Cone beam computed tomography-based cephalometric norms for Brazilian adults.

This study established cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)-based cephalometric norms for Brazilian adults, including the assessment of sexual dimorphism. An observer performed McNamara's cephalometric analysis twice on 60 CBCT datasets acquired from patients with a normal dental occlusion, divided equally into two groups by sex. Welch's t-test was applied to assess differences between the sexes in hard tissue cephalometric measurements, and Dahlberg's formula was used to calculate measurement error introduced by the observer. The cephalometric measurements of effective mandibular length, effective midfacial length, maxillomandibular differential, and lower anterior facial height presented sexual dimorphism. Linear measurements had error ≤0.78mm, and angular measurements had error ≤1.24°. The results show that (1) the CBCT-based cephalometric norms established in this study are reliable for use by researchers and clinicians, and (2) Brazilian adult males and females have similar craniofacial morphology, with males possessing larger jaws than females.

Diffuse low-grade glioma: a review on the new molecular classification, natural history and current management strategies.

The management of diffuse supratentorial WHO grade II glioma remains a challenge because of the infiltrative nature of the tumor, which precludes curative therapy after total or even supratotal resection. When possible, functional-guided resection is the preferred initial treatment. Total and subtotal resections correlate with increased overall survival. High-risk patients (age >40, partial resection), especially IDH-mutated and 1p19q-codeleted oligodendroglial lesions, benefit from surgery plus adjuvant chemoradiation. Under the new 2016 WHO brain tumor classification, which now incorporates molecular parameters, all diffusely infiltrating gliomas are grouped together since they share specific genetic mutations and prognostic factors. Although low-grade gliomas cannot be regarded as benign tumors, large observational studies have shown that median survival can actually be doubled if an early, aggressive, multi-stage and personalized therapy is applied, as compared to prior wait-and-see policy series. Patients need an honest long-term therapeutic strategy that should ideally anticipate neurological, cognitive and histopathologic worsening.

Edge enhancement of color images using a digital micromirror device.

A method for orientation-selective enhancement of edges in color images is proposed. The method utilizes the capacity of digital micromirror devices to generate a positive and a negative color replica of the image used as input. When both images are slightly displaced and imagined together, one obtains an image with enhanced edges. The proposed technique does not require a coherent light source or precise alignment. The proposed method could be potentially useful for processing large image sequences in real time. Validation experiments are presented.

Color encoding of binary fringes for gamma correction in 3-D profiling.

Three-dimensional profiling by sinusoidal fringe projection using PSI-algorithms are distorted by the nonlinear response of digital cameras and commercial video projectors. To solve the problem, we present a fringe generation technique that consists of projecting and acquiring a temporal sequence of strictly binary color patterns, whose (adequately weighted) average leads to sinusoidal fringe patterns with the required number of bits, which allows for a reliable three-dimensional profile using a PSI-algorithm. Validation experiments are presented.

Incoherent optical processor for nondirectional edge enhancement of color images.

We present an optical method for nondirectional edge extraction/enhancement in color images. The method is based on the capability of twisted-nematic LCDs to traduce the image information in changes of the state of polarization of light, which allows us to generate simultaneously two replicas of the digital image displayed on the LCD: a true-color ("positive") image and a complementary-color ("negative") one. In our setup the imaging system consists of a lens plus a pupil mask formed with concentric apertures and orthogonal polarizers. This layout allows us to simultaneously image a well-focused positive replica (due to the circular aperture) superimposed to a slightly defocused negative one (due to the annular aperture). It is not difficult to demonstrate that this generates a nondirectional (Laplacian) edge enhancement. Unlike Fourier, our proposal works with incoherent illumination and does not require precise alignment, and thus, it could be a useful tool for edge extraction/enhancement in large images in real-time applications. Validation experiments are presented.

Optical processing of color images with incoherent illumination: orientation-selective edge enhancement using a modified liquid-crystal display.

