A novel classification system for assessment of approximal caries lesion progression in bitewing radiographs

OBJECTIVES: To design and pilot a novel classification system for the assessment of caries lesion progression in bitewing radiography and to report rater agreement of the system. METHODS: A classification system with drawings and text was designed to assess caries lesion progression. Guidelines for Reporting Reliability and Agreement Studies were used to study and report rater agreement. Pairs of posterior bitewing radiographs (baseline and 1-year follow-up) with different status concerning caries lesion progression were selected from files from public dental health clinics. 10 raters, 5 general dental practitioners and 5 specialists in oral and maxillofacial radiology were asked to assess the radiographs with the aid of the classification system. Seven raters repeated their assessments. Rater agreement was expressed as percentage of agreement and kappa. RESULTS: Kappa for the interrater agreement of 10 raters assessing progression was 0.61, indicating substantial agreement. Agreement was moderate for progression in the outer half of the dentine (kappa 0.55) and within enamel (kappa 0.44). Pairwise interrater agreement varied (range 69-92%; kappa 0.42-0.84). For about half of the pairs of raters, kappa was substantial (≥0.61). Intrarater agreement assessing progression was substantial (kappa 0.66-0.82). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the applicability of the proposed classification system on caries lesion progression with respect to rater agreement. This system can provide a common framework for clinical decision-making on caries interventional methods and patient visiting intervals. Scientifically, this system allows for a comparative analysis of different methods of prevention and treatment of caries as well as of different caries risk assessment methods

Maternal, fetal and perinatal factors associated with necrotizing enterocolitis in Sweden : A national case-control study

Objective To analyze associations of maternal, fetal, gestational, and perinatal factors with necrotizing enterocolitis in a matched case-control study based on routinely collected, nationwide register data. Study design All infants born in 1987 through 2009 with a diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis in any of the Swedish national health care registers were identified. For each case up to 6 controls, matched for birth year and gestational age, were selected. The resulting study population consisted of 720 cases and 3,567 controls. Information on socioeconomic data about the mother, maternal morbidity, pregnancy related diagnoses, perinatal diagnoses of the infant, and procedures in the perinatal period, was obtained for all cases and controls and analyzed with univariable and multivariable logistic regressions for the whole study population as well as for subgroups according to gestational age. Results In the study population as a whole, we found independent positive associations with necrotizing enterocolitis for isoimmunization, fetal distress, cesarean section, neonatal bacterial infection including sepsis, erythrocyte transfusion, persistent ductus arteriosus, cardiac malformation, gastrointestinal malformation, and chromosomal abnormality. Negative associations were found for maternal weight, preeclampsia, maternal urinary infection, premature rupture of the membranes, and birthweight. Different patterns of associations were seen in the subgroups of different gestational age. Conclusion With some interesting exceptions, especially in negative associations, the results of this large, population based study, are in keeping with earlier studies. Although restrained by the limitations of register data, the findings mirror conceivable pathophysiological processes and underline that NEC is a multifactorial disease.Funding agencies: Region Ostergotland, Sweden [LiO-107641]; Medical Research Council of Southeast Sweden [FORSS-77481]; Futurum - the Academy of Health Care, Jonkoping County Council, Jonkoping, Sweden; Region Ostergotland [LIO-130291, LIO-204581, LIO-280451, LIO-361481, L</p

Associations of maternal, gestational, fetal, and perinatal factors with NEC in all gestational ages, univariable and multivariable regressions.

<p>Associations of maternal, gestational, fetal, and perinatal factors with NEC in all gestational ages, univariable and multivariable regressions.</p

Intestinal failure after necrotising enterocolitis: incidence and risk factors in a Swedish population-based longitudinal study

Paediatric intestinal failure (IF) is a disease entity characterised by gut insufficiency often related to short bowel syndrome. It is commonly caused by surgical removal of a large section of the small intestine in association with necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), which usually affects premature infants. This study investigated the incidence and risk of IF in preterm infants with or without NEC

Maternal, fetal and perinatal factors associated with necrotizing enterocolitis in Sweden. A national case-control study

<div><p>Objective</p><p>To analyze associations of maternal, fetal, gestational, and perinatal factors with necrotizing enterocolitis in a matched case-control study based on routinely collected, nationwide register data.</p><p>Study design</p><p>All infants born in 1987 through 2009 with a diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis in any of the Swedish national health care registers were identified. For each case up to 6 controls, matched for birth year and gestational age, were selected. The resulting study population consisted of 720 cases and 3,567 controls. Information on socioeconomic data about the mother, maternal morbidity, pregnancy related diagnoses, perinatal diagnoses of the infant, and procedures in the perinatal period, was obtained for all cases and controls and analyzed with univariable and multivariable logistic regressions for the whole study population as well as for subgroups according to gestational age.</p><p>Results</p><p>In the study population as a whole, we found independent positive associations with necrotizing enterocolitis for isoimmunization, fetal distress, cesarean section, neonatal bacterial infection including sepsis, erythrocyte transfusion, persistent ductus arteriosus, cardiac malformation, gastrointestinal malformation, and chromosomal abnormality. Negative associations were found for maternal weight, preeclampsia, maternal urinary infection, premature rupture of the membranes, and birthweight. Different patterns of associations were seen in the subgroups of different gestational age.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>With some interesting exceptions, especially in negative associations, the results of this large, population based study, are in keeping with earlier studies. Although restrained by the limitations of register data, the findings mirror conceivable pathophysiological processes and underline that NEC is a multifactorial disease.</p></div

Associations of maternal, gestational, fetal, and perinatal factors with NEC in subgroups according to gestational age, multivariable regression.

<p>Associations of maternal, gestational, fetal, and perinatal factors with NEC in subgroups according to gestational age, multivariable regression.</p

A novel classification system for assessment of approximal caries lesion progression in bitewing radiographs

OBJECTIVES: To design and pilot a novel classification system for the assessment of caries lesion progression in bitewing radiography and to report rater agreement of the system. METHODS: A classification system with drawings and text was designed to assess caries lesion progression. Guidelines for Reporting Reliability and Agreement Studies were used to study and report rater agreement. Pairs of posterior bitewing radiographs (baseline and 1-year follow-up) with different status concerning caries lesion progression were selected from files from public dental health clinics. 10 raters, 5 general dental practitioners and 5 specialists in oral and maxillofacial radiology were asked to assess the radiographs with the aid of the classification system. Seven raters repeated their assessments. Rater agreement was expressed as percentage of agreement and kappa. RESULTS: Kappa for the interrater agreement of 10 raters assessing progression was 0.61, indicating substantial agreement. Agreement was moderate for progression in the outer half of the dentine (kappa 0.55) and within enamel (kappa 0.44). Pairwise interrater agreement varied (range 69–92%; kappa 0.42–0.84). For about half of the pairs of raters, kappa was substantial (≥0.61). Intrarater agreement assessing progression was substantial (kappa 0.66–0.82). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the applicability of the proposed classification system on caries lesion progression with respect to rater agreement. This system can provide a common framework for clinical decision-making on caries interventional methods and patient visiting intervals. Scientifically, this system allows for a comparative analysis of different methods of prevention and treatment of caries as well as of different caries risk assessment methods