A survey of the attitudes of chronic psychiatric patients living in the community toward their medication.

Because non-compliance with antipsychotic drug therapy is both common and associated with a substantially increased risk of acute relapse, depot medication must be preferred for most schizophrenic out-patients. Yet there is a perception that depot medication is unpopular among patients. In the survey of out-patients reported here, the great majority of patients receiving either oral or depot neuroleptics (with or without oral augmentation) would, given a free choice, elect to continue with their present dose form (94% and 87%, respectively).

Variable requirement for splicing signals for nucleocytoplasmic export of mRNAs.

Using in situ hybridisation to detect the intracellular localisation of mRNAs we have found that mRNAs expressed from intronless cDNAs of normally intronic genes are expressed well but largely retained in nuclei. The degree of nuclear retention is quite variable but in all cases addition of splicing signals to the expression cassette are required for efficient export of the mRNAs from nucleus to cytoplasm. In contrast mRNAs expressed from the intronless genes of hamster beta-adrenergic receptor and human serotonin receptor type 1A showed very little nuclear accumulation and strong expression in the cytoplasm independently of splicing signals.

Mucosal immunization with DNA-liposome complexes.

The mucosal surfaces represent the primary site for transmission of several viruses including HIV. To prevent mucosal transmission and dissemination to the regional lymph nodes, an effective HIV vaccine may need to stimulate immune responses at the genital and rectal mucosa. Optimal induction of mucosal immunity in general requires targeting antigens to the specialized antigen presenting cells of mucosal associated lymphoid tissues.

Electronic diagnosis of occlusal caries in vitro: adaptation of the technique for epidemiological purposes.

Most studies on electronic diagnosis of occlusal caries have involved taking site-specific conductance measurements. Airflow around the electronic caries monitor probe removes superficial moisture and the conductance measurement reflects the caries status of that part of the fissure beneath the probe tip. This is an appropriate technique for a clinician to use to monitor caries status, and it could be adapted for use in epidemiological studies and clinical trials.

Effects of inhibition of the L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway on vasodilation caused by beta-adrenergic agonists in human forearm.

Background: We examined whether vasodilator responses to beta-agonists in human forearm vasculature are mediated in part through the nitric oxide pathway.

Methods And Results: We measured forearm blood flow responses to brachial artery infusions of beta-adrenergic agonists in healthy men. Salbutamol was more than 100 times as potent as dobutamine.

In vivo changes in roughness of resin-modified glass ionomer materials.

Objectives: The clinical changes in roughness of resin-modified glass ionomer materials is relatively unknown. This study examined the in vivo wear of these materials using surface roughness as an indicator of wear patterns.

Methods: Ten patients with four cervical abrasion lesions each were selected.

The biological effects of ozone depletion.

Thinning of the ozone layer is predicted to result in increased levels of ultraviolet (UV) B radiation at the earth's surface. This effect has been confirmed by measurements made in relatively unpolluted areas such as Antarctica, the southern part of South America and at mid-to-high latitudes in the northern hemisphere. It has been harder to show in populated northern latitudes because of a number of confounding factors, notably weather systems and low level ozone pollution.

Is erythematous candidiasis associated with advanced HIV disease?

Objectives: A multicentre collaborative study by the London HIV and Dentistry Group failed to associate the presence of erythematous candidiasis (EC) with advanced HIV disease. Data from a study of the periodontal health of homosexual men attending a genito-urinary medicine clinic presented an opportunity to investigate social and medical factors related to the presence of EC and mucosal disease.

Subjects And Methods: 312 men with HIV were examined by a single examiner blinded to HIV status; 22.

Joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis: biological bases.

The pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be explained through two main hypotheses: macrophage-fibroblast and macrophage-T cell interactions. The interplay between the various populations is influenced by a strong genetic component, which determines the severity of the disease in some cohorts of patients attending referral centers. The key question of the nature of the antigen(s) driving joint inflammation still remains unsolved.

Ageing and wounds. Part 2: Healing in old age.

The second part of this review outlines the physiology of wound healing in old age and how it differs from normal adult healing.

T-cell-dependent pathways in rheumatoid arthritis.

