This prospective clinical study aimed to assess self-reported orofacial esthetics, chewing function, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) over three years in the Kennedy Class I patients ...without posterior dentition who received free-end saddle removable partial dentures (RPDs) retained by two mini dental implants (MDIs) inserted in the canine/first premolar region. The study's robust findings reaffirm the viability of MDI-retained RPDs as a treatment modality in contemporary prosthodontics, instilling confidence in the dental community.
Materials and methods
92 participants with posterior edentulism in the maxilla or mandible received 184 MDIs and 92 RPDs. After one year, three participants were excluded, and another seven were excluded after three years. The final sample was 82 participants. Self-perceived orofacial esthetics was assessed by the Orofacial Esthetic Scale (OES), chewing function by the Chewing Function Questionnaire (CFQ), and the OHRQoL by the OHIP-14. Statistical analysis utilized multivariate regression analysis, standardized effect size calculation, Wilcoxon Signed Rank test, and Friedman's test.
Results
OHRQoL and chewing function significantly improved (
p
< 0.001) one month after MDI loading by the new RPDs and continued to improve over the observation period (
p
< 0.05). The OES also significantly improved (
p
< 0.001) and remained almost unchanged over the next three years (
p
= 0.440).
Conclusion
Despite the limitations of this study, the MDI-retained RPD appears to be a viable treatment modality in contemporary prosthodontics from the patients’ perspective.
This article titled “The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Croatian
economy” deals with exceedingly current events triggered by the pandemic, which have reflected on the national and global ...economy. Based
on the currently available data and the survey of 358 respondents (from
both the private entrepreneurship sector and public administration), the effect of COVID-19 on the Croatian economy is observed through declining employment, the required recovery years, and declining GDP. The differences and similarities between this and the great global economic crisis of 2008/2009 as well as the opinion of entrepreneurs on which crisis has had more significant consequences for the economy were examined. A linear regression model predicts the declining employment in
the recovery years. The entrepreneurs agree that the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is far more destructive and devastating to the economy, primarily because there is no end in sight even though the vaccine has been found. The unanimous agreement of the entrepreneurs is that, without further measures aimed at preserving the economy put in place by the Government, it will not be possible to suppress a further decline in employment and GDP, which will lead to a prolongation of the necessary recovery time for the Croatian economy. This research is the basis for further research on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the
Croatian economy.
Članak pod naslovom „Utjecaj COVID-19 pandemije na hrvatsko gospodarstvo“ bavi se vrlo aktualnim događajima izazvanim pandemijom, a koje se odrazilo na nacionalno i globalno gospodarstvo. Na temelju trenutno raspoloživih podataka i provedene ankete na 358 ispitanika (iz realnog sektora i javne uprave) u radu se analiziraju posljedice COVID-19 na hrvatsko gospodarstvo promatrano kroz pad zaposlenosti, potrebne godine oporavka te pad BDP. Također su analizirane sličnosti i razlike sa velikom svjetskom ekonomskom krizom 2008/2009 godine te je ispitano mišljenje poduzetnika o tome koja kriza ima značajnije posljedice za gospodarstvo. Modelom linearne regresije je predviđen pad zaposlenosti u godinama oporavka. Poduzetnici su složni u procjeni da je
kriza uzrokovana COVID-19 pandemijom daleko razornija i pogubnija za gospodarstvo, prvenstveno stoga jer joj se ne nazire kraj usprkos pronalasku cjepiva. Jednoglasna je poruka poduzetnika da bez daljnjih mjera za očuvanje gospodarstva od strane Vlade neće se moći zadržati daljnji pad zaposlenosti, kao i BDP-a, što će dovesti do produljenja potrebnog vremena oporavka hrvatskog gospodarstva. Ovo istraživanje je osnova za buduća istraživanja utjecaja COVID-19 pandemije na hrvatsko gospodarstvo.
