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Key Clinical Message Numerous techniques for provisionally replacing a single tooth at the aesthetic zone while planning for future dental implant placement, while soft and hard tissues heal, are critical in restorative treatment strategy. The available materials, simplicity, cost, and impact on the potential implant location should be considered when evaluating the treatment choices. Abstract Replacement of a single anterior tooth in the aesthetic zone while planning for future implant placement is crucial to the restorative treatment plan. Several methods exist for immediate provisionalisation of the extracted tooth while waiting for soft and hard tissue healing. Although there's a myriad of possible provisionalisation methods available, each option has its advantages and disadvantages. The treatment options should weigh various factors such as the available materials, ease of fabrication, costs, and the effect on the future implant site. This article describes three clinical cases demonstrating a simple yet cost‐effective technique to temporarily replace an extracted single anterior tooth, enhancing patient satisfaction and increasing compliance before receiving the definitive implant restoration. The pro and cons for each treatment option available as opposed to the technique involved in the three cases used are also described.

Abstract Background Chronic pruritus (CP), itch lasting more than 6 weeks, is common in community‐dwelling older adults. Understanding their illness perception allows the attending physician to develop a personalised care plan to mitigate CP. Aim This study explores the illness perception of CP among older Asian adults in an urban community. Design Qualitative research was conducted, framed by the Common‐Sense Model of self‐regulation (CSM). Through in‐depth interviews (IDIs), qualitative data were gathered from Asian patients with CP, and then a thematic analysis was carried out. The emergent themes were grouped according to the five domains of CSM: ‘identity’, ‘cause’, ‘time’, ‘controllability’ and ‘consequence’. Setting and Patients IDIs were conducted in a Singapore public primary care clinic before the data were saturated. Results The CSM domains illustrate the illness perception of CP. CP was identified as a ‘problem’ rather than a disease and was often described in metaphor. Patients' perception of the cause was diverse due to the lack of provision of a clear explanation by their physicians. They opined that CP continued indefinitely. Without definite time to resolution, patients adapted their help‐ and health‐seeking behaviours to control it. The consequences included therapeutic experimentation, alternative therapy, self‐isolation, avoidance behaviours, emotional disturbance and dermatological complications. Conclusion and Patient Contribution Patients provided information on their perception of CP, which aligned with the CSM. A multipronged approach is needed to deliver holistic and personalised care to patients with CP, providing clarity on its natural progression, to set their expectations on its timeline, treatment effectiveness and undertake appropriate behaviour modification to adapt to its chronicity.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are important enteric pathogens responsible for sporadic cases and outbreaks of gastroenteritis. E.coli O157:H7/NM (STEC O157) are the most commonly known STEC serotypes but it is now increasingly apparent that non-O157 STEC serotypes have been underreported in the past because they were not part of routine screening in many front-line laboratories. The Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network (CPHLN) has identified the need for improved detection and surveillance of non-O157 STEC and has developed the following recommendations to assist in the decision-making process for clinical and reference microbiology laboratories. These recommendations should be followed to the best of a laboratory's abilities based on the availability of technology and resources. The CPHLN recommends that when screening for the agents of bacterial gastroenteritis from a stool sample, front-line laboratories use either a chromogenic agar culture or a culture-independent diagnostic test (CIDT). CIDT options include nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) to detect Shiga toxin genes or enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) to detect Shiga toxins. If either CIDT method is positive for possible STEC, laboratories must have a mechanism to culture and isolate STEC in order to support both provincial and national surveillance as well as outbreak investigations and response. These CPHLN recommendations should result in improved detection of STEC in patients presenting with diarrhea, especially when due to the non-O157 serotypes. These measures should enhance the overall quality of healthcare and food safety, and provide better protection of the public via improved surveillance and outbreak detection and response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are important enteric pathogens responsible for sporadic cases and outbreaks of gastroenteritis. E.coli O157:H7/NM (STEC O157) are the most commonly known STEC serotypes but it is now increasingly apparent that non-O157 STEC serotypes have been underreported