Validity of computed tomography in diagnosing midfacial fractures.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity, accuracy, and reliability of two-dimensional computed tomography (2D-CT) scans (axial, coronal, sagittal planes) and three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) reconstructions in diagnosing midfacial fractures in relation to actual fractures identified clinically and during surgery (gold standard). The imaging diagnosis was performed by a radiologist and an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Sixty-two patients with a total of 429 midfacial fractures were included. Frontal sinus and nose fractures were easily diagnosed. For the three CT planes, there was a statistically significant difference between the CT examination and the gold standard for five to seven of the nine bones evaluated, while for 3D-CT, a difference was observed only for fractures of the orbital floor. The inter-observer agreement between the oral and maxillofacial surgeon and the radiologist was 75.5%. In conclusion, in this study 3D-CT reconstructions showed significantly the best sensitivity, accuracy, and reliability for the diagnosis of midfacial fractures. The sagittal reconstructions were the least diagnostic of the 2D-CT images. For areas where the parameters studied showed less agreement and hence a more difficult diagnosis, we recommend a combination of 3D and 2D-CT images to improve diagnostic accuracy.

Diagnosis at different stages of paracoccidioidomycosis with oral manifestation: Report of two cases.

Paracocciodiomycosis (PCDM) is a chronic systemic fungal infection, mainly affecting residents and rural workers, being characterized by a long incubation period, which it can take months or years without clinical manifestations, making diagnosis late and difficult. Depending on the stage of the disease, it can cause sequelae and low quality of life, so its correct diagnosis is of great importance for the accurate treatment. Therefore, the aim of this report is to present two cases of diagnosis of patients with PCDM at different stages, who developed chronic manifestations, pain, clinical involvement of the oral cavity and in one case also presented lung injury with fibrosis, as well as to weight loss, dysphagia and cachexia. Both of patients were treated with antifungal therapy and it was observed total remission of the lesions and no recurrences were detected.

Head and neck cancer among marijuana users: a meta-analysis of matched case-control studies.

OBJECTIVES: The scientific literature presents conflicting data on a possible causal relationship between marijuana users and the development of head and neck cancer. DESIGN: This study performed a systematic review with meta-analysis. Articles were selected from various electronic databases using keywords obtained from the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). After reading by three reviewers and scoring of methodological quality, six articles (totaling nine case-control studies) were assessed with Comprehensive Meta-Analysis(®) software. The value of effect (odds ratio) was calculated, which represented the chance of developing head and neck cancer between individuals who had smoked marijuana in their lifetime in models controlled for age, gender, race, and tobacco consumption. RESULTS: Approximately 12.6% of cases and 14.3% of controls were marijuana users. The meta-analysis found no association between exposure and disease (OR=1.021; IC 95%=0.912-1.14; p=0.718). CONCLUSION: No association between lifetime marijuana use and the development of head and neck cancer was found. The different methods of collection/presentation of results in the selected articles prevented other analyzes from being conducted. Additional studies are needed to assess for long-term effects.

Methods of analysis for peritubular capillaritis and glomerulitis in acute renal rejection: capillaritis in management of routine diagnosis.

Glomerulitis and peritubular capillaritis have been recognized as important lesions in acute renal rejection (AR). We studied glomerulitis and peritubular capillaritis in AR by 2 methods and investigated associations with C4d, type/grade of AR, and allograft survival time. Glomerulitis was measured according to Banff scores (glomerulitis by Banff Method [gBM]) and by counting the number of intraglomerular inflammatory cells (glomerulitis by Quantitative Method [gQM]). Capillaritis was classified by the Banff scoring system (peritubular capillaritis by Banff Method [ptcBM]) and by counting the number of cells in peritubular capillaries in 10 high-power fields (hpf; peritubular capillaritis by Quantitative Method [ptcQM]). These quantitative analyses were performed in an attempt to improve our understanding of the role played by glomerulitis and capillaritis in AR. The g0 + g1 group (gBM) associated with negative C4d (P = .02). In peritubular capillaritis, a larger number of cells per 10 hpf in peritubular capillaries (ptcQM) were observed in positive C4d cases (P = .03). The group g2 + g3 (gBM) correlated with graft loss (P = .01). Peritubular capillaritis was not significantly related to graft survival time. Our study showed that the Banff scoring system is the best method to study glomerulitis and observed that the evaluation of capillaritis in routine biopsies is difficult and additional studies are required for a better understanding of its meaning in AR biopsy specimens of renal allografts.

