The factors affecting visual discomfort of dental hygienist

partially_open4noThe objectives of the paper were to analyze the visual behavior and visual discomfort parameters of dental practitioner at work, introducing the “lighting quality” approach in professional lighting using a suitable measurement methodology able to evaluate all relevant photometric and spectral parameters, not only the standard expected, and also the luminance map of the visual field. Spectral investigations are necessary to evaluate the damage potential of the lighting radiation while the luminance map allows the evaluation of sources of visual discomfort and disability. The “quality of lighting” is a new concept not yet considered in professional lighting but already recognized in road lighting standards. The paper provides also suggestions for new measurement methodology and lighting fixture design are provided and, for dental practitioners, recommendations about position and eye protection system to wear to improve visual comfort and minimize MSD, due to misplaced working position to avoid glareembargoed_20200201Iacomussi, P.; Carcieri, P.; Rossi, G.; Migliario, M.Iacomussi, Paola; Carcieri, P.; Rossi, Giuseppe; Migliario, M

Topical tacrolimus and periodontal therapy in the management of a case of oral chronic GVHD characterized by specific gingival localization.

Background. Chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) is a complication following bone marrow transplantation. The oral lesions are difficult to control with a systemic pharmacological therapy. Case Description. A 63-year-old female patient, who underwent an allogeniec transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia, developed a chronic oral and cutaneous GVHD. The patient was treated with topical tacrolimus 0.1%, twice daily for two months, and underwent a protocol of oral hygiene characterized by 3 appointments of scaling, root planning, and daily oral hygiene instructions. The patient showed marked resolution of gingival lesions and a significant improvement of related pain and gingival inflammatory indexes. Clinical Implications. This case report suggests that treatment with topical tacrolimus and professional oral hygiene may be helpful in the management of chronic oral GVHD with severe gingival involvement

Innovative Interprofessional Collaboration: Addressing the Need for Education for Health Center Workers around Patients\u27 Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI)

BACKGROUND: University of Rhode Island (URI) students in a graduate-level course, Interdisciplinary Teamwork in Health and Human Services, collaborated with a local health provider, Wood River Health Services (WRHS), to create training materials for its staff on the topic of sexual orientation/gender identity (SOGI). WRHS is a federally-funded, comprehensive community health center located in a rural area of Rhode Island. It provides medical, dental, and mental health services. WRHS had been advised to enhance its attention to issues related to SOGI. OBJECTIVES The aims for this project were: 1. Assess needs and priorities of WRHS staff around knowledge and attitudes about SOGI and health care; 2. Create a training tool for staf fto enable them to facilitate patient comfort in disclosing SOGI-related information that would assist them in addressing individual needs of patients; 3. Provide students an opportunity to effectively learn and practice interprofessionally. METHODS The students--representing three different health fields (Occupational Therapy, Human Development and Family Studies, and Pharmacy)--researched SOGI issues related to their fields. Students met with WRHS staff to develop a clear understanding of the center’s barriers to adequately provide care to LGBTQ+ patients. They conducted a survey to assess staff attitudes and knowledge about SOGI terminology, health disparities, and the importance of a welcoming environment that informed the development of a training presentation. Staf can complete it at their convenience, and it can be used as part of onboarding new staff. Retrospective pre/post-tests were administered to students and WRHS staff. CONCLUSION Informational presentations are a useful tool for agencies looking to build capacity and comfort among staff around SOGI. Additionally, providing students with opportunities to learn with, from, and about each other is a critical component of health professions education.https://jdc.jefferson.edu/sexandgenderhealth/1020/thumbnail.jp

Pan-retinal characterisation of Light Responses from Ganglion Cells in the Developing Mouse Retina

International audienceWe have investigated the ontogeny of light-driven responses in mouse retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Using a large-scale, high-density multielectrode array, we recorded from hundreds to thousands of RGCs simultaneously at pan-retinal level, including dorsal and ventral locations. Responses to di erent contrasts not only revealed a complex developmental pro le for ON, OFF and ON-OFF responses, but also unveiled di erences between dorsal and ventral RGC responses. At eye-opening, dorsal RGCs of all types were more responsive to light, perhaps indicating an environmental priority to nest viewing for pre-weaning pups. The developmental pro le of ON and OFF responses exhibited antagonistic behaviour, with the strongest ON responses shortly after eye-opening, followed by an increase in the strength of OFF responses later on. Further, we found that with maturation receptive eld (RF) center sizes decrease, spike-triggered averaged responses to white noise become stronger, and centers become more circular while maintaining di erences between RGC types. We conclude that the maturation of retinal functionality is not spatially homogeneous, likely re ecting ecological requirements that favour earlier maturation of the dorsal retina

An analysis of the visual behaviour of dental hygienist.

