Three-dimensional pharyngeal airway changes in orthodontic patients treated with and without extractions.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare three-dimensional pharyngeal airway changes in orthodontic patients treated with and without extractions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pharyngeal airway was analyzed for 31 subjects (15 males, 16 females) treated with extractions of four first premolars and 31 age- and gender-matched controls (15 males, 16 females) treated without extractions. The mean age of subjects was 12.97 ± 1.15 years at the beginning and 15.69 ± 1.28 years at the end of treatment. The mean age of controls was 12.86 ± 0.74 years at the beginning and 15.18 ± 0.86 years at the end of treatment. Nasopharyngeal (NP) and oropharyngeal (OP) volumes, area of maximum pharyngeal constriction (AMPC), and upper arch perimeter were measured on T0 and T1 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. Paired samples t-test was used for analyzing statistical significance of changes (p ≤ 0.05). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the pharyngeal airway values between the extraction and non-extraction groups at neither T0 nor T1. The extraction group showed a statistically significant increase for NP and OP volumes and AMPC values. Such increase was also noted in the non-extraction group, without statistical significance for AMPC values. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that an extraction or non-extraction choice for orthodontic treatment would not affect the pharyngeal airway.

What are the possible reasons for urethral PSA varieties after radical prostatectomy?

OBJECTIVE: To examine the possible reasons for great varieties in urethral prostate specific antigen (urPSA) levels, in patients after radical prostatectomy (RP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 46 patients with pros-tate cancer, PSA, urPSA, total testosterone, body-mass index (BMI) and the stage of androgenic alopecia (AGA) were determined. Forty-five patients underwent retropubic RP, while one underwent cystoprostatectomy with orthotopic bladder construction, due to bladder cancer. RESULTS: Average patients age prior to surgery plus or minus standard deviation was 65.2 +/- 5.8 years. Average urPSA was 20.9 +/- 47.5 ng/ml (0.05 to 212 ng/ml, median 2.24 ng/ml). With urethral PSA cut-off of 2.0 ng/ml, two groups were formed: A (urPSA < 2.0 ng/ml) and B (urPSA = 2.0 ng/ml). Patients in the group A had significantly lower average AGA score, than the patients from the group B (2.4 +/- 1.3 vs. 4.4 +/- 2.2, p = 0.0003). In addition, patients from the group A had significantly lower pos-toperative PSA (0.07+0.08 ng/ml vs. 0.14 +/- 0.06 ng/ml, p = 0.0014). CONCLUSIONS: The patients with higher urPSA have higher AGA scores and higher postoperative PSA. This phenomenon is probably the consequence of higher local dihydrotestosterone activity in the scalp and PSA-secreting urethral glands.

Urinary PSA level and relative tumor volume after prostate biopsy.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the ratio between urinary prostate specific antigen (uPSA) and tumor volume after prostate biopsy. METHODS: From 2000 to July 2008, uPSA concentration was determined in 60 patients with clinically organ-confined prostate cancer (PCa). All patients underwent six-area transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)--guided biopsy, with at least 12 biopsy cores. Single pathologist determined tumor grade (G), Gleason score (GS), the percentage of tumor infiltration (% TI) and the percentage of positive cores (% PC) in all biopsy cores. Additionally, relative tumor-biopsy volume (RTV) was calculated by multiplying % PC, % TI and prostate ultrasound-derived volume (Vol). Forty-one patients underwent retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP), while 19 patients underwent radiation therapy. RESULTS: Average uPSA was 308.6 +/- 311.9 ng/ml (range 0.06-988 ng/ml), average PSA was 9.7 +/- 5.5 ng/ml (range 1.2-24.3 ng/ml), tumor grade 1.7 +/- 0.8, Gleason score 5.2 +/- 1.3, the percentage of tumor infiltration 27.6 +/- 21.8%, and the percentage of positive cores, 52.2 +/- 30.7%. Average RTV was 6.3 +/- 8.4 ml (0.29-56 ml). All patients were divided in two groups: I, with RTV 4 ml and II, with RTV = 4 ml. The patients with RTV 4 ml had lower G (1.4 +/- 0.6 vs. 2.1 +/- 0.8, p = 0.0002), lower GS (4.5 +/- 1 vs. 5.8 +/- 1.3, p = 0.003) and higher uPSA (389.4 +/- 340.8 vs. 193.1 +/- 229.7, p = 0.014). There were no differences in serum PSA levels between the groups. CONCLUSION: Relative tumor-biopsy volume (RTV) is useful parameter in the preoperative assessment of tumor volume. Patients with higher RTV had significantly higher G and GS. However, these patients had significantly lower uPSA. This phenomenon could be the consequence of compromised PSA drainage from the peripheral zone of the prostate, caused by the tumor.

Adamantiades-Behçet's disease, deep venous thrombosis and anticardiolipin antibodies: report of two cases.

