Relation of digital arterial dysfunction to alternative frequency weightings of hand-transmitted vibration.

This study compared the relative performance of alternative frequency weightings of hand-transmitted vibration (HTV) to predict the extent of cold-induced vasoconstriction in the digital arteries of HTV workers. The cold response of digital arteries was related to measures of daily vibration exposure expressed in terms of r.m.s. acceleration magnitude normalised to an 8-h day, frequency weighted according to either the frequency weighting Wh defined in international standard ISO 5349-1:2001 (Ah(8) in ms-2 r.m.s.) or the hand-arm vascular frequency weighting Wp proposed in the ISO Technical Report 18570:2007 (Ap(8) in ms-2 r.m.s.). The measure of daily vibration exposure constructed with the frequency weighting Wp (Ap(8)) was a better predictor of the cold response of the digital arteries in the HTV workers than the metric derived from the conventional ISO frequency weighting Wh (Ah(8)). This finding suggests that a measure of daily vibration exposure constructed with the vascular weighting Wp, which gives more weight to intermediate- and high-frequency vibration (31.5-250 Hz), performed better for the prediction of cold induced digital arterial hyperresponsiveness than that obtained with the frequency weighting Wh recommended in ISO 5349-1 which gives more importance to lower frequency vibration (≤16 Hz).

Evaluation of the Effect of Common Analgesics on Pulpal Sensibility Tests: A Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Accurate diagnosis is one of the most important steps before endodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of 2 commonly used analgesics namely ibuprofen and acetaminophen on the cold and electric pulp test (EPT) results in participants with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (SIP). METHODS: This clinical trial evaluated 41 participants with pain due to SIP. The cold test and EPT were performed for teeth with SIP, and also for the corresponding tooth with healthy pulp in the contralateral quadrant. The participants then received 500 mg acetaminophen, 400 mg ibuprofen, or the placebo in the 3 groups. The cold test and EPT were repeated at 20, 40, and 60 minutes after medication intake, and the results were compared with the pretreatment values. RESULTS: In the acetaminophen group, the results of cold test significantly decreased 40 (P < .05), and 60 (P < .05) minutes after analgesic intake in teeth with SIP and after 40 minutes (P < .05) in the corresponding contralateral teeth with healthy pulp. In the ibuprofen group, the cold test results significantly decreased at 20 (P < .05), 40 (P < .05), and 60 (P < .05) minutes after analgesic intake in teeth with SIP and after 40 minutes (P < .05) in the corresponding contralateral teeth with healthy pulp. The EPT results were not significantly affected by the studied analgesics at any time point (P > .05). There was no significant difference among the study groups regarding sex (P > .05). CONCLUSION: It appears that both acetaminophen and ibuprofen can affect the pulpal response to the cold sensibility test. However, the studied medications had no significant effect on the EPT results. Therefore, dental clinicians should be aware of the possible effects of such medications on the cold test response.

Does MIH Affects Preoperative and Intraoperative Hypersensitivity?

OBJECTIVE: Hypersensitivity is an important problem that is encountered during the treatment of hypomineralized teeth. The aim of this prospective study was to compare responses to electrical pulp tests (EPTs) and cold tests among carious teeth with and without molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) before and after the administration of local anesthesia for caries removal Results: The EPT results of anesthetized carious teeth without MIH were significantly higher than those of carious teeth with MIH (p = 0.011). The cold test results were significantly higher for anesthetized carious teeth with MIH than for those without MIH (p = 0.0001). Intraoperative pain was significantly higher for carious teeth with MIH (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that even after achieving sufficient anesthesia, hypersensitivity remains a clinical problem in MIH-affected carious molars. The results presented in this study indicate that this phenomenon is not related to achieving effective local anesthesia; therefore, behavior management in such cases is of the utmost importance compared to relying on adjacent anesthetic methods.

