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Objectives: The current COVID‐19 pandemic highlighted the need for a review of guidelines on infection control and prevention to ensure safe delivery of dental care. However, it is not clear to what extent the rapidly published European guidelines reflect the current evidence and thus provide homogeneous recommendations. Material & Methods: Guidelines from all European Union countries, Scotland, Switzerland and United Kingdom were retrieved. Information on triage, mouth rinse, personal protective equipment (PPE) for aerosol free/ generating procedures (non‐AGP/AGP) and treatment of potentially infectious patients were summarized and compared with recommendations from international organizations (WHO, ECDC, CDC). Results: All included countries (30/30) published COVID‐19 guidelines in 2020. All countries recommended triage and to postpone non‐urgent treatment of potentially infectious patients. Hydrogen peroxide (1%–1.5%) was the most frequently recommended antiseptic mouth rinse to reduce viral load (24/30). PPE for non‐AGP treatments included mainly surgical masks (21/30) or FFP2/FFP3/N95 masks (16/30), whereas FFP2/FFP3 masks (25/30) and face shields (24/30) were recommended for AGP by the vast majority of guidelines. For high‐risk/COVID positive patients, most countries recommended maximum protection and treatment in specialized dental clinics (22/30). Conclusion: There was general agreement among recommendations for triage, mouth rinse, and PPE during AGP and treatment of potentially infectious patients. In contrast, recommendations on PPE for non‐AGP treatment varied considerably among the European countries possibly due to limited scientific evidence regarding transmission risk during non‐AGP treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of the present survey is to give an update of European experts' opinion on infection control and prevention in dentistry during second wave of pandemic. The secondary aim was to analyze how experts' opinion changed in the light of the new scientific evidence since the first wave. Material & Methods: An anonymous online 14‐item questionnaire was sent to a total of 27 leading academic experts in Oral (and Maxillofacial) Surgery from different European countries, who had completed a previous survey in April‐May 2020. The questionnaire covered the topics of dental setting safety, personal protective equipment (PPE), and patient‐related measures to minimize transmission risk. Data collection took place in November‐February 2020/21. Results: 26 experts participated in the follow‐up survey. The overall transmission risk in dental settings was scored significantly lower compared to the initial survey (p <.05), though the risk associated with aerosol‐generating procedures (AGP) was still considered to be high. Maximum PPE was less frequently recommended for non‐AGP (p <.05), whereas the majority of experts still recommended FFP2/FFP3 masks (80.8%), face shields or goggles (88.5%), gowns (61.5%), and caps (57.7%) for AGP. Most of the experts also found mouth rinse relevant (73.1%) and reported to be using it prior to treatment (76.9%). No uniform opinion was found regarding the relevance of COVID‐19 testing of staff and patients. Conclusion: With the continuation of dental care provision, transmission risk has been scored lower compared to the first wave of pandemic. However, high risk is still assumed for AGP, and maximum PPE remained advised for the respective treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The present work reports the EAO workshop group 5 and consensus plenary discussions and statements based on two reviews summarising European guidelines and experts' opinion on infection control and prevention (ICP) in dentistry during the pandemic. Material: Two manuscripts were presented at the 6th EAO Consensus Conference. The first study compared the most recent national guidelines/recommendations of European countries. The second paper was an experts' opinion‐based survey on application of ICP regulation during the second wave. The outcome of COVID‐19 group discussion was presented to all participants of the consensus to come to an agreement about the consensus statements and clinical recommendation. Results: The dynamic of the pandemic had an impact on rapidly published and frequently updated national guidelines in Europe. As guidelines were not based on solid evidence, they were supplemented by experts' opinion on ICP in dentistry. The dental care should be guaranteed during the pandemic; however, in case of suspected or confirmed COVID‐19 disease, the treatment should be postponed if possible. Remote triage and patient‐related measures (i.e., social distancing, hand hygiene and mask wearing) were recommended to be the most efficient to reduce SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission. The type of personal protective equipment for dental staff should be adequate to the procedure and infection risk. Conclusions: Adequate infection control protocols have to be followed by healthcare professionals and patients to minimise the spreading of COVID‐19. We foresee the importance of continuously updating the national dental guidelines, considering the evolution of the pandemic and new scientific evidence becoming available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World-Market Status special report – In a strong shift from previous years of European leadership, Asia takes lead in the PV market with more than half of the total world market. Europe settles as the second largest market, followed by North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Implant dentistry is a treatment modality which has mainstream clinical practice of comprehensive care, which however is not adequately represented in the undergraduate dental curricula. A consensus workshop organised by ADEE in 2008, set the benchmarks for the knowledge and competences a modern dental practitioner must possess with regard to implant dentistry, as well as defined undergraduate and postgraduate pathways for the acquisition of these competences. Today, 5 years later, there exist several challenges for the implementation of these benchmarks in both undergraduate curricula but also post-graduation educational pathways. Methods A consensus workshop was organised by ADEE, bringing together 48 opinion leaders, including academic teachers of all disciplines related to implant dentistry, specialists, representatives of relevant scientific and professional associations, as well as industry delegates. The objectives of the workshop were to evaluate the existing scientific literature, reported experience and best practices in order to identify potential and limitations for the implementation of implant dentistry in the undergraduate curriculum, as well produce recommendations for the optimal educational structures for postgraduate programmes and continuing professional development. Results The scientific committee conducted two European-wide questionnaire surveys to better document the current state of education in implant dentistry. Upon completion of the surveys, reviewers were appointed to produce