Gingival blood flow in periodontitis patients before and after periodontal surgery assessed in smokers and non-smokers.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the gingival blood flow of smokers and non-smokers with periodontal disease before and after surgical periodontal treatment.

Methods: Nine smokers and six non-smokers with at least two periodontal lesions were included in the study. Laser Doppler flowmetry was used to measure blood flow in two gingival sites and two skin sites.

Hyperaemic response to cigarette smoking in healthy gingiva.

Background And Aim: Cigarette smoking is currently considered as a risk factor for periodontal disease. Controversy exists as to whether the vasoconstrictive property of nicotine is one of the pathogenic mechanisms. To this end we tested the hypothesis that cigarette smoking is causing vasoconstriction in the healthy human gingiva.

The involvement of nervous and some inflammatory response mechanisms in the acute snuff-induced gingival hyperaemia in humans.

Background And Aim: Tobacco users and especially cigarette smokers are at higher risk than non-smokers for periodontal disease. The pathogenic mechanism has been proposed to be the vasoconstrictive properties of nicotine, with reduced gingival blood flow (GBF) as a contributing factor in the development of periodontal disease. However, in a previous study in humans, we found GBF to increase in response to acute exposure to snuff.

The acute effects of smokeless tobacco (snuff) on gingival blood flow in man.

Snuff-induced blood flow responses in the gingiva were evaluated in 22 healthy casual consumers of tobacco. Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) was used to measure blood flow simultaneously and continuously on two gingival sites (buccal aspect of the papillae between the upper lateral incisors and canines). In addition, measurements of skin blood flow in the forehead and palmar side of the left thumb were performed.

Reflex responses of the masseter muscle in patients with chronic arthritis or internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint. A comparison with symptomfree subjects.

Averaged reflex responses in the masseter muscle to transverse taps delivered to the upper central incisor were studied in 13 patients with chronic arthritic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease (arthritis group) and 28 patients having internal TMJ derangement (derangement group). The diagnostic assessment of TMJ disease was based on a combination of imaging methods. Fourteen symptomfree subjects served as a control for the electromyographic observations.

Increased human gingival blood flow induced by sodium lauryl sulfate.

Laser Doppler flowmetry was used in 14 subjects to investigate the effect of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) on gingival microcirculation. SLS, the most widely used detergent in toothpastes, exhibits a denaturing property, increases oral mucosal permeability and may cause epithelial desquamation of oral soft tissues. Gingival blood flow (GBF) was measured bilaterally 3 mm above the gingival margin, between the central and lateral maxillary incisors, before and after application of 1.

Instant assessment of pulpal blood flow after orthodontic force application.

The purpose of the present investigation was to measure the effect of tooth intrusion and extrusion on pulpal blood flow in man. The flow changes were measured in 10 lateral incisors (6 subjects) by means of laser Doppler flowmetry (Perimed, Sweden) applied on the buccal surface through metal tubes bonded to the teeth. Brackets were bonded onto teeth 13 and 23, and intrusive and extrusive forces of 2 N were applied in random order to the experimental tooth for 5 min before unloading.

Laser Doppler flowmetry in the assessment of tooth vitality after Le Fort I osteotomy.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate pulp vitality in 15 patients, 11 to 29 months after a Le Fort I osteotomy. Assessment of pulpal blood flow was obtained by means of laser Doppler flowmetry, and it was measured bilaterally from the first maxillary premolar to the central incisor. The results were compared with those obtained by electric pulp testing in the same teeth.

Effects of mandibular nerve block on heat- or cold-induced changes in pulpal blood flow in man.

Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) was used to study the effect of mandibular nerve block, using 3% mepivacain, on heat- or cold-induced changes in pulpal blood flow (PBF) evoked by application of cold or heat to the lingual surfaces of teeth 33 and 43 in nine young subjects. PBF on average showed a 7% increase in response to heat (48 degrees C) and a 20% decrease when exposed to cold (3 degrees C). Neither response was affected by mandibular block.

Effects of cooling and heating of the tooth on pulpal blood flow in man.

Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) was used to study the changes in pulpal blood flow (PBF) evoked by application of cold or heat to the palatinal surfaces of teeth 11 or 21 in nine young subjects. Switching from a thermode temperature of 33 degrees C to 5 degrees C on average induced a slow decrease of PBF to about 80% of control, and also warming to 39 degrees C evoked a small reduction in most subjects. Interindividual differences were large, however, and both cooling and warming sometimes triggered a rise in PBF.

Physiological regulation of the secretion of histatins and statherins in human parotid saliva.

