A quality appraisal of economic evaluations of community water fluoridation: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To critically appraise the methodological conduct and reporting quality of economic evaluations (EE) of community water fluoridation (CWF). METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in general databases and specialist directories of the economic literature. The Consensus on Health Economic Criteria list (CHEC) appraised the methodological quality while the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) assessed the reporting quality of included studies. RESULTS: A total of 1,138 records were identified, of which 18 met the inclusion criteria. Cost analysis emerged as the most prevalent type of EE, though a growing trend towards conducting full EEs is observed. CHEC revealed the items most frequently unfulfilled were the study design, measurement and valuation of costs and outcomes, while CHEERS also identified reporting deficiencies in these aspects. Furthermore, the review highlights subtleties in methodological aspects that may not be discerned by CHEC, such as the estimation of the impact of fluoridation and the inclusion of treatment savings within cost estimates. CONCLUSIONS: While numerous studies were conducted before publication of these assessment instruments, this review reveals that a noteworthy subset of studies exhibited good methodological conduct and reporting quality. There has been a steady improvement in the methodological and reporting quality over time, with recently published EEs largely adhering to best practice guidelines. The evidence presented will assist policymakers in leveraging the available evidence effectively to inform resource allocation decisions. It may also serve as a resource for researchers to enhance the methodological and reporting standards of future EEs of CWF.

Tumeurs bénignes des glandes salivaires accessoires au CHU de Bouaké: aspects épidémiologique, diagnostique et thérapeutique de 18 cas / Benign tumor of the accessory salivary glands at the chu de Bouaké: epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of 18 cases

Introduction : l'adénome pléomorphe est le type histologique le plus fréquemment observé des tumeurs bénignes des glandes salivaires accessoires (GSA). L'objectif de cette étude était de décrire les particularités épidémiologiques, diagnostiques et thérapeutiques des tumeurs bénignes des GSA. Matériel et méthodes : Il s'est agi d'une étude transversale à collecte rétrospective descriptive réalisée dans le service de Stomatologie et Chirurgie MaxilloFaciale du CHU de Bouaké, sur une période de 8 ans (1er Janvier 2015 au 31 Décembre 2022). Résultats : 18 dossiers de patients dont 12 femmes et 6 hommes, opérés pour une tumeur bénigne des GSA, ont été colligés. L'âge médian des patients était de 37 ans avec des extrêmes de 35 et 62 ans. Le siège de prédilection était le palais dans 12 cas, les lèvres dans 3 cas, la joue dans 2 cas et la langue dans 1 cas. La tomodensitométrie maxillo-faciale a été l'examen de choix pour l'orientation diagnostique. Le traitement a consisté en une exérèse en mono bloc sous anesthésie générale par voie endo buccale. L'examen anatomopathologique a confirmé le diagnostic d'un adénome pléomorphe dans tous les cas. Après un recul de 2 ans, aucune récidive n'a été observée. Discussion : L'adénome pléomorphe représente le type histologique le plus fréquent des tumeurs bénignes des GSA. Il atteint avec prédilection l'adulte jeune de sexe féminin et siège au palais. L'exérèse chirurgicale reste le traitement de choix.

Introduction: Pleomorphic adenoma is the most frequently observed histological type of benign tumour of the accessory salivary glands (ASG). The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic features of ASGs. Material and methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted in the Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of the Bouaké University Hospital, over an 8-year period (January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2022). Results: A total of 18 patients (12 women and 6 men) underwent surgery for benign tumours of the GSA. The median age of the patients was 37 years, with extremes of 35 and 62 years. The preferred site was the palate in 12 cases, the lips in 3 cases, the cheek in 2 cases and the tongue in 1 case. Maxillofacial computed tomography has been the examination of choice for diagnostic orientation. Treatment consisted of single-block excision under general anaesthetic via the endo-buccal route. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a pleomorphic adenoma in all cases. After a 2-year follow-up, no recurrence was observed. Discussion: Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common histological type of benign tumour of the GSA. It prefers to affect young adult women and is located on the palate. Surgical excision remains the treatment of choice

Ultrasonic testing of thick and thin Inconel 625 alloys manufactured by laser powder bed fusion.

