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Purpose: To study the degree of accuracy in gingival shade matching of undergraduate students using a computer application. Materials and Methods: In total, 76 undergraduate dental students' gingival shade-selection abilities were evaluated using an in-house developed computer application. A total of 15 intraoral gingival photographs and 21 pink gingival color porcelain samples were used. The environmental conditions were standardized, and no time limit was set for answering in the computer application. Results: Fourteen gingival color samples (66.6%) were not useful for representing the studied gingival shades. Not all natural gingival colors studied were represented within the 50.50% acceptability limits of the pink samples. There were no statistically significant differences between men and women in terms of "hit" percentages. The highest correlation coefficient (in absolute value) was for the L* coordinate (the darker the gingiva in the picture, the higher the hit rate for choosing the "ideal" shade tab); however, none of the linear correlation coefficients were statistically significant. Conclusions: Not all colors provided in the pink ceramic system were useful for subjective gingival selection. There were no statistically significant differences between male and female dental students in gingival color perception. The L* coordinate was the only one that influenced the correct perception of gingival color by dental students, and it did so more in women than in men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To measure the validity and reliability of two gingival shade guides used to represent in vivo gingival color in a Caucasian population sample. Materials and Methods: The CIELAB color space was used to study three gingival reference areas (the free gingival margin, the keratinized gingival body, and the upper part of the keratinized gingiva) in a sample of 259 Caucasian individuals. The color coordinates on the HeraCeram Gingiva and on the IPS d.SIGN physical gingival shade guides were collected to compare with the color coordinates taken in vivo. The coverage errors (CEs) of the two shade guides were calculated using the CIELAB and CIEDE2000 formulas, and each area of the gingiva was compared with the 50:50% acceptability thresholds of ΔE* = 4.6 and ΔE00* = 4.1, respectively. The SpectroShade spectrophotometer was used. Results: IPS d.SIGN showed similar CEs in all three areas and, in all cases, surpassed the 50:50% acceptability threshold. In contrast, HeraCeram Gingiva had a lower CE in the free gingival margin than in the other two areas, and the CE remained below the 50:50% acceptability threshold only for ΔE00*. The HeraCeram Gingiva shade guide had overall CEs (ΔE* = 7.9 and ΔE00* = 5.6) that were significantly lower than obtained for the IPS d.SIGN guide (ΔE* = 9.2 and ΔE00* = 6.8). Conclusion: Statistically significant differences were found in the CEs of both guides, both at the level of the three reference areas and at the global level. For both guides and in both genders, the global CEs calculated with the CIELAB and CIEDE2000 formulas were below the literature data on 50:50% acceptability thresholds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to characterize dentistry, medicine and pharmacy students in terms of emotional intelligence (EI) and personality traits (PTs). It also sought to identify whether differences existed according to gender and degree program and the relationship between them. Methods: Students enrolled in dentistry (115), medicine (85) and pharmacy (57) degree programs participated voluntarily in the research, including 59 men and 198 women. The following questionnaires were used: (1) the Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-24) to evaluate EI; (2) the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) to assess PT. The Qualtrics XM platform was used for data collection. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between three components of EI, either according to gender or degree program. The only difference in PTs was found in neuroticism, where women scored higher than men. There were statistically significant differences between students on different degree programs in openness to experience and responsibility. The five PTs correlated significantly with the three components of EI, except responsibility and emotional attention. The strongest associations were found between neuroticism and emotional repair (−0.439). Conclusions: High percentages of the student population were observed to have weaknesses in emotional clarity and emotional repair. Neuroticism is a personality trait that seems to occur more frequently in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most common and disruptive symptom experienced by cancer survivors and because of its frequency and severity is especially worrisome in breast cancer survivors (BCS). Despite a great deal of research, the mechanisms underlying CRF have not been determined. The present study aims to describe associations between CRF in BCS and different blood biomarkers. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted. A set of biomarkers assessing inflammation were measured in BCS: C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF); HPA axis dysfunction (cortisol), autonomic dysfunction (noradrenaline); oxidative stress (8-OH deoxyguanosine); insulin resistance markers (insulin, IGF-I, IGFBP3) and sexual hormones (estrogens, progesterone, testosterone). Results: NLR (p =.00) and cortisol (p =.02) were positive and negatively associated with CRF, respectively. The rest of the blood markers were not associated with CRF. Conclusion: Our results increase the evidence on pathophysiological mechanisms driving CRF in BCS. However, longitudinal studies are needed to explore the role of these factors as potential causal mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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