Fibre optic confocal imaging (FOCI) of keratinocytes, blood vessels and nerves in hairless mouse skin in vivo

Fibre optic confocal imaging (FOCI) enabled subsurface fluorescence microscopy of the skin of hairless mice in vivo. Application of acridine orange enabled imaging of the layers of the epidermis. The corneocytes of the stratum corneum, the keratinocytes in the basal layers and redundant hair follicles were visualised at depths greater than 100 μm. Cellular and nuclear membranes of keratinocytes of the skin were visualised by the use of acridine orange and DIOC5(3). Imaging of the skin after injection of FITC-dextran revealed an extensive network of blood vessels with a size range up to 20 μm. Blood cells could be seen moving through dermal vessels and the blood circulation through the dermal vascular bed was video-taped. The fluorescent dye 4-di-2-ASP showed the presence of nerves fibres around the hair follicles and subsurface blood vessels. Comparison was made between images obtained in vivo using FOCI and in vitro scanning electron microscopy and conventional histology. FOCI offers the potential to study dynamic events in vivo, such as blood flow, skin growth, nerve regeneration and many pathological processes, in ways which have not previously been possible.     

Phylogenetic analysis of mtDNA lineages in South American mummies

Some studies of mtDNA propose that contemporary Amerindians have descended from four haplotype groups, each defined by specific sets of polymorphisms. One recent study also found evidence of other potential founder haplotypes. We wanted to determine whether the four haplotypes in modern populations were also present in ancient South American aboriginals. We subjected mtDNA from Colombian mummies (470 to 1849 AD) to PCR amplification and restriction endonuclease analysis. The mtDNA D-loop region was surveyed for sequence variation by restriction analysis and a segment of this region was sequenced for each mummy to characterize the haplotypes. Our mummies exhibited three of the four major characteristic haplotypes of Amerindian populations denned by four markers. With sequence data obtained in the ancient samples and published data on contemporary Amerindians it was possible to infer the origin of these six mummies.     

Managing a dental program within a rapidly changing industry

Dr. Van Ostenberg is associate director of the hospital-sponsored ambulatory dental services program sponsored by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and administered by Virginia Commonwealth University. Mr. DeLaney is research assistant to the program. Dr. Salley is program director; vice president for research; and dean of Graduate Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University. Requests for reprints should be sent to Dr. Van Ostenberg, Virginia Commonwealth University, Box 148, MCV Station, 1000 E Marshall St, Richmond, Va 23298. The aim of this paper has been to present some of the more standard hospital accounting terms and concepts, to illustrate how they can be used in profiling a dental department, and to discuss seven exercises that reveal the depth of understanding department heads pf the future will have to command. Times have changed and will continue to change: there is no way to alter that fact. The management perspective of a dental department can not be through a historical “haz”xswhich clouds the realities of tomorrow. The changes necessary t o meet those realities must be clearly visualized. There are two choices of ways to manage the necessary change. One way is imitative, with a wait-and-see attitude and at the last moment, copying what is thought to work; the other way is to be innovative-defining, recombining, managing, and projecting resources to meet the demands of a complex and turbulent environment. There really is not a choice between these ways if hospital dentistry is to remain vital through the 1980s.     

Obstacles to effective alcohol policy in the workplace: a case study

Based on a case study of an assembly plant in a large US corporation, this paper reports on cultural and environmental influences on the form and process of workplace alcohol policy. Utilizing both ethnographic and survey methods, research findings indicate that although alcohol policies are in place, management and union leaders are unclear about their source and content, and the general employee population perceives alcohol availability and on-job drinking as poorly controlled. In grounded theory fashion, two conceptual themes are employed for organizing empirical explanations of the weakened policy and under-controlled drinking. These are: (1) the dual alcohol policy dilemma, and (2) the union-management debate over authority to discipline. The ambivalent nature of alcohol policy and organizational mechanisms involved in its implementation become risk factors for developing workplace-related alcohol problems.     

Aspirin idiosyncrasy in patients admitted for nasal polypectomy

Investigation of 100 consecutive patients admitted for nasal polypectomy revealed only 3 patients with aspirin idiosyncrasy and asthma. It is important that this combination be recognized but fortunately this can be done by the history. Incidental findings were that nasal polypi are much commoner in men and that the incidence of atopy was the same as that in the general population.