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Objectives. We sought to estimate the association between community water fluoridation (CWF) exposure at various stages of life and adult tooth loss. Methods. We used data from the 1995 through 1999 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, merged with data from the 1992 Water Fluoridation Census, to estimate interval regression models that relate CWF exposure with tooth loss. Results. Our results indicate that CWF levels in the county of residence at the time of the respondent's birth are significantly related to tooth loss but current CWF levels are not. In addition, the impact of CWF exposure is larger for individuals of lower socioeconomic status. Conclusions. This study suggests that the benefits of CWF may be larger than previously believed and that CWF has a lasting improvement in racial/ethnic and economic disparities in oral health. (Am J Public Health. 2010;100:1980-1985. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2009.189555)

Objectives: The BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine has been found to be highly effective in preventing COVID-19 but is associated with increased reactogenicity. We aimed to examine the correlation between immunogenicity and reactogenicity of the BNT162b2 vaccine. Methods: Subjects without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection that participated in active surveillance after being vaccinated with the BNT162b2 vaccine were included. Study participants reported adverse drug reactions (ADRs) through questionnaires administered by text message after receiving each dose of the vaccine. A reactogenicity score was developed based on the type and duration of ADRs. In addition, anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) levels and neutralization assays were performed 7–21 and 7–38 days after the first and second vaccine doses, respectively. Associations between ADRs and antibody levels were assessed by Spearman correlations. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with ADRs. Results: A total of 831 health care workers were included. The mean age was 46.5 years (SD = 11.8) and 75.5% were females. 83.4% and 83.3% had at least one local ADR after the first and second doses, respectively. 33% and 83.2% had at least one systemic ADR after the first and second doses, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found a significant correlation between ADR score and anti-RBD-IgG titers (r = 0.366; p < 0.0001) after adjustment for age, gender, and days after the second vaccination. High anti-RBD-IgG levels, being younger than 55 and being female, were all correlated with increased rates of ADRs. Conclusion: BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine reactogenicity appears to be correlated with higher post-vaccination antibody levels and is independently associated with younger age and female gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study assessed the feasibility and ease of use of the Canary System in approximal carious lesion detection in primary molars.Methods: Forty healthy five- to 12-year-olds, who presented to the Center for Pediatric Dentistry in Seattle, Wash., U.S.A., for initial or recall exams, were enrolled. Participants had one to two primary molars, with or without approximal radiographic radiolucencies. Four Canary System scans were performed at the approximal area of each study tooth. The maximum Canary number of the four scans was compared to bitewing radiographs.Results: Seventy-five teeth were included in the final analysis. All study patients easily tolerated being scanned with the Canary System. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the Canary System, when compared to bitewing radiographs, was 81 percent and 35 percent, respectively. Among teeth without radiographic radiolucencies, the Canary System identified 65 percent (31 of 48) of study teeth as having carious lesions.Conclusions: The Canary System is a safe approximal caries detection device in five- to 12-year-olds. When compared to bitewing radiographs, the specificity of the Canary System for approximal carious lesion detection in primary molars was low. However, this could indicate that the Canary System is detecting lesions earlier than radiographs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is often diagnosed and treated in primary care settings. Organizational and systems interventions that restructure primary care practices and train staff have been how to be cost–effective strategies for treating depression. Funders are increasingly calling for a cost–benefit assessment of such programs. In this study, the authors review existing cost–effectiveness studies of primary care depression treatments, classify them into categories, translate the results into net benefit terms, and assess whether more costly programs generate greater net benefit. The authors find that interventions that provide training to primary care teams in how to manage depression most consistently produce net benefits, with more costly interventions of this type generating larger net benefits than less costly interventions. Collaborative care interventions, which add specialized staff to primary care practices, and therapy interventions, in which clinicians are trained to provide therapy, also generate net social benefits at conventional valuations of quality–adjusted life years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetylsalicylic acid is widely used in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. In the current study, we used platelet aggregation ex vivo in platelet-rich plasma induced with arachidonic acid as a routine method for the determination of the individual dose of acetylsalicylic acid necessary to inhibit platelet aggregation in 108 patients with cardiovascular diseases. In 40% of all patients studied, a dose of 30 mg/day was sufficient to block the arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation nearly completely. In 50% of all patients, a dose of 100 mg/day was necessary. In 10% of all patients, the dose had to be further increased to 300 mg/day or even to 500 mg/day to inhibit platelet aggregation nearly completely. These results demonstrate that platelet aggregation can be used as a simple routine laboratory method to control acetylsalicylic acid treatment in patients with cardiovascular diseases and to determine individual doses of acetylsalicylic acid for a nearly complete inhibition of platelet aggregation. With a standard dose of 100 mg/day, 10% of the patients were nonresponders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess retrospectively the success rate of calcium hydroxide with iodoform as a filling material in pulpectomies of primary molars with irreversible pulpitis or pulp necrosis, and to evaluate factors that affect outcomes. Methods: This study consisted of records of 73 patients with primary molars treated with pulpectomy with high quality radiographs. Treatment was considered successful clinically if the tooth was not extracted and radiographs showed a decrease or no change in preexisting pathologic radiolucent defects. Results: Follow-up ranged from three to 39 months (median: 21.5 months). The success rate of teeth restored with a stainless steel crown (SSC) on the same appointment (88.9 percent) was higher than for teeth that received a temporary restoration (P=0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the success rate and the extent of resorption of root canal filling material. Primary second molars had a higher success rate than first molars (P=0.018). No difference was found between the level of pulpectomy filling and treatment success (P=0.17). Conclusion: Pulpectomies done with calcium hydroxide and iodoform had an overall success rate of 74 percent. If restored with an SSC, the success rate increased to 88.9 percent. Resorption of the paste did not affect the success rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]