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It is well known that founder mutations associated with cancer risk have useful implications for molecular diagnostics. We report the presence of a founder mutation in EPCAM involved in the etiology of Lynch syndrome ( LS). The mutation extends nearly 8.7 kb (c.858 + 2478_*4507del) and is shared by 8 Polish families. Family members suffered almost exclusively from colorectal cancer; however, pancreatic and gastric cancers were also apparent. Next to mutations c. 2041G>A in MLH1 gene and c.942+ 3A>T in MSH2, the deletion mutation encompassing EPCAM is one of the most common causative changes responsible for LS in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of overweight children in the United States continues to increase. Objectives: To examine the relationship between being overweight and caries in primary and permanent dentition in a nationally representative sample of children. Methods: Data from the NHANES III (1988–1994) were analyzed using logistic regression and controlling for potential confounders for 10 180 children 2–18 years of age and from the NHANES 1999–2002 for 7568 children 2–18 years of age. Results: For children 2–5 years of age, there was no difference in caries experience among normal weight, at risk for overweight or overweight children for NHANES III and for NHANES 1999–2002. For children 6–11 years of age (NHANES III), at risk for overweight and overweight children were less likely to have caries experience in the primary dentition than normal weight children; overweight children were less likely to have caries experience in the permanent dentition than normal weight children. For children 12–18 years of age (NHANES III), overweight children were less likely to have caries experience in the permanent dentition than normal weight children. For children 6–11 years of age and 12–18 years of age (NHANES 1999–2002), there was no difference in having caries experience among normal, at risk for overweight and overweight children. Conclusions: The data from NHANES III and NHANES 1999–2002 provide no evidence to suggest that overweight children are at an increased risk for dental caries. Although no differences in caries rates by weight were found in younger children, interestingly results from NHANES III suggest that being overweight may be associated with decreased rates of caries in older children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Markov modeling is a useful mathematical procedure for calculating probabilities of disease prognosis. Increasingly, Markov models are being applied in medical and health services research and also in social sciences research. The purpose of our study was to use the Markov process to determine time-dependent transition probabilities for caries-free children to convert to a caries-active state and to assess the impact of salivary mutans streptococci (MS) levels on caries status. Methods: Our analysis was based on data obtained from a 6-year longitudinal study of risk factors associated with caries onset in children. Results: Based on a two-state Markov model, the probability that a caries-free child would convert to a caries-active state during the study ranged between 0.0046 and 0.0471. The highest probability of converting from a caries-free state to a caries-active state was 0.0471 at age 8.5 years. Conclusions: In addition to standard statistical methods of analyzing longitudinal caries data, Markov models show promise for use in the analysis of caries risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xerostomia is the subjective sensation of dry mouth. Estimates on the occurrence of xerostomia in community-dwelling adults have ranged from 10% among persons over age 50 to 40% for persons over age 65. Virtually no data are available for persons under age 50. To begin to establish a database on the occurrence of xerostornia and factors associated with it. a cross-sectional assessment of self-reported symptoms and salivary function was conducted across a broad age-range of generally healthy community-dwelling adults. A convenience sample of 710 adults who ranged from 19 to 88 years of age was drawn from various sources in the greater-Rochester. New York area. Study volunteers were administered a standardized questionnaire on general and oral health, which included questions on the symptoms of xerostornia, and were provided an oral screening examination, which included measurement of unstimulated and stimulated whole saliva flow rates. Overall, the observed prevalence of xerostomia was 24% among Females and 18% among males. While xerostomia was more commonly observed in women than men, this association was only clear after age 50. Xerostoinia was associated with: use of medications with hyposalivatory side-effects: difficulty with dry foods; cracked lips; dry eyes; difficulty swallowing; and, among males. current cigarette smoking. Results indicated a tendency for salivary flow rates to he lower for older persons. particularly the stimulated flow rate. There was a tendency in the younger cohorts for flow rates to be lower among individuals who reported sensation of dry mouth than among those who did not. This tendency was not apparent among older persons. suggesting that younger persons may be more likely to experience symptoms of oral dryness when salivary flow was low while older persons may relate symptoms of dry mouth to a more complex constellation of factors where salivary flow is only one component. These findings need to be examined further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the problem of simultaneous-equations bias in estimation of the water demand function under an increasing block rate structure. The Hausman specification test is used to detect the presence of simultaneous-equations bias arising from correlation of the price measures with the regression error term in the results of a previously published study of water demand in Tucson, Arizona. An alternative simultaneous equation model is proposed for estimating the elasticity of demand in the presence of block rate pricing structures and availability of service charges. This model is used to reestimate the price and rate premium elasticities of demand in Tucson, Arizona for both the usual long-run static model and for a simple short-run demand model. The results from these simultaneous equation models are consistent with a priori expectations and are unbiased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plaque indices, numbers of mutans streptococci, lactobacilli and total viable flora in plaque and saliva were assessed as part of a large-scale cross-sectional study designed to determine the factors that are associated with high caries activity in children. Subjects, 12 to 15 years old, residing in areas where the water supplies were either fluoridated (n=140) or fluoride-deficient (n=173) were studied. Mutans streptococci and lactobacilli numbers in saliva were positively correlated with plaque index. Plaque indices were significantly higher in the high-caries group than in the zero-caries group of the fluoride-deficient community. In the fluoridated community, there was no difference in the plaque index between the zero- or high-caries groups. In each community, pooled dental plaque and saliva harbored fewer mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in the zero-caries than the high-caries group. Greater numbers of mutans streptococci were found in the dental plaque and saliva of the zero-caries subjects in the fluoridated community than in the fluoride-deficient community, suggesting that a greater caries challenge can coexist with zero-caries status in the fluoridated community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For an examination of the relationships between household income levels and residential water use, individual household survey data from Tucson, Arizona are combined with monthly water use data for these same households. The objectives were to examine individual response to the existing block rate pricing structure and to provide policy conclusions on potential improvements in this rate structure. A simultaneous equation model of demand is estimated for households within each income group to determine the price elasticity of demand for each income group. The demand models show that under the existing increasing block rate pricing schedules, higher income households not only use more water, but have tower elasticities of demand. Thus a uniform proportional rate increase wilt cause a larger percentage drop in water use among low income households than among high income households. Given the assumption of declining marginal utility of water use, this result leads to a policy recommendation for substantially steeper block rates to improve interpersonal equity in water pricing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest among researchers in the diagnosis, aetiology, prevention, and treatment of root caries has increased substantially over the past two decades. However, there are some fundamental problems impeding the advancement of the field which remain to be addressed and resolved. A universally acceptable definition of root caries is not yet available. The relationship of root caries to coronal caries has not been established. The underlying disease process is still not clearly understood. The optimal utilisation of preventive/therapeutic agents for the treatment or prevention of root caries has not been determined. New treatment materials and preventive agents have not yet been tested in controlled clinical trials. These are a few of the issues and problems which we address in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BSTRACT: Socioeconomic determinants of individual household water use were estimated using regressions of these characteristics with actual household water use for winter and summer. Results were disaggregated between those consumers who were aware of an increasing block rate price structure and those who were not. Most of the informed group members believed that this price structure did result in significant reductions in water use. Nevertheless, overall water use was greater for the informed group. The determinants of water use were found to differ between informed and uninformed users as well as between winter and summer. The uninformed users were influenced by a larger set of variables in each season than the informed group. In winter, the informed group members with swimming pools and/or arid landscaping used less water than their uninformed counterparts. Summer water use increased with length of tenancy in home for the uninformed group but not for informed, while increasing with ownership for informed consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BSTRACT: Three alternative demand model estimators for water sold under block rate tariffs are examined. The models are conceptually discussed and empirically estimated using cross-section and time-series data from Tucson, Arizona. While all three techniques produce plausible elasticity estimates, the ordinary least squares and censored sample techniques are shown to produce statistically biased results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the use of regional income and employment multiplier models for the importance of defense spending in Arizona. Ignorance of regional production technology difference; Projection of the impact on production using input-output; Modification of employment modifier.

