Rating criteria to evaluate student performance in digital wax-up training using multi-purpose software

Takuya Mino,Yoko Kurosaki,Kana Tokumoto,Takaharu Higuchi,Shinichi Nakanoda,Ken Numoto,Ikue Tosa,Aya Kimura-Ono,Kenji Maekawa,Tae Hyung Kim,Takuo Kuboki 대한치과보철학회 2022 The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics Vol.14 No.4

PURPOSE. The aim of this study was to introduce rating criteria to evaluate student performance in a newly developed, digital wax-up preclinical program for computer-aided design (CAD) of full-coverage crowns and preliminarily investigate the reliability and internal consistency of the rating system. MATERIALS AND METHODS. This study, conducted in 2017, enrolled 47 fifth-year dental students of Okayama University Dental School. Digital wax-up training included a fundamental practice using computer graphics (CG), multipurpose CAD software programs, and an advanced practice to execute a digital waxup of the right mandibular second molar (#47). Each student’s digital wax-up work (stereolithography data) was evaluated by two instructors using seven qualitative criteria. The total qualitative score (0-90) of the criteria was calculated. The total volumetric discrepancy between each student’s digital wax-up work and a reference prepared by an instructor was automatically measured by the CAD software. The inter-rater reliability of each criterion was analyzed using a weighted kappa index. The relationship between the total volume discrepancy and the total qualitative score was analyzed using Spearman’s correlation. RESULTS. The weighted kappa values for the seven qualitative criteria ranged from 0.62 - 0.93. The total qualitative score and the total volumetric discrepancy were negatively correlated (ρ = -0.27, P = .09, respectively); however, this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION. The established qualitative criteria to evaluate students’ work showed sufficiently high inter-rater reliability; however, the digitally measured volumetric discrepancy could not sufficiently predict the total qualitative score.

A novel brief questionnaire using a face rating scale to assess dental anxiety and fear

Takuya Mino,Aya Kimura-Ono,Hikaru Arakawa,Kana Tokumoto,Yoko Kurosaki,Yoshizo Matsuka,Kenji Maekawa,Takuo Kuboki 대한치과보철학회 2024 The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics Vol.16 No.4

Purpose. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of a four-item questionnaire using a face rating scale to measure dental trait anxiety (DTA), dental trait fear (DTF), dental state anxiety (DSA), and dental state fear (DSF). Materials and methods. Participants were consecutively selected from patients undergoing scaling (S-group; n = 47) and implant placement (I-group; n = 25). The S-group completed the questionnaire both before initial and second scaling, whereas the I-group responded on the pre-surgery day (Pre-day), the day of implant placement (Imp-day), and the day of suture removal (Post-day). Results. The reliability in the S-group was evaluated using the test-retest method, showing a weighted kappa value of DTA, 0.61; DTF, 0.46; DSA, 0.67; DSF, 0.52. Criterion-related validity, assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory’s trait anxiety and state anxiety, revealed positive correlations between trait anxiety and DTA/DTF (DTA, ρ = 0.30; DTF, ρ = 0.27, ρ: correlation coefficient) and between state anxiety and all four items (DTA, ρ = 0.41; DTF, ρ = 0.32; DSA, ρ = 0.25; DSF, ρ = 0.25). Known-group validity was assessed using the initial data and Imp-day data from the S-group and I-group, respectively, revealing significantly higher DSA and DSF scores in the I-group than in the S-group. Responsiveness was gauged using I-group data, showing significantly lower DSA and DSF scores on post-day compared to other days. Conclusion. The newly developed questionnaire has acceptable reliability and validity for clinical use, suggesting its usefulness for research on dental anxiety and fear and for providing patient-specific dental care.

Pneumovaginoscopy-assisted radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer: a novel bidirectional approach for tumor spillage prevention and R0 resection

Masato Kita,Yusuke Butsuhara,Yoji Hisamatsu,Takuya Yokoe,Hidetaka Okada 대한부인종양학회 2023 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.34 No.6

Objective: This study evaluated the feasibility and outcomes of pneumovaginoscopy-assisted radical hysterectomy (PVRH) for cervical cancer up to stage IIA using a bidirectional fasciaoriented and nerve-sparing surgical approach. Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study examined the operative outcomes and prognoses of patients who underwent PVRH (n=59) for up to stage IIA cervical cancer. The basic procedure was Kyoto B2 (Viper Type II nerve-sparing) radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy through simultaneous vaginal and abdominal (open or laparoscopic) approaches. In all cases, pneumovaginoscopy (PV) was used to create a vaginal cuff and dissect the paracolpium and paracervical endopelvic fascia to minimize nerve damage. Results: Thirty-eight (64.4%) patients had stage IB1 cancer. Seven (11.9%) had vaginal invasion (stage IIA1, n=4; IIA2, n=3). The abdominal approach was open in 38 cases and laparoscopic in 21. Adjuvant therapy was administered to 24 patients (41%); one patient received concurrent chemoradiotherapy for gastric-type adenocarcinoma. There were three (6.1%) intraoperative complications (CO2 gas embolism [n=1], sigmoid colon musculosa injury [n=1], and ureteral injury [n=1]) and 8 (14%) postoperative complications (lymphedema with cellulitis [n=4], vaginal cuff dehiscence [n=1], sub-ileus [n=1], symptomatic lymphocyst [n=l], and ureterovaginal fistula [n=1]). The median urination recovery period was 3 days. Microscopic R0 was achieved in all cases. The median follow-up was 44.5 (2–122) months, and no recurrence occurred. Conclusion: PVRH is a new fascia-oriented and nerve-sparing surgery for early-stage cervical cancer. Further, it has favorable operative outcomes and good prognoses, similar to those of adjacent pelvic surgery such as trans-anal total mesorectal excision and radical prostatectomy.

Rapid increase in ozone-depleting chloroform emissions from China

Fang, Xuekun,Park, Sunyoung,Saito, Takuya,Tunnicliffe, Rachel,Ganesan, Anita L.,Rigby, Matthew,Li, Shanlan,Yokouchi, Yoko,Fraser, Paul J.,Harth, Christina M.,Krummel, Paul B.,Mü,hle, Jens,O’Dohert Springer Science and Business Media LLC 2019 Nature geoscience Vol.12 No.2

Yokukansan Suppresses Gastric Hypersensitivity and Eosinophil-associated Microinflammation in Rats With Functional Dyspepsia

Shaoqi Duan,Nobuko Imamura,Takashi Kondo,Hirosato Kanda,Yoko Kogure,Takuya Okugawa,Masashi Fukushima,Toshihiko Tomita,Tadayuki Oshima,Hirokazu Fukui,Koichi Noguchi,Yi Dai,Hiroto Miwa 대한소화기 기능성질환∙운동학회 2022 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.28 No.2

Background/AimsHerbal medicine is an important complementary therapy for functional dyspepsia (FD). However, its effect against gastric hypersensitivity in patients with FD has rarely been evaluated. Yokukansan (YKS), a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, is effective against neuropathic and inflammatory pain. This study aims to use a maternal separation (MS) stress-induced FD model to investigate the effects of YKS against gastric hypersensitivity, gastric motility, and duodenal micro-inflammation. MethodsThe MS stress model was established by separating newborn Sprague-Dawley rats from their mothers for 2 hours a day from postnatal days 1 to 10. At the age of 7-8 weeks, the rats were treated with YKS at a dose of 5 mL/kg (1 g/kg) for 7 consecutive days. After YKS treatment, electromyographic activity in the acromiotrapezius muscle by gastric distention and the gastric-emptying rate were assessed. Immunohistochemical analysis of eosinophils in the duodenum and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) 1/2 in the spinal cord was performed. ResultsYKS treatment suppressed MS stress-induced gastric hypersensitivity and decreased the elevated levels of p-ERK1/2 in the spinal cord. In the gastroduodenal tract, YKS inhibited eosinophil-associated micro-inflammation but did not improve gastric dysmotility. ConclusionsYKS treatment improved gastric hypersensitivity by alleviating eosinophil-associated micro-inflammation in the gastroduodenal tract. This treatment may be considered an effective therapeutic option for epigastric pain and micro-inflammation in patients with FD.