Should dentists become 'oral physicians'? No, dentistry must remain dentistry

Dentistry is not an allied health profession. It is not a paramedical profession. It is time that dentistry be recognized as the profession that offers patients some of the most complex surgery performed on the human body--namely, restorative dentistry and rehabilitation of the masticatory system. Dentistry is the only anatomically focused health care profession that is university-based and for which primary care responsibility is maintained by the profession. An inferiority complex about what it means to be a dentist has served only to confuse the public and bring us further from our goal of improving the health of all our patients. This inferiority complex is driven by the public and the medical profession, neither of which understands how dentistry fits into overall health care. It is essential that every academic health center have oral health education as an integrated part of health care education for dentists, physicians, nurses, allied dental personel, physical therapists, psychologists and all who receive university-based health care education. In this way, all the health professions and the public will see dentistry and oral health as essential to patients' overall health. The idea of emulating those who do not have the strength of basic-science education, practice complexity, surgical skills or community status by seizing a new title will not elevate the profession for the future. The public knows what a dentist is. It is our task to inform the public about the capabilities of dentists and the value of oral health and our profession. We can accomplish this best by assuring that our profession's name, "dentistry," is understood to represent one of the world's most accomplished surgical endeavors, one that is thoroughly integrated into the fabric of health care. Thus, good oral health will be thoroughly integrated into what it means to be healthy.     

Pancreatic phenotype in infants with cystic fibrosis identified by mutation screening.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pancreatic phenotype of infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) diagnosed in the first week of life by a combined immunoreactive trypsin/mutation screening program. DESIGN: A prospective evaluation of pancreatic function in infants with CF at the time of neonatal diagnosis and up to the age of 12. SETTING: Two different centres (Verona, Italy and Westmead, Australia) to enable comparison of results between two regions where <60% or > or =90% of patients, respectively, have at least one single DeltaF508 a mutation. Patients: 315 children with CF including 149 at Verona and 166 at Westmead. INTERVENTIONS: Fat balance studies over 3-5 days and pancreatic stimulation tests with main outcome measures being faecal fat or pancreatic colipase secretion. Patients with malabsorption are pancreatic insufficient (PI) or with normal absorption and pancreatic sufficient (PS). RESULTS: 34 infants (23%) at Verona and 46 (28%) at Westmead were PS at diagnosis. 15% of those with two class I, II or III "severe" mutations and 26/28 (93%) of those with class IV or V mutations were PS at this early age. Of the 80 infants with PS, 20 became PI before the age of 12. All 20 had two severe mutations. CONCLUSION: Neonatal mutational screening programs for CF are less likely to detect PS patients with non-DeltaF508 mutations. Of PS patients who are detected, those with two severe class I, II or III mutations are at particularly high risk of becoming PI during early childhood.     

Multinucleated giant cells elicited around hydroxyapatite particles implanted in craniotomy defects are not osteoclasts

Background: The nature of the multinucleated giant cells (MNGC) elicited in contact with implantable biomaterials is still indecisive. Method: In Wistar rats the MNGC recruited after the implantation of hydroxyapatite (HA) particles in standardized skull defects were examined morphologically (at both the light and electron microscope levels), enzymatically (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and non-specific esterase), and after a challenge with salmon calcitonin. Results: The MNGC were of great size and contained abundant mitochondria, vacuoles, and vesicles throughout the cytoplasm; they were either tightly apposed to the HA surface or had long and thin processes penetrating the material. When processed for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, only a few cells were weakly stained. The staining was totally suppressed when samples were pretreated with cyanuric chloride in the MNGC but not in the host osteoclasts. Calcitonin induced the withdrewal of the host osteoclasts from the bone surface while the MNGC remained in contact with the HA material. Conclusion: The MNGC recruited to HA particles did not exhibit the morphologic, enzymatic and functional characteristics of the osteoclasts, and consequently must be regarded as macrophage polykaryons. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Renal effects of cyclosporin A in children treated for idiopathic nephrotic syndrome

Little data have been published on tubular renal function during cyclosporin A treatment in children without transplants. We studied 12 young subjects (mean age 10 years) with steroid-responsive idiopathic nephrotic syndrome and with signs of steroid toxicity. After achieving remission with prednisone 60 mg/m², 8 children started cyclosporin A therapy (6 mg/kg/day) (group A) and 4 children were given cyclophosphamide 2.5 mg/kg/day (group B). The latter were considered as controls together with 10 other children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in complete remission and off therapy (group C). We monitored creatinine clearance and tubular handling of β₂-microglobulin, sodium, phosphorus and uric acid for one year. Cyclosporin A induced a decrease in creatinine clearance with a decrease in fractional excretion of β₂-microglobulin; sodium excretion was similar in the two treated groups and a transient decrease in fractional excretion of uric acid was seen only in patients receiving cyclosporin A. Both groups showed an increased renal threshold phosphate concentration. Our results suggest that in children, cyclosporin A therapy induces a decrease in glomerular filtration rate associated with increased reabsorption activity of proximal tubular cells.     

Outcomes of open versus closed treatment of mandibular subcondylar fractures.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the long-term treatment results of open reduction and rigid internal fixation (ORIF) with closed reduction and maxillomandibular fixation (CRMMF) for subcondylar fractures when guided by specific indications and contraindications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A protocol for the treatment of condylar process fractures was developed that included absolute and relative indications and contraindications as well as a technique regimen. To evaluate the results of this protocol, 10 patients treated with CRMMF and 10 treated by ORIF were recalled after a minimum of 6 months and examined for gender, race, diagnosis, age at injury, time since operation, and cause of the fracture. Each group was assessed by 2 blinded investigators for maximum interincisal opening, right lateral excursion, left lateral excursion, protrusive movement, deviation on opening, scar perception, motor function, sensory perception, contour perception, occlusion, and perception of pain. Nonparametric data were compared for statistical significance with a chi-square analysis and parametric data with an independent samples t-test (P < .05). RESULTS: No statistically significant differences existed between the ORIF and CRMMF groups for gender, race, diagnosis, or cause. Moreover, no differences existed for age at injury, maximum interincisal opening, right lateral excursion, left lateral excursion, protrusive movement, deviation on opening, or occlusion. Differences were noted between groups for time since operation, scar perception, and perception of pain. Using the protocol outlined, there were no differences between the ORIF and CRMMF groups for ranges of motion, occlusion, contour, and motor or sensory function. The ORIF group was associated with perceptible scars. The CRMMF group was associated with chronic pain. CONCLUSIONS: Using a treatment protocol, there were few differences in outcomes between patients treated with CRMMF and ORIF for subcondylar fractures.