Mesoscopy and scanning electron microscopy of the trabecular projections in the superior sagittal sinus

The trabecular projections of the human superior sagittal sinus were classified into types and subtypes according to spatial arrangement and shape. The horizontal and vertical projections direct laminar blood flow, while the conic type, which is avalvular, protects the openings of the superior cerebral veins in the superior sagittal sinus. Copyright (C) 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Mini-implant and Nance button for initial retraction of maxillary canines: a prospective study in cast models

OBJETIVO: a ancoragem óssea é fundamental para o sucesso do tratamento de algumas más oclusões, pois permite a aplicação de forças contínuas, diminui o tempo de tratamento e independe da colaboração do paciente. MÉTODOS: o propósito desse trabalho foi comparar, por meio de modelos dentários, a perda de ancoragem após a retração inicial de caninos superiores entre dois grupos. O grupo A utilizou o mini-implante enquanto o grupo B utilizou o Botão de Nance. Para todos os pacientes foram realizados dois modelos (M1 e M2). Os primeiros modelos foram realizados ao início (M1), e os outros ao final da retração inicial de canino (M2). RESULTADOS: todas as medidas foram tabuladas e submetidas à análise estatística. Para verificar o erro sistemático intraexaminador foi utilizado o teste t pareado. Na determinação do erro casual utilizou-se o cálculo de erro proposto por Dahlberg. Para comparação entre as fases Início e Após, foi utilizado o teste t pareado. Para a comparação entre os grupos de mini-implante e Botão de Nance, foi utilizado o teste t de Student para medidas independentes. em todos os testes foi adotado nível de significância de 5% (p<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: ao se medir e comparar em modelos dentários a perda de ancoragem dos molares após a retração inicial de canino utilizando-se dois sistemas de ancoragem distintos (Mini-implante e Botão de Nance), pôde-se observar a inexistência de diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os dois grupos.

Influence of intentional ankylosis of deciduous canines to reinforce the anchorage for maxillary protraction

INTRODUÇÃO: nesse estudo cefalométrico retrospectivo, analisou-se a influência da anquilose intencional de caninos decíduos em pacientes com má oclusão de Classe III e mordida cruzada anterior, nos estágios de dentição decídua e mista precoce, tratados com expansão ortopédica da maxila, seguida de tração reversa. MÉTODOS: foram utilizadas telerradiografias em norma lateral de 40 pacientes, divididos em 2 grupos pareados por idade e sexo. O Grupo Anquilose foi constituído de 20 pacientes (10 meninos e 10 meninas) tratados com anquilose induzida e que apresentavam as idades médias inicial e final, respectivamente, de 7a 4m e 8a 3m, e o tempo médio de tração reversa de 11 meses. O Grupo Controle, composto de 20 pacientes (10 meninos e 10 meninas) tratados sem anquilose induzida e que apresentavam as idades médias inicial de 7a 8m e final de 8a 7m, e tempo médio de tração reversa de 11 meses. Foram empregadas as análises de Variância a dois critérios e de Covariância para comparar as variáveis cefalométricas inicial e final e as alterações de tratamento entre os grupos. RESULTADOS: segundo os resultados, as variáveis que evidenciaram as mudanças de tratamento significativas entre os grupos confirmaram que o procedimento de anquilose intencional potencializou a resposta sagital das bases apicais (Pg-NPerp) e aumentou os ângulos de convexidade facial (NAP e ANB). CONCLUSÃO: o protocolo envolvendo a anquilose intencional de caninos decíduos potencializou a resposta sagital das bases apicais.

