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Objective The use of periodontal probes harbors the risk of measurement errors. The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of the digital determination of gingival recession and papilla height on virtual jaw models, given the hypothesis that they show lower intrarater and interrater variability than conventional linear measurements taken clinically or on cast models. Materials and Methods Gingival recessions and papilla heights were measured at 30 sites by five examiners using the following methods: ( A) direct measurements using a periodontal probe intraorally or ( B) on cast models using a caliper, ( C) digital measurements on virtual models obtained by optical scans taken intraorally, or ( D) made of cast models using the same software. Measurements were repeated after 1 week and intraclass, intrarater, and interrater correlations of the measurements using the four different methods were analyzed. Results The greatest disagreement between the 1st and 2nd measurement was identified for method A. Recessions were less reliably measured than papillae. The best agreement between methods was found in the digital ones ( C and D). Regarding papilla height, increased values were obtained when method D was applied as compared with both clinical evaluations. For gingival recession, method A measured the highest values. Conclusion In the present study, the use of digital technologies by intraoral scanning or scanning of cast models improved the reproducibility and lowered the variance of measurements within one individual and between different investigators. Clinical Significance Providing a more reliable and examiner-independent technique for measurements of the soft tissue architecture could improve data quality in periodontal research and in the analysis of different clinical treatment modalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In 1989 and 1990, spruce cones were harvested at 29 sites distributed over the five main geographic regions of Switzerland, i.e. Jura, Central Plateau, North, Central and South Alps. The presence of insects and the species-specific consumption of seeds was determined for each cone by examination of the median longitudinal section. Seven seed-feeding species (Assara terebrella, Cydia strobilella, Dioryctria abietella, Eupithecia abietaria, Megastigmus strobilobius, Plemeliella abietina, Strobilomyia anthracina) and the spruce cone gall midge Kaltenbachiola strobi were found in the samples. The proportions of infested cones ranged from 36 to 100%. The regions did not show significant differences in terms of infestation rates, whereas differences between sites within the regions were highly significant. Seed loss ranged from 2 to 100%, its geographical distribution exhibiting a similar pattern to the infestation rates. Considering the number of infested cones, C. strobilella was the most abundant species, followed by K. strobi and P. abietina. Cones infested by conospermatophagous species (C. strobilella, D. abietella, E. abietaria) showed higher seed losses than those infested by spermatophages (M. strobilobius, P. abietina). Due to the ubiquitous occurrence of C. strobilella, its high infestation rates and the resulting seed losses caused by its offspring, this species has to be considered as the most important insect seed predator in Switzerland. A multiple linear regression analysis was carried out for each region to simultaneously explore the impact of site and tree variables as well as the effect of insect attack on the yield of viable seeds. The results indicate that site and tree conditions contributed more to the variability of seed yield than insect presence in a cone. The model predicted significant effects of insect attack mainly for cones with total seed numbers that were higher than the average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers regularly use household care and personal care products (HC&PCPs). Isothiazolinones are included in HC&PCPs as preservatives and are being held responsible for an epidemic rise in allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). The objective of this study was to assess the origin and extent of dermal exposure in order to evaluate the risk of ACD from isothiazolinones in HC&PCP. Individual-based aggregate dermal exposure to four isothiazolinones was estimated using the newly proposed Probabilistic Aggregated Consumer Exposure Model-Kinetic, Dermal (PACEM-KD) by combining the reported individual use patterns for HC&PCP in Switzerland (N = 669 (558 adults), ages 0-91) with isothiazolinone concentrations measured in products used by the individual person. PACEM-KD extends the original PACEM by considering exposure duration, product dilution and skin permeability. PACEM-KD-based higher-tier exposure on palms (99th percentile) was 15.4 ng/cm 2 , 1.3 ng/cm 2 , 0.9 ng/cm 2 , and 0.08 ng/cm 2 for the isothiazolinones 1,2‑Benzisothiazol‑3‑(2H)‑one (BIT), 2‑Octyl‑3(2H)‑isothiazolinone (OIT), 2‑Methylisothiazolin‑3(2H)‑one (MI), and 5‑Chloro‑2‑methyl‑4‑isothiazolin‑3‑one (CMI), respectively. Major sources of exposure to BIT included all-purpose cleaners, dishwashing detergent, and kitchen cleaner, while exposure to OIT mainly stems from a fungicide. For MI, the main contributors were dishwashing detergent and all-purpose wet wipes, and for CMI all-purpose cleaner. A Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) for BIT using Sensitization Assessment Factors (SAFs) indicates that around 1% of the Swiss population is at risk to be sensitized by BIT in cosmetics and household chemicals. For isothiazolinones in general the presented higher-tier modelling approach suggests that household cleaners are currently more important sources of exposure than cosmetics., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)