ABSTRACT
A comprehensive study was undertaken with 12 dental hygiene students to ascertain whether the time of chewing or the degree of relaxation is more important in the oral digestion of complex carbohydrates. In addition, we studied whether the effects of stress and relaxation on salivary alpha-amylase activity was corroborated by physiologic measures. The dental hygiene students chewed an oat cereal for either 20 or 60 s while under two different orders of stress and relaxation conditions: 1) stress/20 s, stress/60 s, relax/20 s, relax/60 s; and 2) relax/20 s, relax/60 s, stress/20 s, stress/60 s. Galvanic skin resistance, pulse rate, and blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) were used to physiologically verify the effects of stress and relaxation on amylase activity. Amylase activity was judged by spectrophotometric analysis of maltose produced from a specific dilution of expectorated saliva. Results showed that the physiological measures significantly corroborated the salivary determinations of stress and relaxation and that deep relaxation was significantly more important than thorough chewing in the oral digestion of complex carbohydrates.
Subject(s)
Dietary Carbohydrates/metabolism , Edible Grain , Mastication , Relaxation , Saliva/metabolism , Adult , Amylases/metabolism , Blood Pressure , Female , Heart Rate , Humans , Maltose/metabolism , Phytotherapy , Saliva/enzymology , Stress, Physiological/metabolismABSTRACT
Cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP) and prostaglandin E (PGE) have been implicated as possible mediators of the effects of external stimuli on bone cells. The objective of this study was to determine changes in relative levels of these substances in mineralized tissue cells in response to mechanical and electrical stimuli, by the use of a combined immunohistochemical-microphotometric procedure. Canine teeth of eight 10-12 month-old female cats were tipped distally with 80 g force for either 1 h or 14 days. After 1 h, a slight elevation of staining intensity in alveolar bone osteoblasts and periodontal ligament (PDL) cells was observed at sites of tension and compression. After 14 days of treatment, this effect was markedly increased. Fifteen female cats, 10-12 months old, received electric stimulation (20 micron amperes d.c.) to the gingiva of 1 maxillary canine for 1, 5, 15, 30, or 60 min. At the cathode, significant increases of staining intensity in periosteal osteoblasts for cAMP, cGMP, and PGE were found at 15 and 60 min. At the anode, a significant rise in the staining intensity of these cells for PGE was seen at 15 min; at 60 min, cGMP and PGE, but not cAMP, were elevated. These results demonstrate the usefulness of the immunohistochemical technique in detecting relative changes in mineralized tissue cell content of cyclic nucleotides and prostaglandins in response to local application of physical stimuli of short and long duration.
Subject(s)
Bone and Bones/metabolism , Cyclic AMP/biosynthesis , Cyclic GMP/biosynthesis , Osteoblasts/metabolism , Prostaglandins E/biosynthesis , Alveolar Process/cytology , Animals , Cats , Dinoprostone , Electric Stimulation , Female , Gingiva/physiology , Periodontal Ligament/cytology , Staining and Labeling , Stress, Mechanical , Time Factors , Tooth/physiologyABSTRACT
This study sets out to examine the physical and psychological effects of amputation on marriage and family life; assess the extent to which the needs of the younger amputee are being met from current rehabilitation resources, and to ascertain how the non-disabled regard amputation and its consequences. Interviews were conducted with a group of 19 amputees and a group of 40 non-disabled individuals within the same age range and the results are reported.
