Skeletal and Dentoalveolar Changes in Growing Patients Treated with Rapid Maxillary Expansion Measured in 3D Cone-Beam Computed Tomography.

The skeletal and dental effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) have been extensively studied, but high-quality research is still needed to determine the three-dimensional (3D) effects of RME. The aim of this study was to compare skeletal and dentoalveolar parameters through cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) pre- (T1) and post-treatment (T2) with respect to RME. Twenty growing patients (mean age 10.7 years) were treated with a Hyrax-type expander. A 3D CBCT was performed at T1 and T2, measuring nasal width, maxillary width, palatal height, maxillary arch perimeter, angulation of the upper first molar, and intermolar width. The mean palatal suture opening was 2.85 ± 0.62 mm (p < 0.0001). Nasal width increased 1.28 ± 0.64 mm and maxillary width 2.79 ± 1.48 mm (p < 0.0001). In contrast, palatal height was reduced 0.65 ± 0.64 mm (p < 0.0001). Regarding arch perimeter, the radicular perimeter increased 2.89 ± 1.80 mm, while the coronal perimeter increased 3.42 ± 2.09 mm (p < 0.0001). Molar angulation increased 5.62 ± 3.20° for the right molar and 4.74 ± 2.22° for the left molar (p < 0.0001). Intermolar width increased 5.21 ± 1.55 mm (p < 0.0001). Treatment with Hyrax produced a significant opening in the mean palatal suture. Also, a significant increase in nasal width, maxillary width, arch perimeter, molar angulation, and intermolar width, and a decrease in palatal height, were observed.

Babesia and Theileria Identification in Adult Ixodid Ticks from Tapada Nature Reserve, Portugal.

This study, conducted in a nature reserve in southern Portugal, investigated the frequency and diversity of tick-borne piroplasms in six species of adult ixodid ticks removed from 71 fallow deer (Dama dama) and 12 red deer (Cervus elaphus), collected over the period 2012-2019. The majority of 520 ticks were Ixodes ricinus (78.5%), followed by Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, Hyalomma lusitanicum, Haemaphysalis punctata, Dermacentor marginatus, and Ixodes hexagonus. The R. sanguineus ticks collected from the deer were clearly exophilic, in contrast to the endophilic species usually associated with dogs. Four tick-borne piroplasms, including Theileria spp., and the zoonotic species, Babesia divergens and Babesia microti, were detected. B. divergens 18S rDNA, identical to that of the bovine reference strain U16370 and to certain strains from red deer, was detected in I. ricinus ticks removed from fallow deer. The sporadic detection of infections in ticks removed from the same individual hosts suggests that the piroplasms were present in the ticks rather than the hosts. Theileria sp. OT3 was found in I. ricinus and, along with T. capreoli, was also detected in some of the other tick species. The natural vector and pathogenic significance of this piroplasm are unknown.

Molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens in canine population and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato) ticks from southern Metro Manila and Laguna, Philippines.

BACKGROUND: The tropical climate of the Philippines and the high population of dogs, particularly in cities, favors the life-cycle of the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato), a vector of several canine tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) including zoonotic Rickettsia spp. Suspected cases of infections are commonly encountered in veterinary clinics, but the specific TBPs are rarely identified. Furthermore, infection with Rickettsia is not being clinically examined in dogs. In this study, the occurrence of TBPs in blood and ticks collected from household and impounded dogs in highly populated areas of the Philippines, Metro Manila, and the nearby province of Laguna, was examined. RESULTS: A total of 248 blood samples and 157 tick samples were subjected to PCR. First, samples were screened using primers for Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. and Babesia/Hepatozoon spp. Those that turned positive were further subjected to species-specific PCR. Rickettsia spp. were also detected through a nested PCR. Of the 248 blood samples, 56 (22.6%) were positive for Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp., while 19 (7.6%) were positive for Babesia/Hepatozoon spp. Species-specific PCR revealed that 61 (23.4%) had a single TBP, with Ehrlichia canis being detected in 39 (15.7%) dogs, while 14 (5.6%) dogs were positive for different combinations of two to four TBPs. Rickettsia infection was detected in 6 (2.4%) dogs. In tick samples, 8 (3.2%) were positive for Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp., while only 1 (0.63%) was positive for Babesia/Hepatozoon spp. As in the blood samples, E. canis was the most detected, being found in 5 (2%) samples. No tick samples tested positive for Rickettsia spp. CONCLUSION: Ehrlichia canis is the most common TBP affecting dogs in the Philippines. Co-infection with TBPs is quite common, hence testing for multiple TBPs is necessary. Through nested PCR, Rickettsia infection was detected in dogs, and to the authors' knowledge, this study provides the first molecular evidence of Rickettsia infection in dogs in the Philippines.

Hemolysis index to detect degree of hydroxocobalamin interference with common laboratory tests.

BACKGROUND: Cyanokit® (hydroxocobalamin OHCo) is the recommended treatment for cyanide poisoning. OHCo is a red chromophore and may cause interference with some biochemical measurements. In this study, we assessed the possible interference of Cyanokit on several cooximetric and plasma biochemistry tests and then determined the possible mathematical correction for some analytes. We studied the possibility of detecting and evaluating the degree of interference with the hemolysis index (HI) provided by our autoanalyzer because it is not possible to measure the OHCo concentration in conventional laboratories. METHODS: Several pools of plasma samples spiked with increasing concentrations of OHCo were prepared. Each one was compared to the pool without interferent. Interference was considered when the bias was more than 10%. An interferograph was developed for those analytes with significant interference. The correlation between interference agent concentration and HI was calculated by Spearman correlation coefficient. We used multiple regression analysis to determine the mathematical correction for amylase, creatinine, and lactate. RESULTS: We detected significant interference in the amylase, carboxyhemoglobin, creatinine, creatine kinase, bilirubin, lactate, and total protein measurement. The HI was positively correlated with OHCo concentration. Corresponding equations for estimating lactate and creatinine concentrations were obtained. CONCLUSIONS: OHCo interferes with many laboratory assays in an unpredictable way making some results invalid and confounding clinical decision making. We can detect and evaluate the degree of interference with the HI. We can still estimate real creatinine and lactate levels using the regression equation obtained in this study.

