O forame de Huschke e suas implicações clínicas

During temporal bone development and formation it is noted the presence of a foramen in the medial portion of the external auditory canal (foramen of Huschke). This foramen is normally present until the age of 4 or 5 years old, but in some people it persists throughout life. The persistence of this foramen and its clinical implications related to the temporomandibular joint, ear and nearby structures has been reported by many authors. Therefore, it is important that dentists, otorhinolaryngologists, speech pathologist and physiotherapists have a wide knowledge about the consequences of the presence and persistence of the foramen of Huschke.

Electromyographic muscle EMG activity in mouth and nasal breathing children

Mouth breathing may cause changes in muscle activity, because an upper airway obstruction leads may cause a person to extend his/her head forward, demanding a higher inspiratory effort on the accessory muscles (sternocleidomastoids). This purpose of this study is to compare, using electromyography (EMG), the activity pattern the sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius muscles in mouth breathing children and nasal breathing children. Forty-six children, ages 8-12 years, 33 male and 13 female were included. The selected children were divided into two groups: Group I consisted of 26 mouth breathing children, and Group II, 20 nasal breathing children. EMG recordings were made using surface electrodes bilaterally in the areas of the sternocleidomastoideus and upper trapezius muscles, while relaxed and during maximal voluntary contraction. The data were analyzed using the Kruskall-Wallis statistical test. The results indicated higher activity during relaxation and lower activity during maximal voluntary contraction in mouth breathers when compared to the nasal breathers. It is suggested that the activity pattern of the sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius muscles differs between mouth breathing children and nasal breathing children. This may be attributed to changes in body posture which causes muscular imbalance. Because of the limitations of surface EMG, the results need to be confirmed by adding force measurements and repeating the experiments with matched subjects. Copyright © 2004 by CHROMA, Inc.

Intraepithelial alterations in the Guinea pig lateral prostate at different ages after estradiol treatment

The prostate is an accessory gland of the mammal reproductive system with great volume and high functional importance. Many works infer that, in addition to the androgenic ones, the estrogen can be associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic cancer, but no conclusive evidence exists on the role of estrogen in normal prostatic and neoplastic tissue. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of chronic administration of estradiol benzoate on the lateral prostate of guinea pigs in the pre-pubescent, pubescent, post-pubescent and adult phases, with emphasis on the modifications provoked by this hormone on the glandular epithelium. The analyses of the estradiol-treated and control groups were investigated using histological procedures and transmission electron microscopy. The histopathological analysis of the lateral prostate in the treated group revealed areas where epithelial dysplasia was observed, assuming at some places a pattern of epithelial stratification characteristic of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. After ultrastructural analysis, the following were observed: enlargement of the internal membranes, heterogeneity in the cellular types, hypertrophy of the basal cells and apparent decrease of cytoplasmic organelles in some cells of the prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. Still, a loss of cellular polarity was observed, along with nuclei of various forms, sizes and heights - as well as irregular chromatin distribution patterns. Such alterations were found mainly in pubescent, post-pubescent and adult animals subject to the chronic administration of estradiol. These findings reinforce the already existent data in understanding the role of estrogen in the etiology of prostatic diseases.

As rochas intrusivas da Formação Serra Geral na Porção leste da Bacia do Paraná no Estado de São Paulo: Aspectos petrográficos e geoquímicos - Resultados preliminares

The purpose of this paper is to present preliminary aspects of the petrography and chemistry of intrusive rocks (sills and dykes) from the eastern portion of the Parana Basin in the State of Säo Paulo. Data from 80 samples of the region show a subaphyric and subophitic nature and have plagioclase (25-50%), augite (3-39%), pigeonite (0-10%) and magnetite (4-20%) as an essential minerals. Apatite and quartz are present as accessory minerals. The geochemical data of intrusive rocks show a basic to intermediate composition (48% < SiO 2 < 56%) and a high Ti nature (TiO 2 > 2%). Based on the minor and trace composition of the intrusive rocks, two different magma types were recognized, named Paranapanema and Pitanga. The spatial distribution of these magma types is not alleatory in the studied region. The intrusive rocks of Pitanga magma type are displayed in the Campinas-Paulinia region, while the Paranapanema magma type cover a large region above that one, between Rio Claro and Cajuru. Furthermore, the chemical composition of the lava flows of the Serra Geral Formation, sampled in this work, reveals a magma of Urubici type. So, the intrusive rocks of the eastern portion of the of State Säo Paulo are not the extension of the lava flows, or they aren't a portions which don't reach the surface.

