Redesigning the Schedule Time Slots for Qatar University to Cope with Local Specificities

This study is concerned with the redesign of the class meeting pattern at Qatar University. It examines the existing meeting pattern based on its operational efficiency, its alignment with the strategic plan of the University, and its perception by the students and the faculty members. The analysis reveals serious limitations and shows the need for a new pattern with a full non-teaching day and no one-hour lectures. A capacity analysis proves the feasibility of such a pattern. Taking into consideration the specifications of the Qatari society, it was judged that the non-teaching day be split in two-half days. The present research recognizes the distinction between scheduling and class meeting patterns and aims to address the under-researched theme of having the meeting pattern as a variable rather than just an input to scheduling

Dry Socket: Frequency, Clinical Picture, and Risk Factors in a Palestinian Dental Teaching Center

Aims: The objectives of this study were to find out the frequency, clinical picture, and risk factors of dry socket at the Dental Teaching Center of Al-Quds University in Palestine. Methods and Materials: Two previously used questionnaires were accomplished in this study over a one year period. The first questionnaire was completed for every patient who had one or more permanent teeth extracted in the Dental Surgery Clinic. The other one was completed for every patient suffered a postoperative pain and was diagnosed with dry socket. Results: There were 1305 dental extractions performed in 805 patients. The overall frequency of dry socket was 3.2%. The incidence of dry socket following non-surgical extractions was 1.7% while it was 15% following surgical extractions (P< 0.005). The incidence of dry socket was significantly higher in smokers (12%) than in non-smokers (4%) (P < 0.005), however, there is a strong association between the amount of smoking and the incidence of dry socket (P < 0.002). The incidence of dry socket was significantly higher in the single extraction cases (13%) than in the multiple extraction cases (5%) (P = 0.005). Age, sex, medical history, extraction site, amount of local anesthesia and experience of operator play no role in the occurrence of dry socket. Conclusion: Smoking, surgical trauma and single extractions are considered predisposing factors in the occurrence of dry socket. On the other hand, factors like: age, sex, medical history, extraction site, amount of anesthesia, and operator experience have no effect on the observation of dry socket

Initiation of Cracks in Dental Amalgam

The force required to initiate cracks in dental amalgam beams was measured and related to the microstructure. The force measured was dependent on age and on the distribution of phases on the tension side of the beam. The Ag-Cu phase is most resistant to failure in Dispersalloy and an experimental alloy.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/67365/2/10.1177_00220345750540060601.pd

DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF DOMPERIDONE SUBLINGUAL TABLETS

Objective: The aim of this work was to enhance the bioavailability of poorly soluble, anti-emetic drug; domperidone (DMP) having a poor oral bioavailability (13-17%) due to extensive first pass metabolism. The goal of this study was achieved through solubilization of DMP using solid dispersion technology followed by incorporation of solid dispersions into sublingual tablets to bypass pre-systemic metabolism.Methods: Solid dispersions of DMP with Pluronic F-68 were prepared in different weight ratios by fusion method and they were evaluated for their in vitro dissolution rate to select the best ratio for final formulation. Then, solid dispersions were formulated into sublingual tablets in combination with various soluble excipients. Sublingual tablets were prepared by direct compression technique and evaluated for their physical properties, in vitro dissolution rate and kinetics of drug release. The best formulae were selected for in vivo studies in rabbits in comparison with marketed oral tablets; Motinorm®.Results: Solid dispersions of DMP with Pluronic F-68 in a weight ratio of 1:7 (w/w) showed the highest dissolution rate and were selected for sublingual tablets formulation. Sublingual tablets formulae S16 (containing Fructose and 10% w/w Ac-Di-Sol) and S20 (containing Fructose and 10% w/w Explotab) showed the best results and were selected for in vivo studies in rabbits. The selected formulae showed marked enhancement of DMP bioavailability compared with the commercial oral tablets; Motinorm®, with relative bioavailability values of 432.49±10.13% and 409.32±11.59 % for S16 and S20, respectively.Conclusion: The results confirmed that sublingual tablets were an effective tool for DMP delivery with marked enhancement of bioavailability.Keywords: Domperidone, Solubility, Solid dispersions, Sublingual tablets, First-pass metabolism, Bioavailabilit

B-Spline Cubic Finite Element Method for Solving Ordinary Differential Equations

This work proposes numerical solution of ordinary differential equations. The proposed method is based on applying modified cubic B-spline finite element method. The existence and uniqueness for the variational form proved. The convergence of the presented scheme is given. Numerical experiments are considered to confirm our theoretical results

The Relationship between Implant Size and Success Rate in Computer Guided Implant Surgery

Guided implant surgery gained acceptance and credit in implant dentistry. The aim of this study is to find out and evaluate the relationship between implant size and success rate following computed tomography scan guided implant surgery. Sixty-four (36 females, 28 males) completely and partially edentulous patients aged between 42 and 65 years old were participated and fulfilled the inclusion criteria of the study. Two hundred and seventeen dental implants (length: 10, 11.5, and 13 mm; Diameter: 3.3, 3.75, and 4.2 mm) were placed using computed tomography scan guided implant surgery, 117 implants were placed in the maxilla, while 100 implants were placed in the mandible. The implants were evaluated for clinical parameters at 2, 4, and 12 weeks intervals after installation. The overall success rate was 95.4%. Clinical stability of the implant size (Diameter 3.3 mm, Length 10 mm) was the least as compared to other dimensions (P ≤ 0.05). Medium and large size implants (Diameter 3.75 and 4.2 mm, Length 11.5 and 13 mm) were the highest success rate in implant surgery. Implants width (diameter 3.3 mm) and length (10 mm) are best avoided in guided computed tomography surgery as compared with other implant sizes especially in atrophic bony areas. Computer-guided implant surgery remains exciting. Watchful planning and precise stability of the surgical guide are mandatory for successful protocol. Further investigations should be performed to assess such technique among dental patients from satisfactory point of view. Intensive cooperation between dentists and software engineering discipline should be aimed to maximize the success of such technique.The authors would like to thank Dr Haitham Al-Alami and Prof. Mahmoud Al-Omiri for their kind contribution in this study

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer in Gaza Strip, Palestine: a Case-Control Study

Breast cancer (BC) is the main common cause of cancer mortality among women in the world. This study aims at investigating BC epidemiology and identifying the different risk factors associated and the most affecting ones among women in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. This study was a hospital-based case-control (1: 2), as the study was carried out over the period of October 2014 to February 2015. A total of 105 BC patients, chosen from Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and European hospital for the south governorate, were the case and compared to 209 women as a control group who matched the cases in age, residence, and with no history of breast problems. The age of the enrolled cases and controlled ranged between 18 to 60 years. The face-to-face interview was conducted during the patient visit to the oncology department and the control visit in their home. The result illustrated that women who had late pregnancy (> 35 years)(odds ratio [OR], 11.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.64–81.35), or high body mass index (BMI;≥ 30 kg/m 2)(OR, 4.70; 95% CI, 1.62–13.69), or first-degree family history of BC (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.04–7.20), or hypertensive patients (OR, 12.13; 95% CI, 1.93–76.10), or diabetic (OR, 6.84; 95% CI, 1.77–26.36) were more likely to have increased BC risk. The findings of the present study suggest that positive family history of BC, high BMI, and some common diseases (hypertension, diabetes mellitus) may be the epigenetic factors promoting the occurrence of BC