Use of electric pulp testing elicits painful response in vital teeth. In this study, we examined the excessive time from pain feeling to stimulation disconnection in clinical situation. D626D (Parkell Inc., USA.) scan type electric pulp tester was used in total of 23 young healthy individuals. Each of the right central incisors and first premolars were used as testing teeth. Stimulation disconnection was achieved by EMG in anterior belly of digastric muscle, finger span, and voice and the excessive stimulation time over the sensory threshold was recorded. As a result, we found that the short responses before the stimulation disconnection appeared following order; EMG, finger span, and voice. The EMG disconnection is suggested to be used to reduce the excessive stimulus time in electric pulp testing.
Bicuspid ; Fingers ; Incisor ; Sensory Thresholds* ; Tooth ; Voice

Impaired or blunted rectal sensation, termed rectal hyposensitivity (RH), which is defined clinically as elevated sensory thresholds to rectal balloon distension, is associated with disorders of hindgut function, characterised primarily by symptoms of constipation and fecal incontinence. However, its role in symptom generation and the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the sensory dysfunction remain incompletely understood, although there is evidence that RH may be due to 'primary' disruption of the afferent pathway, 'secondary' to abnormal rectal biomechanics, or to both. Nevertheless, correction of RH by various interventions (behavioural, neuromodulation, surgical) is associated with, and may be responsible for, symptomatic improvement. This review provides a contemporary overview of RH, focusing on diagnosis, clinical associations, pathophysiology, and treatment paradigms.
Afferent Pathways ; Biomechanics ; Constipation ; Fecal Incontinence ; Sensation ; Sensory Thresholds

To assess the relationship of pinprick sensory threshold with height and weight, Ninety seven healthy young (age 19 to 28) males were tested on their anatomical snuff box of both Hands. Their WPT was measured by device holding and moving weighted needle sensory threshold apparatus. Mean of the WPT was 0.43(+/-0.24) g in left and, 0.53( 0.30) g in right hand. Difference of WPT between the right and left hand appeared statistically significant (p<0.01) . Correlation coefficient of WPT with height was 0.26461 (p<0.01) in left and, 0.31856 (p<0.01) in right hand. Weight was statistically significantly correlated with WPT in left hand (r=0.24932, p<0.01) The study shows that the left-right difference and influence of height in pinprick sense may exist in normal healthy male adults.
Adult ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Needles* ; Sensory Thresholds* ; Tobacco, Smokeless

OBJECTIVESTo establish the normal value of Sniffin' Sticks test in Chinese population and to explore it's clinical application in China.

METHODSOne hundred and five healthy volunteers were choosen from the department of physical examination of Beijing Tongren Hospital between 2007 and 2013. Another 165 patients complained of abnormal olfactory function were obtained from the outpatient clinic of the department of otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery in the same period and were divided into two groups: 92 in hyposmia and 73 in functional anosmia group. The 270 subjects were divided into 3 subgroups:younger group ( <35 years of age), middle-age group (35-55 years of age) and older group ( > 55 years of age). The olfactory functions were examined with Sniffin' Sticks test and T & T test, respectively. All analyses were performed using SPSS 12.0 software.

RESULTSFor the normal value of Sniffin' Sticks test, TDI score was > 30.12 for younger group, > 27.37 for middle-age group and > 20.43 for older group; the mean TDI score was 32.12 ± 3.95 for healthy group, 17.52 ± 10.37 for hyposmia and 3.56 ± 3.49 for functional anosmia group; the differences in TDI score, olfactory threshold, discrimination threshold and identification threshold between healthy group and olfactory dysfunction group with different ages had statistical significance (Younger group: FTDI = 125.136, P = 0.000; FT = 49.454, P = 0.000;FD = 89.037, P = 0.000; FI = 39.888, P = 0.000; Middle-age group: FTDI = 190.240, P = 0.000; FT = 128.374, P = 0.000;FD = 174.122, P = 0.000;FI = 178.945, P = 0.000;Older group: FTDI = 72.992, P = 0.000; FT = 26.599, P = 0.000; FD = 77.119, P = 0.000; FI = 88.107, P = 0.000, respectively) . The mean T & T value was -1.00 ± 0.98 for healthy group, 2.27 ± 2.01 for hyposmia and 5.89 ± 0.14 for functional anosmia group. T & T score between healthy group and olfactory dysfunction group with different ages had statistical significance (Fyounger = 158.144, P = 0.000; Fmiddle-age = 247.695, P = 0.000; Folder = 70.579, P = 0.000, respectively). TDI score of the Sniffin' Sticks test result was correlated with T & T value (r = -0.927, P < 0.01); T & T threshold was correlated with the olfactory threshold, discrimination threshold and identification threshold of Sniffin' Sticks test (rT = -0.846, P < 0.01, rD = -0.908 P < 0.01, rI = -0.864, P < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSSniffin' Sticks test and T & T olfactometry are able to differentiate normosmia from hyposmia and anosmia with high reliability and consistency in test results.Sniffin' Sticks test can assess subject's olfactory function status more thoroughly and is suitable for application in Chinese population.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of circumcision on the glans penis sensitivity by comparing the changes of the glans penis vibrotactile threshold between normal men and patients with simple redundant prepuce and among the patients before and after the operation.

