Metronidazole prophylaxis to prevent infections after total abdominal hysterectomy.

Methods: In a randomized double-blind study, 134 patients were given 500 mg metronidazole as an intravenous infusion immediately before operation for abdominal total hysterectomy and again 8 hours later and 124 patients received placebo.

Results: There was more wound infection, postoperative hospitalization was longer and the sedimentation rate on the sixth postoperative day was significantly higher in the placebo group. There was no difference in postoperative temperature.

Caries and saliva in 12-18-year-old diabetics and controls.

Eighty-five 12-18-yr-old adolescents suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and their healthy age- and sex-matched controls were investigated with respect to dental caries, salivary flow rate, pH and buffering capacity of saliva, counts for lactobacilli and mutans streptococci, and salivary glucose content. The diabetics had their disease well controlled according to the HbA1 levels. The results showed no statistically significant difference between diabetics and controls in DMF and DMFS indexes and the number of initial caries lesions.

Periodontal status of Finnish adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The periodontal status of 85 12-18 year-old Finnish adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and their paired, age- and sex-matched healthy controls was assessed clinically and radiographically. The clinical examination consisted of plaque index, gingival index (GI), retentive calculus index, WHO community periodontal index of treatment needs, number of pockets greater than or equal to 4 mm and number of surfaces bleeding after probing. Alveolar bone loss was measured interproximally from the first molars in bite-wing radiographs (all subjects) and from the first incisors in periapical X-rays (patients only).

Morphotypes of the subgingival microflora in diabetic adolescents in Finland.

The morphotypes of the subgingival microflora from 85 12 to 18-year-old Finnish adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) were studied in Gram- and Rhodes-stained smears. A comparison was made with subgingival plaque samples from paired age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Significant differences were found in the distribution of the morphotypes.