Periodontal treatment for preventing cardiovascular disease in people with periodontitis

ECG

This Cochrane review update on the effects of periodontal therapy for primary or secondary prevention of CVD in people with chronic periodontitis includes 2 studies which provide very low certainty evidence. No additional studies have been included since the last update in 2019.

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Caries prevention in older adults

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This review of the effectiveness of professionally applied fluoride therapy in preventing and arresting dental caries in older adults aged 60 years or above included 7 studies. The findings suggest that 5% NaF varnish, 38% SDF solution, and 1.23% APF gel were effective in preventing root caries but the studies were varied in treatment protocols, intervention method and follow-up period so more research in needed.

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No evidence that medication can prevent PTSD in people exposed to trauma, according to new Cochrane review

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In his debut blog, Richard Meiser-Stedman explores a recent Cochrane systematic review which finds no evidence for the use of medication to prevent the onset of PTSD in people who have been exposed to a traumatic event.

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Age at onset of mental disorders: global meta-analysis provides data for targeting effective interventions

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Dona Matthews summarises a comprehensive global meta-analysis that presents our best current knowledge on the age of onset of various mental disorders. This review has major implications for our mental health promotion and prevention efforts.

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Prevention toolkit from Public Health England

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An updated version of ‘Delivering Better Oral Health, ’ the oral health prevention toolkit published iby Public Health England to provide practical evidence-based guidance for promoting oral health and preventing oral disease is now available.

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How risky for developing psychosis are ‘At Risk Mental States’ in youths?

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In their debut blog, Martin Rimvall and Pia Jeppesen summarise a recent systematic review and meta-analysis exploring psychosis risk in children and adolescents with an ‘At Risk Mental State’.

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Exercise can help reduce depressive symptoms in people who are not clinically depressed

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Ross Nedoma summarises a recent systematic review and meta-analysis exploring the effectiveness of exercise-based interventions in reducing depressive symptoms in people without clinical depression.

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Sugar free gum and streptococcus mutans levels

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This review of the impact of sugar-free gum (SFG) on the level of oral micro-organisms, specifically Streptococcus mutans included 13 studies 11 of whihc were RCTs. The findings indicated that SFG reduces the load of Streptococcus mutans in the oral cavity compared to controls but noe of teh included studies were at low risk of bias.

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Mental health research funding: is it enough?

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In her debut blog, Til Wykes summarises a recent health policy paper on global investment in mental health research funding, which finds a “flat and stable trend” over recent years and “highly unequal geographical distribution of funding”.

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Timebanking: from ideal to reality

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There is increasing interest in co-production in public services and in social care. This blog reports on a PhD study of timebanks which are now seen as an example of co-production but have a long history in being promising indications of mutual aid and reciprocal support between members of local communities. Social care interest groups [read the full story…]