We present a novel optical method for edge enhancement in color images based on the polarization properties of liquid-crystal displays (LCD). In principle, a LCD generates simultaneously two color-complementary, orthogonally polarized replicas of the digital image used as input. The currently viewed image in standard LCD monitors and cell phone's screens -which we will refer as the "positive image or true-color image"- is the one obtained by placing an analyzer in front of the LCD, in cross configuration to the back polarizer of the display. The orthogonally polarized replica of this image -the "negative image or complementary-color image"- is absorbed by the front polarizer. In order to generate the positive and negative replica with a slight displacement between them, we used a LCD monitor whose analyzer (originally a linear polarizer) was replaced by a calcite crystal acting as beam displacer. When both images are superimposed laterally displaced across the image plane, one obtains an image with enhanced first-order derivatives along a specific direction. The proposed technique works under incoherent illumination and does not require precise alignment, and thus, it could be potentially useful for processing large color images in real-time applications. Validation experiments are presented.

Three-dimensional profiling with binary fringes using phase-shifting interferometry algorithms.

Three-dimensional shape measurements by sinusoidal fringe projection using phase-shifting interferometry algorithms are distorted by the nonlinear response in intensity of commercial video projectors and digital cameras. To solve the problem, we present a method that consists in projecting and acquiring a temporal sequence of strictly binary patterns, whose (adequately weighted) average leads to a sinusoidal fringe pattern with the required number of bits. Since binary patterns consist of "ones" and "zeros"--and no half-tones are involved--the nonlinear response of the projector and the camera will not play a role, and a nearly unit contrast gray-level sinusoidal fringe pattern is obtained. Validation experiments are presented.

Pulse-width modulation in defocused three-dimensional fringe projection.

Shape measurements by fringe projection methods require high-quality sinusoidal fringes. We present a sinusoidal fringe generation technique that utilizes slightly defocused binary fringe projection. The proposed method is a spatial version of the well-known pulse-width modulation (PWM) technique of electrical engineering. PWM is easy to implement using off-the-shelf projectors, and it allows us to overcome the gamma problem (i.e., the nonlinear projector response) in the output light intensity. We will demonstrate that, with a small defocusing level--lower than with other techniques proposed in the literature--a high-quality sinusoidal pattern is obtained. Validation experiments using a commercial video projector are presented.

[Primary aortoenteric fistula]. / Fistula aortoentérica primaria.

Aortoenteric fistulas are a very unlikely cause of digestive bleeding. We present the case of a fifty six year old patient with a primary aortoduodenal fistula who consulted because of melena and a pulsating abdominal mass. He underwent three digestive endoscopies without arriving at any diagnosis. A computed axial tomography and an angiography showed an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. With an exploring laparotomy a fistula was identified between the aneurysm and the fourth portion of the duodenum. An aortoaortic bypass was carried out followed by a surgical fix of the duodenum. The patient was released six days after the operation.

Fistula aortoentérica primaria. / [Primary aortoenteric fistula]

Aortoenteric fistulas are a very unlikely cause of digestive bleeding. We present the case of a fifty six year old patient with a primary aortoduodenal fistula who consulted because of melena and a pulsating abdominal mass. He underwent three digestive endoscopies without arriving at any diagnosis. A computed axial tomography and an angiography showed an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. With an exploring laparotomy a fistula was identified between the aneurysm and the fourth portion of the duodenum. An aortoaortic bypass was carried out followed by a surgical fix of the duodenum. The patient was released six days after the operation.

Identification of programmed cell death (apoptosis) in situ by means of specific labeling of nuclear DNA fragments in heart biopsy samples during acute rejection episodes.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: In sixty-three endomyocardial biopsy samples collected from six heart transplant recipients for the diagnosis of acute rejection episodes, the presence of apoptosis in individual cells was investigated in tissue sections by in situ labeling of nuclear DNA breaks by nick end labeling with biotinylated poly deoxyuridin triphosphate introduced by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase-conjugated streptavidin. In the samples collected at the moment of transplantation, no apoptotic cells were observed. Apoptotic nuclei were found in the myocytes and capillary endothelial and connective tissue cells of endomyocardial biopsy samples obtained from day 7 to day 146 after transplantation with a different prevalence according to the rejection grade (International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation classification). RESULTS: In all the rejection grade 3A (eight of eight), in half of the rejection grade 2 (four of eight), and in some rejection grade 1B (three of eight) cases, apoptotic myocytes were found within or in the neighborhood of the inflammatory areas. In the rejection grades 0 and 1A and in the "Quilty" effect zones, no apoptotic myocytes could be observed. Apoptotic endothelial and interstitial cells were observed in all the rejection grades but with a higher prevalence in rejection grades 2 and 3A. CONCLUSIONS: During rejection episodes, apoptosis of myocytes is one of the mechanisms of immune-mediated death, and its investigation in tissue sections may represent a valuable tool for the diagnosis of myocyte damage.

