Annual traffic noise levels estimation based on temporal stratification.

This paper proposes a temporal sampling strategy that increases the accuracy of long-term noise level estimation and allows to establish the estimation error according to the number of sampled days. Days of the week are stratified into working days and weekend days. This research shows how to use measurements of Leq on working days to estimate the corresponding values for weekend days. This is possible because working days have higher noise levels and less variability than weekend days. The improvement in accuracy allows for a reduction in the number of required sampled days compared to taking samples randomly, which would help to reduce the uncertainty in environmental noise assessment. As a reference, to obtain a 90% confidence interval of ±1 dB for Lday, the proposed sampling strategy reduces the required measurement days by more than 38%. For LDEN, the reduction is close to 18% of the total number of days. The proposed strategy could be adapted to different environments by simply changing a few parameters.

Changes in the membrane carbohydrates from sperm cryopreserved with dimethylsulfoxide or polyvinylpyrrolidone of red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicencis).

BACKGROUND: That cryopreservation can induce alterations in sperm. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate sperm quality and distribution of N-acetylglucosamine, sialic acid and mannose residues in sperm cryopreserved of red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied twenty samples of ejaculated semen for each cryoprotectant dimethylsulfoxide or polyvinylpyrrolidone. Carbohydrate identification was carried out with lectins Triticum vulgaris agglutinin to N-acetylglucosamine and sialic acid and Concanavalia ensiformis for mannose residues. Sperm viability was not altered but motility decreased significantly with both crioprotectants compared with fresh sperm. RESULTS: Neither the number of WGA positive sperm nor the distribution of N-acetylglucosamine and/or sialic acid residues were affected by the cryopreservation procedure. The sperm proportion with fluorescence associated with the presence of mannose residues was higher in thawed sperm. CONCLUSION: Values obtained with the cryopreservation technique proposed in this study by freezing drops in liquid nitrogen, were within normal parameters established for good quality fresh semen. We can say that it can be used for assisted reproduction of Buteo jamaicensis.

Mercury in the blue tilapia Oreochromis aureus from a dam located in a mining region of NW Mexico: seasonal variation and percentage weekly intake (PWI).

Uptake of mercury (Hg) through fish consumption is one of the key aspects of the Hg cycle in the aquatic ecosystems. In tropical latitudes, biomonitoring of Hg in freshwater reservoirs is scarce. The objectives of the study were to determine Hg distribution in muscle, liver, and kidney of blue tilapia Oreochromis aureus from a dam located in a mining region of northwest Mexico, to define temporal variations of Hg concentrations in fish collected during the dry and rainy seasons, and to estimate the percentage weekly intake (PWI) of Hg through fish consumption considering the individual weekly intake of fish in Mexico and the provisional tolerable weekly intake of Hg (5 µg kg(-1) body weight). The sequence of Hg concentrations was liver > kidney > muscle during the rainy season and kidney > liver > muscle during the dry season. Levels of Hg were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in muscle (0.36 µg g(-1)) and kidney (0.65 µg g(-1)) of specimens collected during the dry season in comparison to individuals collected during the rainy season; accordingly, average PWI in the dry season (5.41) was higher than in the rainy season (1.80). Though collected fish were adults, Hg levels in the edible portion are not harmful to consumers, even during the dry season that Hg levels were higher.

Association of Circulating Tumor Cells and Tumor Molecular Profile With Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Previously Untreated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Pooled Analysis of the Phase III VISNÚ-1 and Phase II VISNÚ-2 Randomized Trials.

BACKGROUND: The bCTC count is a well-established prognostic biomarker in mCRC, as well as in other tumor types. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the prognostic/predictive role of the bCTC count (≥3 vs. <3) in previously untreated mCRC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 589 untreated mCRC patients included in the intention-to-treat population of 2 randomized clinical trials (phase III VISNU-1 [NCT01640405] and phase II VISNU-2 [NCT01640444] studies). RESULTS: Of the 589 patients, 349 (59.2%) had bCTC≥3 and 240 (40.7%) had bCTC<3. Multivariate analysis showed that the bCTC count is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.48-0.72; P = 0.000) and potential for progression-free survival (PFS) (P = 0.0549). Median OS was 32.9 and 19.5 months in patients with bCTC<3 and bCTC≥3 (P <0.001), respectively. This effect was also observed comparing OS in RASwt patients from both studies. Other prognostic factors were: ECOG-PS, primary tumor site, number of metastatic sites and surgery of the primary tumor. Median OS was lower for patients treated with anti-VEGF versus anti-EGFR (22.3 vs. 33.3 months, P <0.0001) while there were no significant differences in PFS according to the targeted treatment received. CONCLUSION: This post-hoc analysis of 2 randomized studies confirms the poor prognosis of patients with bCTC≥3 but this is not associated with other adverse independent prognostic factors such as RAS/BRAF mutations.

