This study supports the benefits of non-surgical therapy in the treatment of chronic periodontitis by dental hygienists in training. Better responses to treatment tend to be observed in non-smokers and in those with less advanced periodontitis at baseline.

The aim of the article was to use prospectively collected data on people with type 1 diabetes to examine which routinely collected clinical measures predict the development of peripheral neuropathy in people with type 1 diabetes. Within the Newcastle Diabetes Services, structured data collection at an annual review has been collected since 1985. This includes metabolic measures, cardiovascular risk factors, and markers of complications. From 1990 data collection was standardized and computerized. For this study, all people with type 1 diabetes in the database in both 1992 and 2001 were ascertained. Data were extracted for a diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy (based on neuropathic symptoms, absence of pinprick sensation, and abnormal biothesiometer measurements and/or monofilament sensation) and for the other metabolic and cardiovascular risk measures, as well as markers of other microvascular complications. Associations with the development of neuropathy were sought. Eighteen of 404 people already had peripheral neuropathy in 1992, and 38 others developed neuropathy during follow-up. People who developed neuropathy were older (47 +/- 14 [SD] versus 36 +/- 11 years; P = 0.000), had longer-duration of diabetes (27 +/- 13 versus 18 +/- 10 years; P = 0.001), higher baseline serum cholesterol (5.8 +/- 1.3 versus 5.2 +/- 1.2 mmol/L, P = 0.017), and higher systolic (139 +/- 18 versus 129 +/- 20 mmHg; P = 0.003) and diastolic BP (82 +/- 12 versus 76 +/- 11 mmHg; P = 0.009) than those who remained free of neuropathy. We found no significant difference for BMI and glycated hemoglobin. The multivariate model showed that diastolic BP, duration of diabetes, serum cholesterol, and history of callus/ulcers on the feet predicted the development of peripheral neuropathy. Neuropathy developed in 11.4% of people with type 1 diabetes over a 9-year follow-up, and was predicted by factors normally associated with cardiovascular rather than microvascular disease.

The aim of the article was to use prospectively collected data on people with type 1 diabetes to assess which routinely collected clinical measures predict the development of macrovascular disease in people with type 1 diabetes. Data have been collected in a structured format at an annual review since 1985. For this study, all people with type 1 diabetes in the database in both 1992 and 2001 were ascertained. Data were extracted for a diagnosis of coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease (macrovascular complications). Presence of other microvascular complications was also ascertained. Forty-one of 404 (10.1%) people had macrovascular disease at the index visit in 1992 and 61 others developed macrovascular complications during follow-up. People who developed macrovascular complications were older (48 +/- 12 versus 36 +/- 11 [SD] years; P = 0.000), had longer duration of diabetes (28 +/- 12 versus 18 +/- 11 years; P = 0.000), higher BMI (26.7 +/- 4.6 versus 25.4 +/- 3.6 kg/m2; P = 0.041), higher base line serum cholesterol (5.9 +/- 1.7 versus 5.2 +/- 1.1 mmol/L, P = 0.007), higher median base line triglyceride levels (1.5 [IQ range 0.9-2.6] versus 1.1 [0.8-1.7] mmol/L; P = 0.002), higher systolic BP (145 +/- 21 versus 129 +/- 20 mmHg; P = 0.000), and higher serum creatinine (102 +/- 57 versus 86 +/- 17 micromol/L; P = 0.038) than those who did not. We found no significant difference in the base line glycated hemoglobin in the two groups. The multivariate model showed that age, duration of diabetes, systolic BP, and serum cholesterol and creatinine levels predicted the development of macrovascular complications, which were also associated with the later development of microalbuminuria. Macrovascular complications developed in 16.8% of people with type 1 diabetes over a 9-year follow-up, and were predicted by potentially modifiable factors including higher BP, BMI, and serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels.