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Objective: To assess the prevalence of dentine hypersensitivity (DH) in an adult population and explore association with sociodemographic variables, dietary habits and oral health behaviours. Design and Methodology: Cross-sectional survey of consecutive dental patients (18 years and over) attending the UWI School of Dentistry polyclinic. Following informed consent, dental examinations were undertaken by two calibrated dentists. Presence of DH was assessed clinically by sensitivity to an air syringe on individual teeth. Patients were also administered a questionnaire which included age, gender, occupation, medical and dental history, brushing and dietary history. Data were processed using statistical software (SPSS version 24). Association between variables were analyzed using the Chi-Square test. Results: 300 patients participated. Age range 18 ­ 81years, mean 44.7 years (SD 15.69). 69% were female and the main ethnic groups were African (45.7%),Indian (30%) and mixed (23%). 48.3% were in employment. Over half of the participants (54.9%) reported a history of sensitive teeth and 52% reported sensitivity to the air syringe on one or more teeth. A history of sensitive teeth was significantly associated with gender (female), frequent consumption of citrus fruits and citrus juice, history of teeth grinding or clenching and twice daily tooth brushing (Chi-square test p <0.05). Conclusions: Prevalence of dentine hypersensitivity was high among this sample of dental patients and associated with gender, dietary practices, tooth grinding and brushing frequency. Management of this condition should include dietary advice, modification of oral habits and advice on tooth brushing techniques.

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In November 2011, the presence of Salmonella Newport in a ready-to-eat watermelon slice was confirmed as part of a local food survey in England. In late December 2011, cases of S. Newport were reported in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Ireland and Germany. During the outbreak, 63 confirmed cases of S. Newport were reported across all six countries with isolates indistinguishable by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis from the watermelon isolate.A subset of outbreak isolates were whole-genome sequenced and were identical to, or one single nucleotide polymorphism different from the watermelon isolate.In total, 46 confirmed cases were interviewed of which 27 reported watermelon consumption. Further investigations confirmed the outbreak was linked to the consumption of watermelon imported from Brazil.Although numerous Salmonella outbreaks associated with melons have been reported in the United States and elsewhere, this is the first of its kind in Europe.Expansion of the melon import market from Brazil represents a potential threat for future outbreaks. Whole genome sequencing is rapidly becoming more accessible and can provide a compelling level of evidence of linkage between human cases and sources of infection,to support public health interventions in global food markets.

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Eccentric exercise causes release of muscle creatine kinase (CK) 3-4 days after exercise. Racial variation in basal serum CK has been reported but the reasons for this are unknown. We studied 30 subjects of different ethnic origin (Caucasian, Afro-Caribbean, Asian) before and after eccentric exercise. Basal serum CK was significantly higher in the Afro-Caribbean group (201 +/- 134 IU/L, median +/- SD) compared to Caucasians (81 +/- 57 IU/L). The Asian group had intermediate CK values (144 +/- 93 IU/L). The intra-individual range of peak post-exerciseCK values obtained was very wide (95 - 30 200 IU/L) with little difference in median CK between the Afro-Caribbean (8450 +/- 9020 IU/L) and Caucasian groups (7600 +/- 8800 IU/L). The median value for the Asian group was lower (594 +/- 5410 IU/L). A sub-group of 15 individuals undertook a second bout of exercise 2 weeks later and all subjects demonstrated a training effect resulting in a marked attenuation of enzyme efflux. The variation in CK between the ethnic groups was not related to measurements of muscle strength or body mass, although the torque: body mass ratio followed the same order as the basal CK, i.e. the Afro-Caribbean had the highest values. These results highlight the importance of considering ethnic origin and previous execrise history when interpreting serum CK assay results(AU)

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In order to identify risk factors for preterm birth in singletons, data from a population-based case control survey on the island of Curacao were re-analysed. Both medical and sociodemographic variables were examined. Overall, a history of previous preterm birth and severe hypertension during the index pregnancy were indicators of adverse pregnancy outcome, in terms of preterm birth. The contribution of sociodemographic factors to the risk of preterm birth is relatively low.

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Amongst a nationally representative sample of singletons born in one week of April 1970 for whom information was available, 12.3% were reported by their mothers as having developed eczema at some time before their fifth birthday. Data from both the birth and the five-year follow-up surveys have been analysed to identify the independent early predictors of this (reported) condition in 11,920 children. Using an initial set of possible predictors suggested by previous analyses of these data, the dominant risk characteristics have been identified as: a positive maternal history of eczema; a positive maternal history of asthma or hay fever; higher parental educational qualifications and the mother originating from the West Indies or Africa. There were also increased risks for children of mothers born in England (relative to the rest of the United Kingdom) and for children of mothers who used contraceptives in the 18 months prior to the index pregnancy. There was no protective effect of breast-feeding even among children whose mothers had a history of allergy.

PIP: Among a nationally representative sample of singletons born 1 week in APril 1970 for whom information was available, 12.3% were reported by their mothers as having developed eczema some time prior to their 5th birthday. Data from both the birth and 5-year follow-up survey have been analyzed to identify the independent early predictors of this condition in 11,920 children. Using an initial set of possible predictors suggested by previous analyses of this data, the dominant risk factors have been identified as: a positive maternal history of eczema; a positive maternal history of asthma or hay fever; higher parental educational qualifications; and the mother originating from the West Indies or Africa. There were also increased risks for children of mothers born in England (relative to the rest of the UK) and for children of mothers who had used contraceptives in the 18 months prior to the index pregnancy. Breastfeeding offered no protective effect even among children whose mothers had a history of allergy.

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Rat pituitary homogenates were subjected to two phase countercurrent partition in a poly(ethylene glycol)-dextran mixture using a simple apparatus with enhanced gravity to facilitate the phase separations. Assay of the fractions for organelle marker enzymes and prolactin after 17 transfers showed similar distributions for endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, prolactin granules and plasma membrane at the lowest dextran concentrations. Increasing the dextran concentrations had a differential effect on the various organelles. Excellent resolution of endoplasmic reticulum from the other organelles was obtained and marked organelle heterogeneity was demonstrated. Two-phase countercurrent partition thus offers an alternative approach to the subcellular fractionation of pituitary homogenates and should prove useful in separating endoplasmic reticulum from plasma membrane and other cell components.

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