FUNCTIONAL AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL EVALUATION OF MYOCARDIAL PROTECTION PROVIDED BY INTERMITTENT CORONARY SINUS PERFUSION IN THE ISOLATED DOG HEART

1. The protection offered by intermittent perfusion of of cardioplegic solution through the coronary sinus was investigated in isovolumic blood-perfused dog heart preparations submitted to 60 min of ischemia and 45 min of reperfusion.2. The preparations were divided into three treatment groups: a) coronary sinus, consisting of preparations (N = 10) perfused through the coronary sinus under 40 cm water pressure; b) aortic, consisting of preparations (N = 10) perfused through the aortic stump under 100 mmHg pressure; c) control, consisting of hearts (N = 9) that were not perfused with cardioplegic solution.3. Properties of contractile capacity and relaxation were markedly impaired in the control group but were preserved to a comparable extent in the groups perfused with cardioplegic solution through the aorta and coronary sinus. Developed pressure decreased in the control group (before ischemia: 70 +/- 5.5 mmHg; after reperfusion: 35 +/- 12 mmHg; P < 0.05) and didn't vary in the aortic group (from 69 +/- 4 mmHg to 65 +/- 13 mmHg; P > 0.05) and coronary sinus group (from 69 +/- 4.6 mmHg to 60 +/- 10 mmHg; P > 0.05). Myocardial relaxation was evaluated by the +/- dp/dt ratio. In the control group there was impairment of myocardial relaxation as indicated by an increase of this index after reperfusion (from 1.05 +/- 0.05 to 1.46 +/- 0.23; P < 0.05), whereas in the aortic (from 1.10 +/- 0.13 to 1.15 +/- 0.20; P > 0.05) and the coronary sinus (from 1.03 +/- 0.14 to 1.08 +/- 0.16; P > 0.05) groups there was no variation. Ultrastructural changes in the myocardium were negligible in all three groups at the end of reperfusion.4. We conclude that intermittent perfusion of a hypothermic cardioplegic solution through the coronary sinus is effective for the protection of the myocardium during total ischemia.

Maxillary canine-first premolar transposition - Restoring normal tooth order with segmented mechanics

Tooth transpositions present at a relatively low incidence in the world population and primarily affect maxillary canines and premolars. Treatment of this disturbance should take into account aspects such as facial pattern, age, malocclusion, tooth-size discrepancy, stage of eruption, and magnitude of the transposition. Mechanics for correction should be entirely individualized, reducing the risks and adverse effects. Practitioners often select simpler options, indicating extraction of permanent teeth, which is an irreversible procedure that may bring about damages to the patient. This study presents a case report and treatment of unilateral transposition of maxillary canine and premolar with repositioning of affected teeth to their respective normal positions.

Aesthetic correction of a hypertrophic sinus frontalis: A long-term follow-up evaluation and refinement of the method

Two cases treated for hypertrophy of the frontal sinus are presented. In both patients, the excised frontal bone was inverted, and the resultant cavity was filled with either bone dust from the parietal region or Medpor. The first patient is shown with an excellent result after a follow-up period of 16 years. The second patient, who also achieved an excellent result, is presented after a follow-up period of 5 years. Using Medpor instead of bone dust resulted in the advantage that the operation could be performed with the patient under local anesthesia with sedation and prevention of an additional donor site. The use of Medpor has certain advantages over the use of hydroxyapatite, not least of which is its significant lower cost.

Panoramic evaluation of mesiodistal axial inclinations of maxillary anterior teeth in orthodontically treated subjects

The objectives of this study were to evaluate, through panoramic radiographs, the mesiodistal axial inclinations of the maxillary anterior teeth at the beginning and end of nonextraction orthodontic treatment, and to compare the results with the mesiodistal axial inclinations of a control sample with normal (acceptable) occlusions. Methods: the experimental sample consisted of 40 white patients (20 male, 20 female; mean age, 14 years) with Class I maloccusions who were treated orthodontically with a standard edgewise (not preadjusted) technique without extractions. The mean treatment period was 1.6 years. The control sample comprised 42 white subjects (14 male, 28 female; age range, 12-17 years) with untreated normal (acceptable) occlusions. Panoramic radiographs were taken of the patients at the beginning (T1) and end (T2) of treatment. The mean values of the mesiodistal axial inclination at T1 were compared with the mean values at T2, and both were compared with the mesiodistal axial inclinations of the control sample. Results- the mesiodistal axial inclinations of the maxillary anterior teeth of the experimental group at T1 were different from those of the control group for 50% of the evaluated teeth. In contrast, the inclinations at T2 were consistent with the normal anatomical configuration of the controls. Conclusions: the panoramic radiograph is an effective tool for evaluating the mesiodistal axial inclinations of maxillary anterior teeth.