Gut epithelial barrier markers in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is now being recognized as an additional contributing factor to the pathogenesis of obesity-related comorbidities. At the same time, there is now increasing evidence to suggest that intestinal wall permeability plays a role in the development of metabolic syndrome. In the present study, circulating zonulin and fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) were measured in association with metabolic, hepatic, and inflammatory parameters. RESULTS: Compared with controls, plasma I-FABP levels were significantly higher in patients with OSA (571 pg/mL [IQR 290-950] vs 396 pg/mL [IQR 234-559], p = 0.04). Zonulin levels were similar between groups. Significant relationships were observed between zonulin levels and waist circumference (p < 0.05), glucose (p < 0.05), and insulin (p < 0.05). In addition, in the OSA group, zonulin levels correlated negatively with the mean nocturnal oxygenation saturation (p < 0.05) and positively with total cholesterol (p < 0.05), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p < 0.005), aminotransferase (AST) (p < 0.01), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) (p < 0.005), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that associations between zonulin and ALT, AST, and hs-CRP were attenuated, but not eliminated, after adjustment for other variables. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that OSA is a risk factor for intestinal damage, regardless of metabolic profile, and that intestinal permeability might be a possible contributor to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with OSA.

Estilos de vida e hipertensión arterial en adolescentes del liceo agustín codazzi: Maracay, venezuela. 2008-2009 / Lifestyle and hypertension in adolescents liceo agustín codazzi: Maracay, venezuela. 2008-2009

La Hipertensión Arterial constituye un problema de salud pública, que se puede presentar desde la infancia, disminuyendo la expectativa y calidad de vida de los afectados, lo que hace imperioso conocer la prevalencia e influencia de estilos de vida en dicha patología, por lo que se realizo un estudio de tipo descriptivo y transversal, en 232 estudiantes (20,73% de la población), del Liceo "Agustín Codazzi" Estado Aragua, determinándose antecedentes personales patológicos, hábitos psicobiológicos, hábitos nutricionales que se relacionaron con Índice de masa corporal (IMC) y presión arterial (PA). En los resultados se encontraron cifras normales altas de tensión arterial sistólica y diastólica en 3,08% y 12,5%respectivamente. 1,29% y 2,16% de cifras altas de sistólica y diastólica. La mayoría refiere emplear gran parte de su tiempo en actividades sedentarias, niegan fumar y el consumo de café, una tercera parte expreso ingesta de alcohol. En general tres cuartas partes prefirió comidas crudas, sancochadas o asadas, mientras el restante comidas fritas, dulces o guisadas. Finalmente, se correlacionaron significativamente las variables presión arterial sistólica, presión arterial diastólica e IMC. Por lo que se concluye que la ingesta alimentaria está íntimamente relacionada con el aumento de la presión arterial, y no así el sedentarismo en el grupo estudiado.

The High Blood Pressure states a public health problem, which may be presented since childhood, decreasing both, quality and expectation of life on the affected ones resulting an urge knowledge of prevalence and influence of lifestyles on such pathology, therefore a transversal cut descriptive study was made among 232 students (20,7% of the population) at Agustìn Codazzi high school, Aragua state, determining pathological personal background, psychobiological and nutritional habits attached to body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP).In the results were found normal levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in 3,08% and 12,5% respectively. And 1,29% and 2,16% of high values for systolic and diastolic. Most of them prefer to spend much of their time in sedentary activities. They deny smoking and coffee consumption, one third of the sample expressed alcohol intake. In general three quarters of the sample preferred eaten raw, boiled or roasted with the remaining fried foods, sweets cakes or stewed . Finally, the variables systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure were significantly correlated with the variable mass index. Therefore we concluded that food intake is closely related to the increase of blood pressure and sedentary but not in this population.

Ulcera corneal micótica: estudio multicéntrico / Corneal mycotic ulcer: multicentric study

Introducción: en México son escasos los estudios sobre epidemiología de la úlcera corneal micótica.Objetivo: describir algunas características epidemiológicas y la experiencia clínica en el diagnóstico y tratamiento de las úlceras corneales micóticas, en el municipio de Jalapa, Veracruz.Material y métodos: se revisaron los expedientes clínicos de los pacientes con diagnóstico de úlcera corneal micótica, registrados de 1993 a 1998 en los principales hospitales que atienden estos problemas en Jalapa, Veracruz. Para su análisis se obtuvieron frecuencias absolutas de cada una de las variables. Resultados: Aspergillus flavus, Curvularia sp. y Fusarium sp. constituyeron las especies de hongos identificadas en los cultivos de los pacientes. Los frotis resultaron positivos para hifas, micelias, levaduras y esporas. El trabajo de campo y el antecedente de traumatismo corneal durante la jornada fueron los principales factores relacionados con úlcera corneal micótica. La mayoría de los pacientes recibió tratamiento con azoles antimicóticos. La nubécula y leucoma fueron las secuelas que predominaron. Conclusiones: el escaso número de pacientes en los que se logra identificar el tipo de hongo y el improvisado tratamiento oftalmológico (por la ausencia en el mercado nacional de antimicóticos de aplicación tópica, cinética adecuada para penetrar los tejidos oculares y de baja toxicidad) explican la gran cantidad de pérdidas funcionales y anatómicas del órgano (ojo) en los sujetos que cursan con queratitis micótica.