Influence of Root Canal Taper on Its Cleanliness: A Scanning Electron Microscopic Study

Abstract Introduction: Taper is a factor that determines final root canal dimensions and, consequently, the dimensions of the space for the cleaning action of irrigants. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of taper on root canal cleanliness. Methods: Root canals of 45 mandibular incisors were divided into 3 groups and prepared with GT rotary files to apical preparation size 30 and final taper 0.04, 0.06, and 0.08, respectively. Irrigation with 2.5% NaOCl was performed after each file. The final irrigation sequence was 10 mL 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, followed by 10 mL 2.5% NaOCl and 10 mL saline solution. The presence of debris and smear layer on root canal walls was evaluated under the scanning electron microscope with the use of a 4-category scale system. Results: The presence of debris was minimal in all groups. Statistical analysis for the presence of smear layer showed no significant differences between the groups, whereas a significant difference was detected between the apical and middle thirds of each group. Conclusions: Under the conditions of this study, root canal preparation with tapers 0.04, 0.06, or 0.08 did not affect canal cleanliness. Debris removal was almost complete for all tapers, whereas smear layer was not removed, especially from the apical part of the canals. (J Endod 2011;37:871-874

Greek Primary School Teachers Dream of the Ideal School Library

School libraries have been the subject of a number of regulations since the establishment of the Greek nation, but school libraries have never been treated as an essential feature of educational programmes. They lack space, funds and equipment. Moreover, teachers are not aware of their role and services in contemporary schools. This article reports on a study that analyzed written texts produced by primary school teachers, discussing the function, role, and potential of school libraries. The teachers participating in the research described the ideal library, which is quite different from the reality in primary schools

The school library as a factor of the dynamics of the educational environment: space and educational process

The PhD thesis studies the possibilities and the role of school library in the process of the evolution of the educational environment at school, emphasizing on the dynamic that develops during this process. In the context of a systemic approach, changes were introduced in the research field, which concerned important alterations in the educational process the school settings and the role of teachers in the research process. The dynamics of interaction and evolution of these factors were studied, following the method of research-action, in a prospective change of the educational environment from the traditional form of the Greek school into a new form, form in which the cooperative features of teaching and learning are dominant. The new educational environment of the library that has evolved through the research-action has three dimensions: a) it is an expanded form of the educational environment, which is based on a collaborative type of synergy between the educational process, the layout of space and the spatial organization, b) at the same time, it works as a study- reading room, and c) simultaneously it functions as an environment of borrowing and information resources. The new type of educational environment, which resulted from research –action, contributes to the reformation of the educational process of the traditional school, through the upgrading of the educational process and school environment, and rebuilds new, pedagogically important function forms of connections in between them.Η διδακτορική διατριβή μελετά τις δυνατότητες και το ρόλο της σχολικής βιβλιοθήκης στη διαδικασία μετεξέλιξης του εκπαιδευτικού περιβάλλοντος στο σχολείο, δίνοντας έμφαση στη δυναμική που αναπτύσσεται κατά τη διαδικασία αυτή. Στο πλαίσιο μιας συστημικής προσέγγισης, εισήχθηκαν αλλαγές στο ερευνητικό πεδίο, οι οποίες αφορούσαν σημαντικές τροποποιήσεις στην εκπαιδευτική διαδικασία, το σχολικό χώρο και το ρόλο των εκπαιδευτικών στην ερευνητική διαδικασία. Με τη μέθοδο της έρευνας-δράσης, μελετήθηκε η δυναμική της αλληλεπίδρασης και της εξέλιξης των παραγόντων αυτών, σε μια προοπτική αλλαγής του εκπαιδευτικού περιβάλλοντος από την παραδοσιακή μορφή που έχει στο ελληνικό σχολείο σε μια νέα μορφή, στην οποία κυριαρχούν τα συνεργατικά χαρακτηριστικά της διδασκαλίας και της μάθησης. Το νέο εκπαιδευτικό περιβάλλον της βιβλιοθήκης που διαμορφώθηκε μέσα από την έρευνα-δράση έχει τρεις διαστάσεις: α) αποτελεί μια διευρυμένη μορφή εκπαιδευτικού περιβάλλοντος, η οποία στηρίζεται σε μια συνεργατικού τύπου συνέργεια ανάμεσα στην εκπαιδευτική διαδικασία, τη διαρρύθμιση του χώρου και την οργάνωση του χώρου, β) παράλληλα, λειτουργεί ως σπουδαστήριο-αναγνωστήριο, και γ) ταυτόχρονα λειτουργεί ως περιβάλλον δανεισμού βιβλίων και μέσων πληροφόρησης. Ο νέος τύπος εκπαιδευτικού περιβάλλοντος που προέκυψε από την έρευνα-δράση συμβάλλει στην αναμόρφωση της εκπαιδευτικής διαδικασίας του παραδοσιακού σχολείου, μέσα από την αναβάθμιση της εκπαιδευτικής διαδικασίας και του χώρου της και την αποκατάσταση νέων, παιδαγωγικά σημαντικών μορφών συνάρτησης μεταξύ τους

Patients’ preferences for headache acute and preventive treatment

Abstract Background We aimed to explore patients’ preferences for headache treatments with a self-administered questionnaire including the Q-No questionnaire for nocebo. Methods Questionnaires from 514 outpatients naïve to neurostimulation and monoclonal antibodies were collected. Results Patients assessed that the efficacy of a treatment is more important than safety or route of administration. They preferred to use an external neurostimulation device for both acute (67.1%) and preventive treatment (62.8%). Most patients preferred to take a pill (86%) than any other drug given parenterally for symptomatic pharmaceutical treatment. For preventive pharmaceutical treatment, most patients preferred to take a pill once per day (52%) compared to an injection either subcutaneously or intravenously each month (9% and 4%), or three months (15% and 11%). 56.6% of all participants scored more than 15 in Q-No questionnaire indicating potential nocebo behaviors that contributed significantly in their choices. Conclusion These patient preferences along with efficacy and safety data may help physicians better choose the right treatment for the right person

COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CAPA) in Northern Greece during 2020–2022: A Comparative Study According to the Main Consensus Criteria and Definitions

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) has emerged as an important complication among patients with acute respiratory failure due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Almost 2.5 years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it continues to raise concerns as an extra factor that contributes to increased mortality, which is mostly because its diagnosis and management remain challenging. The present study utilises the cases of forty-three patients hospitalised between August 2020 and February 2022 whose information was gathered from ten ICUs and special care units based in northern Greece. The main aim was to describe the gained experience in diagnosing CAPA, according to the implementation of the main existing diagnostic consensus criteria and definitions, and present the different classification of the clinical cases due to the alternative algorithms