Effects of personalized oral hygiene management on oral health status of pregnant women

BACKGROUND The Cariostat caries activity test(CAT)was used to evaluate the effectiveness of personalized oral hygiene management combining oral health education and professional mechanical tooth cleaning on the oral health status of pregnant women.AIM To investigate whether personalized oral hygiene management enhances the oral health status of pregnant women.METHODS A total of 114 pregnant women who were examined at Dalian Women’s and Children’s Medical Center were divided into four groups:High-risk experimental group(n=29;CAT score≥2;received personalized oral hygiene management training),low-risk experimental group(n=29;CAT score≤1;received oral health education),high-risk control group(n=28;CAT score≥2),and low-risk control group(n=28;CAT score≤1).No hygiene intervention was provided to control groups.CAT scores at different times were compared using independent samples t-test and least significant difference t-test.RESULTS No significant difference in baseline CAT scores was observed between the experimental and control groups,either in the high-risk or low-risk groups.CAT scores were reduced significantly after 3(1.74±0.47 vs 2.50±0.38,P<0.0001)and 6 months(0.53±0.50 vs 2.45±0.42,P<0.0001)of personalized oral hygiene management intervention but not after oral health education alone(0.43±0.39 vs 0.46±0.33,P>0.05 and 0.45±0.36 vs 0.57±0.32,P>0.05,respectively).Within groups,the decrease in CAT scores was significant(2.43±0.44 vs 1.74±0.47 vs 0.53±0.50,P<0.0001)for only the high-risk experimental group.CONCLUSION Personalized oral hygiene management is effective in improving the oral health of pregnant women and can improve pregnancy outcomes and the oral health of the general population.

Validity Consideration in Designing an Oral English Test

To make oral test accurately reflect the actual English spoken ability of candidates and play its role in guiding and promoting the improvement of English learners in the teaching, we must ensure that the design of scientific questions, the feasibility and validity of judgments to make an accurate and fair measurement of testers' language ability.

Validity Considerations in Designing an Oral English Test

Speaking is the main purpose and most important skill for second language learning.This paper reviews the important validity considerations in designing a test,such as face validity,content validity,on the basis of which the author analyzes the oral test paper for the postgraduate entrance interview in Shaanxi University of Technology,thus putting forward some methods to improve the test paper.

How to Develop an Oral Test-Interview

Because of the difference and the particularity of oral test among reading,listening and writing,oral test should focus on the framework,the interviewer and the marking system.In addition,some instructions for oral interview and the training of assessors also play important roles in the test.In order to make the oral test-interview more successful,some other facts should be considered when having the test,such as the reliability,construct validity and authenticity.

A Study of the English Oral Tests in Light of the Communicative Language Testing Theory

Speaking,as a productive skill,is a priority for many foreign-language learners.They often evaluate their success in language learning on the basis of how much they feel they have improved in their spoken language proficiency.Consequently,testing of oral skills has hardly been neglected in college English examination.The communicative testing theory in 1970s greatly influenced language testing,especially the oral tests.This essay briefly explores the theory of communicative language testing and discusses the methods of TOEFL oral test and college English oral test and proposes ways to the latter one for further improve ment.

Reliability and Validity of the English Oral Test

English oral test aimsto provide a fair and valid measure of a testee'soral proficiency so asto give an accurate description of his/her oral communicative ability.This paper analysesthe validity and reliability of the college entrance English oral test paper of Guangdong province of 2005.In designing an oral test,in order to make the test reliable,the teacher should take the following factors into consideration:test content,test method,testees'mood,rating scales and rater characteristics.

The Washback Effect of a High-stakes Oral Test

In 2004,Guangzhou Education Bureau introduced an English oral test into its existing Guangzhou Senior Secondary School Entrance Examination(hereafter,SSSEE)with the intention of shifting from grammar-based English teaching at junior secondary school to a communication-based teaching approach.This paper presents preliminary research findings related to the washback effects of the oral test on teaching.The data were collected via focus groups and questionnaires.The nature of the washback effects of the SSSEE English oral test is discussed from six dimensions.The study shows that washback is a complex phenomenon and it can be conceptualised via a multidimensional model.