The small salivary phosphoproteins, histatins and statherins, have important functions in the oral cavity in terms of antimicrobial actions and regulation of calcium phosphate homeostasis. Neither the effects of various physiological stimuli on their secretion nor the nature of the efferent receptor involved in the stimulus-secretion coupling has been determined previously. These aspects are important for improved understanding of the secretory control of salivary proteins and may have implications regarding the effects of specific medications on salivary constituents and oral health.

A study of cholinergic and beta-adrenergic components in the regulation of blood flow in the tooth pulp and gingiva in man.

In 10 subjects, laser Doppler flowmetry was used to study whether cholinergic or beta-adrenergic pathways are involved in the control of tooth pulp blood flow (PBF) in response to isometric hand grip and the cold pressor test. We also examined if differences exist between the regulation of blood flow in the tooth pulp and the nearby gingiva (GBF). Isometric hand grip (35% of maximum force, 2 min) and the subsequent ischaemia (2 min) induced a brief rise in PBF and a more long-lasting rise in GBF.

Effects of autonomic reflexes on tooth pulp blood flow in man.

In 15 subjects, laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF) was used to investigate whether the nervous control of pulpal blood flow (PBF) is affected by three tests known to excite the sympathetic nervous system. For comparison, skin blood flow was similarly recorded. Dynamic exercise (bicycle ergometer, 5 min, 90-100 W) in eight subjects was accompanied by a rise in PBF.

Parotid secretion of fluid, amylase and kallikrein during reflex stimulation under normal conditions and after acute administration of autonomic blocking agents in man.

The purpose of this work was to study the effect of graded mechanical and gustatory stimulation on the secretion of the acinar products fluid and amylase and the ductal product kallikrein from the human parotid gland (n = 9). The involvement of parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves in the salivary reflexes was subsequently examined using receptor blocking agents (n = 4). Chewing elevated the secretion of all products as compared to rest (P less than 0.

Baroreflex responsiveness during hypobaric hypoxia.

Baroreflex responses to graded neck suction during held expiration were studied in five healthy females at sea level and at a simulated altitude of 4,572 m (15,000 ft), with and without oxygen administration. An apparent resetting of the baroreflex was observed during hypobaric hypoxia, but this effect was abolished by oxygen administration. Held expiration alone induced a pulse prolongation in all experimental conditions, however this bradycardiac response was smaller during hypobaric hypoxia than during the two normoxic conditions.

Force-related changes in the masseter muscle reflex response to tooth-taps in man.

In 14 subjects with no disorder of the masticatory apparatus, excitatory and inhibitory reflex responses in the masseter muscles were derived by standardized mechanical stimulation of the upper central incisor. A series of eight taps was delivered during isometric contraction at 40% of maximum EMG activity, with tapping forces ranging from 0.25-9 N.

[Chronic disease and sexuality. An interview study on sexual dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis].

Many patients with a chronic disease experience that this condition in some way influences their sexual life. In this paper we present the results from an interview survey of ten patients with multiple sclerosis. The aim of the survey was to assess sexual dysfunctions in patients with chronic disease, the patients' opinion about these matters, and the role of the health services.

Effect of increased alpha-adrenergic activity on the blood pressure/cardiac output relationship in dogs.

The relationship between mean aortic blood pressure (MAP) and cardiac output (CO) was examined in anaesthesized, open-chest dogs during variations in pre-load with and without alpha-adrenergic stimulation with phenylephrine. When phenylephrine increased MAP to 200 mmHg, CO fell greatly and could not be increased by volume expansion. Left ventricular ultrasonic measurements and pressure recordings showed that the Frank-Starling mechanism was maximally activated.

Reflex changes in sympathetic activity affect the tooth tap-digastric reflex in rabbits.

We have previously shown that, in the anaesthetized rabbit, electrical stimulation of the sympathetic trunks inhibits the digastric opening reflex, as elicited by standardized tooth taps and monitored by integrated EMG. The site of action was most likely in the periodontal ligament, since the digastric reflex evoked by electrical stimulation of the inferior alveolar nerve was unaffected. In the present investigation we have studied the effects on the reflex of more naturally occurring changes in sympathetic activity, as induced by the baroreceptor reflex.

Sympathetic modulation of the jaw-opening reflex in anaesthetized rabbits.

The influence of sympathetic nerve stimulation (SNS) on the digastric muscle response to tapping on a front tooth was investigated in 14 anaesthetized rabbits. The reflex response to transverse taps was measured as changes in EMG activity of the ipsilateral digastric muscle. With taps of 1.