Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Influence Of A 3-Step Disinfection Procedure On Dentin Bond Strength, Maria Pappas

Theses and Dissertations

Statement of problem. Clinicians have used disinfection materials to remove surface contaminants during cavity preparation. It has been postulated that disinfection materials may negatively affect shear bond strength of restorative materials. If so, large numbers of restorations may be predestined for early failure with the use of a disinfection protocol.Purpose. To determine whether there is a difference in the bond strength between dentin and composite resin with a 3-step disinfection technique compared to a conventional bonding technique without the additional disinfection protocol.Material and Methods. Sixty human molar teeth were sectioned parallel to the occlusal surface to expose mid-coronal dentin and …

Is Number Of Pregnancies A Risk Factor For Heart Attack In Women?, Pavan Kumar Irukulla

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Studies regarding number of pregnancies and coronary heart disease have shown inconsistent results. In the present study, we assessed the association between number of pregnancies and heart attack (HA) in women.Methods: Using data from NHANES III a cross sectional data analysis of 10634 women aged 17 and above was conducted. We considered socio-demographic factors and other potential risk factors including physical activity, smoking, alcohol, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, BMI, age, and family history of heart attack. We conducted Bivariate analysis to determine prevalence and crude odds ratios. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for confounding variables using SPSS. …

Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Investigative Analysis Of Their Access To Dental Care, Chad Wallace Ellsworth

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the utilization of dental services for children with autism spectrum disorders and identify barriers these children face when accessing dental services in the state of Virginia. Methods: A survey was mailed to families in the state of Virginia that care for at least one child with the neuro-developmental disorder on the autism spectrum scale. The mailing list was obtained from "The Autism Program of Virginia." This list contains the names of families/guardians of children with autism spectrum disorders. These individuals live throughout the State of Virginia. This project analyzed survey questions …

Pcr Detection Of Streptococcus Mutans And Streptococcus Sobrinus In Dental Plaque Samples From Low, Moderate, And High Caries Risk Children, Ajit A. Patel

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to correlate the presence of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus with the incidence of dental caries in children as detected by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Methods: Subjects between the ages 2 to 16 years of age were used in this study. After the subjects received a dental examination, dental plaque samples were collected by rubbing a toothpick on the buccal surface of the most posterior tooth in each quadrant of the mouth. Children were grouped into low, moderate, and high caries risk categories by two different Caries Risk Assessment Tools (CAT 1 and …

Torsional Testing Of Race, K3 And Profile Nickel Titanium Endodontic Files, Sean D. Fessenden

Theses and Dissertations

Rotary endodontic instruments have different cross sectional designs that may effect their resistance to torsional stress. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the static torsional properties of two nickel titanium files that have recently been introduced for use in endodontics and compare them to the same size Profile instruments. Ten new files of each brand and size were tested. The files tested were: RaCe 25 tip 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 taper, K3 and Profile 25 and 40 tip in 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06 taper. The diameter of each file was measured at 3mm from tip. The last three millimeters …

C-Reactive Protein Levels In Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis Patients, Trang Nguyen Salzberg

Theses and Dissertations

Background: There is mounting evidence to indicate that periodontitis may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Periodontitis may be linked to CVD as either an etiologic mechanism or a predisposing factor that can hasten disease progression. Proinflammatory cytokines, elevated fibrinogen, and platelet aggregation are all potential mechanisms. The purpose of this study is to compare and review the serological differences in subjects with severe periodontitis, some of which involve established risk factors for atherosclerosis, particularly heightened C-reactive protein levels. Methods: A total of 184 subjects, comprising of two periodontal subgroups, non-periodontal (NP = 91) and generalized aggressive periodontitis …

Targeting The Male In Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Terri Burgan

