Treatment of pressure ulcers in patients with spinal cord injury: Conventional surgery vs. cellular therapy.

CONTEXT: Relapse and recurrence rates of pressure injuries (PIs) are very high in spinal cord injured patients. That is the reason why alternative therapies, such the stem cells derived from bone marrow, have been developed. OBJECTIVE: To compare this new technique of infiltration-infusion of mononuclear cells from bone marrow with conventional surgery. DESIGN: A retrospective study was carried out in patients with spinal cord injuries who had PIs, category III/IV, in the pelvic area, during a 14-year follow-up period. SETTING: One group was treated with conventional surgery and, in the other group, mononuclear cells were infused. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and forty-nine patients were registered, 63 (42.3%) in the conventional surgery group and 86 (57.7%) in the mononuclear cell group. RESULTS: A comparative study between these 2 groups was carried out. There were no significant differences in ulcer healing in the first 6 months, but 6 months and one-year post-treatment, they were found. At 6 months, no patient in the conventional surgery group showed dehiscence or fistulization of the wound and, one year after surgery, only 3.17% recurred in the conventional group. In addition, there was a statistically significant relationship between days of hospitalization and the type of bacterial contamination and the intervention group. CONCLUSION: Bone marrow mononuclear cell infusion-infiltration is an alternative treatment for PIs and fistula during the first 6 months, instead of conventional surgery. However, in the medium-long term, conventional surgery is more effective.

Keratocyst Capnocytophaga superinfection.

INTRODUCTION: Capnocytophaga spp are Gram-negative bacteria that cause severe infections in immunosuppressed patients. This situation is extremely rare in immunocompetent patients. CASE REPORT: This clinical report describes the unusual infection of an immunocompetent patient with Capnocytophaga spp. The imaging studies showed the existence of a cyst in the left jawbone. After treatment and a microbiological study of the content, it was found to be an outbreak of septicaemia. DISCUSSION: Capnocytophaga spp, commensal bacteria of the oral cavity, can lead to serious illness and that is why an empirical treatment is needed until a diagnostic confirmation can be obtained.

Regeneration of mandibular defects using adipose tissue mesenchymal stromal cells in combination with human serum-derived scaffolds.

Bone regeneration is a challenging issue. Traditional solutions bring risks, potential complications, and morbidity. The aim of the present study was to regenerate critical-sized mandible defects in athymic rats with adipose tissue mesenchymal stromal cells (AT-MSCs) in combination with human serum-derived scaffolds. Two approaches to treatment were performed. The first approach used differentiated stromal cells that became osteogenic cell lines. The second approach used no pre-differentiation. Follow-up periods were 45 days and 90 days. Both cell types were combined with human serum-derived scaffolds. Afterward, histological (haematoxylin-eosin and Masson's Trichrome stain modified by Goldner), immunohistochemical (human vimentin and Stro-1), and radiological (microCT) studies were performed. The level of calcification between the groups was compared by analysis of variance, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The results demonstrate that bone regeneration can be achieved with both undifferentiated and pre-differentiated cells, but that the structure and level of calcification were better achieved with pre-differentiated cells (p < 0.05). The scaffold is suitable for this cell type, is osteoconductive and simple to perform. This article highlights the possible application of adipose tissue mesenchymal stromal cells in combination with a non-mineralized scaffold in bone regeneration.

Sebaceous adenoma of the parotid gland.

Tumors of the salivary glands constitute an important field of oral and maxillofacial pathology. The majority of salivary gland neoplasms are benign, with malignant salivary tumors accounting for 15 to 32 percent. The most common site for salivary gland tumors is the parotid gland, accounting up to 80 percent of all cases. This article reports the pathologic picture in a case of sebaceous adenoma of the parotid gland. The tumor was composed of epithelial cells lining ducts and closely associated with broad areas of sebaceous differentiation. The growth pattern was predominantly cystic, with cavities filled with sebaceous material. Areas of oncocytic metaplasia were also seen. The presence of sebaceous glands in salivary neoplasms is frequent, however, and in spite of this, salivary neoplasms constituted partially or entirely of these cells are rarely observed. To the surgeon and pathologist, the major problem in dealing with sebaceous adenoma is the recognition of this rare entity, avoiding confusing with other more aggressive neoplasms. The treatment involves surgical excision. The addition of the current case to the previously published data brings the total number of parotid sebaceous adenoma to seven.

Consensus statement on antimicrobial treatment of odontogenic bacterial infections.

