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Some studies have indicated that African-Americans are better adjusted in dealing with caregiving responsibilities, and experience less depression and greater satisfaction in the caregiving role than do their White counterparts. However, research comparing the well-being of Black caregivers and their Black noncaregiving counterparts has been minimal. Therefore, we compared 10 Black spousal caregivers of dementia patients and 19 Black noncaregivers and found no difference in the levels of happiness and depression between the two groups. Vignettes describing the participants' use of religion and informal support support the contention that effective coping strategies may contribute to Black caregivers' ability to handle their role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As survival rates for childhood cancer have increased during the past three decades, a significant population of young adult survivors has emerged. Medical late effects of particular concern to this population, including reproductive issues, osteoporosis, cardiotoxicity, hepatitis C, and second malignancies are discussed. Educational, occupational, insurance, and other significant psychosocial sequelae are addressed. Models for medical and psychosocial follow-up with this population are described, and a psycho-educational intervention model, implemented by members of the Long-Term Information, Follow-up, and Evaluation (LIFE) team at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, is presented for consideration. Future research and clinical challenges are discussed. Copyright (c) 1999 by Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relationship between the functional loading rate and heel velocities was assessed in an active unilateral transfemoral amputee (UTFA) for adaptation to six different commercial prosthetic knees., Objective: To Investigate the short-term process of adaptability for UTFA for two types of prosthetic knees were evaluated, based on the correlation between heel vertical velocity and transient loading rate., Methods: The loading rate was calculated from the slope of ground reaction forces (GRF) and the corresponding time. The heel velocities and GRF were obtained by a motion analysis system., Results: Biomechanical adaptation was evident following a short period of prosthetic knee use based upon the mean transient impact (loading rate) and the heel vertical velocity in slow, normal and fast walking. Trend lines of transient impact versus vertical heel velocity for a set of actively controlled variable damping (microprocessor) and mechanically passive prosthetic knees were all negatively correlated, except for an amputated leg during normal pace and healthy leg during fast pace. For an amputee to adapt well to a prescribed prosthesis excellent coordination between the intact and amputated limbs is required to control placement of the amputated leg to achieve a gait comparable to healthy subjects., Conclusion: There are many factors such as the hip, knee flexion/extension and the ankle plantarflexion/dorsiflexion contributing to the control of the transient impact of an amputee during walking. Therefore, for enhanced control of a prosthetic knee, a multifaceted approach is required. This study showed that UTFA adaption to different prosthetic knees in the short term with slower than self-selected speed is completely achievable based on the negative correlation of ground reaction forces versus linear velocity. Reduced speed may provide the prosthetists with the vision of the amputees' progression of adaptation with a newly prescribed prosthetic knee., (Copyright © 2019 IPEM. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Myotonia congenita due to protein truncating CLCN1 mutations is associated with variable patterns of inheritance., Methods: Three family kindreds are described, all of whom possess protein truncating mutations (Y33X, fs503X, R894X). One lineage also has coexistent R894X, A313T, and A320V mutations., Results: The Y33X mutation kinship has autosomal recessive inheritance and a severe phenotype when homozygous. The fs503X family has autosomal dominant inheritance and a moderate-to-severe phenotype. The A313T mutation kindred also has autosomal dominant inheritance but expresses a mild phenotype, except for the more severely affected compound heterozygotes., Conclusions: Early truncating mutations precluding dimerization are expected to be autosomal recessive and express a severe phenotype, while later mutations may be variable. The pedigrees presented here demonstrate that intrafamilial phenotypic variability may result from a dosage effect of an additional mutation, not necessarily variable expressivity. Mutations that have unexpected patterns of inheritance may represent allelic variability., (Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Erythromelalgia is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by intermittent heat, redness, swelling and pain more commonly affecting the lower extremities. Symptoms are mostly aggravated by warmth and are eased by a cold temperature. In some cases, symptoms can be very severe and disabling. Erythromelalgia can be classified as either familial or sporadic, with the familial form inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. Recently, there has been a lot of progress in studying Na(v)1.7 sodium channels (expressed mostly in the sympathetic and nociceptive small-diameter sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglion) and different mutations affecting the encoding SCN9A gene that leads to channelopathies responsible for some disorders, including primary erythromelalgia. We present a severe case of progressive primary erythromelalgia caused by a new de novo heterozygous missense mutation (c.2623C>G) of the SCN9A gene which substitutes glutamine 875 by glutamic acid (p.Q875E). To our knowledge, this mutation has not been previously reported in the literature. We also provided a short literature review about erythromelalgia and Na(v) sodium channelopathies.

