The aim of the Fourth Millennium Developmental Goal is to reduce mortality among children less than 5 years by two thirds between 1990 and 2015. Efforts are more focus on improving children’s health. The aim of this study was to describe the trend of stillbirth and neonatal deaths in University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre from 2004 to 2010. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using hospital data on perinatal mortality and monthly census delivery statistics. There were 45,277 deliveries with 526 stillbirths and neonatal deaths. More than half of the stillborn cases were classified as normally formed macerated stillbirth and prematurity was common in neonatal deaths. The trend of SB and NND was found fluctuating in this study. However, by using proportionate test comparing rate, there was a transient significant decline of stillbirth but not neonatal deaths rates between 2004 and 2006. On the other hand, the neonatal deaths rate showed significant increment from 2006 to 2008. When both mortality rates were compared using proportionate test, from the start of the study, year 2004 with end of the study, year 2010, there was no significant decline noted. Trends of stillbirth and neonatal death rates in University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre within 7 years study period did not show the expected outcome as in Millennium Developmental Goal of two thirds reduction.
Stillbirth ; Infant Mortality

BACKGROUND: Prolonged standing has been hypothesized as a vital contributor to discomfort and muscle fatigue in the workplace. The objective of this study was to develop a decision support system that could provide systematic analysis and solutions to minimize the discomfort and muscle fatigue associated with prolonged standing. METHODS: The integration of object-oriented programming and a Model Oriented Simultaneous Engineering System were used to design the architecture of the decision support system. RESULTS: Validation of the decision support system was carried out in two manufacturing companies. The validation process showed that the decision support system produced reliable results. CONCLUSION: The decision support system is a reliable advisory tool for providing analysis and solutions to problems related to the discomfort and muscle fatigue associated with prolonged standing. Further testing of the decision support system is suggested before it is used commercially.
Fatigue ; Human Engineering ; Muscle Fatigue

Custom cast metal posts and cores are time-consuming to make, requiring several clinical and laboratory stages and the use of gold, cobalt-, or nickel-chromium. Aside from the numerous stages involved, a cast metal post and core has a significantly higher modulus of elasticity than the dentinal root structure and, as a result, is more likely to cause root fracture. Furthermore, the metal colour of the post and core, which always appears as a dark shadow beneath a ceramic crown, is an aesthetic concern. Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) of posts and cores is a potential fabrication option for overcoming the issues associated with cast metal posts and cores. Some of the time-consuming clinical and laboratory procedures can be eliminated by using a CAD/CAM machine, and tooth-colored materials can be milled to create custom posts and cores. The marginal and internal adaptation of the CAD/CAM produced posts and cores to the tooth structure, on the other hand, is highly dependent on the scanning accuracy and milling capability of the CAD/CAM machine. Because the majority of studies on dental CAD/ CAM have concentrated on the fabrication of fixed and removable prostheses, data on the marginal accuracy and internal adaptation of CAD/CAM produced posts and cores is limited. As a result, the aim of this review paper is to determine the current state of the market’s CAD/CAM machines in terms of their scanning and milling capability to produce custom posts and cores that match the marginal and fitting accuracy of cast metal posts and cores.

The objective of this study was to characterise articles published in removable partial denture (RPD) research from 1948 to 2022 to identify the most influential journals, publications, authors, and core research areas using bibliometric analysis. The Scopus database was used to retrieve publications with titles containing the truncated search term (“removable partial denture*” OR “removable prostho*”). Data analysis and visualisation were done using Microsoft Excel, Biblioshiny software and VOSviewer. A total of 2,484 articles were analyses from 1948 till 2022, representing an annual growth rate of 4.9%. The Journal of Prosthodontic Research demonstrated the highest average normal citation rate, with productive authors with highest citations being from Japan. From 1948 to 1999, most in-vitro and clinical research focused on the basic concept of RPD using cobalt-chromium as a framework before shifting to titanium in 2000. RPD research after 2012 focuses on new technology and non-metalbased frameworks as an alternative to metal-based frameworks. Wakabayashi and Fueki were the most prominent researchers, according to a three-field plot analysis, with the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, and Journal of Prosthodontic Research among the authors’ preferred journals. “CAD/CAM” and “3D printing” were identified as emerging themes in year 2020 to 2022, while “selective laser melting” was the trending keyword in 2017 to 2019. Research on “oral health and quality of life” has been identified as core research area in RPD-related research. RPD research on digital dentistry and new framework materials is anticipated to increase in the future with the incorporation of research on quality of life.

The aim of this review was to provide an update on the current status of digital occlusal force measurement devices, as well as clinical and research applications in complete arch maximum occlusal force measurement. SCOPUS, ScienceDirect, and PubMed databases were used to conduct a literature search from January 2001 to January 2021. Identification and screening of literature were done independently according to published guidelines and selection criteria. The electronic searches turned up 394 articles, 16 of which met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were selected for study analysis. All of these studies used T-scan and Dental Prescale digital occlusal analysis system with pressure-sensitive foils as occlusal force measurement devices. The devices showed a promising potential for identifying and comprehending maximum occlusal forces objectively. According to the current review, maximum occlusal force measured with digital occlusal force devices can be used as a prosthodontic adjunct to address issues that arise during the treatment of occlusal disorders, temporomandibular disorders, and complete dentures. It is also useful in predicting cognitive and functional decline in the elderly.

The continuous sequence of bone healing phases starts off with osteoconduction to the implant surface, depending on the migration of osteogenic cells. Osteoneogenesis ensues resulting in a mineralised interfacial matrix and is followed by bone remodelling to the implant interface at discrete sites. Dental implant drilling procedure and placement produce osseous defect which is filled by blood. Within seconds, blood proteins are adsorbed onto the implant surface and platelets are activated resulting in the release of cytokines and growth factors. Further platelet aggregation initiates osteoconduction to the surface, followed by osteoneogenesis, forming an extracellular matrix. Subsequently, remodelling creates a bone to implant interface which can be explained through distance and contact osteogenesis. The dental implant surface has been shown to influence osteoconduction by modifying protein properties and adsorption around the implant. Salivary biomarkers may be considered as a specific and sensitive diagnostic tool to detect these changes in protein expressions after implant placement. Thus, the purpose of this narrative review is to provide a detailed account of the bone healing mechanism associated with dental implant placement, as well as how the implant surface architecture and protein release play a role in bone healing, and the potential use of saliva to detect these biomarkers.