Effect of Mutans streptococcal colonization on plaque formation and regrowth in young children--a brief commnunication.

OBJECTIVES: Visible plaque on the maxillary anterior teeth of young children has been identified as a risk indicator for early childhood caries. The present study examined whether this plaque is related to the colonization of children's teeth with Mutans streptococci (MS) or toothbrushing frequency. METHODS: Thirty-nine children, aged 12 to 36 months, had plaque scores, and plaque samples were taken from the labial surfaces of the maxillary incisors at baseline and repeated 3 days after suspended oral hygiene (plaque regrowth). RESULTS: A positive correlation was found between the baseline percent MS and regrowth plaque score and between baseline and regrowth plaque scores. Plaque scores of those that brushed zero to one time a day were not different from those who brushed two or more times a day. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the presence of plaque on the anterior teeth of young children is consistent and related to MS colonization.     

Validation of analytical parameters of a competitive direct ELISA for aflatoxin B1 in peanuts

Analytical validation of a competitive direct SUNQuik ELISA with a reference High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method and other methods including a minicolumn method and the VICAM Aflatest® system for aflatoxin in peanuts was conducted. Both the ELISA and the VICAM Aflatest® system, using the same peanut extracts were analytically comparable with the HPLC method (R=0.998, p<0.000). The minicolumn method was also found to be acceptable as a low cost rapid semi-quantitative test. Despite the large variation in sampling, the correlation between the SUNQuik ELISA and HPLC using the different peanut sub-samples was considered acceptable over the range of 0–1200 µg kg^?1 (R=0.938). No false negatives were found using the SUNQuik ELISA and false positives were either nil or negligible in all the studies conducted. The repeatability of the SUNQuik ELISA run on the same day was good with only±10% deviation. The reproducibility of the SUNQuik ELISA between days was also acceptable, but with a higher deviation. Applying the SUNQuik ELISA for aflatoxin surveys of peanuts in Indonesia proved that the method can deliver high quality, cost- and time-effective analysis with very little establishment capital and maintenance.     

Evaluating clinical educators: an employer's perspective

An Australian school of nursing's attempt to introduce an evaluation process required by management for clinical educators involved in undergraduate preregistration education is discussed Reliance on student feedback and clinical agencies' perceptions of the quality of teaching were seen as inadequate mechanisms for evaluation The evaluation process adopted incorporated observation of the educators together with self-reflection on their performance We conclude that post-briefings were poorly used and generally not reflective Educators relied heavily on their clinical skills and used a limited range of teaching strategies Whilst evaluation of clinical educators was time consuming and therefore costly, it is argued that it is essential to the integrity of the course The evaluation process has provided direction for support and development of clinical educators within the context of the curriculum     

中西医结合治疗急性动脉栓塞过程中甲状腺激素测定的临床意义

目的：探讨甲状腺激素水平在急性动脉栓塞中中西医结合治疗过程中的变化规律及其临床意义。方法：利用放射免疫分析法对４０例本病患者及３０例健康对照组进行血清甲状腺激素测定，观察中西医结合治疗前后的变化，结果；４０例病人均存在在低Ｔ３、低Ｔ４和高ｒＴ３血症，且以重症病人最明显，Ｔ３水平低于０．５ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ者病情危重，Ｔ４低于５０ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ者预后不良；低Ｔ３、低Ｔ４和高ｒＴ３血症均随中西医结合有效治疗后     

健康教育防制儿童营养性贫血的可行性研究

本文以大规模随机化人群实验,用铁剂治疗、铁剂预防和空白对照的方法论证了健康教育做为儿童营养性贫血防制对策与措施的可行性.结果证实健康教育与药物治疗相比前者具有受益人群广泛、发挥作用长效、预防病种广谱、投入少效益高和人群依从性好等优点,比传统的药物治疗和预防更有推广价值,对儿童营养性贫血和类似的儿童常见病的防制是经济、有效的措施.特别是对大规模的人群实施干预只有健康教育是可行的.在预防和治疗疾病过程中也应转变唯药物有效的观念,重视心理和行为的作用,对健康教育给予应有的重视.