Construction of a full mouth speculum facilitating oral examinations, bronchoscopy and gastric tubing in elephants

Objective Here we tested the application of a full mouth speculum to sedated elephants in human care to gain access to the oral cavity, the trachea (bronchi) and esophagus (stomach) and therefore improve diagnostic and therapeutic options in elephant medicine. The construction of this oral speculum for elephants and the procedure are described. Material and methods The oral speculum is a steel construction consisting of 2 bite plates of 0.8 × 60.0 × 8.0 cm attached between 2 threaded guiding poles (40 cm). Through crank handles, the metal plates are dispersed once placed between the elephant‘s jaws in front of the molars. The oral speculum was applied in 26 elephants (6,16 Asian elephants, and 1,3 African elephants) during standing sedation. Results All sedated elephants tolerated the positioning of the mouth opener and subsequent manipulations well. The mouth opener was applied for the following procedures: inspection of the oral cavity (n = 2), placing a stomach tube (n = 16), and/or performing endoscopic examinations such as bronchoscopy (n = 20) and/or gastroscopy (n = 8). Conclusion This method provides a new possibility to open the jaws to gain access to the molars, larynx and pharynx in captive elephants without full immobilization. Valuable samples for diagnostics may be obtained or animals medicated via stomach tube with this application. Clinical relevance The mouth opener provides veterinarains with a new option to perform necessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures around the oral cavity, airways and stomach in captive elephants during standing sedation with no need for a full anaesthesia.

Cumulative oral examinations in undergraduate human physiology: process, student perceptions, and outcomes

Assessment methods vary widely across undergraduate physiology courses. Here, a cumulative oral examination was administered in two sections of a 300-level undergraduate physiology course. Student performance was quantified via instructor grading using a rubric, and self-perceptions ( n = 55) were collected via survey. Overall, students affirmed that the oral examination assisted in their learning, specifically by leading them to begin preparation for their final written exam earlier than they otherwise would. The instructor considered the oral exam useful for student learning by providing a scaffold to the written final exam and a way to connect with students before a high-stakes final exam. Specific details of the examination format and suggestions and considerations for those considering this assessment approach are provided.

Gestational Diabetes and Periodontal Disease in Trinidad – A pilot study

Objective To determine the prevalence of periodontitis in patients with and without gestational diabetes in Trinidad. Methods A convenience sample was obtained from antenatal clinic collaborating sites; patients were invited to undergo oral examinations at the School of Dentistry. The basic periodontal examination (BPE) assessed the periodontal disease status in all patients, the examiner was blinded to the GD status. Results There were 65 women who participated in the study, of which 13 had gestational diabetes and 52 did not. The mean age was 34.32 years and 43.1% and 35.4% of participants were Afro-Trinidadian and Indo-Trinidadian respectively. Reversible stages of periodontal disease were present in most participants (63.1%). Signs of severe periodontal disease (BPE scores 3 and 4) were more prevalent in the non-GD group and the Afro-Trinidadian group. Conclusion These data provide the first insight into the periodontal status of patients with and without gestational diabetes. The non-GD group showed a higher prevalence of severe periodontal disease compared to the group with GD.

Személyes jelenlét nélküli felsőoktatás a vizsgaszervezés aspektusából a közoktatási vezetőképzésben

A tanulmány azt mutatja be, hogyan valósult meg a felsőoktatásban az áttérés a koronavírus járvány miatt a nem jelenléti oktatásra 2020 márciusában, elsősorban szemesztert és tanulmányokat záró vizsgák megszervezése szempontjából egy konkrét példán keresztül. Az Budapesti Műszaki Egyetem Műszaki Pedagógia Tanszékének szakirányú továbbképzésén a járványhelyzetre tekintettel a távolléti oktatást követően a hallgatók szigorlataira és záróvizsgáira is távolléti rendszerben került sor. A jelen tanulmányban a Microsoft Teams platform felhasználásával lebonyolított szóbeli vizsgák hátterét, körülményeit, szervezési sajátosságait mutatom be, majd levonom a tanulságokat különös tekintettel arra, hogy a későbbiekben érdemes-e változtatni a vizsgáztatás rendjén. A tanulmány nemzetközi kitekintést is tartalmaz, többek között arra, hogy Ausztria egyik felsőoktatási intézményében, a Fachhochschule St. Pölten intézményben szintén a Teams használatával, hogyan szabályozták és bonyolították le a szóbeli vizsgáztatást. A tanulmány azzal a megállapítással zárul, hogy a távolléti oktatás és vizsgáztatás új helyzet elé állította a felsőoktatást, melynek nemcsak negatív hatásai voltak, hanem a résztvevők számos új tapasztalattal és módszertani tanulsággal gazdagodtak, melyeket javasolt a vírushelyzet elmúltával is alkalmazni. The study shows how the transition to non-attendance education in higher education was made in March 2020 due to the coronavirus epidemic, primarily through a concrete example of the organisation of exams for semesters and studies. Because of the epidemic situation, the technical pedagogy department of the Technical University of Budapest also took place in an absence system. In this study, I will present the background, circumstances, and organisational characteristics of the Microsoft Teams platform's oral examinations. In particular, I will learn the lessons on whether it is worth changing the course of the review in the future. The study also includes an international outlook on how oral examinations were regulated and conducted using Teams at Fachhochschule St. Pölten, a higher education institution in Austria. The study concludes with the finding that absent education and investigations have brought a new situation to higher education, which has had adverse effects and has been enriched with several new experiences and methodological lessons. It is recommended to apply after the viral situation has passed.

Does Dental Fear in Children Predict Untreated Dental Caries? An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study

Despite free health care services in Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of caries in children is substantially greater in comparison to other high-income countries. Dental fear in children may be an important issue that needs attention. Therefore, the aim was to investigate the role of dental fear in predicting untreated dental caries in schoolchildren. This analytical cross-sectional study included children aged 8–10 years residing in Saudi Arabia. Dental status via oral examinations was surveyed with the WHO standardized chart and the Children Fear Survey Schedule—Dental Subscale was used to score dental fear. Descriptive, binary, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to report the findings at 5% statistical significance. Overall, there were 798 schoolchildren with an average fear score of 36. Nearly 70.4% reported fear of someone examining their mouth. About 76.9% had at least one carious tooth in their oral cavity. Children with dental fear were 1.8 times (OR = 1.80; 95%CI = 1.26, 2.56) more likely to have at least one untreated carious tooth in their oral cavity than those who did not express fear during oral examinations and dental procedures. Thus, the current study concludes that fear of dentists and dental treatment procedures successfully predicts untreated carious teeth in schoolchildren.