Stress Induced Oral Behaviors and Facial Pain

Facial pain is frequently associated with environmental stress and emotional distress. One hypothetical mechanism by which stress is translated into pain is through stress induced motor function (e.g., teeth clenching, grinding, nail biting). Existent data partially supports these stress-hyperactivity models although they have also come under theoretical and empirical attack. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between oral behaviors and pain in an analog sample of facial pain sufferers and student controls. Subjects engaged in a controlled clenching task and reported on subjective facial pain intensity and unpleasantness at 5 specified times over the subsequent 48 hours. A one-way ANCOVA indicated group differences in self reported oral habits (p < .05) with the facial pain group reporting great frequency of oral habits. Two repeated measures ANCOVAs (i.e., pain intensity and pain unpleasantness), controlling for baseline pain ratings, indicated a between groups effect with facial pain sufferers experiencing significantly greater pain over the 48 hours postexperiment (p < .05). This study supports a hyperactivity model of facial pain and provides clues about relevant factors in facial pain development.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43976/1/10771_2004_Article_291388.pd

Cancer history and other personal factors affect quality of life in patients with hepatitis C

BACKGROUND: Although patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) have been found to have reduced quality of life, little is known about how other characteristics affect their quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of other characteristics, including history of cancer, on quality of life in patients with CHC. METHODS: One hundred forty patients from clinics at three hospitals in New York City completed a detailed epidemiologic interview about demographic and lifestyle characteristics and the SF-36 measuring health-related quality of life. We compared results from our patients to normative data using t-tests of differences between means. We used multivariate analyses to determine other personal and health-related factors associated with quality of life outcomes. RESULTS: Compared to normative data, these patients had reduced quality of life, particularly on physical functioning. The summary Physical Component Score (PCS) was 45.4 ± 10.6 and the Mental Component Score (MCS) was 48.2 ± 11.1, vs norms of 50 ± 10.0; p-values were <0.0001 and <0.05, respectively. In multivariate analyses, the PCS was significantly lower among those with cancer history, ≥ 2 other chronic conditions, less education, low physical activity, and higher alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Cancer was more important for men, while other chronic conditions were more important for women. On the MCS, history of depression, low physical activity, alcohol use, and female gender were independently associated with poorer scores. CONCLUSION: Several health and lifestyle factors independently influence quality of life in CHC patients. Different factors are important for men and women

Experimental osteoarthritis induced by selective myectomy and tendotomy

A new model of osteoarthritis has been developed that utilizes an extraarticular surgical technique to alter gait and weight-bearing capabilities in the hind limbs of experimental animals. Guinea pigs, averaging 650 gm in weight, were subjected to unilateral resection of a segment of the gluteal muscles at the sacral origin, to section of the infrapatellar ligament, or to both procedures. Progressive changes consistent with osteoarthritis developed over 10–24 weeks as judged by gross, radiologic, and microscopic findings. In addition, an increase in mean cartilage water content and 35 SO 4 −2 incorporation into proteoglycans by 10 and 14 weeks, respectively, were consistent with the chemical changes observed in early osteoarthritis. Abnormalities developed not only in the operated hind limb, but in the contralateral, unoperated hind limb at a slightly later time. Thus, this animal model provided the opportunity to evaluate a mild gait abnormality and other biomechanical influences on the evolution of osteoarthritis which is uninfluenced by any intraarticular joint trauma.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/37774/1/1780290214_ftp.pd

A global bond: Explaining the safe-haven status of US Treasury securities

This article offers new theoretical and empirical insights to explain the resilience of US Treasury securities as the world’s premier safe or “risk-free” asset. The standard explanation of resilience emphasizes the relative safety of US Treasuries due to a shortage of safe assets in the global political economy. The analysis here goes beyond the standard explanation to highlight the importance of domestic politics in reinforcing the safe status of US Treasury securities. In particular, the research shows how a formidable “bond” of interests unites domestic and foreign owners of the public debt and works to sustain US power in global finance. Foreigners, who now own roughly half of the US public debt, have something to gain from their domestic counterparts. The top 1% of US households, which dominate domestic ownership of US Treasuries, has considerable political clout, thus alleviating foreign concerns about the creditworthiness of the US federal government. Domestic owners, in turn, benefit from the seemingly insatiable foreign appetite for US Treasury securities. In supplying the US federal government and US households with cheap credit, foreign investors in US Treasuries help to deflect challenges to the top 1% within the wealth and income hierarchy

