Irwin I. Ship

Epidemiologic aspects of recurrent aphthous ulcerations.

Abstract Epidemiologic precepts have been applied to studies of recurrent aphthous ulcerations of the mouth and to related disorders in the past, resulting in a body of information about the disease. These data have served to distinguish RAU-susceptible persons from RAU-resistant persons, on the basis of group analyses, and have characterized the person most likely to have this syndrome. In addition, the data have served to identify the factors that affect expression of disease severity. The epidemiologic approach has provided effective control mechanisms not available from selected and biased samples of patients referred to individual investigators.

A retrospective study of the prevalence and incidence of recurrent aphthous ulcers in a professional population, 1958–1971

A 12-year retrospective investigation of 1,788 professional school students from the University of Pennsylvania was conducted. Because of changes in profession, location, marital status, and names, only 651 proband subjected were available for the follow-up investigation. Techniques of subjective evaluation of disease status (mailed schedules describing disease and color photographs) were used in making an assessment of RAU, including both current disease and histories of prior disease. The data presented suggested a trend toward decreased RAU prevalence and severity among physicians, dentists, veterinarians, and nurses as compared with 12 years previously when they were professional school students. The prevalence rate, however, was still very high, indicating that 48.3 per cent of the men and 57.2 per cent of the women had RAU at the time. It has been suggested that the student years may represent the highest levels of RAU and that special features of the life patterns of the student favor disease expression; the data from study support this hypothesis, since reduction in severity was observed in all groups.

Inheritance patterns in recurrent aphthous ulcers: Twin and pedigree data

Nineteen sets of twins and 318 individuals from six families were examined and interviewed in order to ascertain whether a genetic component could be established for recurrent aphthous ulcers (RAU). While no specific mode of inheritance could be established, the data strongly support the hypothesis of a genetic factor involved in susceptibility to the disease.

Prediction of the Incidence of Recurrent Herpes Labialis and Systemic Illness from Psychological Measurements

About a third of variance in a years incidence of recurrent herpes labialis (RHL) was predicted from combinations of psychological and sociometric variables. Measures of social assets and psychological discomfort added significant predictive information when used in combination with measures of susceptibility to RHL (antibody titer or frequency of RHL determined by history).

The inheritance of recurrent aphthous stomatitis: Observations on susceptibility

In an effort to determine the prevalence of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), 1,303 children from 530 families were interviewed. While over-all disease prevalence in the children was 39.2 percent, there was a sharp difference in those children younger than 5 years (19.7 percent) and those 5 years of age and older (48.3 percent). Moreover, the prevalence of the disease in the children was significantly affected by whether RAS was present in none, one, or both of the parents. These observations suggest that disease susceptibility may be a complex interaction between host and environment.

Clinical and Laboratory Differentiation of Recurrent Intraoral Herpes Simplex Virus Infections Following Fever

Recurrent herpes simplex infections occurred over three times as frequently in a group of febrile patients as in a group of nonfebrile controls. Virus was isolated from patients without lesions, patients with lip lesions only, and patients with lip and intraoral lesions. Characteristic clinical features of the intraoral lesions found in association with herpes simplex virus (HSV) were identified.

A retrospective study of recurrent herpes labialis (RHL) in a professional population, 1958–1971

A retrospective 12-year investigation of 1,788 professional school students from the schools of medicine, veterinary medicine, dental medicine, nursing, and dental hygiene was conducted by the mailed distribution of questionnaires requesting information on current and prior disease history of recurrent herpes labialis (RHL). Because of changes in address, death, loss of married names, and unwillingness to participate in the investigation, only 683 proband subjects were available for the follow-up study. The data suggested a trend toward a decrease in the prevalence and severity of RHL during the interval of study: only slightly more than one firth (23.9 per cent) of the proband population of the present study experienced RHL as compared with almost two fifths (39.6 per cent) at the time when they were students.

Idiopathic hypoparathyroidism, chronic candidiasis, and dental hypoplasia

Abstract The case of a 16-year-old boy with a syndrome of idiopathic hypoparathyroidism, chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, and dental hypoplasia has been presented. Enamel hypoplasia was present in teeth which formed before there was evidence of hypocalcemia, and this dental defect, in addition to the candidiasis and photophobia, helped to determine the diagnosis of idiopathic hypoparathyroidism. Because of the danger of Candida fungemia and tetany, hospitalization was required for dental extractions under general anesthesia. Elevation of the serum calcium and extraction of the teeth appeared to result in clinical improvement of the oral candidiasis, and the patient has been able to function satisfactorily with full dentures.

Phenylbutazone-induced sialadenitis

Abstract The use of phenylbutazone drugs as anti-inflammatory agents might result in adverse reactions at different organ levels, including salivary glands. A case of sialadenitis following phenylbutazone administration is described. The results of the laboratory work-up and salivary gland scintigraphy are presented to support the diagnosis and follow the recovery process. Systemic antibiotic treatment combined with a mild sialogogue is shown to be effective in managing the clinical signs of salivary gland infection and dysfunction.

Oral manifestations of dermatitis herpetiformis

Abstract Although oral mucosal manifestations are not usually observed in dermatitis herpetiformis, the long and difficult course of the disease frequently brings the patients to the dentist, who should be aware of the specific oral manifestations.