Prosodic Effects in Minimal Attachment

This experiment explores the role of prosodic cues in resolving temporary morphosyntactic ambiguities in spoken language comprehension. Using a cross-modal naming task, we find that prosodic cues are as effective as overt lexical cues in controlling how the listener resolves attachment ambiguities. This suggests that prosodic factors can affect the early stages of parsing and interpretation.

Room Temperature Electron Mobility Enhancement in a Strained Si Channel

During the last few years, Si/SiGe heterostructures have been used by several groups worldwide in order to achieve high-mobility two-dimensional electron gases.1-3 To confine high-mobility electrons, these heterosystems are grown in such a way that the Si channel, epitaxially grown on a relaxed SixGe1−x buffer, undergoes a tensile strain. As such structures have a significant conduction band offset, the spatial separation of ionized dopant atoms from mobile carriers can be exploited. The confined electrons in the Si channel are then provided by a doped SiGe supply layer. The significant improvement in SiGe buffer quality has led to low temperature mobilities exceeding 100 000 cm2/Vs with best values above 350 000 cm2/Vs.2-5 However, for MOS applications, the most interesting point is the room temperature (RT) mobility of confined electrons in the Si channel. With this aim in view, RT-mobilities between 2000 and 2600 cm2/Vs have been reported.6 These values are more than twice larger than these of commercial MOSFETs and are also higher than the bulk mobility of intrinsic Si. However, these relatively high values are still lower than the predicted ones (3000 cm2/Vs).7 This is partially due to the fact that the RT-mobility measured on modulation doped heterostructures (MDHs) is never exactly that of the confined electrons in the Si channel. The conduction electrons are in fact not completely transferred from the supply layer to the channel. The latter is the primary and desired path for conduction, but the supply layer can become a second, parallel path, with a lower mobility because of donor impurities. Different methods can be used to reduce the contribution of this parallel path. First, the supply layer can be designed with the lowest possible doping level so as to ensure an almost complete electron transfer at room temperature.8 Secondly, gated Hall devices can be fabricated using Schottky or Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor gates.9-11 These devices allow both the electron density and electron mobility in the strained Si channel to be measured for low gate voltage.

Exploring opportunities for collaboration between the corporate sector and the dental education community

The ultimate purpose of both dental industry and dental education is to improve the oral health of the public. This report provides background information on the different roles and objectives of the dental industry and dental education communities, the different operating environment of each sector and also areas of common interest where collaboration will be of mutual benefit. The report addresses five areas for potential collaboration between the dental industry and the dental education communities: 1. Contribution to joint activities. 2. Effectiveness and efficiency. 3. Workforce needs. 4. Middle- and low-income countries. 5. The future of International Federation of Dental Educators and Associations (IFDEA). The traditional areas of support and their limitations that have been provided by industry are outlined in the report and some new approaches for collaboration are considered. Industry-based research has been an important factor in developing new products and technologies and in promoting oral health. However there is a need to facilitate the introduction of these developments at an early stage in the education process. Industry has to operate in an efficient manner to remain competitive and maximise its returns and therefore survive. The academic sector operates in a different environment and under different governance structures; although some trends are noted towards adoption of greater efficiency and financial accountability similar to industry. Opportunities to jointly develop best business practices should be explored. Industry has responded well to the oral health needs of the public through the development of new products and technologies. The education community needs to respond in a similar way by examining different healthcare delivery models worldwide and developing programmes to train members of the dental team to cater for future needs and demands of communities in different regions of the world. The reputation of industry-based scientists and clinicians is high, and their role in contributing to the dental education process in practical ways needs to be explored and further developed. Closer relationships between industry scientists and faculty and students could assist industrys need and desire to develop new technologies for the broader dental care system. The corporate sector can play a key role in the future success of IFDEA by providing support and expertise in developing areas such as regional leadership institutes, a Global Faculty and Network and in collaborating in developing continuing education programmes as well as involvement in its governance. Thirteen recommendations are made in the report. These are considered to be important initial steps in developing the already strong relationship between the education and corporate sectors. Partnership and collaborating more effectively along the lines suggested should, almost certainly, generate mutually beneficial outcomes, whilst serving over the long term to elevate the publics oral health status on a global basis.

