In vitro study of the effect of clotrimazole incorporation into silicone soft liner on fungal colonization

Candidal colonization on soft liners is important in the development of pathogenesis, such as denture stomatitis. It has heen reported that combining anti-fungal agents into soft liners might be used in treatment and prevention of denture stomatitis. The aim of this in-vitro study was to determine whether incorporating Clotrimazole [C] into the silicone soft liner [S], would inhibit the growth of C. albicans when the specimens are stored in distilled water and washed daily with wet cotton. Experimental specimen disks incorporated with Clotrimazole [Sc[1], Sc[30], Sc[60] and without Clotrimazole [S[1], S[30], S[60]] into the soft liner [no = 8] were fabricated aseptically against the polyester film to produce a smooth surface. The treated and control disks were stored in distilled water for 1, 30 and 60 days and washed daily with wet cotton. For fungal growth assessment, they were inoculated with C .albicans suspension. The disks were rinsed and sonicated in sterile water to remove surface organisms. The attached yeast was measured by inoculation of the yeast suspension on Sabouraud's agar. The data were compared using two-way ANOVA. The mean colony forming units [CPU] per mm[2] for the specimens without Clotrimazole after water storage and washing with wet cotton for 1, 30 and 60 days was 6.5X10[6], 5.8X10[6] and 6.1X10[6], respectively. CPU for specimens with Clotrimazole decreased significantly to 2.6X10[6] and 3.9X10[6] and 4.6X10[6] after 1, 30, and 60 days, respectively. In comparison to those of the control disks, Clotrimazole in treated disks was effective in inhibiting C.albicans growth significantly following storage in water for 2 months [P < 0.05]. The addition of Clotrimazole significantly reduced C.albicans growth to the surface of the silicone soft liner. The samples continued to inhibit the fungal growth when they were washed daily with wet cotton for 2 months

Headache and blood pressure in primary health care setting in Kuwait

To identify the types of headache among patients, presenting at a primary health care setting, and to determine the correlation between headache and high blood pressure [BP]. This was a cross-sectional study administered in 2 primary health care centers [Fintas and AbuHalifa] of a regional health district in Kuwait from March 2003 to June 2003. Our study included 290 patients with different types of headache, and requested for BP measurement. The sample included patients, in the age group 15-80 years with an overall mean age of 41 [+13 SD] years. The male to female ratio was 1:2.7 and the majority [85%] of patients were Kuwaitis. Tension headache was the most frequent diagnosis [61.7%] among patients presenting with headache, followed by migraine [11.7%]. The normal systolic BP was <140 mm Hg [52.8%], while 59% had normal diastolic BP, below 90 mm Hg. Increasing age was found to be associated with high BP levels [p<0.001]. Diastolic BP was found significantly higher among males [p<0.01] Tension headache had higher levels of BP while migraine was found to have low levels. None of the sinusitis headache patients had high BP. Positive history of hypertension was found associated with high systolic and diastolic BP in tension and other type of headache [p<0.001]. Headache is a very common symptom among patients presenting at the general practice health care setting, with most cases diagnosed with tension-type headache, and females out numbering males. There was no positive correlation between headache and high BP. Physicians should discourage their patients from considering headache as a measure of their BP status