Oral findings in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa: a study of 47 cases

These two clinically oriented articles deal with problems dentists are seeing more frequently. One hospital dental service sees an average of four to five patients weekly with eating disorders. The first article is a research study discussing problems found in 47 study participants with the eating disorders anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The second article describes a helpful technique for oral rehabilitation.

Bond strength of a luting composite to dentin with different bonding systems

This study evaluated the tensile bond strength of Conclude luting composite to dentin under different environmental conditions with Scotchbond dental adhesive, the FNP system, and unfilled BIS-GMA resin used as bonding agents. Although the bonding systems reportedly yield high tensile bond values to enamel, large differences were observed in this study for bond values to dentin. Only the FNP bonding system produced consistently high tensile load values to dentin under the three environmental conditions tested.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for renovascular hypertension in arteritis: experience in China

Forty-two patients with renovascular hypertension were treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. In 32, arteritis was the cause of the renovascular disease. Thirty of the 42 patients were followed for more than 6 months after angioplasty. Twenty-two of these 30 patients had arteritis; 19 of the 22 (86.4%) benefited from the angioplasty, compared with six of eight patients (75%) with atherosclerosis or fibromuscular dysplasia.

Loperamide associated necrotising enterocolitis

Two cases of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) occurring in infants beyond the neonatal period were reported. They did not have any predisposing factors to NEC but both had paralytic ileus after loperamide therapy for their mild diarrhoea prior to the onset of NEC. The possible role of loperamide in the pathogenesis of NEC was discussed.

Combined fluoride, school-based program in a fluoride-deficient area: results of an 11-year study

In 1972, a school-based fluoride program was initiated in elementary schools in Nelson County, VA, a fluoride-deficient area. For 11 years, participating children ingested daily in school a 1-mgm fluoride tablet and rinsed weekly with a .2% sodium fluoride solution. They also received fluoride dentifrice and toothbrushes for home use. The program was extended into junior high school in 1978 and into high school in 1980. In 1983, dental examinations of children aged 6 to 17 years, who had continuously participated in the program for 1 to 11 years depending on school grade, showed a mean prevalence of 3.12 DMFS, which was 65% lower than the corresponding score of 9.02 DMFS for children of the same ages at the baseline examinations. The preventive program inhibited decay in all types of surfaces: 54% in occlusal surfaces; 59% in buccolingual surfaces; and 90% in mesiodistal surfaces.

Dental development in precocious puberty

One hundred and one children with precocious puberty were given an oral examination. Dental root development was assessed using panoramic radiographs. All mandibular canines, pre-molars, and molars which could be visualized without apparent distortion were included. The patients were grouped for analysis according to the etiology of their precocity, e.g., McCune-Albright syndrome, familial male, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, central nervous system lesions, and idiopathic precocious puberty. Dental development was significantly retarded relative to their chronological age in patients with idiopathic precocious puberty. However, no significant abnormal dental development was detected in any of the other groups. Individual oral-facial growth and development remain the primary considerations for timing orthodontic treatment.

Effect of peroral immunization of humans with Streptococcus mutans on induction of salivary and serum antibodies and inhibition of experimental infection

Naturally occurring antibodies reactive with Streptococcus mutans whole cells were assayed in whole saliva, parotid saliva, and blood samples collected from eight human volunteers. The levels and serotypes of indigenous S. mutans in plaque and whole saliva samples were also determined. After baseline sampling the teeth were cleaned and the subjects were inoculated with streptomycin-resistant S. mutans strains Ingbritt (serotype c) and OMZ65 (serotype g). The level of implantation and duration of colonization were determined in plaque and saliva, and antibodies reactive with these strains were monitored in saliva and serum. After the implanted bacteria were shed, the subjects wee immunized by the daily ingestion of an enteric-coated capsule containing 25 mg of Formalin-killed, freeze-dried OMZ65 cells for 3 days and inoculation was repeated. The levels of antibodies and of implantation and the duration of colonization were monitored as before. One month after the bacteria could no longer be detected, the immunization and inoculation cycle was repeated except that the subjects were immunized for 7 days. Five of the eight subjects were successfully colonized by strains Ingbritt and OMZ65. The remaining three did not become colonized with either strain. Strain OMZ65 implanted at a higher level than did strain Ingbritt. Oral immunization did not result in a detectable antibody response in saliva or serum to whole bacterial cells. However, after both the first and second immunizations there were marked reductions in the peak levels of infection and the duration of colonization of both OMZ65 and Ingbritt.

Eight-year evaluation of a combined fluoride program in a nonfluoride area

The purpose of this study is to measure the long-term effects of a combination of self-applied fluoride methods among schoolchildren living in a rural area with low concentrations of fluoride in drinking water. Participating children rinse weekly with a 0.2% sodium fluoride solution and ingest daily a 1-mg fluoride tablet in school under supervision of their teachers, and received fluoride toothpaste and toothbrushes for use at home. In 1980, dental examinations of children ages 6-14, who had continuously participated in the program for 1 to 8 years, depending on their school grade, had an overall mean caries prevalence of 3.22 DMFS, 49% lower than the corresponding mean score of 6.31 DMFS for children of the same ages at the baseline examination. The preventive program inhibited decay in all types of tooth surfaces: 37% in occlusal, 41% in buccolingual, and a striking 86% in mesiodistal. At each succeeding follow-up survey, benefits have continued to improve; the reductions in caries prevalence were 18% after 2 years, 35% after 4 years, 45% after 6 years, and 49% after 8 years. Findings in approximal tooth surfaces have also continued to improve as the length of the program has increased; reductions in caries in mesiodistal surfaces were 32%, 69%, 85%, and 86% after 2,4,6, and 8 years, respectively. Internal analyses of data indicate that the decline in dental caries prevalence resulted from the fluoride program and not from an unexplained natural decline in caries prevalence. The self-applied combined fluoride regimen used in this program has been shown to produce a pronounced anticaries effect.

Population genetic studies in three Chinese minorities

Three minority ethnic groups from China (Mongolians, Koreans, Zhuang) were examined with respect to the genetic markers GLO, GPT, ACP, ESD, 6-PGD, PGM1 subtypes, C3, and TF. Significant variations were noted for the gene frequencies of GLO, GPT, ESD, sub PGM1 between Zhuang and Mongolians; for GPT, ACP, ESD, sub PGM1 between Zhuang and Koreans; and for GLO between Mongolians and Koreans.