Stability of extemporaneously prepared preservative-free methylphenidate 5 mg/mL intravenous solution.

Purpose: To advance the implementation of consciousness-promoting therapies in patients with acute disorders of consciousness, the availability of potential therapeutic agents in formulations suitable for administration in hospitalized patients in the presence of complex comorbid conditions is paramount. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the long-term stability of extemporaneously prepared preservative-free methylphenidate hydrochloride (HCl) 5 mg/mL intravenous solution for experimental use.

Methods: A methylphenidate 5 mg/mL solution was prepared under proper aseptic techniques with Methylphenidate Hydrochloride, USP, powder mixed in sterile water for solution.

Specific neural substrate linking respiration to locomotion.

When animals move, respiration increases to adapt for increased energy demands; the underlying mechanisms are still not understood. We investigated the neural substrates underlying the respiratory changes in relation to movement in lampreys. We showed that respiration increases following stimulation of the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) in an in vitro isolated preparation, an effect that persists in the absence of the spinal cord and caudal brainstem.

Chapter 15--chew before you swallow.

The main text of this chapter, written by James P. Lund, summarizes most of the work related to the neural control of mastication that he conducted with his collaborators throughout the years. From his early PhD work showing that mastication is centrally patterned to his latest work related to the interaction between pain and movement, Lund will have addressed many essential questions regarding the organization and functioning of the masticatory central pattern generator (CPG).

Efficient resource use in simplified complete denture fabrication.

Purpose: Conventional dentures will remain the only treatment available to most edentulous people for the foreseeable future. In this study, we compared the efficiency of two methods of making complete conventional dentures-the traditional academic standard (T) and a simplified technique (S) used in private practice. We have previously shown that they produce similar levels of patient satisfaction and denture quality.

Assessment of the potential role of muscle spindle mechanoreceptor afferents in chronic muscle pain in the rat masseter muscle.

Background: The phenotype of large diameter sensory afferent neurons changes in several models of neuropathic pain. We asked if similar changes also occur in "functional" pain syndromes.

Methodology/principal Findings: Acidic saline (AS, pH 4.

Researching the impact of oral health on diet and nutritional status: methodological issues.

Objectives: Assessment of the impact of dental function on diet and nutritional status requires robust methodologies and a standardised approach to increase accuracy of results and to facilitate cross study comparisons. The objectives of this paper are: to report the outcomes of a consensus workshop that critically reviewed publications reporting on dietary methodologies in relation to the impact of oral health on nutrition; to highlight future directions for research and; to make recommendations for appropriate use of methodologies for future research.

Data: Data relevant to nutrition and dental status published from 1980 to 2005 in English were presented at the consensus workshop for discussion and appraisal.

Do mandibular implant overdentures and conventional complete dentures meet the expectations of edentulous patients?

Objectives: To measure expectations of satisfaction with implant and conventional denture treatment in 2 groups of edentulous people and compare them with their resultant ratings of satisfaction to determine if either treatment meets the pretreatment expectation.

Method And Materials: One hundred sixty-two edentulous middle-aged (MA, n = 102) and senior (S, n = 60) patients were enrolled in 2 trials and, after randomization, received either a mandibular 2-implant overdenture (IOD) or a new conventional denture (CD). Before randomization, each subject rated their satisfaction with their current denture and expectations of satisfaction with both IOD and CD treatment on 100-mm visual analog scales (VAS).

Initial Investigation of the relation between extended computer use and temporomandibular joint disorders.

Aim: To determine if temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) are associated with extended computer use.

Materials And Methods: People with chronic pain and extensive computer use were recruited by means of a newspaper advertisement. Those who responded to the ad were asked to complete an online survey, which included questions on computer use, medical history, pain symptoms, lifestyle and mood.

Electrical properties of interneurons found within the trigeminal motor nucleus.

The trigeminal motor nucleus contains the somata of motoneurons innervating the jaw muscles, but also those of interneurons that we have characterized morphologically and immunohistochemically previously. Here we compare their basic physiological characteristics and synaptic inputs from the peri-trigeminal area (PeriV) to those of motoneurons using whole-cell recordings made with pipettes containing biocytin in brainstem slices of rats that had a tracer injected into their masseters. Values for input resistance, spike duration and overall duration of afterhyperpolarization (AHP) were greater for interneurons than for motoneurons.

Implant overdentures for edentulous elders: study of patient preference.

Background: Studies show that elders wearing implant overdentures have improved nutrition and quality of life. However, upfront costs of this therapy are high, and the income of elderly edentulous populations is low.

Objectives: This study was designed (i) to measure the preferences of edentulous patients for mandibular two-implant overdentures using Willingness-To-Pay (WTP) and Willingness-To-Accept (WTA), (ii) to assess the effect of long-term financing on WTP and (iii) to assess the desired role of health care plans in financing dental prostheses.

A review of burst generation by trigeminal main sensory neurons.

In this paper, we present evidence that neurons in the dorsal part of the trigeminal main sensory nucleus participate in the patterning of mastication. These neurons have special membrane properties that allow them to generate rhythmical bursts of action potentials in the frequency range of natural mastication even when cut off from synaptic inputs. These properties mature during the third postnatal week in rats at the same time as mastication begins.

Emergence of intrinsic bursting in trigeminal sensory neurons parallels the acquisition of mastication in weanling rats.

There is increasing evidence that a subpopulation of neurons in the dorsal principal sensory trigeminal nucleus are not simple sensory relays to the thalamus but may form the core of the central pattern generating circuits responsible for mastication. In this paper, we used whole cell patch recordings in brain stem slices of young rats to show that these neurons have intrinsic bursting abilities that persist in absence of extracellular Ca(2+). Application of different K(+) channel blockers affected duration and firing rate of bursts, but left bursting ability intact.