Anti-skeletal muscle glycolipid antibodies in human heart transplantation as markers of acute rejection. Correlation with endomyocardial biopsy.

In seventeen patients the result of the histological study of 153 endomyocardial biopsies (EMB) was compared with the ELISA titer of anti-human skeletal muscle glycolipid antibodies (AGA) present in serum samples collected simultaneously with the EMB procedure during the first four months following cardiac transplantation. The glycolipids were extracted from the quadriceps femoralis of blood group O patients. In the serum samples corresponding to the histological rejection grades with myocyte necrosis (greater than or equal to 2, International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation grading) the AGA titer was significantly higher (P<0.005) than in the less severe rejection grades. The follow-up in each patient showed that the AGA titer raised in the serum samples collected immediately after, before, or coincidentally with a histological diagnosis of rejection grade 2 or 3A. In only one rejection grade 3A case was a false-negative result observed. Determination of the cut-off of the AGA level versus rejection grades 2 and 3A was determined by a relative-operating characteristic curve. An optical density (OD) of 0.040 showed maximum efficiency with sensitivity 53% and specificity 79%. Four patients who had AGA with an OD above 0.040 at the time of transplant had a significantly higher number of rejection grade 2 and 3A episodes than eleven patients with low pre-transplant AGA titers (P<0.05). These results indicate that search of anti-skeletal muscle glycolipid antibodies may represent a useful noninvasive method for monitoring heart rejection, and suggest that its investigation prior transplant may be a predictor of the number of grades 2 and 3A rejection episodes.

Prevalence of microorganisms in dead mink kits from Aleutian-disease-infected and non-infected farms.

Bacterial and fungi were isolated from different tissues (brain, liver, heart) taken from 81 dead newborn mink originating from Aleutian disease (AD) infected and AD-non-infected farms. Of the 123 isolates obtained, 96% were bacterial isolates (predominantly Gram-negative) and 4% were fungi. The prevalence of microorganisms appeared less common in kits from AD-non-infected farms (55%) than from AD-infected farms (73%), although the difference was not significant. The liver was the most highly infected site in both groups and generally was only infected by one microorganism species. Proteus spp (23%), Escherichia coli (16%), Staphylococcus aureus (11%) and Enterobacter cloacae (9%) were the most frequently isolated germs. These findings are similar to those of other studies but the role of these microorganisms as specific pathogens or secondary invaders remains controversial.

Long-term results with MACOP-B in the treatment of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The experience in Brazil.

From October 1984 to December 1989, 59 patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (diffuse mixed, diffuse large cell, and immunoblastic) were treated with MACOP-B. All patients were previously untreated and most of them had advanced disease. Complete response (CR) was observed in 66%. Actuarial overall survival, failure-free survival (FFS), and relapse-free survival at 8 years were 54%, 52%, and 81%, respectively, with a median follow-up of 76 months (range: 28-92 months). The presence of B symptoms influenced significantly the CR rate, while FFS was affected by B symptoms, bone marrow involvement, and number of extranodal sites. Toxicity was high, with mucositis grade 2 or 3 occurring in 70%, leukopenia grades 3 or 4 in 80%, and death in 11.8% of the patients. MACOP-B was active in the treatment of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, mainly in patients with few poor-prognosis factors, but other less toxic regimens would be more appropriate for this population. For poor-prognosis patients, new therapeutic modalities are necessary.

Monoclonal antibodies against human breast tumor-associated antigens: characterization of B21 antigen.

