A CBCT comparison of anterior root resorption in SureSmile and conventional edgewise treatments.

Aim: To utilize cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to analyze the amount of linear root resorption that occurs in maxillary and mandibular permanent incisors during orthodontic treatment when comparing the SureSmile technique with conventional edgewise treatment. In addition, patient and treatment factors that may be correlated with root resorption were studied.

Methods: The records of 28 patients (14 SureSmile and 14 edgewise) treated in an orthodontic office were used for this study.

Socio-environmental factors associated with pubertal development in female adolescents: the role of prepubertal tobacco and alcohol use.

Purpose: Alcohol administered to laboratory animals has been shown to suppress puberty-related hormones and delay puberty by interfering with ovarian development and function. The effects of early substance use on human pubertal development are relatively unexplored.

Methods: This cross-sectional study of 3,106 female adolescents, aged 11-21 years, evaluated the association between prepubertal alcohol and tobacco use and the onset of puberty.

Smokeless tobacco and prevalence of cardiovascular disease.

Introduction: Few studies have examined the possible increased risk of cardiovascular disease with smokeless tobacco. Existing studies have yielded inconsistent results and have been based on limited populations. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the use of smokeless tobacco increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and to identify higher risk groups.

The effect of digital cervical examination on group B streptococcal culture.

Objective: We sought to evaluate whether group B streptococcus (GBS) detection is altered by the digital cervical examination.

Study Design: A total of 302 women undergoing the clinical GBS culture had a digital cervical examination and a repeated GBS culture. Statistical comparison of pre-post culture results were performed with kappa and McNemar tests.

Effect of breastfeeding education and support on promoting breastfeeding: a literature review.

Despite the widely documented benefits of breastfeeding, initiation rates and duration of breastfeeding lag behind the goals set in Healthy People 2010. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of breastfeeding education and support, which aim to encourage women to initiate and continue breastfeeding according to The Healthy People 2010 objectives; articles published in the United States from January 2000 to July 2005 are included. Effects of these interventions on different demographic groups are reviewed to assess the importance of each intervention in particular focus group.

Disparities in the prevalence of medication therapy for hyperlipidemia in the elderly.

Objective: To explore differences in the prevalence of therapy with antihyperlipidemic drugs in patients older than 75 years of age, as compared with patients between the ages of 55 to 74, and other variables.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Setting: Two Oklahoma state-paid pharmacy drug-claims databases.

Gynecologic Oncology Group risk groups for vulvar carcinoma: improvement in survival in the modern era.

Objective: Patients with vulvar cancer were stratified into risk groups for survival based on surgicopathologic findings from a prospective study conducted by the Gynecologic Oncology Group from 1977-1984. The purpose of this study is to reassess these risk groups in patients treated in an era of contemporary management.

Methods: Patients with vulvar carcinoma were identified from 1990-2005 for retrospective analysis.

Does participation in a nurse visitation programme reduce the frequency of adverse perinatal outcomes in first-time mothers?

Children First (C1), a nurse home visitation programme for first-time mothers, was implemented statewide in Oklahoma in mid-1997. The objective of this study was to compare the risks of low (< 2500 g) and very low birthweight (< 1500 g), preterm (< 37 weeks) and very preterm (< 30 weeks) deliveries and infant mortality between mothers participating and not participating in C1. All 239,466 Oklahoma birth certificates were reviewed.

Lead sources, behaviors, and socioeconomic factors in relation to blood lead of native american and white children: a community-based assessment of a former mining area.

Lead poisoning prevention requires knowledge of lead sources and of appropriate residential lead standards. Data are severely lacking on lead sources for Native American children, many of whom live in rural areas. Further, the relation of mining waste to blood lead concentrations (BPbs) of rural children is controversial.