Effects of uterine cervix constriction on Wistar rats

Purpose: To verify if uterine cerclage can induce craniosynostosis or any cranial deformity in new born Wistar rats. Methods: One pregnant female Wistar rat underwent laparotomy on day 18 of gestation and the uterus cervix was closed with a 3-0 nylon suture to avoid delivery, that occurs normally on the 21 day. The suture was released after 48 hours beyond the normal gestation period. The female rat delivered 11 pups. Six surviving rats from the delivery (group A - constrained group). Two rats were born from another mother and in the same age were used as control group (group B - 2 nonconstrained controls) were allowed to grow. They were sacrificed 1.2 years after their birth all the eight animals. Linear measurement, routine histology and computed tomography of the skull were performed at the time of their death to evaluate the cranial asymmetries by mesurements of the anatomical landmarks of the craniofacial skeleton of the rats on the two groups and compared then. Results: We did not observe statistically significant differences in any of the compared measurements (p>0.05) obtained through the morphologic and radiologic methods. Histologic examinations did not reveal any sign of premature fusion or suture imbrications. Critical decrease in longitudinal body size was noticed as the limbs too in all the animals of group A. Conclusion: Constriction of uterine cervix leads to fetus suffering, even death for a few animals, associated to small body size, but not to craniosynostosis.

Histological and radiological changes in cranial bone in the presence of bone wax

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

Photoelastic Analysis of Stress Distribution in Different Retention Systems for Facial Prosthesis

The aim of this study was to assess the behavior and stress distribution of 3 retention systems associated with implant for facial prosthesis by using the photoelasticity method. A photoelastic model was made from the replica of the orbital region on the left side of a dry skull with two 4-mm implants fixed in the superior orbital region. Three facial prosthetic retention systems were made for this study: O'ring, bar-clip, and magnets. The set (model/retention systems/prosthesis) was placed in a polariscope, and then traction began to be applied to the retention systems. The limit values for removal of the retention system were obtained by tests performed in an EMIC Universal test machine. The results were obtained by observation during the experiments and by photographic record of the stress behavior in the photoelastic model, resulting from the traction of the retention systems. In the magnet system, a lowest formation of fringes was verified both around and between the implants; in the O'ring system, the formation of photoelastic fringes was noted between the implants in the apical region; and in the bar-clip system, there was a greater concentration of colored fringes in the regions between the implants and cervical area. Based on the results obtained, it was concluded that the retention systems produced different stress distribution characteristics that, in general, were concentrated in the area around the implants, and the highest concentration of fringes, in increasing order, occurred ill the retention systems of the magnets, O'ring, and bar-clip.

Effects of the Er,Cr:YSGG laser on bone and soft tissue in a rat model

The purpose of this study was to investigate the histological changes that occur in rat soft and hard tissues after Er,Cr:YSGG laser surgery. Each of 20 rats was submitted to four procedures which were randomly distributed to the right and left sides of the animal: procedure 1 dorsal incision with a scalpel; procedure 2 dorsal incision with a 2.0-W Er,Cr:YSGG laser; procedure 3 skull defect created with a diamond bur; procedure 4 skull defect created with a 3.0-W Er,Cr:YSGG laser. The animals were killed 3, 7, 15 and 30 days after surgery, and histological examinations were performed. The histometric analysis of the bone defects was evaluated using an unpaired t-test. Initially, the dorsum showed more histological signs of repair following procedure 1, although similar healing responses following procedures 1 and 2 were seen on day 30 after surgery. By day 30 the bone formation observed following procedure 4 was much more evident than following procedure 3. The unpaired t-test identified significant differences in bone formation on day 30 (p = 0.01), whereas a greater bone percentage was seen following procedure 4 than following procedure 3 (79.96 +/- 10.30% and 58.23 +/- 9.99%, respectively). Thus, histological repair of the Er,Cr:YSGG laser wounds was similar to that of the scalpel wounds. However, skull defects created with the Er,Cr:YSGG laser showed greater bone formation than defects created with the bur. Within the limitations of this study, we can conclude that the Er,Cr:YSGG laser is a promising surgical instrument in vivo, particularly for bone surgery.

