Percentage of patients shifting to another treatment modality: An experience-guided decision

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to assess the frequency with which orthodontic patients decided to shift to another type of orthodontic appliance, among conventional metal brackets, ceramic brackets, lingual brackets and clear aligner, based on their personal experiences of pain, ulcers, bad breath, hygiene issues and social difficulties. Material and Methods: This study comprises of patients seeking orthodontic treatment. The sample (n = 500; age group = 19-25 years) was divided equally into four groups based on the treatment modality: conventional metal brackets, ceramic brackets, lingual brackets and clear aligner. Patients rated the questionnaire using a visual analogue scale, to assess variables (such as pain, ulcer etc) that impact various treatment modalities. Subsequently, patients from all groups provided feedback regarding their treatment experiences, and expressed their preference for an alternative modality. Intergroup comparison among the four groups was done using one-way analysis of variance with Tukey's HSD post-hoc test (p ≤ 0.05). Results: Patients who received lingual brackets reported higher levels of pain and ulceration, as compared to those who received clear aligners. All four groups showed statistically significant differences for ulcers during treatment (p ≤ 0.05). Of the 125 patients who received conventional metal brackets, 28% expressed a preference for clear aligner therapy, while 20% preferred ceramic brackets. In the lingual group, 56% of 125 patients preferred clear aligner therapy, and 8% preferred ceramic brackets to complete their treatment. In the ceramic group, 83% did not want to switch, whereas 17% desired to switch to clear aligner, while in aligner group no patient desired to switch. Conclusions: A higher percentage of patients from lingual brackets group chose to shift to clear aligners, followed by conventional metal brackets group and by ceramic brackets group, in this descending order. The clear aligner group demonstrated fewer issues than the other treatment modalities.

RESUMO Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a frequência com que pacientes ortodônticos decidiram mudar para outro tipo de aparelho ortodôntico, entre braquetes convencionais de metal, braquetes cerâmicos, braquetes linguais e alinhadores transparentes, com base em suas experiências pessoais de dor, aftas, mau hálito, problemas de higiene e dificuldades sociais. Material e Métodos: Esse estudo foi composto por pacientes que procuram tratamento ortodôntico. A amostra (n = 500; faixa etária = 19-25 anos) foi dividida igualmente em quatro grupos, com base na modalidade de tratamento: braquetes metálicos convencionais, braquetes cerâmicos, braquetes linguais e alinhadores transparentes. Os pacientes responderam a um questionário, usando uma escala visual analógica, para avaliar variáveis como dor e aftas, que impactam diferentes modalidades de tratamento. Posteriormente, os pacientes de todos os grupos forneceram feedback sobre suas experiências de tratamento e expressaram sua preferência por uma modalidade alternativa. A comparação intergrupos entre os quatro grupos foi feita usando análise de variância unidirecional com teste post-hoc HSD de Tukey (p ≤ 0,05). Resultados: Os pacientes que usaram braquetes linguais relataram níveis mais elevados de dor e aftas, em comparação com aqueles que usaram alinhadores transparentes. Todos os quatro grupos apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas para aftas durante o tratamento (p ≤ 0,05). Dos 125 pacientes que usaram braquetes metálicos convencionais, 28% expressaram preferência pelo tratamento com alinhadores transparentes, enquanto 20% preferiram braquetes cerâmicos. No grupo com braquetes linguais, 56% dos 125 pacientes preferiram o tratamento com alinhadores transparentes e 8% preferiram braquetes cerâmicos para completar o tratamento. No grupo com braquetes cerâmicos, 83% não queriam trocar de tratamento, enquanto 17% desejavam mudar para os alinhadores transparentes; enquanto no grupo de alinhadores nenhum paciente desejou mudar. Conclusões: Uma porcentagem maior de pacientes do grupo com braquetes linguais optou pela mudança para alinhadores transparentes, seguido pelo grupo com braquetes metálicos convencionais e pelo grupo com braquetes cerâmicos, em ordem decrescente. O grupo de alinhadores transparentes demonstrou menos problemas do que as outras modalidades de tratamento.

Pemphigus foliaceus converting into bullous pemphigoid: the first case reported in China / 中华皮肤科杂志

A 58-year-old female patient presented with painful and itchy skin lesions on the head, neck, chest and back for 20 days, and was admitted to the hospital in February 2010. The skin lesions manifested as superficial erosions on an erythematous base with positive Nikolsky′s sign. Histopathological examination showed fissures above the granular and spinous cell layers, and scattered dyskeratotic cells. Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) assay revealed IgG and C3 deposits between spinous cells. The patient was initially diagnosed with pemphigus foliaceus. After the treatment with triamcinolone (24 mg/d) , tripterygium glycosides (60 mg/d) , nicotinamide (300 mg/d) and tetracycline (2 g/d) , skin lesions gradually subsided. In June 2017, the patient was readmitted due to itchy skin lesions on the head, neck, chest, back and hands for 15 days, which manifested as tense bullae on an erythematous base with negative Nikolsky′s sign. Histopathological examination showed subepidermal blisters and infiltration of eosinophils and lymphocytes in the blisters and superficial dermis, DIF assay revealed the deposition of IgG and C3 along the basement membrane zone, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed positive results for anti-BP180 antibody but negative results for anti-Dsg1 and Dsg3 antibodies. Then, a diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid was confirmed. The patient was treated with oral triamcinolone (12 mg/d) , nicotinamide (300 mg/d) and tetracycline (2 g/d) , and the lesions rapidly subsided.

Data acquisition system of Laplacian ECG based on USB / 医疗卫生装备

A type of data acquisition system of Laplacian ECG based on USB is introduced in this paper. The principle of hardware and method of software designing are explained. This system not only possesses very high CMRR, but also realizes the collection and transmission of Laplacian ECG signals in real time. This system is valuable in practice.