Background. Except for denture quality, many other factors are related to a patient's satisfaction with complete dentures (CDs). Methods. A total of 222 patients with CDs took a part in this study. A ...questionnaire divided into 3 parts was completed by both the patients and the dentist, independently. The patients rated their dentures using a scale ranging from 1 to 5 (1 = dissatisfaction to 5 = excellent), and a dentist rated the quality of the denture and the denture-bearing area. Results. Patients were mostly satisfied with the quality of their CDs. Only 7.2% of the patients were absolutely not satisfied with their dentures. Patients with a low level of education were more satisfied in general with their aesthetic appearance. Patients with better self-perception of their affective status and quality of life showed higher levels of general satisfaction. Patients with better self-perception of their economic status showed lower levels of satisfaction. Younger patients wearing dentures for the first time, with short periods of being edentulous, and with better quality maxillary denture-bearing areas were more satisfied with the retention of maxillary CDs. In contrast, younger patients with first-time dentures, a short period of being edentulous, and with better quality mandibular denture-bearing areas gave lower ratings to the retention and comfort of wearing mandibular dentures. Conclusions. Level of education, self-perception of affective and economic status, and quality of life are all related to patient satisfaction. However, the quality of dentures shows the strongest correlation with patient satisfaction. Not only the quality of the denture-bearing area but the denture-wearing experience itself seems to be more important in determining patient satisfaction with mandibular CDs.
Foreign direct investments include equity capital, reinvested earnings and debt relations between ownership-related residents and non-residents. Since 31 October 2014, the Croatian National Bank has ...started to publish information in the field of statistics Relations (balance of payments, foreign debt and the IIP) in accordance with the methodology prescribed by the sixth edition of the Manual on Balance of Payments (Eng. Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, BPM6), thus changing the presentational form of direct investment. Direct investments are not classified according to the so-called direction of investments (Eng. directional principle) on direct investment in Croatia and direct investment abroad anymore, but according to BPM6 apply the so-called principle of assets and liabilities (Eng. Assets / Liabilities principle). The aim is to point out the differences between the standards BPM5 and BPM6 and determine which activities and which countries are the most
represented in the structure of direct investments in Croatia. By identifying relevant activities and countries in the structure of foreign direct investment, relevant information is obtained about the macroeconomic state of the Republic of Croatia and about the opportunities and potential dangers that certain activities and countries provide.
Purpose of this study was to develop a Croatian version of the Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire (OHIP--CRO49), following the accepted cross-cultural adaptation technique guidelines. The ...original version was translated by using a forward-backward translation method. The psychometric properties of the OHIP-CRO49 were tested. To test the construct validity 163 randomly selected subjects and 26 prosthodontic patients participated. The construct validity was supported by the association between the OHIP-CRO49 sum-scores and the self-reported oral health and five oral disorders. The test-retest reliability was tested on 30 prosthodontic patients and 30 students, and it was supported by high intraclass correlation coefficients (r = 0.63 to 0.95). To test the internal consistency 163 randomly selected subjects (general population), 26 prosthodontic patients and 29 dental students participated, and it was supported by high Cronbach's alpha coefficients (0.60 to 0.97). The resposiveness was tested on 21 patients with a treatment demand (toothache), and was supported by a statistically significant mean OHIP-CRO49 score difference (from 108.48 to 27.57) and a high effect size (2.96 and 3.48). Adequate psychometric properties in a typical patients' population make the new instrument suitable for assessment of Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in Croatia.
The aim of the study was to develop and to test the psychometric properties of the Slovenian version (OHIP-SVN) in the new cultural context. Construct validity was tested on 430 subjects, test-retest ...reliability on 60 subjects, internal consistency on 460 subjects, and responsiveness on 30 patients with a treatment demand (toothache). The significant association between the OHIP summary scores and the self-reported oral health (p < 0.001) confirmed the construct validity. The test-retest reliability showed high intraclass correlation coefficients and no significant differences between the two administrations (p > 0.05). The internal consistency showed high Cronbach's alpha (0.97). The responsiveness was confirmed by the statistically significant difference between the mean OHIP score at baseline and follow-up (p < 0.001) and by a considerable effect size in the patients with a treatment demand (0.515). The OHIP-SVN, as one of the first translation into one of the Slavic family of the languages proves that this instrument is suitable for the assessment of the Oral Health Related Quality of Life in Slovenia.