Tests of one Brazilian facial reconstruction method using three soft tissue depth sets and familiar assessors

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Two new species of Brachycephalus (Anura : Brachycephalidae) from the Atlantic Forest in Parana State, Southern Brazil

Two new species of brachycephalid frogs are described from Pico Marumbi, municipality of Morretes, and Pico da Igreja, municipality of Guaratuba, Parana State, southern Brazil. The new species share the following attributes: body bufoniform; skin on top of the head, and central part of the back body smooth with no dermal co-ossification; outer metatarsal tubercle distinct; dermal roofing bones of skull unornamented; all paired cranial bones distinct and not fused; quadratojugals, and maxillary odontoids present. The new species from Pico Marumbi is characterized by male SVL = 11.6-12.5 and female SVL = 13.0-14.5 turn; and general color orange with dorsal reddish-brown irregular markings, lateral surfaces with small dark brown spots, and belly with brownish spots and small dots. The new species from Pico da Igreja is characterized by male SVL = 12.6-13.9 and female SVL = 14.6-15.3 mm; and general color orange, lateral surfaces with small dark brown spots, and belly with brownish coalescent spots and small dots. Comparisons with other brachycephalid species and osteological data are provided.

A new Sphagesaurus (Mesoeucrocodylia: Notosuchia) from the Upper Cretaceous of Monte Alto City (Bauru Group, Brazil), and a revision of the Sphagesauridae

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Early cephalometric characteristics in Class III malocclusion

OBJECTIVE: Early identification of craniofacial morphological characteristics allows orthopedic segmented interventions to attenuate dentoskeletal discrepancies, which may be partially disguised by natural dental compensation. To investigate the morphological characteristics of Brazilian children with Class III malocclusion, in stages I and II of cervical vertebrae maturation and compare them with the characteristics of Class I control patients. METHODS: Pre-orthodontic treatment records of 20 patients with Class III malocclusion and 20 control Class I patients, matched by the same skeletal maturity index and sex, were selected. The craniofacial structures and their relationships were divided into different categories for analysis. Angular and linear measures were adopted from the analyses previously described by Downs, Jarabak, Jacobson and McNamara. The differences found between the groups of Class III patients and Class I control group, both subdivided according to the stage of cervical vertebrae maturation (I or II), were assessed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), complemented by Bonferroni's multiple mean comparisons test. RESULTS: The analysis of variance showed statistically significant differences in the different studied groups, between the mean values found for some angular (SNA, SNB, ANB) and linear variables (Co - Gn, N - Perp Pog, Go - Me, Wits, S - Go, Ar - Go). CONCLUSION: Assessed children displaying Class III malocclusion show normal anterior base of skull and maxilla, and anterior positioning of the mandible partially related to increased posterior facial height with consequent mandibular counterclockwise rotation.

Osteologia craniana de Platalea ajaja (Linnaeus) (Aves, Ciconiiformes), comparada com outras espécies de Threskiornithidae

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Osteologia craniana de Coraciiformes (Aves)

Dez famílias são tradicionalmente agrupadas na Ordem Coraciiformes, Alcedinidae (martins-pescadores), Momotidae (udus e juruvas), Todidae ( todies ), Meropidae (abelharucos), Coraciidae (rolieiros), Brachypteraciidae ( ground-rollers ), Leptosomidae ( cuckoo-rollers ), Phoeniculidae ( woodhoopoes ), Upupidae (poupas-comuns) e Bucerotidae (calaus), mas não há caracteres na morfologia externa que sejam comuns a todos os membros da ordem. Assim, este trabalho apresenta uma comparação da osteologia craniana das espécies de Coraciiformes com a finalidade de encontrar caracteres osteológicos que possam diagnosticar a ordem ou grupos de táxons de Coraciiformes, servindo ainda como uma fonte de dados para futuras análises filogenéticas. Como constatado por dados da morfologia externa, os caracteres da osteologia craniana ratificaram a diversidade morfológica existente entre os táxons da Ordem Coraciiformes, sendo difícil diagnosticá-la ou encontrar caracteres comuns a todos os seus membros. Apenas dois caracteres são comuns à ordem, tais como a presença da fossa lateroesfenóide e a ausência do processo suprameático, embora tais caracteres também sejam encontrados em outros grupos de aves. Homologias primárias foram encontradas, indicando similaridades entre diversas famílias, tais como: a zona flexória craniofacial é oclusa nos indiviíduos adultos de Coraciidae, Leptosomidae, Phoeniculidae, Upupidae e Bucerotidae; a fossa temporal tem desenvolvimento e profundidade intermediários em Momotidae, Meropidae, Coraciidae, Brachypteraciidae e Bucerotidae; o lacrimal está ausente em Momotidae, fundido com o ectetmóide nos adultos de Upupidae, Phoeniculidae e Bucerotidae, e presente e distinto em Alcedinidae, Todidae, Meropidae, Coraciidae, Brachypteraciidae e Leptosomidae; e o processo retroarticular da mandíbula é desenvolvido em Upupidae, Phoeniculidae e Bucerotidae.

