Assessment of a Neurophysiological Model of the Mandibular Branch of the Facial Nerve in Rats by Electromyography

Objectives: Our objective was to develop an experimental model for the noninvasive and objective evaluation of facial nerve regeneration in rats using a motor nerve conduction test (electromyography). Methods: Twenty-two rats were submitted to neurophysiological evaluation using motor nerve conduction of the mandibular branch of the facial nerve to obtain the compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs). To record the CM APs, we used two needle electrodes that were inserted into the lower lip muscle of the rat. A supramaximal electrical stimulus was applied, and the values of CMAP latency, amplitude, length, area, and stimulus intensity obtained from each side were compared by use of the Wilcoxon test. Results: There was no significant difference (all p > 0.05) in latency, amplitude, duration, area, or intensity of stimuli between the two sides. The amplitudes ranged between 1.61 and 8.30 mV, the latencies between 1.03 and 1.97 ms, and the stimulus intensities between 1.50 and 2.90 mA. Conclusions: This is a noninvasive, easy, and highly reproducible method that contributes to an improvement of the techniques previously described and may contribute to future studies of the degeneration and regeneration of the facial nerve.

Differential cellular FGF-2 upregulation in the rat facial nucleus following axotomy, functional electrical stimulation and corticosterone: a possible therapeutic target to Bell's palsy

Abstract Background The etiology of Bell's palsy can vary but anterograde axonal degeneration may delay spontaneous functional recovery leading the necessity of therapeutic interventions. Corticotherapy and/or complementary rehabilitation interventions have been employed. Thus the natural history of the disease reports to a neurotrophic resistance of adult facial motoneurons leading a favorable evolution however the related molecular mechanisms that might be therapeutically addressed in the resistant cases are not known. Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) pathway signaling is a potential candidate for therapeutic development because its role on wound repair and autocrine/paracrine trophic mechanisms in the lesioned nervous system. Methods Adult rats received unilateral facial nerve crush, transection with amputation of nerve branches, or sham operation. Other group of unlesioned rats received a daily functional electrical stimulation in the levator labii superioris muscle (1 mA, 30 Hz, square wave) or systemic corticosterone (10 mgkg-1). Animals were sacrificed seven days later. Results Crush and transection lesions promoted no changes in the number of neurons but increased the neurofilament in the neuronal neuropil of axotomized facial nuclei. Axotomy also elevated the number of GFAP astrocytes (143% after crush; 277% after transection) and nuclear FGF-2 (57% after transection) in astrocytes (confirmed by two-color immunoperoxidase) in the ipsilateral facial nucleus. Image analysis reveled that a seven days functional electrical stimulation or corticosterone led to elevations of FGF-2 in the cytoplasm of neurons and in the nucleus of reactive astrocytes, respectively, without astrocytic reaction. Conclusion FGF-2 may exert paracrine/autocrine trophic actions in the facial nucleus and may be relevant as a therapeutic target to Bell's palsy.

Evaluation of facial esthetics in rehabilitated adults with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate

Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the facial esthetics of White-Brazilian adults with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) rehabilitated at a single center. Design. 30 patients (13 females; 17 males; mean age of 24.0 years), rehabilitated at a single center, were photographed and evaluated by 25 examiners, 5 orthodontists, and 5 plastic surgeons dealing with oral clefts, 5 orthodontists and 5 plastic surgeons with no experience in the cleft treatment, and 5 laymen. Their facial profiles were classified into esthetically unpleasant, esthetically acceptable, and esthetically pleasant. Results. Orthodontists dealing with oral clefts classified the majority of the sample as esthetically pleasant. Plastic surgeons dealing with oral cleft, orthodontists, and plastic surgeons without experience with oral clefts classified most of the sample as esthetically acceptable. Laymen evaluation also considered the majority of the sample as esthetically acceptable. Conclusions. The facial profiles of rehabilitated adults with UCLP were classified mostly as esthetically acceptable, with variations among the categories of examiners. The examiners dealing with oral clefts gave higher scores to the facial esthetics when compared to professionals without experience in oral clefts and laypersons, probably due to their knowledge of the limitations involved in the rehabilitation process

