Legislative priorities for 1995: Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Haber.
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This case-control study compares the prevalence of cigarette smoking among patients in a periodontal practice (cases) with that of patients in referring general dental practices (controls). Smoking histories of patients (age greater than or equal to 25 years) in a periodontal practice and five general dental practices were obtained by questionnaire. From the general practices, only patients reporting negative histories for periodontitis were studied. Periodontal status of the periodontal practice patients was based on bone loss from full mouth radiographic surveys and gingival pocket depths. Patients were stratified by age (25 to 40, 41 to 55, and greater than 55 years) and sex. The combined frequency of current or former cigarette smoking reported by 196 periodontal practice patients with moderate or advanced periodontitis (M-A perio group) was higher than that reported by 209 general dental practice patients (gen prac group) in all age and sex categories. The age and sex adjusted summary odds ratio for a positive smoking history among M-A perio subjects relative to gen prac subjects was 2.6 (P less than 0.001). Separate corresponding odds ratios (age and sex adjusted) for current smoking versus never smoking in the two groups were 3.3 (P less than 0.001) and for former smoking versus never smoking 2.1 (P less than 0.004). Among current smokers, patients in the M-A perio group reported heavy smoking (greater than 10 cigarettes/day) relatively more often than control subjects (adjusted R.O. = 5.7; P less than 0.001). In the M-A perio group the frequency of current smoking increased with disease severity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A group of poorly-controlled insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients were examined in a cross-sectional design for total microbial levels, microbial incidence, and the percent levels of selected periodontal microorganisms. These organisms were selected on the basis of prior reports that associated them with either periodontal disease or health. One periodontally-healthy and one periodontally-diseased site were examined in each IDDM patient. Increased levels of the periodontal pathogens Prevotella intermedia, P. melaninogenica spp., Bacteroides gracilis, Eikenella corrodens, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Campylobacter rectus (formerly Wolinella recta) were found at the periodontal diseased sites. Increased prevalence of the organisms P. intermedia, P. melaninogenica spp., and C. rectus were found at the diseased sites. A significantly higher percentage of P. intermedia was found at the sites exhibiting deep pockets and attachment loss.
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Type 1 fimbriae from Actinomyces viscosus T14V, composed of a complex protein of Mr 65,000, mediate the adherence of A. viscosus T14V to the host, whereas type 1 fimbriae-specific antibodies inhibit adherence. Genetic control of the serum IgG response to type 1 fimbriae was evaluated in a series of inbred, hybrid, recombinant inbred, and back-cross mice. Mice were given i.p. injections of 10(8) A. viscosus T14V cells in saline on days 0 and 14, and IgG anti-type 1 fimbriae in sera obtained on day 26 were measured by ELISA. Segregation analysis of the responses of (BALB/cJ x A/J)F1 x A/J backcross mice suggested polygenic control. Linkage analysis in (BALB/cJ x A/J)F1 x A/J backcross and SWXL recombinant inbred mice suggested control by genes linked with H-2 and with Ly-17 and Akp-1. In several F1 hybrid strains derived from H-2-disparate high and low responder parental strains, low responsiveness was dominant. The F1 derived from the H-2-identical high and low responder strains CBA/J and C3H/HeJ was a low responder, suggesting that dominant low responsiveness was mediated by non-H-2-linked genes. A three-gene model is proposed for regulation of the type 1 fimbriae response, including an MHC-linked gene, a gene linked with Ly-17 and Akp-1 on the telomeric portion of chromosome 1, and a background gene whose linkage is unknown.
This report summarizes the results of the 1989 California Medical School Matching Program Pilot Study. The study demonstrated that the technical aspects of a matching program for medical school applicants can be successfully operated. The applicant participation was 48.7%, with 76.1% of the ranked students responding. The schools ranked 1,122 students, with approximately 38% being ranked by more than one school. Of the 905 students who were matched to a school, 88% were matched to one of their top three choices. Of the students who had actually accepted a position at a school under the normal admission procedure, 60% had been matched to the same school by the matching program. The conclusions are that the program operates properly, that it fulfills the wishes of the students as well as could be expected, and that it parallels the current admission process to a reasonable degree.
