Polymerase chain reaction-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis in the evaluation of oral microbiota.

Background/aims: Clinical evaluation of oral microbial reduction after a standard prophylactic treatment has traditionally been based on bacterial cultivation methods. However, not all microbes in saliva or dental plaque can be cultivated. Polymerase chain reaction-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) is a cultivation-independent molecular fingerprinting technique that allows the assessment of the predominant bacterial species present in the oral cavity.

Analysis of the antibacterial activity and plaque control benefit of colgate total dentifrice via clinical evaluation and real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Objective: This study analyzed, from a combined clinical and molecular biologic perspective, the antibacterial and antiplaque efficacy of Colgate Total dentifrice (CTD).

Methodology: A single-blind crossover study design utilized 11 healthy human subjects. After a one-week washout period, subjects donated dental plaque, received a dental prophylaxis, and subsequently brushed with a test product.

Lack of significant circadian and post-prandial variation in phosphate levels in subjects receiving chronic hemodialysis therapy.

Background: The present study was designed to determine the reliability of the current practice of random pre-dialysis phosphate testing in subjects receiving hemodialysis therapy, since phosphate levels exhibit a significant variation in a 24-hour period under usual physiologic conditions.

Methods: Subjects receiving chronic hemodialysis (HD) were invited to participate during an incidental hospitalization. In Study A subjects (n=31) had serum phosphate tested three times on a single non-dialysis day, between 6 to 7 am (A1), between 11 am to 12:30 pm (A2), and 3:45 pm to 4:45 pm (A3).

Predictors of death in patients on peritoneal dialysis: the Missouri Peritoneal Dialysis Study.

Background: The study was designed to identify predictors of death in subjects on peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Methods: The population consisted of patients initiated on PD at the University of Missouri-Columbia and Dialysis Clinic Incorporated from January 1, 1990, through December 31, 1999. Baseline variables included demographics, clinical data, initial measures of nutritional status, adequacy, and transport characteristics.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation, mixed chimerism, and tolerance in living related donor renal allograft recipients.

Objective: We designed a prospective, randomized, and controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of achieving a mixed chimerism-associated tolerance protocol for recipients of living related donor (LRD) renal allografts.

Patients And Methods: Sixty-six consecutive patients were divided into two equal groups of 33 patients with end-stage renal disease. They were enrolled for transplantation after negative lymphocytotoxicity cross-matching (LCM).

Value of pre-hospital discharge defibrillation testing in recipients of implanted cardioverter defibrillators.

Opinions vary regarding the need to perform defibrillation testing prior to hospital discharge in recipients of state-of-the-art cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Our protocol is to perform predischarge ICD testing 1 day after implant. This report includes 682 consecutive implants.

Effectiveness of a triclosan/copolymer dentifrice on microbiological and inflammatory parameters.

According to the US Surgeon General's report, "Oral Health in America," published in 2000, most adults in the United States show some degree of periodontal pathology, with severe periodontal diseases affecting about 14% of middle-aged adults. Periodontal diseases are polymicrobial-induced inflammatory diseases, and they vary from mild gingival inflammation to severe deterioration of the periodontium, ie, loss of periodontal supportive tissues and, ultimately, tooth loss. New evidence shows that periodontal diseases may impact systemic health.

A strategy to achieve donor-specific hyporesponsiveness in cadaver renal allograft recipients by donor haematopoietic stem cell transplantation into the thymus and periphery.

Introduction: We designed a prospective, randomized clinical trial to evaluate the immune response to thymic and peripheral infusions of donor haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to create tolerance in recipients of cadaver renal allografts.

Method: We divided 24 patients into two equal groups. For group A, 350 ml of unfractionated bone marrow (BM) was aspirated from the anterior iliac crests of donor cadavers.

Subnormal rise of erythropoietin in patients receiving interferon and ribavirin combination therapy for hepatitis C.

Objectives: Anemia is a common complication during interferon-ribavirin therapy for hepatitis C. While normally a fall in hematocrit in results in an exponential compensatory rise in erythropoietin, such that the correlation between hematocrit and erythropoietin is sharply negative, the erythropoietin response during interferon-ribavirin combination therapy is not known.

Methods: We measured the hematocrit and erythropoietin levels before and after about 4 weeks of interferon-ribavirin therapy for hepatitis C (n = 43), and compared their relation to the normal human response to anemia.

Discrepancy in the epidemiology of nondiabetic chronic renal insufficiency and end-stage renal disease in black and white Americans: the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and United States Renal Data System.

Background: Epidemiologic data regarding the prevalence of chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) [from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III)] and the incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) [from the United States Renal Data System (USRDS)] are available. However, reconciliation of these separate particulars has not been performed objectively. The present work examines the epidemiology of CRI of nondiabetic etiology and ESRD in black and white Americans aged 20 years or greater.