Generation of the central masticatory pattern and its modification by sensory feedback.

Mammalian mastication results from the interaction of an intrinsic rhythmical neural pattern and sensory feedback generated by the interaction of the effecter system (muscles, bones, joints, teeth, soft tissues) with food. The main variables that explain variation in the pattern of human mastication are the subjects themselves, their age, the type of food being eaten, and time during a sequence of movements. The intrinsic pattern of mastication is generated by a central pattern generator (CPG) located in the pons and medulla.

Brainstem circuits that control mastication: do they have anything to say during speech?

Unlabelled: Mastication results from the interaction of an intrinsic rhythmical neural pattern and sensory feedback from the mouth, muscles and joints. The pattern is matched to the physical characteristics of food, but also varies with age. There are large differences in masticatory movements among subjects.

Can general dentists produce successful implant overdentures with minimal training?

Objectives: This study was carried out to determine whether inexperienced dentists can provide two-implant overdentures that are as satisfactory and of the same cost as those provided by experienced prosthodontists.

Methods: Edentulous elders were enrolled in a randomized controlled clinical trial to compare the effects of mandibular conventional and two-implant overdentures on nutrition. They were randomly assigned to groups that were treated by either an experienced prosthodontist or by a newly-graduated dentist with minimal training in implant treatment.

Do traditional techniques produce better conventional complete dentures than simplified techniques?

Objectives: To compare the quality of conventional complete dentures fabricated with two different techniques. A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted to compare traditional (T) and simplified (S) methods of making complete conventional dentures on patients' ratings of satisfaction, comfort and function at 3 and 6 months following delivery. The quality of the prostheses was rated by prosthodontists at 6 months.

The impact of conventional and implant supported prostheses on social and sexual activities in edentulous adults Results from a randomized trial 2 months after treatment.

Objectives: To determine the impact of mandibular two-implant overdentures or conventional complete dentures on leisure and sexual activities.

Methods: One hundred and two subjects, aged 35-65 years, received either mandibular overdentures retained by two implants (IOD; n=54) or new mandibular conventional complete dentures (CD; n=48) in a randomized controlled clinical trial. A Social Impact Questionnaire was used to assess the impact on social and sexual activity including avoiding conversation, refusing invitations, avoiding sport and feeling uneasy when kissing and in sexual relationships, and the looseness of the prostheses during such activities.

Persistence of respiratory-swallowing coordination after laryngectomy.

The present study was designed to provide additional insights into the neural mechanisms underlying respiratory-swallowing coupling by studying potential alterations in movement coordination when upper airway protection is no longer necessary. Twelve laryngectomized participants, all at least 3 years postsurgery, were compared to age- and sex-matched controls. Respiration and swallowing were monitored before, during, and after mastication.

A transcriptional profile of aging in the human kidney.

In this study, we found 985 genes that change expression in the cortex and the medulla of the kidney with age. Some of the genes whose transcripts increase in abundance with age are known to be specifically expressed in immune cells, suggesting that immune surveillance or inflammation increases with age. The age-regulated genes show a similar aging profile in the cortex and the medulla, suggesting a common underlying mechanism for aging.

Immunohistochemical distribution of tachykinins in the CNS of the lamprey Petromyzon marinus.

The presence of tachykinins in the CNS of vertebrates has been known for many decades, and numerous studies have described their distribution in mammals. Tachykinins were also reported in the CNS of lampreys using immunohistochemistry, chromatography, and radioimmunoassay methods, but the use of substance P (SP)-specific antibodies to reveal those tachykinins could have led to an underestimation of their number in this genus. Therefore, we carried out a new immunohistochemical study on Petromyzon marinus using a commercial polyclonal antibody that binds not only to mammalian SP, but also to other neurokinins.

Synaptic inputs to trigeminal primary afferent neurons cause firing and modulate intrinsic oscillatory activity.

In this paper, we investigated the influence of synapses on the cell bodies of trigeminal muscle spindle afferents that lie in the trigeminal mesencephalic nucleus (NVmes), using intracellular recordings in brain stem slices of young rats. Three types of synaptic responses could be evoked by electrical stimulation of the adjacent supratrigeminal, motor, and main sensory nuclei and the intertrigeminal area: monophasic depolarizing postsynaptic potentials (PSPs), biphasic PSPs, and all or none action potentials without underlying excitatory PSPs (EPSPs). Many PSPs and spikes were abolished by bath-application of 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline (DNQX) alone or combined with D,L-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV), suggesting that they are mediated by non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and NMDA glutamatergic receptors, while some action potentials were sensitive to bicuculline, indicating involvement of GABAA receptors.

Influence of age on adaptability of human mastication.

The objective of this work was to study the influence of age on the ability of subjects to adapt mastication to changes in the hardness of foods. The study was carried out on 67 volunteers aged from 25 to 75 yr (29 males, 38 females) who had complete healthy dentitions. Surface electromyograms of the left and right masseter and temporalis muscles were recorded simultaneously with jaw movements using an electromagnetic transducer.

A cost comparison of mandibular two-implant overdenture and conventional denture treatment.

Purpose: This article compares the cost of mandibular two-implant overdenture treatment to that of conventional denture treatment in an academic teaching hospital.

Materials And Methods: Sixty edentulous patients (aged 65 to 75 years) participated in a randomized clinical trial. All patients received a new maxillary complete denture and either a mandibular conventional denture (n = 30) or an implant overdenture on two unsplinted implants (n = 30).