For pain research, the orofacial region is unique in a number of ways. The region has complex local anatomy, including substantial sensory innervation from neural pathways, and muscles of facial expression that convey important information concerning pain intensity and associated psychological traits. Although chronic orofacial pain conditions appear prevalent, useful documentation on pain intensity ratings using well established instruments is sparse. In particular, two conditions, atypical facial pain and atypical odontalgia, are poorly understood in aetiology so that definitive treatment modalities are severely limited. The region's local biofluid, saliva, has been used to diagnose various local and systemic disease states, and to quantitate drug concentrations. However, recent studies indicate that saliva also contains some of the same peptides, e.g. bradykinin, that are involved in pain mechanisms. It may be that pharmacological-pharmacokinetic studies of these peptides could shed more information on thesignificance of their presence in saliva. This thesis consists of four major sections. Section 1 comprises of three clinical studies investigating orofacial pain. Section 2 deals with clinical laboratory studies of saliva. Section 3 is concerned with the development of chromatographic methods to assay bradykinin and its pharmacokinetics in saliva. Section 4 uses chromatography for the identification of novel salivary peptides. This thesis, then, presents clinical studies of orofacial pain and pharmacological investigations of saliva as the local biofluid.

Thesis (PhD (Paraclinical Sciences))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Case Western Reserve University, 2009 / Department of Biomedical Engineering Abstract Title from OhioLINK (viewed on 20 April 2009) Available online via the OhioLINK ETD Center

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Baylor University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 127-135).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2004. / Advisor: Dr. John G. Dorsey, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Jan. 19, 2005). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D. in Chemistry)--Vanderbilt University, Dec. 2004. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 485-487) and copies of author's publications.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1991.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Cleveland State University, 2009. / Abstract. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed July 29, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 105). Available online via the OhioLINK ETD Center and also available in print.