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Biomedical subjects

R Berg

Publications and source records attributed to R Berg.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Retrospective evaluation of the outcome of orthodontic treatment in adults.

The aim of this study was the retrospective evaluation of the outcome of orthodontic treatment in consecutively treated adult patients. Of 147 adult patients, it was possible to evaluate the records of 88 patients (57 female, 31 male) before (T1) and after treatment (T2), and of 20 of these patients 3.3 years on average after completion of the retention phase (T3). During treatment planning, a nearly "ideal" result was considered attainable (ideal group) for 46 patients, and a "compromise" result (compromise group) was seen as realistic for 42. The assessment was made using the PAR (Peer Assessment Rating) index and the Aesthetic Component (AC) and Dental Health Components (DHC) of the IOTN (Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need). Average length of treatment in the ideal group was 2.4 years, i.e. nearly twice as long as in the compromise group. The PAR score was reduced by an average of 56% (T2); the reduction in the ideal group was 73%, and in the compromise group 37%. Among the 20 patients for whom at least 6 months had elapsed since completion of the retention phase, a statistically significant relapse between T2 and T3 was observed. The evaluation of overjet and overbite and, in the ideal group, of the midline and maxillary front teeth were primarily responsible for the worsening of the PAR scores between T2 and T3. According to the AC, 53 patients (60%) had moderate to definite treatment needs at the beginning of treatment. Following completion of active treatment, 69 patients (78%) no longer demonstrated treatment indications for aesthetic or psychosocial reasons. Based on the DHC, 88% of the patients were in definite or moderate need of treatment (T1); in contrast, treatment was no longer indicated in 84% at T2. In general, a marked improvement of the examined morphological parameters was observed.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of orthodontic treatment success in patients with pronounced Angle Class III.

The aim of this study was to assess the success of orthodontic treatment of pronounced Angle Class III malocclusions. The records of 16 patients with pretreatment mesial occlusion and negative overjet were analyzed by evaluating the plaster casts and lateral cephalograms made at the beginning (B1) and end (B2) of active treatment, which was purely orthodontic in all cases. After treatment the patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (n = 10) with virtually ideal occlusal relationships, and group 2 (n = 6) where this was not the case. Professional assessment of the results using the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) Index revealed a reduction of the weighted PAR scores of 90.2% in group 1 and 68.8% in group 2. A questionnaire was specially designed to obtain information on the patient's rating of the treatment and of the treatment outcome. 75% of the patients addressed answered the questionnaire. Following correction of the frontal crossbites, both groups displayed a clear-cut improvement of the sagittal lip relationship; this sometimes had a striking effect on the facial esthetics. The size and heterogeneity of the sample permit only cautious interpretation of the results. However, the study suggests from what degree of Angle Class III malocclusion surgical intervention is more likely to be indicated, although the final decision on elective surgery of this kind must always be left to the patient. The PAR Index offers various advantages in assessing treatment results. However, in view of its lack of esthetic sensitivity, it should be supplemented by other assessment methods.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Adult patients' view of orthodontic treatment outcome compared to professional assessments.

One important aspect in evaluating the outcome and quality of orthodontic treatment is the patient's own assessment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the course and outcome of orthodontic treatment in adults from the patient's vs the operator's point of view. In a previous study, the orthodontic treatment of 88 adults was evaluated using the IOTN and PAR Index before and after treatment. Fifty-nine patients answered treatment questionnaires on 1. the reason for seeking treatment, 2. dentofacial aesthetics, 3. treatment outcome, 4. course of treatment, 5. attitude, 6. social well-being. Depending on the original treatment goal, the patient population was divided into an Ideal Group and a Compromise Group. In 75% of the patients, dissatisfaction with dental aesthetics was the prime motive for seeking treatment; correlations with PAR parameters (overjet and maxillary anterior teeth) were weak. In general, a high degree of patient satisfaction with orthodontic treatment was registered. As regards satisfaction with post-treatment dental aesthetics there were no significant differences between the groups. Comparison of professional assessment with the subjective rating by patients revealed discrepancies in that the patients' rating of outcome tended to be more positive. The differentiation between ideal and compromise treatment goals proved useful. In the Compromise Group, a high level of patient satisfaction was attained with a shorter treatment duration and lower appliance involvement. 92% considered their major pre-treatment need to have been met, and 95% would have had the treatment performed again.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of labio-lingual bony support of lower incisors in orthodontically untreated adults with the help of computed tomography.

