Body Temperature Frequency Distributions: A Tool for Assessing Thermal Performance in Endotherms?

There is increasing recognition that rather than being fully homeothermic, most endotherms display some degree of flexibility in body temperature. However, the degree to which this occurs varies widely from the relatively strict homeothermy in species, such as humans to the dramatic seasonal hibernation seen in Holarctic ground squirrels, to many points in between. To date, attempts to analyse this variability within the framework generated by the study of thermal performance curves have been lacking. We tested if frequency distribution histograms of continuous body temperature measurements could provide a useful analogue to a thermal performance curve in endotherms. We provide examples from mammals displaying a range of thermoregulatory phenotypes, break down continuous core body temperature traces into various components (active and rest phase modes, spreads and skew) and compare these components to hypothetical performance curves. We did not find analogous patterns to ectotherm thermal performance curves, in either full datasets or by breaking body temperature values into more biologically relevant components. Most species had either bimodal or right-skewed (or both) distributions for both active and rest phase body temperatures, indicating a greater capacity for mammals to tolerate body temperatures elevated above the optimal temperatures than commonly assumed. We suggest that while core body temperature distributions may prove useful in generating optimal body temperatures for thermal performance studies and in various ecological applications, they may not be a good means of assessing the shape and breath of thermal performance in endotherms. We also urge researchers to move beyond only using mean body temperatures and to embrace the full variability in both active and resting temperatures in endotherms.

Does student debt affect dental students' and dentists' stress levels?

Introduction Many studies have shown financial worries and debt to induce stress in individuals, this combined with the existing stress of being a dentist raises the question of how student debt affects students' and dentists' stress levels.Objectives Determine whether student debt has had any noticeable effect on student stress levels; investigate whether student debt has any effect on dentists' career choice; investigate whether the increase in tuition fees has influenced the number of applicants to study dentistry at the University of Birmingham.Method Anonymous questionnaires were completed by 70 4th year and 38 5th year BDS and 22 Dental Core Trainees (DCTs). Participants circled the response which best fitted their situation regarding statements on their level of stress and future career path. Ethical approval granted. Application figures to study dentistry obtained from head of admissions.Results Forty-two percent of males and 63% of females strongly agreed with the statement that having no debt would reduce their stress levels. Of those with debt >£40,000, 11% strongly agreed and 42% agreed that their total amount of student debt causes them stress. Whereas, those whose debt is <£40,000 only 2% strongly agreed and 28% agreed that their total amount of student debt causes them stress. Seventy-seven percent of participants who had parental or family financial support reported this reduced their stress levels. Student debt was found to deter females from undertaking further study more than it deters males (P <0.001). Students with a higher level of debt were more likely to worry about their total student loan(s) (P <0.001). Moreover, students with a higher level of debt were more likely to be stressed about their total student loan(s) (P <0.001). Parental/family contribution to student expenses reduces student stress (P <0.001). Applications to study dentistry since the rise in tuition fees have decreased by 42%.Conclusion Student debt has had an impact on student stress; students reporting a higher level of debt also report more stress and concern about paying off their student debt. Having no student debt would reduce stress levels, although to what extent is undetermined. Applications to study dentistry have fallen since the increase in tuition fees.

A millisecond pulsar in a stellar triple system.

Gravitationally bound three-body systems have been studied for hundreds of years and are common in our Galaxy. They show complex orbital interactions, which can constrain the compositions, masses and interior structures of the bodies and test theories of gravity, if sufficiently precise measurements are available. A triple system containing a radio pulsar could provide such measurements, but the only previously known such system, PSR B1620-26 (refs 7, 8; with a millisecond pulsar, a white dwarf, and a planetary-mass object in an orbit of several decades), shows only weak interactions. Here we report precision timing and multiwavelength observations of PSR J0337+1715, a millisecond pulsar in a hierarchical triple system with two other stars. Strong gravitational interactions are apparent and provide the masses of the pulsar M[Symbol: see text](1.4378(13), where M[Symbol: see text]is the solar mass and the parentheses contain the uncertainty in the final decimal places) and the two white dwarf companions (0.19751(15)M[Symbol: see text] and 0.4101(3))M[Symbol: see text], as well as the inclinations of the orbits (both about 39.2°). The unexpectedly coplanar and nearly circular orbits indicate a complex and exotic evolutionary past that differs from those of known stellar systems. The gravitational field of the outer white dwarf strongly accelerates the inner binary containing the neutron star, and the system will thus provide an ideal laboratory in which to test the strong equivalence principle of general relativity.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents and musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses in Kentucky.