39. Thomas Hodgkin. 1798-1866. Health advocate for Manitoba

CanMEDS 2005 includes health advocate. Pertinently Michel Foucault wrote “The first task of the doctor is therefore political…Man will be totally and definitively cured only if first liberated.” No one exemplified this more than Thomas Hodgkin widely known for his eponymous disease. What is less known is his unceasing work, as a Quaker, for aboriginal people around the world. He was secretary of the Aboriginal Protection Society. He had been interested in Canada since meeting John Norton, as a teenager. His involvement in the plight of Canada’s Indians may have cost him a staff position at Guy’s Hospital; the Treasurer, Benjamin Harrison, is quoted as saying “he would have no officer of the hospital who drove about with a North American Indian in his carriage.” Hodgkin played an active role in the history of Manitoba. His friend Dr Richard King undertook expeditions in Western Canada to find Sir John Franklin corresponded with Hodgkin on his anthropological observations on the Aboriginals and the treatment of them by the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC). Hodgkin campaigned actively about the management of the Manitoba aboriginals by the HBC. The presentation will illustrate this with excerpts from his letters to Sir George Simpson, Governor HBC, from Captain Kennedy who also sought Franklin and the archives of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba. He presented evidence to the House of Commons as HBC was ceded to Canada. As editor of the Colonial Intelligencer he wrote much on Manitoba and received a letter from Louis Riel. Hodgkin was passionately committed to ensure that people were free both politically and economically. Foucault M. The Birth of the Clinic. Archaeology of Medical Perception. trans. A.M. Sheridan Smith. New York: Vintage Books, 1994. Wilks S, Bettany GT. A Biographical History of Guy’s Hospital. London: Ward, Lock and Co., 1892. Kass AM, Kass EH. Perfecting the World. The Life and Times of Dr. Thomas Hodgkin 1798-1866. Boston: Harcourt Brace Johanovich Publishers, 1988.

Does an apple a day keep the doctor away because a phytoestrogen a day keeps the virus at bay? A review of the anti-viral properties of phytoestrogens

From dengue to herpes and influenza to AIDS, the phytoestrogens that are present in many fruits and vegetables have been shown to exert anti-viral properties. Here we review the various different anti-viral mechanisms employed by phytoestrogens.

Radiation protection for your hands

A prospective clinical trial was performed to assess the suitability of a new type of sterilisable, user-friendly radiation protection glove. In a preliminary trial, we showed that the dominant hand of the primary operating orthopaedic surgeon receives the highest dose of radiation. During a 4-month period, 98 procedures were done requiring the use of an image intensifier. The doses of radiation to the dominant hand of the operating surgeon were reduced to less than the doses of radiation to the non-dominant hand. The glove was sterilisable, user-friendly and accepted by the majority of surgeons. It offers greater than 90% attenuation of X-rays and is superior to all other scatter gloves on the market.

The UK's National Health Service does not meet its control standards

This paper describes some of the difficulties of hospital management and staff in meeting the UK National Health Service (NHS) Infection Control Standards designed to protect staff and patients against bacterial and viral infections. The majority of older hospitals and clinics in the NHS do not have the financial resources to provide sterilizing equipment that will meet new acceptable standards.

Human endogenous retroviruses: transposable elements with potential?

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are a significant component of a wider family of retroelements that constitute part of the human genome. These viruses, perhaps representative of previous exogenous retroviral infection, have been integrated and passed through successive generations within the germ line. The retention of HERVs and isolated elements, such as long-terminal repeats, could have the potential to harm. In this review we describe HERVs within the context of the family of known transposable elements and survey these viruses in terms of superantigens and molecular mimics. It is entirely possible that these mechanisms provide the potential for undesired immune responses.