The visual behaviour of a dental hygienist is very critical: the practitioner is exposed to very high luminance levels, for long time doing heavy visual task with very small details, crucial colour perception and risk of damaging the patient condition in case of mistake. A typical dental hygienist visual behaviour was deeply characterised in terms of relevant photometric quantities. The two most important quantities are: illuminance and luminace. In order to characterise the visual conditions of the practitioner luminance maps of his field of view were acquired with a luminance calibrated CCD (Charge Couple Device) detector. The luminance maps showed high contrast zones that produce glare at the eyes of practitioner. The contrast is the description of differences in luminance between an object and its background and is one of the two fundamental aspect for vision. The team applied a procedure (2) based on CIE General Disability Glare Equation (3), to evaluate veiling luminance (a parameter describing the physiological origin of disability glare) that causes contrast degradation and visual fatigue, versus the degradation of Ratio of Contrast (Rc perceived contrast over intrinsic contrast). This research demonstrated that the normative requirements are not sufficient to assure the best perceptive conditions for dental hygienist to prevent performances degradations and long-term fatigue

Studio sulle condizioni di visione degli igienisti dentali.

Il compito visivo dei professionisti dell\u2019igiene dentale \ue8 particolarmente critico e delicato ed espone l\u2019operatore a elevati livelli di illuminazione per periodi prolungati. Necessita quindi che sia svolto nelle migliori condizioni di illuminazione possibili tali da assicurare sia il confort dell\u2019operatore che le migliori condizioni visive per minimizzare i rischi di errore. Per assicurare questo \ue8 necessario che l\u2019ambiente illuminato sia caratterizzato anche secondo parametri non strettamente normativi ma che diano un\u2019effettiva indicazione delle reali condizioni di visione dell\u2019igienista. La UNI EN ISO 9680:2008 prescrive le prestazioni meccaniche, elettriche e fotometriche del singolo apparecchio di illuminazione e non considera prestazioni a livello di impianto di illuminazione o di condizioni di visione dell\u2019operatore. Il campo operatorio di una tipica postazione di lavoro di un igienista dentale \ue8 stato caratterizzato per le due grandezze pi\uf9 importanti ai fini dell\u2019analisi delle condizioni di visione: illuminamento e luminanza (luminosit\ue0 delle superfici o sorgenti presenti nel campo visivo dell\u2019operatore). La misura della luminanza del campo visivo ha evidenziato che sono presenti alti livelli di luminanza che producono elevato abbagliamento. L\u2019analisi delle mappe di luminanza ha dimostrato come la condizione di abbagliamento aumenti quando l\u2019operatore indossa schermi di protezione oculari e nel caso di schermi particolarmente degradati superficialmente si perde la visione del dettaglio e un disco di abbagliamento \ue8 sovrapposto alla scena. Inoltre all\u2019interno della bocca del paziente i livelli di luminanza del campo osservato sono cos\uec alti che il contrasto generato \ue8 vincolato solo a differenze di colore presenti tra le diverse superfici nel campo visivo. In conclusione possiamo affermare che il soddisfacimento degli attuali vincoli normativi non assicura che l\u2019operatore possa operare nelle migliori condizioni di visione possibili

Caratteristiche del manico degli strumenti manuali: revisione della letteratura

I disturbi muscolo-scheletrici di natura lavorativa (DMSL) hanno avuto negli ultimi due decenni un netto incremento di incidenza. Anche tra gli igienisti dentali il rischio di sviluppare un DSML \ue8 elevato e ad esserne pi\uf9 colpiti sono i professionisti anziani e di sesso femminile. La prevenzione dell\u2019insorgenza di questi disturbi riveste un ruolo cruciale nel mantenimento delle capacit\ue0 lavorative e richiede la precoce identificazione e la correzione dei fattori di rischio, suddivisibili in elementi connessi al lavoratore, al tipo di mansione, alla posizione di lavoro e allo strumentario utilizzato. Molti fattori di rischio possono essere minimizzati o eliminati grazie a prevenzione, strategie ergonomiche e programmi terapeutici mirati. La prevenzione \ue8 basata sull\u2019analisi epidemiologica, su un\u2019attenta valutazione dei sintomi, delle posture pi\uf9 comunemente assunte, dei gesti lavorativi e della strumentazione utilizzata. Scopo del nostro lavoro \ue8 stata una attenta revisione della letteratura riguardante la strumentazione con particolare attenzione al manico degli strumenti manuali usati dagli igienisti dentali. Dai lavori pubblicati non abbiamo rilevato alcuna indicazione che permetta agli operatori di operare una scelta ponderata tra i vari strumenti in rapporto alle caratteristiche fisiche dell\u2019operatore con particolare riferimento alle dimensioni della mano lavorante. Da tale revisione risulta quindi evidente la necessit\ue0 di ulteriori ricerche finalizzate alla identificazione di strumenti di forma, diametro e peso diversi in relazione alle tipologie fisiche degli operatori