METHODS: A total of 15 subjects, aged 4 to 10 years, with at least one cavity on a primary tooth, were recruited for this study. Urine samples were collected at baseline, first 24 h (F1) and second 24 h (F2) after SDF treatment for analysis of silver and fluoride content. Hair samples were also collected at baseline and at 7, 14, 30, 60, 75, and 90 days after SDF treatment to analyze silver content.
RESULTS: Participants with under or over-collection of urine, or failure to provide urine collection were excluded for fluoride analysis. As a result, eight subjects' urine samples were eligible for fluoride analysis. Significant correlations were observed between baseline urinary fluoride levels and F1/F2 levels. Pairwise comparisons from Friedman's test showed significant differences between baseline and F1 fluoride levels. For silver analysis, 15 subjects were studied. F1 urinary silver levels were higher than baseline and F2 levels. Subsequent to SDF treatment, hair silver levels displayed fluctuations around the baseline. None of the participants reported adverse effects, and all caries teeth ceased progression within 30 days.
CONCLUSIONS: The urinary fluoride levels after SDF treatment, although higher, were not clinically significant. Urinary and hair silver levels were negligible. Therefore, SDF appears safe to be used among children.
METHODS: In this study, a grounded theory approach was used to develop a substantive theoretical model with the aim of investigating the decision-making process of consumers when purchasing health supplements and natural products online. Malaysian adult consumers who had purchased these products via the Internet were either purposively or theoretically sampled. A total of 18 virtual in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted to elicit participants' experiences and priorities in relation to this activity. All the IDIs were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analysed using open coding, focus coding and theoretical coding. The analytical interpretations and theoretical concepts were recorded in research memos.
RESULTS: Consumers' decisions to purchase a health supplement or natural product over the Internet are based on a series of assessments regarding the perceived benefits and risks of this activity, which may be related to the product or the process. In the online marketplace, consumers attempt to choose products, online sellers, sales platforms and/or purchase mechanisms with lower perceived risk, which ultimately enhances their confidence in five elements related to the purchase: (1) product effectiveness, (2) product safety, (3) purchase convenience, (4) fair purchase and (5) online security. Consumers take an acceptable level of risk to purchase these products online, and this acceptable level is unique to each individual and is based on their perception of having control over the potential consequences if the worst-case scenario occurs.
CONCLUSIONS: In this study, a substantive theoretical model is developed to demonstrate how consumers decide to purchase online health supplements and natural products by accepting an acceptable level of risk associated with the product or process. The emerging model is potentially transferable to other populations in similar contexts.
METHODS: Under urethane anesthesia, field excitatory post-synaptic potentials (fEPSP) of the hippocampal CA1 region were recorded in the Sprague Dawley (SD) rats that received MIT (1, 5, and 10 mg/kg), morphine (MOR) 5 mg/kg, or vehicle (ip). The effects of the treatments on basal synaptic transmission, paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), and LTP were assessed in the CA1 region. Analysis of the brain's protein expression linked to neuroplasticity was then performed using a western blot.
RESULTS: The baseline synaptic transmission's amplitude was drastically decreased by MIT at 5 and 10 mg/kg doses, although the PPF ratio before TBS remained unchanged, the PPF ratio after TBS was significantly reduced by MIT (10 mg/kg). Strong and persistent inhibition of LTP was generated in the CA1 region by MIT (5 and 10 mg/kg) doses; this effect was not seen in MIT (1 mg/kg) treated rats. In contrast to MIT (1 mg/kg), MIT (5 and 10 mg/kg) significantly raised the extracellular glutamate levels. After exposure to MIT, GluR-1 receptor expression remained unaltered. However, NMDAε2 receptor expression was markedly downregulated. The expression of pCaMKII, pERK, pCREB, BDNF, synaptophysin, PSD-95, Delta fosB, and CDK-5 was significantly downregulated in response to MIT (5 and 10 mg/kg) exposure, while MOR (5 mg/kg) significantly raised synaptophysin and Delta fosB expression.
CONCLUSION: Findings from this work reveal that a smaller dose of MIT (1 mg/kg) poses no risk to hippocampal synaptic transmission. Alteration in neuroplasticity-associated proteins may be a molecular mechanism for MIT (5 and 10 mg/kg)-induced LTP disruption and cognitive impairments. Data from this work posit that MIT acted differently from MOR on neuroplasticity and its underlying mechanisms.
METHODS: A total of 2319 university students were recruited from mainland China and they completed the TAPAS. Rasch analysis was used to examine the TAPAS' rating scaling functioning, test unidimensionality, item hierarchy, ceiling and floor effects, and differential item functioning (DIF). Moreover, the concurrent validity of the TAPAS was examined using the Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ), Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS), and body mass index (BMI).
RESULTS: Unidimensionality was confirmed except for one item. Items corresponding to attitude toward physical activity were more easily adopted compared to items corresponding to actual behavioral aspects. No ceiling and floor effects were found. No DIF existed in the TAPAS items. The TAPAS was strongly correlated with both the WSSQ and WBIS, but not BMI.
CONCLUSION: The study showed that overall, the TAPAS has robust psychometric properties. However, future research needs to address the misfit item and explore the feasibility of applying the TAPAS to other populations including wider ethnic groups, age ranges, and life stages.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved patients who were diagnosed with rectal cancer and had undergone sphincter-preserving low anterior resection from January 2011 to December 2020. Upon clinic follow-up, patients were asked to complete an interviewed based questionnaire (LARS score) designed to assess bowel dysfunction after rectal cancer surgery.
RESULTS: Out of 76 patients, 25 patients (32.9%) had major LARS, 10 patients (13.2%) had minor LARS, and 41 patients (53.9%) had no LARS. The height of tumor from anal verge showed an association with the development of major LARS (P=0.039). Those patients with less than 8 cm tumor from anal verge had an increased risk of LARS by 3 times compared to those with 8 cm and above (adjusted odds ratio, 3.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-9.13).
CONCLUSION: Results from our study show that low tumor height was a significant risk factor that has a negative impact on bowel function after surgery. The high prevalence of LARS emphasizes the need for study regarding risk factors and the importance of understanding the pathophysiology of LARS, in order for us to improve patient bowel function and quality of life after rectal cancer surgery.