Theses and Dissertations

Study Objectives: To examine demographic characteristics and contraceptive habits of young men.Methods: A descriptive study was conducted utilizing data analyzed from three waves of the National Survey of the Adolescent Male (NSAM) administered in 1988, 1991, and 1995. The first wave consisted of 1,880, never-married, noninstitutionalized 15-19 year old men living in the United States. The second wave consisted of 1,676 re-interviewed respondents who were 17-22 years old. The third wave consisted of 1,377 re-interviewed respondents who were 22-27 years old. Descriptive statistics were used to compare personal and demographic characteristics across each year group. Odds ratios, and their corresponding …

Physical And Chemical Properties Of A New Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Material, David Lowell Spencer

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to compare the time to final set and compressive strength of the white mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) formulation to the original grey MTA. To test compressive strength, each MTA formulation was placed into Teflon split molds for four hours at 37° Celsius (C) and 100% humidity. Compressive strength of both MTA formulations was measured at 24 hours (n=12) and 21 days (n=19) using an Instron Testing Machine. For determination of time to final set, each MTA formulation (n=6) was placed into a metal mold and maintained at 37° C and 100% humidity while setting. …

Association Between The Frequency Of Physical Education Classes And The Prevalence Of Overweight/Obesity In Adolescents, Collin N. Rice

Theses and Dissertations

Background/Objective: Overweight and obesity has been steadily on the rise in the United States for all groups. The prevalence of obesity for adolescents has tripled since 1980. The purpose of this study is to determine an association between the frequency of physical education classes and the prevalence of overweight/obesity in adolescents in the United States.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that used the 2001 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) of the Center for Disease Control. The outcome variable for the study was Body Mass Index (BMI). A BMI of 25 or greater was considered overweight or obese. The main independent …

Obesity And Health Status Among Urban Vs. Suburban Elderly In Philadelphia And Surrounding Counties, Ockidde Dufayne Harris

Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is a dangerous health condition affecting approximately 30% of all Americans and can be attributed to 300,000 deaths a year. Obesity has been found to disproportionately affect Blacks, Latinos, and those with lower SES. Although obesity is a problem for all age groups, its prevalence is highest among those 60-74 years of age. Studies have shown that there is an association between obesity and chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis, cancers, and type-2 diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control, chronic health conditions affect 80% of all elderly persons, many times limiting function and decreasing quality of …

Interleukin-6 Levels In Generalized And Localized Aggressive Periodontitis Patients, Bindu Reddy

Theses and Dissertations

AbstractINTERLEUKIN-6 LEVELS IN GENERALIZED AND LOCALIZED AGGRESSIVE PERIODONTITIS PATIENTSBy Bindu Reddy, D.D.S.A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at the Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginia Commonwealth University, 2004Major Director: Joseph V. Califano, D.D.S., Ph.D.Associate Professor, Department of Periodontics Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease involving the supporting structures of the dentition. Many studies have shown that there is a relationship between periodontal disease, the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and systemic disease such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to measure serum Interleukin-6 levels in generalized and localized aggressive …

Toothbrushing, Flossing, And Preventive Dental Visits By Richmond-Area Residents In Relation To Demographic And Socioeconomic Factors, Kim T. Isringhausen

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose. This study was conducted to identify factors that influence preventive dental behaviors and, from the results, target groups for intervention.Methods. Data were collected using the 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) resulting in a probability sample of 399 dentate adults living in Richmond City, Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover Counties in Virginia. All analyses were performed using the statistical software program STATA. Initial hypothesis testing was performed using univariate logistic regression models. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to test the significance of independent variables while controlling for other possible predictors of behavior.Results. Females were more likely than males …

Factors Influencing Applicant Ranking Of Orthodontic Programs, Michael D. Payne

Theses and Dissertations

Orthodontic programs spend considerable amounts of time and energy to attract, recruit, and interview the best and brightest applicants. Applicants and programs submit ranked preferences, and resident positions are filled by a computerized matching system (Match). The specific aims of this study were to determine the relative importance of certain factors in applicants' Match ranking of orthodontic programs and to determine differences between orthodontic Program Directors perceptions and actual factors cited by applicants influencing their ranking of orthodontic programs.Surveys were mailed to 55 orthodontic Program Directors and 478 applicants participating in the 2002 orthodontic Match. Forty-nine Program Director (89%) and …

