Ultrasonographic and echobiometric findings in the eyes of Saanen goats of different ages

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

Nasoendoscopy of velopharynx before and during diagnostic therapy

Nasoendoscopy is an important tool for assessing velopharyngeal function. The purpose of this study was to analyze velar and pharyngeal wall movement and velopharyngeal gap during nasoendoscopic evaluation of the velopharynx before and during diagnostic therapy. Nasoendoscopic recordings of 10 children with operated cleft lip and palate were analyzed according to the International Working Group Guidelines. Ratings of movement of velum and pharyngeal walls, and size, location and shape of gaps were analyzed by 3 speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Imaging was obtained during repetitions of the syllable /pa/ during a single nasoendoscopic evaluation: (a) before diagnostic therapy, and (b) after the children were instructed to impound and increase intraoral air pressure (diagnostic therapy). Once the patients impounded and directed air pressure orally, the displacement of the velum, right, left and posterior pharyngeal walls increased 40, 70, 80, and 10%, respectively. Statistical significance for displacement was found only for right and left lateral pharyngeal walls. Reduction in gap size was observed for 30% of the patients and other 40% of the gaps disappeared. Changes in gap size were found to be statistically significant between the two conditions. In nasoendoscopic assessment, the full potential of velopharyngeal displacement may not be completely elicited when the patient is asked only to repeat a speech stimulus. Optimization of information can be done with the use of diagnostic therapy's strategies to manipulate VP function. Assuring the participation of the SLP to conduct diagnostic therapy is essential for management of velopharyngeal dysfunction.

Dysautonomia and ventricular dysfunction in the indeterminate form of Chagas disease

Background: the associations between autonomic function and biventricular function in patients with the indeterminate form of Chagas disease remains to be elucidated.Methods: In 42 asymptornatic patients and 19 healthy volunteers, the autonomic function was assessed by time domain indices of heart rate variability (HRV), analyzed for 24 h; the right ventricular function was assessed by fraction area change, right ventricle shortening, and systolic excursion of the tricuspid valve; and the left ventricular function was assessed by ejection fraction and transmittal flow velocities. Data were expressed as mean SD or medians (including the lower quartile and upper quartile). Groups were compared by Student's t or Mann-Whitney U test. Autonomic and ventricular function were correlated by Pearson's or Spearman's correlation coefficient. The level of significance was 5%.Results: Right and left ventricular systolic function indexes were comparable between groups. Transmittal flow velocities were decreased in the Chagas disease group (p < 0.05). The patients presented impaired HRV as indicated by the values of SDNN-day (80 (64-99) ms vs. 98 (78-127) ms; p = 0.045), SDNNI-24 It (54 (43-71) vs. 65 (54-105) ms; p = 0.027), SDNNI-day (49 (42-64) vs. 67 (48-76) ms; p = 0.045), pNN50-day (2.2 (0.7-5)% vs. 10 (3-11)%; p = 0.033); and pNN50-24 It (3 (1-7)% vs. 12 (8-19)%; p = 0.013). There were no correlations between the left ventricular diastolic indices and autonomic dysfunctional indices (p > 0.05).Conclusion: Patients with the indeterminate form of Chagas disease have both dysautonomia, and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. However, the right ventricular function is preserved. Importantly, ventricular diastolic dysfunction and dysautonomia. are independent phenomena. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

Heart failure due to right ventricular metastatic neuroendocrine tumor

We report a case of a female patient that was referred to our service with progressive weakness and dyspnea. Three years ago, she had been submitted to hysterectomy and salpingo-oforectomy followed by adjuvant radiotherapy due to uterine cervix neuroendocrine tumor. Two-dimensional echocardiography showed a dense sessile mass in the right ventricle causing right and left ventricular filling restriction. Despite chemotherapy the patient died and necropsy confirmed metastases from neuroendocrine tumor to the right ventricle. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Association between atherosclerotic aortic plaques and left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with cerebrovascular events

