In vitro wear of composite with varied cure, filler level, and filler treatment.

For the clinical wear of composite filing materials to be reduced, compositional factors such as degree of cure, filler level, and silanation level should be optimized. An oral-wear-stimulating machine was used to explore the effects of these factors on abrasion and attrition wear as well as on opposing enamel wear. The composites were made from Sr glass (1-2 micron avg) and a 50/50 Bis-GMA/TEGDMA resin.

Differential expression of nuclear 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 in mineralocorticoid receptor positive and negative tissues.

Corticosteroid hormone action is controlled at a pre-receptor level by the activity of two isoforms of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD), catalyzing the interconversion of hormonally active cortisol to inactive cortisone. In particular 11beta-HSD2 protects the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) from glucocorticoid excess, enabling aldosterone to interact with the MR. We have analyzed the subcellular localization of 11beta-HSD2 in relation to the expression of the MR in human colon and placenta.

The assessment of depression in the postnatal period: a comparison of four self-report questionnaires.

Objective: The objective of this study was to ascertain the degree of agreement between four self-report depression scales, with particular emphasis on whether each scale would identify the same subgroup of women as being 'most depressed'.

Method: The questionnaires were administered to a sample of approximately 200 postnatal women at 4 weeks, 4 months and 8 months after delivery. The instruments were: the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; the depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale; the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale; and the depression subscale of the Profile of Mood States.

Ontogeny and sexual dimorphic expression of mouse type 2 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.

11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD) catalyzes the interconversion of cortisol to hormonally inactive cortisone (corticosterone (B) to 11-dehydrocorticosterone (A) in rodents), and as such is established as a pre-receptor signalling pathway for corticosteroid hormone action. To further evaluate the role of this enzyme in adult and fetal life we have characterized two isoforms of 11beta-HSD in mouse tissues. Mouse 'liver' or type 1 11beta-HSD is a bi-directional dehydrogenase/oxo-reductase (K(m) for B 1.

Factors effecting dental composite wear in vitro.

The wear of posterior dental composite restorations takes place through a complex combination of wear mechanisms. To isolate and measure the contribution of the different tribological phenomena in a controlled manner, an oral wear simulator was employed. Results previously reported demonstrated the simulator's ability to form strong correlations with clinical results for both abrasion and attrition wear.

Adrenal 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.

11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-HSD) catalyzes the interconversion of cortisol (F) to inactive cortisone (E) in man (corticosterone (B) to 11-dehydrocorticosterone (A) in rodents) and plays a crucial role in regulating corticosteroid hormone action. Two isoforms of this enzyme have been characterized; a low affinity NADP(H)-dependent enzyme (11 beta-HSD1) and a high affinity NAD-dependent dehydrogenase (11 beta-HSD2). We have analysed the expression of 11 beta-HSD in the rodent and human adrenal gland and have investigated its role with respect to glucocorticoid-mediated catecholamine biosynthesis.

Premature mortality in aboriginal adults in the Northern Territory, 1979-1991.

Objective: To identify important causes of premature mortality among Aboriginal adults in the Northern Territory (NT), 1979-1991.

Methods: All deaths of NT Aboriginal residents aged 15-64 years which occurred in the NT between 1979 and 1991 and which were recorded by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages were included. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) were used to compare the number of deaths observed among Aboriginals in the NT to those expected, based on overall Australian rates.

Evaluation of composite wear with a new multi-mode oral wear simulator.

Objectives: The goals of this study were to develop a machine which simultaneously produces wear through the two main oral wear mechanisms of abrasion and attrition by the action of an enamel antagonist and to compare the results obtained for dental composites using this machine to those obtained from clinical studies and other in vitro studies.

Methods: The accuracy of this new wear tester was determined by examining 11 commercial composite filling materials and 1 amalgam. Specimens were subjected to three-body abrasion and attrition wear for 50,000 cycles.

The psychological sequelae of miscarriage: a critical review of the literature.

Miscarriage, although a common event in pregnancy, has been frequently overlooked in psychological research. This paper reviews the literature on the psychological sequelae of miscarriage, including the shortcomings of that literature. Best understood against the background of psychological changes in early pregnancy, the literature reveals aspects of grief specific to miscarriage.

ABO genotyping-identification of O1, O1*, and O2 alleles using the polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotide (PCR-SSO) technique.

ABO polymorphism at the gene level has been investigated by molecular methods, predominantly sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). We describe the application of the polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotide (PCRSSO) method, which is considered to be more versatile for large sample numbers, compared with conventional ABO genotyping by PCR-RFLP. PCR-SSO, while maintaining accurate and reliable results, reduces costs and labor.

