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Biomedical subjects

R W Matthews

Publications and source records attributed to R W Matthews.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Percutaneous injuries of dental personnel at the University of the West Indies, School of Dentistry.

AIM: To report the results of a survey of all percutaneous injuries occurring in 2003-2004 to staff and students at the dental school in Trinidad. METHOD: Data were collected via 163 questionnaires administered to all dental surgery assistants, the current clinical students (years 3, 4 & 5), the interns, part-time and full-time academic staff. RESULTS: A 71% response rate was obtained. The number of persons reporting one or more sharps injuries at the dental school was 42 (37%). Of these, 17 (40%) were percutaneous. Needlesticks and periodontal scaler injuries were the most common. There was no significant correlation (p>0.05) between injury and gender, age group, dominant hand or needle recapping technique. 75% of respondents described their concern of contracting a blood-borne disease from a sharps injury as "high" and 59% of the respondents followed the school's recommended protocol following the injury. 50% of the injuries among the students and interns were not reported. CONCLUSIONS: A more rigorous programme of risk management with respect to sharps injuries needs to be designed and implemented at the school. There is also a need to improve surveillance of and reduce the underreporting of these injuries.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Oral lichen planus. Clinical aspects and management in fifty-two Brazilian patients.

This study aimed to characterize the clinical profile of patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and to evaluate the efficacy of topical, systemic and/or intralesional corticosteroids in the management of symptomatic cases. Fifty-two patients with OLP, 33 females and 19 males, aged from 17 to 75 years (mean 49.7 years) were studied. Information regarding the clinical forms, sites of involvement, patients' medical history and habits were recorded. Diagnosis of OLP was made using clinical criteria alone in 32 cases, while biopsy examination was required in the remaining 20. Symptomatic lesions were seen in 29 patients, who were treated with corticosteroid. Asymptomatic cases (23) were only clinically monitored. The forms of OLP found in this study were reticular (47%), atrophic (24%), erosive (21%) and plaque-like (8%). The buccal mucosa was the site predominantly affected. Systemic diseases were found in 17 patients (seven diabetic and ten with hypertension) but these data lacked statistical significance (p > 0.05) when compared with a control group of age and gender matched patients without any type of mucocutaneous disease. A habit of tobacco and/or alcohol use was reported by 11.5% of the patients, most of them with the reticular form of the disease. Topical corticosteroid therapy alone was effective in producing relief of symptoms in 18 of the 29 patients, although some relapses occurred after discontinuation. For lesions non-responsive to topical treatment, intralesional injection and/or short-term use of systemic corticosteroids were used.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Oral lichen planus. Clinical aspects and management in fifty-two Brazilian patients.

This study aimed to characterize the clinical profile of patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and to evaluate the efficacy of topical, systemic and/or intralesional corticosteroids in the management of symptomatic cases. Fifty-two patients with OLP, 33 females and 19 males, aged from 17 to 75 years (mean 49.7 years) were studied. Information regarding the clinical forms, sites of involvement, patients' medical history and habits were recorded. Diagnosis of OLP was made using clinical criteria alone in 32 cases, while biopsy examination was required in the remaining 20. Symptomatic lesions were seen in 29 patients, who were treated with corticosteroid. Asymptomatic cases (23) were only clinically monitored. The forms of OLP found in this study were reticular (47%), atrophic (24%), erosive (21%) and plaque-like (8%). The buccal mucosa was the site predominantly affected. Systemic diseases were found in 17 patients (seven diabetic and ten with hypertension) but these data lacked statistical significance (p > 0.05) when compared with a control group of age and gender matched patients without any type of mucocutaneous disease. A habit of tobacco and/or alcohol use was reported by 11.5% of the patients, most of them with the reticular form of the disease. Topical corticosteroid therapy alone was effective in producing relief of symptoms in 18 of the 29 patients, although some relapses occurred after discontinuation. For lesions non-responsive to topical treatment, intralesional injection and/or short-term use of systemic corticosteroids were used.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Hierarchical genetic structure of the introduced wasp Vespula germanica in Australia.

The wasp Vespula germanica is a highly successful invasive pest. This study examined the population genetic structure of V. germanica in its introduced range in Australia. We sampled 1320 workers and 376 males from 141 nests obtained from three widely separated geographical areas on the Australian mainland and one on the island of Tasmania. The genotypes of all wasps were assayed at three polymorphic DNA microsatellite markers. Our analyses uncovered significant allelic differentiation among all four V. germanica populations. Pairwise estimates of genetic divergence between populations agreed with the results of a model-based clustering algorithm which indicated that the Tasmanian population was particularly distinct from the other populations. Within-population analyses revealed that genetic similarity declined with spatial distance, indicating that wasps from nests separated by more than approximately 25 km belonged to separate mating pools. We suggest that the observed genetic patterns resulted from frequent bottlenecks experienced by the V. germanica populations during their colonization of Australia.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

The permeability of human dentine in vitro and in vivo.