Injuries sustained by horses during racing have been considered as an unavoidable part of horse racing. Many factors may be associated with the musculoskeletal injuries of Thoroughbred race horses. This study surveyed the amounts of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) in injured horse's biological system (plasma) at Kentucky racetracks from January 1, 1995 through December 31, 1996. During that period, there were 84 catastrophic cases (euthanized horses) and 126 noncatastrophic cases. Plasma concentrations of NSAIDs were determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography in injured and control horses. The possible role of anti-inflammatory agents in musculoskeletal injuries of Thoroughbred race horses was investigated by comparing the apparent concentrations of NSAIDs in injured horses to concentrations in control horses. The plasma concentrations of phenylbutazone and flunixin were higher in injured horses than in control horses. Most injured and control horses did not have a detectable level of naproxen in their plasma samples. Further studies must be carried out to determine whether horses with higher plasma concentrations of NSAIDs have an altered risk of musculoskeletal injuries compared with other horses.

The dental caries experience of 5-year-old children in Great Britain (2005/6). Surveys co-ordinated by the British Association for the study of community dentistry.

OBJECTIVE: This paper reports the results of standardized clinical caries examinations of 5-year-old children from across England, Wales and Scotland in 2005/6. These co-ordinated surveys are the latest in a series which seek to monitor the dental health of children and to assess the delivery of dental services. METHOD: The criteria and conventions of the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry were used. Representative samples were drawn from participating strategic health authorities (SHAs), primary care trusts (PCTs) and health boards (HBs). Caries was diagnosed at the caries into dentine threshold using a visual method without radiography or fibre-optic transillumination. RESULTS: 239,389 five and six year-old children from across England, Wales, Scotland and the Isle of Man were examined in 2005/2006. The results again demonstrated a wide variation in disease prevalence and care strategies across Great Britain. Mean d3mft across England was 1.47 (d3t = 1.10, mt = 0.20, ft = 0.16), across Wales the corresponding values were 2.38 (d3t = 1.70, mt = 0.43, ft = 0.25) and in Scotland 2.16 (d3t = 1.45, mt = 0.51, ft = 0.20). Overall, 39.4% of children in Great Britain had evidence of caries experience in dentine (d3mft > 0, including visual dentine caries). The distribution of caries was highly skewed. Thus the mean caries experience for those with dentinal decay was 3.99, as opposed to the overall mean of 1.57. Trends over time demonstrate a small change in mean d3mft since 2003/4 when the mean was 1.62, although the mean value for those with dentine decay experience remained constant (4.00 vs 3.99). The care index has also fallen marginally from 12% to 11%. The BASCD co-ordinated NHS Epidemiology Programme will evolve in coming years as differing priorities in the frequency of inspecting particular age groups is being seen as well as a desire to measure other aspects of oral health in addition. CONCLUSION: Overall, there has been only a small overall improvement in the dental health of 5-year-old children over the last 2 years and no diminution of the level of disease in those affected for some time, although in Scotland a pattern of continuing steady progress from previously high levels is seen. While many children enjoy good oral health, sizable groups remain within the population of 5-year-old children who have a clinically significant burden of preventable dental disease.

