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Biomedical subjects

M R Sims

Publications and source records attributed to M R Sims.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Oxytalan fibre organization in marsupial mandibular periodontal tissues.

The arrangement and distribution of oxytalan fibres in Australian marsupials has not previously been reported. Periodontal tissues of wombat, wallaby, possum, and marsupial mouse were examined to ascertain oxytalan fibre organization. Despite adaptation of the marsupial masticatory apparatus to different diets the oxytalan fibre organization in the periodontal ligament shows a basic pattern which corresponds with that reported in other animals. The oxytalan system forms a continuous meshwork of fine, branching fibres which completely invests each tooth root and connects adjacent teeth. Thick ribbon-like apico-occlusally orientated oxytalan fibres, thought to form by the coalescence of thinner fibres, are restricted to the periodontal ligament. The oxytalan fibres are embedded in cementum and attached to blood vessels in the pariodontal ligament. Oxytalan fibres do not insert into alveolar bone. Histological evidence indicates functional remodelling of the oxytalan fibre system in continuously erupting teeth.

Animals

Tensile properties of orthodontic wire.

1. Wires with a range of tensile properties are available for construction of a Stage 1 arch wire in the Begg orthodontic appliance. 2. Over a period of 3 days, a detectable amount of stress relaxation occurs in some orthodontic wires loaded initially to 20 kg.

Dental Stress Analysis

The oxytalan fiber system in the mandibular periodontal ligament of the lathyritic mouse.

Experimental lathyrism was produced in young albino mice with a diet containing 50% sweet pea seed (Lathyrus odoratus). After 7 days on the lathyritic diet, sections of themandibular molar and incisor periodontal ligaments, when oxidized and treated with aldehyde fuchsin, demonstrated enhanced staining of the oxytalan fibers and numerous vessels. At this time aldehyde fuchsin or orcein also revealed marked pathological changes in the periodntal ligament of all molars. When athyrism was prolonged for 12 weeks, both the molar and incisor oxytalan systems were still readily identifiable although the molar periodontal ligament continued to be serverely affected by lathyrism. The oxytalan fibers retained their characteristic tooth-vascular association in all of the lathyritic mice. Oxytalan fibers of the lathyritic and control animals showed similar reactions to enzyme digestion with beta-glucuronidase, elastase, and pepsin. However, gingival elastic fibers reacted in a different way from oxytalan fibers with beta-glucuronidase and elastase treatment. These findings indicate that in the lathyritic mouse the oxytalan fiber system of functioning teeth possesses a high degree of permanence and is metabolically distinct from collagen and elastic fibers.

Animals

Reconstitution of the human oxytalan system during orthodontic tooth movement.

Orthodontic tooth movement in man has revealed that the oxytalan fiber system possesses a high order of maintenance. Oxytalan fibers did not merely increase in number during orthodontic movement. On the contrary, the oxytalan fiber system underwent reconstruction and adaptation to extensive metabolic and anatomic changes within the periodontium. With the use of light orthodontic forces, the oxytalan fiber system was constantly remodeled on both the tension and compression sides and maintained a characteristic cementum-vascular relationship even when teeth were moved a significant distance through the alveolar bone. In contrast, heavier forces caused localized destruction of the oxytalan system in regions of excessive pressure and tension. Reconstitution of the oxytalan system provided evidence against the concept that oxytalan fibers are stretched by orthodontic movement and subsequently contribute to relapse by elastic rebound. In man the oxytalan fiber system of the periodontal ligament is arranged as a three-dimensional fiber meshwork and exhibits a complex geometry like other fiber systems in the connective tissues. Knowledge of the interaction between elastic and collagen fibrillar assemblies has been used to derive some speculative concepts of oxytalan-collagen interaction. These concepts have been put forward with the intention of stimulating further interest in the oxytalan fiber meshwork. The present investigation emphasizes that the use of the light microscope to examine and record static images of complex biologic changes can provide new knowledge of the structure and function of human connective tissues.

Adolescent