The infection of the oral cavity is a common public health problem and constant cause for antibiotic prescription, with 10% of antibiotics used to treat this problem. However, few studies have so far aimed to determine its incidence. Added to this, its relationship with certain sytemic diseases (cardiac, endocrine, etc) confers this pathology vital importance. In spite of the frequency and importance of odontogenic infection, the current dispersion in criteria regarding key aspects in classification, terminology and therapeutic recommendations is noticeable. The main objective of this document, compiled as a consensus statement by specialists in microbiology and odontology, is to establish useful recommendations for all of those involved in the clinical management of this pathology. Special attention has been placed on the rise in bacterial resistance observed over the last years, specifically the proliferation of betalactamase producing strains. Another important factor causing the resistance to appear is lack of therapeutic compliance, specially what regards dosage and treatment duration. Therefore, this pathology constitutes a complex problem which requires the instauration of broad spectrum antimicrobials, well tolerated and a convenient posology so that patients receive the adequate dose over the necessary period. High doses of amoxicillin/clavulanate (2000 mg/125 mg) have showed good results and power to overcome resistance. Other agents such as metronidazole and clindamycin, followed by de claritromycin and azithromycin have also proved to be active against most of microorganisms responsible for odontogenic infection.

Maxillofacial cellulitis.

Of all infections associated to oral pathology, the most relevant ones are those that are related to dental pathology. Cellulitis is an infection of the cellular adipose tissue located in the aponeurotic spaces. It can be classified on the basis of location, severity and evolution. The aponeurotic compartments that allow odontogenic infections to spread have been categorised as: superficial compartment, floor of the mouth, masticator compartment, parapharyngeal space, parotid space and paratonsillar space. The present work describes the anatomical structures that comprise these spaces. The clinical forms of facial cellulitis are divided into acute and chronic. Potential complications consist of orbital infections, necrotising fascitis, thrombosis of the cavernous sinus, cerebral abscess and mediastinitis. Diagnosis is made on the basis of anamnesis, physical examination and complementary procedures (analytical tests and imaging studies). Treatment includes: treatment of causes (depending on the underlying cause in each case), incision and drainage, antibiotic therapy (chosen empirically) and complementary medical care. Odontogenic infections are primarily treated with surgery and coadjuvant antibiotic therapy.

Small cell undifferentiated carcinoma of the submandibular gland with neuroendocrine features.

This article reports the clinical, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical findings in a case of small cell undifferentiated carcinoma of the submandibular gland. The tumor was composed of anaplastic cells slightly larger than lymphocytes without ductal differentiation. On immunohistochemical analysis, the tumor contained cells that reacted positively with antibodies to cytokeratin, neuron-specific enolase, synaptophysin, and chromogranin. The present case supports the hypothesis that small cell undifferentiated carcinomas of the salivary glands arise from presumed multipotential ductal stem cells. When this tumor entity is located on the salivary glands, it appears to behave less aggressively than when it is a primary tumor of the bronchial tree.

Neck schwannomas.

Schwannomas are peripheral nerve tumours of nerve sheath origin. Twenty-five to 45 percent of extracranial schwannomas occur in the head and neck region. We present 2 cases of schwannomas that arise from the vagus and cervical plexus. These lesions are uncommon and most often present as asymptomatic solitary neck mass. Preoperative diagnosis can be difficult and conservative surgical excision remains the treatment of choice, often requiring sacrifice of a portion of the nerve.

Rehabilitación quirúrgico-prostodóntica implantosoportada en fisurado palatino: a propósito de un caso clínico / Implant-supported surgical-prosthetic rehabilitation in a cleft palate patient. A propos of a clinical case

Se presenta el caso clínico de una mujer de 43 años con secuelas de una fisura palatina unilateral, a la que se realizó tratamiento quirúrgico previo a la inserción de una prótesis implantosoportada. El tratamiento quirúrgico consistió en la elevación del suelo del seno maxilar, en la preservación con hidroxiapatita porosa del alveolo de un incisivo central extraído por periodontitis aguda y en la instalación de cuatro implantes osteointegrados, en ambos segmentos de la fisura

Rehabilitación quirúrgico-prostodóntica implantosoportada en fisurado palatino: a propósito de un caso clínico / Implant-supported surgical-prosthetic rehabilitation in a cleft palate patient. A propos of a clinical case

Se presenta el caso clínico de una mujer de 43 años con secuelas de una fisura palatina unilateral, a la que se realizó tratamiento quirúrgico previo a la inserción de una prótesis implantosoportada. El tratamiento quirúrgico consistió en la elevación del suelo del seno maxilar, en la preservación con hidroxiapatita porosa del alveolo de un incisivo central extraído por periodontitis aguda y en la instalación de cuatro implantes osteointegrados, en ambos segmentos de la fisura (AU)