ABO genotyping by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Genotyping enables the identification of both maternally and paternally derived alleles. A number of protocols have been described for the genotyping of the ABO blood group system. Generally, these methods have a number of disadvantages including the use of hazardous reagents, being technically demanding, and the excessive use of materials.

Evaluation of monoclonal anti-D reagents using D variant cells.

Monoclonal anti-D antibodies submitted to the Third Monoclonal International Workshop were evaluated against a number of D variant cells using standard serological techniques. The monoclonal antibodies were able to discriminate between the cells of Categories Va, VI and DFR but not Category III cells. Cells within each category did not give any aberrant results.

Properties of heat-treated composites after aging in water.

Objectives: Post-cure heat treatments have been shown to increase the fracture toughness and elastic modulus of composites. The objective of this study was to determine if the increase remained after the composites were aged in water. METHODS.

Aborigines and tuberculosis: why they are at risk.

Aborigines have higher rates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis than the rest of the community. There are insufficient contemporary data to assess how much risk tuberculosis poses to the Aboriginal community. Tuberculosis is of particular concern because of its interaction with human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV).

University students' subjective experiences of oral contraceptive use.

A substantial proportion of women who commence oral contraceptive discontinue usage due to unwanted side-effects. In investigations of side-effects in current users, such women are excluded, and hence such studies will tend to underestimate the prevalence of side-effects. One hundred and forty-five female university students (both former and current users) completed a questionnaire focusing on their experiences of the impact of oral contraceptives upon their psychological and physical well-being.

Risk stratification in unstable angina. Prospective validation of the Braunwald classification.

Objectives: To validate the Braunwald classification of unstable angina as a predictor of in-hospital cardiac complications; to determine which factors of the Braunwald classification contributed significantly to this prediction; and to devise a method of combining these predictive factors into an overall odds ratio for complications.

Design: A validation cohort of consecutive patients followed prospectively for in-hospital cardiac complications including myocardial infarction and death.

Setting: A community-based academic medical center.

The association between spouse-reported Type A behaviour pattern and coronary heart disease.

This paper describes further validation of the Spouse-Report Type A Behaviour Pattern Questionnaire. In a case controlled study of 61 cardiac patients versus 61 community controls, the questionnaire was found to discriminate statistically between a group of patients with proven coronary heart disease and a group of matched healthy controls on the anger/hostility subscale and total Type A score. No relationship between Type A score and coronary heart disease severity was found.

Outcome prediction in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia by molecular quantification of residual disease at the end of induction.

Methods to detect and quantify minimal residual disease (MRD) after chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) could improve treatment by identifying patients who need more or less intensive therapy. We have used a clone-specific polymerase chain reaction to detect rearranged immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene from the leukaemic clone, and quantified the clone by limiting dilution analysis. MRD was successfully quantified, by extracting DNA from marrow slides, from 88 of 181 children with ALL, who had total leucocyte counts below 100 x 10(9)/L at presentation and were enrolled in two clinical trials, in 1980-84 and 1985-89.

The Mental Adjustment to HIV scale: measurement and dimensions of response to AIDS/HIV disease.

Attitudes of people with HIV disease towards HIV have seldom been measured. However, a well-established scale to measure attitudes toward cancer in those with the disease, the 38-item Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale was modified to assess adjustment to HIV disease. We administered the scale to 107 Australian men with HIV infection, of whom 36 had an AIDS-defining condition, who were patients at an ambulatory care facility and in a research study.

Prognostic significance of detection of monoclonality in remission marrow in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood. Australian and New Zealand Children's Cancer Study Group.

Techniques based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect rearrangement of the immunoglobulin or T-cell receptor genes can detect residual disease in leukemia and hence have the potential to improve prognosis and treatment. Such techniques may involve either detection of monoclonality, which is simple and quick but has limited sensitivity, or specific detection of the leukaemic clone, which is complex and time-consuming but has high sensitivity. The PCR was used to detect monoclonal rearrangements of the immunoglobulin heavy chain and/or T-cell receptor gamma chain genes in archival marrow specimens from 185 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who achieved remission during two consecutive Australasian trials of treatment.

Hostility and anger measures in coronary heart disease.

Recent research addressing the link between psychological factors and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) has focused on the areas of hostility and anger and produced sometimes contradictory results. This study makes use of four questionnaire measures of hostility and anger, which were administered to matched groups with and without CHD. Quicker experiences of anger with greater verbal expression best predicted CHD.