Effect of fluoride varnishes on color stability of esthetic restorative materials

Fluoride varnish applications were applied to two hybrid resin composite materials, Z-100 (3M Dental Products, St Paul, MN, USA) and Esthet-X (Dentsply Caulk, Milford, DE, USA), shades A1 and A2 and a glass ionomer, GC Fuji IX GP Fast (GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), shade A2, to evaluate color stability. Specimens (12.6-mm dia x 2.3 mm) were prepared using a polyethylene frame, light-cured and polished through a 1-microm alumina finish. After the initial baseline color measurements, the discs were suspended in Fusayama artificial saliva (FAS) solution at 37 degrees C for 48 hours. Post immersion, the specimens were divided into five groups (n=15 each). The following fluoride varnishes were applied to four groups of test specimens: Duraphat (Colgate Oral Pharmaceutical, Inc, Canton MA, USA), Cavity Shield (OMNII Oral Pharmaceuticals, West Palm Beach, FL, USA), Duraflor (Pharmascience Inc, Montreal, Canada) and Fluor Protector (Vivadent, Ivoclar North America, Amherst, NY, USA). The varnish was allowed to dry for five minutes before immersion. The control group was not coated with varnish, although the specimens were immersed in FAS. All specimens were incubated in newly prepared FAS at 37 degrees C for 24 hours, cleaned with an electric toothbrush and the process repeated using newly prepared FAS. CIE L*a*b* color measurements were recorded five times: at baseline, after 48 hours FAS immersion, after cleaning the first and second fluoride varnish applications and after the final brushing using a commercial toothpaste (Crest). A Minolta CR-300 tristimulus colorimeter with an 8-mm aperture (Ramsey, NJ, USA) was used to record color measurements with the daylight (D65) setting. Calculations were performed for using CIE parameters deltaE*, deltaL*, delta a*, delta b*. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc test (Fisher's PLSD) were used for statistical analysis. After immersion in saliva, the tested glass ionomer (Fuji IX) produced the most significant color changes (deltaE*=1.19 and deltaL*=-1.03), indicating the effect of the color change was due to absorption. After fluoride varnish applications, Duraphat varnish produced significant changes in all tested materials and shades, resulting in color changes with deltaE greater than (>) 1 but less than (<) 3. These color changes are considered visually perceptible, yet have been reported in dental literature as clinically acceptable. Fluoride varnishes can be used without adversely affecting the color of restorative materials.     

The hygiene hypothesis of atopic disease--an extended version

The hygiene hypothesis of atopic disease suggests that environmental changes in the industrialized world have lead to reduced microbial contact at an early age and thus resulted in the growing epidemic of atopic eczema, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and asthma. The epidemiological findings have been combined with the Th1/Th2 paradigm of immune responsiveness to provide a coherent theory. Recent advances in epidemiology and immunology demonstrate, however, that the hygiene hypothesis may need to be extended in three respects. First, the importance of infections in causing immune deviance may be outweighed by other sources of microbial stimulation, perhaps most importantly by the indigenous intestinal microbiota. Second, immunomodulatory and suppressive immune responses complement the Th1/Th2 paradigm. Third, in addition to protection against atopy, protection against infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases may also depend upon healthy host-microbe interactions implicated in the hygiene hypothesis.     

Cow's milk allergy in infants with atopic eczema is associated with aberrant production of interleukin-4 during oral cow's milk challenge

OBJECTIVES: A failure in the establishment and maintenance of oral tolerance in infancy may result in food allergy. To further assess the role of the intestinal immune system in cow's milk allergy (CMA), we investigated the systemic production of the pro-allergenic Th2 cytokine interleukin (IL)-4 and anti-allergenic cytokines IL-10, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 and TGF-beta2 in infants suffering from atopic eczema with and without CMA during antigen elimination diet and oral antigen exposure. METHODS: 18 infants (mean age, 9.6 months; 95% confidence interval 8.1-11.1 months) with atopic eczema and CMA and 17 infants (mean age, 9.7 months; 95% confidence interval 8.6-10.9 months) with atopic eczema tolerant to milk as assessed by a double blind, placebo-controlled cow's milk challenge were investigated. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained during antigen elimination diet and during oral cow's milk challenge and stimulated with Concanavalin-A or cow's milk or were left unstimulated. The cytokine concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: During antigen elimination, the Concanavalin A-stimulated production of TGF-beta2 was significantly lower in infants with CMA as compared with infants without CMA: 129 pg/mL (interquartile ratio, 124-144 pg/mL) vs. 149 pg/mL (interquartile ratio, 133-169 pg/mL); P = 0.016. During oral antigen exposure, the immune responses in infants with CMA were characterized by significantly higher spontaneous production of IL-4 as compared with those without CMA: 12.0 pg/mL (interquartile ratio, 5.2-28.3 pg/mL) vs. 4.2 pg/mL (interquartile ratio, 1.5-7.6 pg/mL); P = 0.018. CONCLUSIONS: Infants with atopic eczema and CMA exhibit markedly increased systemic pro-allergenic IL-4 responses on intestinal antigen contact, which may partially be explained by a defective ability to launch anti-allergenic TGF-beta2 responses.     