Background and Purpose - the purpose of this research was to evaluate whether an association exists between the presence of atherosclerotic plaque in the thoracic aorta and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients with a cerebrovascular event.Methods - We included 116 consecutive patients ( 79 men; mean age, 62 +/- 12.4 years) with previous history of stroke or transient ischemic attack in a cross-sectional study. Transthoracic echocardiogram was performed to diagnose LVH and transesophageal echocardiogram for the detection of atheromas of the thoracic aorta. Continuous variables were analyzed by Student t or Mann-Whitney tests and categorized variables by Goodman test. From the significant association of LVH and age with atheromatous disease of the aorta, an adjustment to the multivariate logistic model was made using high blood pressure history or age as covariates. All of the statistical tests were carried out at a level of 5% significance.Results - Almost half of the patients (43.1%) presented atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta. LVH was present in 90.0% of patients with plaque and in only 30.3% of patients without plaque. Using high blood pressure as a covariate, the risk of patients with LVH presenting atherosclerotic plaque in the aorta was 18.23-fold greater than the risk for patients without LVH (95% CI, 5.68 to 58.54; P < 0.0001). Adding age into the model, the risk increased to 26.36 ( 95% CI, 7.14 to 97.30; P < 0.0001).Conclusions - LVH detected by conventional echocardiogram is associated with high risk of atherosclerotic plaque in the aorta and would be used as a criterion for indication of transesophageal echocardiography in patients with previous stroke or transient ischemic attack LVH.

Electromyographic analysis of the superior belly of the omohyoid muscle and anterior belly of the digastric muscle in tongue and head movements

The participation of the superior belly of the omohyoid muscle and anterior belly of the digastric muscle in tongue and head movements was studied eletromyographically in 20 normal young volunteers. A pair of monopolar electrodes was used in each muscle for simultaneous recording of their actions. The muscles act in the following tongue movements: protrusion, right and left lateral movements, placement of the tip of the tongue on soft and hard palates and on the floor of the mouth. The strongest levels of activity of the superior belly of the omohyoid muscle were observed in the placement of the tip of the tongue on the soft palate, coincidentally with a greater dislocation of hyoid bone. Both of the muscles studied did not participate in the head's kinesiology. (C) 1999 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Goniometric measurements of the forelimb and hindlimb joints in sheep

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

Kinematic analysis of Labrador Retrievers and Rottweilers trotting on a treadmill

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

Incidence of retromolar foramen in human mandibles: ethnic and clinical aspects

The retromolar foramen allows the passage of the neurovascular bundles that contribute to nutrition and innervation of the pulp and periodontium of the lower teeth. Knowledge of this anatomical variation may prevent complications in the anesthesia and surgical procedures in this area and serve as an anatomical landmark for ethnic identification. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the retromolar foramen in human mandibles of adult Brazilians and discuss the clinical and ethnic related to the presence of this foramen. Were evaluated 222 human mandibles, dry, adults, Brazilians, independent of gender. The evaluation was performed by two examiners who standardized search from a previous anatomical study. The mandibles were analyzed: the presence of the retromolar foramen (bilateral or unilateral), the presence of the foramen on right and left sides, and the number of foramens present on each side. It was found that 59 had at least one mandible retromolar foramens resulting in an incidence of 26.58%. The retromolar foramen was present unilaterally in 41 mandibles and 18 bilaterally, with incidences of 18.47% and 12.16% respectively. on the right side, the retromolar foramen was present in incidences of 16.22% and 18.92% respectively The analysis of the right side of the mandibles revealed that 47.46%, 21.21% and 3.03% had one, two and three foramens, respectively The left side showed 55.93%, 16.22% and 8.11% of the 222 mandibles with one, two and three retromolar foramens, respectively The incidence of retromolar foramen in the Brazilian population is significant and should be considered in the planning and execution of procedures in several areas of clinical practice dentistry in order to avoid complications. Moreover, it was found that the incidence of retromolar foramen contributes to differentiation of ethnic groups in the area of forensic anthropology.