Hemorheological and microvascular disturbances in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: In the blood vessels the impaired hemorheological parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) could lead to elevated flow resistance, increased forces at the endothelial wall and to microvascular disturbances. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to investigate the hemorheological variables and the changes of the skin blood flow responses to cold stress in T2DM patients. METHODS: The basic hemorheological parameters: hematocrit (Ht), fibrinogen (Fib), whole blood viscosity (WBV) and plasma viscosity (PV) were examined in 20 patients with T2DM and a control group of 10 healthy age and sex matched controls. The mechanisms of vascular tone regulation were investigated using the wavelet analysis of the skin temperature oscillations (WAST). The degrees of the microvascular tone changes were determined during a cold test in the endothelial (0.02-0.0095 Hz), neurogenic (0.05- 0.02 Hz) and myogenic (0.05- 0.14 Hz) frequency ranges. RESULTS: Significant increase of Fib and WBV in the patients in comparison to controls was found. The mean values of the amplitudes of the skin temperature (ST) pulsations decreased significantly during the cold stress only in the endothelial frequency range for the diabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study reveal parallel impairment of the blood rheological parameters and the cutaneous microcirculation in T2DM patients.

Response to Pulp Sensibility Tests after Full Pulpotomy in Permanent Mandibular Teeth with Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis: A Retrospective Data Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This retrospective study analyzed the 12-month pulp sensibility (cold and electric) test response after mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) full pulpotomy in mature permanent teeth with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. METHODS: The records of 120 subjects from 3 completed and 1 ongoing clinical study on MTA full pulpotomy were retrieved. Ninety-six first and second mandibular molar teeth with a diagnosis of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis that underwent a single-visit MTA full pulpotomy and had completed a 12-month clinical, radiographic, and pulp sensibility (cold and electric) test follow-up were included. The data were analyzed using the Fisher exact test, the Pearson chi-square test, and the McNemar test. The significance level was predetermined at P < .05. RESULTS: A higher percentage of teeth (94.7%) responded to the electric pulp test in comparison with the cold test (13.5%) (P < .05). Sex-based responses to the electric pulp test (P > .05) and the cold test were similar (P > .05). The age-based response was similar for the electric pulp test (P > .05) but was significant for the cold test (P < .05). The tooth quadrant (left and right), the tooth (mandibular first and second molar), and the location of restoration (proximal or occlusal) did not influence the response of either the electric pulp test (P > .05) or the cold test (P > .05). At the 1-year follow-up, all the teeth that were classified as clinically and radiographically successful responded to the electric pulp test; however, only 13 teeth responded to the cold test (P = .00). CONCLUSIONS: The majority (94.7%) of the teeth that underwent MTA full pulpotomy responded to the electric pulp test at a 1-year time interval.

Accuracy of cold sensibility testing on teeth with full-coverage restorations: a clinical study.

AIM: This clinical study evaluated the reliability of the 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (Endo Ice) cold test to determine the pulpal diagnosis of teeth with full-coverage restorations (FCR). The effect of several variables on its reliability was also investigated. METHODOLOGY: Data collected from 825 patients treated in the Advanced Education Program in Endodontics at the University of Iowa, USA were analysed. The experimental group included 425 teeth with FCR, whilst the control group consisted of 400 teeth with natural crowns (NC). The pulp sensibility test results, tooth type, tooth number, type of crown, age, gender, presence or absence of caries and recent use of analgesics were recorded. Bivariate analyses were performed to assess the variables associated with the accuracy of dental pulp sensibility tests for either teeth with crowns or teeth without crowns using chi-square tests, Fisher's exact tests, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests, and the Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. A P-value of less than 0.05 was used as a criterion for statistical significance, and a P-value in 0.05 < P < 0.10 was used as a criterion for marginal relevance. RESULTS: The sensibility test results for FCR teeth had an accuracy of 0.866; sensitivity of 0.835; specificity of 0.879; a positive predictive value of 0.746; and a negative predictive value of 0.926. The data indicated a significant difference in the accuracy of pulp sensibility test results between the experimental and control groups (P < 0.001). Although the cold test in FCR teeth still had high accuracy, teeth with NC were significantly more likely to have true-positive and true-negative results (91.5% NC vs. 86.6% FCR, P = 0.024). No significant differences between FCR and NC were found concerning gender, tooth type, type of crown, the presence of abutment and recent use of analgesic (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Pulp sensibility cold testing with 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (TFE) on teeth with FCR was less accurate than on teeth without full-coverage crowns. However, the use of TFE cold testing is still a relevant and reliable diagnostic tool, particularly for teeth with a pulpal diagnosis of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Clinicians should routinely carry out cold pulp sensibility testing on teeth when making a pulpal diagnosis.