Factors of early infancy and recurrent use of antibiotic therapy

Aim : To analyse the role of early infant-related, parent-related, family functioning and social relation factors during the infant's first 3 mo of life and their associations with later recurrent treatments with antibiotics. Methods : In an unselected population-based study, parents expecting their first child were followed from pregnancy until the infant was 18 mo of age. Informed consent to participate was obtained from 1443 women expecting their first child and their spouses. The parents of 817 children reported the number of preceding antibiotic treatments at two times (when the child was 9 and 18 mo old). The outcome measure was the number of antibiotic treatments (options: none, 1–5, ±6). The factors associated with later use of antibiotics were collected during the first 3 mo of the infant's life. The variable factors included infant-related, parent-related, family functioning and social relation factors. Results : The final regression analysis showed the potent factors associated with recurrent use of antibiotics: male gender (OR 2.8, 95% CI: 1.6–4.8), frequent physician consultations in early infancy (OR 3.1, 95% CI: 1.8–5.3) and the father's need for outside support (OR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.3–3.8).
Conclusions : In addition to early infant-related medical factors, family factors may be associated with frequent medical consultations and the decision to administer antibiotics to the infant. In the prevention of antibiotic overuse, social and psychological factors should be considered.     

Coffee consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus among middle-aged Finnish men and women

Context  Only a few studies of coffee consumption and diabetes mellitus (DM) have been reported, even though coffee is the most consumed beverage in the world. Objective  To determine the relationship between coffee consumption and the incidence of type 2 DM among Finnish individuals, who have the highest coffee consumption in the world. Design, Setting, and Participants  A prospective study from combined surveys conducted in 1982, 1987, and 1992 of 6974 Finnish men and 7655 women aged 35 to 64 years without history of stroke, coronary heart disease, or DM at baseline, with 175 682 person-years of follow-up. Coffee consumption and other study parameters were determined at baseline using standardized measurements. Main Outcome Measures  Hazard ratios (HRs) for the incidence of type 2 DM were estimated for different levels of daily coffee consumption. Results  During a mean follow-up of 12 years, there were 381 incident cases of type 2 DM. After adjustment for confounding factors (age, study year, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, education, occupational, commuting and leisure-time physical activity, alcohol and tea consumption, and smoking), the HRs of DM associated with the amount of coffee consumed daily (0-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-9, =" BORDER="0">10 cups) were 1.00, 0.71 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48-1.05), 0.39 (95% CI, 0.25-0.60), 0.39 (95% CI, 0.20-0.74), and 0.21 (95% CI, 0.06-0.69) (P for trend<.001) in women, and 1.00, 0.73 (95% CI, 0.47-1.13), 0.70 (95% CI, 0.45-1.05), 0.67 (95% CI, 0.40-1.12), and 0.45 (95% CI, 0.25-0.81) (P for trend = .12) in men, respectively. In both sexes combined, the multivariate-adjusted inverse association was significant (P for trend <.001) and persisted when stratified by younger and older than 50 years; smokers and never smokers; healthy weight, overweight, and obese participants; alcohol drinker and nondrinker; and participants drinking filtered and nonfiltered coffee. Conclusion  Coffee drinking has a graded inverse association with the risk of type 2 DM; however, the reasons for this risk reduction associated with coffee remain unclear.      

Method-dependent characteristics of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin measurements in the follow-up of alcoholics

