Advances in periodontal diagnosis. 6. Proteolytic and hydrolytic enzymes of inflammatory cell origin.

Potential proteolytic and hydrolytic enzymes of inflammatory cell origin might serve as biomarkers of periodontal disease activity. The role of these enzymes in periodontal pathology, particularly in respect of collagen and proteoglycan degradation, is discussed. The cellular location of these enzymes and their normal control mechanisms by endogenous inhibitors is described.

Advances in periodontal diagnosis. 5. Potential inflammatory and immune markers.

The potential inflammatory and immune markers that might detect periodontal disease severity or activity are examined. The role of inflammatory and immune factors passing from the tissues into the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) are considered. GCF sampling is a necessary part of all diagnostic tests based on gingival and periodontal tissue factors.

Which terminally ill cancer patients receive hospice in-patient care?

The objective of this study was to investigate which terminally ill cancer patients receive in-patient care in hospices and other specialist palliative care in-patient units. An interview survey was made of family or others who knew about the last year of life of a random sample of people who died in 1990. Twenty district health authorities from a range of inner city, outer urban and rural settings took part.

The dexamethasone suppression test in schizophrenia.

Background: Cortisol non-suppression following the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) has been found to a variable extent in schizophrenia. The aetiology is unclear but may be related to depression or negative symptoms.

Methods: The DST was administered to 64 patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia.

Abnormal 5-HT1D receptor function in major depression: a neuropharmacological challenge study using sumatriptan.

Background: Sumatriptan, a specific agonist at 5-HT1D receptors, stimulates release of growth hormone (GH) and inhibits release of prolactin (PRL).

Methods: We gave sumatriptan (6 mg subcutaneously) to 11 patients with unipolar major depression and 11 control subjects matched for age, sex, weight and menstrual cycle phase. Serum GH and PRL were measured at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 90 min after injection.

Ovalbumin-specific, MHC class I-restricted, alpha beta-positive, Tc1 and Tc0 CD8+ T cell clones mediate the in vivo inhibition of rat IgE.

In the following study, we demonstrate that medium responder PVG rats immunized i.p. with OVA complexed to the adjuvant aluminum hydroxide exhibit a moderate IgE response (400-1000 ng/ml).

Advances in periodontal diagnosis. 4. Potential microbiological markers.

The potential of bacterial markers for the detection of periodontal disease activity is discussed. Chronic periodontitis has been associated with subgingival bacteria. Techniques are available to detect and distinguish different bacteria.

Parental perceptions and attitudes on orthodontic care.

The objective of this paper is to determine whether an association existed between parents' attitudes to orthodontic issues affecting themselves and their attitudes to possible orthodontic treatment for their child. It consisted of an analytical survey using a self-administered questionnaire, taken in South East England of six-hundred parents of children aged 9 years. The questionnaires were delivered to the parent with the help of their child's school.

The isolation of Actinomyces naeslundii from sound root surfaces and root carious lesions.

The isolation of Actinomyces naeslundii from sound, exposed root surfaces (n = 56) and soft and leathery root carious lesions (n = 71) was investigated. Root carious lesions were sampled after the removal of overlying plaque. Supragingival plaque or carious dentine was sampled using a sterile excavator, the samples were disaggregated and cultured on both selective and non-selective media.

Cytokine overproduction in healthy first degree relatives of patients with IDDM.

Healthy family members of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) are known to share a number of immunological abnormalities with their affected relatives. Since monocyte and type 1 T-cell-derived cytokines contribute to the pathogenesis of IDDM, we studied the production of these cytokines in the healthy first degree relatives of 29 children with IDDM. We report that circulating tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and soluble interleukin-2 (sIL-2) receptor were present in increased amounts in non-diabetic family members at levels similar to those found in the diabetic children (duration of disease 3 months-5 years).

Comparison of transvaginal color Doppler imaging and color Doppler energy for assessment of intraovarian blood flow.

Objective: To investigate any systematic differences in the analysis of blood flow velocity waveforms derived by color Doppler imaging and color Doppler energy examination of corpora lutea and adnexal tumors, to test whether the accuracy for diagnosing ovarian malignancy differs between end points derived by color Doppler imaging and color Doppler energy, and to compare the reproducibility of flow velocity waveform analysis obtained by both methods.

Methods: Fifty-six asymptomatic women with presumed corpora lutea and 67 women with known adnexal masses were included in the study. They all were examined using transvaginal sonography with color Doppler imaging and color Doppler energy.

Effects of glycemic control on protective responses against hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes.