Demystified...recombinant antibodies

Recombinant antibodies are important tools for biomedical research and are increasingly being used as clinical diagnostic/therapeutic reagents. In this article, a background to humanized antibodies is given, together with details of the generation of antibody fragments--for example, single chain Fv fragments. Phage antibody fragments are fast becoming popular and can be generated by simple established methods of affinity enrichment from libraries derived from immune cells. Phage display methodology can also be used for the affinity enrichment of existing antibody fragments to provide a reagent with a higher affinity. Here, phage antibodies are demystified to provide a greater understanding of the potential of these reagents and to engage clinicians and biomedical scientists alike to think about potential applications in pathology and clinical settings.

A novel multiplex RT-PCR system detects human endogenous retrovirus-K in breast cancer

Human endogenous retrovirus HERV-K like-sequences have been implicated in certain cancers. We developed a novel multiplex RT-PCR system for HERV-K that yielded a 533 bp product together with a smaller sized product (319 bp) of the house keeping gene, histidyl tRNA synthetase (HtRNAS). The latter spanned an intron that also served to validate target cDNA. PCR amplicons of HERV-K and HtRNAS were visualised using a gel documentation system and the pixel intensity used to derive semi-quantitative levels of viral expression. Our data showed that HERV-K10 was significantly elevated in MCF-7 cells treated with estrogen. Interestingly, HERV-K expression was higher in MCF-7 cells selected with adriamycin. RT-PCR combined with Southern blotting also detected HERV-K from breast cancer tissue using laser capture microscopy. This study highlights the presence of HERV-K in the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MCF-7 ADR and confirms HERV-K10 transcripts in the cell line T47D. We believe this study to be a novel approach in determining levels of HERV-K expression and for detecting this virus in cancer cell lines and tissues.

The future of computing--new architectures and new technologies

All modern computers are designed using the 'von Neumann' architecture and built using silicon transistor technology. Both architecture and technology have been remarkably successful. Yet there are a range of problems for which this conventional architecture is not particularly well adapted, and new architectures are being proposed to solve these problems, in particular based on insight from nature. Transistor technology has enjoyed 50 years of continuing progress. However, the laws of physics dictate that within a relatively short time period this progress will come to an end. New technologies, based on molecular and biological sciences as well as quantum physics, are vying to replace silicon, or at least coexist with it and extend its capability. The paper describes these novel architectures and technologies, places them in the context of the kinds of problems they might help to solve, and predicts their possible manner and time of adoption. Finally it describes some key questions and research problems associated with their use.

Demystified. Human endogenous retroviruses

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are a family of viruses within our genome with similarities to present day exogenous retroviruses. HERVs have been inherited by successive generations and it is possible that some have conferred biological benefits. However, several HERVs have been implicated in certain cancers and autoimmune diseases. This article demystifies these retroviruses by providing an insight into HERVs, their means of classification, and a synopsis of HERVs implicated in cancer and autoimmunity. Furthermore, the biological roles of HERVs are explored.

Identification of critical staphylococcal genes using conditional phenotypes generated by antisense RNA

Comprehensive genomic analysis of the important human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus was achieved by a strategy involving antisense technology in a regulatable gene expression system. In addition to known essential genes, many genes of unknown or poorly defined biological function were identified. This methodology allowed gene function to be characterized in a comprehensive, defined set of conditionally growth-defective/lethal isogenic strains. Quantitative titration of the conditional growth effect was performed either in bacterial culture or in an animal model of infection. This genomic strategy offers an approach to the identification of staphylococcal gene products that could serve as targets for antibiotic discovery.

In vitro targeted killing of prostate tumor cells by a synthetic amoebapore helix 3 peptide modified with two gamma-linked glutamate residues at the COOH terminus