Evolutionary Psychology (EP) views the human mind as organized into many modules, each underpinned by psychological adaptations designed to solve problems faced by our Pleistocene ancestors. We argue that the key tenets of the established EP paradigm require modification in the light of recent findings from a number of disciplines, including human genetics, evolutionary biology, cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, and paleoecology. For instance, many human genes have been subject to recent selective sweeps; humans play an active, constructive role in co-directing their own development and evolution; and experimental evidence often favours a general process, rather than a modular account, of cognition. A redefined EP could use the theoretical insights of modern evolutionary biology as a rich source of hypotheses concerning the human mind, and could exploit novel methods from a variety of adjacent research fields., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Policy advocacy is increasingly recognized as a crucial component of the training provided to health educators but relatively few universities offer advocacy training as part of their professional preparation programs for health educators. Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) represent a natural setting for creating strong Black leaders in tobacco policy advocacy. This case study focuses on experiential education at an HBCU to develop advocacy skills around tobacco issues among Black college students. The authors describe the structure and content of two tobacco policy courses, their efforts to evaluate these courses, and the lessons they learned planning and conducting them. They believe their experience can prove useful to others developing curricula for teaching policy advocacy skills to health education students.

Hypoglossal neuropathy with associated myokymia as a delayed effect of radiation is a rare occurrence, presumably due to the relative resistance of cranial nerves to injury from irradiation. The authors describe the first case of myokymia of the unilateral tongue with myokymic discharges on needle electromyography after hypofractionated radiation therapy for an extracranial melanoma of the neck. The earlier onset of myokymia than previous cases may represent more direct radiation exposure due to radiation site or the higher radiation dosage administered for treatment of melanomas.

Objective: Mixed-density convexity subdural hematoma and interhemispheric subdural hematoma suggest nonaccidental head injury. The purpose of this retrospective observational study is to investigate subdural hematoma on noncontrast computed tomography in infants with nonaccidental head injury and to compare these findings in infants with accidental head trauma for whom the date of injury was known., Patients and Methods: Two blinded, independent observers retrospectively reviewed computed tomography scans with subdural hematoma performed on the day of presentation on 9 infant victims of nonaccidental head injury (mean age: 6.8 months; range: 1-25 months) and on 38 infants (mean age: 4.8 months; range: newborn to 34 months) with accidental head trauma (birth-related: 19; short fall: 17; motor vehicle accident: 2)., Results: Homogeneous hyperdense subdural hematoma was significantly more common in children with accidental head trauma (28 of 38 [74%]; nonaccidental head trauma: 3 of 9 [33%]), whereas mixed-density subdural hematoma was significantly more common in cases of nonaccidental head injury (6 of 9 [67%]; accidental head trauma: 7 of 38 [18%]). Twenty-two (79%) subdural hematomas were homogeneously hyperdense on noncontrast computed tomography performed within two days of accidental head trauma, one (4%) was homogeneous and isodense compared to brain tissue, one (4%) was homogeneous and hypodense, and four (14%) were mixed-density. There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of interhemispheric subdural hematoma, epidural hematoma, calvarial fracture, brain contusion, or subarachnoid hemorrhage., Conclusions: Homogeneous hyperdense subdural hematoma is more frequent in cases of accidental head trauma; mixed-density subdural hematoma is more frequent in cases of nonaccidental head injury but may be observed within 48 hours of accidental head trauma. Interhemispheric subdural hematoma is not specific for inflicted head injury.

To improve the performances of a rectangular-plate linear ultrasonic motor for specific applications, a dual-frequency drive has been proposed and investigated. Through careful design of the rectangular piezoelectric ceramic plate, its first longitudinal resonant frequency coincides with its second lateral bending resonant frequency and is one-third of its higher lateral bending resonant frequency. When a square-wave voltage is used to drive the motor, its first longitudinal and second bending and the higher bending vibration modes are excited. Experimental results show that the maximum thrust force and maximum velocity of the motor are over 170% of those obtained from the single-frequency sine-wave drive when the voltage performance of the motor becomes saturated.

