Cardiac Involvement in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Initial studies from Bowman Gray School of Medicine showed that 18 of 30 patients with classic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) had cardiac involvement from their disease. These abnormalities were detected by echocardiography and consisted of mitral valve and/or pericardial abnormalities. All patients were followed for 4 years from the initial workup. Mitral valve abnormalities were seen on followup in 63% of the patients who initially showed this abnormality, while pericardial effusion remained in 20%. Pericardial thickening persisted in 6 of 7 patients. None of the patients developed constrictive pericarditis or heart failure. There was no definite correlation between persistence of these abnormalities and other clinical data, but it was noticed that patients who had persistent pericardial effusion and mitral valve abnormalities showed a higher number of involved joints and a higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The cardiac abnormalities described in this study have remained clinically insignificant in this population of RA patients.     

Monoclonal antibody definition of multiple polymorphic epitopes on human leukocyte antigen-DRw52

Monoclonal antibodies have revealed complexity within the human leukocyte antigen class II antigens. We have studied epitopes present on a DR3 homozygous B-lymphoblastoid cell line using five polymorphic monoclonal antibodies produced and characterized in our laboratory. Serological analysis on a panel of B-cell lines revealed that the antibodies have different, but related, specificities (NDS9-anti-DR3, NDS10-anti-DR5, less than 3, less than w6, NDS11-anti-DR3, 5, w6, NDS12-anti-DR3, 5, w6, w8, NDS13-anti-DR3, 5, w6, w8+). Competitive radioimmunoassays and two-dimensional gel analyses demonstrated that whereas the epitopes recognized by the broadly reactive antibodies NDS10, 11, 12, and 13 reside on the same molecule, the epitope detected by NDS9 is present on a molecule with different electrophoretic mobility. Thus, using polymorphic monoclonal antibodies, we have defined multiple epitopes associated with DR3, which have different distributions at the population level.     

Congenital imperforate parotid duct openings: a case report

The apparent distress of a 3-month-old baby whilst feeding was investigated by his general medical practitioner. Swellings were noted in the parotid duct regions of the vestibule which enlarged and almost met in the midline when the baby cried. Incision of the swellings relieved the feeding difficulties.     

Severe late postsplenectomy infection

In all, 1490 patients underwent splenectomy in Western Australia between 1971 and 1983, giving 7825 person years exposure. Thirty-three patients developed severe late postsplenectomy infection (septicaemia, meningitis or pneumococcal pneumonia requiring hospitalization) and three developed overwhelming postsplenectomy infection. The incidence and mortality rates of severe late postsplenectomy infection were 0.42 and 0.08 per 100 person years exposure respectively and for overwhelming postsplenectomy infection the incidence and mortality rates were 0.04 per 100 person years exposure. There were 628 splenectomies after trauma, giving 3922 person years exposure. Eight patients developed severe late postsplenectomy infection of whom one had overwhelming postsplenectomy infection. Following trauma, the incidence of severe late postsplenectomy infection was 0.21 per 100 person years exposure, with the incidence and mortality rates of overwhelming postsplenectomy infection being 0.03 per 100 person years exposure. Patients undergoing splenectomy have a 12.6-fold increased risk of developing late septicaemia compared with the general population. Splenectomy following trauma gives an 8.6-fold increased risk of late septicaemia. The majority of severe late postsplenectomy infections did not occur within the first 2 years and 42 per cent of severe late postsplenectomy infections occurred greater than 5 years after splenectomy. The low incidence of severe late postsplenectomy infection and overwhelming postsplenectomy infection makes statistical evaluation of the effectiveness of prophylactic antibiotics, vaccination and splenic repair most difficult.     

Dental materials: 1979 literature review Part II

This paper, which is presented in two parts, reviews the work on dental materials published in 1979. Included in Part II are sections on impression materials, model, die and investment materials, waxes, acrylic resins, denture base polymers, soft lining materials and tissue conditioners, cast and wrought dental alloys, ceramics, implants and, finally, corrosion. Part I included sections on dental biomechanics, fissure sealants, cements, amalgam, composite filling materials, endodontic materials and microleakage.     

Analysis of pre-test failures and bond-strengths of seven adhesive systems to bovine dentine: A nine-year novice/beginner operator study

Objective

The aims were to evaluate, via multi-year student cohorts: (i) the incidence of pre-test failures and (ii) shear bond strengths of single- and multi-step adhesives to bovine dentin.

Working the edges of Posthuman disability studies: theorising with disabled young people with life‐limiting impairments

This paper is built upon an assumption: that social theory can be generated through a meaningful engagement with a co‐researcher group of disabled young people. Our co‐researchers are theoretical provocateurs and theorists in their own right who, through their activism and writing, are challenging us to reconsider the meaning of life, death and disability. Their work on our funded Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) project has enabled us to consider the promise and potential of humanist and posthuman epistemologies, theories, methodologies, interventions and activisms. The paper introduces the research, the authors of this paper (academics and co‐researchers) and then explores three layers of analysis that work the edges of posthuman thinking; sovereign and assembled selves; affects and desires; mourning and affirmation. We conclude by asserting that as a research team we are engaging with a DisHuman approach to theory and activism: one that blends the pragmatics of humanism with posthuman possibilities.