Oral glucose tolerance test in diabetes,the old method revisited

The oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT)has been widely used both in clinics and in basic research for a long time.It is applied to diagnose impaired glucose tolerance and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus in individuals.Additionally,it has been employed in research to investigate glucose utilization and insulin sensitivity in animals.The main aim of each was quite different,and the details are also somewhat varied.However,the time or duration of the OGTT was the same,using the 2-h post-glucose load glycemia in both,following the suggestions of the American Diabetes Association.Recently,the use of 30-min or 1-h post-glucose load glycemia in clinical practice has been recommended by several studies.In this review article,we describe this new view and suggest perspectives for the OGTT.Additionally,quantification of the glucose curve in basic research is also discussed.Unlike in clinical practice,the incremental area under the curve is not suitable for use in the studies involving animals receiving repeated treatments or chronic treatment.We discuss the potential mechanisms in detail.Moreover,variations between bench and bedside in the application of the OGTT are introduced.Finally,the newly identified method for the OGTT must achieve a recommendation from the American Diabetes Association or another official unit soon.In conclusion,we summarize the recent reports regarding the OGTT and add some of our own perspectives,including machine learning and others.

Changes of ghrelin following oral glucose tolerance test in obese children with insulin resistance

AIM: To characterize changes in ghrelin levels in response to oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and to correlate changes in ghrelin levels with changes in insulin and glucose following OGTT in Chinese obese children of Tanner Ⅰ and Ⅱ stage with insulin resistance. METHODS: 22 obese children with insulin resistance state were divided into four groups according to their Tanner stage and gender: boys of Tanner Ⅰ(BT-Ⅰ), boys of Tanner Ⅱ (BT-Ⅱ), girls of Tanner Ⅰ(GT-Ⅰ), girls of Tanner Ⅱ (GT-Ⅱ). Ghrelin, insulin and glucose were measured at 0, 30, 60 and 120 min following OGTT. The control children with normal BMI were divided into control boys of Tanner Ⅰ (CBT-Ⅰ, n = 6), control boys of Tanner Ⅱ (CBT-Ⅱ, n = 5), control girls of Tanner Ⅰ (CGT-Ⅰ, n = 6), control girls of Tanner Ⅱ (CGT-Ⅱ, n = 5). Fasting serum ghrelin levels were analyzed. RESULTS: Ghrelin levels were lower in obese groups. Ghrelin levels of control group decreased in Tanner Ⅱ stage (CGT-Ⅰ vs CGT-Ⅱ t = -4.703, P = 0.001; CBT-Ⅰ vs CBT-Ⅱ t = -4.794, P = 0.001). Basal ghrelin levels in BT-Ⅱ decreased more significantly than that in BT-Ⅰ group (t = 2.547, P = 0.029). Ghrelin levels expressed a downward trend after OGTT among obese children. The decrease in ghrelin levels at 60 min with respect to basal values was 56.9% in BT-Ⅰ. Ghrelin concentrations at 0 min correlated directly with glucose level at 0 min in BT-Ⅰ (r = 0.898, P = 0.015). There wasn't a significant correlation of ghrelin changes with glucose changes and insulin changes during OGTT in obese children with insulin resistance. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, in obese children with insulin resistance, ghrelin levels decreased withadvancing pubertal stage. Ghrelin secretion suppression following OGTT was influenced by gender and pubertal stage. Baseline ghrelin levels and ghrelin suppression after OGTT did not significantly correlate with the degree of insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity.

Evaluation of an Oral Test Paper

This paper is to evaluate an oral test paper for the middle school graduates of Jiangsu Province according to its validity and reliability.And then the advice on how to improve the reliability is given.

An Interactive Approach to Conducting Oral Test in College English Speaking Class

In the paper the author demonstrates how to incorporate communicative interaction in oral tests.To change the passive situation of conducting oral test,an interactive approach is designed and conducted.The design of the test is based on the belief:English oral test is by no means a simple evaluating process,but it can also provide a platform for teacher-student /studentstudent interaction.

Utility of oral glucose tolerance test in predicting type 2 diabetes following gestational diabetes:Towards personalized care

