Suchergebnisse

We teach and practice ethical behavior with all clinical and research activities. Notably, we are well educated to treat the subjects participating in research studies with high ethical standards. However, the ethics of interacting with colleagues, or with junior faculty members, are neither well defined nor taught. Dealing with junior faculty has parallels to dealing with vulnerable research subjects such as children, mentally or physically challenged groups, prison inmates or army recruits. Like any other vulnerable population, lower-ranking faculty members are often at the mercy of department chairs or other higher-ranked faculty members. Herein we present some potentially unethical or unfair examples related to academic research. Our goal is to educate the academic community of conceptual paths and to prevent similar untoward occurrences from happening in the future. Unethical behaviors related to sexual misconduct have already been described elsewhere and are not included in this manuscript. © 2020 Janket SJ et al. ; Peer reviewed

ABSTRACTDue to old age and poor general health, the institutionalized elderly have often not been used as research subjects for the investigation of oral health protocols. Because the number of elderly is increasing, they are an important target group for the development of oral hygiene aids. This trial was designed to investigate whether the institutionalized elderly could succesfully use an amine‐fluoride‐ and stannous‐fluoride‐containing mouthwash and toothpaste during a 12‐month period. A dental hygienist visited the subjects weekly, instructed them, and recorded their self‐reported compliance. Plaque and saliva samples were taken at three‐month intervals. Some salivary biochemical constituents reflecting mucosal integrity were analyzed. The carrier status of Actinobacillus actinomycetem comitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Bacteroides forsythus, Prevotella intermedia, and Prevotella nigrescens was studied by the polymerase chain‐reaction method, and acidogenic bacteria and yeasts by dip‐slide methods (Orion Diagnostica, Espoo, Finland). Of those 98 subjects originally included, 44 elderly (30 women and 14 men; mean age, 81.7 ± 5.9 yrs) completed the trial. Their observations were positive or very positive regarding the use of mouthwash and toothpaste. The number of residents with P. gingivalis decreased statistically significantly throughout the trial, while the carrier status of the other periodontal bacteria and mutans streptococci remained on the same level. The number of subjects with high counts (≥ 105 cfu/mL) of yeasts decreased during the study: 26.2% at baseline, 9.1% one year later, respectively. Biochemical analyses of salivary immunoglobulins showed no effect on IgA and IgM levels, but IgG reduced significantly. Albumin and other salivary protein concentrations were found to have a decreasing tendency. Thus, the overall effect of the protocol was beneficial with regard to subjects' oral health as measured in this study. The residents were pleased to participate, but the number of drop‐outs was very high, confirming the expected difficulties with the utilization of a group of frail elderly as research subjects.

The purpose of this study was to examine salivary flow rates and selected oral health parameters in 12 patients (aged 76–86 years) with non‐insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and also in 20 subjects (aged 76–86 years) with NlDDM and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and to compare them with 32 healthy controls matched for age and gender.Unstimulated salivary flow rates were lower in both groups of NlDDM patients than in the controls, although the differences were not statistically significant. Subjective oral dryness and other oral and non‐oral symptoms were more frequently reported by the patients with NIDDM+CVD; however, the differences were usually non‐significant. Root‐surface caries was more frequently detected in the subjects with NlDDM only, although the difference among groups was not statistically significant. Periodontal treatment need, according to CPlTN values, was more frequent in the subjects with NlDDM only, compared with controls or those with NIDDM+CVD, although the differences were again not statistically significant.There were no statistically significant differences in the oral health parameters of the subjects with NlDDM or NIDDM+CVD compared with those of their age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls.

Maintaining satisfactory oral health in bed‐ridden patients often calls for special aids, such as moistened cotton swabs. The purpose of thls In vitro study was to investigate three commercially available swab sticks meant for hospital use (DentiswabR, Lemon‐Glycerin SwabsticksR, and Lemon Glycerine SwabsR), and one saliva‐stimulant chewing tablet (CassisalR), regarding their possible erosive effects on dental enamel. A bovine enamel model system was used. Specimens were incubated for 4 hours In the test solutions made of the products. The results showed statistically signlficant enamel softening caused by two of the cotton swabs (Lemon‐Glycerin SwabsticksR and Lemon Glycerine SwabsR). Incubation in the solutions made of DentiswabR cotton swabs and CassisalR tablets caused only minimal changes in microhard‐ness. Profilometric measurements supported these results. Stereomicroscopy and SEM showed distinct erosion in specimens treated with the lemon swab solution, while the other two did not cause erosion. Thus, attention should be focused on choosing the less erosive products If special mouth‐cleaning aids are used.