METHODSThe vibrotactile thresholds were measured at the forefinger and glans penis in 73 normal volunteer controls and 96 patients with simple redundant prepuce before and after circumcision by biological vibration measurement instrument, and the changes in the perception sensitivity of the body surface were analyzed.

RESULTSThe G/F (glans/finger) indexes in the control and the test group were respectively 2.39 +/- 1.72 and 1.97 +/- 0.71, with no significant difference in between (P > 0.05). And those of the test group were 1.97 +/- 0.71, 2.64 +/- 1.38, 3.09 +/-1.46 and 2.97 +/- 1.20 respectively before and 1, 2 and 3 months after circumcision, with significant difference between pre- and post-operation (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere is a statistic difference in the glans penis vibration perception threshold between normal men and patients with simple redundant prepuce. The glans penis perception sensitivity decreases after circumcision.

This study was conducted to determine the correlation between weighted needle pinprick sensory threshold(PPT) and sensory nerve conduction tests. The subjects were 53 healthy controls, 31 diabetic patients without peripheral neuropathic symptoms(DM) and 36 diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathic symptoms(DN). PPT was measured on the index and little fingers, bilaterally, as well as under the lateral malleolus, bilaterally. In electrophysiologic assessment the left and right median, ulnar and sural nerves were studied. Each mean PPTs was high in order of controls, DM and DN. Age adjusted PPT was significantly different among three groups on right little finger(p<0.05) and left malleolus(p<(0.05), but not significantly different between DN and DM on other sites. Each sensory nerve conduction velocity and amplitude was statistically significantly different among three groups(p<0.05). Correlations of PPT with sensory nerve conduction velocity and amplitude were statistically significant on each site and ranged from -0.4203(left malleolus) to -0.5649(right index finger) and from -0.3897(left index finger) to -0.6200(right index finger), respectively. When electrophysiological study is not feasible, measurement of PPT may be helpful for the assessment of peripheral sensory neurological function.
Fingers ; Humans ; Needles* ; Neural Conduction* ; Sensory Thresholds* ; Sural Nerve

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Sleep dysfunction is associated with altered gastrointestinal function and subsequently exacerbations of gastrointestinal problems. We aimed to investigate whether sleep dysfunction would influence anorectal motility as determined by anorectal manometry. The effect of anxiety on anorectal motility was also determined. METHODS: A total of 24 healthy volunteers underwent anorectal manometry. The anorectal parameters included resting and squeeze sphincter pressure, sensory thresholds in response to balloon distension, sphincter length, rectal compliance, and rectoanal inhibitory reflex. Sleep dysfunction was subjectively assessed by using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Anxiety was assessed by the application of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire. RESULTS: There were sixteen subjects without sleep dysfunction (7 women; mean age, 22 years) and eight subjects with sleep dysfunction (2 women; mean age, 22 years). There was no group difference in the volume threshold for rectoanal inhibitory reflux, rectal compliance or sphincter length (P = NS). Anal sphincter pressure did not differ between the groups (P = NS). The rectal sensitivity for different levels of stimulation did not differ between the groups (P = NS). Sleep quality as determined by PSQI correlated with rectal compliance (r = 0.66, P = 0.007). Although there was no differences in any manometric parameters between subjects with and without anxiety, the anxiety score correlated with rectal compliance (r = 0.57, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a positive association between rectal compliance and the level of subjective sleep or anxiety, sleep dysfunction did not apparently affect most of anorectal function in healthy subjects, nor did anxiety.
Anal Canal ; Anxiety ; Compliance ; Humans ; Manometry ; Reflex ; Sensory Thresholds

