Prevalence of systemic diseases in Brisbane general and periodontal practice patients

Background: Periodontitis has been associated with a number of systemic diseases such as atherosclerosis, coronary heart diseases, and respiratory diseases. This study aimed to determine whether there is a significant difference in the prevalence of systemic diseases (a) in patients referred for periodontal care compared to the general practice population, (b) in patients attending a public hospital and private practices, (c) in patients attending public and private periodontal practices, and (d) among patients with periodontitis of varying severity. Methods: Charts of 1000 adult patients were selected from four clinics (University of Queensland (UQ) School of Dentistry Admissions Clinic, UQ School of Dentistry Periodontics Clinic, Private Periodontal Practice, and Private General Dental Practice). The prevalence of medical conditions was evaluated using validated self-reported health questionnaires. The periodontal condition was assessed from the most recent relevant radiographs in the files. Results: Periodontal patients had a higher prevalence of systemic diseases compared to the general practice population. Public patients had a greater prevalence of systemic diseases compared to patients in private practice for both general practice and periodontal patients. In patients with advanced periodontitis, bronchitis, hepatitis and rheumatoid arthritis were most prevalent. Patients with periodontitis also took more medications and were more likely to suffer from multiple conditions compared to the general dental population. Conclusions: Patients attending public dental facilities have an increased prevalence of systemic disease compared to those attending private practices. Furthermore periodontal patients have a greater prevalence of disease compared to general practice patients. Patients with moderate or advanced periodontitis show an increase in the prevalence of some systemic diseases previously reported to be risk factors for periodontal disease.

The effect of exercise on large artery haemodynamics in healthy young men

Background Brachial blood pressure predicts cardiovascular outcome at rest and during exercise. However, because of pulse pressure amplification, there is a marked difference between brachial pressure and central (aortic) pressure. Although central pressure is likely to have greater clinical importance, very little data exist regarding the central haemodynamic response to exercise. The aim of the present study was to determine the central and peripheral haemodynamic response to incremental aerobic exercise. Materials and methods Twelve healthy men aged 31 +/- 1 years (mean +/- SEM) exercised at 50%, 60%, 70% and 80% of their maximal heart rate (HRmax) on a bicycle ergometer. Central blood pressure and estimated aortic pulse wave velocity, assessed by timing of the reflected wave (T-R), were obtained noninvasively using pulse wave analysis. Pulse pressure amplification was defined as the ratio of peripheral to central pulse pressure and, to assess the influence of wave reflection on amplification, the ratio of peripheral pulse pressure to nonaugmented central pulse pressure (PPP : CDBP-P-1) was also calculated. Results During exercise, there was a significant, intensity-related, increase in mean arterial pressure and heart rate (P < 0.001). There was also a significant increase in pulse pressure amplification and in PPP : CDBP-P-1 (P < 0.001), but both were independent of exercise intensity. Estimated aortic pulse wave velocity increased during exercise (P < 0.001), indicating increased aortic stiffness. There was also a positive association between aortic pulse wave velocity and mean arterial pressure (r = 0.54; P < 0.001). Conclusions Exercise significantly increases pulse pressure amplification and estimated aortic stiffness.

Periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis: A review

Periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) appear to share many pathologic features. In this review, the common pathologic mechanisms of these two common chronic conditions are explored. Emerging evidence now suggests a strong relationship between the extent and severity of periodontal disease and RA. While this relationship is unlikely to be causal, it is clear that individuals with advanced RA are more likely to experience more significant periodontal problems compared to their non-RA counterparts, and vice versa. A case is made that these two diseases could be very closely related through common underlying dysfunction of fundamental inflammatory mechanisms. The nature of such dysfunction is still unknown. Nonetheless, there is accruing evidence to support the notion that both conditions manifest as a result of an imbalance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. As a result, new treatment strategies are expected to emerge for both diseases that may target the inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines and destructive proteases. The clinical implications of the current data dictate that patients with RA should be carefully screened for their periodontal status.

