Effect of the basilar invagination (type B) on cervical spine: a case-control study at MRI.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the basilar invagination (BI) type B on cervical spine. METHODS: The research protocol used head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams from 41 participants with BI type B and 158 controls. The criterion for BI was the distance of the odontoid apex to Chamberlain's line (DOCL) equal to or greater than 7 mm. The clivus length (CLI), clivus canal angle (CCA), Welcker's basal angle (WBA), Boogaard's angle (BOA), upper cervical lordosis angle (UCL), and total cervical lordosis angle (CL) were evaluated. The descriptive analysis, group comparisons, and correlations between skull base and cervical spine parameters were performed at the 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Participants with BI type B showed shorter clivus length (CLI: 25.7mm±7.3); greater angulation of the skull base (WBA: 126.5±10.4); greater inclination foramen magnum (BOA: 151.5±14.5); decrease in the value of the (CCA: 131.6±15); and greater angulations of UCL (17.9 ±13.8) and CL (29.7 ±19.9) in comparison to the control group (P < 0.05). Clivus length and CCA correlated inversely with UCL and CL, while BOA correlated directly with UCL and CL. The WBA did not correlate with CL (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The deformation of skull base in the BI of type B caused, on average, a hyperlordosis of almost 30 degrees in the C2-C6 segment. This change was approximately 17º in the C2-C4, with the clivus hypoplasia being a risk factor for cervical hyperlordosis.

Complexed amino acid minerals vs. bis-glycinate chelated minerals: Impact on the performance of old laying hens.

The present study was to evaluate the effect of trace minerals (Zn, Mn, and Cu) from complexed amino acid minerals (ZMCAA) and bis-glycinate chelated minerals (ZMCGly) in laying hen diets on performance, internal and external egg quality, yolk mineral deposition, intestinal morphometry, and bone characteristics. From 78 to 98 weeks of age, 400 White LSL-Lite strain laying hens were distributed in a randomized design with 4 treatments with 10 replicates per treatment. Treatments were distributed in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement using either Zn, Mn, and Cu of ZMCAA or ZMCGly source at 2 levels: low (20, 20, and 3.5 mg/kg of Zn, Mn, and Cu, respectively) or high (40, 40, and 7 mg/kg of Zn, Mn, and Cu, respectively). The analysis of variance was performed, and in cases where differences were observed, the means were compared using Tukey's test (P < 0.05). The source and level of trace mineral supplementation had a significant impact on the performance of laying hens. Hens fed ZMCAA had higher egg production (P = 0.01), egg weight (P = 0.02), egg mass (P = 0.01), and lower feed conversion ratio (P = 0.05) compared to those fed ZMCGly. The ZMCAA supplementation showed higher albumen height (P = 0.01), albumen weight (P = 0.01), and eggshell thickness (P < 0.01). The deposition of Zn (P < 0.01), Mn (P < 0.01), and Cu (P < 0.01) in the egg yolk was greater for hens received ZMCAA. Tibia weight (P = 0.04) and bone densitometry (P < 0.01) in the tibia were higher with ZMCAA supplementation. In the small intestine, ZMCAA resulted in longer villi (P = 0.02) and shorter crypt depth (P = 0.01) in the duodenum. Jejunum and ileum measurements were influenced by the level and source of trace minerals (P < 0.05). Laying hens fed ZMCAA exhibited superior performance, egg quality, deposition of trace minerals in the egg yolk, and bone density compared to hens fed ZMCGly. In this study, older laying hens supplemented with ZMCAA at lower levels demonstrated adequate levels of supplementation.

Investigating Type B Basilar Invagination Through Cephalic Indices.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare the diagnostic accuracy of cephalic indices for type B basilar invagination (BI). METHODS: This retrospective study examined head and neck magnetic resonance imaging sequences of 31 Group B BI cases and 96 controls. Two examiners blinded to diagnostic data evaluated the cephalic indices of each magnetic resonance imaging sequence, described as width/length (WLI) and height/width (HWI). The distance of the odontoid process apex to Chamberlain line and clivus canal angle were measured. The interexaminer and intraexaminer reproducibility of the cephalic indices was calculated using intraclass correlation coefficient. The diagnostic accuracy was discerned by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. All analyses were scrutinized with a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Cephalic indices showed interexaminer and intraexaminer reproducibility ≥94%. The areas under the ROC curve were 0.639 (WLI) and 0.874 (HWI) (95% confidence interval: P < 0.05). The HWI showed a sensitivity of 74.7% and a specificity of 85.5% for the cutoff criterion ≤58. The WLI presented a sensitivity of 53.3% and a specificity of 66.7% for the cutoff criterion ≥86. CONCLUSIONS: The HWI showed the largest area under the ROC curve in comparison with the WLI, with robust sensitivity and specificity values, indicating that the proportions between cranial height and width can help clinicians in investigating type B BI.

