Reverse Order (reverse + order)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Influence of needle size on metabolic control and patient acceptance

EUROPEAN DIABETES NURSING, Issue 2 2007
G Kreugel RN, MSc Clinical Nurse Specialist in Diabetes
Abstract Aim: To investigate whether the length of the needle used for intermittent subcutaneous insulin administration affects metabolic control, injection-related side effects and patient preference. Method: In a crossover study, 68 patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, body mass index , 18 kg/m2, were randomised into two groups; 52 patients completed the trial. Patients in group A used a 5 mm needle for their insulin injections over a period of 13 weeks, then switched to a longer needle (8 or 12 mm). Patients in group B used the needles in reverse order. Patients were re-assessed at 26 weeks. Primary endpoints were insulin doses, and frequency and severity of hypoglycaemic events. Secondary endpoints were patient preference and frequency of injection-related bruising, bleeding, insulin leakage and pain. Results: A total of 52 patients completed the study. No change in the mean glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level was found in group B (baseline, 7.41%; 13 weeks, 7.38%; 26 weeks, 7.34%), whereas a small but significant rise in mean HbA1c level was observed in group A after returning to the longer needle (baseline, 7.67%; 13 weeks, 7.65%; 26 weeks, 7.87%: p<0.05). There were no significant changes in the amount of insulin injected, frequency or severity of hypoglycaemic events or insulin leakage in either group. The 5 mm needle was associated with a significant decrease in bleeding, bruising and pain (p<0.05). Most patients (86%) showed a preference for the 5 mm needle (p<0.05).Conclusion: For insulin injection, a 5 mm needle length is associated with unchanged HbA1c levels, unchanged frequency or severity of hypoglycaemic events and less discomfort for patients compared with 8 or 12 mm needles. The use of 5 mm needles is as safe as 8 or 12 mm needles. Further research is advisable involving thin and obese patients using 5 mm needles, in order for shorter needles to be recommended as standard practice. Copyright © 2007 FEND [source]


The Kalman filter for the pedologist's tool kit

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 6 2006
R. Webster
Summary The Kalman filter is a tool designed primarily to estimate the values of the ,state' of a dynamic system in time. There are two main equations. These are the state equation, which describes the behaviour of the state over time, and the measurement equation, which describes at what times and in what manner the state is observed. For the discrete Kalman filter, discussed in this paper, the state equation is a stochastic difference equation that incorporates a random component for noise in the system and that may include external forcing. The measurement equation is defined such that it can handle indirect measurements, gaps in the sequence of measurements and measurement errors. The Kalman filter operates recursively to predict forwards one step at a time the state of the system from the previously predicted state and the next measurement. Its predictions are optimal in the sense that they have minimum variance among all unbiased predictors, and in this respect the filter behaves like kriging. The equations can also be applied in reverse order to estimate the state variable at all time points from a complete series of measurements, including past, present and future measurements. This process is known as smoothing. This paper describes the ,predictor,corrector' algorithm for the Kalman filter and smoother with all the equations in full, and it illustrates the method with examples on the dynamics of groundwater level in the soil. The height of the water table at any one time depends partly on the height at previous times and partly on the precipitation excess. Measurements of the height of water table and their errors are incorporated into the measurement equation to improve prediction. Results show how diminishing the measurement error increases the accuracy of the predictions, and estimates achieved with the Kalman smoother are even more accurate. Le filtre de Kalman comme outil pour le pédologue Résumé Le filtre de Kalman est un outil conçu essentiellement pour estimer les valeurs de l'état d'un système dynamique dans le temps. Il comprend deux équations principales. Celles-ci sont l'équation d'état, qui décrit l'évolution de l'état pendant le temps, et l'équation de mesure qui decrit à quel instants et de quelle façon on observe l'état. Pour le filtre discret de Kalman, décrit dans cet article, l'équation d'état est une équation stochastique différentielle qui comprend une composante aléatoire pour le bruit dans le système et qui peut inclure une force extérieure. On définit l'équation de mesure de façon à ce qu'elle puisse traiter des mesures indirectes, des vides dans des séquences de mesures et des erreurs de mesure. Le filtre de Kalman fonctionne récursivement pour prédire en avance une démarche à temps l'état du système de la démarche prédite antérieure plus l'observation prochaine. Ses prédictions sont optimales dans le sens qu'elles minimisent la variance parmi toutes les prédictions non-biasées, et à cet égard le filtre se comporte comme le krigeage. On peut appliquer, aussi, les équations dans l'ordre inverse pour estimer la variable d'état à toutes pointes à toutes les instants d'une série complète d'observations, y compris les observations du passé, du présent et du futur. Ce processus est connu comme ,smoothing'. Cet article décrit l'algorithme ,predictor,corrector' du filtre de Kalman et le ,smoother' avec toutes les équations entières. Il illustre cette méthode avec des exemples de la dynamique du niveau de la nappe phréatique dans le sol. Le niveau de la nappe à un instant particulier dépend en partie du niveau aux instants précédents et en partie de l'excès de la précipitation. L'équation d'état fournit la relation générale entre les deux variables et les prédictions. On incorpore les mesures du niveau de la nappe et leurs erreurs pour améliorer les prédictions. Les résultats mettent en évidence que lorsqu'on diminue l'erreur de mesure la précision des prédictions augmente, et aussi que les estimations avec le ,smoother' de Kalman sont encore plus précises. [source]