Experiments in cats have shown that Evans blue dye diffuses at a greater rate into dentine in recently extracted teeth than in vivo. These experiments have now been repeated in man and similar results were obtained except that, after applications in vivo, visible concentrations of the dye were present in the dentine, and in a few cases, even in the pulp. It is concluded that, as in the cat, the diffusion in vivo was impaired by outward flow of fluid in the dentinal tubules but the mean velocity of flow in the human dentine was less than that in the cat.

Acid Etching, Dental↗
PubMed1997

Insects as teaching tools in primary and secondary education.

Insects offer a vast array of teaching opportunities for precollege students. Here we address the basics teachers need in order to use insects successfully in their curricula. We identify exemplary resources in the printed North American literature and point out potentially productive places for teachers and students to search for ideas and materials. We review the roles of entomology in the educational framework, highlight favorite classroom arthropods and less well-known examples, and guide readers to entomological resources. Tips to help teachers identify, rear, and maintain classroom insects and find equipment and supplies are included. The review concludes with a plea for greater classroom and curricular involvement by those in the entomological profession.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Working patterns of male and female dentists in the UK.

A random selection of male (250) and female (250) dentists in the Dentists Register 1992 were sent a postal self-administered questionnaire to determine their working patterns, places of work and whether or not they had children of school age or younger. There was also space for free comment. Responses from 75% of males and 81% of females were received. Results show that 79% of males, compared with 46% of females, work in full-time dentistry, chiefly in general dental practice. Family commitments were the principal reason for 30% of female dentists working part-time. A small number (14%) of male dentists work in a second career alongside part-time dentistry. As a female dentist's family becomes older and less dependent so the number of sessions worked increases. Overall, female dentists felt well suited and satisfied with their chosen profession. A small, but worrying group (4%) of male full-time general dental practitioners were very dissatisfied with dentistry as a career and showed clear signs of severe psychological stress expressed in the style and nature of free comments made.

Career Choice↗
PubMed1994

The efficacy of management of acute dental pain.

The effectiveness of pain relieving treatments given for acute dental pain has been evaluated after 24 hours in 172 patients who presented to a dental hospital emergency department. Patients were contacted by telephone the day after attendance and graded their pain on a scale from 1 (no pain) to 5 (pain much worse). The mean pain scores for each diagnosis of cause of pain were calculated and related to the treatment given. Some 76% of patients were in pain due to the ravages of dental caries of periodontal disease. Overall, 87% received marked or total pain relief and this appeared to depend upon decompression of inflamed tissue. Oral administration of antimicrobial drugs alone produced little or no pain relief within 24 hours and anti-inflammatory analgesics offer poor pain control in these circumstances.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

Recent trends in university entry for dentistry in the UK.

The pattern of university applications has been related to dental school application rates between 1985 to 1991. The academic standard of GCE 'A' level attainment acceptable to each school has also been related to the number of places available and number of places filled. Whilst the total number of university applications has increased over the period, dental applications have decreased, with a lower proportion of male applicants being noticeable. Some schools had lower application rates than others. There appeared to be a tendency for schools which had previously accepted slightly lower 'A' level standards for entry to receive a larger number of applicants. Some schools showed evidence of accepting lower 'A' level standards of entry presumably to meet the financial need to fill all available places.

Education, Dental↗
PubMed1992

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills of dental personnel.

This study assessed the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills of 25 dental personnel. Theory was tested by multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ) and practical skills assessed using a recording Resusci-Anne manikin. The assessment was based upon the recommendations of the Resuscitation Council of the UK. Seven of the 16 dental students and six of the nine house officers tested passed the MCQ examination. All failed the practical assessment. It is concluded that more emphasis should be placed upon CPR instruction in undergraduate dental courses and that regular update courses are advisable to maintain CPR skill.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation↗
PubMed1992

Pulse oximetry during minor oral surgery with and without intravenous sedation.

This study investigated the levels of oxygen saturation and pulse rates of patients undergoing minor oral surgery under local analgesia, with (20 patients) or without (20 patients) intravenous sedation with midazolam. The results indicated that a statistically significant fall in arterial blood oxygenation of 1% to 2%, as measured by pulse oximetry, followed midazolam administration; however, this was physiologically insignificant. Both groups showed a similar postoperative small fall in oxygen saturation. Transient episodes (24 to 36 seconds) of physiologically significant mild hypoxia occurred during breath holding, but this condition was readily corrected by encouraging patients to breathe deeply. Midazolam had a small but significant calming effect on the higher preoperative pulse rates exhibited by anxious patients, but this effect was not sustained during the operating period. Both sedated and unsedated patients showed episodes of tachycardia that could have significance for patients with cardiac disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Where are we going?

As medicine and dentistry have grown in complexity, so has the nature of the relationship between the two sciences. With increasing financial pressures and declining in-takes to dental schools, Robin Matthews argues that both disciplines would gain through a closer, more coordinated liaison.

Education, Dental↗