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This note uses an analysis of Broussais's objection to medical ontology to suggest why Broussais's neologism omicron nu tau omicron iota is derived not from omicron nu tau alpha but from a conflation of omicron nu tau alpha and the plural of omicron gamma kappa omicron sigma. For Broussais medical ontology, in contrast to philosophical ontology, always refers to abstract entities alleged to explain sensible symptoms, omicron gamma kappa omicron iota, in the sense of indivisible particles in the writings of Lucretius and Epicurus, are such particles; omicron nu tau alpha are not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the chewing-cycle closing direction of a patient with a posterior unilateral crossbite, before treatment, six months and one year after correcting the malocclusion with a function generating bite., Methods and Materials: An 8-year-old girl with right unilateral posterior cross-bite was treated with a function generating bite, which corrected the cross-bite within 5 months. Mandibular movements during mastication of a soft and of a hard bolus were recorded before and after treatment with a K6 I kinesiograph (Myotronics Inc., Seattle, WA-USA)., Results: Initially, there was a marked prevalence of chewing cycles with a reverse direction of closure (92% for the soft bolus and 92% for the hard bolus) during mastication on the cross-bite side. Six months after correction, during mastication on the corrected side, the percentage of chewing cycles with reverse closure decreased to 2% for the soft and 0% for the hard bolus. This decrease was still evident one year after correction (0% for the soft bolus and 18% for the hard bolus). Mastication on the healthy side at all times presented cycles with normal closing direction., Conclusions: Analysis of masticatory cycles recorded before and after orthodontic therapy showed that not only was anatomic correction achieved by the function generating bite, but also that masticatory function had regained equilibrium and symmetry and both were stable at least 1 year after the cross bite was corrected.

The neuromuscular co-ordination of the anterior masseter and temporal muscles during chewing has been studied. The subject analysed was 24 years old female with organic occlusion, molar and canine class 1, with 2 mm overbite and overjet, frontal disocclusion and canine protection, with no cranio-mandibular disorders. Masticatory cycles and electromyographic activity were recorded with a K6 I kinesiograph (Myotronics Inc., Seattle, WA, USA). The chewing cycles were recorded with a soft bolus and a hard bolus, on 3 consecutive days. Electromyographic analysis during masticatory cycles showed that electromyographic activity was higher in the masseter muscle homolateral to the chewing side than in the contralateral muscle, whereas the anterior temporal muscles achieved similar voltages. When chewing the hard bolus, versus the soft bolus, activity in the contralateral masseter muscle increased to a greater extent than in the homolateral masseter muscle. The results were analogous at all 3 recordings. When chewing, the subject showed good muscle co-ordination, which was constant over the 3 recordings made on 3 consecutive days. Increased activity of the contralateral masseter muscle when chewing the hard versus the soft bolus indicates the stomatognathic system's capability to adapt to load and its neuromuscular equilibrium.

Purpose: To assess the anatomy of the mandibular lingual vascular canals with the use of computed tomography (CT)., Materials and Methods: Seventy consecutive patients underwent preimplantation CT of the mandible. CT images were obtained on axial plane by using a bone reconstruction algorithm and then processed with dedicated software (Dentascan). The number of lingual vascular canals, the diameter of their entrance foramina and the distance of the foramina from the symphysis menti and from the lower edge of the mandible were measured in each patient. The median superior canal (MSC), the median inferior canal (MIC), the lateral mesial canals (LMC) and the lateral distal canals (LDC) were evaluated separately., Results: 0 to 5 canals were found in each patient. The MSC was found to be present in 98.6% of cases; the mean diameter of the entrance foramen was 0.85+/-0.28 mm located adjacent the symphysis menti and 11.3+/-2.6 mm from the inferior margin of the mandible. The MIC was found to be present in 32.9% of cases; the mean diameter of the entrance foramen was 0.58+/-0.21 mm located adjacent the symphysis menti and 5.5+/-2.2 mm from the inferior margin of the mandible. LMCs were found to be present in 38.6% of cases; the mean diameter of their entrance foramina was 0.60+/-0.24 mm located 5.1+/-2.5 mm from the symphysis menti and 6.3+/-3.2 mm from the inferior margin of the mandible. LDCs were found to be present in 48.6% of the patients; the mean diameter of their entrance foramina was 0.58+/-0.19 mm located 19.3+/-7.3 mm from the symphysis menti and 6.6+/-5.4 mm from the inferior margin of mandible., Conclusions: Dental CT detects the lingual vascular canals of the mandible in a high percentage of subjects and allows a good demonstration of their number, location and entrance foramen diameter. The evaluation of these canals is important in the preoperative planning of dental implants or in the planning of dental surgery in general so as to avoid bleeding due to damage of the vessels present in these canals.

James Drane's policy proposals for Roman Catholic hospitals, which would allow induction of a firmly diagnosed anencephalic fetus upon the mother's considered request, are defended. Drane's defense of his proposals, by focussing upon the empirical facts of anencephaly and attempting to abstract from the question of whether or not the anencephalic is a potential person, is held to be untenable. However, examination of the Roman Catholic proscription against abortion shows that it applies to humans who are, or might be, persons or potential persons. And the facts of anencephaly show that the anencephalic does not have the biological substrate to be a potential person. Hence the proscription does not apply to induction of the anencephalic fetus.

The traditional distinction between ordinary, i.e., obligatory means to preserve life and extraordinary, non-obligatory means is an especially useful tool for HECs in today's secular pluralist health care system, because it gives factors that can override the prima facie good of preserving the patient's life. I first indicate the need for such a tool. I then demonstrate the present misunderstanding of the distinction and give its proper understanding. Finally, I show the applicability of the distinction for HEC deliberations about three important types of cases: the conscious, irreversibly but not terminally ill patient who requests cessation of curative treatment; the provision of artificial nutrition and hydration to permanently vegetative patients; and the allotment of intensive care and other scarce medical resources.