Cat retinal ganglion cells of the Y (or alpha) type respond to luminance changes opposite those preferred by their receptive-field centers with a transient hyperpolarization. Here, we examine the spatial organization and synaptic basis of this light response by means of whole-cell current-clamp recordings made in vitro. The hyperpolarization was largest when stimulus spots approximated the size of the receptive-field center, and diminished substantially for larger spots. The hyperpolarization was largely abolished by bath application of strychnine, a blocker of glycinergic inhibition. Picrotoxin, an antagonist of ionotropic GABA receptors, greatly reduced the attenuation of the hyperpolarizing response for large spots. The data are consistent with a model in which (1) the hyperpolarization reflects inhibition by glycinergic amacrine cells of bipolar terminals presynaptic to the alpha cells, and perhaps direct inhibition of the alpha cell as well; and (2) the attenuation of the hyperpolarization by large spots reflects surround inhibition of the glycinergic amacrine by GABAergic amacrine cells. This circuitry may moderate nonlinearities in the alpha-cell light response and could account for some excitatory and inhibitory influences on alpha cells known to arise from outside the classical receptive field.

Parvalbumins constitute a class of calcium-binding proteins characterized by the presence of several helix-loop-helix (EF-hand) motifs. In a previous study (Revett SP, King G, Shabanowitz J, Hunt DF, Hartman KL, Laue TM, Nelson DJ, 1997, Protein Sci 7:2397-2408), we presented the sequence of the major parvalbumin isoform from the silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis) and presented spectroscopic and structural information on the excised "EF-hand" portion of the protein. In this study, the X-ray crystal structure of the silver hake major parvalbumin has been determined to high resolution, in the frozen state, using the molecular replacement method with the carp parvalbumin structure as a starting model. The crystals are orthorhombic, space group C2221, with a = 75.7 A, b = 80.7 A, and c = 42.1 A. Data were collected from a single crystal grown in 15% glycerol, which served as a cryoprotectant for flash freezing at -188 degrees C. The structure refined to a conventional R-value of 21% (free R 25%) for observed reflections in the range 8 to 1.65 A [1 > 2sigma(I)]. The refined model includes an acetylated amino terminus, 108 residues (characteristic of a beta parvalbumin lineage), 2 calcium ions, and 114 water molecules per protein molecule. The resulting structure was used in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations focused primarily on the dynamics of the ligands coordinating the Ca2+ ions in the CD and EF sites. MD simulations were performed on both the fully Ca2+ loaded protein and on a Ca2+ deficient variant, with Ca2+ only in the CD site. There was substantial agreement between the MD and X-ray results in addressing the issue of mobility of key residues in the calcium-binding sites, especially with regard to the side chain of Ser55 in the CD site and Asp92 in the EF site.

This study was designed to compare the development of tolerance to ethanol in adolescent and adult rats. Rats were pretreated with ethanol (4 g/kg) twice daily by intragastric gavage for 3 or 7 days, and then challenged with a single IP dose of ethanol (5 g/kg). Throughout the pretreatment period body temperature was measured before and after the morning dosage. During the IP challenge test we measured body temperature, duration of the loss of righting reflex, and blood ethanol level upon regaining the righting reflex. The adolescent rats that were pretreated for 7 days developed greater tolerance to the effects of ethanol on body temperature during the pretreatment period. No tolerance was observed in animals that received only 3 days of pretreatment. Ethanol decreased body temperature to a greater extent in adolescent animals than adults in response to the IP challenge dose, but there was no significant difference between control and pretreated animals in either age group. The time to regain the righting reflex was lower in adolescent rats than in adults. Post hoc analyses indicated that 7 days of ethanol pretreatment diminished the effects of the IP ethanol challenge on the loss of righting reflex in adolescent but not adult rats. Although adolescent rats regained the righting reflex with higher blood ethanol levels than adults, there was no significant effect of ethanol pretreatment on that measure. These findings indicate that the development of tolerance to the temperature regulatory effects of ethanol is more marked in the adolescent rat than in the adult. This developmental difference in ethanol sensitivity is consistent with other recent findings and suggests that adolescence may be a period of unique sensitivity to a number of the behavioral and physiological effects of ethanol.

