Smartphones and tooth brushing: content analysis of the current available mobile health apps for motivation and training.

INTRODUCTION: Smartphone mobile app is an innovative concept for health behaviour-based interventions. AIM: The present study aimed to analyse apps developed for smartphones that promote tooth brushing amongst children using the Coventry, Aberdeen, and London-Refined (CALO-RE) taxonomy for behaviour change. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tooth brushing apps available in English and free to download that purported to assist with brushing were searched on the Apple app store using search terms based on Boolean logic and included AND combinations for keywords tooth brushing, children, toothbrush and motivation in the health and fitness category; six apps met the inclusion criteria and were downloaded. The behaviour change taxonomies were assessed individually for each app and scored as per coding and analysed for presence or absence. RESULTS: Only three of the behaviour change taxonomies were present in all apps, i.e. information provision (general), goal setting (behaviour) and prompt practice. Setting graded tasks, self-monitoring of behavioural outcome, demonstration of behaviour, prompt use of imagery and time management were included in four out of six apps. CONCLUSION: The present study explores a new arena for oral healthcare motivation and prevention in children through the use of mobile phone apps.

Comparison of salivary fluoride levels following use of dentifrices containing different concentrations of fluoride.

Many industrialized countries have reported a decline in caries prevalence over the past few decades. These reductions have been related to the regular use of fluoride dentifrices. Fluoride dentifrices are the most cost-effective and efficient means of caries prevention. However, there have been concerns regarding the risk of fluorosis in children due to the ingestion of dentifrices. This has led to the use of dentifrices with low concentration of fluoride. Salivary fluoride levels after tooth-brushing have been shown to be related to the anticaries efficacy of fluoride dentifrices. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of the concentration of fluoride in the dentifrice, on the salivary fluoride level in children. Twenty children in the age group of five to six years were randomly selected and divided into two groups using, either 500ppm or 1000ppm fluoride dentifrice (sodium monofluorophosphate). Salivary fluoride levels at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, minutes after brushing were estimated. The data collected was statistically evaluated using the unpaired t-test. The results showed that salivary fluoride levels following use of 500ppm fluoride dentifrice were significantly lower than 1000ppm fluoride dentifrice. The low salivary fluoride levels may thereby reduce the anticaries efficacy. Hence, the pros and cons of recommending a low fluoride concentration dentifrice must be judiciously considered.

Aging effects on contractility of longitudinal and circular detrusor and trigone of rat bladder.

PURPOSE: Aging is associated with bladder dysfunction, including difficult voiding and urinary leakage. Voiding involves reduction in the bladder lumen in all dimensions brought about by contraction of the meshwork of longitudinal, circular and oblique layers of detrusor smooth muscles. Most in vitro physiological studies of the effects of aging on bladder function used the longitudinal detrusor. To understand the region specific effects of aging on bladder function the contractile responses of longitudinal and circular detrusor, and trigone segments of the bladder from young and old rats were monitored. MATERIALS AND METHODS: These studies were performed using male Fisher 344 rats 6 months (young) and 27 months (old) old obtained through the National Institute on Aging. Each rat was anesthetized and the bladder was isolated. From each bladder a strip of longitudinal detrusor, circular detrusor and trigone was isolated and mounted in an in vitro multi-muscle chamber containing normal physiological solution at 37C. Isometric contractions of the 3 bladder strips were monitored after electrical field stimulation, 120 mM. potassium and 1 to 1,000 microM. bethanechol using a digital oscilloscope. RESULTS: In longitudinal detrusor from old rats there was no significant difference in the contractions evoked by electrical stimulation or high potassium but there was a significant reduction in contractions evoked by bethanechol compared with the responses of longitudinal detrusor from young rats. In circular detrusor from old rats there was a significant increase in contractions evoked by electrical stimulation and a slight increase in contractions produced by high potassium but no significant change in contractions evoked by bethanechol compared with the responses of circular detrusor from young rats. In trigone from old rats there was a significant decrease in contractions evoked by electrical stimulation, high potassium and bethanechol compared with young trigone. CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in contractions evoked by bethanechol suggests an age related reduction in muscarinic receptors in the longitudinal detrusor of aged rats. An increase in contractions evoked by electrical stimulation without a change in contractions evoked by bethanechol suggests a decrease in compliance caused by an increase in collagen in the circular detrusor of aged rats. A general decline in all contractile responses, including those evoked by high potassium, suggests reduced membrane depolarization in the trigone of aged rats. The effect of aging is specific to different regions and functional components of the bladder, probably due to changes in muscarinic receptors, collagen and depolarization.

Gas chromatographic determination of formaldehyde in maple syrup as 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone derivative.

A procedure is presented for the quantitative extraction and determination of formaldehyde in maple sap and syrup. The method is based on the reaction between formaldehyde and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and determination of the derivative by gas chromatography. The procedure was used to evaluate formaldehyde in saps and syrups of paraformaldehyde implanted trees. Average recoveries were 101.5 +/- 5.7%. The detection limit was 0.078 mg/kg.