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Biomedical subjects

D W Turner

Publications and source records attributed to D W Turner.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

A sensitive method for the detection of immune complexes in human gingival crevicular fluid.

An assay for immune complexes [ICs] in gingival crevicular fluid [GCF] could be potentially useful to ascertain the risk of periodontal disease activity at specific oral sites. This paper describes and ELISA-based method sufficiently sensitive to measure ICs in GCF samples at levels below 1 microgram/ml. Static GCF samples taken from 5 adults showed IC levels ranging from 5 to 166 micrograms/ml. Additional tests of 10 GCF samples from 1 adult were conducted with complement components and indicated that either C1q or rabbit anti-human C3d was suitable as a capture agent in the assay procedure. Further application of this assay may help to assess the usefulness of IC levels in GCF samples as possible diagnostic indicators of periodontal disease activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Transamidase and collagenase activity in healthy and diseased human gingival tissues.

Transamidases are a class of calcium-dependent mammalian enzymes which cross-link proteins by catalyzing the formation of (gamma-glutamyl)-epsilon-lysine bonds. It is possible that these enzymes play an important anabolic role in tissue healing. This study was to quantitate transamidase activity in human gingival tissue and examine the relation between transmidase activity and degree of inflammation. Forty-four out of a total 120 collected human gingival specimens from healthy and diseased patients were selected based on histometric and microbiologic criteria. Specimens were minced and homogenized in 10 mM CaCl2 and then extracted for 30 min, in 50 mM tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.5) containing 100 mM CaCl2. Following low speed centrifugation at 4 degrees C, the supernatant solution was assayed for both transamidase and collagenase activities by radioactive amine incorporation, and digestion of tritiated collagen, respectively. Appreciable levels of transamidase and collagenase activities in healthy gingivae were found. These enzyme activities were significantly elevated in the diseased and healing tissues. Unlike other transamidases, calcium was required in the enzyme extraction process.

Acyltransferases↗
PubMed1991

Human polymorphonuclear granule components: relative levels detected by a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in normal and inflamed dental pulps.

Lysosomal granules of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN's) contain proteolytic enzymes and other components important in the regulation of inflammation and the elimination of bacteria or debris associated with pulp disease. However, PMN lysosomal degranulation is nonspecific and can result in destruction of healthy connective tissue adjacent to the areas of damaged or infected tissue. For this study a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the human PMN lysosomal granule products: elastase, cathepsin G, and lactoferrin. Evaluation of 55 pulp samples yielded a statistically significant difference (p less than 0.05) among the levels of elastase and lactoferrin in normal and moderate to severely inflamed pulps. Although cathepsin G levels were increased, there was no statistical significance (p greater than 0.05) among groups. The results indicate that a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique can be used to measure PMN lysosomal granule components in dental pulp tissues. Additionally, elastase and lactoferrin levels appear to be valid diagnostic markers of advanced dental pulp disease.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1991

Natural modifiers of the inflammatory process in the human dental pulp.

Concentrations of the protease inhibitors alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 2-macroglobulin were determined in normal and inflamed human dental pulps. Carious pulpal exposure which is associated with polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration and release of lysosomal enzymes was chosen as the point of verifiable inflammatory activity in the pulp. Normal samples were collected from nondiseased third molar teeth treatment planned for extraction and inflamed human pulps were collected from teeth with deep carious lesions. One half of each sample was assayed for concentration of protease inhibitors by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the remaining half was examined histologically to verify the clinical diagnosis and categorize the extent of the inflammatory process. alpha 1-Antitrypsin and alpha 2-macroglobulin were detected in normal and inflamed human dental pulps in the nanogram per milliliter range. Statistically significant differences were found in the concentrations of alpha 2-macroglobulin (p less than 0.01) in moderate to severe inflammation versus normal pulp categories and between mildly inflamed pulps and moderate to severely inflamed pulps (p less than 0.05). Although differences in concentrations of alpha 1-antitrypsin were seen between inflamed and normal pulps, the differences were not statistically significant. The presence of these two protease inhibitors in the human dental pulp tissue and the increase in their concentration in acute inflammation indicates that these proteins play a role in the pathogenesis of pulpal inflammatory disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Determination and relationship of C-reactive protein in human dental pulps and in serum.

