Biomedical subjects

M Habibian

Publications and source records attributed to M Habibian.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Perceived information needs in respect of orthodontics amongst 11-12-year-old girls: a study through health visitor sessions in schools.

AIM: The aims of this study were: to explore: (i) the knowledge and views regarding orthodontics of a group of 11-12-year-old girls attending a school in Southeast London and (ii) the terms that they used to obtain the information. METHODS AND SUBJECTS: The study used Dental Health Education sessions to investigate the aims of the study. Eight DHE sessions at a secondary school for girls were tape recorded. In order to raise the issue of orthodontics and trigger the formation of questions during health education session, a worksheet containing true/false questions, a crossword puzzle regarding orthodontics and some open ended questions was designed and sent to students. They were required to read and complete the worksheet before each session. They were not required to return the completed worksheets to the investigators but did return them to their teachers. The sessions were tape recorded and supplemented by notes taken at the sessions by the investigator. A total of eight DHE sessions, attended by 14 girls each, were tape-recorded. Each tape recording was immediately transcribed verbatim. The next stage was to organize the data and to single out the orthodontic questions and discussions and categorize them. RESULTS: A total of 117 girls aged 11-12-year-old comprised the study group: 77% were white and 23% black children. After reading the transcripts several times, certain themes on orthodontics emerged. The results showed that children questioned different aspects of orthodontics. Nine themes emerged from their questions and discussions. They wanted to know why orthodontic treatment was carried out and when was the right time to start treatment. They were very keen to find out the differences between different orthodontic appliances. The psychosocial impacts of wearing an orthodontic appliance, i.e., experience of pain as well as the need for extraction of some permanent teeth as part of the treatment were of concern. They asked some questions on the need for repair, adjustment and taking care of appliances. The aetiology of malocclusion was another theme that emerged. The students tended to ask questions and describe problems in their own lay terms. CONCLUSION: The methodology used in this study provided an opportunity to assess the information needs with regards to orthodontics of a group of children attending a school in Southwark, London, UK. It was successful in discovering the views and concerns, and to some extent, their knowledge regarding orthodontics and the terms pupils used in asking questions and making comments.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMed2001

Dietary habits and dental health over the first 18 months of life.

OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to describe the dental health of infants and toddlers with special reference to their dietary habits and oral hygiene behaviour over the first 18 months of life. METHODS: The longitudinal dietary data were obtained at 6, 12 and 18 months of age by using a 3-day weighed diet diary. Dental examinations were carried out at 12, and again at 18 months of age. The information on demographic factors and oral hygiene behaviours over the first 18 months of life was gathered by using a structured questionnaire at 12 and 18 months. RESULTS: 163 children were studied. Visible dental plaque was present in 18% and 25% of children at 12 and 18 months of age, respectively. No child had dental caries at either 12 or 18 months of age. There was a statistically significant correlation between visible plaque measured as plaque index at 12 months and the mean daily eating/drinking episodes at 6 months (r=0.25, P=0.001) and 12 months (r=0.15, P=0.05). The correlations between plaque index at 18 months and the mean eating/drinking episodes at both 12 months (r=0.2, P=0.04) and 18 months (r=0.2, P=0.02) were low but statistically significant. Nevertheless, there was no significant correlation between accumulation of plaque at either 12 or 18 months and the mean daily frequency consumption of food and drink containing non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) at any age. Children who brushed their teeth themselves were more likely to have visible plaque compared with children whose teeth were cleaned by their parents. The partial correlation showed that positive relation between mean daily eating/drinking episodes and plaque was not influenced by tooth brushing.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1998

Chiaroscuro hematopoietic stem cell.

These observations suggest several immediate clinical strategies. In gene therapy, approaches could be targeted to obtain cycling of hematopoietic stem cells and gene-carrying retrovirus vector integration followed by engraftment at an appropriate time interval which favors engraftment. The same type of approach can be utilized for stem cell expansion approaches. Alternatively marrow or peripheral stem cell engraftment can be obtained with minimal to no toxicity in allochimeric strategies in such diseases as sickle cell anemia or thalassemia. A similar approach could be useful in obtaining cell engraftment with minimal toxicity in therapies employing cellular immune (T-cell and NK-cell) attack against cancer. These areas of clinical application are outline in Table 3.

Animals↗