Title: Thyroid Peroxidase Test
Category: Procedures and Tests
Created: 11/18/2001 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/13/2019 12:00:00 AM

Title: Hyperthyroidism
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 12/31/1997 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/20/2019 12:00:00 AM

Title: Thyroid Blood Tests
Category: Procedures and Tests
Created: 2/18/2001 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 1/8/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Being Chained to Your Desk Might Harm Your Thyroid
Category: Health News
Created: 3/31/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 3/31/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Is Thyroid Hormone Dangerously Overprescribed in Older Patients?
Category: Health News
Created: 4/1/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/2/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Common Treatment May Not Help Seniors With Underactive Thyroid
Category: Health News
Created: 5/4/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/5/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Americans Less Healthy Than the British
Category: Health News
Created: 5/3/2006 8:22:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2006 8:22:05 AM

Title: 'Healthy Bones' Shot Could Cut Women's Fracture Risk
Category: Health News
Created: 5/3/2007 2:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2007 12:00:00 AM

Title: Hypertension Takes Huge Toll in Developing Countries
Category: Health News
Created: 5/2/2008 2:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/2/2008 12:00:00 AM

Title: Top 10 Food Trends: Hip May Not Mean Healthy
Category: Health News
Created: 4/26/2011 1:54:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 4/26/2011 12:00:00 AM

Title: CDC: Kids Lack Access to Healthy Food Choices
Category: Health News
Created: 4/27/2011 11:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 12:00:00 AM

Title: Death Rate Declines for Americans With Hypertension
Category: Health News
Created: 4/26/2011 1:54:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 12:00:00 AM

Title: For a Healthy Aging Brain, 'Use It or Lose It'
Category: Health News
Created: 4/28/2012 11:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2012 12:00:00 AM

Title: Does Dopamine Explain Why Slackers Slack?
Category: Health News
Created: 5/2/2012 11:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/2/2012 12:00:00 AM

Title: Lower-Dose Radioiodine Effective Against Thyroid Cancer
Category: Health News
Created: 5/2/2012 6:06:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2012 12:00:00 AM

Title: Study Redefines What a Healthy Vagina Is
Category: Health News
Created: 5/2/2012 4:05:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2012 12:00:00 AM

Title: Why You Overeat Even When You're Full
Category: Health News
Created: 5/3/2012 4:05:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 5/4/2012 12:00:00 AM

Title: Psychopaths May Lack Capacity for Empathy
Category: Health News
Created: 4/26/2013 12:35:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 4/29/2013 12:00:00 AM

Title: Why Johnny Can't Add, Even After Tutoring
Category: Health News
Created: 4/29/2013 4:35:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2013 12:00:00 AM

Title: Health Tip: Why Am I Overweight?
Category: Health News
Created: 4/28/2014 7:35:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/28/2014 12:00:00 AM

Title: Health Tip: Being Healthy Doesn't Have to Be Expensive
Category: Health News
Created: 5/1/2014 7:35:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/1/2014 12:00:00 AM

Title: Is Healthy Obesity a Myth?
Category: Health News
Created: 4/30/2014 4:36:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 5/1/2014 12:00:00 AM

Title: Start Healthy Eating Habits Early to Head Off Obesity in Kids
Category: Health News
Created: 4/28/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/29/2015 12:00:00 AM

Title: 4 in 10 Americans Breathe Unhealthy Air: Report
Category: Health News
Created: 4/29/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2015 12:00:00 AM

Title: Focus on Healthy Foods, Not Avoiding 'Bad' Ones, for Heart Health: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 4/25/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/25/2016 12:00:00 AM

Title: Fewer Children May Explain Why More Women Now Outlive Men
Category: Health News
Created: 4/25/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/26/2016 12:00:00 AM

Title: Coffee, Wine Good for Healthy Gut, Sodas May Be Bad
Category: Health News
Created: 4/28/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/29/2016 12:00:00 AM

Title: Exercise and Vitamin D: A Heart-Healthy Combo
Category: Health News
Created: 5/1/2017 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/1/2017 12:00:00 AM

Title: Healthy Heart in Middle Age Delivers Big Dividends
Category: Health News
Created: 5/1/2017 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/2/2017 12:00:00 AM

Title: Reasons Why Parents Should Be Wary of '13 Reasons Why'
Category: Health News
Created: 5/4/2017 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/4/2017 12:00:00 AM

Title: No One-Size-Fits-All for Hydrating During Sports
Category: Health News
Created: 4/30/2018 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/1/2018 12:00:00 AM

Title: Why You Should Unwind After a Tough Day at Work
Category: Health News
Created: 5/1/2018 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/2/2018 12:00:00 AM

Title: U.S. Youth Suicide Rates Hit 19-Year High After '13 Reasons Why'
Category: Health News
Created: 4/30/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2019 12:00:00 AM

Title: AHA News: Director John Singleton's Fatal Stroke Spotlights Black Americans' Hypertension Risk
Category: Health News
Created: 5/2/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/2/2019 12:00:00 AM

Title: A Heart-Healthy Prescription for America's Food System
Category: Health News
Created: 5/2/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2019 12:00:00 AM

Title: After Trump Hypes Use of a Lupus Med Against COVID-19, Lupus Patients Face Shortages
Category: Health News
Created: 4/25/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: New Drug Could Help Stop Blindness From Thyroid Eye Disease
Category: Health News
Created: 1/22/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 1/23/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: AHA News: Tropical Smoothie Adds a Healthy Green Touch to St. Patrick's Day
Category: Health News
Created: 3/16/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 3/17/2020 12:00:00 AM

These are the coronavirus stories you need to know about today.