Influence of BRAF and PIK3CA mutations on the efficacy of FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab or cetuximab as first-line therapy in patients with RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal carcinoma and <3 baseline circulating tumour cells: the randomised phase II VISNÚ-2 study.

BACKGROUND: We explored the influence of BRAF and PIK3CA mutational status on the efficacy of bevacizumab or cetuximab plus 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) as first-line therapy in patients with RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: VISNÚ-2 was a multicentre, randomised, phase II study. Patients with RAS wild-type mCRC and <3 circulating tumour cells/7.5 ml blood were stratified by BRAF/PIK3CA status (wild-type versus mutated) and number of affected organs (1 versus >1), and allocated to bevacizumab (5 mg/kg every 2 weeks) or cetuximab (400 mg/m2 then 250 mg/m2 weekly) plus FOLFIRI [irinotecan 180 mg/m2, leucovorin 400 mg/m2, 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m2 (bolus) then 2400 mg/m2 (46-h continuous infusion) every 2 weeks]. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). All analyses were exploratory. RESULTS: Two hundred and forty patients with BRAF/PIK3CA wild-type (n = 196) or BRAF- and/or PIK3CA-mutated tumours (n = 44) were enrolled. Median PFS was 12.7 and 8.8 months in patients with BRAF/PIK3CA wild-type and BRAF/PIK3CA-mutated tumours, respectively [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.22; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80-1.85; P = 0.3602]. In the BRAF- and/or PIK3CA-mutated cohort, median PFS was 2.8, 8.8 and 15.0 months in patients with BRAF/PI3KCA-mutated (n = 8), BRAF-mutated/PI3KCA wild-type (n = 16) and BRAF wild-type/PI3KCA-mutated (n = 20) tumours, respectively (P = 0.0002). PFS was similar with bevacizumab plus FOLFIRI versus cetuximab plus FOLFIRI in BRAF/PIK3CA wild-type (HR = 0.99; 95% CI 0.67-1.45; P = 0.9486) and BRAF/PIK3CA-mutated tumours (HR = 1.11; 95% CI 0.53-2.35; P = 0.7820). The most common grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events were neutropenia, diarrhoea and asthenia in both treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: BRAF/PIK3CA status influences outcomes in patients with RAS wild-type mCRC but does not appear to assist with the selection of first-line targeted therapy.

A retrospective observational study on the safety and efficacy of first-line treatment with bevacizumab combined with FOLFIRI in metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Combination of bevacizumab and FOLFIRI has currently become one of the standard therapeutic regimens. However, published information is still limited. The objective of the present retrospective observational study is to analyse the response and toxicity of first-line treatment with FOLFIRI+bevacizumab in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). METHODS: Data were collected from patients from nine Spanish sites diagnosed with mCRC, ECOG≤2, whose first treatment for advanced disease was at least three cycles of FOLFIRI+bevacizumab. RESULTS: A total of 95 patients were enrolled into the study: 64.2% males, median age of 59 years (53.2-67.1 years), ECOG=0-1 in 96.9% of patients. The main site of primary tumour was the colon (69.7%), and most metastases occurred in the liver (71.6%). Clinical benefit was detected in 67.4% (57.0-76.6; 95% confidence interval (CI)), with 8.4% of CR and 42.1% of PR. Median TTP was 10.6 months (10.0-11.3; 95% CI), PFS was 10.6 months (9.8-11.3; 95% CI), and OS was 20.7 months (17.1-24.2; 95% CI). Main grade I-II toxicities included haematological toxicity (35.8%), diarrhea (27.3%), mucositis (25.3%), asthenia (19.0%), haemorrhages (11.6%), and emesis (10.6%). Toxicities reaching grades III-IV were haematological toxicity (9.5%), diarrhea (8.5%), mucositis (5.3%), hepatic toxicity (2.1%), asthenia (2.1%), proteinuria (1.1%), emesis (1.1%), pain (1.1%), and colics (1.1%). CONCLUSION: Results of this study support the beneficial effect of adding bevacizumab to FOLFIRI regimen in terms of efficacy and show a favourable tolerability profile.

