Assessment of Somatosensory and Psychosocial Function of Patients With Trigeminal Nerve Damage.

Objective: The present study assessed somatosensory changes related to trigeminal nerve damage using extensive evaluation tools and assessed the effect of such damage on the patients' psychosocial status and quality of life compared with healthy participants.

Methods: In 37 patients with intraorally or extraorally presenting trigeminal nerve damage diagnosed as painful or nonpainful posttraumatic trigeminal neuropathy, psychophysical tests like quantitative sensory testing (QST) and qualitative sensory testing and the electrophysiological "nociceptive-specific" blink reflex were performed. The patients and 20 healthy participants completed a set of questionnaires assessing their psychosocial status and quality of life.

Soluble silica inhibits osteoclast formation and bone resorption in vitro.

Several studies have suggested that silicon (Si) may be essential for the normal development of connective tissue and the skeleton. Positive effects of Si from the diet as well as from Si-containing biomaterials, such as bioactive glass 45S5 (BG), have been demonstrated. Studies have reported that Si stimulates osteoblast proliferation and differentiation.

In vitro study of the biological interface of Bio-Oss: implications of the experimental setup.

Objectives: To systematically investigate the biological interface of Bio-Oss by analysing dissolution-precipitation behaviour and osteogenic responses using in vitro experimental systems.

Material And Methods: Different concentrations (1-100 mg/ml) of Bio-Oss were incubated in cell culture medium for 24 h before elemental concentrations for calcium, phosphorus and silicon in the medium were analysed with inductive coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. Radioactive calcium-45 isotope labelling technique was used to study possible precipitation of calcium on the Bio-Oss particle.

Effects of Dyract AP and released ionic products on periodontal ligament cells and bone marrow cultures.

Objectives: The aim of this work was to investigate the release of inorganic ionic products from specimens of the polyacid-modified composite resin Dyract AP (DAP) and furthermore, to analyze the biological effect of DAP and the medium extract in human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells and mouse bone marrow cell (BMC) cultures.

Methods: Ion release from DAP specimens immersed in cell culture medium was analyzed with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Cells were cultured with either DAP specimens or with DAP media extract and effects on cell proliferation, osteoblastic gene expression and mineralization capacity were analyzed with direct-contact tests, neutral red (NR) uptake, quantitative real-time PCR and a bone nodule formation assay.