three scientific review papers, identifying current achievements and future challenges. Finally, during the 3 days of the workshop, all the evidence was reviewed and the main conclusions and recommendations that were adopted by all participants are reported in the present Consensus Paper. Conclusions Implementation of implant dentistry in the undergraduate curriculum has improved significantly, but still lags behind the benchmarks set in 2008 and the diversity between institutions remains big. At the post-graduation level, there is currently a wide diversity of courses and pathways towards competences related to implant dentistry and there is at present a great need for quality assurance, as well as standardisation and transparency of the learning outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To assess the 1-year outcome after shunt surgery in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (i NPH). Methods Patients ( n = 142) were prospectively included in the European multicentre study by 13 centres. Diagnoses were based solely on clinical and radiological findings. All received a programmable ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Re-examinations, 12 months after surgery, were performed in 115 patients, and the outcome was assessed by the modified Rankin scale ( mRs) and a new iNPH grading scale. Improvement was defined as ≥1 step on the mRs and ≥5 points on the iNPH scale. Results The scores on both scales were significantly improved after 1 year of shunt treatment (Ps < 0.001). Sixty-nine per cent of the patients were improved according to the m Rs and 84% according to the i NPH scale. The proportion able to live independently (scores 0-2 on the m Rs) was increased from 53% before to 82% 12 months after surgery ( P < 0.001). Neither classification (typical or questionable) nor comorbidity affected the level of improvement. Patients not completing the study were worse off with regard to their clinical condition at entry than completers. Twenty-eight per cent of the patients experienced complications and were either conservatively (13%) or surgically (15%) treated. Conclusion The results of this prospective multicentre study on patients with i iNPH diagnosed solely on clinical and radiological criteria support shunt surgery in patients presenting with symptoms and signs and MRI findings suggestive of i NPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: Neuropsychological dysfunction is common in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). Shunt treatment is beneficial, some patients reaching complete or almost complete recovery, while others show only minor improvement. We aimed to assess the efficacy of a small selection of well characterized and sensitive neuropsychological tests in the context of the European multicentre study on iNPH (Eu-INPH). Methods: One hundred and forty-two iNPH patients included in Eu-iNPH were tested with the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), the Grooved Pegboard and the Stroop test before and after three and twelve months of treatment with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Their performance was compared to that of 108 healthy individuals (HI). Results: INPH patients performed significantly worse than HI on all of the neuropsychological measures at entry. The discriminative capacities of the eight variables were similar, with areas under the curve (AUC; ROC analysis) ranging between .86 (Delayed Recall) and .95 (Grooved Pegboard). The most usable test was RAVLT (Learning and Delayed Recall), administered to ≥90% of the patients at all occasions. However, the Grooved Pegboard and the Stroop test were more sensitive to treatment effects. Conclusion: The three neuropsychological tests used in the Eu-iNPH are expedient, highly diagnostically discriminative, and well suited to evaluate changes following shunt treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article describes how methodologies of EU-funded research within the life sciences and biomedicine have recently become more gender sensitive. This transformation is the result of the Gender Impact Assessments of the EU Fifth Framework Programme, commissioned in 2000-1. The authors assessed the research programme for life sciences, which includes a large health-related component. The new guidelines for research emphasize the need for clear terminology for concepts of sex and gender and for a distinction to be made between the two, for both life sciences and health research. Attention to possible sex differences, even in preclinical research, as well as to effects of gender, will lead to more adequate research data that serve the health of both men and women. The transformation to research becoming more gender-sensitive is further discussed in the context of feminist theory on the body. Being fully aware of the fact that what is happening in bodies is mediated by particular technologies, the authors make an appeal to invest in concepts that take the living and changing body into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Between 1988 and 1998, antibody-associated pure red-cell aplasia was reported in three patients who had undergone treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin). Between 1998 and 2000, 13 such cases were reported from France — 12 in patients who had received the Eprex formulation of epoetin alfa and 1 in a patient who had received Neorecormon (a formulation of epoetin beta); both are products that are marketed outside the United States. Methods: We obtained reports of epoetin-associated pure red-cell aplasia from the Food and Drug Administration and from the manufacturers of Eprex, Epogen (another formulation of epoetin alfa), and Neorecormon. The numbers of case reports and estimates of exposure-adjusted incidence were analyzed according to the product, the cause of anemia, the route of administration, the country in which pure red-cell aplasia was identified, and the date on which pure red-cell aplasia was reported. Results: Between January 1998 and April 2004, 175 cases of epoetin-associated pure red-cell aplasia were reported for Eprex, 11 cases for Neorecormon, and 5 cases for Epogen. Over half these cases had occurred in France, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Spain. Between 2001 and 2003, the estimated exposure-adjusted incidence was 18 cases per 100,000 patient-years for the Eprex formulation without human serum albumin, 6 per 100,000 patient-years for the Eprex formulation with human serum albumin, 1 case per 100,000 patient-years for Neorecormon, and 0.2 case per 100,000 patient-years for Epogen. After procedures were adopted to ensure appropriate storage, handling, and administration of Eprex to patients with chronic kidney disease, the exposure-adjusted incidence decreased by 83 percent worldwide. Conclusions: After the peak incidence of Eprex-associated pure red-cell aplasia was reached in 2001, interventions designed in response to drug-monitoring programs worldwide resulted in a reduction of more than 80 percent in the incidence of pure red-cell aplasia due to Eprex. N Engl J Med 2004;351:1403-8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]