Efficiency of new custom-made pulse oximeter sensor holder in assessment of actual pulp status.

AIM: This study aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of new custom-made pulse oximeter sensor holder in assessment of actual pulp status with three pulp sensibility tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-nine single canal teeth requiring endodontic therapy was included in the study. The tooth that was requiring root canal treatment was tested with heat test, cold test, electric pulp test, and pulse oximeter. Between each test, a time period of 2 min was allowed. The response from three pulp sensibility tests and the reading from pulse oximeter were recorded. Following which root canal treatment was performed. The result obtained from four pulp tests were correlated with the clinical finding after access cavity preparation. The data obtained was statistically assessed. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess the efficacy of the pulp tests. In the above statistical tools, the probability value. 05 is considered as significant level. RESULTS: The overall diagnostic accuracy was found to be significantly higher with pulse oximeter when compared with other three pulp sensibility tests. The ROC curve demonstrates the results obtained from pulse oximeter was found to be more reliable than other pulp tests. CONCLUSION: Within the limitation of the study, diagnostic accuracy of pulse oximeter with custom made sensor holder was reliable and accurate in assessment of actual pulp status.

Comparison of Pulp Sensibility Tests Responses in Type 2 Diabetes Patients and Healthy Individuals.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes is a common disease that may have some influence on sensory nerves. The aim of this study was to evaluate dental pulp responses to 2 pulp sensibility tests (ie, cold and electric) in patients with type 2 diabetes compared with healthy individuals. METHODS: Three hundred twenty-two premolar teeth in 51 patients who had type 2 diabetes and 347 premolar teeth in 53 individuals with no medical conditions were investigated. The patients with type 2 diabetes were unified and had fasting plasma glucose <300, hemoglobin A1C <10, less than a 10-year history of diabetes mellitus, and no history of hypertension. Electric and cold pulp sensibility tests were performed for all teeth. The cold test results were recorded by the Heft-Parker visual analog scale, and the electric pulp test results were recorded based on the pulp tester's grade that evoked a response. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between upper and lower premolar teeth in healthy individuals compared with the patients with diabetes in response to the cold and electric pulp tests (P > .05). In the patients with diabetes, the response of their upper premolars to the cold test was significantly reduced in diabetic patients >45 years of age (ß = -1.15, P = .013). However, there was no significant correlation between the cold test and age in the lower premolars of both diabetic and nondiabetic participants (P > .05). There was also no significant correlation between the need for a higher number of the electric pulp test current to evoke a response in maxillary and mandibular premolars of the patients with diabetes and nondiabetic participants with age (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant correlation between the reduction of maxillary premolar teeth responses to the cold test in diabetes patients >45 years of age.

Diagnostic accuracy of dental pulse oximeter with customized sensor holder, thermal test and electric pulp test for the evaluation of pulp vitality: an in vivo study / Precisão diagnóstica do oxímetro de pulso odontológico com suporte de sensor personalizado, teste térmico e teste elétrico da polpa para avaliação da vitalidade pulpar: um estudo in vivo