BACKGROUND Women with gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)are at a seven-fold higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes(T2D)within 7-10 years after childbirth,compared with those with normoglycemic pregnancy.Although raised fasting blood glucose(FBG)levels has been said to be the main significant predictor of postpartum progression to T2D,it is difficult to predict who among the women with GDM would develop T2D.Therefore,we conducted a cross-sectional retrospective study to examine the glycemic indices that can predict postnatal T2D in Emirati Arab women with a history of GDM.AIM To assess how oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT)can identify the distinct GDM pathophysiology and predict possible distinct postnatal T2D subtypes.METHODS The glycemic status of a cohort of 4603 pregnant Emirati Arab women,who delivered in 2007 at both Latifa Women and Children Hospital and at Dubai Hospital,United Arab Emirates,was assessed retrospectively,using the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups(IADPSG)criteria.Of the total,1231 women were followed up and assessed in 2016.The FBG and/or the 2-h blood glucose(2hrBG)levels after a 75-g glucose load were measured to assess the prevalence of GDM and T2D,according to the IADPSG and American Diabetes Association(ADA)criteria,respectively.The receiver operating characteristic curve for the OGTT was plotted and sensitivity,specificity,and predictive values of FBG and 2hrBG for T2D were determined.RESULTS Considering both FBG and 2hrBG levels,according to the IADPSG criteria,the prevalence of GDM in pregnant Emirati women in 2007 was 1057/4603(23%),while the prevalence of pre-pregnancy T2D among them,based on ADA criteria,was 230/4603(5%).In the subset of women(n=1231)followed up in 2016,the prevalence of GDM in 2007 was 362/1231(29.6%),while the prevalence of prepregnancy T2D was 36/1231(2.9%).Of the 362 pregnant women with GDM in 2007,96/362(26.5%)developed T2D;142/362(39.2%)developed impaired fasting glucose;29/362(8.0%)developed impaired glucose tolerance,and the remaining 95/362(26.2%)had normal glycemia in 2016.The prevalence of T2D,based on ADA criteria,stemmed from the prevalence of 36/1231(2.9%)in 2007 to 141/1231(11.5%),in 2016.The positive predictive value(PPV)for FBG suggests that if a woman tested positive for GDM in 2007,the probability of developing T2D in 2016 was approximately 24%.The opposite was observed when 2hrBG was used for diagnosis.The PPV value for 2hrBG suggests that if a woman was positive for GDM in 2007 then the probability of developing T2D in 2016 was only 3%.CONCLUSION FBG and 2hrBG could predict postpartum T2D,following antenatal GDM.However,each test reflects different pathophysiology and possible T2D subtype and could be matched with a relevant T2D prevention program.

Repetitiveness of the oral glucose tolerance test in children and adolescents

BACKGROUND Data regarding the most suitable diagnostic method for the diagnosis of glucose impairment in asymptomatic children and adolescents are inconclusive.Furthermore,limited data are available on the reproducibility of the oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT)in children and adolescents who are obese(OB).AIM To investigate the usefulness of the OGTT as a screening method for glucose dysregulation in children and adolescents.METHODS Eighty-one children and adolescents,41 females,either overweight(OW),OB or normal weight(NW)but with a strong positive family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),were enrolled in the present observational study from the Outpatient Clinic of Paediatric Endocrinology of the University Hospital of Patras in Greece.One or two 3-h OGTTs were performed and glucose,insulin and Cpeptide concentrations were measured at several time points(t=0 min,t=15 min,t=30 min,t=60 min,t=90 min,t=120 min,t=180 min).RESULTS Good repetitiveness was observed in the OGTT response with regard to T2DM,while low repetitiveness was noted in the OGTT response with regard to impaired glucose tolerance(IGT)and no repetitiveness with regard to impaired fasting glucose(IFG).In addition,no concordance was observed between IFG and IGT.During the 1st and 2nd OGTTs,no significant difference was found in the glucose concentrations between NW,OW and OB patients,whereas insulin and C-peptide concentrations were higher in OW and OB compared to NW patients at several time points during the OGTTs.Also,OW and OB patients showed a worsening insulin and C-peptide response during the 2nd OGTT as compared to the 1st OGTT.CONCLUSION In mild or moderate disorders of glucose metabolism,such as IFG and IGT,a diagnosis may not be reached using only one OGTT,and a second test or additional investigations may be needed.When glucose metabolism is profoundly impaired,as in T2DM,one OGTT is probably more reliable and adequate for establishing the diagnosis.Excessive weight and/or a positive family history of T2DM possibly affect the insulin and C-peptide response in the OGTT from a young age.

Evaluations on TEM- 4 Oral Test

TEM-4 Oral Test is designed for second-year English majors in China to measure their English speaking skill.In this article,the author first gave an introduction to the purpose,format and content,and scoring criteria and procedures of the TEM-4 Oral Test.Then she evaluated the test on the aspects of validity,reliability and backwash.Though the test is feasible at present,it still has some problems in implementation.In the second section,the author also gave some advice on the improvement of the test.

Correlation and Regression Analyses on the Washback effects of Achievement Oral Test on College English Learning

The purpose of this study was to investigate how washback effect of a reformed test influenced students'perspectives in their spoken English learning. This study was expected to enrich the existing literature in testing washback in English as a foreign language context.Findings indicate that the adding of oral part in achievement test does have a positive washback effect on students'learning. However, such a washback effect on students'learning is quite superficial and limited.

