Parameters of odontostomatognathic disability: guidelines for evaluation of impaired simple and complex human functions involving the odontostomatognathic functional system.

This paper explores the current status and the future of efforts to establish parameters of disability for the odontostomatognathic functional system ("the teeth, mouth, jaws and related structures as they subserve the functions of mastication, deglutition, digestion, speech, facial expression, respiration, sexual activity, appearance and posture"). Illness, disorders, disease or injuries involving this functional system include a broad spectrum of problems that affect the dental and paradental structures. The dentist is the primary healthcare provider (HP) in the diagnosis, treatment and impairment/disability/handicap status (IDH) decisions. The authors point out that the first stage of establishing parameters of odontostomatognathic disability was accomplished with recognition in the AMA Guides to Evaluation of Permanent Impairment of the temporomandibular joint and the masticatory musculature. The second stage will be the AMA Guides publishing of an objective rating system for functional impairment of the temporomandibular joint and the masticatory musculature. Prior to the third stage of actually establishing parameters of odontostomatognathic disability, the authors suggest that multiple objectives must be accomplished, including: 1. a change in current healthcare terminology; 2. an agreement on the organization of human physiological systems; 3. medical community acceptance of the integrated structures and functions of the odontostomatognathic functional system; and 4. an appreciation of both Level I (joint and muscle dysfunction) and Level II (complex odontostomatognathic dysfunction including problems with mastication, deglutition, digestion, speech, facial expression, respiration, sexual activity, appearance and posture). The authors conclude that once these objectives are met, parameters of odontostomatognathic disability can be established.

Dental impacts on daily life and satisfaction with teeth in relation to dental status in adults.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether older people having missing posterior teeth had few impacts and considered their teeth and mouth acceptable. The main objective was to assess the relationship between satisfaction with teeth and mouth, and the number, position and condition of the natural teeth. The sample was an employed unrepresentative population most of whom were in daily contact with the public. There was a very poor association between reported satisfaction with teeth and the number of standing teeth. There was little difference in satisfaction with dental and mouth status and the number of functional posterior occluding pairs (POPs). Satisfaction with the number and position of the functional POPs was not statistically significantly different in those with more or less than four POPs. However, there was slightly more satisfaction with teeth in the group with more than four POPs. Overall, those with more molar and premolar pairs were most satisfied with their teeth.

Eicosanoids evoke the release of amylase and increase cytoplasmic calcium in rat parotid cells.

The effects of various eicosanoids on cytoplasmic calcium and the release of amylase were examined in isolated rat parotid cells. Arachidonate and several of its metabolites increased amylase release and elevated cytoplasmic calcium. Melittin, a stimulator of arachidonate mobilization, and lyso-phosphatidylcholine also released amylase and elevated calcium. These results suggest that the metabolites of arachidonate may have an important role in amylase secretion.

Nuclear morphometric analysis of osteoblast precursor cells in periodontal ligament, SL-3 rats.

Five small (55 days old, 196 +/- 5 g) (mean +/- SE) and five large (83 days old, 382 +/- 4 g) Sprague-Dawley strain, specific pathogen-free rats were exposed to a 7-day spaceflight and 12-h postflight recovery period. As measured in 3-micron sections, periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblastlike cells were classified according to nuclear size: A + A' (40-79), B (80-119), C (120-169), and D (greater than or equal to 170 microns 3). Since the histogenesis sequence is A----A'----C----D----osteoblast, the relative incidence of A + A' to C + D is an osteogenic index. No difference in A + A' or C + D cells in small rats may reflect partial recovery of preosteoblast formation (A----C) during the 12-h postflight period. Large flight rats demonstrated increased numbers of A + A', indicating an inhibition of preosteoblast formation (A----C). At least in the older group, a 7-day flight is adequate to reduce PDL osteogenic potential (inhibition in PDL osteoblast differentiation and/or specific attrition of C + D cells) that does not recover by 12-h postflight.

Infantile ichthyosis in rats: a new model of hyperkeratotic skin disease.

A new mutation produces neonatal thickening of the epidermis and other classical signs of hyperkeratosis. After periodic exfoliations every 4 days for the first 2 weeks of life the skin becomes clinically normal. The condition is inherited recessively and ascribed to the gene i (infantile ichthyosis) which is located in linkage group I, 36 percent recombinants away from the albino gene, a. The gene affects an unrecognized developmental process in skin that precedes the continuing normal differentiation of epidermal cells in postnatal life.

Timing of gestation in rats by fetal and maternal weights.

Weights of embryonic and fetal rats increase with gestational age from Day 13 to 20 in a strictly logarithmic manner and then slow. Data for other rat strains published as long ago as 1915 show substantially the same growth curves and the same weights as the inbred Kx strain studied. During this late gestational period fetal weights doubled every 1.22 days. An earlier period of somewhat faster growth can be inferred. These growth rates are virtually the same as the maximum rates at which rat neoplasms can grow. A regression equation was constructed from which the ages of rat embryos can be predicted from their weights within confidence limits of +/- 0.24 days. A similar logarithmic increase of added weight in the pregnant dam was recognized by which pregnancies could be conveniently diagnosed as early as Day 7. These two procedures facilitate the routine production of embryos of known age for experimental purposes.