Additive manufacturing of alloys enables low-volume production of functional metallic components with complex geometries. Ultrasonic testing can ensure the quality of these components and detect typical defects generated during laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). However, it is difficult to find a single ultrasonic inspection technique that can detect defects in the large variety of geometries generated using LPBF. In this work, phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) is suggested to inspect thick LPBF components, while guided waves are explored for thin curved ones. PAUT is used to detect cylindrical lack of fusion defects in thick LPBF rectangular parts. Practical defects are generated by reducing the laser power at prespecified locations in the samples. The defects' shape and density are verified using optical microscopy and X-ray computed tomography. Partially fused defects down to 0.25 mm in diameter are experimentally detected using a 10 MHz PAUT probe with the total focusing method post-processing. The experimental results are compared to defect images predicted by finite element simulations. For thin components with curved geometry, guided waves are used to detect powder-filled cylindrical defects. The waves are generated using piezoelectric transducers, and the spatiotemporal wavefield is measured using a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer. Using root-mean-square imaging of the wavefield, defects down to 1 mm are clearly detected despite the complex internal features in the samples.

Complementary catalysis and analysis within solid state additively manufactured metal micro flow reactors.

Additive Manufacturing is transforming how researchers and industrialists look to design and manufacture chemical devices to meet their specific needs. In this work, we report the first example of a flow reactor formed via the solid-state metal sheet lamination technique, Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing (UAM), with directly integrated catalytic sections and sensing elements. The UAM technology not only overcomes many of the current limitations associated with the additive manufacturing of chemical reactionware but it also significantly increases the functionality of such devices. A range of biologically important 1, 4-disubstituted 1, 2, 3-triazole compounds were successfully synthesised and optimised in-flow through a Cu mediated Huisgen 1, 3-dipolar cycloaddition using the UAM chemical device. By exploiting the unique properties of UAM and continuous flow processing, the device was able to catalyse the proceeding reactions whilst also providing real-time feedback for reaction monitoring and optimisation.

Characteristics of wastewater originating from dental practices using predominantly mercury-free dental materials.

Dental materials are currently undergoing a revolution. Mercury use, including traditional amalgam (mercury-containing) material used in dental fillings, is now being widely regulated under the Minamata convention, and dental amalgam is currently being replaced by resin formulations in dentistry. These resin-based materials can be tuned to offer varying material properties by incorporation of a range of nano- and micro-particle based 'fillers' for different dental properties and applications. However, these innovations may have a concomitant effect on the waste streams associated with common dental applications, in particular the potential for higher concentrations of novel micro- and nanomaterials within wastewater streams, and a potential route for novel nanomaterials into the wider Environment. These new materials may also mean that wastewater filtering apparatus commonly deployed at present, such as amalgam separators, may be less efficient or insufficient to capture these new filler materials in dental facility wastewater. In this work, we analyse dental wastewater streams from three dental facilities in Ireland with differing amalgam separators in place. The potential overall toxicity, particulate load and physicochemical properties are analysed. The overall risk posed by these new materials is also discussed.

Impact of Reducing Water Fluoride on Dental Caries and Fluorosis.