Galea and periosteum flap filled with bone fragments in rabbits

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

O ultra-som terapêutico de 1 MHz, na dose de 0,5 W cm-2, sobre o tecido ósseo de cães avaliado por densitometria óptica em imagens radiográficas

As lesões tendíneas nas extremidades distais dos membros estão entre as mais freqüentes alterações do aparelho locomotor na rotina clínico-cirúrgica humana e animal e, não raro, necessitam de terapias adjuvantes para seu completo retorno às funções fisiológicas. O ultra-som terapêutico (UST) é a modalidade mais utilizada nas clínicas de reabilitação para tratar lesões tendíneas, mas devido à falta ou a divergências de estudos específicos sobre seus efeitos no tecido ósseo, sua utilização sobre as regiões distais dos membros, ricas em protuberâncias ósseas e áreas desprovidas de cobertura muscular, sempre preocuparam os profissionais da área médica. No intuito de esclarecer os efeitos do UST sobre o tecido ósseo, seis cães receberam tratamento ultra-sônico contínuo, de 1MHz, durante cinco minutos diários, por um período de 20 dias sobre a região craniodistal do rádio e da ulna. A intensidade do UST aplicada foi de 0,5W cm-2 no membro torácico direito, ficando o membro contralateral como controle. A região distal de ambos os membros torácicos foi radiografada para análise de densitometria óssea em imagens radiográficas, antes do início da terapia e ao final do tratamento. Não houve alterações significativas de densidade mineral óssea entre os membros tratados e os controles. Conclui-se que dentro dos parâmetros utilizados no experimento a utilização do UST em regiões ósseas protuberantes ou desprovidas de cobertura muscular pode ser feita com segurança.

The Ringed Kingfisher, Ceryle or Megaceryle torquata (Cerylinae, Alcedinidae, Coraciiformes)? An osteological view

In spite of the unquestionable monophyly of die Cerylinae subfamily, there are divergences in considering Megaceryle torquata in die genera Megaceryle or Ceryle. In order to address the question, here is a comparative osteological study between M. torquata and C. rudis, as well as with the other Megaceryle species and Chloroceryle. The findings showed more osteological similarities between M. torquata and the other Megaceryle species, differing considerably of C. rudis. Also, the data have permited the identification of the genus Megaceryle, with most of the characters from the skull. In spite of not having any phylogenetic inference, there are relevant osteological evidences that permit the consideration of M. torquata in the genus Megaceryle and the maintenance of Ceryle only for reception of C. rudis. Accepted 19 June 2006.

Hyperossification in Miniaturized Toadlets of the genus Brachycephalus (Amphibia: Anura: Brachycephalidae): Microscopic Structure and Macroscopic Patterns of Variation

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A new specimen of Stratiotosuchus maxhechti (Baurusuchidae, Crocodyliformes) from the Adamantina Formation (Upper Cretaceous), southeastern Brazil.

This is a report about the second occurrence and description of the third specimen of Stratiotosuchus maxhechti (Baurusuchidae, Crocodyliformes) from the Bauru Basin, Upper Cretaceous of southeastern Brazil. The material was found in the typical reddish, fine-grained sandstone from the Adamantina Formation, Bauru Group, Monte Alto County, São Paulo State. These strata are considered to be Campanian-Maastrichtian in age. It is the second skull of Stratiotosuchus maxhechti recovered where the choanal region and the skull-mandible articulation is preserved. The holotype of this species comes from the Adamantina Formation from southwestern São Paulo State, while this new specimen comes from its northern-central region, making possible biocbronological and paleoccological correlations among different geographically distant stratigraphic horizons within the Bauru Basin. The main osteologic contributions from this new specimen are the surangular taking part in the skull/mandible articulation and the presence of a relatively well-preserved choanal region, which are not seen in the holotype, furthering the knowledge of Stratiotosuchus maxhechti. Based on the features of this new specimen, an emended diagnosis is provided.