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Biomedical subjects

P Weinstein

Publications and source records attributed to P Weinstein.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Longitudinal evaluation of a self-inspection plaque index in periodontal recall patients.

This paper presents a controlled clinical trial to compare the effects of 2 programs for maintenance of oral hygiene after periodontal treatment. Oral hygiene instruction using a self-inspection plaque index was compared to traditional instruction using professional monitoring of disclosed plaque. 31 periodontal recall patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups. 15 patients in the self-inspection group were provided a manual that taught scoring of disclosed plaque on 6 teeth, a lighted dental mirror, and disclosing wafers. 16 patients in the traditional group were shown disclosed plaque in their own mouths, and were given feedback regarding oral hygiene skills. Instruction was given initially, at 2 weeks, at 1.5 months and at 3 months. The teeth were scaled at the start and at 3 months. Disclosed dentogingival plaque (before and after brushing), gingival bleeding on probing, and oral hygiene skills were assessed at 0, 1.5, 3 and 6 months. Initial mean plaque scores for only the self-inspection group decreased significantly at 1.5 months and were maintained throughout the study; however differences between groups were not observed at any time except at baseline. Gingival bleeding scores were low throughout the study for both groups. Results provide some evidence for the effectiveness of self-evaluation of disclosed plaque as a means for improving oral hygiene behavior in already-motivated patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Cultural perceptions of pain and pain coping among patients and dentists.

A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods were developed to describe pain and pain coping perceptions of 25 Chinese, 25 Anglo-Americans and 35 Scandinavians (54 patients and 21 dentists). Results revealed universal dimensions of pain such as time, intensity, location, quality, cause and curability. More culture-specific dimensions included the Chinese concept suantong, a multivariate concept of bone, muscle, joint, tooth and gingival pain. "Real" and "imagined" pains were mostly described by Western subjects, especially dentists; "imagined pain" being the conversion of fear or anxiety into perceived pain. These data indicate that the methods were sensitive to culture as a variable and indicate that ethnicity may play a stronger role in the perceptions of pain description than does professional socialization, but that professional socialization processes may have more influence on the perception of pain coping modes for this sample population.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1986

Acute experimental cerebral ischemia: MR enhancement using Gd-DTPA.

The effects of a paramagnetic contrast agent, gadolinium-DTPA (Gd-DTPA), on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of acute cerebral ischemia was investigated in a feline model of middle cerebral artery occlusion. Imaging was performed both before and after administration of an intravenous dose of 0.2 mmol/kg of Gd-DTPA. The animals were then sacrificed for pathologic correlation. No changes in intensity or relaxation times were noted before or after Gd-DTPA administration in two animals with 2 hours of occlusion. Infarcts were noted before and after contrast enhancement in all six cats with ischemia of greater than 16-hours duration. Gd-DTPA caused significant increase in intensity of infarct but not in that of normal cerebral tissue. Rapid enhancement was visible in infarcts of 16-24 hours, but such enhancement was slower in infarcts of 72-168 hours, presumably owing to slowed inflow caused by increased vasogenic edema in the latter group. Contrast enhancement of acute cerebral ischemic lesions with Gd-DTPA offers no improvement in sensitivity of MR imaging, although the conspicuity of the lesion may be improved. Additionally, contrast media may provide potential temporal and pathophysiological data for better characterization of cerebral ischemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Therapeutic effects of disulfiram in spinal cord contusion of rabbits.

The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate methods to prevent the development of the immediate and delayed tissue damage in the injured spinal cord by early drug (disulfiram) interference with the molecular mechanism of tissue injury. The edematous inflammation as well as change in the levels and distribution of metallic ions like calcium following spinal cord contusion is known to contribute to the destructive process. A contusion model was applied in the spinal cord of rabbits using a pneumatic impactor. The effect of the systemically administered drug, disulfiram, in the traumatized spinal cord was determined by assaying the tissue water and Ca2+ contents at different locations of the spinal cord. A significant increase in the levels of the assayed parameters at the injured site of the spinal cord is markedly reduced by the pretreatment with disulfiram.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Psychophysiological responses to dental injections.

Dentists frequently change local anesthetic formulations on the basis of a patient's experience of adverse effects. Frequently, less effective anesthetics are selected because a lack of understanding exists regarding the nature of untoward events. This may exacerbate the problem. Allergic reactions are overreported, whereas fear responses frequently are unrecognized. This article outlines the clinical problem of adverse reactions to local anesthetics in dental practice. Clinical recommendations based on proper diagnosis are provided to prevent recurrence of the problem.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Quality assurance and the role of self-evaluation and continuing education.

Optimal practice competency requires planned change. Self-evaluation, goal-setting, planning and implementing change, and continual evaluation are required to keep a practice at its best. In this article, the authors recommend steps toward regular self-assessment and new sources of information and advice.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1984

Further studies on the effect of chronic alpha-methyldopa administration upon the central nervous system and sexual function in male rats.

