Hospital initiatives in promoting smoking cessation: A 12-year follow-up.

In the present study, the availability of smoking cessation programs (SCP) was surveyed in the same randomly selected USA hospitals in 2000 and 2012. A total of 102 USA hospitals were randomly selected for this survey. Each hospital website was searched for the topic of smoking cessation. In the second phase of the survey, the main switchboard number of each hospital was anonymously telephoned and the 'stop smoking clinic' was requested. The phone survey results showed that the percentage of hospital switchboard calls that were connected to a SCP remained identical at 47% in 2000 and 2012. The results for the internet availability of SCP on hospital websites improved from 30% in 2000 to 47% in 2012. There were more hospitals that added additional SCP information (27%) compared with those that removed SCP information (15%) by 2012. Among the 57% of hospitals that showed no change in internet SCP information, 22% remained positive for such information while 35% remained negative. The phone survey of hospitals showed that 47% of USA hospitals were able to connect a caller to a SCP in the years 2000 and 2012. While there was no reduction over the 12 years, there was no increase in the percentage of hospital switchboards that connected to a SCP. Availability of SCP information on hospital web sites improved to a limited extent; increasing from 30% of sites in 2000 to 47% in 2012. Providing SCP on a hospital website is easy and free, for example adding a link to QuitNet or QuitLink. The present study adds to information gathered 12 years earlier, and is unusual in being able to provide follow-up data on the same set of hospitals studied previously.

The Optimal Angle of Head Rotation for Internal Jugular Cannulation as Determined by Ultrasound Evaluation.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the degree of head rotation that creates the maximal anatomic separation between the right internal jugular vein and the carotid artery. DESIGN: Single-center prospective, observational cohort study. SETTING: University medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty patients aged>21 years and undergoing cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: An ultrasound machine equipped with a digital caliper was used to determine the relational anatomy of the internal jugular vein and the carotid artery, with patients in the Trendelenburg position at head angles of -15°, 0°,+15°,+30°,+45°,+60°,+75°, and+90°. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: When examining the percentage of the internal jugular vein vertical diameter that is not overlapped by the carotid artery (vertically unencumbered), there was a difference between the head angle groups (p<0.01). Unencumbered vertical distance was different between+75° versus 0°, and+75° versus+15°. At+75°, 60.3%±5.3% of the internal jugular vein was unencumbered vertically, whereas at 0°, it was 37.2%±3.9%, and at+15° it was 40.3%±3.8%. Only 72% of the patients were able to position their head at+75°, and 54% of the subjects were able to position their head at+90°. CONCLUSION: The authors found the internal jugular vein becomes more vertically separated from the carotid artery at more extreme angles of contralateral head rotation.

Root resorption and irreversible damage to the paradental Structures associated with orthodontic treatment.

Modifications of orthodontic appliances and mechanotherapy have evolved continually over the past several decades. General practitioners have observed the changes in appliance design in their own patients in treatment by local orthodontists. This article discusses state-of-the-art orthodontic biomechanics and appliance design, and the impetus that has led many clinicians to adopt biomechanically sound treatment innovations that avoid damage to dental roots and their supporting tissues.