Content of matrix metalloproteinase-8 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in oral fluid of patients with chronic generalized periodontitis.

The content of MMP-8 and MMP-9 in oral fluid of 145 patients (95 women and 50 men, 18-52 years) was measured by enzyme immunoassay. We examined 63 subjects with the intact periodontium and 82 patients with chronic generalized periodontitis (25 patients with mild disease, 45 patients with moderate disease, and 12 patients with severe disease). All patients were examined during the remission of chronic periodontitis and did not have clinical signs of associated somatic diseases. No significant differences were found in the content of MMP-8 and MMP-9 in oral fluid from periodontitis patients and subjects with the intact periodontium. The content of MMP-8 an MMP-9 in oral fluid of patients with severe periodontium was slightly higher than that in other patients and subjects with the intact periodontium. The depth of the periodontal pocket was shown to be the most reliable clinical sign for the state of periodontal tissues. A strong correlation was revealed between this criterion and MMP-9 content in oral fluid.

Characteristics of external genitalia in pre- and postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine those objective measurements that characterize the differences between the external genital organs of pre- and postmenopausal women. METHODS: During the study period, 50 premenopausal and 50 postmenopausal patients were recruited. Only women who were admitted for routine control examinations were consecutively included in the study. Exclusion criteria were previous history of pelvic surgery including external and internal genital organs, presence of diseases that may change the anatomy of external genital organs, Mullerian anomalies, previous vaginal birth with mediolateral episiotomy, and use of hormone replacement therapy. The following measurements were performed: length and width of clitoris, labium majus, and labium minus, the distance between the clitoris and urethra, perineal length, and length of vagina. RESULTS: The length of the vagina and the width of the labium minus were significantly different between the two groups. Mean vaginal length was significantly longer in premenopausal women compared to postmenopausal women (90.3 +/- 14.8 mm vs. 82.3 +/- 11.2 mm, respectively). The labia minora were wider in premenopausal women than in postmenopausal women (17.9 +/- 4.1 mm vs. 15.4 +/- 4.7 mm). CONCLUSIONS: Characterization of the anatomical changes and relationships of external genitalia in postmenopausal women is important for functional and perioperative evaluation. In addition to reconstructive surgical procedures, determination of the objective measurements of anatomical landmarks in postmenopausal external genitalia might also be useful for assessing the results of treatment of 'atrophic' changes in women.

Neurocutaneous melanosis associated with Dandy-Walker malformation.

Neurocutaneous melanosis is an uncommon congenital disorder consisting of benign or malignant melanocytic tumors of the leptomeninges with large or numerous cutaneous congenital melanocytic nevi. The Dandy-Walker malformation occurs as an enlarged posterior fossa with high insertion of the tentorium, hypoplasia or aplasia of the cerebellar vermis, and cystic dilatation of the fourth ventricle. To our knowledge, the association of these two conditions has been reported only 14 times. In this article, we present a newborn patient with neurocutaneous melanosis associated with Dandy-Walker malformation, which was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging.

Evaluation of a local anaesthesia regimen using a subphrenic catheter after gynaecological laparoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The purpose of intraperitoneal local anaesthetic administration is to block visceral nociceptive conduction and to provide an additional route of analgesia. The present study evaluates the effects of sequential injections of bupivacaine on postoperative pain through a subphrenic catheter. METHODS: In this double-blinded controlled study, patients scheduled for gynaecological laparoscopy were randomly divided into two groups. One group received 20 mL of saline with 1:200000 epinephrine through a subphrenic catheter before the incision closure and at 4-hourly intervals for the first postoperative 20 h. The second group received 20 mL of bupivacaine 0.125% with 1:200000 epinephrine at the same injection times. Postoperative pain scores and consumption of analgesics were compared. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in pain scores at rest or incidence of shoulder pain between the two groups, but the patients of the bupivacaine group reported lower pain scores on coughing only in the first hour postoperatively (P = 0.007). Although the patients consumed comparable amounts of metamizole and ondansetron, the number of patients requiring supplemental meperidine and flurbiprofen in the bupivacaine group were significantly lower than in the saline group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that intraperitoneal bupivacaine may reduce pain on coughing in the early postoperative period and the consumption of analgesics postoperatively. The subphrenic catheter technique had no impact upon pain at rest and shoulder-tip pain after gynaecological laparoscopy.