silicon and Pain

The study aim is to avoid tooth extraction by nonsurgical treatment of periapical lesion. It assesses healing progress in response to calcium hydroxide-iodoform-silicon oil paste (CHISP). Numeric Pain Rating Scale was used to validate the approach. Furthermore, CHISP was used to treat cystic lesions secondary to posttraumatic avulsion of permanent teeth.. Over 200 patients with radicular cysts were treated with CHISP through the root canal. Radiographs were used to verify lesion size and position, ensure correct delivery to the site, and monitor the progress of bone healing in the lesion area. Ten males and 10 females were randomly selected for statistical assessment.. No severe pain, complications, or failure in cyst healing was reported. Complete healing was achieved in an average of 75 days. Furthermore, healing of radicular cyst secondary to posttraumatic tooth avulsion was successful.. CHISP indicated an antiseptic effect, which enhanced and shortened healing time of periapical lesions. The less invasive procedure avoids tooth extraction and reduces bone resorption. Cyst management with CHISP can remedy failed root canal treatments. The results show a bone regenerative capacity of CHISP suggested in first rapid phase and a second slow phase.

Topics: Calcium Hydroxide; Female; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Iodinated; Male; Pain; Radicular Cyst; Silicon; Wound Healing

To determine the impact of skin pretreatment with microneedles (MNs) on ALA- and MAL-induced protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) production, as well as MN impact on pain sensations during light exposure and erythema after PDT.. The skin of 14 healthy volunteers was preteated with MNs. Equal amounts of creams containing 2%, 8% and 16% (w/w) ALA and MAL were applied on 1 cm(2) areas for 4 h. Additionally, 16% ALA and MAL creams were applied for 24 h. Afterwards, PpIX fluorescence spectra were measured. Sixteen percent ALA and MAL spots were exposed to red light (632 nm, 77 mW/cm(2)). Time for pain to occur was measured in seconds, and erythemal response was monitored up to 6 h after the end of the light exposure.. Use of MNs increased the PpIX fluorescence after 4 h incubation time with 2% and 8% ALA or MAL, but not with 16% ALA or MAL. Pretreatment with MNs did not increase the pain sensations during light exposure, nor did it influence erythema occurrence.. MNs are a promising tool for improving the efficiency of topical PDT by improving the cutaneous delivery of ALA and MAL, without increase in side effects.

Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Adult; Aminolevulinic Acid; Erythema; Female; Humans; Light; Male; Needles; Pain; Photochemotherapy; Photosensitizing Agents; Protoporphyrins; Punctures; Silicon; Skin; Skin Absorption

A prospective analysis of pain intensity and related factors observed when removing a Blake suction drain after head and neck surgery.. An inception cohort of 100 patients managed at a single institution (university teaching and tertiary referral center), by 10 surgeons, during the months of March-July 2004. Two different scales were used to evaluate pain (see and ). The variables under analysis were: age, gender, comorbidity, overall pain and psychological status, anti-pain treatment, type of disease (benign vs malignant), type of surgery performed, location of the drain, number of drains removed and delay from surgery.. No complications were noted at the time of drain removal. The volume drained varied from 10 to 450 cc (mean value 90 cc). At the time of drain removal no pain was noted in 50% to 60% of patients according to the scale used. Minimal pain and strong pain were noted in 45% - 36% and 5% - 4% of patients, respectively. Among the variables under analysis, the age of the patient was the only variable significantly related to the intensity of pain noted at the time of removal of the drain whatewer scale was used for analysis. Pain was statistically more pronounced as age declined (p=0.011 and p=0.04 according to the scales used).. At our department, due to its very good drainage ability, its facility of use and the very low intensity of pain noted at the time of removal, the Blake drain has replaced the time honoured Redon-Jost drain conventionally used after head and neck surgery.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Drainage; Equipment Design; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; Pain; Pain Measurement; Prospective Studies; Silicon

A unique minimally invasive system for painless blood testing is now being commercialized for measurement of blood glucose concentration by diabetics. The novel component of this system, a consumable microsampling and assay device, consists of a tough, flexible silicon microneedle comparable in cross-section to a human hair integrated with a silicon microcuvette. This microneedle is capable of reliably taking a very small sample of whole blood completely painlessly, unlike sticks with the much larger metal lancet that must be used in all other current systems. The device permits a one-step process that avoids the need to transfer blood from a skin puncture to a test strip, thus minimizing blood required and possible mess. The small hand-held instrument containing the consumable is touched to the skin of the arm or any other part of the body, not necessarily the tip of the finger, and held there for one second. During this time, the microneedle is advanced and then withdrawn under microprocessor control, puncturing the skin and drawing less than 200 nanoliters of blood into the microcuvette, where the assay is performed automatically. The instrument calculates the blood glucose concentration, displays the result, and holds it in memory for recall. The consumable is produced by silicon microelectromechanical systems technology and can be produced in high volume at low unit cost. This technology shows promise of being extended to other analytes and to continuous monitoring.

Topics: Blood Glucose; Blood Specimen Collection; Diabetes Mellitus; Equipment Design; Fingers; Humans; Miniaturization; Monitoring, Physiologic; Needles; Pain; Point-of-Care Systems; Regression Analysis; Reproducibility of Results; Silicon; Skin