Two theories, not necessarily mutually exclusive, attempt to explain the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. The mesenchymal hypothesis proposes that, after an initial event triggered by T cells, synovitis is maintained by autocrine and paracrine pathways involving macrophages and synovial fibroblasts. The T-cell hypothesis proposes that T cells are continuously involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis from its initiation phase through to the chronic stage.

Adrenal function and high dose inhaled corticosteroids for asthma.

Objective: To investigate effects on adrenal function of fluticasone, a recently released inhaled steroid preparation with lower systemic bioavailability than beclomethasone dipropionate.

Methods: 34 children on high doses (400-909 micrograms/m2/d) of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate or budesonide were recruited into a double blind, crossover study investigating the effects on adrenal function of beclomethasone and fluticasone propionate, given using a standard spacer (Volumatic). The 24 hour excretion rates of total cortisol and cortisol metabolites were determined at baseline (after a two week run in), after six weeks treatment with an equal dose of beclomethasone, and after six weeks of treatment with half the dose of fluticasone, both given through a spacer device.

The cone synapses of cone bipolar cells of primate retina.

One each of bipolar cell types DB2 and DB4, together with a flat and an invaginating midget bipolar cell, were taken from a Golgi-stained rhesus macaque retina; then serially sectioned for EM examination of their synapses with cone pedicles. The cone input to the dendrites of the DB2 cell was exclusively at basal junctions; it had a characteristic distribution. Fifty per cent of the basal synapses were with cone pedicle membrane immediately adjacent to the dendrite of a bipolar cell invaginating to end opposite the ribbon of a cone triad (this, therefore, is called triad-associated).

Studies on inherited cancers: outcomes and challenges of 25 years.

Research on the dominantly inherited cancer-susceptibility syndromes over the past 25 years has defined the genetic basis of most of these diseases, usually through linkage analysis on families carrying the disease, and identification and analysis of the genes responsible. At present, almost all of these genes have been cloned and, in most cases, the findings have lent full support to Knudson's original hypothesis: germline carriers of mutations in cancer susceptibility genes are predisposed to developing cancer, the resultant tumours contain aberrations in the remaining copy of that gene, and these genes often play a pivotal role in the genesis of the equivalent sporadic cancers, whereby two somatic events result in the disruption of both copies of the gene. This perspective highlight some of the issues that have been raised by these studies, and points to a few of the areas of future research that might help to resolve them.

Ageing and wounds. Part 1: Foetal and postnatal healing.

The first in a two-part series of reviews outlines the physiology of wound healing in the normal adult and discusses how it differs from that of the foetus.

European contribution to the science, prevention and management of HIV infection.

The objectives of the European Commission Biomed AIDS Programme are to enable Europe to pool its intellectual and financial resources in the control, treatment and prevention of HIV infection and AIDS. In order to facilitate this aim the Commission has allocated 40 to 50 million ECU over the past 6 years for concerted action of the Biomed projects on AIDS by the countries of the European Union. This is only a small proportion of the real cost spent by the member countries on this epidemic.

Alcohol ingestion and glycaemic control in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

It is widely accepted that alcohol consumption by patients with insulin-dependent (Type 1) diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of hypoglycaemia. This association has been the subject of few studies, however, and there is not much evidence to support advice currently given to patients. Available information suggests that moderate alcohol consumption by healthy, fed subjects does not cause acute hyper- or hypoglycaemia although there may be a delayed risk of hypoglycaemia the morning after evening alcohol intake.

Dental erosion in a wine merchant: an occupational hazard?

This paper reports a case of dental erosion apparently caused by wine tasting. Dental erosion can cause extensive damage to the dentition, thereby creating a variety of complex restorative problems. Within the literature dental erosion has been attributed to many factors, but to date there are no documented cases specifically linking it with wine tasting.

Cytokeratin phenotypes at the dento-gingival junction in relative health and inflammation, in smokers and nonsmokers.

Objectives: The cells of the junctional epithelium (JE) provide and maintain the epithelial attachment, and remain morphologically and phenotypically distinct from oral sulcular (OSE) and external oral epithelia (EOE), from which they may be regenerated de novo. Expression of cytokeratins (CK) in human epithelia has been shown to be highly site-specific, implying a functional role. The aims of this study were to differentiate between the cytokeratin profiles of JE, OSE, EOE and pocket epithelia (PE) in health and disease, in smokers and non-smokers.