Search

Objectives: To evaluate varenicline's efficacy for smoking cessation versus bupropion SR and placebo and to explore whether factors typically predictive of abstinence influence varenicline's efficacy versus placebo, as measured by the week 9-12 continuous abstinence rate (CAR9-12). Methods: Smokers in 2 randomized, placebo-controlled trials received varenicline 1 mg BID (n=696), bupropion SR 150 mg BID (n=671), or placebo (n=685) for 12 weeks. Nontreatment followup lasted 40 weeks. Results: CAR(9-12) was greater for varenicline (44.0%) versus bupropion SR (29.7%; P<0.0001) and placebo (17.7%; P<0.0001). CAR(9-12) for varenicline versus placebo was not affected by age, gender, or nicotine dependence level. Conclusions: Varenicline was more efficacious than bupropion SR or placebo. Varenicline's efficacy versus placebo was not influenced by factors predictive of abstinence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the September 1884 issue of Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly magazine, a fictional dramatic short story was published concerning the dental use of nitrous oxide. Entitled, "Cora Gray," it was written by the well-known American journalist and poet John Whittaker Watson (1815-1848), who authored hundreds of sentimental, tragic and dramatic poems, serials and stories concerning the destitute lives and deaths of downtrodden young women of that time. His greatest poetic effort, "Beautiful Snow," (1869) tells of a young prostitute who freezes to death in a snow bank. Watson, born in New York City, was educated at the University of New York, where he studied medicine. He also developed and used his skills as an engraver, journalist and writer. Watson obviously based his imaginative narrative on his medical knowledge of nitrous oxide and its physical and psychological side effects when inhaled. The story centers around the dreamlike romantic experiences of a 19-year-old female dental patient while she is under the effects of this gas. It explicitly depicts the administration of nitrous oxide and the resulting erotic visions and hallucinations that the young patient experiences. We make reference to other cautionary scientific writings from the late 1800s, in order to point out and clarify the potentially negative repercussions of nitrous oxide when administered to female dental patients without the presence of a third party. The ethics and propriety of anesthesia administration remain as perennial questions in dentistry to this day.

John Milton (1608-1674), England's epic poet and a champion of civil and religious liberties, has gone down in history as one of the world's greatest philosophers, scholars and authors. Although by age 44 he had become totally blind, he steadfastly continued to write and eventually composed his poetic masterpieces, "Paradise Lost" and "Paradise Regained." In 1674, John Milton died of kidney failure at age 66. He was buried in the "chancel under the clerk's desk" in the parish church of St. Giles-without-Cripplegate (London). Exhumed 116 years after his burial, Milton's corpse received "obscene and scandalous treatment", as portions of his bones, hair and teeth were removed, examined and indiscriminately dispersed to others.

From as far back as the early Roman era, detailed descriptions and artistic images of the unicorn have been imagined. In Europe, the Mediterranean and the Far East, this creature became accepted as real. Although such an animal had never actually been seen, it was said to have the appearance of a horse, the beard and cloven hooves of a goat, the tail of a lion, and a single, spear-like horn protruding from the center of its forehead. The unicorn myth originated shortly after unidentified horn-like objects, from six to ten feet long, began to appear in ancient European marketplaces. Physicians quickly ascribed outlandish healing properties to these horns, pulverizing them for the treatment of various diseases. In 1638, a Danish zoologist challenged these claims and provided evidence that the so-called "unicorn horn" was actually the tusk (tooth) of the narwhal from the Arctic seas. However, his findings remained unheeded for the next 100 years. This paper explains how the myth of the unicorn and the purported powers contained within the substance of its magical horn evolved from the ages-old spoils of the Arctic fishing trade, where the narwhal was primarily speared for food and secondarily, for the export value of its ivory tusk. This unusually long, pointed and protruding single tooth, which breaks through the upper lip and the left jaw of each male narwhal, became a highly valuable commodity over the following centuries, due to its believed supernatural origins and curative qualities.