A potential inflammatory role of IL-31 in psoriatic arthritis: A correlation with Th17 cytokine profile.

The goals of our study were to determine the possible association of interleukin (IL)-31 with Th17 cytokine profile in serum and to quantify retinoic acid-related orphan receptor C (RORC) mRNA expression in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 50 patients with PsA and 30 control subjects (CS) matched by age and gender. The cytokine serum levels were quantified by magnetic bead-based assay using the Bio-Plex MAGPIX system, and RORC mRNA expression was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). As a result, significant differences in IL-31 were observed between study groups (77.23 pg/mL in PsA vs 64.4 pg/mL in CS, P < 0.001) and Th17 cytokine profile serum levels (IL-17A: 6.36 pg/mL in PsA vs 2.97 pg/mL in CS, P = 0.02; IL-17F: 44.15 pg/mL in PsA vs 23.36 pg/mL in PsA, P = 0.01; IL-17E: 3.03 pg/mL in PsA vs 0.82 pg/mL in CS, P < 0.001; IL-21: 36.45 pg/mL in PsA vs 12.44 pg/mL in CS, P = 0.02); however, significant differences were not observed for IL-23 (31.2 pg/mL in PsA vs 53.26 pg/mL in CS, P = 0.58). Furthermore, positive correlations between IL-31 and Th17 cytokine profile serum levels were found (IL-17A: rs = 0.64, P < 0.001; IL-17F: rs = 0.73, P < 0.001; IL-17E: rs = 0.70, P < 0.001; IL-21: rs = 0.54, P = 0.002; IL-23: rs = 0.5, P < 0.01). Regarding RORC gene expression, the PsA group showed an increase of 6.85-fold compared to the CS group. We did not find any association between the serum levels of cytokines and RORC gene expression. In conclusion, in PsA, there are increased serum levels of IL-31, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-17E, and IL-21, but not IL-23. Moreover, there was a positive correlation of IL-31 with the Th17 cytokine profile and a high RORC gene expression. Altogether, these findings suggest a proinflammatory contribution of IL-31 in close association with the Th17 cytokine profile in PsA.

Temporal and spatial stratification for the estimation of nocturnal long-term noise levels.

Noise pollution in cities is mainly caused by the vehicular traffic but, depending on the place under assessment, it could be affected by the land use. For noise assessment and strategic noise mapping, the night period equivalent level (Lnight), which evaluates sleep disturbance, is one of the requirements of the European Directive 2002/49/EC to be presented for the equivalent time of one year. This research aims to find the influence of the land use in the weekdays stratification to improve the accuracy of the long-term noise level estimation for the night period. It is found that depending on the land use of the place under assessment, the weekdays temporal and spatial stratification could be affected by leisure activities. From a statistical analysis based on a clustering procedure of Lnight samples in 19 points, it is observed that both, temporal and spatial stratification depend on the intensity of the surrounding leisure activity, and not on traffic. Following these stratification criteria, a sampling method is presented that reduces by 47% the number of days needed to estimate the annual levels with respect to random sampling.

Expression of MIF and TNFA in psoriatic arthritis: relationship with Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokine profiles and clinical variables.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease associated with psoriasis. The cause of this pathology is still unknown, but research suggests the diseases are caused by a deregulated cytokine production. MIF is a cytokine associated with immunomodulation of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokine profiles in inflammatory diseases. Based on this knowledge, the aim of this study was to determine the association of MIF and TNFA expression with Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokine profiles in serum levels of PsA patients. A cross-sectional study was performed in 50 PsA patients and 30 control subjects (CS). The cytokine profiles were quantified by BioPlex MagPix system and the mRNA expression levels by real-time PCR. TNFA mRNA expression was 138.81-folds higher in PsA patients than CS (p < 0.001). Regarding MIF mRNA expression, no significant differences were observed; however, a positive correlation was identified between MIF mRNA expression and PsA time of evolution (r = - 0.53, p = 0.009). An increase of Th1 (IFNγ: PsA = 37.1 pg/mL vs. CS = 17 pg/mL, p < 0.05; TNFα: PsA = 24.6 pg/mL vs. CS = 9.8 pg/mL, p < 0.0001) and Th17 cytokine profiles (IL-17: PsA = 6.4 pg/mL vs. CS = 2.7 pg/mL, p < 0.05; IL-22: PsA = 8.4 pg/mL vs. CS = 1.8 pg/mL, p < 0.001), were found in PsA patients. Th2 cytokines were not significantly different in both groups. In conclusion, a high expression of TNFA mRNA, as well as an increase of Th1 and Th17 cytokine profiles evaluated by IFNγ, TNFα, IL-17, and IL-22 cytokines, was observed in PsA patients.