Guidance intended to reduce fluoride toothpaste ingestion in early childhood was introduced in Ireland in 2002. In 2007, water fluoride concentration was adjusted from 0.8-1.0 to 0.6-0.8 ppm. The objective of this study was to determine the difference in caries and fluorosis levels following introduction of these 2 policy measures. A before-and-after study compared caries and fluorosis in random samples of 8-y-olds in Dublin (n = 707) and Cork-Kerry (n = 1148) in 2017 with 8-y-olds in Dublin (n = 679) and Cork-Kerry (n = 565) in 2002. Dentinal caries experience (primary teeth, d3vcmft(cde)) and fluorosis (permanent teeth, Dean's index of very mild or higher) were clinically measured. Lifetime exposure to community water fluoridation (CWF) was classified as "full CWF"/"no CWF." Effect of examination year on caries prevalence and severity and fluorosis prevalence was assessed using multivariate regression adjusting for other explanatory variables. There was little change in commencement of fluoride toothpaste use at ≤24 mo following introduction of toothbrushing guidance. Among children with full CWF, there was no statistically significant difference in caries prevalence or severity between 2017 and 2002. In 2017, caries prevalence was 55% in Dublin (full CWF) and 56% in Cork-Kerry (full CWF), and mean d3vcmft(cde) among children with caries was 3.4 and 3.7, respectively. Caries severity was less in 2017 (mean 4.2) than 2002 (mean 4.9) among children with no CWF (P = 0.039). The difference in caries severity between children with full CWF and no CWF was less in 2017 than in 2002 (interaction P = 0.013), suggesting a reduced benefit for CWF in 2017. In 2017, fluorosis prevalence was 18% in Dublin (full CWF) and 12% in Cork-Kerry (full CWF). Fluorosis was predominantly "very mild" with no statistically significant difference between 2017 and 2002. CWF at 0.6 to 0.8 ppm is an effective caries-preventive measure. Results suggested low uptake of toothbrushing guidance, a reduced caries-preventive effect for CWF in primary teeth, and no reduction in fluorosis following introduction of the policy measures.

Frequency-comb spectroscopy on pure quantum states of a single molecular ion.

Spectroscopy is a powerful tool for studying molecules and is commonly performed on large thermal molecular ensembles that are perturbed by motional shifts and interactions with the environment and one another, resulting in convoluted spectra and limited resolution. Here, we use quantum-logic techniques to prepare a trapped molecular ion in a single quantum state, drive terahertz rotational transitions with an optical frequency comb, and read out the final state nondestructively, leaving the molecule ready for further manipulation. We can resolve rotational transitions to 11 significant digits and derive the rotational constant of 40CaH+ to be B R = 142 501 777.9(1.7) kilohertz. Our approach is suited for a wide range of molecular ions, including polyatomics and species relevant for tests of fundamental physics, chemistry, and astrophysics.

In-situ time resolved spectrographic measurement using an additively manufactured metallic micro-fluidic analysis platform.

INTRODUCTION: Microfluidic reactionware allows small volumes of reagents to be utilized for highly controlled flow chemistry applications. By integrating these microreactors with onboard analytical systems, the devices change from passive ones to active ones, increasing their functionality and usefulness. A pressing application for these active microreactors is the monitoring of reaction progress and intermediaries with respect to time, shedding light on important information about these real-time synthetic processes. OBJECTIVE: In this multi-disciplinary study the objective was to utilise advanced digital fabrication to research metallic, active microreactors with integrated fibre optics for reaction progress monitoring of solvent based liquids, incompatible with previously researched polymer devices, in combination with on-board Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy for real-time reaction monitoring. METHOD: A solid-state, metal-based additive manufactured system (Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing) combined with focussed ion beam milling, that permitted the accurate embedment of delicate sensory elements directly at the point of need within aluminium layers, was researched as a method to create active, metallic, flow reactors with on-board sensing. This outcome was then used to characterise and correctly identify concentrations of UV-active water-soluble B-vitamin nicotinamide and fluorescein. A dilution series was formed from 0.01-1.75 mM; which was pumped through the research device and monitored using UV-vis spectroscopy. RESULTS: The results uniquely showed the in-situ ion milling of ultrasonically embedded optical fibres resulted in a metallic microfluidic reaction and monitoring device capable of measuring solvent solutions from 18 µM to 18 mM of nicotinamide and fluorescein, in real time. This level of accuracy highlights that the researched device and methods are capable of real-time spectrographic analysis of a range of chemical reactions outside of those possible with polymer devices.