The new coronavirus is disproportionately striking minority populations—particularly urban blacks and Navajo Indians living on their reservation. Experts say social and economic factors that predate the COVID-19 crisis may help explain why.

When pleas for protective equipment failed to produce results, individuals decided to take matters in their own hands and set up a distribution channel, now the most centralized platform in the US.

Calls to relax social distancing policies emphasize the need for increased testing, but a closer look at current SARS-CoV-2 tests leaves Anish Koka, MD, doubtful that more tests will be the solution.

Title: Taking Steroids for Rheumatoid Arthritis, IBD? Your Odds for Hypertension May Rise
Category: Health News
Created: 3/23/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 3/24/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 12/31/1997 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/14/2020 12:00:00 AM

2-fluorofucose (2FF) inhibits protein and cellular fucosylation. Afucosylation of IgG antibodies enhances antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity by modulating antibody affinity for FcRIIIa, which can impact secondary T-cell activation. Immune responses toward most common solid tumors are dominated by a humoral immune response rather than the presence of tumor-infiltrating cytotoxic T cells. IgG antibodies directed against numerous tumor-associated proteins are found in the sera of both patients with breast cancer and transgenic mice bearing mammary cancer. We questioned whether 2FF would have antitumor activity in two genetically distinct transgenic models; TgMMTV-neu (luminal B) and C3(1)-Tag (basal) mammary cancer. 2FF treatment significantly improved overall survival. The TgMMTV-neu doubled survival time compared with controls [P < 0.0001; HR, 7.04; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.31–15.0], and survival was significantly improved in C3(1)-Tag (P = 0.0013; HR, 3.36; 95% CI, 1.58–7.14). 2FF treated mice, not controls, developed delayed-type hypersensitivity and T-cell responses specific for syngeneic tumor lysates (P < 0.0001). Serum IgG from 2FF-treated mice enhanced tumor lysis more efficiently than control sera (P = 0.004). Administration of 2FF for prophylaxis, at two different doses, significantly delayed tumor onset in both TgMMTV-neu; 20 mmol/L (P = 0.0004; HR, 3.55; 95% CI, 1.60–7.88) and 50 mmol/L (P = 0.0002; HR: 3.89; 95% CI, 1.71–8.86) and C3(1)-Tag; 20 mmol/L (P = 0.0020; HR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.22–5.18), and 50 mmol/L (P = 0.0012; HR, 3.36; 95% CI, 1.57–7.18). Mammary cancer was prevented in 33% of TgMMTV-neu and 26% of C3(1)-Tag. 2FF has potent antitumor effects in mammary cancer models. The agent shows preclinical efficacy for both cancer treatment and prevention.

Dental students in North American dental schools are exposed to faculty members with various professional backgrounds. These faculty members may include dentists, dental hygienists, and scientists without clinical dental credentials. The practice of dental hygienists’ educating predoctoral dental students has not been well documented. The aims of this two-part study were to investigate the parameters of didactic, preclinical, and clinical instruction of dental students by dental hygienist faculty members in North American dental schools and to explore dental students’ perceptions of this form of teaching. In part one, a survey was sent electronically to the clinical or academic affairs deans of all 76 American Dental Education Association (ADEA) member dental schools in 2017. Twenty-nine responded, for a 38.2% response rate. In 76% of the responding schools, dental hygienists were teaching dental students. Most respondents reported that, in their schools, the minimum degree required to teach didactically was a master’s, while a bachelor’s degree was required for preclinical and clinical courses. There was no significant association between dental hygienists’ instructing dental students and having a dental hygiene educational program at the institution. In part two of the study, a questionnaire was completed by 102 graduating dental students (85% response rate) at one U.S. university to evaluate the impact of dental hygienist educators. Among the respondents, 87% reported feeling that dental hygienists were very effective educators. There were no significant differences in responses between traditional and advanced standing international dental students. This study found that dental hygienists were educating dental students in many North American dental schools and were doing so in curricular content beyond periodontics and that their educational contributions at a sample school were valued by the dental students there.

