Knee joint diseases diagnosed by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging

A great number of people all over the world suffer from knee joint problems. The benefits of ultrasound [US] when compared to magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] are that the US is noninvasive, freely available, well-accepted by patients, cheap and that it has the advantage of dynamic evaluation and real-time imaging. In this study, there is a comparison between uUS and MRI in characterization of knee joint diseases using. This is an observational cross-sectional study of 200 patients, who attended the Radiological Center, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia, from October 2011 to August 2013. The US technique has been carried out according to the protocol of American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, using a linear probe transducer with high frequency 7.5-12 MHz. The range of the patients' age was 12-80 years. The most common presenting symptoms were painful swelling of the knee joint and inability to move. In 125 of them US and MRI revealed variable diseases: Effusion [81], loose body [2], synovial cyst [4], quadriceps tendon rupture [1], meniscus tear [6], tumor [1] bursitis [8], arthritis [5], baker cyst [4] deep vein thrombosis [3] diagnosed with both US and MRI, and anterior cruciate ligament tear [6], posterior cruciate ligament tear [4] seen with MRI only The study suggested that US can evaluate cystic lesions, as well as menisci, ligaments, tendons, and muscles tear. Most of the knee joint disorders were degenerative in origin. Since MRI is not easily available in developing countries and rural areas. US can be used routinely for the diagnoses of most knee joint diseases, shortening the list of MRI indications

Sero-prevalence of immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C and syphilis among blood donors at El Obeid Teaching Hospital, West Sudan

This study aimed to determine the sero-prevalence of transfusion transmitted infections [TTIs], namely immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C and syphilis among blood donors. The study was carried in the blood bank at ElObeid Teaching Hospital. The study included 260 blood donor. Informed consent was obtained from each. Personal and socio-demographic data, information about risk factors such as blood transfusion, sexual partners, intravenous drug usage, tattooing and past history of jaundice all were included in a well designed questionnaire. Screening of blood samples for hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg], human immunodeficiency virus [HIV], hepatitis C virus [HCV] and Treponema pallidum antibodies were done using immunochromatographic [ICT] strips. The study included 260 blood donor. All were males. The screening result for antibodies against HIV and Treponema pallidum was positive in 2 [0.8%] and 40 [15%] donors respectively. HBsAg was detected in 26 [10%] donors. Screening result for antibodies against hepatitis C virus was negative in all samples. This study showed that the sero-prevalence of hepatitis B and syphilis was high in our study population. This mandates very strict criteria for selection of blood donors and also methods of laboratory assays for detection of infectious agents must be improved. On the other hand indications for blood transfusion should be restricted

Use of computer in private dental practice

Present and furure uses of computers in dental office management have been discussed, along with reasons for minimal use thus far. The factors involved in automated billing procedures are cited while developing a hypothetical system. A look into the future points toward automation of diagnosis and treatment tasks as well as paperwork functions

use of computer in dental schools example U.C.S.F. dental school California

Today's modern medical and dental schools are computerized to accomodate more patients. Large volume patient enrollment need a patient accounting system which can handle the increase load. On the other hand, patient record tracking as well as student creditation and patient assignment are accomplished too by the computer. The system used in U.C.S.F. dental school is designed for mass storage of a large number of patients with multiple data entry/display stations for performing different tasks simultaneously. The print-out machine helps to speed printing patient statments, insurance and reports when needed, with a quick'access to patient records to provide immediate answers on patient account status and dental treatment procedures as well. Computer proved to reduce the personnel overload in managing reports. One person could carry the whole task production analysis, accounts receivable, recall, credit balance, student creditation as'well as student requirements with a month-to-month report. Finally I can conclude that the use of computer system in U.C.S.F. Dental School proved to be very successful for the time consuming, efficiency, speed of pulling out information,system automation with a maximum security for the discreetness of the stored informations and data

Review on the level of dental treatment in Egypt, U.S.A. and New Zealand

Surely it is obvious by now that the task of controlling dental disease is far beyond the capacity of private dentist, working in their offices and clinics. Certainly a kind of guerilla warfare by individuals or small group s will not defend any country, any people, against a disease as widespread and insidious as dental caries. Neither can organised dentistry, through the dental professional associations, control this disease unaided. No community can hope to become free of dental caries through individual effort, either lay or professional. On the other hand, governments are not successful either when they act without the support and advice of the profession. Only a co-operative enterprise, in which government, profession, and people work together, can hope to win the battle against dental disease. Money is needed, legislation is needed, community action is needed. The extent to which a nation meets the dental needs of its children is largely dependent upon the degree of co-operation that exists between the dental profession and the government. Countries with a high degree of co-operation between profession and government have high efficiency in controlling caries in children. In the United States, considering the dental practice as a business economic studies indicate that, given a fixed number of dentists, increase productivity comes through use of auxiliaries, technological advances, changes in treatment emphasis or a change in the organization of the practice. All of these factors have been undergoing change for years, as dentists react to meet anticipated increased demand. [32]. The result of these changes has been dramatic productivity increases that have allowed dentists to provide services to larger numbers of patients and keep pace with demand for dental care. In 1962, the average dentist in general practice had 1164 patients with 3719 visits. By 1972 this had increased to 1663 patients and 3692 visits with no noticeable increase in the number of hours worked per day. [33]. It has been estimated that the development of high speed handpiece alone has increased dentists' productivity to the equivalent of adding 1174 dentists to the dental manpower pool. [34]. A third important trend that has dramatically increased the dentists' productivity isthe use of auxiliary personnel-dental hygientists and dental assistants. Dental public health policy aimed at incorporating the traditional dental health workers in a national dental health service would appear to be more effective in treating the majority of the population; provided, of course, that it is linked with a program of basic training to increase appropriate skills and so discourage harmful or ineffective measures. More effort is needed to study the effects on the development and implementation of dental public health policies in developing countries. The possible effects of the transfer of dental knowledge and technology and their contributions with respect to the institutionalization of an. The possible effects of the transfer of dental knowledge and technology and their contributions with respect to the institutionalization of an urban professional elitewhose intersts often may be in conflict with the objectives of the development of primary dental health care for the mass of the rural population. This professional group is often supported by central government policy, and for a variety of reasons it tends to cerve the minority, relatively wealthy urban middle class. This leaves the mass of peri - urban and rural people to develop and use alternative dental health services un-aided and often in defiance of central and local government. Such a situation is similar to the problems faced by the urban poor in some developed nations. [35] Alternatives services have often taken the form of simple emergency services, the relief of pain, tooth extraction, or the prescription of various medications. A more imaginative approach to the use of traditional dental health workers in national health services is recommended. This is important because the services that they provide are often more accessible and economically and socially acceptable. There is an urgent need to review the dental curricula being exported' to developing countries from industrialized nations to maximize their appropriateness and effectiveness in meeting the dental needs of the people of the developing country. Dental disease can be most effectively controlled if the dental profession in different countries and their civic and governmental authorities work together