Background: the efficiency of the diagnostic aids plays an important role in the treatment plan. This study aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of dental pulse oximeter with a customized sensor holder, thermal test and electric pulp tester in assessing the actual pulp status and to evaluate the oxygen saturation level in control healthy teeth, non-vital and teeth with irreversible pulpitis. Material and methods: thirty-seven single canal teeth requiring endodontic therapy were included in the study. The selected teeth were tested with dental pulse oximeter, electric pulp test, cold spray, and heated gutta percha stick. Between each test a time lag of 2 minutes was allowed for the central sensitization to occur. Three blinded operators were involved in the study. The actual status of the pulp was evaluated after the initiation of endodontic treatment, by direct visual examination of the accessed cavity. The data was statistically analysed using (ANOVA) Analysis of Variance and Post-hoc Tukey test. Results: sensitivity of pulse oximeter, heat test, cold and electric pulp test, was 100, 25, 50, and 12, respectively. The specificity of these tests was 100, 72 81, and 77, respectively. The ANOVA showed that there was statistical difference between all the groups (p=0.0005). Post-Hoc Tukey revealed that there was statistical difference among all the groups, nonvital group (p=0.0005), control group (p=0.01) and for irreversible pulpitis (p=0.01). The overall diagnostic accuracy of pulse oximeter was 100% followed by cold test 66%, heat test to be 49% and electric pulp test to be 45%. Conclusion: the custom-made holder used in the present study aided in providing accurate response for pulp vitality testing. In this study the diagnostic accuracy was high with dental pulse oximeter followed by cold, heat and the least was electric pulp tester in different pulpal conditions. (AU)

Fundamentação: a eficiência dos meios de diagnóstico desempenha um papel importante no plano de tratamento. Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a precisão diagnóstica do oxímetro de pulso odontológico com um suporte de sensor personalizado, teste térmico e testador de polpa elétrico na avaliação da condição pulpar e na avaliação do nível de saturação de oxigênio em dentes controle saudáveis, não vitais e dentes com pulpite irreversível. Material e métodos: trinta e sete dentes de canal único que necessitavam de terapia endodôntica foram incluídos no estudo. Os dentes selecionados foram testados com oxímetro de pulso, teste pulpar elétrico, spray frio e bastão de guta-percha aquecido. Entre cada teste, foi permitido um intervalo de tempo de 2 minutos para a sensibilização central ocorrer. Três operadores cegos foram envolvidos no estudo. A condição real da polpa foi avaliada após o início do tratamento endodôntico, por meio de exame visual direto da cavidade de acesso. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente pelo teste de Análise de Variância (ANOVA) e pelo teste Post-hoc de Tukey. Resultados: a sensibilidade do oxímetro de pulso, teste de calor, de frio e teste pulpar elétrico foi de 100, 25, 50 e 12, respectivamente. A especificidade desses testes foi de 100, 72 81 e 77, respectivamente. O teste de ANOVA mostrou que houve diferença estatística entre todos os grupos (p = 0,0005). O teste Post-Hoc de Tukey revelou que houve diferença estatística entre todos os grupos, grupo não-vital (p = 0,0005), grupo controle (p = 0,01) e pulpite irreversível (p = 0,01). A precisão diagnóstica geral do oxímetro de pulso foi de 100%, seguida pelo teste a frio de 66%, o teste de calor a 49% e o teste pulpar elétrico a 45%. Conclusão: o suporte personalizado utilizado no presente estudo ajudou a fornecer uma resposta precisa para o teste de vitalidade pulpar. Neste estudo, a precisão diagnóstica foi alta com o oxímetro de pulso dental, seguido do teste com frio e calor, sendo o teste elétrico o menos eficaz nas diferentes condições pulpares testadas.(AU)

Diagnostic accuracy of three placement sites for the cold test in subjects amongst different age groups.

BACKGROUND: The cold test is a specific test of pulp sensitivity and is part of the endodontic diagnosis. The aim of this study was to identify the diagnostic accuracy including sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in three sites for the cold test in teeth with a need for endodontic treatment within different age groups from both genders. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed, evaluating 425 subjects. Two hundred and fifty-eight subjects from both genders from the ages of 17-27, 28-39, 40-50, and 51-65 years-old participated in the study. The cold test studied was 1, 1, 1, 2-tetrafluoroethane, and the gold standard was established through direct pulp inspection. The sites evaluated in the study were: The sites evaluated in the study were: a) the middle third of the buccal surface; b) the cervical third of the buccal surface, and c) the middle third of the lingual surface. RESULTS: The highest diagnosted accuracy was observed on the middle third buccal surface with an accuracy of = 0.97, a sensitivity of = 1.00, a specificity of 0.95, a predictive value of = 0.95 and a negative predictive value of = 1.00. This was in the female group aged from 40 to 50 years old. CONCLUSION: The tables of this study can be used as an auxiliary for pulp sensitivity tests.