Time evolution of the second-order nonlinear distribution of poled Infrasil samples during annealing experiments.

The spatial distribution of the second-order nonlinearity induced in thermally poled Infrasil silica samples is recorded after thermal annealing experiments. Two regimes have been studied: short and long poling durations. For short poling durations, the observations are in good agreement with a model where only one ion type recombines inside the depletion region. The nonlinear distribution and erasure observed for the other case are well explained by considering the addition of another positive-charged ion injected during the poling process. This second ion acts as a barrier during thermal annealing and reduces the mobility of the first one.

The affinity of low density lipoproteins for an arterial macromolecular complex. A study in ischemic heart disease and controls.

Levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprotein pattern and the insolubilization of serum low density lipoproteins (LDL, betalipoprotein) by a factor present in arterial intima--media extracts was investigated in 55 patients with acute coronary heart disease and 50 healthy controls. In blood samples obtained 24 h after the episode, the serum betalipoproteins from male normotensive patients showed a high tendency to precipitate when incubated with the intima-media extracts, nearly twice the value measured in the control group. This affinity returned almost to control level after 21 days in the hospital. Hypertensive patients showed a serum cholesterol higher than the controls but almost no difference in LDL-arterial factor interaction. The composition of isolated LDL was studied in 7 patients and 8 controls and it was found that the total cholesterol/protein plus phospholipid ratio has a positive exponential correlation with the lipoprotein-arterial factor affinity. The results of LDL analyses suggest that a change in their composition, frequent in normotensive patients, can lead to an increased affinity of this lipoprotein for arterial intimamedia components. It is proposed that this process could be an additional risk factor contributing to the deposition of LDL in the arterial wall.

"The lizard in the green bottle": "aging out" of problem drinking among Navajo men.

The Navajo exhibit a number of indicators suggesting the extent of significant problems associated with drinking and alcohol abuse. Measures of alcohol-related mortality and morbidity provide stark testimony regarding the shape and magnitude of problem drinking among the Navajo. While these measures highlight patterns of drinking that often result in social, physical, and psychological pathology, there are other, less noted patterns of Navajo drinking. This paper describes a salient, if often overlooked, pattern of Native American drinking by examining the aging out phenomenon among Navajo men. Using narratives collected from former problem drinkers, this paper describes the factors and motivations associated with this sometimes dramatic change in drinking behavior. Several themes emerge from these narratives that help explain the aging out process. These themes include health concerns, religious involvement, living a traditional Navajo way of life, and the responsibilities and life changes associated with child rearing. This paper not only provides detail on a category of drinker and drinking phenomena that is largely ignored in accounts of Native American drinking, but also illustrates some of the values and meanings attached to drinking cessation and highlights the relation between changes in drinking behavior and stages in life course among Navajo men.

Interpretation of linear and computed tomograms in the assessment of implant recipient sites.

Tomography is a radiographic process that produces cross-sectional images of bony structures within the body. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of diagnostic measurements made by dental implant team members from linear tomograms of human cadaver mandibles. Five partially edentulous cadaver mandibles were radiographed using linear tomography (LT) and computer-assisted tomography (CT). From the tomograms, each of four team members traced the perceived outer circumference of the mandible and the inferior alveolar canal. Tomogram tracings were compared to each other and to the equivalent CT cross-sectional image to determine the precision of the measurements. One mandible was sectioned to verify the accuracy of the CT images. Repeated measures analysis of variance of the measurements made from the LT and CT scans showed significant statistical differences between team members. Multiple cross-sectional views facilitated identification of the inferior alveolar canal in the majority of CT scans, whereas image blurring inherent to LT resulted in the inability of team members to identify the canal in 14% to 50% of the images. Volume averaging within the CT slice aperture was found capable of producing a magnification error of short dense objects. CT and LT must both be interpreted cautiously because of innate technique objects. CT and LT must both be interpreted cautiously because of innate technique pecularities that can lead to measurement errors. The wide variation in interpretation of the linear tomograms and frequent inability to identify the inferior alveolar canal made this technique less valuable than the reformatted CT when planning dental surgical procedures.