Communicative Testing of Oral Proficiency

The advent of the theory of communicative competence raised new issues for language teaching and testing. The importance of communicative ability is emphasized in language teaching. Therefore test that could reflect a student's communicative competence need to be constructed. Communicative testing is such a potentially effective approach.This paper is concerned with the theoretical basis of communicative testing, its distinguishing features and the construction of oral proficiency tests, so as to demonstrate how the theory of communicative testing is built into practical tests.

Assessment of Oral English: Testing the Non-English Major Students at Guangxi TCM University in P.R. China

This paper intends to give a brief overview of oral English testing for non-English major students in Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medical (TCM) University, which is located in a minority autonomous province in the southern part of P.R. China. It arises from the concrete problems facing Chinese teachers of English who feel troubled when offering an oral English test to an ever increasing number of non-English major students at the end of each semester. The frustration comes not only from the labor intensive and time consuming activity but also from the surrounding ethical issues of subjectivity by the teachers and of injustice to the students to give and receive fair marks. Moreover, there is a conflicting gap between the criteria used by the foreign native English speaking teachers and Chinese teachers of English because of their different cultural background and concept of testing. Nevertheless, an oral English test was designed and the procedures were devised, adopted, and administered to assess the student’s performance. The test and procedures, based on the national course syllabus for testing non-English majors, the level of attainment in oral English of the students, and the limited number of teaching personnel in the TCM University, utilized two different approaches. The native English speakers follow their own concept of devising formats of group testing procedures and assessment criteria forms highlighting communicative interaction. Meanwhile, the Chinese teachers of English emphasize individual rehearsed presentations and ask the student to follow up questions, to make further comment, and inquire about learning experience from the passage in order to make assessment and evaluation. Final student scores were calculated by combining daily participation of the student, the assessment foreign teacher, and the evaluation of Chinese teachers.

A Probe into College English Oral Test

As one part of the oral education,oral test plays an important role in improving the students’oral ability.This paper is a survey into status quo of oral tests in our country and thereafter offers some suggestions on how to organize the oral tests with high validity and reliability.

The Use of an Elicited Imitation Test to Measure Global Oral Proficiency of L2 Chinese at the Postsecondary Classroom Level

With a growing number of foreign language studies on proficiency outcomes,it is imperative to address the challenge of measuring students’proficiency development in a language program where standardized proficiency testing is not readily available.This article reports administering a Chinese elicited imitation test(EIT)by an instructor to track students’global oral proficiency development in a small language program in a mid-size U.S.public university.The test results from the EIT of second language(L2)Chinese suggest that this tool can provide the instructor with valuable insights into students’oral proficiency.This study also discusses the potential practical value of using this EIT in a language program with limited resources for standardized proficiency assessment.The hope is that this study will encourage language educators who are not already doing so to start using empirical evidence from a valid and reliable proficiency measurement tool to reflect on,improve,and guide their instructional practices.

口服葡萄糖耐量试验1h血糖对糖尿病前期的诊断和鉴别价值

目的:探讨口服葡萄糖耐量试验(OGTT)1 h血糖对糖尿病前期的诊断和鉴别价值。方法:收集2019年6月至2022年6月于北京中医药大学东直门医院门诊及住院行OGTT的受试者1 206例,其中血糖正常412例,糖尿病前期358例,糖尿病436例。比较3组OGTT不同时点血糖与空腹血糖(FPG)、空腹胰岛素(FINS)、稳态模型胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)、胰岛β细胞分泌功能指数(HOMA-β)水平;采用ROC曲线分析OGTT 1 h血糖对糖尿病前期的诊断和鉴别价值。结果:3组OGTT各时点血糖均为糖尿病组>糖尿病前期组>血糖正常组(P<0.05)。FPG、HOMA-IR糖尿病组>糖尿病前期组>血糖正常组,FINS、HOMA-β糖尿病组<糖尿病前期组<血糖正常组(P<0.05)。ROC曲线分析结果显示,OGTT 1 h血糖诊断糖尿病前期的AUC(95%CI)为0.758(0.724~0.792),以敏感度最大选取最佳切点值,该值为9.35 mmol/L,此时敏感度为0.701,特异度为0.709;OGTT 1 h血糖对糖尿病和糖尿病前期鉴别的AUC(95%CI)为0.956(0.942~0.969),以敏感度最大选取最佳切点值,该值为12.55 mmol/L,此时敏感度为0.901,特异度为0.908。结论:OGTT 1 h血糖对糖尿病前期具有一定的诊断和鉴别价值。