Biomedical subjects

Argy Polychronopoulou

Publications and source records attributed to Argy Polychronopoulou.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) infection in radiation-induced oral mucositis.

GOAL OF WORK: The aim of the study was to investigate the incidence of herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) infection in mucositis during head and neck cancer radiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty patients with malignant head and neck tumor, eligible to receive radiotherapy, who were referred to the Dental Oncology Unit, entered the study. Sixteen patients (26.6%) received concomitant chemotherapy. Mucositis was recorded weekly. Smears taken from the ulcers of mucositis grade 2, or 3, or 4 were stained with Papanicolaou and alkaline phosphatase/antialkaline phosphatase immunocytochemical method to identify HSV-1. MAIN RESULTS: Forty-eight of all 60 patients developed ulcerative mucositis. Smear was available from 29 of 48 patients with ulcerations. HSV-1 infection was identified in 14 of 29 smears available (48.2%). Mucositis healed or was reduced after 1 week of antiviral treatment in 11 of those 14 HSV-1-positive patients; 3 patients responded to 1 g/day of valacyclovir, 7-2 g/day, and 1 patient responded to i.v. acyclovir. Ulcerations recurred after quitting antivirals. Three patients did not respond to 1 g/day of valacyclovir. No HSV-1-negative patient responded to acyclovir (P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: HSV-1 was isolated from 14 of 29 available smears taken from 48 patients with ulcerative mucositis. The incidence of HSV-1 infection during radiotherapy was estimated as being 14 of all 48 patients at risk (29.1%). Healing or reduction in the grade of mucositis after antivirals in HSV-1 positive patients, combined with the negative response to antivirals in HSV-1 negative patients, denoted that HSV-1 infection was a component of ulcerative radiation mucositis in those HSV-1-positive patients.

Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced↗

PubMed2006

Orthodontic journals with impact factors in perspective: trends in the types of articles and authorship characteristics.

INTRODUCTION: The purposes of this study were to analyze the types of articles and their authorship characteristics in the 3 orthodontic journals with impact factors--American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (AJODO), Angle Orthodontist (AO), and European Journal of Orthodontics (EJO)--during 2 intervals of 5 years each (1993-1997 and 1998-2002) and to assess the changes in their contents during these periods. METHODS: The results of 3004 article entries were analyzed with the Pearson chi-square test, and the examination of the variability of the parameters studied among journals and across the 2 time intervals was performed at the 0.05 level of significance. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences were found between the journals with respect to the research component of articles (higher in the EJO) and case reports (higher in the AJODO and the AO). For each journal, differences were also identified between the 2 time intervals, with multi-authored papers and multiple affiliations appearing more frequently in the second interval. The contributions of articles from the United States and Canada to the AJODO and the AO were statistically higher than to the EJO. A similar trend was found for articles from Europe, which comprise more than 70% of the content of the EJO. An increased contribution of articles from East Asia and Oceania was noted in the second time interval, which reached almost 100% of the previous time frame. The potential sources of variation in the studied parameters are discussed.

Authorship↗

PubMed2006

The hierarchical cluster analysis of oral health attitudes and behaviour using the Hiroshima University--Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI) among final year dental students in 17 countries.

OBJECTIVE: To explore and describe international oral health attitudes/ behaviours among final year dental students. METHODS: Validated translated versions of the Hiroshima University-Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI) questionnaire were administered to 1,096 final-year dental students in 17 countries. Hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted within the data to detect patterns and groupings. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 72%. The cluster analysis identified two main groups among the countries. Group 1 consisted of twelve countries: one Oceanic (Australia), one Middle-Eastern (Israel), seven European (Northern Ireland, England, Finland, Greece, Germany, Italy, and France) and three Asian (Korea, Thailand and Malaysia) countries. Group 2 consisted of five countries: one South American (Brazil), one European (Belgium) and three Asian (China, Indonesia and Japan) countries. The percentages of 'agree' responses in three HU-DBI questionnaire items were significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1. They include: "I worry about the colour of my teeth."; "I have noticed some white sticky deposits on my teeth."; and "I am bothered by the colour of my gums." CONCLUSION: Grouping the countries into international clusters yielded useful information for dentistry and dental education.