A comparison of polylactic acid granules and decalcified freeze-dried bone allograft in human periodontal osseous defects.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of polylactic acid (PLA) granules as an alloplastic grafting material to that of decalcified freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA) and a flap procedure for debridement without graft (FPD) when treating periodontal intrabony defects. Ten patients presenting with advanced adult periodontitis, including at least 3 similar periodontal osseous defects (2- and 3-walled), comprised the study group. After completion of a hygienic phase of treatment, measurements were made with calibrated periodontal probes and stents to determine soft tissue recession, probing pocket depths, and probing attachment levels. Each defect was surgically exposed and hard tissue measurements were obtained. Defects were treated with one of the 3 methods above chosen randomly prior to the surgical appointment. Six months postsurgery, soft tissue measurements were repeated and all sites were surgically reentered to obtain hard tissue measurements. All surgical sites healed without clinical complication. The initial pocket depths and initial depth of osseous defects were compared between the groups using ANOVA and no significant differences were found. A mean osseous defect fill of 0.4 mm (11.2%) occurred with the flap procedure for debridement, 3.0 mm (65%) with DFDBA, and 0.1 mm (2.2%) with PLA. Mean crestal bone loss was 1.30 mm for FPD, 0.60 mm for DFDBA, and 1.55 mm for PLA. No statistically significant differences were found in soft tissue recession between groups or in the osseous defect measurement between PLA and FPD. A statistically significant improvement (P < 0.001) was found in the fill of the osseous defects when using DFDBA compared to the initial defect depth and to the other 2 groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A six-month clinical evaluation of decalcified freeze-dried bone allografts in periodontal osseous defects.

The osteogenic potential of decalcified freeze-dried bone allografts in the treatment of human periodontal osseous defects was evaluated over a 6 month period. Cortical bone, obtained under sterile conditions from a human donor within 24 hours after death, was decalcified, freeze-dried and ground to a particle size of 250 to 500 microns. Twenty-seven osseous defects with one-, two- and wide three-wall morphology were treated. Clinical measurements were made with a stent and a calibrated periodontal probe before surgery, at the time of surgery, and at re-entry. The combined mean osseous regeneration for all defects was 2.4 mm. This represented a 65% mean bone-fill of the original defect. The findings demonstrate that decalcified freeze-dried bone allograft has potential as an osseous grafting material in periodontal therapy.

Bone grafting and guided bone regeneration for immediate dental implants in humans.

This study evaluated bone regeneration and osseointegration of hydroxyapatite (HA) coated and titanium plasma sprayed (TPS) implants placed in sockets immediately after extraction in 36 adults, mean age 55.2 years (range 26 to 81 years). Twelve TPS and 10 HA-coated implants in 20 patients were grafted with demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA), covered with a barrier material, and the facial flap coronally positioned to attain primary closure (experimental). The remaining 11 TPS and 10 HA-coated implants were placed similarly, except that no DFDBA was used (control). Osseous structures were measured at the initial placement and 6-month re-entry surgeries. At the 6-month re-entry, all implants placed were clinically osseointegrated. Bone resorption at the most coronal socket crest was -1.53 mm for the grafted group and -1.59 mm for the control group. Crestal bone apposition of 1.39 mm was noted at the most apical socket crest (ASC) for the grafted group, whereas crestal resorption of -0.11 mm was noted in the ungrafted control group (P < 0.02). Bone fill from the base of the deepest osseous defect was 5.68 mm for the grafted group and 3.18 mm for the control group (P < 0.04). Complete resolution of osseous defects occurred at 15 of 22 sites in the grafted group and at 9 of 21 sites in the control group. Clinical exposure of the barrier material and a subsequent inflammatory response at 27 of 43 sites, requires removal of the material prior to the 6-month re-entry and was associated with significantly more bone loss at the ASC sites (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference for any of the parameters when comparing the TPS with the HA-coated implants.

Small versus large particles of demineralized freeze-dried bone allografts in human intrabony periodontal defects.

