Investigation of the Oral Health Status of Patients Based on Rehabilitation Nursing

Objective: To investigate the current situation of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of oral health among rehabilitation nursing patients, and provide some reference for implementing oral health intervention measures for rehabilitation nursing patients. Method: A total of 231 nursing patients in the rehabilitation department of a tertiary hospital in this city from January 2023 to October 2023 were selected as the research subjects. Their oral health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors were investigated, and the oral health behavior habits of patients with different genders, education levels, and disease situations were compared. Result: The total awareness rate of oral health knowledge among patients was 73.16%, and the average score of oral health knowledge was 6.58 ± 1.25 points. The overall positive rate of oral health attitude among patients is 55.70%, and the average score of oral health attitude is 5.01 ± 1.04 points. The average score for oral health behavior is 16.87 ± 5.23 points. Only 8.48%, 3.3%, 1.3%, 2.6%, and 0.87% of patients seek timely medical treatment for bleeding tooth roots, gum swelling and pain, gum bleeding, tooth pain, and dental calculus, respectively;Only 5.19% of people change their toothbrush every 3 months, and only 10.39% use the vertical brush method to brush their teeth. The scores of oral health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of patients are related to age, educational level, disease type, and smoking situation. The oral health knowledge and attitude scores of elderly patients were lower than those of younger patients, and the difference was statistically significant (P P P P P < 0.05). Conclusion: The oral health status of rehabilitation nursing patients is not optimistic, with a moderate level of oral health knowledge, weak awareness of oral health, and a low qualification rate of oral health behaviors. Strengthening oral health education for rehabilitation nursing patients and incorporating oral health care procedures into rehabilitation nursing procedures is of great significance.

Investigation on the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Oral Health among Medical College and University Undergraduate

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the status of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of oral health among medical undergraduate students, and provide reference for implementing oral health interventions. Methods: A total of 528 undergraduate students enrolled in Fuzhou Medical College from February 2023 to September 2023 were selected as the research subjects. Their oral health KAP were investigated, and the oral health behavior habits of different types of medical students were compared, and possible influencing factors were analyzed. Results: The total awareness rate of oral health knowledge among medical students is 77.0%, with an average score of 3.85 ± 1.16 points. The overall positive rate of oral health attitudes among medical students is 80.0%, with an average score of 3.19 ± 0.72 points. The total qualified rate of oral health behavior is 65.9%, with an average score of 4.61 ± 1.23 points. The scores of oral health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among medical students are related to gender, major, smoking status, and oral health status. The frequency of brushing teeth in the female group was higher than that in the male group, while the habit of brushing teeth before bedtime and the frequency of timely replacement of toothbrushes when deformed were lower, with statistical significance (p 0.05). The frequency of timely replacement of toothbrushes varies among medical students from different majors, and the difference is statistically significant (p 0.05). People who have a habit of eating hot and cold food have a higher frequency of brushing their teeth every day, and the difference is statistically significant (p 0.05). Non smokers have a better habit of brushing their teeth before bedtime and a higher frequency of timely replacement when their toothbrush deforms, with a statistically significant difference (p 0.05). The frequency of using fluoride toothpaste or medicated toothpaste, having a habit of unilateral chewing, and timely replacement of toothbrushes when deformed in patients with existing oral problems is higher than that of those without oral problems, and the difference is statistically significant (p 0.05). Conclusion: The knowledge, attitude, and behavior of oral health among medical students in this school are above average. Students with different genders, dietary and smoking habits, and oral health status have different oral health behavioral habits. It is recommended to include oral health education in mandatory courses for various medical majors.

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.

