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Biomedical subjects

C Scully

Publications and source records attributed to C Scully.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Oral precancer: preventive and medical approaches to management.

Leukoplakias are among the most common potentially malignant oral lesions. Some are idiopathic, others are related to habits such as tobacco and/or alcohol use. Medical management includes reducing or abandoning these habits, increasing the intake of fruit and vegetables in the diet, and possibly the use of active agents. Retinoids, carotenoids and topical cytotoxic agents show promise, and newer therapies are on the horizon.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1995

European School of Oncology Advisory report to the European Commission for the Europe Against Cancer Programme: oral carcinogenesis in Europe.

A European School of Oncology Advisory Group has reviewed current knowledge on the epidemiology, treatment and prevention of cancer of the oral cavity. While the major factors in the aetiology of such cancers are thought to be well understood, i.e. tobacco and alcohol consumption, current increases in the occurrence of the disease, especially in young adults throughout Europe, are cause for concern. The reasons for such increases are not clearly evident and the Advisory Group has suggested further work which is required to be carried out to understand the aetiology. In treatment of the disease there have been no major improvements in survival for patients in recent decades and the importance of examining new radiotherapy modalities and defining the role of chemotherapy is emphasized. Primary prevention of oral cancer could be achieved by stopping smoking tobacco, limiting alcohol consumption to a minimum (2-3 drinks per day) and increasing intake of fruits and vegetables. To supplement these actions, while neither population screening programmes nor screening trials could be recommended by the Advisory Group, initial chemoprevention trials have produced some promising results and this represents an interesting area which is the focus of much current research.

Europe↗
PubMed1995

Detection of cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus in labial salivary glands in Sjogren's syndrome and non-specific sialadenitis.

To investigate the role of herpes viruses in Sjogren's syndrome, minor (labial) salivary gland tissues from Sjogren's syndrome and from non-specific sialadenitis were examined for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA by the polymerase chain reaction. Almost half of all salivary glands studied contained EBV and/or HCMV. There was, however, no significant difference between the detection of EBV or HCMV in salivary glands from patients with Sjogren's syndrome or non-specific sialadenitis. The findings are consistent with the persistence of EBV and HCMV in minor salivary glands following primary infection, but do not indicate a direct role for either virus in the aetiology of Sjogren's syndrome, and do not exclude reactivation of the viruses in this disease.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Oligonucleotide probes to the 16S ribosomal RNA: implications of sequence homology and secondary structure with particular reference to the oral species Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella nigrescens.

Eight oligonucleotides based upon regions of the small subunit 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences were analysed against a background of their position within the molecule and their two-dimensional structure to rationalise their use in recognising Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella nigrescens. The 41 clinical isolates from both oral and respiratory sites and two reference strains were subjected to DNA-DNA hybridisation and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis to confirm their identity. Alignment of oligonucleotide probes designated I Bi-2 to I Bi-6 (for P. intermedia) and 2Bi-2 (for P. nigrescens) with the 16S rRNA suggested that these probes lacked specificity or were constructed from hypervariable regions. A 52-mer oligonucleotide (designated Bi) reliably detected both species. Because of the high degree of concordance between the 16S rRNAs of both species, it was necessary to vary the stringency of hybridisation conditions for detection of both species. Thus probe I Bi-I recognised P. intermedia while I Bi-I detected both P. intermedia and P. nigrescens at low stringency. However, under conditions of high stringency only P. nigrescens was recognised by probe 2Bi-I. These probes were highly specific and did not hybridise with DNA from the closely related P. corporis, nor other periodontal pathogens such as Fusobacterium nucleatum, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Treponema denticola and several pigmented species such as Prevotella melaninogenica, P. denticola, P. loescheii, Porphyromonas asaccharolytica, Py. endodontalis, Py. gingivalis, Py. levii, and Py. macacae.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed1995

The pattern of patient attendance for emergency care in a British dental teaching hospital.

