Surgical complications related to temporomandibular joint arthroscopy: a prospective analysis of 39 single-portal versus 43 double-portal procedures.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure proposed for diverse TMJ intra-articular disorders. A prospective study was designed with the aim of investigating intraoperative and postoperative surgical complications for single and double-portal TMJ arthroscopy. All interventions were performed by one surgeon with the same surgical protocol. A total of 55 patients were enrolled, resulting in 82 TMJ arthroscopies (28 unilateral and 27 bilateral). A total of 39 single portal (47.57%) and 43 double-portal (52.43%) arthroscopies were performed. No severe and irreversible complications were observed. Most complications were resolved after 4 weeks. Double-portal was associated with more complications (n=23) compared with single-portal TMJ arthroscopy (n=14), with a statistically significant difference found between single and double-portal TMJ arthroscopy in two intraoperative complications: intra-articular bleeding (P=0.044) and oedema of the preauricular area (P=0.042). This study confirms the safety of TMJ arthroscopy for single and double-portal procedures, with the authors suggesting a multicentre study, in an effort to minimize any possible bias.

Destoxificação e perfil nutricional da torta de mamona destoxificada por diferentes soluções alcalinas / [Detoxification and nutritional profile of the detoxified castor by different alkaline solutions]

Objetivou-se avaliar a destoxificação da torta de mamona bruta (TMB), por meio de dois produtos alcalinos em diferentes concentrações, e seus efeitos sobre a composição química, a degradabilidade in situ da MS e o fracionamento de proteínas. Utilizou-se o hidróxido de cálcio [Ca(OH)2] e o hidróxido de sódio (NaOH) em duas concentrações (60 e 90 gramas), diluídos em quatro quantidades de água (1.000; 1.500; 2.000 e 2.500mL de água por quilo de TMB). Observou-se que, das diferentes concentrações utilizadas, somente a utilização de 90 e 60 gramas de Ca(OH)2 e NaOH, respectivamente, conseguiu destoxificar 100% da TMB, ambas diluídas em 2.000mL de água. Por outro lado, ao avaliar o tempo mínimo de contato dos reagentes com a TMB para uma máxima destoxificação, observou-se que três horas de contato é o tempo necessário para os reagentes diminuírem em 100% as proteínas citotóxicas, além de não deixar atividade hemaglutinante nesse material. A destoxificação com o NaOH proporcionou maior degradação das proteínas solúveis e da matéria seca, favorecendo a disponibilização do nitrogênio não proteico, estando sua aplicação em escala industrial na dependência de estudos sobre viabilidade operacional e econômica.(AU)

This study aimed to evaluate the detoxification of crude castor (DCC) through two alkaline products in different concentrations and their effects on the chemical composition, in situ degradability of DM and the fractionation of proteins. We used the calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in two concentrations (60 and 90 grams) diluted in 4 quantities of water (1,000; 1,500; 2,000 and 2,500ml of water per kilo of DCC). It was observed that in the different concentrations used, only the use of 90 and 60 grams of Ca(OH)2 and NaOH, respectively managed to detoxify 100% of the DCC, both diluted in 2,000ml of water. On the other hand, when assessing the minimum time of contact of the reagents with the DCC for maximum detoxification, it was observed that with three hours of contact is the time required for the reagents decrease in 100% of the cytotoxic proteins, in addition to not leave haemagglutinating activity in this material. The detoxification with NaOH provided greater degradation of soluble proteins and degradation of dry matter, favoring the provision of non-protein nitrogen, while its application on an industrial scale is in the dependence of studies on operational feasibility and cost.(AU)

Effect of different extracts and fractions of Senecio biafrae (Oliv. &Hiern) J. Moore on in vivo and in vitro parameters of folliculogenesis in experimental animals.