Coupling of Blood Pressure and Subarachnoid Space Oscillations at Cardiac Frequency Evoked by Handgrip and Cold Tests: A Bispectral Analysis.

The aim of the study was to assess blood pressure-subarachnoid space (BP-SAS) width coupling properties using time-frequency bispectral analysis based on wavelet transforms during handgrip and cold tests. The experiments were performed on a group of 16 healthy subjects (F/M; 7/9) of the mean age 27.2 ± 6.8 years and body mass index of 23.8 ± 4.1 kg/m2. The sequence of challenges was first handgrip and then cold test. The handgrip challenge consisted of a 2-min strain, indicated by oral communication from the investigator, at 30% of maximum strength. The cold test consisted of 2 min of hand immersion to approximately wrist level in cold water of 4 °C, verified by a digital thermometer. Each test was preceded by 10 min at baseline and was followed by 10-min recovery recordings. BP and SAS were recorded simultaneously. Three 2-min stages of the procedure, baseline, test, and recovery, were analyzed. We found that BP-SAS coupling was present only at cardiac frequency, while at respiratory frequency both oscillators were uncoupled. Handgrip and cold test failed to affect BP-SAS cardiac-respiratory coupling. We showed similar handgrip and cold test cardiac bispectral coupling for individual subjects. Further studies are required to establish whether the observed intersubject variability concerning the BP-SAS coupling at cardiac frequency has any potential clinical predictive value.

Identification of the Most Appropriate Site for the Cold Test in Molar Teeth / Identificación del sitio más apropiado para la prueba de frío en dientes molares

Abstract A test frequently used to complement endodontic diagnoses is the cold test; however, in the last 20 years, authors have reported incorrect results within pulp sensitivity tests. Specifically, a high frequency of false results in posterior teeth, were found. The aim of this study was to identify the most appropriate site for the cold test in molar teeth with a need for endodontic treatment, calculating predictive values, accuracy and reproducibility. A cross-sectional study was performed, evaluating 390 subjects. A total of 152 subjects of both genders from the ages of 15-65 years old participated. The ideal standard was established by direct pulp inspection, and the cold test agent used was 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane. The patients were divided into four groups in relation to the molar tooth: (1) mandibular first molar, (2) mandibular second molar, (3) maxillary first molar, and (4) maxillary second molar. 169 teeth and 676 sites were studied. (a) The most appropriate sites for cold test were the middle third of the buccal surface and cervical third of the buccal surface in the mandibular molars with the following results: Middle third of the first molar: Accuracy 0.93, positive predictive value 0.90 and negative predictive value 0.96. Middle third of the second molar: Accuracy 0.93, positive predictive value 1.00 and negative predictive value 0.90. In relation to third cervical the results were: First molar: Accuracy 0.93, positive predictive value 0.89 and negative predictive value 0.97 y second molar: Accuracy 0.93, positive predictive value 1.00 and negative predictive value 0.90. (b) The highest reproducibility was observed in the middle third of the buccal surface with cervical third of the buccal surface in the mandibular second molar (1.00). The most appropriate site and reproducibility of the sites are auxiliary to complement endodontic diagnose with the cold test.

