Across-surface distances after one- and two-stage palatoplasty in children with oral cleft

The goal of this study was to digitally evaluate the development of maxillary dental arches of children with unilateral cleft lip and palate treated with one- and two-stage palatal closure. One hundred and sixty-eight digitized dental models of cheiloplasty and one-stage palatoplasty (G1) and cheiloplasty and two-stage palatoplasty (G2) were evaluated at preoperative time 1 (T1), preoperative time 2 (T2), and postoperative (T3). The following surface distances were evaluated: across surface distance; cleft widths anterior (P-P′) and posterior (U-U′) cleft widths, intercanine width (C-C′), and intertuberosity width (T-T′); smallest (P′-T′) and largest (P-T) segment lengths; and smallest (C′-D′) and largest (C-D) segment cleft depths. In G1, P-P′, U-U′, and C-C′ reduced at T2, unlike P′-T′ (P<0.05). P-T and C′-D′ distances increased at T3 (P<0.05), while C-D increased at all stages (P<0.001). In G2, U-U′ and C-C′ reduced at T2 (P<0.05), while P′-T′, P-T, C′-D′, and C-D′ increased at T3 (P<0.001). In an intergroup analysis of growth rate, G2 showed higher growth percentages compared to G1, in which C′-D′ was significant (P=0.038). Furthermore, C′-D′ presented a coefficient of determination of 0.076 (P=0.039). In conclusion, dental arch development is influenced by the rehabilitation protocol. However, in the sample evaluated, the comparison suggested that individuals whose palate was operated on in two stages had the most favorable palatal growth.

Differential response between histological and biochemical biomarkers in the apple snail Pomacea canaliculata (Gasteropoda: Amullariidae) exposed to cypermethrin.

To develop effective programs to monitor water quality is necessary to identify sensitive biomarkers in indicator species. The aim of this study was to evaluate different biomarkers in the apple snail Pomacea canaliculata exposed to the insecticide Cypermethrin (CYP). Adult male and female snails were exposed to sublethal CYP concentrations (10, 25 and 100µgl-1) for 1, 4, 7 and 14days. The recovery of the exposed snails was also studied by a post-exposure assay. The activities of the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), the levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and protein oxidation (PC) in digestive gland and gills were studied as biomarkers of exposure. Histopathological changes in target tissues were also evaluated. In digestive gland, CYP caused a significant increase in SOD, CAT and GST activities compared to control (p<0.05) as well as in LPO and PC levels (p<0.05). However, such biochemical effects were neither concentration nor time dependent. Histopatological changes were observed in the exposed groups, such as an increase in the number of basophilic cells, hemocytic infiltration and epithelia atrophy. Additionally, a positive correlation between the surface occupied by pigmented corpuscles and CYP concentrations was observed at all exposure periods. Gills showed greater sensitivity to oxidative damage than digestive gland. CYP caused an acute toxic effect in LPO levels in this respiratory organ. The gill filament of exposed snails, exhibited a reduction or loss of cilia, vacuolization of the columnar cells and an increase in haemocyte content irrespective of the concentration. High concentrations of CYP caused disruptions in the columnar muscle fibers. In general, snails did not show an improvement in their basal state during post-exposure treatment. Apparently, males and females do not have differential sensitivity to the pesticide. The results of this study suggest that histopathological changes are the most sensitive time- and dose-dependent biomarkers of toxicity induced by CYP in P. canaliculata.

[Transluminal coronary angioplasty using ultrasound]. / Angioplastía coronaria transluminal por ultrasonido.

The application of ultrasonic energy for ablation of atherosclerotic plaques was studied. This study was performed in 92 segments obtained from human coronary arteries which belonged to eleven hearts obtained from patients who have died from acute myocardial infarction. An ultrasound generating system (Cavitron 600) was used, and an ultrasonic probe wire (P-150 Endosonic), was attached to it. A stainless steel wire (0.36 mm in width and 145 cm length), was fixed to this probe. Sonic pulsed stimulations 20 sec long and 25 kHz in frequency were performed. The sound transmitting characteristics of the angioplasty guide wire were studied, as well as the ultrasound effects upon atherosclerotic plaques, blood elements, coagulation, and it's lysis effects upon recently formed clots. The anatomic pieces were filmed in cineangiocoronary graphy in two planes, anterior right oblique an anterior left oblique, to be studied later under light microscopy. The results were as following: in the 100% obstructions, a 41% recanalization was obtained; in the 95% obstructions, a 79%, in the 75% obstructions, a 37%. We did not work in the 50% or less obstructions. Under the procedure, no artery suffered perforations. Under Light microscopy, a plaque fragmentation was observed in 24% of the cases; rupture and fragmentation, in 14%, cavitations in 10%; ondulations in 9%; plaque rupture and thermic lesion in 8%; 22% did not present changes. The collected detritus had 110 +/- microns diameter. Erythrocytes exposed to 30 or 60 sec of ultrasound were found to present crenocytosis, central cavitation, hypochromia, and poikilocytosis; these ones exposed less than 22 sec did not show changes. The fibrinogen levels after the application of ultrasound were 19% lower. Coagulation time did not change with exposure 20 sec long at 20 kHs. The angioplasty guide wires attenuation coefficients were: with the guide wire outside the Miller's catheter, 44%; and with the guide wires inside, 65%. Coronary transluminal angiosonoplasty is a new interventionist technic designed to remodel an obstructive lesion of the coronary arteries, in order to diminish or nullify the obstruction. It's clinic use in the acute myocardial infarction, as a mechanical method to achieve clot's lysis, could be an alternative or a co-helper therapeutics to thrombolysis.