Various particle sizes of demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA) are currently used to treat patients with periodontal osseous defects. However, the effect of particle size on the healing of human intrabony periodontal defects is unknown since there have been no direct clinical comparisons. The purpose of this study was to compare the bony defect resolution obtained using two different particle size ranges of DFDBA. Cortical bone from a single donor was processed and ground to final particle sizes of 250 mu to 500 mu or 850 mu to 1,000 mu using an analytic mill. Paired interproximal intrabony periodontal defects in 11 patients were grafted with DFDBA. Soft and hard tissue measurements were made using an electronic constant-force probe at the initial and reentry surgeries. Treated sites in 10 patients were reevaluated by reentry approximately 6 months postoperatively. Mean bony defect fill was 1.66 mm for the large particle group and 1.32 mm for the small particle group. There was no statistically significant difference in bony fill between defects grafted with the different particle sizes of DFDBA when used in humans.

Alcohol dependence and conduct disorder among Navajo Indians.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to examine the association between conduct disorder before age 15 and subsequent alcohol dependence, and to describe the lifetime prevalence of alcohol dependence among Navajo Indian women and men. METHOD: This was a case-control design which included both men (n = 735) and women (n = 351) and in which the Diagnostic Interview Schedule was used for the diagnosis of the lifetime history of alcohol dependence and conduct disorder. Alcohol dependent cases were selected from inpatient and outpatient treatment programs (204 men, 148 women). Whenever possible, controls were matched for age, sex and community of residence and were randomly selected and interviewed until a nonalcohol dependent individual was found. Among the men, there were 374 alcohol dependent controls and 157 nonalcohol dependent controls. Among the women, the figures were 60 and 143, respectively. When combined, the controls comprise samples of the adult male and female populations from which estimates of lifetime prevalence of alcohol dependence, and of the amount of alcohol dependence in the population attributable to conduct disorder, may be inferred. RESULTS: Conduct disorder is a risk factor for alcohol dependence among both men and women. Lifetime prevalence of alcohol dependence in this population is high (70.4% for men and 29.6% for women), but the amount of alcohol dependence in the population attributable to conduct disorder is low. On the other hand, among the alcohol dependent, those with conduct disorder had the most severe alcohol- and nonalcohol-related problems. CONCLUSIONS: The potential limitations of the study are those common to case-control designs, especially biased recall by cases. There are also potential sampling biases among the controls. It is shown that none of the potential biases invalidate the findings, which support the hypothesis that in this population conduct disorder is a risk for alcohol dependence. The implications for primary prevention of alcohol dependence are discussed.

Combined dental implant and guided tissue regeneration therapy in humans.

This study evaluated wound healing and osseointegration of dental implants placed in immediate postextraction sockets in humans. Ten healthy adults had one or more teeth extracted and replaced with ITI dental implants, which were centered in the residual socket and covered with a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane and a flap to attain primary closure. Measurements were made to document the relationship of bone to implant at the time of implant placement and at the 6-month reentry. All implants were clinically osseointegrated at the 6-month reentry procedure; narrow bony defects showed complete bone fill, while wide defects showed partial bone fill. There was less bone regeneration in areas of thin cortical bone or preexisting dehiscences and in implant sites with early membrane exposure. Implants placed in immediate postextraction sockets demonstrated successful osseointegration with irregular bone-healing patterns, which were related to variations in existing bony anatomy and socket location.

The semantics of addiction: moving beyond expert models to lay understandings.

Five expert discourses on addiction purport to explain the phenomenon of the semantics of addiction. An assessment of the burgeoning use of this term by the lay public, however, reveals a plethora of socially contextualized and culturally mediated meanings related to addiction that are generally not considered by expert models. Addiction has meanings that index the loss of self-control and individual responsibility, as well political and moral meanings and meanings that index social modes of consumption, the range and limits of normative behavior, and the constitution of deviance. The category of addition interacts with other socially produced categories, including "drugs" and "desires," and implies an unfolding history linked to specific cultural conventions of what is proper. This paper briefly reviews expert debates over the meanings of addiction and explores the semantics of how this term is used in both popular discourse and among those who use substances associated with physical addiction. In addition, some of the more interesting theoretical issues this discussion brings to light are highlighted, with the intent to identify issues warranting future research that will broaden the study of addiction.