Analysis of the association of polymorphism in the osteoprotegerin gene with susceptibility to chronic kidney disease and periodontitis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a complex disorder, which results in several complications involving disturbance of mineral metabolism. Periodontal disease is an infectious disease that appears to be an important cause of systemic inflammation in CKD patients. Periodontal disease is characterized by clinical attachment loss (CAL) caused by alveolar bone resorption around teeth, which may lead to tooth loss. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a key regulator of osteoclastogenesis. Polymorphisms are the main source of genetic variation, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been reported as major modulators of disease susceptibility. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of a polymorphism located at position -223 in the untranslated region of the OPG gene, previously known as -950, with susceptibility to CKD and periodontal disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A sample of 224 subjects without and with CKD (in hemodialysis) was divided into groups with and without periodontal disease. The OPG polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: No association was found between the studied OPG polymorphism and susceptibility to CKD or periodontal disease. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that polymorphism OPG-223 (C/T) was not associated with CKD and periodontal disease in a Brazilian population. Studies on other polymorphisms in this and other genes of the host response could help to clarify the involvement of bone metabolism mediators in the susceptibility to CKD and periodontal disease.

Focal epithelial hyperplasia (Heck's disease): report of a case in a girl of Brazilian Indian descent.

Summary. Background. This report describes the case of a patient with focal epithelial hyperplasia (FEH), a rare but distinctive entity of viral aetiology with characteristic clinical and histopathological features. Case report. The condition is usually seen in children and adolescents of American Indian and Eskimo background. Surgical removal of papillomatous lesions is the treatment of choice, either for aesthetic reasons, or when the lesions interfere with function or are readily traumatized. Recurrence and the site of new lesions are unpredictable, and continued review of the patient is often necessary. The patient described here has been followed for 24 months without recurrences or changes in the aspect of the remaining lesions. Conclusion. This case highlights a possible genetic predilection for FEH, since the patient is a descent of a Brazilian Xavante Indian.

Emergency maxillofacial radiology. Foreign body localization: report of cases.

Successful emergency removal of foreign bodies of the maxillofacial complex depends on the surgeon's ability to perform exact location procedures. In hospitals and/or offices where advanced imaging technologies are not available, the attendant clinician has to use and rely on variations of conventional radiographic techniques in order to complement the diagnosis and locate the foreign body. Three cases are presented where unconventional radiographic techniques were used, leading to successful surgical removal of foreign bodies.

Conventional and digital radiographic methods in the detection of simulated external root resorptions: a comparative study.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and to compare the efficacy of a conventional and a digital radiographic method in diagnosing simulated external root resorption cavities. METHODS: Human dry mandibles containing teeth were covered with bovine muscle slices in order to simulate the soft tissues. Nine teeth from each dental group were investigated. Three periapical radiographs of each tooth were taken in an orthoradial, mesioradial and distoradial aspect using conventional film (Insight Kodak F-speed; Eastman Kodak, Rochester, NY) and a digital sensor (DRS Gnatus System; Gnatus, Ribeirao Preto, Brasil). The teeth were extracted using a forceps and had 0.7 mm and 1.0 mm deep cavities prepared on their vestibular, mesial and distal surfaces at the cervical, middle and apical thirds. Following preparation, each tooth was replaced in its alveolus and new radiographs were taken. Three dental professionals, an endodontist, a radiologist and a general practioner, evaluated the images. RESULTS: A larger number of cavities (P<0.05) were detected by the digital method when compared with the conventional method, for all depths of lesions. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the digital radiographic method is more sensitive than conventional radiography to detect simulated external root resorption cavities.

Doppler echocardiographic study in adolescents and young adults with sickle cell anemia.

OBJECTIVE: Anatomical and functional assessment of the heart through Doppler and echocardiography in patients with cell anemia (SCA). METHODS: Twenty-five patients with SCA and ages ranging from 14 to 45 years were prospectively studied in a comparison with 25 healthy volunteers. All of them underwent clinical and laboratory evaluation and Doppler echocardiography as well. The measurements were converted into body surface indices. RESULTS: There were increases in all chamber diameters and left ventricle (LV) mass of the SCA patients. It was characterised an eccentric hypertrophy of the left ventricle. The preload was increased (left ventricle end-diastolic volume) and the afterload was decreased (diastolic blood pressure, peripheral vascular resistance and end-systolic parietal stress ESPS). The cardiac index was increased due to the stroke volume. The ejection fraction and the percentage of the systolic shortening, as well as the systolic time intervals of the LV were equivalent. The isovolumetric contraction period of the LV was increased. The mitral E-septum distance and the end-systolic volume index (ESVi) were increased. The ESPS/ESVi ratio,a loading independent parameter, was decreased in SCA, suggesting systolic dysfunction. No significant differences in the diastolic function or in the pulmonary pressure occurred. CONCLUSION: Chamber dilations, eccentric hypertrophy and systolic dysfunction confirm the evidence of the literature in characterizing a sickle cell anemia cardiomyopathy.