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BackgroundStressed and hospitalized goats are at risk of developing abomasal (gastric) ulceration, but there is a paucity of pharmacokinetic studies for proton pump inhibiting drugs, such as, esomeprazole in goats.ObjectivesThe objectives for this study were to estimate plasma pharmacokinetic parameters for esomeprazole in adult goats after intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SQ) administration. A secondary objective was to describe the plasma kinetics of the metabolite esomeprazole sulfone after IV and SC administration in goats.Materials and methodsEsomeprazole was administered to 5 adult goats in a crossover study at doses of 1 mg/kg IV or 2 mg/kg SC. Plasma samples were collected over 36 h and analyzed via reverse phase HPLC to determine concentrations of esomeprazole and esomeprazole sulfone. Pharmacokinetic parameters were derived via non-compartmental analysis.ResultsFollowing IV administration, mean values for plasma clearance (Cl), elimination half-life [T1/2 (λz)], C0, and volume of distribution (Vz) of esomeprazole were estimated at 24.9 mL/min/kg, 6 min, 2.324 μg/mL, and 0.23 L/kg, respectively. After SC administration elimination half-life, maximum concentration (Cmax) and time to maximum concentration (Tmax) of esomeprazole were estimated at 29 min, 1.038 μg/mL, and 22 minutes respectively. Maximum concentrations of the sulfone metabolite were 32 and 18 ng/mL after IV and SC administration.ConclusionEsomeprazole was rapidly eliminated from plasma after both IV and SC injection in goats. The elimination half-life in goats appears to be shorter than reported in dogs, as well as less than that reported for pantoprazole in goats. The sulfone metabolite was detected and also rapidly eliminated from the plasma after both IV and SC administration. Additional pharmacodynamic investigations are needed to determine the efficacy of esomeprazole on abomasal (gastric) acid suppression in goats and could include larger doses or additional routes of administration.

Background: Ruminant species are at risk of developing abomasal ulceration, but there is a lack of pharmacokinetic data for anti-ulcer therapies, such as the proton pump inhibitor pantoprazole, in goats.Objective: The primary study objective was to estimate the plasma pharmacokinetic parameters for pantoprazole in adult goats after intravenous administration. A secondary objective was to describe the pharmacokinetic parameters for the metabolite, pantoprazole sulfone, in goats.Methods: Pantoprazole was administered intravenously to six adult goats at a dose of 1 mg/kg. Plasma samples were collected over 36h and analyzed via reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography for determination of pantoprazole and pantoprazole sulfone concentrations. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by non-compartmental analysis.Results: Plasma clearance, elimination half-life, and volume of distribution of pantoprazole were estimated at 0.345 mL/kg/min, 0.7 h, and 0.9 L/kg, respectively following IV administration. The maximum concentration, elimination half-life and area under the curve of pantoprazole sulfone were estimated at 0.1 μg/mL, 0.8 h, and 0.2 hr*μg/mL, respectively. The global extraction ratio was estimated 0.00795 ± 0.00138. All animals had normal physical examinations after conclusion of the study.Conclusion: The reported plasma clearance for pantoprazole is lower than reported for foals, calves, and alpacas. The elimination half-life appears to be < that reported for foals and calves. Future pharmacodynamic studies are necessary for determination of the efficacy of pantoprazole on acid suppression in goats.

Drip-based fertigation may improve the application efficiency of water and nutrients while maintaining or improving marketable yield and quality at harvest and post-harvest. Two plantings of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) were grown in the UK, with six N treatments and two methods of irrigation and N application. The conventional overhead irrigated treatments had all N applied in the base dressing with irrigation scheduled from SMD calculations. The closed loop treatments had nitrogen and irrigation delivered via drip automatically controlled by a sensor and logger system. The work established that water content in the root zone can be monitored in real time using horizontally oriented soil moisture sensors linked to data logging and telemetry, and that these data can be used to automatically trigger drip irrigation for commercially grown field vegetables. When the closed loop irrigation control was combined with fertigation treatments, lettuce crops were grown with savings of up to 60% and 75% of water and nitrogen respectively, compared to standard UK production systems. However, excess supply of N through fertigation rather than solid fertiliser was more detrimental to marketable yield and post harvest quality highlighting that care is needed when selecting N rates for fertigation.