BACKGROUND: Senecio biafrae is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine to cure female infertility. Some effects have been pharmacologically demonstrated on immature female rats but in vivo and in vitro investigations are still necessary for determining its mechanism of action. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the estrogenic and FSH-like effects of the plant extracts and fractions on some fertility parameters in immature female rats and on in vitro survival and growth of swine preantral follicles. METHODS: 21-23 days old female Wistar rats orally received extracts and fractions of S. biafrae at 0, 8 and 64 mg/kg doses over 20 days. The LH, FSH, estradiol and progesterone serum levels were evaluated as well as the ovarian cholesterol, uterus and ovaries masses and proteins. The numbers of follicles at different developmental stages were recorded in ovarian cortexes after histology. Slices of swine ovarian cortexes were cultured along 1 or 7 days in alpha-minimum essential medium (α-MEM) and fixed for morphological analysis of preantral follicles. The fresh control, cultured control (CIV control) and different Senecio biafrae-treated ovarian fragments were analyzed for preantral follicles development. Treatments that showed the best follicle growth in culture were submitted to AgNOR test. The aqueous and MeOH/CH2Cl2 extracts as well as the ethyl acetate and hexane fractions of S. biafrae were submitted to the HPLC for analysis of polyphenolic secondary metabolites. RESULTS: Ovarian and uterine proteins were significantly high (p < 0.01) in animals treated with the two dosages of ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions. The same result was recorded with uterine proteins in animals treated with the hexane fraction. The FSH level significantly dropped with all ethanolic extract doses and with the 64 mg/kg dosage of the methanol/methylene chloride (MeOH/CH2Cl2) extract while LH was reduced (p < 0.01) in almost all the treated groups. Estradiol level was significantly increased (p < 0.001) in the three groups receiving the extracts, but reduced (p < 0.001) in the three groups receiving the fractions of the plant. The progesterone level increased with almost all the treated groups. Primary and secondary follicles augmented (p < 0.01) in MeOH/CH2Cl2 extract and n-butanol fraction while tertiary follicles increased with the same extract and the ethyl acetate fraction (p < 0.05). Treatments with aqueous and ethanolic extracts as well as ethyl acetate fraction led to a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the number of morphologically normal follicles after 7 days of culture as compared to the CIV control. The number of AgNOR dots per follicle was significantly low (p < 0.05) in all cultured groups as compared to the fresh control, except the ethyl acetate 2.8 ng/ml dosage. The same observation was done with AgNOR dots per cell in the 2.8 ng/ml dosage aqueous extract-treated fragments. The phenolic compounds mainly encountered in the plant, independently of the extract or fraction are apigenin, eugenol and rutin. CONCLUSION: Extracts and fractions of S. biafrae have an important FSH-like effect which induces follicular survival and growth.

Glycerol inoculation in eggs of young broiler breeders at different embryonic periods.

Small eggs have lesser amounts of nutrients to be used by the embryo, and the yolk glycerol is the main substrate for glycogen production, which is the main energy source in the last days of incubation. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the effect of a glycerol injection in light weight eggs at 2 different days of incubation. To this end, 336 light eggs (55.6 to 58.6 g) from 32-wk-old broiler breeders were incubated. The eggs were divided into 3 treatment groups: 1 group inoculated with saline solution on the 17th d of embryonic development (E17) (control group), the second group injected with a 6 mg glycerol/mL solution at E17, and the third group injected with 6 mg glycerol/mL on the 18th d of incubation (E18). Incubation parameters, liver and muscle glycogen, and broilers performance at 7 d of age were evaluated. Glycerol administration in ovo did not influence hatchability, period of embryonic death or early hatching. Chicks exposed to glycerol in ovo feeding (IOF) used more yolk than birds inoculated with saline solution. Glycerol inoculation at E18 enhanced liver glycogen deposition (P = 0.001) and also improved broilers performance at 7 d, although this improvement in performance and glycogen reserves was not observed when eggs were inoculated at 17 d of incubation. Birds receiving glycerol IOF at E18 showed higher feed intake and body weight gain when compared to the control group and the group inoculated at E17. It was found that glycerol inoculation in light eggs at the 18th d of incubation contributed to raise liver glycerol levels and also to improve broilers performance at 7 d.

Enhanced activity of carbohydrate- and lipid-metabolizing enzymes in insecticide-resistant populations of the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais.

Insecticide resistance is frequently associated with fitness disadvantages in the absence of insecticides. However, intense past selection with insecticides may allow the evolution of fitness modifier alleles that mitigate the cost of insecticide resistance and their consequent fitness disadvantages. Populations of Sitophilus zeamais with different levels of susceptibility to insecticides show differences in the accumulation and mobilization of energy reserves. These differences may allow S. zeamais to better withstand toxic compounds without reducing the beetles' reproductive fitness. Enzymatic assays with carbohydrate- and lipid-metabolizing enzymes were, therefore, carried out to test this hypothesis. Activity levels of trehalase, glycogen phosphorylase, lipase, glycosidase and amylase were determined in two insecticide-resistant populations showing (resistant cost) or not showing (resistant no-cost) associated fitness cost, and in an insecticide-susceptible population. Respirometry bioassays were also carried out with these weevil populations. The resistant no-cost population showed significantly higher body mass and respiration rate than the other two populations, which were similar. No significant differences in glycogen phosphorylase and glycosidase were observed among the populations. Among the enzymes studied, trehalase and lipase showed higher activity in the resistant cost population. The results obtained in the assays with amylase also indicate significant differences in activity among the populations, but with higher activity in the resistant no-cost population. The inverse activity trends of lipases and amylases in both resistant populations, one showing fitness disadvantage without insecticide exposure and the other not showing it, may underlay the mitigation of insecticide resistance physiological costs observed in the resistant no-cost population. The higher amylase activity observed in the resistant no-cost population may favor energy storage, preventing potential trade-offs between insecticide resistance mechanisms and basic physiological processes in this population, unlike what seems to take place in the resistant cost population.