Vascular thrombosis was found in different proportions of patients with Adamantiades-Behçet's disease (ABD), depending on the ethnicity of the population under study. Various thrombophilic factors, including the levels of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA), were investigated for their role in the thrombotic process with conflicting results. The prevalence of ACA varies considerably in different studies, but their presence has not been associated with increased risk for vascular thrombosis. We present two cases with ABD, deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and elevated levels of ACA that fulfil the criteria for both ABD and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).

Mesiodistal size of deciduous teeth in subjects with unilateral cleft lip and palate.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether there was an association between presence of a cleft and reduced size of deciduous tooth on the cleft side. In this investigation, 58 study models of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate with deciduous dentition were analyzed. The largest mesiodistal dimension of deciduous teeth was measured by a sliding caliper. The size of the same teeth on the side of the cleft and on the non-cleft side was compared. The results of the investigation were statistically analyzed. A difference between the genders was found. In the sample of boys the lateral deciduous incisor and the second deciduous molars on the cleft side were smaller than those on the non-cleft side, while in girls the central and lateral deciduous incisors were smaller on the cleft side than on the non-cleft side. It was concluded that the presence of a unilateral cleft lip and palate was associated with smaller tooth size.

Antiphospholipid syndrome in systemic connective tissue diseases.

Clinical manifestation and immunoserological features of secondary antiphospholipid syndrome (SAPS) were analyzed in this paper in 107 patients with systemic connective tissue diseases. In the group of patients with confirmed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) were positive in 43/93 (46.23%), while in 50/93 (53.76%) they were negative. Among aPL positive patients, 33/43 (76.74%) had clinical manifestations of SAPS, while 10 patients (23.26%) were without any clinical manifestations. The most frequent manifestations of SAPS associated with SLE were: arteriovenous thrombosis in 20/43 (46.51%), thrombocitopenia in 15/43 (34.88%) and autoimmune hemolytic anemia in 7/43 (16.27%). In our patients, rare manifestations of SAPS associated with SLE were recurrent fetal loss (1 case), livedo reticularis (1 case), transversal myelitis (2 cases), neuropathy (2 cases) and aseptic endocarditis (Libman-Sacks) (5 cases). Among 7 patients, with Sjögren's syndrome, clinically manifested SAPS was observed in 2, while in other 5 only increased aPL levels were found, as well as in patients with systemic vasculitis-3, MCTD-2 and Sy. Sjögren with vasculitis-1. One RA patient had thrombosis of v. cava inferior. In majority of patients with clinically present SAPS the levels of both examined immunoglobulin isotypes (IgG + IgM) were decreased-21/40 or 52.5%, while isolated increase of IgG was found in 14 (35%) and isolated increase of IgM in 5 (19.22%) patients. In three out of five patients with Libman-Sacks only LA test was positive. This investigation have shown that arterial and venous thromboses are the most common manifestations of SAPS in SLE. Every blood vessel may be involved (from arteriolae to the aorta and from postcapilar venules to the v. cava).

[Cyclosporin A in the treatment of Behçet's disease]. / Primena ciklosporina A u lecenju Behçet-ove bolesti.

The results of Cyclosporin A treatment of 15 patients with Behçet's disease were examined in the study--9 females (aged from 32 to 34 years, mean 33 years) and 12 males (aged from 25 to 55 years, approximately 34.33 years). Among them, the majority were with chorioretinitis (10/15 or 66.6%). Besides chorioretinitis two patients were simultaneously with iridocyclltis, while in three the whole nervous system was affected (meningoencephalitis, simultaneously pyramidal syndrome with the signs of extrapyramidal lesion and consciousness disorder in one patient). In one patient myocarditis was revealed, and the one was with deep aphtous ulcer. The approximate daily dose was 5 mg/kg in 13 patients, and 7.5 mg/kg/d in 2 patients. For that, the level of the drug in blood elevated from 79 to 380 ng/ml, approximately 170 ng/ml. The effect was favourable in 12 patients (complete restraint of the disease evolution), partial in 2 patients (slowing of the disease course) while it was incomplete in one patient for the interruption of the therapy 15 days after its beginning.

Mandibular growth pattern in Turner's syndrome.

In a group of 15 women with 45,X chromosome constitution, mandibular growth type was investigated by using both linear and angular measurements. The sum of the saddle, articular and gonial angle, lower gonial angle and y-axis was significantly greater. In addition the posterior-anterior facial height ratio in women with Turner's syndrome was significantly smaller than in the controls (61 women with 46,XX chromosome constitution), indicating a tendency to backward and downward growth changes in the mandible, caused by an X chromosome deficiency.