A questionnaire was circulated to research scientists to identify knowledge gaps and stakeholder concerns in the area of the nutritional requirements of field vegetable crops. It also attempted to identify the ability of researchers with expertise in this field to service such needs and the tools available to do it. The case for further research to grow field vegetable crops without causing diffuse pollution remains important especially as the World population increases with concurrent demands for higher and more effective production. The appropriate balance between yield and quality, increasing concerns over global warming, the balance between supply and demand for fertiliser serve to strengthen the case for further research. The ability of researchers in many countries to meet these needs is poor -dominance of biotechnology without applied agronomy is a concern. With such a diversity of crops research for any single crops may appear patchy. An example of a strategy for future research was presented which took this seemingly patchy information and provided a framework for a national fertiliser recommendation system. This framework also provided a structure around which future research effort could be focused. The need to share crop data between researchers for optimally fertilised crops throughout their growth was suggested. The role of models to integrate research between researchers and for those models to be used as decision support tools for farmers and by upscaling to assist in policy decisions was identified. No research is successful unless it is conveyed to an end user whether that be an applied scientist for practical development or directly to the industry. The input required for knowledge transfer cannot be regarded as trivial.

Summary Protein kinase C (PKC) is a heterogeneous family of serine ⁄threonine protein kinases that have different biological effects in normal and neoplastic melanocytes (MCs). To explore the mechanism behind their differential response to PKC activation, we analyzed the expression profile of all nine PKC isoforms in normal human MCs, HPV16 E6 ⁄E7 immortalized MCs, and a panel of melanoma cell lines. We found reduced PKCb and increased PKCf and PKCi expression at both the protein and mRNA levels in immortalized MCs and melanoma lines. We focused on PKCb as it has been functionally linked to melanin production and oxidative stress response. Re-expression of PKCb in melanoma cells inhibited colony formation in soft agar, indicating that PKCb loss in melanoma is important for melanoma growth. PKCbII, but not PKCbI, was localized to the mitochondria, and inhibition of PKCb significantly reduced UV-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MCs with high PKCb expression. Thus alterations in PKCb expression in melanoma contribute to their neoplastic phenotype, possibly by reducing oxidative stress, and may constitute a selective therapeutic target.

A McKibben actuator consists of an internally pressurized elastic cylindrical tube covered by a shell braided with two families of inextensible fibers woven at equal and opposite angles to the longitudinal axis. Increasing internal pressure causes the actuator to expand radially and, due to the fiber constraint, contract longitudinally. This contraction provides a large force that can be used for robotic actuation. Based on large deformation membrane theory, the actuator is modeled as a fiber-reinforced cylinder with applied inner pressure and axial load. Given the initial shape, material parameters, axial load, and pressure, the analytical model predicts the deformed actuator shape, fiber angle, and fiber and membrane stresses. The analytical results show that for a long and thin actuator the deformed fiber angle approaches 54°44′ at infinite pressure. The actuator elongates and contracts for actuators with initial angles above and below 54°44′ degrees, respectively. For short and thick actuators with initial angles relatively close to 0 deg or 90 deg, however, a fiber angle boundary layer extends to the middle of the actuator, limiting possible extension or contraction. The calculated longitudinal strain and radius change match experimental results to within 5%.

Laboratory studies were performed to characterize the lepidopteran toxicity of cotton plants expressing two different toxin proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), in order to assess insect resistance management implications of a commercial, two-toxin transgenic cotton. An independent and additive interactive effect of two Bt δ-endotoxins expressed by the transgenic cotton variety 15985 was demonstrated by examining the responses of Heliothis virescens (F.), Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) larvae to field- or greenhouse-grown tissue from genetic near-isolines, which expressed Cry1A only, Cry2Ab only, or both toxins. In all cases, the Cry2Ab component was the larger contributor to total toxicity in the two-toxin isoline. Toxin-specific, quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests confirmed that the levels of each toxin in tissues of the two-toxin isoline were not statistically different (P > 0.05) from the levels found in the corresponding tissues of the respective single-toxin isoline. Resistance management considerations were discussed. Considering the additive interaction of toxins, a relatively simple insect resistance-monitoring procedure was proposed for the monitoring of commercial cotton varieties expressing both toxins.

