Crisis and contagion: some new and old ideas

Includes bibliography

Incontinentia pigmenti presenting as hypodontia in a 3-year-old girl: A case report

Introduction. Incontinentia pigmenti or Bloch-Sulzberger syndrome is a rare X-linked dominant disease that mainly affects the skin, eyes, hair, central nervous system and teeth. The disease is predominant among women. Although dermatologic manifestations are among the most important aspects for the diagnosis of the syndrome, they are less damaging to the patient and do not require treatment. However, oral involvement characterized by hypodontia of deciduous and permanent teeth is important for the diagnosis and treatment of the patient. Case presentation. We report the case of a 3-year-old girl with ophthalmologic and neurologic disturbances, cutaneous manifestations and hypodontia. Since the patient did not present more damaging manifestations such as neurologic and/or ophthalmologic problems, her most severe complications were related to dental anomalies. The importance of integrated dental treatment, which combines pediatric dentistry, orthodontics and conventional prosthesis, is emphasized. Conclusion. Hypodontia is a frequent finding in incontinentia pigmenti, and dentists should be aware of this condition in order to help with the diagnosis. © 2009 Kitakawa et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Prevalence of enamel white spots and risk factors in children up to 36 months old

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of enamel white spots and the quality of oral hygiene in children up to 36 months old, in municipalities with different fluoride levels in the water supply, analyzing the contribution of several variables. After approval of the Ethics Committee, the parents signed an informed consent form and were interviewed about their educational level, economic classification of the family, nursing habits, use of toothpaste, access to dental service and other information. The children were clinically examined using the same codes and criteria established by the WHO (World Health Organization) and ADA (American Dental Association). The data were processed and analyzed with the Epi-info software program, version 3.2, and Microsoft Excel. Fisher's exact test (p<0.05) was applied to assess the association among the variables. The enamel white spot prevalence was 30.8% and the age group, duration of the bedtime milk feeding habit, age of initial practice of oral hygiene and presence of caries lesions with cavitation were considered statistically significant with regard to enamel white spot prevalence (p < 0.05). No association was found between oral hygiene quality and the study variables. © 2009 Sociedade Brasileira de Pesquisa Odontológica.

Structural change and productivity growth, 20 years later: old problems, new opportunities

Includes bibliography

Cardiac baroreflex is already blunted in eight weeks old spontaneously hypertensive rats

Background. The literature did not evidence yet with which age spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) start to present baroreflex reduction. We endeavored to evaluate the baroreflex function in eight-week-old SHR. Methods. Male Wistar Kyoto (WKY) normotensive rats and SHR aged eight weeks were studied. Baroreflex was calculated as the variation of heart rate (HR) divided by the mean arterial pressure (MAP) variation (HR/MAP) tested with a depressor dose of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 50 g/kg) and with a pressor dose of phenylephrine (PHE, 8 g/kg) in the right femoral venous approach through an inserted cannula in the animals. Significant differences for p < 0.05. Results. Baseline MAP (p < 0.0001) and HR (p = 0.0028) was higher in SHR. Bradycardic peak was attenuated in SHR (p < 0.0001), baroreflex gain tested with PHE was also reduced in the SHR group (p = 0.0012). PHE-induced increase in MAP was increased in WKY compared to SHR (p = 0.039). Bradycardic reflex responses to intravenous PHE was decreased in SHR (p < 0.0001). Conclusion. Eight weeks old SHR already presents impairment of the parasympathetic component of baroreflex. © 2010 Cisternas et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Effectiveness of rotary or manual techniques for removing a 6-year-old filling material

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of manual and rotary instrumentation techniques for removing root fillings after different storage times. Twenty-four canals from palatal roots of human maxillary molars were instrumented and filled with gutta-percha and zinc-oxide eugenol-based sealer (Endofill), and were stored in saline for 6 years. Non-aged control specimens were treated in the same manner and stored for 1 week. All canals were retreated using hand files or ProTaper Universal NiTi rotary system. Radiographs were taken to determine the amount of remaining material in the canals. The roots were vertically split, the halves were examined with a clinical microscope and the obtained images were digitized. The images were evaluated with AutoCAD software and the percentage of residual material was calculated. Data were analyzed with two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test at 5% significance level. There was no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) between the manual and rotary techniques for filling material removal regardless the ageing effect on endodontic sealers. When only the age of the filling material was analyzed microscopically, non-aged fillings that remained on the middle third of the canals presented a higher percentage of material remaining (p<0.05) compared to the aged sealers and to the other thirds of the roots. The apical third showed a higher percentage of residual filling material in both radiographic and microscopic analysis when compared to the other root thirds. In conclusion, all canals presented residual filling material after endodontic retreatment procedures. Microscopic analysis was more effective than radiographs for detection of residual filling material.

Prostatic stromal cells of old gerbils respond to steroidal blockades creating a microenvironment similar to reactive stroma

The present study examined the changes in prostatic stroma of old gerbils (18 months) submitted to orchiectomy associated or not with steroidal blockades. Animals were divided into six groups, all surgically castrated except the control group composed of intact animals. The other two controls were formed by castrated animals, one that received and one that did not receive the drug vehicle. In the experimental groups, doses of flutamide (10 mg/kg/day) and/or tamoxifen (1 mg/kg/48 h) were applied for 1, 3, 7 and 30 days post-castration. The methodologies involved were: morphological (HE, Gömöri reticulin, Picrosirius-hematoxylin), immunohistochemical (tenascin, type IV collagen) and ultrastructural analyses. Gradually, the epithelial compartment was significantly exceeded in volume by the stromal compartment, characterizing regression but not atrophy of the gland. The smooth muscle cell frequency increased significantly after 30 days and participated effectively in the stromal increase. Large collagen I and tenascin deposits in the subepithelial region were a hallmark of prostatic acini in the experimental groups up to 7 days, while in the 30-day group these elements practically disappear. Fibroblasts with reactive aspect, changes in basement membrane structure and maintenance and/or increase of blood vessels were also associated with treatments. These results showed, in part, the sensitivity of stromal components to suppressed hormones and favored the creation of a differentiated glandular microenvironment. Therefore, the data suggest the importance of considering aging when analyzing aspects of prostatic regression between rodents and humans after hormonal ablation. © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

La salud y las mujeres en América Latina y el Caribe: viejos problemas y nuevos enfoques = Health and women in Latin America and the Caribbean: old issues and new approaches

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