Substrate Supporting Disc Method for Confirmed Detection of Total Coliforms and E. coli in all Foods: Collaborative Study

The Coli Complete® substrate supporting disc (SSD) method for simultaneous confirmed total coliform count and Escherichia coli determination in all foods was compared with AOAC most probable number (MPN) methods, 966.23 and 966.24. Twenty-nine laboratories participated in this collaborative study in which 6 food types were analyzed. Four food types, raw ground beef, pork sausage, raw liquid milk, and nut meats, were naturally contaminated with coliform bacteria. Two foods, dry egg and fresh frozen vegetables, were seeded with coliforms. Three food types, ground beef, raw liquid milk, and pork sausage, were naturally contaminated with E. coli. Although pork sausage was naturally contaminated, the level was very low (<10/50 g); therefore, additional E. coli were inoculated into 1 lot of this food type. Three food types, nut meats, dry egg, and fresh frozen vegetables, were inoculated with E. coli. For naturally contaminated samples, duplicate determinations were made on 3 separate lots for each food type. For inoculated samples, low, medium, and high contamination levels plus uninoculated control samples were examined in duplicate. Data were analyzed separately for total coliform bacteria and for E. coli. Mean log MPN counts were determined by the SSD method and the appropriate AOAC MPN method. Results were then analyzed for repeatability, reproducibility, and mean log MPN statistical equivalence. Results were statistically equivalent for all total coliform levels in all food types except frozen vegetable and raw nut meat uninoculated control samples and 1 lot of pork sausage where the SSD method produced statistically significant greater numbers. For the E. coli determinations, results were statistically equivalent across all samples and all levels for each food type. The SSD method has been adopted first action by AOAC International for confirmed detection of total coliforms and E. coli in all foods.

Factors affecting the complexity of dental implant restoration - what is the current evidence and guidance?

Objectives The aim of this paper is to identify the factors that affect the complexity of implant restoration and to explore the indices that help us to assess it. With this knowledge the growing number of clinicians restoring dental implants will have a better understanding of the available guidance and evidence base, and the differing levels of competence required.Study design A literature review was conducted. The selection of publications reporting on complexity was based on predetermined criteria and was agreed upon by the authors. After title and abstract screening 17 articles were reviewed. The articles that were utilised to form the ITI SAC tool and Cologne Risk Assessment we also included.Assessing complexity Two key guides are available: International Team for Implantology's Straight-forward Advanced Complex tool and the Cologne ABC risk score. While these guides help identify treatment complexity they do not provide a strong enough evidence base from which to solely base clinical decisions. The key patient factors are expectation, communication, the oral environment, aesthetic outcome, occlusion, soft tissue profile and the intra-arch distance, whereas the key technical factors are impression taking, type of retention, loading protocol and the need for provisional restorations. Human factors also have a significant effect on complexity, specifically, the experience and training of the clinician, team communication and the work environment.Conclusions There are many interconnecting factors that affect the complexity of dental implant restoration. Furthermore the two widely used indices for the assessment of complexity have been investigated, and although these offer a good guideline as to the level of complexity, there is a lack evidence to support their use. The development of evidence-based treatment and protocols is necessary to develop the current indices further, and these need to be expanded to include other critical areas, such as human factors. A practical guide to aid practitioners in reducing complexity has been proposed.

Risk factors for rapid-onset cervical cancer

OBJECTIVES

The current study was designed to elucidate risk factors associated with the development of cervical cancer during the course of routine Papanicolaou smear screening (rapid-onset cervical cancer).

STUDY DESIGN

Four hundred eighty-three women diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer, representing 73% of all such tumors diagnosed in Connecticut between 1985 and 1990, were studied. Papanicolaou smear screening and risk factor information was obtained by questionnaire and physician record review. Results from human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid testing by polymerase chain reaction of tumor samples were available for 278 study participants. Prediagnostic Papanicolaou smear slides were reviewed for 67% of cases with a screening history. Screening history information, slide review, and questionnaire data were used to classify women as having rapid-onset cervical cancer (n = 43), possible rapid-onset cervical cancer (n = 111), or normal-onset cervical cancer (n = 329).

