METHODS: Randomized controlled trials and cohort studies with a minimum 2-year follow-up assessing survival and complication rates of resin composite laminate veneers on permanent dentition from 1998 to May 2022. Literature searches were conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials electronic databases. References cited in the related reviews and included full-text articles were also hand-searched to further identify potentially relevant studies.
RESULTS: A total of 827 articles were identified. Twenty-two studies were considered for full-text review after the title and abstract screening stage. After exclusion, 7 studies (3 randomized controlled trials and 4 cohort studies) were included in the systematic review. Three published scales were adopted for the quality and risk of bias assessment. At the survival rate threshold, the overall heterogeneity (I2) for randomized controlled trials was 50.5% (P = .108). The overall pooled survival rate of the randomized controlled trials was 88% (95% CI: 81%-94%), with the mean follow-up time ranging from 24 to 97 months. Surface roughness, color mismatch, and marginal discoloration were the most reported complications.
CONCLUSION: Resin composite laminate veneers demonstrated moderately high survival rates for the entire sample and the direct laminate veneer group demonstrated higher survival rates than the indirect approach. Most of the complications were regarded as clinically acceptable with or without reintervention.
METHODS: The questionnaire was distributed physically and digitally to non-OGS users aged above 60, living in the Klang Valley, Malaysia, using a non-probability sampling approach. A total of 302 data were analysed using PLS structural equation modelling.
RESULTS: The findings indicate that perceived ease of use, functional ability, life-course events, and digital literacy are associated with the elderly's perception of OGS's usefulness, while life-course events, digital literacy, technology anxiety, and facilitating conditions are associated with the perceived ease of use.
CONCLUSION: This study contributes to the OGS literature by addressing ageing complexities with OGS adoption among the elderly population, thereby offering insights for marketers and the government to tailor services and provide relevant support.
OBJECTIVE: This research aims to determine factors influencing students' behavioural intention to use Rain Classroom.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional and correlational investigation, 1138 medical students from five medical universities in Guangxi Province, China, made up the sample. This study added self-efficacy (SE), motivation (MO), stress (ST), and anxiety (AN) to the UTAUT framework. This study modified the framework by excluding actual usage variables and focusing only on intention determinants. SPSS-26 and AMOS-26 were used to analyze the data. The structural equation modelling technique was chosen to confirm the hypotheses.
RESULTS: Except for facilitating conditions (FC), all proposed factors, including performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), social influence (SI), self-efficacy (SE), motivation (MO), anxiety (AN), and stress (ST), had a significant effect on students' behavioural intentions to use Rain Classroom.
CONCLUSIONS: The research revealed that the proposed model, which was based on the UTAUT, is excellent at identifying the variables that influence students' behavioural intentions in the Rain Classroom. Higher education institutions can plan and implement productive classrooms.
METHODS: 41 medical personnel performing 79 procedures were monitored for their eye lens exposure using the NanoDot™ optically-stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLD) taped to the outer canthus of their eyes. The air-kerma area product (KAP), fluoroscopy time (FT) and number of procedure runs were also recorded.
RESULTS: KAP, FT and number of runs were strongly correlated. However, only weak to moderate correlations were observed between these parameters with the measured eye lens doses. The average median equivalent eye lens dose was 0.052 mSv (ranging from 0.0155 to 0.672 mSv). The eye lens doses of primary operators were found to be significantly higher than their assistants due to the closer proximity to the patient and X-ray tube. The left eye lens of the operators received the highest amount of radiation due to their habitual positioning towards the radiation source.
CONCLUSION: KAP and FT were not useful in predicting the equivalent eye lens dose exposure in interventional radiological procedures. Direct in vivo measurements were needed to provide a better estimate of the eye lens doses received by medical personnel during these procedures. This study highlights the importance of using direct measurement, such as OSLDs, instead of just indirect factors to monitor dose in the eye lens in radiological procedures.
Methods: This study was carried out between June and December 2017. All 48 paediatric surgeons currently working in Malaysia were invited to participate in a questionnaire-based survey to assess demographic characteristics and practices and perspectives regarding TOC.
Results: A total of 38 paediatric surgeons participated in the survey (response rate: 79.2%). Overall, 97.4% did not have an organised TOC model in their institution, with most (65.8%) caring for paediatric patients with complex surgical conditions until adulthood. Although the majority (86.8%) felt that care should be transitioned to adult surgeons with appropriate credentials, most surgeons (84.2%) nevertheless preferred to be involved in the management of adolescent patients after transition. However, there was no consensus regarding the most suitable age to begin the transition. Years of experience as a paediatric surgeon and place of practice did not affect overall TOC practice scores (P >0.050 each). The presence of adult comorbidities was considered the most common reason to initiate TOC (81.6%), while the lack of TOC guidelines was perceived to be the greatest barrier (84.2%).
