Longevity of 2-and 3-surface restorations in posterior teeth of 25-to 30-year-olds attending Public Dental Service-A 13-year observation

Peer reviewe

Hammastyypin vaikutus juurihoidon onnistumiseen

Objectives We assessed the impact of type of tooth on the outcome of root canal treatment (RCT) according to factors potentially weakening the prognosis such as preoperative apical periodontitis (AP) and treatment modality (primary or secondary RCT). Materials and methods We scrutinized patient documents including pre- and postoperative radiographs of 640 permanent teeth receiving non-surgical RCT at Helsinki University Clinic in 2008–2011. Of teeth, 44% were molars, 32% premolars, and 24% anterior teeth. Patients’ mean age was 51.5 years; 51% were male. AP was present in 60.5% of teeth preoperatively. We used the periapical index (PAI) to assess the radiographs and defined radiographically “healthy” and “healing” cases as successful. Statistical evaluation included chi-squared tests, Fisher’s exact tests, t tests, and logistic regression modeling. Results The overall success rate (SR) was 84.1%; 88.3% for primary and 75.5% for secondary RCT (p < 0.001). The SRs for anterior teeth, premolars and molars were 85.6%, 88.8%, and 79.7%, respectively. Teeth with and without AP had SRs of 77.3% and 94.5%, respectively (p < 0.001). The RCTs were more likely to succeed in anterior teeth and premolars than in molars (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.1–2.7) and in females than in males (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.2–3.1). Conclusions Apart from existing AP and retreatment scenario, also, the type of tooth and gender had a significant influence on the outcome of RCT in this study. Clinical relevance The prognosis of RCT varies by type of tooth; special attention should be given to RCT of molar teeth.Peer reviewe

How to obtain division algebras used for fast-decodable space-time block codes

We present families of unital algebras obtained through a doubling process from a cyclic central simple algebra D, employing a K-automorphism tau and an invertible element d in D. These algebras appear in the construction of iterated space-time block codes. We give conditions when these iterated algebras are division which can be used to construct fully diverse iterated codes. We also briefly look at algebras (and codes) obtained from variations of this method

Seasonal Changes in Mood and Behavior Are Linked to Metabolic Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major public health problem worldwide. Metabolic syndrome is a risk factor to the cardiovascular diseases. It has been reported that disruptions of the circadian clockwork are associated with and may predispose to metabolic syndrome. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: 8028 individuals attended a nationwide health examination survey in Finland. Data were collected with a face-to-face interview at home and during an individual health status examination. The waist circumference, height, weight and blood pressure were measured and samples were taken for laboratory tests. Participants were assessed using the ATP-III criteria for metabolic syndrome and with the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire for their seasonal changes in mood and behavior. Seasonal changes in weight in particular were a risk factor of metabolic syndrome, after controlling for a number of known risk and potential confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Metabolic syndrome is associated with high global scores on the seasonal changes in mood and behavior, and with those in weight in particular. Assessment of these changes may serve as a useful indicator of metabolic syndrome, because of easy assessment. Abnormalities in the circadian clockwork which links seasonal fluctuations to metabolic cycles may predispose to seasonal changes in weight and to metabolic syndrome

The relationship between mood and sleep in different female reproductive states

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Measurement errors in multivariate measurement scales

Our aim is to construct a general measurement framework for analyzing the effects of measurement errors in multivariate measurement scales. We define a measurement model, which forms the core of the framework. The measurement scales in turn are often produced by methods of multivariate statistical analysis. As a central element of the framework, we introduce a new, general method of estimating the reliability of measurement scales. It is more appropriate than the classical procedures, especially in the context of multivariate analyses. The framework provides methods for various topics related to the quality of measurement, such as assessing the structural validity of the measurement model, estimating the standard errors of measurement, and correcting the predictive validity of a measurement scale for attenuation. A proper estimate of reliability is a requisite in each task. We illustrate the idea of the measurement framework with an example based on real data.Measurement error Measurement scale Factor analysis Reliability Validity