Asia↗

PubMed2006

Assessing behavioural change support abilities of the oral healthcare team.

Competent behavioural change intervention can be learned, practised and developed. Therefore, the teaching and assessment of this ability should be within the scope of both the undergraduate and post-graduate curriculum. Assessment should target knowledge base and skills in the areas of counselling, communication and behaviour. Assessment of the knowledge base should ideally be conducted in a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, centrally based manner in the pre-clinical curriculum. Assessment of skills in the areas of communication, counselling and behaviour change is a wider aim that should be integral throughout the curriculum. In continuing education (CE) environments, an initial 'screening' assessment would help educators to adjust the course to the participants' background and needs. Furthermore, three major assessment schemes are proposed: (1) assessment of knowledge and skills, (2) evaluation of the whole course by the participants, and (3) assessment of the implementation process, four to six months after completion.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed2005

Oral self-care behaviours: comparing Greek and Japanese dental students.

AIM: This study explored cross-cultural differences of self-reported oral health behaviours between Greek and Japanese dental students. PARTICIPANTS: The sample population included 877 dental students, 539 students registered at the University of Athens Dental School, and 338 registered at the Hiroshima University Dental School. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Oral health behaviour was assessed using the Greek and Japanese versions of a 20-item questionnaire entitled Hiroshima University-Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI). RESULTS: The mean questionnaire score of the Japanese students (7.40) was significantly greater than that of the Greek peers (6.86, P = 0.001), indicating better oral self-care behaviour amongst the Japanese students; however, the overall difference was mainly attributed to their additional sixth study year. Greek and Japanese students provided significantly different answers to 14 of 20 HU-DBI items. Greeks significantly more often were required by their dentist to evaluate their brushing technique (OR = 14.4, P < 0.01), checked their teeth in the mirror after brushing (OR = 8.1, P < 0.01), worried about bad breath (OR = 6.7, P < 0.01), and believed that gum disease is preventable by tooth brushing alone (OR = 2.1, P < 0.05), whereas their Japanese peers significantly more often felt comfortable to clean their teeth without the use of a toothpaste (OR = 0.3, P < 0.01), believed that they take much time to brush their teeth (OR = 0.3, P < 0.01), used a child-sized toothbrush (OR = 0.2, P < 0.01), and put off going to the dentist until having toothache (OR = 0.4, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Considerable differences in dental health attitudes/behaviour exist amongst students in the two countries reflecting the different culture and the health education system of the students; moreover, it is possible to distinguish Greek dental students from Japanese peers with a probability of more than 89% by using the HU-DBI instrument.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Perceived sources of stress among Greek dental students.

The goals of this study were to identify sources of stress in dental education and to explore the role of year of study and gender on perceived stressors. Five hundred and seventy-one undergraduates, officially registered at the University of Athens School of Dentistry, participated in the survey by completing a thirty-item modified version of the Dental Environment Stress Questionnaire. Assigned workload, performance pressure, and self-efficacy beliefs constituted the most stress-provoking factors. Gender differences were found in most of the perceived stressors, whereas stress intensity greatly differed by year of study. Multivariate analysis suggested that, irrespective of gender, fourth-year and graduating students were less concerned about class work overload, clinical training difficulties, and course failing, but were significantly more insecure about their professional future. Entry-level students appeared to be the most concerned about the lack of time for relaxation. However, they were the least stressed about completing graduation requirements compared with the rest of their peers. Possible strategies for reducing stress in Greek dental education are considered in the light of these findings.