Background: With declining cigarette sales, tobacco manufacturers have been developing and marketing new smokeless products, such as R. J. Reynolds' dissolvable tobacco, Camel Sticks, Strips and Orbs. This study assessed the availability, price and point-of-purchase promotional strategies for Camel Dissolvables, and investigated consumer awareness, interest and perception of these products in the Indiana test market., Methods: An exploratory retail audit of point-of-purchase promotions was conducted in a random sample of retailers from 6 store categories (n = 81) in the test market area. Data included: store type, location, product placement, forms/flavors carried, price, types and locations of advertisements and promotions, and ad messages. An Awareness-Attitude-Usage (AAU) survey was used to gauge consumer awareness and knowledge of tobacco products including Camel Dissolvables. Respondents were shown promotional materials from a package onsert and perceptions and interest in the Camel Dissolvables were assessed. An Intended Target Survey (ITS) compared subjects' perceptions of ad targets for several non-tobacco products, as well as Camel Snus, Camel No. 9 and Camel Dissolvables. Respondents were asked to identify each ad's intended target category, perceived targetedness, and purchase intent., Results: The products were carried by 46% of stores, most frequently gas stations (100%) and convenience stores (75%). They were shelved near smokeless tobacco (70%), cigarettes (25%) or candy (5%). Prices ranged from $3.59 -$4.19 per package; most stores carried at least 1 promotional item. Ad messages included: "Dissolvable Tobacco" (60%). "Free Trial" (24%), "Special Price" (24%), "What's Your Style?" (22%). At 14% of stores, free trial packs of Camel Dissolvables were offered with another Camel purchase. Awareness was reported by 42% of respondents (n = 243), and trial by 3%. Consumer interest was very low, but younger respondents (< 40 years) were more familiar with Camel Dissolvables (60% vs. 45% for those > 40 years, p < .01). Males, as well as current and former smokers had higher rates of interest and trial; only 1% of never smokers reported trial. In the ITS, only for the 3 tobacco product ads, was perceived targetedness for smokers significantly higher than for non-smokers. Smokers and nonsmokers perceived that the ads targeted smokers., Conclusions: Current retail promotional strategies for Camel Sticks, Strips & Orbs appear to be targeting a select audience, primarily current smokers. Overall, consumer awareness, interest and trial were low.

Background: Because of the clear causal relationship between smoking and periodontal disease, and the negative effect of smoking on wound healing, it is of great importance to evaluate the tobacco-cessation interventions provided by periodontal practices. The use of tobacco-cessation interventions in clinical practice can be measured by whether the practitioner uses any of the "5 A's" defined by the 2008 United States Public Health Services Clinical Practice Guideline., Methods: Surveys were mailed to 1,000 active members of the American Academy of Periodontology. The surveys assessed the periodontists' demographic information, educational and professional background, knowledge and attitudes about tobacco cessation, and use of interventions in the daily practice of periodontics., Results: Data were collected from 231 periodontists via a self-administered survey. Most (92%) believed that tobacco cessation is a responsibility of the dental profession. A pattern of declining levels of involvement was seen as the providers moved through the suggested "5 A's" for promoting tobacco cessation. Providers with formal tobacco-cessation training were more likely to perform interventions. The primary perceived barriers to providing tobacco-cessation interventions were low patient acceptance of treatment, lack of time, and lack of training., Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that periodontists believe that tobacco-cessation interventions are a responsibility of the dental profession; however, because of several perceived barriers, reported rates of comprehensive tobacco interventions in periodontal practices are low.

Edward Townsend Stotesbury (1849-1938), a prominent Philadelphia tycoon, made his millions as an investment banker and financier. In 1927, his fortune was estimated to be $100 million. In 1912, at age 63, Stotesbury, then a widower for over thirty years, married a captivating Chicago widow, Eva Roberts Cromwell. As a "glittering socialite," Cromwell had an extraordinary sense of personal theatre, a keen eye for beauty and a calculating mind. Throughout the 1920s and 30s, the couple built three lavish palatial estates. At these mansions, they entertained on an imposing scale. Stotesbury especially enjoyed entertaining his guests with recollections of the events he experienced as a Civil War drummer boy. To conclude his program, he shared this lively tune: "The Old Family Toothbrush That Hung by the Sink."