Inequality in uptake of orthodontic services.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this ecological study was to investigate the relationship between uptake of orthodontic services and factors that might influence receipt of care at a population level. METHOD: The dental practice board supplied data on claims for courses of active orthodontic treatment from April 2001 to March 2002 for children from the former county of Avon. These data were analysed in relation to deprivation, living in an urban/rural setting and the proportion of the population from a black or minority ethnic group (BME). RESULTS: In Avon, children from deprived and rural areas were significantly less likely to be undergoing an active course of orthodontic treatment. Children from an area with a high proportion BME were significantly more likely to be undergoing treatment. CONCLUSION: This research demonstrates that children from more deprived and rural communities in Avon are less likely to receive orthodontic treatment. This has important policy implications for primary care trusts that have a responsibility to ensure equal access to care for all of their children.

The dental caries experience of 11-year-old children in Great Britain. Surveys coordinated by the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry in 2004 / 2005.

OBJECTIVE: This paper reports the results of standardized clinical caries examinations of 11-year-old children from across England and Wales, Scotland, Isle of Man, and Jersey in 2004/5. These co-ordinated surveys are the latest in a series which seek to monitor the dental health of children and to assess the delivery of dental services. METHOD: The criteria and conventions of the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry were used. Representative samples were drawn from participating strategic health authorities (SHAs), primary care trusts (PCTs), health boards (HBs), and local health boards (LHBs). Caries was diagnosed at the caries into dentine threshold using a visual method without radiography or fibre-optic transillumination. RESULTS: The results again demonstrated a wide variation in disease prevalence and care strategies across Great Britain. Mean values for D3MFT within the current English strategic health authorities ranged from 0.19 in Harlow to 1.32 in North Manchester and in Salford; in Wales mean values ranged from 0.69 in Vale of Glamorgan to 2.09 in Blaenau Gwent; while in Scotland they ranged from 0.59 in Orkney to 1.77 in Western Isles. Mean D3MFT across England was 0.64 (D3T = 0.32, MT = 0.06, FT = 0.25), across Wales it was 1.09 (D3T = 0.48, MT 0.11, FT = 0.50), and across Scotland values were 1.29 (D3T = 0.52, MT = 0.17, FT = 0.60). Overall, 31.3% of children in England & Wales and 47.1% of children inspected in Scotland had evidence of caries experience in dentine (D3MFT > 0, including visual dentine caries). As in previous surveys, the distribution of caries was highly skewed. Thus the mean caries experience for those with dentinal decay in England and Wales was 2.12, as opposed to the overall mean of 0.66; in Scotland the corresponding values were 2.74 and 1.29. Trends over time demonstrate an improvement in overall mean D3MFT for England and Wales since the 2000/2001 of 12-year-olds, although part of this difference is accountable to the younger age, at examination, in this survey. The mean value for those with dentine decay experience was also marginally less at 2.12 compared with 2.35 in the previous survey. (Figures for Scotland were not included in the 2000/2001 survey.) The care index was also found to be marginally lower than previously at 41% compared with 48% but again the younger age of the children would influence this value. CONCLUSION: Dental health of 11-year-old children has been surveyed in Great Britain, Jersey, and the Isle of Man: being a slightly younger mean age than in previous BASCD surveys. Geographic variation in oral health is marked at both the local and national levels. Overall, the provision of operative care for those with dentinal decay is around 42%. While many children enjoy good oral health, sizable groups remain within the population of 11-year-old children who have a clinically significant burden of preventable dental disease.

The dental caries experience of 5-year-old children in England and Wales (2003/4) and in Scotland (2002/3). Surveys co-ordinated by the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry.