Effect Of Repeated Dosing Of Delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, The Major Psychoactive Ingredient Of Marijuana, On Memory In Mice, Floride Niyuhire

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States. However, marijuana and cannabinoid derivatives have potential therapeutic uses. Studies in cannabis users have yielded contradictory results with regard to long-term effects on cognitive functions. There is no prospective study assessing this issue, and such studies may raise ethical issues in humans, whereas mice have been shown to exhibit similar cannabinoid-mediated behaviors as humans. The purpose of this study was to assess the consequences of chronic administration of Δ9-THC, the major psychoactive component of marijuana, in a mouse memory model. Methods: In Experiment 1, the dose-response relationship …

Appointment Keeping Behavior Of Medicaid Vs. Non-Medicaid Orthodontic Patients, Bryan P. Horsley

Theses and Dissertations

State Medicaid programs were established to care for the poor by eliminating financial barriers and increasing their ability to be treated within the mainstream of the heath care system. The number of children eligible for Medicaid services is increasing, yet the number of Medicaid providers remains low. Health care providers cite failed appointments as being a major problem with Medicaid patients and one of the largest deterrents to participating. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a difference in appointment keeping behavior exists between Medicaid and non-Medicaid orthodontic patients. During a twelve-month period, a tally of appointments was …

The Prevalence Of The Need For Esthetic Crown Lengthening In Post Orthodontically Treated Subjects, David Clark Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of excess gingival display is difficult to diagnose and treat. By studying one aspect of excess gingival display, namely the size relationships of the clinical crowns of teeth, we can begin to quantify reasonable goals of therapy. In this study, two hundred plaster models were used as subjects. These represented two hundred patients before and after orthodontic therapy. The six anterior teeth were measured for length and width and compared to known ideals. Teeth that did not meet ideal standards may require treatment. It was found that the mean tooth length after orthodontic therapy was approximately two millimeters …

Orthodontic Faculty Recruitment And Retention: Goals And Perceptions, Sheldon L. Peck

Theses and Dissertations

There is a shortage of faculty in academic dentistry and orthodontics in particular. The purpose of this study was to quantify real and perceived differences in income, workload, and satisfaction between full-time academic and private practice orthodontists. Surveys were returned by 119 (70%) faculty, 79 (36%) private practitioners, and 160 (59%) orthodontic residents. Average annual income for faculty was less than half that of private practitioners. Faculty also reported working significantly more hours per week and taking less vacation time. Though both faculty and practitioners perceived their own jobs to be more satisfying overall, faculty felt academics was more stressful, …

Measurement Of Forces And Moments In Three-Dimensional Archwires, Dwight Van Buelow

Theses and Dissertations

AbstractMEASUREMENT OF FORCES AND MOMENTS IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL ARCHWIRESBy Dwight V. Buelow, D.D.S.A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University.Virginia Commonwealth University, 2003Major Director: Steven J. Lindauer, D.M.D., M.D.Sc.Chairman and Professor, Department of OrthodonticsOrthodontic tooth movement occurs in response to the application of controlled mechanical force systems. The purpose of this study was to improve understanding of those force systems by evaluating differences between the resultants of two-dimensional and three-dimensional orthodontic appliance activations. An in-vitro model was constructed and three force-moment gauges were used to measure the forces and …

K3 Endo, Pro Taper, And Pro File Systems: Breakage And Distortion In Severely Curved Roots Of Molars, Matthew Todd Ankrum

Theses and Dissertations

K3 ENDO, PRO TAPER, AND PRO FILE SYSTEMS: BREAKAGE AND DISTORTION IN SEVERELY CURVED ROOTS OF MOLARS.By Matthew T. Ankrum, D.D.S.A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University.Virginia Commonwealth University, 2003Major Director: Gary R. Hartwell, D.D.S., M.S.Chairman and Professor, Department of EndodonticsIt was the aim of this study to investigate the incidence of file breakage and distortion when the Pro Taper, K3 Endo and ProFile systems were used to instrument canals in the severely curved roots of extracted molars.Forty-five roots of extracted mandibular and maxillary molars with curvatures …

