Public health and dental caries in young children in deprived communities in Scotland

Dental  caries  is  the  most  prevalent  disease  worldwide,  and  is  caused  by  a  complex  interaction of tooth susceptibility, nutrition and the oral environment.  In young children it  can have a major impact on their quality of life, and is the main reason why Scottish children  are  admitted  to  hospital.    There  have  been  dramatic  improvements  in  Scottish  children’s  oral health.  This has been enabled through the introduction of Childsmile, the national oral  health  programme  for  Scottish  children.    Nevertheless,  significant  challenges  exist  in  reducing  oral  health  inequalities.  This  paper  calls  for  a  greater  emphasis  on  the  social  determinants  of  health  to  ensure  that  all  Scottish  children  have  the  benefit  of  good  oral  health

School and local authority characteristics associated with take-up of free school meals in Scottish secondary schools, 2014

School meals are an important state-delivered mechanism for improving children’s diets. Scottish local authorities have a statutory duty to provide free school meals (FSM) to families meeting means-testing criteria. Inevitably take-up of FSM does not reach 100%. Explanations put forward to explain this include social stigma, as well as a more general dissatisfaction amongst pupils about lack of modern facilities and meal quality, and a preference to eat where friends are eating. This study investigated characteristics associated with take-up across Scottish secondary schools in 2013–2014 using multilevel modelling techniques. Results suggest that stigma, food quality and the ability to eat with friends are associated with greater take-up. Levels of school modernisation appeared less important, as did differences between more urban or rural areas. Future studies should focus on additional school-level variables to identify characteristics associated with take-up, with the aim of reducing the number of registered pupils not taking-up FSM

Review of From Somalia to Snow: How Central Minnesota Became Home to Somalis by Hudda Ibrahim

When I first started studying the Somali diaspora I searched for books to fill the void in my understanding of Somali culture and life. I tracked down a wonderful book that discussed basics of Somali culture, politics, and life. That book, Somalis in Minnesota by Ahmed Yusuf, provided a sense of the Somali experience and helped me understand the journey from Somalia to the state of Minnesota. Although Yusuf’s book didn’t offer the sort of interpersonal detail in Hudda Ibrahim’s book From Somalia to Snow, Yusuf’s book was extremely helpful. Together these books offer those interested in the Somali-American experience an important perspective on an often misunderstood community

The Effects of Legalization of Recreational Cannabis in Illinois

In 2019, the Illinois House passed the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act that legalized the recreational use of cannabis. The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act became law in the state of Illinois as of January 1, 2020, making Illinois the first state to establish such a law via state legislation, as opposed to a ballot measure approved by voters. This law allows adults aged 21 and older to legally purchase cannabis for recreational purposes. This law has significant implications for social equity and for public health. The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act was intentionally designed to address and repair some of the inequities that the War on Drugs created. The Act also includes an emphasis on public health, with efforts toward prevention of cannabis abuse and treatment of cannabis use disorders. This paper will explore the unique context of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act after the War on Drugs, the law and its implementation, and the potential public health impact Illinois may experience because of the legalization of recreational cannabis

Cardiac Protein RGS2: Structural and Functional Determinants

In this study, I explored the structure-function relationships of a cardiac RGS (regulator of G-protein signaling) protein, RGS2. Contractions of the heart are triggered by calcium ions (Ca) entering heart cells through L-type Ca channels (1a). The activity of L-type channels (and thereby Ca influx) is modulated by cell surface receptors that couple to intracellular G proteins. G proteins in turn, are regulated by a newly-discovered family of proteins called RGS. RGS proteins speed the hydrolysis of GTP by G proteins, and thereby control the strength and duration of G protein-mediated signals. Stimulation of G proteins, which are coupled to receptors, can alter the rate of heart contractions (2)

A Study of the Objective and Subjective Evaluation of Three Different Bracket Prescriptions (Roth vs MBT vs Damon) Used in a Graduate Orthodontic Program

Objective: To identify the objective and/or subjective difference between three different bracket prescriptions used in the comprehensive orthodontic treatment of patients at the MUSC residency program. The ABO scoring system was utilized to classify the objective final result of cases treated. In addition, experienced orthodontists provided their expert subjective analysis of the completed cases to examine differences in the final result and determine if orthodontists can reliably determine which bracket prescription was used in each case. Secondary data examined included differences in treatment time, the number of adjustments, and the number/type of arch wires utilized. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 60 patient records in the permanent dentition was performed. Pre-treatment records (radiographs and casts) were used to determine the DI score and identify any exclusion criteria. Final models and panoramic radiographs of the cases selected were used in the objective ABO and subjective scoring. Treatment records were used to determine length of active treatment time, the number of adjustment appointments, and type/number of arch wires used. Results: Sixty cases non-extraction, non-surgical cases evenly distributed between the three bracket groups consisted of 66% female and 33% male with a majority of Class I malocclusions were included in the study. There was a statistically significant difference in the type but not the number of arch wires utilized in the Damon group. There was a statistically significant difference in the number of adjustment appointments but not the overall treatment time in the Damon group. Overall, there was no statistical difference in the total ABO objective score. However, there was a statistical difference in alignment, overjet, and root positioning for the cases treated with Damon and for canine occlusion in the cases treated with Roth. The categories that were statistically significant for the subjective evaluation were the lower incisor torque for the MBT group and both upper canine torque for the Damon group. Evaluators incorrectly determined which prescription was utilized in the cases 83% of the time with those treated by Roth and Damon incorrectly identified twice as often then they were correctly identified. Conclusions: The cases evaluated were all treated to clinically acceptable standards by all three bracket prescriptions. Overall, the cases did not have statistically significant differences in the total objective and subjective scores and orthodontic specialists could not identify which bracket prescription was used in the case. However, when examined closely by category significant differences were found. Most notable, the MBT group controlled lower incisor torque most effectively and the Damon group had on average facially over-torqued canines