Objectives: To evaluate referral patterns to secondary care and categorise referrals by complexity level. To assess compliance with commissioning guidelines for cases accepted for treatment in secondary care, comparing complexity to Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) data.
Design: Service evaluation of all referrals during study period recorded prospectively. The standard was set that >85% of cases offered treatment in secondary care should be complexity level 3b.
Setting: Seven NHS orthodontic departments within a regional clinical effectiveness group in secondary care in England.
Participants: All patients seen as new referrals during the three-month study period.
Methods: Data recorded at clinic appointment on data collection proforma including referral information, complexity, IOTN and outcome of the first appointment. Data were collated on a spreadsheet and simple statistics were applied.
Results: A total of 493 patients were included in data analysis. Median waiting time for a new patient appointment was 11.0 weeks. For the whole study group, 53.8% were IOTN 5, 30.8% IOTN 4, 9.7% IOTN 3; complexity levels were 54.2% complexity 3b, 37.1% 3a and 6.7% 2. Of the patients, 30.0% were offered treatment in secondary care at their first attendance; of these, 74.3 % were IOTN 5, 93.2% were complexity level 3b.
Conclusion: The gold standard has been met in the region as a whole and at each individual unit. There is a large discrepancy between the IOTN score and complexity level in those patients offered orthodontic treatment in secondary care. Routine recording of complexity level is recommended for all patients seen in the secondary care setting.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1465312520938387 | DOI Listing |
Pharmaceutics
December 2024
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy.
Background/objectives: Nowadays, sustainability efforts focus on extracting natural cosmeceutical ingredients, such as polyphenols, from agri-food waste, for example, black bentonite (BB). The aims of this work were to validate an antioxidant cosmetic ingredient obtained from the waste BB and embed it into an ad hoc designed oromucosal spray intended for oral cavity wellness.
Methods: Focusing on sustainability, the study tested PEG200, propylene glycol, and their mixtures as unconventional and green extraction solvents, aligned with a waste-to-market approach.
Nutrients
December 2024
Department of Intensive Care, University Hospital of Foggia, 71121 Foggia, Italy.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a multifaceted pathological condition resulting from external forces that disrupt neuronal integrity and function. This narrative review explores the intricate relationship between dietary macronutrients, gut microbiota (GM), and neuroinflammation in the TBI. We delineate the dual aspects of TBI: the immediate mechanical damage (primary injury) and the subsequent biological processes (secondary injury) that exacerbate neuronal damage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNutrients
December 2024
Colorectal Service, Sengkang General Hospital, Singapore 544886, Singapore.
Background: Multimodal prehabilitation programs, which may incorporate nutritional supplementation and exercise, have been developed to combat sarcopenia in surgical patients to enhance post-operative outcomes. However, the optimal regime remains unknown. The use of beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) has beneficial effects on muscle mass and strength.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPharmaceuticals (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Medicine (Pulmonology, Allergy and Critical Care), Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
A significant number of individuals with asthma have poorly controlled daily symptoms and utilize dietary supplements such as ginger in a quest for improved symptom control; however, its effectiveness at improving the control of symptoms is unproven. We questioned whether low-dose oral ginger would improve subjective and objective measurements of asthma control in mild-to-moderate asthmatics. We performed a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study of a low dose (1 g twice daily) of a dietary supplement of ginger in 32 mild-to-moderate uncontrolled asthmatics over a 2-month trial period while maintaining daily conventional asthma therapies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Mol Sci
December 2024
McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Military breachers are routinely exposed to repetitive low-level blast overpressure, placing them at elevated risk for long-term neurological sequelae. Mounting evidence suggests that circulating brain-reactive autoantibodies, generated following CNS injury, may serve as both biomarkers of cumulative damage and drivers of secondary neuroinflammation. In this study, we compared circulating autoantibody profiles in military breachers ( = 18) with extensive blast exposure against unexposed military controls ( = 19).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!