Effect of pituitary hormones on dentin production in maxillary incisors in the rat

abstract — The effect of pituitary hormones on dentin production and longitudinal growth of the maxillary incisors in normal and hypophysectomized rats was investigated. Bovine growth hormone was found to increase the dentin production slightly in normal rats and significantly in hypophysectomized rats. Other pituitary hormones showed no effects on dentin apposition in the doses and periods tested. The effects of the pituitary hormones on the longitudinal growth of the tooth were small or insignificant. The effects of growth hormone on the dentin apposition and the longitudinal growth of the tooth after hypophysectomy were smaller than the effects on longitudinal bone growth and cortical hone remodeling, indicating different sensitivity to hormones between different mineralized tissues.     

RENAL FUNCTION AND BIOPSY CHANGES DURING THE COURSE OF HENOCH-SCHÖNLEIN GLOMERULONEPHRITIS

ABSTRACT. Renal function studies were performed in 18 subjects in different stages of Henoch-Schönlein glomerulonephritis (HS GN). Nine children were serially investigated, and nine adolescents or young adults, who were considered to have clinically recovered, were investigated only once, 10.5–14 years after the onset. Inulin and PAH clearance, as well as sodium excretion, were determined during hydropenia (HP) and 3% volume expansion (VE) with isotonic saline. In most patients in the former group a renal biopsy was performed during the first investigation and again one year later. The early disturbances in renal function resembled those we have found in other types of GN. The GFR was normal during HP or after VE in most cases one year after the onset. The natriuretic response to VE was decreased in most patients initially, and this was found to persist in half of the patients 2-3 years after the onset. Pathological urinalyses then indicated disturbances in the renal handling of sodium. A reduced capacity to excrete sodium, however, did not seem to be of prognostic significance since all patients, except one who developed renal insufficiency and hypertension, had normal urinalyses and blood pressure six years after the onset. This study provides no evidence that subjects with previous HS GN will later develop impaired renal function or be predisposed to hypertension.     

Sucking habits and their relation to posterior cross-bite in 4-year-old children

Abstract – Sucking habits and their relationship to posterior cross-bite were studied in 4-year-old children (n = 588) living in the municipality of Huddinge on the outskirts of Stockholm. Previous or persisting sucking habits were registered for 88% of the children with dummy sucking as the dominating type (78%). At the age of 4 years 48% of all children still exhibited some form of sucking habit. The incidence of normal buccolingual occlusion steadily decreased in cases where sucking habits persisted. The increase in unilateral cross-bite occurreoce was most pronounced in cases where the children continued sucking after 2 years of age. The variable "intensity of sucking habit" was significantly correlated to the occurrence of unilateral cross-bite ( P <0.05). From a dental point of view these results indicate that sucking habits in children should be brought under control by 2 years of age.     

Diabetes mellitus among first- and second-deǵree relatives of early onset diabetics

This study is based on a material consisting of all first-degree relatives and a group of second- degree relatives (all nieces and nephews) of 187 propositi affected by early onset (i.e. at or prior to 20 years of age) diabetes mellitus, diagnosed before 1946. The incidence of diabetes among the different groups of relatives is expressed as the risk of developing the disease at specified ages. It is concluded that the risk of siblings or children of early-onset diabetics developing the same disease is about ten times that of a normal population chosen for comparison, whereas the risk of siblings developing diabetes later in life does not differ from this normal population. On the basis of the data presented here, combined with reanalyses of previously published data from other authors, it is concluded that early onset and late onset diabetes cannot have an identical genetic background. The initial study was proposed by Professor Mogens Hauge, M.D., to whom we are greatly indebted for his valuable help through all phases of the study. We would like to thank Dr Jacob E. Podsen, M.D., for giving access to the files of the Steno Memorial Hospital and for valuable advice concerning clinical problems. We would also like to thank the Danish National Registries and especially Miss Julie Konow, Registry of the Municipality of Copenhagen. During the initial study B. D. received a scholarship from the University of Copenhagen, and the follow-up study has been made possible by support from the Danish Diabetic Association (Landsforeningen for Sukkersyge) and Dr. med. Erik Garde og Elisabeth Gardes Legat.     

Organic content in occlusal groove-fossa-system in unerupted 3rd mandibular molars: a light and electron microscopic study

Abstract— A method is described by means of which organic content in fissure areas of 12 unerupted 3rd mandibular molars can be prepared for studies in the light microscope (LM) and in the transmission electron microscope (TEM). Thus, LM and TEM examinations revealed that the organic content throughout the fissure in bone-covered and in mucosa-covered 3rd molars with uncompleted root formation consists of cells belonging to the enamel organ in late or in postmaturative stages. In mucosa-covered teeth with completed root formation it was only possible to identify enamel organ cells at the entrance of the fissure. Deeper parts were occupied by degenerative cells, polymorphonuclear cells and unidentified material. The results indicate that ameloblasts in fissures do not transform to stratified squamous epithelium but gradually degenerate towards terminal stages and remain as such, as the tooth emerges into the oral cavity.     

