Quantitative transcranial sonography of the substantia nigra as a predictor of therapeutic response to intravenous iron therapy in restless legs syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze changes in substantia nigra (SN) iron deposits, assessed by quantitative transcranial sonography (TCS), to obtain and compare substantia nigra echogenicity indices (SNEI) at baseline and after intravenous (IV) iron therapy in patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS)/Willis-Ekbom disease (WED). METHODS: A total of 30 consecutive subjects diagnosed with RLS/WED were recruited and underwent IV iron treatment. The SNEI, total daily dose of dopamine equivalents, and International Restless Legs Syndrome Rating Scale (IRLS) scores were obtained at baseline and following IV iron administration. Comparative statistics were performed by means of nonparametric testing. RESULTS: The sample was stratified into two groups according to the median baseline SNEI and the grade of SN hypoechogenicity: severely hypoechogenic (HE) (n = 13) and moderately HE (n = 17). Following IV iron, the increase in SNEI among severely HE subjects was 19% (0.038 ± 0.046 cm2; P < 0.01), whereas in moderately HE subjects it was 10% (0.021 ± 0.069 cm2; P = 0.28). Among severely HE subjects, the average reduction in IRLS following IV iron was 10 ± 7.12 points (P < 0.01), in contrast to 1.85 ± 9.85 (not significant) among moderately HE subjects. Finally, we quantified the percentage of patients in each group who were able to reduce by ≥30% their total daily dopaminergic requirements (TDR) after IV iron, with a 57.14% reduction in the severely HE group vs 25% in the moderately HE group (P = 0.1). Three of 30 subjects (17%) were able to completely cease all dopaminergic treatment. CONCLUSION: Intravenous iron caused changes in SNEI in both groups of patients, reflecting an increase in brain iron stores. However, the increase in SNEI was greater in patients previously defined as severely HE. Furthermore, RLS/WED symptoms also improved more in severely HE subjects, and there was a greater reduction in TDR. This study highlights the role of TCS in quantifying brain iron deposits and in predicting which patients will likely benefit from IV iron.

Aparatos funcionales preferidos por ortodoncistas en Colombia para tratar maloclusiones clases II y III / Preferred functional appliances among orthodontists in colombia to treat class II and III malocclusions / Aparelhos funcionais preferidos entre ortodontistas na Colômbia para tratar maloclusões de classe II e III

Antecedentes: La preferencia de los ortodoncistas en Colombia en el uso de aparatos funcionales y los factores diagnósticos que pueden influenciar la indicación del clínico de una determinada aparatología no es bien conocidos. Objetivo: Comparar las preferencias en el uso de aparatos funcionales para tratamiento de maloclusiones clases II y III entre un posgrado de ortodoncia y una población de ortodoncistas y evaluar la asociación entre el aparato indicado y las características demográficas y diagnósticas de los pacientes del postgrado de ortodoncia. Métodos: Estudio de corte transversal. Se revisaron 565 historias clínicas, de un programa de posgrado de ortodoncia y 180 encuestas a miembros de la Sociedad Colombiana de Ortodoncia (SCO). Para evaluar asociación se utilizó la prueba Chi2 y prueba t. La significancia estadística fue establecida en P < 0,05. Resultados: En el posgrado de ortodoncia el aparato funcional más utilizado para tratar la maloclusión Clase II fue el Simoes Network (55,42 %) y para Clase III fue el Lázaro (28,95 %). La mayoría de los miembros de la SCO prefiere tratar la maloclusión de Clase II con las Pistas Indirectas Planas (32,78 %) y la Clase III con la Máscara Facial (62,22 %). Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas (P < 0,05) entre las preferencias de uso de aparatos funcionales por los ortodoncistas de SCO y el postgrado de ortodoncia evaluado. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que la indicación de los aparatos funcionales para el manejo de maloclusiones Clase II y Clase III no solamente está guiada por la maloclusión, sino que también por la formación académica y preferencias individuales de los ortodoncistas.

Background: The preference for the functional appliances to treat Class II and Class III malocclusions by orthodontists in Colombia and their reasons to select them is not well established, yet. Purpose: To compare the preferences in the use of functional appliances to treat Class II and Class III malocclusions between an orthodontic graduate program and the orthodontist members of the Colombian Society of Orthodontists (CSO) and to evaluate the association between the indicated functional appliance and the diagnostic and demographic characteristics of the patients in the orthodontic program. Methods: In this cross-sectional study were reviewed 565 clinical records of the orthodontic graduate program and the survey of 180 members of the CSO. Chi square and t test at a level of significance P < 0.05 were used to compare both groups. Results: the most frequently functional appliance used to treat Class II malocclusion in the orthodontic graduate program was Simoes Network (55, 42 %) and to treat Class III was the Lazaro (28, 95 %). CSO members preferred Planas indirect tracks (32,78 %) to treat Class II and Facial Mask (62,22 %) to treat Class III. Statistically significant differences (P < 0, 05) in the use preference of functional appliances between the orthodontic graduate program and the orthodontist from the CSO were found. Conclusions: The results suggest that the selection of functional appliances to treat Class II and Class III malocclusions is not only guided by the malocclusion but by the orthodontist´s academic background and individual preferences as well.

Antecedentes: A preferência pelos aparelhos funcionais para tratar as más oclusões de Classe II e Classe III por ortodontistas na Colômbia e seus motivos para selecioná-los ainda não está bem estabelecida. Objetivo: Comparar as preferências no uso de aparelhos funcionais para tratamento de más oclusões Classe II e Classe III entre um programa de pós-graduação ortodôntica e os membros ortodontistas da Sociedade Colombiana de Ortodontistas (CSO) e avaliar a associação entre o aparelho funcional indicado e o características diagnósticas e demográficas dos pacientes no programa ortodôntico. Métodos: Neste estudo transversal foram revisados 565 prontuários clínicos do programa de pós-graduação ortodôntica e a pesquisa de 180 membros da OSC. Qui-quadrado e teste t ao nível de significância P <0,05 foram usados para comparar ambos os grupos. Resultados: o aparelho funcional mais frequentemente utilizado para tratar a má oclusão de Classe II no programa de pós-graduação ortodôntica foi a Rede Simões (55, 42%) e para tratar a Classe III foi o Lazaro (28, 95%). Os membros da OSC preferiram as pistas indiretas Planas (32,78%) para tratar a Classe II e a Máscara Facial (62,22%) para tratar a Classe III. Diferenças estatisticamente significantes (P <0,05) na preferência de uso de aparelhos funcionais entre o programa de pós-graduação ortodôntica e o ortodontista da OSC foram encontradas. Conclusões: Os resultados sugerem que a seleção de aparelhos funcionais para tratar as más oclusões de Classe II e Classe III não é guiada apenas pela má oclusão, mas também pela formação acadêmica do ortodontista e preferências individuais.