An Improved Evans Blue Staining Method for Consistent, Accurate Assessment of Plasmodiophora brassicae Resting Spore Viability.

Clubroot caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae is an important disease of brassica crops. The use of vital stains to determine the viability of P. brassicae resting spores can provide useful information regarding spore longevity, inoculum potential, or the efficacy of antimicrobial treatments. Evans blue is one example of a vital stain that has been reported to differentially stain viable and nonviable resting spores. Some previously published protocols using Evans blue to stain P. brassicae resting spores have not provided accurate or consistent results. In this study, we modified the Evans blue method by increasing the staining time to 8 h or more and evaluated P. brassicae resting spores after heat treatment at various combinations of temperature and time. Extending staining times significantly increased the numbers of stained resting spores up to 7 h, after which the numbers of stained spores did not change significantly (R2 = 96.88; P ≤ 0.001). The accuracy of the modified method to discriminate viable and nonviable spores was evaluated in repeated experiments and by comparing the staining data with those derived from inoculation assays and propidium monoazide quantitative PCR (qPCR). The results demonstrated that the modified Evans blue staining method improved the accuracy and consistency of measurement of P. brassicae resting spore viability. Additionally, it was equivalent to the qPCR method for differentiating viable and nonviable spores (R2 = 99.84; P ≤ 0.001) and confirmed in canola infection bioassays.

Sustainable treatment systems for removal of pharmaceutical residues and other priority persistent substances.

Pharmaceutical residues and other emerging substances commonly summarised as micropollutants pass through wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and end up in the receiving waters and sludge. Many studies have investigated the removal efficiency of various techniques but a holistic evaluation of various relevant treatment alternatives regarding both the removal efficiency for various micropollutants, investment and operating costs, environmental impacts and future comprehensiveness is still lacking. This paper provides the results from a large 3-year project about the evaluation of sustainable treatment systems for removal of various micropollutants or disruptive effects at Swedish WWTPs and their environmental, economic and future sustainability. The presented results are based on our own pilot tests and related assessment and modelling efforts and provide a holistic view on advanced treatment of wastewater for removal of micropollutants.

Does breastfeeding duration decrease child obesity? An instrumental variables analysis.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have documented that breastfeeding is associated with a significant reduction in child obesity risk. However, a persistent problem in this literature is that unobservable confounders may drive the correlations between breastfeeding behaviors and child weight outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the effect of breastfeeding practices on child weight outcomes at age 2. METHODS: This study relied on population-based data for all births in Oregon in 2009 followed for two years. We used instrumental variables methods to exploit variations in breastfeeding by mothers immediately after delivery and the degree to which hospitals encouraged mothers to breastfeed in order to isolate the effect of breastfeeding practices on child weight outcomes. RESULTS: We found that for every extra week that the child was breastfed, the likelihood of the child being obese at age 2 declined by 0.82% [95% CI -1.8% to 0.1%]. Likewise, for every extra week that the child was exclusively breastfed, the likelihood of being obese declined by 0.66% [95% CI -1.4 to 0.06%]. While the magnitudes of effects were modest and marginally significant, the results were robust in a variety of specifications. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that hospital practices that support breastfeeding may influence childhood weight outcomes.

Customisable 3D printed microfluidics for integrated analysis and optimisation.