Cole Porter (1891-1964), an American musical icon, has been internationally acknowledged as one of the most cosmopolitan, sophisticated, elegant and influential composer-lyricists of the 20th century. Born in Indiana and raised in wealth and privilege, he attended both Yale and Harvard universities where he honed his song-writing skills. In his 800 tunes, many of which became smash hits, he blended fresh, witty, urbane and colloquial lyrics with catchy, singable melodies. He composed musical scores for both Broadway stage and Hollywood movies, but focused on the former. While Porter enjoyed penning comic songs, he rarely had them published. In 1946, Cole wrote the music and lyrics for a Broadway show entitled Around the World in Eighty Days. Deemed a failure, it closed after only 75 performances. One light-hearted ditty, "Snagtooth Gertie", which he composed for the show, was never used. The lyrics are presented for the first time in this paper.

Dr. Howard Riley Raper (1886-1978) was an early oral health pioneer and dental roentgenology faculty member of the Indiana Dental College (IDC) who single-handedly introduced key concepts in radiology to dentistry. Due to his efforts, IDC became in 1910-11 the first dental school to have a regular course in dental radiology. Virtually all American dental schools soon added this subject to their regular curriculum. Raper's text, Elementary and Dental Radiography (1913) became the first comprehensive student textbook of dental X-ray diagnosis. In his 1933 Blue Book entitled, The New Aim in the Care of the Teeth, Raper elaborated upon his mission to prevent caries, by comparing the insidious damages of tooth decay with the threat of insect-borne disease.

In the fall of 1732, William Cosby, a member of the British aristocracy, became the colonial governor of New York. As an incompetent, tyrannical and self-serving ruler, he quickly alienated the citizens of New York and, as a result, a core group instigated a broad-based popular uprising against him. In November 1733, John Peter Zenger (1697-1746) published his first issue of the New York Weekly Journal, which would soon become a political organ of those who attempted to bring Cosby down. Zenger's Journal contained particularly offensive attacks on Governor Cosby. They included biting personal jabs, which were judged as being quite inappropriate. The governor was described as having "loathsome false teeth and an unclean mouth." Circulating first-hand reports stated that he possessed a chronic case of the most offensive halitosis. In November 1734, Zenger was arrested and jailed for seditious libel. Fortunately for Zenger, he was defended by the colony's most prominent attorney, Andrew Hamilton. One day later, after only ten minutes of jury deliberation, Zenger was found not guilty. This famous first victory, later called the "germ of American freedom", paved the way to First Amendment Rights in America.

Adriene Brouwer (1605/6-1638), a Flemish genre and landscape painter, was prototypical Bohemian. An artist who lived and acted with disregard for conventional rules of behavior, he produced works which often shocked the staid citizenry of his times. This article examines two dentally-oriented etchings crafted by Brouwer. "The Operation" portrays separate scenes in which two lowly tradesmen--a chiropodist and a peasant toothdrawer--are simultaneously at work in the opposite ends of the same room. A second etching, "Peasant Doctoring the Foot of Another Peasant", accentuates the edentulous facial features, both of the suffering patient and of the operator.

David Farrar Mitchell, DDS, PhD (1918-1975), was a pioneer in aviation dentistry and a leader in dental education, service and research. In the mid-1940's, he was the first dental officer assigned to the School of Aviation Medicine (SAM) in San Antonio, Texas, a unique, Army Air Corps organization for research and teaching. From 1942-1946, as a trained dental researcher and oral pathologist, he published works on dental problems afflicting military aviators, especially those associated with high altitude flying. His work greatly influenced ongoing dental treatment of military flyers. He served as faculty chairman of two dental schools: The University of Minnesota (1948-1955) and Indiana University (1955-1975). Of his 33 graduate students in oral pathology/medicine, 28 became department chairs at dental schools throughout the world. He was president of the American Academy of Oral Pathology (1962) and of the American Association for Dental Research (1975). From 1969 to 1975, he was editor of the prestigious Journal of Dental Research. During his professional career, Dr. Mitchell published 120 scientific articles on diverse topics relating to oral diagnosis and oral medicine.

