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Present Pilot Study (present + pilot_study)
Selected AbstractsLong-term effect of full-mouth tooth extraction on the responsiveness of peripheral blood monocytesJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 8 2003Schelte J. Fokkema Abstract Background: As some residual inflammation may remain after periodontal therapy, the present pilot study investigated the long-term effect of full-mouth tooth extraction therapy on the responsiveness of peripheral blood monocytes in a case with generalized terminal adult periodontitis. Methods: Before and 3, 9, 20 and 32 months after therapy, venous blood was collected. Total and differential white blood cell counts were determined and whole blood cell cultures (WBCC) were incubated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to stimulate the production of inflammatory mediators by monocytes. Results: After full-mouth tooth extraction, the numbers of total peripheral white blood cells and neutrophils decreased over time. The release of the chemokines interleukin (IL)-8 and macrophage chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 in the cultures decreased twofold over time, whereas no changes were seen for the other studied cytokines, chemokines and prostaglandin E2. Conclusion: On the basis of previous studies and the present case, the high production of IL-8 and MCP-1 by monocytes in LPS-stimulated WBCC from periodontitis patients is most likely acquired, as their levels decrease over time when the periodontal infection is controlled. The possible connection between periodontitis and atherosclerosis through IL-8 and MCP-1 is discussed. Zusammenfassung Hintergrund: Da nach der parodontalen Therapie eine restliche Entzündung zurückbleiben kann, untersucht die vorliegende Studie den Langzeiteffekt einer vollständigen Zahnextraktion auf die Ansprechbarkeit der peripheren Blutmonozyten in einem Fall mit generalisierter unheilbarer Erwachsenen-Parodontitis. Methoden: Vor und 3, 9, 20 und 32 Monaten nach der Therapie wurde venöses Blut gesammelt. Der totale und differenzierte weiße Blutzellgehalt wurden bestimmt, und eine gesamte Blutzellkultur (WBCC) wurde mit Lipopolysaccharid inkubiert, um die Produktion von Entzündungsmediatoren durch Lymphozyten zu stimulieren. Ergebnisse: Nach der vollständigen Zahnextraktion verringerte sich die Zahl der totalen peripheren weißen Blutzellen und der Neutrophilen über die Zeit. Die Freisetzung des Chemokins Interleukin 8 (IL-8) und des Makrophagen chemoattraktanten Proteins (MCP) ,1 in den Kulturen verringerte sich zweifach über die Zeit, während für die anderen beobachteten Cytokine, Chemokine und Prostaglandin E2 keine Veränderungen festgestellt wurden. Schlussfolgerung: Auf der Basis vorheriger Studien und des vorliegenden Falls ist die hohe Produktion von IL-8 und MCP-1 durch Monozyten in LPS stimulierten WBCC von Parodontitis-Patienten sehr wahrscheinlich anzunehmen, da ihr Level über die Zeit abnimmt, wenn die parodontale Infektion kontrolliert ist. Die mögliche Verbindung zwischen Parodontitis und Arteriosklerose durch IL-8 und MCP-1 wird diskutiert. Résumé Contexte: Puisqu'après traitement parodontal, une inflammation résiduelle peut subsister, cette étude se propose de rechercher les effets à long terme de l'extraction complète des dents sur la réponse des monocytes périphériques dans un cas de parodontite de l'adulte terminale généralisée. Méthodes: Des prélèvements sanguins veineux ont été réalisés avant et 3, 9, 20 et 32 mois après traitement. Les comptages totaux et relatifs des cellules blanches sanguines furent déterminés et les cultures complètes de cellules sanguines (WBCC) furent incubées avec du lipopolysaccharide pour stimuler la production des médiateurs de l'inflammation par les monocytes. Résultats: Après l'extraction complète des dents, les nombres de cellules sanguines blanches totales périphériques et des neutrophiles diminuaient au cours du temps. Le relargage des chimiokines interleukine (IL)-8 et protéine chimio-attractante du macrophage (MCP)-1 dans les cultures diminuait deux fois au cours du temps, alors qu'aucun changement n'était observé pour les autres cytokines étudiées, chimiokines et prostaglandine E2. Conclusion: Sur la base d'études préalables, et les résultats issus de ce cas présent, la forte production d'IL-8 et de MCP-1 par les monocytes dans les WBCC stimulés par le LPS chez des patients atteints de parodontite semble être vraisemblablement acquise puisque leurs niveaux diminuent lorsque l'infection parodontale est contrôlée. La relation possible entre parodontite et l'athérosclérose par IL-8 et MCP-1 est discutée. [source] Decision-making models in the analysis of portal films: A clinical pilot studyJOURNAL OF MEDICAL IMAGING AND RADIATION ONCOLOGY, Issue 1 2000Andrew See SUMMARY Portal films continue to play an important role in the verification of radiotherapy treatment. There is still some discussion, however, as to what action should be taken after a port film has shown a radiation field deviation from the prescribed volume. It was the aim of the present pilot study to investigate the performance of three