Infection control.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S R Porter.
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This research extends previous studies regarding the application of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) for the analysis of oligomers from nylon 6,6 fibers. The effects of CO2 pressure, extraction temperature, CO2-modifier percentage, static extraction time and dynamic extraction time on the SFE efficiency of nylon 6,6 oligomers were examined. Results from the SFE methods for oligomer extractions were compared to results from conventional solvent extraction. The extracted oligomers were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with coupled on-line atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry and HPLC fractionation coupled with off-line liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this open trial was to test the efficacy of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) mouthrinses as a potential treatment in reducing the duration of severe oral mucositis in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation for hematologic malignancies. STUDY DESIGN: The study group was composed of 10 consecutive patients suffering from severe oral mucositis during bone marrow transplantation procedures. The control group was similar to the study group in age and gender and comprised 29 historical patients with similar clinical characteristics. Freshly prepared GM-CSF mouthwash (0.5 microg/mL) was administered to the study population for 1 minute 3 times per day after oral hygiene procedures, starting from the first day of mucositis until clinical improvement of oral lesions. The study and control populations were compared with respect to duration of severe oral mucositis (1-9 days, 10-19 days, > or =20 days). RESULTS: There was no statistically (chi2 exact test) significant difference in mean mucositis score between the study group (11.9+/-6.1) and the control group (16.6+/-8.9). However, the duration of severe mucositis appeared to be reduced; 60% of the GM-CSF mouthrinse patients had severe mucositis for less than 9 days, whereas only 28% of the controls had severe mucositis for less than 9 days. In addition, 10% of the GM-CSF mouthrinse patients experienced severe mucositis lasting 20 or more days, whereas 34% of the controls experienced severe mucositis for 20 or more days. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that GM-CSF may reduce the duration of severe mucositis, but controlled, double-blind clinical trials are now required.
OBJECTIVE: To review the current literature on the hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection, with particular attention to the aspects of interest for the dental staff. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors searched for original research and review articles on specific aspects of the HGV infection including virology, epidemiology, transmission, natural history, and dental zaspects of HGV infection. The relevant articles were evaluated and reviewed. RESULTS: HGV is a parenterally transmitted RNA virus that may cause acute, chronic, and fulminant liver disease; however, the real pathogenic potential of this virus and its possible effect on other hepatitic infections is still to be clarified. Preliminary studies have failed to demonstrate strong relationships between HGV infection and any oral disease. At present, data on the prevalence of HGV infection among health care workers are scarce. Nevertheless, in view of the potential transmission rates of HGV and the lack of effective immunization, HGV should be regarded as a potential occupational hazard for medical and dental staff. CONCLUSION: Many virological, medical, and oral aspects of HGV infection need to be further investigated; nevertheless, until related data are available, HGV should be considered to be an infection that may be transmitted during dental care.
OBJECTIVE: Trigeminal sensory neuropathy is an uncommon but often significant orofacial symptom. There are few detailed descriptions of the problem in the dental literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical presentation and management of a cohort of patients presenting with anesthesia/paresthesia affecting one or more divisions of the trigeminal nerve unrelated to any identifiable traumatic cause. STUDY DESIGN: Nine patients with trigeminal neuropathy were examined. Each patient underwent a standard protocol of examination and hematologic, serologic, radiologic, and histopathologic investigations, as appropriate. RESULTS: Trigeminal neuropathy was found to be secondary to distant malignancy in 4 patients and to connective tissue disease in 2 patients. In each of 3 other patients, there was no obvious cause for the neuropathy. Patients with malignancy as the cause of their neuropathy tended to have involvement of more than one division of the trigeminal nerve and/or other neurologic features. CONCLUSIONS: Trigeminal sensory neuropathy may herald underlying distant malignancy or connective tissue disease. Anesthesia and paresthesia of the orofacial region are therefore serious clinical symptoms that must be carefully investigated before a diagnosis of idiopathic disease is made.
Nicorandil, a potassium-channel activator used for the long-term treatment of ischemic heart disease, has been recently implicated as having a drug side effect of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Three patients are reported with drug-induced aphthouslike ulceration secondary to nicorandil.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is the second most common HIV-associated malignancy. This report details a case of the recently described entity plasmablastic lymphoma of the mouth in a patient who was later found to have severe HIV disease. The tumor manifested as a large ulcerated mass of the left maxillary alveolus, causing bony destruction and tooth mobility. Histologic examination of lesional tissue revealed a lymphoid tumor with a high proliferation rate containing lymphoplasmacytoid cells that were reactive to the plasma cell marker VS38c but not to CD20 or CD79a; these are features of the recently reported non-Hodgkin's lymphoma termed plasmablastic lymphoma. This is only the second report of an unusual tumor that has a predilection for the orofacial tissues.
