Associations of types of pain with crack-level, tooth-level and patient-level characteristics in posterior teeth with visible cracks: Findings from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine which patient traits, behaviors, external tooth and/or crack characteristics correlate with the types of symptoms that teeth with visible cracks exhibit, namely pain on biting, pain due to cold stimuli, or spontaneous pain.

Methods: Dentists in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network enrolled a convenience sample of subjects each of whom had a single, vital posterior tooth with at least one observable external crack (cracked teeth); 2858 cracked teeth from 209 practitioners were enrolled. Data were collected at the patient-, tooth-, and crack-level.

Patient-Centered Dentinal Hypersensitivity Treatment Outcomes: Results from the National Dental PBRN.

Dentinal hypersensitivity (DH) can have a significant impact on oral health and functioning, and it is a clinical symptom commonly managed by dentists during routine clinical practice. DH symptoms are typically elicited by otherwise innocuous, nonpainful stimuli applied to exposed dentin (e.g.

Additional value of systolic wall thickening in myocardial stunning evaluated by stress-rest gated perfusion SPECT.

Aim And Patients: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the additional value of systolic wall thickening to myocardial perfusion in diagnosing myocardial stunning in patients with angiography proven coronary artery disease. We selected 91 ischemic patients (82 males; mean age 59.7 ± 10.

Effectiveness of Standardized Patient Simulations in Teaching Clinical Communication Skills to Dental Students.

The aim of this study was to investigate dental students' long-term retention of clinical communication skills learned in a second-year standardized patient simulation at one U.S. dental school.

Role of Jagged1-Notch pathway in thyroid development.

The zebrafish thyroid gland shows a unique pattern of growth. Despite the lack of a compact gland, the zebrafish thyroid tissue originates from the pharyngeal endoderm and the main genes involved in its patterning and early development are conserved between zebrafish and mammals. In recent years, the research has been focused to the search of novel candidate genes and environmental factors underlying congenital hypothyroidism.

New High-Translucent Cubic-Phase-Containing Zirconia: Clinical and Laboratory Considerations and the Effect of Air Abrasion on Strength.

Fabricating all-ceramic restorations with minimal or no application of a secondary phase while maintaining esthetics has been a sought-after goal of the dental profession. The objective has been development of a monolithic material with optical properties similar to the natural tooth without the need for layering porcelain. This article examines some of the newer cubic zirconia materials used in a monolithic form.

Judgment of the Quality of Restorative Care as Predictors of Restoration Retreatment: Findings from the National Dental PBRN.

Unlabelled: The primary aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that a patient's subjective assessments of the dentist's technical competence, quality of care, and anticipated restoration longevity during a restorative visit are predictive of restoration outcome. This prospective cohort study involved 3,326 patients who received treatment for a defective restoration in a permanent tooth, participated in a baseline patient satisfaction survey, and returned for follow-up. Of the 4,400 restorations that were examined by 150 dentists, 266 (6%) received additional treatment after baseline.

Maternal singing of lullabies during pregnancy and after birth: Effects on mother-infant bonding and on newborns' behaviour. Concurrent Cohort Study.

Background: Mother-infant bonding is of great importance for the development and the well-being of the baby. The aim of this Concurrent Cohort Study was to investigate the effects of mothers singing lullabies on bonding, newborns' behaviour and maternal stress.

Methods: Eighty-three (singing cohort) and 85 (concurrent cohort) women were recruited at antenatal classes at 24 weeks g.

Heart rate variability regression and risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.

The exact mechanisms of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy remain elusive, despite there is consensus that SUDEP is associated with severe derangements in the autonomic control to vital functions as breathing and heart rate regulation. Heart rate variability (HRV) has been advocated as biomarker of autonomic control to the heart. Cardiac dysautonomia has been found in diseases where other branches of the autonomous nervous system are damaged, as Parkinson disease and multiple system atrophy.

Impression Techniques Used for Single-Unit Crowns: Findings from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Purpose: To: (1) determine which impression and gingival displacement techniques practitioners use for single-unit crowns on natural teeth; and (2) test whether certain dentist and practice characteristics are significantly associated with the use of these techniques.

Materials And Methods: Dentists participating in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network were eligible for this survey study. The study used a questionnaire developed by clinicians, statisticians, laboratory technicians, and survey experts.

Dentist material selection for single-unit crowns: Findings from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Objectives: Dentists enrolled in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network completed a study questionnaire about techniques and materials used for single-unit crowns and an enrollment questionnaire about dentist/practice characteristics. The objectives were to quantify dentists' material recommendations and test the hypothesis that dentist's and practice's characteristics are significantly associated with these recommendations.

Methods: Surveyed dentists responded to a contextual scenario asking what material they would use for a single-unit crown on an anterior and posterior tooth.

