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Biomedical subjects

E Bjertness

Publications and source records attributed to E Bjertness.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Survival analysis of amalgam restorations in long-term recall patients.

The longevity of amalgam restorations in premolars and first and second molars in long-term recall patients has been calculated by means of survival analysis. The present retrospective longitudinal study includes information from 32 patients and their records over a time period of 17 years. The data were recorded by six dentists. The estimated time of 90% survival was 7 years. After 17 years the survival estimate decreased to 78%, indicating a favorable longevity of amalgam restorations in patients taken care of in an established recall system.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Comparison of oral radiographic findings among 35-year-old Oslo citizens in 1973 and 1984.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate a variety of radiographically detectable conditions found on orthopantomograms of 141 individuals as a part of an oral health survey of 35-year-old Oslo citizens, born 1949. Radiographic findings were recorded and compared with those of a similar study made in 1973. The findings revealed a statistically significant reduction in the prevalence of marginal bone loss. The frequencies of endodontically treated teeth and teeth with apical radiolucencies were unchanged.

Adult↗

Caries prevalence of 35-year-old Oslo citizens in 1973 and 1984.

DMF teeth and surfaces were recorded in a random sample of 35-yr-old Oslo citizens (born 1949). The index values were related to selected independent variables: sex, years at school, oral hygiene status (OHI-S), periodontal conditions (PI), use of interdental cleaning devices and dental visiting habits. Data from the present investigation were analysed together with data from a similar study on 35-yr-olds in 1973 in order to detect possible changes over time. The mean DMFS-score in the present investigation was 85, indicating a high caries experience, mainly due to a high F-component. A statistically significant increase in the number of decayed surfaces was demonstrated concomitant with an increase in PI- and OHI-S scores. There were more carious surfaces among irregular dental visitors than among the regular visitors. No statistically significant differences in DMF-scores from 1973 to 1984 were detected, but there was a statistically significant reduction in the prevalence of untreated caries during this period. Furthermore, an increase in the number of filled surfaces from 1973 to 1984 and a reduction in the number of missing surfaces were registered. This may indicate a tendency towards restoring instead of extracting carious teeth during the last decade.

Adult↗

Cross-sectional clinical study of quality of amalgam restorations, oral health and prevalence of recurrent caries.

The purpose of the present cross-sectional clinical study was to evaluate the relationship between recurrent caries prevalence, quality of class II amalgam restorations and various oral health parameters. One hundred and forty-four randomly selected 35-yr-old citizens of Oslo were included in the investigation. Caries was scored based on a combined clinical and radiographic examination according to the DMFS index system. Oral hygiene (OHI-S) and periodontal index (PI) were registered, and the quality of class II amalgam restorations was ranked according to a set of occlusal index pictures. A total of 1694 class II amalgam restorations were included and 93 (5.5%) of these were affected by recurrent caries. A statistically significant correlation was found between prevalence of recurrent caries and poor oral hygiene, high PI-scores and prevalence of primary caries. However, a severe deterioration of the quality of amalgam restorations had to be present before a concomitant increase in recurrent caries prevalence could be registered. The present results indicate that measures improving the oral health may be of major importance in preventing recurrent caries and thereby increase the durability of amalgam restorations.

Adult↗

Childhood asthma under the north face of Mount Everest.

We assessed prevalences of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic eczema and their associations with environmental exposures among school children living in high altitude and rural Tibet. After watching an asthma symptom video, 2.8% of the children reported ever wheezing at rest and 1.4% ever severe wheezing. Residential dampness problems were the only environmental exposure that was clearly associated with children's symptoms (odds ratios 1.3 to 2.5), even if several other exposures were common. The low symptom prevalences are in accordance with the hypothesis that the western lifestyle in some way increases the risk of asthma.

Adolescent↗

Neuropathological diagnoses in elderly patients in Oslo: Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body disease, vascular lesions.

Neuropathological changes in elderly residents of Oslo, Norway were characterised with respect to the cerebral substrates of dementia. Ninety-two brains were examined, representing 41% of all deaths occurring in 10 nursing homes during a 9-month period. The autopsy cohort showed a similar mean age (85 years) and sex ratio (73% female) and proportion of demented patients (75%) compared to all the patients resident in these homes who died during the same period. Clinical data was compiled retrospectively. Diagnosis was made using the CERAD protocol, and criteria for the diagnosis of Lewy body dementia. Lewy body formation was present in 20% and cerebral infarction in 21% of patients. In the demented group (69 patients) 90% fulfilled CERAD criteria for definite or probable Alzheimer's disease. Eight demented cases had absent neocortical neurofibrillary tangles and 6 other cases showed Lewy body dementia (9% of demented patients). A further 8 of these demented cases had brain stem Lewy bodies with only minimal cortical involvement. Thirteen cases (19% of the sample) had cerebral infarcts but these were considered to be clinically significant in only 4 (6%). In the non-demented patients (23) 4 patients had brain stem Lewy bodies and 6 had cerebral infarcts. Despite inclusion criteria biased towards the collection of Alzheimer's disease and normal patients, both Lewy body dementia (7%) and cerebral infarcts contributing to dementia (6%) were frequent.