Glucose levels and insulin secretion during a 75 g glucose challenge test in normal pregnancy

Objectives. The aim of the study was to evaluate glucose levels and insulin secretion early in pregnancy and at a time when gestational diabetes mellitus frequently occurs in order to define reference values for glucose tolerance during pregnancy. The results were also related to maternal factors that might identify subjects at risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus as well as foetal factors that might be a result of impaired glucose tolerance during pregnancy. Design. A prospective study. Setting. All Caucasian women attending one antenatal out-patient care unit were offered a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test at the 17th and 32nd week of gestation. Subjects. A total of 586 consecutive pregnant women were included in the study. All 586 women were examined by repeated blood glucose measurements and 298 agreed to perform oral glucose tolerance tests as well. Main outcome measures. Venous whole blood glucose values were measured in the fasting state and in samples obtained 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 and 120 min after oral intake of 75 g glucose. Serum insulin and C-peptide were also measured at these times. In all subjects, a random blood glucose sample was taken at the first visit, and thereafter at the 20th, 30th and 36th week of gestation. Information was also obtained from all subjects regarding body mass index, weight gain during pregnancy, smoking habits, family history of diabetes and hypertension, hypertension during pregnancy, past obstetric history, parity, and fetal outcome. Results. The glucose tolerance was significantly impaired at the 32nd week of gestation compared with the 17th week of gestation. The mean +2SD 2h glucose value during the oral glucose tolerance test at the 32nd week of gestation was 8.0 mmol L^?1. Impaired glucose tolerance was characterised by increased insulin resistance, with a significant rise in serum insulin and C-peptide concentrations and in the insulin/glucose index during the oral glucose tolerance test at the 32nd week of gestation. Maternal factors associated with an impaired glucose tolerance were a family history of diabetes mellitus, smoking, a weight gain more than 18 kg during pregnancy, and glucosuria, while a family history of hypertension and hypertension present during pregnancy were not. Foetal factors that might be a result of impaired glucose tolerance during pregnancy, e.g. macrosomia and prematurity as well as complicated deliveries such as vacuum extraction/forceps or Caesarean section, all tended to be associated with higher blood glucose values. The same pattern was seen when the Apgar score was <7. Conclusions. The results from this study show that the present cut-off values for diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus should be revised. Even if some maternal factors might indicate an increased risk for impaired glucose tolerance during pregnancy, they are probably not enough to detect women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Therefore, a screening programme for gestational diabetes should be considered.     

The effect of changes in alcohol consumption on mortality and admissions with alcohol-related diagnoses in Stockholm County-a time series analysis

Aim. To study the effect of changes in per capita alcohol sales and indicators of alcoholism treatment on admissions to inpatient care and mortality for liver cirrhosis and alcoholism, alcohol intoxication and alcohol psychosis (AAA). Design. Bivariate and multivariate time series analyses was conducted by applying the ARIMA-modelling technique. Setting and participants. from Stockholm County 1980-94 with a population of 1.7 million people. Measurements. of alcohol and disulfiram/calcium carbimide were used as input variables. Inpatient data (from the Stockholm Inpatient Care Register) and mortality data (from the Cause of Death Register) on all cases with alcoholism, alcohol psychosis and alcohol intoxication (AAA) and liver cirrhosis as underlying or contributory diagnoses were used as output variables. Findings. Alcohol sales affected the cirrhosis rate. For cirrhosis mortality, but not for cirrhosis admissions, the effect was not only direct but also distributed over time. Significant direct and time lag effects of alcohol sales on both AAA series and cirrhosis admissions were found only during earlier, shorter periods, e.g. 1980-90. All four output series showed significant effects of sales of disulfiram/calcium carbimide and were the only significant predictors for the two AAA endpoints for the whole study period. Conclusions. These results suggest that to reduce the rate of alcohol-related problems caused by socially deteriorated and severely alcohol-dependent subjects (i.e. AAA), reduction of overall consumption should be complemented by treatment of alcohol-dependent subjects. All analyses were conducted on quarterly data Data on sales     

AMINO ACID INCORPORATION INTO BRAIN SUBCELLULAR FRACTIONS IN EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS

The in vitro protein synthetic capactiy of brain slices from guinea-pigs in the late stage (17-18 days post-induction) of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis was increased over that of Freund's adjuvant injected controls, as determined by the rate of (14C)-leucine incorporation into both tris-soluble and tris-insoluble proteins. All subcellular fractions prepared from incubated slices showed increased incorporation, with a crude nuclear fraction having the largest increase. Isolated brain mitochondria from EAE animals incorporated more amino acid into protein during the late stage of the disease, while isolated microsomes and "pH5 enzymes" show decreased amino acid incorporation compared with controls in the late stage of EAE. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of acidic, soluble proteins isolated from (3H)-leucine labeled nuclear or synaptosomal fractions revealed that increases of incorporation were generalized, and not restricted to a few proteins.     

Total Body Bone Mineral in Light-for-Gestational-Age Infants and Appropriate-for-Gestational-Age Infants

ABSTRACT. Dual-photon-absorptiometry using ¹⁵³Gd in a whole body scanner was used to measure total body bone mineral in 51 newborn infants. In preterm light-for-gestational-age infants total body bone mineral was 12.6 g v.s. 25.6 g in preterm appropriate-for-gestational-age infants ( p < 0.05). In term light-for-gestational-age infants total body bone mineral was 41.4 g v. 84.2 g in term appropriate-for-gestational-age infants ( p < 0.00T). The correlations between gestational age and total body bone mineral was best described by exponential regression lines.