The present study provides an assessment of the importance of tobacco and alcohol consumption upon the development of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) in a large group of European patients. Data were collected in a case-control study based upon 630 patients with OED and 643 control subjects selected from UK dental hospital patients with oral disease not caused by tobacco or alcohol. Logistic regression was used to determine the association of several independent factors on the risk of OED. No relationship emerged between patient's gender, age or ethnicity and risk of OED. The regression model demonstrated a combined effect of tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking upon the risk of OED. Non-filter cigarette smoking was a significant predictor of OED, as was alcohol consumption, and the two habits compounded one another in the overall risk of disease. When both factors combined were included in the model through interaction terms, their individual impact was only moderately reduced, illustrating the importance of both factors in their own right. However, more detailed analysis of tobacco smoking habits revealed that the increased risk of OED from smoking was largely attributable to heavy smoking (20 cigarettes per day, OR = 4.38, 95% C.I. = 2.6, 7.2) especially non-filter cigarettes (OR = 1.95, 95% C.I. = 0.9, 4.0) relative to non-smoking. Both heavy smoking and non-filtered tobacco were higher risks for OED than alcohol consumption alone. Tobacco cessation was associated with a significant decline in risk of OED, the reduction being rapid and marked. For alcohol consumption the association with OED was considerably stronger for drinkers of fortified wines and spirits (OR = 3.75, 95% C.I. = 1.40, 10.05 and OR = 1.36, 95% C.I. = 0.76, 2.45, respectively). It is concluded that, while tobacco and alcohol synergistically influence the development of OED, exclusive tobacco consumption is more likely than exclusive alcohol consumption to give rise to OED. The risk of OED may thus be significantly reduced by behavioural changes such as moderation of tobacco and alcohol use.
The effects of a magnesium monoperoxyphthalate (MMPP) mouth-rinse, with or without sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), and an MMPP dentifrice, on salivary counts of bacterial flora and yeasts, and on supragingival plaque scores were investigated in 131 healthy oral candida carriers over a 9 week double blind study. There were no changes in the salivary counts of bacteria studied (anaerobes, streptococci, fusobacteria, Actinomyces, Viellonella) in the test or placebo groups. A significant increase in salivary candida counts was seen in subjects using an MMPP rinse and dentifrice compared with placebo subjects and this phenomenon was not influenced by the presence of SLS. A significant reduction in plaque was seen in subjects using an MMPP rinse and dentifrice compared with placebo subjects. Frank candidosis was observed in only 2 subjects (1 in the placebo rinse group and 1 in the MMPP dentifrice group) but erythematous lesions, with subjective reports of soreness, dryness or burning sensation, were recorded and observed more frequently in the experimental groups than in the placebos, especially in those also using SLS. The substantial plaque reduction achieved with MMPP in the absence of tooth staining but with the increase in salivary Candida counts suggests that further studies of MMPP are warranted.
Perhaps surprisingly, the manifestations and management of patients with pemphigus vulgaris and oral lesions have been detailed only infrequently. The present study has examined the clinical features, diagnosis and management of a cohort of 55 patients, including three adolescents, with pemphigus vulgaris predominantly affecting the oral mucosa. There was about a 6-month delay from the onset of symptoms until presentation for diagnosis, longer in men than in women. Patients typically had multiple lesions affecting mainly the buccal and/or palatal mucosae, and over half the patients had lesions affecting non-oral mucosal sites. Nearly one-quarter (24%) had cutaneous involvement. Most patients were otherwise healthy with no other autoimmune disorders. Classical histopathological features of pemphigus vulgaris were present in all patients, as well as IgG intraepithelial deposits in all patients tested and circulating epithelial antibodies in most. Thirty-two patients were treated in the clinic, four responding to topical immunosuppressive therapy, the remainder needing and responding, at least in part, to systemic immunosuppression. Systemic corticosteroids often with adjunctive immunosuppressives, particularly azathioprine, were required in 87% of patients. In 18% of the patients, the disease resolved in 3 months, but 76% had recalcitrant disease. Adverse effects were seen in 78%, and two patients died, at least one as a consequence of immunosuppressive therapy. It is concluded that pemphigus vulgaris affecting the oral mucosa is still diagnosed only after considerable delay because patients, especially men, present late; it has a chronic course; it is often associated with lesions in other mucosae and/or skin; it can be resistant to currently available therapies; and immunosuppressive therapy frequently produces adverse effects, occasionally lethal.