In vitro evaluation of apical microleakage using different root-end filling materials

The objective of this study was to evaluate the apical leakage of retrograde cavities filled with Portland Cement (Concrebrás S/A-MG-Brazil), ProRoot MTA™ (Dentsply International, Johnson City, TN, USA) and Sealapex (Kerr Corporation, Orange, California, USA) with addition of zinc oxide (Odahcam Herpo Produtos Dentários Ltda, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil). Forty-two extracted single-rooted human teeth were decoronated and used for this study. The root canals were instrumented at 1.0mm short of the apical foramen using the step-back technique to an apical ISO size 60. The roots were obturated with gutta-percha points and sealer Sealapex (Kerr Corporation-USA) and then 3mm of each root apex was sectioned at a 90° angle. Ultrasonic retrograde preparation was performed with a diamond tip to 3mm depth and the roots were randomly divided into 3 groups according to the filling material: G1-Portland, G2-ProRoot MTA, G3- Sealapex zinc oxide-added cement. The root surfaces were covered with nail varnish up to 2mm from the apical foramen, immersed in simulated tissue fluid for 30 days, and then immersed in 0.2% Rhodamine B solution for 24 hours for evaluation of marginal leakage. The results showed mean leakage of 0.75, 0.35 and 0.35 for groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively; however, Kruskal-Wallis test revealed that there was no statistically significant difference among the results (p>0.05).

Prostatic stromal microenvironment and experimental diabetes

The diabetes causes alterations in various organ systems, including the male accessory sex glands. The prostate is very important in the reproductive process and it is a frequent target of malignant changes. The aim of this work was to demonstrate the histochemical and ultrastructural alterations in the prostate of diabetic animals. Two groups of animals were utilized: control and non-obese diabetic mice (NOD). Twelve days after the characterization of diabetic status the ventral prostate was collected, fixed in Karnovsky and paraformaldehyde, processed for histochemistry and TEM associated to stereology. The results showed reduction of the epithelial area and increasing of the stromal area with muscular and collagen hypertrophy in the prostatic gland. It was characterized the development of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, inflammatory processes and dilation of the organelles involved in the secretory process. It was concluded that diabetes besides damaging the reproductive process, affects the glandular homeostasis favoring the development of prostatic pathologies. ©2005, European Journal of Histochemistry.

COX24 codes for a mitochondrial protein required for processing of the COX1 transcript

In most strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae the mitochondrial gene COX1, for subunit 1 of cytochrome oxidase, contains multiple exons and introns. Processing of COX1 primary transcript requires accessory proteins factors, some of which are encoded by nuclear genes and others by reading frames residing in some of the introns of the COX1 and COB genes. Here we show that the low molecular weight protein product of open reading frame YLR204W, for which we propose the name COX24, is also involved in processing of COX1 RNA intermediates. The growth defect of cox24 mutants is partially rescued in strains harboring mitochondrial DNA lacking introns. Northern blot analyses of mitochondrial transcripts indicate cox24 null mutants to be blocked in processing of introns aI2 and aI3. The dependence of intron aI3 excision on Cox24p is also supported by the growth properties of the cox24 mutant harboring mitochondrial DNA with different intron compositions. The intermediate phenotype of the cox24 mutant in the background of intronless mitochondrial DNA, however, suggests that in addition to its role in splicing of the COX1 pre-mRNA, Cox24p still has another function. Based on the analysis of a cox14-cox24 double mutant, we propose that the other function of Cox24p is related to translation of the COX1 mRNA. © 2006 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Persistência do forame de Huschke: Um estudo tomográfico

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the persistency of foramen of Huschke by means of computed tomography study of the ear region and approaching important clinical aspects related to the presence of this anatomical anomaly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two examiners have analyzed the whole tympanic portion of temporal bone in 150 bilateral computed tomography studies of the ear region, searching for foramen of Huschke presence or absence. RESULTS: The mentioned anatomical anomaly was found in 17 cases (11.3%), 13 patients (76.5%) being female and four (23.5%) male. This higher female incidence is statistically confirmed. CONCLUSION: Ear and/or temporomandibular joint specialists should turn their attention to the persistency of foramen of Huschke.

