NOTCH4 gene promoter polymorphism is associated with the age of onset in schizophrenia.

Objectives: The NOTCH4 gene has a promoter polymor-phism at position -25, which leads to the three genotypes TT, CT and CC. These have been suggested to present a novel independent genetic risk factor for schizophrenia. We conducted a prospective case-control study to explore the impact of NOTCH4 T-25C polymorphism on the factors associated with schizophrenia.

The reliability of compliance assessments performed by doctors and patients during neuroleptic treatment: a comparison of compliance ratings.

Objective: To compare compliance assessments made by doctors and patients during neuroleptic drug treatment and to detect any variables explaining the discrepancies between their ratings.

Method: Compliance reports regarding neuroleptic medication were collected from 100 in-patients and out-patients and from their doctors. Re-ratings were performed after 1-2 weeks.

Position of teeth on the edentulous atrophic maxilla.

For prosthetic treatment of strongly atrophic alveolar wall, some biometric methods have been developed. The measurements taken from plaster cast models of 230 edentulous, average 29.9 years, and 125 dentulous post-menopausal women were correlated.

Attitudes towards neuroleptic treatment: reliability and validity of the attitudes towards neuroleptic treatment (ANT) questionnaire.

Non-compliance problems may rise to 50% among patients undergoing neuroleptic treatment. There are no direct measures available to predict compliance, if previous non-compliance is not taken into account. Attitudes towards neuroleptic treatment and insight into psychotic symptoms may vary during the course of the treatment process.

Relationship between body mass index and the remaining alveolar ridge.

Severe residual ridge resorption may occur in individuals with either high or low mineral density in the skeleton. Heavy individuals with a heavy skeleton and a large percentage of fat in the body are less predisposed to osteoporosis than small individuals are. In addition, the jaws of heavy subjects are probably more massive and thick than the jaws of smaller individuals.

Dental aesthetics--a survey of attitudes in different groups of patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitudes of various groups of patients towards the appearance of their teeth.

Methods: A questionnaire was used which consisted of six background variables and 13 attitudinal statements concerning the appearance of the teeth. The number of responses obtained was 254.

Biometric design of complete dentures related to residual ridge resorption.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the location of the incisive papilla, the extent of the alveolar bone remaining on the facial side of the palatal-gingival margin in the canine region, and the height of the palatal vault in the molar region are associated with factors that may affect the volume of the residual ridges in an edentulous maxillae. Results suggest that duration of the edentulousness and skeletal mineral status are important factors in the resorption of the residual ridges in the maxillae. The location of the incisive papilla and the thickness of the ridge on the facial side of the palatal-gingival margin are associated with these two factors.

The effect of notch shape and self-cured acrylic resin repair on the fatigue resistance of an acrylic resin denture base.

This study compares four different notch shapes made on the anterior margin of the palatal plates of heat-cured acrylic resin test specimens as well as the effect of self-cured acrylic resin repair on the fatigue resistance of dentures. The test specimens had the shape of an upper partial denture (n = 25). The fatigue test applied was a constant-force fatigue test at a force of 150 N.

Impact strength of denture polymethyl methacrylate reinforced with continuous glass fibers or metal wire.

The impact strength of heat-cured acrylic resin test specimens that had been reinforced in various ways was compared in this study. Ten rectangular test specimens were fabricated for each test group. The strengtheners included 1.

Wetting the repair surface with methyl methacrylate affects the transverse strength of repaired heat-polymerized resin.

This study investigated the transverse strength of repaired test specimens of heat-cured acrylic resin. The repair surfaces of the specimens were wetted with methyl methacrylate for various amounts of time before the autopolymerizing acrylic resin was applied to the joint space. A three-point loading test was used to determine the transverse strength of the test specimens, and the morphologic changes in the methyl methacrylate-wetted repair surface was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.

In vitro fatigue fracture of an acrylic resin-based partial denture: an exploratory study.

In this study the fatigue life of heat-cured acrylic resin test specimens shaped as maxillary partial dentures was examined. Ten test specimens were prepared from polymethyl methacrylate and were tested by a constant force fatigue test at 150 N immersed in +37 degrees C water. The fatigue-fracture surfaces of the test specimens were compared with a one-bend fracture surface of the control specimen by scanning electron microscopy.

Acrylic resin-fiber composite--Part I: The effect of fiber concentration on fracture resistance.

This study tested the effect on the fracture resistance of acrylic resin test specimens when different amounts of fibers were incorporated in the resin matrix. The fibers used included glass, carbon, and aramid fibers, with 30 test specimens of each concentration of fibers. Transverse sections of the specimens were studied by scanning electron microscope to establish how the fibers behave in the polymerization process.

Mineral status of skeleton and advanced periodontal disease.