Order of genetic events is critical determinant of aberrations in chromosome count and structure

GENES, CHROMOSOMES AND CANCER, Issue 4 2004
Christine Fauth
A sequential acquisition of genetic events is critical in tumorigenesis. A key step is the attainment of infinite proliferative potential. Acquisition of this immortalization requires the activation of telomerase in addition to other activities, including inactivation of TP53 and the retinoblastoma family of tumor-suppressor proteins. However, the importance of the order in which these genetic events occur has not been established. To address this question, we used a panel of normal mammary fibroblasts and endothelial cultures that were immortalized after transduction with the catalytic subunit of telomerase (hTERT) and a temperature-sensitive mutant of the SV40 large-tumor (tsLT) oncoprotein in different orders in early- and late-passage stocks. These lines were maintained in continuous culture for up to 90 passages, equivalent to >300 population doublings (PDs) post-explantation during 3 years of continuous propagation. We karyotyped the cultures at different passages. Cultures that received hTERT first followed by tsLT maintained a near-diploid karyotype for more than 150 PDs. However, in late-passage stocks (>200 PDs), metaphase cells were mostly aneuploid. In contrast, the reverse order of gene transduction resulted in a marked early aneuploidy and chromosomal instability, already visible after 50 PDs. These results suggest that the order of genetic mutations is a critical determinant of chromosome count and structural aberration events. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Electroacupuncture for Tension-type Headache on Distal Acupoints Only: A Randomized, Controlled, Crossover Trial

HEADACHE, Issue 4 2004
C. C. L. Xue PhD
Objective.,To investigate the efficacy of electroacupuncture, applied to distal acupoints only, for tension-type headache. Background.,Electroacupuncture is commonly used for tension-type headache, but when applied to distal acupoints only, evidence of its efficacy is lacking. Design.,A randomized, single-blinded, sham-controlled, crossover clinical trial. Methods.,The trial had 5 stages: baseline (2 weeks), phases I and II (each 4 weeks), washout period (2 weeks), and follow-up (3 months after phase II). Forty patients were randomly assigned to either group A or group B. Group A received real electroacupuncture during phase I, then sham electroacupuncture in phase II. Group B received the treatments in reverse order. Outcome measures were headache frequency and duration, pain intensity using a visual analog scale, mechanical pain threshold, headache disability, and sickness impact. Data were analyzed by univariate 2-way analysis of variance. Results.,Thirty-seven patients completed the trial. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups at baseline. At the end of phase I, group A, but not group B, demonstrated significant improvement in mean (standard error of the mean [SEM]) headache frequency (3.0 per month [0.3] versus 12.0 per month [1.7]), duration (13.3 hours [3.5] versus 32.0 hours [6.2]), pain intensity (32.8 mm [4.1] versus 47.5 mm [2.7]), pain threshold (right side, 2.9 kg/second [0.1] versus 0.9 kg/second [0.1]; left side, 2.4 kg/second [0.1] versus 1.1 kg/second [0.1]), headache disability score (6.0 [1.0] versus 16.3 [1.6]), and sickness impact score (288.7 [48.0] versus 687.1 [77.2]). For each parameter, significant differences also were demonstrated for both groups between baseline and phase II, and baseline and follow-up. There were no significant differences between the groups at the end of follow-up (P > .05). Conclusion.,Electroacupuncture to distal points alone is effective for short-term symptomatic relief of tension-type headache. [source]


