Multiple valvar replacements for hypereosinophilic syndrome.

A boy with familial eosinophilia had the hypereosinophilic syndrome, with involvement of mitral and tricuspid valves. Between the ages of 11 and 20 years, he underwent eight surgical procedures on his atrioventricular valves. The pathology included recurrent thrombotic vegetative masses related to hypereosinophilia.

Sensitivity of a disc rupture strength test to air bubble pores in phosphate-bonded investment materials at elevated temperatures.

Objectives: To investigate the sensitivity of a modified disc rupture test to variables affecting the strength of four phosphate-bonded investment materials under conditions closely resembling the in-service environment. This study examined the influence of air bubble pores on the strength of phosphate bonded investment materials at a temperature of 900 degrees C.

Methods: A modified disc rupture configuration was used to test a circular investment diaphragm with clamped edges, in tension, initiated by bending.

Coil embolization of iatrogenic arterio-venous fistula from pulmonary collateral artery to subclavian vein.

A young woman with surgically treated tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia, with multiple aorto-pulmonary collateral arteries, developed an arteriovenous fistula subsequent to transvenous insertion of an automatic implantable defibrillator via the left subclavian vein. The fistula extended between this vein and a systemic-to-pulmonary collateral artery arising from the subclavian artery. Unilateral peau d'orange, and painful congestion of the left arm and breast, ensued.

The emotional effects of tooth loss in a group of partially dentate people: a quantitative study.

This study investigated the reactions to tooth loss in a partially dentate group of 100 people using a questionnaire-based method. Partially dentate people who experienced difficulties in accepting their tooth loss were more likely to feel less confident, restrict food choice, enjoy food less, avoid laughing in public and avoid forming close relationships than those people who had no difficulties accepting tooth loss. Also, they were more likely to feel that they had not been adequately prepared for the effects that tooth loss had on their confidence, daily living activities and appearance.

Pregnancy after fontan repair of complex congenital heart disease.

We describe four successful pregnancies in three women who had previously had a Fontan repair for congenital heart disease. Each pregnancy resulted in a live birth and there was no maternal mortality The infants were premature, being delivered at 26, 30 and 35 weeks, and weighing 1,020, 1,333 and 1,930 g respectively The fourth infant was born at 32 weeks and no birthweight is available. Maternal complications occurred and were those anticipated after a Fontan repair.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies stabilize adhesion and promote migration of flowing neutrophils on endothelial cells.

Objective: Recruitment of neutrophils to sites of inflammation requires coordinated regulation of their capture, activation, and migration on vascular endothelium. This study examines whether exposure of neutrophils to antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) can disrupt this sequence of events.

Methods: Isolated human neutrophils were perfused in the presence or absence of ANCA-positive IgG over endothelial cells that had been activated with either 2 units/ml or 100 units/ml of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) for 4 hours.

Outcome following surgical closure of secundum atrial septal defect.

Objective: To assess the current outcome of surgical closure of secundum atrial septal defects (ASD) in an Australian paediatric population.

Methodology: A retrospective chart review of 87 children, aged 2 months to 15 years, was performed for surgery between August 1995 and March 1999.

Results: There were no deaths in the patients studied.

IgG from myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive patients stimulates greater activation of primed neutrophils than IgG from proteinase 3-antineutrophil cytosplasmic antibody-positive patients.

Objective: Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) have been reported to be pathologically and clinically different. The aim of this study was to assess whether these differences could be explained by differing abilities of proteinase 3-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (PR3-ANCA)-positive IgG preparations or myeloperoxidase-ANCA (MPO-ANCA)-positive IgG preparations to activate neutrophils (polymorphonuclear cells [PMN]) in vitro.

Methods: Using Percoll density gradients, PMN were isolated (concentration 2 x 10(6)/ml) and primed with cytochalasin B (1 ng/ml) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha; 2 ng/ml).

Effects of electrobrightening on the fit surface of cobalt-chromium RPD frameworks.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare 3 different electrobrightening techniques and 3 electrolytic solutions in their effects upon the fit surface of cast cobalt-chromium frameworks.

Materials And Methods: Fifty cast cobalt-chromium frameworks, which were subsequently divided into batches of 10, were prepared according to a standard protocol. Three electrobrightening techniques were tested initially using a single brand of electrolyte (Croform) and a batch of 10 frameworks per technique.

The influence of handling technique on the strength of phosphate-bonded investments.

Objectives: This study examined the influence of six handling techniques on the strength of four phosphate-bonded investment (PBI) materials. The size and distribution of pores produced by the handling techniques were investigated and their effect on room temperature strength determined.

Methods: Specimens were tested for strength using four point bend at a cross-head speed of 1 mm min-1.

The middle aortic syndrome: an important feature of Williams' syndrome.

The middle aortic syndrome, with diffuse narrowing of the thoracic and abdominal aorta, was present in 10 of 18 patients with Williams' syndrome (55%). There were 3 thoracic coarctations, and 2 abdominal coarctations, with gradients greater than 20 mmHg across the zone of narrowing. Seven patients had mild renal arterial stenosis, and 6 had visceral arterial stenoses.