Several groups have shown that alkanethiol-modified pyrroles can be tethered to a gold surface, but there is often little evidence that, once oxidized, the resulting monolayer film is an organic conducting polymer. Using surface plasma resonance (SPR) spectroscopy, we demonstrate for the first time that, upon electrochemical oxidation, self-assembled alkanethiol−pyrrole films on gold show behavior characteristic of organic conducting polymers: we observe reversible changes in the optical constants of the organic film upon doping/dedoping. Since the optical constants are related to film conductivity, we show that the effective isotropic dielectric constant of the film obtained in the standard SPR data analysis can be interpreted in terms of in-plane and out-of-plane contributions to film conductivity. We find that the in-plane conductivity of oxidized 3-(ω-mercaptoundecyl)pyrrole is smaller, but of the same order of magnitude, than that found for thick films of polypyrrole. Most importantly, we observe re...

Background and Objectives. With increasing age, there are physiologic changes that could affect pharmacokinetics of drugs. More elderly patients are undergoing routine dental procedures for which local anesthesia could be required. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effect of age on pharmacokinetics of the local anesthetic agent articaine. Methods. The submucosal infiltration anesthesia from two different dosages of 4% articaine without epinephrine was compared in healthy elderly and young volunteers. High performance liquid chromatography has been used to determine concentrations of articaine in serum. Basic pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated according to standard procedures using a two-exponent equation. Results. The clearance and volume of distribution (Vdss) of articaine after infiltration anesthesia were significantly lower in elderly volunteers compared with young volunteers. The area under the serum concentration-time curve and maximum drug concentration (Cmax) values did not differ significantly with age; however, both parameters tended to be higher in elderly volunteers. No changes in terminal half-life and time to reach maximum serum concentration (tmax) were observed. The Cmax and tmax values of the metabolite articainic acid were similar in young and elderly volunteers. Conclusions. The results show that the metabolism of articaine is ageindependent in healthy male volunteers. The smaller Vdss in the elderly results in a trend to higher serum levels after a given dose of articaine. No change of dosage of articaine in elderly patients should be necessary.

The effects on succeeding crops of nitrogen in residues returned to the soil of brassica vegetable crops (Brassica oleracea) were studied on a nitrogen-retentive silt loam soil at Horticulture Research International, Kirton, Lincolnshire, UK. A sequence of four crops was started in 1988 and again in 1989. In the first sequence, two successive cauliflower crops (Brassica oleracea cv. botrytis L.), crops 1 and 2 in the first year, were followed by Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea cv. Gemmifera D.C.), crop 3, in the second and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare), crop 4, in the third year. The second sequence, started in spring 1989, was on an area adjacent to the first, but with spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) as crop 4. The sites followed an unfertilized, 1-year grass ley (1987) or spring barley (1988) with 73 and 107 kg N/ha soil mineral nitrogen (SMN, NH4+NO3) in the 0–90 cm soil profile at the start of each sequence. The marketable yield of the first cauliflowers in both sequences increased with fertilizer nitrogen up to 240 or 300 kg/ha. The response of the second cauliflower crop to fresh N declined with increasing amounts of SMN (0–90 cm) at planting, with no response when SMN exceeded c. 270 kg N/ha. Crop 3 apparently responded to fresh N in sequence 1 but not in sequence 2 even though SMN at planting ranged up to c. 400 kg N/ha. This difference in response was largely explained by the amount and distribution of SMN in the 0–30 and 30–60 cm layers when the sprouts were planted. Soil mineral N to 90 cm when the cereals were sown was only c. 100 kg N/ha, which did not reflect the large amounts of N applied to the previous crops. In spite of this, barley yield without any fresh fertilizer N did vary with the amounts of N applied to the previous crops. The results showed that SMN was a useful predictor of fertilizer response in some, but not all, situations. To use SMN more generally requires interpretation using dynamic simulation models.