Poor oral health was associated with higher risk of gastric cancer: Evidence from 1431677 participants

BACKGROUND In recent years,the association between oral health and the risk of gastric cancer(GC)has gradually attracted increased interest.However,in terms of GC incidence,the association between oral health and GC incidence remains contro-versial.Periodontitis is reported to increase the risk of GC.However,some studies have shown that periodontitis has no effect on the risk of GC.Therefore,the present study aimed to assess whether there is a relationship between oral health and the risk of GC.AIM To assess whether there was a relationship between oral health and the risk of GC.METHODS Five databases were searched to find eligible studies from inception to April 10,2023.Newcastle-Ottawa Scale score was used to assess the quality of included studies.The quality of cohort studies and case-control studies were evaluated separately in this study.Incidence of GC were described by odds ratio(OR)and 95%confidence interval(CI).Funnel plot was used to represent the publication bias of included studies.We performed the data analysis by StataSE 16.RESULTS A total of 1431677 patients from twelve included studies were enrolled for data analysis in this study.According to our analysis,we found that the poor oral health was associated with higher risk of GC(OR=1.15,95%CI:1.02-1.29;I2=59.47%,P=0.00<0.01).Moreover,after subgroup analysis,the outcomes showed that whether tooth loss(OR=1.12,95%CI:0.94-1.29;I2=6.01%,P>0.01),gingivitis(OR=1.19,95%CI:0.71-1.67;I2=0.00%,P>0.01),dentures(OR=1.27,95%CI:0.63-1.19;I2=68.79%,P>0.01),or tooth brushing(OR=1.25,95%CI:0.78-1.71;I2=88.87%,P>0.01)had no influence on the risk of GC.However,patients with periodontitis(OR=1.13,95%CI:1.04-1.23;I2=0.00%,P<0.01)had a higher risk of GC.CONCLUSION Patients with poor oral health,especially periodontitis,had a higher risk of GC.Patients should be concerned about their oral health.Improving oral health might reduce the risk of GC.

The Oral Health Status of Person with Special Needs in Kumasi

Background: The most prevalent non-communicable disease worldwide is oral health-related disease, with dental caries and periodontal conditions being common. Oral health status significantly impacts overall health and quality of life. Barriers to dental care affect children with special needs. This study evaluates the oral health status and treatment requirements of people with special needs. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study in Kumasi, Ghana examined oral health status among people, 121 children with special needs over two months, in June-July 2022. Dental caries, periodontal changes, malocclusion, and trauma were assessed. The data was analyzed using SPSS 20.0. Results: The oral health status among people with special needs in this study was generally moderate, with a range from very good to very poor. The prevalence of dental caries was 37%, with a mean DMFT score of 2.82. Periodontal health showed unsatisfactory indicators such as mobile teeth, poor gingival health, high plaque scores, and the presence of halitosis. Conclusion: This descriptive study aimed to provide baseline data on the oral health status of special needs students in Kumasi, addressing the lack of knowledge in this area. It highlighted the importance of dental care in maintaining good oral health and overall well-being in individuals with special needs. Coordinated efforts by dental professionals are needed to provide dental health education and preventive interventions for these children.

Oral Health Management of Three Head and Neck Cancer Patients Performed by Dental Hygienists

Introduction: Oral health management is often difficult in patients after surgical tumor resection and/or radiotherapy due to defects, bulky flaps, limitation of tongue movement, and trismus. In addition, patients who have undergone radiotherapy have serious disabilities such as oral mucositis, mucosal weakening, soft tissue fibrosis, salivary gland disorder, and osteoradionecrosis. Dental hygienists must understand the characteristics of patients after surgical tumor resection and/or radiotherapy. In this report, the oral health management of three patients after maxillectomy, mandibulectomy, and radiotherapy was shown. Case Description: Case 1: A 53-year-old male patient visited our clinic after chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and partial maxillectomy for cancer of the right maxillary gingiva. Case 2: A 65-year-old male patient visited our clinic after radiotherapy for a right-sided tongue cancer, partial mandibulectomy of the right tongue to the oropharynx, a right-sided segmental mandibulectomy and a speech aid and a mandibular prosthesis were provided. Case 3: A 36-year-old female visited our clinic for radiotherapy for left-sided tongue cancer. Dental hygienists provided oral health management to the patients. In oral health management, it was suggested that intervention before cancer treatment, oral hygiene instructions tailored to patients’ symptoms, and frequent professional care are important. Conclusion: Oral health management by dental hygienists is extremely important for patients undergoing maxillofacial cancer treatment to maintain their quality of life in the long term.