AIMS: There are only limited data comparing the diagnostic characteristics of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) measurements in assays for excessive alcohol consumption under controlled conditions. METHODS: We compared different CDT assays and the conventional laboratory markers of ethanol consumption, gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in the assessment and follow-up of 36 alcoholics (31 men, five women, mean age 44 years), who were admitted for detoxification. Detailed interviews to assess the amount of alcohol consumption were carried out for each patient. A hospital follow-up with supervised abstinence for 8 +/- 4 days (range 5-19 days) was carried out for 17 patients. Controls were 30 apparently healthy individuals (22 men, eight women, mean age 49 years), who had no history of hazardous drinking. RESULTS: At the time of admission, the %CDT method, which excludes the trisialotransferrin isoform from the measurement, yielded elevated values in 69% of the patients, compared to 61% for CDTect. The corresponding sensitivities for gamma-GT, AST and MCV were 61, 56 and 47%, respectively. The self-reported alcohol consumption for a period of 1 month prior to admission showed a stronger correlation with the %CDT results (r = 0.59, P = 0.0003) than with the CDTect results (r = 0.36, P = 0.04), GT (r = 0.40, P = 0.02) or AST (r = 0.35, P = 0.05). During follow-up with supervised abstinence the mean %CDT values were found to show a slower rate to normalization (mean 14 +/- 4 days) than the CDT values measured with the CDTect method (mean 10 +/- 5 days) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate distinct differences and method-dependent rates of normalization in CDT assays, possibly reflecting different degrees of transferrin desialylation in the alcoholics. The present findings should be considered in studies on alcohol markers for monitoring abstinence.     

Pregnancy and childbirth-related factors associated with recurrent antibiotic use in infants

Aim : To determine the reasons for the possible overuse of antibiotics by investigating whether family-related medical, behavioural, emotional, and social risk factors during the mother's pregnancy and childbirth are associated with subsequent recurrent antibiotic therapy of infants. Methods : Subject selection was based on stratified randomized cluster sampling. A total of 1443 women (91%) and their spouses expecting their first child gave informed consent to participate and 1287 infants were born. The parents of 817/1025 infants (80%) reported the number of courses of antibiotic therapy the child had Received at the ages of 9 and 18 mo. The outcome measure was the number of courses of antibiotic therapy (none/1–5/= 6) given during the first 18 mo of life. The explanatory variables included family-related factors during the pregnancy and immediately after childbirth. Results : In the final multivariate stepwise analysis, parents' long-term illnesses were associated with recurrent antibiotic medication.
Conclusions : Parents with long-term illnesses need special guidance and support from the beginning of the mother's pregnancy in order to minimize the subsequent risk for recurrent antibiotic therapy of their infants. Preventive healthcare workers should be aware of the effects of these factors on parental guidance.     

Microsatellite marker association at chromosome region 2p13 in Finnish patients with preeclampsia and obstetric cholestasis suggests a common risk locus

The pathophysiology of preeclampsia is incompletely understood, but the familial nature of the disease has long been recognized. Recent genome-scan studies have indicated linkage at the p23 region of chromosome 2. We have previously reported microsatellite marker association at chromosome region 2p13 in patients with obstetric cholestasis. We conducted population-based association screening with microsatellite markers to find potential preeclampsia-associated loci on chromosome region 2p13-p12 and to test whether preeclampsia and obstetric cholestasis share a single risk locus. The study was carried out among 115 unrelated control women, 133 preeclamptic women and 57 cholestatic women. Screening with microsatellite markers at the 2p13-p12 region revealed that the marker D2S286 was significantly associated with obstetric cholestasis in the overall association analysis (P=0.03), while it revealed only borderline association with preeclampsia (P=0.08). However, single allele association analysis indicated that both preeclampsia and obstetric cholestasis showed a statistically significant association with a common allele (P < 0.05), which was overrepresented in both the obstetric cholestasis (0.42) and preeclamptic (0.37) groups when compared with the control group (0.28). In conclusion, These findings suggest a possible genetic link between chromosome region 2p13-p12, preeclampsia and obstetric cholestasis. More specifically, these data suggest that there may be a common risk locus associated with both obstetric complications located in the vicinity of the 2p13-p12 association region.     

Fibrinogen and factor VII promoter polymorphisms in women with preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether genetic variability in the promoter regions of the genes encoding fibrinogen and factor VII contribute to individual differences in susceptibility to the development of preeclampsia. METHODS: The study involved 133 preeclamptic and 115 healthy control pregnant women who were genotyped for the G-455A polymorphism in the beta-fibrinogen gene promoter and for a decamer insertion or deletion polymorphism at position -323 in the factor VII gene promoter. We used chi(2) analysis to assess genotype frequency differences between preeclamptic women and controls. RESULTS: The allelic distribution of the fibrinogen A-455G polymorphism was similar in the two groups, with the frequency of the variant A allele being 18.8% in the preeclampsia group and 20.9% in the control group. We did not find any association between the presence of the factor VII insertion allele and preeclampsia (5.6% versus 6.1%). Accordingly, the genotype distribution of the fibrinogen G-455A and factor VII polymorphisms in the preeclamptic and control groups was similar (P =.852 and P =.308). CONCLUSION: The G-455A polymorphism of the fibrinogen gene promoter and the decamer insertion or deletion polymorphism of the factor VII gene promoter are unlikely to be major genetic predisposing factors for preeclampsia in subjects from eastern Finland.