Canine retraction and anchorage loss Self-ligating versus conventional brackets in a randomized split-mouth study

Objective: To evaluate the velocity of canine retraction, anchorage loss and changes on canine and first molar inclinations using self-ligating and conventional brackets.Materials and Methods: Twenty-five adults with Class I malocclusion and a treatment plan involving extractions of four first premolars were selected for this randomized split-mouth control trial. Patients had either conventional or self-ligating brackets bonded to maxillary canines randomly. Retraction was accomplished using 100-g nickel-titanium closed coil springs, which were reactivated every 4 weeks. Oblique radiographs were taken before and after canine retraction was completed, and the cephalograms were superimposed on stable structures of the maxilla. Cephalometric points were digitized twice by a blinded operator for error control, and the following landmarks were collected: canine cusp and apex horizontal changes, molar cusp and apex horizontal changes, and angulation changes in canines and molars. The blinded data, which were normally distributed, were analyzed through paired t-tests for group differences.Results: No differences were found between the two groups for all variables tested.Conclusions: Both brackets showed the same velocity of canine retraction and loss of anteroposterior anchorage of the molars. No changes were found between brackets regarding the inclination of canines and first molars.

Effect of Er,Cr:YSGG laser application in the treatment of experimental periodontitis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Two-and tridimensional analysis of periapical repair after endodontic surgery

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate repair after endodontic surgery using two- and tridimensional imaging methods. Materials and methods Periapical radiographs and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) were performed before the surgeries and after 48 h (baseline), 4 months, and 8 months. The area (square millimeters) of periapical lesions in CBCT and in radiographs was compared regarding the percentage of repair. In the CBCT, multiple areas were converted to volume. Repeated-measures analyses and paired t tests (α=0.05) were used to compare the methods. Correlation coefficients were calculated between the periods of evaluation within the CBCT volumetric analysis. Bland-Altman plots were used to compare the methods, based on the 95 % limits of agreement for the difference of the means. Results Baseline showed a larger lesion volume (192.54 mm3 ) than 4-month (79.79 mm3 ) and 8-month (47.51 mm3 ) periods. No differences were found in the percentage of repair in the first 4 months and after 8 months. The volumetric analysis showed a higher percentage of repair when the first and last 4 months were compared. No differences were found in the percentage of repair by area in the CBCTs. Repair of 73 % was obtained after 8 months. Similar results were observed by the Bland-Altman agreement analyses. Conclusions The percentage of repair varied after 8 months, when lower values were obtained by volumetric evaluation. Clinical relevance Considering the outcome at follow-up periods over 4 months, tridimensional evaluation by CBCT is more capable of determining the absence of periapical bone repair than conventional two-dimensional radiographs. Therefore, the use of CBCT would be suggested only for more complex cases with slower evolution of repair or for the association of factors that make prognosis difficult after surgery.

Relation between speaking space of the /s/ sound and freeway space in dentate and edentate subjects.

The purpose of this study is to assess the relation between the speaking space of the /s/ sound and the freeway space in two subject groups. One group had natural dentition (Group I, n = 61) and the other comprised complete denture wearers (Group II, n = 33). The analysis was done by means of a jaw-tracking device (K6-I Diagnostic System, Myotronics Research Inc., Seattle, WA, USA). Freeway space was determined by asking the subjects to occlude from the postural rest position. Speaking space of /s/ was measured during the pronunciation of the word seis and comprised the mean distance from the /s/ speaking position to maximal intercuspation. A weak correlation was found between the speaking space of /s/ and the freeway space in Group I (r = 0.41, p < 0.01), but in Group II, the correlation was stronger (r = 0.75, p < 0.01). The speaking space of /s/ and freeway space were different in Group I, but statistically similar in Group II (paired t-test, alpha = 0.05). It can be suggested that anatomic changes following prosthetic procedures caused a functional adaptation which resulted in more similar values for the speaking space of /s/ and the freeway space.

Evaluation of IFA, MAT, ELISAs and immunoblotting for the detection of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in paired serum and aqueous humour samples from experimentally infected pigs

The study evaluated the efficiency of diagnostic laboratory methods to detect anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in paired serum and aqueous humour samples from experimentally infected pigs. 18-mixed breed pigs were used during the experiment; these were divided into two groups, G1 (infected group, n = 10) and G2 (uninfected group, n = 8). Infection was performed with 4 × 10 4 VEG strain oocysts at day 0 by the oral route in G1 animals. All pigs were euthanized at day 60, when retina, aqueous humour, and blood samples were collected. Anti-T. gondii antibody levels were assessed in serum (s) and aqueous humour (ah) by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), modified agglutination test (MAT), m-ELISA (using crude membranes from T. gondii tachyzoites as antigen) and r-ELISA (using rhoptries from T. gondii tachyzoites as antigen). Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) of samples from the retina were performed by using Tox4 and Tox5 primers. Antibody titers of G1 animals ranged from 128 to 1024 and from 16 to 256 in serum and aqueous humour, respectively. There were differences in the correlation coefficients between IFA(s) × IFA (ah) (r = 0.62, P = 0.05), MAT(s) × MAT (ah) (r = 0.97, P < 0.0001); however, there was no significant difference between r-ELISA(s) × r-ELISA (ah) (r = 0.14, P = 0.7). Antibodies present in serum and aqueous humour recognized similar antigens. Samples of retina were positive by PCR in 30% (3/10) of infected pigs. G2 animals remained without antibody levels and were PCR negative throughout the experiment. These results suggest that the use of a combination of tests and immunoblotting for paired aqueous humour and serum samples could improve the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Preschool Language Assessment Instrument, second edition, in Brazilian Portuguese-speaking children

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)