Articaine is the most widely used local anaesthetic agent in dentistry in a number of European countries. The amide structure of articaine is similar to that of other local anaesthetics, but it contains an additional ester group which is quickly hydrolysed by esterases. High performance liquid chromatography has been used to determine the concentrations of articaine and its metabolite articainic acid in serum. Rapid sample preparation is critical in the accurate determination of articaine serum concentrations, since blood and serum are the sites of metabolism. The time to maximum drug concentrations of articaine occurs about 10 to 15 minutes after submucosal injection of articaine 4% 80 mg, irrespective of epinephrine (adrenaline). The mean maximum plasma drug concentration is about 400 micrograms/L for articaine with epinephrine 1:200,000 and 580 micrograms/L for articaine without epinephrine. The elimination half-time of articaine is about 20 minutes. The rapid breakdown of articaine to the inactive metabolite articainic acid is related to a very low systemic toxicity and consequently to the possibility of repeated injections. Equal analgesic efficacy along with lower systemic toxicity (i.e. a wide therapeutic range) permits the use of articaine in higher concentrations than other amide-type local anaesthetics. Complete anaesthesia can be observed in nearly 90% of all cases, using articaine 4% 60 to 80 mg with epinephrine 1:200,000. Articaine is better able to diffuse through soft tissue and bone than other local anaesthetics. The concentration of articaine in the alveolus of a tooth in the upper jaw after extraction was about 100 times higher than that in systemic circulation. The plasma protein binding rate of articaine and articainic acid is 70%. It has been concluded that an unintentional intravascular injection of articaine 80 mg does not cause toxic effects in healthy individuals.

In an open study, the efficacy of povidone-iodine in the prophylaxis of mucositis during antineoplastic radiochemotherapy was determined. 40 patients were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group (each 20 patients). All patients received standard prophylaxis of mucositis with nystatin, dexpanthenol, rutoside and immunoglobulin. In addition, the patients of the treatment group performed 4 times daily rinsing with povidone-iodine, the control patients with sterile water. Clinical examination of the oral mucosa was performed weekly during the radiation period and up to 6 weeks after the end of therapy. Oral mucositis was observed in 14 patients of the treatment group (mean grading: 1.0) and in all 20 patients of the control group (mean grading: 3.0). The mean onset of mucositis was after 2.25 weeks in treatment patients and 1.5 weeks in control patients. The mean total duration of mucositis was 2.75 weeks in treatment patients and 9.25 weeks in control patients. The mean AUC values were 2.5 in treatment patients and 15.75 in control patients. All findings were statistically significantly different between the two groups. It is concluded that rinsing with povidone-iodine reduces the incidence, severity and duration of oral mucositis during antineoplastic radiochemotherapy.

We analyze new physics contributions to $e^+e^-\to W^+W^-$ at the TeV energy scale, employing an effective field theory framework. A complete basis of next-to-leading order operators in the standard model effective Lagrangian is used, both for the nonlinear and the linear realization of the electroweak sector. The elimination of redundant operators via equations-of-motion constraints is discussed in detail. Polarized cross sections for $e^+e^-\to W^+W^-$ (on-shell) are computed and the corrections to the standard model results are given in an expansion for large $s/M^2_W$. The dominant relative corrections grow with $s$ and can be fully expressed in terms of modified gauge-fermion couplings. These corrections are interpreted in the context of the Goldstone boson equivalence theorem. Explicit new physics models are considered to illustrate the generation and the potential size of the coefficients in the effective Lagrangian. Brief comments are made on the production of $W^+W^-$ pairs at the LHC., Comment: 32 pages, 5 figures

It is well known that the occurrence of bacteremia after dental procedures can place certain patients at risk for bacterial endocarditis. The authors compared the efficacy of two antiseptic agents in the prevention of post-treatment bacteremia in 120 dental patients. Before treatment, dentists irrigated the gingival sulcus of each patient with 10 percent povidone-iodine, 0.2 percent chlorhexidine or sterile water. The authors report lower levels of bacteremia among patients treated with the povidone-iodine solution.

