Search

The major concerns in university-industry research relationships, discussed from an industrial viewpoint, include: research and development (R&D) within the firm, for an industry, and for a society; types of R&D organizations; working with universities and government labs; potential problems; and possible directions for the future. (MSE)

No practical methods are presently available for measurement of alveolar bone activity at one instant of time. However, roentgenological methods making measurements at 2 different times can be used to assess alveolar bone activity. The most sensitive, specific and accurate method for this purpose presently in use is 125I absorptiometry. This method has the further advantage of giving the patient minimal radiation exposure. New methodology is under development which obviates the need for fixed geometry and could provide a 3-dimensional image of alveolar bone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the management of mild diastolic hypertension (90 to 104 mm Hg) using a nonpharmacologic intervention with that using propranolol or placebo.Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled trial with a 2 x 2 factorial design.Setting: University-based ambulatory care center.Participants: Two hundred seven men and 105 women, 22 to 59 years of age, 73% white, who had mild diastolic hypertension untreated for at least eight weeks.Interventions: 1) a multicomponent lifestyle modification intervention (lifestyle focus group, or LFG) administered in eight weekly meetings + placebo, 2) LFG + propranolol, 3) propranolol alone, and 4) placebo alone, followed for 12 months.Measurements: Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and self-reported adverse effects at each of nine follow-up visits; fasting total cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose at baseline and 12 months; 24-hour urine sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+), three-day food records and physical activity questionnaire at three and 12 months; and a quality of life questionnaire at 12 months.Main Results: The mean decreases in DBP at 12 months were: 8.5 mm Hg in the LFG + propranolol group; 7.7 mm Hg in the propranolol-only group; 5.9 mm Hg in the placebo-only group; and 5.4 mm Hg in the LFG + placebo group. Repeated-measures analysis of covariance showed that level of baseline DBP (p < 0.0001), time of follow-up (p < 0.0001), and propranolol use (p < 0.0001) were significantly associated with a decrease in DBP at 12 months. Despite reductions in urinary Na+ (-35 mEq; 95% CI = -50, -19), dietary Na+ (-521 mg; 95% CI = -710, -332), total calories ingested (-238; 95% CI = -335, -140), and weight (-1.4 lb; 95% CI = -3.7, +0.8), and significant increases in dietary K+ (+294 mg; 95% CI = +107, +480) and in mets-minutes of exercise (+43; 95% CI = +20, +67) at three months, assignment to the LFG intervention had no effect on DBP at three or 12 months. The subjects assigned to take propranolol more frequently reported fatigue during ordinary activities, sleep disturbance, decrease in sexual activity, and depressed feelings, when compared with the subjects taking placebo, but the numbers of study withdrawals did not differ by drug assignment. No significant difference in total cholesterol and glucose levels was observed by group assignment. Triglycerides increased significantly in the subjects assigned to propranolol (mean difference = +20 mg/dL; 95% CI of difference +1.5, +39). There was no difference in the responses to 21 quality of life items between the subjects assigned to propranolol and those assigned to placebo.Conclusions: This multicomponent lifestyle modification intervention was unable to promote persistent behavior changes and thus was inferior to propranolol therapy for the treatment for mild diastolic hypertension. Future research should focus on single modifiable factors to lower blood pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The methodology for the use of subtraction radiography in the study of human periodontal disease is described in detail to include: 1) design and fabrication of a system for taking standardized radiographs; 2) generation of interpretable subtraction images; 3) adjunctive, quantitative methods for analyses of digitized radiographic images; 4) reference standard for periodontally healthy individuals. Correct use of our system for taking standardized radiographs can provide a sufficient number of pairs of radiographs for the study of patients with severe periodontitis using subtraction radiography. Changes in bone mass observed on subtraction images can be quantified by measurement of their areas and their relationship to the alveolar crest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crestal interdental bone in 15 untreated subjects with periodontitis was monitored over a 6-month period. Whereas 9% of interdental sites exhibited bone loss, 4% exhibited bone gain. The sites of bone loss were found in 9 of the subjects. 2 subjects demonstrated gain as well as loss, with 1 subject demonstrating only gain Pocket depth, gingival index and plaque index values were of little value in predicting bone change seen by subtraction. Results from subtraction radiography are consistent with exacerbation and remission at crestal alveolar bone sites in untreated periodontitis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A standardized radiographic series of incrementally increasing alveolar crestal defects in skulls were subjected to analyses by subtraction radiography and computer assisted quantitative densitometric analysis. Subjects were able to detect change using subtraction radiography in alveolar bone defects with bone loss in the range of 1-5 percent as measured by 125I absorptiometry. Quantitative densitometric analyses utilizing radiographic pairs adjusted for differences in contrast (gamma corrected) can be used to follow longitudinal changes at a particular alveolar bone site. Such measurements correlate with change observed by 125 absorptiometry (r = 0.82-0.94). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to determine fluctuations in alveoIar bone mass in individuals with periodontitis as compared to those with healthy periodontal tissues. Measurements were made on 9 adults with periodontitis. at 32 sites exhibiting radiographically dctectable loss in bone height and bleeding on probing. Iodine absorptiometry is well suited for longitudinal studies of alveolar bone mass changes in patients since it permits quantitative measurement of bone mineral in absolute terms. The pattern of bone mass changes at periodontitis sites indicate that loss of alveolar bone occurs in an episodic manner.