decision-making models (,Amsterdam', ,Quebec' and ,Newcastle') and an expert panel basing their decision on intuition rather than formal rules after portal film acquisition in a clinical setting. Portal films were acquired on every day during the first week of treatment for five head and neck and five prostate cancer patients (diagnostic phase). If required, the field position was modified according to our normal practice following the recommendation of the expert panel. In order to analyse the results of the models, however, additional port films were taken in the following 3 treatment weeks with the patient moved as required by the different models (intervention phase). The portal films were taken over 4 consecutive days, positioning the patient according to each of the different models on one day each. None of the models diagnosed a field misplacement in the head and neck patients, while the ,Amsterdam' and ,Quebec' models predicted a move in one prostate patient. The ,Newcastle' model, which is based on Hotelling's T 2 statistic, proved to be more sensitive and diagnosed a systematic displacement for three prostate patients. The intervention phase confirmed the diagnosis of the model, even if the three portal films taken with the patient position adjusted as required by the model proved to be insufficient to demonstrate an improvement. The ,Newcastle' model does not rely on assumptions about the random movement of patients and requires five portal films before a decision can be reached. This approach lends itself well to incorporation into electronic portal imaging ,packages', where repeated image acquisitions present no logistical difficulty. [source] Combination of 308-nm xenon chloride excimer laser and topical calcipotriol in vitiligoJOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 4 2007SM Goldinger Abstract Background,, A large variety of therapeutic agents are being used for the treatment of vitiligo, but treatment remains a challenge. Recently, monochromatic phototherapies such as 311-nm narrowband ultraviolet B therapy and 308-nm xenon chloride excimer laser have been reported to be an effective and safe therapeutic option in children and adult patients with vitiligo. Single reports stipulate that the addition of topically applied calcipotriol to phototherapy increases its effectiveness. Objective, The purpose of the present pilot study was to determine if the addition of topical calcipotriol increases the efficacy of the 308-nm xenon chloride excimer in the treatment of vitiligo. Methods, Ten patients with vitiligo with essentially bilateral symmetrical lesions were enrolled in this prospective right/left comparative, single-blinded trial conducted over a 15-month period. All patients received 308-nm XeCl excimer laser therapy three times weekly. Calcipotriol ointment (Daivonex®) was applied to lesions on one side of the body twice daily. Results, After 24 treatments (8 weeks), nine patients were evaluated. Eight patients showed evidence of repigmentation on both body sides, with no significant difference between the body side treated with calcipotriol and excimer laser and the side treated with excimer laser alone. The mean repigmentation rate was 22.4% (1, 37%). Conclusion, The addition of calcipotriol ointment to 308-nm xenon chloride excimer laser phototherapy does not significantly enhance its efficacy. Small additive effects must be investigated in a larger trial. [source] Monitoring of Emulsion Polymerisation Processes using Ion Mobility Spectrometry,A Pilot StudyMACROMOLECULAR REACTION ENGINEERING, Issue 2-3 2009Wolfgang Vautz Abstract Online monitoring of monomer concentrations in (semi-) batch emulsion polymerisation reactors is important for safe and cost-efficient operation of production plants. In the present pilot study, ion mobility spectrometry was applied for monitoring the concentration during emulsion polymerisation of vinyl acetate (VA) using UV light for ionisation of the headspace of a continuous sample flow. Satisfactory sensitivity for online process monitoring of the monomer concentration in the reactor was observed (LOD 400 ng,·,L,1 air, equivalent to <1%). Furthermore, it is possible to discriminate between VA and other common monomers [butyl acrylate (BA), methyl methacrylate (MMA)]. Using the more efficient , -radiation ionisation, monomer concentration could be measured even in the final latex as a measure of the final product properties. [source] Do prior knowledge, personality and visual perceptual ability predict student performance in microscopic pathology?MEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 6 2010Laura Helle Medical Education 2010:44:621,629 Objectives, There has been long-standing controversy regarding aptitude testing and selection for medical education. Visual perception is considered particularly important for detecting signs of disease as part of diagnostic procedures in, for example, microscopic pathology, radiology and dermatology and as a component of perceptual motor skills in medical procedures such as surgery. In 1968 the Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) was introduced in dental education. The aim of