Identification and mapping of real acupoints in the anatomical topography of Boa constrictor / Identificação e mapeamento de acupontos reais na topografia anatômica de Boa constrictor

Abstract Acupuncture is a therapy of the traditional Chinese medicine technique, which over the years has been widespread in the West. Defined as a needle-point treatment technique (acupoints), exactly preconfigured in the body to produce a specific physiological reaction to restore the balance between the function of conflicting states and homeostasis, alternating states of energy and thus maintain the ideal organ and body organization. Thus, the objective of this study was to map and describe the main points of acupuncture in the species Boa constrictor , and their indications to promote the balance of this species. The unprecedented result of the mapping was the discovery of specific acupoints with individual location indications without distribution in specific meridians and dispersedly distributed in the body.

Resumo A acupuntura é uma técnica terapêutica da Medicina Tradicional Chinesa, que ao longo dos anos tem sido muito difundida no Ocidente. Definida como uma técnica de tratamento com inserção de agulhas em pontos (acupontos) exatamente pré-estabelecidos sobre o organismo, para produzir uma reação fisiológica específica com o intuito de restabelecer o equilíbrio entre estados contraditórios de função e a homeostase, alternando os estados de energia e com isto mantendo a organização do órgão e do organismo. Com isso, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi mapear e descrever os principais pontos de acupuntura nas espécies Boa constrictore suas indicações para promover o equilíbrio dessa espécie. O resultado inédito do mapeamento foi à descoberta de pontos de acupuntura específicos com indicações de localização individuais sem distribuição em meridianos específicos e dispersamente distribuídos no corpo.

Identification and mapping of real acupoints in the anatomical topography of Boa constrictor.

Acupuncture is a therapy of the traditional Chinese medicine technique, which over the years has been widespread in the West. Defined as a needle-point treatment technique (acupoints), exactly preconfigured in the body to produce a specific physiological reaction to restore the balance between the function of conflicting states and homeostasis, alternating states of energy and thus maintain the ideal organ and body organization. Thus, the objective of this study was to map and describe the main points of acupuncture in the species Boa constrictor , and their indications to promote the balance of this species. The unprecedented result of the mapping was the discovery of specific acupoints with individual location indications without distribution in specific meridians and dispersedly distributed in the body.

Effects of Bone Fragility and Antiresorptive Drugs on Periodontal Disease and Tooth Loss: A Longitudinal Study.

This longitudinal study aimed to elucidate whether systemic bone fragility predicts severe periodontal clinical attachment loss (CAL) and tooth loss over the years and to test the influence of bone medication and periodontal maintenance in these relationships. Elderly women were evaluated for bone mineral density (BMD) and for fracture risk assessment (FRAX) in a cross-sectional analysis and retrospective follow-up (6- and 10-y periods). Data on BMD and FRAX were used as indicators of bone fragility in structural equation modeling. Periodontal examination and data on postmenopausal tooth loss were recorded. Multivariate Poisson regression models with robust covariance were used to estimate relative risk (RR) and 95% CI of BMD and FRAX for sites with CAL ≥6 mm and for tooth loss. The cross-sectional analysis included 134 women aged 65 to 80 y, and from them 71 and 49 women had available data for analysis in the 6- and 10-y follow-up periods, respectively. Bone fragility predicted severe CAL over 10 y (e.g., femoral neck: 10-y analysis, ß = -0.389, P = 0.005; cross-sectional, ß = -0.190, P = 0.004); however, this association did not remain significant when the use of bone medication was evaluated. Poisson regression showed that a better skeletal condition was associated with a lower risk of severe periodontal disease and tooth loss (cross-sectional femoral neck: RR = 0.08, P < 0.001; RR = 0.03, P < 0.001, respectively) when not adjusted for bone medication and periodontal maintenance. The receiver operating characteristic curve suggested that women with osteoporosis should be referred for periodontal assessment (sensitivity = 71.0%, specificity = 70.0%). Bone fragility is a relevant longitudinal predictor of severe periodontal disease and tooth loss among elderly women. The use of bisphosphonates improved the bone condition as well as the periodontal status. Periodontal maintenance also minimized the negative impact of low BMD on teeth-supportive tissues in the studied population. Knowledge Transfer Statement: The results of this study present evidence that the management of bone fragility and osteoporosis may be important in the prevention of periodontal attachment loss and future tooth loss. Besides the antiresorptive effects of the antiosteoporosis drugs on systemic bone conditions, these medications may protect periodontal tissues. The interaction of health care professionals such as dentists and physicians represents a key role for the approach to women's health, especially in an aging world.

