Using a digital platform to establish odontometric variation based on race, gender and Angle classification.

Orthodontists often encounter significant clinical challenges in the finishing stages of treatment due to a disproportion in interarch tooth size relationships. Despite the increasing presence of digital technology and concomitant focus on customized treatment approaches, there is a gap in the knowledge of how generating tooth size data using digital versus traditional methods may impact our treatment regime. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the prevalence of tooth size discrepancies using digital models and a digitally based cast analysis in our cohort based on (i) Angle's Classification; (ii) gender and (iii) race. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mesiodistal widths of teeth in 101 digital models were assessed using computerized odontometric software. A Chi-square test was used to determine the prevalence of tooth size disproportions among the study groups. The differences between all three groups of the cohort were analysed using a three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: An overall Bolton tooth size discrepancy (TSD) prevalence of 36.6% was observed in our study cohort; 26.7% had an anterior Bolton TSD. No differences existed in the prevalence of tooth size discrepancies between male and female subjects as well as between the different malocclusion groups (P > .05). Caucasian subjects had a statistically significant smaller prevalence of TSD compared to Black and Hispanic patients (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence results in this study illuminate how relatively common TSD is and underscores the importance of proper diagnosis. Our findings also suggest that racial background may be an influential factor in the presence of TSD.

Doxycycline treatment efficacy in dogs with naturally occurring Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate doxycycline treatment efficacy and post-treatment pathogen persistence in dogs naturally infected with Anaplasma phagocytophilum in endemic regions of the USA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Symptomatic dogs in four US states (MN, WI, CT and CA) were evaluated before treatment with doxycycline and approximately 30 and 60 days post-treatment. Clinicopathological parameters, co-exposures and A. phagocytophilum DNA in whole blood and lymph node samples were compared between A. phagocytophilum infected and uninfected dogs. RESULTS: In total, 42 dogs fulfilled the inclusion criteria, with 16 dogs (38%) blood PCR-positive and 26 dogs (62%) blood PCR-negative for A. phagocytophilum. At initial evaluation, the proportion of clinicopathological abnormalities was similar between A. phagocytophilum infected and uninfected dogs, although thrombocytopenia and lymphopenia were statistically more prevalent among A. phagocytophilum infected dogs. Treatment with doxycycline resulted in resolution of all clinical abnormalities in infected dogs; four dogs had persistent haematological abnormalities, including mild leukopenia, eosinopenia and lymphopenia. All 16 infected dogs became blood PCR-negative approximately 30 and 60 days after treatment onset. Additionally, 13/13 (100%) lymph node specimens tested post-treatment were PCR-negative. Select clinicopathological abnormalities persisted in uninfected dogs after treatment. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The results of this study support the efficacy of doxycycline therapy for clinical treatment of dogs naturally infected with A. phagocytophilum in the USA. This study did not find clinical, haematological or microbiological indicators that supported the persistence of A. phagocytophilum infection in naturally infected dogs following treatment with doxycycline for 28 days.

Innovative approach to the design and evaluation of treatment adherence interventions for drug-resistant TB.

BACKGROUND: Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) treatment is expensive, lengthy, and can cause severe side effects. Patients face socio-economic, psychosocial, and systemic barriers to adherence; poor adherence results in poor treatment outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effects of the components of the information-motivation-behavioral skills model on DR-TB treatment adherence. DESIGN: We recruited 326 adults receiving DR-TB treatment and 86 of their health care service providers from 40 health centers in Lima, Peru. The main outcome was adherence (i.e., the proportion of prescribed doses taken by a patient). Exposure measures were adherence information, motivation, and behavioral skills; loss to follow-up during previous TB treatment(s); providers' work engagement; and patient-perceived support from his/her social network. RESULTS: Structural equation modeling revealed that adherence information and motivation had positive effects on adherence, but only if mediated through behavioral skills (ß = 0.02, P < 0.01 and ß = 0.07, P < 0.001, respectively). Behavioral skills had a direct positive effect on adherence (ß = 0.27, P < 0.001). Loss to follow-up during previous treatment had a direct negative effect, providers' work engagement had a direct positive effect, and perceived support had indirect positive effects on adherence. The model's overall R2 was 0.76. CONCLUSION: The components of the information-motivation-behavioral skills model were associated with adherence and could be used to design, monitor, and evaluate interventions targeting adherence to DR-TB treatment.

Using social indicators to estimate county-level substance use intervention and treatment needs.

This study describes the development of a model for estimating county-level substance use intervention and treatment needs using social indicators. Forty-five indicators conceptually related to substance misuse were reduced through factor analysis. Logistic regression models were then developed using selected indicators to predict service needs. The following variables were significant predictors of substance use intervention and treatment needs: the percent of the population who is male aged 15 to 34, urbanicity, and population density. The results suggest that substance misuse may be successfully modeled by a few easy to obtain and reliably measured variables describing the population characteristics of local communities.