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The relationship between fixed orthodontic treatment and the development of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in adolescents has been a topic of considerable debate. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of fixed orthodontic treatment on the prevalence of TMDs in adolescents. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library, yielding 886 records. After duplicate removal, 665 records were screened, and 8 studies were assessed for eligibility. Following quality assessment using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist, 4 studies were included in the final analysis. Data were analyzed using a random-effects model in RevMan software. The meta-analysis revealed an overall odds ratio of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.37–1.51, p = 0.42), indicating no statistically significant association between fixed orthodontic treatment and the risk of developing TMDs. Substantial heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 73%), attributed to variations in study designs, populations, and outcome measures. The risk of bias analysis highlighted concerns in several domains, particularly selection bias and measurement of outcomes. While confounding bias and missing data bias were generally well-controlled, deviations in intervention and inconsistent outcome measurements were noted across the studies. These findings suggest that fixed orthodontic treatment does not significantly alter the risk of developing TMDs in adolescents. However, the substantial heterogeneity and potential biases across the included studies emphasize the need for further high-quality, standardized research to confirm these results and provide clearer clinical guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides an updated overview of the clinical characteristics of post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathic pain (PTNP) resulting from dental procedures or facial trauma, addressing its etiology, prevalence, evaluation, management, and prognosis. PTNP arises from injury to the trigeminal nerve, which governs sensory and motor functions in the maxillofacial region. The prevalence and characteristics of PTNP vary considerably across studies, with a reported prevalence ranging from 1.55% to 13%. The predominant causative factors are dental procedures, particularly third molar removal and implant placement. While gender distribution varies, a trend towards higher incidence in females is observed, particularly within the 40–60-year age group. Anatomically, the mandibular nerve is frequently involved. PTNP presents with a spectrum of symptoms ranging from tingling sensations to severe pain. Diagnostic challenges arise due to the lack of standardized criteria and potential overlap with focal neuralgia, necessitating comprehensive evaluation. Misdiagnosis can lead to prolonged patient suffering and unnecessary interventions. Successful management hinges on prompt diagnosis and interdisciplinary collaboration, with early intervention crucial in mitigating progression to chronic pain. Although nerve recovery post-trauma is challenging, preventive measures through accurate evaluation and treatment are paramount. Management strategies for PTNP include non-invasive and surgical interventions, with non-invasive approaches encompassing systemic and local pharmacological management. This narrative review aims to enhance uniformity in PTNP evaluation and treatment approaches, ultimately improving patient care and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, two nationwide assessments for elementary and secondary students' educational achievement in Korea were reviewed for their assessment frameworks and the overall results; the Diagnostic Test for Basic Skills (DTBS) of Grade 3 elementary students and the National Assessment of Educational Achievement (NAEA) for Grade 6, 9 and 10 students. Also, the results for Korea in two large-scale international comparison studies were reviewed; the Trends in International Mathematics & Science Study (TIMSS) and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Finally, the author makes some suggestions for future research and policies on the student achievement from the Korean perspective. (Contains 3 figures and 2 tables.)

The purpose of this study is to examine the causal effects of after-school programs (ASPs) and private tutoring on Korean secondary school students' academic achievement. The students' data from the Gyeonggi Education Panel Study were used in this study for the actual data analysis. The study attempted to adjust for possible selection bias toward either the ASPs or private tutoring by using the inverse probability weight of the propensity score, which was derived from a seemingly unrelated bivariate probit model. The results demonstrated that ASPs and private tutoring both contributed to increases in Korean secondary school students' academic achievement, even after controlling for the selection biases toward both treatments. The magnitude of the effects of participating in ASPs or private tutoring was found to differ by education level; in middle schools, private tutoring showed a higher impact on academic achievement than did ASPs, whereas ASPs had a greater influence on high schools students' academic achievement than did private tutoring. Moreover, it was also revealed that there was no interaction effect between ASP participation and private tutoring participation in middle schools, but that a negative interaction effect existed in high schools. In addition, the differential effect of region size was calculated in order to examine the effect of ASPs and private tutoring in more depth, and the results demonstrated that the positive effects of ASPs and private tutoring on secondary school students' academic achievement were only significant in urban areas.

Typically a longitudinal growth modeling based on item response theory (IRT) requires repeated measures data from a single group with the same test design. If operational or item exposure problems are present, the same test may not be employed to collect data for longitudinal analyses and tests at multiple time points are constructed with unique item sets, as well as a set of common items (i.e., anchor test) for a study of examinee growth. In this study, three IRT approaches to examinee growth modeling were applied to a single-group anchor test design and their examinee growth estimates were compared. In terms of tracking individual growth, growth patterns in the examinee population distribution, and the overall model-data fit, results show the importance of modeling the serial correlation over multiple time points and other additional dependence coming from the use of the unique item sets, as well as the anchor test.