How the trend to elective dental procedures influences your practice

Malignant mesenchymal tumours of the breast are rare neoplasms. Their incidence varies from 1%-3% of all malignant breast tumours (1). Stromal sarcoma of the breast is an extremely uncommon tumour (2). We present a rare case of advanced stromal sarcoma of the breast successfully managed with radical surgery and radiotherapy.     

Solo and nonsolo dental practices: impact of increasing number of female dentists and the cost of a dental education

This study involved subjective evaluation of airway patency, linear measurement of orocraniofacial architecture, and blood pressure measurement in 38 obese sufferers of sleep apnea and 38 matched controls. The study demonstrated that airway management in the sleep apnea group was difficult on both induction and emergence from general anesthesia. Moreover, a smaller, compressed oropharynx was observed in the sleep apnea group. In addition, patients with sleep apnea were characteristically hypertensive. More nursing research is needed to enhance understanding of patients afflicted with sleep apnea and to improve their life quality.     

Pediatric management problems. What is your assessment? Scarlet fever

Apocrine hidrocystoma is a cyst from the secretory portion of the apocrine sweat gland and tends to occur as a solitary facial lesion. We report a 66-year-old woman with multiple, cystic lesions on her face. Histopathology revealed cystic spaces lined by a row of secretory cells showing decapitation secretion. We emphasize the multiple character of the case and discuss its distinction from so-called eccrine hidrocystomas.     

Anxious children: coping in dental practice

Treating anxious children is a challenge that many dentists face. Not only do anxious children find it difficult to cope with dental treatment but dentists also find it difficult to cope with anxious children. This article is intended to simplify the management of anxious children in general dental practice. Behavioural management, the coordination of the whole dental team, treatment planning and the use of inhalation sedation will be discussed.     

Relocating your psychotherapy practice: Packing and unpacking.

A growing number of psychotherapists are facing the challenge of elective relocation of their practices. In so doing, psychotherapists are confronted by many questions about how to leave (close a practice) and how to arrive (open a new practice in a different setting). This article focuses on a number of the cognitive and affective experiences of the therapist during this period of time. The authors' own experiences with this process as well as the limited literature on the subject inform the discussion. Practical recommendations for constructive management of this process are presented. The decision and experience of elective practice relocation can have transformative effects on the prepared practitioner. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Therapist as life coach: Transforming your practice.

Review of book, Patrick Williams and Deborah Davis (Aus.) Therapist as Life Coach. New York: Norton, 2002. 216 pp. ISBN 0-393-70341-X. Reviewed by Ronald E. Fox. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass: a review of current practice

Devices and techniques used for pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass are ever changing. There are frequently reports in the literature about new techniques and new devices. Periodic surveys are helpful because they reveal the actual extent to which these techniques and devices are applied to clinical practice. Advances in research are bringing about a better understanding of the intricate aspects of CPB and the effects of CPB on pediatric patients. There appears to be a trend from widely divergent approaches to CPB for pediatric patients to more uniformity in practice. For example, the use of membrane oxygenation and arterial line filtration has become universal, and there is an increase in the use of all types of safety devices. Techniques reported in the medical literature at the beginning of the decade, such as, the use of modified ultrafiltration, the use of centrifugal cell washers to process packed red blood cells before adding them to the prime, and the use of the antifibrinolytic drug, aprotinin, have become part of practice at a large number of pediatric heart centers. Periodic surveys are useful, as they provide a measurement of current practice. They also provide a historical record of the advances in the field.     

Document imaging and the patient chart: envisioning the future for your practice

This plan for computerizing the dental patient record is designed to be implemented in a stepwise fashion. It assumes a fully developed and well accepted practice management system is already present in the business office to ensure organizational readiness and a culture embracing technology and its accompanying changes. Electronic claims submission is implemented next to not only realize the competitive advantages of EDI in the dental office; but also, to introduce the process of multi-user communication. Electronic charting in the dental operatory is first implemented as a stand alone system. This allows users to understand the new workflow requirements and oral exam redesign when a computer is introduced in the treatment room. The dental team must understand that the ultimate goal of this plan is to network the entire system and enhance communication both within and external to the dental office. No specific time requirements were given for this plan because of the variability from office to office. People need time to develop awareness, prepare for, and become skilled in using new technology. Financial constraints may also limit the speed at which the plan can be implemented. Finally, individuals in the practice must work together as a team to assess the practice's level of acceptance and ability at each step in the process. Modification will be necessary along the way as technology is constantly changing. This is a significant paradigm shift, considering that many pieces of equipment purchased for the dental office can last the dentist's entire career. This plan allows for alteration, encourages team involvement and requires a long-term strategic vision for information technology's role in the dental office.