Predation on the lizard Ameiva ameiva (Sauria: Teiidae) by a coral snake Micrurus frontalis (Serpentes: Elapidae) in Brazil.

We report a case of elapid predation on a lizard in Brazilian Savannah. A subterranean coral snake (Micrurus frontalis) was found preying a green lizard (Ameiva ameiva) in Southeastern Brazil.

Contamination by chlorinated pesticides, PCBs and PBDEs in Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) in western South Atlantic

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Feeding habits of the atlantic spotted dolphin, Stenella frontalis, in southeastern Brazil

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

Superficial keratectomy and 360º conjunctival flap for bullous keratopathy in a dog: a case report

Relata-se o caso ocorrido em um cão, da raça Pinscher, com dois anos de idade e histórico de desconforto no olho direito. O olho esquerdo havia sido enucleado por outro profissional, por apresentar os mesmos sinais, cujo tratamento clínico instituído não lograra êxito. O valor do teste da lágrima de Schirmer encontrava-se aumentado e identificou-se diminuição da pressão intraocular à tonometria de aplanação. Observaram-se, à biomicroscopia, edema corneal profuso e ceratocone, e o teste da fluoresceína foi negativo. Gonioscopia e oftalmoscopia não lograram fornecer dados relevantes dadas as condições da córnea. Diagnosticou-se ceratite bolhosa. Optou-se pelo tratamento cirúrgico, que fora realizado em duas etapas: 1- ceratectomia superficial e flap conjuntival de 360º; 2- ceratectomia superficial para devolver transparência à córnea. Transcorridos 30 dias da segunda ceratectomia superficial, o flap de terceira pálpebra foi desfeito. Observou-se conjuntivalização do quadrante nasal superior da córnea, córnea clara no eixo visual e retorno da visão.

Galea and periosteum flap filled with bone fragments in rabbits

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

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.

Multidisciplinary approach to chronic pain from myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome: A four-year experience at a Brazilian center

Chronic pain is the major complaint of myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPDS) and is a complex problem which involves physical, psychological and social aspects, the etiology of MPDS is multifactorial and the multidisciplinary approach is essential for differential diagnosis and for comprehensive treatment planning, In 1993, the Dental School of Piracicaba-UNICAMP, Brazil, opened a Center for Pain Studies (CPS), staffed by health care providers including, dentists, psychologists, physicians, physiotherapists and phonoaudiologists. The major aims of the CPS are to provide clinical care and to develop basic and applied research, Sixty-two MPDS patients had been admitted to the CPS by 1997, There were 60 females and 2 males, mean age -32.5 years, the mean duration of chronic pain was 48 months. Pain intensity and unpleasantness were measured employing the Visual Analogue Scale, the tendency to develop stress-related diseases was assessed by the Social Readjustment de Scale, There was a mean reduction of chronic pain of 69.89% and 71.78% relative to intensity and unpleasantness, respectively, the experience of clinical attendance at a multidisciplinary center showed the relevance of a team consisting of health care providers from different specialties with well-established aims, completely integrated and sensitive enough to understand the painful complaints of MPDS patients.

Predation of the Buffy-fronted Seedeater Sporophila frontalis (Aves: Emberizidae) on Merostachys neesii (Poaceae: Babusoideae) seeds during a masting event in the Atlantic forest

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Different substances and dry-needling injections in patients with myofascial pain and headaches

Trigger point injections with different solutions have been studied mainly with regard to the management of myofascial pain (MFP) patient management. However, few studies have analyzed their effect in a chronic headache population with associated MFP. The purpose of this study was to assess if trigger point injections using lidocaine associated with corticoid would be better than lidocaine alone, as in comparison with dry-needling in for the management of local pain and associated headache management. Forty-five (45) myofascial pain patients with headaches that could be reproduced by activating at least one trigger point, were randomly assigned into one of the three groups: G1, dry-needling, G2, 0.25% lidocaine, at 0.25% and G3, 0.25% lidocaine at 0.25% associated with corticoid, and were assessed during a 12 week period. Levels of pain intensity, frequency and duration, local post-injection sensitivity, obtainment time and duration of relief, and the use of rescue medication were evaluated. Statistically, all three groups showed favorable results for the evaluated requisites (p <= 0.05), but only for post-injection sensitivity did the association of lidocaine with corticoid present the best results and ingestion of rescue medication.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome as a Contributing Factor in Patients with Chronic Headaches

