Tooth mortality and periodontal conditions in 60–80-year-old Chinese

Abstract — The study comprised 544 persons aged 60 yr or more from two urban Residential Areas and one rural village (including a nursing home) of Beijing area. Overall, the sample accounted for 81% of the total population of elderly aged 60 yr or more in the village/areas so defined. Each person was examined for dental status, plaque, calculus, gingivitis, loss of attachment, pocket depth and tooth mobility. Edentulousness was seen in 0–29% of trie persons examined, depending on age and sex. The mean number of teeth present ranged from 6.9 to 23.9, depending on age, sex, and area. The oral hygiene was poor; approximately 50% of all surfaces had immediately visible plaque deposits and calculus. About 50% of the surfaces had a loss of attachment ≥4 mm, while less than 15% presented pockets ≥4 mm. More than 50% of the individuals had loss of attachment ≥4 mm on more than 40% of their surfaces. The proportion of surfaces per person with loss of attachment ≥7 mm; and pockets ≥4 mm, respectively, showed a pronounced skewed distribution. These findings indicate that a subfraction of individuals is responsible for a substantial proportion of the severe periodontal breakdown leading to loss of teeth. This, in turn, raises important questions as to the most appropriate strategies for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases for the Chinese population.     

Antibodies to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III in promiscuous healthy homosexual men. Relation to immunological and clinical findings

Antibodies to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III Ab) were present in twenty-one out of sixty-four asymptomatic promiscuous homosexual men from Copenhagen. The presence of HTLV-III Ab was associated with lymphadenopathy (P less than 0.0005), cytomegalovirus isolation (P less than 0.01), low skin test reactivity (P less than 0.01) and episodes of fever within the 2 month period prior to investigation (P less than 0.05). No significant differences occurred in the total number of T-cells, T-suppressor cytotoxic cells, T-helper cells or helper to suppressor ratio (H/S ratio) between HTLV-III Ab positive and negative homosexuals. An H/S ratio less than or equal to 1.0 was significantly more frequent in homosexual men who both had HTLV-III Ab and excreted cytomegalovirus (P less than 0.01). The H/S ratio of HTLV-III negative homosexuals were significantly lower than that of the controls suggesting that a non-HTLV-III related immunosuppression occurs among homosexuals. Within 2 years after the investigation AIDS or the AIDS related complex developed in three of the men, who at the first investigation all had HTLV-III Ab, alterations in T-lymphocyte subsets and cutaneous anergy. It is suggested that a combination of T-cell subset determination and determination of HTLV-III Ab may provide more valuable prognostic information than isolated determination of HTLV-III Ab.     

Endoscann, a new endometrial cell sampler

Summary. The cytological diagnoses made on material obtained with a mechanical sampler, the'Endoscann', were compared with those from conventional histology after uterine curettage in a group of 200 patients (74% were postmenopausal). There was diagnostic agreement in 21 of 23 women with cancer and 2 of 5 with premalignant disease. A negative cytological result was only acceptable when the clinical assessment was also negative. With this proviso the instrument may be used for the screening of high-risk groups for endometrial cancer, and to investigate postmenopausal bleeding. As this is an outpatient procedure it can achieve considerable savings. Cell blocks suitable for staging of the endometrial cycle can be obtained from women with infertility.     

Resorption of autotransplanted human teeth: a retrospective study of 291 transplantations over a period of 25 years

Summary. An assessment was made of the postoperative fate of 291 autotransplanted human teeth, carried out in the period from 1955 to 1980, with special reference to root resorption.
Root resorption was found to be the major cause of graft loss ( P < 0.0001), During the observation period, inflammatory resorption (IR) was diagnosed in 94 cases, leading to graft loss in 39 cases (mean survival time for grafts with IR was 7.2 years). Replacement resorption (RR) was found in 52 cases, leading to graft loss in 19 cases during the observation period, but with a considerably lower intensity of graft loss than in the IR group (mean survival time for grafts with RR was 12.0 years).
The influence of several pre- and peroperative factors on the appearance of the two types of root resorption following autotransplantation was investigated. Premolars were found to be significantly less affected by IR compared with molars, and canines were more frequently affected by IR (64 per cent). The younger the patient, and especially the earlier the stage of root development of the donor tooth, the less IR, although pulp obliteration occurred more frequently in the early graft developmental stage. Ectopia of the donor tooth seemed to be followed by an increased frequency of IR and RR after transplantation.
Extraoral storage induced both IR and RR. Peroperative endodontic treatment should be avoided, although endodontic treatment, in general, seemed to have an arresting influence on IR. Marginal bone loss seemed to affect fully developed grafts more than grafts transplanted at an earlier stage but, in general, root resorption was found to be the most relevant complication of autotransplanted human teeth.     

Effect of Zendium toothpaste on recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Abstract – A Double-blind clinical trial with cross-over was conducted for a period of 12 months in 25 patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). The effect of the amyloglucosidase and glucoseoxidase containing Zendium toothpaste on the discomfort, number of exacerbations, duration of exacerbation, number of ulcers and number of days with pain caused by RAS was studied. The use of Zendium significantly reduced the sensation of discomfort from RAS as compared to the use of placebo toothpaste (0.025>p>0.01). However, the patients were unable to discriminate significantly between Zendium and placebo when asked to choose one of the toothpastes (0.10>p>0.05) and no significant differences were demonstrated as far as the above mentioned parameters of disease serverity were concerned. Therefore, it is concluded that the reducing effect of Zendium containing amyloglucosidase and glucoseoxidase on RAS is weak as compared to a similar toothpaste without these enzymes.     

Postpartum autoimmune thyroid disorder associated with HLA-DR4?

Thirteen Danish women with postpartum thyroiditis were HLA-A,B,C and -DR typed. Nine of ten unrelated probands were DR4-positive which is significantly (corrected p = .01) different from the frequency (34.7%) of this antigen in unrelated controls.     

ACTH versus prednisone and placebo in herpes zoster treatment

The effect of ACTH (Synacthen-depot®) versus prednisone and placebo in the treatment of herpes zoster (HZ) was studied in a controlled clinical trial comprising 60 consecutive patients. The treatment groups were comparable regarding sex, age and pre-entry symptom duration. The skin changes, patients' pain scores and the consumption of analgesics were monitored. Regarding objective symptoms and the development of postherpetic neuralgia there was no difference between the two treatment groups and placebo, while the ACTH group showed a decrease in pain score and consumption of analgesics during the first 4 days of the trial. Whether this finding will justify the application of ACTH in early HZ is arguable. Neither ACTH nor prednisone influenced the development of postherpetic neuralgia but this negative finding may be inaccurate due to the small number of patients in the three groups. Severe side-effects did not occur.     

Late Electroencephalographic Findings after Recovery from Tuberculous Meningitis

Eighty five children and young persons cured of tuberculous meningitis were reexamined by EEG 6—12 1/2 years after the onset of the disease.
Moderate or severe EEG changes were seen in 50 cases, i.e. 59 per cent. The most frequent abnormality found was general dysrhythmia (29 cases) combined with focal abnormalities in 9 cases. Focal abnormalities were seen in the records of altogether 14 former patients. Of these, 9 had convulsions. Repeated EEG examinations were made in 15 cases. Seven of these showed improvement and 1 progression of the disturbances. Abnormal EEGs were seen most frequently among the youngest patients (0—3 years), among patients with severe symptoms on admission and among patients treated with cortisone.
Correlation was also found between EEG changes and other sequelae: convulsions, neurological disorders, mental sub-normality, behaviour disturbances and intracranial calcifications. There were no correlations between EEG abnormalities and late ophthalmological and otological sequelae.