Light-transmitting fiber optic posts: An in vitro evaluation.

Statement Of Problem: The clinical challenge of adhering cement to intracanal dentin is transmitting light to the most apical parts of root canals to allow more efficient polymerization of the cement.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the cement-polymerizing ability, microstructure, and radiopacity of a new fiber optic post (iLumi fiber optic Post) with a clinically successful fiber post (DT Light Post).

Material And Methods: Polymerizing ability was compared using a modified depth-of-polymerization protocol.

Holter Monitoring and Loop Recorders: From Research to Clinical Practice.

Holter monitors are tools of proven efficacy in diagnosing and monitoring cardiac arrhythmias. Despite the fact their use is widely prescribed by general practitioners, little is known about their evolving role in the management of patients with cryptogenic stroke, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, unexplained recurrent syncope and risk stratification in implantable cardioverter defibrillator or pacemaker candidates. New Holter monitoring technologies and loop recorders allow prolonged monitoring of heart rhythm for periods from a few days to several months, making it possible to detect infrequent arrhythmias in patients of all ages.

Use of clinical practice guidelines by dentists: findings from the Japanese dental practice-based research network.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: The objectives of this study were to: (1) examine differences in the use of dental clinical practice guidelines among Japanese dentists, and (2) identify characteristics associated with the number of guidelines used by participating dentists.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study consisting of a questionnaire survey in Japan between July 2014 and May 2015. The study queried dentists working in outpatient dental practices who are affiliated with the Dental Practice-Based Research Network Japan (n = 148).

Evidence-practice gap for dental sealant application: results from a dental practice-based research network in Japan.

Purpose: The study aims were: (i) to examine dentist practice patterns regarding treatment recommendations for dental sealants; and (ii) to identify characteristics associated with this recommendation.

Methods: The study was performed using a cross-sectional questionnaire survey (Clinicaltrials.gov registration number NCT01680848).

Instructor and Dental Student Perceptions of Clinical Communication Skills via Structured Assessments.

The aim of this study was to use structured assessments to assess dental students' clinical communication skills exhibited during patient appointments. Fourth-year dental students (n=55) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham evaluated their own interpersonal skills in a clinical setting utilizing the Four Habits Coding Scheme. An instructor also assessed student-patient clinical communication.

Postinfarct Left Ventricular Remodelling: A Prevailing Cause of Heart Failure.

Heart failure is a chronic disease with high morbidity and mortality, which represents a growing challenge in medicine. A major risk factor for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is a history of myocardial infarction. The expansion of a large infarct scar and subsequent regional ventricular dilatation can cause postinfarct remodelling, leading to significant enlargement of the left ventricular chamber.

BDNF rs6265 methylation and genotype interact on risk for schizophrenia.

Epigenetic mechanisms can mediate gene-environment interactions relevant for complex disorders. The BDNF gene is crucial for development and brain plasticity, is sensitive to environmental stressors, such as hypoxia, and harbors the functional SNP rs6265 (Val(66)Met), which creates or abolishes a CpG dinucleotide for DNA methylation. We found that methylation at the BDNF rs6265 Val allele in peripheral blood of healthy subjects is associated with hypoxia-related early life events (hOCs) and intermediate phenotypes for schizophrenia in a distinctive manner, depending on rs6265 genotype: in ValVal individuals increased methylation is associated with exposure to hOCs and impaired working memory (WM) accuracy, while the opposite is true for ValMet subjects.

Discordance between presumed standard of care and actual clinical practice: the example of rubber dam use during root canal treatment in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Objectives: Use of a rubber dam during root canal treatment is considered the standard of care because it enhances patient safety and optimises the odds of successful treatment. Nonetheless, not all dentists use a rubber dam, creating disconnect between presumed standard of care and what is actually done in clinical practice. Little is known about dentists' attitudes towards use of the rubber dam in their practices.

Evaluation of Different Polishing Systems and Speeds for Dental Zirconia.

Purpose: To evaluate two polishing systems and three polishing speeds on the gloss, roughness, and heat production of yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP).

Materials And Methods: A Y-TZP block (Zenostar Zr Translucent) was sectioned into 4-mm-thick sections. Specimens (n = 30 per polishing system) were first wet ground with a fine diamond bur at 200,000 RPM for 15 seconds.

ABCB4 mutations in adult patients with cholestatic liver disease: impact and phenotypic expression.

Background: The ABCB4 gene encodes the MDR3 protein. Mutations of this gene cause progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3 (PFIC3) in children, but their clinical relevance in adults remains ill defined. The study of a well-characterized adult patient series may contribute to refining the genetic data regarding cholangiopathies of unknown origin.