Posture and posterior crossbite in oral and nasal breathing children.

The most known etiologic factors of oral breathing may influence the craniofacial development leading to anatomical and functional alterations. A proper head and cervical spine posture allows a well functioning of the stomatognathic system structures and vice versa. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of posterior crossbite in a group of oral breathing children (OB) and nasal (NB) and associate the type of bite with the head and cervical spine posture. It was concluded that most of the children, either oral or nasal breathers, did not present a crossbite and any kind of head posture and cervical spine can vary independently of a posterior crossbite.

Interleukin-6 -174 G/C promoter polymorphism and nasal polyposis.

INTRODUCTION: Nasal polyposis is a chronic disease with unknown etiopathogenesis, although inflammatory mechanisms seem to play a role. One of several inflammatory mediators linked to nasal polyposis is Interleukin-6, which has a single nucleotide polymorphism -174 G/C that seems to promote an inflammatory reaction. OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of the -174 G/C single nucleotide polymorphism between a group of patients with nasal polyposis and a control group. METHOD: Cross-sectional study with two groups (thirty two patients with nasal polyposis and fifty five controls) to investigate the -174 G/C polymorphism in blood samples. Asthma, aspirin intolerance and atopy were main exclusion criteria. IL-6 genotyping was performed using the PCR method with forward primer 5'-ATGCCAAGTGCTGAGTCACTA-3' and reverse primer 5'-GGAAAATCCCACATTTGATA-3', amplifying a 226-bp DNA fragment that contained the - 174 position. The amplified fragment can be cleaved by restriction enzyme NlaIII when the -174 position presented the C allele in two fragments of 117 and 109-bp, visualized by electrophoresis, classifying participants in GG, GC and CC. RESULTS: In the nasal polyposis group, 65.62% of the patients had the GG genotype, while in the control group, 41.82% had two G alleles, a statistically significant difference, with an odds ratio of 2.65. CONCLUSION: The -174 GG genotype was found more frequently in nasal polyposis patients than in controls, when asthma, aspirin intolerance and atopy were excluded.

[Levamisole does not prevent lesions of recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial]. / Levamisol não previne lesões de estomatite aftosa recorrente: um ensaio clínico randomizado, duplo-cego e controlado por placebo.

OBJECTIVE: to utilize a double-blind protocol to provide clarification about the safety and effectiveness of levamisole in the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. METHODS: Fourteen patients took a decreasing dose of oral levamisole for six months (initial dose 150mg three times a week) and ten others were placebo control patients. All were evaluated monthly. RESULTS: The number of crises had a tendency to decrease in both groups, but without a difference between groups. The number of lesions diminished significantly in the two groups, but upon comparison the difference was not significant. Duration of the lesions diminished significantly in the placebo, however when compared to the levamisole group, difference was not significant during treatment. The intensity of pain was significantly lower in the two groups, but upon comparison, pain was significantly lower in the placebo group. The final global evaluation showed improvement in 50% of patients of the levamisole group and in 70% of the placebo, without a significant difference between treatments. No difference in the frequency of collateral effects was observed between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Levamisole, as used in this protocol, is a safe drug. When compared with the placebo, levamisole is not effective in the prophylactic treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. The placebo effect is important in diseases where emotional factors affect recurrence or expression of symptoms.

Immune-expression of HSP27 and IL-10 in recurrent aphthous ulceration.

BACKGROUND: Recently, abnormal cellular immune response has been considered responsible for the oral lesion in the recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU). For reasons not yet defined, antigens of the oral microbiota would trigger abnormal Th1 immune response against epithelial cells. On the other hand, studies have demonstrated that heat shock proteins (HSP) can block the production of proinflammatory cytokine through inhibition of NF-kappaB and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways or activate anti-inflammatory cytokines and therefore control the magnitude of the immune response. HSP27 has been considered a powerful inductor of IL-10, a major inhibitor of Th1 response. METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry, we studied the expression and location of HSP27 and IL-10 in ulcerated lesions clinically diagnosed as RAU (n = 27) and to compare it with that of oral clinically normal mucosa (CT; n = 6) and of other inflammatory chronic diseases such as oral fibrous inflammatory hyperplasia (FIH; n = 18), Crohn's disease (CD; n = 10) and ulcerative colitis (UC; n = 9). RESULTS: A lower proportion of HSP27-positive epithelial cells in RAU and CD were observed when compared with CT and FIH (P < 0.001**; P = 0.013**). A lower proportion of IL-10-positive interstitial cells in RAU was observed when compared with FIH, UC, CT and CD (P < 0.001**; P < 0.001**; P < 0.001**; P = 0.034*). CONCLUSION: Altogether the data suggest that a reduced cellular expression of HSP27 and IL-10 in RAU might be related with the aetiopathogenesis of the ulcerated oral lesions.

