A clinical and radiographic evaluation of fixed partial dentures (FPDs) prepared by dental school students: a retrospective study.

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in fixed partial dentures (FPD) quality, expected lifetime and possible reasons for failure. This study probed the FPD success rate and the relationship among various factors and their effect on FPD failure. Patients treated by dental students under supervision and installed FPDs were examined clinically and radiographically. A total of 247 FPDs were evaluated after a mean service period of 6.3 years (ranging from 1 to 25 years) after cementation. Caries was found to be the most frequent cause of failure and non-vital abutments decreased survival rates.

Psychological intervention in cancer patients: a randomized study.

We examined the long-term effects of a behavioral intervention on the psychological distress of patients recently diagnosed with localized cancer, who were being treated at Hadassah University Hospital. All 116 patients who met the inclusion criteria (49 men and 67 women) were randomized into an intervention group and a control group on a 3:1 basis. The intervention chosen was Progressive Muscle Relaxation with Guided Imagery, which is intended to decrease psychological distress and increase the patient's sense of internal control. The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the Impact of Events Scale (IES) were used to assess psychological distress within 1 month of diagnosis, 3 months later (shortly before starting intervention), and 6 months after the end of the intervention. At the final assessment, the effect of the behavioral intervention on psychological distress was positive. The effect was relatively modest but statistically significant when assessed in terms of the Global Severity Index (GSI) (a decrease of 2.3 points in the GSI of the treatment group as compared to an increase of 1.2 points in the GSI of the control group P=.005). Despite these moderately positive findings, we suggest that the results might be more meaningful if cancer patients are first screened for psychological distress to exclude those with a low distress level that does not justify intervention, and only then randomized for participation in the study.

Transmission of response to trauma? Second-generation Holocaust survivors' reaction to cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Opinions differ about the effects of the Holocaust on the adult offspring of survivors. The authors studied cancer patients who were second-generation Holocaust survivors in an attempt to determine whether they react to their illness with the high distress found to be a characteristic of Holocaust survivors. METHOD: In a study population of women with breast cancer, 106 second-generation Holocaust survivors were compared to 102 women whose parents were not in the Holocaust. Background information was obtained by interviews. In addition, all patients completed three self-reports: the Mental Attitude to Cancer Scale, the Brief Symptom Inventory, and the Impact of Event Scale. RESULTS: The two groups had identical mean scores on the Mental Attitude to Cancer Scale. The offspring of Holocaust survivors had scores on the Brief Symptom Inventory and the Impact of Event Scale that were substantially and significantly higher and in the range of psychopathology. Within the group, married women and women whose mothers were still alive were even more distressed. Other independent variables shed little light on why the second-generation Holocaust survivors suffered from extreme distress. CONCLUSIONS: Second-generation Holocaust survivors are particularly vulnerable to psychological distress and, when faced with a trauma such as breast cancer, react with extreme psychological distress.

Clinical and radiographic assessment of Class II esthetic restorations in primary molars.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to access the clinical performance of two esthetic materials (Vitremer and Z100 + Scotchbond Multipurpose) when used as Class II restorations in primary molars, and compare them to amalgam controls. METHODS: A total of 102 restorations were placed in primary molars of 29 schoolchildren; 40 were of Vitremer, 38 of Z100 + Scotchbond Multipurpose, and 24 of amalgam (Dispersalloy). The restorations were evaluated clinically at baseline and after 6, 12, 18, 24 months, or until tooth exfoliation or patient drop-out, following the modified Cvar and Ryge criteria. Radiographs were taken at yearly intervals, and the radiograph of the last examination available was assessed and scored. RESULTS: The majority of the restorations examined clinically up to 18 months was good (Alpha according to Cvar and Ryge), and no statistically significant differences between the groups was observed. However, at the 19-24 months evaluation, Z100 rated better than Vitremer for surface appearance and color match. The prevalence of radiolucent defects at the cervical margin for the Z100 (47%) was significantly higher than for amalgam (11%) restorations (P = 0.002) and for Vitremer (13%) restorations (P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: The three materials evaluated (Vitremer, Z100 and Dispersalloy) presented satisfactory clinical performance during the time evaluated (approximately 2 years). Approximately half of the composite resin restorations presented radiographic defects that might require replacement at a later date. In contrast, glass ionomer and amalgam restorations presented significantly less radiographic defects at the time of the final examination. This study suggests that composite resins are indicated for classII restorations in primary molars that are expected to exfoliate within two years.

Follow-up of Hadassah Nursing School's first seven graduate classes.

This article presents a study that evaluated the work performance of the first seven graduate classes of Hadassah Nursing School, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. Most of the graduates were located and their fields of employment and future professional plans determined. Strengths and weaknesses in the graduates' practical work are discussed. While interviewing the head nurses at the graduates' workplaces, the absorption strategies of accepting the graduates were questioned as were the ways in which the graduates were evaluated.

Serum lactic dehydrogenase and primary carcinoma of the ovary.

Serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) was evaluated in 51 patients with primary carcinoma of the ovary. An increased activity of this enzyme was found in 69% of the patients. The mean +/- SD activity of LDH correlated significantly with stage of disease: 200 +/- 73 U/l in stages 1 and 2, 295 +/- 107 U/l in stages 3A and 3B, and 362 +/- 91 U/l in stages 3C and 4. Moreover, LDH activity correlated significantly with the histological type of the tumor: 170 +/- 57 U/l in mucinous, 300 +/- 107 U/l in serous, 330 +/- 106 U/l in endometroid, and 352 +/- 98 U/l in undifferentiated carcinoma. Normal activity of LDH was observed in 86% of patients in stages 1 and 2, but in only 21% of patients in stages 3 and 4. Serum LDH activity was not found to be a good predictor of late prognosis of the disease, and it did not correlate with the surgical findings on second-look laparotomy. In addition, LDH activity did not correlate with the surgical debulking effort. However, after completion of cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant therapy, LDH did correlate with the course of the disease. It is concluded that LDH may have a role in the evaluation of a patient with carcinoma of the ovary or with a pelvic mass.