Mechanical Forces Exacerbate Periodontal Defects in Bsp-null Mice.

Bone sialoprotein (BSP) is an acidic phosphoprotein with collagen-binding, cell attachment, and hydroxyapatite-nucleating properties. BSP expression in mineralized tissues is upregulated at onset of mineralization. Bsp-null (Bsp(-/-)) mice exhibit reductions in bone mineral density, bone turnover, osteoclast activation, and impaired bone healing.

Fatigue resistance of ultrathin CAD/CAM complete crowns with a simplified cementation process.

Statement Of Problem: Traditional tooth preparation for complete crowns requires a substantial amount of hard tissue reduction. This is in contrast with the principles of minimally invasive dentistry. An ultrathin complete crown preparation is proposed instead.

Incongruent nuclear and mitochondrial genetic structure of new world screwworm fly populations due to positive selection of mutations associated with dimethyl- and diethyl-organophosphates resistance.

Livestock production is an important economic activity in Brazil, which has been suffering significant losses due to the impact of parasites. The New World screwworm (NWS) fly, Cochliomyia hominivorax, is an ectoparasite and one of the most important myiasis-causing flies endemic to the Americas. The geographic distribution of NWS has been reduced after the implementation of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), being eradicated in North America and part of Central America.

Interaction between fiscal and monetary policy in a dynamic nonlinear model.

The objective of this study is to verify the dynamics between fiscal policy, measured by public debt, and monetary policy, measured by a reaction function of a central bank. Changes in monetary policies due to deviations from their targets always generate fiscal impacts. We examine two policy reaction functions: the first related to inflation targets and the second related to economic growth targets.

Thio-urethanes improve properties of dual-cured composite cements.

This study aims at modifying dual-cure composite cements by adding thio-urethane oligomers to improve mechanical properties, especially fracture toughness, and reduce polymerization stress. Thiol-functionalized oligomers were synthesized by combining 1,3-bis(1-isocyanato-1-methylethyl)benzene with trimethylol-tris-3-mercaptopropionate, at 1:2 isocyanate:thiol. Oligomer was added at 0, 10 or 20 wt% to BisGMA-UDMA-TEGDMA (5:3:2, with 25 wt% silanated inorganic fillers) or to one commercial composite cement (Relyx Ultimate, 3M Espe).

Concomitant cisplatin plus radiotherapy and high-dose-rate brachytherapy versus radiotherapy alone for stage IIIB epidermoid cervical cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: The benefits of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for cervical cancer compared with radiation (RT) alone seem to diminish in later-stage disease. However, these modalities have not been directly compared for disease-free interval (DFI) and overall survival (OS) of women with stage IIIB cervical cancer.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled clinical trial comparing DFI and OS of 147 women with stage IIIB squamous cervical cancer who received either cisplatin plus RT (CRT) or RT alone (72 patients in the CRT group and 75 patients in the RT-only group).

Extensive cervical necrotizing fasciitis of odontogenic origin.

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is an uncommon infection, but potentially lethal, especially when associated with systemic disorders such as diabetes. The authors report a case of necrotizing fasciitis from odontogenic origin in a patient with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. The initial diagnosis was based on clinical information, in which multiple necrosis areas in cervical and thoracic regions were observed.

Proteomic analysis of human dental cementum and alveolar bone.

Unlabelled: Dental cementum (DC) is a bone-like tissue covering the tooth root and responsible for attaching the tooth to the alveolar bone (AB) via the periodontal ligament (PDL). Studies have unsuccessfully tried to identify factors specific to DC versus AB, in an effort to better understand DC development and regeneration. The present study aimed to use matched human DC and AB samples (n=7) to generate their proteomes for comparative analysis.

High condylectomy procedure: a valuable resource for surgical management of the mandibular condylar hyperplasia.

Condylar hyperplasia is an overdevelopment of the condyle, which may manifest unilaterally or bilaterally. This pathological condition can lead to facial asymmetry, malocclusion, and dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint. The etiology and pathogenesis of condylar hyperplasia remain uncertain, but it has been suggested that its etiology may be associated with hormonal factors, trauma, and hereditary hypervascularity, affecting both genders.

High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion in women aged <30 years has a prevalence pattern resembling low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion.

Background: Cervical cytology is the cervical cancer screening test for women aged <30 years because of the low specificity of human papillomavirus tests in this age group. The Bethesda System classifies cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN 2) and grade 3 (CIN 3) as high-grade intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). In this study, the authors subclassified cytologic HSIL as suggestive of CIN 2 (HSIL-CIN 2) or CIN 3 (HSIL-CIN 3) and evaluated whether there was a correlation between these findings and age for screened and unscreened women.

Semen collection requirement from multiple-organs brain-dead donors: report of two cases and analysis of the available Brazilian legislation.

Along with developments in transplantation there have been major breakthroughs in the techniques of assisted reproduction. The areas of common interest include requesting semen collection from organ donors with a diagnosis of brain death. After the recent report of two cases in the Search Service of Organs and Tissues, we analyzed legislation in our country, which still lacks specific guidance in such situations.

Epidermal cyst causing facial asymmetry.

Epidermoid cysts are rare benign tumors that are derived from the development of abnormally situated ectodermal tissue and are often an incidental finding. They are usually diagnosed between 15 and 50 years of age, with both sexes equally affected. In epidermoid cyst management, complete excision is the therapy of choice.

Running circular suture technique for reduction mammaplasty and mastopexy.

