Attitudes of University Students in Gaza to Organ Donation

Background: This study aimed to explore the attitudes and knowledge of university students in Gaza to organ donation. Methods: A structured questionnaire was used to collect data including socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge level and attitudes of participants toward organ donation and factors that affect personal beliefs of the participants on donation. The questionnaire was distributed using the convenience method to 489 (179 males, 310 females) students at the Islamic University of Gaza. The data were analyzed in a descriptive fashion using SPSS program. Results: The study showed that 97.5% of participants were acquainted with the term “organ donation”. Those participants were eligible and were asked to complete the questionnaire. Less than half of participants chose multimedia as the main source of information regarding organ donation and more than half of respondents (56%) said that,“saving lives” was the most important reason for organ donation. One fifth of participants (22%) reported that they completely reject donating any of their organs during their lifetimes, whereas more than one fourth of them (27%) reported that they refuse organ donation even after death.(54%) of students denied any knowledge about local or international legislation regulating organ donation. Conclusion: The results of the study confirm the presence of good level of knowledge regarding organ donation among participants, which was reflected in their positive attitudes towards organ donation. However, one of the main concerns to promote organ donation was the fear of surgery and its complications. Additionally, legislative, educational and

Restorative management of the posterior tooth that has undergone a pulpotomy

Pulpotomy is increasingly being recognized as a treatment option for the management of permanent teeth with extremely deep caries. These teeth can present with or without symptoms of pulpitis. Traditionally, irreversible pulpitis has been managed with pulp extirpation and root canal treatment. Contemporary research has shown that pulpotomy may be suitable to manage permanent teeth diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis. This article discusses the options and decision-making process of how to restore posterior permanent teeth that have undergone a pulpotomy. In addition, the article highlights diagnostic and material considerations relating to the role of pulpotomy in managing deep caries. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Clinicians should be aware of the use of pulpotomy in management of extremely deep caries or partial irreversible pulpitis in permanent teeth. </jats:p

The evaluation of a novel method comparing quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) with spectrophotometry to assess staining and bleaching of teeth

This study reports the development and evaluation of a novel method using quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF), which enables its use for quantifying and assessing whole tooth surface staining and tooth whitening. The method was compared with a spectrophotometer to assess reliability. Two experimental phases, intrinsic stain formation and tooth whitening, were conducted in vitro on 16 extracted bovine teeth. Intrinsic stains were developed via access through lingual surfaces and root canals of these teeth using tea solution (2 g/100 ml, Marks and Spencer Extra Strong Tea, Marks and Spencer, London, UK) for 6 days. Stains were removed using 33% hydrogen peroxide (VWR Prolab, Leicestershire, UK) in cycles over 150 min. Stain development/whitening was monitored with QLF (Inspektor Research systems, Amsterdam, Netherlands) and spectrophotometry (Easy shade, Vita Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany). Parameters Delta F for QLF and Delta E for the spectrophotometer were obtained. The progression of stain intensity and removal observed by the methods were tested for correlation using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Intra-examiner reliability for each method was tested. QLF showed a high correlation with spectrophotometry for detecting and monitoring intrinsic tooth stain progression (Pearson coefficient r was −0.987 with correlation significant p < 0.0001). For stain removal, the Pearson coefficient (r) between both methods was −0.906 with no significance p = 0.094. The use of an external reference material in combination with the inner patch QLF analysis technique had the ability to detect and measure whole tooth surface staining and its removal longitudinally. The reliability of the method shows a potential clinical application

SARS-CoV-2: characterisation and mitigation of risks associated with aerosol generating procedures in dental practices.

Introduction The objectives were to characterise the particle size distribution of aerosols generated by standard dental aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) and to assess the impact of aerosol-management interventions on 'fallow time'. Interventions included combinations of high-volume intraoral suction (HVS[IO]), high-volume extraoral suction (HVS[EO]) and an air cleaning system (ACS).Method A sequence of six AGPs were performed on a phantom head. Real-time aerosol measurements (particle size range 0.0062-9.6 μm) were acquired from six locations within a typical dental treatment room (35 m3).Results The majority (>99%) of AGP particles were <0.3 μm diameter and remained at elevated levels around the dental team during the AGPs. With no active aerosol-management interventions, AGP particles were estimated to remain above the baseline range for up to 30 minutes from the end of the sequence of procedures.Conclusions The results emphasise the importance of personal protection equipment, particularly respiratory protection. Use of HVS(IO), either alone or in combination with the ACS, reduced particle concentrations to baseline levels on completion of AGPs. These data indicate potential to eliminate fallow time. The study was performed using a phantom head so confirmatory studies with patients are required

Role of the podocyte in proteinuria

In recent years, the podocyte, with its elaborate cytoarchitecture and slit diaphragm, has been the focus of extensive research, yet its precise role in the glomerular filtration barrier is still debated. There are puzzling observations indicating that a comprehensive mechanistic model for glomerular filtration is still necessary. There is no doubt that podocytes are essential for glomerular filtration barrier integrity. However, most albumin never reaches the podocyte because it is prevented from entering the glomerular filter at the endothelium level. Another puzzling observation is that the glomerular filter never clogs despite its high load of several kilograms of plasma proteins per day. Recently, we proposed a novel model in which an electrical potential difference is generated across the glomerular filtration barrier by filtration. The model offers novel potential solutions to some of the riddles regarding the glomerular filter

Renal Thrombotic Microangiopathy in Mice with Combined Deletion of Endocytic Recycling Regulators EHD3 and EHD4

Eps15 Homology Domain-containing 3 (EHD3), a member of the EHD protein family that regulates endocytic recycling, is the first protein reported to be specifically expressed in the glomerular endothelium in the kidney; therefore we generated Ehd3–/– mice and assessed renal development and pathology. Ehd3–/– animals showed no overt defects, and exhibited no proteinuria or glomerular pathology. However, as the expression of EHD4, a related family member, was elevated in the glomerular endothelium of Ehd3–/– mice and suggested functional compensation, we generated and analyzed Ehd3–/–; Ehd4–/– mice. These mice were smaller, possessed smaller and paler kidneys, were proteinuric and died between 3–24 weeks of age. Detailed analyses of Ehd3–/–; Ehd4–/– kidneys demonstrated thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA)-like glomerular lesions including thickening and duplication of glomerular basement membrane, endothelial swelling and loss of fenestrations. Other changes included segmental podocyte foot process effacement, mesangial interposition, and abnormal podocytic and mesangial marker expression. The glomerular lesions observed were strikingly similar to those seen in human pre-eclampsia and mouse models of reduced VEGF expression. As altered glomerular endothelial VEGFR2 expression and localization and increased apoptosis was observed in the absence of EHD3 and EHD4, we propose that EHD-mediated endocytic traffic of key surface receptors such as VEGFR2 is essential for physiological control of glomerular function. Furthermore, Ehd3–/–; Ehd4–/– mice provide a unique model to elucidate mechanisms of glomerular endothelial injury which is observed in a wide variety of human renal and extra-renal diseases