Resumen Una prueba frecuentemente utilizada para complementar los diagnósticos endodónticos es la prueba de frío. Sin embargo, en los últimos 20 años, los autores han reportado resultados incorrectos con las pruebas de sensibilidad pulpar. Específicamente, se ha observado una alta frecuencia de resultados falsos en dientes posteriores. El objetivo del estudio fue identificar el sitio más adecuado para la prueba de frío en dientes molares con necesidad de tratamiento endodóntico, calculando valores predictivos, exactitud y reproducibilidad. Se realizó un estudio transversal donde se evaluaron a 390 sujetos. 152 sujetos de ambos sexos de 15 a 65 años cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión. El estándar ideal que se utilizó en el estudio fue la inspección directa de pulpa en la cámara pulpar y la prueba de frío utilizada fue el 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroetano. Los pacientes fueron divididos en cuatro grupos en relación al diente molar: (1) primer molar mandibular, (2) segundo molar mandibular, (3) primer molar maxilar, y (4) segundo molar maxilar. En el estudio se evaluaron 169 dientes con 676 sitios. (a) Los sitios más adecuados para la prueba de frío fueron el tercio medio y el tercio cervical de la superficie bucal en los molares mandibulares con los siguientes resultados: Tercio medio del primer molar: Exactitud 0.93, valor predictivo positivo 0.90 y valor predictivo negativo 0.96. Tercio medio del segundo molar: Exactitud 0.93, valor predictivo positivo 1.00 y valor predictivo negativo 0.90. En relación al tercio cervical los resultados fueron: Primer molar: Exactitud 0.93, valor predictivo positivo 0.89 y valor predictivo negativo 0,97 y segundo molar: Exactitud 0.93, valor predictivo positivo 1.00 y valor predictivo negativo 0.90. (b) La más alta reproducibilidad (1.00) se observó entre el tercio medio con el tercio cervical de la superficie bucal en el segundo molar inferior. El sitio más apropiado y la reproducibilidad de los sitios son auxiliares para complementar el diagnóstico endodóntico con la prueba de frío.

Diagnostic Accuracy of 5 Dental Pulp Tests: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this systematic review was to investigate and compare the diagnostic accuracy including sensitivity, specificity, adjusted accuracy, adjusted positive predictive value (PPV), and adjusted negative predictive value (NPV) of cold pulp testing (CPT), heat pulp testing (HPT), electric pulp testing (EPT), laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), and pulse oximetry (PO). METHODS: Three electronic databases were searched from January 1964 to December 2016. True-positive, false-positive, true-negative, and false-negative values were extracted from data in each study. Sensitivity, specificity, adjusted accuracy, adjusted PPV, and adjusted NPV were calculated from those values, if not presented. A random effects model was used to calculate pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, adjusted accuracy, adjusted PPV, and adjusted NPV. RESULTS: A total of 125 articles were identified, and 28 studies were included for the final review. The pooled estimates of sensitivity for CPT, EPT, HPT, LDF, and PO were 0.87, 0.72, 0.78, 0.98, and 0.97, respectively. Those of specificity were 0.84, 0.93, 0.67, 0.95, and 0.95, respectively. Those of adjusted accuracy were 0.84, 0.82, 0.72, 0.97, and 0.97, respectively. For adjusted PPV, they were 0.81, 0.89, 0.62, 0.94, and 0.94, respectively, and for adjusted NPV, they were 0.87, 0.80, 0.79, 1.00, and 0.99, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: LDF and PO were the most accurate diagnostic methods, and HPT was the least accurate diagnostic method. EPT showed high accuracy when testing vital teeth (specificity = 0.93) but low accuracy when assessing nonvital teeth (sensitivity = 0.72). CPT had moderate accuracy when evaluating vital (specificity = 0.84) and nonvital (sensitivity = 0.87) teeth.

Vascular hyperreactivity in black Cameroonian hypertensive and normotensive patients: a comparative study.

INTRODUCTION: Vascular hyperreactivity is a risk factor and a factor predicting hypertension (high blood pressure). Unlike other continents where several studies were carried out, it has rarely been studied in black Africa in general and in Cameroon in particular. METHODS: Vascular reactivity was measured by the cold test. Vascular hyperreactivity was defined as an increase in blood pressure > 20 mmHg for systolic and/or > 15 mmHg for diastolic. Khi2, Man-Withney, Wilcoxon's signed ranks and logistic regression tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 31 hypertensive and 31 normotensive patients matched by age and sex participated in this study. Vascular hyperreactivity was present in 77.4% hypertensive patients and 51.6% normotensive patients. There was a significant association between vascular hyperreactivity and hypertension [OR = 3.2 (1.07 - 9.63), p = 0.034]. The median arterial pressure was higher in responders compared to non-responders in the normotensive group. Age > 45 years, female sex, obesity and family history of hypertension appeared to be associated with vascular hyperreactivity, but only in normotensive patients. CONCLUSION: Vascular hyperreactivity appears to be a risk factor for high blood pressure in black Cameroonians. It appeared to be associated with low blood pressure, age, sex, obesity and family history of hypertension but this was only in the normotensive.

