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Biomedical subjects

R Jackson

Publications and source records attributed to R Jackson.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

A split-mouth placebo-controlled study to determine the effect of amorphous calcium phosphate in the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity.

Many treatments for dentine hypersensitivity are formulated to directly or indirectly occlude the open dentinal tubules associated with the condition. Combining solutions of calcium chloride and potassium phosphate can result in the precipitation of amorphous calcium phosphate. Such a system applied to exposed dentine could occlude dentinal tubules and reduce sensitivity. The aims of this study using a placebo control were to assess the therapeutic value of amorphous calcium phosphate in dentine hypersensitivity and provide further information on the apparently natural improvement in the condition frequently observed in clinical trials. 38 subjects with dentine hypersensitivity affecting 1 tooth in each left and right sides of the jaws were recruited into this split mouth, randomised, double-blind study. At baseline, sensitivity was scored by the subjects on a 0-10 visual apologue scale after tactile, cool and cold water and evaporative stimulation of the test teeth. Active and control, water, solutions were then applied by a 2nd clinician. After 24 h, subjects returned for rescoring. On days 7 and 14, subjects were again rescored and the treatments reapplied. Further follow-up appointments for rescoring were on days 21, 28, 56 and 84. Plaque scores also were recorded from test teeth at each visit. Overall sensitivity decreased considerably and to a similar degree in test and control teeth with no consistent significant treatment difference. Plaque scores also decreased through the study period. It is concluded that either the amorphous calcium phosphate was without therapeutic effect or the activity was masked by the placebo response in the control teeth.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1998

Sequential malt lymphomas of the stomach, small intestine, and gall bladder.

Low grade lymphomas of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) are indolent neoplasms that, although tending to remain localised for many years, may spread to other mucosal sites. A 53 year old woman treated by total gastrectomy for low grade MALT lymphoma of the stomach developed a recurrence in the small bowel 18 years later, and a further recurrence involving the gall bladder after three years in complete clinical remission after chemotherapy. In situ hybridisation showed that the small intestine and gall bladder recurrences had the same pattern of light chain restriction. Tumour from all three sites was shown to be derived from a single clone by the demonstration of an identical immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement by the polymerase chain reaction. The case illustrates the propensity of MALT lymphomas to "home" to mucosal sites and gives an insight into their behavior over an extended follow up.

Female↗
PubMed1998

Coronary events and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke: a case-control study from Australia and New Zealand.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the relative risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) associated with exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). DESIGN: Population-based case-control study. SUBJECTS: Cases were 953 people identified in a population register of coronary events, and controls were 3189 participants in independent community-based risk factor prevalence surveys from the same study populations. SETTING: Newcastle, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Acute myocardial infarction or coronary death. RESULTS: After adjusting for the effects of age, education, history of heart disease, and body mass index, women had a statistically significant increased risk of a coronary event associated with exposure to ETS (relative risk (RR) = 1.99; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.40-2.81). There was little statistical evidence of increased risk found in men (RR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.81-1.28). CONCLUSION: Our study found evidence for the adverse effects of exposure to ETS on risk of coronary heart disease among women, especially at home. For men the issue is unclear according to the data from our study. Additional studies with detailed information on possible confounders and adequate statistical power are needed. Most importantly, they should use methods for measuring exposure to ETS that are sufficiently accurate to permit the investigation of dose-response relationships.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Association of environmental tobacco smoke exposure with socioeconomic status in a population of 7725 New Zealanders.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is inversely associated with socioeconomic status. DESIGN: Survey. SETTING: General community, New Zealand. PARTICIPANTS: 7725 non-smoking adults (volunteer sample of a multi-industry workforce, n = 5564; and a random sample of urban electoral rolls, n = 2161), including 5408 males; mean age 45 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ETS exposure was assessed as self-reported number of hours per week spent near someone who is smoking, and as prevalence of regular exposure to some ETS. Socioeconomic status was assessed as educational level, occupational status, and median neighbourhood household income. RESULTS: Both measures of ETS exposure were steeply and inversely associated with all three indicators of socioeconomic status (all p < 0.0001). Geometric mean ETS exposure ranged from 16 minutes per week among university-educated participants to 59 minutes per week in the second lowest occupational quintile (95% confidence intervals: 14-18 minutes per week and 54-66 minutes per week). The associations with occupational status and educational level were steeper than those with neighbourhood income. The socioeconomic gradients of ETS exposure were steeper among participants aged less than 35 years than among participants aged over 50 years, among men than women, and among Maori than Europeans. CONCLUSIONS: In this study population, ETS exposure was inversely associated with socioeconomic status. Greater ETS exposure might therefore contribute to the higher risks of disease and death among low socioeconomic groups. These results provide a further rationale for targeting tobacco control measures to people in low socioeconomic groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The natural history of strawberry naevi.