Genetic diversity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains during the 24 h fermentative cycle for the production of the artisanal Brazilian cachaça.

AIMS: Characterization of yeast populations and genetic polymorphism of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains collected during the short fermentative cycles from the spontaneous fermentations during the artisanal cachaça production. METHODS AND RESULTS: The prevalent S. cerevisiae strains were analysed by PFG and RAPD-PCR using primers EI1 and M13. The molecular analysis have showed a high degree of genetic polymorphism among the strains within a 24 h fermentative cycle. CONCLUSION: The genetic diversity observed in the S. cerevisiae strains may be occurring due to the existence of a large number of individual genotypes within the species. The unique characteristics of the cachaça fermentation process probably allows for a faster detection of molecular polymorphisms of yeast strains than other types of fermentations. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Spontaneous fermentations to produce cachaça, due to their characteristics, are an excellent model for the study of molecular diversity of S. cerevisiae strains during the production of fermented beverages.

Response to high-dose cisplatin and etoposide in advanced germ cell tumors in children: results of the Brazilian Germ Cell Tumor Study.

A trial was undertaken to assess the efficacy and toxicity of high-dose cisplatin and etoposide in children with newly diagnosed advanced malignant germ cell tumors. A total of eleven children and adolescents were treated with courses of high dose cisplatin 30 mg/m2/day and etoposide 120 mg/m2/day in five day cycles at 21 day intervals. There were eight girls and three boys, aged between 1 and 16 years (median: 120 months). Of nine unresectable tumors, six were in complete remission after three cycles and were completely resected. All patients are alive (median follow-up 17 months). Preliminary results shows that high dose cisplatin and etoposide is effective in controlling advanced malignant germ cell tumor.

Responde to high-dose cisplatin and ethoposide in advanced germ cell tumors in children: results of the Brazilian Germ Cell Tumor Study

A trial was undertaken to assess the efficacy and toxicity of high-dose cisplatin and etoposide in children with newly diagnosed advanced malignant germ cell tumors. A total of eleven children and adolescents were treated with courses of high dose cisplatin 30 mg/m2/day and etoposide 120 mg/m2/day in five day cycles at 21 day intervals. There were eight girls and three boys, aged between 1 and 16 years (median: 120 months). Of nine unresectable tumors, six were in complete remission after three cycles and were completely resected. All patients are alive (median follow-up 17 months). Preliminary results shows that high dose cisplatin and etoposide is effective in controlling advanced malignant germ cell tumor.

[Treatment of sickle cell anemia crisis with dipyrone, hydrocortisone, and fluid therapy]. / Tratamento da crise de anemia falciforme pela dipirona, hidrocortisona e hidratação.

It was observed "in vitro" that dipirone improves hemoglobin S solubility, and that corticosteroids by antiinflammatory action relieve pain in sickle cell anemia crises. In the period between 1983 and 1988, 116 patients with sickle cell anemia having painful crises were studied. All patients were hydrated with DW (5% normal Serum Sodium/NSS) 1:1, in a total volume of 2250 ml/square meters (sgm) day. Patients were distributed as follows: Group 1: 26 patients treated with an association of dipirone and hidrocortisone; Group 2: 21 patients treated with hidrocortisone only; Group 3: 22 patients treated with dipirone only; Group 4: 23 patients treated only with hidration; Group 5: 24 patients treated only with DW 50%. Treatment efficacy was evaluated on the subjective assessment (complete pain relief of patients, 24 hours after the beginning of the treatment). We have concluded that treatment with dipirone and/or hidrocortisone plus hidration was efficient for pain relief in sickle cell crises.

Haemoglobin J Rovigo 53 alpha (E-2) aspartic acid alanin.

The case under examination is an example of a family with Hb J Rovigo interacting with beta thalassemia. Such hemoglobin has the same mobility as J haemoglobin, and the analysis of amino acids showed it to be a variant of the alpha 53 (E2) Alanine-Aspartic chain. The percentage of haemoglobin ranged from around 22.7 to 30.5%.