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Biomedical subjects

P Robinson

Publications and source records attributed to P Robinson.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Antigen presentation by T cells inhibits IL-2 production and induces IL-4 release due to altered cognate signals.

Conflicting results of the effects of Ag presentation by MHC class II-expressing T cells have been described. In some studies class II-expressing T cells have been shown to act as effective APCs, while others have reported that the recognition of Ag on the surface of another T cell inactivates IL-2 production. In this study we have investigated the mechanisms involved in Ag presentation by T cells. The results obtained suggest that 1) lack of costimulation is not responsible for the inhibitory effects of T cell Ag presentation on IL-2 production; the provision of costimulation by immobilized anti-CD28 Ab or by the addition of accessory cells failed to reverse the effects of T cell Ag presentation, but restored the response to immobilized anti-CD3; 2) T cell Ag presentation induced a minimal increase in intracellular Ca2+ compared with that induced by antigen-pulsed B cells; this difference in the calcium response is not explained by quantitative differences in ligand density between B cells and T cells; and 3) despite the weak calcium signal, T cell presentation supported IL-4 release in the absence of IL-2 production. Taken together these data suggest that T cell Ag presentation leads to altered TCR/CD3-transduced signals, which biases the T cell towards a Th2 phenotype.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

A multifaceted intervention to improve treatment of depression in primary care.

BACKGROUND: This research study evaluates the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention program to improve the management of depression in primary care. METHODS: One hundred fifty-three primary care patients with current depression were entered into a randomized controlled trial. Intervention patients received a structured depression treatment program in the primary care setting that included both behavioral treatment to increase use of adaptive coping strategies and counseling to improve medication adherence. Control patients received "usual" care by their primary care physicians. Outcome measures included adherence to antidepressant medication, satisfaction with care of depression and with antidepressant treatment, and reduction of depressive symptoms over time. RESULTS: At 4-month follow-up, significantly more intervention patients with major and minor depression than usual care patients adhered to antidepressant medication and rated the quality of care they received for depression as good to excellent. Intervention patients with major depression demonstrated a significantly greater decrease in depression severity over time compared with usual care patients on all 4 outcome analyses. Intervention patients with minor depression were found to have a significant decrease over time in depression severity on only 1 of 4 study outcome analyses compared with usual care patients. CONCLUSION: A multifaceted primary care intervention improved adherence to antidepressant regimens and satisfaction with care in patients with major and minor depression. The intervention consistently resulted in more favorable depression outcomes among patients with major depression, while outcome effects were ambiguous among patients with minor depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Oral Mycobacterium avium complex infection in a patient with HIV-related disease. A case report.

Mycobacterium avium complex infection is a common complication of the later stages of AIDS. Although a recognized cause of oral lesions, atypical mycobacteria are rarely detected in AIDS-related oral ulceration. Here we report a case of oral ulceration in a patient in the later stages of AIDS in which atypical mycobacteria were detected both histologically and microbiologically. The features of this case are similar to the one other case previously reported permitting some characterization and comparison of the clinical features of mycobacterium avium complex infection in AIDS.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1996

Incidence of previously undetected disease in routine paediatric otolaryngology admissions.

