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Abstracts are presented for research discussed at the Continental European Division of the International Association for Dental Research at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg in West Germany. Topics addressed include the cariogenics of sugar substitutes, fluoride, and clinical dental research.

The article discusses the effectiveness of selection in producing laboratory stocks that are genetically uniform to be resistant to dental caries. The author details methods to avoid breeding that is somewhat selective because of small sample numbers as well as ways to ensure that random mating produces genetic equilibrium.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the available methods for recording and assessing loss or gain of the periodontium following preventive and therapeutic procedures. Measurements from the cementum-enamci junction to the alveolar crest also can he obtained with soft tissue penetration of a probe after the use of anesthetics, or with either probe, or calipers, during periodontal surgery after exposure of the alveolar crest. An obvious way of assessing loss of periodontal support is by count of teeth lost from periodontal disease with or without various types of preventive and therapeutic procedures.

The article discusses the proceedings of the International Association for Dental Research's 42nd general meeting, held in Los Angeles, California, March 19-22, 1964. Topics of papers discussed included conducting clinical research, sponsors of clinical trials and drug regulations. The article also mentions several individuals who received awards.

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This paper reports the results of a study on the use of a new formulation of trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine. Titrations of antibodies against the three polio viruses by means of the metabolic inhibition test were determined before and after feedings of the trivalent mixture. Conversion rates-after a single dose were disappointing for Type 1 antibody, but conversion rates after a second dose were 92%. In triply susceptible subjects, that is, in those non-immune to all three types of polioviruses, the conversion rate after two feedings of trivalent vaccine was 92% for Type 1, and 100% for Types 2 and 3. The advantages of using trivalent vaccine rather than monovalent vaccines are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been suggested that the effect of ACTH in myasthenia gravis may be ascribed to an action involving neuromuscular transmission which favours repolarization processes, with a tendency towards hyperpolarization of the membranes of muscle fibres and motor nerve endings. A similar mechanism has been postulated for the action of ACTH in epilepsy (Klein, 1970). A direct or indirect action on nerve membrane would interfere with depolarization. There is evidence of raised concentration of intracellular potassium and increased outflow of sodium ions which would cause hyperpolarization of the membrane. This paper studies the effect of ACTH on the late block of neuromuscular transmission caused by acetylcholine (ACTH). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents information regarding an International Conference on Periodontal Clinical Trials organizes by American Dental Association. The goals of this Conference are to clarify and elaborate on the role of various indices as measuring instruments of different aspects of periodontal diseases, and to establish guidelines for the conduct of clinical trials of agents used in the prevention/treatment of periodontal diseases.

Four cases of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus are described. This condition has hitherto been regarded as very rare in the pure-blooded African, and these cases arc believed to be the first described amongst the African Bantu population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature on the subject of the menopause, primarily from the past three decades, is selectively reviewed in the form of an annotated bibliography. In order to highlight particular methodological problems, the review is presented in three sections, each preceded by a brief discussion, as follows: (a) the general report of clinical observation or experience, (b) the survey, and (c) the clinical trial. Several recommendations are also made for further research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article informs that in a crossover design it is possible that certain differential effects will become evident in the course of the study. Although the group levels are equal to begin with, they may become unequal after one or more treatments have been given because of the appearance of a differential residual effect among the treatments. Furthermore, the effect of treatments may depend on the sequence of previous treatments in such a way as to produce a differential carryover effect. In the case of two treatments, only two treatment permutations are possible. This design has been discussed in the article in some detail because of its use in periodontal studies involving a placebo and an active compound.

This article informs that in clinical trials it is usually of interest to know how well two examiners agree on each call, i.e., the similarity of their "calls" on the unit scored, be it tooth, surface, or even surface-half. This can be assessed immediately by the "proportion agreement" between two examiners or one examiner at two times. Even though the proportion agreement is an exact measure of "alikeness", its interpretation must be made in light of the index used. If the examiners scored merely at random, they would agree one-third, one-fourth, and one-tenth of the time on gingival inflammation, gingival depth and plaque scores respectively.