the present pilot study was to explore possible predictors of performance in diagnostic classification based on microscopic observation in the context of an undergraduate pathology course. Methods, A pre- and post-test of diagnostic classification performance, test of visual perceptual skill (Test of Visual Perceptual Skills, 3rd edition [TVPS-3]) and a self-report instrument of personality (Big Five Personality Inventory) were administered. In addition, data on academic performance (performance in histology and cell biology, a compulsory course taken the previous year, in addition to performance on the microscopy examination and final examination) were collected. Results, The results indicated that one personality factor (Conscientiousness) and one element of visual perceptual ability (spatial relationship awareness) predicted performance on the pre-test. The only factor to predict performance on the post-test was performance on the pre-test. Similarly, the microscopy examination score was predicted by the pre-test score, in addition to the histology and cell biology grade. The course examination score was predicted by two personality factors (Conscientiousness and lack of Openness) and the histology and cell biology grade. Conclusions, Visual spatial ability may be related to performance in the initial phase of training in microscopic pathology. However, from a practical point of view, medical students are able to learn basic microscopic pathology using worked-out examples, independently of measures of personality or visual perceptual ability. This finding should reassure students about their abilities to improve with training independently of their scores on tests on basic abilities and personality. [source] Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels in chronic haemodialysis patientsNEPHROLOGY, Issue 1 2010DAVIDE BOLIGNANO ABSTRACT: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), a small 25 kDa protein strongly induced in injured renal tubular cells, represents an interesting emerging biomarker in the field of clinical nephrology. The aim of the present pilot study was to analyze circulating NGAL levels in a small cohort of 30 patients on chronic haemodialysis (HD), in order to assess any relationships with different laboratory and clinical parameters. Pre- and post-HD levels were higher in patients than in healthy subjects (485.2 ± 49.7 vs 51.2 ± 4.6 ng/mL; P < 0.001; and 167.4 ± 48.0 vs 51.2 ± 4.6 ng/mL; P = 0.01). Furthermore, a single HD session decreased NGAL levels by approximately fourfold (485.2 ± 49.7 vs 167.4 ± 48.0 ng/mL; p:0.01), with a reduction ratio of 73 ± 14%. At baseline, direct and independent correlations were found between NGAL and, respectively, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (, = 0.34; P = 0.03) and spKt/V (, = 0.35; P = 0.02). The findings showed that HD patients have chronically increased levels of circulating NGAL. However, with a single HD session, a marked reduction was achieved in circulating NGAL values, probably as a result of an important dialytic removal, similar to that observed for other cytokines. Finally, the direct independent correlation found between NGAL and spKt/V raises the question of whether, in the future, NGAL may also become a useful tool in predicting the adequacy of dialysis and in guiding the management of dialysis prescriptions. [source] In vitro measurement of post-natal changes in proliferating satellite cell frequency during rat muscle growthANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 2 2010Takahiro SUZUKI ABSTRACT Satellite cells, resident myogenic stem cells found in postnatal skeletal muscle, are most abundant during early postnatal development and sharply decline in frequency thereafter to adult levels in mice and rats. Therefore, postnatal changes in satellite cell mitotic activities are important aspects for further understanding a muscle growth strategy. In large meat-production animals, however, the traditional in vivo proliferation assay may be less realistic because it requires intra-peritoneal (ip) injection of huge dosage of mutagenic nucleosides, 3H-labeled thymidine or bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), at each age-time of sacrifice. We report in the present pilot study using rats that in vivo proliferation activity of satellite cells can be evaluated by an in vitro BrdU-incorporation assay in early cultures. Briefly, satellite cells were prepared from upper hind-limb and back muscles and maintained for 24 h with imposing by BrdU addition for the last 2 h, followed by the regular immunocytochemistry for determining BrdU-incorporated cell percentage. This in vitro assay demonstrated a rapid decrease in proliferating satellite cell frequency to the adult level during about 3-month period after birth, and yielded a high correlation to the measurements by the in vivo BrdU ip-injection method during the postnatal period examined from day-2 to month-11. The in vitro proliferation assay may be further adaptable for large domestic animals by the combination with a muscle biopsy technique that enables age-interval sampling from the same growing animals. [source] Lupin