Contraceptive decisions among individuals with medical conditions in Michigan, USA: A qualitative explanatory model informed by the Health Belief Model and the principle of respect for patient autonomy.

Objective: We aimed to qualitatively describe the contraceptive experiences of individuals with medical conditions and develop an explanatory model of contraceptive decision-making in this context.

Study Design: We conducted 41 interviews with pre-menopausal patients with a range of medical conditions from Michigan, United States. We identified themes through open coding and comparative analysis until we reached theoretical saturation.

Periodontal Treatment in Cancer Patients: An Interdisciplinary Approach.

Purpose Of Review: Dental care is an essential component in the comprehensive treatment for the cancer patient. As such, a review of the literature was completed to determine the relationships between periodontal and dental care in the cancer patient and provide strategic suggestions.

Recent Findings: Periodontal treatment must be personalized depending on the patient's current oral health status, systemic status, and progress in treatment.

A Web-Based Decision Tool to Improve Contraceptive Counseling for Women With Chronic Medical Conditions: Protocol For a Mixed Methods Implementation Study.

Background: Women with chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, have a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications compared with women without medical conditions and should be offered contraception if desired. Although evidence based guidelines for contraceptive selection in the presence of medical conditions are available via the United States Medical Eligibility Criteria (US MEC), these guidelines are underutilized. Research also supports the use of decision tools to promote shared decision making between patients and providers during contraceptive counseling.

Oral health-related concerns, behavior, and communication with health care providers of patients with breast cancer: impact of different treatments.

Aim: The objectives are to compare responses of breast cancer (BCa) treatment groups (chemotherapy, tamoxifen, and aromatase inhibitors (AIs) to each other and a control regarding (a) subjective oral health, (b) oral health-related behaviors, (c) oral health-related concerns, and (d) communication with health care providers.

Methods: Survey data were collected from 140 postmenopausal BCa patients and 41 healthy postmenopausal control respondents.

Results: BCa patients reported on average more frequent mouth sores/mucositis (5-point scale with 1 = never: 1.

Effect of Faculty Development Activities on Dental Hygiene Faculty Perceptions of and Teaching About Motivational Interviewing: A Pilot Study.

The aims of this pilot study were to assess dental hygiene faculty members' perceptions of the importance of motivational interviewing (MI) and their confidence in teaching students about MI and to determine the effect of MI training sessions on those perceptions. Participants were a convenience sample of all 16 dental hygiene faculty members who teach in the clinic at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Participants' perceptions were assessed prior to a workshop in MI (pretest), immediately after the workshop (posttest 1), and eight months after the workshop, at the end of the academic year (posttest 2).

Oral Care: Exploring Education, Attitudes, and Behaviors Among Nurses Caring for Patients With Breast Cancer .

Background: Patients treated for breast cancer often experience severe oral complications, such as mucositis, xerostomia, and infections, which can result in dose reductions and treatment delays, affecting treatment outcomes.
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Objectives: The purpose of this article is to explore oncology nurses' perceptions of their educational experiences, professional attitudes, and behavior related to providing oral healthcare education to patients with breast cancer.

Self-reported oral health and quality of life of postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors and women without cancer diagnoses: a longitudinal analysis.

Introduction: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are a well-established component of adjuvant therapy in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor (HR) + early stage breast cancer (BCa). We explored in an 18-month cohort study whether subjective oral health (OH), subjective periodontal health (PH), and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of postmenopausal BCa survivors on AIs differ from those of women without cancer diagnoses, and whether saliva flow, OH, PH, and OHRQoL are related.

Methods: Data were collected from 29 postmenopausal BCa survivors on AIs and 29 postmenopausal women without cancer diagnoses.

Periodontal health in breast cancer patients on aromatase inhibitors versus postmenopausal controls: a longitudinal analysis.

Aim: This study was conducted to determine periodontal changes in postmenopausal breast cancer (BCa) survivors using aromatase inhibitors (AI) as compared to postmenopausal women without BCa.