Evaluation Of Shear Bond Strength Of Two Resin-Modified Glass-Ionomer Cements, Emily Y. Ro

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To compare the in-vitro shear bond strengths of a new paste-paste formulation of resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (Rm-GIC) to an exising powder-liquid formulation. The study will test the hypothesis that the new paste-paste formulation of Rm-GIC (Fuji-Cem ™, GC Corp, Tokyo, Japan) has the same bond strength as an existing popular powder-liquid formulation of Rm-GIC (Rely-X ™ Luting Cement, 3M, St. Paul, MN)Materials and Methods: A total of 33 human molars were sectioned parallel to the occlusal surface to expose mid-coronal dentin and mounted parallel to the bond shearing device on the universal testing machine (Instron). For Group I samples …

Automated Grammatical Tagging Of Language Samples From Children With And Without Language Impairment, Deborah Millet

Theses and Dissertations

Grammatical classification ("tagging") of words in language samples is a component of syntactic analysis for both clinical and research purposes. Previous studies have shown that probability-based software can be used to tag samples from adults and typically-developing children with high (about 95%) accuracy. The present study found that similar accuracy can be obtained in tagging samples from school-aged children with and without language impairment if the software uses tri-gram rather than bi-gram probabilities and large corpora are used to obtain probability information to train the tagging software.

Implementacion And Strengthening Of Family Orchards For The Diversification Of The Diet And To Improve The Consumption Of Vegetables And Available Fruits In The Communities Of The Rinconada And Cuambo In The Period 2001-2002, Guido Arellano

Theses and Dissertations

The general objective of this investigation was to implement and strengthen family orchards for the diversification of the diet and improvement of the consumption of vegetables and fruits available in the communities of the Rinconada and Cuambo. They collaborated in the implementation and strengthening of the family orchards and by means of focal group techniques determined the readiness, seasonal variance, and alimentary habits of the available vegetables and fruits. They made 10 nutritive preparations in each community in participating shops with the foods that were harvested in the orchards and with the help of consistent educational material as 2 three-page …

The Effectiveness Of Consuming Fortified Foods (Api) With Iron On The Anemia Ferropriva In Resident Students To Great Altitude Of The Rural Area Of The Departemento Of La Paz, Beatriz Julia Ramirez Copa

Theses and Dissertations

In many countries, the health and the development of a great number of people are compromised by the insufficient distribution of micro-nutrients. The deficiency of iron is one of the things that to a large extent contributes to the high rates of death and maternal and childhood mortality, affecting also a great percentage of school aged children. Bolivia, along with the majority of underdeveloped countries, presents high prevalence of anemia in the students. Recent studies confirm that anemia nutrients are a problem of public health of great magnitude to rural and urban level (Fernández et al, 1994). Before this situation …

The Effect Of Endodontic Solutions On Resorcinol-Formalin Paste In Teeth, Madelyn Gay Gambrel

Theses and Dissertations

This study determined if any of six endodontic solutions would have a softening effect on resorcinol-formalin paste in extracted teeth, and if there were any differences in the solvent action between these solutions. Forty-nine single-rooted extracted teeth were decoronated two mm coronal to the CEJ, and the roots sectioned apically to a standard length of 15 mm. Canals were prepared to a 12mm WL and a uniform size with a #7 Parapost drill. Teeth were then mounted in a cylinder ring with acrylic. The resorcinol-formalin mixture was placed into the canals and was allowed to set for 60 days in …

A Comprehensive Overview Of Introduction To Clinical Medicine Courses And Course Directors, Linda A. Deloney