Does an alteration of dialyzer design and geometry affect biocompatibility parameters?

HEMODIALYSIS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2006
Karel OPATRNÝ Jr.
Abstract The aim of the study was to assess the biocompatibility profile of a newly developed high-flux polysulfone dialyzer type (FX-class dialyzer). The new class of dialyzers incorporates a number of novel design features (including a new membrane) that have been developed specifically in order to enhance the removal of small- and middle-size molecules. The new FX dialyzer series was compared with the classical routinely used high-flux polysulfone F series of dialyzers. In an open prospective, randomized, crossover clinical study, concentrations of the C5a complement component, and leukocyte count in blood and various thrombogenicity parameters were evaluated before, and at 15 and 60 min of hemodialysis at both dialyzer inlet and outlet in 9 long-term hemodialysis patients using the FX60S dialyzers and, after crossover, the classical F60S, while in another 9 patients, the evaluation was made with the dialyzers used in reverse order. The comparison of dialyzers based on evaluation of the group including all procedures with the FX60S and the group including procedures with the F60S did not reveal significant differences in platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin times, plasma heparin levels, platelet factor-4, D-dimer, C5a, and leukocyte count at any point of the collecting period. Both dialyzer types showed a significant increase in the plasma levels of the thrombin-antithrombin III complexes; however, the measured levels were only slightly elevated compared with the upper end of the normal range. Biocompatibility parameters reflecting the behavior of platelets, fibrinolysis, complement activation, and leukopenia do not differ during dialysis with either the FX60S or the F60S despite their large differences in design and geometry features. Although coagulation activation, as evaluated by one of the parameters used, was slightly higher with the FX60S, it was still within the range seen with other highly biocompatible dialyzers and therefore is not indicative of any appreciable activation of the coagulation system. Thus, the incorporation of various performance-enhancing design features into the new FX class of dialyzers does not result in a deterioration of their biocompatibility profile, which is comparable to that of the classical F series of dialyzers. [source]


The extent of marketability and consumer preferences for traditional leafy vegetables , a case study at selected markets in Ghana

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONSUMER STUDIES, Issue 3 2009
Wilhemina Quaye
Abstract This paper reports on a survey conducted at two major marketing centres in Ghana; Tamale in the dry savannah zone and Kumasi in the forest zone. One hundred traders were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire and focus groups discussions held on traders' perceptions and consumer preferences, relative importance and indigenous nutritional knowledge of traditional leafy vegetables (TLVs). The survey established that, with the exception of Xanthosoma mafafa (cocoyam leaves), inter-market distribution of TLVs is limited because of their perishable nature, narrow utilization base and lack of storage techniques. Socio-culturally related factors limiting the distribution of TLVs include regional diversity and ethnic differences in the dietary patterns of the Ghanaian populace, inadequate knowledge about the methods of preparations as well as nutritional and medicinal values of TLVs. The most preferred TLVs as reflected in the consumers' buying behaviour and traders' perceptions are Xanthosoma mafafa (cocoyam leaves), Corchorus spp.(Ayoyo), Amaranthus spp (Alefu) and Hibicus sabdariffa (Bra). The order of preference in the forest zone is Xanthosoma mafafa (cocoyam leaves) > Corchorus spp.(Ayoyo) > Amaranthus spp (Alefu) > Hibicus sabdariffa (Bra), while the reverse order pertains in the savannah zone. [source]


Aquatic Microbial Ecology: Water Desert, Microcosm, Ecosystem.

INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF HYDROBIOLOGY, Issue 4-5 2008
What's Next?
Abstract Aquatic microbial ecology aims at nothing less than explaining the world from "ecological scratch". It develops theories, concepts and models about the small and invisible living world that is at the bottom of every macroscopic aquatic system. In this paper we propose to look at the development of Aquatic Microbial Ecology as a reiteration of classical (eukaryotic) limnology and oceanography. This was conceptualized moving historically from the so-called water desert to microcosm to ecosystem. Each of these concepts characterizes a particular historical field of knowledge that embraces also practices and theories about living beings in aquatic environments. Concerning the question of "who is there", however, Aquatic Microbial Ecology historically developed in reverse order. Repetition, reiteration and replication notwithstanding, Aquatic Microbial Ecology has contributed new ideas, theories and methods to the whole field of ecology as well as to microbiology. The disciplining of Aquatic Microbial Ecology happened in the larger field of plankton biology, and it is still attached to this biological domain, even conceiving of itself very self-consciously as a discipline of its own. Today, Aquatic Microbial Ecology as a discipline is much broader than plankton ecology ever was, for it includes not only oceans and freshwaters but also benthic, interstitial and groundwater systems. The success of Aquatic Microbial Ecology is expressed by its influence on other fields in ecology. The challenge is to further develop its theoretical and methodological features while at the same time contributing to current pressing problems such as climate change or the management of global water resources. And then it may not be fanciful to suppose that even in the year nineteen hundred and nineteen a great number of minds are still only partially lit up by the cold light of knowledge. It is the most capricious illuminant. They are still apt to ruminate, without an overpowering bias to the truth, whether a kingfisher's body shows which way the wind blows; whether an ostrich digests iron; whether owls and ravens herald ill-fortune; and the spilling of salt bad luck; what the tingling of ears forebodes, and even to toy pleasantly with more curious speculations as to the joints of elephants and the politics of storks, which came within the province of the more fertile and better-informed brain of the author (1919) Virginia Woolf from the essay "Reading", In: Leonard Woolf (ed.), 1950: The Captain's Death Bed and Other Essays, , London: Hogarth Press, p. 157. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]


Item Selection in Computerized Adaptive Testing: Should More Discriminating Items be Used First?

JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT, Issue 3 2001
Kit-Tai Hau
During computerized adaptive testing (CAT), items are selected continuously according to the test-taker's estimated ability. The traditional method of attaining the highest efficiency in ability estimation is to select items of maximum Fisher information at the currently estimated ability. Test security has become a problem because high-discrimination items are more likely to be selected and become overexposed. So, there seems to be a tradeoff between high efficiency in ability estimations and balanced usage of items. This series of four studies with simulated data addressed the dilemma by focusing on the notion of whether more or less discriminating items should be used first in CAT. The first study demonstrated that the common maximum information method with Sympson and Hetter (1985) control resulted in the use of more discriminating items first. The remaining studies showed that using items in the reverse order (i.e., less discriminating items first), as described in Chang and Ying's (1999) stratified method had potential advantages: (a) a more balanced item usage and (b) a relatively stable resultant item pool structure with easy and inexpensive management. This stratified method may have ability-estimation efficiency better than or close to that of other methods, particularly for operational item pools when retired items cannot be totally replenished with similar highly discriminating items. It is argued that the judicious selection of items, as in the stratified method, is a more active control of item exposure, which can successfully even out the usage of all items. [source]


