DVI System International: software assisting in the Thai tsunami victim identification process.

DVI System International is software that operates on the PC-Windows platform. It is capable of managing aspects of identification in day-to-day cases and major disasters, where it has particular advantages when victims of several nationalities are involved. The system uses Interpol forms as standard protocols for input and transfer of antemortem and postmortem information. Following the Thai Tsunami Disaster of 26 December 2004, Interpol recommended that its member country Thailand use DVI System International software, as it is one of the few internationally approved systems. This paper focuses on the concepts upon which the dental forms, F1 and F2, of the DVI System International are designed, describes how it works and some of the adjustments implemented during the ongoing Thai Tsunami Victim Identification process.

Oral findings in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome and oral lichen planus--a preliminary study on the effects of bovine colostrum-containing oral hygiene products.

Bovine colostrum is rich in antimicrobial substances and growth factors. The purpose of this open study was to examine and compare the interventory effects of daily use of bovine colostrum-containing oral hygiene products (CHP) on oral symptoms and findings in 20 patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) and 20 age-matched patients with oral lichen planus (OLP). Objective oral measures and self-assessment of oral symptoms and general health were conducted before and after 90 days' use of CHP. The pSS patients had more systemic diseases, medication intake, oral dryness, poorer general health and lower salivary secretion than the OLP patients, who had the highest plaque index (PI) and the most mucosal soreness. Oral dryness and soreness were correlated to general health. In both patient groups. unstimulated whole saliva flow rate (UWS) had increased, PI and periodontal pocket depth (PPD) were reduced, and general health and oral dryness and soreness had improved after using CHP. A decrease in hyphae was found in candida smears from both groups and in blastospores in OLP smears. A reduction in the extension of the mucosal lesions was observed in 15 OLP patients. Results suggested beneficial effects of intervention with CHP on oral symptoms, general health, UWS, PI, PPD and candidal load in two patient groups--pSS and OLP--representing different oral symptomatology.