Changes in Patient-reported Swallow Function in the Long Term After Chemoradiotherapy for Oropharyngeal Carcinoma

Aims

To assess long-term patient-reported swallow function after chemoradiotherapy for oropharyngeal carcinoma and to evaluate the frequency of deterioration/improvement over years.

Chemically-modified HA for therapy and regenerative medicine

Hyaluronan (HA) is a very useful polymer, but its properties sometimes need to be altered or enhanced by chemical modification for biomedical applications. A wide variety of HA derivatives are currently used for eye surgery, joint viscoelastic supplementation, and anti-adhesion films. The future promises to deliver new classes of HA-based reagents as well as new polymers that can be used in situ with living cells or within the body.     

System design for in vivo neutron activation analysis measurements of manganese in the human brain: based on Monte Carlo modeling.

Manganese is an essential nutrient required by the human body, but conversely, over exposure to the element may cause central nervous system damage. The technique of in vivo neutron activation analysis, using the McMaster KN-accelerator, is being investigated as a possible method of noninvasively determining manganese concentrations within the human body. Since the brain is the primary target of damage from exposure it would be the ideal site for measurements. Thus, Monte Carlo simulations have been undertaken to define the optimum experimental parameters for such a measurement, examining the use of possible moderator, reflector and collimator materials.     

Cross-linked hyaluronic acid hydrogel films: new biomaterials for drug delivery.

A new hyaluronic acid (HA)-based hydrogel film was prepared and evaluated for use in drug delivery. This biocompatible material crosslinks and gels in minutes, and the dried film swells and rehydrates to a flexible hydrogel in seconds. HA was first converted to the adipic dihydrazide derivative and then crosslinked with the macromolecular homobifunctional reagent poly(ethylene glycol)-propiondialdehyde to give a polymer network. After gelation, a solvent casting method was used to obtain a HA hydrogel film. The dried film swelled sevenfold in volume in buffer, reaching equilibrium in less than 100 s. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the hydrogel films showed a condensed and featureless structure before swelling, but a porous microstructure when hydrated. The thermal behavior of the hydrogel films was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry. The enzymatic degradation of the HA hydrogel films by hyaluronidase was studied using both SEM and a spectrophotometric assay. Drug release from the hydrogel film was evaluated in vitro using selected anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs. This novel biomaterial can be employed for controlled release of therapeutic agents at wound sites.     

Biomarkers of periodontal inflammation in the Australian adult population

Background:  Several inflammatory biomarkers are implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontitis including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and C-reactive protein (CRP). This study investigated the presence of these factors in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and their relationship to clinical and social determinants of periodontitis in the Australian population.
Methods:  Equal numbers of periodontitis cases and non-cases were sampled during oral epidemiologic examination in the National Survey of Adult Oral Health. GCF was sampled from four sites where probing pocket depth (PPD) and recession were recorded. From these, IL-1β and CRP were quantified by ELISA and the log amount of GCF IL-1β (pg) per person and the proportion of adults with detectable CRP was computed.
Results:  Periodontitis cases (n = 511) had significantly higher levels of IL-1β and CRP than non-cases (n = 562). PPD, clinical attachment loss, plaque and gingivitis indices were positively associated with elevated levels of both biomarkers. Levels of both were positively associated with age, low socio-economic position and non-Australian birth.
Conclusions:  The presence of IL-1β and CRP in GCF are associated with periodontal disease parameters within the Australian population. The levels of both biomarkers are influenced by age, education and eligibility for public dental care.     

Crossing two types of implementation intentions with a protection motivation intervention for the reduction of saturated fat intake: a randomized trial

Implementation intentions, namely specific plans regarding when, where and how an individual will act, increase the likelihood of action. There is evidence that implementation intentions should be particularly efficacious when combined with motivational interventions. However, this is yet to be tested in relation to the reduction of unhealthy behaviour. Thus the aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of combined motivation and implementation intention interventions for the reduction of saturated fat intake. It also tested a new form of implementation intention (reasoning implementation intentions). Participants from the UK (n = 210) were randomized to condition and asked either to form standard implementation intentions, reasoning implementation intentions, or received no implementation intention manipulation; and were exposed to protection motivation-based information, or not. Results showed that standard and reasoning implementation intentions were successful in reducing the proportion of food energy derived from saturated fat but the effects of the standard implementation intention were dependent on whether participants read the motivational message or not.     

Aetiological factors for oral manifestations of HIV

OBJECTIVES: Describe the oral diseases in HIV-infected individuals in London, UK and identify social and medical factors related to the presence of specific oral diseases.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional analytic study.
SETTING: Dental clinics.
SUBJECTS: Consecutive sample of 456 patients with HIV infection.
METHODS: Social and medical history and clinical examinations. Univariate and logistic regression analysis.
OUTCOMES: Presence of HIV-associated oral disease.
RESULTS: 80% of patients with AIDS and 50% of patients with HIV had a specific oral disease. The most common diseases were hairy leukoplakia (30%), erythematous candidiasis (24%), pseudomembranous candidiasis (14%), angular chielitis (6%), necrotising periodontal disease (8%) and non-recurrent ulceration (6%).
CONCLUSIONS: The presence of erythematous candidiasis was not related to advanced HIV disease. Pseudomembranous candidiasis, hairy leukoplakia and mucosal ulceration were significantly associated with advanced HIV disease. Smoking was also identified as a strong aetiological factor in oral diseases. Longitudinal studies are required to further explore the prognostic significance of oral diseases in HIV infection.     

Neuro-oncology practice in the UK

The aim of the study was to determine current U.K. neuro-oncology practice. A questionnaire was sent to all U.K. clinical oncologists who treat primary brain tumours. Results were distributed to these doctors with an invitation to attend a workshop in September 2000 to debate areas of differing practice and to review the existing related evidence. A further workshop was held in May 2002. The questionnaire responses and discussion of controversial areas, including the management of high-grade gliomas, low-grade gliomas, meningiomas, pituitary adenomas and multiple-brain metastases are included in this paper.