The effectiveness of Biomechanical Taping Technique on visual analogue scale, static maximum handgrip strength, and Patient Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation of patients with lateral epicondylalgia: A cross-over study.

INTRODUCTION: Lateral epicondylalgia (LE) is a musculoskeletal injury involving the common extensor origin in elbow manifesting as pain and ineffective handgrip affecting the daily activities of the individuals with LE. OBJECTIVES: This study determined the effectiveness of Standard Biomechanical Taping (SBMT), Vector Correcting Dysfunction Techniques 1 (VCDT 1) and Vector Correcting Dysfunction Technique 2 (VCDT 2); and compared their differences on effects on pain, grip strength and daily functions of individual with unilateral LE. METHODS: A cross-over study design was used. The senior investigator applied three BMT techniques namely: a. SBMT, b. VCDT 1, and c. VCDT 2. On Day 1, SBMT and VCDT1 were randomly assigned. On Day 3, either SBMT or VCDT1 not performed on Day 1 was applied to LE elbows. On Day 5, VCDT2 was applied on LE elbows. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Static Maximum Handgrip Strength Test (SMHGT) and Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) were used as outcome measures administered by three blinded junior investigators. On Days 1, 3, and 5, VAS and SMGHT were administered before and during BMT application. PRTEE was administered on Days 1 and 12. RESULTS: The following were found in this study: a. significantly decreased VAS scores at Days 1, 3, and 5 of BMT application (p < 0.05); b. significantly improved final VAS, SMHGT strength and PRTEE scores on Day 12 compared to baseline scores on Day 1 (p = /<0.01); and c. significantly decreased VAS scores when using SBMT compared to VCDT2 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: BMT is a novel taping technique effective in decreasing lateral elbow pain, increasing handgrip strength and improving function of patients with LE. BMT can be applied on painful elbows effecting a better grip among patients with LE.

Dental caries and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dental caries in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). METHOD: A clinical examination was carried out on 259 adolescents with type 1 DM as compared with 259 age- and sex-matched metabolically healthy controls. The DM cases were characterised by postprandial blood glucose and HBA1c levels, duration of the diseases, age at onset and level of control. Dental caries was assessed using the DMFT index. Data were analysed by Shapiro-Wilk's W, ANOVA, Student's t and Tukey's posthoc test. RESULTS: An intact dentition was found in none of the DM patients. DM adolescents had a higher mean DMFT score (p <0.001), fewer decayed (p <0.0001), and more filled (p <0.001) teeth than in the controls. In the well-controlled DM adolescents, the mean number of decayed (D) teeth was lower (p <0.0001) and the number of filled(F) teeth was higher than in patients with poorer glycaemic control. Early onset of DM was related to fewer decayed and filled teeth, but only if the oral hygiene was adequate (p <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Poor glycaemic control and the early onset of DM may increase the risk of dental caries, but appropriate oral hygiene together with satisfactory metabolic control may prevent the development of dental caries in adolescents with type 1 DM.

Ion release from gold/platinum dental alloy: could release of other elements be accountable in the contact allergy attributed to the gold?

OBJECTIVES: The release of metal ions (Al, Ag, Au, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mg, Mo, Ni, Pd, Pt, Ti, and Zn) from the commercial gold/platinum (Au/Pt) dental alloy of declared composition was studied. METHODS: Au/Pt was soaked in pH 6.0 phosphate buffer, 3.5 pH phosphate buffer and pH 3.5 mixture of lactic, formic and acetic acid, and incubated at 37 degrees C for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 21, and 30 days. Six samples (n = 6) of every solution were prepared for any time period. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy was used for analysis of the released elements. RESULTS: Results demonstrated release of only Cr, Cu, Fe, and Zn from the tested Au/Pt dental alloy (ANOVA, p < 0.001 for buffer, time, and interaction, respectively); however, only Cu and Zn were declared. CONCLUSIONS: The undeclared chromium from Au/Pt dental alloy, or some other element might be responsible for the contact allergy thus far attributed to the gold.