Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based combination antiretroviral therapy is associated with lower cell-associated HIV RNA and DNA levels compared to protease inhibitor-based therapy.

Background: It remains unclear whether combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens differ in their ability to fully suppress human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication. Here, we report the results of two cross-sectional studies that compared levels of cell-associated (CA) HIV markers between individuals receiving suppressive ART containing either a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) or a protease inhibitor (PI).

Methods: CA HIV unspliced RNA and total HIV DNA were quantified in two cohorts (n = 100, n = 124) of individuals treated with triple ART regimens consisting of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) plus either an NNRTI or a PI.

The 'COmorBidity in Relation to AIDS' (COBRA) cohort: Design, methods and participant characteristics.

Background: Persons living with HIV on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) may be at increased risk of the development of age-associated non-communicable comorbidities (AANCC) at relatively young age. It has therefore been hypothesised that such individuals, despite effective cART, may be prone to accelerated aging.

Objective: The COmorBidity in Relation to AIDS (COBRA) cohort study was designed to investigate the potential causal link between HIV and AANCC, amongst others, in a cohort of middle-aged individuals with HIV with sustained viral suppression on cART and otherwise comparable HIV-negative controls.

Control of prehension in hemiparetic cerebral palsy: similarities and differences between the ipsi- and contra-lesional sides of the body.

This study aimed at broadening our insight into ipsi- and contra-lesional control of prehension after unilateral brain damage. Six male adults with hemiparetic cerebral palsy (mean age 17 years 3 months, SD 15 months) performed unrestricted grasping of discs that differed in size (40, 60, and 80mm in diameter) and which were placed at different distances from the participants (150mm and 30mm). A precalibrated Optotrak 3020 system was used for recording motion.

Computer-assisted assessment of depression and function in older primary care patients.

We wanted to test the psychometric reliability and validity of self-reported information on psychological and functional status gathered by computer in a sample of primary care outpatients. Persons aged 65 years and older visiting a primary care medical practice in Baltimore (n=240) were approached. Complete baseline data were obtained for 54 patients and 34 patients completed 1-week retest follow-up.

[The personal experience of aging. Multidimensionality and multidirectionality in relation to successful aging and well-being].

The positive and negative aspects that aging persons distinguish in different dimensions of the experience of their own aging process were studied. To examine the role of the aging experience in individual functioning, its relation with indicators of successful aging and well-being was focused on. The Dutch Aging Survey, using a representative sample of the present and future generations of elderly (40-85 years; N = 975), provided data on the experience of aging (positive and negative aspects, own aging as physical and social decline as well as continued growth), successful aging (health problems, loneliness and hope), and well-being (life satisfaction and positive and negative affect).

[Dentist's opinion about their dental education in Nijmegen, the Netherlands from 1990-1997].

A questionnaire was sent to 328 dentists graduated from the University of Nijmegen in the period 1990-1998, to ask their opinion concerning the way they were prepared by dental education for their professional career. Comparison with similar data from Amsterdam Academic Centre for Dentistry has been carried out. The results show unanimity among graduates that they have been adequately prepared for the requirements in general dental practice as far as knowledge is concerned related to cariology, periodontology, crown and bridgework and dental radiology.

[Information provision for the biomedical sciences in the Netherlands faces an uncertain future].

The availability of biomedical information in the Netherlands is largely guaranteed by the libraries of the eight medical faculties and related university hospitals together with the Netherlands Institute for Scientific Information Services (Dutch acronym: NIWI). The acquisition of biomedical journals has always been coordinated at a national level. Up until now the NIWI has played a central role in filling in the gaps left by the other collections.

[Human tooth tissue as dental restorative material].

With the recent development of copy-milling systems for porcelain, it has now become possible to construct fitting restorations from natural human tooth substance. This preliminary study aimed to find out whether it is possible to produce a well fitting Class II inlay from an extracted tooth using a copy-milling machine, so that the inlay produced will have enamel over its whole outer surface and dentine on its inner surface. Two pairs of matching sound extracted permanent molars were used.

[Survival of single surface ART-restorations in Zimbabwe after 3 years].

A 3 year longitudinal study to assess the survival of single-surface ART restorations, was carried out among first year secondary school students in and around Harare, Zimbabwe, during the period 1993-1996 and 1994-1997. The treatments were provided by dentists and dental therapists. The evaluation was carried out by independent evaluators, one of which was an expert from the USA.

[Dental caries prevalence in youth from the Hague. Have the differences in dental health between social groups closed?].