Intravenous administration of a polyionic solution containing 84 mEq/l of lactate resolves experimentally induced hyperchloraemic acidosis in horses.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Treatment of metabolic acidosis using sodium bicarbonate solutions is safe when blood gas analysis is available. The evidence that solutions containing metabolisable buffers can be used as an alternative for treatment of metabolic acidosis in horses is of practical interest. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the safety and efficacy of a polyionic solution containing 84 mEq/l of lactate (L84) for the correction of induced hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis. STUDY DESIGN: Non-randomised crossover design. METHODS: Five healthy, adult, crossbred horses were used. A solution containing 100 mmol/l of HCl was infused intravenously (100 ml/kg bwt) for 5 h to induce metabolic acidosis. Metabolic acidosis was induced in each horse twice, with a minimum 15-day interval after recovery from the first induction: the first time no treatment was administered (control group) and the second time horses were treated with an intravenous infusion of L84 solution, 100 ml/kg bwt for 5 h, beginning 3 h after the end of HCl infusion. Venous blood samples were taken at 0, 2.5, 5, 8, 10.5, 13, 24 and 48 h; and urine at 0, 5, 8 and 13 h. Laboratory data included pH (blood and urine), PCO2 , HCO3- , base excess, total plasma protein concentration, l-lactate, Na+ , K+ , Cl- , strong ion difference (SID4 ), anion gap, change in plasma volume and fractional excretions of Na+ , K+ and Cl- . Effects of time and treatment were tested by 2-way repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Severe hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis was induced. In the untreated horses, correction of the imbalance occurred gradually, and mild acidosis was still present at 48 h. In horses treated with the L84 solution, acidosis was corrected by the end of the infusion. There were no adverse effects with the administration of the L84 solution. CONCLUSIONS: A polyionic solution containing 84 mEq/l of lactate effectively corrected induced metabolic acidosis in horses within 5 h.

Assessment of Interexaminer Agreement in the Detection of Condyle Morphology and positioning with Two Methods: Radiographic and Tomographic.

AIM: This study aims at evaluating the interexaminer agreement between radiographic and tomographic methods to determine condyle morphological variations and positioning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample comprised 100 individuals aged 13 to 30 years, from the patient files of University of North Paraná. The assessment of condyles morphology and positioning was performed in images of digital panoramic radiography (DPR) and reconstructed panoramic images from the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans, by using the Dolphin three-dimensional (3D) program. The condyle morphology was categorized as flat, convex, and angular as well as its positioning classified into anterior, posterior, and concentric. Three calibrated examiners performed this subjective evaluation. After that, another examiner performed an objective assessment of the condyles positioning using tomographic sagittal scans of the condyles, applying the same 3D program. This objective evaluation of the condyle position, considered the gold standard (GS), was achieved by using a formula based on the measurement values of the joint spaces, anterior and posterior. The kappa test was used to assess the interexaminer agreement in determining the condyles morphology and positioning, as well as between the condyle positioning results determined by the examiners and the GS. RESULTS: The results showed poor agreement among examiners and between the subjective and objective condyle positioning evaluation. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the panoramic radiography (PR), either digitalized or reconstructed from CBCT scans, is not suitable for determining variations in condyle morphology and position. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Whenever it is necessary to evaluate the mandibular condyle during the orthodontic screening, the orthodontist should consider another image modality better than the PR.

Association of osteoporosis and bone medication with the periodontal condition in elderly women.

