[Teaching styles of faculty members of Kurdistan university of medical sciences for theoretical lessons; 2010-2011]

Use of different teaching styles and different training methods with supervision on the different needs of the learners during the teaching-learning process can be encouraging to the students for lifelong learning [LLL]. The aim of this study was to determine teaching styles of faculty members of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences for theoretical lessons, to provide information on educational planning and development of combined teaching styles and training methods and adjustment of these styles to learning styles of the trainees in the future. This was a descriptive-analytical study. Statistical population included all of the faculty members of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences [135 faculty members], but only 124 [92%] participated in the study. Data collection tool was the Richman-Grasha teaching style inventory. Data were introduced into SPSS software 19[th] version and analyzed by ANOVA and chi-square statistical tests. The results indicated that the most frequent styles were the "Delegator Style" [60.5%] and the "Formal Authority Style" [33.9%]. The least frequent styles were "Facilitating Style" [0.8%] and "Personal Model Style" [1.6%]. 3.2% of the participants used the "Expert Teaching Style". The demographic characteristics of the faculty members such as; age, teaching background, gender, college or department, educational level and academic rank showed no relationship with their teaching styles. Based on the results of this study, the dominant teaching style of the participants was not related to their demographic data. Other factors like psychological characteristics and training models could be associated with the teaching styles

[Comparison of fluoride uptake into enamel from sodium fluoride gel 0.05% produced in Iran and stannous fluoride 0.4% gel]

The present study compared fluoride uptake into enamel from sodium fluoride 0.05% gel and American Dental Association approved fluoride gel [Stannous fluoride 0.4%, Sultan Co.] when used on healthy enamel of the intact teeth. In an experimental study, 30 intact teeth extracted for orthodontic purposes were randomly assigned into two groups of 15 teeth. The teeth were sectioned in two mesial and distal halves as control and experimental sides. Defined semi-circular areas on the enamel of experimental halves were treated with gel for 4 minutes, the halves were stored in artificial saliva for 24 hours at 37§C, etched for 30 seconds by 0.5 M perchlorid Acid and washed by 0.2 ml KOH after each etching. Biopsy of the samples was obtained by Acid Etch Enamel Biopsy technique and the fluoride and calcium concentration were calculated by potentiometer and spectrophotometer respectively. Paired t test and student t test were used for statistical analyses. The results showed significant increase of enamel fluoride content in the experimental halves after exposure to both stannous fluoride 0.4% [P=0.0001] and sodium fluoride 0.05% [P=0.009]. Mean fluoride uptakes in stannous fluoride 0.4% gel and sodium fluoride 0.05% gel groups were respectively 4052.5 ppm and 892.5 ppm that shows statistically significant difference [P=0.0001]. Although both sodium fluoride 0.05% and stannous fluoride 0.4% increased fluoride Content of tooth enamel after application, stannous fluoride 0.4% caused more fluoride uptake into the tooth enamel that is due to its higher amount of fluoride ion [1000 ppm] compared to sodium fluoride gel [225 ppm]

Estimating the Absorbed Dose to Critical Organs During Dual X-ray Absorptiometry

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to estimate a patient's organ dose (effective dose) during performance of dual X-ray absorptiometry by using the correlations derived from the surface dose and the depth doses in an anthropomorphic phantom. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anthropomorphic phantom was designed and TLDs (Thermoluminescent Dosimeters) were placed at the surface and these were also inserted at different depths of the thyroid and uterus of the anthropomorphic phantom. The absorbed doses were measured on the phantom for the spine and femur scan modes. The correlation coefficients and regression functions between the absorbed surface dose and the depth dose were determined. The derived correlation was then applied for 40 women patients to estimate the depth doses to the thyroid and uterus. RESULTS: There was a correlation between the surface dose and depth dose of the thyroid and uterus in both scan modes. For the women's dosimetry, the average surface doses of the thyroid and uterus were 1.88 (micro)Gy and 1.81 (micro)Gy, respectively. Also, the scan center dose in the women was 5.70 (micro)Gy. There was correlation between the thyroid and uterus surface doses, and the scan center dose. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the effective dose to the patient's critical organs during dual X-ray absorptiometry can be estimated by the correlation derived from phantom dosimetry.