CP-OCT enabled nondestructive quantitative assessment of microleakage in enamel dental restorations.

ObjectivesTo investigate changes in the effective radiation dose (E) in relation to variations in voxel (VOX) size settings and the field-of-view (FOV) centralization.MethodsThis cross-sectional dosimetry study used nanoDot® OSLD dosimeters placed at 25 pre-determined sites in the head and neck slices of a RANDO® male phantom to measure the absorbed radiation. The imaging scans took place at King Abdulaziz University Dental Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between September 2016 and May 2017 using the i-CAT classic® cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) unit. Three VOX size setting were examined: 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm and 0.4 mm. The FOV was alternatively eccentrically centered on the maxillary and mandibular arches while holding all other factors constant. Effective radiation doses were calculated for each VOX size and FOV centralization setting.ResultsAn inverse and indirect relation was found between E and the VOX size setting with smaller VOX yielding higher E. CBCT scans centered on the mandible resulted in higher E than scans centered on the maxilla.ConclusionEffective radiation doses are significantly affected by changes in VOX size settings and FOV centralization options. This reflects on the potential radiation risk to patients and highlights the importance of choosing exposure parameters carefully.

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Background: Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide. Globally, stroke affects 13.7 million individuals every year. Several studies have shown an increase in the rehospitalization rate among stroke patients caused by non-adherence to secondary prevention as recommended by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) guideline. The aim of this study was to evaluate physicians' compliance with secondary prevention of stroke upon patients' discharge. Methods:A retrospective chart review study was conducted at King Fahad Medical City. The primary outcome of this study was the number of patients discharged with the recommended medications for the secondary prevention of ischemic stroke (IS). The data were collected from the patient's medical record files and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).Results: Of the 675 patients who were screened for eligibility, 507 were included and 168 were excluded. The mean age of the patients was 59.5 (± 15.6) years. Of the 507 patients, 181 (35.7%) had a history of previous stroke. Overall, 376 (74%) stroke patients were discharged with appropriate secondary prevention recommendation per AHA/ASA guideline. Conclusions:This study stresses the importance of compliance with the AHA/ASA guideline for secondary stroke prevention and highlights the role of pharmacists in the stroke unit in which it is necessary to ensure that all stroke patients are discharged with the recommended medications to reduce recurrent stroke.