Diagnostic ability of superficial vascular density measured by optical coherence tomography angiography to differentiate high myopic eyes from eyes with primary open angle glaucoma

Purpose: To determine if high myopia and glaucoma can be differentiated based on the measurement of superficial vascular density in the peripapillary and macular areas by using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA). Methods: This prospective, observational, cross?sectional, comparative study was conducted on patients between 40 and 60 years of age diagnosed as primary open?angle glaucoma (POAG) or high myopia and compared with age?matched controls. The main outcome measures were the difference in SVD% in peripapillary and macular areas in POAG and high myopic eyes. Detailed ophthalmic examination and OCTA of the disc and peripapillary area and macula were performed. The SVD in each zone was calculated using ImageJ software and their difference were analyzed. Results: In total, 128 eyes of 70 patients were enrolled. Peripapillary SVD% in controls was 45.07 ± 3.44, 40.36 ± 8.27 in high myopia, and 31.80 ± 9.008 in POAG. The mean difference in peripapillary SVD% of POAG to control was ? 13.479, of POAG to high myopia was ?8.777 (both P < 0.001), and of high myopia to controls was ?4.701 (P = 0.012). Macular SVD% in controls was 27.30 ± 3.438, 22.33 ± 6.011 in high myopia, and 21.21 ± 5.598 in POAG. The mean difference in macular SVD% of POAG to controls was ?6.088, of high myopia to controls was ?4.965 (both P < 0.001), and of POAG to high myopia was ?1.122 (P = 0.984; not statistically significant). Conclusion: OCTA is a useful diagnostic tool in distinguishing glaucomatous and myopic eyes. The measurement of peripapillary SVD has a greater discriminatory ability than that of the macular area.

Diagnostic cast - a forgotten diagnostic tool

Dentists are challenged to create solutions for problems that patients present from chipped or missing teeth, a collapsed bite, or teeth that are irregular or misshapen. A clear diagnosis of the condition often is required for a proper treatment planning. The diagnostic cast helps the dentist to evaluate the condition of the patient's oral condition and for the diagnostic purposes. Casts may also be used as education tools for dentists as they explain characteristics of a patient's bite or particular dental needs. They can also show how a restoration will look when the work is complete

Panoramic radiological study to identify locally displaced maxillary canines in Bangladeshi population

PURPOSE: This study was performed to determine the prevalence of maxillary canine impaction on a basis of a single panoramic radiograph in Bangladeshi population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A random sample of seven hundred panoramic radiographs was collected from the patient record of a dental clinic. All the selected panoramic radiographs were taken from January 2009 to August 2010 by a single panoramic radiograph machine with the same exposure time (19 seconds) for all radiographs. One hundred and twenty panoramic radiographs were excluded to minimize the selection bias. In a dim lit room, an observer assessed the radiographs on a standard radiographic light box. The position of the impacted maxillary canine was recorded in line with the longitudinal axis of a tooth using the edge of a metal ruler. Data were subsequently put on SPSS 11.5 software and chi-square (chi2) tests were applied to find out the association. RESULTS: Among 580 panoramic radiographs it was found that impacted maxillary canines were present in only 7 (1.2%) radiographs. A statistical significant difference was found between the age of the patients and the vertical position of the impacted canines (p=0.000) and between the age of the patients and the horizontal position of the impacted canines (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: The prevalence was found to be low compared with the present study from the limitation of panoramic image. Further study needs to include three-dimensional imaging modality.

A comparison of learning strategies, orientations and conceptions of learning of first-year medical students in a traditional and an innovative curriculum

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Students adapt their learning strategies, orientations and conceptions to differences in the learning environment. The new curriculum of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, which commenced in 2005, puts greater emphasis on student-centred learning. The aim of this study was to compare the learning strategies, orientations and conceptions measured by means of a validated Sri Lankan version of the Inventory of Learning Styles (ILS) at the end of the first academic year for a traditional curriculum student group and a new curriculum student group.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>The Adyayana Rata Prakasha Malawa (ARPM) 130-item Sinhala version of the ILS was administered to students of the traditional curriculum and the new curriculum at the end of their first academic year respectively. Mean scale scores of the 2 groups were compared using independent sample t-test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Students of the new curriculum reported the use of critical processing, concrete processing and memorising and rehearsing strategies significantly more than those in the traditional curriculum group. With respect to learning orientations, personal interest scores were significantly higher for the new curriculum students while reporting of ambiguity was significantly lower among them.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results favour the assumption that changes made to the organisation of subject content and instructional and assessment methods have a positive impact on students' use of learning strategies and motivation.</p>