Objective: To determine the effects of glycemic control on the counterregulatory responses to hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: Seven poorly controlled type 2 diabetes patients (mean HbA1c, 11.3 +/- 1.

Use and outcome of liver transplantation in acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure.

Once defined clinical criteria are fulfilled in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity, prognosis without orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) may be very poor. In the present study, we examined the application and outcome of OLT in 548 patients admitted to a single center between 1990 and 1996. Four hundred twenty-four (77%) of the patients studied did not fulfill transplantation criteria, and 396 of these (93%) survived.

Defining the outcome of immunosuppression withdrawal after liver transplantation.

Successful immunosuppression withdrawal should benefit the natural history of organ transplantation patients. To identify the clinical hazards of removing drug treatment and possible characteristics that predict a favorable outcome in long-term liver recipients, immunosuppression was withdrawn completely and the clinicopathological outcome documented in 18 liver recipients. Indication for transplantation, HLA matching, early rejection history, and presence of microchimerism were examined as predictors of outcome.

The relationship between intrahepatic portal systemic shunts and microsphere induced portal hypertension in the rat liver.

Background: Portal hypertension is associated with gross haemodynamic disturbances characterised by high cardiac output, low peripheral vascular resistance, increased splanchnic blood flow, and portal systemic shunting.

Aims: To study the relationship between intrahepatic portal systemic shunts and microsphere induced portal hypertension in the rat liver.

Methods: Different sized microspheres were sequentially injected into the portal vein of male Wistar rats.

Variable expression of CD3-zeta and associated protein tyrosine kinases in lymphocytes from patients with myeloid malignancies.

In myeloid malignancies, T-cell and NK function has been shown to deteriorate with transformation from pre-leukaemia to advanced disease. Immune dysfunction in solid tumours has been attributed to abnormal signal transduction, possibly through altered expression of intracellular components of the TCR/CD3 complex (e.g.

p53 aberrations in oral submucous fibrosis and oral squamous cell carcinoma detected by immunocytochemistry and PCR-SSCP.

An archival series of oral biopsies from Karachi, Pakistan, consisting of 21 cases of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) and 27 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), of which 6 had arisen from OSF, were used to examine the aberrations in the structure and expression of the p53 tumour suppressor gene. The PCR-SSCP method was used for mutation analysis of exons 2-9, and (over)expression of p53 protein was detected by immunocytochemistry using monoclonal antibody DO 7. Positive immunostaining was observed in 15/20 (75%) of OSF specimens, 3/6 (50%) of SCC arising from OSF and 14/21 (67%) of SCC not arising from OSF.

Advances in periodontal diagnosis. 3. Assessing potential biomarkers of periodontal disease activity.

The methods for assessing potential biomarkers of periodontal disease activity are considered. This is necessary because a detailed examination of all the relevant research evidence is an essential process in assessing the possible clinical usefulness of a periodontal diagnostic test system based on any one of these markers.

Carbohydrate deficient transferrin in alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver disease: a comparison of two assay methods.

Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) was assayed in 105 patients with non-alcohol-related liver diseases, 50 patients with alcohol-induced liver disease and 40 alcohol misusers with minimal hepatic dysfunction. The patients with liver disease were hospitalized for assessment of suitability for orthotopic liver transplantation. CDT was measured by two commercially available micro anion exchange methods; CDTect (Pharmacia) and %CDT (AXIS).

The effect duration of selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors in the guinea pig.

The beta-adrenoceptor agonists, isoprenaline, salbutamol and salmeterol, the non-selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoenzyme inhibitors, theophylline, trequinsin; the PDE3 isoenzyme inhibitor, milrinone; the PDE3/4 isoenzyme inhibitor, benzafentrine; and the PDE4 isoenzyme inhibitors, denbufylline, nitraquazone, RP 73401, Ro-20-1724, rolipram and tibenelast all induced concentration-dependent reversal of prostaglandin F2alpha-induced contraction of guinea-pig superfused trachea in vitro. The relaxant response of the non-selective PDE isoenzyme inhibitor trequinsin was slow in onset and demonstrated very slow recovery, similar to that observed with the long-acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonist, salmeterol and the PDE4 inhibitor, RP 73401. The relaxant agonists also significantly reversed bombesin-induced bronchospasm in anaesthetised guinea-pigs and there was a highly significant correlation between the ability of drugs to reverse PGF2alpha-induced contraction of guinea-pig isolated trachea in vitro and bombesin-induced bronchoconstriction in vivo.