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BACKGROUND Many nail cosmetics have components that are considered irritants or allergens. Due to the current clinical assessment limitations, it is often too late to identify nail enamel hazards until they cause disease. Thus, it is essential to investigate effective methods of detecting minor changes and early lesions in nails before they worsen. OBJECTIVES To provide a reliable method to investigate and evaluate nail enamel hazards on nails earlier using ultrasonic equipment. METHODS Eighty-three volunteers with smooth, lustrous nails were enrolled after being clinically examined. The thumbnails and middle nails were evaluated before and after using nail enamel for 2 weeks. Nail health was then assessed using three methods: clinical evaluation, nail surface image analysis, and an ultrasonic device. RESULTS Using clinical diagnostic and imaging methods for analyzing the nail surface showed no visible differences before and after using nail enamel for 2 weeks. However, there was a significant difference in the nails' depth and density (p

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to introduce a novel soft tissue thickness measurement method using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to compare the new method with ultrasonic device applications and transgingival probing measurements. METHODS Twenty-five participants (12 female, 13 male, age range, 25-51 years) were included the study. Soft tissue thickness in lateral incisor, canine, premolar, and molar regions were measured using transgingival probing (group T), ultrasonic device (group U), and CBCT scan measurements (group C). Differences and correlations between groups and agreement between measurement methods were evaluated. RESULTS Soft tissue thickness was significantly lower in group U in premolar region, but was significantly higher in molar region compared with group C and group T (P

Aim: To evaluate the patient-reported pain perception after palatal graft harvesting during a 4 weeks healing period Materials & methods: Ninety patients, scheduled for different periodontal and peri-implant plastic surgeries requiring palatal mucosal graft harvesting, were consecutively recruited. Mucosal thickness was measured at the donor sites with an ultrasonic device prior to the surgeries. Graft thickness, length, and width were assessed after harvesting, and the wound areas were calculated. Based on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the patients were asked to report their perceived pain after the intervention and 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days thereafter. Results: Pain was most pronounced on the first postoperative day and decreased within the course of time. Graft thickness directly correlated with the amount of pain perceived while increased palatal mucosal thickness before and after graft harvesting decreased pain levels. The denuded wound surface area, however, did not influence the perceived pain level. Conclusions: The wound depth at the donor site (graft thickness) was positively correlated with the patient’s perception for pain. The wound surface area, however, did not influence the perceived pain level.

This study investigated an objective method for estimating beef marbling using ultrasonic images of the Iliocostalis muscle and the Lomgissimus muscle area sections. Thirty-one Japanese Black cattle steers were used in this study. The end of the left side shoulder blade bone was scanned using an ultrasonic device. Ultrasonic images were captured of the Longissimus muscle area and that around the Iliocostalis muscle area. Twenty items were measured in the two images using computer image analysis software. The level of beef marbling was measured according to the Beef Marbling Standard (BMS) for carcass grading, and the percentage of ether-extractable fat content in the Longissimus muscle (EE). The difference in the gray level between the Iliocostalis muscle and intermuscular fat (X10) was used to estimate the BMS and the EE, which were highly correlated (r2 = 67.72% and 61.30%). An equation was developed using four parameters from the two ultrasonic images, which could estimate the BMS (r2 = 85.88%). This equation could also estimate the EE (r2 = 68.98%). The equations used to estimate beef marbling were based on one to four parameters that included X10. Thus, ultrasonic images of the Iliocostalis muscle area section are important for estimating beef marbling.

Purpose: To validate a novel ultrasonic sensor for logging reading distances. In addition, this device was used to compare the habitual reading distances between low and high myopes. Methods: First, the stability and sensitivity of the ultrasonic device were determined by repeated measures using artificial targets. Then, thirty Hong Kong Chinese (20‐30 years) were recruited, of whom fifteen were considered to be high myopes (mean ± S.D. = )8.7 ± 0.5 D) and 15 to be low to non-myopes (mean ± S.D. = )2.0 ± 0.2 D). Each subject read a newspaper with their habitual visual aid continuously for 10 min in two sessions at their preferred working distance(s). The reading distances were recorded continuously using a novel nearwork analyzer. The modal working distance was considered as the ‘habitual’ reading distance. In addition, habitual reading distance was reported orally by each subject. Results: The nearwork analyzer gave accurate and repeatable measurements over a range of distances and angles. Using this instrument, high myopes were found to have a significantly shorter reading distance than low myopes or nonmyopes (mean ± S.D. = 35.9 ± 9.8 cm vs 50.9 ± 24.8 cm; two-sample t-test, p = 0.04, df = 18). The reading distances reported orally by the subjects were not correlated with those recorded by the nearwork analyzer. Conclusions: The nearwork analyzer was found to be an effective tool for measuring nearwork reading distance in a small group of emmetropic and myopic adults over a 10 min interval. Differences between the reading distance between high myopes and low/non-myopes was detected by the device. Further study is needed to determine if a closer working distance is a cause or effect of myopia development.