Previous studies have suggested that LFA-3 has an important role in a number of chronic inflammatory pathologies, although an active role for LFA-3 within in vivo inflammatory reactions has not previously been directly observed in humans. To assess the importance of LFA-3 in this process, this study used an adaptation of the Stamper-Woodruff lymphocyte adhesion assay to measure the binding of exogenous activated lymphocytes to the T-cell-dominated chronic inflammatory infiltrate of oral lichen planus. Antibody blockade experiments showed that anti-LFA-3 monoclonal antibody reduced lymphocyte adhesion by approximately 29%, while anti-ICAM-1 produced a reduction of 26%. These results thus suggest that both LFA-3 and ICAM-1 are likely to mediate cell-cell interactions within lesional tissues in vivo. Moreover, these findings are also the first to directly demonstrate that LFA-3-mediated adhesion, like that of ICAM-1, is functionally important in the molecular pathology of inflammatory mucosal disease.
Selected periodontopathic bacteria were sought in 20 HIV-infected English patients and eight noninfected control subjects with similar periodontal status, using highly specific DNA probes. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (A. a), Porphyromonas gingivalis, Campylobacter rectus, Prevotella intermedia, and Fusobacterium nucleatum were more frequently detected and were found at higher levels in HIV-infected individuals than in controls. Significantly increased levels of Treponema denticola but, in contrast, lower levels of Eikenella corrodens were found in nonbleeding sites of HIV-infected patients compared with controls. The results of the present investigation on English patients suggest a periodontopathogenic role for A. a, P. gingivalis and C. rectus, and possibly P. intermedia and are in general accord with most previously reported data from the United States. Longitudinal studies are now required to determine more precisely the association between periodontopathic microflora, immune competence and periodontal health and disease in HIV-infected persons.
Because of their importance in mediating cellular interactions in chronic inflammatory diseases, this study has examined the expression of a number of adhesion molecules in adult (n=11), generalized early onset (n=5) and localized early onset (n=2) forms of periodontitis. In comparison with immunostaining profiles of cryostat sections of healthy gingival tissue (n=7), the beta 1 integrins VLA-1, VLA-2 and VLA-4 were found to be up-regulated in periodontitis, with VLA-6 being markedly elevated. Although only small differences were observed in ICAM-1 and LFA-3 expression in the gingival epithelium, there was particularly notable up-regulation of these adhesion molecules within the inflammatory infiltrates of the diseased tissues. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the serum levels of a soluble form of LFA-3 in periodontitis patients (n=47) compared with healthy control subjects (n=40), although the generalized early onset and adult periodontitis groups exhibited wider ranges of circulating LFA-3. These findings show that there is localized modulation of adhesion molecule expression in the chronic inflammatory periodontal diseases studied, but that the levels of LFA-3 in the circulation nevertheless remain unaffected.
Serum proteins, serum immunoglobulins, anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA), anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA), anti-liver-kidney antibodies (LKM), anti-parietal-cell gastric antibodies (APCA), anti-epithelial antibodies and concomitant autoimmune disease were studied in 27 OLP-HCV+ve subjects and in a comparable group of 23 who were OLP-HCV-ve. In addition, all the patients with chronic liver disease who were sero-positive for ANA, AMA or LKM were scored using the new aggregate scoring system to detect those with the accepted criteria for the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Hypergammaglobulinemia was more frequent in OLP-HCV+ve than in OLP-HCV-ve (P = 0.008) subjects. Serum IgG and IgM levels were higher in HCV+ve than in HCV-ve (respectively, P = 0.017 and P = 0.018) individuals. However, there was no difference in the frequency of any autoantibody between OLP-HCV+ve and OLP-HCV-ve patients. Overall, immunologically-related abnormalities were found in 17(63%) OLP-HCV+ve and 11(48%) OLP-HCV-ve (P = 0.43) patients. Three OLP-HCV-ve and no OLP-HCV+ve patients had score criteria of probable AIH. The present and our previous data suggest that OLP patients with HCV infection neither had evidence of autoimmune liver damage nor had abnormal humoral immune-responses, with the exception of higher than control levels of serum immunoglobulins. Cryoglobulins may be responsible.