ENT care of children and adolescents in the Brazilian public healthy system in three different municipalities.

UNLABELLED: The data base of ENT care in the Brazilian public health system (Sistema Unico de Saude - SUS) will help organize public health programs. AIM: The following items were investigated in patients aged up to 17 years attended in public health system outpatient units in the city of Mariana, in the ENT screening unit, UNIFESP-EPM, and in CISMISEL: 1) The main otorhinolaryngological diagnoses; 2) The most frequently required exams, drugs, and surgical procedures and their indications; 3) The jobs of parents; the number of siblings; and 4) A statistical analysis and comparison of data in each location. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We undertook a prospective study and a statistical analysis of variables that were gathered during the first visit. RESULTS: The age, the parents' salary, the number of siblings aged below 18 years, the presence of rhinitis, ears diseases, the exams, drugs and otological surgeries that were indicated were all statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The most common diagnosis was mouth breathing. The most common surgery was adenotonsillectomy. The most frequently requested exam was a lateral cranial radiograph. The number of unemployed parents, their poor salaries, and the number of siblings make it difficult for these patients to be treated in any facility other than the public heath system.

Endoscopic transnasal approach to sellar tumors.

UNLABELLED: Transsphenoidal surgery for sellar region tumors is traditionally done only by neurosurgeons. The use of endoscopes has permitted a direct transnasal approach to the sphenoidal sinus, without dissection of the septal mucosa, reducing postoperative morbidity. AIM: The purpose of this study was to assess the technical difficulties, and per and postoperative complications of the otolaryngological management of the endoscopic transnasal approach to the sellar region. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 159 patients undergoing sellar region surgery between March 2001 and December 2006 were assessed retrospectively. 91 patients who underwent 95 endoscopic transnasal procedures were included in this study. STUDY DESIGN: a clinical retrospective study. RESULTS: The endoscopic transnasal technique was feasible for every patient, independent of age, anatomical variations, tumor characteristics, tumor etiology, and previous surgical history. There was no need to remove the middle turbinate or septal deviations in any of the cases. The most significant peroperative complication was CSF leak during tumor removal (13.68%). Postoperative complications were: nasal bleeding (8.42%), CSF leak (8.42%), and meningitis (2.19). CONCLUSION: The transnasal endoscopic approach was accomplished with minimal invasion, preserving nasal structures in all 95 procedures, independent of age, anatomical variations, tumor characteristics,tumor etiology, and previous surgical history.

Effect of local application of cidofovir on the control of recurrences in recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of local application of cidofovir in patients with recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis (RLP) by measuring the interval between recurrences and the extent of disease at each recurrence. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: The study group included 10 patients with RLP. Videolaryngoscopic analysis of previous RLP operations for each patient before starting cidofovir and the number and timing of pre-cidofovir recurrences of the disease provided data for a self-control group. The cidofovir was injected with a laryngeal needle during papilloma resection operations. To evaluate the changes and the extent of the disease, the authors developed a staging system based on anatomic topography. The extent of the disease and the intervals between recurrences were analyzed and statistically compared. RESULTS: The median interval between recurrences significantly increased from 102 days before cidofovir to 239 days after treatment. No local or systemic side effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The study supports the hypothesis that cidofovir is an effective adjunct in treating recurrences of RLP. EBM RATING: C-4.