RESULTS

Compared with normal-onset cases, rapid-onset cases tended to be younger (P =.001) and were more likely to be white (P =.002), diagnosed with adenocarcinomas or adenosquamous carcinomas (P =.001), and diagnosed with early-stage disease (P =.001). Cases diagnosed as possible rapid-onset disease tended to have a profile that was intermediate to that observed for rapid-onset and normal-onset cases. Human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid was detected in 75.2% of cases tested. Compared with women who tested positive for human papillomavirus type 16 or other, those positive for human papillomavirus type 18 had a relative risk for rapid-onset disease of 1.6 (95% confidence interval 0.52-4.9). No significant association was observed between type 18 and possible rapid-onset disease when possible rapid-onset cases were compared with women diagnosed with normal-onset cervical cancer (relative risk 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.29-1.6). Oral contraceptive use, cigarette smoking, number of pregnancies, and a maternal history of cervical cancer were not significantly associated with rapid-onset disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from this study suggest that the risk factors associated with the development of rapid-onset cervical cancer are similar to those for normal-onset disease.

Consequences of irregular versus continuous medical follow-up in children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVES

To study the social and family characteristics of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with irregular versus continuous clinical follow-up and to study the medical outcomes of patients with these follow-up patterns.

METHODS

An onset cohort of 61 children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and their parents were studied. Aspects of their social and family environment were assessed at study inception and examined in relation to frequency of follow-up early in the course of the illness. Follow-up was dichotomized so that patients with continuous follow-up were compared with patients with irregular follow-up, who were defined as those missing 1 full year of planned medical appointments during the second through fourth years after diagnosis. Patients with irregular and continuous follow-up were compared in terms of acute metabolic complications, glycemic control, and retinopathy status during a 10-year period.

RESULTS

Compared with individuals with continuous follow-up, patients with irregular clinical visits were more likely to be from families of lower socioeconomic class levels, have a parental history of separation and divorce, and were members of families that reported being least openly expressive of positive emotions. Poor glycemic control in year 1 was associated with irregular follow-up in years 2 through 4. Patients with irregular follow-up continued to have worse glycemic control in years 2 through 4 than patients with continuous follow-up. However, in years 7 and 10 their glycemic control no longer differed from patients with continuous follow-up. More episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis occurred in the irregular follow-up group. Finally, retinopathy occurred more frequently among those in the irregular follow-up group.

CONCLUSION

Early irregular clinical follow-up should be considered a risk factor for complications of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Sexually transmitted papillomaviral infections. I. The anatomic distribution and pathologic grade of neoplastic lesions associated with different viral types

Multiple colposcopic biopsy specimens were collected from 160 women, with sampling of principal cervical and vulvar lesions as well as secondary areas of either minor acetowhitening or normal epithelium. Papillomaviral deoxyribonucleic acid was detected by Southern blot hybridization in 197 (90%) of the 218 principal biopsy specimens and 93 (46%) of 198 secondary biopsy specimens. Although different papillomaviruses were found at different sites in 31 women, only six of 416 specimens contained multiple types within the same sample. Specific viral types were associated with specific disease patterns. Only one of 80 type 6 or 11 infections had a diagnosis greater than cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 2. In contrast, 42 of 48 (90%) biopsy specimens of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 3, or invasive cancer contained type 16, 18, or 31. Nonetheless, 12 of 124 (10%) cases of condyloma and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 1, were associated with types 16, 18, and 31 infections. Of 58 women with multicentric disease, 46 had positive hybridizations for both cervical and vulvar lesions (32 showing the same type in both samples and 14 showing different viruses). Differing patterns of papillomavirus-induced disease arise partly from the predilection of specific viral types for certain anatomic sites and partly through variations in host response. Detection of viral deoxyribonucleic acid in 46% of the secondary biopsy specimens suggests that disease expression may represent focal breakdown of host surveillance within a field of latent papillomaviral infection.