Adenosquamous carcinoma is a rare tumour in the oral cavity and is characterised histologically by carcinomatous change in surface epithelium, in association with adenocarcinoma affecting the ducts of minor salivary glands. Only a dozen cases have previously been reported in the oral cavity, but all have shown an aggressive course with 60% of patients dying of disease. We report three further cases and review the literature, which suggests that this lesion should be regarded as a high-grade variant of squamous cell carcinoma.
Computers have increasingly found application in dentistry over the past 15 years, but at present there has been no investigation of the application of the Internet for distance diagnosis purposes in oral medicine. As a consequence, the objective of this article was to determine the acceptability to patient and clinician of the distant diagnosis of common orofacial diseases using the Internet. The study group comprised 20 patients who attended the Oral Medicine unit of the Eastman Dental Institute and Hospital, London, UK, for the diagnosis and management of oral mucosal diseases. Digital images of each patient's oral mucosal lesion were captured and stored on a personal computer and later transmitted via the Internet to a distant site. Patients were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire detailing their opinion of the use of an intra-oral camera and a group of clinicians were asked to compare and contrast the original and transmitted images. The majority of patients found the procedure of recording images of their mouth very comfortable, were happy to view the inside of their mouths, and found the procedure generally useful in understanding their clinical problem. The clinicians were often not able to differentiate between the original and transmitted image but were able to accurately diagnose the patient's oral mucosal problems in 64% of the instances. The results of the present study suggest that telediagnosis of orofacial disease may be a feasible prospect.
BACKGROUND: In healthy people, oral and pharyngeal epithelium preferentially carries Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) belonging to a genotype that possesses three copies of a 29 base-pair repeat in the first intron of the BZLF-1 gene, while peripheral blood mostly carries a genotype that bears two copies. Whether EBV shows differential tropism in HIV-1-coinfected hosts, who are prone to develop oral hairy leukoplakia, has not been studied. METHODS: Tongue scrapings and CD45+-enriched peripheral blood cells of 20 HIV1-infected patients and 40 healthy controls were examined. EBV-specific DNA was amplified from segments in the first intron of the BZLF-1 gene, in exon C of the LMP-1 gene, and the type A/B-specifying domain of the EBNA-3C gene. Size polymorphisms of these amplicons were assessed by agarose gel electrophoresis, and DNA sequence differences among BZLF-1 gene amplicons by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: The predominant EBV genotype in peripheral blood as well as tongue carried two copies of the BZLF-1 repeat. In controls, although the BZLF-1 genotype with two copies was exclusively detected in the blood, the genotype with three copies predominated in the tongue. The findings could not be correlated with EBV genotyped according size polymorphisms in the EBNA-3C or LMP-1 genes. DNA sequences of a proportion or all of the clones derived from the BZLF-1 amplicons in the tongues of HIV-1-infected patients were identical to those in the blood. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are consistent with EBV haematogenous superinfection of the tongue of HIV-positive individuals. Such superinfection may precede or lead to the development of oral hairy leukoplakia.
Oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) is an important risk factor in predicting subsequent development of invasive carcinoma. Despite the malignant potential of OED, the current state of knowledge regarding aetiological risk factors associated with OED is limited. The aim of our study was to evaluate the aetiological role of alcohol consumption in non-tobacco smokers and smoking behaviour in non-drinkers, in patients presenting with OED. Data from a hospital-based case-control study of OED were used to analyse the risk associated with alcohol in non-smokers and with tobacco in non-drinkers. A total of 140 cases and 236 controls were included. In the non-drinkers, the risks of OED increased with tobacco smoking of more than 20 cigarettes per day, particularly non-filter cigarettes. The risk of OED declined following smoking cessation, with ex-smokers of 10 or more years demonstrating no excess risk relative to non-smokers. In the nonsmokers, consumption of alcohol was not a significant predictor of OED. However, there was a synergistic effect of alcohol when combined with some aspects of tobacco smoking. Our results confirm that tobacco has an independent role in the aetiology of OED. The role of alcohol, however, is principally only important in conjunction with tobacco use.