The graduate entry generation: a qualitative study exploring the factors influencing the career expectations and aspirations of a graduating cohort of graduate entry dental students in one London institution

Background: Dentistry in the UK has a number of new graduate-entry programmes. The aim of the study was to explore the motivation, career expectations and experiences of final year students who chose to pursue a dental career through the graduate entry programme route in one institution; and to explore if, and how, their intended career expectations and aspirations were informed by this choice. Method: In-depth interviews of 14 graduate entry students in their final year of study. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using framework analysis. Results: There were three categories of factors influencing students' choice to study dentistry through graduate entry: 'push', 'pull' and 'mediating'. Mediating factors related to students' personal concerns and circumstances, whereas push and pull factors related to features of their previous and future careers and wider social factors. Routes to Graduate Entry study comprised: 'early career changers', 'established career changers' and those pursuing 'routes to specialisation'. These routes also influenced the students' practice of dentistry, as students integrated skills in their dental studies, and encountered new challenges. Factors which students believed would influence their future careers included: vocational training; opportunities for specialisation or developing special interests and policy-related issues, together with wider professional and social concerns. The graduate entry programme was considered 'hard work' but a quick route to a professional career which had much to offer. Students' felt more could have been made of their pre-dental studies and/or experience during the programme. Factors perceived as influencing students' future contribution to dentistry included personal and social influences. Overall there was strong support for the values of the NHS and 'giving back' to the system in their future career. Conclusion: Graduate entry students appear to be motivated to enter dentistry by a range of factors which suit their preferences and circumstances. They generally embrace the programme enthusiastically and seek to serve within healthcare, largely in the public sector. These students, who carry wider responsibilities, bring knowledge, skills and experience to dentistry which could be harnessed further during the programme. The findings suggest that graduate entry students, facilitated by varied career options, will contribute to an engaged workforce

Phosphorylation of Spinophilin Modulates Its Interaction with Actin Filaments

Spinophilin is a protein phosphatase 1 (PP1)- and actin-binding protein that modulates excitatory synaptic transmission and dendritic spine morphology. We report that spinophilin is phosphorylated in vitro by protein kinase A (PKA). Phosphorylation of spinophilin was stimulated by treatment of neostriatal neurons with a dopamine D1 receptor agonist or with forskolin, consistent with spinophilin being a substrate for PKA in intact cells. Using tryptic phosphopeptide mapping, site-directed mutagenesis, and microsequencing analysis, we identified two major sites of phosphorylation, Ser-94 and Ser-177, that are located within the actin-binding domain of spinophilin. Phosphorylation of spinophilin by PKA modulated the association between spinophilin and the actin cytoskeleton. Following subcellular fractionation, unphosphorylated spinophilin was enriched in the postsynaptic density, whereas a pool of phosphorylated spinophilin was found in the cytosol. F-actin co-sedimentation and overlay analysis revealed that phosphorylation of spinophilin reduced the stoichiometry of the spinophilin-actin interaction. In contrast, the ability of spinophilin to bind to PP1 remained unchanged. Taken together, our studies suggest that phosphorylation of spinophilin by PKA modulates the anchoring of the spinophilin-PP1 complex within dendritic spines, thereby likely contributing to the efficacy and plasticity of synaptic transmission

European Federation of Periodontology Survey of Postgraduate and Specialist Training in Europe in 2020:Periodontal specialist training in Europe

AIMS: The survey's aim was to establish which universities and other educational organisations deliver postgraduate and specialist training in Periodontology in the 31 countries who are members of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) and to obtain details of how these programmes are organised, funded, regulated and evaluated. METHODS: A questionnaire and covering letter were emailed to all national periodontal societies. The questions were on the name of country, official recognition, training programmes, entry to specialist training, specialist training assessment and recognition after completion of training. RESULTS: Twenty‐nine (93%) of national periodontal societies responded. Key findings included the following: Periodontology was reported as being recognised at a national level in 17 countries, there was a three‐year full‐time programme in 12 countries, no fees were charged for specialist training in 10 countries, in 14 countries trainees received annual salaries, end of training (summative) assessments varied from country to country, 12 countries reported that they had a requirement for specialists in Periodontology to complete continuing education to maintain registration as specialists. CONCLUSIONS: This survey has established which universities and other educational organisations deliver postgraduate and specialist training in Periodontology and how these programmes are organised, funded, regulated and evaluated. To provide uniformly high‐quality periodontal care for patients in all European countries, further harmonisation of postgraduate and specialty training in Periodontology would be advantageous

Re-identification of c. 15 700 cal yr BP tephra bed at Kaipo Bog, eastern North Island: implications for dispersal of Rotorua and Puketarata tephra beds.

A 10 mm thick, c. 15 700 calendar yr BP (c. 13 100 14C yr BP) rhyolitic tephra bed in the well-studied montane Kaipo Bog sequence of eastern North Island was previously correlated with Maroa-derived Puketarata Tephra. We revise this correlation to Okataina-derived Rotorua Tephra based on new compositional data from biotite phenocrysts and glass. The new correlation limits the known dispersal of Puketarata Tephra (sensu stricto, c. 16 800 cal yr BP) and eliminates requirements to either reassess its age or to invoke dual Puketarata eruptive events. Our data show that Rotorua Tephra comprises two glass-shard types: an early-erupted low-K2O type that was dispersed mostly to the northwest, and a high-K2O type dispersed mostly to the south and southeast, contemporary with late-stage lava extrusion. Late-stage Rotorua eruptives contain biotite that is enriched in FeO compared with biotite from Puketarata pyroclastics. The occurrence of Rotorua Tephra in Kaipo Bog (100 km from the source) substantially extends its known distribution to the southeast. Our analyses demonstrate that unrecognised syn-eruption compositional and dispersal changes can cause errors in fingerprinting tephra deposits. However, the compositional complexity, once recognised, provides additional fingerprinting criteria, and also documents magmatic and dispersal processes

