25 research outputs found
Examining the effect of exposure time on the erosive potential of sour candy
This study aimed to evaluate the erosive potential of sour candy at a different time of exposure within a laboratory-based setting. Fifty human anterior tooth samples were randomly assigned into three groups, namely: sour candy, regular candy A, and deionized water (n=15). Each tooth sample was exposed to a solution containing the sample groups at different time intervals. Vickers hardness tester was used to measure the surface hardness pre- and postexposure. The mean surface hardness value measured was compared using a paired sample test (α =.05). Raman spectroscopy was used to study the change in the enamel structure in all sample groups. A significant difference in the surface hardness value was measured pre and post-exposure in all the sample groups (P<0.01). The samples exposed to sour candy had the highest tooth surface loss. In terms of the time of exposure, it was found that prolonged exposure had a significant effect on the surface hardness (P<0.01). The Raman intensity change confirmed that samples exposed to sour candy, after 2 hrs of exposure, had the highest loss of structural integrity. The study conclude that sour candies are very erosive and its impact enhances with time
A Review of the Global Literature on Dental Therapists: In the Context of the Movement to Add Dental Therapists to the Oral Health Workforce in the United States (Executive Summary)
This executive summary documents evidence that dental therapists can effectively expand access to dental care, especially for children, and is technically competent, safe and effective
Long-term safety and efficacy of alirocumab in South African patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia : the ODYSSEY open-label extension study
BACKGROUND : Alirocumab reduces low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol (LDL-C) levels by up to 61%. The ODYSSEY
Open-Label Extension study investigated the effect of
alirocumab in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia
(HeFH) over 144 weeks.
METHODS : Eligible patients with HeFH had completed an
earlier double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled parent
study. Patients were initiated on 75 mg alirocumab Q2W
subcutaneous (SC) unless baseline LDL-C was > 8.9 mmol/l,
in which case they received 150 mg alirocumab Q2W. Dose
titration to 150 mg Q2W was at the investigator’s discretion.
RESULTS : The study enrolled 167 patients and the parent study
mean (± SD) baseline LDL-C level was 3.65 ± 1.9 mmol/l.
Mean LDL-C level was reduced by 48.7% at week 144; mean
on-treatment LDL-C was 2.30 ± 1.24 mmol/l. Eight patients
reported injection-site reactions, with one treatment discontinuation.
Treatment emergent anti-drug antibodies were
identified in five patients but these did not affect the efficacy.
CONCLUSION : Alirocumab effectively and safely reduced LDL-C
in these patients.http://www.cvja.co.zahj2020Physiolog
A Review of the Global Literature on Dental Therapists: In the Context of the Movement to Add Dental Therapists to the Oral Health Workforce in the United States
An extensive review of the literature documenting care provided by dental therapists and clinical outcomes worldwide indicates that they offer safe, effective dental care to children
Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron lineages BA.4 and BA.5 in South Africa
Three lineages (BA.1, BA.2 and BA.3) of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern predominantly drove South Africa's fourth COVID-19 wave. We have now identified two new lineages, BA.4 and BA.5, responsible for a fifth wave of infections. The spike proteins of BA.4 and BA.5 are identical, and comparable to BA.2 except for the addition of 69-70del (present in the Alpha variant and the BA.1 lineage), L452R (present in the Delta variant), F486V and the wild type amino acid at Q493.The two lineages only differ outside of the spike region. The 69-70 deletion in spike allows these lineages to be identified by the proxy marker of S-gene target failure, on the background of variants not possessing this feature . BA.4 and BA.5 have rapidly replaced BA.2, reaching more than 50% of sequenced cases in South Africa by the first week of April 2022. Using a multinomial logistic regression model, we estimate growth advantages for BA.4 and BA.5 of 0.08 (95% CI: 0.08 - 0.09) and 0.10 (95% CI: 0.09 - 0.11) per day respectively over BA.2 in South Africa. The continued discovery of genetically diverse Omicron lineages points to the hypothesis that a discrete reservoir, such as human chronic infections and/or animal hosts, is potentially contributing to further evolution and dispersal of the virus
Rapid epidemic expansion of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in southern Africa
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic in southern Africa has been characterised by three distinct waves. The first was associated with a mix of SARS-CoV-2 lineages, whilst the second and third waves were driven by the Beta and Delta variants, respectively1-3. In November 2021, genomic surveillance teams in South Africa and Botswana detected a new SARS-CoV-2 variant associated with a rapid resurgence of infections in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Within three days of the first genome being uploaded, it was designated a variant of concern (Omicron) by the World Health Organization and, within three weeks, had been identified in 87 countries. The Omicron variant is exceptional for carrying over 30 mutations in the spike glycoprotein, predicted to influence antibody neutralization and spike function4. Here, we describe the genomic profile and early transmission dynamics of Omicron, highlighting the rapid spread in regions with high levels of population immunity
Amount, type, and sources of carbohydrates in relation to ischemic heart disease mortality in a Chinese population: a prospective cohort study 1 , 2 , 3 , 4
BackgroundThe relation between carbohydrate intake and risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) has not been fully explored in Asian populations known to have high-carbohydrate diets.ObjectiveWe assessed whether intakes of total carbohydrates, different types of carbohydrates, and their food sources were associated with IHD mortality in a Chinese population.DesignWe prospectively examined the association of carbohydrate intake and IHD mortality in 53,469 participants in the Singapore Chinese Health Study with an average follow-up of 15 y. Diet was assessed by using a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. HRs and 95% CIs were calculated by using a Cox proportional hazards analysis.ResultsWe documented 1660 IHD deaths during 804,433 person-years of follow-up. Total carbohydrate intake was not associated with IHD mortality risk [men: HR per 5% of energy, 0.97 (95% CI: 0.92, 1.03); women: 1.06 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.14)]. When types of carbohydrates were analyzed individually, starch intake was associated with higher risk [men: 1.03 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.08); women: 1.08, (95% CI: 1.02, 1.14)] and fiber intake with lower risk of IHD mortality [men: 0.94 (95% CI: 0.82, 1.08); women: 0.71 (95% CI: 0.60, 0.84)], with stronger associations in women than men (both P-interaction < 0.01). In substitution analyses, the replacement of one daily serving of rice with one daily serving of noodles was associated with higher risk (difference in HR: 26.11%; 95% CI: 10.98%, 43.30%). In contrast, replacing one daily serving of rice with one of vegetables (-23.81%; 95% CI: -33.12%, -13.20%), fruit (-11.94%; 95% CI: -17.49%, -6.00%), or whole-wheat bread (-19.46%; 95% CI: -34.28%, -1.29%) was associated with lower risk of IHD death.ConclusionsIn this Asian population with high carbohydrate intake, the total amount of carbohydrates consumed was not substantially associated with IHD mortality. In contrast, the shifting of food sources of carbohydrates toward a higher consumption of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains was associated with lower risk of IHD death
Coffee intake and gastric cancer risk: The Singapore Chinese health study
10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-13-0886Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention234638-647CEBP
COVID-19 : lessons and experiences from South Africa’s first surge
On 5 March 2020, South Africa recorded its first case of
imported COVID-19. Since then, cases in South Africa
have increased exponentially with significant community
transmission. A multisectoral approach to containing and
mitigating the spread of SARS-CoV-2 was instituted, led
by the South African National Department of Health. A
National COVID-19 Command Council was established to
take government-wide decisions. An adapted World Health
Organiszion (WHO) COVID-19 strategy for containing and
mitigating the spread of the virus was implemented by the
National Department of Health. The strategy included the
creation of national and provincial incident management
teams (IMTs), which comprised of a variety of work
streams, namely, governance and leadership; medical
supplies; port and environmental health; epidemiology
and response; facility readiness and case management;
emergency medical services; information systems; risk
communication and community engagement; occupational
health and safety and human resources. The following
were the most salient lessons learnt between March and
September 2020: strengthened command and control were
achieved through both centralised and decentralised IMTs;
swift evidenced-based decision-making from the highest
political levels for instituting lockdowns to buy time to
prepare the health system; the stringent lockdown enabled
the health sector to increase its healthcare capacity.
Despite these successes, the stringent lockdown measures
resulted in economic hardship particularly for the most
vulnerable sections of the population.http://gh.bmj.compm2021Paediatrics and Child Healt