Maternal perceived self-efficacy, perceived vulnerability and child health outcome in Ibadan, South-West Nigeria

Objective:The problems associated with child health continue to constitute a global concern,and child morbidity and mortality remain problematic in Sub-Sahara Africa(SSA).Utilizing a community-based survey conducted in Ibadan North Local government,Southwest Nigeria the study examined the influences of maternal perceived self-efficacy(MPSE)and maternal perceived vulnerability(MPV)on child health outcomes(CHO).Methods:The study appraised data from 683 nursing mothers aged 15-45 obtained from 20 major primary healthcare centers in the region undergoing routine health checks for their children.Three regression models were fitted to examine the effects of MPV,MPSE,and confounding variables of maternal preventive actions such as insecticide-treated nets(ITN)usage and child immunization,among other maternal and child sociodemographic attributes on CHO.Results:The study finds that MPV has no correlation with CHO and MPSE but positively correlates with maternal age(r=0.123,P<0.05).However,CHO has a negative correlation with MPSE(r=-0.200,P<0.05)while positively correlated with child age(r=0.134,P<0.05).MPSE has a unique effect on CHO(β=-0.203,P<0.05),maternal preventive action of ITN usage show a positive association with CHO in the study Model 2(β=-0.163,P<0.05),while in Model 3,child's age has a positive association with CHO(β=0.180,P<0.05).The net effect of the study models accounted for approximately 10%of the variance in CHO reported among the children.Conclusion:Overall,MPSE and ITN usage are essential factors for understanding and reducing the potential adverse CHO.Global effort must continue to improve maternal education to support child health and preventive carepractices in SSA.

A Survey of Correlation Infertility Self-Efficacy with Behavioral Health Scales in Infertile Women

Background: Infertility is a unique medical challenge that can have health behavioral consequence on infertile women including lack of self-esteem, depression, anxiety, fertility problem in infertile couples. The aim of this study was to evaluate correlation between self-efficacy and health behaviors scales in infertile women. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 89 infertile women with mild to moderate depression (Beck scores 10 - 47) who were recruited from Fatemeh Zahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center. All participants completed Self-efficacy Inventory (ISE) and other health behavioral scales (e.g., the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Cattle Anxiety Scale (CAS), Fertility Problem Infertility (FPI), and GHQ). Pearson correlation coefficient and Spearman rho correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. Variables were included in the study if they had a p-value

Oral candidiasis and potential risk factors among disabled and nondisabled in Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND Oral candidiasis(OC)is an oral health disease that could influence patients’oral health quality of life.AIM To estimate prevalence of OC among disabled and non-disabled individuals and its potential risk factors in the Al-Baha region,Saudi Arabia.METHODS An observational cross-sectional study was carried out among 148 disabled and non-disabled participants.The technique of concentrated oral rinse employing the Sabouraud Dextrose Agar medium accompanied with 0.05%chloramphenicol was conducted to assess and isolate candida.Oral examination using the World Health Organization guidelines was conducted to examine participants’oral hea-lth status.A pre-designed questionnaire was also used to evaluate sociodemo-graphic,medical history,and oral hygiene habits of the studied population.RESULTS Out of 148 participants(n=57,38%)had colonized candida.None of the studied population had visible Candida lesions.However,Candida was found in the oral rinses without the subject presenting any lesions or issues caused by Candida(asymptomatic colonization).The most common prevalent OC among participants were Candida albicans,Candida glabrata,Candida dubliniensis,Candida krusei,Candida tropicalis,and Candida parapsilosis(n=35,61%;n=8,14%;n=6,10%;n=5,9%;n=2,4%;and n=1,2%)respectively.Diabetes,smoking,poor plaque,and gingival status were key potential risk factors that significantly associated with candida’s density and presence(P=0.001,P=0.001,P=0.01,and P=0.01)respectively.Disability status had no statistically significant effect on presence and density of Candida.CONCLUSION The prevalence of OC is almost third of the studied population;thus,may provoke a need to develop preventive strategies to reduce the OC rate and establish solid treatment plans.