The aim of the present study was to assess bone volume and bone density in orthodontically untreated adults using a CT analyzing method, with reference data in the clinically essential area of the lower incisors being obtained. For quantitative and qualitative assessment of the labial and lingual bony support of the lower incisors, existing CT-images of 20 adult men with a near-to-normal occlusion and a clinically healthy periodontal situation were evaluated. With the help of a special program (SIM/Plant) and on the basis of axial scans, sagittal scans were constructed, permitting the individual imaging of the lower incisors and their alveolar process. The bony support of each tooth was registered labially and lingually perpendicular to the tooth axis at intervals corresponding to 10% of the root length. At the various root levels, especially at the upper parts of the roots, only small amounts of bony support, if any, were frequently observed. Labially, bony fenestrations and dehiscences were frequently seen, but lingually mostly dehiscences. No clinically relevant association was found between labial bony support and cephalometrically registered inclination of the lower incisors. Bone density, which was registered in Hounsfield units at the gingival, middle and apical thirds of the root levels, increased from the gingival to the apical thirds of the roots, generally with lower lingual than labial values. Before initiating orthodontic treatment a thorough clinical assessment of the anatomical situation in the lower incisor segment should be carried out. At present bone volume in this area can be reliably assessed only with computed tomography; however, this has to be weighed up against increased radiation risks. Therefore, the form of the symphysis should initially be roughly assessed by means of conventional cephalometry, with additional CT-based analysis of individual teeth being confined to special indications.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Orthodontics at the turn of the century. A discussion of some relevant aspects.

Some changing paradigms, that might influence orthodontics in the future, are being discussed: economic problems related to our welfare systems; development of the media societies; concepts of normality; future changes as regards the type of treatment records; evaluation of treatment outcome; "exaggerated orthodontics?"; orthodontics and facial aesthetics; Newtonian paradigms and scientific revolution; the growth of knowledge; phenomenology; tacit knowledge; decision making.

Esthetics, Dental↗
PubMed1999

Taking lessons from dendritic cells: multiple xenogeneic ligands for leukocyte integrins have the potential to stimulate anti-tumor immunity.

Expression of large numbers of different costimulatory integrin ligands (CILs) attributes dendritic cells with an ability to induce primary anti-tumor immune responses. Here, we show that optimized gene transfer of the xenogeneic (human) CILs VCAM-1, MAdCAM-1 and ICAM-1 causes rapid and complete rejection of established mouse EL-4 tumors, and generates prolonged systemic anti-tumor immunity; whereas human E-cadherin weakly slows tumor growth. In each case the immune response was mediated by CD8+ T cells and NK cells, accompanied by augmented tumor-specific cytolytic T cell (CTL) activity involving both the perforin and Fas-ligand pathways. Adoptive transfer of splenocytes from cured mice rapidly cleared established tumors in recipients. The mechanism for CIL-mediated immunity is unknown, but may involve CTL-facilitated tumor lysis, since CTLs were generally twice as efficient at killing CIL-transfected tumor cells than parental tumor cells. Optimized CIL-based gene therapy may provide an approach to complement or replace conventional DC adoptive cell therapy for suppressing tumor growth.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Analysis of leukocytes recruited to the pancreas by diabetogenic T cell clones.

To investigate host leukocytes recruited to the pancreas by diabetogenic T cells, we administered islet-specific CD4(+) T cell clones to 2-week-old nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice and examined the resulting pancreatic infiltrate by flow cytometry. Two different Vbeta4(+)CD4(+) T cell clones, BDC 2.5 and BDC 6.9, were found to recruit a heterogeneous T cell population as determined by staining with a panel of anti-TCR Vbeta monoclonal antibodies. The majority of the diabetes-initiating, Vbeta4(+) T cell clones migrated to the spleen whereas only 5-8% of the T cell population infiltrating the pancreas was Vbeta4(+). Anti-IL-2 receptor staining indicated that fewer than 10% of the total population of infiltrating lymphocytes within the pancreas were in a highly activated state. We have further found that normal splenic T cells from the NOD mouse proliferate poorly to IL-2 in vitro, yet secrete IFN-gamma in response to IL-2 stimulation. These results suggest that the recruited host T cells in our disease transfer system are not directly pathogenic but, rather, are responding to the small numbers of inflammatory T cell clones by providing cytokines that facilitate the disease process.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

A novel extracellular domain variant of the human integrin alpha 7 subunit generated by alternative intron splicing.

The integrin alpha 7 beta 1 laminin receptor, which is expressed on replicating myoblasts, and upregulated during myogenic differentiation, is involved in cell adhesion and communication between muscle cells and the extracellular matrix. It is a major cell-surface substrate in skeletal muscle cells for the cell-surface, argininespecific, ADP-ribosyltransferase. Both the extracellular and cytoplasmic domains of the mouse alpha 7 subunit undergo alternative splicing during development, generating differentially expressed variants with presumably unique ligand-binding and signalling properties. Here human cDNA clones isolated from a fetal heart lambda gt10 cDNA library encoded the complete sequence of the alpha 7 subunit and hybridised to a single major 4.4 kb alpha 7 subunit transcript abundantly expressed in human skeletal muscle, moderately expressed in heart, and weakly expressed in most other tissues. One clone out of four contained a novel 225-nucleotide in-frame deletion corresponding to 75 amino acids in the C-terminal region of the extracellular domain. The variant, whose expression appears to be tissue-specific, is created by alternative splicing at sites flanking an intron in the alpha 7 gene. A related mouse form was identified in P19 embryonal carcinoma cells. Deletion of the spliced region, which either contains or is in very close proximity to the major ADP-ribosylation site of the alpha 7 subunit, may serve to modulate the effects of ADP-ribosylation, or alternatively molecular associations, and receptor-ligand affinity.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1998

A wonderful smile.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Esthetics, Dental↗
PubMed1998

Feedback.

