Iodine status in pre-school children prior to mandatory iodine fortification in Australia

The iodine status of children between the ages of 5 and 15 years has been routinely assessed in many countries, but few studies have examined iodine status in pre-school children. We conducted a cross-sectional study of pre-school children living in Adelaide, South Australia, between 2005 and 2007. Children 1–5 years old were identified using a unique sampling strategy to ensure that the study population was representative. A 3-day weighed diet record, a blood sample and a urine sample were obtained from each child. The median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) of the children (n = 279) was 129 µg L⁻¹, indicating iodine sufficiency (normal range: 100–199 µg L⁻¹), but 35% of the children had a UIC < 100 µg L−1. The median thyroglobulin concentration of children (n = 217) was 24 µg L⁻¹ and thyroglobulin concentration declined with increasing age (P = 0.024). The mean daily iodine intake was 76 µg. The intake of iodine was lower than expected and highlights difficulties in accurately assessing iodine intakes. Further studies are needed to monitor dietary changes and iodine status in this age group since the implementation of mandatory fortification of bread with iodised salt in Australia in 2009.Sheila Skeaff, Ying Zhao, Robert Gibson, Maria Makrides, Shao Jia Zho

Microbiological evaluation of endodontic files after cleaning and steam sterilization procedures

The document attached has been archived with permission from the Australian Dental Association. An external link to the publisher’s copy is included.Background: Infection control procedures are essential for modern dental practice and they are continually evolving to meet the dental profession’s high standards. The present study evaluated the efficacy of two cleaning procedures to reduce bacterial numbers on endodontic files, and evaluated the effect of biological debris on the subsequent sterilization of files. Methods: Stainless steel and nickel-titanium (NiTi) files were examined upon removal from the manufacturer’s packaging, after instrumentation in root canals of human teeth inoculated with a broth containing two anaerobic species and one facultative anaerobic species of bacteria, and after instrumentation and cleaning with either an ultrasonic bath or a thermal disinfector. For each file, the bacterial numbers were quantified using routine microbiological techniques in an anaerobic chamber. Results: No bacteria were detected from files direct from their packets. The size, taper and type of file did not affect the ability of either of the cleaning procedures to reduce bacterial numbers. However, an absence of bacteria was more likely when files were cleaned in the thermal disinfector. No bacteria were detected from files that were subjected to steam sterilization irrespective of the type of prior cleaning procedure. Conclusions: Steam sterilization eliminated all bacteria from the endodontic files irrespective of the presence of biological debris. The majority of bacteria were eliminated from endodontic files after either ultrasonic cleaning or using a thermal disinfector.DA Van Eldik, PS Zilm, AH Rogers and PD Mari

Design and baseline characteristics of the 10 Small Steps Study: a randomised controlled trial of an intervention to promote healthy behaviour using a lifestyle score and personalised feedback

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of death globally and are associated with a limited set of common, modifiable health behaviours: tobacco use, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol and unhealthy diet. General practice offers an ideal avenue for addressing such health behaviours on a population-wide basis. This paper describes the protocol of a multiple health behaviour change intervention designed for implementation in general practice and summarises the baseline characteristics of its participants

Engaging community pharmacists in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: protocol for the Pharmacist Assessment of Adherence, Risk and Treatment in Cardiovascular Disease (PAART CVD) pilot study

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally. Community pharmacist intervention studies have demonstrated clinical effectiveness for improving several leading individual CVD risk factors. Primary prevention strategies increasingly emphasise the need for consideration of overall cardiovascular risk and concurrent management of multiple risk factors. It is therefore important to demonstrate the feasibility of multiple risk factor management by community pharmacists to ensure continued currency of their role.Methods/Design: This study will be a longitudinal pre- and post-test pilot study with a single cohort of up to 100 patients in ten pharmacies. Patients aged 50-74 years with no history of heart disease or diabetes, and taking antihypertensive or lipid-lowering medicines, will be approached for participation. Assessment of cardiovascular risk, medicines use and health behaviours will be undertaken by a research assistant at baseline and following the intervention (6 months). Validated interview scales will be used where available. Baseline data will be used by accredited medicines management pharmacists to generate a report for the treating community pharmacist. This report will highlight individual patients&rsquo; overall CVD risk and individual risk factors, as well as identifying modifiablehealth behaviours for risk improvement and suggesting treatment and behavioural goals. The treating community pharmacist will use this information to finalise and implement a treatment plan in conjunction with the patient and their doctor. Community pharmacists will facilitate patient improvements in lifestyle, medicines adherence, and medicines management over the course of five counselling sessions with monthly intervals. The primary outcome will be the change to average overall cardiovascular risk, assessed using the Framingham risk equation.Discussion: This study will assess the feasibility of implementing holistic primary CVD prevention programs into community pharmacy, one of the most accessible health services in most developed countries.<br /