Effect and Significance of Comprehensive Training in Infection Prevention and Control on the Psychological Health of Oral Health Staff

Background:Oral health staff have close contact with patients in the process of diagnosis and treatment,and it is inevitable for them to come into contact with patients’secretions.Therefore,oral health staff are at greater risk of infectious diseases in their daily work,and their psychological health is also greatly challenged.Objective:To study the effect and significance of comprehensive training in infection prevention and control on the psychological health of oral health staff.Methods:We selected 400 oral health staff from a tertiary stomatological hospital in Guangzhou,China in this study.The respondents were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group.After the first round of investigation,the intervention group received comprehensive training in prevention and control of infection for three months,while the control group received no intervention.Results:The comprehensive training in infection prevention and control improved the respondents’psychological health and job satisfaction.Further strengthening infection prevention and control training for oral health staff will increase their self-confidence,improve their mental health,and increase their job satisfaction.Conclusion:For oral health staff,it is particularly important to formulate an effective and operable preventive and control training program and then implement it in a standardized manner.

Interplay between oral health and lifestyle factors for cancer risk in rural and urban China:a population-based cohort study

Background:Although poor oral health and several lifestyle factors have been found to be associated with cancer risk,their joint relationship has rarely been studied.Methods:We prospectively examined the associations of oral health and healthy lifestyle factors with cancer risk among 0.5 million rural and urban residents from the China Kadoorie Biobank(2004-2015).Oral health status was assessed from self-reported baseline questionnaires.A healthy lifestyle index comprising non-smoking,non-drinking,ideal body shape,physical activity and healthy diet was calculated for each participant,and categorized into favorable,intermediate and unfavorable lifestyle behavior.We calculated hazard ratios(HRs)and 95%confidence intervals(CIs)relating oral health and healthy lifestyle index to cancer risk using Cox proportional hazards models.We estimated the population attributable risk percent(PAR%)and 95%CIs using multivariate models.Results:During a median follow-up of 9 years,23,805 new cancer cases were documented,with 52%from rural areas and 48%from urban areas.Compared with those with good oral health and favorable lifestyle,participants with poor oral health and unfavorable lifestyle had a higher risk of developing cancer in both rural(adjusted HR,1.55[95%CI,1.39-1.74];P for trend<0.001)and urban areas(adjusted HR,1.44[95%CI,1.24-1.67];P for trend<0.001).A significant multiplicative interaction between oral health and healthy lifestyle index on cancer risk was found in rural residents(P for interaction=0.004)rather than in urban residents(P for interaction=0.973).Assuming poor oral health as an additional risk factor,the PAR%of total cancer increased by 3.0%and 1.1%for participants with intermediate lifestyle and unfavorable lifestyle,respectively.Conclusions:These findings suggest a joint effect of oral health and common lifestyle factors on cancer risk.Promotion of healthy lifestyle by integration of good oral health would be beneficial to consider in cancer prevention strategies.