O impacto da pesca do camarão-rosa Farfantepenaeus paulensis (Perez-Farfante) (Decapoda, Penaeidae) nas assembléias de peixes e siris do Parque Nacional da Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

This work evaluates the impact of the pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus paulensis (Perez-Farfante, 1967) fishery on fish and crab assemblages of Lagoa do Peixe National Park, Brazil. We observed that composition of catches is similar to shrimp fisheries using fyke-net at others estuaries of Rio Grande do Sul State: pink shrimp (53%), accessory catches (24%) and bycatch (23%). However, fishery composition showed distinct differences along the saline gradient of the main park's lagoon. Regarding only fish species, the most impacted species in this fishery were Brevoortia pectinata (Jenyns, 1842), Micropogonias furnieri (Desmarest, 1823), and Jenynsia multidentata (Jenyns, 1842). In others estuaries from Rio Grande do Sul, in contrast, the most impacted species were M. furnieri, Genidens barbus (Lacepède, 1803) and Genidens genidens (Cuvier, 1829). The potential impact of the pink shrimp fishery at Lagoa do Peixe National Park seemed to be weaker when compared to shrimp fisheries elsewhere. We believe that the decision to prohibit this fishery at the Lagoa do Peixe National Park should not be based on its potential damage to the fish and crab assemblages but based on the simple fact that Brazilian laws do not allow fisheries inside National Parks.

Limpeza do forame e extrusão apical de raspas de dentina em dentes unirradiculares submetidos ao procedimento de patência apical

Objective: To verify the cleaning of the apical foramen and apical extrusion of dentin chips in single-rooted teeth instrumented with two techniques, one of which including the apical patency procedure. Method: Thirty teeth were internally stained with Indian ink, divided in two groups, of which only group I was subjected to apical patency. The dentin chips extruded through the apical foramen were collected in a glass receptacle and quantified. The apical foramen region was divided in quadrants and analyzed with a stereomicroscope to verify the action of the instrument on the cemental canal walls. The teeth were scored 0 4 according to the number of clean walls (without Indian ink), 0 corresponding to no clean wall. Results: In group I, there was no dentin plug, but only 1 tooth was scored 4. In group II, 10 teeth presented dentin plug and all of them were scored 0. There was no statistically significant difference between groups I and II regarding the extruded dentin mass (Scheffé test; p<0.05). Conclusion: The use of the apical patency procedure in single-rooted teeth does not modify the amount of dentin chips extruded through the apical foramen, does not produce an adequate cleaning of the cemental canal walls, but remove the plug of dentin chips from the cemental canal.

Radiographic study of ossification of the pterygospinous and pterygoalar ligaments by the Hirtz axial technique.

The correct radiographic identification of ossification of the pterygospinous and pterygoalar ligaments plays an important role in surgical procedures for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Most of these procedures are performed through the foramen ovale, a site where these ligaments can be found to be partially or completely ossified. We studied the radiographic features of these ossified ligaments and their location in relation to the foramen ovale by the Hirtz axial technique. For this purpose, 93 dry skulls from the Discipline of Anatomy, São José dos Campos Dental School, UNESP, which presented partial or complete ossification of these ligaments, were radiographed. The pterygospinous ligament was detected on 27.97% of radiographs and was partially ossified in 19.36% of cases and completely ossified in 8.61%. The pterygoalar ligament was present in 62.35% of radiographs, being partially ossified in 49.44% and completely ossified in 12.91%. The pterygospinous ligaments was found to be partially and completely ossified on the same radiograph in 3.23% of cases, whereas the pterygoalar ligament appeared partially and completely ossified on the same radiograph in 6.45%. Furthermore, the pterygospinous ligament was thinner than the pterygoalar ligament and located more medially in relation to the foramen ovale. The pterygoalar ligament formed a large bone bar lateral to the foramen ovale, often obliterating the lumen of the latter. The Hirtz axial technique is an excellent tool for the observation of complete or partial ossification of the pterygospinous and pterygoalar ligaments in surgical procedures for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia performed through the foramen ovale.