In 1998 a dental survey amongst 6- and 12-year-old schoolchildren in the Hague was carried out. The 1998-survey showed differences in caries experience between SES groups that had increased in the period 1989-1998. The decline in caries experience among 6-year-old children of low SES groups had come to an end after 1983, whereas among 12-year-old children the decrease in mean DMFS values had stopped in the early nineties.

[Topics in clinical dentistry. Trends in the Dutch dental literature].

Aim of the study was to evaluate a method for selecting topics suitable for developing dental clinical practice guidelines in the Netherlands, based on an analysis of Dutch dental journals. A search for dental clinical topics was conducted by analysing Dutch dental journals, magazines and series over the period 1992-1997. The numbers of publications per topic were plotted against the publication years.

[Formaldehyde in dental materials].

The use of formaldehyde in dentistry has been discussed for years. This because of the possible systemic effects of its use. This paper addresses the possible systemic effects of the use of formaldehyde and the question in which dental products formaldehyde is a component.

[Five year survival of posterior adhesive bridges. Influence of bonding systems and tooth preparation].

The present study reports the final analysis of a randomized controlled clinical trial in which different designs of posterior resin-bonded bridges were evaluated for a period of at least 5 years. The operational hypothesis was that the bonding system and the preparation design used in posterior resin-bonded bridges have an influence on the survival and clinical functioning of these restorations. Survival in this study was defined at two levels: (1) 'primary' survival (survival without any debonding), and (2) 'functional' survival (survival including loss of retention on one occasion and successful rebonding of the original resin-bonded bridge without further debonding).

[Single tooth replacement with a removable partial denture].

The indication of removable partial dentures in cases of single tooth replacement is limited. This is due to a number of disadvantages closely connected to the use of removable partial denture. An often applied use is that of a mucosa-borne transitional acrylic denture to improve patients aesthetics until the definitive denture can be made.

[The single missing tooth. Treatment possibilities from an orthodontic view point].

In patients with single missing teeth, a standard treatment plan does not exist. The treatment plan depends on the age and the facial profile, the malocclusion, the interdigitation, the available space, the amount of bone, the shape, color, and the level of the gingiva of the neighbouring teeth. Closing or opening the diastema should be considered.

[Etiology of missing teeth].

This article gives a brief overview of the causes of tooth loss. Caries is still the most prominent reason for tooth loss. In patients over 40 years, periodontal reasons become more prevalent.

[Ergonomics in dental practice. Prevention of physical and mental overload].

In this article two important issues in dental ergonomics are discussed: physical and mental stress. It is important for a dentist to stay aware of the balance between on one hand short term profit against various forms of stress, and on the other hand long term negative effects. Possible problems are described without going in more deeply into theoretical backgrounds.

[Oral health and gender].

Recently performed epidemiological studies in the Netherlands did not show statistical significant differences between boys and girls or men and women with regard to the prevalence of caries, periodontal diseases and toothlessness. In adults it was found that the mean number of untreated caries lesions was smaller in women than in men, possibly as a result of the lower percentage of women not attending a dentist regularly. Furthermore, the prevalence of plaque and calculus was lower among women, probably as a result of better oral hygiene habits.

[The ambiguity of the difference].

The article concentrates on the process of diagnosing disease, especially of common health problems. The biomedical concept dominates medicine in our days. However, the majority of the complaints presented to the general practician cannot be classified as distinct disease entities.

[Aging, a frightening image of dental health?].

The combination of decreasing oral self-care and increasing risks of oral health make elderly people an oral health risk-group. In many elderly people above the age of approximately 75 the decline in functions culminates in infirmity. Frail and infirm elderly people require geriatric care, but often oral health care is not an integral part of geriatric care.

[Assessment of caries activity and caries risk].

This paper reviews the present knowledge regarding methods of caries prediction. The clinician's ability to predict caries by examination and on the basis of knowledge of patient's attitude and background functions relatively well. Bacterial and salivary tests do not contribute significantly to this.

[Overdenture prostheses on implants versus complete dentures].

Objective: To establish the treatment outcome of implant retained overdentures (IRD) versus complete dentures (CD) in which the outcome assessment focuses on the patient's subjective evaluation ('denture-satisfaction and chewing ability').

Design: A multicenter randomized clinical trial (prospective).

Setting: The department of Oral Function and Prosthetic Dentistry of the University of Nijmegen, the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the University Hospital Nijmegen and the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics of the University Hospital Groningen.

[Re-restoration decisions].

Objective: In this study an attempt was made to explain some of the interobserver variation in re-restoration decision making using.

Method: A simplified re-restoration case was shown to 22 dentists who were asked what treatment decision they would make, and what factors would play a role in their decision. The treatment decisions were compared to the outcomes of a knowledge-system on re-restoration decision making.