Palatal size and shape in 6-year olds affected by hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia

Objective: To analyze the size and shape of the hard tissue palate of Italian subjects with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED). Materials and Methods: The morphology and the dimensions of the hard tissue palate were analyzed in eight 6-year-old boys affected by HED. Four of the boys were completely edentulous and four partially dentate. Palatal landmarks were identified on stone casts and digitized with three-dimensional computerized electromagnetic instrumentation. Palatal length, slope, width, and maximum palatal height in both the sagittal and frontal planes were measured. From the coordinates of palatal landmarks, a mathematical equation of palatal shape was constructed, independent of size. HED palatal data were compared with reference data obtained from 12 healthy boys with a complete deciduous dentition. Results: Palatal length and height in both the sagittal and frontal planes were significantly reduced in HED as compared with control individuals. A less steep (not significant) palatal slope was found in HED than in reference subjects, whereas similar palatal width values were observed. All palatal measurements were larger in partially dentate than in edentulous patients. Both HED and edentulousness influenced palatal shape. The HED boys had a relatively lower palate than the reference boys. In the edentulous HED boys, the hard tissue palate was relatively lower than in partially dentate HED subjects. Conclusions: Palatal size and shape were significantly modified by the presence of hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, and the major alterations were found in edentulous HED subjects

Design and validation of a DNA-microarray for phylogenetic analysis of bacterial communities in different oral samples and dental implants

The quali-quantitative characterization of the oral microbiota is crucial for an exhaustive knowledge of the oral ecology and the modifications of the microbial composition that occur during periodontal pathologies. In this study, we designed and validated a new phylogenetic DNA-microarray (OralArray) to quickly and reliably characterize the most representative bacterial groups that colonize the oral cavity. The OralArray is based on the Ligation Detection Reaction technology associated to Universal Arrays (LDR-UA), and includes 22 probe sets targeted to bacteria belonging to the phyla Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, and Spirochaete. The tool is characterized by high specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility. The OralArray was successfully tested and validated on different oral samples (saliva, lingual plaque, supragingival plaque, and healing cap) collected from 10 healthy subjects. For each specimen, a microbial signature was obtained, and our results established the presence of an oral microbial profile specific for each subject. Moreover, the tool was applied to evaluate the efficacy of a disinfectant treatment on the healing caps before their usage. The OralArray is, thus, suitable to study the microbiota associated with various oral sites and to monitor changes arising from therapeutic treatments

Prevention of healthcare-associated infections: knowledge among dental students in seven Italian universities

Background: Lack of knowledge is the major reason for non-compliance with correct healthcare-associated infections (HAI) prevention procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge of the Dental School (DSS) and Dental Hygiene (DHS) students with regard to the prevention of HAI, as basic knowledge for improving and harmonizing the educational content in the different Italian Universities. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using an anonymous questionnaire that was completed by DSS (I, II, III, IV, and V year) in seven Universities and DHS (I, II, and III year) in three Universities. The questions dealt with three specific areas: healthcare-associated infections, standard recautions and hand hygiene. Factors associated with an unacceptable level of knowledge (score <17.5) were analyzed using a logistic regression model. A p value <0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: Five hundred and four questionnaires were collected: 81.5% for DSS and 18.5% for DHS. Mean overall score (\ub1DS) achieved by the total number of students was 18.2\ub12.93 on an overall perfect score of 25; 18.2\ub13.04 for DSS and 17.8\ub12.31 for DHS. Stratifying by area, the average score 2.7\ub11.07 (53%) for HAI, 10.3\ub11.61 (85.9%) for standard precautions, and 5.2\ub11.44 (64.8%) for hand hygiene was observed. A significantly different level of knowledge (p<0.001) between DSS and DHS was observed only for HAI (2.8\ub11.07 for DSS vs 2.1\ub10.96 for DHS). Significant differences among the academic years were found only for DSS concerning HAI and standard precautions. The logistic regression model showed that an age <23 years was a risk factor for lack of knowledge on HAI, but a protective factor for lack of knowledge about standard precautions and hand hygiene; attending DH degree course was associated with lack of knowledge on HAI

On the visual detection of non-natural records in streamflow time series: challenges and impacts

Large datasets of long-term streamflow measurements are widely used to infer and model hydrological processes. However, streamflow measurements may suffer from what users can consider anomalies, i.e. non-natural records that may be erroneous streamflow values or anthropogenic influences that can lead to misinterpretation of actual hydrological processes. Since identifying anomalies is time consuming for humans, no study has investigated their proportion, temporal distribution, and influence on hydrological indicators over large datasets. This study summarizes the results of a large visual inspection campaign of 674 streamflow time series in France made by 43 evaluators, who were asked to identify anomalies falling under five categories, namely, linear interpolation, drops, noise, point anomalies, and other. We examined the evaluators' individual behaviour in terms of severity and agreement with other evaluators, as well as the temporal distributions of the anomalies and their influence on commonly used hydrological indicators. We found that inter-evaluator agreement was surprisingly low, with an average of 12 % of overlapping periods reported as anomalies. These anomalies were mostly identified as linear interpolation and noise, and they were more frequently reported during the low-flow periods in summer. The impact of cleaning data from the identified anomaly values was higher on low-flow indicators than on high-flow indicators, with change rates lower than 5 % most of the time. We conclude that the identification of anomalies in streamflow time series is highly dependent on the aims and skills of each evaluator, which raises questions about the best practices to adopt for data cleaning.</p

Mikrofazielle und diagenetische Entwicklung jurassischer Karbonate (Unter-Lias bis Ober-Malm) von Slowenien (NW Jugoslawien)

With 75 figs., 12 tabs.SIGLETIB Hannover: RO 5514(24) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman