Extracorporeal magnetic energy stimulation of pelvic floor muscles for urodynamic stress incontinence of urine in women.

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy, side effects and drop out rate of extra-corporeal magnetic energy stimulation of pelvic floor muscles for urodynamic stress incontinence of urine in women. It was a prospective non-controlled study at 2 district general hospitals in South Wales. It included 48 female patients with urodynamic stress incontinence of urine, who had 16, twice weekly treatment sessions. Pad test was the primary outcome measure and continence diary, King's Health and EuroQol quality of life questionnaires, side effects and drop out were the secondary outcome measures. Assessment was made on recruitment, at the end of treatment sessions and at 3 months follow up. Thirty one patients completed treatment sessions and 27 attended for follow up at 3 months. There was no significant change in outcome measures at the end of treatment or at 3 months follow up. Side effects were encountered by 52.1% of patients and the drop out rate was 35.4%.

Gum health product formulations: what is in them and why?

Two dominant factors dictate which ingredients are used in formulating toothpaste and mouthwashes. The major one is the type of active ingredient chosen, especially cationic active ingredients such as chlorhexidine; the other factor is the needs of the consumer. Apart from gum health benefits, the consumer expects to obtain from gum health toothpaste and mouthwashes other benefits of clean teeth (abrasive and detergent), fresh breath (antimicrobial agents and flavor) and protection from caries and possibly tartar. Exhaustive testing involving experimental design and validated laboratory and clinical tests is essential to ensure that all these benefits are delivered. Unless products are developed systematically, then products with relatively poor activity can find their way on to the market.

An in vitro study on the mechanism of innate immunity in Cryptobia-resistant brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) against Cryptobia salmositica.

Fresh plasma from Cryptobia-resistant brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) lysed Cryptobia salmositica under in vitro conditions. However, the parasite was not lysed if the plasma was heat-inactivated at 37 degrees C for 2 h or after the addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to chelate the free Mg2+ ions. Addition of Mg2+ ions to EDTA-chelated plasma restored parasite lysis. Treatment of Cryptobia-resistant plasma with either ethylenebis (oxyethylenenitrilo)tetraacetic acid, a Ca(2+)-chelating agent, or cobra venom factor did not reduce their lytic titres. The alternative pathway of complement activation is the mechanism of innate immunity against C. salmositica. The present study also shows that there is functional heterogeneity amongst the complement components activated via the alternative pathway within a species (brook charr) and between species (brook charr and goldfish) of fishes.

Susceptibility of brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis to the pathogenic haemoflagellate, Cryptobia salmositica, and the inheritance of innate resistance by progenies of resistant fish.

Eighty-seven of 175 laboratory raised F1 generation brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) were resistant to experimental Cryptobia salmositica infection. Susceptibility to the pathogen was not related to age nor to route of infection. Plasma of resistant charr lysed the parasite under in vitro conditions while those of susceptible fish did not. Sperm from 4 susceptible and 4 resistant male charr, from 8 F1 families, were used to fertilize eggs from 2 hatchery raised susceptible charr. Susceptibility of progenies (F2 families) was determined 4 weeks after inoculation of the parasite. All progenies (seven F2 families) of 4 susceptible males were susceptible to experimental infection and their plasma did not lyse the parasite. It was presumed that these susceptible progenies were homozygous recessive (rr), and that the resistant allele was dominant. All progenies (two F2 families) of 1 resistant male (presumed RR) and 2 susceptible females were all resistant to infection and their plasma lysed the parasite. The ratio of resistant to susceptible charr in 6 other F2 families from the other 3 resistant males (presumed Rr) and two susceptible females was about 1:1. The results suggest a single Mendelian locus which determines innate resistance to C. salmositica infection in brook charr and that it is possible to breed Cryptobia-resistant fish.

A survey of continued productive activity in those over the expected retirement age.

