Daniel L. Jones

Somatosensory evoked potential assessment of the inferior alveolar nerve following third molar extraction

Injury to the inferior alveolar nerve can occur during 3rd molar removal. In this study, 14 patients who had 3rd molars removed were evaluated by 4 methods: 1) threshold to electrical stimulation, 2) visual analogue scale subjective ratings of electrical stimulation, 3) two-point discrimination in mental nerve area, and 4) analysis of somatosensory evoked potentials. The last technique proved to be the most sensitive of the methods, providing an objective evaluation as compared to other methods which require a subjective interpretation by the patient.

Comparison of behavioral effects of systemic L-DOPA and intracranial dopamine in mesolimbic forebrain of nonhuman primates

The systemic administration of L-DOPA and carbidopa to six rhesus and four squirrel monkeys produced an initial period of depressed activity followed by increased locomotion, hypervigilance, involuntary oral-facial movements and a gnawing syndrome. The squirrel monkey exhibited a depressed phase, locomotor stimulation, searching behavior, stereotypic grooming and gnawing syndrome. Most of these activities were prevented by pretreatment with 0.1 mg/kg haloperidol. Bilateral injection of 100 microgram dopamine into the mesolimbic forebrain of four squirrel monkeys also produced an initial depression followed by hyperactivity similar to that produced by L-DOPA, but without gnawing. A stereotyped submissive or juvenile posturing occurred in three animals. These DA-induced activities were blocked by 0.1 mg/kg haloperidol. Similar injection of 100 microgram L-norepinephrine produced a profound depression followed by moderate activity coupled with loss of extensor muscle strength in the legs. Bilateral injection of 300 microgram dopamine into the nucleus accumbens of a rhesus monkey produced stereotypic pacing. These data confirm in primates the importance of dopaminergic mechanisms of the mesolimbic forebrain in locomotor activity and behavior.

Biphasic locomotor response to intra-accumbens dopamine in a nonhuman primate

Locomotor activity of ten squirrel monkeys, Saimiri sciureus, was evaluated by means of a photocell activity cage following intracranial application of dopamine (DA). A biphasic response consisting of an initial quiet period followed by increased locomotor activity was seen following intra-accumbens DA, 12.5--100 micrograms bilaterally. Both the length of the quiet phase and intensity of locomotor activity were positively related to DA dose. Intra-caudate DA (50 micrograms) was significantly less effective in producing locomotor effects. The specificity of the DA response was substantiated by dose-related inhibition with both systemic (0.1 or 0.05 mg/kg) and intra-accumbens (2--10 micrograms) administration of the DA antagonist haloperidol. Additionally, the intra-accumbens application of haloperidol was found to be ineffective in inducing catalepsy, a state readily produced by systemically administered haloperidol.

Nerve sharing by an interpositional sural nerve graft between the great auricular and inferior alveolar nerve to restore lower lip sensation.

A case of bilateral nerve sharing via an autogenous sural nerve graft interposed between the ipsilateral great auricular nerve and the inferior alveolar nerve was used to restore sensation to the lower lip. To our knowledge this is the first report of successful nerve sharing between a sensory branch of the cervical plexus and the inferior alveolar nerve.

An inexpensive automatic activity monitor for small primates

An activity cage has been designed to provide a quantitative measure of locomotor activity in small primates. Movement is detected by the interruptions of photocell beams, which are counted electronically and stored in on-board memory for subsequent display or entry into a computer. The device functions independently, and does not require a computer to be on-line during data collection. Data thus obtained have proven reliable, and are a valid record of the activity of the animal.

Microcomputer use in an oral biopsy service

The need for rapid and accurate retrieval of the data generated by an oral biopsy service and the adjacent medical center was met with the purchase and programming of a microcomputer and hard disk drive. The planning phase involved an assessment of the needs of the department, creation of an ideal form to be displayed on the video screen that can be easily used to enter the information, selection of coding systems, and selection of compatible hardware and software. Customized in-house programming using a commercially available database management system has created an entry form and menu-driven information retrieval system tailored to the needs of the department.