Children with end stage renal disease (ESRD) often present psychosocial problems that include noncompliance to treatment. Caregivers can, by understanding the various models of discipline, select proactive and reactive strategies to encourage cooperation. These strategies are grounded in discipline models that include biophysical, behavioral, humanistic, psychodynamic, ecological, psychoeducational, and cognitive models. This article describes various discipline procedures for children with chronic illness. It emphasizes discipline with dignity while empowering and involving children in their behavior management.

Single-agent intramedullary cisplatin chemotherapy provided effective localised control in two of four dogs with advanced stage osteosarcoma unable to withstand an amputation or limb-sparing surgery. Complete remission of the local neoplasm was observed in one of the four dogs, partial remission of the local neoplasm in one dog and progressive disease in the other two. Limb function was preserved in one dog for seven months and that dog was found to be tumour-free when euthanased due to unrelated causes. These preliminary results warrant further investigation into the use of intramedullary cisplatin chemotherapy in the localised management of canine appendicular osteosarcoma. It is possible that this mode of treatment may be combined with other treatments to maximise the survival (i.e., systemic control) in other dogs affected with appendicular osteosarcoma.

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations were determined, by use of an automated microparticle enzyme-linked immunoassay (MEIA), in 16 control dogs and 48 dogs with previously untreated, histologically confirmed, naturally occurring neoplasia (17 dogs with lymphoma and 31 dogs with nonhematopoietic malignancies, 13 dogs with carcinomas, 18 dogs with sarcomas). Mean serum AFP concentrations for untreated dogs with lymphoma, for dogs with sarcomas, and for dogs with carcinomas were not significantly different from the mean serum AFP concentration for the 16 untreated control dogs. Mean serum AFP concentration for dogs with transitional cell carcinoma (n=7) was not significantly different from the mean serum AFP concentration for the control dogs. It has been shown previously by others that a mean serum AFP concentration > 225 ng/mL is suggestive of a hepatic malignancy (e.g., hepatocellular carcinoma, lymphoma). In our study, all 48 dogs had a normal complete blood count, serum biochemical analysis, and urinalysis. Only one of the 48 dogs was found to have a serum AFP concentration > 225 ng/mL. Later evaluation of this dog confirmed hepatic involvement with lymphoma. AFP can be detected in the serum of dogs with naturally occurring tumors using the MEIA technique. A serum AFP concentration above that observed in normal dogs is not a common finding in dogs with naturally occurring neoplasia; however, we confirmed that a serum AFP concentration > 225 ng/mL, with or without evidence of a serum biochemical abnormality, may suggest primary and/or secondary hepatic involvement with a neoplastic disease and may warrant an adjustment in clinical stage and prognosis. A prospective diagnostic and therapeutic evaluation of dogs, with naturally occurring tumors having an elevated serum AFP concentration would determine the validity of this conclusion.

To determine the diagnostic and/or prognostic importance of chromosomal aberrations identified in dogs with malignant (non-Hodgkin's) lymphoma, clinical stages for 61 dogs with lymphosarcoma were determined, the lymph node(s) were histopathologically graded, and the malignant tissue lymphocytes were karyotyped. The results from life table survival curve analysis demonstrated that first remission length and survival time were significantly longer in 15 of 61 (25%) dogs that had a trisomy of chromosome 13 as the primary chromosomal aberration than in those dogs (46/61, 75%) with other primary chromosomal aberrations (P < 0.05). Sex, age, weight, histopathologic subtype and grade, World Health Organization (WHO) clinical stage, WHO and modified Karnofsky performance status, chromosomal modal number, and treatment protocol were of no prognostic importance in predicting first remission length or survival time (P > 0.05). Multivariate analysis did not identify a significant correlation between the prognostic groups or within the various prognostic subsets (P > 0.05). The pathogenesis of canine and human non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, as observed cytogenetically, differs.