The formation of smart Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) devices featuring integrated sensing optics is currently hindered by convoluted and expensive manufacturing procedures. In this work, a series of 3D-printed LOC devices were designed and manufactured via stereolithography (SL) in a matter of hours. The spectroscopic performance of a variety of optical fibre combinations were tested, and the optimum path length for performing Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy determined. The information gained in these trials was then used in a reaction optimisation for the formation of carvone semicarbazone. The production of high resolution surface channels (100-500 µm) means that these devices were capable of handling a wide range of concentrations (9 µM-38 mM), and are ideally suited to both analyte detection and process optimisation. This ability to tailor the chip design and its integrated features as a direct result of the reaction being assessed, at such a low time and cost penalty greatly increases the user's ability to optimise both their device and reaction. As a result of the information gained in this investigation, we are able to report the first instance of a 3D-printed LOC device with fully integrated, in-line monitoring capabilities via the use of embedded optical fibres capable of performing UV-vis spectroscopy directly inside micro channels.

Quasi-Particle Self-Consistent GW for Molecules.

We present the formalism and implementation of quasi-particle self-consistent GW (qsGW) and eigenvalue only quasi-particle self-consistent GW (evGW) adapted to standard quantum chemistry packages. Our implementation is benchmarked against high-level quantum chemistry computations (coupled-cluster theory) and experimental results using a representative set of molecules. Furthermore, we compare the qsGW approach for five molecules relevant for organic photovoltaics to self-consistent GW results (scGW) and analyze the effects of the self-consistency on the ground state density by comparing calculated dipole moments to their experimental values. We show that qsGW makes a significant improvement over conventional G0W0 and that partially self-consistent flavors (in particular evGW) can be excellent alternatives.

First Report of Root Rot of Field Pea Caused by Aphanomyces euteiches in Alberta, Canada.

In recent years, root rots have severely impacted yields of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) in the Canadian province of Alberta. Above-normal precipitation levels in the springs of 2011 to 2013 led to the hypothesis that Aphanomyces euteiches Drechsler may play a role in root rot in water-saturated pea fields. To determine causal agent(s) of root rot, 145 pea fields were surveyed at flowering in July 2013 (1). Symptoms of root rot were abundant; the most prominent included red vascular streaking and dark brown rot of the tap root, indicative of Fusarium spp., but brown discoloration and cortical decay of lateral roots, indicative of A. euteiches, was also observed. Total genomic DNA was extracted from diseased root samples from each field, using the Qiagen DNeasy Plant kit, and amplified with species-specific primers for A. euteiches (2). Fusarium spp. were present in all fields, but seven fields located within a 200-km radius yielded a positive reaction for A. euteiches. Five fields were re-visited in May 2014 to collect soil for a bait test (3). Tests were performed using surface-sterilized pea seeds (cv. CDC Meadow) treated with Allegiance FL (Bayer, a.i. metalaxyl) at a rate of 110 ml/kg of seed. Five seeds per pot were planted into field soils in 10-cm pots with 12 replicate pots per field. Soils were irrigated as needed until the second-node stage and then kept at saturation for 14 days. Thirty day-old pea roots were evaluated for root rot symptoms; plated onto cornmeal agar amended with metalaxyl, benomyl, and vancomycin (MBV) without surface sterilization; and visualized microscopically for presence of oospores in the roots. Roots from three out of the five field soils showed symptoms typical of A. euteiches infection, including honey-brown discoloration, degradation of the root cortex, and presence of oospores. Root rot symptoms from the remaining fields were characteristic of Fusarium root rot, and oospores were not observed in roots. Fungal cultures with fast-growing, white, aerial mycelia characteristic of A. euteiches on MBV, were recovered from roots with Aphanomyces root rot symptoms, and transferred to PDA. To confirm pathogen identity, total DNA was extracted from 7-day-old cultures growing on PDA using the Qiagen DNeasy Plant Kit. The ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified using the primer pair ITS1 and ITS4 and sequenced (4). The sequences, deposited in GenBank with accession numbers KM486065, KM486066, and KM486067, were 100% identical to the ITS rDNA sequence of several isolates of A. euteiches using a BLASTn query. Fusarium spp. were also recovered from all root samples in the soil bait test. Total DNA extracted from roots was used in PCR assays with A. euteiches-specific primers as described above. PCR amplification of root DNA was successful only from the same three fields that showed Aphanomcyces root rot symptoms, further verifying presence of A. euteiches. The inability to detect or recover A. euteiches from two fields that had tested positive in the survey was likely due to patchy distribution of this pathogen and emphasizes the importance of rigorous soil collection methods to accurately detect pathogens. Although this is the first record of A. euteiches on field pea in Alberta, the distribution of A. euteiches within a 200-km radius in southern Alberta indicates that it has likely been present in soils for several years. The interaction between A. euteiches and Fusarium spp. infection in the root rot complex of field pea and their impact on field pea production in Alberta is currently being investigated. References: (1) S. Chatterton et al. Can. Plant Dis. Surv. 94:189, 2014. (2) C. Gangneux et al. Phytopathology 104:1138, 2014. (3) D. Malvick et al. Plant Dis. 78:361, 1994. (4) T. J. White et al. Page 315 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, 1990.