Aged↗

Solvent exposures at shoe factories and workshops in Hebron City, West Bank.

Exposure to organic solvents has been reported to increase the risks for acute and chronic health effects among shoe industry workers. In developing countries, protection against chemical exposures is often not provided. The study was conducted to identify working conditions and estimate the concentrations of organic solvents used in shoe factories and workshops in Hebron City. Personal interviews containing questions related to personal protective equipment (PPE) were used to identify working conditions, and samples collected from factories and workshops were analyzed using gas chromatography. Geometric means (GMs) were calculated for the solvents. Six major organic solvents were detected in the factories. Acetone (GM = 51.5 mg/m3, GSD = 3.82) was common in gluing tasks. Dichloromethane (GM = 47 mg/m3, GSD = 2.62) was common in cleaning tasks. Heptane, methylethyl ketone, n-hexane, and toluene were common in gluing tasks. Four major organic solvents were detected in the workshops: acetone (GM = 32.3 mg/m:3, GSD = 6.33), toluene (GM = 70.3 mg/m3, GSD = 3.06), n-hexane (GM = 19.4 mg/m3:, GSD = 2.65), and methylethyl ketone (GM = 130 mg/mM3, GSD = 1.5). 81% of the factory workers had never used respiratory protective equipment, and 92% had never used work clothes. 97% of the workers in the workshops had never used respiratory protective equipment, 94% had never worn gloves, and 90% had never used work clothes. Exposures to solvents in the absence of personal Protective equipment, tasks barriers, and mechanical ventilation can adversely affect health.

Acetone↗

Prevalence of self-reported health complaints among shoe workers of small workshop exposed to organic solvents in Hebron City, West Bank: a cross-sectional survey.

The study was conducted to estimate the prevalences of neurological disorders and mucous membrane irritation complaints among workers of shoe workshops in Hebron City, in particular to measure the associations between the occurrence of symptoms indicating polyneuropathy among workers and exposure to organic solvents in the glueing tasks. A group of 103 male workers from 30 workshops, exposed to organic solvents for more than one year were recruited to the study during the years 1996-1997. A validated Swedish neuropsychiatric questionnaire which contained questions on neurological and mucous irritation symptoms was used. Prevalence ratios were used as an indicator for relative risk. The overall prevalence of painful tingling of limbs (used as indicator of polyneuropathy) was high among the workshop workers (40%) and was significantly associated with long term exposure to organic solvents in glueing tasks (PR 2.8: 95% CI 1.0-8.3). Moderate associations were seen in other tasks. Headache and mental irritability did not show any association with organic solvent exposure in the workshop tasks. Breathing difficulty showed a moderate non-significant association with long term exposure to organic solvents (72 months) in cleaning tasks (1.9,0.7-4.8), while sore eyes also showed a moderate non-significant association with exposure to organic solvents for 25-72 months in the glueing tasks. Long term exposure to n-hexane (mainly found in the glues) could be the main cause of polyneuropathy among the workers of Hebron shoe workshops. The absence of effective ventilation systems and personal protective equipment might increase the prevalence of polyneuropathy among these workers. In conclusion, glues containing high concentrations of n-hexane are still in use in many shoe workshops in Hebron City (as well as in other developing countries), and long term exposure to n-hexane in glueing compounds could result in polyneuropathy among the workers. However, in the absence of objective measurements our results must be interpreted with caution. Well planned longitudinal studies with objective measures of exposure and disease are important for future research in developing countries.

Adult↗

Prevalence of diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in a rural Palestinian population.

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance was investigated in a cross-sectional population-based study in a rural Palestinian population of 500 females and males aged 30-65 years. The prevalence of diabetes was 9.6% and 10.0% in females and males respectively. The prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance was 8.6%; 10.3% in females, 6.2% in males. The prevalence of total glucose intolerance (diabetes mellitus + impaired glucose tolerance) was 18.4%. Our study provides the first baseline data on diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in Palestine. The results indicate a high prevalence of glucose intolerance, information that is essential for the implementation of national planning and service provision.

Adult↗

Diabetes mellitus in an urban Palestinian population: prevalence and associated factors.

We investigated the prevalence of diabetes and associated factors in a cross-sectional survey of an urban Palestinian population of 492 men and women aged 30-65 years. The oral glucose tolerance test was used to diagnose diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance. World Health Organization-recommended survey protocols were followed. Diabetes was found in 12.0% of the survey population (including 9.4% previously diagnosed), and impaired glucose tolerance in 5.9%. Logistic regression analysis controlling for age and sex revealed body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio and family history of diabetes to be significantly independently associated with diabetes.

Adult↗