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Feedback↗
PubMed1998

Identification of multiple forms of 180-kDa ribosome receptor in human cells.

Herein, we describe the analysis and mapping of cDNA clones encoding variant forms of the human homolog of the canine 180-kDa ribosome receptor (p180). One form, similar to the chicken ES/130 homolog, possesses a large uninterrupted C-terminal region composed predominantly of heptad repeats predicted to form an alpha-helical double-stranded coiled-coil rod. Other forms contain in addition a 10-amino acid consensus motif, NQGKKAEGAQ, repeated up to 54 times in tandem close to the N-terminus. Such repeats in canine p180 represent a ribosome-binding domain. The cDNA hybridized to a major 6-kb transcript in all tissues examined, where very high expression was observed in tissues that carry out a high level of secretion such as pancreas, liver, and placenta. The ES130/p180 gene was mapped to chromosome 20p12, and a potential pseudogene appears to reside on chromosome 7. In summary, the data suggest that p180 exists in humans in different forms because of complete removal of tandem repeats, or partial intraexonic splicing, creating different repeat lengths with potentially novel ribosome-binding characteristics.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1998

Dental caries prevalence and treatment need in Chiriqui Province, Panama.

A pathfinder pilot survey was conducted in rural Chiriqui Province, Panama, using standard WHO methodology, in order to estimate dental caries prevalence and treatment need. Examinations for caries and treatment need were performed by six trained, experienced examiners. From a convenience sample of 2,597 subjects, a stratified cluster sample was constructed using index ages 12 and 15 years and age groups 35-44 and 65-74 years. The results showed a mean Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth index (DMFT) of 4.08 for 12 year olds, 6.40 for 15 year olds, 13.20 for the 35-44 age group, and 18.88 for the 65-74 age group (P < 0.001). No statistically significant differences by gender were found. These findings rank rural Panama with Mexico and Haiti when compared to the results of other Central American community studies. The percentage of caries free 12 year olds was 6.8 per cent. Of the total sample, 74.7 per cent of individuals would require one or multiple surface restorations and 47.9 per cent would require at least one extraction. Restorative need was greatest in the 15 year olds. The severity of dental caries in this sample was moderately severe and the treatment need extraordinarily high.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Knowledge and attitudes of Arizona high-school coaches regarding oral-facial injuries and mouthguard use among athletes.

The authors assessed high-school athletic coaches' perceptions about oral-facial injuries and mouthguard use in sports that do not mandate mouthguard use. About 72 percent of the coaches said that their athletes sustained oral-facial injuries, 28 percent that some athletes used mouthguards regularly, 48 percent that athletes had sustained injuries and did not use mouthguards regularly, and 31 percent said they would not encourage mouthguard use. Advocacy for mouthguard use should focus on coaches, coaches' associations and rule-making organizations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

xid affects events leading to B cell cycle entry.

X-linked agammaglobulinemia patients and X-linked immunodeficient (xid) mice possess mutations in the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk kinase) gene and display defects in B cell development and activation by sIg cross-linking. Btk is an early activation kinase in sIg-cross-linked B cells. xid does not ablate Btk protein kinase activity, and immediate signal transduction events, such as tyrosine phosphorylation, occur in sIg-activated xid B cells. These cells do not subsequently progress into cell division and have a high rate of apoptosis, which has been shown to correlate with an absence of sIg-mediated induction of the bcl-xL protein. To establish the point where Btk activity is critical for progression beyond immediate signaling, we examined early and late events in sIg-cross-linked xid B cells. Induction of proto-oncogenes and nuclear factors occurred normally in xid cells. However, induction of cyclins and increased GAPDH mRNA was not observed in xid cells. Degradation of the cyclin inhibitor p27Kip1 occurred normally in xid cells. After 24 h of culture with anti-mu, the remaining live, nonapoptotic xid cells were enlarged, viable, and primed for subsequent stimulation by LPS. Our data suggest that the Btk kinase is not essential for several G1 events and that the failure of sIg-activated xid B cells to enter cell cycle correlates with a defect of cyclin induction. Moreover, these data suggest that Btk is important not only for immediate events following B cell activation and control of apoptosis but also for subsequent events leading to cyclin activation.

Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase↗