The present paper describes a standardized system for diagnosing, recording and analyzing dental caries data, based on diagnostic criteria previously described. Each surface is examined, and the diagnosis is coded on punch cards and processed by computer. Different diagnostic levels can be used in diagnosis or analysis depending on the purpose of the study. Data can be analyzed using one or more programs contained in a program library. The advantage of this system in comparison with others seems to be the high degree of flexibility, making it possible to employ the system in many different types of studies (longitudinal clinical trials as well as cross-sectional epidemiologic surveys). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consider a clinical trial to compare two treatments where response is dichotomous and patients enter the trial sequentially. This paper investigates the conduct of such a trial where the "Play the Winner Rule" (PWR) is used to assign patients to the different therapies. The implementation of the PWR in a clinical trial tends to place more patients on the better treatment. Both theoretical and numerical investigations show that over a wide range of situations this rule leads to near optimum results when used in a two-stage manner. Furthermore, these results are insensitive to optimum sample size requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research paper data obtained by two researchers who used different methods of clinical examination on the same group of individuals was compared. The first examiner (A) used a slow method of research for the visual diagnosis of dental caries. The second examiner (B) used a quicker method for his clinical research.

This article discusses the results of a clinical research study of the growth and development of the dental arches of sixty children conducted to determine the biogenetic course of the deciduous dentition and the biogenesis of the accessional and successional teeth. The study concludes that there are two consistent morphological arch forms of deciduous dentures in the way of either congenitally spaced or congenitally closed arches.

The article presents information about the paper "The Effect of Order of Drug Administration and Repeat Placeboes on the Galvanic Skin Resistance in Human Subjects," by D.J. Perry, G.E. Mount, C.D. Hull and R.H. Zeillenger. The paper provides a description of a control study designed to check the validity of an earlier finding that atropine alters the galvanic skin resistance.

A clinical trial was commenced in 1968 on the Island of Lewis, Scotland, to evaluate the effects of a new dentifrice formulation containing, as its main active ingredient, 2 % monofluorophosphate. The trial design conformed to international protocol and three age groups of children, namely, 5-year-olds, 8-year-olds and 11-year-olds, participated for a three-year period. The results show that the dentifrice is an effective anti-caries agent and the magnitude of its effects is generally greater than reported in studies of other dentifrice products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The method of pantography can he used to record tracings representing the pattern of movement of the jaws. Such tracings can be subjected to analysis on a rectangular coordinate system of axes. All tracings appear to be rotations scribed about instantaneously moving axes. Since the tracings are composites of rotations about the x-, y-and z-axes, they cannot be used to fully describe the jaw movements which produce them. Notwithstanding this limitation, pantographic tracings are of value in the clinical demonstration of individual variations which exist in the patterns of jaw movements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report comprises the first part of an investigation into the methodology of clinical examinations of patients with bridges. The complete study is concerned with the following problems. (1) To what extent do deviations occur between observers in the independent recording of factors of interest in the re-examination of patients with fixed bridges? (2) Are the deviations observed systematic? (3) Does a cumulative and simultaneous examination lead to less deviating results? (4) Are there any characteristic differences between observers with a greater or lesser degree of clinical experience? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results of therapeutic trial of diazepam in tetanus are presented. The trial included 200 cases of tetanus—167 non-neonates and thirty-three neonates. The patients were divided into two groups and were matched as regards age, sex and severity of the disease. The cases of group I received standard treatment while the cases of group II received diazepam in addition. Over-all mortality in group I was 54% and in group II, 26%. The results were statistically significant in non-neonates and in severe degree of tetanus. The drug was well tolerated and side effects were not observed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A new topically active corticosteroid, clobetasol propionate, has been investigated in the laboratory and in dermatological clinics to determine the best formulation for clinical use. Clinical trials involving 1150 patients were undertaken. In patients with bilateral psoriasis or eczema, clobetasol propionate, at a strength of 0.05%, was compared with betamethasone 17-valerate ointment and cream, fluclorolone acetonide ointment and cream and fluocinonide (FAPG). The new steroid was shown to be effective therapeutically, especially in psoriasis. Each comparison in the trial was analysed independently and the following statistically significant differences were demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detailed results are presented of a double-blind controlled trial of phenelzine and placebo in chronic agoraphobic and socially phobic psychiatric out-patients. Forty patients entered the trial and thirty-two of these completed the 8 weeks period of treatment, in which phenelzine or placebo were taken in flexible dosage, 30-90 mg daily. Patients were prospectively matched in pairs so that clinical response could be assessed in detail. Phenelzine was significantly superior to placebo on a number of measures, particularly for overall assessment ( P<0.01). The treatment differences were not significant after 4 weeks treatment but were so at 8 weeks. The correlates of response and the results of the clinical ratings suggest that phenelzine is not acting as an antidepressant in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study investigating the efficacy of lippes loop insertion by midwives in healthy and chronically ill women in Haiti. In 1996 all mothers attending the Albert Schweitzer Hospital prenatal and tuberculosis clinics were offered the IUD as a means of family planning. Based on the examined record of all patients, several differences between the studies stand out. This may be explained by the fact that treatment of gonorrhea and cervicitis was carried before IUD insertion. Moreover, the second difference is the markedly increased rate of expulsion in the Haitian ill group.