Background: Many reports have described various technical aspects of reduction mammaplasty and mastopexy procedures. The authors present their technique, which combines a number of techniques already described in the literature regarding repositioning of the nipple-areola complex, reduction of the diameter of the base of the breast, and long-term retention of mammary cone projection. This study evaluated the results for patients of various ages and phenotypes in terms of scar dimensions, breast positioning, and patient satisfaction in the short, medium, and long terms.

Hypophosphatasia-associated deficiencies in mineralization and gene expression in cultured dental pulp cells obtained from human teeth.

Introduction: Mutations in the gene ALPL in hypophosphatasia (HPP) reduce the function of tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase, and the resulting increase in pyrophosphate (PP(i)) contributes to bone and tooth mineralization defects by inhibiting physiologic calcium-phosphate (P(i)) precipitation. Although periodontal phenotypes are well documented, pulp/dentin abnormalities have been suggested in the clinical literature although reports are variable and underlying mechanisms remains unclear. In vitro analyses were used to identify mechanisms involved in HPP-associated pulp/dentin phenotypes.

Correction of hypophosphatasia-associated mineralization deficiencies in vitro by phosphate/pyrophosphate modulation in periodontal ligament cells.

Background: Mutations in the liver/bone/kidney alkaline phosphatase (ALPL) gene in hypophosphatasia (HPP) reduce the function of tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (ALP), resulting in increased pyrophosphate (PP(i)) and a severe deficiency in acellular cementum. We hypothesize that exogenous phosphate (P(i)) would rescue the in vitro mineralization capacity of periodontal ligament (PDL) cells harvested from HPP-diagnosed patients, by correcting the P(i)/PP(i) ratio and modulating expression of genes involved with P(i)/PP(i) metabolism.

Methods: Ex vivo and in vitro analyses were used to identify mechanisms involved in HPP-associated PDL/tooth root deficiencies.

Modulation of phosphate/pyrophosphate metabolism to regenerate the periodontium: a novel in vivo approach.

Background: The developing periodontium is sensitive to local levels of inorganic phosphate (P(i)) and inorganic pyrophosphate (PP(i)) as demonstrated by cementum phenotypes resulting from the loss of function of protein regulators of P(i)/PP(i) homeostasis. The progressive ankylosis protein (ANK) regulates the transport of PP(i), and progressive ankylosis gene (Ank) and knock-out (KO) mice feature a rapidly forming and thick cementum. We hypothesized that, besides affecting cementum formation, decreased extracellular PP(i) levels in Ank KO mice would also impact cementum regeneration.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS ON ACETABULAR FRACTURES.

This aim of this work was to carry out an epidemiological study on acetabular fractures in the city of Campinas and surrounds, in view of the few published papers on this subject. Medical files with a diagnosis of acetabular fracture between the years 2004 and 2008 that were made available by the Medical Archiving Service of Hospital das Clínicas, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) were analyzed by six observers. Data on patients' ages, sex, side affected by the fracture, mechanism of injury, material used for synthesis, complications of the operation, associated fractures, length of hospitalization before and after the surgery, time of total internment and number of physiotherapy sessions before and after the surgery were gathered.

Bazex syndrome (acrokeratosis paraneoplastica) diagnosed in a patient with oral persistent ulcerations.

Paraneoplastic syndromes associated with head and neck cancer are rare and have been reported under dermatological, endocrine, hematological, neurological and rheumatological disorders. Bazex syndrome is an intriguing paraneoplasia that can be associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. A range of symmetrical dermatological manifestations, with a clear predilection to extremities, that encompasses erythematous squamous plaques, skin scaling and nail dystrophy can provide a psoriasiform pattern in Bazex syndrome.

Surgical management of intramedullary spinal ependymomas.

Background: Spinal intramedullary ependymoma is a rare disease with a wide range of clinical presentation, generally requiring surgical treatment.

Objective: Report our experience and present our surgical technique to achieve total resection and cure.

Method: We present 12 consecutive cases of intramedullary ependymomas operated between 2000 and 2008 by the senior author (HT).

Cutinase production by Fusarium oxysporum in liquid medium using central composite design.

The objective of the present study was to measure the production of cutinase by Fusarium oxysporum in the presence of several carbon and nitrogen sources (glycides, fatty acids and oils, and several organic and inorganic nitrogen sources), trying to find a cost-effective substitute for cutin in the culture medium as an inducer of cutinase production. The results were evaluated by the Tukey test, and flaxseed oil was found to give the best results as a cutinase inducer. The authors optimized the composition of the growth medium employing response surface methodology.

Massive prolapse of the urethral mucosa following periurethral injection of calcium hydroxylapatite for stress urinary incontinence.

The injection of bulking agents into the urethral submucosa is designed to create artificial urethral cushions that can improve urethral coaptation and hence restore continence. Ideally, a urethral bulking agent should be non-immunogenic and biocompatible, leading to minimal inflammatory and fibrotic response. The authors present a case report of a granulomatous reaction leading to urethral prolapse, 3 months after the transurethral injection of calcium hydroxylapatite.

Quantification of hippocampal signal intensity in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Background: Refractory mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is frequently associated with hippocampal atrophy (HA) and an abnormal hippocampal signal (Hsig) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Objective: To quantify Hsig on MRI using a simplified technique.

Methods: The authors included 15 patients with refractory MTLE who underwent surgery and had preoperative MRI with hippocampal volumetry.

Identification of insulin in the tear film and insulin receptor and IGF-1 receptor on the human ocular surface.

Purpose: Insulin produces pleiotropic effects on sensitive tissues, including the ocular surface, through the tyrosine kinase insulin receptor. Cerebrospinal fluid and secreted fluids, such as milk and saliva, have been reported to contain insulin. In the present study, the presence of insulin was examined in tear film, and the expression of insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 receptor was examined in the human cornea and conjunctiva.