Detection of human papilloma virus in the tonsils of children undergoing tonsillectomy.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is related to respiratory mucosal diseases, such as recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, as well as to upper-respiratory-tract malignancies. There are few reports concerning the prevalence of HPV in the upper respiratory tract of non-affected individuals. We examined the prevalence of HPV in the tonsils of children of the general population scheduled for tonsillectomy. Samples were taken from the tonsils of 100 children undergoing tonsillectomy and were then tested for HPV with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, utilizing the generic primers MY09 and MY 11. The study excluded children known to have HPV and HIV-related diseases. Parents and legal guardians completed a standardized socio-demographic questionnaire. The questionnaire revealed that 84% of the mothers had at least one risk factor for genital HPV. None of the tonsil samples were positive for HPV. Apparently HPV does not commonly colonize the tonsils of children undergoing routine tonsillectomy.

Histological and ultrastructural aspects of the tongue in undernourished rats.

UNLABELLED: There are few published studies on the effects of protein-caloric undernourishment on the oral mucosa. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to verify the histological and ultrastructural aspects of the tongue mucosa in protein-caloric undernourished adult rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A clinical experimental study was done in thirty Wistar rats, 15 controls and 15 with protein-caloric undernourishment. The last group received ration in small amounts, with a reduced casein content, during 45 days. Rats were weighed every 3 days, from the first (90 days of life) to the last day of a 45-day dietary period, when they were sacrificed. Plasma was used for protein electrophoresis and their tongues were prepared for light and scanning electron microscopy. Analyses of variance and Student's t-test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A significant decrease in weight and in plasma proteins was found in protein-caloric undernourished rats compared to the control group. Histological findings revealed no differences between the two groups and there were no statistically significant differences in the filiform papilla count under the scanning electron microscopy. CONCLUSION: Protein-caloric undernourishment does not cause alterations in the tongue mucosa of adult rats.

The oral mucosa in leprosy: a clinical and histopathological study.

INTRODUCTION: Multibacillary leprosy may involve the oral mucosa, with or without apparent lesions. There are few studies that deal with this issue in the era of multidrug therapy. AIM: To assess the frequency of oral mucosa involvement in multibacillary leprosy patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A transversal study with twenty non-treated multibacillary leprosy patients. The patients were treated in Dracena, São Paulo, between 2000 and 2002. Clinical examination of the oral mucosa was carried out. All patients were submitted to jugal mucosa, soft palate and tongue biopsies, in altered or in pre-established sites. The cross-sections were stained by techniques of hematoxilin-eosin and Ziehl-Neelsen. Granuloma and alcohol-acid-resistant bacilli findings determined the specific histopathological involvement. RESULTS: The study involved 19 patients with an average of 2.5 years of disease progression. Specific histopathological involvement occurred in the tongue and soft palate of one lepromatous patient with an apparently normal oral mucosa. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Clinical alterations in the oral mucosa does not imply disease involvement, it is necessary to have histopathological confirmation. (2) Apparent specific clinical alterations are rare. (3) The clinically normal oral mucosa can show specific histopathological involvement.

Accidental ingestion of coins by children: management at the ENT Department of the João XXIII Hospital.

UNLABELLED: The ingestion of foreign bodies by children is frequently seen in emergency departments. ENTs can manage those lodged in the esophagus but experience is important for a successful intervention. AIM: Describe seven cases of children that ingested coins, managed at the ENT Department of João XXIII Hospital. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical/prospective. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We describe seven cases (gender, age, family status, coin size and treatment/evolution). RESULTS: Age ranged from one to nine years. Two patients were only children and five were the youngest in their families. Coins sizes ranged from 1.9 to 2.5 cm. After eight hours of observation, three cases were treated in the surgery room because the foreign body was lodged in the cricopharynx. Four cases resolved spontaneously. CONCLUSION: The ENT department has good results removing coins lodged in the upper esophagus using forceps and laryngoscopy; and also using rigid esophagoscopy for the lower esophagus. In this study it was not possible to establish the importance of coin size and patient age in attempting to predict spontaneous resolution, nor if the child being an only child or the youngest in the family may have some predisposition in this kind of accident.

Prevalence of Streptococcus pyogenes as an oropharynx colonizer in children attending daycare: a comparative study of different regions in Brazil.

