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Biomedical subjects

M M Winkler

Publications and source records attributed to M M Winkler.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Comparison of four techniques for monitoring the setting kinetics of gypsum.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Setting time of gypsum depends on the method of measurement. PURPOSE: In this study, four methods for ascertaining the setting time of gypsum were compared. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Gypsum setting was evaluated with Gillmore needles, setting expansion, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction. Both die stone (Vel-Mix) and fast-setting dental stone (Snap-Stone) were investigated. By using Gillmore needles, both initial set and final set were recorded. Setting expansion was monitored until equilibrium was achieved. For scanning electron microscopy, samples of mixed stone were immersed into liquid nitrogen to stop the reaction. The water was subsequently removed by freeze-drying. Samples were then examined in a scanning electron microscope. For x-ray diffraction, the percentages of dihydrate and hemihydrate crystals were monitored every 1.5 minutes. RESULTS: Setting times for the fast-setting type III stone and for the regular-setting type IV stone were approximately 3 and 10 minutes, respectively, with the Gillmore needle indentation tests; 10 and 20 minutes with scanning electron microscopy; and 20 and 60 minutes with x-ray diffraction. CONCLUSION: Scanning electron microscopy, setting expansion, and x-ray diffraction indicated changes that occurred at times after a clinically relevant set was obtained in the gypsum setting reaction.

Calcium Sulfate↗
PubMed1996

Stress analysis of a bulk-filled Class-V chemical-cured dental composite restoration.

Clinical problems associated with the polymerization shrinkage of dental composite restorations include tooth sensitivity, crown fracture, discoloration, recurrent decay, and loss of restoration. Our goal was to determine whether these complications could be attributed to the transient stresses developed during contraction. Thus, a finite element model was used to calculate the transitory deformations and composite-tooth interface stresses produced during the shrinkage of a chemical-cured ideal Class-V composite restoration. It was found that the interface stress peaks moved with the polymerization front, and that in some instances, their intermediate magnitudes were higher than the final, fully cured, values. Therefore, the results indicate that clinical failure may be related to these transitory changes during the polymerization process.

Dental Materials↗
PubMed1996

A comparative biomechanical analysis of resorbable rigid fixation versus titanium rigid fixation of metacarpal fractures.

Linear (two-dimensional) and three-dimensional (3D) plating systems (Poly-Medics) composed of the resorbable copolymer of polyglycolic acid (PGA) and poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) (Lactosorb) were studied in vitro. The plates were applied to osteotomized fresh frozen human cadaveric metacarpal bones that were then tested for torsional rigidity and three-point bending strength and rigidity. The results were compared to those from another study of two low-profile titanium plating systems (Leibinger and Synthes). Analysis of variance revealed that the linear-flat Lactosorb plate and screws had apex dorsal rigidity and force-to-displacement measurements equal to all but two of the titanium plates (3D). The 3D-flat Lactosorb plate had the highest torsional rigidity of the resorbable system, but it was only moderately rigid compared to the titanium plating systems. This in vitro biomechanical study of the copolymer PGA-PLLA plating system indicates that, in clinical applications, it may be better suited for metacarpal fractures rather than proximal phalangeal fractures due to the lower demands of torsional loading compared to apex bending.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1996

An accurate and simple method for the measurement of dental composite wear.

This study describes a relatively simple mechanical technique for measuring occlusal wear at the margin of dental restorations. The device was essentially a custom profilometer which consisted of a linear variable differential transformer with its core supported by double cantilever springs, a specially shaped stylus, a motor driven microscopic stage, custom computer software utilizing a colour coding to separate differences in slope, and a cross-hair-shaped mouse cursor to differentiate the boundary of wear. Two sets of visual standard stone casts were evaluated. The first set consisted of 17 stone replicas of machined steel dies and the second set consisted of five clinical casts, which have been used to measure the wear of composite restorations by direct vision. The reproducibility found when measuring the stone replicas of the machined steel dies was 2 microns, while, for the clinical standards, it was 16 microns.

Calcium Sulfate↗
PubMed1996

Visual versus mechanical wear measurement of dental composite resin.

This study compares a visual method for measuring composite wear with a relatively inexpensive mechanical technique. The visual measurements used a set of 17 graduated stone standards as the reference. Two sets of 10 unknown casts were evaluated. The first was a set of 10 stone replicas selected from the reference set in the range of 25-250 microns. The second set was composed of 10 casts of clinical restorations. The mechanical test employed a computer-controlled custom profilometer. Depth was recorded at 50 equidistant positions around the margin. A significant correlation was found (r > 0.98) between the visual and mechanical means for both measurement techniques. Mean values were equivalent for the standard casts. However, visual estimation of the clinical casts were significantly lower (61% of mechanical values) and thus not accurate for clinical use.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1996

Finite element stress analysis of three filling techniques for class V light-cured composite restorations.

