A microscopic survey of the human temporomandibular joint disc

The articular disc of the temporomandibular joint was studied in a foetuses and children group (GI), a dentate group of adults (GII) and an edentulous, elderly group of humans (GIII) by light microscopy. The main, constituent bundles of type I collagen fibres are stratified and are orientated sagittally, transversely and obliquely in the middle portion of the disc. In the thick, posterior portion, transverse bundles constitute the main feature. In the anterior portion of the disc, the fibres are sagittally and obliquely orientated. Type III. collagen fibres, intermingled with type I collagen fibres are present in all groups. The disc is cellular in nature in foetuses and children becoming more fibrous with age. Chondroid cells are observed in all portions of the discs in groups GII and GIII. Elastic fibres are numerous in GI discs and decrease in number in the disc with age. These fibres lie parallel to the collagen fibres in all three portions of the three groups.

Detection of immunoglobulin G antibodies to Neospora caninum in humans: High seropositivity rates in patients who are infected by human immunodeficiency virus or have neurological disorders

Considering that little is known about the epidemiology of Neospora caninum infection in humans, particularly in populations with high Toxoplasma gondii infection rates, the present study aimed to investigate the presence of antibodies to N. caninum in T. gondii-seropositive and -seronegative individuals. A total of 256 serum samples divided into four groups (61 samples from human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]-positive patients, 50 samples from patients with neurological disorders, 91 samples from newborns, and 54 samples from healthy subjects) were assessed for N. caninum and T. gondii serologies by indirect fluorescent-antibody test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunoblotting (IB). Immunoglobulin G antibodies to N. caninum were predominantly detected in HIV-infected patients (38%) and patients with neurological disorders (18%), while newborns and healthy subjects showed lower seropositivity rates (5% and 6%, respectively). Seropositivity to N. caninum was significantly associated with seropositivity to T. gondii in both HIV-infected patients and patients with neurological disorders. Seroreactivity to N. caninum was confirmed by IB, with positive sera predominantly recognizing the 29-kDa antigen of N. caninum. The results of this study indicate the presence of N. caninum infection or exposure in humans, particularly in HIV-infected patients or patients with neurological disorders, who could have opportunistic and concurrent infections with T. gondii. These findings may bring a new concern for the unstable clinical health of HIV-infected patients and the actual role of N. caninum infection in immunocompromised patients.

Validity and reliability of the Portuguese version of Mandibular Function Impairment Questionnaire

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

Biodegradable Nanoparticles Containing Benzopsoralens: An Attractive Strategy for Modifying Vascular Function in Pathological Skin Disorders

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Alguns aspectos funcionais da articulação temporomandibular.

The authors emphasize the some functional characteristics of the Temporomandibular join, TMJ, and were made comparative study of the auscultatory and sphymografic techniques to TMJ examination. The findings shown that the auscultatory technique furnished important dates to preliminary diagnosis of the TMJ disfunction.

Comorbidity of obsessive-compulsive disorder and personality disorders. A Brazilian controlled study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of personality disorders (PDs) in 40 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (DSM-III-R criteria) from the Medical School of Botucatu (UNESP), Sao Paulo, Brazil. It is a case-control study. Patients were 24 women and 16 men, 16-68 years old, referred to our outpatient psychiatric service for treatment. Controls were 40 nonpsychiatric outpatients matched to the cases by sex, age and marital status. The instrument used was the Portuguese version of the Structured Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders (SIDP-R). All interviews (n = 80) were made simultaneously by 2 raters, with independent scoring, so that the interrater reliability of the instrument could also be assessed (kappa statistics). The consensual axis II diagnoses in the OCD group were: avoidant (52.5%, κ = 0.80), dependent (40%, κ = 0.84), histrionic (20%, κ = 0.83), paranoid (20%, κ = 0.74), obsessive-compulsive (17.5%, κ = 0.86), narcissistic (7.5%, κ = 1.00), schizotypal (5%, κ = 0.65), passive-aggressive (5%, κ = 0.79) and self-defeating (5%, κ 0.55). At least one PD diagnosis was made in 70% of the patients, while only 6 controls had a PD diagnosis (p < 0.01). A great deal of diagnostic overlap was found in the OCD group (57.5% had two or more PDs), especially between avoidant and dependent PDs. The features of these two PDs may be secondary to the OCD. The study also suggests that there is not a close relationship between OCD and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). Patients with OCPD or even 3 or 4 O-C traits had significantly less insight into their obsessions and compulsions (p < 0.01).

Reorganizacao do processo condilar da articulacao temporomandibular apos condilectomia unilateral, em camundongos tratados com zidovudina (AZT)

In order to analyze the reorganization of the condylar process after unilateral condylectomy in animals which have received AZT, 30 albino mice, 30 days old were used. The condylectomized animals were divided in two groups, one have received distilled water and the other AZT, orally during 10 days. After 5, 10, 15, 30 and 45 days of the surgery the animals of both groups were sacrificed, their heads removed and fixed in 10% formalin. After decalcification the pieces received histological routine treatment to be included in paraffin. The slices were stained by hematoxylin/eosin method. The analysis of results showed that: 1. the condylar repair is similar on both groups; 2. the results reaffirm those found in the literature, that the articulation after condylectomy is located in an anterior position and that the articular disc is not a determinant factor on condylar reorganization.

Hypertensive disorders in pregnant women with diabetes mellitus

The present study was performed to assess the rate of hypertensive complications in diabetic pregnant patients and the influence of White's classification and the quality of the diabetic control. This study included 169 diabetic pregnant women who had delivered at the University Hospital of Botucatu Brazil from 1980 to 1981. The hypertensive disorders occurred in 29.8% of the cases. The incidence of the hypertensive process was the same in all classes of diabetic patients, and it was independent of the glycemic control. In patients with gestational diabetes (classes A and AB), chronic hypertension was the commnest type found; in patients with short-term diabetes (classes B and C) pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and chronic hypertension with superimposed PIH was the most frequent type, and diabetic patients with vasculopathies (classes D-R) had preeclampsia and chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia as the commonest type found.

The structure of the human temporomandibular joint disc: A scanning electron microscopy study

The articular disc of the temporomandibular joint was studied in fetuses (16 to 39 weeks of intrauterine life), infants (up to 4 months of age), dentulous adults (aged 30 to 39 years), and completely edentulous adults (aged 60 to 69 years) by scanning electron microscopy. The constituent bundles of collagen fibers were stratified and were oriented anteroposteriorly, laterolaterally, and obliquely in the middle portion of the disc. A ring of laterolateral bundles constituted the main feature of the thick posterior portion. In the anterior portion of the disc, the fibers were anteroposteriorly and obliquely oriented. On the superior and inferior surfaces of the disc, a thin layer of perpendicularly arranged collagen fibers covered the underlying, thick, laterolateral oriented collagen fibers.