Family counseling of dental and oral care for preventing caries of dental during preschool age: a literature review

Incorrect family behavior in caring for the dental and oral health of preschool-aged children can affect the incidence of dental caries in these children and can cause more serious health problems in the future if not treated immediately,so it is important to find the right solution.This study aims to determine the effect of family counseling on dental and oral care for preschoolers.This study uses a narrative literature review method.Search articles using 5 databases(Pubmed,ScienceDirect,SpringerLink,ProQuest,and Google Scholar)to search for articles with the keywords family counseling AND Oral health AND Early Childhood Caries AND Behavior Change AND Family and the article selection process refers to the Flow diagram of the PRISMA Statement 2020.The results showed that there were 7 articles analyzed in this study.The implementation of family counseling has a significant effect in increasing self-efficacy,knowledge,ability,and motivation of the family,as well as the behavior of the child,to reduce the risk of dental caries in preschool-age children,taking into account several conditions.It was determined that family counseling is effective in reducing the incidence of dental caries in preschool children.

Oral manifestations and prognosis of COVID-19 positive population in Suining city,China in the post-epidemic era

Objectives:To investigate the oral symptoms of COVID-19's"positive"group in Suining City following the comprehensive liberalization of epidemic prevention and control measures in China.To explore the related influencing factors of symptom differences and provide reference for the treatment of patients in the post-epidemic era.Methods:This study was conducted from January 4,2023 to January 24,2023,with the research subjects being outpatients at the Central Hospital of Suining City,Sichuan Province,who had recovered from COVID-19 infection or were currently infected.An online questionnaire comprising 25 questions was utilized.The data were analyzed using the Chi-square test.Results:1768 valid questionnaires were collected.The data showed that 363 people had oral problems after an infection with novel coronavirus.The oral problems after SARS‐CoV‐2 infection mainly focused on gingiva swelling or bleeding(38.57%),toothache(37.74%),bad breath(27.55%),oral ulcer(30.30%),abnormal taste(24.24%)and some infected people had a variety of oral symptoms.A small number of infected people also have other oral problems.The incidence of oral symptoms was significantly correlated with sex,age,educational level,place of residence,smoking,basic diseases,long-term saline gargle and vaccination of COVID-19 vaccine.In addition,the age,place of residence,smoking history,basic diseases,and vaccination also showed significant differences in prognosis.Conclusions:In the post-epidemic era,the most common oral problems include gingival swelling or bleeding,toothache,bad breath,oral ulcers,and abnormal taste.Maintaining good living habits is the foundation for promoting disease recovery and oral health.

The Nigeria Government Engagement with the Private Health Sector

In Nigeria, the healthcare sector is divided into primary health which is under the local government’s authority that oversees the Primary Health centers, secondary health which is under the supervision of the State Ministry of Health in charge of the State General Hospitals that cater to primary and secondary healthcare. Tertiary health is supervised by the Federal Ministry of Health that oversees the Federal Medical Centres, the Teaching Hospitals, and Specialist Training Centres. Not to be excluded from Nigeria’s healthcare system are the private clinics and the public-private partnership. The funding for healthcare systems is mainly budgetary allocations from the government. This systemic review was done using secondary literature, policy documents, peer-reviewed literature, and national newspapers, collected using search engines such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Medline. The review was done over 2-month period from February-April 2024. The literature was arranged in order of relevance and the literature not used was kept aside. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that 11% of a country’s budget be allocated to health. African countries that make up the African Union (AU) recommended that 15% of each member African country’s yearly budget should be committed to providing healthcare services to her citizens. Unfortunately, Nigeria has yet to attain either the WHO target or the AU target while committing an average, of 6% of her budgetary allocation to health. On the other hand, her neighbouring West African country Ghana, has met the average of 15% recommended by AU. The improved National Health Insurance Authority and the government’s partnership with the private health sector in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is hoped and would improve access to affordable healthcare in general and oral healthcare in particular.

Oral health in China-trends and challenges

For a long time, oral disease is one of the major problems of the public health for its high prevalence and incidence throughout the world, which is especially true for low-income populations. Since China＇s economic reform in 1978, great changes have taken place in China. These changes have significant impact on and have been reflected in oral disease trends in China. This paper provides an overview and assessment of the oral health status in China. It focuses on changes in the nation＇s demographic profile, in the marketplace, the oral disease status and trends. The paper also suggests some possible measures and strategies for bettering oral health in future China.