Methods: An 18-month prospective examination of periodontal health in postmenopausal women (29 receiving AI therapy; 29 women without BCa) was conducted at University of Michigan. Comprehensive periodontal examinations including alveolar bone height (ABH) were conducted at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months.

Oral Health-Related Complications of Breast Cancer Treatment: Assessing Dental Hygienists' Knowledge and Professional Practice.

Purpose: Approximately 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. every year.

Periodontal Health in Women With Early-Stage Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Newly on Aromatase Inhibitors: A Pilot Study.

Background: Aromatase inhibitor (AI) use results in low estrogen levels, which in turn affect bone mineral density (BMD). Periodontitis, alveolar bone loss, and tooth loss are associated with low BMD. The goal of this study is to assess the prevalence of periodontitis and perceived oral health and evaluate salivary biomarkers in postmenopausal women who are survivors of early-stage (I to IIIA) breast cancer (BCa) and receive adjuvant AI therapy.

Periodontal health, perceived oral health, and dental care utilization of breast cancer survivors.

Objectives: This population-based analysis examined the prevalence of periodontal diseases along with the self-perceived oral health and patterns of dental care utilization of breast cancer survivors in the United States.

Methods: Data from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Surveys were utilized, examining information from 3,354 women between 50 and 85 years of age. Primary outcomes were gingivitis and periodontitis, self-perceived oral health, and dental care utilization.

Dentists' leadership-related educational experiences, attitudes, and past and current behavior.

The purpose of this study was to assess practicing dentists' perceptions of their leadership-related educational experiences during predoctoral education and after graduation, to investigate if these perceptions differed as a function of the respondents' graduation year and gender, and to explore the relationships between educational experiences and the respondents' understanding/perceptions of leadership, leadership-related attitudes, self-perceived effectiveness, and past and current leadership- related behavior. Of the 3,000 general dentist members of the American Dental Association who were invited to participate, 593 returned the survey for a response rate of 20 percent. Between 37 and 65 percent of the respondents indicated that their predoctoral dental education had not prepared them well on a series of factors related to being leaders in their practice, community, state, or at the national level.

Oral health-related complications of breast cancer treatment: assessing dental hygienists' knowledge and professional practice.

Purpose: Approximately 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. every year.

Human very small embryonic-like cells generate skeletal structures, in vivo.

Human very small embryonic-like (hVSEL) cells are a resident population of multipotent stem cells in the bone marrow involved in the turnover and regeneration of tissues. The levels of VSEL cells in blood are greatly increased in response to injury, and they have been shown to repair injured tissues. Adult hVSEL cells, SSEA-4(+)/CD133(+)/CXCR4(+)/Lin(-)/CD45(-), express the pluripotency markers (Oct-4 and Nanog) and may be able to differentiate into cells from all 3 germ lineages.

Potential implications of adjuvant endocrine therapy for the oral health of postmenopausal women with breast cancer.

Current adjuvant treatment modalities for breast cancer that express the estrogen receptor or progesterone receptor include adjuvant anti-estrogen therapies, and tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors. Bone, including the jaw, is an endocrine-sensitive organ, as are other oral structures. This review examines the potential links between adjuvant anti-estrogen treatments in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer and oral health.

Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate use and periodontal health in 15- to 44-year-old US females.

Background: It has been suggested that progestins may have an inflammatory component and/or increase in prostaglandin synthesis. Thus, extended progestin use may be associated with higher risk of periodontal diseases. This study investigates the association between depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) injectable contraception and the prevalence of periodontal diseases among US premenopausal females.

Perceptions of business skill development by graduates of the University of Michigan Dental School.

Many graduating dentists leave dental school feeling that they are not prepared to start and run a dental practice. The aim of this pilot study was to explore the knowledge and perceptions dental graduates have in the area of practice management. A twenty-item survey was mailed in the fall of 2008 to nearly half of the University of Michigan dental school alumni who had graduated between the years of 1997 and 2007.

