To determine the best technique for measuring mesial-distal tooth widths on digital models.
The individual mesial-distal tooth widths were measured (first molar to first molar, maxillary and ...mandibular) on 32 stone casts and corresponding digital models (emodels, GeoDigm, Chanhassen, Minn). The digital models were measured using five different techniques: occlusal aspect, occlusal aspect zooming in on each individual tooth, facial aspect rotating as needed, facial aspect from three standard positions (R buccal, facial, and L buccal), and qualitatively rotating the model in any position deemed necessary. Measurements were repeated three times at least 1 week apart. The operator time needed to complete each set of measurements was recorded.
Four of five digital measurement techniques (except for the facial aspect from three standard positions) showed a slight positive bias (overestimation in measured width) compared with stone cast measurements. Measuring from the occlusal aspect resulted in the greatest Pearson correlation (98.509%), the least Altman-Bland standard deviation of differences value (1.881 mm), and the second fastest measuring time (2 minutes 3 seconds). Qualitatively rotating the model had similar Pearson correlation and Altman-Bland values to the Occlusal technique but took the longest time to measure (7 minutes 1 second).
The Occlusal measurement technique for digital models was the best combination of accuracy, repeatability, and speed of measurement.
Objective
The purpose of the study was to explore the use of cone beam CT (CBCT) images to calculate fractal values of trabecular bone.
Materials and methods
Seventy-nine CBCT scans were used. Seven ...sites were selected from each scan. These sites were: coronal views of the (1) right and (2) left side of the mandible; coronal views of the (3) right and (4) left maxilla; axially corrected coronal views of the (5) right and (6) left condylar heads through the largest width, and (7) a sagittal section through the second cervical vertebral (C2) body. Fractal values were calculated from a total of 553 images using the box-counting method. These values were categorized and analyzed for site- and gender-specific differences.
Result
Fractal values decreased in most of the sites with increasing age. Values in males were generally higher than those in females. Values did not change significantly from right side to left side of the jaw. However, values from the mandible, maxilla, condyle and C2 vertebrae differed significantly from each other, suggesting a site-specific nature of the fractal value (
p
< 0.001). The lowest and highest fractal values were in the mandible and C2 vertebrae, respectively (1.313 and 1.536, respectively).
Conclusion
Fractal values can detect differences in the trabecular bone morphology in different parts of the jaw. Fractal values can potentially be used for objective analysis of the trabecular bone using CBCT images.
Descriptions of SOAP note requirements and assessment methods used during advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) are limited in the literature. This study aimed to gather information from ...preceptors regarding SOAP note writing and assessment methods utilized during ambulatory care APPEs.
A survey was developed and distributed to ambulatory care preceptors with data collected via Qualtrics and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test to assess the significance for associations between dependent and independent variables, and the Gamma test to assess dependent variables in grading habits and feedback types.
The survey response rate was 62% with 75% of preceptors having students write SOAP notes during APPEs. A majority of preceptors (84%) do not formally grade SOAP notes with full-time faculty being more likely to grade and provide written feedback. Half of the preceptors perceived students as either prepared or very prepared to write SOAP notes but the majority felt that students struggle with the assessment portion of the note. There were significant differences between schools in the percentage of preceptors that formally grade SOAP notes, ranging from 2 to 45%.
Preceptors’ perception of student preparedness to write SOAP notes on ambulatory APPEs was similar, despite assessment methods varying widely.
Background:
This study examined the hospital-wide effect of a mandatory 8-hour preceptor workshop on preceptors and orientees.
Methods:
A mixed-methods approach (QUAN + qual) with a ...quasi-experimental design was used to test nurse preceptors’ self-reported confidence and comfort (pre- to postworkshop) in five specific roles in addition to the frequency of coaching critical thinking and providing formal feedback. Additionally, survey items compared cross-sectional cohorts of preceptors and orientees pre- to postworkshop. Orientee retention rates were compared for 1 year before and 1 year after the workshop.
Results:
Findings from the QUAN portion of the study are presented. Paired Findings from the QUAN portion of the study are presented. Paired
t
tests showed that preceptors (
n
= 131) reported significantly improved results for confidence and comfort in all five specific preceptor roles measured 3 to 6 months after workshop attendance; coaching of critical thinking was increased, whereas provision of formal feedback was not. Preceptor-reported comfort and confidence were not significantly greater in the cohort who participated in the workshop compared with the noninterventional cohort (
n
= 74). Among orientees, satisfaction with preceptors was not significantly improved for the cohort whose preceptors had attended training (
n
= 53) versus the previous cohort (
n
= 39). Among orientee cohorts, greater confidence in critical thinking skills on completion of orientation occurred only among experienced transfer nurses. Orientees who had three to four preceptors reported the highest composite satisfaction. One year postintervention, significantly more orientees were retained (125 of 132) than in the previous year (82 of 94) (chi-square,
p
< .05).
Conclusion:
Preceptor workshops are effective in preparing experienced nurses to precept new nurses, as measured by self-reported development of preceptors and retention of orientees.
Growing evidence indicates that an increase of orexin (or hypocretin) signaling is involved in the pathophysiology of major depression, but little is known regarding the causal link between the ...orexinergic system and depressive-like states. Here we blocked orexin receptors in mice subjected to unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) to investigate putative antidepressant-like effects of this treatment, as well as the underlying mechanisms. BALB/c mice were exposed to 9 weeks of UCMS and from the third week onward treated daily with fluoxetine (20 mg/kg per day, per os) or with the dual orexin receptor antagonist almorexant (100 mg/kg per day, per os). The effects of UCMS regimen and pharmacological treatments were assessed by physical measures and behavioral testing. The dexamethasone suppression test was performed to examine the integrity of the negative feedback of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and immunohistochemical markers were used to assess cell proliferation (Ki-67), immature newborn neurons (doublecortin), and mature newborn neurons (5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine/NeuN) in the dorsal and ventral parts of the hippocampus. Our results show that 7 weeks of fluoxetine or almorexant treatments counteract the UCMS-induced physical and behavioral alterations. Both treatments prevented the HPA axis dysregulation caused by UCMS, but only fluoxetine reversed the UCMS-induced decrease of hippocampal cell proliferation and neurogenesis, while chronic almorexant treatment decreased cell proliferation and neurogenesis specifically in the ventral hippocampus. Taken together, this is the first evidence that pharmacological blockade of the orexinergic system induces a robust antidepressant-like effect and the restoration of stress-related HPA axis defect independently from a neurogenic action.
Objective:
The concept of food addiction has recently been proposed by applying the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, criteria for substance ...dependence to eating behaviour. Food addiction has received increased attention given that it may play a role in binge eating, eating disorders, and the recent increase in obesity prevalence. Currently, there is no psychometrically sound tool for assessing food addiction in French. Our study aimed to test the psychometric properties of a French version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) by establishing its factor structure and construct validity in a nonclinical population.
Method:
A total of 553 participants were assessed for food addiction (French version of the YFAS) and binge eating behaviour (Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh and Binge Eating Scale). We tested the scale's factor structure (factor analysis for dichotomous data based on tetrachoric correlation coefficients), internal consistency, and construct validity with measures of binge eating.
Results:
Our results supported a 1-factor structure, which accounted for 54.1% of the variance. This tool had adequate reliability and high construct validity with measures of binge eating in this population, both in its diagnosis and symptom count version. A 2-factor structure explained an additional 9.1% of the variance, and could differentiate between patients with high, compared with low, levels of insight regarding addiction symptoms.
Conclusions:
In our study, we validated a psychometrically sound French version of the YFAS, both in its symptom count and diagnostic version. Future studies should validate this tool in clinical samples.
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