The process of clerking routine pre-operative admissions involves the house officer taking a full medical history and performing a full physical examination. The diagnostic yield is thought to be low, and the educational value to the house officer is also small. This study addresses the question as to whether routine physical examination is always indicated. One hundred and nine children admitted for routine Otolaryngology procedures were prospectively studied to identify the importance of examination in the pre-operative assessment of patients. The results showed that 51 per cent of the children admitted had risk factors. The medical history was sufficient to identify these risk factors in all patients with the exception of one cardiac condition. This study concludes that a suitable alternative to the current process of clerking such as a standardized nurse history could be safely and efficiently undertaken. Eliminating the tiny percentage of previously unrecognized disease would be a prerequisite for such a change.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Adult asthma and gastro-oesophageal reflux: the effects of omeprazole therapy on asthma.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 40-60% of patients with asthma have gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) and it has been postulated that this may worsen asthma severity. AIMS: To investigate the effect of the potent gastric acid inhibitor omeprazole 40 mg orally daily on peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), asthma symptoms and histamine bronchial responsiveness in adult patients with both asthma and GOR. METHODS: This was a double blind, randomised, placebo controlled, crossover study. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, 24 hour oesophageal pH measurements, spirometry and histamine bronchoprovocation test (HIT) were performed prior to entry. Phase 1:2 week placebo run-in period, with baseline recording of PEFR, asthma and GOR symptoms, and use of inhaled beta 2-agonist. Phase 2: patients randomised to receive either placebo or omeprazole 40 mg/d for four weeks. Phase 3: placebo for two weeks. Phase 4: patients crossed over to opposite treatment from that of phase 2. Spirometry, and diary cards were assessed at beginning and end of phases 2 and 4. HIT was performed at the end of phase 2 and at the beginning and end of phase 4. RESULTS: Twenty patients (eight female and 12 male) completed the study. The evening but not morning PEFR (% predicted) were significantly higher on omeprazole vs placebo (82 +/- 4% SEM vs 79 +/- 4% SEM; p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in FEV1, FVC, histamine bronchial responsiveness and diurnal variation of PEFR between placebo and omeprazole treatments. Similarly, there were no significant differences during placebo and omeprazole periods in day time wheeze, cough, breathlessness, beta 2-agonist use or night time wheeze and breathlessness. Day and night heartburn symptoms were significantly better on omeprazole vs placebo (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Omeprazole 40 mg daily improved evening PEFR in asthma patients with GOR. However, asthma symptoms, inhaled beta 2-agonist use and histamine bronchial responsiveness did not change.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

The relationship of gingival crevicular fluid short chain carboxylic acid concentration to gingival inflammation.

Short-chain carboxylic acids (SCCA; C < or = 5; e.g., lactic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid) are metabolic by-products of bacterial metabolism which accumulate in the gingival crevice, and exhibit significant biological activity, including the ability to alter gene expression. It has been hypothesized that among the activities of SCCAs are their ability to contribute to gingival inflammation. This concept complements the notion that specific periodontal pathogens are the causative agents of gingival inflammation. To begin testing these 2 hypotheses, we examined the relationship between SCCA concentrations, specific putative periodontal pathogens, and gingival inflammation in medically healthy periodontally diseased subjects. We reasoned that if SCCAs and/or specific periodontal pathogens were causative gingival inflammatory agents, gingival inflammation should increase with increasing concentration of the inflammatory mediator. We also recognized that other clinical variables needed to be controlled for, and an objective quantitative assessment of gingival inflammation used. To accomplish these tasks, sites within subjects were stratified by location and pocket depth, and the following quantified: bacterial presence; SCCA concentration; and gingival inflammation. The results indicated that gingival inflammation directly and significantly correlated with SCCA concentrations in the maxillary and mandibular molars, incisors and canines (all r > or = 0.47; all p < or = 0.015; too few bicuspids were available for complete analysis). The relationship between gingival inflammation and SCCA concentration was best described by a natural log relationship. Gingival inflammation did not, however, correlate positively with either the total number of specific putative periodontal pathogens, or the sum of subsets of these pathogens (-0.31 < or = r < or = 0.39; 0.08 < or = p < or = 0.75) for any of the locations. Finally, the SCCA concentration did not correlate with the level of individual or groups of pathogens. These data, together with historical work and other preliminary data, support the hypothesis that SCCA, rather than specific putative periodontal pathogens, may be a causative agent in gingival inflammation. This work may, in part, begin to explain the apparent lack of a direct relationship between current gingival inflammation and the prediction of bacterially mediated periodontal attachment loss.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans↗
PubMed1996

Pharmacokinetics of lamivudine in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with renal dysfunction.