Comparative analysis of the anterior and posterior length and deflection angle of the cranial base, in individuals with facial pattern I, II and III

Objective: This study evaluated the variations in the anterior cranial base (S-N), posterior cranial base (S-Ba) and deflection of the cranial base (SNBa) among three different facial patterns (Pattern I, II and III). Method: A sample of 60 lateral cephalometric radiographs of Brazilian Caucasian patients, both genders, between 8 and 17 years of age was selected. The sample was divided into 3 groups (Pattern I, II and III) of 20 individuals each. The inclusion criteria for each group were the ANB angle, Wits appraisal and the facial profile angle (G’.Sn.Pg’). To compare the mean values obtained from (SNBa, S-N, S-Ba) each group measures, the ANOVA test and Scheffé’s Post-Hoc test were applied. Results and Conclusions: There was no statistically significant difference for the deflection angle of the cranial base among the different facial patterns (Patterns I, II and III). There was no significant difference for the measures of the anterior and posterior cranial base between the facial Patterns I and II. The mean values for S-Ba were lower in facial Pattern III with statistically significant difference. The mean values of S-N in the facial Pattern III were also reduced, but without showing statistically significant difference. This trend of lower values in the cranial base measurements would explain the maxillary deficiency and/or mandibular prognathism features that characterize the facial Pattern III.

Estudo do padrão respiratório e movimento toracoabdominal em valvopatia mitral

FUNDAMENTO: pacientes com valvopatia mitral podem evoluir com congestão pulmonar, que aumenta o trabalho dos músculos respiratórios; essa sobrecarga pode alterar o padrão respiratório com predomínio do deslocamento torácico ou presença de movimentos paradoxais. OBJETIVO: a) estudar o padrão respiratório e movimento toracoabdominal (MTA) em pacientes com doença mitral b) estudar o efeito do posicionamento nos parâmetros respiratórios c) correlacionar hipertensão pulmonar com presença de incoordenação do MTA. MÉTODOS: o padrão respiratório e o MTA de pacientes com doença mitral foram avaliados por pletismografia respiratória por indutância, nas posições dorsal e sentada, durante dois minutos de respiração tranquila. Analisou-se volume corrente (Vc) e tempos respiratórios e as variáveis do MTA. RESULTADOS: de 65 pacientes incluídos, 10 foram retirados, 29 participaram do grupo estenose mitral e 26 do grupo insuficiência mitral. O Vc, a ventilação pulmonar e o fluxo inspiratório médio aumentaram significantemente na posição sentada, sem diferenças entre os grupos. O MTA manteve-se coordenado entre os grupos e as posições; no entanto, cinco pacientes na posição dorsal apresentaram incoordenação (três no grupo estenose mitral; dois no grupo insuficiência mitral) com correlação significante com valores de pressão de artéria pulmonar (r = 0,992, p = 0,007). CONCLUSÃO: o padrão respiratório e o MTA não apresentam diferenças entre pacientes com estenose ou insuficiência mitral. A posição sentada aumenta o Vc sem alterar os tempos respiratórios. A presença de incoordenação toracoabdominal na posição dorsal esteve associação à hipertensão pulmonar.

Adesão às precauções-padrão de profissionais de enfermagem de um hospital universitário

OBJETIVO: Descrever e comparar os escores de adesão às precauções padrão (PP) de profissionais de enfermagem que atuavam nas unidades de internação de um hospital universitário do Estado de São Paulo. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de estudo quantitativo transversal, comparativo, com a aplicação da escala psicométrica de adesão às PP, desenvolvido por Gershon et al. (1995), traduzida e validada por Brevidelli e Cianciarullo (2009), entre primeiro de setembro de 2009 e 31 de março de 2010, com 256 profissionais de enfermagem. RESULTADOS: Evidenciou-se que 152 (59,4%) profissionais apresentaram escores médios altos para a adesão às PP, igual ou acima de 4,5; 98 (38,3%) escores intermediários, entre 3,5 e 4,49 e 6 (2,3%) baixos, ou seja, menor que 3,5. CONCLUSÕES: Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os escores e outras variáveis, entretanto, destacou-se a importância do resultado positivo encontrado pela valorização das ações de educação permanente pela instituição.