Evaluation of Stress Patterns Produced by Implant-Retained Overdentures and Implant-Retained Fixed Partial Denture

The purposes of this study were to photoelastically measure the biomechanical behavior of 4 implants retaining different cantilevered bar mandibular overdenture designs and to compare a fixed partial denture (FPD). A photoelastic model of a human edentulous mandible was fabricated, which contained 4 screw-type implants (3.75 x 10 mm) embedded in the parasymphyseal area. An FPD and 3 overdenture designs with the following attachments were evaluated: 3 plastic Hader clips, 1 Hader clip with 2 posterior resilient cap attachments, and 3 ball/O-ring attachments. Vertical occlusal forces of 100 N were applied between the central incisor and unilaterally to the right and left second premolars and second molars. Stresses that developed in the supporting structure were monitored photoelastically and recorded photographically. The results showed that the anterior loading, the overdenture with 3 plastic Hader clips, displayed the largest stress concentration at the medium implant. With premolar loading, the FPD and overdenture with 3 plastic Hader clips displayed the highest stresses to the ipsilateral terminal implant. With molar loading, the overdenture with 3 ball/O-ring attachments displayed the most uniform stress distribution in the posterior edentulous ridge, with less overloading in the terminal implant. It was concluded that vertical forces applied to the bar-clip overdenture and FPD created immediate stress patterns of greater magnitude and concentration on the ipsilateral implants, whereas the ball/O-ring attachments transferred minimal stress to the implants. The increased cantilever in the FPD caused the highest stresses to the terminal implant.

The association between prune belly syndrome and dental anomalies: a case report

Background: Prune belly syndrome is a rare condition produced by an early mesodermal defect that causes abdominal abnormalities. However, the literature indicates that disturbances related to ectodermal development may also be present. This is the first case report in the literature to suggest that dental abnormalities are part of the broad spectrum of clinical features of prune belly syndrome. Because the syndrome causes many serious medical problems, early diagnosis of abnormalities involving the primary and permanent dentitions are encouraged.Case presentation: The authors report the clinical case of a 4-year-old Caucasian boy with prune belly syndrome. In addition to the triad of abdominal muscle deficiency, abnormalities of the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts, and cryptorchidism, a geminated mandibular right central incisor, agenesis of a mandibular permanent left incisor, and congenitally missing primary teeth (namely, the mandibular right and left lateral incisors) were noted.Conclusion: This original case report about prune belly syndrome highlights the possibility that dental abnormalities are a part of the broad spectrum of clinical features of the syndrome. Therefore, an accurate intra-oral clinical examination and radiographic evaluation are required for patients with this syndrome in order to provide an early diagnosis of abnormalities involving the primary and permanent dentitions.

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.

Evaluating craniofacial asymmetry with digital cephalometric images and cone-beam computed tomography

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate craniofacial asymmetry by using 2-dimensional (2D) poster-oanterior cephalometric images, 3-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and physical measurements (gold standard). Methods: Ten dry human skulls were assessed, and radiopaque markers were placed on 17 skeletal landmarks. Twenty linear measurements were taken on each side to compare the right and left sides and to compare these measurements with the physical measurements made with a digital caliper. To acquire the 2D posteroanterior radiographs, an Extraoral Phosphor Storage Plate (Air Techniques, Chicago, Ill) was used as the image receptor with a Eureka x-ray-Duocon Machlett unit (Machlett Laboratores, Chicago, Ill). Three-dimensional imaging data were acquired from a CB MercuRay (Hitachi Medical, Tokyo, Japan). Results: on average, the right side was larger than the left for most of the 20 distances evaluated in the digital 2D and the CBCT images, and there was poor agreement between the digital 2D images and the physical measurements (kappa = 0.0609) and almost perfect agreement (kappa = 0.92) between the CBCT and physical measurements when individual measurements were considered. Conclusions: Human skulls, with no apparent asymmetry, had some differences between the right and left sides, with dominance for the right side but with no clinical significance. CBCT can better evaluate craniofacial morphology when compared with digital 2D images. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2011; 139: e523-e531)