Foramen Magnum Angle: A New Parameter for Basilar Invagination of Type B.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the foramen magnum angle (FMA) as a new parameter for basilar invagination (BI) type B. METHODS: The FMA was performed on sagittal slice of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a line from the hard palate to the opisthion (angle vertex), and another line from the opisthion to the basion. The MRIs from 31 participants with BI type B and 96 controls were used. Intraclass correlation coefficient, descriptive data, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used for statistical analysis at the 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: The interobserver agreement of the FMA was 0.952. Patients with BI type B had a FMA significantly greater (25.9° ± 9.3°) than control participants (11.6° ± 4.9°) (P < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve showed a diagnostic value of 0.947. The FMA showed sensitivity 0.900 and specificity 0.854 for the cutoff criterion 17° (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The FMA had an optimal diagnostic value that provided complementary evidence to investigate BI type B.

Relação entre a maturação e a velocidade de membros superiores / Maturity of relationship with the speed of upper limbs

A maturação pode ser definida como um fenômeno biológico qualitativo, relacionando-se com o amadurecimento das funções de diferentes órgãos e sistemas. Esse estágio pode ser classificado em atrasado, normal e avançado. A maturação pode interferir em algumas capacidades, tanto de características físicas como de aspectos cognitivos. O presente estudo tem por objetivo verificar se a idade óssea, quanto indicador de maturação corporal, possui correlação com a velocidade de membros superiores. O estudo foi realizado com 181 crianças com idade entre 8 e 14 anos do sexo feminino e masculino, iniciantes de uma prática esportiva. Para a predição da idade óssea foi utilizada a equação de Cabral (2011) que é realizada através de dados antropométricos conforme padronização da (ISAK). Para medição da velocidade dos membros superiores, foi utilizado o teste de golpeio de placas segundo normas da EUROFIT. O resultado obtido na análise de variância identificou diferenças no desempenho do teste de golpeio de placa para as meninas, no qual as que se encontram no estágio maturacional acelerado apresentaram piores respostas de velocidade quando comparadas com as que se encontram em estágio normal de maturação (F=11,21; p=< 0,001); já para os meninos os estágios maturacionais não demonstraram diferenças para a VMMSS. Através da correlação linear de Pearson obteve-se uma correlação negativa e não significante, onde meninos (r=-0,156; p=0,144) e meninas (r=-0,018; p=0,866). Os resultados mostraram que embora a maturação seja um fator importante para o desenvolvimento de certas habilidades e manutenções das existentes, não há correlação significativa expressa entre os fatores. Porém, o pico de crescimento ocasionado pelo processo de desenvolvimento pode ser um fator interferente na capacidade. Portanto, a conclusão extraída do estudo revela que não houve correlação significativa entre a idade óssea e a velocidade de membros superiores e que quando se atinge o pico de crescimento, pode haver um pior resultado no teste de golpeio....(AU)

Maturation can be defined as a qualitative biological phenomenon, relating to the maturation of the functions of different organs and systems. This stage can be classified into late, normal and advanced. The maturation may interfere with some capabilities of both physical characteristics and cognitive aspects. This study aims to determine the bone age, the body maturation indicator, has correlated with the speed of the upper limbs. The study was conducted with 181 children aged 8 to 14 years of women and men, beginners a sport. For the prediction of bone age was used Cabral equation (2011) which is held by anthropometric data according to standardized (ISAK) for measuring the speed of the upper limb, has been used to strike the second test plates EUROFIT standards. The result obtained in the analysis of variance identified differences in performance of the plaque strike test for girls, in which they are in accelerated maturation stage showed lower speed responses when compared to those found in normal ripening stage (F = 11.21; p = <0.001); while for boys the maturational stages showed no difference for VMMSS. Through the Pearson linear correlation was obtained a negative and no significant correlation, where boys (r = -0.156; p = 0.144) and girls (r = -0.018; p = 0.866). The results showed that although maturation is a major factor in the development of certain existing skills and maintenance, there is no significant correlation between factors expressed. However, the peak increase caused by the development process can be an influencing factor on capacity. Therefore, the conclusion drawn from this study revealed that there was no significant correlation between age and bone speed of the upper limbs and when growth reaches the peak, there may be a worse outcome in Bang test....(AU)

Prediction of drug dissolution profiles from tablets using NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy: a rapid and nondestructive method.

A comparison between dissolution profiles obtained by using a dissolution apparatus (conventional method) and the NIR diffuse reflectance spectra of a series of clonazepam-containing batches is reported. Ten different formulations with fixed amount of clonazepam and varying proportions of excipients were analyzed at seven dissolution times and three different media. The percentages of dissolution of each sample were correlated with the NIR spectra of three tablets of each batch, through a multivariate analysis using the PLS regression algorithm. The squared correlation coefficients for the plots of percentages of dissolution from the equipment laboratory (dissolution apparatus and HPLC determination) versus the predicted values, in the leave-one-out cross-validation, varied from 0.80 to 0.92, indicating that the NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy method is an alternative, nondestructive tool for measurement of drug dissolution from tablets.