canadian dental hygienists over a 1-year period; and 2) estimate vaccination rates among Canadian dental hygienists.

Occupation as a measure of life course socioeconomic position and the risk of oral cancers in India.

Objectives: Evidence suggests that different indicators of socioeconomic position (SEP) contribute to oral cancer risk. Occupational status, as a measure of SEP, may be able to capture aspects of social hierarchy in societies in which employment is highly correlated with other social structures such as caste systems. Often in such societies, the life course of an individual is also influenced by this hierarchy.

A think-aloud study of the feasibility of patients with end-stage organ failure completing the ICECAP-SCM.

Background: The ICECAP-Supportive Care Measure (SCM) is a self-complete measure developed to inform economic decision making at the end-of-life. Previous research has demonstrated its feasibility in hospice and nursing home settings. This is the first study of its use with patients on the organ failure trajectory.

Do cutaneous human papillomavirus genotypes affect head and neck cancer? Evidence and bias-correction from a case-control study.

Background: Three genera of human papillomavirus (HPV) infect the oral cavity and oropharynx- alpha (α), beta (β) and gamma (γ). While α-HPV infection is an established risk factor for head and neck cancers (HNC), the role of other genera remains unclear. We aimed to estimate the effect of α-, β-, γ-HPV on HNC using a hospital-based case-control study.

Association between the second- and fourth-digit ratio and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: Using an established proxy measure of intra-utero testosterone and estrogen levels-the ratio of second- and fourth-digit lengths-we estimated its association with the oral cancer risk among a population from Southern India.

Material And Methods: In a hospital-based case-control study, incident oral cancer cases (N = 350) and non-cancer controls (N = 371), frequency-matched by age and sex, were recruited from two major referral hospitals in Kerala, India. Structured interviews collected information on several domains of exposure via detailed life course questionnaires.