Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D Gibbons.
A survey was carried out of 102 members of the general public, asking for their views of the recent changes in the government funding of NHS dentistry. Approximately 80% of those surveyed had heard about the changes. The majority thought that the implications of the change would be a rise in costs to patients and a fall in the number of NHS dentists.
OBJECTIVE: Recently, 2 classes of cytokine inhibitors have been defined at the molecular level. The largest group comprises the extracellular domains of cell surface cytokine receptors, and includes both tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNF-R). The present study was conducted to investigate the role of TNF inhibitors in arthritis. METHODS: We measured p55 and p75 soluble TNF-R (sTNF-R) in serum and synovial fluid (SF) samples from patients with rheumatic diseases and compared their levels with levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R). Sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), specific for p55 and p75 sTNF-R and for sIL-2R, were used. RESULTS: Serum levels of p75 sTNF-R were 3-4-fold higher than levels of p55 sTNF-R, and both were significantly elevated in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with healthy controls. RA SF levels of sTNF-R were 4-5-fold higher than levels in serum, suggesting local production in the joint, and were significantly higher than levels in the SF of patients with seronegative arthropathy or OA. Furthermore, levels of p55 and p75 sTNF-R, but not sIL-2R or TNF alpha measured by ELISA, were increased in the SF of patients with clinically active RA. The soluble TNF-R in RA and OA SF were functional since they inhibited TNF activity in a cytotoxicity assay in proportion to the levels of inhibitor present. Evaluation of serially obtained serum samples suggested that sTNF-R may be a useful parameter for monitoring RA disease activity. CONCLUSION: Biologically active soluble TNF-R are up-regulated in patients with rheumatic disease and are produced locally in the joints. Measurement of serum levels of TNF-R may be useful for monitoring of disease, and determination of SF levels could be of diagnostic value.
We evaluated a polybutylene/polypropylene blend in a blown microfiber configuration in vitro for potential use as the peripheral area of a keratoprosthetic device. Material properties such as ultimate tensile strength and ultimate elongation were measured. Stromal fibroblasts were seeded onto the material in vitro, and cell proliferation between uncoated and Type I collagen coated discs did not differ significantly. Fibroblasts could be seen migrating along the fibers and also traversing the fibers. The synthesis of connective proteins was examined. Laminin, fibronectin, and Type I collagen were detected by day 8. The experiments demonstrate that stromal fibroblasts can adhere onto the fibers, proliferate, and synthesize connective tissue proteins. Experiments are now being conducted to further evaluate the material in vivo.
This study examines the need for standardised examiners to collect data on 5-year-old children. Data collected at routine school inspections by non-standardised dental officers are compared with data collected by a standardised epidemiologist using the criteria recommended by the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry. Both sets of data were gathered from one sample of 638 children. Comparisons between results are made for the total sample, for the three health districts concerned and at individual school level. For the total sample there was a mean difference of 0.05 dmft between the dental officers' data and the epidemiologist's data but in one district identical results were achieved. Comparisons between districts showed that both data sets identified the same statistically significant differences; for example, both showed one district to have significantly higher levels of caries than the other two. At individual school level regression analysis gave a very high level of agreement (r = +0.94) between the two data sets. If mean values of dmft continue to be reported as indicators of child dental health, data collected at routine dental inspections on large samples may be adequate for this age group.
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1. The study of PNI development provides useful information in the design and improvement of the prosthetic devices. 2. Improved gelatin aldehyde impregnation on the dacron covered diaphragm of cardiac prostheses resulted in a reduced PNI thickness and minimized interfacial degeneration of PNI. 3. The PNI on the diaphragm's surface started with a platelet rich interface and ended with a striated fibrin and platelet matrix at the blood interface. 4. The PNI in the TAH's had a higher involvement of polymorphonuclear leukocytic cells at the PNI-housing or diaphragm interface than the LVAD's. 5. The aldehyde treated pericardial surface of cardiac prostheses generated a thin PNI that was fibrin-rich, a viable cell infiltration, no interfacial degeneration, and endothelial-like cells on its surface.
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