Previous studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that alpha-methyldopa, a potent inhibitor of catecholamine synthesis, reduced both libido and erectile function in sexually mature male rats as it does in humans. In this report, those studies were extended to identify the drug's effect upon catecholamine content in the brain, spinal cord and penile erectile tissue in mature male rats. Because many men report that the adverse effects of alpha-methyldopa upon their sexual performance continue after withdrawal from the drug, a 2nd group of animals was retested after the drug was stopped. Results of the group I study showed diminished copulatory and erectile activity as well as penile and brain norepinephrine content. In the group II rats there was a continued significant reduction in erectile and copulatory activity. At the same time, brain, spinal cord and penile tissue content of norepinephrine returned to normal levels. In another experiment an alpha 2-receptor antagonist was administered with alpha-methyldopa and no inhibition of the effects of alpha-methyldopa was observed. These findings imply that the effect of alpha-methyldopa on sexual function is mediated in the central nervous system as an abnormality of receptor function.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

The union of dental behavioral and clinical science: educational and research prospectives.

It has been argued that behavioral scientists too wedded to their disciplines are merely interlopers in dentistry. According to this argument, these individuals see dentistry as a laboratory for investigation but care little for the problems faced by clinicians. No doubt this has been true in some cases. However, since the growth of the discipline of behavioral medicine in the 1970s, a substantial number of behavioral scientists have been attracted to the basic problems of clinical science. These individuals have neither been seeking the role of part-time questionnaire designer, programmer, or statistician, nor are they simply seeking a laboratory for their studies. Academicians involved in behavioral medicine are genuinely interested in clinical phenomena in the healing sciences. The collaboration of behavioral scientists and clinical dental investigators has much to offer. The isolated clinician collecting data without methodological rigor is unlikely to make a major contribution. Behavioral scientists can add, beyond technical expertise, to the methodology or logic of the investigator. Moreover, the behavioral scientist and clinician may produce an enhanced understanding of behavioral factors important in clinical practice. This model for research also has implications for teaching and service. Courses integrating behavioral and clinical science can be offered based on the results of the collaborative research. Clinics employing both professional groups can use this knowledge to treat dental fear, TMJ disorders, and other problems effectively. Careful recruitment and training of behavioral scientists with research skills is needed.

Behavioral Sciences↗
PubMed1983

Approach-avoidance conflicts regarding participation in professional activity studies.

The intrapersonal conflict hypothesis was used to explain participation and nonparticipation by health professionals in a demonstration program in quality assurance and continuing education. Two variables, "perceived benefits" and "social barriers," predict participation (p less than .024, less than .005, respectively). A discriminant analysis suggests that "benefits" has a greater impact than "barriers." The model has practical value in enhancing participation in important professional activities.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1983

Distribution of disulfiram in brain after carotid ligation in gerbils.

Aiming whether intraperitoneal administration of disulfiram (tetraethyl thiuram disulfide, DS) achieves potentially therapeutic drug concentrations in brain tissue, the behaviour of blood-brain barrier (BBB) to 14C-labelled DS in cerebral ischemia with and without simultaneous administration of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) was studied in Mongolian gerbils subjected to left common carotid artery (CCA) occlusion. The results indicated that: (a) the permeability of DS through the BBB was significantly enhanced in the ischemic brain during the initial 30 min duration after DS administration; (b) administration of DMSO increased the entry of DS into the ischemic brain five-fold during the first 30 min and it was significantly higher even at the 60 min sampling period; (3) in general, the content of DS in the brain was quickly reduced with time.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Effects of prostaglandins on the bovine corpus luteum: granules, lipid inclusions and progesterone secretion.

Corpora lutea collected at 15, 30 and 60 min after prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) treatment were compared to control corpora lutea at 60 min after saline treatment. There were decreases (P less than 0.05) in the relative percentages of cytoplasm occupied by granules in large luteal cells (LLC) by 30 min and in small luteal cells (SLC) by 60 min. Differences were not observed among the groups for lipid inclusions. Luteal progesterone was decreased at all post-PGF2 alpha treatment times when compared to 60-min controls (P less than 0.05). PGF2 alpha was then compared with prostaglandin F1 alpha (PGF1 alpha), prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), and 17-phenyl-18,19,20-trinor-prostaglandin F2 alpha (17-phenyl-PGF2 alpha) in 60-min trials with plasma progesterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) determined every 5 min. LH was not affected by these treatments. Like PGF2 alpha, 17-phenyl-PGF2 alpha induced a greater loss of granules from LLC then SLC. 17-phenyl-PGF2 alpha also induced an increase in the lipid content of LLC. Treatments with PGF2 alpha and 17-phenyl-PGF2 alpha were associated with decreased concentrations of luteal progesterone but PGF1 alpha and PGE1 were without effect on this variable. In contrast to PGF1 alpha, PGE1 increased both luteal progesterone and the area occupied by cytoplasmic granules. The latter effect was greater in LLC than SLC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alprostadil↗
PubMed1983

Evidence of the validity of a model of determinants of quality of restorative dental care.

A model describing the relationship between self-reported quality of restorative dentistry and dentist characteristics for 119 Montana general dentists is presented. The best predictors formed a significant model explaining 22% of the variance of the quality measure. Results are contrasted with a previous estimation of the model for 102 Washington general practitioners. Evidence for the external validity of the model is presented.

Adult↗