An important disadvantage of current dental resin composites is polymerization shrinkage. This shrinkage has clinical repercussions such as sensitivity, marginal discoloration, and secondary caries. The objective of this study was to compare three filling techniques in terms of the transient stresses induced at the resin composite/tooth interface during polymerization. The techniques were: bulk filling (B), three horizontal increments (HI), and three wedge increments (WI). A simple Class V cavity preparation was modeled in finite element analysis. Polymerization shrinkage was simulated by a thermal stress analogy, thereby causing 1% shrinkage due to an arbitrary coefficient of thermal expansion. Interface normal and shear stresses were calculated at nine steps during polymerization, proceeding from 0% to 100% volume of cured resin. The importance of the interface transient stresses was revealed by the finding that, in most cases, their peak values exceeded the final or residual stress. Also, the WI and B techniques consistently exhibited the highest and lowest maximum transient stresses, respectively. These results from the simple model of a Class V restoration suggest that bulk filling of light-cured resin composites should be used in restorations which are sufficiently shallow to be cured to their full depth.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1996

Using a resin-modified glass ionomer as an occlusal sealant: a one-year clinical study.

The authors compared the retention and clinical performance of a resin-modified glass ionomer, or RMGI, restorative and a light-cured resin sealant. The first permanent molars on one side of the dental arch in 50 children were sealed with an RMGI, and the same teeth on the other side were sealed with a resin sealant. At baseline, six months after placement and one year after placement, examiners documented sealant retention, secondary caries, marginal discrepancy and marginal staining. In general, the RMGI appeared to wear markedly. At one year, the retention of the RMGI was significantly less than the resin, but the RMGI had significantly fewer marginal discrepancies. There were no significant differences in caries development or marginal discoloration.

Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate↗
PubMed1995

Freeze-drying and scanning electron microscopy of setting dental gypsum.

OBJECTIVES: The initial and final forms of reactive gypsum products have been photomicrographed previously. However, the purpose of this project was to document the microscopic morphology of setting dental stone at various stages during the reaction. METHODS: Two dental products, a conventional (Type IV) die stone and a fast-setting (Type III) stone, were investigated. At selected times ranging from 1 min to 24 h after mechanically mixing the stone under vacuum, the conversion of calcium sulfate hemihydrate to a dihydrate was suspended by immersion into liquid nitrogen. Water was immediately removed by freeze-drying the specimen to prevent any further reaction so that the specimen could be returned to room temperature for examination in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). RESULTS: Crystal formation appeared to be nearly complete at the 20 min interval for the die stone and at the 10 min interval for the fast-setting dental stone. Transitions noted during these times include the nucleation and growth of small needle-like crystals on and near the larger prismatic-shaped hemihydrate crystals, the concurrent decrease in size and number of the hemihydrate crystals, and the progressive entanglement of the growing dihydrate crystals. SIGNIFICANCE: The two-step process of suspending the reaction, then freeze-drying the specimen made it possible to observe and document the intermediate stages during crystal growth of dental stone. These observations should be helpful in understanding the structural dynamics of crystal growth during the setting of gypsum dental products. This procedure should be applicable to the study of other water-based dental materials.

Calcium Sulfate↗
PubMed1995

An in vivo evaluation of adhesives used in extraoral maxillofacial prostheses.

PURPOSE: This investigation introduces percent adherent area and 10-minute and 8-hour peel-strength values as an in vivo evaluation of three popular maxillofacial prosthetic adhesives when used with three extraoral prosthetic polymers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Specimens of Silastic MDX 4-4210, Silastic Medical Adhesive A (Dow Corning Corporation, Midland, MI), and Silicone A-2186 (Factor II, Inc, Lakeside, AZ) were adhered to 25 subjects' arms using Secure Medical Adhesive (Factor II, Inc), Pros-Aide Adhesive (ADM Tronics Inc, Northvale, NJ), and Hollister Colostomy Adhesive (Hollister Inc, Libertyville, IL). After 10 minutes, the peel strength required to remove the specimens was measured. Additional specimens were then adhered to the subjects and worn for 8 hours. The nonadherent areas of the specimens were then marked, the peel strength was measured again, and then the percent adherent area was calculated. RESULTS: Hollister Colostomy Adhesive showed greater 10-minute peel-strength values when used with Silastic Medical Adhesive A. The peel-strength values of the Hollister Colostomy Adhesive when used with Silastic MDX 4-4210 increased with time. The greatest percent adherent area was obtained with Silastic MDX 4-4210 using Pros-Aide Adhesive, and the lowest was obtained with Pros-Aide Adhesive using Silicone A-2186 and Silastic Medical Adhesive A. CONCLUSIONS: There was no clearly superior adhesive/prosthetic material combination based on the tests used in this study; however, individual skin variations between patients affect the adhesive properties.