As dental professionals, we continue to learn ethical lessons throughout our careers and beyond. We may experience them in our day-to-day involvements with peers and patients, or they may present themselves under more unusual circumstances. In October, 1974, at the University of Madrid Dental School, the senior author had a deeply impressionable experience minutes before he helped to present a course to Spanish dentists in operative dentistry. His co-presenter was Dr. Miles R. Markley of Denver, Colorado, a National Consultant in Restorative Dentistry for the U.S. Air Force. Their ethics teacher that day was Dr. Gerardo Zabalo, Dean of the dental school. His object lesson was delivered at the base of an equestrian, aluminum, larger-than-life sculpture, "The Torch Bearers" which faced the school. The sculptor shows an old, wrinkled man, lying prostrate, with only enough strength left to raise a lighted torch upward. Reaching down to receive the torch is a robust, energized young man, who is sitting upon a sturdy stallion. The lesson which Dean Zabalo taught that day was simple but profound. The lit torch of ethics, learning and values is essentially transmitted from generation to generation, as young students learn from their elders, accept the torch from their retiring leaders, keep the torch brightly lit as they mature in their profession, and, then in turn, hand it over to those young professionals who will replace them. This process will continue, age after age. Thus the torch of learning and thinking is passed on. In the world of education, human contact and the continued sanctity of the scientific written word must be paramount. Students must be taught how to read, learn and think. Computer technology used exclusively as a mode of teaching and learning can never become a viable substitute for our traditional interactive methods which emphasize human to human interaction.

Theodore ("TR" or "Teddy") Roosevelt (1858-1919), who served as the twenty-sixth President of the United States from 1901 to 1909, was an "Icon of the American Century." Characterized by immense energy, numerous skills, zest for life, and enduring accomplishments, he made an impressive ascent to political importance. However, he also experienced serious, chronic, oral and systemic health problems. In spite of these significant health obstacles, he chose "the strenuous life," and cultivated a lifetime of joy, laughter and humor. TR was known as "the first president that smiled," and he was typically photographed and illustrated grinning from ear to ear. His flashing white teeth, wide smile, and engaging openness became welcome symbols of national and international acceptance. When Roosevelt died, suddenly and prematurely at the age of 60, dentists and physicians of that time began to investigate the probable medical causes of his untimely demise. The "focal infection hysteria" of the early 1900s convinced some of these health professionals that "a bad tooth", that previously had been endodontically treated, was the probable cause of death. Much of the early 20th century evidence-supporting the notion that oral sepsis was a "cause" of local or systemic disease-has now been proven, on closer inspection, to be anecdotal or of questionable scientific merit. Nevertheless, during those early days, it was common practice to extract all endodontically or periodontally involved teeth to eliminate any possible foci of infection that many clinicians believed could cause disease.

Aims: To determine the efficacy and safety of nicotine transdermal therapy co-administered with the nicotine antagonist, mecamylamine, compared to a nicotine transdermal patch alone (21 mg nicotine + 6 mg mecamylamine, 21 mg nicotine + 3 mg mecamylamine, and 21 mg nicotine + 0 mg mecamylamine)., Design: Multi-center (n = 4), double-blind, randomized, parallel group, repeat-dose study., Setting: Clinical laboratory., Participants: A total of 540 subjects were enrolled into the study-135 from each of four sites; 180 patients in each of three treatment arms., Intervention: Treatment was administered for the first 6 weeks of the 8-week study. Patients were instructed to continue smoking for the first 2 weeks of treatment., Measurements: The primary efficacy parameter was 4-week continuous abstinence after the quit date, confirmed with an expired carbon monoxide of < 10 parts per million., Findings: Analysis of the 4-week continuous abstinence for the intent-to-treat population showed overall rates of 29% (nicotine + 6 mg mecamylamine), 29% (nicotine + 3 mg mecamylamine) and 23% (nicotine only) using the slip definition which allows smoking in the first 2 weeks after the quit date. Statistical analyses revealed no significant treatment differences. Analyses using the strict definition (no smoking after the quit date) yielded similar non-significant group differences (29%, 27%, 26%)., Conclusion: If adding mecamylamine to nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) improves the chances of success at stopping smoking, the results of this study suggest that the effect is very small.