OBJECTIVE: This paper reports the results of standardized clinical caries examinations of 5 year old children from across England and Wales in 2003/4 and Scotland in 2002/3. These co-ordinated surveys are the latest in a series which seek to monitor the dental health of children and to assess the delivery of dental services. METHOD: The criteria and conventions of the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry were used. Representative samples were drawn from participating strategic health authorities (SHAs), primary care trusts (PCTs) and health boards (HBs). Caries was diagnosed at the caries into dentine threshold using a visual method without radiography or fibre-optic transillumination. Data for Jersey and the Isle of Man are also included. RESULTS: The results again demonstrated a wide variation in disease prevalence and care strategies across Great Britain. Mean values for d3mft within the current English Strategic Health Authorities ranged from 0.47 in Maidstone Weald (South) to 3.69 in North Kirklees (North); in Wales mean values ranged from 1.48 in Flintshire (NW) to 3.73 in Merthyr (SE); while in Scotland they ranged from 1.29 in Borders to 3.67 in Argyll & Clyde. Mean d3mft across England was 1.49 (d3t = 1.12, mt = 0.19, ft = 0.18), across Wales it was 2.42 (d3t = 1.70, mt = 0.43, ft = 0.29) and across Scotland values were 2.76 (d3t = 1.87, mt = 0.65, ft = 0.24). Overall, 39.6% of children in England & Wales and 55.4% of children inspected in Scotland had evidence of caries experience in dentine (d3mft > 0, including visual dentine caries). The distribution of caries was highly skewed. Thus the mean caries experience for those with dentinal decay in England and Wales was 3.90, as opposed to the overall mean of 1.55; in Scotland the corresponding values were 4.98 and 2.76. Trends over time demonstrate virtually no change in the overall mean d3mft for England and Wales since 2001/2, although the mean value for those with dentine decay experience increased marginally from 3.83 to 3.90. In Scotland there had been deterioration in the overall mean (2.76 as compared to the 2.55 reported in 1999). The care index has also fallen (for example in England & Wales to 12% from 13.2% in 2001/2002 and 14.3% in 1999/2000). CONCLUSION: There has been no overall improvement in the dental health of 5 year old children over the last 2 years. Geographic variation in oral health is marked at both the local and national levels. Overall, the provision of operative care for those with dentinal decay has again decreased slightly. While many children enjoy good oral health, sizable groups remain within the population of 5 year old children who have a clinically significant burden of preventable dental disease.

Development of a method for the detection and confirmation of the alpha-2 agonist amitraz and its major metabolite in horse urine.

Amitraz (N'-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-N-[[(2,4-dimethylphenyl)imino]methyl]-N-methyl-methanimidamide) is an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist used in veterinary medicine primarily as a scabicide- or acaricide-type insecticide. As an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, it also has sedative/tranquilizing properties and is, therefore, listed as an Association of Racing Commissioners International Class 3 Foreign Substance, indicating its potential to influence the outcome of horse races. We identified the principal equine metabolite of amitraz as N-2,4-dimethylphenyl-N'-methylformamidine by electrospray ionization(+)-mass spectrometry and developed a gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) method for its detection, quantitation, and confirmation in performance horse regulation. The GC-MS method involves derivatization with t-butyldimethylsilyl groups; selected ion monitoring (SIM) of m/z 205 (quantifier ion), 278, 261, and 219 (qualifier ions); and elaboration of a calibration curve based on ion area ratios involving simultaneous SIM acquisition of an internal standard m/z 208 quantifier ion based on an in-house synthesized d(6) deuterated metabolite. The limit of detection of the method is approximately 5 ng/mL in urine and is sufficiently sensitive to detect the peak urinary metabolite at 1 h post dose, following administration of amitraz at a 75-mg/horse intravenous dose.

The current working patterns and future career aspirations of specialist trainees in dentistry.

