Comparison of the intercondylar distance and the interfacial width as used with the electronic pantograph.

The electronic pantograph (Pantronic) records mandibular movements and computes the articulator settings. The Pantronic pantograph does not determine the intercondylar distance but approximates it from the interfacial width at the condyles. An average distance of 12.5 mm is subtracted from each side to determine the intercondylar distance. This study recorded 45 patients' articulator intercondylar distances that had been set from a mechanical pantograph and they were compared with the Pantronic's approximation. The difference between the interfacial width and the actual intercondylar distance was 15.1 mm on the right side and 14.9 mm on the left side. A numerical value of 15.0 mm was statistically superior to the Pantronic's 12.5 mm in estimating the average distance between the intercondylar distance and the surface of the skin at the condyle. No statistically significant difference was found between the differences of interfacial width and intercondylar distance values for men and women (p greater than 0.05). The mean intercondylar distance was 56.5 mm on the right side and 56.7 mm on the left side. A statistically significant difference was found between the mean intercondylar distances of men and women (p less than 0.05).

An electronic, computerized pantographic reproducibility index for diagnosing temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

One of the signs and symptoms of TMJ dysfunction is incoordinated mandibular movements. The PRI quantitates the incoordinated movements and gives a muscle dysfunction score and the relative severity of TMJ dysfunction. An electronic, computerized pantograph (Pantronic) has been developed that can be used in place of the mechanical pantograph. This study was undertaken to determine if the Pantronic can be programmed to produce PRI scores that are comparable to the M-pantograph PRI scores. Several programs were written for the computer until the Pantronic PRI was comparable to the M-pantograph PRI. The Pantronic PRI was within zero to 5 points of the M-pantograph PRI in all of the 25 patients studied. Because of this close comparison, studies used to validate the M-pantograph PRI also validate the Pantronic PRI. There was, however, a statistically significant difference (.05 level) between the two PRI scores. In spite of this difference the categories of TMJ dysfunction remained the same. The Pantronic PRI can be determined clinically in 20 to 30 minutes. It can be used to determine the presence and, more important, the absence of TMJ dysfunction; the success of occlusal splint therapy, occlusal adjustment, and restorative treatment; the changes in dysfunction over time; the success of other treatment modalities; and the level of dysfunction in TMJ dysfunction research.

Electronic PRI consistency in diagnosing temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

Pantographic reproducibility was compared using electronic and mechanical pantographs. The scores were calculated electronically or manually by a single scorer. It can be concluded that (1) with 65.4% of dysfunction-free patients, the electronic pantograph is more consistent than the mechanical pantograph within sessions and over time in recording PRI dysfunction, (2) operators with varying experience need not cause P-PRI fluctuations with dysfunction-free patients, and (3) PRI fluctuations can be caused by temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

Synthesis and central nervous system properties of 2-[(alkoxycarbonyl)amino]-4(5)-phenyl-2-imidazolines.

A series of 2-[( alkoxycarbonyl )amino]-4(5)-phenyl-2-imidazolines was prepared and evaluated for central nervous system (CNS) effects (antidepressant, anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant, and depressant) in animal models. Some separation of those CNS activities was achieved through substitutions on the phenyl and imidazoline moieties. Halo-substituted phenyl compounds were among the most potent antidepressants in this series, while imidazole N-alkylation produced compounds with increased depressant effects (loss of righting reflex, mouse behavior). Comparison of in vitro and in vivo data for pairs of 2-[(methoxycarbonyl)amino]-4(5)-phenyl-2-imidazolines and their parent, 2-amino-4(5)-phenyl-2-imidazolines, suggests that the title compounds were prodrugs for the 2-amino-4(5)-phenyl-2-imidazolines in inhibition of norepinephrine reuptake.

Effects of occlusal splint therapy on TMJ dysfunction.

A study was conducted to ascertain what happens to dysfunction symptoms followed only by occlusal splint therapy. Four hundred eighty-six pantograms were made on 15 experimental patients over a period of 5 months to 1 year. Five control patients were monitored over this same period but received no occlusal therapy. The experimental patients with TMJ dysfunction were treated with occlusal splint therapy. The occlusal splints were worn until the dysfunction symptoms were reduced and the pantographic PRI scores were reproducible. The occlusal splints were than removed without occlusal adjustments and the patients were monitored pantographically. A statistical analysis was performed on the PRI scores to determine the relationship between experimental and control patients. Experimental patients had an average drop of 21.7 points during occlusal splint therapy as compared to 3.8 points for control patients. All experimental patients had an increase in the PRI score levels following the removal of the occlusal splints.

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of 3H-1,2,4-thiadiazolo fused heterocycles.

Various fused 3H-1,2,4-thiadiazoles were prepared. Significant in vitro Gram-positive antibacterial and antifungal activities were observed fro certain members of the series.

Methyl 5(6)-phenylsulfinyl-2-benzimidazolecarbamate, a new, potent anthelmintic.

1. Human hepatic "acid" beta-galactosidase preparations, which had been purified approximately 250-fold, were examined for activities toward 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-galactosylceramide, lactosylceramide, galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-[N-acetylneuraminyl]-galactosyl-glucosylceramide(GM1-ganglioside) and galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-galactosyl-glucosylceramide (asialo GM1-ganglioside). 2. The enzyme was active toward the synthetic substrate, GM1-ganglioside and asialo GM1-ganglioside but was inactive toward galactosylceramide. Under our assay conditions, optimized for lactosylceramidase II, the preparations were as active toward lactosylceramide as toward GM1-ganglioside or its asialo derivative. The apparent Km values for the three natural substrates were similar. When determined by the assay system of Wehger, D.A., Sattler, M., Clark, C. and McKelvey, H. (1974) Clin. Chim Acta 56, 199-206, lactosylceramide-cleaving activity was 0.2% of that determined by our assay system. This confirmed our previous suggestion that the Wenger assay system determines exclusively the activity of lactosylceramidase I, which is probably identical with galactosylceramide beta-galactosidase. 3. Crude sodium taurocholate was far more effective than pure taurocholate in stimulating hydrolysis of the three glycosphingolipids by the beta-galactosidase. However, crude taurocholate could largely be replaced by smaller amounts of sodium taurodeoxycholate, suggesting that the unique activating capacity of the crude taurocholate might be due to taurodeoxycholate present as the major impurity. 4. Cl- was generally stimulatory for hydrolysis of the natural glycosphingolipids by our enzyme preparation. Effects of additional oleic acid and Triton X-100 were generally minor in either direction. 5. When the enzyme preparation was diluted with water, activity toward the synthetic substrate declined rapidly while those toward the natural substrates were essentially stable. Activity toward the synthetic substrate remained much more stable when the enzyme was diluted with 0.1 M sodium citrate/phosphate buffer, pH 5.0. 6. These observations provide insight into the complex relationship among the human hepatic beta-galactosidases.

Microbial reduction of 1,3-dioxo-2-methyl-2-(3'0oxo-6'-carbomethoxyhexyl)-cyclopentane to form 1 beta-hydroxy-3-oxo-2beta-methyl-2alpha-(3'-oxo-6'-carbomethoxyhexyl)-cyclopentane, an intermediate for steroid total syntheses.

The rate and extent of stereoselective reduction of 1,3-dioxo-2-methyl-2-(3'-oxo-6'-carbomethoxyhexyl)-cyclopentane to form the 1beta-hydroxy-2beta-methyl isomer by cultures of Schizosaccharomyces pombe ATCC 2476 was dramatically increased by addition to the fermentation of certain alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and allyl alcohol.