Clinical trials

Because of the difficulties of disorganizing the dental biofilm in these adolescents with fixed orthodontic treatment, electric toothbrushes have been proposed as an alternative to manual toothbrushes. Electric toothbrushes, available in a wide range of price points, have been developed with the goal of replicating the complex motions required by the manual toothbrush and making plaque removal more efficient. However, the overall effect size is limited, and the clinical relevance is not yet clear. Applied to orthodontics, specialized manual toothbrushes have also recently been developed. Few recent clinical trials have been conducted in patients with orthodontic appliances. Thus, the question of whether and which type of manual or electric toothbrushes may be beneficial for patients with orthodontic appliances is still unresolved. Given the variety of toothbrushes available on the market, there is a need for sound clinical research to evaluate their effectiveness to guide professional recommendations. This work will provide a significant advance in the knowledge of the potential of the latest generation of electric toothbrushes on gingival inflammation, potentially reducing the risk of caries and gingival lesions.

Heart failure is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in children. Heart transplantation can significantly improve the prognosis of patients with severe heart failure, but access is limited by a shortage of transplants. Long-term mechanical circulatory support is a major advance in the management of heart failure and can provide haemodynamic support while awaiting myocardial recovery or heart transplantation. The Berlin Heart (BH) EXCOR is the only long-term support system available for children. Despite technical and medical advances in circulatory support, infection is a common complication and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients on BH. There are few studies on the management of infection with mechanical support. Current ISHLT (International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation) recommendations are based on expert opinion and observational studies. Some experts recommend anti-infective therapy until transplantation for specific support infections or for support-associated infections with persistent bacteraemia.

SObjective and Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) has been incorporated recently in the certification process as a final national undergraduate ranking examination. This exam is an additional major stressor for medical students. The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency on stress reduction of a standardized relaxing breathing occuring during rotation of the OSCE stations just before the start of the next upcoming OSCE station, in medical student, during the OSCE.