This article discusses the results of a study done in England that examined the activity involvement of people >60 years of age. Data were gathered through surveying two local newspapers, face- to face contacts, telephone calls, and letters. Areas examined included health and community welfare, education, politics, legal matters, religious affairs, businesses, environmental issues, and creative activity. Results found that many of the community's older people are productively occupied in these various areas. Positive and negative influences on their involvement are discussed, us well as ways of increasing older people's involvement in the future.

Non-fluoride anticaries agents.

Many potential anticaries agents other than fluoride have been identified in a range of laboratory models. This review covers only those agents which have demonstrated significant activity in either animal caries models, in situ models, or human clinical trials, including those measuring plaque acid formation. The agents which so far have been identified can be divided into 5 categories: (1) phosphorus-containing agents, (2) calcium-containing agents, (3) antimicrobials and antibiotics, (4) metals, and (5) miscellaneous agents. Although many potential agents have been identified in various models, very few have been taken forward to full anticaries testing in humans. Chlorhexidine is an exception, and certain agents such as calcium glycerophosphate have been shown to result in greater anticaries activity when added to fluoride. In the future, non-fluoride agents which modify the production of acid in plaque--either antimicrobially, biochemically, or directly--appear to have the most promise for use in topical products and may prove to be effective anticaries systems. Phosphates have shown encouraging activity as diet additives.

A new approach to the hip for revision surgery.

A new approach to the hip is described that allows better exposure for difficult revision surgery without the need for trochanteric osteotomy. A V-shaped myofascial flap consisting of the proximal part of vastus lateralis and its fascia with gluteus medius and minimus, is reflected off the greater trochanter and proximal femur giving access to the entire capsule of the hip. If the leg has been significantly lengthened by the revision procedure, abductor tension can be adjusted at closure by altering the reattachment of the flap, analogous to a V-Y-plasty.

Role of toothpastes in the cleaning of teeth.

Toothpastes have improved significantly over the last 2000 years to the point where they are very proficient in their cleaning attributes. However, research continues, so further improvement may still be possible.

Indoor cricket injuries.

The records of injuries that were sustained while playing indoor cricket were collected and reviewed. The most common injuries involved fingers and eyes and 50% of patients who were reviewed had had time off work. Some recommendations are made to reduce the injury rate.

Territorial bell miners and other birds affecting populations of insect prey.

Bell miners (Manorina melanophrys) feed primarily on the lerps and nymphs of psyllids, and they defend communal territories against other bird species. As bell miners were removed exprimentally from a psyllid-infested patch of eucalypt forest, birds of 11 other species moved in to feed on psyllids and within 4 months they eradicated the infestation. This shows the ability of other birds to control these insects in the absence of bell miners and the value of interspecific territoriality to bell miners.

Measurement of plaque growth following toothbrushing.

A method measuring plaque by area has been developed which can be used to evaluate the antiplaque effect of agents such as dentifrices when used in combination with toothbrushing. The extent of disclosed plaque 24 hours after treatment on tooth surfaces previously cleaned of all observable plaque was drawn by the examiner onto accurate enlarged scale drawings of the outline of the labial surfaces of all incisors, canines, premolars and 1st molars. Areas were then measured by an electronically recording planimeter. Three separate blind crossover trials were performed using this plaque area measurement in which a minimum of 15 subjects brushed normally on one occasion only, with either a calcium carbonate dentifrice or water. Compared with when subjects brushed with water, a statistically significant reduction of 45%-52% in plaque was observed in subjects 24 hours after brushing with the dentifrice in each of the three trials. In a study with 27 subjects, the periodontal condition of the papillae was found to be related to plaque present on labial surfaces on adjacent teeth as measured by this method. The teeth adjacent to papillae which bled on probing had 77% greater plaque area than teeth adjacent to papillae which did not bleed. Plaque area measured by this method on a continuous scale has a sensitivity advantage over the commonly used four-point plaque indices, especially when comparing effective antiplaque treatments or combination of treatments.