At least fourteen states and the District of Columbia currently offer some of their residents refundable credits against personal income taxes designed to reduce the regressively of their state-local tax systems. This article reviews existing credit plans and their economic effectiveness, and offers various suggestions for improvement. Although the residential property tax is regressive with respect to current income, several recent studies have shown it to be approximately proportional to permanent income. Both property and sales tax credit plans have been referred to as little negative income taxes, since in most cases the taxpayer is eligible for a refund if his credit is larger than his income tax liability. If a person pays no personal income tax he still receives the full credit as a cash refund. In the case of credits for property taxes paid, the credit may not exceed the actual amount paid in property tax while in the sales tax credit plans, the amount of the credit is not directly related to actual sales tax payments and may even exceed them.

Examines the mathematical identity of the aggregate multipliers from the economic base models. Increase of demand for output in the labor sector; Separation of the economic activity; Production of identical aggregate results.

Preclinical studies with nisoxetine (Compound 94939) (3-[o-Methoxyphenoxy]-N-methyl-3-phenylpropylamine HCl) had shown it to have antidepressant properties and to be almost devoid of anticholinergic activity and depressant effects on cardiac conduction (in contrast to the commonly used tricyclic antidepressants from which nisoxetine significantly differs in structure). Placebo and nisoxetine (10-20 mg b.d. for 7 days) were administered to normal volunteers in a single-bind crossover study. Adverse side effects were minimal. There were no significant changes in heart rate or blood pressure seen when no other drugs were given. The effect of nisoxetine on uptake of biogenic amines was utilized to study its mechanism of action. The transient rise in blood pressure seen after an intravenous bolus of tyramine decreased by one-half to two-thirds while the rise in blood pressure upon continuous noradrenaline infusion was enhanced some two-to eight-fold. Both effects occurred after on dose and were greater with larger doses and chronic administration. In vitro, nisoxetine inhibits 5-HT uptake into platelets. However, platelets harvested from subjects receiving chronic nisoxetine administration did accumulate 5-HT. Plasma concentration of nisoxetine in these individuals was shown to be lower than that needed to block 5-HT uptake. We concluded that nisoxetine, in safe doses, specifically increased the sensitivity of noradrenaline and decreased tyramine responsiveness, presumably by blocking uptake at the axonal membrane. In contrast, in these clinical doses it had virtually no effect on 5-HT uptake into platelets.