Myofascial pain syndrome masquerading as temporomandibular joint pain.

Myofascial pain syndrome of the TMJ region is not uncommon. It is important to realize that these patients often have a history of TMJ trauma, frequently have positive physical findings of the TMJ, and often have positive roentgenographic findings which continue following successful therapy of myofascial pain syndrome mimicking pain of the TMJ. Because of this, the malady is often diagnosed as TMJ disease, refractory to treatment, rather than correctly as myofascial pain syndrome.

Allergic response to stainless steel wire.

A review of the literature indicates that an allergic response to stainless steel is rare, although nickel is a common allergen and is encountered continually in daily life. An allergic reaction could occur at a most inopportune time. Rational approaches in management of an allergic response to stainless steel appear to be either: (1) wire removal and symptomatic therapy, (2) application of fixation with other substances, or (3) administration of steroids with necessary stainless steel immobilization left in place.

Effect of beta adrenergic stimulation and blockade on cutaneous reactivity to histamine.

It has been previously demonstrated that iontophoresis of beta adrenergic agents will alter the size of immediate hypersensitivity skin tests. It was unclear whether this alteration was due to an effect on the dermal mast cell (inhibition of histamine release) or on the cutaneous vasculature (inhibition of capillary permeability). For this reason isoproterenol, propranolol, diphenhydramine as a positive control, and saline as a negative control were iontophoresed onto the forearm of 10 atopic and 10 nonatopic adult subjects.