Studies of the effect of general bone loss on periodontal condition and on development of periodontal pockets suggest that there is no clear correlation between periodontal health or number of teeth and the general mineral status of the skeleton. In some reports, however, deep periodontal pockets have been correlated with good mineral status in the jawbones and skeleton. The purpose of this study of 227 healthy postmenopausal women aged 48 to 56 years was to determine whether advanced alveolar bone loss, diagnosed by panoramic radiographs, and periodontal probing depths or number of remaining teeth were correlated with the bone mineral status of the skeleton and cortical bone in the mandible.

Transverse strength and fatigue of denture acrylic-glass fiber composite.

Objectives: The aims of this experiment were: 1) to test the effect of a high concentration of continuous glass fibers on the transverse strength of test specimens made of heat-cured acrylic resin; and 2) to determine the fatigue weakening of both unreinforced and continuous glass fiber-reinforced specimens of heat-cured acrylic resin shaped into upper complete dentures.

Methods: A three-point loading test was used to determine the transverse strength of test specimens (n = 30 per group). The fatigue test was the constant deflection test (n = 10 per group).

Mineral density in the mandibles of partially and totally edentate postmenopausal women.

Mineral density of the cortical bone in four regions and the spongiosa distal from the mental foramen of the mandible was determined by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) for 77 postmenopausal, 48-56-yr-old women. Of these women, 42 were totally edentulous and 35 had teeth in region d35-d45. The bone mineral densities of different regions of these two groups were compared.

Evaluation of damage to removable dentures in two cities in Finland.

The number of damaged dentures and type of damage to removable dentures repaired in dental laboratories was investigated using a questionnaire sent to 24 dental laboratories in Finland. Eight variables were examined for each damaged denture. The results showed that the type of dentures most commonly needing repair was the complete upper denture (49%).

Cortical bone mineral density in the mandible and osteoporosis status in postmenopausal women.

Mineral density of the cortical bone of the mandible was determined by single-energy QCT (quantitative computed tomography) for 77 menopausal women. Bone mineral densities (BMD) were measured in the buccal and lingual layers of the cortex, distally from the foramen mentale, on both sides of the mandible. All the women were edentulous in that region, and the alveolar processes were far resorbed.

Panoramic mandibular index and bone mineral densities in postmenopausal women.

The panoramic mandibular index was used in a group of postmenopausal women to determine whether it correlates with bone mineral densities of the femoral neck, lumbar area, and the trabecular and cortical parts of the mandible. The bone mineral density values were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry of the femoral neck and lumbar area and by quantitative computed tomography of the mandible. Linear correlation of the panoramic mandibular index with all bone mineral density values was weak.

Trabecular bone mineral density of mandible and alveolar height in postmenopausal women.

Mineral density of the trabecular bone of the mandible was determined by single-energy QCT (quantitative computed tomography) for 74 totally or nearly edentulous menopausal women. These results were compared with the bone mineral densities (BMD) of their lumbar area (L2-L4) and femoral collum, measured by dual-energy x-ray transmission, Lunar DPX. The remaining height of the residual ridge at the symphysis of the mandible was measured on computed tomography (CT) lateral projection view, and an index of the residual ridge status was introduced.

Protoberberine alkaloids from Enantia chlorantha therapy of allyl-alcohol- and D-galactosamine-traumatized rats.

The short-term effect of the hepatotoxins allyl alcohol (AA) and D-galactosamine (GalN) was investigated in adult female rats. In addition, the curative effect of Hepasor, protoberberine extract from Enantia chlorantha was examined 3 days following traumatization. There was a significant increase in serum alanine transferase (ALT) and serum alkaline phosphatase (APHOS) values induced by AA traumatization, which were lowered following Hepasor treatment.

Effect of metal strengthener's surface roughness on fracture resistance of acrylic denture base material.

The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of the surface roughness of various metal wires on the fracture resistance of the acrylic test specimens. The number of test groups compared were 16, and there were 30 test specimens in each group. The investigation showed that the surface roughening of the metal wires used to reinforce acrylic resin denture base material increased the fracture resistance of the test specimens.

Reinforcement of acrylic resin denture base material with metal or fibre strengtheners.

The effect of different metal and fibre strengtheners on the fracture resistance of polymethylmethacrylate was tested. Different types of commonly used metal wire and glass fibre, as well as carbon and aramid fibres, were used as strengtheners in test specimens. There were 21 groups, and each group contained 12 test specimens.

Impact of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on rat blood and alveolar bone affected by occlusal stress.

Adult male and female rats were used as test animals. The experimental diabetes mellitus was provoked with one dose of i.v.

Effect of splenectomy on hepasor treatment in allyl-alcohol-traumatized rat liver.

Experimental liver injury was provoked in test rats with and without spleen intraperitoneally with allyl alcohol injections. The rats without spleen were used for tests 2 months after the splenectomy. Traumatized rats received further intraperitoneal injections of Hepasor, a protoberberine alkaloid mixture from Enantia chlorantha (Annonaceae).