OBJECTIVES: To determine current demographic details of dental specialist registrars in the UK, to examine their current working patterns and ascertain their future career aspirations. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey, using a self-administered postal questionnaire of all 418 dental specialist registrars (SpRs) in the UK. RESULTS: The response rate was 78%. Of the SpRs who responded 59% were male, the majority were aged under 36, 54% were married and over one third had dependants. Orthodontics had the greatest number of SpRs with 141, followed by maxillofacial surgery (70) and restorative dentistry (52). On completion of training, 80% of SpRs intended to work full time. Significantly more women intended to work part-time. Only a fifth of SpRs said they would consider an academic appointment compared with 54% for specialist practice. Three quarters intended to work partly in the public sector and partly in a private capacity. London was the most popular choice of location for a post in the future. Access to a wide range of clinical work, continuing professional development, autonomy and sociability were the most important factors when considering their future choice of career. CONCLUSION: Changes in the demographic profile of dental specialists and increasing opportunities for providing care within primary care may lead to difficulties in recruitment to academic and hospital posts. Increasing provision of specialist services in the 'high street' might improve access but could lead to inequalities unless these services are commissioned according to the needs of the population.

Detection and confirmation of ractopamine and its metabolites in horse urine after Paylean administration.

We have investigated the detection, confirmation, and metabolism of the beta-adrenergic agonist ractopamine administered as Paylean to the horse. A Testing Components Corporation enzyme-linked imunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for ractopamine displayed linear response between 1.0 and 100 ng/mL with an I-50 of 10 ng/mL and an effective screening limit of detection of 50 ng/mL. The kit was readily able to detect ractopamine equivalents in unhydrolyzed urine up to 24 h following a 300-mg oral dose. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) confirmation comprised glucuronidase treatment, solid-phase extraction, and trimethylsilyl derivatization, with selected-ion monitoring of ractopamine-tris(trimethylsilane) (TMS) m/z 267, 250, 179, and 502 ions. Quantitation was elaborated in comparison to a 445 Mw isoxsuprine-bis(TMS) internal standard monitored simultaneously. The instrumental limit of detection, defined as that number of ng on column for which signal-to-noise ratios for one or more diagnostic ions fell below a value of three, was 0.1 ng, corresponding to roughly 5 ng/mL in matrix. Based on the quantitation ions for ractopamine standards extracted from urine, standard curves showed a linear response for ractopamine concentrations between 10 and 100 ng/mL with a correlation coefficient r > 0.99, whereas standards in the concentration range of 10-1000 ng/mL were fit to a second-order regression curve with r > 0.99. The lower limit of detection for ractopamine in urine, defined as the lowest concentration at which the identity of ractopamine could be confirmed by comparison of diagnostic MS ion ratios, ranged between 25 and 50 ng/mL. Urine concentration of parent ractopamine 24 h post-dose was measured at 360 ng/mL by GC-MS after oral administration of 300 mg. Urinary metabolites were identified by electrospray ionization (+) tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry and were shown to include glucuronide, methyl, and mixed methyl-glucuronide conjugates. We also considered the possibility that an unusual conjugate added 113 amu to give an observed m/z 415 [M+H] species or two times 113 amu to give an m/z 528 [M+H] species with a daughter ion mass spectrum related to the previous one. Sulfate and mixed methyl-sulfate conjugates were revealed following glucuronidase treatment, suggesting that sulfation occurs in combination with glucuronidation. We noted a paired chromatographic peak phenomenon of apparent ractopamine metabolites appearing as doublets of equivalent intensity with nearly identical mass spectra on GC-MS and concluded that this phenomenon is consistent with Paylean being a mixture of RR, RS, SR, and SS diastereomers of ractopamine. The results suggest that ELISA-based screening followed by glucuronide hydrolysis, parent drug recovery, and TMS derivatization provide an effective pathway for detection and GC-MS confirmation of ractopamine in equine urine.

The dental caries experience of 14-year-old children in England and Wales. Surveys co-ordinated by the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry in 2002/2003.

OBJECTIVE: This paper reports the results of standardised clinical caries examinations of 77,693 14-year-old children from across England, Wales, Jersey and the Isle of Man. These 2002/3 coordinated surveys are the latest in a series which seeks to monitor the dental health of children and to assess the delivery of dental services. METHOD: The criteria and conventions of the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry were used. Representative samples were drawn from participating health authorities and boards and caries was diagnosed at the caries into dentine (D3) threshold using a visual method without radiography or fibre-optic transillumination. RESULTS: These demonstrated, once again, a wide variation in prevalence across the area surveyed, with mean values for D3MFT for the current English government offices (of the National Health Service) and the local Health Boards in Wales ranging from 0.99 in the South East to 2.10 in Wales (2.41 in the Isle of Man). The mean value for across England and Wales was 1.48 (D3T=0.56, MT=0.10, FT=0.82). Overall 49 per cent of 14-year-old children in England and Wales had evidence of dentinal caries experience (D3MFT>0), the regional/country means ranged between 37 per cent (South-East) and) and 60 percent in Wales (65 per cent, Isle of Man). The mean D3MFT for those with disease at this threshold was 3.03. Trends over time demonstrate an improvement of 4% in overall D3MFT for England and Wales, there has been only small improvement in mean MT since 1994/95, while FT and care index have fallen. The number of fillings provided in 2002/3 and thus the care index, remains low, on average across England and Wales, only 55% of the dentinal caries experience identified by survey examinations of permanent teeth was seen as fillings (range in individual areas: 28% to 83%). CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate a modest overall improvement in oral health, but a continuing need for more effective preventive strategies and treatment services for permanent teeth in this important age group. An average of half of the 14 year old children examined being affected by dentinal decay and a mean of three permanent teeth decayed into dentine for those children affected at this level of diagnosis is a poor start to charting oral health in the 21st Century in England and Wales.

A GC-MS method for the determination of isoxsuprine in biological fluids of the horse utilizing electron impact ionization.

Isoxsuprine is used to treat navicular disease and other lower-limb problems in the horse. Isoxsuprine is regulated as a class 4 compound by the Association of Racing Commissioners, International (ARCI) and, thus, requires regulatory monitoring. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method utilizing electron impact ionization was developed and validated for the quantitation of isoxsuprine in equine plasma or equine urine. The method utilized robotic solid-phase extraction and tri-methyl silyl ether products of derivatization. Products were bis-trimethylsilyl (TMS) isoxsuprine and tris-TMS ritodrine, which released intense quantifier ions m/z 178 for isoxsuprine and m/z 236 for ritodrine that were products of C-C cleavage. To our knowledge, this procedure is faster and more sensitive than other methods in the literature. Concentrations in urine and plasma of isoxsuprine were determined from a calibrator curve that was generated along with unknowns. Ritodrine was used as an internal standard and was, therefore, present in all samples, standards, and blanks. Validation data was also collected. The limit of detection of isoxsuprine in plasma was determined to be 2 ng/mL, the limit of quantitation of isoxsuprine in plasma was determined to be < 5 ng/mL. The mean coefficient of determination for the calibrator curves for plasma was 0.9925 +/- 0.0052 and for calibrator curves for urine 0.9904 +/- 0.0075. The recovery efficiencies at concentrations of 50, 200, and 300 ng/mL were 76%, 73%, and 76%, respectively, in plasma and 92%, 89%, and 91% in urine.

The workforce of professionals complementary to dentistry in the general dental services: a survey of general dental practices in the South West.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the working patterns, training experiences, estimated size, and future training needs of the workforce of professionals complementary to dentistry in the general dental service in an English region. METHODS: Postal questionnaire of NHS dental practices in the South West of England. RESULTS: The response rate was 65%. There was an average of two whole time equivalent (wte) dentists working per practice. Dentists work a mean 0.8 wte per practice. Sixty per cent of practice time is NHS. Vacancies existed for 120 dentists (98 wte) with reported difficulties in recruitment. There was an average of 1.25 wte dental nurses per dentist with 44% of nurses working part-time. A quarter of nurses' time is on non-clinical duties. The turnover rate for nurses was between 13% and 26%, with recruitment difficulties. Approximately 50% of nurses do not have a professional qualification. There is variation between health authorities in proportions of qualified nurses. Hygienists are employed in 72% of practices, but only 20% of their work is NHS. Dentists have favourable attitudes to an expansion in the employment and training of professionals complementary to dentistry. CONCLUSIONS: There are problems with recruitment and retention of all categories of the dental workforce in the GDS, particularly in rural areas. There is a large unmet need for pre- and post-qualification training for professionals complementary to dentistry compounded by marked inequalities in access to training.

The dental caries experience of 5-year-old children in England and Wales. Surveys co-ordinated by the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry in 2001/2002.

OBJECTIVE: This paper reports the results of standardised clinical caries examinations of 170,731 5-year-old children from across England and Wales. These 2001/2002 co-ordinated surveys are the latest in a series which seek to monitor the dental health of children and to assess the delivery of dental services. METHOD: The criteria and conventions of the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry were used. Representative samples were drawn from participating health authorities and boards and caries was diagnosed at the caries into dentine threshold using a visual method without radiography or fibre-optic transillumination. RESULTS: The results again demonstrated a wide variation in prevalence across Britain, with mean values for d3mft for the current English Strategic Health Authorities (SHA) (of the National Health Service), Wales and British 'territories' ranging from 0.75 in Jersey and 0.84 in Kent & Medway to 2.73 in Gwent and 2.47 in Greater Manchester. Mean d3mft across England and Wales was 1.52 (d.t = 1.11, mt = 0.20, ft = 0.20). Overall, 40% of children had evidence of caries experience (d3mft > 0); the percentages ranged between 23% (Jersey) or 29% (Essex) and 61% (Gwent) or 54% (Greater Manchester). The distribution of caries was highly skewed. Thus the mean caries experience for those with disease in England and Wales was 3.83, as opposed to the overall mean of 1.52. Trends over time demonstrate slight increase of 3% in overall d3mft for England and Wales since 1999/2000, compared to the 4% improvement seen for the two previous years. Of the three components of dmft, d3t and mt have increased while ft has fallen. The care index has also fallen (13.2% in 2001/2002, compared to 14.3% in 1999/2000); SHA/country percentages for 2001/2002 ranged from 8-29%. This indicator has not, however, regained the levels seen in the past. CONCLUSION: There has been no improvement in the dental health of 5-year-old children. Overall, the provision of operative care for those with dentinal decay has decreased slightly; significant groups remain within the population of 5-year-old children who have dental disease and who are in need of dental care.

Ropivacaine in the horse: its pharmacological responses, urinary detection and mass spectral confirmation.

This report evaluates the pharmacological responses, urinary detection and mass spectral confirmation of ropivacaine in horses. Ropivacaine, a potent local anesthetic (LA) recently introduced in human medicine, has an estimated highest no-effect dose (HNED) of about 0.4 mg/site as determined in our abaxial sesamoid block model. Apparent ropivacaine equivalents were detectable by ELISA screening using a mepivacaine ELISA test after administration of clinically effective doses. Mass spectral examination of postadministration urine samples showed no detectable parent ropivacaine, but a compound indistinguishable from authentic 3-hydroxyropivacaine was recovered from these samples. The study shows that ropivacaine is a potent LA in the horse, that clinically effective doses can be detected in postadministration samples by ELISA-based screening, and that its major post administration urinary metabolite is 3-hydroxyropivacaine.

Enhanced anti-cancer activities of some derivatives of titanocene dichloride.

The compounds (eta5-C5H5)2TiCl2 (I), currently undergoing phase II trials, (eta5-C5H5)(eta5-C5H4CO2Me)TiCl2 (II) and C5H4CO2Me)2TiCl2 (III) are assessed for their efficacies against a small lung cancer cell line. It is found that the introduction of the electron withdrawing carbomethoxy group into the cyclopentadienyl rings increases the effectiveness of this class of drugs, such that III compares favorably with the well known cisplatin.