Evidence for a respiratory component, similar to mammalian respiratory sinus arrhythmia, in the heart rate variability signal from the rattlesnake, Crotalus durissus terrificus

Autonomic control of heart rate variability and the central location of vagal preganglionic neurones (VPN) were examined in the rattlesnake ( Crotalus durissus terrificus), in order to determine whether respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) occurred in a similar manner to that described for mammals. Resting ECG signals were recorded in undisturbed snakes using miniature datalogging devices, and the presence of oscillations in heart rate (f(H)) was assessed by power spectral analysis (PSA). This mathematical technique provides a graphical output that enables the estimation of cardiac autonomic control by measuring periodic changes in the heart beat interval. At fH above 19 min(-1) spectra were mainly characterised by low frequency components, reflecting mainly adrenergic tonus on the heart. By contrast, at f(H) below 19 min(-1) spectra typically contained high frequency components, demonstrated to be cholinergic in origin. Snakes with a f(H) > 19 min(-1) may therefore have insufficient cholinergic tonus and/or too high an adrenergic tonus acting upon the heart for respiratory sinus arrhythmia ( RSA) to develop. A parallel study monitored f(Hd) simultaneously with the intraperitoneal pressures associated with lung inflation. Snakes with a fH < 19 min(-1) exhibited a high frequency (HF) peak in the power spectrum, which correlated with ventilation rate (f(V)). Adrenergic blockade by propranolol infusion increased the variability of the ventilation cycle, and the oscillatory component of the f(H) spectrum broadened accordingly. Infusion of atropine to effect cholinergic blockade abolished this HF component, confirming a role for vagal control of the heart in matching f(H) and f(V) in the rattlesnake. A neuroanatomical study of the brainstem revealed two locations for vagal preganglionic neurones (VPN). This is consistent with the suggestion that generation of ventilatory components in the heart rate variability (HRV) signal are dependent on spatially distinct loci for cardiac VPN. Therefore, this study has demonstrated the presence of RSA in the HRV signal and a dual location for VPN in the rattlesnake. We suggest there to be a causal relationship between these two observations.

Correlation between maxillary central incisor form and face form in 4 racial groups

Objectives: the purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between central incisor form and face form in 4 racial groups and to investigate if there was agreement among experts in categorizing the central incisor forms. Method and Materials: A total of 160 subjects (40 whites, 40 mulattos, 40 blacks, and 40 Asians) ranging from 18 to 33 years of age were selected. Digital photographic records were made, 1 full-face and 1 intraoral view of the maxillary right central incisor. The outline tracings of the tooth and face images were obtained using Adobe Photoshop 5.0 software. The outline tracings were printed in distinct transparencies, and 3 prosthodontists determined if there was correspondence between the tooth and the face forms by superimposition of the transparencies. If there was disagreement among the prosthodontists' evaluations, the prevalent decision was considered. The experts also classified the central incisor forms into square, ovoid, tapering, or combination at 2 different sessions. At the first session, no instructions were given. At the second session, the prosthodontists were instructed to follow Williams' method of classification. Results: A correspondence between tooth and face forms was found in 23.75% of all cases. Agreement on the tooth form classifications among the prosthodontists occurred in 30.62% of all cases at the first session and 24.37% at the second session. Conclusion: There is not a highly defined correlation between central incisor form and face form in any racial group studied. In addition, the experts were not in fair agreement in categorizing tooth forms.