Comparative study between microvascular tone regulation and rheological properties of blood in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The aim of the study is to investigate the changes of the skin blood flow responses to cold stress in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 through wavelet analysis of the peripheral skin temperature oscillations and to estimate their relationship with the blood viscosity values. The amplitudes of the skin temperature pulsations (ASTP) were monitored by "Microtest" device ("FM-Diagnostics", Russia); the whole blood viscosity and the shear stresses were measured by Contraves LS30 viscometer (Switzerland) at a steady flow in 9 healthy subjects and in 30 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Power law and Herschel-Bulkley (HB) equations were applied to describe the blood rheology. Both models include consistency (k) and flow index (m), and the HB also gives the yield stress (τ0). The Spearman rank correlations between these parameters and the ASTP in the frequency ranges, corresponding to the myogenic, neurogenic and endothelial mechanisms of the microcirculation tone regulation were calculated. The ASTP values decreased when the blood viscosity increased. The correlation analysis revealed good ASTP-m (r > 0.5) and ASTP-k (r < -0.5) relationships in the endothelial range, while the ASTP-τ0 correlation was weaker (r≈-0.4). These correlations became lower for the ASTP during the cold stress. The results prompt manifestation of endothelial dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Validation of a rapid conductimetric test for the measurement of wine tartaric stability.

This work was aimed at optimizing a rapid and reproducible conductivity test for the evaluation of wine tartaric stability, in order to improve the practices for the prevention of tartaric precipitations during bottle aging. The test consists in measuring the drop of conductivity in wines kept under stirring for a fixed time, at low temperature, after the addition of micronized potassium bitartrate crystals (KHT). An experimental design was planned to study three factors affecting the test: temperature, duration and dose of added potassium bitartrate. A standard protocol was defined to produce a micronized potassium bitartrate starting from available commercial products, since the dimensions of the crystals can affect the final conductivity values. After the choice of the best conditions the method was validated. Two different stability thresholds were defined for white wines and for red/rosé wines by comparing the results of the mini-contact test with those of the cold test.

Fiber-based laser speckle imaging for the detection of pulsatile flow.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In endodontics, a major diagnostic challenge is the accurate assessment of pulp status. In this study, we designed and characterized a fiber-based laser speckle imaging system to study pulsatile blood flow in the tooth. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: To take transilluminated laser speckle images of the teeth, we built a custom fiber-based probe. To assess our ability to detect changes in pulsatile flow, we performed in vitro and preliminary in vivo tests on tissue-simulating phantoms and human teeth. We imaged flow of intralipid in a glass microchannel at simulated heart rates ranging from 40 beats/minute (bpm) to 120 bpm (0.67-2.00 Hz). We also collected in vivo data from the upper front incisors of healthy subjects. From the measured raw speckle data, we calculated temporal speckle contrast versus time. With frequency-domain analysis, we identified the frequency components of the contrast waveforms. RESULTS: With our approach, we observed in vitro the presence of pulsatile flow at different simulated heart rates. We characterized simulated heart rate with an accuracy of and >98%. In the in vivo proof-of-principle experiment, we measured heart rates of 69, 90, and 57 bpm, which agreed with measurements of subject heart rate taken with a wearable, commercial pulse oximeter. CONCLUSIONS: We designed, built, and tested the performance of a dental imaging probe. Data from in vitro and in -vivo tests strongly suggest that this probe can detect the presence of pulsatile flow. LSI may enable endodontists to noninvasively assess pulpal vitality via direct measurement of blood flow.

The success rate of bupivacaine and lidocaine as anesthetic agents in inferior alveolar nerve block in teeth with irreversible pulpitis without spontaneous pain.