C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute phase protein synthesized by the liver, increases in serum as much as 3000 times above its normal level in response to acute inflammation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether CRP levels in dental pulps could be correlated with the histological disease status of the pulp and with systemic blood levels of CRP. Inflamed and necrotic pulps were extirpated during routine endodontic therapy. Normal pulps were removed from extracted, intact third molars. One half of each pulp specimen was placed in formalin for histological study; the other half was frozen for immunological study. A serum sample was obtained from each patient at the end of the dental visit. CRP levels were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pulps were categorized histologically as normal, inflamed, inflamed/necrotic, or necrotic. The correlation between CRP levels of pulp and serum was not significant. CRP levels of normal pulps differed significantly only from inflamed pulps (p less than 0.05, Dunnett). This increase in CRP appears to be a local phenomenon resulting from the interaction of CRP with various inflammatory mediators in the pulp.

C-Reactive Protein↗
PubMed1989

Serum and gingival tissue antibody levels to oral microbial antigens in human chronic adult periodontitis.

Antibody levels against antigens from eight oral micro-organisms were measured in sera and gingival tissue extracts from adult periodontitis patients and healthy subjects by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The antibody levels of diseased serum samples were significantly higher than those of healthy serum samples. Analysis of diseased sera indicated that antibody levels against Bacteriodes gingivalis antigens were significantly higher than antibody levels against all the other antigens tested except for those from B. intermedius and B. asaccharolyticus. Extracts from diseased gingival tissues had significantly higher levels of antibody against B. gingivalis antigens than against antigens from all of the other micro-organisms tested, including B. intermedius and B. asaccharolyticus. These results suggest selective, specific and localized antibody production during or following the establishment of chronic adult periodontitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Comparison of occupational interview data to death certificate data in Utah.

Lifelong occupational histories obtained by interview prior to death were compared to death certificate data for 87 male bladder cancer patients in Utah. Agreement was defined as identical Bureau of Census codes, after predetermined groupings were made. Usual occupation, defined as that with the longest duration, agreed with the death certificate occupation for 54% of the individuals; usual industry agreed for 72%. Most recent occupation and industry agreed for 47% and 53%, respectively. For 69%, at least one interview occupation agreed with the death certificate occupation, and at least one industry agreed for 84%. Variables affecting agreement were duration of the job and education. Also examined were interview data about employment either during the last 15 years or prior to age 65 years, obtained from 112 male colon cancer patients. The Bureau of Census codes were in agreement for occupation in 63% and for industry in 65%. Duration of the job and education were related to percent agreement. We conclude that occupations and industries listed on death certificates reflect at least part of the work history of the majority of individuals.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Termination: that difficult farewell.

Termination is usually a difficult and painful, yet powerfully significant life experience. It is experienced in multiple contexts beginning with birth and ending with death. This article addresses itself to these issues and the when and how of goodbyes.

Grief↗
PubMed1976

Cell-mediated immune response to products of Actinomyces viscosus cultures.

Hartley strain guinea pigs were sensitized with 0.5 ml of concentrated cell-free Actinomyces viscosus culture supernatant fluids mixed with Freund complete adjuvant. Fourteen to 16 days later the animals were challenged by intradermal injection with 0.1 ml of the culture supernatant, and the reactions were observed at 4, 8, 16, 24, and 48 h. Peritoneal exudate cells from sensitized animals were used for determination of migration inhibition factor, and guinea pig peripheral blood served as a source of cells for determining the induction of mitogenesis by antigenic material. Skin responses were consistently positive to challenge with the test material, whereas reactions to noninoculated culture medium were negative. Sensitized cells, challenged with antigen, resulted in 60% or greater inhibition of migration of indicator cells in migration inhibition factor experiments. Tests for mitogenesis showed a greater than fourfold increase in isotope uptake when sensitized cells were challenged with test material. The data are consistent with the suggestion that A. viscosus culture supernatants contain substances that induce cell-mediated immune responses in guinea pigs.

Actinomyces↗