Peripheral large nerve fibre function in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis

Accumulating evidence suggests the involvement of neurogenic inflammation in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Moreover, the concomitant occurrence of peripheral neuropathy has been reported in several psoriatic patients. Thus, the aim of the present study was to answer the question whether an impairment of peripheral large nerve fibre function may exist in psoriasis. Thirty-two patients with severe and generalized chronic plaque psoriasis and 32 sex- and age-matched healthy controls were evaluated by detailed clinical neurological and standard neurophysiological examination. The latter included motor nerve conduction study of one nerve in the upper and one in the lower extremities and sensory nerve conduction study of one nerve in the upper and two in the lower extremities. Neurological examination failed to demonstrate any clinical evidence of large fibre neuropathy. Furthermore, all values of the examined neurophysiological parameters were within normal limits; comparisons of the corresponding mean values in the patient and the control group showed no statistically significant differences. These findings demonstrate no measurable abnormalities of the peripheral large nerve fibres in psoriatic patients and therefore an association of psoriasis with peripheral large fibre neuropathy cannot be suggested.     

Malodour in denture wearers: an ill-defined problem

Denture plaque has not been studied to the same extent as dental plaque, and although there are many similarities in microbial composition, there are some significant differences. Denture-induced stomatitis is associated with poor denture hygiene, a more acidogenic plaque and the presence of Candida albicans . Obligate Gram-negative anaerobic micro-organisms, although present in denture plaque, have rarely been specifically investigated. Opportunist pathogens including coliforms and staphylococci have been isolated from dentures. Teeth adjacent to partial dentures are more susceptible to caries and periodontal diseases, perhaps due to an increased plaque buildup at the prosthesis/tooth interface. Little work has been published on malodour associated with dentures. The inert material provides a substratum for the plaque biofilm, which encompasses a range of odour-producing species. The microbiology of the tongue in denture wearers has not been specifically studied. Thus the nature, origin and extent of malodour in denture wearers is ill-defined, but many species capable of producing malodorous compounds are present. The wide age and health range presented by denture wearers further confounds investigation. There is a need for further work in the area, both for cosmetic- and health-associated reasons in the increasing elderly population.     

Sucrose-dependent accumulation of oral streptococci and their adhesion-defective mutants on saliva-coated hydroxyapatite

The adhesion and accumulation of oral streptococci on saliva-coated hydroxyapatite was examined in strains representing species that appear in initial plaque ( Streptococcus sanguise FC1 and Streptococcus oralis C5) and in more mature plaque ( Streptococcus gordonii G9B). Washed cells of strains FC1 and C5 did not attach better to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite than did strain G9B, suggesting that the degree of initial adhesiveness does not alone account for the temporal appearance of these bacteria in dental plaque. Growing cells of each strain were also examined for their ability to accumulate on saliva-coated hydroxyapatite. The addition of sucrose to the medium promoted the accumulation of strain G9B more than it promoted the accumulation of strains FC1 and C5. Sucrose also enhanced the accumulation of adhesion-defective mutants of each strain to levels similar to those of the respective parent strains. These results suggest that sucrose-dependent accumulation may facilitate the colonization of the tooth surface by these species of oral streptococci when adhesion is limited by reduced bacterial adhesiveness or limited pellicle-binding sites.     

The effects of a 0.12% chlorhexidine-digluconate-containing mouthrinse versus a placebo on plaque and gingival inflammation over a 3-month period

Abstract Several previous studies have evaluated the effects of 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate (ChD) mouthrinses on plaque and gingival inflammation. However, previously, none have been based in general dental practices. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential to conduct controlled periodontal clinical trials in co-operation with general dental practitioners (gdps). The project took place in 5 general dental practices in the South of England. 121 healthy subjects (24 at 4 sites and 25 at the 5th). aged 18-65 years, mean 35 ± 12) years participated in a double-blind, randomised study during which they received full mouth assessments for plaque and gingival bleeding at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks. 60 subjects were randomly asigned to use the 0.12% ChD mouth wash and 6i the placebo. The assessments were carried out by 5 gpds, who had previously achieved inter-examiner κ scores of 0.78–0.85 (mean 0.81) for the plaque index (PlI), and of 0.73–0.94 (mean 0.87) for a modified gingival index (mGI), and who maintained κ scores of 0.51–0.90 for PII and of 0.73–1.00 for mGI during the 12 months required to complete the study. 98 subjects (48 ChD and 50 placebo) completed the study. Even though the baseline levels of plaque and gingivitis were low, by week 12, mean whole mouth piaque score of the ChD mouthwash users had fallen from 1.33 at baseline to 0.96 and was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than for the placebo users, 1.31 at baseline to 1.13. Whole-mouth gingival bleeding score fell from 0.56 to 0.42 in the ChD mouthwash group but was unchanged (0.54–0.55) in the placebo group. A subsidiary data analysis which considered the effects at sites indicated that within these overall differences, the ChD users experienced almost 2× the reduction from plaque score 2 at baseline at proximal molar sites over a 12-week period (50.6% ChD versus 27.6% placebo). It was concluded that 0.12% ChD mouthwash reduced plaque accumulation fay 28% and gingival inflammation by 25% over a 12–week period, that it is feasible for a group of gdps to maintain high levels of inter–examiner consistency in the use of PlI and mGI, that it is also feasible to carry out such a multicentre study in general dental practice, and that the use of mean mouth scores per subject to analyse the effects of mouthrinses may well mask variations in response throughout the mouth.     