A prospective, randomized, open labeled crossover trial of fosinopril and theophylline in post renal transplant erythrocytosis.

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and theophylline have been reported to decrease the elevated hemoglobin (Hgb) and hematocrit (Hct) levels in the renal transplant recipients with erythrocytosis. We conducted a prospective randomized, open labeled, crossover trial with theophylline, and an ACEI, fosinopril in nine stable renal transplant recipients with erythrocytosis. Aim of the study was to determine and compare the efficacy of these medications in stable renal transplant patients.

Monitoring solid phase synthesis reactions with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).

This work describes the use of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) as a means to monitor solid phase synthesis on resin beads. EIS was used to track changes during the swelling of beads in various solvents, during three typical reactions and throughout cleavage of the final product from the bead. The impedance response was investigated in a chemical reactor and was found to be faintly sensitive to the resin swelling and solvent flow.

Erythropoietin therapy in pre-dialysis patients with chronic renal failure: lack of need for parenteral iron.

Background: During erythropoietin therapy, scant information exists regarding the optimal target percent saturation of transferrin (TSAT), ferritin and the mode and amount of iron supplementation in pre-dialysis patients with anemia due to chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Hypothesis: Pre-dialysis CKD patients may have different needs for iron supplementation than end-stage renal disease subjects during erythropoietin therapy.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of pre-dialysis CKD subjects (n = 31) treated with erythropoietin at our institution.

A randomized prospective trial to assess the role of saline hydration on the development of contrast nephrotoxicity.

Though simple and attractive, the role of hydration for the prophylaxis of contrast nephrotoxicity has not been definitively established. We prospectively evaluated the role of deliberate saline hydration in patients undergoing nonemergency cardiac catheterization. Patients (n = 53) were randomized on the day prior to scheduled catheterization to one of two groups - group 1 (n = 27) received normal saline for 24 h (at a rate of 1 ml/kg/h) beginning 12 h prior to scheduled catheterization, and group 2 (n = 26) were allowed unrestricted oral fluids.

Slowing the progression of chronic renal failure: economic benefits and patients' perspectives.

Because of the predicted increase in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) incidence (projected increase from 1998 to 2010; 86,825 to 172,667), prevalence (projected increase from 1998 to 2010; 326,217 to 661,330), and cost (total cost based on 1998 ratio of Medicare versus non-Medicare cost; $16.74 billion in 1998 to $39.35 billion in 2010), a cohesive national effort is needed to develop strategies to slow the progression of chronic renal failure (CRF).

High-dose peripheral blood stem cell infusion: a strategy to induce donor-specific hyporesponsiveness to allografts in pediatric renal transplant recipients.

We designed and implemented a clinical trial to achieve zero-rejection status in pediatric renal allograft recipients, using granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-stimulated peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) infusion. We studied 44 consecutive patients: 24 volunteers in a treated group (Tn) and 20 in a control group (Cn). Both groups were comparable with respect to clinical and laboratory parameters.

Oxidative stress status: possible guideline for clinical management of critically ill patients.

Background: Critical care medicine has developed in the last few years into a separate scientific discipline and studies related to the outcome after intensive care usually suggest a long hospital stay that becomes cost prohibitive. The majority of problems (death) amongst critically ill patients requiring critical care involve sepsis, inflammation, tissue damage-oxidative stress, oxygen tension PO2, lipid peroxidation. The present investigation involves monitoring of serum levels of MDA, SOD as a possible guideline for severity of clinical situations in critically ill patients.

CXCR4 mediates entry and productive infection of syncytia-inducing (X4) HIV-1 strains in primary macrophages.

CCR5 and CXCR4 are the main coreceptors for non-syncytia-inducing (NSI) and syncytia-inducing (SI) HIV-1 strains, respectively. NSI HIV-1 isolates do not infect either human lymphoid or monocytoid cell lines, and this inability correlates with the absence of CCR5 expression in these cell types. The ability of SI HIV-1 isolates to infect human primary macrophages has been disputed.

Iodinated contrast media induced oxidative stress status in patients undergoing urography.

Background: The present investigation is an extension of our earlier work on oxidative stress in a number of clinical situations and awareness of potential toxicity of contrast media. It was of interest to understand the relative safety (in terms of balance between oxidants/antioxidants) of the usage of iodinated contrast media in urography.

Methods: Alterations in serum levels of oxidant lipid peroxidation and product malondialdehyde (MDA) and components of anti-oxidant have been studied in 125 patients (with renal calculus disease) to undergo intravenous urographic procedure before and 3 hours following intravenous administration of Trivideo-400 (Iothalmate Sodium 40 ml: 18 gm Iodine) and results of serum levels of MDA (nmol/ml), SOD (mu/ml), Vit-C and Vit-E (mg/dl) were also compared with 135 appropriately age matched controls.