Thirty-four dogs with histopathologically confirmed, measurable, nonresectable transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder were treated with piroxicam (0.3 mg/kg PO sid) and were evaluated for tumor response and drug toxicity. Dogs were evaluated at the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital by means of physical examination, thoracic and abdominal radiography, cystography, complete blood count, serum biochemistry profile, and urinalysis. In selected cases, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentrations in plasma and in supernatants of stimulated monocytes, and natural killer cell activity were quantified. Dogs were evaluated before therapy and at 28 and 56 days after initiation of therapy. Dogs with stable disease or remission at 56 days remained on the study and were evaluated at 1 to 2 months intervals. Tumor responses were 2 complete remissions, 4 partial remissions, 18 stable diseases, and 10 progressive diseases. The median survival of all dogs was 181 days (range, 28 to 720+ days), with 2 dogs still alive. Piroxicam toxicity consisted of gastrointestinal irritation in 6 dogs and renal papillary necrosis (detected at necropsy) in 2 dogs. Monocyte production of PGE2 appeared to decrease with therapy in dogs whose tumors were decreasing in size, and increased in dogs with tumor progression. A consistent pattern in natural killer cell activity was not observed. In vitro cytotoxicity assays against 4 canine tumor cell lines revealed no direct antitumor effects of piroxicam. In summary, antitumor activity, which was not likely the result of a direct cytotoxic effect, was observed in dogs with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder treated with piroxicam.

In 11 dogs with nasal adenocarcinoma, IV treatment with 2 to 8 cycles of cisplatin at a dosage of 60 mg/m2 of body surface, given at 3-week intervals, resulted in a survival time of 8 to 128 weeks (mean, 32.7 weeks; median, 20 weeks). Radiography revealed complete remission in 2 dogs and partial remission in 1 dog, for an overall response rate of 27%. Clinical problems such as nasal discharge (n = 11), sneezing (n = 6), and epistaxis (n = 4) resolved in 1 to 2 weeks in all dogs after beginning chemotherapy.

Piroxicam, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, was given to 62 dogs bearing naturally occurring tumors in a phase I clinical trial. Dose escalation was performed, with oral doses ranging from 0.5 mg/kg every 48 h (q48h) to 1.5 mg/kg q48h being tested. Dose-limiting gastrointestinal irritation/ulceration occurred in all four animals that received 1.5 mg/kg q48h. The maximum tolerated dose was 1 mg/kg q48h. Subclinical renal papillary necrosis occurred in two dogs (initial dosages, 1 and 1.5 mg/kg q48h, respectively). Following dose escalation, an additional group of dogs was treated with 0.3 mg/kg piroxicam q24h per os, the accepted canine dosage prior to this trial. Inclusion of this treatment group enabled evaluation of the toxicity of and tumor response to a daily dosage regimen. No complete remissions occurred in this trial. Partial remission was documented in three of ten dogs exhibiting transitional-cell carcinoma, in three of five animals bearing squamous-cell carcinoma, in one of three dogs displaying mammary adenocarcinoma, and in the one dog that exhibited a transmissible venereal tumor. The results of this study support the additional evaluation of piroxicam in a phase II clinical trial in dogs bearing naturally occurring tumors.

A retrospective study was conducted between two groups of dogs with histopathologically diagnosed multicentric malignant lymphoma to determine if treatment with either short-term or continuous chemotherapy resulted in a significant difference in first-remission length or survival time. One group was treated with single agent, short-term (three cycles) of doxorubicin. Dogs obtaining complete remission while receiving doxorubicin were given no further chemotherapy. The other group received combination agent, long-term chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide, vincristine sulfate, and prednisone (COP). Dogs obtaining complete remission on COP by the end of 6 weeks were given maintenance chemotherapy of cyclophosphamide, prednisone and methotrexate. One hundred and five dogs were treated. Thirty-eight dogs received doxorubicin and 67 received COP. All dogs were evaluated at 6 weeks for response to chemotherapy and followed until death. No significant differences were observed in first-remission length or survival time when comparing dogs treated with either short-term doxorubicin or long-term COP (P greater than 0.05). Sex, weight, age, clinical stage, performance status, histopathologic cell type, and grade were not significant factors for determining the responsiveness to either chemotherapy protocol. However, within either treatment group, significant differences in first-remission length were observed in dogs evaluated histopathologically by the Keil and NCI working formulation and in survival time when evaluated by performance status (P less than 0.05).

A hospital-based case-control study of companion dogs examined the risk of developing canine malignant lymphoma associated with the use of chemicals in and about the home. Information from a self-administered owner questionnaire and/or a telephone interview of about 491 cases, 466 nontumor controls, and 479 tumor controls indicated that owners in households with dogs that developed malignant lymphoma applied 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) herbicides to their lawn and/or employed commercial lawn care companies to treat their yard significantly more frequently than control owners (odds ratio = 1.3). In addition, the risk of canine malignant lymphoma rose to a twofold excess with four or more yearly owner applications of 2,4-D. The findings in this study are consistent with occupational studies in humans, which have reported modest associations between agricultural exposure to 2,4-D and increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the histology and epidemiology of which are similar to those of canine malignant lymphoma. The present study suggests that human health implications of 2,4-D exposure in the home environment should receive further investigation.

Cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) is a component of many protocols for the treatment of CNS (central nervous system) leukemia and lymphoma in humans and dogs. It is also used for the prophylaxis of CNS metastasis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Although ara-C enters the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of human cancer patients after i.v. administration, it is unclear whether a similar CNS distribution occurs in humans whose blood-brain barrier has not been compromised by invasive disease. No information on the penetration of ara-C into the CSF in dogs is available. We studied the plasma and CSF pharmacokinetics of 600 mg/m2 ara-C in ten healthy male dogs after its administration as a rapid i.v. bolus (six dogs) or as a 12-h i.v. infusion (four dogs). Ara-C concentration in blood and CSF samples was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). After an i.v. bolus of ara-C, the mean plasma distribution half-life was 7.1 +/- 4.5 min and the mean elimination half-life was 69 +/- 28 min. The mean plasma clearance was 227 +/- 125 ml min-1 m-2. The peak concentration of ara-C in the CSF was 29 +/- 11 microM, which occurred at 57 +/- 13 min after the ara-C bolus. The CSF elimination half-life was 113 +/- 26 min. During a 12-h infusion of ara-C (50 mg m-2 h-1), the plasma steady-state concentration was 14.1 +/- 4.2 microM, the CSF steady-state concentration was 8.3 +/- 1.1 microM, and the CSF: plasma ratio was 0.62 +/- 0.14. The plasma elimination half-life was 64 +/- 19 min and the plasma clearance was 214 +/- 69 ml min-1 m-2. The CSF elimination half-life was 165 +/- 28 min. No clinically significant toxicity was observed over a 21-day period following drug administration in either of the treatment groups. Our data indicate that ara-C crosses the blood-brain barrier in normal dogs and that i.v. administration of this drug has potential as a treatment modality for neoplasia involving the CNS.

Twenty-six cases of accidental 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) ingestions by dogs were reviewed from phone calls to the Illinois Animal Poison Information Center. Cases were collected from January 1, 1987 to December 31, 1988. Of the 26 calls involving 5-FU exposures, 12 were classified as "toxicosis," 13 as "suspected toxicosis," and one as "exposure." Dogs were the only species involved in 5-FU cases received during this time. Accurate estimates of the amount of 5-FU ingested by dogs could be made in 17 cases. Ingestion of more than 20 mg/kg of 5-FU was associated with the development of toxicosis. None of the 12 dogs that ingested oral doses in excess of 43 mg/kg (estimated) survived. Clinical signs associated with 5-FU poisoning in the dog were death, seizures, vomiting (with and without blood), tremors, diarrhea (with and without blood), ataxia, and depression. Clinical signs generally developed within 45 to 60 minutes after exposure, and deaths occurred 6 to 16 hours after ingestion.

The goals of these case reports were to (1) apply digital subtraction radiography to the assessment of the healing of root-form implants so that small changes in bone height and density could be detected and (2) to compare the bony support around root-form implants in patients prescribed the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, flurbiprofen, with support in patients who did not receive the flurbiprofen as adjunctive therapy. Titanium root-form implants were surgically placed in four patients who were randomly assigned to receive either 100 mg flurbiprofen twice a day for three months or no flurbiprofen (as controls). Radiographs were taken immediately post-operatively and at four months. Digital subtraction radiography was used to detect sites of bone gain, loss, or unchanged bone around the implant. This four-month pilot study suggests that the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, flurbiprofen, appears to be associated with increased bone density surrounding dental implants, and that digital subtraction radiography may be useful for the evaluation of bone density changes around dental implants.

Gentamicin was administered as an aerosol to 18 dogs, using a pneumatic nebulizer attached to a face mask. Serum samples were assayed for gentamicin by radioimmunoassay. The antibiotic was not detected in the serum of any dog. It was concluded that the aerosol administration of gentamicin could be considered as topical therapy of the upper respiratory tract and would not induce therapeutic or toxic systemic drug concentrations.