[Systemic lupus erythematous and myasthenia gravis: case report]. / Lupus eritematoso sistêmico associado a miastenia gravis. Relato de caso.

We report the case of a 24-year-old white woman admitted with a four year diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus and the recent onset of myasthenia gravis discussing the main differential diagnosis of weakness and fatigue in this patient. A review of literature approaching the association of myasthenia gravis and systemic lupus erythematosus is also done with emphasis on the clinical characteristics of these patients and the role of thymoma and thymectomy in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus in myasthenic patients.

Effects of protein deficiency and natural intestinal infection with Giardia lamblia on jejunal intraepithelial lymphocytes in rats of different ages.

1. The interaction between experimental protein deprivation and natural intestinal infection by Giardia lamblia was studied in terms of its effects on the intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) population and morphology of the jejunal mucosa of rats of different ages. 2. Young, adult and old male Wistar rats received a protein-deficient diet (2% casein) or a control diet (20% casein) for 42 days. Mucosal height and the number of lymphocytes located among 500 consecutive epithelial cells (EC) along the villi or crossing the basement membrane were determined in PAS-stained jejunal fragments. 3. The number of IEL increased progressively with animal age, from 14 to 25 per 100 epithelial cells, with significant differences between age ranges. However, the number of IEL did not differ between control and protein-deficient rats in any of the age groups. The proportion of lymphocytes crossing the basement membrane was approximately two-fold greater in young (2.8/100 EC) and adult (5.8/100 EC) protein-deficient animals than in their respective controls (1.6 and 2.8/100 EC). The intensity of parasite colonization was moderate, from 3 to 5/100 EC and did not differ between groups. The pattern of morphologic changes of jejunal mucosa in protozoal infection did not differ between control and protein-deficient animals in any of the three age groups. 4. We conclude that intestinal infection with Giardia lamblia probably stimulated the local immune response, masking the reduction of the IEL population induced by protein deficiency. The increase in lymphocyte numbers with age may be related to prolonged antigenic stimulation promoted by infection.

Effects of protein deficiency and natural intestinal infection with Giardia lamblia on jejunal intraepithelial lymphocytes in rats of different ages

1. The interaction between experimental protein deprivation and natural intestinal infection by Giardia lamblia was studied in terms of its effects on the intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) population and morphology of the jejunal mucosa of rats of different ages. 2. Young, adult and old male Wistar rats received a protein-deficient diet (2 casein) or a control diet (20 casein) for 42 days. Mucosal height and the number of lymphocytes located among 500 consecutive epithelial cells (EC) along the villi or crossing the basement membrane were determined in PAS-stained jejunal fragments. 3. The number of IEL increased progressively with animal age, from 14 to 25 per 100 epithelial cells, with significant differences between age ranges. However, the number of IEL did not differ between control and protein-deficient rats in any of the age groups. The proportion of lymphocytes crossing the basement membrane was approximately two-fold greater in young (2.8/100 EC) and adult (5.8/100 EC) protein-deficient animals than in their respective controls (1.6 and 2.8/100 EC). The intensity of parasite colonization was moderate, from 3 to 5/100 EC and did not differ between groups. The pattern of morphologic changes of jejunal mucosa in protozoal infection did not differ between control and protein-deficient animals in any of the three age groups. 4. We conclude that intestinal infection with Giardia lamblia probably stimulated the local immune response, masking the reduction of the IEL population induced by protein deficiency. The increase in lymphocyte numbers with age may be related to prolonged antigenic stimulation promoted by infection.