Symptom burden in patients undergoing autologous stem-cell transplantation.

Patients who undergo autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation experience multiple symptoms that adversely affect quality of life. We assessed symptoms during the acute phase of autologous PBSC transplantation to determine the severity of individual symptoms and to determine overall symptom profiles in 100 patients with multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Study subjects completed the blood and marrow transplantation module of the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory before hospitalization, during conditioning, on day of transplantation, at nadir (the time of lowest white blood cell count) and on day 30 post-transplantation. Additional symptom, quality-of-life and medical status measures were collected. Symptom means were mild at baseline, intensified during conditioning, peaked at nadir and decreased by day 30. At nadir, the most severe symptoms for the entire patient sample were lack of appetite, fatigue, weakness, feeling sick, disturbed sleep, nausea and diarrhea. Cancer diagnosis was a significant predictor of changes in symptoms over time. The patterns of fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance and lack of appetite were significantly different for patients with multiple myeloma as compared with patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Molecular interaction of recombinant decorin and biglycan with type I collagen influences crystal growth.

This study has investigated the interaction of recombinant chondroitin sulphate (CS)-substituted decorin and biglycan on collagen fibrillogenesis, their interaction with hydroxyapatite (HAP), and HAP-induced crystal growth. The core proteins of the recombinant decorin and biglycan were obtained following chondroitinase ABC digestion and their influence on the above physical mechanisms were investigated in parallel. CS-decorin promoted collagen fibrillogenesis, with the interaction mediated principally through the core protein. Both decorin and biglycan demonstrated a strong association for HAP, predominately facilitated through the glycosaminoglycan chains. HAP-induced crystal growth was inhibited by decorin and biglycan, although the degree of inhibition was reduced when these proteoglycans were complexed with type I collagen. Thus, this study has highlighted potentially differing roles for decorin and biglycan, as both promoters and inhibitors in the regulation of the mineralization process.

Evaluating the fit of ambidextrous and fitted gloves: implications for hand discomfort.

Ambidextrous gloves stretch significantly more and exert greater force than fitted gloves when worn. Over time, this force could contribute to vascular constriction, nerve compression, muscle fatigue and hand pain. This study suggests that research on the effects of glove use by dental care personnel is needed.

Preceptorship: the impact on Georgia dental hygiene education.

The perceived imbalance between the supply of and demand for practicing dental hygienists has encouraged organized dentistry to pressure legislators for revisions in state practice acts. Georgia's recent experience with this type of legislation has required dental hygiene educators to develop, implement, and evaluate strategies that would increase the pool of available dental hygienists. The purpose of this paper is to present a review of strategies that were developed by Georgia dental hygiene educators to meet the recommendations spurred by proposed legislation in the General Assembly of Georgia. Dental hygiene program directors were charged by the chancellor of the University System of Georgia to improve student recruitment and retention, to explore the feasibility of new programs in areas of need, and to examine innovative ways to improve access to dental hygiene education. Dental hygiene faculties united with their professional association to activate alumni and registered hygienists, to improve public awareness by accentuating positive aspects of dental hygiene careers, and to organize a communication network whereby legislative information could be disseminated rapidly. Student recruitment was strengthened through individual and joint programs organized by dentists and dental hygienists. In response to these efforts, program enrollments were increased substantially, and a new program was established in an area of need. Nationally, dental hygienists are facing many challenges and problems that threaten to weaken or eliminate their status as educated and competent health professionals. Recently, dental and dental hygiene educators' attention was drawn to legislative activity in Georgia.

The dental hygienist as a hospice care provider.

The hospice concept focuses on the interdisciplinary team approach to providing palliative care for the terminally ill patient. Although oral conditions resulting from the patient's disease and treatment are frequently encountered in hospice patients, dental personnel have not traditionally been recognized as members of the interdisciplinary hospice team. This paper presents a model which incorporates a dental hygienist into the hospice team. We suggest that the roles of the dental hygienist are educator, dental consultant, and primary care provider.

Health variables and school achievement.

Students who failed the Cognitive Skills Assessment Battery (CSAB) at the beginning of first grade were compared to those who passed on health factors, health history, family characteristics, socioeconomic factors, health ratings by the classroom teacher and the school nurse, and achievement on the Basic Skills Assessment Program (BSAP) at the end of first grade. Significant differences were found on family characteristics, birth history, and health ratings. Only ear problems were significantly related to the academic variables. Health problems were found to be moderately related to academic variables. This relationship is influenced by family socioeconomic variables.