Achievement↗

PubMed2004

Development of a standardized method for comparing fluoride ingested from toothpaste by 1.5-3.5-year-old children in seven European countries. Part 1: Field work.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a standardized method for measuring the variables affecting fluoride ingestion from toothpaste in young children between the ages of 1.5 and 3.5 years, and to use the method at seven European sites. METHODS: Random samples of children were invited to take part in the study. Parents who gave consent were visited at home. The children brushed their teeth using the toothpaste brand and toothbrush type currently in use. Variables measured were: type of toothpaste used, fluoride concentration of toothpaste used, weight of toothpaste used, frequency of brushing and body weight of the child. RESULTS: It was not possible to follow the agreed protocol in all seven countries and in three countries appropriate alternative methods were employed. There was considerable variation between countries in the variables investigated. Use of children's toothpaste ranged from 69% in Ireland to 98% in Portugal. In the Netherlands up to 60% of the children were using toothpaste containing <400 ppm F and in Finland up to 27% of children were using toothpaste containing >1200 ppm F. Over half of the children used <0.25 g of toothpaste per brushing and the majority of children brushed once or twice per day. CONCLUSION: Although adherence to the agreed protocol was not possible at all study sites there was a clear picture of considerable variation in the oral hygiene practices of young children throughout Europe.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2004

Development of a standardized method for comparing fluoride ingested from toothpaste by 1.5-3.5-year-old children in seven European countries. Part 2: Ingestion results.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a standardized method for measuring the variables affecting fluoride ingestion from toothpaste in young children between the ages of 1.5 and 3.5 years, and to use the method at seven European sites. METHODS: Random samples of children were invited to take part in the study. Parents who gave consent were visited at home. The children brushed their teeth using the toothpaste brand and toothbrush type currently in use. The difference between the fluoride dispensed onto the toothbrush and the fluoride recovered after accounting for losses was deemed to be the fluoride ingested. Details of other oral health-care habits were collected by questionnaire. For each child, the fluoride concentration of the toothpaste used was measured in the laboratory, from which an estimate of total daily fluoride ingestion was made. RESULTS: There was considerable variation between countries in the types of toothpaste used and in the amounts of toothpaste applied and ingested. The amount of fluoride ingested ranged from 0.01 to 0.04 mg fluoride per kg of body weight per day. CONCLUSION: The amount of fluoride ingested that is likely to be a risk factor for the development of dental fluorosis during tooth formation is equivocal and was found to vary widely between European countries. There appears to be a need for clearer health messages regarding the use of fluoridated toothpaste by young children.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2002

Oral self-care behavior among dental school students in Greece.

The purpose of this study was to determine the oral health attitudes/behavior of Greek dental students. The subjects (n = 539) were officially registered students at the University of Athens Dental School. Their oral health behavior was assessed with the use of a 12-graded-item questionnaire. A significant increase per year of study was observed in the number of students reporting careful brushing of the teeth [OR: 1.1 (1.0-1.3)] and being able to clean their teeth well without the use of toothpaste [OR: 2.5 (2.0-3.1)]. Each year of education significantly increased the probability of disagreement with statements such as: "I think my teeth are getting worse despite my daily brushing" [OR: 1.5 (1.2-1.9)], "It is impossible to prevent gum disease with tooth-brushing alone" [OR: 1.3 (1.1-1.5)], and "I put off going to the dentist until I have a toothache" [OR: 1.3 (1.2-1.6)]. Examination of the summary questionnaire score revealed that females presented significantly higher total scores. All scores increased significantly in the fourth and fifth years of dental studies. During the years of university study, the score variation and favorable attitudes/ behavior toward oral health appear to reflect the variation in the students' educational training experience.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Primary teeth caries removal using the Carisolv chemomechanical method: a clinical trial.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this controlled clinical trial was to compare the working time for caries removal in primary teeth, the need for local anesthesia and patient cooperation, when the chemomechanical Carisolv or the conventional mechanical method were used. METHODS: The sample consisted of primary teeth of children who had occlusal or buccal carious lesions into dentin. High speed and/or low speed were used as the conventional mechanical method of caries removal. The efficiency in caries removal was judged on the basis of clinical criteria. Length of working time, need of local anesthesia, and level of patient cooperation were recorded for both methods. Statistical analysis was performed using the student's t test and chi-square test. RESULTS: Working time with the chemomechanical method was much more prolonged than with the mechanical method (P < .001), but it did not negatively affect children's cooperation. Furthermore, the chemomechanical method reduced the need for administration of local anesthesia for Class V cavity preparations. CONCLUSIONS: The chemomechanical method, although more prolonged, is effective in caries removal in primary teeth, does not influence children's cooperation and may reduce the need of local anesthesia in Class V restorations.

Anesthesia, Dental↗