Jo Carson

Playwright, fiction writer, poet, and horsewoman Jo Carson was born in Johnson City, Tennessee, where she lived almost all her life. She became interested in theater while studying at East Tennessee State University, where she earned degrees in theater and communications. Early in her career, Carson worked for Broadside Television, a Johnson City cable series featuring locally made documentaries about the history and folklife of northeastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, and western North Carolina. From 1972 to 1992, she worked for the Johnson City–based Road Company, a professional touring theater company for which she wrote two plays and performed in many. Carson frequently took her immediate surroundings and their history as her subject....

Low rate of cetuximab hypersensitivity reactions in Northeast Tennessee: An Appalachian effect?

Purpose Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody with a known risk of hypersensitivity reactions. Early studies showed hypersensitivity reaction rates of 3%, but there appears to be a higher incidence in the southeastern United States. To confirm the findings from nearby institutions that cetuximab-associated hypersensitivity reactions occur in approximately 20% of patients in the southeastern United States. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted at Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, Tennessee. Each patient’s first infusion was analyzed for hypersensitivity reaction, as well as for demographic information such as allergy and smoking history, pre-medications, and malignancy type. Results Data from the first infusion of cetuximab were collected for a total of 71 patients with various malignancies. The overall rate of grade 3 or higher hypersensitivity reaction was 1.4%, and total rate of hypersensitivity reaction was 8.5%. These findings more closely correlate to the early clinical trials and package insert. Both severe (p = 0.001) and any-grade (p = 0.002) hypersensitivity reaction occurred less frequently in one Southeastern Appalachian medical center compared to academic medical centers directly to the east and west. Conclusions Patients in southern Appalachia may be less likely to develop cetuximab hypersensitivity reactions compared to surrounding areas in the Southeastern U.S. These results lend support to the theory that exposure to lonestar ticks ( Amblyomma americanum) may be responsible for the development of IgE antibodies to cetuximab that cause hypersensitivity reactions. The development of quick and reliable bedside predictors of cetuximab hypersensitivity reactions may aid clinicians considering the use of cetuximab.

To Evaluate and Compare Effect of Calcium Hydroxide with Different Vehicles on the Mineral Content of Root Dentin: An EDAX Analysis

ABSTRACT Introduction The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare effect of calcium hydroxide with different vehicles on the mineral content of root dentin—an EDAX analysis, after 1, 2 and 3 weeks. Materials and methods Seventy-five freshly extracted single rooted teeth were selected for study and randomly divided into 5 groups. An access to the root canal of all teeth was prepared using a round and cylindrical bur (Mani Inc.). Canals were instrumented with stainless steel K file (Dentsply Maillefer, Johnson City, TN) so that the file extended beyond the apical foramen by 1 mm. And then canals were prepared to a size F2 with hand proTaper (Dentsply Maillefer, Johnson City, TN). Copious irrigation with sterile saline was done. Sample of group 1—were sealed apically with bonded composite resin and coronally with cotton pellet and bonded composite resin. Samples of group 2—were filled with thick slurry made with calcium hydroxide and saline using lentulo spiral (Henry Schein). To ensure intimate contact with the canal walls, excess calcium hydroxide was intentionally extruded past the apex. Root canals were sealed apically and coronally in the same manner as in previous group. Samples of group 3—Calcigel (water based calcium hydroxide, Prevest Denpro Ltd), group 4—Metapex (oil based calcium hydroxide, Meta BioMed) and group 5—Calcium hydroxide and propylene glycol, were prepared in the same manner as previous group. The samples were maintained at room temperature and 100% humidity in incubator. After 7 days, 5 samples from each group were removed from incubator and the roots were vertically sectioned into 1 mm thick specimen with water cooled diamond disk. Each section of sample was then evaluated under EDAX. After 14th and 21st day 5 samples of each group were removed and tested in same manner as mentioned previously. How to cite this article Bagmar S, Jadhav S, Hegde V, Dixit V, Shiraguppi VKL. To Evaluate and Compare Effect of Calcium Hydroxide with Different Vehicles on the Mineral Content of Root Dentin: An EDAX Analysis. World J Dent 2014;5(3):170-173.