Investigation into the ability of Gluconacetobacter sacchari to live as an endophyte in sugarcane

The relatively low numbers and sporadic pattern of incidence of the acetic acid bacterium Gluconacetobacter sacchari with the pink sugarcane mealybug (PSMB) Saccharicoccus sacchari Cockerell (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) over time and from different sugarcane-growing regions do not indicate that Glac. sacchari is a significant commensal of the PSMB, as has been previously proposed. This study was conducted to investigate the hypothesis that Glac. sacchari is, like its closest relative Glac. diazotrophicus, an endophyte of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarium L.). In this study, both Glac. sacchari and Glac. diazotrophicus were isolated from internal sugarcane tissue, although the detection of both species was sporadic in all sugarcane-growing regions of Queensland tested. To confirm the ability of Glac. sacchari to live endophytically, an experiment was conducted in which the roots of micropropagated sugarcane plantlets were inoculated with Glac. sacchari, and the plantlets were subsequently examined for the presence of the bacterium in the stem cells. Pure cultures of Glac. sacchari were grown from homogenized surface sterilized sugarcane stems inoculated with Glac. sacchari. Electron microscopy was used to provide further conclusive evidence that Glac. sacchari lives as an endophyte in sugarcane. Scanning electron microscopy of (SEM) sugarcane plantlet stems revealed rod-shaped cells of Glac. sacchari within a transverse section of the plantlet stem cells. The numbers of bacterial cells inside the plant cell indicated a successful infection and colonization of the plant tissue. Using transmission electron microscopy, (TEM) bacterial cells were more difficult to find, due to their spatial separation. In our study, bacteria were mostly found singularly, or in groups of up to four cells inside intercellular spaces, although bacterial cells were occasionally found inside other cells.

A preliminary case series on the use of quetiapine for posttraumatic stress disorder in juveniles within a youth detention center

Juveniles within the youth justice system have high rates of psychiatric morbidity, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This case series describes 6 young people aged 15 to 17 years within a youth detention center who met the criteria for PTSD and reported an improvement in symptoms after 6 weeks of treatment with low-dose quetiapine. The primary outcome measure used was the Traumatic Symptom Checklist in Children. The dose of quetiapine ranged from 50 to 200 mg/d; T scores for PTSD symptoms decreased from 75 (SD, +/- 5.2; range, 68-82) to 54 (SD: +/- 7.4; range, 43-62) (P <= 0.01). Significant improvements in symptoms of dissociation (P <= 0.01), anxiety (P < 0.01), depression (P < 0.01).. and anger (P < 0.05) were also noted over the 6-week evaluation period. Low-dose quetiapine was tolerated well, with no persisting side effects or adverse events. Nighttime sedation was reported, although this was viewed as beneficial. All young people opted to continue with treatment after the assessment period. This preliminary case series suggests that juveniles in detention who have PTSD may benefit from treatment with quetiapine. Caution is needed in interpreting these findings. Both larger open-label and blinded trials are war-ranted to define the use of quetiapine in the treatment of PTSD in the adolescent forensic population.

Postcolonialism and the politics of qualitative research in international business

This paper offers a re-configuration of international business research by subjecting it to a postcolonial critique. This critique sees international business research as exhibiting continuities with the colonial project in the way it appropriates the Other. Qualitative research in international business often reproduces a neopositivist separation of theory and method, which can marginalize discussion of the important ontological, epistemological and political issues inherent in any research process

Sociodemographic backgrounds and career decisions of Australian and New Zealand dental students

This article describes the sociodemographic and career selection characteristics of dental students in Australia and New Zealand. A total of 672 dental students participated in the study. The survey covered age, language proficiency, type of school attended, place of residence, parental occupation, and level of education. The respondents had an average age of twenty-two years, with a range of eighteen to fifty. Fifty-six percent of respondents were female, and approximately half had completed secondary education in private schools with 44.3 percent having finished in public schools. The majority of students lived with their parents, with only a few respondents reporting a rural home address (6.8 percent). The majority of students (65.3 percent) had placed dentistry as their first career choice and had most likely made the decision after leaving high school or near the end of high school (81.4 percent), with self-motivation being the major influence on their decision. This study provides a description of the sociodemographic profile of Australian and New Zealand dental students and provides a better understanding of career decision issues. It also highlights areas for further investigation and management by educational institutions and public policy.

Antigen-43-mediated autoaggregation impairs motility in Escherichia coli

Functional interaction between bacterial surface-displayed autoaggregation proteins such as antigen 43 (Ag43) of Escherichia coli and motility organelles such as flagella has not previously been described. Here, it has been demonstrated for the first time that Ag43-mediated aggregation can inhibit bacterial motility. Ag43 overexpression produces a dominant aggregation phenotype that overrides motility in the presence of low levels of flagella. In contrast, induction of an increased flagellation state prevents Ag43-mediated aggregation. This phenomenon was observed in naturally occurring subpopulations of E coli as phase variants expressing and not expressing Ag43 revealed contrasting motility phenotypes. The effects were shown to be part of a general mechanism because other short adhesins capable of mediating autoaggregation (AIDA-I and TibA) also impaired motility. These novel insights into the function of bacterial autoaggregation proteins suggest that a balance between these two systems, i.e. autoaggregation and flagellation, influences motility.