Adhesiveness↗
PubMed1995

pTRIPLEscript: a novel cloning vector for generating in vitro transcripts from tandem promoters for SP6, T7 and T3 RNA polymerase.

We have constructed a family of novel in vitro transcription vectors in which functional T3, T7 and SP6 RNA polymerase promoters are arranged in tandem and directed towards a multiple cloning site. This prototype vector, named pTRIPLEscript, permits the transcription of one strand of a DNA insert by any of the three commonly used bacteriophage RNA polymerases with no apparent cross talk, i.e., use of the wrong promoter sequence. The vector has two main uses: (i) to clone probe sequences that will be distributed to many laboratories, allowing the use of the most convenient RNA polymerase; and (ii) to circumvent the problem of RNA polymerase-dependent premature termination.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Correlation of bond strength with surface roughness using a new roughness measurement technique.

OBJECTIVES: The correlation between shear bond strength and surface roughness was investigated using new surface measurement methods. METHODS: Bonding agents and associated resin composites were applied to set amalgam after mechanically roughening its surface. Surface treatments were noe (as set against glass), 80 grit, and 600 grit abrasive paper. Surface roughness (R(a) as measured parallel and perpendicular (+) to the direction of the polishing scratches and true profile length were measured. A knife-edge was applied (rate = 2.54 mm/min) at the bonding agent/amalgam interface of each sample until failure. RESULTS: Coefficients of determination for mean bond strength vs either roughness (R(a), of profile length were significantly higher for measurements in parallel directions than for those measurements in (+) directions. The shear bond strength to set amalgam for a PENTA-containing adhesives system (L.D. Caulk Division) was not significantly different from that of a PENTA-free adhesive (3M Dental Products Division), even though PENTA has been reported to increase bond strength to nonprecious metals. SIGNIFICANCE: The shear bond strength of resin composite to amalgam is correlated to surface roughness when it is measured parallel to the polishing scratches. This correlation is significantly lower when surface roughness is measured in the typical manner, perpendicular to the polishing scratches.

Dental Alloys↗
PubMed1994

Stress analysis of a bulk-filled Class V light-cured composite restoration.

Clinical failures are often associated with the polymerization shrinkage of resin composite restorative materials. These problems include tooth sensitivity and fracture, marginal leakage, loss of the restoration, and recurrent decay. Our goal was to examine transient composite distortions and interface stresses as a bulk-filled light-cured composite polymerized in a Class V restoration. The analysis was based on a finite element model. The curing of the restoration was divided into 4 steps: approximately 1/30, 1/4, 1/2, and full depth (1/1) of cure. Since the actual curing pattern is not known, calculations were performed for three hypothetical (flat, convex, and concave) polymerization front shapes. The calculations showed that the assumed shape was a critical factor in determining cured surface deformations. For example, the initial cure depth (1/30) resulted in a surface bulge if the polymerization front was presumed convex, while the concave front resulted in a large intrusion. By the time that about 1/2 the depth of the restoration was cured, the differences were essentially gone. The final surface outline was intruded. Interface stresses in the curing restoration were qualitatively similar regardless of the assumed polymerization shape. As with surface distortions, the stresses changed with curing depth. It was concluded that (1) transient events during polymerization are possible contributors to clinical complications, and (2) more must be known about the polymerization pattern.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1993

Sea urchin maternal mRNA classes with distinct development regulation.

Previous studies of newly synthesized proteins during early development in sea urchins have revealed several different patterns of synthesis that can be used to predict the existence of mRNA classes with distinct regulatory controls. We have identified clones for abundant maternal mRNAs that are actively translated during early development by screening a cDNA library prepared from polysomal poly(A)+RNA isolated from 2-cell stage (2-hour) Strongylocentrotus purpuratus embryos. Probes prepared from these cDNA clones and several previously characterized maternal mRNA cDNAs were used to compare relative levels of individual mRNAs in eggs and embryos and their translational status at various developmental stages. These abundant mRNAs can be classified into two major groups which we have termed cleavage stage-specific (CSS) and post cleavage stage (PCS) mRNAs. The relative levels of the CSS mRNAs are highest during the rapid cleavage stage and decrease dramatically at the blastula stage (12-hours). In contrast, PCS mRNAs are present at relatively low levels during the rapid cleavage stage and then increase at the blastula stage. Polysome partition profiles reveal that CSS mRNAs are translated more efficiently than PCS mRNAs in the unfertilized egg, at fertilization, and during the cleavage stages. Following the blastula stage, some CSS transcripts move out of polysomes and accumulate as untranslated RNAs, while newly transcribed PCS mRNAs are recruited into polysomes. These data suggest that the rapid cell cycles following fertilization require high levels of specific cleavage stage proteins, and the synthesis of these proteins occurs preferentially over PCS mRNAs.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Fractal dimension analysis of aluminum oxide particle for sandblasting dental use.