Antibodies reactive with type 1 and type 2 fimbriae from Actinomyces viscosus T14V specifically inhibit the adherence of A. viscosus T14V to salivary pellicle-coated tooth surfaces and other bacteria, and these antibodies are thought to modulate colonization by this microorganism. These studies were done to determine whether previously noted differences in the antibody responses of inbred mice to type 1 and type 2 fimbriae might be under genetic control. The serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibody responses of inbred, F1 hybrid, and H-2 congenic mice, immunized with A. viscosus T14V cells, were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for antibodies reactive with A. viscosus T14V whole-cell type 1 and type 2 fimbriae. The results confirmed earlier findings and indicated striking variations in the amounts of IgG anti-type 1 (23-fold) and anti-type 2 (48-fold) fimbria antibodies elicited. The responses of the 17 inbred strains tested showed a relatively continuous distribution from high to low, as well as marked differences in the responses of H-2 and Igh-C identical strain pairs. An analysis of the responses of F1 hybrid and H-2 congenic mice indicated dominance of the low-responder gene(s) and control by H-2-linked genes. Antisera from two high-responder strains inhibited in vitro bacterial adherence to a much greater degree than antisera from a low-responding strain. These data suggest polygenic control of the magnitude of the IgG anti-type 1 and anti-type 2 fimbria antibody responses by H-2-linked genes as well as background genes not associated with H-2 or Igh-C loci.
The treatment of masticatory muscle and temporomandibular joint pain constitutes an important area in dentistry. Current information supports the use of reversible treatments for these disorders. Several recent references are discussed in relation to reversible treatment, the role of occlusion, and appliance therapy for internal derangement.
The dissolution of a marriage through divorce represents a major loss in the lives of all family members. Losses can include those of a physical, social, and emotional nature. The self as it was defined within the marital context and the loss of that self as a result of divorce is a significant source of potential dysfunction in adult family members during and after the divorce. From a family systems' perspective, the lower the level fo differentiation of self in family members, the greater is the likelihood that the self was defined in a fusional way during the marriage. As such, when the fused common self is lost through divorce, one or both spouses is likely to experience a significant sense of loss as well as potential dysfunction. The purpose of this article is to propose a model that helps divorced people deal with the loss of self and assists them to define a more differentiated sense of self.
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is frequently associated with monocytosis in the blood and myelomonocytic dysplasia in the bone marrow. In two groups of patients with MDS, all subtypes excluding CMML, the authors demonstrated that monocytosis was present in 15% of the patients in group I according to the haemogram at the time when the diagnosis was established and in 19% in group II where it was required that at least in half the haemograms throughout the course of the disease there were more than 10% monocytes. No difference was found in the prognosis of patients with monocytosis, as compared with patients with monocytopenia as regards the life span and frequency of transformation into AL. The cytogenetic and cultivation findings did not differ either. In some instances, in particular in patients with RA and RAS significant monocytosis was not associated with the expected proliferation of monocytoid cells in bone marrow. The authors assume that proliferation and differentiation of germ cells in the monocytic series is easier than in the granulocytic series and that monocytosis can be considered a manifestation of substituted neutropenia. The work indicates the difficulties associated with the differential diagnosis of RA, RAS and RAEB with monocytosis, MDS with a dominating change of the type of myelomonocytic dysplasia and CMML proper.
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The antibody responses of inbred mice immunized with Actinomyces viscosus T14V cells were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assays (ELISAs) for measuring serum antibodies reactive with A. viscosus T14V cells and type 1 and type 2 fimbriae. In A/J mice immunized intraperitoneally on days 0 and 14, the serum antibody responses approached peak levels during d 19-35, and a dose of 10(8) cells/injection elicited optimal responses. Analysis of the responses of three genetically diverse strains of inbred mice indicated striking variations in the amounts of anti-type 1 (6.5-fold) and anti-type 2 (14.3-fold) antibodies elicited. The observed variations in the magnitude of the anti-fimbrial antibody responses are theoretically of sufficient magnitude to account for significant differences between mouse strains in their ability to inhibit adherence of A. viscosus T14V to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite and other bacteria. These studies provide a model with which the effects of variations in anti-fimbrial antibody responses on bacterial adherence may be analyzed.