The aim of the present study is to intraoperatively measure the distance from the bottom of the osteotome to the inferior alveolar canal (IAC) and maxillary sinus floor using a novel ultrasonic device and to compare the measurements to those using conventional radiographs.Patients scheduled for dental implant placement in the posterior regions were recruited for this pilot study. Mucoperiosteal flaps were elevated, and a recipient site was initiated using a standardized 2-mm-diameter pilot drill. The distance from the bottom of the osteotome to the IAC and maxillary sinus floor was assessed using a newly developed ultrasonic device and compared to a standard panoramic radiograph that was used to measure the same residual distance from the bottom of the drill.Fourteen consecutive patients (21 implants) were enrolled. Eleven implants were placed in posterior mandibles, and 10 implants were placed in posterior maxillae. The mean +/- SE radiographic distance from the apex of the pilot drill to the nearest cortical bone was 5.64 +/- 0.51 mm, which was very similar to the distance measured by the ultrasonic device (5.22 +/- 0.37 mm; P = 0.341). In posterior mandibles (n = 11), the distances were 5.18 +/-0.61 mm (radiographic) and 5.26 +/- 0.61 mm (ultrasonic), which were not statistically significant (P = 0.593). A very strong positive correlation was observed between the two measurements in mandibles (r = 0.967; P = 0.0001).The results of this in vivo study support the value of this ultrasonic system in measuring the residual osseous depth from the bottom of the osteotome to the roof of the IAC.

The prevalence of saphenofemoral incompetence in a series of 105 consecutive patients undergoing saphenofemoral ligation as part of an operation for primary varicose veins was determined using a directional continuous-wave Doppler ultrasonic device. Saphenofemoral incompetence was correctly predicted in 97% of limbs. Using conventional clinical methods, incompetence was correctly predicted in 82% of limbs. This difference was highly significant (P less than 0.01 McNemar). It is concluded that a directional Doppler ultrasonic assessment is a useful aid in the pre-operative determination of saphenofemoral incompetence.

Aim:We have recently tested a surface detection system based on a conventional dental ultrasonic scaler in vitro. The aim of the present study was to investigate sensitivity and the specificity of the detection device in vivo. Material and Methods:Subgingival buccal surfaces of 63 arbitrarily selected periodontally compromised teeth were scanned intra-orally, while the supragingival positions of the insert, along with the corresponding signals of the detection system, were saved as separate files. After extraction, the surface detection results were evaluated by re-positioning the inserts’ position on the tooth in vitro and comparing the detection results with visual findings. Results:On the scanned tooth surfaces, there were 44 calculus spots, which covered 22.3% of all scanned surfaces (prevalence). The calculus-free surface was divided into ‘‘spots’’ mathematically. The device correctly classified 40 calculus and 125 cementum spots, whereas four calculus and 28 cementum spots were classified incorrectly. Calculus and cementum were discriminated with a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 82%. The positive and negative predictive values were 0.59 and 0.97. Conclusion:The surface detection device was able to clinically differentiate cementum and calculus in vivo. Therefore, this method may support the decision of whether continued subgingival scaling could damage the cementum.