Conclusion: This study provides a better understanding of TOC from the point of view of paediatric surgeons in Malaysia. However, further studies involving other stakeholders (i.e. patients and adult surgeons) are needed to help formulate a suitable and successful TOC model in this setting.
Methods: The algorithm for an IDR of 2.22 gI·s-1 was developed based on the relationship between VCE and contrast volume in 141 patients; test bolus parameters and characteristics in 75 patients; and, tube voltage in a phantom study. The algorithm was retrospectively tested in 45 patients who underwent retrospectively ECG-gated CCTA with a 100 kVp protocol. Image quality, TID and radiation dose exposure were compared with those produced using the 120 kVp and routine contrast protocols.
Results: Age, sex, body surface area (BSA) and peak contrast enhancement (PCE) were significant predictors for VCE (P<0.05). A strong linear correlation was observed between VCE and contrast volume (r=0.97, P<0.05). The 100-to-120 kVp contrast enhancement conversion factor (Ec) was calculated at 0.81. Optimal VCE (250 to 450 HU) and diagnostic image quality were obtained with significant reductions in TID (32.1%) and radiation dose (38.5%) when using 100 kVp and personalized contrast volume calculation algorithm compared with 120 kVp and routine contrast protocols (P<0.05).
Conclusions: The proposed algorithm could significantly reduce TID and radiation exposure while maintaining optimal VCE and image quality in CCTA with 100 kVp protocol.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospectively ECG-triggered CCTA was performed using five commercially available CT scanners: 64-detector-row single source CT (SSCT), 2 × 32-detector-row-dual source CT (DSCT), 2 × 64-detector-row DSCT and 320-detector-row SSCT scanners. Absorbed doses were measured in 34 organs using pre-calibrated optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLDs) placed inside a standard female adult anthropomorphic phantom. HE was calculated from the measured organ doses and compared to the HE derived from the air kerma-length product (PKL) using the conversion coefficient of 0.014 mSv∙mGy-1∙cm-1 for the chest region.
RESULTS: Both breasts and lungs received the highest radiation dose during CCTA examination. The highest HE was received from 2 × 32-detector-row DSCT scanner (6.06 ± 0.72 mSv), followed by 64-detector-row SSCT (5.60 ± 0.68 and 5.02 ± 0.73 mSv), 2 × 64-detector-row DSCT (1.88 ± 0.25 mSv) and 320-detector-row SSCT (1.34 ± 0.48 mSv) scanners. HE calculated from the measured organ doses were about 38 to 53% higher than the HE derived from the PKL-to-HE conversion factor.
CONCLUSION: The radiation doses received from a prospectively ECG-triggered CCTA are relatively small and are depending on the scanner technology and imaging protocols. HE as low as 1.34 and 1.88 mSv can be achieved in prospectively ECG-triggered CCTA using 320-detector-row SSCT and 2 × 64-detector-row DSCT scanners.
METHODS: A systematic search was performed in PubMed, the Cochrane library, CINAHL, Web of Science, ScienceDirect and Scopus, where 20 studies were selected for analysis of scanning parameters and CM reduction methods.
RESULTS: The mean effective dose (HE) ranged from 0.31 to 2.75 mSv at 80 kVp, 0.69 to 6.29 mSv at 100 kVp and 1.53 to 10.7 mSv at 120 kVp. Radiation dose reductions of 38 to 83% at 80 kVp and 3 to 80% at 100 kVp could be achieved with preserved image quality. Similar vessel contrast enhancement to 120 kVp could be obtained by applying iodine delivery rate (IDR) of 1.35 to 1.45 g s-1 with total iodine dose (TID) of between 10.9 and 16.2 g at 80 kVp and IDR of 1.08 to 1.70 g s-1 with TID of between 18.9 and 20.9 g at 100 kVp.
CONCLUSION: This systematic review found that radiation doses could be reduced to a rate of 38 to 83% at 80 kVp, and 3 to 80% at 100 kVp without compromising the image quality. Advances in knowledge: The suggested appropriate scanning parameters and CM reduction methods can be used to help users in achieving diagnostic image quality with reduced radiation dose.