Central mechanisms in pain.

Nociceptive input into the central nervous system is not simply passively received but rather is subject to modulation through spinal cord neuroplasticity and descending influences from supraspinal sites activated by a variety of environmental signals, including the acute or persistent nociceptive input itself and behavioral and emotional stimuli. The significant role of NMDA receptors and production of NO. in central sensitization, hyperalgesia, and chronic pain has been demonstrated in numerous models of peripheral injury. It has been shown that persistent nociceptive input is also subject to centrifugal descending modulation through activation of both prominent facilitatory and masked inhibitory influences from supraspinal sites (e.g., RVM) likely involving a spino-bulbar-spinal loop. These descending modulatory influences from the RVM appear to contribute selectively to hyperalgesia observed in uninjured tissue, distant from the site of insult (secondary hyperalgesia), and involve mechanisms similar to those found in the spinal cord (i.e., NMDA receptors and production of NO.). The significant role that modulatory influences in the central nervous system have in the development and maintenance of chronic pain and hyperalgesia clearly supports continued investigation into the physiologic mechanisms contributing to these events.     

Eine Studie über OrthoglykÄmische Glykosurien,mit Besonderer Berücksichtigung der Vererbung

Zusammenfassung OrthoglykÄmische Glykosurie, Glykosurie bei Glykoseprobe und Glykosurie ohne Diabetes-symptome erwiesen sich klinisch als benign, nichtdiabetisch, ohne Tendenz zu Progression, ob sie nun in heterozygoter oder in homozygoter Form auftreten.Diese Glykosurien sind erblich. Sie vererben sich nach dem Schema einer einfach dominierenden Eigenschaft.Diabetes mellitus hat keine Wirkung auf die erbliche übertragung von orthoglykÄmischer Glykosurie.Diabetes mellitus und orthoglykÄmische Glykosurie dürften verschiedenen Ursprungs sein.     

Thermal Safety of Vibro-Acoustography Using a Confocal Transducer

Vibro-acoustography (VA) is an imaging method that forms a two-dimensional (2-D) image by moving two cofocused ultrasound beams with slightly different frequencies over the object in a C-scan format and recording acoustic emission from the focal region at the difference frequency. This article studies tissue heating due to a VA scan using a concentric confocal transducer. The three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound intensity field calculated by Field II is used with the bio-heat equation to estimate tissue heating due to ultrasound absorption. Results calculated with thermal conduction and with blood perfusion, with conduction and without perfusion and without conduction and without perfusion are compared. Maximum heating due to ultrasound absorption occurs in the transducer's near-field and maximum temperature rise in soft tissue during a single VA scan is below 0.05°C for all three attenuation coefficients evaluated: 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 dB/cm/MHz. Transducer self-heating during a single VA scan measured by a thermocouple is less than 0.27°C. (E-mail: chen.shigao@mayo.edu)     

A role for CD36 in the regulation of dendritic cell function

Dendritic cells (DC) are crucial for the induction of immune responses and thus an inviting target for modulation by pathogens. We have previously shown that Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes inhibit the maturation of DCs. Intact P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes can bind directly to CD36 and indirectly to CD51. It is striking that these receptors, at least in part, also mediate the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. Here we show that antibodies against CD36 or CD51, as well as exposure to early apoptotic cells, profoundly modulate DC maturation and function in response to inflammatory signals. Although modulated DCs still secrete tumor necrosis factor-alpha, they fail to activate T cells and now secrete IL-10. We therefore propose that intact P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes and apoptotic cells engage similar pathways regulating DC function. These findings may have important consequences for the treatment of malaria and may suggest strategies for modulating pathological immune responses in autoimmune diseases.     

Discomfort experienced after immediate implant placement associated with three different regenerative techniques

Objectives: To assess patient discomfort in terms of pain, swelling and bleeding following immediate implant placement in molar regions using one of three regenerative techniques. Methods: Ninety‐two patients (44 women and 48 men; mean age 50 years [range 23–77], 35 smokers and 57 non‐smokers) in need of a single implant crown to replace a molar were included. After placing the implant large periimplant defects were present. These defects were treated either with autologous bone (AB) chips, Ossix membrane (OM) or a combination of AB chips and OM. The postoperative course was recorded on 100 mm visual analogue scales (VAS) with extreme end points for the level of pain on the day of surgery, 1, 2 and 3 days postoperatively (no/extreme pain); swelling on the day of surgery, 1, 2 and 3 days postoperatively (no/severe swelling); and bleeding from the wound on the day of surgery, 1, 2 and 3 days postoperatively (no/severe bleeding). Results: Pain peaked 5–6 h postoperatively (mean VAS=25). Swelling (mean VAS=62) and oozing from the wound (mean VAS=13) peaked 1 day postoperatively. There were no significant differences in the perception of pain, swelling or oozing from the wound between the three regenerative groups. The VAS score for pain was higher for smokers than for non‐smokers at all times; a significant difference was found from 1 day until 3 days postoperatively (0.011<P<0.048). All pain scores, except the score for the day of the operation, were significantly higher in younger (<50 years) than in older patients (≥50 years) (0.002≤P≤0.49). Conclusions: Patients experienced little to moderate pain in combination with marginally severe swelling and mild oozing after immediate implant placement in molar regions involving regenerative techniques. Being a smoker was associated with more pain in contrast to being >50 years, which was associated with less pain. To cite this article:
Urban T, Wenzel A. Discomfort experienced after immediate implant placement associated with three different regenerative techniques.
Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 21 , 2010; 1271–1277.
doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐0501.2010.01943.x