Cutting pattern of nickel-titanium files using two preparation techniques.

The aim of this study was to examine the cutting patterns of recently introduced nickel-titanium endodontic files and compare them with similarly shaped stainless steel files using both balanced-force and stepback techniques. Simulated canals were constructed in resin blocks with 40 degrees curvature. Fifty blocks were prepared by a balanced-force technique: 25 with Nitiflex (Maillefer) and 25 with Flexofiles (Maillefer) to master apical file size 40. Fifty blocks were prepared by a stepback technique: 25 with Nitiflex and 25 with Flexofiles to a master apical file size 30. Composite prints were made of pre- and post-instrumentation canals using a computerized imaging system. The amount of material removed from the inner and outer canal curvatures was measured at eight levels in the apical 11 mm of the canal. The results were analysed by Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA. Using the balanced-force technique, Nitiflex files removed less material on the outer curve apically and less on the inner curve mid-canal (P < 0.05), while Flexofiles caused more apical transportation. In the stepback technique, the Nitiflex files removed more material from the outer curve apically (P < 0.05); the Flexofiles removed more material along the entire inner curve (P < 0.05), and maintained canal curvature better than Nitiflex files. It appeared preferable to use Nitiflex files in a balanced-force technique, and Flexofiles in a filing technique as stainless steel files can be precurved.

The Sexual Health Help Centre: a service for young people.

BACKGROUND: The Sexual Health Help Centre (SHHC) was opened in 1995 to provide treatment, advice and information on family planning and sexual health issues for young people under the age of 20 years, in a way which is open and non-threatening. This paper describes an evaluation conducted during the first 9 months of service operation. METHODS: Young people's experience of the SHHC were elicited, and compared with their experiences of conventional family planning services in Glasgow. RESULTS: The SHHC has been successful in attracting young people for help with family planning problems and provides a more acceptable environment than conventional family planning services. However, a greater number of young men and young people under the age of 16 should be encouraged to attend the service. CONCLUSION: Young people are more likely to visit family planning services if they are offered a wide range of family planning and sexual health services in a non-judgmental, non-threatening environment.

The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea in an obese female population.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) has been estimated to affect between 1 and 4% of the total population. OSA may be more frequent among women than studies based on subjects presenting for treatment would indicate. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of OSA in an obese female population (BMI > 30 kg/m2, age > 18 years) who presented to a hospital-based obesity clinic. The women were screened by an overnight ambulatory sleep study (MESAM) to detect OSA. Subjective sleep quality and sleep disturbance were assessed by a 19-item questionnaire, the Pittsburg sleep quality index (PSQI). From a population of 108 women, 29 were screened by MESAM. OSA was determined on the basis of respiratory disturbance index (RDI). The prevalence of OSA, defined as five or more respiratory disturbances per hour, was 37.9%. The mean age of the women was 43.6 +/- 2.57 years (mean +/- s.e.m.) and they had a mean BMI of 40.7 +/- 1.40 kg/m2. There was a significant positive correlation for RDI and BMI (r = 0.71; P < 0.001). Our findings indicate that over one third of women had OSA, yet they did not complain of symptoms even though the PSQI questionnaire indicated that they were poor sleepers. Non-specific symptomatology of OSA may be important diagnostically, particularly in women, and obese women should be considered at risk of OSA.

Evaluation of the 7-h membrane filter test for quantitation of fecal coliforms in water.

The 7-h fecal coliform (FC) test for detection of FC organisms in water was evaluated to establish its validity and usefulness for emergency and disaster situations. The waters tested consisted of routine samples collected for public health surveillance and enforcement purposes. A total of 984 water samples from throughout California were assayed. These included samples from coastal salt waters, rivers, canals, and reservoirs, in addition to potable and miscellaneous freshwater sources. A portion of each sample was tested concurrently by both the 7-h FC test and the most-probable-number FC five-tube test. The 7-h FC test samples were incubated for 7 to 7.25 h at 41.5 degrees C. Overall, greater than 90% agreement was obtained between the methods in determining whether the water quality was acceptable or unacceptable. Statistical analysis of the 984 samples confirmed that the 7-h FC method was a suitable alternative to the most-probable-number FC method for evaluation of freshwater samples. During emergencies or disasters, the 7-h FC test could provide a means for detection of fecal contamination of water with results available in less than 1 day.

Academy rash. A probable epidemic of erythema infectiosum ('fifth disease').

Over a few weeks, 69 children (13%) enrolled in a private school manifested an erythematous and migratory rash, most commonly on the extremities, along with fever or other systemic or respiratory symptoms. Fever lasted for a mean of four days, and rash, 11 days. Cases appeared in every grade from kindergarten through ninth, and the incidence peaked in the fifth through seventh grades. More boarding students were affected than day students. Secondary cases in households of affected children and among adults from the school were noted. Eighty-eight attempts at virus isolation were unsuccessful. The illnesses were consistent with erythema infectiosum, a disease of unknown etiology, which has occurred in epidemic form in schools and also in sporadic cases.

An outbreak of hepatitis B from tattooing.

An outbreak of 34 cases of hepatitis B not all of them notified, is described. 31 was tattooed by one artist; 3 were secondary infections. All primary infections occurred in males aged 16-28 years. Several defects in hygiene in the tattooing procedure were noticed. Recommendations are made for the licensing and routine inspection of all tattoo parlours.