Title page, table of contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / Mucositis is a common side-effect of chemotherapy, which is characterised by ulceration to the epithelium lining of the gastrointestinal tract. Recently, a non-invasive breath test, the ¹³C-sucrose breath test (SBT), has been developed and applied as a biomarker to detect small intestinal damage associated with methotexate (MTX)-induced mucositis in rats. This thesis extended this work, and concluded that the non-invasive SBT is a biomarker of small intestinal function that can be applied easily and cost-effectively, in both animals and humans, to monitor gut function in relation to chemotherapy agents and/or potential anti-mucositis treatments. This thesis has illustrated the important application of the SBT in the arena of supportive cancer care, where new chemotherapy and anti-mucositis agents can be assessed in relation to small intestinal toxicity. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1277572 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, 2007

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare two different methods of root surface debridement for the treatment of moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis; fluorescence-guided laser debridement using an Er:YAG laser (ERL) or mechanical scaling and root-planing (SRP/UL) using an ultrasonic scaler and hand instruments. The effectiveness of each treatment method was assessed by patient-centred outcomes such as clinical periodontal measurements and patients� overall experience. Methods: This study was a phase IV randomised controlled clinical trial, with all examinations and treatments carried out between 1st February 2007 and 7th March 2008. Using a split-mouth design, each patient received both test and control treatments. The control quadrants received scaling and root planing using a Piezon� (EMS, Nyon, Switzerland) ultrasonic scaler and Gracey curettes, while the test quadrants received fluorescence-guided Er:YAG laser root debridement (Keylaser 3, Kavo, Biberach, Germany; panel settings 160mJ/pulse, 10Hz, water spray, 655nm fluorescence calculus-detection system). Full mouth clinical measurements [plaque index (PlI), probing depth (PD), gingival recession (GR), bleeding on probing (BOP), and clinical attachment level (CAL)] were recorded at baseline, and 6 and 12 weeks post-therapy. A patient questionnaire was used to evaluate patient perception in terms of pain, discomfort and satisfaction during treatment, and 24 hours and one week post-treatment. A wash-out period of 6 weeks enabled each patient to evaluate their experience of each treatment on its own merit. Results: Twenty-eight patients received both treatments and completed the patient perception questionnaire. No significant difference was found between ERL and SRP/UL in terms of pain and discomfort during treatment, and 24 hours and one week post-treatment. In terms of patient satisfaction, none of the patients rated ERL more favourably than SRP/UL immediately following treatment, however no significant difference was found 24 hours later and one week post-therapy. Complete clinical data was collected for 22 patients, four of whom increased their tobacco consumption to [greater than or equal to] 10 cigarettes/day. Therefore, the analysis of clinical data was carried out twice with respect to patients� smoking status. In patients who smoked [less than or equal to] 9 cigarettes/day (n = 18 patients), ERL provided less PD reduction at 6 and 12 weeks (p < 0.001, 6 weeks; p < 0.05, 12 weeks) than SRP/UL. Even though SRP/UL quadrants had a greater proportion of sites with BOP (% BOP) at baseline, at 6 weeks they showed a significantly greater reduction in %BOP (p = 0.0123) than ERL quadrants, however there was with no significant difference in bleeding scores (p = 0.202) at 12 weeks post-therapy. When patients who smoked [greater than or equal to] 10 cigarettes/day were included in the analyses (n = 22 patients), ERL resulted in less BOP reduction and PD reduction at 6 and 12 weeks following treatment (BOP reduction: 6 weeks p < 0.05, 12 weeks p < 0.001; PD reduction: 6 weeks p < 0.01, 12 weeks p < 0.05). Although statistically significant, the differences between the treatment groups were very small and were not clinically significant. Conclusion: The use of ERL for root surface debridement offers no significant advantages over mechanical therapy in the treatment of moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis, in terms of clinical outcomes and patient perception of pain, discomfort or satisfaction related to the procedure.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2007. / Title from title screen (site viewed Oct. 21, 2008). PDF text: 226 p. : col. ill. ; 6 Mb. UMI publication number: AAT 3321123. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2008. / Title from title screen (site viewed May 5, 2009). PDF text: xi, 146 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 8 Mb. UMI publication number: AAT 3341869. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Lehigh University, 2004. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 163-171).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2004. / Title from title page screen (viewed Sept. 27, 2004). Thesis advisor: Gregory D. Reed. Document formatted into pages (x, 155 p. : ill. (some col.)). Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-106).

Thesis (M.S.H.S.A.)--Regis University, Denver, Colo., 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 27, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.H.S.A.)--Regis University, Denver, Colo., 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 28, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

Background: A national roll-out of antiretroviral therapy in the public sector was started in 2004, and Paarl was one of the first sites to start these services in the Western Cape. Operational research is required to guide the continuous improvement of such services. This research aimed to describe the characteristics of the treatment cohort started at TC Newman CDC’s ARV clinic in Paarl, to determine the retention in treatment rate and to assess the clinical and virological outcomes. Methods: A retrospective descriptive and observational study was done at the TC Newman ARV clinic in Paarl. All adult HIV positive patients that were started on antiretroviral therapy in the given time period were included. Patient and treatment data had been collected in an electronic database (e-register) and were extracted and analysed. Results: Starters: Out of the 2469 patients that were enrolled for ARV treatment between February 2004 and December 2010, 2254 started locally (the rest transferred in). 64% of them were female (decreasing rate over the years). Strugglers: By June 2011 51.5% of patients were still on ARVs, 6.9% patients had died, 16.7% had been ‘transferred out’and 24.7% were reported as ‘Lost to Follow-up’. 40% of the attrition of the cohort occurred in the first 6 months, 70% in the first 18 months. Stayers: Of the 1172 patients retained after start at TC Newman CDC, 1023 (87.3%) were still on Regime 1 and 149 (12.7%) on Regime 2. Conclusions: The results of this treatment cohort (mortality, treatment retention and regimen durability) equal those in other published treatment cohorts, although very limited comparable data are available. However, the high ‘lost to follow-up’ rate is of concern and needs further investigation. Changes in the programme structure and environment tend to have an immediate effect on initiation numbers of new patients.