Effect of acupressure by Sea-Bands on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of continuous acupressure at P6 applied by Sea-Bands with acupressure buttons on the frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy during the 1 st trimester. DESIGN: A two-group, quasi-experimental, posttest-only and posttest-repeated measure. SETTING: Seventeen medical clinics or offices in southern Michigan. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of English-speaking, healthy pregnant women in their 1 st trimester, who had at least one episode of nausea, vomiting, or both before their prenatal clinic/office visit where they were recruited. After being accepted for the study, the women were randomly assigned to treatment or placebo groups. INTERVENTION: Treatment group 1 applied SeaBands with acupressure buttons to both wrists for 4 days and removed the Sea-Bands for 3 subsequent days. Placebo group 2 applied the Sea-Bands without acupressure buttons to both wrists on the same time schedule as group 1. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Self-report daily diaries of the number of times per day that participants experienced nausea, the severity of nausea, the number of vomiting episodes per day, and the severity of vomiting. RESULTS: Mann-Whitney U procedures revealed that the treatment group had significantly less frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy while wearing the Sea-Bands than did the placebo group. The treatment group also had significantly less frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy while wearing the SeaBands than when not wearing the Sea-Bands. CONCLUSIONS: Sea-Bands with acupressure buttons are a noninvasive, inexpensive, safe, and effective treatment for the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.

Identification of lidocaine and its metabolites in post-administration equine urine by ELISA and MS/MS.

Lidocaine is a local anesthetic drug that is widely used in equine medicine. It has the advantage of giving good local anesthesia and a longer duration of action than procaine. Although approved for use in horses in training by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), lidocaine is also an Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) Class 2 drug and its detection in forensic samples can result in significant penalties. Lidocaine was observed as a monoprotonated ion at m/z 235 by ESI+ MS/MS (electrospray ionization-positive ion mode) analysis. The base peak ion at m/z 86, representing the postulated methylenediethylamino fragment [CH2N(CH2CH3)2]+, was characteristic of lidocaine and 3-hydroxylidocaine in both ESI+ and EI (electron impact-positive ion mode) mass spectrometry. In addition, we identified an ion at m/z 427 as the principal parent ion of the ion at m/z 86, consistent with the presence of a protonated analog of 3-hydroxylidocaine-glucuronide. We also sought to establish post-administration ELISA-based 'detection times' for lidocaine and lidocaine-related compounds in urine following single subcutaneous injections of various doses (10, 40, 400 mg). Our findings suggest relatively long ELISA based 'detection times' for lidocaine following higher doses of this drug.

Remifentanil in the horse: identification and detection of its major urinary metabolite.

Remifentanil (4-methoxycarbonyl-4-[(1-oxopropyl)phenylamino]-1-piperidinepropionic acid methyl ester) is a mu-opioid receptor agonist with considerable abuse potential in racing horses. The identification of its major equine urinary metabolite, 4-methoxycarbonyl-4-[(1-oxopropyl)phenylamino]-1-piperidinepropionic+ ++ acid, an ester hydrolysis product of remifentanil is reported. Administration of remifentanil HCl (5 mg, intravenous) produced clear-cut locomotor responses, establishing the clinical efficacy of this dose. ELISA analysis of postadministration urine samples readily detected fentanyl equivalents in these samples. Mass spectrometric analysis, using solid-phase extraction and trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatization, showed the urine samples contained parent remifentanil in low concentrations, peaking at 1 h. More significantly, a major peak was identified as representing 4-methoxycarbonyl-4-[(1-oxopropyl)phenylamino]-1-piperidinepropionic+ ++ acid, arising from ester hydrolysis of remifentanil. This metabolite reached its maximal urinary concentrations at 1 h and was present at up to 10-fold greater concentrations than parent remifentanil. Base hydrolysis of remifentanil yielded a carboxylic acid with the same mass spectral characteristics as those of the equine metabolite. In summary, these data indicate that remifentanil administration results in the appearance of readily detectable amounts of 4-methoxycarbonyl-4-[(1-oxopropyl)phenylamino]-1-piperidinepropionic+ ++ acid in urine. On this basis, screening and confirmation tests for this equine urinary metabolite should be optimized for forensic control of remifentanil.