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a trans-membrane protein specifically expressed in LNCaP cells, malignant human prostate tissues, and the surrounding neovasculature. PSMA is a unique exopeptidase with reactivity toward poly-gamma-glutamated folates. It can sequentially remove the poly-gamma-glutamyl termini. To target prostate tumor cells, a novel procytolytic peptide was designed with a backbone consisting of an amoebapore H3 domain modified by two gamma-linked glutamate residues at the epsilon-amino group of the COOH-terminal lysine residue. The strategy behind the design of this prolytic peptide was to inactivate the lytic amoebapore H3 peptide by replacing its functionally important COOH-terminal positive charge with negatively charged groups, which in turn might be selectively removed by the PSMA exopeptidase. This peptide exhibited little cytolytic activity toward PSMA-negative cells, such as PC-3 cells. On the other hand, this peptide exhibited strong cytolytic activity toward PSMA-positive LNCaP cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The carboxypeptidase inhibitor 4,4'-phosphonicobis (butane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid) can inhibit this activity. Moreover, this peptide also exhibited cytolytic activity toward PSMA cDNA-transfected PC-3 cells.

Identification, Substrate Specificity, and Inhibition of theStreptococcus pneumoniae β-Ketoacyl-Acyl Carrier Protein Synthase III (FabH)

In the bacterial type II fatty acid synthase system, beta-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) synthase III (FabH) catalyzes the condensation of acetyl-CoA with malonyl-ACP. We have identified, expressed, and characterized the Streptococcus pneumoniae homologue of Escherichia coli FabH. S. pneumoniae FabH is approximately 41, 39, and 38% identical in amino acid sequence to Bacillus subtilis, E. coli, and Hemophilus influenzae FabH, respectively. The His-Asn-Cys catalytic triad present in other FabH molecules is conserved in S. pneumoniae FabH. The apparent K(m) values for acetyl-CoA and malonyl-ACP were determined to be 40.3 and 18.6 microm, respectively. Purified S. pneumoniae FabH preferentially utilized straight short-chain CoA primers. Similar to E. coli FabH, S. pneumoniae FabH was weakly inhibited by thiolactomycin. In contrast, inhibition of S. pneumoniae FabH by the newly developed compound SB418011 was very potent, with an IC(50) value of 0.016 microm. SB418011 also inhibited E. coli and H. influenzae FabH with IC(50) values of 1.2 and 0.59 microm, respectively. The availability of purified and characterized S. pneumoniae FabH will greatly aid in structural studies of this class of essential bacterial enzymes and facilitate the identification of small molecule inhibitors of type II fatty acid synthase with the potential to be novel and potent antibacterial agents active against pathogenic bacteria.

Intonational disambiguation in sentence production and comprehension

Speakers' prosodic marking of syntactic constituency is often measured in sentence reading tasks that lack realistic situational constraints on speaking. Results from such studies can be criticized because the pragmatic goals of readers differ dramatically from those of speakers in typical conversation. On the other hand, recordings of unscripted speech do not readily yield the carefully controlled contrasts required for many research purposes. Our research employs a cooperative game task, in which two speakers use utterances from a predetermined set to negotiate moves around gameboards. Results from a set of early versus late closure ambiguities suggest that speakers signal this syntactic difference with prosody even when the utterance context fully disambiguates the structure. Phonetic and phonological analyses show reliable prosodic disambiguation in speakers' productions; results of a comprehension task indicate that listeners can successfully use prosodic cues to categorize syntactically ambiguous fragments as portions of early or late closure utterances.

Use of a Dall-Miles plate and cables for the fixation of a periprosthetic tibial fracture

Although tibial periprosthetic fractures are uncommon, they are likely to be encountered more frequently with the increased use of total knee arthroplasty, and they present a challenging management problem. Here we present our solution to this problem, which provided a safe, effective means of fracture management, while maintaining the prosthesis.

A case-control study of the role of cold symptoms and other historical triggering factors in asthma exacerbations

BACKGROUND

Asthma exacerbations can be provoked by many triggers such as allergens, respiratory irritants and viral infections. The relative importance of these has not been prospectively documented in a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relative importance of colds and other nonclimatic historical triggers of asthma exacerbations.

METHODS

One hundred and nineteen adults and children with asthma in two Canadian cities participated in a one-year study of the role of exacerbating factors in asthma. Among these, 36 pairs (21 adult, 15 children) completed the case-control study. Patients were considered cases if they developed an acute asthma exacerbation and notified the centre within 24 h to allow the completion of a questionnaire and viral studies (cultures of nasopharyngeal swabs and serology). Control people with asthma were matched for sex, age and area of residence, had no exacerbation during the preceding four weeks and participated within 48 h of the case patients.

RESULTS

Case patients versus control patients had a mean age of 22 years versus 20 years, 50% versus 55% were male, and 92% versus 86% had at least one positive aeroallergen skin test. Cases were more likely to have taken regular inhaled steroids (63% versus 33%, P<0.002). Cases were more likely to report the following within the previous week: fever (P<0.001), sore throat (P<0.001), increase in nasal symptoms (P<0.01), increased dust exposure (P<0. 05), exposure to others with a cold (P<0.001) and, over the previous year, increased passive smoke exposure (P<0.05). Viral cultures and paired serology were negative.

CONCLUSIONS

Symptomatic colds were the most common trigger of asthma exacerbations in the winter and spring, while a transient increase in dust exposure was also identified as a significant trigger. The association with chronic, passive smoke exposure and the use of inhaled costicosteroid medications likely reflected less stable pre-study asthma in those with exacerbations.

Comparison of video and written instructions for plaque removal by an oscillating/rotating/reciprocating electric toothbrush

A previous crossover study showed that a watch-and-follow instructional video improved plaque removal by an electric toothbrush compared to the use of the instructional leaflet. This study employed a parallel design to assess the value of an instructional video for plaque removal by a new model oscillating/rotating/reciprocating electric toothbrush. 2 groups of 26 dentate subjects with average oral hygiene, who had never used an electric toothbrush, participated in this single blind, randomised parallel group designed study. On day 1 of the study, subjects received a professional prophylaxis to remove all plaque. Oral hygiene measures were then suspended and subjects returned on day 3 when a prebrushing plaque score was recorded by plaque index and area. Subjects withdrew and either read the manufacturers instructional leaflet (group L) or observed the instructional video (group V). Groups L and V then performed toothbrushing with toothpaste for 2 minutes and with group V brushing in time with the instructional video. Post-brushing plaque indices and areas were then recorded. Whole mouth, lingual, upper, lower, anterior and posterior but not buccal % reductions in plaque index and area were significantly greater in group V compared to group L. % plaque removal was also significantly greater by area at mid and distal sites but not mesial sites. Whole-mouth plaque reductions were 10% greater in group V but reached >15% at lingual surfaces. Within group differences in plaque removal at paired sites e.g., buccal/lingual, remained similar, suggesting that further improvement could be achieved by modifying the video to devote more time to the difficult-to-clean areas. In conclusion, in the early period of learning the use of an electric toothbrush, plaque removal can be improved by using an instructional video. Such watch-and-follow video routines could be extended to other areas of oral hygiene practices.

Sensor performance conversions for infrared target acquisition and intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance imaging sensors

Target acquisition infrared imaging sensors are characterized by their minimum resolvable temperature parameter that is translated to the probability of identification (Pid) performance estimate for a given target. Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance (ISR) sensors are characterized by the general image quality equation to give a national imagery interpretability rating scale (NIIRS) performance estimate. Sensors, such as those on Predator and Global Hawk, will soon be used for both ISR and target acquisition purposes. We present a performance conversion that includes both sensor resolution and sensitivity. We also provide the first empirical results to our knowledge ever to be presented that relate NIIRS and Pid for a given set of targets.

Conversion of plaque-area measurements to plaque index scores. An assessment of variation and discriminatory power

Plaque areas recorded graphically or photographically provide a permanent record of plaque accumulations on teeth at a moment in time. As such, these records could be re-evaluated and converted into other index scores. The purpose of this study was to determine the reproducibility of scoring a plaque index from previously recorded plaque areas and to compare such scores with the original scores of the same index. A randomised blind, crossover study comparing 5 treatments for plaque inhibition scored by plaque area and index was chosen. 2 examiners, the original scorer PRH and another, NC, 2x scored the plaque area tooth charts according to the criteria of the plaque index system used in the original study. Standard deviations of the differences showed intra-examiner repeatability to be high particularly for the original examiner. Inter-examiner reproducibility for the original index scores was considered good but less than for intra-examiner repeatability. Correlation coefficients were complimentary to the differences analysis, being very high within examiners and less high for between examiners and original and rescored index. Separation between distributions of plaque area measurements for consecutive values of the index were particular good for scores 2 versus 3 and 3 versus 4 and less good for 1 versus 2 and 4 versus 5. Reanalysis of the study for treatment differences using rescored data revealed a similar level of significance as using the original data. Rescored index had similar discriminatory power for the study as plaque area and original plaque index when both were derived from the same buccal tooth surfaces. However, discriminatory power was less by comparison with original plaque index derived from the buccal surfaces of all teeth. It is concluded that plaque area provides a permanent record of plaque distribution which can be converted into index data at a later date. Such data collection could make possible comparisons between studies using different indices.

An evaluation of video instruction for an electric toothbrush. Comparative single-brushing cross-over study

Instructions on the use of electric toothbrushes are usually derived from the written and/or diagrammatic leaflets provided with the device or perhaps less often instruction from a professional. Videos are now widely used for information transfer and the direction of physical activities. The aim of this study was to determine whether video instruction in the use of an electric toothbrush could promote efficient use of the device. The 2-min video demonstrated the use of an oscillating, rotating electric toothbrush used by a hygienist for 15 s in each buccal and lingual quadrant. A voice-over directed the observer to follow the hygienist's movements. The study was planned as a 2-phase, single-examiner blind, randomised, cross-over study accepting there would be confounding of the 2nd period by carry-over from the 1st. A group of 24 healthy volunteers participated who had average oral hygiene and never used an electric toothbrush. 12 subjects received the video first (VN) and 12 subjects the instructional leaflet with the device (NV). Single brushings were performed after suspending tooth cleaning for 48 h. Plaque was scored before and after brushing. A 2-week washout period was permitted before the crossover. In period 1, plaque removal with the video was overall significantly greater than with written instructions. The effects for posterior teeth were greater than anterior and comparison between groups for posterior minus anterior differences were highly significant in favour of the VN group. In period 2, the effect of period was dominant with both groups achieving greater plaque removal in period 2 than period 1. Plaque removal by group VN remained considerably greater than group NV Despite the confounding influences of carry-over in this particular design of study, the results support the idea that video instruction for electric toothbrushes could be a simple and efficient way of improving plaque removal by these devices. The methodology needs to be verified in a home-use type of investigation.

A review of 1019 consecutive cases of polycystic ovary syndrome demonstrated by ultrasound

Analysis of a cohort of 1019 consecutive subjects with ultrasonically demonstrable polycystic ovary (PCO) syndrome demonstrated a significant relationship between biochemical parameters and clinical symptoms such as menstrual frequency and severity of hirsutism. One hundred and forty-four subjects presented with involuntary infertility and only eight cases had unexplained infertility apart from PCO.

A practice-based randomised controlled trial of the efficacy of an electric and a manual toothbrush on gingival health in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of an electric toothbrush with a specially designed orthodontic brush head compared with a manual toothbrush in controlling plaque and gingivitis in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances over an 8-week period in a dental practice setting.

METHODS

This was a randomised controlled, single blind, stratified, parallel group trial conducted in two specialist orthodontic dental practices by a specialist orthodontist. Group 1 comprised 41 subjects who used the electric toothbrush and Group 2 consisted of 43 subjects who brushed with a manual toothbrush around the orthodontic appliance for a timed 2 minutes twice daily for 8 weeks. Plaque around the fixed appliance attachments was measured using an orthodontic modification to the Silness and Loe plaque index, while gingival condition was scored using the gingival index and Eastman interdental bleeding index.

RESULTS

There was baseline balance for all clinical variables (p > 0.05). Both groups had significantly less plaque after 8 weeks than at baseline (p < 0.001) but the group using the electric brush also had significantly less interdental gingival bleeding, as determined by the Eastman interdental bleeding index both at week 4 (p < 0.001) and week 8 (p = 0.004). The majority of subjects (n = 54, 64.3%) preferred the electric toothbrush.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the results from this study would suggest that use of an electric toothbrush with an orthodontic brush head may be of benefit in promoting gingival health in fixed orthodontic appliance patients; however, the long-term effects (over at least 6 months) need to be evaluated.

