Strengthening sense of coherence: opportunities for theory building in health promotion.

Sense of coherence (SOC) reflects a coping capacity of people to deal with everyday life stressors and consists of three elements: comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness. SOC is often considered to be a stable entity that is developed in young adulthood and stabilizes around the age of 30. Recent studies have questioned this stability of SOC and some studies report on interventions that have been successful in strengthening SOC in adult populations. Currently, however, there is no clear understanding of the mechanisms underlying SOC. As a consequence, it is a challenge to determine what is needed in health promotion activities to strengthen SOC. This article aims to explore the mechanisms underlying SOC as these insights may underpin future health promotion efforts. An exploration of the salutogenic model suggests two important mechanisms: the behavioural and the perceptual. The behavioural mechanism highlights the possibility to empower people to use their resources in stressful situations. The perceptual mechanism suggests that, in order for people to deal with life stressors, it is essential that they are able to reflect on their understanding of the stressful situation and the resources that are available. Based on these mechanisms, we suggest that both empowerment and reflection processes, which are interdependent, may be relevant for health promotion activities that aim to strengthen SOC. The successful application of resources to deal with stressors is not only likely to have a positive influence on health, but also creates consistent and meaningful life experiences that can positively reinforce SOC levels.

Method to verify the accuracy of model surgery and prediction tracing.

Accuracy of cephalometric tracings and model surgeries is of utmost importance in planning for orthognathic surgery. The technique described allows surgeons to verify position of the models by superimposing a cephalogram of the mounted models over that of the patient. It also reduces the chance of error during actual surgery by placing models in centric relation. Therefore, the possibility of intraoperative complications, and thus longer operating times, is minimized.

Vergence adaptation and the order of clinical vergence range testing.

When measuring horizontal relative vergence ranges, the conventional clinical procedure is to assess the base-in (or divergence) range before the base-out (or convergence) determination. The rationale for this order of testing is that the convergence responses stimulated during the base-out measurements may produce vergence adaptation (i.e., a fusional aftereffect), which may temporarily bias the subsequent base-in values in the base-out direction. However, the effect of reversing this order of testing (i.e, base-out before base-in) has not been directly evaluated. Accordingly, the present study compared distance base-in vergence ranges measured both before and after base-out testing at separate test sessions. Additionally, tonic vergence (TV) was assessed before and after each vergence range measurement. The results indicated that base-out vergence range testing stimulated vergence adaptation, and furthermore produced a statistically significant reduction in the subsequently measured base-in recovery value. However, the magnitude of this shift was less than the estimated degree of repeatability of the vergence range measurement. Therefore, a more appropriate order of testing would be to assess the heterophoria compensating range first in order to obtain accurate results during this more critical measurement.

The spiral curriculum in optometric education.

Optometric education should center around clinical training from the first year and develop within a spiral curriculum as far as possible. This does not eliminate the need for a layered curriculum where basic sciences are considered necessary to further learning but serves to make these sciences more applied and relevant to the study of optometry from the very beginning. A philosophy of science component requires to be integrated in the optometry teaching program so as to provide the student with as wide a range of thinking and problem-solving skills possible, in particular those which relate to optometry in general and clinical learning. Advanced technologies in the areas of computers and video materials as well as modern teaching strategies should be used to make paradigm changes in optometric teaching effective.

Splint therapy for electrical burns of the oral commissure in children.

Electrical burns of the oral cavity are relatively rare; a case is reported here. An acrylic splint fabricated for the patient helped prevent microstomia and the subsequent development of a deformity.

A case of pseudoankylosis between the pterygoid plate and mandible.

There are many causes of limitation of mandibular function. The use of CT scanning has enhanced our ability to look beyond the more obvious anatomic areas of mandibular ankylosis. An interesting case of pseudoankylosis of the pterygoid plate and mandible is presented. This case clearly demonstrates the importance of CT scanning in the diagnosis and treatment planning for such an unusual anomaly.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: report of case with odontogenic infection.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. The increased hemolysis and hemoglobinuria associated with sleep have been observed so frequently that these features have been incorporated into the syndrome's name. Infections, especially of the respiratory and urinary system, can cause hemolytic episodes. Patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria have increased susceptibility to infections. Some PNH patients are leukopenic, but many are not. It has been reported that leukocyte alkaline phosphatase of granulocytes in patients with PNH is low. As Hartmann and Kohlhouse point out, "The principles of treating infection in PNH seem no different than the therapy of infections in any group. "If major surgery is indicated, preparation should include saline-washed red cells, which would increase the patient's number of circulating normal red blood cells, if necessary. The prognosis is variable. A small percentage of patients with PNH develop leukemia. However, in at least half of all patients, the number of complement sensitive cells decreases, and many of these patients live a fairly normal life.

Introduction of the sagittal symphysotomy in the treatment of chin deformities.

The management of chin problems occasionally presents a surgical problem to the clinician because of certain anatomic and clinical considerations. This article reviews and discusses some of the conventional surgical procedures in treating chin deformities. The new and versatile sagittal symphysotomy is introduced and described. Three case reports are presented.

Nonfatal anaphylaxis caused by oral penicillin: report of case.

Severe allergic reactions may occur after the ingestion of oral penicillin. It is essential that the dentist who prescribes the drug is familiar with the rationale for therapy and is equipped to initiate urgently needed treatment.