A variant in ANKK1 modulates acute subjective effects of cocaine: a preliminary study.

This study aimed to evaluate whether functional variants in the ankyrin repeat and kinase domain-containing 1 (ANKK1) gene and/or the dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) gene modulate the subjective effects (reward or non-reward response to a stimulus) produced by cocaine administration. Cocaine-dependent participants (N = 47) were administered 40 mg of cocaine or placebo at time 0, and a subjective effects questionnaire (visual analog scale) was administered 15 min prior to cocaine administration, and at 5, 10, 15 and 20 min following administration. The influence of polymorphisms in the ANKK1 and DRD2 genes on subjective experience of cocaine in the laboratory was tested. Participants with a T allele of ANKK1 rs1800497 experienced greater subjective 'high' (P = 0.00006), 'any drug effect' (P = 0.0003) and 'like' (P = 0.0004) relative to the CC genotype group. Although the variant in the DRD2 gene was shown to be associated with subjective effects, linkage disequilibrium analysis revealed that this association was driven by the ANKK1 rs1800497 variant. A participant's ANKK1 genotype may identify individuals who are likely to experience greater positive subjective effects following cocaine exposure, including greater 'high' and 'like', and these individuals may have increased vulnerability to continue using cocaine or they may be at greater risk to relapse during periods of abstinence. However, these results are preliminary and replication is necessary to confirm these findings.

Pharmacogenetic randomized trial for cocaine abuse: disulfiram and α1A-adrenoceptor gene variation.

Disulfiram is a cocaine addiction pharmacotherapy that inhibits dopamine ß-hydroxylase (DßH) and reduces norepinephrine production. We examined whether a functional variant of the ADRA1A gene (Cys to Arg at codon 347 in exon 2, Cys347Arg) may enhance treatment response through decreased stimulation of this α1A-adrenoceptor, since antagonists of this receptor show promise in reducing cocaine use. Sixty-nine cocaine and opioid co-dependent (DSM-IV) subjects were stabilized on methadone for two weeks and subsequently randomized into disulfiram (250 mg/day, N=32) and placebo groups (N=37) for 10 weeks. We genotyped the ADRA1A gene polymorphism (rs1048101) and evaluated its role for increasing cocaine free urines in those subjects treated with disulfiram using repeated measures analysis of variance, corrected for population structure. The 47 patients who carried at least one T allele of rs1048101 (TT or TC genotype) reduced their cocaine positive urines from 84% to 56% on disulfiram (p=0.0001), while the 22 patients with the major allele CC genotype showed no disulfiram effect. This study indicates that a patient's ADRA1A genotype could be used to identify a subset of individuals for which disulfiram and, perhaps, other α1-adrenoceptor blockers may be an effective pharmacotherapy for cocaine dependence.

Modifying the role of serotonergic 5-HTTLPR and TPH2 variants on disulfiram treatment of cocaine addiction: a preliminary study.

