Presence and associated factors of carotid artery calcification detected by digital panoramic radiography in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and associated factors of carotid artery calcification (CAC) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 309 panoramic radiographs of patients with CKD (180 men and 129 women; mean age 43.7 years) undergoing hemodialysis were evaluated by a single radiologist to determine the frequency of CAC. An analysis of associated factors, such as age, sex, time spent in hemodialysis, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, biochemical parameters, and other systemic diseases, was also performed. RESULTS: The presence of CAC in patients with CKD, as determined on the basis of panoramic radiography, was 15.9%. The χ2 test revealed that there was a statistically significant association between certain factors, such as age, sex, and diabetes mellitus, and the presence of CAC (P < .05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that time spent in hemodialysis was significantly associated with the occurrence of CAC. CONCLUSIONS: A significant presence of CAC was detected on digital panoramic radiographs in patients with CKD undergoing hemodialysis. Calcification was more frequent in older patients, women, individuals with diabetes mellitus, and patients who had undergone hemodialysis for longer periods.

Oral pigmentations in Laugier-Hunziker syndrome: a case report and review of diagnostic criteria / Pigmentações orais na síndrome de Laugier-Hunziker: relato de caso e revisão dos critérios de diagnóstico

ABSTRACT Laugier-Hunziker syndrome (LHS) is a rare mucocutaneous disorder, of unknown etiology, characterized by multiple hyperpigmented macules, dispersed mostly on the oral mucosa, occasionally associated with longitudinal ridging of the nails. The diagnosis requires exclusion of other conditions, such as Addison's disease and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. We report a case of a 34-year-old male patient, presenting with hyperpigmented macules on the lips, buccal mucosa and palate, as well as mild dark striations on toenails. After careful clinical and laboratorial investigations, the diagnosis of LHS was established. Given the lack of aesthetic complaints and symptoms, no treatment was necessary.

RESUMO A síndrome de Laugier-Hunziker (SLH) é uma rara desordem mucocutânea, de etiologia indeterminada, caracterizada por múltiplas máculas hiperpigmentadas, dispersas principalmente na mucosa oral, por vezes associadas a estrias longitudinais nas unhas. O diagnóstico requer exclusão de condições como doença de Addison e síndrome de Peutz-Jeghers. Descrevemos o caso de um paciente do sexo masculino, 34 anos, com presença de máculas hiperpigmentadas em lábios, mucosa jugal e palato, além de discretas estrias enegrecidas nas unhas dos pés. Após minuciosa investigação clínica e laboratorial, foi estabelecido o diagnóstico de SLH. Dada a ausência de queixas estéticas e sintomatologia, nenhum tratamento foi necessário.

Factors associated with clinical characteristics and symptoms in a case series of oral lichen planus.

BACKGROUND: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a relatively common chronic inflammatory disease whose etiopathogenesis is not completely understood. Several factors have been proposed in an attempt to explain the variety of clinical manifestations and periods of exacerbation and remission of symptoms of these lesions. The objective of this study was to associate local factors, systemic diseases, and level of anxiety with clinical characteristics of OLP. METHODS: The following factors were analyzed in 37 patients with OLP: presence of smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hepatitis C virus infection. Anxiety was measured by the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. These variables were associated with clinical form and symptoms (chi-squared/Fisher's exact test). RESULTS: The erosive form was the most prevalent presentation (57.1%). Symptoms were reported by 45.7% of the patients. Most patients were non-smokers (97.3%), and none of them was an alcoholic. Diabetes and hypertension were present in 10.8% and 16.2% of the patients, respectively. Only one patient was hepatitis C virus seropositive, and 78.4% presented moderate levels of anxiety. No significant association was observed between the variables studied and clinical form or symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, no association was observed between local and systemic factors or level of anxiety and clinical characteristics of OLP.

Significance of galectins-1, -3, -4 and -7 in the progression of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

The aim of this study was to analyze the immunohistochemical expression of galectins-1, -3, -4, and -7 in 65 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and to correlate this expression with clinical (disease outcome, metastasis, and clinical stage) and morphological parameters (histological grade of malignancy). Clinical data were obtained from the patient records. The histological grading system of malignancy proposed by Bryne (1998) [9] was used for the analysis of morphological parameters. The results were analyzed statistically by χ(2) test (p < 0.05). Galectin-1 expression was observed in 87.7% of cases and was significantly correlated with metastasis (p = 0.033) and clinical stage (p = 0.016). Immunoexpression of galectin-3 was observed in 87.7% of cases and was correlated with the presence of metastasis (p = 0.033) and histological grade of malignancy (p = 0.031). Galectin-4 showed no significant correlation with any of the parameters studied. Expression of galectin-7 was observed in 73.8% of cases and was significantly correlated with the histological grade of malignancy (p = 0.005). In conclusion, the intense immunoexpression of galectins-1, -3, and -7 suggests the participation of these proteins in oral carcinogenesis and their use as markers of biological behavior and tumor progression in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

Displasia cleidocraniana: relato de caso clínico / Cleidocranial dysplasi: case report

Paciente de 24 anos, sexo feminino, portadora de sinais característicos da Displasia Cleidocraniana foi submetida a exames clínico e radiográfico, os quais evidenciaram anormalidades na aparência física e constituição esquelética da mesma, confirmando a suspeita diagnóstica. O tratamento proposto foi excisão cirúrgica de numerosos dentes inclusos, para viabilizar posterior reabilitação protética. A peça cirúrgica foi encaminhada para exame histopatológico, para avaliar a presença de lesão cística e possíveis distúrbios na constituição morfológica dos dentes removidos. Diante da raridade desta síndrome, este artigo objetiva relatar os aspectos gerais da doença e a terapêutica utilizada

Síndrome de Sjõgren: revisão de literatura e acompanhamento de um caso clínico / Sjõgren's syndrome: literature review and clinical case management

A síndrome de Sjõgren é uma doença inflamatória sistêmica, de natureza auto-imune, caracterizada pela infiltração linfocitária progressiva de vários órgãos exócrinos e não exócrinos. Acomete preferencialmente as glândulas salivares e lacrimais determinando prejuízo estrutural e disfunção secretória destes órgãos. A produção de auto-anticorpos e a hipergamaglobulinemia policlonal indicam que anormalidades na imunidade humoral desempenham um papel importante na patogenia desta afecção e o seu diagnóstico é baseado na combinação de vários achados clínicos e laboratoriais. A proposta deste trabalho é apresentar um caso clínico de síndrome de Sjõgren enfatizando a sua importância clínica e a necessidade do diagnóstico precoce na tentativa de melhorar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes acometidos.