BACKGROUND: Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) show promise in the early detection and monitoring of cancer and may have therapeutic applications as well. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to characterize MAb B21, a novel murine-derived antibody that has strong reactivity with MCF-7 and T47D cell lines from human breast cancer. METHODS: A number of MAbs that react with breast cancer cell lines were obtained from cultured mouse spleen cells, and one, MAb B21, was selected for detailed analysis. MAb B21 was characterized by immunocytochemical, immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, and Western blotting procedures. RESULTS: We found a strong reactivity of MAb B21 with cultured breast cancer cells and cells from human breast tumors, although some reactivity was seen sporadically in non-breast or normal tissue. Negligible reactivity was detected in a series of non-breast cell lines and with normal breast epithelial cell line MCF-10A. However, when MCF-10A cells were permeabilized, allowing the antibody to penetrate within the cells, reaction became apparent. MCF-10A cells, when transfected with the oncogene c-Ha-ras (MCF-10T), gave a positive immunostaining similar to that observed with MCF-7 and T47D cells. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of L-[35S]methionine-labeled MCF-7 and T47D cell extracts showed distinct immunoprecipitated components, with molecular weight values ranging from 150,000 to 20,000 with the addition of MAb B21. Western blot assays using MAb B21 of SDS-PAGE fractionated/electroblotted proteins from breast cancer cell lines and MCF-10A cells showed specific reaction with a 95,000 component. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that B21 antigen is expressed in neoplastic cells of epithelial origin, mainly breast cancer, and to a minor extent in other cell lines. In addition, MAb B21 recognizes an antigen that is differentially localized during cell transformation. IMPLICATIONS: Our future studies will address the full characterization of MAb B21 and explore its capacity as a tool for therapeutic manipulation.

Vacuolar apical compartment (VAC) in breast carcinoma cell lines (MCF-7 and T47D): failure of the cell-cell regulated exocytosis mechanism of apical membrane.

We have previously shown that an integral plasma membrane glycoprotein (AP2) is highly polarized to the apical domain in confluent Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells. However, when the monolayers are prevented from forming intercellular contacts, approximately 60% of the AP2 cellular content is stored in the intracellular vacuolar apical compartment (VAC). In the current work we found that AP2 was present in the non-tumorigenic human mammary epithelial cell line MCF-10A, in the breast carcinoma cell lines MCF-7 and T47D, and in breast ductal carcinomas in vivo. By radioimmunoassay, an intracellular compartment of AP2 was identified in the mammary cell lines in culture. In MCF-10A, this compartment behaved as in MDCK cells; namely it was observed only when the cells cannot form cell-cell contacts. However, in the carcinoma cell lines MCF-7 and T47D, a significant AP2 intracellular compartment was observed also under conditions permissive for the formation of intercellular contacts. These results were confirmed by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy experiments that showed VACs in MCF-7 and T47D, even in cells with extensive intercellular contacts. In MCF-7 cells, the addition of serum caused a partial decrease of the AP2 intracellular compartment. The exocytosis of VACs occurred towards the center of multi-cellular groups, forming intercellular lumens, similar to those transiently observed in MDCK cells and to structures described by others during embryo development. Altogether, these results suggest that VAC exocytosis is controlled by cell-cell contact signalling, which may be defective in carcinoma cells.

A note on diseases of mink.

The paper describes in brief the findings in 5,616 autopsies of adult mink, performed at the Institute of Pathology-CIC, La Plata, during the last five years. Nearly all these carcasses, coming from the most important ranches, were examined bacteriologically and histopathologically. Observations about the incidence of different causes of death, its distribution annually and prophylactic measures were reported. It concludes that Aleutian disease is the most important cause of death and produces severe economic losses.

[Hemorrhagic pneumonia caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mink in Argentina]. / Neumonía hemorrágica por Pseudomonas aeruginosa en visones de la República Argentina.

This work describes the first Haemorrhagic Pneumonia cases in minks not only from Argentina, but from South hemisphere as well. Epidemiology, symptomatology and macro and microscopic lesions found were similar to those described in other countries. The diagnosis was done by isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in large numbers from affected lungs, and serotype no. 6 (Difco system) was the most frequent. Haemorrhagic Pneumonia was experimentally reproduced after infecting intranasally narcotized minks.

Neumonía hemorrágica por Pseudomonas aeruginosa en visones de la República Argentina / Hemorrhagic pneumonia by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in minks of Argentina

Esta es la primera comunicación acerca de la existencia de casos de neumonía hemorrágica en visones en la República Argentina y en el hemisferio sur. La epidemiología de la enfermedad es similar a la descripta en otros países, al igual que la sintomalogía y las lesiones macro y microscópicas. El diagnóstico se efectuó con el aislamiento de Pseudomonas aeruginosa en repetidas ocasiones de los pulmones afectados, siendo el serotipo nro. 6 (Sistema Difco) el más frecuente. Se reprodujo experimentalmente la enfermedad infectando visones por vía intranasal previa narcosis de los mismos