The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and pharmacokinetics of lamivudine (3TC), a nucleoside analog that has shown potent in vitro and recent in vivo activity against human immunodeficiency virus. Sixteen human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients, six with normal renal function (creatinine clearance [CLCR], > or = 60 ml/min), four with moderate renal impairment (CLCR, 10 to 40 ml/min), and six with severe renal impairment (CLCR, < 10 ml/min), were enrolled in the study. After an overnight fast, patients were administered 300 mg of 3TC orally. Blood was obtained before 3TC administration and 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 24, 32, 40, and 48 h afterward. Timed urine collections were performed for patients able to produce urine. Serum and urine were assayed for 3TC by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by using standard noncompartmental techniques. The peak concentration of 3TC increased with decreasing renal function; geometric means were 2,524, 3,538, and 5,684 ng/ml for patients with normal renal function, moderate renal impairment, and severe renal impairment, respectively. The terminal half-life also increased with decreasing renal function; geometric means were 11.5, 14.1, and 20.7 h for patients with normal renal function, moderate renal impairment, and severe renal impairment, respectively. Both oral and renal clearances were linearly correlated with CLCR. A 300-mg dose of 3TC was well tolerated by all three patient groups. The pharmacokinetics of 3TC is profoundly affected by impaired renal function. Dosage adjustment, by either dose reduction or lengthening of the dosing interval, is warranted.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1996

Taenia saginata oncosphere excretory/secretory peptidases.

To identify oncosphere excretory/secretory peptidases, Taenia saginata adult worms were collected from 3 patients. Eggs were hatched and activated in vitro and oncospheres cultured in vitro. The culture medium from the oncospheres was assayed with peptide substrates coupled to 7-amino-4-trifluoromethyl coumarin (AFC), and free AFC was detected fluorometrically. The endopeptidase substrates Z-Phe-Arg-AFC and Z-Arg-AFC as well as the aminopeptidase substrate Arg-AFC were hydrolyzed when incubated with spent media from the oncospheres compared to control culture medium removed prior to incubation. Hydrolysis of Z-Phe-Arg-AFC was inhibited 78% by preincubation of the medium with the serine proteinase inhibitor Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. Endopeptidase activity was partially enhanced in the presence of exogenous thiols and partially inhibited with the cysteine proteinase inhibitor E-64, suggesting the presence of both serine and cysteine endopeptidases. No significant inhibition was noted with pepstatin or phenanthroline. The peptidase activities detected with Z-Phe-Arg-AFC and Arg-AFC were separated by gel-filtration fast protein liquid chromatography and eluted at volumes corresponding to molecular weights of 18 and 30 kDa, respectively. These data demonstrate that T. saginata oncospheres produce excretory/secretory peptidases, including serine and cysteine endopeptidases and an aminopeptidase. These enzymes may play a role in invasion of the intestinal mucosa of the intermediate host.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Australian Case-Control Study of Adverse Reactions to Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine.