in the past because they were not part of routine screening in many front-line laboratories. The Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network (CPHLN) has identified the need for improved detection and surveillance of non-O157 STEC and has developed the following recommendations to assist in the decision-making process for clinical and reference microbiology laboratories. These recommendations should be followed to the best of a laboratory's abilities based on the availability of technology and resources. The CPHLN recommends that when screening for the agents of bacterial gastroenteritis from a stool sample, front-line laboratories use either a chromogenic agar culture or a culture-independent diagnostic test (CIDT). CIDT options include nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) to detect Shiga toxin genes or enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) to detect Shiga toxins. If either CIDT method is positive for possible STEC, laboratories must have a mechanism to culture and isolate STEC in order to support both provincial and national surveillance as well as outbreak investigations and response. These CPHLN recommendations should result in improved detection of STEC in patients presenting with diarrhea, especially when due to the non-O157 serotypes. These measures should enhance the overall quality of healthcare and food safety, and provide better protection of the public via improved surveillance and outbreak detection and response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite being a common problem, long-term disability following stroke often improves after survivors receive regular rehabilitative therapy. This study aimed to assess the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of stroke survivors who had access to a community-based rehabilitation centre after hospital discharge. Methods: Dentate post-stroke patients receiving regular rehabilitative care with slight to moderate dependency (Barthel Index >70) and without severe cognitive impairment were involved in this study. The OHRQoL parameters were measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) and EuroQol five dimensions (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaires. Results: Thirty one patients were recruited in this study. Majority of the patients hardly ever or never had problems in all functional, physical, psychological and social domains, including eating discomfort and having to avoid eating, difficulty in chewing food and presumably having bad breath (58.1%, 61.3% and 71.0% respectively). Other than gender, age, ethnicity, co-morbidities and oral hygiene practices, education level was the only variable found to significantly affect patients’ OHRQoL (p = 0.028). Most of the patients had no or slight problem(s) in self-care (87.1%) and carrying out usual activities (57.1%), pain/discomfort (3.2%) and anxiety/depression (6.5%). Conclusion: Stroke survivors under regular rehabilitative care perceived have good oral health-related quality of life.

Abstract Background Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is increasingly being identified as a problem around the world. Women can have problems in various parts of the sexual cycle - desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm or they may experience pain related to sexual activity. The only study involving Singapore with regard to sexual dysfunction in women, the Asian Global Studies of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviours in 2002, reported that Singapore had one of the lowest age-standardised sexual dysfunction rates of 32% compared with other Asian countries. This pilot study aims to evaluate the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction and to investigate the independent significant risk factors among allied health workers in a tertiary hospital in Singapore. Methods A cross-sectional study where an anonymous questionnaire which included 19 questions in the FSFI (Female Sexual Function Index) was distributed to all allied health workers in a tertiary hospital in Singapore aged between 18 to 70 years old. Results Three hundred thirty completed questionnaires were involved in analysis. 56.0% of women were found to have sexual dysfunction. A significant difference was found in the prevalence of FSD when comparing nurses to other allied health staff, where nurses had a decreased risk of developing FSD. Age was not found to be a significant risk factor in our study. Respondents below 40 years of age had significantly lower satisfaction scores than those above 40. Indians and Filipinos were found to have lower scores than the Chinese and Malay respondents in the lubrication (p = 0.02) and pain domains (p = 0.02). Conclusion A significant proportion our female allied health workers suffer from sexual dysfunction. In this study, we found that the overall prevalence was independent of age, race and marital status. Nurses had a lower risk of developing FSD. We will need further studies to assess the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction in the general population, to evaluate the independent significant risk factors for developing FSD, in addition to classical risk factors, as well as to assess the psychological impact of this condition and whether people would be willing to seek help for such problems.