Long-term follow-up of camouflage effects following resin infiltration of post orthodontic white-spot lesions in vivo

Objectives:To reassess the long-term camouflage effects of resin infiltration (Icon, DMG, Hamburg, Germany) of white spot lesions (WSL) and sound adjacent enamel (SAE) achieved in a previous trial. The null hypothesis was tested that there were no significantly different CIE-L*a*b*-ΔE-values between WSL and SAE areas of assessment after at least 24 months (T24) compared to those at baseline (T0).Materials and Methods:Of twenty subjects who received previous resin infiltration treatment of n_teeth = 111 nonrestored, noncavitated postorthodontic WSL after multibracket treatment during a randomized controlled trial and were contacted 20 months after baseline, eight subjects (trial teeth n_teeth = 40; m/f ratio 1/7; age range (mean; SD) 12–17 [15.25; 2.12] years); response rate: 40%) were available for follow-up after at least 24 months (T24). CIE-L*a*b* differences between summarized color and lightness values (ΔE_WSL/SAE) of WSL and SAE were assessed using a spectrophotometer and compared to baseline data assessed prior to infiltration (T0), and those after 6 (T6), and 12 (T12) months using paired t tests at a significance level of α = 5%.Results:T24 assessments were performed after a mean 33.86 (SD: 8.64; Min: 24; Max: 45) months following T0. Mean (SD) ΔE_WSL/SAE units of available teeth were 8.76 (5.33) at baseline; 5.5 (2.75) at T6; 5.2 (2.41) at T12; and 5.57 (2.6) at T24. Comparisons of T6, T12, and T24 with T0 yielded highly significant differences, whereas T6–T24 and T12–T24 differences were found to be not significant.Conclusions:Assimilation of infiltrated WSL to the color of adjacent enamel by resin infiltration is considered to be suitable for the long-term improvement in the esthetic appearance of postorthodontic WSL.     

Medizinische Beurteilungskriterien zu bandscheibenbedingten Berufskrankheiten der Lendenwirbelsäule (I)

Occupational diseases Nos. 2108 and 2110 correspond to intervertebral disc-related diseases of the lumbar spine from many years of carrying or lifting heavy loads, occupations in extreme postures of full flexion or oscillation of the whole body when seated, and which compel the cessation of all activities which are or could be the cause for the origin, exacerbation or recurrence of the disease. These occupational diseases came into force at the start of 1993, but there have been considerable problems in their implementation. The present Part I of the contribution is the result of the work of an interdisciplinary study group and contains medical criteria for the assessment of possibly strain-related clinical characteristics and the evaluation of other possible causes. Part II is to be published in Volume 4/2005 and will deal with questions related to forced cessation and to the assessment of the loss of earning ability. Agreement was reached in many areas related to the assessment of occupational claims. This should allow for evidence-based decision making in the future for the occupational diseases Nos. 2108 and 2110.     

Die galvanokaustische Behandlung des Stockschnupfens

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Biochemical analysis of human milk treated with sodium dodecyl sulfate, an alkyl sulfate microbicide that inactivates human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Reduction of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) through human milk is needed. Alkyl sulfates such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) are microbicidal against HIV-1 at low concentrations, have little to no toxicity, and are inexpensive. The authors have reported that treatment of HIV-1-infected human milk with < or = 1% (10 mg/mL) SDS for 10 minutes inactivates cell-free and cell-associated virus. The SDS can be removed with a commercially available resin after treatment without recovery of viral infectivity. In this article, the authors report results of selective biochemical analyses (ie, protein, immunoglobulins, lipids, cells, and electrolytes) of human milk subjected to SDS treatment and removal. The SDS treatment or removal had no significant effects on the milk components studied. Therefore, the use of alkyl sulfate microbicides to treat milk from HIV-1-positive women may be a simple, practical, and nutritionally sound way to prevent or reduce transmission of HIV-1 while still feeding with mother's own milk.     

Oral Valganciclovir Is Noninferior to Intravenous Ganciclovir for the Treatment of Cytomegalovirus Disease in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

Intravenous ganciclovir is the standard treatment for cytomegalovirus disease in solid organ transplant recipients. Oral valganciclovir is a more convenient alternative. In a randomized, international trial, recipients with cytomegalovirus disease were treated with either 900 mg oral valganciclovir or 5 mg/kg i.v. ganciclovir twice daily for 21 days, followed by 900 mg daily valganciclovir for 28 days. A total of 321 patients were evaluated (valganciclovir [n = 164]; i.v. ganciclovir [n = 157]). The success rate of viremia eradication at Day 21 was 45.1% for valganciclovir and 48.4% for ganciclovir (95% CI -14.0% to +8.0%), and at Day 49; 67.1% and 70.1%, respectively (p = NS). Treatment success, as assessed by investigators, was 77.4% versus 80.3% at Day 21 and 85.4% versus 84.1% at Day 49 (p = NS). Baseline viral loads were not different between groups and decreased exponentially with similar half-lives and median time to eradication (21 vs. 19 days, p = 0.076). Side-effects and discontinuations of assigned treatment (18 of 321 patients) were comparable. Oral valganciclovir shows comparable safety and is not inferior to i.v. ganciclovir for treatment of cytomegalovirus disease in organ transplant recipients and provides a simpler treatment strategy, but care should be taken in extrapolating to organ transplant recipients not properly represented in the present study.     

Medizinische Beurteilungskriterien zu bandscheibenbedingten Berufskrankheiten der Lendenwirbelsäule (II)

The first part of this serial paper dealt with the medical criteria used in evaluation of the clinical picture caused by physical stress and the evaluation of other candidate causes and was published in issue no. 3/2005 (pp. 711–752) of Trauma and Berufskrankheit. This follow-up paper (II) presents criteria to be used in the evaluation of whether it is necessary to give up the occupations putting the spine at risk and in estimation of the degree of disability.