Theses and Dissertations

The knowledge, skills, and attitudes basic to medical practice are introduced and taught in medical school courses that are often called Introduction to Clinical Medicine (ICM). This study provided an updated overview of ICM courses and discussed changes that have occurred during the past decade. In addition, this study developed a profile of ICM course directors, an area that had not been investigated previously. The observational, cross-sectional study utilized a quantitative design and web-based surveys. Two survey instruments were adapted from previous studies, authored using Questionmark Perception software, and e-mailed to curriculum contacts in all member schools of the Association …

Nursing Home Staffing Adequacy, Rehabilitation Orientation And Quality, Diana Gilroy Venskus

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The primary objective of this research is to examine how changing levels of nursing home staffing adequacy and variations in rehabilitation orientation have affected facility deficiencies and the quality of patient care as facilities responded to the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.
Data Sources: Analyses were performed using data from the On-Line Survey Certification and Reporting System (OSCAR) data from years 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 and were merged with Area Resource File (ARF) data released in February 2001.
Study Design: Contingency strategic adaptation provides the theoretical framework for developing the effects of environmental characteristics, organizational characteristics and …

Factors Associated With Metabolic Syndrome, Patricia Marie Selig

Theses and Dissertations

The metabolic syndrome, a clinical condition linked to diabetes and cardiovascular disease is a powerful predictor for overall mortality, and is present in more than 20% of the US. population (Ford, Giles, & Dietz, 2002). This study examines gender differences as well as other factors associated with metabolic syndrome as defined by the Adult Treatment Panel III of the National Cholesterol Education Program.

A sample of 10,134 adults between 20-64 years of age was selected from the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey. Metabolic syndrome was present in 19.6 % of this sample. An ecological model of health services was …

The Relationship Of Metabolic Control To Hardiness, Self-Efficacy, And Perceived Medication Adherence In Adults With Diabetes Mellitus, Ok Chon Allison

Theses and Dissertations

Diabetes mellitus, a serious and costly disease, is a public health challenge. Diabetes is controllable, yet non-adherence to prescribed medications causes diabetesrelated complications resulting in hospital admissions and readmissions that may be prevented. A cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational study was conducted to investigate the relationship of metabolic control (A1C) to hardiness, self-efficacy, and perceived medication adherence. Health-Related Hardiness Scale (Pollock, 1990); Long-Term Medication Behavior Self-Efficacy Scale (De Geest et al., 1994); and Perceived Medication Adherence Scale (Allison, 2000) were administered to 215 participants. Data analyses of correlation and multiple linear regression using SPSS 10.0 statistical software were performed. Metabolic control was not …

Mechanisms Underlying Protection Against Rt-2 Gliomagenesis In Rat Brain Utilizing Primary And Secondary Vaccination, Andrea M. Lister

Theses and Dissertations

Primary brain tumor affects some 18,000 adults in the United States each year (Silverberg et al., 1990; Merchant et al., 1997) and over 30% are high-grade anaplastic astrocytoma or glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) (Parney et al., 1997). According to Kruse et al., 1989, the treatment of patients with recurrent or persistent high-grade gliomas represents a major therapeutic challenge. The use of conventional therapy consisting of surgery, followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy for gliomas, has been relatively ineffective (Jaecle et al., 1994) despite the fact that these therapies are cytoreductive in nature (Black, 1991). Most malignancies will recur locally but may …

The Bond Strength Of Adhesive Resin Cement: Time Differential Between Cementation And Finishing Of Cast Dowel-Cores, Purnima Joan Shahani

Theses and Dissertations

THE BOND STREGTH OF ADHESIVE RESIN CEMENT: TIME DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN CEMENTATION AND FINISHING OF CAST DOWEL-CORES By Purnima Joan Shahani, D.D.S., M.S.A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University.Virginia Commonwealth University, 2003Major Director: Peter C. Moon, M.S., PhDDirector of VCU Dental Biomaterials LaboratoryThis study compared the retention of cast dowel-cores cemented with Panavia® 21 subjected to immediate versus delayed high-speed finishing. Conventionally, finishing is delayed for 24 hours to one week to allow for optimal setting and ultimate strength of the cement. Forty-five recently extracted human …