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of active and latent trigger points [TrPs], as well as analyze the prevalence of different types of headaches in chronic headache patients. The active and latent TrPs in muscles of orofacial and cervical regions were also evaluated. Methods: There were 290 subjects who participated in this study. Trigger points were identified according to Simons et al.'s diagnostic criteria. Trigger points were considered active if subjects recognized the evoked referred pain as their familiar headache. If the evoked referred pain was not recognized as the familiar headache, the TrPs were considered latent. Differential diagnosis for headache was performed on the basis of International Headache Society criteria. Results: Trigger points could be diagnosed in 77 percent of patients and, in 89 percent of these, active TrPs were found. Muscle tenderness could be observed in 22 percent of patients, and only 1 percent patients were muscle-pain-free. The headache diagnosis showed that 26 percent had tension-type headache, 13 percent had migraine, and 61 percent had combined episodes of tension-type headache and migraine. The highest number of TrPs were found in temporalis [N = 159], masseter [N = 126], and occiptofrontalis [N = 113] muscles. Active TrPs were more frequent in temporalis and occiptofrontalis muscles. Conclusions: Subjects with chronic headaches had a higher prevalence of TrPs, and headache complaints could be reproduced during stimulation of active TrPs that were localized more frequently in temporalis and occiptofrontalis muscles. The presence of TrPs may be a contributing factor in the initiation and/or perpetuation of chronic headaches.

Flap vs. "flapless" surgical approach at immediate implants: a histomorphometric study in dogs

AimTo compare the remodeling of the alveolar process at implants installed immediately into extraction sockets by applying a flap or a "flapless" surgical approach in a dog model.Material and methodsImplants were installed immediately into the distal alveoli of the second mandibular premolars of six Labrador dogs. In one side of the mandible, a full-thickness mucoperiosteal flap was elevated (control site), while contra-laterally, the mucosa was gently dislocated, but not elevated (test site) to disclose the alveolar crest. After 4 months of healing, the animals were sacrificed, ground sections were obtained and a histomorphometric analysis was performed.ResultsAfter 4 months of healing, all implants were integrated (n=6). Both at the test and at the control sites, bone resorption occurred with similar outcomes. The buccal bony crest resorption was 1.7 and 1.5 mm at the control and the test sites, respectively.Conclusions"Flapless" implant placement into extraction sockets did not result in the prevention of alveolar bone resorption and did not affect the dimensional changes of the alveolar process following tooth extraction when compared with the usual placement of implants raising mucoperiosteal flaps.To cite this article:Caneva M, Botticelli D, Salata LA, Souza SLS, Bressan E, Lang NP. Flap vs. "flapless" surgical approach at immediate implants: a histomorphometric study in dogs.Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 21, 2010; 1314-1319.doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0501.2009.01959.x.

The mesosomal gland of Xylocopa frontalis (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Xylocopini)

Males of Xylocopa fimbriata and X. micans present mesosomal glands that produce secretions containing many volatile substances with an intense floral fragrance, which resembles the fragrance produced by flowers that are attractive to the females of both species. The mating territories occupied by males of X. frontalis have no helpful resources for the females of this species, which are probably attracted to these environments by sexual pheromone(s) produced in the male mesosomal glands (lek polygyny). In this work, the presence of these glands in males of X. frontalis was confirmed and their anatomy and ultrastructure were described. An attempt to correlate the morphological characteristics of the mesosomal glands with the male territorial behavior was also carried out.

Evaluation of low-level laser therapy effectiveness on the pain and masticatory performance of patients with myofascial pain

This study investigated the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the masticatory performance (MP), pressure pain threshold (PPT), and pain intensity in patients with myofascial pain. Twenty-one subjects, with myofascial pain according to Research Diagnostic Criteria/temporomandibular dysfunction, were divided into laser group (n = 12) and placebo group (n = 9) to receive laser therapy (active or placebo) two times per week for 4 weeks. The measured variables were: (1) MP by analysis of the geometric mean diameter (GMD) of the chewed particles using Optocal test material, (2) PPT by a pressure algometer, and (3) pain intensity by the visual analog scale (VAS). Measurements of MP and PPT were obtained at three time points: baseline, at the end of treatment with low-level laser and 30 days after (follow-up). VAS was measured at the same times as above and weekly throughout the laser therapy. The Friedman test was used at a significance level of 5 % for data analysis. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Sergipe (CAAE: 0025.0.107.000-10). A reduction in the GMD of crushed particles (p < 0.01) and an increase in PPT (p < 0.05) were seen only in the laser group when comparing the baseline and end-of-treatment values. Both groups showed a decrease in pain intensity at the end of treatment. LLLT promoted an improvement in MP and PPT of the masticatory muscles. © 2012 Springer-Verlag London.