OBJECTIVE: To establish reference data for dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials (DSEP) using a stimulation intensity lower than what is conventionally utilized. METHOD: Fifty subjects (25 older adults>48 years old; 25 younger adults<32 years old) without history of neck pain or cervical spine surgery were enrolled. The DSEP study was performed with stimulation intensities of 1.0, 1.5, and 2.5 times sensory threshold (ST) on right arms for C5, C6, C7, and C8 dermatomes. RESULTS: The mean latencies of DSEP stimulating C5, C6, C7, and C8 dermatomes with 1.5 times ST intensity were 17.6+/-1.7 ms, 22.2+/-2.1 ms, 22.8+/-1.4 ms, and 22.6+/-1.8 ms, respectively. The mean amplitude (N1P1) of DSEP stimulating C5, C6, C7, and C8 dermatomes with 1.5 times ST intensity were 0.9+/-0.4 microV, 0.9+/-0.5 microV, 1.0+/-0.6 microV, and 1.1+/-0.8 microV, respectively. The C5, C6, C7, and C8 DSEP were evoked in 84%, 98%, 100%, and 96% of cases with 2.5 times ST compared to 64%, 56%, 60%, and 62% with 1.5 times ST, respectively. When one DSEP was not evoked, the DSEP of the opposite side was evoked only in 2 subjects. CONCLUSION: This study provides the reference data of DSEP with lower stimulation intensities than are conventionally utilized. Additionally, two cases of clinical significance were reported.
Arm ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Neck Pain ; Radiculopathy ; Sensory Thresholds ; Spine

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Among constipated patients, there is a subgroup of patients who complain about an absent or diminished sense of desire to defecate, suggesting that one of the causes of functional constipation may be impaired rectal sensation. Recently, electrical stimulation therapy (EST) has been used for the treatment of patients with urinary/fecal incontinence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of EST for a subgroup of constipated patients with impaired rectal sensation. METHODS: Of the 130 patients with functional constipation as defined by Rome II criteria, 22 patients who had impaired rectal sensation (rectal desire threshold volume = 90 ml) were selected. Twelve patients were treated with EST and 10 patients with biofeedback therapy (BFT). RESULTS: The overall symptoms of the patients significantly improved after therapy in both groups (p<0.05). Interestingly, the sense of desire to defecate improved only after EST (p<0.05). Moreover, there was significant improvement in anal residual pressure after BFT solely (p<0.05). On the other hand, rectal sensory threshold volumes improved significantly after EST exclusively (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study has revealed that the efficacy of EST can be comparable to BFT in a subgroup of constipated patients, especially with impaired rectal sensation. EST could be considered an adjunctive therapeutic modality for the management of functional constipation with impaired rectal sensation.
Biofeedback, Psychology ; Constipation ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Electric Stimulation* ; Hand ; Humans ; Sensation* ; Sensory Thresholds

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Among constipated patients, there is a subgroup of patients who complain about an absent or diminished sense of desire to defecate, suggesting that one of the causes of functional constipation may be impaired rectal sensation. Recently, electrical stimulation therapy (EST) has been used for the treatment of patients with urinary/fecal incontinence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of EST for a subgroup of constipated patients with impaired rectal sensation. METHODS: Of the 130 patients with functional constipation as defined by Rome II criteria, 22 patients who had impaired rectal sensation (rectal desire threshold volume = 90 ml) were selected. Twelve patients were treated with EST and 10 patients with biofeedback therapy (BFT). RESULTS: The overall symptoms of the patients significantly improved after therapy in both groups (p<0.05). Interestingly, the sense of desire to defecate improved only after EST (p<0.05). Moreover, there was significant improvement in anal residual pressure after BFT solely (p<0.05). On the other hand, rectal sensory threshold volumes improved significantly after EST exclusively (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study has revealed that the efficacy of EST can be comparable to BFT in a subgroup of constipated patients, especially with impaired rectal sensation. EST could be considered an adjunctive therapeutic modality for the management of functional constipation with impaired rectal sensation.
Biofeedback, Psychology ; Constipation ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Electric Stimulation* ; Hand ; Humans ; Sensation* ; Sensory Thresholds