Regeneration of goldfish retina: Rod precursors are a likely source of regenerated cells

This study describes regeneration of the neural retina in juvenile goldfish. The retina was destroyed with an intraocular injection of ouabain, a technique introduced by Wolburg and colleagues (Maier and Wolburg, 1979; Kurz-Isler and Wolburg, 1982). We confirmed their observation that the level of damage produced by the toxin was graded, in that neurons in the inner retinal layers were preferentially destroyed, and only in the more severely affected retinas were cells in the outer nuclear layer (i.e., photoreceptor cells) damaged. Evidence of retinal regeneration could be seen beginning about 2 weeks after the injection of ouabain. In contrast to previous studies (Maier and Wolburg, 1979), we found that regeneration took place only in those retinas in which photoreceptors had been destroyed. In cases in which the outer nuclear layer was spared, no regeneration of inner layers occurred, even after 6 months. Thymidine autoradiography was used to document the regeneration of new retinal neurons and to show that rod precursors, like other dividing cells, were not destroyed by the oubain, but in contrast showed an increased mitotic activity. Regeneration did not proceed uniformly, but was initiated at neurogenic foci scattered across the retina. These foci consisted of clusters of dividing neuroepithelial-like cells. The evidence is consistent with the proposal that these cells were derived from rod precursors. These results imply that rod precursors are capable of a wider range of developmental fates than they normally express.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/50078/1/480190504_ftp.pd

Extensive Lower Cretaceous (Albian) methane seepage on Ellef Ringnes Island, Canadian High Arctic

During field mapping of Ellef Ringnes Island, Canadian Arctic Archipelago, 139 isolated Lower Cretaceous methane seep deposits were found from 75 field sites. Stable isotopes of the carbonates have values of δ13C= -47‰ to -35‰ and δ18O= -4.0‰ to +0.7‰. Isoprenoids in organics from one of the seeps are significantly depleted in 13C, with the most negative δ13C of = -118 ‰ and -113 ‰ for PMI and phytane/crocetane, respectively. These values indicate an origin through methane oxidation, consistent with biomarkers that are characteristic for anaerobic methanotrophic archaea within the seep deposits, accompanied by terminally-branched fatty acids sourced by sulphate-reducing bacteria, showing similar 13C values (-92‰). The seep deposits contain a moderate diversity macrofaunal assemblage containing ammonites, bivalves, gastropods, scaphopods, ‘vestimentiferan’ worm tubes and brachiopods. The assemblage is dominated numerically by species that probably had chemosymbionts. The seep deposits formed in the subsurface with strong redox zones, in an otherwise normal marine setting, characterised by oxic waters at high paleolatitudes. While geographically widespread, over an area of ~10,000 km2, seep deposits on Ellef Ringnes Island occur in a narrow stratigraphic horizon, suggesting a large release of biogenic methane occurred over a brief period of time. This gas release was coincident with a transition from a cold to warm climate during the latest Early Albian, and we hypothetize that this may relate to gas hydrate release

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplementation to treat symptomatic disc degeneration: Biochemical rationale and case report

BACKGROUND: Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate preparations are widely used as food supplements against osteoarthritis, but critics are skeptical about their efficacy, because of the lack of convincing clinical trials and a reasonable scientific rationale for the use of these nutraceuticals. Most trials were on osteoarthritis of the knee, while virtually no documentation exists on spinal disc degeneration. The purpose of this article is to highlight the potential of these food additives against cartilage degeneration in general, and against symptomatic spinal disc degeneration in particular, as is illustrated by a case report. The water content of the intervertebral disc is a reliable measure of its degeneration/ regeneration status, and can be objectively determined by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) signals. CASE PRESENTATION: Oral intake of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for two years associated with disk recovery (brightening of MRI signal) in a case of symptomatic spinal disc degeneration. We provide a biochemical explanation for the possible efficacy of these nutraceuticals. They are bioavailable to cartilage chondrocytes, may stimulate the biosynthesis and inhibit the breakdown of their extracellular matrix proteoglycans. CONCLUSION: The case suggests that long-term glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate intake may counteract symptomatic spinal disc degeneration, particularly at an early stage. However, definite proof requires well-conducted clinical trials with these food supplements, in which disc de-/regeneration can be objectively determined by MRI. A number of biochemical reasons (that mechanistically need to be further resolved) explain why these agents may have cartilage structure- and symptom-modifying effects, suggesting their therapeutic efficacy against osteoarthritis in general