Cationic copolymerization of ,-caprolactone and L,L -lactide by an activated monomer mechanism

JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 24 2006
gorzata Ba
Abstract The cationic homopolymerization and copolymerization of L,L -lactide and ,-caprolactone in the presence of alcohol have been studied. The rate of homopolymerization of ,-caprolactone is slightly higher than that of L,L -lactide. In the copolymerization, the reverse order of reactivities has been observed, and L,L -lactide is preferentially incorporated into the copolymer. Both the homopolymerization and copolymerization proceed by an activated monomer mechanism, and the molecular weights and dispersities are controlled {number-average degree of polymerization,=,([M]0 , [M]t)/[I]0, where [M]0 is the initial monomer concentration, [M]t is the monomer concentration at time t, and [I]0 is the initial initiator concentration; weight-average molecular weight/number-average molecular weight ,1.1,1.3}. An analysis of 13C NMR spectra of the copolymers indicates that transesterification is slow in comparison with propagation, and the microstructure of the copolymers is governed by the relative reactivity of the comonomers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 7071,7081, 2006 [source]


Raman and pulse radiolysis studies of the antioxidant properties of quercetin: Cu(II) chelation and oxidizing radical scavenging

JOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY, Issue 5 2005
Armida Torreggiani
Abstract Quercetin (Querc), a pentahydroxyflavonol, is suggested to give protection to living organisms by both direct scavenging of free radicals and metal chelation. The scavenging ability of Querc towards oxidizing radicals, such as ,OH, N3, and NO2,, was evaluated by pulse radiolysis studies in aqueous solutions at different pH. Phenoxyl radicals are the final transient products and are formed either by water elimination from ,OH-adducts or by one-electron transfer from the deprotonated OH groups. Their formation rate is strongly affected by pH and reaches the maximum values in alkaline medium. The Raman and IR spectra were useful to assess the relevant interaction of Querc with Cu(II) ions, which play an important role in the metal-catalysed generation of reactive oxygen species. Depending on pH and the metal-to-ligand ratio, the different chelating sites of Querc change their ability to complex copper ions. Under neutral conditions, the 5-OH group of ring A and CO-4 of ring C have a chelating power superior to that of the catechol group (ring B), whereas the complexation in alkaline medium occurs in the reverse order. In addition, experiments with Querc and Zn(II) ions, carried out at basic pH in order to verify the possible Cu(II)-catalysed oxidation of the ligand, indicated the absence of the above process. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Nutritional study of raw and popped seed proteins of Amaranthus caudatus L and Amaranthuscruentus L

JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 10 2004
Tamer H Gamel
Abstract The nutritional value of raw and popped (similar to popcorn preparation) seed proteins of two amaranth species, Amaranthus caudatus L and A cruentus L, was investigated. After popping, the true protein content in A caudatus and A cruentus decreased by 9 and 13% respectively. Among the amino acids, the loss of tyrosine due to the popping effect was the highest, followed by phenylalanine and methionine. Leucine was the first limiting amino acid in the raw samples, followed by lysine, while the reverse order was observed in the popped samples. The in vivo protein quality of raw and popped seeds was tested with male weanling rats and compared with wheat flour and casein samples. There was no difference between the in vivo digestibility of the raw and the popped seeds, although the in vitro digestibility was slightly higher for the popped samples. The protein efficiency ratio (PER) for all the amaranth seed samples was higher than that for the wheat sample, while the PER for the raw amaranth seed samples was close to that for the casein reference protein. The rat blood serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol for all the amaranth samples were lower than those for the reference protein, while the wheat flour sample showed the lowest values. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Crystallization Behavior of Poly(, -caprolactone) Grafted onto Cellulose Alkyl Esters: Effects of Copolymer Composition and Intercomponent Miscibility

MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS, Issue 20 2008
Ryosuke Kusumi
Abstract Graft copolymers of CA and CB with PCL were prepared at compositions rich in PCL. Kinetic DSC data were analyzed in terms of a folded-chain crystallization formula expanded for a binary mixing system of amorphous/crystalline polymers. The order of crystallization rates was plain PCL,>,CA- g -PCL (DS,=,2.98),>,CB- g -PCL (DS,=,2.1,2.95),>,CA- g -PCL (DS,=,2.1,2.5), and the fold-surface free energy of the PCL crystals obeyed the reverse order. POM revealed a generally tardy growth of spherulites for all the graft copolymers. The slower crystallization process may be ascribed primarily to the compulsory effect of anchoring PCL chains onto the semi-rigid cellulose backbone. Intercomponent miscibility of the CA/PCL and CB/PCL pairs was also taken into consideration. [source]


Traditional Chinese medicine on four patients with Huntington's disease,

MOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 3 2009
Takashi Satoh MD
Abstract Four Huntington's disease (HD) patients were treated with traditional Chinese medicines Yi-Gan San (YGS) and Chaihu-Jia-Longgu-Muli Tan (CLMT) in a cross-over manner. Two patients took YGS for 8 weeks first, and after 4 weeks of washing out, they took CLMT for 8 weeks. Two other patients took these medicines in reverse order. All patients showed a decrease in the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale,motor assessment (from 106.3 ± 4.7 to 89.6 ± 5.8 as mean ± SD, P = 0.0004) by YGS treatment with no extrapiramidal symptoms or changes of cognition or ADL. Our study suggests a possibility of a new treatment for involuntary movements. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society [source]


Holocene Floral and Faunal Remains Revealed Concealed Neotectonic Disturbance (Saria Tal, Kumaun Himalaya, India)

ACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA (ENGLISH EDITION), Issue 1 2010
Asha GUPTA
Abstract: Palynological and paleontological investigations supported by the radiocarbon dates of the lacustrine sediments of two profiles from the temperate lake Saria Tal, in Nairn Tal District, Kumaun Himalaya, have revealed the presence of a concealed fold at the region. The profile from bore cores represents the upper part of the Late Holocene and the profile from exposed sections from the Middle Holocene to the over middle part of the Late Holocene. The data generated from different investigations have uniformly indicated that the former profile represents normal superposition, while the latter represents the reverse order. The contemporary pollen as well as moüuscan zones of both profiles are situated at different elevations but consist of similar bioremains , indicating continuation of the same strata in two profiles. The presence of reverse order of superposition, continuation of the same strata in two profiles at different elevations, and the orientation of biozones, have indicated that the revealed folding is of syncline type. The present study has also given an idea about the origin of this lake. [source]


Effect of formula thickened with reduced concentration of locust bean gum on gastroesophageal reflux

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 6 2007
R Miyazawa
Abstract Aim: Previous studies showed that HL-350, a formula thickened with a reduced concentration of locust bean gum, decreased frequent regurgitation in 4-month old infants with reflux. In this study, we investigated the effect of HL-350 in younger infants. Methods: We studied 20 infants less than 2 months old who had three or more episodes of regurgitation or vomiting per day. Ten infants (group A) were fed with HL-350 for the first week, and with control milk, HL-00, for the following week. The other 10 infants (group B) were fed in reverse order. Mothers recorded number of regurgitation episodes, feeding volume and time and number of bowel movements. To evaluate gastric emptying we measured antral cross sectional areas ultrasonographically at various time points after feeding. Results: The median number of regurgitation episodes decreased significantly with feeding of HL-350 (2.3/day) compared to feeding with control milk (5.2/day) (p = 0.00048). No significant difference was evident in feeding volume and time, body weight gain, or gastric emptying rate between HL-350 and control milk. Conclusion: HL-350 decreased the number of regurgitation episodes without affecting gastric emptying delay in very young infants with recurrent vomiting. [source]


Evaluation of soft tissue around single-tooth implant crowns: the pink esthetic score