Oral health status in Sichuan Province: findings from the oral health survey of Sichuan, 2015–2016

To investigate oral health status in the residents of Sichuan Province, southwest China, a cross-sectional study was performed using the latest Oral Health Survey Basic Methods recommended by the World Health Organization. A multistage stratified random cluster-sampling method was used to enroll participants from the following three groups： children aged 3-5 years, adolescents aged 12 years, and people aged 65-74 years. In these three groups, the mean numbers of teeth that were affected by caries were 3.28, 0.86 and 5.13, respectively, resulting in a prevalence of 63.47%, 37.20% and 83.20%, respectively. Relative to the high rate of decayed teeth, the prevalence of fillings was very low in all age groups （0.97%, 7.24% and 5.43%, respectively）, In the 12-year-old adolescent group, only 3.61% had good pit and fissure sealing. In addition, the rate of dental fluorosis was 24.80%, and the Community Fluorosis Index value was 0.39. In the elder group, the community periodontal index was 2.92. The prevalence in the elderly of having lost at least one tooth was 75.54%. Additionally, 4.44% of these participants were edentulous. The incidence of dental prosthesis was 51.75%, the proportion with a removable partial denture, a fixed denture, full dentures, dental implants and an informal fixed bridge was 21.59%, 11.45%, 4.64%, 0 and 16.67%, respectively. In this study, 8.2% of the elderly participants were affected by different types of oral mucosal lesions. Among such lesions, recurrent aphthous ulcers were most prevalent （2.69%） and oral lichen planuses were second （1.6%）. The conclusion presented in this survey is that oral diseases, especially dental caries and periodontal disease, are frequent and common in Sichuan province, China. Moreover, the treatment rate is very low, and primary prevention and treatment options are therefore urgently needed in this population.

Relationship of Periodontal Status and Dental Caries Status with Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior among Professional Students in India

Aim To find the relationship of periodontal status and dental caries status with oral health knowledge, attitude, behavior, among professional students in India. Methodology In a cross sectional study, a total of 825 students （males： 577, females： 248） fi＇om six professions were surveyed using a self administered structured questionnaire including 41 multiple choice questions and the WHO Oral Health Assessment Form （1997）. The data was analyzed using the SPSS version 13.0 to perform the Student＇s t-test, ANOVA test, Scheffe＇s test and Chi-square test, linear regression analysis. Results The mean percentage scores of the students for knowledge were 53.25 ±15.05; for attitude 74.97±20.48; and for behavior 59.09 ±18.77. The percentage of students with calculus score was found to be significantly high （43.8%）. The percentage of professional students with DMFT〉4 was 14.1% and the percentage of students with decayed teeth was 46.2%. The regression analysis showed that the oral health behavior of the students was dependent on the attitude （P〈0.001）, but showed no significant linear relation with the knowledge. Also, that the mean DMFT score was dependent on the oral health behavior （P〈0.05）, but showed no significant relationship with the knowledge and attitude of the students. The periodontal status was independent on the knowledge, but showed a significant relationship with attitude and behavior of the students. Conclusion A positive attitude and adherence to good oral hygiene behaviors is associated with better oral health.

Oral polymorphonuclear neutrophil characteristics in relation to oral health： a cross-sectional, observational clinical study

