PILOT EVALUATION OF A SIMPLE ADJUNCTIVE METHOD FOR IMPROVED REMOVAL OF ORAL BIOFILM DURING CONVENTIONAL SCALING AND ROOT PLANING THERAPY.

Various studies have evaluated the adjunctive use of chemical and antimicrobial treatments to assist in the mechanical removal of oral microbial biofilm from tissue surfaces during scaling and root planning therapy (SRP). The current study demonstrates the elimination of two classes of surrogate molecular markers from periodontal disease sites. This suggests the current agent may be a more effective adjunctive cleansing agent for complete biofilm removal.

Influence of psychiatric diagnoses on interferon-alpha treatment for chronic hepatitis C in a veteran population.

Objective: The prevalence of psychiatric problems and substance abuse is high in the veteran population with hepatitis C. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze the effect of preexisting psychiatric conditions in veteran patients undergoing treatment with interferon a-2b (IFN-alpha) with respect to adverse events, compliance, and treatment response.

Methods: Thirty-three veterans with chronic hepatitis C were treated with IFN-alpha (5 million units three times weekly) for 6 months, followed by a tapering dose for an additional 6 months.

Dysfibrinogenemia: a case with thrombosis (fibrinogen Richfield) and an overview of the clinical and laboratory spectrum.

Fibrinogen Richfield exemplifies a dysfibrinogen associated with a life-long thrombotic tendency. The evaluation of this novel case indicates that, like similar thrombotic dysfibrinogenemias, the abnormal protein polymerizes abnormally and demonstrates impaired clot dissolution. A survey of other cases of dysfibrinogenemia indicates that the relatively common abnormalities of Fibrinopeptide A release are generally asymptomatic or associated with bleeding, polymerization abnormalities are likely to be asymptomatic or associated with thrombosis (or occasionally bleeding), and complex abnormalities or additional, independent hemostatic defects are rather common.

Cholesterol screening for blood donors: characteristics of screenees and determinants of follow-up behavior.

This study assesses the ability of a blood donor cholesterol screening program to enhance awareness of cholesterol levels among screenees and to promote lifestyle changes and physician follow-up. Beginning in November 1990, all blood donors at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center were offered free cholesterol screening. Each screenee also received educational materials and brief counseling from a nurse.

Stimulation of haptotaxis and migration of tumor cells by serum spreading factor.

A central feature of tumor metastasis is the migration of malignant cells through interstitial tissues and vascular structures as they spread throughout the body. Various components of the extracellular matrix and of basement membranes, consisting of genetically distinct collagens, proteoglycans, and noncollagenous glycoproteins, are known to modulate certain aspects of cell behavior, including cell movement. Serum spreading factor is a glycoprotein component of human serum that is also found in interstitial tissues.