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Biomedical subjects

W T McGaw

Publications and source records attributed to W T McGaw.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Erdheim-Chester disease of the jaws: literature review and case report.

Erdheim-Chester disease is a rare systemic lipogranulomatous disorder of adults that shares some histopathologic features similar to Langerhans' cell histiocytosis and that results in characteristic radiographic changes in the long bones. Relatively few cases have been reported in the jaws. We present a literature review of jaw cases and the first case report to describe detailed radiographic and pathologic features of jaw involvement, as well as clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic follow-up of the untreated jaw lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Oral acyclovir in prevention of herpes labialis. A randomized, double-blind, multi-centered clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: A three-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled acyclovir clinical trial was conducted among Canadian skiers over a 2-year period. STUDY DESIGN: All patients enrolled in the study reported a history of recurrent herpes labialis with a greater-than-50% chance of a sun-induced trigger. There were 239 patients enrolled, and 237 of these were included in the analysis. For a minimum of 3 days and a maximum of 7 days, each patient received 800 mg of oral acyclovir twice daily (1600 mg/day) 12 to 24 hours before exposure to the sun. A minimum of 3 hours of outdoor activity was required each day. RESULTS: No differences were detected in baseline and outcome measures among the centers, and results from all three centers were combined for further analysis. There was no difference in healing rate between the acyclovir and placebo groups for the first 4 days. Patients using acyclovir healed slightly faster on days 5 and 6, and nearly all patients in both the acyclovir and placebo groups were healed by day 7. Adverse events were evenly distributed; no withdrawals were required in either group. CONCLUSION: 800-mg oral acyclovir taken twice a day was not significantly better than a placebo either in effectiveness and prevention of recurrent herpes labialis or in adverse effects.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1997

Herpes labialis in skiers: randomized clinical trial of acyclovir cream versus placebo.

OBJECTIVE: A randomized, double-blind trial at seven ski sites in Canada and the United States was conducted to compare the effectiveness and the patient tolerance of topically applied 5% acyclovir cream (MAC III formulation) with those of a placebo cream in the prevention of sun-induced herpes labialis lesions. STUDY DESIGN: All subjects had experienced more than three episodes of sun-induced herpes labialis during the previous year. There were 196 subjects enrolled; 5 did not receive medication, and 10 were excluded from the efficacy analysis for protocol violations. There were 191 subjects in the intent-to-treat analysis, and a separate efficacy analysis was done on 181 subjects. Log rank and Fisher exact tests were used in the analysis. RESULTS: There was no difference between the two groups at baseline with respect to any clinical or demographic factor. There was no substantial difference between the groups with respect to adverse experiences (15 for acyclovir; 13 for the placebo). The acyclovir group had significantly fewer lesions (p < 0.01) than the placebo group (21% vs. 40%) during the 4-day follow-up period. CONCLUSION: The acyclovir group was significantly better than the placebo group during the follow-up period. The safety record of the drug was satisfactory; there was no difference between acyclovir and the placebo in side effects or pain. Topically applied 5% acyclovir cream is an effective preventive step for those who are active and exposed to the sun.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1996

Dental unit water contamination.

Bacteria-laden biofilms located on the lumen surface of dental unit water lines have resulted in the persistent and widespread microbial contamination of dental unit water supplies. These biofilms are resistant to chemical disinfection. As such, they act as reservoirs that facilitate the continuous re-contamination of dental unit water. The microbial populations of the biofilms found in dental unit water lines include opportunistic pathogens of unknown significance. Strategies to control the contamination are discussed.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1996

Cancer of the gingiva, buccal mucosa, and palate.

While most cases of intraoral cancer arise in the cancer-prone horseshoe comprised of the floor of the mouth, the posterolateral borders and ventral surface of the tongue, and the retromolar region, no intraoral site is immune. This article reviews the clinical features of squamous cell carcinoma of the gingiva, buccal mucosa and palate, as well as the less common oral malignancies that can arise at these intraoral sites.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1995

Detection of premalignant oral lesions: a 10 year retrospective study in Alberta.

A comprehensive review of all oral premalignant lesions and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) diagnosed and biopsied by the oral pathology diagnostic service at the University of Alberta over two sequential five-year periods (1984-1988 and 1989-1993) was undertaken. There was a disproportionate increase in the number of premalignant biopsies conducted in 1989-93 relative to the number of SCC biopsies, suggesting an improvement in the detection of oral pre-malignancy by dentists.

Alberta↗
PubMed1990

Candidal infection in oral lichen planus.

The prevalence of candidal infection in lichen planus (LP) and its possible association with ulceration were independently examined in two archived series of 108 and 77 cases derived from two separate populations. To ensure that similar material was being compared, each case was histopathologically reassessed and confirmed as LP or reclassified as nonspecific lichenoid stomatitis (NSLS), lichenoid dysplasia (LD), or other (O). Three further sections, cut at 25 microns intervals, were stained with periodic acid-Schiff reagent for the identification of intraepithelial candidal pseudohyphae. As control specimens, 61 normal and 59 hyperkeratotic mucosal samples were similarly processed and examined. Candidal infection was found in 17.4% and 16.4% of ulcerated and nonulcerated LP cases, respectively, and in 40.0% and 16.7% of ulcerated and nonulcerated NSLS cases, respectively. One case of LD was infected. Each control series contained one infected case. The results indicate that candidal infection occurs more readily in LP and NSLS, with no apparent association with ulceration in LP. The comparatively marked increase in the infection prevalence of ulcerated NSLS cannot be statistically confirmed, and its significance remains uncertain.

Candidiasis, Oral↗
PubMed1990

Oral cancer and precancer.