Incidence of the ossified pterygoalar ligament in Brazilian human skulls and its clinical implications

The ossified pterygoalar ligament is formed between the lateral lamina of the pterygoid process and the infratemporal surface of the sphenoid bone or its greater wing and was not connected to the sphenoid spine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of the ossified pterygoalar ligament in Brazilian human skulls and analyzing its clinical importance. 183 Brazilian adult (between 30 to 60 years old) dry human skulls were evaluated. Was evaluated the incidence of skulls with complete or partial ossification of the pterygoalar ligament, bilaterally and unilaterally and in the presence on the right and left sides. Were found 5 skulls had the ossified pterygoalar ligament, resulting in an overall incidence of 2.73%. There was 1 skull in the presence of the incomplete ossification of the pterygoalar ligament, unilaterally and on the left side resulting in incidence of 0.54%. There were 4 skulls in the presence of the complete ossification of the pterygoalar ligament, unilaterally and on the right side resulting in incidence of 2.18%. The ossified pterygoalar ligament is a major cause of the entrapment of the lingual nerve or a branch of the mandibular nerve and may cause mandibular neuralgia. The incidence of the ossified pterygoalar ligament and the pterygoalar foramen is low in the Brazilian population. However, these structures have clinical significance as this ligament establish relationships with the ovale foramen and difficulty in accessing in this foramen in a therapeutic approach.

Influence of apical enlargement in cleaning and extrusion in canals with mild and moderate curvatures

Optical microscopy and morphometric analysis were used in this study to evaluate, in vitro, the cleaning of the apical region in root canals with mild or moderate curvatures subjected to biomechanical preparation with a rotary system, as well as to assess the amount of extruded material to the periapical area. Lateral incisors (n = 32), 16 with curvature angles smaller or equal to 10° (GI) and 16 between 11° and 25° angles (GII) were submitted to Hero 642 rotary instrumentation with different surgical diameters: (A) 30.02 and (B) 45.02. Irrigation was performed at each change of instrument with 5 mL of ultrapure Milli-Q water and the extruded material through the apical foramen was collected. Root cross-sections were subjected to histological analysis by optical microscopy (×40) and the images were evaluated morphometrically using the Image Tool software. Quantification of the extruded material was performed by weighing after liquid evaporation. ANOVA showed no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) among the groups with respect to the procedures used to clean the apical region. Considering the amount of extruded material, the Tukey's HSD showed that canals with mild curvature prepared with the 45.02 surgical diameter showed significantly higher values (p<0.05) that those of the other groups, which were similar between themselves (p>0.05). In conclusion, the effect of cleaning the apical region did not differ in the groups, considering root curvature and the surgical diameter of instruments used for apical preparation. The amount of extruded material was greater in canals with mild curvature that were prepared with the 45.02 surgical instrument diameter.

Tooth embedding medium influences the accuracy of electronic apex locator

This study evaluated the influence of tooth embedding media on the accuracy ofan electronic apex locator. The root canal length of 20 human mandibular canines was measured by inserting a 15 K-file into the root canal up to the apical foramen. The distance was measured with a digital caliper. The embedding media evaluated were alginate, saline, floral foam or gauze soaked in saline. Electronic root canal length measurement was performed with Root ZX II. Data were analysed using ANOVA for repeated measurements and Tukey test, at a significance level of 5%. There was no difference between the actual root canal length measurement and the electronic reading recorded with alginate medium. The readings obtained with the other media differed from the actual root canal length measurements. Alginate provided greater accuracy in electronic root canal length determination by Root ZX II than saline, floral foam and gauze.

Forámenes emisarios del cráneo humano: Características anatómicas y sus relaciones con la neurocirugía clínica

The recognition of emissary foramens is important not only for understanding the regional neurovascular anatomy, but also to distinguish normal from potentially abnormal structures. Thus, the aim of this study was to review the literature on anatomical and clinical aspects of the mastoid, parietal and sphenoid emissary foramens. It was found that the emissary foramen presents importance in clinical practice because it acts as a route of spread of extracranial infection to the intracranial structures and also possible complications in neurosurgery, due to its influence in the performance of techniques such as radiofrequency rhizotomy for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. The anatomical knowledge of the emissary foramens is important due to variability in their incidence in the human skull and its relation to the dura mater sinuses.