University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine - Reflector Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

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BARRY WOOD INVESTIGATES DENTURE MOLD SEPARATORS Under the direction of Dr. Sorensen and Dr. Ortman I studied a clinical problem that has arisen when por- celain teeth are used in the construction of a dental prosthesis-the subsequent appearance of a black stain between the tooth and the acrylic base after the appli- ance has been worn in the patient's mouth. Our study was conducted to investigate the possibility that a re- maining film of alginate separator on the porcelain teeth creates the crevice between the tooth and the acrylic in which the stain may accumulate. Sets of miniature dentures were constructed of clear acrylic Cboth heat curing and self curingl. The alginate separators employed were Alcote, Modern Foil, and Film-Ac. Tin'foil and Dent-Kote insulating paste were also used as separators. One half of the teeth from the dentures processed with the alginate separators were removed from the mold prior to appli- cation of the separator, and were replaced after the film dried. These teeth thus became the control side in each denture. The dentures were stained in a 0.2'k methylene blue solutiong some at 37 C. and some at SOOC. The results indicate that an alginate film is left on the teeth and staining occurred around all the test teeth in the denhares processed with an alginate separator. The staining occurred more rapidly at 50 C. than at 37 C. No staining occurred around the control teeth and staining was minimal around teeth in the dentures processed with the Dent-Kote and the tin foil. The staining was darker fthicker filmj and occurred more rapidly when the self-curing acrylic was used. KOCH CORRELATES. . . Working with Dr. Sorensen, we used caries-free teeth with cast restorations and known cement solubili- ties from previous studies by Phillips in an attempt to correlate cement solubility with marginal isotope pene- tration. These restorations were all cemented under constant loads for each of the respective cements tested. The teeth were conditioned in different aqueous media be- fore subjection to the Cam isotope. We found a definite relationship of penetration with solubility. One interesting result was that less marginal leakage occurred when zinc oxide-eugenol cement was used. LEDERMAN STUDIES PERIODONTAL DISEASE Under the direction of Dr. Hazen, thirty-four sub- jects participated in a double blind clinical study with a cross-over. Each subject was in the experimental and the control groups for three weeks each. Twenty-four grams of supplementary dietary protein were given orally to the experimental group. The degree of gin- givitis was recorded on a four point system on six selected teeth on which six measurements of sulcus depth were taken. Results showed a substantial de- crease in the degree of gingivitis and in the depth of sulcus. It was also seen that the results were strictly transitory. The subjects that initially were on the pro- tein supplement exhibited a rise above their initial reading following the three week period on the placebo tablet. -

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Student Research Fellowships NISENGARD STUDIES HYPER- SENSITIVITY This summer I worked under the guidance of Dr. Beutner. Extending last year's work we again studied hypersensitive reactions as to their possible etiologic role in periodontal disease. Using Actinocin, a skin test reagent we made, we studied hypersensitive reactions to Actinomyces, an oral bacteria. Sterility and en- dotoxic activity of Actinocin were checked in order to test humans. Actinomyces was also used in attempting to elicit gingival reactions in hypersensitive guinea pigs. COUGHLIN AND INTERFERON A Summer Fellowship project was carried out at the Virus Laboratory of Children's Hospital under the di- rection of Dr. Karzon and Dr. Clark. The purpose of this project was to determine whether interferon, which has been reported by many investigators as species specific in mammalian and avian systems, was indeed so in tissue culture cell strains produced from tissues of the lower vertebrates such as the turtle and the fish. A good start was made in this investigation and it is hoped that further studies can be made later. PIANA STUDIES GINGIVAL HYPERPLASIA Anthony Piana and Dr. Staples experimented with tadpoles to study the mechanism by which dilantin causes gingival hyperplasia. It was shown that it is a collagen mechanism since dilantin prevented the resorption of a tadpole's tail in its normal physiologi- cal and morphological changes to a mature frog. Col- lagenase tests will be performed in the near future. Other studies were done on the brains and mandibles of hamsters given dilantin. After numerous histochemi- cal reactions no conclusive results were obtained but the studies indicated further areas of research. BODNER IN AFRICA My summer in West Africa was an extraordinary opportunity both as an intriguing cultural experience and as a fertile area for investigation of tropical dis- eases and related public health problems. I and nine other students participated in the Experiment in In- ternational Living medical student program in Nigeria. As part of a village health survey, I was par- ticularly interested in the relationship between the inci- dence of the hemoglobinopathies CS and CD and resist- ance to falciparum malaria. This and similar programs are excellent for those interested in public health, trop- ical medicine, travel and adventure.

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CLAPP STUDIES PERIODONTAL REACTIONS Under the guidance of Dr. Beutner, guinea pigs hypersensitive to either delay or immediate sys- tem antigens were challenged by gingival injec- tion of similar or control substances and evalu- ated as to reaction in the periodontium. Resulting thoughts strengthen a proposal of altered cellular reactivity among the causal agents of periodontal disorders. THOMPSON STUDIES EXPERIMENTAL CARCINOGENESIS Under the direction of Dr. Greene, Jr., and Dr. Fischman, a two-fold research project was carried out to investigate the carcinogenic activity of two hydro- carbons, 9, IO dimethyl-1, 2-benganthracene and 20- methylcholanthrene on hamsters. The former hydrocar- bon was applied topically to the palates of 25 hamsters while the latter was placed into the right tibias of five hamsters. A total of 20 applications of a 192: acetone solution of 9, 10-dimethyl-1, 2-benzanthracene was applied over a period of eight weeks. Some dyskeratotic changes were elicited. Salley has shown that this hy- drocarbon can cause squamous cell carcinoma in the cheek pouches of hamsters. The other hydrocarbon, 20-methylcholanthrene, was mixed with polyethylene glycol to form a thick yellow paste. The right tibias of five hamsters were surgically exposed, and a small hole drilled in each. The carcino- genic paste was packed into the defects. Although heal- ing of the areas occurred within two weeks, large tumors of the involved hindlegs developed after eight weeks. Upon biopsy, one was diagnosed as a liposar- coma. Further research on this is currently being con- ducted by Dr. Fischman. SCHILLER STUDIES ECG PROBLEMS Nelson Schiller spent the summer at the Buffalo General Hospital in the cardiovascular section. His first project dealt with attempts to find an electrocardio- graphic criterion which was indicative of Left Ventri- cular Dilation. Dr. Constant felt that the answer might lie in those patients who V0 chest lead contained a greater voltage than their V5 lead. Fifty patients were found who showed this phenomenon and from whom were also available X-ray or autopsy proof of LVD. We feel that most instances of V., voltage being greater than V5 are due to LVD, but in a few instances can be due to obesity or to a bell-shaped chest. At the pre- sent time, ECG studies are being run on pregnant women to determine the effect, if any, of a distended abdomen. His second project dealt with the cause of the notched T-wave in the precordial chest leads. Scanty evidence seems to point to abnormal serum metabolites as one cause. SUMMER CLINICIANS David Syrek, Robert DeFranco, Samuel Rizzo Ameri- can Cancer Society Summer Fellowships Memorial Hospital, New York Cityg Roswell Park Institute, Buf- falo. Three summer clerkships are offered through the efforts of Dr. Solomon and Dr. Greene, Jr. to deserving dental students. The program consists of an eight week stay at a leading cancer institute for the purpose of observing this disease in all its aspects. One is ac- quainted with all forms of diagnosis, technics in sur- gery and radiotherapy and recent advances in cancer research. I