CLINICAL ORAL IMPLANTS RESEARCH, Issue 6 2005
Rudolf Fürhauser
Abstract Aim: In this study, the reproducibility of a newly developed pink esthetic score (PES) for evaluating soft tissue around single-tooth implant crowns was assessed. The effect of observer specialization was another point of interest. Material and methods: Twenty observers (five prosthodontists, five oral surgeons, five orthodontists and five dental students) were given photographs of 30 single-tooth implant crowns. Seven variables were evaluated vs. a natural reference tooth: mesial papilla, distal papilla, soft-tissue level, soft-tissue contour, alveolar process deficiency, soft-tissue color and texture. Using a 0-1-2 scoring system, 0 being the lowest, 2 being the highest value, the maximum achievable PES was 14. Each observer was requested to make two assessments at an interval of 4 weeks. At the second assessment, the photographs were scored in the reverse order. Results: The mean PES of evaluations at the first assessment (n=600) was 9.46 (±3.81 SD), and 9.24 (±3.8 SD) at the second one. The difference between these two means was not significant statistically (P=0.6379). Implant-related mean PES for single-tooth implants varied from 2.28 to 13.8, with standard deviations between 0.46 and 3.51. Very poor and very esthetic restorations showed the smallest standard deviations. The mean total PES was 10.6 for the prosthodontists, 9.2 for the oral surgeons, 9.9 for the dental students and 7.6 for the orthodontists. Conclusions: The PES reproducibly evaluates peri-implant soft tissue around single-tooth implants. Thus, an objective outcome of different surgical or prosthodontic protocols can be assessed. Orthodontists were clearly more critical than the other observers. Résumé Dans cette étude la reproduction d'un nouveau Score d'Esthétique Rose (PES) pour l'évaluation des tissus mous autour des couronnes d'implants uniques a étéévaluée. L'effet de la spécialisation de l'observateur était un autre point d'intérêt. Vingt observateurs (cinq spécialistes en prothèse, cinq chirurgiens, cinq orthodontistes et cinq étudiants en médecine dentaire) ont reçu des photographies de 30 couronnes sur implant unique. Sept variables ont étéévaluées vs une dent de référence naturelle : papille mésiale, papille distale, niveau du tissu mou, couleur du tissu mou, perte du processus alvéolaire, couleur du tissu mou et texture. En utilisant un système 0,1,2, zéro étant le plus bas et deux étant la plus haute valeur, le score maximum PES était donc de 14. Chaque observateur a reçu comme instruction de réaliser deux évaluations à un intervalle de quatre semaines. A la seconde évaluation les photographies ont étéévaluées dans un ordre inverse. Les PES moyens des évaluations de la première fois (n=600) étaient de 9,46±3,81 et 9,24±3,80 la seconde fois. La différence entre ces deux moyennes n'était pas significative (P=0,6379). Le PS moyen en relation pour les implants sur dent unique variait de 2,28 à 13,8 avec des déviations standards de 0,46 à 3,51. Les restaurations de moindre qualité et les excellentes affichaient les plus petites déviations standards. Le PES total moyen était de 10,6 pour les spécialistes en prothèse, 9,2 pour les chirurgiens, 9,9 pour les étudiants et 7,6 pour les orthodontistes. Le PES évalue donc les tissus mous paraïmplantaires autour des implants uniques. Un aboutissement objectif de différents protocoles chirurgicaux ou prothétiques peut donc être estimé. Les orthodontistes étaient clairement plus critiques que les autres observateurs. Zusammenfassung Ziel: In dieser Arbeit wird die Reproduzierbarkeit eines neu entwickelten Pink Esthetic Index (PES) zur Evaluation vom Weichgewebe um Kronen auf