Status of current dental hygiene faculty and perceptions of important qualifications for future faculty.

Purpose: Dental hygiene educators are expressing concerns about faculty retirement causing an educator shortage. The primary objective of this study was to investigate current dental hygiene faculty demographic characteristics, future plans and perceptions of important skills for future faculty.

Methods: A Web-based survey instrument was designed after reviewing the literature and consulting with dental hygiene faculty.

Assessing patterns of restorative and preventive care among children enrolled in Medicaid, by type of dental care provider.

Background: The authors investigate the relationship of preventive dental treatment to subsequent receipt of comprehensive treatment among Medicaid-enrolled children.

Methods: The authors analyzed Medicaid dental claims data for 50,485 children residing in Wayne County, Mich. The study sample included children aged 5 through 12 years in 2002 who had been enrolled in Medicaid for at least one month and had had at least one dental visit each year from 2002 through 2005.

Caregiver's perception of child's oral health status among low-income African Americans.

Purpose: This study aimed to: (1) compare caregivers' perceptions of their children's oral health status with clinical findings; and (2) investigate the influence of caregivers' attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge concerning dental caries development and oral health on caregivers' perception levels of their children's oral health status.

Methods: A representative sample of low-income African American families (0- to 5-year-olds and their caregivers) in Detroit, Mich was interviewed. Caregivers were asked to assess their own and their children's oral health status.

Stromal-derived factor-1alpha (CXCL12) levels increase in periodontal disease.

Background: The CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and its ligand, stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1alpha or CXC chemokine ligand 12) are involved in the trafficking of leukocytes into and out of extravascular tissues. The purpose of this study was to determine whether SDF-1alpha secreted by host cells plays a role in recruiting inflammatory cells into the periodontia during local inflammation.

Methods: SDF-1alpha levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of 24 individuals with periodontitis versus healthy individuals in tissue biopsies and in a preclinical rat model of Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide-induced experimental bone loss.

Caries risk-based fluoride supplementation for children.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate primary care physicians' recommendation of fluoride supplements based upon a child's caries risk.

Methods: A representative sample of family physicians (FPs) and pediatricians (PDs) in the United States was mailed a letter and a questionnaire that described case scenarios of 2-year-old children-one with low and the other with high caries-risk -as well as questions about opinions on fluoride supplement use. The physicians' opinions were compared with CDC experts' consensus on the same scenarios.

Transduction of beta3 integrin subunit cDNA confers on human keratinocytes the ability to adhere to gelatin.

alphavbeta3 is a multiligand integrin receptor that interacts with fibrinogen (FG), fibrin (FB), fibronectin (FN), vitronectin (VN), and denatured collagen. We previously reported that cultured normal human keratinocytes, like in vivo keratinocytes, do not express alphavbeta3 on the cell surface, and do not adhere to and migrate on FG and FB. Furthermore, we reported that human keratinocytes transduced with beta3 integrin subunit cDNA by a retrovirus-mediated transduction method express alphavbeta3 on the cell surface and adhere to FG, FB, FN, and VN significantly compared with beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) cDNA-transduced keratinocytes (control).

Oral contraceptives and periodontal diseases: rethinking the association based upon analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.

Background: Historic evidence suggests that use of high-dose combined oral contraceptives (OCs) (containing >50 microg of estrogen and>or=1mg progestin) places women at increased risk for periodontal diseases. Since the mid-1970s, OC formulations have dramatically changed. This study investigated the association between OC use and periodontal diseases among 4,930 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) I and 5,001 NHANES III premenopausal U.

Organization of stem cells and their progeny in human epidermis.

Renewal of epidermis is achieved by an ordered replication of stem cells and transit amplifying cells followed by terminal differentiation. In mouse epidermis, renewal is organized around highly ordered structures termed epidermal proliferative units (EPU), each generated by a single stem cell. It has been difficult to apply these concepts to the human epidermis where the basal layer is undulating and the strata have variable thickness.