Objective: The aim of this randomised, split-mouth, controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of a controlled-release chlorhexidine chip (CHX chip) as an adjunctive therapy to scaling and root planing (SRP) with a newly developed ultrasonic device in supportive periodontal therapy (SPT). Materials and methods: Twenty patients with moderate-to-severe chronic periodontitis, displaying at least four sites with probing depth (PD) ≥5 mm and persistent bleeding on probing (BOP), were recruited for the study. The target sites were randomly treated with either a newly developed piezo-driven ultrasonic device VectorTM- or ultrasonic system (VUS) + CHX chip or VUS alone without adjunctive antimicrobial treatment. The clinical parameters, plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), BOP, PD and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded at baseline and after 1, 3 and 6 months. Results: At baseline, there were no significant differences between test and control sites for any of the investigated parameters. The average reduction of PD and improvement in CAL was greater in the VUS + CHX chip sites than in sites treated with the VUS alone at 1, 3 and 6 months (P

Objectives: The Vector® ultrasonic system provides root debridement supported by different abrasive irrigation fluids. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical outcome of initial therapy with subgingival low-abrasive debridement. Material and Methods: Twenty patients, who had at least two teeth with pocket depths >5 mm in each quadrant, took part in this prospective randomized clinical study. Patients were treated in a split-mouth design as one test quadrant (1) subgingivally with Vector™ fluid polish (VU-H) and as three control quadrants, (2) with only supragingival polishing (PO-H), (3) with hand instruments (HI-H) performed by a hygienist and (4) with hand instruments (HI-D) performed by a dentist. At baseline, 3 and 6 months after treatment, pocket depths and attachment levels (ALs) were measured and bleeding on probing (BOP) was recorded. Results: At 6-month evaluation, all groups showed an improvement in clinical parameters. No statistically significant differences in any of the investigated parameters could be observed between the Vector group and the hand scaling groups, or when comparing the results of the two different operators. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that Vector™ treatment with polishing fluid was able to reduce pocket depths and the prevalence of BOP and improve clinical AL in a similar way as scaling with curettes.

I thank all who have made it possible for me to write this history by giving me an opportunity to be a part of it. I also thank Ann Polin, Carolyn Coffin, and Jean Lea Spitz for assistance. Abbreviations ACR, American College of Radiology; AIUM, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine; AMA, American Medical Association; ARDMS, American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers; ASE, American Society of Echocardiography; ASUTS, American Society of Ultrasound Technical Specialists; CAHEA, Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation; JRCDMS, Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography; SDMS, Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers/Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography; SVT, Society of Vascular Technology; WFUMB, World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology ne of the most important questions to be answered when writing a history of the profession is where to begin. Pythagoras certainly played a role when he observed the relationship between sound pitch and frequency, but he did not make this observation related to medicine. John William Strutt, the third Baron Rayleigh, one of the few members of nobility to also be an outstanding scientist and 1904 Nobel Prize winner, published among many works the Theory of Sound. Christian Doppler lent his name to the Doppler effect, something we use every day when performing sonographic procedures. But many think that the true conception of ultrasound occurred in 1880 with the discovery of piezoelectricity by the French physicist Pierre Curie. Along with his brother Jacques, he performed experiments that showed that when certain crystals are subjected to an electrical field, they can be made to expand and contract, converting electrical into mechanical energy. These piezoelectric crystals can then act as both transmitters and receivers of sound. Since the early days of medicine, there has been a great desire to “see” inside the body. This is what drove Roentgen to develop x rays in 1895, Helmholtz the ophthalmoscope in 1851, Garcia the laryngoscope in 1854, and Nitze the cystoscope in 1876. Sound was first applied to the human body through auscultation in 1761 and the stethoscope in 1819, and interpreting these sounds required imagination, as did interpreting the early sonographic images. In the beginning, Doppler ultrasound was also strictly an analysis of audible sound.1,2 The use of ultrasound in medicine is similar to many technologic advances that owe their fame to war. The French government asked Paul Langevin, PhD, to develop a device capable of detecting submerged enemy submarines. The device he developed used the piezoelectric effect, which he had learned as a student with the Curies. He used quartz crystals and vacuum tube amplifiers, which were also used with early medical ultrasonic transducers. This was considered the first ultrasonic device. This research was not completed in time to be applied to the war effort. However, it did form the basis of sound navigation ranging (SONAR) detection, which was further developed during the Second World War.1,2