During his long and productive career, Donald Yetter Gardner (1913-2004) played various musical instruments, directed church choirs, wrote contemporary church anthems and led many community-sponsored choral events. Additionally, he penned a number of popular spirituals, including "Man Shall Not Live By Bread Alone," and "O Give Thanks Unto the Lord". He was noted for his varied musical accomplishments, but he was best known for composing what was to become an international childrens holiday favorite, "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth".

Leroy E. Burney was a preeminent Surgeon General and was recognized for modernizing the Public Health Service. He promoted environmental public health and access to health care for the poor. He oversaw major expansion of health professions' education and research, and he was the first public official to alert America to the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer. Historical accounts of Burney's legacy have not focused on his remarkable contributions to dental public health. The aim of this study was to elucidate Burney's role over four decades in promoting the interests of dentistry in America, through his support of dental science, dental education, and public access to dental health services. Burney engaged in dental research and developed a model dental public health program for Indiana. As Surgeon General, he oversaw dramatic expansion of dental research and education and the building of the National Institute for Dental Research. A skillful collaborator, Burney worked toward common goals with leaders of American dentistry and Congress. He was one of the few physician members of the Trustees of the American Fund for Dental Education. A humble man, Burney was a quiet champion of American dentistry and dental research for almost forty years.

W.C. Fields (1880-1946), a gifted writer, director and performer, became one of the greatest comedians, jugglers and pantomimes of all time. This crusty, opinionated curmudgeon, whose multifaceted career spanned most of the 20th century, made his name in burlesque, vaudeville, the legitimate stage, silent pictures, talkies, radio, books and recordings. 1-3 He died before a new media -- television - could have brought him even more success. The following article explores a fascinating incident which occurred in the 1928 New York Vanities production on Broadway. A highly popular dental skit written by Fields and entitled "An Episode at the Dentist's," involved the controversial, on-stage employment of a live canary. Documented here are the findings and out come of a legal hearing in which Fields was accused of "cruelty to a canary."

Between 1923 and 1940, a restless, optimistic, self-styled, inventor, Lytle S. Adams, DDS (1883-1970) was tirelessly working to develop a nonstop, airmail delivery and pick-up system. He believed that his invention would enable air postal services to serve those smaller, more isolated communities that would otherwise be bypassed due to economic and operational reasons. For 17 years, Adams vigorously promoted his pick-up system in both public and private arenas, and he even obtained congressional support for his ideas. However, he was unable to arrange for long-term, hardheaded financial and engineering support. Consequently, the once promising Adams Nonstop Airmail Pick-up System had only temporary and limited success. His endeavor, like others which came before and after, initially appeared to be a sound idea in search of inspired realization.

William James Morrison (1860-1926), from Nashville, Tennessee was a noted dentist, lawyer, author and leader in civic and political affairs. An 1890 graduate of the University of Tennessee Dental College, Dr. Morrison became President of the Tennessee State Dental Association in 1894. He had a wide interest in both science and politics, and was personally associated with both William Jennings Bryan and President Woodrow Wilson. Additionally, he was a popular author of children's books and particularly effective in fostering reading among youngsters. Also, Dr. Morrison patented several important inventions. He developed a process for extracting oils from cotton seed, and converting them into a lard substitute. Likewise, he devised a chemical process to purify the public drinking water for Nashville. In 1897, he and John C. Wharton (a fellow Nashville candy maker) conceived and co-patented an "electric candy machine" which produced cotton candy (then called "Fairy Floss".) This article provides background information about the production of spun sugar during medieval times and later, it describes the development of their cotton candy machine, the process of its operation and details about its eventual worldwide commercialization. In addition, it discusses the introduction of this new confection to the public, during the 184 day, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, held in St. Louis, MO. in 1904. In late 1926, Dr. Morrison, died of a stroke at age 66.

