Oral health of individuals aged 3-80 years in J?nk?ping, Sweden in 1973 and 1983. I. A review of findings on dental care habits and knowledge of oral health

The aim of the present study was to present data from dental care habits and knowledge of oral health in two cross-sectional studies carried out in 1973 and 1983. A random sample of approximately 1000 individuals evenly distributed in the age groups 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 years was studied for each of these two years. In the 1983-year examination 80 individuals 80 years of age were also included. All subjects were inhabitants of the community of J?nk?ping, Sweden. A questionnaire about dental care habits and knowledge was used in combination with a clinical and radiographical examination. The participants answered 23-101 questions. The same questions were raised in 1973 and 1983. For most age groups more then 80 per cent visited a dentist yearly in 1983. This yearly attendance was higher than that for 1973. In the 20-year-old group 14 per cent of the individuals received dental care in the PDS in 1973 compared to 63 per cent in 1983. The main reason to visit a dentist in 1973 was by the patient's own initiative while in 1983 the appointments were based on the dentist's initiative. The number of subjects that felt discomfort in connection with a visit to the dentist had decreased between 1973 and 1983. Knowledge about the etiology of caries had increased between 1973 and 1983 was not the case for gingivitis and periodontitis. An increase had occurred in toothbrushing frequency and the use of toothpicks and disclosing tablets but this between 1973 and 1983. In 1983, 98 to 93 per cent of the subjects in the age groups 10-30 years had been exposed to topical fluorides. The corresponding figure for 30-year-olds in 1973 was 1 per cent. It is obvious that during the period 1973 to 1983 there has been an increase in dental attendance, knowledge of dental diseases, oral health and the use of preventive measures.     

Non-invasive temperature imaging of muscles with magnetic resonance imaging using spin-echo sequences

The application of spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging sequences on non-invasive temperature imaging for temperature mapping of human limbs is investigated. In an in vitro expriment performed on a meat sample, the equilibrium magnetisation P and the spin-lattice relaxation time T₁ are calculated from the values for the repetition time TR and the signal intensities obtained by a spin-echo sequence at different tissue temperatures tures as measured by a fibre-optic probe. T₁ is linearly correlated to the tissue temperature, and P is linearly correlated to the reciprocal value of the absolute temperature. Both effects, taken together, lead to a non-linear dependency of the signal intensity on temperature. Therefore a TR leading to maximum temperature dependency of the signal intensity is calculated and used in the futher experiments. In the in vivo experiments, the lower legs of two volunteers are cooled from outside. Images are acquired with a spin-echo sequence (1.5T, TR=1200 ms, TE=10 ms). A rise in signal intensity in the muscle with falling skin temperature is observed, particularly in more peripheral muscle layers. This study shows that spin-echo sequences can be used to monitor temperature changes and temperature differences in living muscle tissue.     

Comparison of kinetic parameters for acetylthiocholine, soman, ketamine and fasciculin towards acetylcholinesterase in liposomes and in solution

Purified acetylcholinesterase from bovine brain was reconstituted by a detergent depletion technique into liposomes, prepared from soybean lecithin. The kinetics for the substrate acetylthiocholine and for three inhibitors with very different binding properties was studied. The results were compared with results from corresponding experiments with solubilized enzyme in detergent solution. The reconstituted enzyme showed a higher affinity for acetylthiocholine, ketamine and fasciculin. Parameters unaffected by the reconstitution were: turnover number for the substrate; the non-competitive component in ketamine inhibition and the kinetics for the active site-directed irreversible inhibitor soman.     

Das Verhalten der Herzfrequenz unter pulsatiler Betamimetika- Applikation (Bolustokolyse)

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Evolution of white matter lesions in neurofibromatosis type 1: MR findings.

To characterize further the evolution of white matter lesions in neurofibromatosis type 1, we reviewed 68 MR images in 43 patients (age, 1-31 years), including 25 follow-up studies (mean interval, 27 months). Lesion number, location, morphology, signal characteristics, and contrast enhancement were assessed. Lesion characteristics and changes thereof were correlated with the patients' ages. Thirty-four patients (79%) had white matter lesions. These lesions were hyperintense on T2-weighted images, were isointense on T1-weighted images, and showed no mass effect or contrast enhancement in 31 patients; in three patients, T1-prolongation was observed (one with significant mass effect). None of the lesions evolved into a glioma. The most common locations were the cerebellum (49%), brainstem (22%), and internal capsule (19%). Nineteen patients had white matter lesions and follow-up studies. Lesions decreased in size or number in seven patients (average age, 13 years), showed no change in three (average age, 12 years), increased in size or number in four (average age, 5 years), and showed a mixed pattern (increased/decreased size/number) in four (average age, 7 years). White matter lesions in neurofibromatosis type 1 frequently increase in size or number early in childhood; this did not indicate neoplasia in our study. The lesions tend to resolve with increasing age. Lesion progression in a child more than 10 years old warrants close follow-up to rule out a neoplasm.     

Apolipoprotein A, fibrinogen, age, and history of stroke are predictors of death in dialysed diabetic patients: a prospective study in 412 subjects

Background: diabetic patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRD) have a high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The underlying mechanisms are not completely elucidated. The aim of our study was to define predictors of death in diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease. Patients and methods: We preformed a prospective study in 35 dialysis centres in Germany between 1985 and 1994. To evaluate predictors and risk factors in this population we examined 412 diabetic patients at the time of admission to dialysis treatment (peritoneal dialysis (PD) or haemodialysis (HD)). Classification of the type of diabetes was done according the criteria of the National Diabetes Data Group [1,2]. Items assessed at the time of admission were coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral occlusive disease (POD), and stroke. CAD was defined as a history of myocardial infarction with the corresponding changes in the ECG or luminal narrowing by more than 50% in at least one coronary artery upon coronarangiography; POD was defined as claudication and/or brachial-tibial ratio (BTR) less than 0.9 or a history of amputation. Assessment of the nutritional state comprised body mass index, skinfold thickness of the upper arm and lateral thorax area, and urea concentration. Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, apolipoprotein A (ApoA-I) and B (ApoB), triglycerides, lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)), and fibrinogen were measured. As an index of disturbed cardiac innervation beat-to-beat variation was measured. Outcome measurements were causes of death (i.e. cardiac and non-cardiac) and time of survival. Results: One hundred and eighty of 412 (44%) patients died during the observation period Patients who died were older (61±12 versus 53±15 years P lt;0.0001), had lower skin fold thickness (13.1±6.0 versus 15.1±7.2 mm P <0.04), lower ApoA-I (100±35 versus 111±32 mg/dl P <0.005) and higher fibrinogen (515±156 versus 451±155 mg/dl P <0.02). Type II diabetic patients had a lower mean survival time than type I (34 versus 66 months P <0.0006). The mode of renal replacement therapy (PD or HD) had no adverse effect on survival time. Survivors less frequently had a history of CAD, POD and stroke than non-survivors. In multivariate analysis ApoA-I, fibrinogen ,age and stroke were independent predictors of cardiac and non-cardiac death in diabetic patients with end-stage renal failure. Lipid values and nutritional state did not independently predict the overall and cardiovascular mortality. Conclusion: This study in dialysed diabetic patients identified several predictors of death, some of which are susceptible to intervention.