We have used surface plasmon oscillations to monitor the time evolution of the adsorption of antibodies from aqueous solution onto an antigen-coated surface. The asymptotic adsorbance values (Γ f ) do not reach a maximum until the concentration of antibody in solution (C) is greater than 1 mg/mL. We interpret the shape of the Γ f vs C plot as an evolution from side-on adsorption to end-on adsorption. Our data show a characteristic time, t c , which is proportional to c -2 , indicating diffusion-limited adsorption. The value of t c is significantly greater than predicted from a diffusion-limited model. We attribute this result to a requirement that the antibodies be correctly oriented if they are to be adsorbed. A careful study of our kinetics data shows that for high concentrations we must apply theories of random sequential adsorption in addition, because the adsorbed molecules may exclude more surface area than they physically occupy.

Power functions and exponential functions often describe the relationship between variables in physical phenomena. Power functions are equations of the form y = kxn (see fig. 1), where k is a nonzero real number and n is a nonzero real number not equal to 1. Exponential functions are equations of the form y = kbx (see fig. 2), where k is a nonzero real number and b is a positive real number. Students should be able visually to recognize these functions so that they can easily identify their appearance when experimental data are graphed. When physical phenomena appear to describe exponential and power functions, logarithms can be used to locate approximate functions that represent the phenomena.

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a heterogeneous family of serine/threonine protein kinases that have different biological effects in normal and neoplastic melanocytes (MCs). To explore the mechanism behind their differential response to PKC activation, we analyzed the expression profile of all nine PKC isoforms in normal human MCs, HPV16 E6/E7 immortalized MCs, and a panel of melanoma cell lines. We found reduced PKCbeta and increased PKCzeta and PKCiota expression at both the protein and mRNA levels in immortalized MCs and melanoma lines. We focused on PKCbeta as it has been functionally linked to melanin production and oxidative stress response. Re-expression of PKCbeta in melanoma cells inhibited colony formation in soft agar, indicating that PKCbeta loss in melanoma is important for melanoma growth. PKCbetaII, but not PKCbetaI, was localized to the mitochondria, and inhibition of PKCbeta significantly reduced UV-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MCs with high PKCbeta expression. Thus alterations in PKCbeta expression in melanoma contribute to their neoplastic phenotype, possibly by reducing oxidative stress, and may constitute a selective therapeutic target.

The reaction Cl+O2+M■ClOO+M was studied by laser flash photolysis in the bath gases M=He, Ar, N2, and O2 over the temperature range 160–300 K and the pressure range 1–1000 bar. UV absorptions of ClOO were monitored, a maximum absorption cross section of σ(248 nm)=3.4×10−17 cm2 was determined. An expression for the equilibrium constantK p =5.3×10− 6 exp(+23.4 kJ mol− 1/R T) bar− 1 was derived between 180 and 300 K, which, by a third law analysis, yields ΔH ○ 0 =−20.2±0,2 kJ mol−1. Limiting low pressure rate coefficients for Cl+O2 recombination of k 0=[He]8.8×10−34(T/300 K)−3.0, k 0=[O2]1.6×10−33(T/300 K)−2.9, k 0=[N2]1.4×10−33(T/300 K)−3.9 cm6 s−1 were obtained over the range 160–260 K, as well as k 0 (160 K)=[Ar]2.2×10−32 cm6 s−1. Rate constants for the reactions Cl+ClOO→Cl2+O2 or 2ClO, ClOO+ClOO→products, and ClOO+Cl2→Cl2O+ClO were also derived. The recombination Cl+O2(+M)→ClOO(+M) at pressures above 10 bar shows a transition to a high pressure plateau and, at pressures above 200 bar, to diffusion control. It is suggested that, like O+O2(+M)→O3(+M), the reaction is governed by a radical complex mechanism.

The recombination O+O2+M→O3+M in the bath gases M=He, Ar, and N2 was studied over the temperature range 90–370 K and the pressure range 1–1000 bar. The temperature and pressure dependences of the reaction rates show an anomalous behavior which is attributed to superpositions of mechanisms involving energy transfer, complex formation and participation of weakly bound electronically excited O3 states. The results also show an analogy to oxygen isotope enhancements observed in ozone recombination and dissociation. Experiments in compressed liquid N2 were also made showing a transition to diffusion control.