The limerick is a popular form of light and poetic verse which was originally recited and sung in the local inns and taverns of Ireland and England. It may be anecdotal, nonsensical and/or ribald in nature. As a form of satire, it confronts society's "sacred cows" and/or foibles. During the mid-1800s, Edward Lear popularized this mode of expression in England. From there it spread throughout the entire world. By 1900, two branches of limerick writing were formed--the decent and the "smutty." In reviewing 7,000 traditional limericks, the authors have located about 50 significant dental, oral and/or facial limericks which are socially acceptable. In addition, we have produced 50 original poems of this nature. This article offers 33 traditional and new limerick "gems" for your reading pleasure.

On December 7, 1941, a 60-year old dentist from Irwin, Pennsylvania, Dr. Lytle S. Adams, was driving home from a vacation at Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. Hours earlier, he had been gripped with amazement as he witnessed millions of bats exiting the caves of Carlsbad. Listening to his car radio on his return trip, he was shocked to hear that Japan had just attacked Pearl Harbor. Dr. Adams, outraged over this travesty, began to mentally construct a plan for U.S. retaliation. As his thoughts returned to the countless bats that had awed him, he formed a tentative plan: millions of these small, flying mammals could be connected to tiny, time-fused incendiary bombs, and then released to land on the flimsily constructed structures which dotted the cities of Japan. Within a few minutes, the bombs would explode and enflame the entire urban areas. He postulated that these immeasurable numbers of fires, spreading their devastation over such vast areas within Japanese cities would result in the enemy's speedy surrender. This article documents the futile efforts of Dr. Adams, his team and the U.S. government to develop and employ an effective, incendiary bat bomb. The recently developed atom bomb, a far more deadly weapon was used in its place.

Grant Wood (1891-1942) was a major American regionalist artist from Iowa who produced his world famous icon, American Gothic in 1930. Along with Mona Lisa and Whistler's Mother, this work has become one of the most recognized paintings in the world. While it has been greatly admired by most of its viewers, it has been criticized by others. Currently on display at the Art Institute of Chicago, this oil painting portrays a grim faced farmer and his somber daughter who are resolutely standing in front of their rural, Gothic Revival farmhouse. The tall, gaunt farmer, looking straight ahead, firmly holds a pitchfork whose tines point upward, while his daughter, with her eyes averted appears to be showing disapproval. In American art, it is unusual to find the hard, cold realism and honest, direct and earthy qualities that Wood captures in American Gothic. Wood's actual intention was to present the work as a subtle and witty commentary on midwestern, rural life. To achieve his goal, Wood emulated the meticulous style and technique of the 16th century Flemish masters. His sister, Nan Wood Graham (1900-1990), and his 62-year-old dentist, Dr. Byron H. McKeeby (1867-1950), posed for the painting. This article describes how Grant developed this artistic style which is reflected in American Gothic. Additionally, it examines the strained interactions between Grant Wood, the artist, and Dr. Byron McKeeby, the model.

Addictive tobacco use is the single greatest cause of disease and premature death in America today, responsible for more than 430,000 deaths annually. Smoked and smokeless tobacco intake have profound ill effects on oral tissues, especially those tissues associated with periodontal structures. This article describes the interactive aspects of addictive cigarette smoking and presents specific clinical and systems-based tobacco cessation interventions that can be utilized by health care providers. These programs offer a structured, multifaceted, and behavioral-based approach that includes the utilization of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), monitoring and follow-up. The health care professional must consider all medical contraindications before using tobacco cessation medications.