Home use oral hygiene product trials; timing of the last brushing before scoring; an assessment of variation

Home use studies to evaluate oral hygiene products often standardise the time lag between plaque scoring and the previous toothbrushing. Most protocols have favoured an evening before brushing regimen, but the rationale and even the validity of this approach has not been evaluated. In this study, a group of 30 adult subjects participated in a 4-period randomised single-blind crossover evaluation of within-subjects and between-subjects variation in plaque levels after two different brushing times. Thus, on 2 occasions, plaque was scored after an "evening before" brushing and on the other 2 occasions plaque was scored after a "morning before" brushing. As expected, mean plaque levels were lower after morning brushing, but only by 11%. There was little difference for lingual plaque (4%) but a greater difference for buccal plaque (18%). Comparisons for within-subjects variation, which ideally should be low, favoured morning brushing but differences were small and not significant. Comparisons for between subjects variation, which ideally should be high to permit discrimination between high and low plaque formers, also favoured morning brushing but were only significant for lingual plaque. Intraclass correlation coefficients of reliability revealed that overall repeatability was high for both morning and evening regimens; marginally favouring morning brushing. Analyses using all four scores per subject disregarding timing of brushing increased within subjects variation and decreased repeatability, particularly for buccal plaque. In conclusion, the data support the concept of standardising the time between plaque scoring and the previous tooth-brushing. There were no clear statistically significant grounds for preferring one brushing regimen to the other, however the data favoured the morning brushing.

The safety and efficacy of gingival massage with an electric interdental cleaning device

The safety and efficacy of an interdental cleaning device (Braun Oral-B Interclean--ID2) used with a Flexi-Tip gingival massage attachment were evaluated in an investigator-blind comparison with manual floss. Over a 4-week period, 59 healthy volunteers were studied with respect to whole-mouth and interproximal plaque accumulation, gingival index and gingival bleeding. Eligible subjects were randomly assigned to one of the two experimental groups following a complete dental examination on Day 1. Subjects each underwent a dental prophylaxis before receiving flossing or massaging instructions. Plaque, gingivitis and gingival bleeding index scores were evaluated at Day 1 and Week 4. There was a significant reduction from baseline in all three parameters (whole-mouth and interproximal) in each of the groups, over the 4-week period. Reductions for whole-mouth and interproximal plaque scores were 20.3% and 17.0%, respectively in the ID2 group, compared with 16.2% and 13.8%, respectively in the manual floss group. Reductions for gingivitis were 13.0% and 14.1% in the ID2 group, compared with 14.0% and 16.2% in the manual floss group, and for gingival bleeding 52.2% and 53.6% in the ID2 group, compared with 51.7% and 55.6% in the manual floss group, respectively. Differences between treatment groups for each study parameter were not statistically significant. There was no significant soft tissue pathology noted in either study group. The results demonstrated that the manual floss and the interdental cleaning device, when used with the gingival massage attachment, were equally effective.

Donor work-up and transport of bone marrow--recommendations and requirements for a standardized practice throughout the world from the Donor Registries and Quality Assurance Working Groups of the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA)

In October 1995 the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) was restructured in order to facilitate its primary function of establishing guidelines in relation to international bone marrow and blood stem cell transplants -- transplants in which the donor is in one country and the patient is in another country. Five new working groups were established -- Donor Registries, Ethics, Quality Assurance, Finances, and Stem Cells. This paper, prepared by members of the Donor Registries Working Group, in consultation with the Quality Assurance Working Group, provides recommendations for the 'donor work-up'. This term covers events that start when the definitive donor has been identified, includes the harvesting (collection) and transportation of the stem cell product and ends when the product reaches the transplant centre. The paper includes examples of the documentation intended to ensure compliance with the recommendations at all key points in the sequence.