[Influence of permanent magnetic field on osteoporotic tissue of edentulous lower jaw]. / Uticaj stalnog magnetinog polja na osteoporoticno tkivo bezube donje vilice.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of permanent micromagnetic field on osteoporotic bone of toothless lower jaw in patients with mobile tooth supports. The study group consisted of 33 patients who had edentulous jaws for at least two years. Each patient received new dentures with built-in micromagnets in one half of the denture base. The effect of permanent magnetic field on the structure of the bone, was controlled with comparative extraoral side x-rays, of the examined mandibula. There was a total of 99 x-rays for analysis. The results obtained by comparative analyses of the x-rays indicate that permanent micromagnetic field caused osteogenetic response of the mandibular bone tissue, after three months in 32 patients, and after six months in 100% of the observed patients. Based on the obtained results the author concludes that permanent magnetic field causes osteogenesis in osteoporotic bone of the residual ridge and mandibular body.

[Our experience in the treatment of painful shoulder syndrome by Streptofil]. / Nasa iskustva u lecenju sindroma bolnog ramena streptofilom.

Streptofil is a biological product obtained from streptococcus beta haemoliticus, with molecular weight of 700 D and antigenic properties. It has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and reparative effects. The objective of our study was to test the Streptofil therapy effect on painful shoulder syndrome. Testing included 73 patients. One ml of Streptofil was used locally in the projection of m. supraspinatus insertion five days a week; treatment lasted 3 weeks in average. Therapy effect estimate was made according to Constant and Murley method. As full clinical effect we considered pain loss and complete function restitution (score 90-100) and incomplete reduction or loss of pain and incomplete function recovery (score less than 90). Control radiography was performed only in patients with calcification tendinitis. In 46% of patients tendon calcification had disappeared. Full clinical effect was achieved in 80% of the patients in whom tendon calcification disappeared after therapy, and in 58% of those in whom it remained. This finding coincided with results obtained in the group of patients without tendon calcification.

[Principles of the current therapy in autoimmune diseases]. / Savremeni principi terapije autoimunskih bolesti.

Presented are principles of systemic connective tissue diseases therapy (SCTD) based on data from literature, our experience and reported at international meetings held in Europe during last years special attention has been paid to the advances and perspectives in the treatment of rheumatoid arthitis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SEL).

[The antiphospholipid syndrome in systemic connective tissue diseases]. / Antifosfolipidni sindrom u sistemskim bolestima vezivnog tkiva.

The aim of the study was to prove the incidence of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) in systemic connective tissue disease (SCTD), especially in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to find out serologic markers of APS. Of 94 patients with SCTD followed up in the last three years 80 had SLE, 7 Sjogren's syndrome, 3 systemic vasculitis, 2 combined systemic connective tissue disease, 1 rheumatoid arthritis, 1 Sjogren's syndrome with vasculitis. Antiphospholipid antibodies (ApSt) were determined by ELISA method. In 31 of 80 patients with SLE (38.07%) antiphospholipid antibodies were proved. In lo of 31 (32.26%) signs of systemic lupus or the presence of APS markers have not been found, while 21 of 31 (67.74%) had some of clinical manifestations of APS (most commonly thrombocytopenia or vascular thrombosis) with evolution of the basic disease. Among our patients with SLE the most common finding was IgG antibody isotype-in 14 or 66.66% of cases. In 5 of 7 patients with Sjogren's syndrome ApAt were proved without clinical evolution of the basic disease and APS. Only 2 of 7 patients of this group showed, together with more increased ApAt, mild evolution of the basic disease and manifestation of APS (livado reticularis and recurrent venous thrombosis).

Mesiodistal dimension of permanent teeth in men with Klinefelter's syndrome.

The effects of an extra chromosome on tooth size were investigated and compared to male and female controls, respectively. Mesiodistal dimensions in men with Klinefelter's syndrome were generally found to be decreased when compared to the male controls. A more pronounced inhibitory effect of an extra X chromosome was observed in the case of incisors and canines, indicating a varied influence on this chromosomal anomaly on dental growth.

[A study of sagittal jaw relationships in patients with Klinefelter's syndrome]. / Studija sagitalnih meduvilicnih odnosa kod osoba sa Klinefelterovim sindromom.

Lateral cephalometric radiographs were used to study sagittal jaw relationships in 22 cases with Klinefelter's syndrome. The following angles were measured: SNA, SNB and ANB. Depending on the size of SNA and SNB angles, all cases investigated were classified in the following groups: bimaxillary prognathism, bimaxillary orthognathism or retrognathism; maxillary prognathism combined with mandibular orthognathism; maxillary orthognathism combined with mandibular prognathism or retrognathism; maxillary retrognathism combined with mandibular prognathism, orthognathism, or retrognathism. The mean value of the ANB angle of the whole group was -0.20 degrees indicating the skeletal class III jaw relationship. Out of 22 cases investigated, 45.4% showed bimaxillary prognathism, and 27.3% had a combination of the maxillary orthognathism and mandibular prognathism. 27.3% of all cases investigated belonged to the remaining groups.