Einzelzahnimplantaten untersucht. Zusätzlich interessierte der Einfluss des Spezialisierungsgrades eines Untersuchers. Material und Methoden: Man gab zwanzig Untersuchern (5 Prothetiker, 5 Oralchirurgen, 5 Orthodonten und 5 Zahnmedizinstudenten) Fotoaufnahmen von 30 Kronen auf Einzelzahnimplantaten. Sie hatten 7 Variabeln gegenüber einem natürlichen Referenzzahn zu beurteilen: mesiale Papille, distale Papille, Niveau der Weichgewebe, Form der Weichgewebe, Defizit an Alveolarkamm, Farbe und Struktur der Weichgewebe. Man definierte eine Bewertungsskala 0-1-2, wobei 0 für den schlechtesten und 2 für den besten Wert stehen, so dass man einen maximalen PES von 14 erreichen konnte. Jeder Untersucher war angehalten, im Abstand von 4 Wochen zwei Beurteilungen durchzuführen. Anlässlich des zweiten Untersuchungstermins wurden die Fotoaufnahmen in ungekehrter Reihenfolge beurteilt. Resultate: Der mittlere PES bei den Untersuchungen im ersten Umgang (n=600) betrug 9.46 (±3.81 SD) und 9.24 (±3.8 SD) im zweiten Umgang. Der Unterschied zwischen diesen zwei Mittelwerten war statistisch nicht signifikant (P=0.6379). Der mittlere implantatspezifische PES für die Einzelzahnimplantate variierte zwischen 2.28 und 13.8 mit Standardabweichungen zwischen 0.46 und 3.51. Sehr schlechte und sehr schöne Rekonstruktionen zeigten die kleinesten Standardabweichungen. Der mittlere Gesamt-PES war bei den Prothetikern 10.6, bei den Oralchirurgen 9.2, bei den Zahnmedizinstudenten 9.9 und bei den Orthodonten 7.6. Zusammenfassung: Der Pink Esthetic Index untersucht die periimplantären Weichgewebe um Einzelzahnimplantate und wird auf seine Reproduzierbarkeit überprüft. Damit kann man die Ergebnisse von verschiedenen chirurgischen und prothetischen Protokollen objektivieren. Die Orthodonten waren deutlich kritischer bei ihrer Beurteilung als die anderen Behandler. Resumen Intencion: En este estudio se valoró la reproductibilidad de una nueva Valor de Rosado Estético (PES) para evaluar el tejido blando alrededor de coronas de implantes unitarios. El efecto de la especialización del observador fue otro punto de interés. Material y metodos: Se entregó a veinte observadores (5 prostodoncistas, 5 cirujanos orales, 5 ortodoncistas y 5 estudiantes dentales) fotografías de 30 coronas de implantes unitarios. Se evaluaron 7 variables frente a dientes naturales de referencia: papila mesial, papila distal, nivel de tejido blando, contorno de tejido blando, deficiencia del proceso alveolar, color y textura del tejido blando. Usando un sistema de puntuación de 0-1-2, siendo 0 el valor más bajo, 2 el valor más alto, el PES más alto alcanzable era de 14. Se solicitó a cada observador que llevara a cabo dos valoraciones en un intervalo de 4 semanas. En la segunda valoración las fotografías se valoraron en orden inverso. Resultados: El PES medio de evaluaciones a la primera valoración (n=600) fue 9.46 (±3.81 SD) y 9.24 (±3.8 SD) en la segunda. La diferencia entre estas dos medias no fue estadísticamente significativo (P=0.6379). El PES medio relacionado al implante para implantes unitarios varió desde 2.28 a 13.8 con desviaciones estándar entre 0.46 y 3.51. Las restauraciones más pobres y más estéticas mostraron las desviaciones estándar más bajas. El PES total fue de 10.6 para los prostodoncistas, 9.2 para los cirujanos orales, 9.9 para los estudiantes dentales y 7.6 para los ortodoncistas. Conclusiones: Las Puntuaciones de Estética Rosa evalúa reproduciblemente el tejido blando periimplantario alrededor de implantes unitarios. De este modo, se puede valorar un resultado objetivo de diferentes protocolos quirúrgicos o prostodónticos. Los ortodoncistas fueron claramente más críticos que los otros observadores. [source]