UNLABELLED: Thirty percent of acute pharyngotonsillitis is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, which increased the risk of glomerulonephritis and rheumatic fever. Children attending daycare centers have a higher incidence of these infections. AIM: to identify and compare the prevalence of Streptococcus pyogenes in the oropharynx of children who are enrolled and who are not enrolled in daycare centers in different regions of Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study of two hundred children from Sao Paulo/SP and Porto Velho/RO. Children from each city were divided into two groups: those attending, and those not attending daycare centers. Swabs of the oropharynx were taken for bacteriological culture and identification. RESULTS: The prevalence of Streptococcus pyogenes in the Sao Paulo groups were 8% and 2% for daycare and control groups, which was statistically significant (p=0.02). The prevalence in children from Porto Velho/RO was 24% and 16% for daycare and control groups, which was statistically significant (p=0.015). Statistical analysis also showed a significant difference between the corresponding groups in the two locations (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: These results show that daycare attendance is a risk factor for oropharyngeal streptococcal colonization; this was seen in different populations, but was statistically significance in only one of the two samples.

Actinic cheilitis adjacent to squamous carcinoma of the lips as an indicator of prognosis.

UNLABELLED: Many studies have shown an association between actinic cheilitis and squamous carcinoma of the lips. AIM: The aim of the study was to observe the relation between actinic cheilitis and the prognosis of squamous carcinoma of the lips. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a retrospective cross-sectional cohort study of squamous carcinoma of the lips. Histological sections of squamous carcinoma tumors done at the the Department of Pathology of the Sao Paulo Federal University between 1993 and 2000 were reviewed for evidence of actinic cheilitis in the lip vermillion adjacent to the tumor. Patient reports were reviewed to find information about exposure to sun, metastases and relapses. The occurrence or absence of relapses and metastases was correlated with the presence or absence of actinic cheilitis in the lip vermillion. Data was analyzed by Fisher's Exact test. RESULTS: Of the 31 selected patients, most were caucasian, males and with lower lip involvement. Statistical analysis demonstrated independence between the occurrence of metastases and relapse and gender, skin color and site (lower or upper lips). There was dependence between actinic cheilitis and solar elastosis, and between the absence of actinic cheilitis and the occurrence of metastases. There was no dependence between the absence of actinic cheilitis and the occurrence of relapses. CONCLUSION: It may be concluded that tumors originating from actinic cheilitis have a better prognosis.

Nutritional evaluation in surgical treatment of children with hypertrophic tonsils and or adenoids.

Eighty seven children, between 2 and 10 years of age were studied. Twenty four had adenotonsillar hypertrophy and underwent surgery (Group I). Fifteen had adenoidal hypertrophy and underwent surgery (Group II). Thirty three had adenotonsillar hypertrophy and not undergo surgery (Group III), and 15 had adenoidal hypertrophy and did not have surgery (Group IV). ENT examination and fiberoptic examination of the adenoids were performed. Height and weight were measured at 2 points, 4 months apart. The heights and weights were marked on the National Center for Health Statistics Percentiles (NCHS) percentiles and the children were classified by Jelliffe's criterions. The results showed children were generally not underweight before surgery (8.8% of the adenotonsillar hypertrophy and 10% of the adenoidal hypertrophy were underweight). In Group I there was a significant increase in growth 4 months after surgery.

Modified method of acoustic rhinometry.

Acoustic rhinometry is a well-known method for evaluating nasal cavity patency using sound waves. The method produces graphical information on cross-sectional areas, the distances between these areas and the nostril and the nasal volume. We used this method to evaluate 40 children aged between 7 and 13 years old with complaints of nasal obstruction. All patients underwent endoscopic examination of the nasal cavity, and only children presenting with hypertrophic inferior nasal turbinates and with no history or clinical evidence of infectious rhinitis were included in the study. Using a modified method we obtained four distinct and constant cross-sectional areas along the nasal cavity and four corresponding distances from these areas to the nostril.

Detection of Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus employing three different detection methods: culture, rapid antigen detecting test, and molecular assay.

