Simulation and curriculum design: a global survey in dental education.

BACKGROUND: Curriculum reforms are being driven by globalization and international standardization. Although new information technologies such as dental haptic virtual reality (VR) simulation systems have provided potential new possibilities for clinical learning in dental curricula, infusion into curricula requires careful planning. METHODS: This study aimed to identify current patterns in the role and integration of simulation in dental degree curricula internationally. An original internet survey was distributed by invitation to clinical curriculum leaders in dental schools in Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania (Australia and New Zealand). RESULTS: The results (N = 62) showed Asia, Europe and Oceania tended towards integrated curriculum designs with North America having a higher proportion of traditional curricula. North America had limited implementation of haptic VR simulation technology but reported the highest number of scheduled simulation hours. Australia and New Zealand were the most likely regions to incorporate haptic VR simulation technology. CONCLUSIONS: This survey indicated considerable variation in curriculum structure with regionally-specific preferences being evident in terms of curriculum structure, teaching philosophies and motivation for incorporation of VR haptic simulation into curricula. This study illustrates the need for an improved evidence base on dental simulations to inform curriculum designs and psychomotor skill learning in dentistry.

Development and evaluation of a Dental Patient Feedback on Consultation skills (DPFC) measure to enhance communication.

OBJECTIVES: To adapt an existing medical questionnaire on patient-provider communication for use in the dental setting, and to evaluate the performance of the measure in a first dental encounter (validity and reliability). METHODS: A patient feedback questionnaire on consultation skills was adapted for use in dental settings through content and convergent validity. A survey of dentist consultation skills was conducted among adults attending a teaching hospital. Patients self-completed a 16-item Dental Patient Feedback on Consultation skills (DPFC) questionnaire during their first dental consultations. Repeat assessments were conducted on -10% of the sample. Variations in DPFC responses (scale and item level) were examined in relation to socio-demographics and dental attendance pattern in bivariate and regression analyses. Internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha) and test-retest reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient - ICC) were examined. RESULTS: A DPFC questionnaire was derived following minor modifications. The clarity of items ranged from 81.1-100% and content validity index ranged from 0.73-1.00. Exploratory item factor analysis showed a one-dimensional construct. The response rate to the survey was 90.5% (389/430). Variations in DPFC scores with respect to global rating of satisfaction were apparent (P < 0.001). Cronbach's alpha value was 0.94 and ICC value was 0.89. Bivariate and regression analyses identified dental attendance pattern as a key factor associated with DPFC (P < 0.05); but no significant differences were observed with respect to socio-demographic factors. CONCLUSIONS: A DPFC questionnaire was adapted with acceptable validity and reliability. Dental service utilization pattern was associated with dentist-patient clinical communication rather than socio-demographics.

GOing from functional genomics to biological significance.

The chicken genome is sequenced and this, together with microarray and other functional genomics technologies, makes post-genomic research possible in the chicken. At this time, however, such research is hindered by a lack of genomic structural and functional annotations. Bio-ontologies have been developed for different annotation requirements, as well as to facilitate data sharing and computational analysis, but these are not yet optimally utilized in the chicken. Here we discuss genomic annotation and bio-ontologies. We focus specifically on the Gene Ontology (GO), chicken GO annotations and how these can facilitate functional genomics in the chicken. The GO is the most developed and widely used bio-ontology. It is the de facto standard for functional annotation. Despite its critical importance in analyzing microarray and other functional genomics data, relatively few chicken gene products have any GO annotation. When these are available, the average quality of chicken gene products annotations (defined using evidence code weight and annotation depth) is much less than in mouse. Moreover, tools allowing chicken researchers to easily and rapidly use the GO are either lacking or hard to use. To address all of these problems we developed ChickGO and AgBase. Chicken GO annotations are provided by complementary work at MSU-AgBase and EBI-GOA. The GO tools pipeline at AgBase uses GO to derive functional and biological significance from microarray and other functional genomics data. Not only will improved genomic annotation and tools to use these annotations benefit the chicken research community but they will also facilitate research in other avian species and comparative genomics.

Isolation and Characterization of an Iron-Containing Superoxide Dismutase From Water Lily, Nuphar luteum.

A cyanide-insensitive superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) was purified from leaves of the water lily Nuphar luteum (L.) Sibth. and Smith Subsp. macrophyllum (Small) Beal. The enzyme had a molecular weight of 46,000 and was composed of two equally sized subunits. Metal analysis showed the protein to contain about 1 gram atom of iron per dimer. The iron-containing superoxide dismutase was sensitive to H(2)O(2) as well as to azide. Antibody to the protein did not cross-react with iron superoxide dismutase isolated from the eucaryote Brassica or with algal extracts.

Distribution of iron-containing superoxide dismutase in vascular plants.

Superoxide dismutases (EC 1.15.1.1) in vascular plants representing different evolutionary levels were characterized using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The three forms of the enzyme were distinguished from each other based on the following criteria: a) the Cu-Zn enzyme is sensitive to cyanide wherease the Fe and Mn enzymes are not; and b) the Cu-Zn and Fe enzymes are inhibited by H(2)O(2) whereas the Mn enzyme is H(2)O(2)-resistant. Of the 43 plant families investigated, the Fe-containing superoxide dismutase was found in three families: Gingkoaceae, Nymphaceae, and Cruciferae.

Absence of the iron-containing superoxide dismutase in mitochondria from mustard (Brassica campestris).

Mitochondria were isolated from mature leaves as well as etiolated seedlings of Brassica campestris (mustard), a eukaryote previously shown to possess the iron-containing isoenzyme of superoxide dismutase. On the basis of KCN- and H2O2-sensitivity, and on polyacrylamide-gel analysis, only the cuprozinc and mangano superoxide dismutases were found in mitochondria. The iron-containing enzyme was absent. The mangano enzyme was found in the mitochondrial matrix, whereas the cuprozinc enzyme appeared to be localized in the intermembrane space.

Chemiluminescence in Wounded Root Tissue : EVIDENCE FOR PEROXIDASE INVOLVEMENT.

Root and stem segments from soybean (Merrill cv. ;Bragg') showed an enhanced chemiluminescence upon mechanical injury. Roots emitted more light than did stems. Light emission was diminished by CN(-) and N(3) (-) but was not affected by rotenone and antimycin A. Catalase quenched chemiluminescence in wounded root segments as did ascorbic acid and hydroquinone. Superoxide dismutase addition resulted in a small diminution in light emission, but mannitol, an OH. scavenger, was without effect. The addition of H(2)O(2) to wounded root segments markedly elevated chemiluminescence in the presence of air as well as under N(2). It is concluded that peroxidases, found abundantly in roots, predominantly contribute to light emission in wounded plant tissue.