OBJECTIVES: Achieving adequate anesthesia with inferior alveolar nerve blocks (IANB) is of great importance during dental procedures. The aim of the present study was to assess the success rate of two anesthetic agents (bupivacaine and lidocaine) for IANB when treating teeth with irreversible pulpitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty volunteer male and female patients who required root canal treatment of a mandibular molar due to caries participated in the present study. The inclusion criteria included prolonged pain to thermal stimulus but no spontaneous pain. The patients were randomly allocated to receive either 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine or 0.5% bupivacaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine as an IANB injection. The sensitivity of the teeth to a cold test as well as the amount of pain during access cavity preparation and root canal instrumentation were recorded. Results were statistically analyzed with the Chi-Square and Fischer's exact tests. RESULTS: At the final step, fifty-nine patients were included in the study. The success rate for bupivacaine and lidocaine groups were 20.0% and 24.1%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups at any stage of the treatment procedure. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in success rates of anesthesia when bupivacaine and lidocaine were used for IANB injections to treat mandibular molar teeth with irreversible pulpitis. Neither agent was able to completely anesthetize the teeth effectively. Therefore, practitioners should be prepared to administer supplemental anesthesia to overcome pain during root canal treatment.

The success rate of bupivacaine and lidocaine as anesthetic agents in inferior alveolar nerve block in teeth with irreversible pulpitis without spontaneous pain

OBJECTIVES: Achieving adequate anesthesia with inferior alveolar nerve blocks (IANB) is of great importance during dental procedures. The aim of the present study was to assess the success rate of two anesthetic agents (bupivacaine and lidocaine) for IANB when treating teeth with irreversible pulpitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty volunteer male and female patients who required root canal treatment of a mandibular molar due to caries participated in the present study. The inclusion criteria included prolonged pain to thermal stimulus but no spontaneous pain. The patients were randomly allocated to receive either 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine or 0.5% bupivacaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine as an IANB injection. The sensitivity of the teeth to a cold test as well as the amount of pain during access cavity preparation and root canal instrumentation were recorded. Results were statistically analyzed with the Chi-Square and Fischer's exact tests. RESULTS: At the final step, fifty-nine patients were included in the study. The success rate for bupivacaine and lidocaine groups were 20.0% and 24.1%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups at any stage of the treatment procedure. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in success rates of anesthesia when bupivacaine and lidocaine were used for IANB injections to treat mandibular molar teeth with irreversible pulpitis. Neither agent was able to completely anesthetize the teeth effectively. Therefore, practitioners should be prepared to administer supplemental anesthesia to overcome pain during root canal treatment.

The success rate of bupivacaine and lidocaine as anesthetic agents in inferior alveolar nerve block in teeth with irreversible pulpitis without spontaneous pain

OBJECTIVES: Achieving adequate anesthesia with inferior alveolar nerve blocks (IANB) is of great importance during dental procedures. The aim of the present study was to assess the success rate of two anesthetic agents (bupivacaine and lidocaine) for IANB when treating teeth with irreversible pulpitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty volunteer male and female patients who required root canal treatment of a mandibular molar due to caries participated in the present study. The inclusion criteria included prolonged pain to thermal stimulus but no spontaneous pain. The patients were randomly allocated to receive either 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine or 0.5% bupivacaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine as an IANB injection. The sensitivity of the teeth to a cold test as well as the amount of pain during access cavity preparation and root canal instrumentation were recorded. Results were statistically analyzed with the Chi-Square and Fischer's exact tests. RESULTS: At the final step, fifty-nine patients were included in the study. The success rate for bupivacaine and lidocaine groups were 20.0% and 24.1%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups at any stage of the treatment procedure. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in success rates of anesthesia when bupivacaine and lidocaine were used for IANB injections to treat mandibular molar teeth with irreversible pulpitis. Neither agent was able to completely anesthetize the teeth effectively. Therefore, practitioners should be prepared to administer supplemental anesthesia to overcome pain during root canal treatment.