Disulfiram is a cocaine pharmacotherapy that may act through increasing serotonin, benefiting patients with genetically low serotonin transporter levels (5-HTTLPR, S' allele carriers) and low serotonin synthesis (TPH2, A allele carriers). We stabilized 71 cocaine and opioid co-dependent patients on methadone for 2 weeks and randomized them into disulfiram and placebo groups for 10 weeks. We genotyped the SLC6A4 5-HTTLPR (rs4795541, rs25531) and TPH2 1125A>T (rs4290270) variants and evaluated their role in moderating disulfiram treatment for cocaine dependence. Cocaine-positive urines dropped from 78% to 54% for the disulfiram group and from 77% to 76% for the placebo group among the 5-HTTLPR S' allele carriers (F = 16.2; df = 1,301; P < 0.0001). TPH2 A allele carriers responded better to disulfiram than placebo (F = 16.0; df = 1,223; P < 0.0001). Patients with both an S' allele and a TPH2 A allele reduced cocaine urines from 71% to 53% on disulfiram and had no change on placebo (F = 21.6; df = 1,185; P < 0.00001).

Milestones in oral health services in the Republic of Ireland.

With the many changes occurring in Ireland it would seem an opportune time to review the body of research conducted and policy enacted in the Republic of Ireland on oral health services and oral health. The dental health of the nation prior to water fluoridation, the legislation and policy decisions impacting on oral health up to budgetary changes, and the production of evidence-based guidelines will be discussed. The first national survey of dental health was conducted in Ireland in 1952 - 'Dental Caries in Ireland'. In the intervening 60 years, further surveys of the oral health of people in Ireland have been carried out. Legislation, surveys and policy documents that have shaped dentistry and the oral health of the population are set out in Tables 1 and 2. A more comprehensive description of the policies can be found in the thesis submitted in fulfilment of Masters in Dental Public Health (MDPH) by the lead author.

Differential regulation of simultaneous antitumor and alloreactive CD8(+) T-cell responses in the same host by rapamycin.

Rapamycin is an immunosuppressive agent routinely used in organ transplantation but also paradoxically exerts antiviral and antitumor activities. Pathogen-specific memory CD8(+) T-cell (T(CD8) ) responses were recently found to be augmented by rapamycin. However, whether rapamycin influences the magnitude and quality of anticancer T(CD8) responses is unknown. Importantly, how rapamycin may regulate simultaneous virus/tumor-specific and alloreactive T(CD8) in the same host remains unexplored. To answer these questions, we primed wild-type mice with allogeneic cells concomitantly expressing simian virus 40 large tumor antigen (T Ag), a viral oncoprotein with well-defined epitopes. Rapamycin selectively enhanced the cross-priming of T(CD8) specific for T Ag's most immunodominant epitope called site IV but not T(CD8) alloreactivity. Rapamycin-treated mice also had a high percentage of splenic CD127(high) KLRG1(low) T(CD8) and an increased frequency of site IV-specific T cells long after the peak of their primary response. When site IV was presented as a cytosolic minigene encoded by a recombinant vaccinia virus, rapamycin failed to boost the site IV-specific response. Therefore, the nature and presentation mode of antigen determine the susceptibility to the adjuvant effect of rapamycin. Our findings reveal the unexpected benefit of rapamycin treatment in recipients of allografts co-expressing tumor/viral Ags.

A new index to measure tooth wear--methodolgy and practical advice.

A new tooth wear index, designed to measure stages of tooth wear in enamel and dentine is presented. The index measures the lateral spread of wear in enamel and the depth of tooth wear in dentine. The index scores enamel loss at 5 levels and 6 levels in dentine and provides a more sensitive index for monitoring the progression of wear than older indices. The protocols and methods of the index are described and incorporate refinements based on the combined experiences of two independent studies conducted on adults and children. The findings of both studies are summarised and recommendations are made for future studies which investigate the prevalence of tooth wear in adults or children.