In order to study the prevalence of Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS) pharyngotonsillitis in our pediatric population and to compare different sampling methods of GABHS detection, oropharyngeal swabs from 50 children with acute pharyngotonsillitis, between 1 and 12 years old, were used simultaneously for culture, molecular assay and rapid GABHS antigen detection tests. All children were clinically examined at the Division of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology of the Federal University of São Paulo. Diagnostic criteria were based on signs and symptoms, including sore throat, fever and oropharyngeal purulent secretion. Children that had been treated with antibiotics were excluded. Overall, combining the three methods, the prevalence of GABHS was 34%. GABHS was diagnosed in 30% of the bacterial cultures, in 25% of the samples tested with the molecular nucleic acid hybridization method and in 26% of the cases tested with the rapid antigen detection test. There was no significant difference between these three methods.

[Clinical and videofluoroscopic evaluation of deglutition in children with tetraparetic spastic cerebral palsy]. / Avaliação clínica e videofluoroscópica da deglutição em crianças com paralisia cerebral tetraparética espástica.

Cerebral palsy is a condition that may be associated with swallowing disorders, that is, oropharingeal dysphagia. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare the swallowing processes of 32 children with this condition, by clinical and videofluoroscopic evaluation, with special focus on tracheal aspiration detectability. Results show an important compromise of oral phase. The most important findings during the pharyngeal phase were velopharingeal incompetence and residuals on the pharyngeal recesses. Aspiration was more common with liquids, before and after deglutition. On clinical and videofluoroscopic evaluation, cervical hyperextension was the commonest postural abnormality. Videofluoroscopy confirmed the occurrence of aspiration on most of the cases that presented suggestive signs of aspiration during clinical evaluation. We conclude that clinical and videofluoroscopic evaluations are complementary on deglutition evaluation and together may point to the most specific rehabilitation procedure.

Laser therapy in the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity.

Cervical dentine hypersensitivity is the most frequent complaint among reported odontalgias. Thus, this study evaluated the effectiveness of two types of lasers (660 nm wavelength red, and 830 nm wavelength infrared) as dentine desensitizers, as well as both the immediate and late therapeutic effects in individuals 25 to 45 years of age. A total of 40 teeth with cervical exposure were treated in 4 sessions. They were divided into 2 groups according to treatment. A 660 nm wavelength red diode laser and an 830 nm wavelength infrared diode laser were used. Dentine sensitivity to cold nociceptive stimulus was evaluated by means of a pain numeric scale from zero to 10 before each treatment session, at 15 and 30 min after irradiation, and in a follow-up period of 15, 30 and 60 days after the end of treatment. Significant levels of dentinal desensitization were only found in patients ranging in age from 25 to 35 years. The 660 nm red diode laser was more effective than the 830 nm infrared laser and a higher level of desensitization was observed at the 15 and 30 minute post-irradiation examinations. The immediate and late therapeutic effects of the 660 nm red diode laser were more evident in 25-35-year-old patients compared with those of the 830 nm infrared diode laser, in terms of the different age groups.

Mouth breathing in children with learning disorders.

UNLABELLED: Given the importance of studying the causes of learning disorders, we designed this case-control study to assess the nasal cavity volume, pharyngeal and palatine tonsils in children with and without learning disabilities. METHOD: A total of forty-eight children were enrolled in the study: twenty-four coming from the Center for Evaluation and Early Stimulation (CADEP), in which the criterion is the school failure of at least two consecutive years; and twenty-four students with normal learning - which made up the control group. The children were submitted to ENT examination (history, physical examination) and specific tests (acoustic rhinometry, cavum radiography). RESULTS: The results showed that students with learning disabilities have a higher prevalence of pharyngeal tonsil hypertrophy: p < 0.001, and palatine tonsil hypertrophy: p < 0.001. The average volume of the nasal cavities showed no statistically significant association with learning difficulties (p = 0.75). CONCLUSION: Based on this study, we concluded that children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy have more learning difficulties when compared to children without such hypertrophy.

Oromandibular and limb hypogenesis syndrome: treatment report.

The oromandibular and limb hypogenesis syndrome is characterized by aglossia or hypoglossia presenting with limb anomalies. In this case report, we describe congenital hypoglossia associated with glossopalatine ankylosis and middle finger hypomelia, a type III-D malformation in the Hall Classification. The orthodontic and surgical treatment consisted of 3 maxillary expansions, mandibular surgery, and dental alignment. This extensive treatment resulted in acceptable function and esthetic appearance; however, because of lingual hypoglossia, it did not effect perfect occlusion.