sensitization and clinical allergy in food allergic children in NorwayACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 1 2008Helene Lindvik Abstract Aim: The aim of the present pilot study was to investigate to what extent children in Norway sensitized to lupin had clinical lupin allergy, and to compare sensitization to lupin with sensitization to other legumes. Methods: Thirty-five children with food allergy referred to a national referral hospital were evaluated with skin prick test (SPT) and analysis of serum-specific IgE to lupin, peanut, pea and soy. The children with positive SPTs to lupin were offered oral food challenges with lupin flour. Results: Fifteen children (43%) had positive SPT and 17 children (49%) had serum-specific IgE to lupin. Ten SPT-positive children underwent oral food challenges and one experienced an allergic reaction to lupin flour. This child was one of six challenged children with IgE antibodies to peanut >15 kUA/L. There was a strong relationship between positive SPT to lupin flour and positive SPT to soy and between positive SPT to lupin and specific IgE to soy, pea and peanut. Conclusions: Children with sensitization to lupin are not likely to have a clinical lupin allergy. Avoidance of lupin on the basis of lupin sensitization or peanut allergy would lead to unnecessarily strict diets. Food challenge is currently necessary to diagnose lupin allergy. [source] Accuracy of an immune diagnostic assay based on RD1 selected epitopes for active tuberculosis in a clinical setting: a pilot studyCLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION, Issue 6 2006D. Goletti Abstract A previous case-control study reported that an in-vitro interferon (IFN)-, response to early secreted antigenic target (ESAT)-6 selected peptides was associated with active tuberculosis (A-TB). The objective of the present pilot study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of this assay for TB disease in a clinical setting. An IFN-, ELISPOT assay was performed on samples from patients with suspected A-TB using two peptides selected from ESAT-6 protein and three peptides selected from culture filtrate 10 (CFP-10) proteins. The results were compared with those obtained by two commercially available assays approved for diagnosis of TB infection (T SPOT-TB and QuantiFERON-TB Gold) which use ESAT-6/CFP-10 (RD1) overlapping peptides. Sensitivity to the RD1 selected peptides was 70% (positive for 16 of 23 patients with microbiologically diagnosed A-TB) and specificity was 91% (positive for three of 32 controls). In contrast, the sensitivity and specificity were 91% and 59%, respectively, for T SPOT-TB, and were 83% and 59%, respectively, for QuantiFERON-TB Gold. The RD1 selected peptides assay had the highest diagnostic odds ratio for A-TB. Thus, the results suggest that an assay based on RD1 selected peptides has a higher diagnostic accuracy for A-TB in a clinical setting compared with commercially available assays based on RD1 overlapping peptides. [source] Osteotome sinus floor elevation without grafting material: a 1-year prospective pilot study with ITI implantsCLINICAL ORAL IMPLANTS RESEARCH, Issue 6 2006Rabah Nedir Abstract Objective: The aim of the present pilot study was to evaluate: (1) the predictability of an osteotome sinus floor elevation procedure with ITI-SLA implants without placing a bone grafting material, and (2) the possibility to gain bone height without filling the created space with a bone grafting material. Material and methods: Seventeen patients received 25 implants protruding in the sinus. Most implants (21/25) were 10 mm long, eight were inserted in type 2 bone, 12 in type 3 and five in type 4 bone. At implant placement, the mean residual bone height (RBH) under the maxillary sinus was 5.4±2.3 mm; it was 5.7±2.6 mm on the mesial side and 5.1±1.9 mm on the distal side. Nineteen implants had less than 6 mm of bone on at least one side and six implants had less than 6 mm on both sides. A healing period of 3,4 months was allowed before abutment tightening at 35 Ncm. The percentage of stable implants at abutment tightening and at the 1-year control was calculated. The endo-sinus bone gain and the crestal bone loss (CBL) at the mesial and distal sides were measured. Results: Abutments were tightened after 3.1±0.4 months. All implants but one (96%) resisted the applied 35 Ncm torque. At the 1-year control, all implants were clinically stable and supported the definitive prosthesis. All showed endo-sinus bone gain; the mean gain was 2.5±1.2 mm. The mean CBL was 1.2±0.7 mm. Endo-sinus bone gain and RBH showed a strong negative correlation (r=,0.78 on the mesial side and ,0.80 on the distal side). A good correlation (r=0.73) was found between implant penetration in the sinus and endo-sinus bone gain. Conclusion: Elevation of the sinus membrane alone without addition of bone grafting material can lead to bone formation beyond the original limits of the sinus floor. Despite a limited RBH at implant placement, a healing period of 3 months was sufficient to resist a torque of 35 N cm and to lead to a predictable implant function at the 1-year control. [source] | ||||||||||