The bacteriologic findings in the maxillary sinus of 20 patients who underwent surgical repositioning of the maxilla are presented. Using an open sterile surgical technique, three samples from each patient were collected prior to the planned osteotomy. The specimens included a section of the anterior bony sinus wall, an aspirate of the irrigated sinus, and a swab of the sinus membrane procured through an antral window. All specimens were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic organisms. In addition to bacterial culture samples, a portion of the sinus membrane was resected and examined microscopically for the presence of an inflammatory cell infiltrate. Eighty per cent (16/20) of the patients studied showed no bacterial growth from any sinus specimen. The remaining 20% (four of 20) had some bacterial growth, but in negligible numbers. Microscopically, all mucosal specimens showed some degree of inflammatory cell infiltrate, but the specimens where bacteria were present showed a more acute inflammatory response. It was concluded that the asymptomatic adult maxillary sinus is usually sterile, but that a few transient bacteria may exist in a clinically silent antrum. When bacteria are present, they are recognized as foreign and elicit the appropriate inflammatory responses.
In one year sporadic soft tissue infections due to group B streptococci were identified in 37 patients beyond the neonatal period. Serious underlying conditions were present in 25 patients (68%), including 17 (46%) who had diabetes mellitus and 4 (11%) with paraplegia. Unlike previous reports, 12 patients (32%) were previously healthy. Infection developed in 8 persons as a result of minor trauma. The mean age of the normal hosts was 20.9 years, whereas the mean age of patients with underlying disease was 44.2 years (P<.0005). The clinical spectrum was varied and included abscess formation in 17 patients (46%). All patients required treatment with antibiotics and 28 (76%) required admission to hospital. Complete recovery occurred in 33 patients (89%) while 4 with diabetes required amputation of infected extremities. Group B Streptococcus was the only organism identified in 22 patients (59%) while mixed organisms were cultured in 15 (41%), including Staphylococcus aureus in 12 and gram-negative enteropathogens in 4. Group B streptococcal soft tissue infections beyond the neonatal period are common and may even involve normal hosts.
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A large-scale retrospective study was undertaken to determine the incidence of clinical infection after periodontal surgery and the effectiveness of prophylactic antibiotic therapy in preventing postoperative infection. All second-year postgraduate students reviewed their patient records and completed a questionnaire. Eight infections were found in 884 operations performed without antibiotics, while one infection was found in 43 operations performed with antibiotics. Of 268 operations involving osseous surgery, six infections were noted while two infections were observed following 336 operations involving flap surgery without osteoplasty or ostectomy. The data indicated that the incidence of infection after periodontal surgery is very low in patients treated with or without antibiotics. It was concluded that unless there is a medical indication, there is no justification for using prophylactic antibiotic therapy to prevent infection following periodontal surgery.
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An isotopic antiglobulin test (IAT) for anti-sheep red blood cell (SRBC) antibodies of different immunoglobulin (Ig) classes was developed and used to measure levels of IgM, IgA, IgG, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG3 anti-SRBC antibody in sera from 12 inbred strains of mice. Characterization of the Ig class specific heteroantisera prepared for use in this assay revealed substantial amounts of antibodies reactive with idiotypic and allotypic determinants of IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgA. Accordingly, class specific antibodies which do not discriminate among Ig molecules of different IgCH phenotypes were isolated from each heteroantiserum by absorption and elution from Ig's of selected strains. Levels of anti-SRBC antibody are expressed as units of antibody/ml relative to an anti-SRBC antiserum reference standard. The use of conversion factors (estimates of the relative reactivity of each anti-Ig reagent) allows quantitative comparisons within the between IgG subclasses. This method allows measurements of nanogram amounts of specific anti-SRBC antibodies of a single Ig class, and simultaneous measurements of antibody levels in 6 Ig classes from a single 30 microliter serum sample. Analysis of the responses of several strains of inbred mice indicates striking variations (5-31-fold) in the amounts and relative proportions of different Ig classes. The IgG subclass distributions observed appear to be associated with the IgCH but not the H-2 haplotypes of the strains studied.