Maternal periodontal status and preterm low birth weight delivery: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between severity and extent of maternal periodontal disease and preterm birth/low birth weight (PLBW) among women in the north of Jordan. METHODS: A total of 148 woman who gave preterm birth/low birth weight birth and 438 women with uncomplicated full term vaginal delivery were included in this study. Socio-demographic characteristics, antenatal history, medical history, and family medical history were collected through personal interview or abstracted from maternal records. The oral hygiene status, and periodontal and dental parameters were assessed for all women. RESULTS: The average of probing pocket depth (PPD) and average of clinical attachment level (CAL) were significantly higher among women who gave PLBW babies. The mean gingival recession was not significantly different between the two groups. The percentages of sites with PPD > or = 3 mm and CAL > or = 3 mm were significantly higher among women who gave PLBW babies. Number of decayed teeth, number filled teeth, and number of missing teeth showed no significant association with PLBW delivery. CONCLUSION: The extent and severity of periodontal diseases appeared to be associated with increased odds of PLBW delivery. Nevertheless, more and larger intervention trials are needed before it can be fully accepted that periodontal infection is a true risk factor for PLBW.

Factors affecting medical students in formulating their specialty preferences in Jordan.

BACKGROUND: In recent years there has been a growing appreciation of the issues of career preference in medicine as it may affect student learning and academic performance. However, no such studies have been undertaken in medical schools in Jordan. Therefore, we carried out this study to investigate the career preferences of medical students at Jordan University of Science and Technology and determine factors that might influence their career decisions. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was carried out among second, fourth and sixth year medical students at the Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan during the academic year 2006/2007. A total of 440 students answered the questionnaire which covered demographic characteristics, specialty preferences, and the factors that influenced these career preferences. Possible influences were selected on the basis of a literature review and discussions with groups of medical students and physicians. Students were asked to consider 14 specialty options and select the most preferred career preference. RESULTS: The most preferred specialty expressed by male students was surgery, followed by internal medicine and orthopaedics, while the specialty most preferred by female students was obstetrics and gynaecology, followed by pediatrics and surgery. Students showed little interest in orthopedics, ophthalmology, and dermatology. While 3.1% of females expressed interest in anesthesiology, no male students did. Other specialties were less attractive to most students. Intellectual content of the specialty and the individual's competencies were the most influential on their preference of specialty. Other influential factors were the "reputation of the specialty", "anticipated income", and "focus on urgent care". CONCLUSION: Surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynaecology were the most preferred specialty preferences of medical students at Jordan University of Science and Technology.

Prevalence of medical conditions among patients attending dental teaching clinics in northern Jordan.

AIM: This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of self reported medical conditions among dental patients attending dental teaching clinics in north Jordan. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 1,509 patients were included, of which 46.1% were males and 53.9% were females. All age groups were included and ranged between 14 and 78 years. The findings were analyzed in relation to age and gender. RESULTS: Overall, gastrointestinal disease was most prevalent (11.9%), followed by bleeding tendencies (9.3%), renal disorders (8.7%), respiratory disease (8.3%), and hypertension (6.4%). Only 3.2% of the participants reported having antibiotics prescribed for them prior to a dental procedure for prophylactic purposes. CONCLUSION: Due to the high frequency of medical conditions, thorough evaluation of patients' medical and dental care histories should be a mandatory first step in their management.

Risk indicators of pre-eclampsia in north Jordan: is dental caries involved?

BACKGROUND: Despite a huge body of published research, understanding the basic pathology that leads to pre-eclampsia is still incomplete. This study was conducted among women in north Jordan to determine factors associated with pre-eclampsia and to determine if dental caries was involved. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out among women who delivered at Princess Badea Teaching Hospital, Irbid, North Jordan, between September 1, 2004 and January 1, 2005. 115 women with pre-eclampsia and 230 normotensive controls were included in the study. Information regarding participants' demographics, antenatal history and family history were collected through personal interviews. Several oral parameters were measured for each participant. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis, factors found to be associated with increased odds of pre-eclampsia were age > or =35 years (adjusted OR 2.20; 95% CI 1.08, 4.48), nulliparity (adjusted OR 2.73; 95% CI 1.38, 5.39), emotional stress during pregnancy (adjusted OR 4.22; 95% CI 1.79, 9.90), maternal history of pre-eclampsia (adjusted OR 16.04; 95% CI 5.82, 44.22), family history of cardiovascular diseases (adjusted OR 2.82; 95% CI 1.22, 6.51), family history of pre-eclampsia (adjusted OR 23.26; 95% CI 5.07, 106.78), twin births (adjusted OR 37.79; 95% CI 4.22, 338.51), and Body Mass Index (BMI). In comparison with women with pre-pregnancy BMI <25, adjusted OR were 1.97, 95% CI 1.02, 3.81 for women with BMI from 25 to 29.9, and 3.31, 95% CI 1.36, 8.03 for women with BMI > or =30. Mean decayed teeth surface was found to be associated with increased odds of pre-eclampsia (adjusted OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03, 1.27). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated no difference to reported risk indicators of pre-eclampsia in other populations, but adds that dental caries may have an association with increased odds of pre-eclampsia.

