Prevalence of dental caries in children with congenital heart disease

Background: Congenital heart defects (CHD) affect about 8 out of 1000 births worldwide. Most of the patients reach adulthood and are exposed to an increased risk of endocarditis. Since bacteria already enter the bloodstream during everyday activities, oral hygiene is given special importance in the prevention of endocarditis. Methods: In this study 81 boys (55.1%) and 66 (44.9%) girls with CHD received a dental exam and additionally an assessment using the DIAGNOdent (R) pen. This study group consisting of patients with CHD was matched with a healthy epidemiological control group in Germany. Results: Eighty-one boys (55.1%) and 66 (44.9%) girls were examined. The mean age was 11 & PLUSMN; 4 years. 38.8% showed at least one untreated carious lesions. 37.4% had a dmft/DMFT & GE;2 and thus represented a group with an increased caries risk. The dmft value was 2.12 & PLUSMN; 1.25 in the age group 3-6 year olds. In the group of the 7-12 year old patients the DMFT/dmft was 2.06 & PLUSMN; 2.27, whereas DMFT in 13-17 year olds was at 2.12 & PLUSMN; 1.58. However, children and adolescents with CHD had a higher DMF index than healthy children in the same age group. Conclusions: The present study reveals that more than one third of those examined have a dental condition in need of rehabilitation. In future, close interdisciplinary cooperation between pediatric cardiologists and dentists should ensure regular dental check-ups

Oral bacteria in infective endocarditis requiring surgery: a retrospective analysis of 134 patients.

OBJECTIVES It has been reported that bacteria associated with infective endocarditis originate from the oral cavity in 26-45% of cases. However, little is known on the counts and species of periodontal microbiota in infected heart valves. The aim of this study was to identify these aspects of periodontal microbiota in infective endocarditis and to potentially initiate a dental extraction concept for periodontally compromised teeth concerning patients requiring heart valve surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS The retrospective study group consisted of tissue samples from infected heart valves of 683 patients who had undergone heart valve surgery. Before patients had undergone cardiac surgery, the following laboratory tests confirmed the occurrence of endocarditis in all patients: blood cultures, echocardiography, electrocardiography, chest X-ray, and electrophoresis of the serum proteins. The specimens were aseptically obtained and deep frozen immediately following surgery. Microbiological diagnosis included proof of germs (dichotomous), species of germs, and source of germs (oral versus other). RESULTS Microbiota was detected in 134 (31.2%) out of 430 enrolled patients. Oral cavity was supposed to be the source in 10.4% of cases, whereas microbiota of the skin (57.5%) and gastrointestinal tract (GIT, 24.6%) were detected considerably more frequently. Moreover, periodontal bacteria belonged mostly to the Streptococci species and the yellow complex. None of the detected bacteria belonged to the red complex. CONCLUSION Most frequently, the skin and GIT represented the site of origin of the microbiota. Nevertheless, the oral cavity represented the source of IE in up to 10%. Consequently, it needs to be emphasized that a good level of oral hygiene is strongly recommended in all patients undergoing heart valve surgery in order to reduce the bacterial load in the oral cavity, thereby minimizing the hematogenous spread of oral microbiota. The prerequisites for conservative dental treatment versus radical tooth extraction must always be based on the patient's cooperation, and the clinical intraoral status on a sense of proportion in view of the overall clinical situation due to the underlying cardiac disease. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The oral cavity is a source of oral microbiota on infected heart valves. Patients requiring heart valve surgery should always undergo a critical evaluation of dental treatment affecting periodontally compromised teeth, favoring a systematic, conservative-leaning recall

«Diseño para todos» en la investigación social sobre personas con discapacidad

[EN] Social studies on disability have increased in number and importance in Spain and other countries over the last few years. Nevertheless, the majority of the available sources and studies do not adequately represent this heterogeneous group, which currently makes up about 9 per cent of the Spanish population. The implementation of social measures requires representative sources and studies containing relevant information. The aim of this paper is to identify the main diffi culties involved in designing and developing social research methods concerning persons with disabilities, and offer proposals and recommendations in order to advance towards a more inclusive social research using the concepts of accessibility and design for all.[ES] Los estudios sociales sobre la discapacidad han aumentado en número e importancia en España y otros países durante los últimos años. Sin embargo, la mayoría de fuentes de información y estudios disponibles no recogen de manera adecuada la realidad de un colectivo muy heterogéneo, que supone en la actualidad aproximadamente el 9 por ciento de la población española. La implementación de medidas sociales requiere de fuentes y estudios representativos que aporten información precisa acerca de estas personas. El objetivo de esta nota es identifi car las principales difi cultades que se plantean a la hora de diseñar y llevar a la práctica metodologías de investigación social adecuadas hacia las personas con discapacidad, así como ofrecer propuestas y recomendaciones para avanzar hacia una investigación social más inclusiva, mediante los conceptos de accesibilidad y diseño para todos.Work carried out as part of the framework of research projects: “Qualitative Tracking with Young Disabled in European States. Quali-TYDES” (European Science Foundation, 09-ECRP-032) and “Hidden Innovation: paradigm shift in innovation studies” (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, FFI2011-25475).Peer reviewe

Herkules – Held zwischen Tugend und Hybris. Ein europäischer Erinnerungsort der Frühen Neuzeit?

This essay traces some of the contexts and media in which "Heracles-Hercules" - as a hero between virtue and hubris - was visible in European societies from the end of the middle ages onwards. It discusses whether this example of the reception, appropriation and transformation of classical myths in the early modern period can be understood as a European "lieu de mémoire", and to what extent the concept of "lieux de mémoire" (or sites of memory) can foster our understanding of a particular object of study (here the Heracles/Hercules myth). Against this backdrop, we conclude with some general questions about the more ambitious project* of a comprehensive register of European "lieux de mémoire". * * Published as: Boer, Pim den / Duchhardt, Heinz / Kreis, Georg / Schmale, Wolfgang (eds.): Europäische Erinnerungsorte, 3 vols., Munich 2011–201

On-Chip Integration of Functional Hybrid Materials and Components in Nanophotonics and Optoelectronics

[No abstract available

Dental implant surfaces after insertion in bone: an in vitro study in four commercial implant systems.

OBJECTIVES Primary healing of dental implants is influenced by their surface morphology. However, little is known about any alterations in morphology during their insertion. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the surface morphology of four different implant systems, following their insertion in porcine jaw bones. METHODS Four fresh porcine mandible specimens were used. Six new implants of four systems (Ankylos® 4.5 × 14 mm, Frialit Synchro® 4.5 × 15 mm, NobelReplace ® Tapered Groovy RP 4.3 × 13 mm, Straumann SLA® Bone Level 3.3 × 14 mm) were inserted, whereas one implant of each system served as a control. After their removal, implants were cleaned in an ultrasonic bath. All 28 implants were examined quantitatively by 3D confocal microscopy for surface characteristics. RESULTS In the evaluated zones, implants of the Ankylos, Frialit, and Straumann systems showed mostly a reduction of the mean surface roughness Sa, the maximal surface roughness Sz, and the developed surface area ratio Sdr; Nobel implants showed an increase in these parameters. With respect to all three parameters Sa, Sz, and Sdr, statistical analysis revealed that differences between the four systems were highly significant in the apical region of implants. Controls showed no morphologic alterations. CONCLUSION The insertion process had an impact on the surface of all four implant systems. Anodized implant surface modification seems to result in more alterations compared with subtractive surface modifications. Therefore, surgical planning should take into consideration the choice of surface treatment because the characteristics of the implants may be modified during the installation process. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The given information is of value for daily implantation practice and the course of osseointegration