Biomedical subjects
G T McIntyre
Publications and source records attributed to G T McIntyre.
Parental craniofacial morphology in orofacial clefting.
The parental craniofacial morphology in orofacial clefting (OFC) has been shown to differ from that of the non-cleft population when evaluated using conventional cephalometric analyses comprising a variety of linear, angular, and area measurements. In spite of this, the shape of the parental craniofacial complex is of greater importance in the search for the morphogenes involved in OFC. This retrospective case-control study employed three morphometric techniques [discriminant analysis of the principal components of shape (PCS), Euclidean distance matrix analysis (EDMA), and thin-plate spline analysis (TPS)] to localize the craniofacial skeletal shape differences between (a) the parents of children with OFC and a comparison group, (b) the parents of children with cleft lip and palate [CL(P)] and cleft palate (CP), and (c) the male and female parents of children with OFC. The postero-anterior (PA) cephalograms of 92 parents of children with non-syndromic OFC and 43 comparison group volunteers were scanned and digitized. The configurations of 24 reproducible landmarks were optimally superimposed using Procrustes algorithms to allow shape data to be derived using PCS, EDMA, and TPS. The parental craniofacial shape statistically significantly differed from that of the comparison group using PCS (P < 0.001) and EDMA (P = 0.001). However PCS, EDMA, and TPS differed in their localization of the shape differences, explainable by the different mathematical methods used by the individual techniques. Interestingly, the parental craniofacial shapes in CL(P) and CP were morphologically similar when tested using PCS (P = 0.03) and EDMA (P = 0.027). However, there was no shape-related sexual dimorphism in parental craniofacial morphology in OFC when tested using PCS (P = 0.35) and EDMA (P = 0.525). Thus, the parental craniofacial shape in OFC differs from the non-cleft population, the parental craniofacial shape does not differ between CL(P) and CP and there is no sexual dimorphism in the parental craniofacial morphology in OFC, as viewed on PA cephalograms.
Posteroanterior cephalometric analysis of the parental craniofacial morphology in orofacial clefting.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the parental craniofacial morphology in orofacial clefting (OFC). DESIGN: Case-control posteroanterior cephalometric study. SETTING: The Department of Orthodontics, University of Dundee Dental School, Scotland, United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-two parents from a completely ascertained sample of 286 Scottish babies with nonsyndromic OFC and 43 comparison group volunteers from the University of Dundee Dental School. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: A conventional cephalometric analysis was used to measure linear distances and their ratios, angles, and areas. Two-sample Student's t tests and a discriminant analysis were applied to the data, and the clinically important statistically significant variables were identified using an accepted protocol. RESULTS: Sixty-four linear distances, 10 ratios, 52 angles, and 7 areas statistically significantly differed between the parental and comparison groups (p <.01). Of these, 62 linear distances (22%), 9 ratios (45%), 41 angles (41%), and 6 areas (24%) were clinically important. Asymmetry was a feature of the results. Canonical variates analysis correctly classified 91.3% of the parental group and 90.6% of the comparison group using a series of 36 variables. CONCLUSIONS: The parental craniofacial morphology in OFC differs significantly from the noncleft population. A larger superolateral face and smaller central midface and, in particular, a clinically significantly smaller maxillary width, in conjunction with skeletal asymmetry, characterize the parents of Scottish children with OFC. These features may be of morphogenetic importance in the etiopathogenesis of OFC in this ethnic group.
Stretching water--Queensland's water use efficiency cotton and grains adoption program.
The Cotton and Grains Adoption Program of the Queensland Rural Water Use Efficiency Initiative is targeting five major irrigation regions in the state with the objective to develop better irrigation water use efficiency (WUE) through the adoption of best management practices in irrigation. The major beneficiaries of the program will be industries, irrigators and local communities. The benefits will flow via two avenues: increased production and profit resulting from improved WUE and improved environmental health as a consequence of greatly reduced runoff of irrigation tailwater into rivers and streams. This in turn will reduce the risk of nutrient and pesticide contamination of waterways. As a side effect, the work is likely to contribute to an improved public image of the cotton and grain industries. In each of the five regions, WUE officers have established grower groups to assist in providing local input into the specific objectives of extension and demonstration activities. The groups also assist in developing growers' perceptions of ownership of the work. Activities are based around four on-farm demonstration sites in each region where irrigation management techniques and hardware are showcased. A key theme of the program is monitoring water use. This is applied both to on-farm storage and distribution as well as to application methods and in-field management. This paper describes the project, its activities and successes.
Teething troubles?