BACKGROUND: The field of dermatology was developed by clinicians with keen observational skills, who identified the natural history of clinical conditions through morphologic features. OBJECTIVE: This article reviews the 1938 article published by Lister in which the natural history of hemangiomas are reviewed. CONCLUSION: Lister concluded "that drastic measures for the destruction of these naevi are inadvisable and treatment should be expectant and conservative." With the advent of new laser treatments for hemangiomas, early aggressive treatment is suggested for a subgroup of these problems. However, it still holds true in 1997 that for many of these smaller lesions, treatment should be "expectant and conservative."

Hemangioma↗
PubMed1998

How do physicians react to new knowledge: the experience of Jonathan Hutchinson 1828-1913 with comments on its relevance today.

BACKGROUND: In the late 20th century, physicians are being challenged to absorb new knowledge at an ever-increasing pace. OBJECTIVE: This article will review the acquisition of new knowledge by Sir Jonathan Hutchinson, a prominent Victorian surgeon in the 19th century. At that time, new knowledge was presented much more slowly. How well Hutchinson absorbed new knowledge will be outlined and, in the light of his background and training, what events were there that either helped or hindered this process. CONCLUSION: Assuming good physical and mental health, age and basic training are often important in how physicians react to new knowledge; the timing of the release of new knowledge also plays a role. Training in the basic attributes of scientific medicine as well as continuing medical education will help in the processing of new knowledge. One common response by physicians to the increasing load of new information is the narrowing of the individual's field of expertise.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1997

Socioeconomic distribution of smoking in a population of 10,529 New Zealanders.

AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the associations of several smoking variables with socioeconomic status. METHODS: Cross-sectional analyses of data about smoking behaviour and socioeconomic status (education, occupation and neighbourhood income) were performed using baseline data from the Fletcher Challenge-University of Auckland Heart and Health Study (10,529 participants). RESULTS: After adjustment for age and sex, lower educational level was associated with: (1) higher frequency of ever having smoked (65% of participants who had attended secondary school for fewer than two years, versus 43% of participants who had attended university; 2p < 0.0001); (2) lower likelihood of having quit (46% versus 71%; 2p < 0.0001); (3) higher likelihood of being a current smoker (35% versus 12%; 2p < 0.0001); (4) higher tobacco consumption per smoker (13 manufactured cigarettes/day versus 8 manufactured cigarettes/day; 2p < 0.0001); and (5) higher tobacco consumption per participant (1980 cigarette-equivalents/year versus 450 cigarette-equivalents/year; 2p < 0.0001). Similar, but shallower, associations of these smoking variables were observed with occupation and neighbourhood income (with the exception that tobacco consumption per smoker was not associated with neighbourhood income). The socioeconomic gradients of tobacco consumption per study participant with all three socioeconomic indicators were particularly steep among younger participants, men and Maori. CONCLUSIONS: Participants of low socioeconomic status consumed a disproportionately large amount of tobacco. Policies that prevent smoking initiation and promote smoking cessation in low socioeconomic groups are therefore needed. These should include targeting of mass media messages to low socioeconomic groups, public subsidisation of nicotine replacement therapy and higher taxes on tobacco.

Adult↗