Background: Japanese encephalitis (JE) is widely distributed in Asia and is the world's most common aborviral encephalitis. An effective vaccine against JE has been used in Asia for decades without reports of serious adverse reactions. Since 1989, an apparent increase in frequency of allergic reactions to JE vaccine has been reported from a number of nonendemic countries, including Australia. The objective of this study was to evaluate possible risk factors for allergic reactions associated with Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine. Methods: A case-control study was carried out in Australia. Subjects were persons who had developed an allergic reaction (rash and/or edema) that had occurred within 1 week of a dose of Biken JE vaccine. All cases had been reported to the Australian Adverse Reactions Advisory Committee, and all could be accessed for purposes of this study. Three matched controls were recruited for each of five cases. Participants completed a questionnaire and had venous blood drawn. Results: Cases were significantly less likely than controls to give a history of contact with dogs (Fisher's exact test p =.03); were more likely than controls to have received other immunizations in the 1-9 days prior to, rather than on the same day, as the JE vaccine (chi-square test for independence p =.015); and were more likely than controls to have consumed more than usual quantities of alcohol in the 48 hours following the last dose of JE vaccine (Fisher's exact test p =.034). Conclusions: We recommend, where possible, that JE vaccine be administered concurrently with other vaccines, that recipients be advised to avoid more than usual alcohol intake after receiving JE vaccine, and that active surveillance of adverse events associated with JE vaccine be conducted.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Collaborative management to achieve treatment guidelines. Impact on depression in primary care.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention in patients with depression in primary care with the effectiveness of "usual care" by the primary care physician. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial among primary care patients with major depression or minor depression. PATIENTS: Over a 12-month period a total of 217 primary care patients who were recognized as depressed by their primary care physicians and were willing to take antidepressant medication were randomized, with 91 patients meeting criteria for major depression and 126 for minor depression. INTERVENTIONS: Intervention patients received increased intensity and frequency of visits over the first 4 to 6 weeks of treatment (visits 1 and 3 with a primary care physician, visits 2 and 4 with a psychiatrist) and continued surveillance of adherence to medication regimens during the continuation and maintenance phases of treatment. Patient education in these visits was supplemented by videotaped and written materials. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome measures included short-term (30-day) and long-term (90-day) use of antidepressant medication at guideline dosage levels, satisfaction with overall care for depression and antidepressant medication, and reduction in depressive symptoms. RESULTS: In patients with major depression, the intervention group had greater adherence than the usual care controls to adequate dosage of antidepressant medication for 90 days or more (75.5% vs 50.0%; P < .01), were more likely to rate the quality of the care they received for depression as good to excellent (93.0% vs 75.0%; P < .03), and were more likely to rate antidepressant medications as helping somewhat to helping a great deal (88.1% vs 63.3%; P < .01). Seventy-four percent of intervention patients with major depression showed 50% or more improvement on the Symptom Checklist-90 Depressive Symptom Scale compared with 43.8% of controls (P < .01), and the intervention patients also demonstrated a significantly greater decrease in depression severity over time compared with controls (P < .004). In patients with minor depression, the intervention group had significantly greater adherence than controls to adequate dosage of antidepressant medication for 90 days or more (79.7% vs 40.3%; P < .001) and more often rated antidepressant medication as helping somewhat to helping a great deal (81.8% vs 61.4%; P < .02). However, no significant differences were found between the intervention and control groups in the percentage of patients who were satisfied with the care they received for depression (94.4% vs 89.3%), in the percentage who experienced a 50% or more decrease in depressive symptoms, or in the decrease of depressive symptoms over time. CONCLUSION: A multifaceted intervention consisting of collaborative management by the primary care physician and a consulting psychiatrist, intensive patient education, and surveillance of continued refills of antidepressant medication improved adherence to antidepressant regimens in patients with major and with minor depression. It improved satisfaction with care and resulted in more favorable depressive outcomes in patients with major, but not minor, depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Mass spectrometric and biological characterization of guinea-pig corticotrophin.

Guinea-pig ACTH has been found to be distinct from other mammalian ACTHs in having an alanine for proline substitution at position 24 and in having superagonist aldosterone-stimulating activity relative to synthetic ACTH(1-24) in an isolated rat glomerulosa cell bioassay. We have purified ACTH from extracts of guinea-pig anterior pituitary and confirmed its unusual structural characteristics by amino acid analysis and mass spectrometry. Using isolated rat adrenal fasciculata-reticularis and glomerulosa cell bioassays, guinea pig ACTH was found to have similar activity to that of human ACTH with respect to corticosterone- and aldosterone-stimulating activity, in terms of maximal steroid output but was slightly more potent in terms of the concentration which elicited half-maximal steroid secretion. Under the assay conditions used, guinea-pig ACTH appeared not to be a superagonist as previously suggested. Various biosynthetic derivatives of guinea-pig pro-opiomelanocortin were identified by amino acid analysis and mass spectrometry. Joining peptide, a major product of pro-opiomelanocortin processing, was found in extracts of both anterior and neurointermediate lobes of the pituitary. Post-translational modification of other products of intermediate lobe processing were observed. N- and O-acetylation of alpha-melanotropin, partial O-phosphorylation of corticotropin-like intermediate lobe peptide and carboxyl-terminal amidation of beta-melanotropin were identified.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1995

Unusual retention of introns in CD44 gene transcripts in bladder cancer provides new diagnostic and clinical oncological opportunities.

