T. H. Howell

Blocking periodontal disease progression with anti-inflammatory agents.

Recent advances in the identification of specific immuno-inflammatory pathways of periodontal disease have encouraged investigators to attempt to modulate some of these host responses in an attempt to slow the periodontal disease process. Some of the best known mediators of these immuno-inflammatory pathways are prostaglandins. The action of prostaglandins can be inhibited through the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This review examines research over the last two decades during which the effect of several NSAIDs on the progression of gingival inflammation and alveolar bone loss was explored. J Periodontol 1993; 64:828-833.

Antigenic variation in populations of Streptococcus salivarius isolated from the human mouth

Abstract Populations of Streptococcus salivarius CM6 exhibited antigenic variation while colonizing the mouth and intestinal canal of gnotobiotic rats. Variants which no longer produced detectable levels of one or more of 5 antigenic components discernible by immunoelectrophoresis were isolated in low proportions as early as 3 days after mono-infection of germ-free rats; almost all isolates obtained 2 weeks after infection were variants. Oral and faecal isolates attached less well than the parent strain to human or rat buccal epithelial cells. Variants altered with respect to 2 of the 5 components emerged first and such variants were the most common. These 2 components could not be detected in Strep. salivarius cells following treatment with trypsin. There were no variants of laboratory stock cultures of strain CM6 over a 3-yr period. The relative predictability of the emergence of variants in gnotobiotic rats suggests that a specific selection pressure was responsible, part of which was due to an immune response of the animals suggested by the emergence of variants more quickly in animals previously immunized with formalin-killed CM6 cells. Emergence of variants was less in animals pretreated with cyclophosphamide, an immunosuppressant, or fed diets supplemented with large numbers of killed Strep. salivarius . Populations of Strep. salivarius colonizing papillae on the tongue dorsum, and of Streptococcus mutans colonizing approximal molar tooth surfaces in man, were antigenically heterogenous; in some instances, the proportions of antigenic subtypes appeared to fluctuate with time.

Differences in clinical grading associated with instructor status

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine whether the clinical evaluation of pre-doctoral students is associated with instructor status. The hypothesis was that there would be no association between instructor status and clinical evaluation grades. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospective analysis of pre-doctoral clinical evaluations for class II amalgams, class III composites, and periodontal scaling and root planing was performed. The grade averages were based on a rank scale. Descriptive statistics were computed to summarise the predictor and outcome variables. Bivariate statistics were computed to evaluate any associations between the predictors and outcomes. Multiple linear regression models were computed to evaluate the simultaneous effects of multiple predictors on clinical evaluations. RESULTS The study sample consisted of 238 class II amalgams, 246 class III composites, and 675 scaling and root planings which occurred between August 2003 and June 2005. The procedure averages for these procedures were 1.8 +/- 0.67, 1.8 +/- 0.66 and 2.1 +/- 0.56 respectively. The management averages were 2.0 +/- 0.63, 1.5 +/- 0.58 and 1.4 +/- 0.54 respectively. In bivariate analyses, faculty status was associated with treatment averages for all three procedures. CONCLUSIONS Faculty status was associated with treatment score for all three procedures evaluated. Full-time faculty gave the best grades for restorative procedures. For periodontal procedures, part-time faculty gave the best grades. More studies are warranted to elucidate the nature behind these differences.