All new patients attending a dental hospital emergency clinic over a 10 week period were surveyed as to their reason for attendance. Six hundred and seven patients were seen and surveyed. Most complained of orofacial pain (77 per cent), swelling (22 per cent) or a lost restoration (21 per cent) but only 11 per cent had had their problem for less than one day. Most (60 per cent) had had symptoms for more than two days, and 29 per cent had had problems for more than 1 week.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Oral cancer in Scotland: changing incidence and mortality.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of oral cancer in Scotland between 1960 and 1989 and oral cancer mortality from 1911 to 1989. SETTING: Data were obtained on oral cancer incidence from the information and statistics division of the Common Services Agency of the Scottish Health Service and mortality data from the office of the registrar general for Scotland. RESULTS: Mortality from intraoral cancers in Scotland substantially declined throughout this century until the mid-1970s. This trend, however, was then reversed, and fourfold increases in incidence were observed in younger age groups after 1960. Death rates in these younger age groups increased to levels previously recorded in the 1940s. These increases seemed to be cohort based and may therefore continue into the future. CONCLUSIONS: Reasons for increasing rates among younger age groups are speculative and rely on combining knowledge about risk factors and available ecological data. Though increases in incidence at younger ages do not result in a large change in the number of cases diagnosed, possible similar increases continuing into older ages, when oral cancer is more common, will correspond to a much larger increase in the actual number of cases. Given that such a large attributable risk is associated with tobacco and alcohol, however, these increases may be preventable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills of dental personnel.

This study assessed the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills of 25 dental personnel. Theory was tested by multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ) and practical skills assessed using a recording Resusci-Anne manikin. The assessment was based upon the recommendations of the Resuscitation Council of the UK. Seven of the 16 dental students and six of the nine house officers tested passed the MCQ examination. All failed the practical assessment. It is concluded that more emphasis should be placed upon CPR instruction in undergraduate dental courses and that regular update courses are advisable to maintain CPR skill.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation↗
PubMed1992

Oncogenes, onco-suppressors, carcinogenesis and oral cancer.

The regulation of cell growth is fundamental to the maintenance of health: disturbed regulation can result in neoplasia. Genes in normal cells (protooncogenes) code for proteins involved in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation; abnormalities in these genes (oncogenes) or their expression are often involved in the development of cancer. This paper summarises the essentials of the complex cell growth regulatory mechanisms, their genetic control, and their disturbances in neoplasia, emphasising the role of cancer-promoting (oncogenes) and suppressing genes (onco-suppressors or anti-oncogenes), especially in relation to oral carcinoma, and discusses the possible role of viruses as one cause of neoplasia.

Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic↗
PubMed1992

Compliance with infection control procedures in a dental hospital clinic.

Dental hospital staff and students were observed during clinical work for their compliance with infection control procedures, as recommended by the British Dental Association. A total of 183 contacts between health care worker and patient were scrutinised during December 1990. Nearly all health care workers (96%) wore gloves to carry out dental treatment, but in some cases gloves were neither changed nor hands washed between patients. Only one half wore protective eyewear and about one third (38%) wore no mask. Some dental surgery assistants used heavy duty gloves and some even scrubbed dirty dental instruments without wearing any gloves. Strict audit is clearly needed in every clinical setting in order to ensure compliance with infection control.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1992

Oral infections in the immunocompromised patient.

The number of immunocompromised patients is increasing because of iatrogenic immunosuppression and HIV infection. Most have T lymphocyte defects and are prone to develop persistent and severe fungal and viral infections. Oral candidosis and peri-oral herpes simplex infections are particularly common. Other oral lesions may be seen: mouth ulceration is common and periodontal health is impaired.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1992

Radiation safety: what can happen in an accident.

Radiation hazards in dental practice have long been recognized, and the dangers from ionising radiation during dental radiography are discussed elsewhere. Continuing legislation will undoubtedly help reduce the risk of over-exposure and accidents. Nevertheless, it is of some concern that radiation safety is still ignored by some: for example, one recent survey in the UK showed that not all radiography sets conformed to modern safety standards. However, the profession also has reason to be concerned about more public radiation hazards that may affect them, and their families and others, and may, without denying the importance of dental radiation protection, have far greater effects on health. Well-known examples of domestic radon exposure occurred in the UK, particularly in the Lake District and the South West, and the nuclear reactor accidents--notably at Chernobyl in 1986.

Accidents↗