UNLABELLED: This study investigated whether osteoporosis and its treatment may affect periodontal condition in elderly women. The findings highlighted that women with osteoporosis had a higher chance to present severe periodontitis than women with normal bone mineral density (BMD), particularly those who were not treated for osteoporosis. INTRODUCTION: This study investigated whether osteoporosis increases the frequency and severity of chronic periodontitis in elderly women and evaluated the influence of vitamin D and osteoporosis treatment in the periodontal condition. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, elderly women were selected among 1266 subjects evaluated for lumbar spine and proximal femur bone mineral density (BMD) using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Sociodemographic, clinical characteristics, and complete periodontal examination were recorded. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured by chemiluminescence. RESULTS: Forty-eight elderly women with normal BMD and 86 with osteoporosis were selected. Women with osteoporosis presented higher frequency of sites with clinical attachment level ≥6 mm (p = 0.003) and gingival recession ≥3 mm (p = 0.002) than those with normal BMD and were more than twice as likely to present severe periodontitis (odds ratio (OR) = 2.49, 95 % CI [1.14 to 5.43]). Osteoporotic women who were not treated for the condition had more chance to present severe periodontitis (OR = 3.16, 95 % CI [1.28 to 7.82]) than those who did use bisphosphonates (OR = 2.04, 95 % CI [0.85 to 4.89]). Among the participants who presented low levels of vitamin D, those with osteoporosis exhibited a higher chance to present severe periodontitis than those with normal BMD (p = 0.027), but the association between vitamin D levels and osteoporosis was not statistically significant after adjustment (p = 0.198). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly women with osteoporosis have a greater chance to present periodontitis, with higher severity than those with normal BMD. Osteoporosis treatment provides protection for periodontitis.

Intestinal protozoan parasites with zoonotic potential in birds.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of potentially zoonotic intestinal protozoan infections in exotic and wildlife Brazilian birds. Fecal samples from 207 birds of 45 species were examined. Infections by Balantidium sp., Entamoeba sp., and Blastocystis sp. were observed in 17 individuals (8.2%) of Gnorimopsar chopi, Oryzoborus angolensis, Sporophila caerulescens, Ramphastos toco, Aratinga leucophtalmus, and Pavo cristatus.

Gastroenteritis associated with accidental contamination of drinking water with partially treated water.

Due to human error, drinking water supplied to a new housing estate in The Netherlands was contaminated with grey water. The cohort of 921 accidentally exposed households (area A) had a higher attack rate for diarrhoea (54.1%) than a non-exposed cohort of 1529 households from an adjacent area (B) (24%) (RR 2.3, 95% CI 1.9-2.7). Household water score showed a dose-response with illness, in both areas A and B. For each 1000 inhabitants, 19.8 cases in area A, 7.0 cases in control area B (RRAB 2.2, 95% CI 1.3-3.8) and 3.3 cases in a more distant control area C (RRAC 4.6, 95% CI 2.7-8.0) were diagnosed with gastroenteritis by their general practitioner. A gastroenteritis outbreak associated with consumption of contaminated drinking water was observed in the exposed area. The use of grey water was banned in 2003, with the exception of rainwater use for flushing toilets. The risk of rainwater use is currently being investigated.

Detection of a nosocomial outbreak of salmonellosis may be delayed by application of a protocol for rejection of stool cultures.

In October 2001 an outbreak of Salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis phage-type 6 occurred in a hospital and a nursing home, both served by the same hospital kitchen. Five nursing home residents died during the outbreak. S. enteritidis was isolated from three of them. Of 231 stool samples from nursing home residents, hospital patients and employees, 82 were culture-positive. All symptomatic patients were treated with oral ciprofloxacin. Inspection of the kitchen showed that during preparation of the desserts implicated in causing the outbreak, temperatures were not measured and storage temperatures were too high. No left-over food samples were available for analysis. According to the 'four-day rule' in use in this hospital, the stool samples related to the first outbreak were not cultured for Salmonella spp., whereas culturing afterwards from both stored specimens and repeats, showed that some of these samples would have been positive for S. enteritidis. Thus without the application of stool culture rejection criteria the outbreak would have been detected one day earlier. With the four-day rule in effect, the outbreak might have been detected much later, if an unusually high number of nursing home residents with gastroenteritis had not been noticed by nursing home physicians. The rule was revised to prevent a possible delay in the future. As a result of this outbreak, the government has announced legislation forbidding the sale of Salmonella-contaminated eggs. An official ban on the use of raw eggs will be included in several hygiene codes.