Few studies have been published on thesis completion experiences of master’s degree students. However, for doctoral students, dissertation completion has been found to be dependent on individual, relational, and institutional factors. The aim of this study was to examine dental hygienists’ perceptions of their experiences completing a thesis as a requirement for an advanced degree. A qualitative phenomenological research design was used utilizing virtual focus groups with a national purposive sample of dental hygienists (n=25) who had graduated from a degree program in which a thesis was a requirement for the degree. Data analysis used an inductive approach to identify themes using Liechty et al.’s framework of individual, relational, and institutional factors impacting completion of a dissertation. Liechty et al.’s framework is based on Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory of learning. In the results, individual factors identified included family/work responsibilities, lack of understanding of the thesis process, time management, health issues, and reaching personal and professional goals. Relational factors focused primarily on positive and negative experiences with the thesis advisor/committee and support from expert peers/family. Institutional factors included the thesis structure, financial concerns, and challenges in recruiting research participants. This study found many factors influencing the thesis experience that may help guide the process in graduate degree programs. In addition, the findings suggest a need to provide mentoring and support for thesis advisors and committee members to more effectively guide students through the thesis process. Effective modifications of these may improve retention of students and facilitate timely completion of thesis research.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify current requirements for initial licensure and entry into the dental hygiene profession across state dental and dental hygiene licensing boards in the United States.Methods: A non-experimental study design was used to study dental and dental hygiene board licensing requirements in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Each regulatory board website was searched for requirements for entry-level dental hygiene licensure. Requirements were recorded on an Excel spreadsheet. State dental practice acts were reviewed to gather further information and 20 regulatory bodies were contacted to verify accuracy. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data.Results: Information from a total of 52 dental boards (n=52) was examined for this study. Nearly all boards (n=51, 98.1%), with the exception of Alabama, required completion of entry-level education from a CODA accredited dental hygiene program and successful completion of the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. Most states (n=51, 98.1%), except Delaware, also required a live-patient, a clinical board examination. Application fees ranged from $47.70 to $600. States varied considerably in terms of requirements for background checks, age, military status, and infection control training.Conclusion: Although the majority of regulatory bodies require completion of entry-level dental hygiene education from a CODA accredited program and successful completion of national board and a live-patient, clinical examination, there is considerable variation in other additional requirements for initial dental hygiene licensure.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine strength of muscles involved with instrumentation (scaling) by dental hygienists and the additive effects of cellular (mobile) phone usage, as indicated by measurements of muscular force generation.Methods: A convenience sample of licensed dental hygienists currently in clinical practice (n=16) and an equal number of individuals not currently using devices/tools repetitively for work (n=16), agreed to participate in this pilot study. All participants completed a modified cell phone usage questionnaire to determine their use pattern and frequency. Upon completion of the questionnaire, participants' force production in six muscle groups was measured using a hand-held dynamometer. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.Results: A total of 16 licensed dental hygienists (n=16) and 16 participants with no history of using tools/devices repetitively for work (n=16), comprised the experimental and control groups, repectively. The control group generated greater muscle force than the experimental group for the abductor pollicis longus (p=0.045). Significant differences were identified when comparing the low mobile phone users in the experimental group to the control group for the flexor pollicis brevis (p=0.031), abductor pollicis longus (p=0.031), and flexor digitorum (p=0.006), with the control group demonstrating higher muscle force. Years in clinical practice and mobile phone use was shown to have a significant effect on muscular force generation for the flexor pollicis brevis (F=3.645, df=3, p=0.020) and flexor digitorum (F=3.560, df=3, p=0.022); subjects who practiced dental hygiene the longest produced the least amount of muscle force.Conclusion: Results from this pilot study indicate there are no significant additive effects of cell phone use and dental hygiene practice on finger muscles used for instrumentation. However, results indicate that dental hygiene practice demonstrated significant effects on muscular strength as compared to individuals who do not use tools/devices repetitively for work. The small sample size may have impacted results and the study should be repeated with a larger sample.

Purpose: Untreated and poorly controlled diabetes causes increased levels of blood glucose associated with poor periodontal disease outcomes. Dental hygienists can play a significant role in screening patients for diabetes mellitus, leading to referral and early diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and barriers faced by clinical dental hygienists regarding diabetes risk assessment and screenings.Methods: A mixed method design was used with a convenience sample of dental hygienists in clinical practice (n=316). A 32 item, electronic survey was validated at item-level, and participants were recruited through multiple dental hygiene Facebook groups. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The survey also included two open-ended attitude questions that were interpreted using thematic analysis to pinpoint common patterns within the data.Results: Dental hygienists had high knowledge scores regarding diabetes and oral health, although many were unaware of their states' specific statutes and regulations for screening practices. Nearly all (95.9%), were likely to educate and refer patients (82%), although fewer than half (40.9%), were likely to perform chairside screening for diabetes. Emergent themes for barriers to screening were time, money, patient acceptance/willingness, lack of education, not having the proper tools, and states' rules and regulations.Conclusion: Despite high knowledge scores regarding diabetes and oral health, there is a gap in regards to dental hygienists' willingness to perform diabetes screenings in a clinical setting. Dental hygienists should be capable of integrating chairside diabetes screening practices into the process of care with proper training.