A solution of iodouracil (0.2 mg/mL) and KI (0.1 M) in 0.23 M borate buffer (pH 7) forms triiodide upon exposure to UVB. In the presence of thyodene, the blue starch-iodine complex is formed, the intensity of which is proportional to the amount of UVB exposure. Studies were conducted using either a sunlamp or solar irradiation to generate the triiodide endpoint. Samples (1 mL each) were placed in a plastic 24 well sample holder for exposure, and the intensity of the light at each well was controlled by placing a template over the holder with apertures of various sizes (0.4-1.5 cm) to vary the amount of light incident on each sample. The endpoint was measured using a spectrometer to monitor the absorbance increase at 400 nm of each sample or a densitometer to monitor the optical density of a photograph of the resulting solutions. The selectivity for UVB was demonstrated by irradiating through a UVB cutoff filter that reduced the sunlamp yield by 98.5% and the solar radiation yield by 94%. The correlation between the observed absorbance changes at 400 nm and the amount of absorbed energy was shown to be approximately the same for both types of radiation and the resulting quantum yield calculated to be approximately 1%, consistent with the value obtained previously for 5-iododeoxyuridine using monochromatic radiation. It is proposed that this system be incorporated into a personal dosimeter for monitoring solar UVB exposures, where the degree of exposure can be estimated either by visual inspection or, for more quantitative analysis, by UV spectroscopy.

Oral mucositis is a frequent complication of radiochemotherapy. The origin of radiation-induced mucosa lesions is of iatrogenic nature although further development of mucositis is essentially influenced by infection. It can be assumed that disinfection measures should decrease the severity of mucositis induced by radiochemotherapy. Therefore, in a prospective randomised study the efficacy of prophylactic oral rinsing with a disinfection agent was investigated.An open, randomised, prospective comparative trial was conducted with 40 patients undergoing radiochemotherapy of head and neck region due to malignant disease. The treatment scheme consisted of irradiation to tumor region and adjacent lymph nodes with a total dose of 71.3 Gy and simultaneous chemotherapy with carboplatin (60 mg/m2) on days 1 to 5 and 29 to 34. In all patients, a prophylaxis of mucositis with nystatine, rutosides, panthenol and immunoglobulin was undertaken. In addition, 20 patients rinsed oral cavity 4 times daily with povidone-iodine-solution, the comparative group rinsed with sterile water. Clinical examination of the oral mucosa was performed weekly. Onset, grading and duration of mucositis were used as main variables.Clinically manifested oral mucositis was observed in 14 patients of the iodine group (mean grading: 1.0) and all 20 patients of the control group (mean grading: 3.0). Total duration (mean) of clinically observed mucositis was 2.75 weeks in treatment patients and 9.25 in control patients. Median AUC (area under curve for grade vs duration) was 2.5 in iodine rinsing patients and 15.75 in control patients. All differences found between the 2 groups were statistically significant. Increased iodine incorporation was not observed. A pathological increase of thyroid hormone levels in the iodine group was not found.The gained results indicate that incidence, severity and duration of radiochemotherapy-induced mucositis can be significantly reduced by oral rinsing with povidone-iodine performed additionally to the standard prophylaxis scheme.

During irradiation of the mouth cavity, dental metallic materials emit secondary electrons and thus increase the applied radiation dose in their vicinity. Therefore, local destruction of the mucous membrane contacting metallic dental crowns and fillings may be observed. Available data on this dose increase are based on measurements with beam arrangements perpendicular to the metallic surface. Since the dose modification depends on the beam direction in relation to specimen surface, a reliable prediction of dose modification in the close vicinity of dental caps or fillings under complex beam arrangments, as applied in the irradiation of head and neck region from the published data is not possible. Therefore, we measured dose increase in the immediate surrounding of metallic dental material using thermoluminescence dosimetry on the phantom and during routinely applied 60Co gamma ray therapy. Phantom measurements were carried out using several oblique irradiation angles and rotational therapy. In vivo measurements were carried out at alloy specimens containing gold, palladium, and amalgam in six patients and at permanently fixed golden teeth in five patients. In vivo, the following relative dose increase values according to a simultaneously measured reference value were obtained at the surface of different dental materials: 61% for fixed golden caps, 68% for the specimen containing gold, 33% for the specimen of palladium and 61% for the specimen of amalgam. The measured dose increases due to metallic dental material during routinely applied external 60Co beam irradiation are lower compared with those of perpendicular beam arrangements. Although, the extent of dose modification is less than expected, we still advocate protection of the oral mucosa to prevent painful lesion spots.