Hematologic status in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis in Jordan.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of hematinic deficiencies in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis. METHODS: The study took place in the Oral Medicine Clinic of the Jordan University Hospital in Amman, Jordan, between January 1993 and December 2000. We studied the hemoglobin, serum ferritin, vitamin B12 and folate levels in 143 patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis. We compared the results with a control group of 143 age- and gender-matched patients with a range of other oral diseases. RESULTS: In recurrent aphthous stomatitis patients, 14% were anemic and 37.8% showed hematinic deficiencies; 16.8% showed low serum ferritin; 26.6% showed low serum vitamin B12 and 4.9% showed low serum folate. In the control group, 10.5% were anemic and 18.2% showed hematinic deficiencies; 9.8% showed low serum ferritin; 12.6% showed low serum vitamin B12 and none showed serum folate deficiency. CONCLUSION: Patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis have more hematinic deficiencies, particularly vitamin B12 deficiency, compared with controls. Correction of these hematinic deficiencies could help in the management of the disease.

Self-reported allergy to latex gloves among health care workers in Jordan.

The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of natural rubber latex allergy and its associated factors among health care workers in Jordan based on a self-administered questionnaire. In this cross-sectional study, the data were obtained through a self-reported hand-delivered questionnaire that was distributed to 500 health care workers who use natural rubber latex gloves. A total of 420 (84%) health care workers responded by filling the questionnaire. Of the total number of 420 health care workers who filled the questionnaire, 57 (13.6%) reported allergy to latex gloves. The prevalence of allergy to latex gloves was significantly higher for those who had allergy to some foodstuffs (especially avocado, kiwifruits and chestnuts) or with history of eczema and hay fever. However, allergy to latex gloves was independent of gender, age, job, family history, type of gloves, hours of use/day and number of years of use. It is concluded that a high rate of allergy to latex gloves was reported among health care workers in Jordan.

Case report: Oral pemphigus vulgaris with multiple oral polyps in a young patient.

A rare case of oral pemphigus vulgaris is presented, which developed initially in a 9-year old Jordanian male. The disease was not well controlled with immunosuppressive therapy and was complicated by the development of multiple oral polyps approximately one year after the onset of symptoms. These lesions were smooth, painless and located particularly on the upper labial gingiva, the labial and buccal mucosae and the tongue. Disease activity continued for approximately nine years until the patient was referred to an oral medicine specialist. Histological examination of the polyps revealed exuberant granulation tissue. Adjustment of the steroid dosage lead to resolution of the oral symptoms and the polyps reduced in number and in size. This case highlights the occurrence of pemphigus vulgaris in young patients, illustrates a rare complication of persistent ulcero-inflammatory disease and emphasises the importance of specialist referral in the management of oral disease.

Smoking behavior and views of Jordanian dentists: A pilot survey.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine tobacco use among Jordanian dentists and their views on smoking. STUDY DESIGN: In July 1999, a self-reported questionnaire survey was mailed to a representative sample of 849 of 1693 licensed general dentists. The data were analyzed by using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (Chicago, Ill), and the statistical significance was determined by means of the chi(2) test. RESULTS: A response rate of 72.2% (613) was obtained. Overall, two thirds of the respondents were men younger than 40 years of age who worked in the private sector. Current tobacco users made up 35% (215/613), the majority of whom smoked cigarettes, with 83% being daily smokers. One fifth of daily smokers said that they smoke 20 or more cigarettes per day. Of respondents, 86.8% agreed that dentists should be a nonsmoking role model, and 77% believed that they should be involved in tobacco cessation counseling. Only 38.3% thought that they could convince patients who smoke to quit. Nonsmokers were significantly more likely to respond positively to these questions. Most respondents (92.2%) reported that the harmful effect of tobacco on health is a good reason to motivate smokers to quit. Unfortunately, almost half of the respondents (46.7%) thought that dental treatment is more important than providing tobacco counseling, and those were significantly more likely to be from private practices. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high proportion of general dentists who were current smokers, many hold positive views on the tobacco issue. An education program targeted at dentists in Jordan is needed to discourage them from using tobacco and to teach them tobacco-cessation techniques and behaviors to reduce use among their patients.