Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F M Beck.
The placebo effect may influence the treatment of patients with postextraction pain, localized osteitis, and myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome, to name a few. The patient, the doctor, and the situation all influence the placebo effect. This phenomenon is still not understood, and further research is needed. The practitioner should learn to utilize the placebo effect for its potential benefits.
Parkinson's disease (PD) patients report an increased craving for sweets, which may have an effect on microflora. We compared patients of PD who crave sweets with PD patients who do not. Age- and sex-matched control subjects were used, with 14 subjects in each group. A plaque sample was taken from tooth #18 with a curette and placed into RTF, homogenized, and plated onto selective and non-selective media. Microflora were expressed as % CFU's of total anaerobes. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA and Newman-Keuls on log-transformed data. No statistical difference was observed among the three groups for lactobacilli, bacteroides, fusobacteria, veillonella, and actinomyces. S. mutans was lower in controls than in PD patients. Apparently, the craving for sweets in PD patients does not result in a significant increase in % of total anaerobes of certain microflora. PD patients showed a significant increase in mucositis compared with the control groups.
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The purpose of this study was to measure the degree of anesthesia obtained with 2.2% lidocaine hydrocarbonate, 2.2% lidocaine hydrocarbonate with 1:100,000 epinephrine, and 2% lidocaine hydrochloride with 1:100,000 epinephrine for inferior alveolar nerve block. Using a repeated-measures design, 30 subjects randomly received an inferior alveolar injection of each solution over the course of three successive appointments. The first molar, first premolar, lateral incisor, and contralateral canine (control) were blindly tested with an Analytic Technology pulp tester at 3-min cycles for 60 min. Anesthetic success was defined as no subject response to the maximum output (80 reading) of the pulp tester within 16 min and maintenance of this reading for the remainder of the testing period. Although subjects felt numb subjectively, anesthetic success as defined here ranged from 3% to 10% for the plain lidocaine hydrocarbonate; for the lidocaine hydrocarbonate and lidocaine hydrochloride solutions with epinephrine, success ranged from 37% to 63%. We conclude that 2.2% lidocaine hydrocarbonate without vasoconstrictor is not as effective as the other two preparations for inferior alveolar nerve block. The 2.2% lidocaine hydrocarbonate with epinephrine and 2%.
Many methods are being investigated for reducing bacteria in the high-speed water lines of dental units. One of these is flushing water through the water lines prior to use. The objective of this study was to determine the actual change over time in the number of CFUs during flushing. Four consecutive samples were collected over time from the water lines of 20 different dental units that had been in disuse for over 48 hours. Next, autoclaved handpieces were connected and two additional samples were obtained. After culturing and determining CFUs per ml, data were analyzed to determine differences between samples. There were significant reductions between the first and second, second and third, third and fourth samples prior to adding the handpiece. There were no significant differences in the next two samples obtained after adding the handpiece.
Despite its many disadvantages, succinylcholine is the most commonly used drug for intubation of patients for short out-patient procedure. This double blind trial compared a low dose atracurium/lidocaine combination to succinylcholine for intubation in 40 ASA1 adult patients. Low dose atracurium/lidocaine provided clinical intubating conditions at two minutes and cardiovascular stability equivalent to succinylcholine with significantly less myalgia. Spontaneous respiration was slower after low dose atracurium/lidocaine relative to succinylcholine. Low dose atracurium/lidocaine may provide an acceptable alternative to succinylcholine for intubation in short outpatient procedures.
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The purpose of this study is to determine the validity of the visual analogue scale (VAS) in the assessment of changing levels of dental anxiety, through correlation with the dental anxiety scale (DAS) and the state portion (A-state) of the statetrait anxiety inventory (STAI). Forty-five adult patients attending an oral surgery clinic for a routine dental extraction participated. Before any treatment, each patient completed the DAS, the STAI, and a 100mm VAS. The order of administration was randomly determined. Following completion of the dental extraction under local anesthesia and just before discharge, the patients were once more asked to complete the DAS, the A-State, and a VAS which were again randomly ordered. All three measures demonstrate a significant reduction in mean anxiety scores from presurgery to postsurgery. There are significant correlations among the three measures both pre- and postsurgery. The VAS appears to correlate well with both the DAS and the A-State under changing levels of anxiety.
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The purpose of this study was to compare bone regeneration within a surgically created defect using three different resorbable membranes (polyglactin 910 knitted mesh/Vicryl, freeze-dried fascia lata, and crosslinked bovine type I collagen/BioMend) and two nonresorbable membranes (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene/Gore Tex, and polytetrafluoroethylene/Millipore). Each of three adult male dogs underwent surgical preparation of six bicortical defects of the calvarium, each 1.5 cm in diameter. The experimental barrier membranes were placed on both sides of the defects (inner and outer cranial tables). Five of the six defects were covered randomly by one of the five membrane materials, and one was left uncovered to serve as a negative control. The animals were sacrificed 10 weeks after membrane placement. Bone response was measured clinically, as well as radiographically, via densitometric examination. All surgical sites healed uneventfully. Variable degrees of new bone growth were present at all sites when evaluated by both clinical and radiographic examination. The general trend of observed osseous response indicates a greater, although not statistically significant, degree of bone growth using nonresorbable membranes. The animal model employed appears to be an efficient and reliable means of evaluating guided bone regeneration membranes.