Increased and disorganised expression of CD44 variant exons has been demonstrated in biopsy samples of several types of human malignancy by many groups. This abnormality can be used to detect exfoliated tumour cells in the urine of bladder cancer patients. The present report demonstrates that the deranged activity of this gene in neoplasia also results in the accumulation of immature mRNA transcripts containing non-coding sequences (introns) from this gene in cancer tissues and cells. There is simultaneous overexpression of a newly identified 437 bp exon (coding sequence) located in the variably active region of the gene and of many abnormal variant exon combinations. This is the first report describing the specific retention of introns in gene transcripts in clinical diagnostic samples of tumour tissues and cells. The phenomenon was seen repeatedly in samples from cancer patients and in a cancer cell line, and thus could form the basis for a unique new and specific method of cancer diagnosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Outcomes of "inadequate" antidepressant treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To examine outcomes of primary care patients receiving low levels of antidepressant treatment. DESIGN: Cohort study comparing patients receiving anti-depressant treatment within and below the recommended dosing range. SETTING: Primary care clinics of a staff-model health maintenance organization. PATIENTS: Primary care patients initiating antidepressant treatment for depression. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 88 patients beginning antidepressant treatment, 49 (56%) used "adequate" doses for 30 days or more. Likelihood of "adequate" pharmacotherapy was not related to patient age, gender, medical comorbidity, or baseline depression severity. All the patients showed substantial clinical improvement after four months. Compared with those using "adequate" pharmacotherapy, the patients receiving low-intensity treatment had lower likelihood of clinical response (64% vs 84%; chi-square = 4.44; df = 1; p = 0.035). At four months, however, those receiving low-intensity and those receiving higher-intensity treatment did not differ significantly in either the score on the 20-item Symptom Checklist depression scale (18.91 and 15.72, respectively; F = 1.45; df = 1.86; p = 0.23) or the proportion with persistence of major depression (10% and 4%, respectively; chi-square = 1.30; df = 1; p = 0.25). A replication sample of 157 patients (assessed only at baseline and four months) yielded similar results. CONCLUSIONS: While the patients receiving recommended levels of pharmacotherapy showed somewhat higher improvement rates, many of the patients receiving "inadequate" treatment experienced good short-term outcomes. Efforts to increase the intensity of depression treatment in primary care should focus on the subgroup of patients who fail to respond to initial treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Influx of extracellular calcium and agonist-coupling appear essential for the activation of thromboxane A2-dependent phospholipase A2 in human platelets.

The present study demonstrates the existence of a unique mechanism for arachidonic acid (AA)-specific phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activation, which requires both sustained elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ coupled to the influx of extracellular Ca2+ and agonist interaction in platelets. The activation of PLA2 in platelets exposed to thapsigargin was abolished by the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX), thus suggesting a requirement of endogenously produced COX metabolite(s) for the activation of this enzyme. A thromboxane A2 (TXA2) analog, U46619, restored the activation of this AA-specific PLA2 activation supporting the requirements of COX metabolite(s) especially TXA2. Our subsequent studies demonstrated that both the effects of TXA2, and U46619 could be mimicked by collagen. Neither the transient cytosolic Ca2+ rise nor the agonists such as U46619 or collagen alone were sufficient to prime the activation of this PLA2 in the absence of thapsigargin. Since collagen behaves very similarly to TXA2, we suggest that this PLA2, is not only responsive to TXA2, but also to other agonists such as collagen, as shown in this study. We suggest that the activation of this distinct TXA2- and collagen-sensitive PLA2 involves two steps: (a) sustained elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ coupled to the influx of extracellular Ca2+; and (b) interaction with agonists such as TXA2 and collagen.

15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5↗
PubMed1995

Oropharyngeal candidiasis in immunocompromised children: a randomized, multicenter study of orally administered fluconazole suspension versus nystatin. The Multicenter Fluconazole Study Group.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerance of fluconazole suspension versus nystatin in the treatment of oropharyngeal thrush in immunocompromised children. DESIGN: Multicenter, randomized, observer-masked trial. SETTING: Thirty-two centers participated, including hospitals and ambulatory care clinics. PATIENTS: We enrolled 182 immunocompromised infants and children, ages 5 months to 14 years, with signs of oral thrush and presence of yeasts on potassium hydroxide- or gram-stained preparations. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive a single daily dose of fluconazole suspension, 2 to 3 mg/kg per day, or nystatin, 400,000 units four times daily for 14 days; 159 patients, who had culture confirmation of thrush and received at least 7 days of study drug, were evaluated for efficacy; all patients were evaluated for safety. RESULTS: Clinical cure was demonstrated in 91% of the subjects in the fluconazole group and 51% of the subjects in the nystatin group (p < 0.001), and eradication of the organism cultured at entry occurred in 76% and 11% (p < 0.001), respectively. Gastrointestinal conditions developed in six patients who received fluconazole and in three who received nystatin; two fluconazole recipients were subsequently withdrawn from the study. Laboratory abnormalities occurred with equal frequency in both groups. Clinical relapse rates were similar in both groups at 2 weeks (18% and 24% for fluconazole and nystatin, respectively) and 1 month (28% and 27%, respectively) after the completion of study drug. CONCLUSIONS: Fluconazole suspension is more effective than nystatin in the treatment of thrush in immunocompromised children. Both regimens were well tolerated.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1995

The role of the primary care physician in patients' adherence to antidepressant therapy.

In this study, the authors attempted to determine predictors of adherence to antidepressant therapy and to identify specific educational messages, side effects, and features of doctor-patient collaboration that influence adherence. Patients newly prescribed antidepressants for depression at a health maintenance organization were identified by using automated pharmacy data and medical records review. Patients (n = 155) were interviewed 1 and 4 months after starting antidepressant medication. Approximately 28% of patients stopped taking antidepressants during the first month of therapy, and 44% had stopped taking them by the third month of therapy. Patients who received the following five specific educational messages--1) take the medication daily; 2) antidepressants must be taken for 2 to 4 weeks for a noticeable effect; 3) continue to take medicine even if feeling better; 4) do not stop taking antidepressant without checking with the physician; and 5) specific instructions regarding what to do to resolve questions regarding antidepressants--were more likely to comply during the first month of antidepressant therapy. Asking about prior experience with antidepressants and discussions about scheduling pleasant activities also were related to early adherence. Side effects, only at severe levels, were associated with early noncompliance. Neuroticism, depression severity, and other patient characteristics did not predict adherence. Primary care physicians may be able to enhance adherence to antidepressant therapy by simple and specific educational messages easily integrated into primary care visits.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Subgingival temperature as a gingival inflammatory indicator.

Elevated temperature is one of 4 cardinal inflammatory signs. Previous work indicates that subgingival temperature assessments are accurate and re- liable, and provide objective, quantitative information over a broad 10 degrees C range, in small 0.1 degrees C increments with a direct, immediate report on the inflammatory status at the pocket base. However, complicating the use and interpretation of subgingival temperature assessments are its 3 forms: actual subgingival temperature, sublingual temperature minus subgingival temperature (temperature differential), and a temperature indicator light. We reasoned that if one could determine which of the temperature assessments reflected the periodontal condition, and which were independent variables, they would provide new and unique information about the inflammatory status of the periodontium. We also reasoned that by providing objective, quantitative data over a broad range, subgingival temperature should reduce the sample size required to obtain significance in clinical trials. Therefore, the purpose of this study was 2-fold: (1) to determine whether the 3 subgingival temperature assessments could differentiate between clinically defined periodontal health and disease; (2) to determine whether the 3 assessments were dependent or independent clinical variables. The data indicated that all 3 subgingival temperature assessment methods differentiated between clinically-defined periodontal health and disease (all p<0.02). All 3 assessments also correlated significantly (all p<0.03), but modestly (all r>0.49), with bleeding on probing. Based on scatter-plot matrices and common factor analysis, the data indicated that only actual subgingival temperature and temperature differential were independent variables. Taken together, this data indicates that subgingival temperature and temperature differential provide unique information about the periodontal inflammatory state. Power calculations indicated that the temperature differential may significantly reduce the subject number required to achieve significance in clinical trials examining gingival inflammation. Because of the body's rapid temperature response, these assessments may also significantly reduce the time required for gingival inflammation trials.

Analysis of Variance↗