Aluminum oxide particles are commonly used as a sandblasting media, particularly in dentistry, for multiple purposes including divesting the casting investment materials and increasing effective surface area for enhancing the mechanical retention strengths of succeedingly applied fired porcelain or luting cements. Usually fine aluminum oxide particles are recycled within the sandblasting machine. Ceramics such as aluminum oxides are brittle, therefore, some portions of recycling aluminum oxide particles might be brittle fractured. If fractured sandblasting particles are involved in the recycling media, it might result in irregularity metallic materials surface as well as the recycling sandblasting media itself be contaminated. Hence, it is necessary from both clinical and practical reasons to monitor the particle conditions in terms of size/shape and effectiveness of sandblasting, so that sandblasting dental prostheses can be fabricated in optimum and acceptable conditions. In the present study, the effect of recycling aluminum oxide particles on the surface texture of metallic materials was evaluated by Fractal Dimension Analysis (FDA). Every week the alumina powder was sampled and analyzed for weight fraction and contaminants. Surface texture of sandblasted standard samples was also characterized by FDA. Results indicate very little change in particle size, while the fractal dimension increased. Fractal dimension analysis showed that the aluminum oxide particle as a sandblasting media should be replaced after 30 or 40 min of total accumulated operation time.

Air Pressure↗
PubMed1991

Non-linear in vitro wear of posterior composites with time.

Several clinical studies have found the wear rate of posterior composites to be nonlinear, with greater wear occurring initially. This relationship and its causes were sought in an in vitro test that used the Taber Abraser. Three commercial composites--Marathon, Occlusin, and P-30--were tested. Sixteen cured samples of each were initially finished with 600-grit paper and then abraded by medium-grit wheels for 30,000 cycles. Periodically, the weight losses were recorded and then converted to volume losses. Analysis included comparison of volume losses per 5000-cycle interval and comparison of first derivatives (wear rate) and second derivatives of the best-fit second-order regression line. Significant differences (p less than 0.05), as analyzed by ANOVA, were consistently realized between the volume losses for the first interval and those for subsequent intervals. Rank, with regard to wear resistance, depended on whether volume loss or initial wear rate was compared. The Taber Abraser did show non-linear trends similar to those observed clinically. Initial surface preparation, which apparently contributes to the greater early wear rates recorded in this in vitro study, may also be a factor clinically.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1991

'Unmasking' of stored maternal mRNAs and the activation of protein synthesis at fertilization in sea urchins.

The isolation and in vitro assay of maternal mRNPs has led to differing conclusions as to whether maternal mRNAs in sea urchin eggs are in a repressed or 'masked' form. To circumvent the problems involved with in vitro approaches, we have used an in vivo assay to determine if the availability of mRNA and/or components of the translational machinery are limiting protein synthesis in the unfertilized egg. This assay involves the use of a protein synthesis elongation inhibitor to create a situation in the egg in which there is excess translational machinery available to bind mRNA. Eggs were fertilized and the rate of entry into polysomes of individual mRNAs was measured in inhibitor-treated and control embryos using 32P-labeled cDNA probes. The fraction of ribosomes in polysomes and the polysome size were also determined. The results from this in vivo approach provide strong evidence for the coactivation of both mRNAs and components of the translational machinery following fertilization. The average polysome size increases from 7.5 ribosomes per message in 15 min embryos to approximately 10.8 ribosomes in 2 h embryos. This result gives additional support to the idea that translational machinery, as well as mRNA, is activated following fertilization. We also found that individual mRNAs are recruited into polysomes with different kinetics, and that the fraction of an mRNA in polysomes in the unfertilized egg correlates with the rate at which that mRNA is recruited into polysomes following fertilization.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Counterproductive transcriptional and translational regulation of elongation factor 1-alpha synthesis during early development in sea urchins.

We have isolated a cDNA clone encoding elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1-alpha) and used probes prepared from this cDNA to measure levels of EF1-alpha transcripts during early development. We also determined the fraction of EF1-alpha transcripts in polysomes during this time period. Following the blastula stage there is a sharp increase in the amount of EF1-alpha mRNA. This pattern of accumulation is similar to other previously described sea urchin mRNAs. However, while the level of EF1-alpha mRNA is increasing, the fraction of EF1-alpha mRNA in polysomes decreases. Thus, there is an apparently counter-productive decrease in efficiency of recruitment into polysomes occurring concurrently with an increase in the overall amount of EF1-alpha mRNA.

Animals↗