For over a century, the Ohio State University football program has produced legendary coaches, national championship teams, epic games, explosive, electrifying running backs and six Heisman Trophy winners. Perhaps the most famous dentist ever to graduate from Ohio State was Dr. Les Horvath, Class of 1945, who won the 1944 Heisman Trophy while he was a senior dental student. Horvath was the tenth person to recognized as college football's top player and the first Heisman recipient from Ohio State University. Although he was relatively undersized, Horvath was a disciplined team player who met each challenge with determination, stamina and drive. He was an outstanding breakaway runner and a good passer and blocker. Because of his all-around ability and savvy on the gridiron, he was called "a coach on the field." As a result of his 1944 dream season, Les led Ohio State to its first undefeated, untied campaign in twenty-eight years, and he set a Big Ten rushing record. After his college and pro football days were ended, Les practiced general dentistry in the Los Angeles area for 41 years. This is his story.

Harry Sicher, MD, DSc (1889-1974), a world-renowned and highly respected head, neck and dental anatomist, received his MD from the University of Vienna Medical School in his native Austria in 1913. Studying under the famed Dr. Julius Tandler, Sicher received a broad and solid foundation in all aspects of anatomy. He clearly understood that anatomic structure was closely related to body function. After graduating from medical school, Dr. Sicher specialized in dentistry, where he worked in clinical practice, teaching and research. He remained associated with the University of Vienna until 1938, when Hitler's annexation of Austria forced Jewish intellectuals to flee from Europe. Sicher emigrated to Chicago in 1939 where he became a professor and chairman of the anatomy department at the Loyola Dental School until his retirement as professor emeritus in 1960. The extent of Harry Sicher's knowledge and scientific productivity was staggering. He studied and understood the complexities of many scientific disciplines, including anthropology, applied head, neck and oral anatomy, biology, bone metabolism, comparative anatomy, embryology, endocrinology, entomology, evolutionary biology, histology, occlusion, pathology and physiology. His collaborations with Drs. Balint J. Orban and Joseph P. Weinmann were especially productive. In the classroom, his teaching skills were legendary. As a roving lecturer, he spoke to dental, medical and specialty audiences worldwide for decades. He had the rare ability to make a description of the human body come vibrantly alive. Several of his books, Oral Anatomy (1949), Bone and Bones (1944) and Orban's Oral Histology and Embryology (1962, 1966, 1972) became authoritative textbooks for dentists throughout the world.

Millions of American girls and women have been drawn to smoking by an industry that has been clearly and systematically targeting women of all ages and life circumstances. Big tobacco's well-timed marketing strategies skillfully link cigarette use to typical female values: independence, self-reliance, weight control, stress management, social progress and popularity, personal attractiveness, autonomy, self-fulfillment, youth, happiness, personal success, health, and active, vigorous, and strenuous lifestyles. Biologically speaking, women are especially vulnerable to the legion of health problems of tobacco use. Smoking is a critical hazard for women in their reproductive years, particularly when they are pregnant. The US Public Health Service 2000 Clinical Practice Guideline provides helpful guidance and sound general recommendations for the treatment of women of all ages for tobacco use and dependence. Women and girls who smoke represent diverse subgroups of the population with unique issues and needs. The 2001 Surgeon General's Report on Women and Smoking stresses the importance of multistrategy programs for treating female smokers. This approach includes antitobacco media campaigns, increases in tobacco prices, promotion of nonsmoking in public places, curbs on tobacco advertising and promotion, enforcement of legislation to reduce youth access to tobacco products, and effective tobacco use treatment programs.

This article traces various historical and geographical aspects of multicultural toothpick use, dating back from prehistoric times to the present. This behavior appears to be one of the oldest and best documented of all human habits. Toothpicks (composed of bone, ivory, metal, plastic, quills, wood or other substances) have been used for ceremonial, oral hygiene and religious purposes. Throughout the ages, the act of toothpicking has been both encouraged and discouraged. In the 19-20th centuries, it was generally viewed as a disgusting breach of social etiquette and a significant threat to oral and general health. Authors of numerous dental articles have cautioned that indiscriminate toothpick use can lead to halitosis, dental caries, injury to the interdental papilla, mouth ulcers, allergic reactions, embedment of the device in the back of the mouth or throat, gingival abscesses, sensitive teeth, or abraded enamel, dentin or cementum of both permanent and primary dentitions. Additionally, both the dental and medical literature report anecdotal cases of life-threatening injuries and death caused by toothpick ingestion.