A preliminary study of biological characteristics of Streptococcus oligofermentans in oral microecology.

This study was designed to explore the biological characteristics of a new oral streptococcus species Streptococcus oligofermentans. Plaque samples were collected from caries-free and caries-active subjects. S. oligofermentans was selectively grown on Mitis salivarius agar plates and identified by using 2-step PCR and was isolated from 38% of 18 subjects. Isolates were found mostly on healthy tooth surfaces. S. oligofermentans had weaker abilities in acid production and demineralizing hydroxyapatite. When Streptococcus mutans was coincubated with S. oligofermentans, total number, acid production and calcium release were significantly inhibited. In conclusion, inhibition of S. mutans could be a beneficial biological characteristic of S. oligofermentans in oral microecology.

The clinician effect on "objective" technical components of the electrodiagnostic consultation.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of clinician factors on technical data within an electrodiagnostic consultation for low-back pain and spinal stenosis. DESIGN: Examiner differences on single-segment paraspinal mapping scores and other findings were examined in a prospective, masked, double-controlled trial involving 150 people aged 55-80 yrs who were selected for no symptoms, back pain, or possible spinal stenosis. RESULTS: Unmasked clinicians were more variable than masked physicians (F2,219 = 4.808, P =or<0.01) and gave lower scores to people they felt had mechanical back pain. The percentage of inadequate segmental scores differed among clinicians (0-16.6%, F8,226 = 4.170, P < 0.001), with fellows having more difficulty than faculty (11.76 +/- 32.38% vs. 0.75 +/- 8.67%) (t233 = 3.753, P < 0.001). Correction of clinician bias improved the relationship between paraspinal score and subjects' ability to walk (weighted regression R = 0.129, B = -0.047, P < 0.001; unweighted regression R = 0.090, B = -0.045, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Objective testing is adversely affected by clinician factors including prejudgment, experience, and individual idiosyncrasies. Less variation is found in more codified procedures. For electrodiagnostic consultation, correction of variability improves the relationship of test results to disability.

Non-mutans streptococci in patients receiving radiotherapy in the head and neck area.

OBJECTIVE: To study mutans and non-mutans streptococci in patients after radiotherapy of the head and neck. METHODS: Oral rinse samples collected from nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients before and after radiotherapy were diluted and cultured on nonselective and selective media for enumeration of total cultivable plaque flora, mutans and non-mutans streptococci and lactobacilli. Non-mutans streptococci were identified biochemically and by 16S rDNA sequence homology analysis. RESULTS: After irradiation, mutans streptococci were not isolated; the levels of Streptococcus mitis and lactobacilli increased significantly. The level of Streptococcus salivarius increased, but the significance was the borderline. The level of Streptococcus sanguis decreased significantly after irradiation. The abundance of other oral streptococci species showed no significant changes. CONCLUSIONS: S. mitis and S. salivarius are the predominant non-mutans streptococci in the high-caries-risk oral flora following radiotherapy.

Multidisciplinary team evaluation of upper extremity injuries in a single visit: the UPPER Program.

Musculoskeletal disorders are the leading cause of disability among people between 18 and 64 years of age. Patients with musculoskeletal injuries of the upper extremities are usually evaluated and treated by an individual physician and therapist. However, for patients who have problems, especially after being treated by a hand surgeon and a certified hand therapist, there are few other management options. A multidisciplinary assessment program for patients with chronic upper limb pain has not been described in the literature. As part of The University of Michigan RERC (Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center), the UPPER Program (UPper extremity Protocol Evaluation in Rehabilitation) was developed to evaluate patients who have disabling upper limb musculoskeletal disorders. At the center of the program is a multidisciplinary team composed of a physiatrist (physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist), occupational therapist, physical therapist, exercise physiologist, vocational counselor and pain psychologist. The UPPER Program elements include a pre-evaluation questionnaire, individual team member assessments and a team meeting. It is followed by a patient appointment with the team physician to review the results and recommendations. The essential details of the program are presented in this article so it can be reproduced elsewhere.

Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve mononeuropathy: a case report.

Isolated posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (PFCN) lesions are rare, with only six cases reported in the modern literature and one case documented with a nerve conduction study. A 25-year-old woman had sensory loss in the posterolateral thigh after two right gluteal intramuscular injections. Nerve conduction studies using Dumitru's technique showed a 9microV response on the asymptomatic side, but no response on the symptomatic side, and no abnormalities on needle examination of the back and lower extremities. Although a single case does not prove the validity of a technique, this case provides the rare opportunity to demonstrate the utility of Dumitru's technique.

Recurrent and migratory reflex sympathetic dystrophy in children.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy is a syndrome characterized by superficial pain and tenderness associated with swelling, vasomotor instability, and dystrophic changes of the skin. In children, it is rarely reported and is felt to have a more benign and self-limited course. This case illustrates that, in children, reflex sympathetic dystrophy can occur without any previous history of trauma, and may be recurrent and migratory. A review of the literature is included. An 11-year-old girl, with no history of trauma, presented in 1992 with spontaneous onset of right leg pain. She was diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and she was treated unsuccessfully with oral medications. Her symptoms then resolved in 2 weeks after receiving epidural anaesthesia and aggressive physical therapy. Over the next 5 years, she presented to the paediatric rehabilitation clinic three times with recurrent RSD in her bilateral arms. The first two times were refractory to conservative management and resolved with four stellate ganglion blocks. The third recurrence persisted with three stellate ganglion blocks and resolved with gabapentin.

Influence of human skin surface lipids on protection time of topical mosquito repellent.

Skin surface lipids were extracted from volunteers who had been ranked according to the duration of protection from mosquitoes by diethyltoluamide. These lipids were analyzed by GLC-mass spectrometry for their fatty acid contents. Correlations were found between total skin lipid content and protection time of diethyltoluamide and between certain fatty acid concentrations in the skin lipids and the protection time of diethyltoluamide.

Mutagenic studies of aziridine derivatives derived from various diamines.

Various aziridine derivatives derived from diamines were studied in several biological systems to evaluate their effects on reproduction and as potential mutagens. Considerable variations in the biological activities of these compounds were seen among animal species and among the varied chemical structures. In general, mutagenic responses paralleled the antifertility effects in mice and houseflies and the anticancer effects in mice. The lack of an antifertility effect by N,N'-bis(aziridinylacetyl)-1,8-octamethylenediamine in the rat was quite unexpected in view of its chemosterilant activity in houseflies and mice.