Polymorphonuclear neutmphils （PMNs） have a major role in the innate immune system. However, little is known about PMN contribution in relation to oral health. The objective of this study was to investigate the numbers and functional characteristics of oral PMNs （oPMNs） compared with circulatory PMNs （cPMNs）. Oral rinse and venous blood samples were obtained from 268 systemically and orally healthy volunteers in a cross-sectional observational study. PMN counts, cell cycle analysis and cellular activation state were investigated. Also, reactive oxygen species （ROS） production was analyzed, with and without bacterial stimulation （Fusobacterium nucleatum）. In males, 1.2 × 10^6- 1.0 ×10^6 oPMNs were collected, and showed a tendency to correlate with the levels of gingival bleeding （r= 0.215, P= 0.008）. Comparable oPMNs counts were found among females （1.0 ×10^6＋ 0.7 × 10^6）. More late-stage apoptotic/necrotic cells were found among the oPMNs （53.1%） compared with the cPMNs （8.5%; P〈 0.001）. Without additional stimulation, oPMNs were more activated than cPMNs, as indicated by higher expression of CD11b, CD63 and CD66b, and higher constitutive ROS levels （P〈 0.001）. Notably, in response to bacterial stimulation, oPMNs released comparable ROS levels as cPMNs （P= 0.042）. In conclusion, this study provides data on viable oPMNs showing high levels of activation in orally and systemically healthy individuals, free of apparent caries lesions and periodontal disease. These data suggests that although the oPMNs are in a more mature stage of their life cycle compared with the cPMNs, oPMNs are still responsive to stimulation, which indicates their functional potential and possible contribution to a healthy oral ecosystem.

How Challenge Stress Affects Mental Health among College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Moderating Role of Self-Efficacy

While a plethora of studies has been conducted to examine stress and its impact on mental health in western countries,research is scarce investigating the relationship between student challenge stress and health illness in the context of Chinese colleges.No studies examined the moderating effect of self-efficacy on the relationship between challenge stress and health illness.This study attempted to investigate the relationships between these three variables among Chinese college students.Especially,this study focused on examining whether self-efficacy moderated the effect of perceived challenge stress on students’mental health.Also,the differences were tested between male and female students in terms of these three variables.A sample of 578 Chinese college students was recruited over an approximately 12-week period from 7 Chinese universities.An online survey link was dis-tributed through WeChat.The SPSS version 26 software was used to analyze the data.Results showed that there is no significant difference between genders in terms of perceived challenge stress,self-efficacy,and students’mental health.In addition,challenge stress was positively related to the students’mental health(β=0.35,p<0.01)while there was a negative association between self-efficacy and mental health(β=-0.41,p<0.01).Furthermore,self-efficacy plays a moderating role in the relationship between challenge stress and mental health(β=-0.11,p=0.02).Students with low self-efficacy tend to experience more mental health issues.It is suggested that Chinese colleges and universities pay more attention to students with low self-efficacy,either through faculty/staff interven-tions or peer counseling.Professors consider reducing students’academic stress to improve their mental health.

Oral health status of Chinese residents and suggestions for prevention and treatment strategies

Objective:To understand the oral health status of urban and rural residents in China,the Fourth National Oral Health Epidemiological Survey (FNOHES) was conducted in 2015.Materials and methods:Based on the principles of multi-stage,stratified,equal capacity,and random sampling,the subjects included five groups of residents aged 3-5,12-15,35-44,55-64,and 65-74 years in all 31 provinces,municipalities,and autonomous regions except Hong Kong,Macao,and Taiwan.The total sample size was 172,425.The survey covered two areas,namely oral health status and knowledge,attitude and oral health behavior.Results:Residents in China had serious caries and poor periodontal condition.The prevalence of caries was above 50% in all age groups,subjects without periodontal disease accounted for <50%,and fewer than 50% of subjects brushed their teeth twice a day.Based on the results of the FNOHES,the following suggestions were proposed for improving the oral health in China in the future:to establish and improve the comprehensive prevention and control system for oral diseases,implement a comprehensive prevention and control strategy for priority groups,strengthen the oral health education for all people to improve oral health literacy,enhance dynamic monitoring to scientifically evaluate oral health status,and coordinate multi-party resources to establish and improve the oral health service security system.Conclusion:The oral health status of Chinese residents and their oral health behavior habits need to be improved.With the support of the administrative departments of the government and unremitting efforts of the oral health staff,all sectors of society must be coordinated to strengthen oral health education for the whole population.Furthermore,comprehensive prevention and control measures must be implemented for priority groups.