Oral carcinoma can be regarded as a largely preventable disease. Early recognition should be an attainable goal for most patients undergoing regular dental recall appointments. An understanding of the risk factors and of the characteristics of precancerous lesions can serve to heighten clinical sensitivity to oral SCC. Biopsies should be performed in all cases where the possibility of SCC exists; alternatively, patients should be referred to appropriate specialists for further evaluation.

Carcinoma, Papillary↗
PubMed1989

Herpes labialis treatment with acyclovir 5% modified aqueous cream: a double-blind randomized trial.

The efficacy of 5% acyclovir in a modified aqueous cream vehicle (ACV-MAC) in the treatment of recurrent herpes labialis was tested in a randomized, double-blind clinical trial with the modified aqueous cream vehicle as a control medication. The ACV-MAC formulation has previously been shown to offer superior cutaneous absorption relative to other topical acyclovir formulations. Treatment was initiated by patients within 1 hour of prodrome in an attempt to maximize clinical impact of this virustatic drug. While the patient group receiving active drug showed a trend toward accelerated healing, no significant differences for lesion or healing characteristics could be measured between the two treatment groups. It is suggested that optimal efficacy of ACV-MAC may be predicated on prophylactic treatment, that is, "trigger"-initiated rather than prodrome-initiated treatment.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1989

Herpes labialis treatment with acyclovir 5 per cent ointment.

Eighty patients who were culture-confirmed positive for recurrent herpes labialis were entered into a clinical trial. Sixty of these completed two episodes each in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of 5 per cent acyclovir in a polyethylene glycol ointment base. The 5 per cent acyclovir ointment failed to show better clinical healing effects than placebo in both documented episodes. There were no serious side effects observed in either group.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1988

Treatment of herpes labialis with acyclovir. Review of three clinical trials.

Three trials with acyclovir in the treatment of recurrent herpes labialis in the same patient population are reviewed. In the first trial, oral acyclovir capsules, five times per day for five days, were shown to be of significant benefit for some parameters of cutaneous resolution in three successive episodes. Topical formulations were evaluated in two separate trials; 5 percent acyclovir in a modified aqueous cream base exhibited favorable trends, but 5 percent acyclovir in a polyethylene base was ineffective. A high dose of oral acyclovir may offer the most effective method of control of recurrent herpes labialis.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1988

Radioimmunoassay of salivary cyclosporine with use of 125I-labeled cyclosporine.

We prepared 125I-labeled cyclosporine (125I-CS) by modifying the procedure of Mahoney and Orf (Clin Chem 1985;31:459) and characterized it with regards to maximal immunoreactivity (greater than 90%), trichloroacetic acid precipitability (greater than 90%), and stability (90% immunoreactive after five half-lives of 125I). For a particular preparation of 125I-CS, we estimated its immunoreaction concentration (50 pmol/L) and the equilibrium constant for its reaction with Sandoz polyclonal antiserum (K = 3.9 X 10(9) L/mol). By substituting 125I-CS as tracer in the Sandoz radioimmunoassay and by modifying other aspects of the assay, we developed a procedure that is sufficiently sensitive (0.34 micrograms/L) to allow measurement of "trough" (lowest inter-dose) cyclosporine concentrations in parotid saliva. Of 38 kidney-transplant patients, 35 had measurable concentrations in saliva (mean 8.3, SD 5.2 micrograms/L), and these correlated moderately with paired serum concentrations (r = 0.68, P less than 0.001). We believe that measurement of salivary cyclosporine may offer a simple way of estimating the free fraction of the drug in serum or plasma.

Cyclosporins↗
PubMed1987

Oral acyclovir and herpes labialis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

A study of the effects of oral acyclovir (200 mg), administered five times per day for 5 days in 210 patients who cultured positive for herpes labialis, is made. A total of 149 patients were followed through three episodes each of herpes labialis while taking a placebo or acyclovir. Patients were evaluated for several clinical parameters, including the loss of lesion crust and reduction of the size of the area of the lesion between day 1 and day 5. Acyclovir showed a significant antiviral effect. Results show that oral acyclovir can favorably affect some parameters, but that higher doses or a "loading dose" could improve its efficacy.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1986

The effect of tension on collagen remodelling by fibroblasts: a stereological ultrastructural study.

Peak levels of collagen phagocytic activity by fibroblasts during scar maturation have been shown to coincide with a reorientation of major fibre bundles in a process analogous to Wolff's Law. This activity has been shown to increase when greater tension exists across the scar. In this study, the influences of reduced tension on collagen remodeling was studied. In two groups of five rats the right achilles tendon was either: transected at its muscle insertion or was exposed in a similar fashion but left intact. The tendon samples were retrieved five days following initial surgery with a third group of five rats serving as a source of control tendon. Relative volume of collagen phagocytosis was measured at an ultrastructural level using stereological methods. No significant influence of reduced tension on collagen phagocytosis was observed. The average relative volume of fibroblast cytoplasm was significantly increased in the transected tendon. This may represent an inductive influence of as yet undetermined nature.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed1985

Oral complications of acute leukemia: prophylactic impact of a chlorhexidine mouth rinse regimen.

The prophylactic value of twice-daily mouth rinses with a solution of 0.1% chlorhexidine gluconate in minimizing oral complications during remission-induction chemotherapy was tested in sixteen patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia. The study design was double blind with a placebo control. Standardized measurement indices were employed to assess the dental plaque levels and the degree of gingivitis and mucositis during remission-induction. The treatment group demonstrated superior oral health on the basis of each of these measurement parameters. A moderate increase in tooth staining was observed in the treatment group. The results also suggested the potential value of chlorhexidine mouth rinses in the prophylaxis of oral candidiasis in the myelosuppressed patient.

Adolescent↗