Comparison of treatment effects after total mandibular arch distalization with miniscrews vs ramal plates in patients with Class III malocclusion.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to compare treatment effects after total mandibular arch distalization with buccal interradicular miniscrews vs ramal plates in patients with Class III malocclusion. METHODS: The sample consisted of 40 patients with Class III malocclusion; 20 were treated with distalization via buccal miniscrews (age, 25.8 ± 7.9 years), whereas 20 were treated with ramal plates (age, 26.4 ± 6.1 years). Twenty-three linear and angular measurements were analyzed on pretreatment and posttreatment lateral cephalograms. The changes in each group and differences in treatment effects between the 2 groups were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean amount of distalization at the crown and root levels of the mandibular first molars and the amount of distal tipping was 1.8 mm, 0.6 mm, and 5.4° in the buccal miniscrew group vs 3.6 mm, 2.0 mm, and 6.8° in the ramal plate group, respectively. In addition, 2.2° of counterclockwise rotation of the occlusal plane was observed in the buccal miniscrew group after 1.3 mm of molar intrusion (P <0.001). The distal movement of the lower lip was 0.6 mm in the buccal miniscrew group vs 2.3 mm in the ramal plate group. CONCLUSIONS: The buccal miniscrew group showed more molar intrusion and counterclockwise rotation of the occlusal plane than in the ramal plate group. The ramal plate produced more distalization of the mandibular dentition with clockwise rotation of the mandible. Therefore, these results can be useful when selecting the type of temporary skeletal anchorage devices to treat patients with Class III malocclusion, depending on their vertical pattern.

Angioplasty of middle cerebral artery stenosis improves recurrent hemichorea caused by basal ganglia hypoperfusion.

We report a case of intermittent hemichorea associated with severe stenosis in the proximal M1 portion of the middle cerebral artery. The movements disappeared after transluminal angioplasty and stenting with restoration of perfusion in the basal ganglia.

Isolated Weakness of Middle, Ring, and Little Fingers due to a Small Cortical Infarction in the Medial Precentral Gyrus.

SMALL CORTICAL STROKES CAN PRODUCE PREDOMINANT ISOLATED WEAKNESS IN A PARTICULAR GROUP OF FINGERS: radial or ulnar. The traditional views are of point-to-point representations of each finger to neurons located in the precentral gyrus of the motor cortex such that the neurons of the radial fingers are located laterally and those of the ulnar fingers are located medially. We present a case of isolated weakness of middle, ring, and little fingers due to a small cortical infarction in the medial precentral gyrus.

Comparison of the Protective Effect of Indole beta-carbolines and R-(-)-deprenyl Against Nitrogen Species-Induced Cell Death in Experimental Culture Model of Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND: The membrane permeability transition of mitochondria has been suggested to be involved in toxic and oxidative forms of cell injury. Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered to play a critical role in neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. Despite the suggestion that indole beta-carbolines may be neurotoxic, these compounds provide a protective effect against cytotoxicity of other neurotoxins. In addition, the effect of indole beta-carbolines on change in the mitochondrial membrane permeability due to reactive nitrogen species (RNS), which may lead to cell death, has not been clarified. METHODS: Differentiated PC12 cells were used as the experimental culture model for the investigation of neuronal cell injury, which occurs in Parkinson's disease. The effect of indole beta-carbolines (harmalol and harmine) on differentiated PC12 cells against toxicity of S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP) was determined by measuring the effect on the change in transmembrane potential, cytochrome c release, formation of ROS, GSH contents, caspase-3 activity and cell viability, and was compared to that of R-(-)-deprenyl. RESULTS: Specific inhibitors of caspases (z-LEHD.fmk, z-DQMD.fmk) and antioxidants (N-acetylcysteine, dithiothreitol, melatonin, carboxy-PTIO and uric acid) depressed cell death in PC12 cells due to SNAP. beta-Carbolines and R-(-)-deprenyl attenuated the SNAP-induced cell death and GSH depletion concentration dependently with a maximal inhibitory effect at 25-50 microM. The compounds inhibited the nuclear damage, decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential, cytochrome c release and formation of reactive oxygen species caused by SNAP in PC12 cells. beta-Carbolines and R-(-)-deprenyl attenuated the H(2)O(2)-induced cell death and depletion of GSH. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that indole beta-carbolines attenuate the SNAP-induced viability loss in PC12 cells by inhibition of change in the mitochondrial membrane permeability, which may be caused by free radicals. Indole beta-carbolines appear to exert a protective effect against the nitrogen species-mediated neuronal cell injury in Parkinson's disease comparable to R-(-)-deprenyl.