Background In an in vitro study, the surface wear on cervical restorations and adjacent enamel and root cementum caused by different tooth-cleaning methods in simulated long-term therapy was investigated. Methods Cervical restorations of amalgam (Oralloy), modified composite resin (Dyract), glass-ionomer cement (ChemFill Superior), and composite (Tetric) were instrumented by POL (polishing), CUR+POL (curette and polishing), US+POL (ultrasonic device with polishing) and the polishing agents Cleanic and Proxyt in a computer-controlled test bench. Treatment time corresponding to a real-time period of 5 or 10 years. Substance loss from instrumented surfaces was measured with a digital gauge. A three-way anova was used in the statistical evaluation. Results The results showed that POL led to slight substance loss, which was greater using Cleanic (27 microm) than Proxyt (5 microm). CUR+POL produced a significantly greater substance loss than did US+POL, with 186 microm versus 35 microm on glass-ionomer cement, respectively, and 123 microm versus 18 microm, respectively, on root cementum, followed by composite (111 microm versus 27 microm, respectively), polyacid modified composite resin/compomer (89 microm versus 36 microm), amalgam (75 microm versus 19 microm), and enamel (32 microm versus 23 microm). Conclusions As opposed to the use of US+POL or POL, substance loss on cervical restorations and especially root cementum must be expected to result from tooth-cleaning during long-term maintenance treatment using CUR+POL.

Aim To assess the root surface roughness and topography on extracted teeth using different instruments. Material and methods In the present study, laser profilometry was used to examine the 3-D roughness values Ra and Rz and topography of root surfaces of periodontally-involved teeth instrumented in vivo with curette, conventional ultrasonic device, conventional or teflon-coated sonic scaler insert, or the Periotor instrument (12 teeth per instrument type), and compare these with uninstrumented cementum surfaces. Results The roughness values Ra and Rz of the roots treated with the different instruments showed a similar pattern: curettes and the Periotor instrument produced the smoothest surfaces (Ra about 1.5 microm, Rz 30 microm); the 4 other instruments created similar Ra values of approximately 2-3 microm and Rz roughness of about 50-70 microm, which equals the untreated root surface. For Ra, the difference between the curette or the Periotor instrument and the teflon-coated sonic insert or ultrasonic insert was significant, and for Rz, a significant difference was found between the curette or the Periotor instrument and ultrasonic insert. As opposed to surfaces debrided with the Periotor and teflon-coated sonic scaler, it appears that hand instruments markedly reconfigure surfaces. Conclusion The lowest root-surface roughness values were obtained with hand instruments. The teflon tubing on the sonic scaler insert effected no change of topography or roughness as compared to uninstrumented, control surfaces. However, it must be pointed out that hard-tissue removal was not investigated.

Different treatment modalities have been described for root coverage in cases of gingival recession. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the postsurgical outcome of 2 modes of surgical root coverage of predominantly shallow, Class I or II, gingival recessions.Fourteen buccal recession sites in 13 patients were treated with free connective tissue grafts employing a modified envelope technique; 14 sites in 9 patients were subjected to a coronally repositioned flap in combination with a bioabsorbable membrane. Immediately before surgery as well as after 6 months, gingival dimensions, i.e., width and thickness, as well as root coverage and attachment gain, were assessed to the next 0.1 mm employing a caliper, an ultrasonic device, and a pressure calibrated, computerized periodontal probe.At the outset, mean recession depths amounted to 2.48+/-1.06 and 3.00+/-1.95 mm for patients treated with a free connective tissue graft and a bioabsorbable membrane, respectively. With the former technique, 80+/-24% root surface could be covered after 6 months, while the latter resulted in only 45+/-40% coverage. The contrast in reduction of recession width was even more pronounced (77+/-35% versus 18+/-37%). In both groups, an increase of gingival thickness of 0.6 to 0.7 mm was noticed.Small recessions may be covered more predictably with the modified envelope technique. 751.

This article covers a 4-year study that reports 320 cases in which endodontic surgery was performed for residual apical lesions or lesions that could not be treated in a conventional way. Four groups of 80 teeth each were formed and they were followed up after a 12-month interval. The first group comprised cases treated with a micro bur, retrograde filling and IRM; the second, cases treated at the apical and radicular portions with a CO2 laser; the third, cases in which the retrograde cavity was prepared with an ultrasonic device instead of a micro bur; and the fourth group comprised cases treated in a similar way to the second group, i.e., cases treated at the apical and radicular portions, but with a CO2 laser instead of a micro bur. After 12 months, the results showed a better prognosis with ultrasonic treatment. Regardless of technique, the CO2 laser did not improve the healing process.