This article focuses on a study which was undertaken to determine whether normal females did share aspects of a pathological background with clinical patients and what factors in backgrounds of normal subjects may have reduced the significance of the pathological factors in their histories. Autobiographies obtained from 100 normally functioning female undergraduates revealed significant evidence of background pathology as well as evidence suggestive of ameliorative background factors which may have enabled the participants to cope adequately with their background pathology. Findings suggest fruitful directions for further research into background factors for adequate coping behavior in normal populations.

This article informs that in clinical trials of periodontal disease the initial state of the tissues, and/or some pre-test measure of the relative incidence of disease have special importance. If the purpose of the experiment is to observe the effectiveness of an agent in reducing a condition, such as inflammation, calculus deposits, pockets, etc., which is present to a varying degree among the subjects, those having the condition to the highest degree have the greatest potential for improvement. Increased efficiency can be judged approximately by comparing the error sums of squares for the covariance analysis with sums of squares for the analysis of increments.

This article informs that nearly every adult suffers from periodontal disease to some degree. Because of this universal distribution, some measure of severity or intensity of the disease is necessary in order to have any sensitivity in the evaluation of clinical trials. Amongst certain variables, particularly those concerned with oral hygiene, differences in anatomic site may make inhomogeneous what was before a homogeneous variable, particularly in regard to evaluation of therapy. A regimen effective in removing interproximal plaque, such as flossing, would have little, if any, effect on facial plaque.

A spherical alloy was tested against a conventional lathe-cut amalgam in clinical trials. Results indicated that both alloys had comparable marginal breakdown rates. However, the three dentists who placed the restorations showed decided differences in marginal breakdown rates for their patients. Operator variable was the most significant finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents information on the research paper "Treatment of Chronic Furunculosis," by L.G. Tulloch, V.G. Alder and W.A. Gillespie. The effect of treatment by disinfecting sites of staphylococcal carriage was investigated in a controlled trial. The nasal carrier site was the most common source of infection but staphylococci from the perineum and from superficial lesions of the skin were also important. The treatment consisted of daily hexachlorophane baths or powder and a nasal disinfectant cream containing neomycin and chlorhexidine which was applied 5 to 6 times daily. This usually suppressed the carrier state within a few days but treatment is advised for at least 3 or 4 weeks.

The article focuses on a paper suggesting that fludrocortisone acetate is a derivative of hydrocortisone. Preliminary trials indicated that in ointments or lotions this drug is effective in concentrations as low as 0.1%. Administered orally to two patients fludrocortisone had about 25 times the therapeutic potency of cortisone.