Mapas de dor corporal aprimoram os relatos das queixas dolorosas em pacientes com dor orofacial

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Identificar as queixas dolorosas dos pacientes é essencial para determinar diagnósticos e intervenções terapêuticas adequadas em dor orofacial (DOF). Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a frequência das queixas de dor relatadas comparando-as àquelas marcadas pelos pacientes em mapas de dor. MÉTODO: Os dados foram coletados dos prontuários de 532 pacientes da Clínica de Dor Orofacial da Faculdade de Odontologia de Araraquara. Os indivíduos responderam a um questionário informando suas queixas de dor e completaram um mapa corporal indicando as áreas dolorosas. A frequência dos relatos foi comparada à frequência dos locais identificados nos mapas. Foram consideradas nove regiões anatômicas: cabeça, face, pescoço, ombros, braços, tórax, abdômen, costas e pernas. Também foram calculados sensibilidade, especificidade e valores kappa comparando os relatos de dor aos mapas, os últimos considerados padrão-ouro. RESULTADOS: A média etária da amostra foi de 33,5 ± 13,8 anos, 33,9 ± 13,9 anos para as mulheres e 31,7 ± 13,1 anos para os homens. Foi observada maior prevalência de dor entre as mulheres. Em ambos os gêneros, as regiões com mais queixas de dor estavam localizadas na parte superior do corpo e uma diferença significativa entre os relatos de dor e os desenhos de dor foi observada para as regiões abaixo do pescoço. Os mapas de dor corporal demonstraram superioridade sobre os relatos de dor na identificação das queixas dolorosas durante a anamnese. CONCLUSÃO: O relato da queixa principal não foi um método eficiente para conhecer todas as queixas dolorosas, pois os mapas corporais evidenciaram a presença de dores adicionais em pacientes com DOF.

Facial lesions caused by renal osteodystrophy in a patient with chronic renal insufficiency: a case report

PURPOSE: Chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) is the last stage of a chronic renal condition in which the kidney loses its filtration and endocrine functions. Chronic endocrine hypofunction causes generalized damage to the body known as Uremic Syndrome, which affects the central nervous system as well as the cardiovascular, hematologic, dermatologic, ophthalmic, endocrine, respiratory, gastrointestinal and skeletal systems. The present study reports the case of a female patient with CRI who presented facial osteodystrophy of the osteitis fibrosa type, and highlights the main features of this condition. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 24-year old, female, Caucasian patient presented chronic glomerulonephritis recurrence and lost the transplanted kidney five years before, undergoing arteriovenous fistula hemodialysis three times a week. She presented swelling of the left masseter area with a hard consistency on palpation, covered by intact skin, swelling at the bottom of the left atrium, with a hard consistency on palpation, a mucosa-like color and absence of inflammation signs, suggesting expansive bone lesions on the face. These features were compatible with hyperparathyroidism brown tumor and/or osteodystrophy. The CT scan showed expansive bone lesions of heterogeneous appearance on the left jaw, maxilla/nasal floor, and right frontotemporal suture areas. The clinical and histopathological characteristics of the lesion, in association with PHT hormone high serum levels led to renal osteodystrophy diagnosis. The patient was referred to the nephrology services. CONCLUSION: Osteodystrophic bone alterations have a high prevalence in renal disease patients, and the dentist must take these alterations into consideration in bone lesion diagnosis for this specific group of patients.

