Prevalence of periodontitis and DMFT index in patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

Aim: To compare the prevalence of periodontal disease and the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) with those without these diseases. Material and Methods: Ninety‐nine CD (39.0 SD±12.9 years), 80 UC (43.3 SD±13.2) and 74 healthy controls (40.3 SD±12.9) were compared for DMFT index and presence of periodontitis. Probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque and DMFT index were measured on all subjects. The presence of periodontitis was defined as having CAL 3 mm in at least four sites in different teeth. Results: Significantly more patients with UC (90.0%; p<0.001) and CD (81.8%; p=0.03) had periodontitis than controls (67.6%). Among smokers, UC patients had significantly more periodontitis. CD had a greater mean DMFT score (18.7 versus 13.9; p=0.031) compared with controls and UC had greater median PPD (2.2 versus 1.7 mm; p<0.0001) than controls. Among non‐smokers, CD (2.4 mm; p<0.0001) and UC showed deeper pockets (2.3 mm; p<0.0001) compared with controls (1.5 mm). UC had a greater mean DMFT score (15.3 versus 12.1; p=0.037) compared with controls. Conclusions: CD and UC patients had higher DMFT and prevalence of periodontitis than controls, but smoking was an effect modifier.     

Exploring physicians,nurses and ward-based pharmacists working relationships in a Swedish inpatient setting: a mixed methods study

International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy - Background In Sweden there has been limited work investigating the integration and nature of collaborative relationships between pharmacists and other...     

Association analysis of ANK3 gene variants in nordic bipolar disorder and schizophrenia case-control samples

Genetic variants in ankyrin 3 (ANK3) have recently been shown to be associated with bipolar disorder (BD). We genotyped three ANK3 SNPs previously found to be associated with BD (rs10994336, rs1938526, and rs9804190) in a Scandinavian BD case-control sample (N = 854/2,614). Due to evidence of genetic overlap between BD and schizophrenia (SZ), we also genotyped these three SNPs in a Scandinavian SZ case-control sample (N = 1,073/2,919). Combining our Scandinavian samples with an Icelandic sample (N = 435 BD cases, 651 SZ cases, and 11,491 healthy controls), we found rs10994336 and rs9804190 to be nominally significantly associated with BD in this combined Nordic BD sample (N = 1,289/14,105). Nominal P was 0.015/0.018 (fixed/random effect) for rs10994336 (Bonferroni corrected P = 0.044/0.053) and 0.023 for rs9804190 (Bonferroni corrected P = 0.069). None of the SNPs were significantly associated with SZ in the combined Nordic SZ case-control sample (N = 1,724/14,410). These results further support that ANK3 is a susceptibility gene specific to BD and that more than one risk locus is involved.     

Comparison of selective media for isolation of Campylobacter jejuni/coli

A comparison of Skirrow's, Butzler's, Blaser's, Campy-BAP and Preston media for Campylobacter spp was made using human, animal and environmental specimens. Butzler's medium gave the lowest isolation rate and Preston medium, which was the most selective, the highest isolation rate. Enrichment culture using Preston enrichment broth gave a higher isolation rate than direct plating onto Preston medium.     

Long-term persistence of false positive antibody reactivity in HIV western blot testing of sera from a healthy blood donor

HIV-Western blot (WB) testing of sequential sera from a blood donor revealed identical bands in the p24 and p55 positions. Additional testing using indirect immunofluorescence antibody technique, radioimmunoprecipitation assay and an HIV p24 antigen immunoassay were negative. During a 5-year follow-up period the blood donor has remained apparently healthy and no signs of disease have developed. We conclude that sera from this blood donor show a false positive HIV WB reactivity. The nature of this reactivity remains obscure but has practical implications for the routine HIV screening of blood donors.     

Treatment with a pure factor IX concentrate in a patient with moderate hemophilia B undergoing bilateral total hip replacement

Recently, a pure factor IX concentrate, licensed in Sweden as Immunine, was prepared through ion exchange and hydrophobic chromotography. Virus inactivation included two steps of steam treatment. Reconstituted Immunine could be kept at room temperature for at least 7 days without any substantial loss of activity. A patient with moderate hemophilia B undergoing bilateral total hip replacement was continuously infused with Immunine by use of a pump. There were no bleeding complications or signs of thrombosis, and the operation markedly improved the patient's range of motion and quality of life.