颈动脉粥样硬化斑块中COX-2、mPGES-1表达及塞来昔布对其的影响作用

目的探讨兔颈动脉粥样硬化斑块中环氧化物酶-2（COX-2）、诱导型前列腺素合成酶-1（mPGES-1）的表达机制及塞来昔布对其表达的影响。方法采用32只雄性新西兰大白兔．其中正常对照组8只（A组），另24只将特制的硅橡胶圈置于兔右侧颈动脉。术后给予1％高胆固醇喂养14d，建立兔颈动脉粥样硬化性狭窄动物模型，将模型兔随机分为颈动脉狭窄无干预组（B组1、小剂量塞来昔布治疗组（15mg／kg，C组），大剂量塞来昔布治疗组（35mg／kg，D组），每组各8只。治疗4周后取双侧颈动脉并分为平等2段，分别行半定量逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT—PCR）及Western blot法测定颈动脉斑块干预后COX-2及mPGES-1的表达。结果与A组比较,B、C、D组颈动脉粥样硬化模型兔的斑块中COX-2及mPGES．1表达增高，差异具有显著性（P〈0．05）；与B组比较，C、D组颈动脉斑块的C0X-2及mPGES．1表达显著下调，差异有显著性（P〈0．051。结论在颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的病理过程中炎症反应可能起着主导作用。塞来昔布干预可抑制COX-2及mPGES—1的表达，减缓颈动脉粥样硬化的进展。     

Pattern of periodontal breakdown in adult Tanzanians

Abstract – A total of 170 adult Tanzanians aged 30- 691 yr were examined for loss of attachment, gingival recession, plaque, calculus and gingival bleeding on all surfaces, of all teeth. The severity of loss of attachment varied considerably between tooth types. Irrespective of age, mandibular incisors and first and second molars were the teeth most affected by loss of attachment. In all age groups heavy plaque deposits and gingival bleeding occurred more frequently in posterior than in anterior teeth, Dental calculus was most frequently observed in the maxillary posterior and mandibular anterior teeth. The distribution of calculus within the dentition showed a close resemblance with the patterns of loss of attachment and gingival recession. The variation of the severity of periodontal breakdown within individuals indicates that the use of mean values to describe periodontal breakdown may give the impression of a greater uniformity than really exists.     

An imaging routine for assessing the efficacy of instruments used for scaling and root planning

Deposits of dental plaque or calculus are typically quantified using planimetric techniques. However, error is introduced into a quantitative analysis of plaque deposits using these methods, since they require a significant amount of human intervention. The purpose of this study is to describe and validate a computerized imaging routine which has the potential to objectively identify material on dental roots and measure the area covered by these deposits. Dentiform teeth with simulated plaque were videorecorded. A computer routine was developed based on a flood-fill algorithm which analyzed images of the dentiform teeth and determined the amount of simulated plaque on their root surfaces. Results showed that the dentiform teeth and their simulated plaque patterns are duplicated by the imaging routine in a rapid and reliable fashion. The system shows a high degree of accuracy with an average error factor of only 0.58%. As well, the system enables precise reproducibility with an average error factor of only 0.71%.     

106Ru/106Rh plaque radiotherapy for malignant melanomas of the choroid

Therapeutic results are presented with follow-up examinations of at least 5 years (min. 5 years, max. 22 years) after ¹⁰⁶Ru/¹⁰⁶Rh plaque radiotherapy of posterior uveal melanomas. Out of 227 patients 146 (= 64.3%) could be treated successfully, 37 (= 16.3%) had to be enucleated and are alive, 44 (= 19.4%) died from metastases and 40 (17.6%) from other causes. 75.0% of all small melanomas (T1a) showed an excellent regression pattern to flat scars. Five years after treatment the survival rate was 83.7% (deaths from any causes) respectively 88.2% (deaths from metastases only) and 64.8% (deaths from any causes) respectively 79.7% (deaths from metastases only) ten years after irradiation. ¹⁰⁶Ru/¹⁰⁶Rh plaque radiotherapy can be recommended for small (Tla, b) and medium sized (T2) choroidal melanomas.     

小檗胺对小鼠脾细胞毒性T淋巴细胞活性的抑制作用

小檗胺对小鼠脾细胞毒性Ｔ淋巴细胞活性的抑制作用罗崇念，林新，王立为，赵扬，谢蜀生，肖培根（中国医学科学院药用植物研究所，北京１０００９４；北京医科大学免疫学教研室，北京１０００８３）小檗胺（ｂｅｒｂａｍｉｎｅ）是小檗属植物中的一种双节基异喹啉类生物碱...