Due to the great number of different micro-organisms present, the oral cavity is an important source of infection. Infections caused by these micro-organisms can occur as local infections of the oral mucous membrane, local infections of the soft tissues or the bones following surgical intervention, or endocarditis due to bacteraemia following dental surgery. In the therapy of periodontal diseases, the application of antiseptic solutions is indicated to inhibit or reduce plaque accumulation. Povidone-iodine (PVP-I) solution will reduce inflammation and the progression of periodontal disease. The application of antiseptics in the oral mucous membrane is also indicated to prevent wound infections following surgical intervention in patients with leukaemia, AIDS, immunosuppressant therapy and patients undergoing anti-neoplastic radiation or chemotherapy. Some trials on the antibacterial efficacy of PVP-I in vivo showed reduction factors of log 2-3. PVP-I may therefore be recommended as an oral antiseptic. The irrigation of the gingival sulcus with an antiseptic solution is a useful complement to antibiotic prophylaxis in patients at risk of bacterial endocarditis. Many trials on the effectiveness of PVP-I on dental extraction bacteraemia have shown a significant benefit in the active group in comparison with the control group.

In a clinical trial over a period of two years 50 cavities were filled up with an ionomeric porous micro implant (V-Os)* as bone replacement material after apicectomy and excision of cysts. Primary healing was found in 43 cases. 3 months after the operation 44 of 46 examined cases showed no pathological signs. In two cases the material had to be removed. 2 years after the operation 35 cases should be examined, in one case there was a fistula, the other cases showed no pathological signs. The comparison of the individual reproducible X-ray pictures after 3, 6, 12 and 24 months shows a bone regeneration next to the implanted micro implant.

The physical performance of 23 persons was tested at different time of day (morning, noon, evening) under the influence of low doses of alcohol (0.8%). The results obtained indicate, that the capability of performing the tests was remarkable reduced. In the evening the effect of alcohol was significantly higher than at noon and morning; the time of recovery was also prolonged. Under these aspects the limit of 0.8% for car drivers in (West) Germany has to be reconsidered.

Applying a video game the traffic aptitude of patients was investigated before and after dental surgical treatment and local anesthesia. Local anesthesia or operative removal of impacted third molars does not reduce the psychophysical performance important for driving a car if there is no influence of other factors. The consequences of the obtained results are discussed even under forensic aspects.

The rapid progression of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) opens new possibilities in painless non-invasive treatment of salivary gland stones under local therapy. Procedure and first very promising success in the clinical appliance to sialolithiasis is shown as follows.

The incidence of bacteremia after application of a dental irrigator was investigated in 100 healthy volunteers. Venous blood was inoculated in routine blood culture bottles one, three and five minutes after dental irrigation. In 39 volunteers a transient bacteremia was detected, mainly Strep. Viridans was cultured. Incidence correlated with the grade of oral hygiene und periodontal disease.

We characterized the RNA-containing antigens precipitated by sera from 260 patients with positive antinuclear antibodies. 49 individuals, most of whom had systemic lupus erythematosus or Sjögren's syndrome, possessed antibodies that precipitated the previously identified RNP, Sm, Ro, and La antigens either singly or in combinations. These antigens, which are located on discrete sets of small nuclear or cytoplasmic RNA-protein particles, exhibited a number of antigenic interrelationships. One patient's serum recognized a new particle containing a small RNA which we have called Th; it also precipitated the Ro complexes. Other patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, hepatitis B virus infection, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, myositis, and rheumatoid arthritis had antibodies that precipitated specific subsets of ribosomal RNA and transfer RNA. One patient's serum contained a monoclonal immunoglobulin G that precipitated ribosomes. Most of these antibodies identified antigenic determinants constituted at least in part of protein. The specificity of the proteins bound to particular cellular RNA, probably explains the exquisite precision with which antibodies from rheumatic disease patients discriminate among RNA subsets. Such sera should be useful probes for investigating specific roles that different RNA and RNA-protein complexes play in cellular metabolism.