This investigation compared a traditional periodontal surgical method with a non-surgical treatment of scaling and root planing by an ultrasonic device (Odontoson M) using irrigation with an iodised solution. 8 adult patients with periodontal disease were each treated at 2 randomly chosen quadrants by a Widman flap type surgical technique, and the remaining non-surgically. The patients then attended bi-monthly oral hygiene sessions over a period of 1 year. At that stage, clinical evaluation revealed that the Odontoson M plus an ionized irrigant solution achieved a statistically comparable outcome to that of surgical treatment, even in the pockets initially up to 7 mm in depth.

Acoustic microstreaming is known to be an important phenomenon associated with the use of clinically available endosonic systems. However, it has proved difficult to calibrate its pattern and effectiveness around the oscillating file. An in-vitro model system consisting of slow setting plaster was developed to demonstrate the activity of streaming around both ultrasonically and sonically activated files. For ultrasonic files, streaming occurred mainly in front of and behind the file, in contrast to the sonic file, where the plaster was disturbed evenly around it. With both types of file most activity occurred around the file tip, and became reduced towards the driver. Streaming patterns associated with the ultrasonic device were found to be dependent on the power setting of the instrument and whether the side of the file was constrained or lightly touched. The sonic device produced a large disturbance around the freely oscillating tip. Under load this streaming occurred along the whole length of the file, and was unaffected by constraint. This investigation demonstrated that streaming does occur with the instruments currently available, although it is dependent on their operating conditions. Clinical users of such equipment should be aware of the characteristic three-dimensional patterns of streaming that occur around these endosonic files, in order to maximize their efficiency.

Protein stabilized emulsions have been prepared in a recirculating emulsification system, where flow velocity, power and energy input have been controlled and measured. Three different types of emulsifying equipment have been used, namely a turbo-mixer, an ultrasonic device and a valve homogenizer. The protein systems studied were a soybean protein isolate, a whey protein concentrate (WPC) and a sodium caseinate, and the emulsions obtained were characterized in terms of creaming stability. It was found that although the power and energy consumption during emulsification were the same, the creaming stabilities differed as a function of the emulsifying apparatus used, increased power and energy input contributed in general to an improved creaming stability up to a certain limit, whereupon it leveled off. The emulsifying efficiency of the turbo-mixer is poorest in terms of creaming stability of the emulsions formed, whereas the ultrasonic device most generally is the best choice of equipment at lower power input. At an increase of power consumption the valve homogenizer is an equally good alternative, or even better.

Inhalt Ein Ultraschallgerat, welches besonders fur die Feststellung von Trachtigkeit bei Schweinen entwickelt wurde, erwies rich als wertvoll zur sicheren Feststellung der Trachtigkeit innerhalb von 30 bis 50 Tagen nach dem Decken. 96 Trachtigkeitsuntersuchungen bei 70 Sauen im 2. Wurf ergaben folgende Resultate: 63 Beobachtungen wurden korrekt als trachtig und 31 Beobachtungen wurden korrekt als nichttrachtig beurteilt. Zwei Sauen mit einer pathologischen uterinen Sekretansammlung wurden falsch als trachtig beurteilt. Die Richtigkeit der Diagnose wurde nach Schlachten von 61 Sauen am Tag nach der Trachtigkeitsuntersuchung und Burch die Abferkelresultate von 9 Sauen bestatigt. Contents: Porcine Pregnancy Detection with a Newly Developed Ultrasonic A-Scan-Device A handy battery-operated ultrasonic device with a display system of light emitting diodes instead of an oscilloscop and adjusted sensitivity and gain for transmitting the ultrasonic beam into the abdominal cavity of sows was found practical in porcine pregnancy examination; the costs of the equipment were far lower than that of a traditional A-scan equipment. The efficiency of the equipment was tested at 96 observations on 70 second-litter sows; control of the accuracy of diagnosis was confirmed by slaughter of 61 animals on the day of examination for pregnancy and by farrowing results in 9 animals. The results showed that 63 observations were correctly designated as pregnant 30–50 days after last service; 31 observations were correctly designated non-pregnant. Two sows were rated false pregnant; in both cases a uterine accumulation of abnormal secretion equivalent to the fetal fluid volume of two to four six-week embryos was observed. Percentage of correct observations of pregnant and normal non pregnant animals resulted in 100.