Superdeformation in the N = Z nucleus 36Ar: experimental, deformed mean field, and spherical shell model descriptions.

A superdeformed rotational band has been identified in 36Ar, linked to known low-spin states, and observed to its high-spin termination at Ipi = 16(+). Cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky and spherical shell model calculations assign the band to a configuration in which four pf-shell orbitals are occupied, leading to a low-spin deformation beta(2) approximately 0.45.

The emotional effects of tooth loss: a preliminary quantitative study.

Aim: To establish how widespread the emotional effects of tooth loss are.

Method: A questionnaire, distributed to 100 edentulous people undergoing routine prosthetic care in the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry at Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Dental Institute (GKT), was used to explore the emotional effects of tooth loss.

Results: Ninety four people completed the questionnaire of whom 42 stated that they had experienced difficulties in accepting the loss of their teeth.

Treatment of rolling neutrophils with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies causes conversion to firm integrin-mediated adhesion.

Objective: The vascular lesions associated with autoimmune small-vessel vasculitis may arise from activation of circulating neutrophils by antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), resulting in increased adhesion of these neutrophils to the vessel wall. The present study examined the effects of ANCA-positive IgG (ANCA IgG), derived from patients with small-vessel vasculitis, on neutrophil adhesion.

Methods: An in vitro, flow-based adhesion assay was used to determine the effects of ANCA IgG on neutrophils rolling on P-selectin presented by a monolayer of activated platelets.

Denture plaque and adherence of Candida albicans to denture-base materials in vivo and in vitro.

The aim of this paper is to review our understanding of the mechanisms and clinical significance of adhesion of C. albicans to denture-base materials in relation to denture plaque and denture-related stomatitis. Earlier reports in the literature of a 65% prevalence level of denture-related stomatitis seem to be exaggerated.

Flexural properties and surface finishing of acetal resin denture clasps.

Purpose: This study examined flexural properties of acetal resin to determine the appropriate design for an acetal resin removable partial denture clasp. The effectiveness of various acetal resin polishing procedures was also evaluated using scanning electron microscopy.

Materials And Methods: Loads of up to 1,500 g were applied to cylindrical acetal resin specimen lengths of 5, 10, and 15 mm, and the degree of deflection of the specimen tip was measured.

The criteria used by editors of scientific dental journals in the assessment of manuscripts submitted for publication.

Objective: To examine the factors that influence editors of scientific dental journals in deciding whether or not to publish submitted manuscripts and to determine if there is a consistent pattern for their decisions.

Design: The study was by a postal questionnaire.

Setting: The questionnaires were sent to editors of 50 major English language scientific dental journals in September 1996.

Preliminary study of the impact of loss of part of the face and its prosthetic restoration.

Statement Of Problem: Loss of a part of the face or having a congenitally missing ear, nose, or eye is likely to have both a social and a psychologic impact on those affected. The nature and extent of this impact has not been explored previously. The provision of facial prostheses is an increasingly viable and beneficial treatment option, but the psychologic and social adjustment to the prosthesis has not been described.

The activation of the neutrophil respiratory burst by anti-neutrophil cytoplasm autoantibody (ANCA) from patients with systemic vasculitis requires tyrosine kinases and protein kinase C activation.

The ability of antineutrophil cytoplasm autoantibodies (ANCA) from patients with systemic vasculitis to stimulate protein kinase C (PKC) and tyrosine kinases was examined in human neutrophils. Using the superoxide dismutase-inhibitable reduction of ferricytochrome C, the kinetics of ANCA-induced superoxide (O2-) production were characterized and subsequently manipulated by specific inhibitors of PKC and tyrosine kinases. With this approach, ANCA IgG, but not normal IgG or ANCA F(ab')2 fragments caused a time and dose dependent release of O2- from TNF-alpha primed neutrophils.

Pathology of large-caliber stereotactic biopsies in nonpalpable breast lesions.

We report the surgical pathology experience with large caliber stereotactic biopsies for non-palpable breast lesions in 217 patients. The aim is to compare the demographics to another somewhat similar center (#2), and to published results with the much smaller stereotactic needle biopsies, including our own historical controls. The large caliber tissue specimens yielded proportionally fewer nonspecific diagnoses, with remaining areas of difficulty.

Sequence-ready contig for the 1.4-cM ductal carcinoma in situ loss of heterozygosity region on chromosome 8p22-p23.

We report the construction of an approximately 1.7-Mb sequence-ready YAC/BAC clone contig of 8p22-p23. This chromosomal region has been associated with frequent loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in breast, ovarian, prostate, head and neck, and liver cancer.

Are graduates as good as they used to be?

A theme runs through discussions on dental undergraduate education, that 'they are not as good as they used to be'. Based largely on anecdotal evidence, we question whether this is true. Dentistry is changing.