University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine - Reflector Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

Page 185 text:

.IEIUMA2 , 'gr' 3-1 ' 1- . YN., X - , 40 u, F. , . lk, E x '54 .,.g, . .'-u5,,. i .-x- f ai-Iv : kwkxex x I J 3iwEzL!f:g.:.L. . 1 A - xx f ' ., ' s. . 4 K u ' . N4 HO ORS

Page 184 text:

3-NAD S RESEARCH H'Y Ry'

Page 186 text:

Student Research Fellowships NISENGARD STUDIES HYPER- SENSITIVITY This summer I worked under the guidance of Dr. Beutner. Extending last year's work we again studied hypersensitive reactions as to their possible etiologic role in periodontal disease. Using Actinocin, a skin test reagent we made, we studied hypersensitive reactions to Actinomyces, an oral bacteria. Sterility and en- dotoxic activity of Actinocin were checked in order to test humans. Actinomyces was also used in attempting to elicit gingival reactions in hypersensitive guinea pigs. COUGHLIN AND INTERFERON A Summer Fellowship project was carried out at the Virus Laboratory of Children's Hospital under the di- rection of Dr. Karzon and Dr. Clark. The purpose of this project was to determine whether interferon, which has been reported by many investigators as species specific in mammalian and avian systems, was indeed so in tissue culture cell strains produced from tissues of the lower vertebrates such as the turtle and the fish. A good start was made in this investigation and it is hoped that further studies can be made later. PIANA STUDIES GINGIVAL HYPERPLASIA Anthony Piana and Dr. Staples experimented with tadpoles to study the mechanism by which dilantin causes gingival hyperplasia. It was shown that it is a collagen mechanism since dilantin prevented the resorption of a tadpole's tail in its normal physiologi- cal and morphological changes to a mature frog. Col- lagenase tests will be performed in the near future. Other studies were done on the brains and mandibles of hamsters given dilantin. After numerous histochemi- cal reactions no conclusive results were obtained but the studies indicated further areas of research. BODNER IN AFRICA My summer in West Africa was an extraordinary opportunity both as an intriguing cultural experience and as a fertile area for investigation of tropical dis- eases and related public health problems. I and nine other students participated in the Experiment in In- ternational Living medical student program in Nigeria. As part of a village health survey, I was par- ticularly interested in the relationship between the inci- dence of the hemoglobinopathies CS and CD and resist- ance to falciparum malaria. This and similar programs are excellent for those interested in public health, trop- ical medicine, travel and adventure.