Headaches are one of the most common ailments in modern society, leading to severe diminishing of general activities and they result in significant impact on the patient's quality of life. Blink ...reflex is an objective neurophysiological method for determining the status of the trigeminal system, facial nerve and the lateral part of medulla oblongata. The aim of this study was to examine the connection between trigeminal nerve dysfunction and various types of headaches using functional electrophysiological assessment of blink reflex tests in patients and controls. The sample comprised 60 subjects with headache attacks, 44 females, and 16 males). The control group consisted of 30 healthy subjects (19 females, and 11 males) who did not suffer from headaches. The age of subjects ranged from 20 years to 76 years with the mean of 42.81 years. Trigeminal nerve function was assessed by using blink reflex tests in patients suffering from headaches and in controls, applying the standard procedure described by Kimura et al. Pathological findings of blink reflex were observed in 58.3 % of patients suffering from headaches and in only 20 % of cases in the control group. The application of Yates’ χ2 test showed a significant correlation between pathological blink reflex and headache occurrence (χ2 = 10.354; P = 0.001). Normal blink reflex was found in 41.7 % of patients suffering from headaches and in 80 % of control group subjects. Females with pathological blink reflex have 4 times higher risk for headaches than controls (OR = 4.107; 95% CI = 1.036 - 17.565). Males with pathological blink reflex have a considerably higher risk for headaches, and it was 13 times higher than in controls (OR = 13.500; 95% CI = 1.555 - 153.646). There is a strong correlation between pathological blink reflex and the occurrence of headaches in both genders, indicating significant association of trigeminal nerve dysfunction with the occurrence of headaches. The use of blink reflex testing could be of help to detect patients with an increased risk for headaches.
Headaches are one of the most common ailments in modern society, leading to severe diminishing of general activities and they result in significant impact on the patient's quality of life. Blink ...reflex is an objective neurophysiological method for determining the status of the trigeminal system, facial nerve and the lateral part of medulla oblongata. The aim of this study was to examine the connection between trigeminal nerve dysfunction and various types of headaches using functional electrophysiological assessment of blink reflex tests in patients and controls. The sample comprised 60 subjects with headache attacks, 44 females, and 16 males). The control group consisted of 30 healthy subjects (19 females, and 11 males) who did not suffer from headaches. The age of subjects ranged from 20 years to 76 years with the mean of 42.81 years. Trigeminal nerve function was assessed by using blink reflex tests in patients suffering from headaches and in controls, applying the standard procedure described by Kimura et al. Pathological findings of blink reflex were observed in 58.3 % of patients suffering from headaches and in only 20 % of cases in the control group. The application of Yates’ χ2 test showed a significant correlation between pathological blink reflex and headache occurrence (χ2 = 10.354; P = 0.001). Normal blink reflex was found in 41.7 % of patients suffering from headaches and in 80 % of control group subjects. Females with pathological blink reflex have 4 times higher risk for headaches than controls (OR = 4.107; 95% CI = 1.036 - 17.565). Males with pathological blink reflex have a considerably higher risk for headaches, and it was 13 times higher than in controls (OR = 13.500; 95% CI = 1.555 - 153.646). There is a strong correlation between pathological blink reflex and the occurrence of headaches in both genders, indicating significant association of trigeminal nerve dysfunction with the occurrence of headaches. The use of blink reflex testing could be of help to detect patients with an increased risk for headaches.
Poduzetničke aktivnosti podložne su nastupu rizičnih događaja koji mogu djelomično ili u potpunosti narušiti očekivani financijski rezultat te posljedično dovesti i do problema u poslovanju povezanog ...poslovnog subjekta. Pritom čak i najednostavnije strategije poput izvoznih poslova i plasmana proizvoda predstavljaju određeni kratkoročni rizik, dok se vjerojatnost i moguće posljedice povećavaju s duljim periodom trajanja projekta poput izgradnje proizvodnih kapaciteta ili razvoja strateških saveza. Aktivnosti u inozemstvu u pravilu su pod manjom kontrolom poduzetnika, dok su obujam i visina vrijednosti poslova često značajniji u odnosu na transakcije u domicilnoj zemlji, zbog čega možemo reći da rizični događaji u međunarodnom poslovanju imaju veću vjerojatnost nastupa, kao i visinu potencijalne štete. Analiza rizika zemlje pomaže u identificiranju takvih rizika i procjeni razine negativnog utjecaja na povrat od ulaganja. Analiza rizika zemlje sadrži i kvantitativne i kvalitativne kriterije te je stoga jedna od mogućih tehnika metoda analitičko-hijerarhijskog procesa. Radi se o relativno jednostavnoj metodi koja omogućuje uvid u različite veze i odnose među raspoloživim alternativama. U radu se daje prikaz moguće primjene AHP metode u procesu odabira zemlje kod donošenja odluke o usmjeravanju investicijske aktivnosti.
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