Tratamento de sequelas de queimadura de face com laser de CO2 fracionado em pacientes com fototipos III a VI

INTRODUÇÃO: Relatos sobre melhora em cicatrizes pós-traumáticas ou patológicas com o uso do laser de CO2 fracionado (CO2F) concluem tratar-se de tecnologia segura e efetiva, apesar de utilizado apenas em pacientes com fototipos II a III. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficácia do CO2F em pacientes com sequela de queimadura facial com fototipos III a VI. MÉTODO: No total, 14 pacientes, com média de idade de 29 anos, portadores de sequela de queimadura facial e fototipos III a VI, foram submetidos a uma aplicação do laser de CO2F. Após dois meses, a queimadura foi avaliada por meio de escala com 6 parâmetros: cor, textura, hidratação, irregularidades de superfície, volume e distensibilidade. RESULTADOS: A duração média da dor foi de 19 horas; do edema, 1,3 dia; e da hiperemia, 6,5 dias. A queda das crostas finalizou entre 5 dias e 36 dias, com média de 13,4 dias. Dois meses após a sessão, 5 pacientes evoluíram com hipocromia puntiforme no padrão quadriculado correspondente aos pontos de ablação do laser. A satisfação subjetiva dos avaliadores (pacientes e médicos) com o tratamento foi de 84,6%. Para os pacientes, houve melhora das irregularidades de superfície, da distensibilidade e da textura da pele (57% dos casos), da hidratação (43%), do volume (28%) e da cor (14%). Para os médicos, houve melhora das irregularidades de superfície e da distensibilidade (43%). CONCLUSÕES: O tratamento com laser de CO2F com parâmetros suaves foi bem tolerado e apresentou alto índice de satisfação em pacientes com sequela de queimadura facial, com melhora de textura, distensibilidade e irregularidades de superfície. A alta incidência de hipopigmentação é um fator a ser considerado na indicação do laser de CO2F em pacientes com fototipos IV a VI.

Effect of rapid maxillary expansion on the dimension of the nasal cavity and on facial morphology assessed by acoustic rhinometry and rhinomanometry

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of rapid maxillary expansion on facial morphology and on nasal cavity dimensions of mouth breathing children by acoustic rhinometry and computed rhinomanometry. METHODS: Cohort; 29 mouth breathing children with posterior crossbite were evaluated. Orthodontic and otorhinolaryngologic documentation were performed at three different times, i.e., before expansion, immediately after and 90 days following expansion. RESULTS: The expansion was accompanied by an increase of the maxillary and nasal bone transversal width. However, there were no significant differences in relation to mucosal area of the nose. Acoustic rhinometry showed no difference in the minimal cross-sectional area at the level of the valve and inferior turbinate between the periods analyzed, although rhinomanometry showed a statistically significant reduction in nasal resistance right after expansion, but were similar to pre-treatment values 90 days after expansion. CONCLUSION: The maxillary expansion increased the maxilla and nasal bony area, but was inefficient to increase the nasal mucosal area, and may lessen the nasal resistance, although there was no difference in nasal geometry. Significance: Nasal bony expansion is followed by a mucosal compensation.

Photometric analysis applied in determining facial type

INTRODUCTION: In orthodontics, determining the facial type is a key element in the prescription of a correct diagnosis. In the early days of our specialty, observation and measurement of craniofacial structures were done directly on the face, in photographs or plaster casts. With the development of radiographic methods, cephalometric analysis replaced the direct facial analysis. Seeking to validate the analysis of facial soft tissues, this work compares two different methods used to determining the facial types, the anthropometric and the cephalometric methods. METHODS: The sample consisted of sixty-four Brazilian individuals, adults, Caucasian, of both genders, who agreed to participate in this research. All individuals had lateral cephalograms and facial frontal photographs. The facial types were determined by the Vert Index (cephalometric) and the Facial Index (photographs). RESULTS: The agreement analysis (Kappa), made for both types of analysis, found an agreement of 76.5%. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the Facial Index can be used as an adjunct to orthodontic diagnosis, or as an alternative method for pre-selection of a sample, avoiding that research subjects have to undergo unnecessary tests.