The relationship between the eruption of the deciduous teeth and the general health of infants has been documented for over 5,000 years. A variety of physical disturbances (anything from minor upsets to potentially fatal illnesses) have historically been attributed to teething, however a number of recent publications have alluded to a clarification of some of the disputed features of teething. It is now accepted that the localised symptoms of teething vary between individuals, however, 'teething' continues to be an inappropriate diagnosis proffered by both healthcare professionals and lay people. Severe systemic upsets are unrelated to teething and, if present, the infant should be promptly referred to a physician for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The treatment modalities used in teething have been diverse throughout the ages, frequently depending on the tenets of the medical profession and lay people, but now principally involve pain relief. This article examines the signs and symptoms frequently attributed to teething and their possible alternative causes. The contemporary principles of the management of teething are discussed, including supportive measures, the diverse range of available topical and systemic pharmacological preparations and the 'alternative' holistic therapies.
The craniofacial morphology of the parents of children with orofacial clefting: a systematic review of cephalometric studies.
OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the cephalometric studies investigating the craniofacial morphology of the parents of children with orofacial clefting (OFC). SEARCH STRATEGY: The search strategy was based on the keywords 'parent', cephalometry', and 'cleft', identifying 17 studies, of which 15 'case/control' studies met the inclusion criteria Statistically significant clinically relevant cephalometric variables from univariate statistical tests and multivariate results were collated and presented unweighted. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: The parental craniofacial complex in OFC is distinctive in comparison to the non-cleft population. However, there is insufficient consistency in study designs and results to accurately characterize the parents of children with OFC. Although the craniofacial morphology of the parents of children with CL(P) differs to the parents of children with CP, there is insufficient information to accurately localize these differences.
Asymmetry of the parental craniofacial skeleton in orofacial clefting.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate size-related and shape-related craniofacial skeletal asymmetries in the parents of children with orofacial clefting (OFC). DESIGN: Retrospective PA cephalometric study. SETTING: Glasgow/Dundee, Scotland. SUBJECTS: Ninety-two parental volunteers from a completely ascertained sample of 286 children born with OFC between 1980-1984 in the West of Scotland. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A conventional cephalometric asymmetry analysis (CCAA) evaluated size-related right:left asymmetry comprising eight linear distance, nine angular, and three mid-facial area measurements. The right and left landmark configurations were uniformly scaled using Procrustes superimposition and Euclidean Distance Matrix Analysis (EDMA) evaluated shape-related right-left asymmetry. RESULTS: The three linear distances, nine angles and two areas differed between the right and left sides of the craniofacial complex (P <0.05) indicate size asymmetry characterized by a wider left side of the face and a shorter vertical dimension on the right side (directional asymmetry). EDMA detected shape asymmetry [T statistic = 2.671 (P = 0.10)]. Forty per cent of the EDMA ratios were clinically importantly larger or smaller on the left and right sides respectively, involving landmarks anatomically and morphogenetically important in OFC. CONCLUSION: Size and shape directional asymmetries characterize the parental craniofacial skeleton in OFC. This heritable directional craniofacial skeletal asymmetry could be of relevance in the left-sided predilection of OFC.
Oral candidosis.
Oral candidoses are frequently encountered in the practice of dentistry. Although most oral candidoses are symptomless, the can indicate the presence of an underlying systemic disease, and the persistence of oral candidosis following appropriate conventional management may be one of the first signs of undiagnosed immunosuppression. The opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans is the most commonly isolated species from oral candidal lesions; however, the non-albicans Candida spp. are also implicated in the aetiology of oral candidoses. The effective management of oral candidosis is dependent on an accurate diagnosis, identification and elimination of any predisposing factors (where possible), and the prescription of either topical or systemic antifungal agents. Oral candidosis may have significant implications for the general health of immunosuppressed patients, particularly when caused by the non-albicans spp. and, in cases of severe immunosuppression, systemic candidosis can be life-threatening. This article outlines the clinical presentation and appropriate management for the commonly presenting oral candidal conditions.
Viral infections of the oral mucosa and perioral region.
Viral infections of the oral mucosa and perioral region are commonly encountered in the practice of dentistry. The accurate and timely diagnosis of such infections, coupled with the institution of appropriate treatment, can often permit quick resolution of the condition with minimal discomfort and anxiety for the patient (and carers) and prevent the spread of infection to others, especially immunocompromised individuals. This article outlines the clinical presentation and appropriate management of common viral infections of the oral mucosa and perioral region.
Update on precancerous lesions.
Oral cancer continues to be a serious problem in the UK and it is well known that prevention and early recognition of potentially malignant lesions will provide the best prognosis. This article discusses recent changes in the nomenclature of lesions and current concepts in diagnosis and management.