Unexpected complexity of the dm1 mutation revealed in the structure of three H-2D/L-related antigens

The H-2L dm1 and H-2D dm1 MHC antigens of the B10.D2 ( H-2 dm1 ) mutant mouse strain (formerly known as M504 or H-2 da ) have been compared to the H-2L d and H-2D d antigens of the B10.D2 ( H-2 d ) mouse strain. L dm1 and L d are 45 000 M r antigens and both are reactive with anti-H-2.“28” ( k/r anti- h2 ) serum and unreactive with anti-H-2.4 ( k/b anti- a ) serum which detects private determinants of the D dm1 and D d antigens. However, the tryptic peptide compositions of these two antigens are different and, based on the number of major tryptic peptides which coelute during ion-exchange chromatography, the estimated peptide homology between L dm1 and L d is 80 percent. A newly defined antigen (M r = 39 000), designated gp39 dm1 , was found in glycoprotein extracts of the dm1 strain but not of the d strain. This antigen coprecipitates with L dm1 but does not coprecipitate with D dm1 indicating that it lacks the H-2.4 determinant. In comparison with L dm1 , gp39 dm1 appears to contain far fewer Arg and Lys residues and is most likely not a simple proteolytic fragment of L dm1 . Finally, peptide maps of the D dm1 antigen show that the majority of its Arg peptides are identical to D d Arg peptides, whereas at least five of its Lys peptides and three of its Arg peptides correspond not to D d peptides but to L d and L dm1 peptides. These data raise the possibility that the D dm1 antigen is a hybrid molecule and they have also revealed an unexpected level of complexity in the dm1 mutant phenotype.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46737/1/251_2004_Article_BF00364331.pd

Teaching of posterior composites in dental schools in Japan – 30 years and beyond

Objectives: The teaching of posterior composites has been a major part of the curriculum in Japanese dental education for several decades. The aim of this paper was to investigate the current trends in the teaching of posterior composites to undergraduate dental students in Japan by comparing the results of surveys conducted for over 30 years. Methods: In late 2016-early 2017, a questionnaire seeking information on the teaching of posterior composites was distributed via e-mail to the persons responsible for teaching operative dentistry in 29 dental schools having undergraduate dental degree programs in Japan. The results obtained were compared to those from surveys conducted in 1986, 1997, and 2007. Results: All 29 schools that were sent the questionnaire completed the responses (response rate = 100%). All 29 schools reported teaching the placement of composite in occlusal and two-surface occluso-proximal cavities in both premolars and molars. Four schools reported not teaching the placement of three-surface occluso-proximal composites in premolars and five schools reported not teaching it for molars. Twenty-seven (93%) schools taught composite first as a part of the preclinical curriculum, whereas 15 (65%) schools did so in the survey of 2007. Variations were noted between schools in the teaching of, cavity design. In contrast, greater consistency was observed in the teaching of techniques for protecting exposed dentin and light-curing technologies. Conclusions: It is hoped that measures intended to increase the clinical experience of restoring teeth with direct composite-resin for dental students in Japan will be effective, providing opportunity to bring dental education in Japan more into line with international norms

No more amalgams: Use of amalgam and amalgam alternative materials in primary dental

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the use of dental amalgam and amalgam alternate materials in primary dental care in Wales. Methods Following pre-piloting, a questionnaire was distributed to 667 dentists registered as working in primary dental care in Wales. The questionnaire sought to determine the current use of amalgam, and amalgam alternative materials in primary dental care services in Wales. In addition, the questionnaire sought to determine the attitudes and confidence of dentists in respect of placement of resin composites as alternatives to dental amalgam. Results A response rate of 40.4% was achieved (n = 270). High levels of reported confidence were seen in relation to placing resin composites in posterior teeth, but these levels reduced as the complexity of the cavity increased (while 82% of respondents 'strongly agreed' that they felt confident in placing resin composites in occlusal cavities, this reduced to 52.6% for three-surface occlusoproximal cavities). Patterns of care suggested that 73.3% of respondents often, or always, place amalgam restorations for NHS-funded dentistry in adults, where two or more posterior restorations are required. This proportion drops to 27% for the same scenario in children, and 19.4% in privately-funded care for adults. Sixty-seven percent of respondents reported that restoring posterior teeth with resin composite is too expensive for NHS-funded dentistry. A similar proportion of respondents (65.9%) agreed, or strongly agreed, that having to place resin composite routinely in posterior teeth would cause appointment delays. Respondents estimated that it would take them 1.61 times as long on average to place a resin composite, compared to an amalgam, in a moderately deep two-surface proximal-occlusal cavity in a lower first permanent molar. Respondents felt that the NHS fees would have to increase by 55–60% to support the restoration of posterior teeth with resin composite, rather than dental amalgam. Conclusions This study provided insight into current practising arrangements of primary dental care practitioners in relation to the use of dental amalgam and resin composites in the restoration of posterior teeth. Based on a sample of mainly UK-trained dentists, it would seem that amalgam remains the material typically selected for restoring posterior teeth in adults for NHS-funded care. While dentists are knowledgeable and embracing of new techniques for posterior resin composite placement, funding arrangements in NHS dentistry appear to be a barrier to the increasing use of resin composite-based, minimum intervention approaches to the restoration of posterior teeth