Oral cancer screening outcomes in the Latin American region with special relevance to Brazil and Cuba: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND:  The Latin American region represents a hotspot for oral cancer incidence and mortality. To reduce oral cancer mortality rates, screening for early detection of subjects with suspicious or innocuous oral lesions has been promoted. A systematic review was performed to assess the outcomes of oral cancer screening in the Latin American region. MATERIAL AND METHODS:  An electronic search was conducted in eight databases and grey literature. The eligibility criteria included screening where adult participants underwent any screening test during an organized screening program. Screening programs were assessed to understand trends in oral cancer diagnosis. Rates of oral cancers diagnosed in screening programs were classified as increase, decrease, or stable based on each year assessed. RESULTS:  Following our searches, twelve studies conducted in Brazil and Cuba were included. The screening tests reported were visual oral examination (VOE) and in one study in addition light-based fluorescence testing. 13,277,608 individuals were screened and a total of 1,516 oral cancers were detected (0.01%). Only two studies aimed to screen high-risk individuals (smokers and drinkers). Oral cancer cases diagnosed during screening programs were proportionately stable over the years 1997 to 2009 but increased from 2010 to 2021. The fluorescence-associated VOE test demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 90%. Similarly, the VOE test alone exhibited a sensitivity of 100%, with specificity ranging from 75% to 90%. CONCLUSIONS:  Screening studies conducted in Latin American countries had serious limitations both in methodology (lack of examiner training) and in reporting data (lack of description of clinical categories of screen positives). Capacitation of health workers to perform VOE in well-designed screening programs should be implemented.

Systemic therapies for salivary gland carcinomas: an overview of published clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus about effective systemic therapy for salivary gland carcinomas (sgcs). Our aim was summarized the clinical trials assessing the systemic therapies (ST) on sgcs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Electronic searches were carried out through MEDLINE/pubmed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases, and gray literature. RESULTS: Seventeen different drugs were evaluated, and the most frequent histological subtype was adenoid cystic carcinoma (n=195, 45.5%). Stable disease, observed in 11 ST, achieved the highest rate in adenoid cystic carcinoma treated with sunitinib. The highest complete (11.1%) and partial response (30.5%) rates were seen in androgen receptor-positive tumors treated with leuprorelin acetate. CONCLUSIONS: Despite all the advances in this field, there is yet no effective evidence-based regimen of ST, with all the clinical trials identified showing low rates of complete and partial responses. Further, translational studies are urgently required to characterize molecular targets and effective ST.

Gingival neoplasms: a multicenter collaborative study of 888 patients in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the prevalence and clinicopathological features of a large series of gingival neoplasms in Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS:  All gingival benign and malignant neoplasms were retrieved from the records of six Oral Pathology Services in Brazil, during a 41-year period. Clinical and demographic data, clinical diagnosis, and histopathological data were collected from the patients' clinical charts. For statistical analysis, the chi-square, median test of independent samples and the U Mann-Whitney tests were used, considering a significance of 5%. RESULTS:  From 100,026 oral lesions, 888 (0.9%) were gingival neoplasms. There were 496 (55.9%) males, with a mean age of 54.2 years. Most cases (70.3%) were malignant neoplasms. Nodules (46.2%) and ulcers (38.9%) were the most common clinical appearance for benign and malignant neoplasms, respectively. Squamous cell carcinoma (55.6%) was the most common gingival neoplasm, followed by squamous cell papilloma (19.6%). In 69 (11.1%) malignant neoplasms, the lesions were clinically considered to be inflammatory or of infectious origin. Malignant neoplasms were more common in older men, appeared with larger size, and with a time of complaint shorter than benign neoplasms (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS:  Benign and malignant tumors may appear as nodules in gingival tissue. In addition, malignant neoplasms, especially squamous cell carcinoma, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of persistent single gingival ulcers.

Perineural invasion predicts poor survival and cervical lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) usually invades peripheral nerves through a process known as perineural invasion (PNI), recognized as an adverse factor considered for the administration of postoperative adjuvant therapy. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of PNI on survival and cervical lymph node metastasis in a cohort of OSCC patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Presence, location and extension of PNI were assessed in a cohort of 57 paraffin-embedded OSCC resections. Clinico-pathological variables were obtained from each case. Five-year overall survival (OS) and 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) curves were constructed according to the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the role of PNI as an independent risk factor related to poor survival, and a binary logistic regression was performed to estimate the predictive value of PNI for regional lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: PNI was observed in 49.1% of the cases, affecting only small nerves. Peritumoral PNI was the most common location, and multifocal PNI the most frequent extent. Most PNI positive cases had cervical metastasis (p=0.001), and PNI was more frequent in stages III-IV than in I-II (p=0.02). The five-year OS and the 5-year DSS decreased in PNI positive and peritumoral PNI cases. PNI was an independent risk factor for poor 5-year OS and poor 5-year DSS. The odds for cervical lymph node metastasis were of 6.076 (p=0.006) and 10.257 (p=0.007) for PNI and Tumor budding (TB) positive cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PNI is a frequent finding in OSCC and an independent risk factor for poor OS and DSS. PNI and TB are both risk factors associated to an increased likelihood for the development of lymph node metastasis. Therefore, we suggest further investigations to test the combined PNI-TB scoring system in risk stratification models for OSCC.

Oral amyloidosis: an update.

BACKGROUND: Amyloidosis is a disease characterized by the progressive deposition of abnormal proteins that can occur in any organ. In the oral cavity, the tongue is the most common affected site, usually causing macroglossia. Biopsy is essential for the diagnosis and the occurrence of its systemic form is mandatory to be investigated. This systematic review evaluated the existing information in the literature on Amyloidosis in the oral cavity to allow a more comprehensive and updated analysis of its clinicopathological characteristics, as well as to explore the main forms of treatment and prognostic factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Electronic searches were undertaken in five databases supplemented by manual scrutiny. RESULTS: A total of 111 studies were included with 158 individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The disease had a higher prevalence in women, the tongue was the most affected site, as well as the systemic form of the disease. The worst prognosis was for cases of systemic amyloidosis associated with multiple myeloma.

The barriers dentists face to communicate cancer diagnosis: self-assessment based on SPIKES protocol.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to characterize the barriers faced by Brazilian dentists to deliver bad news (DBN) about oral and oropharyngeal cancer diagnoses to patients by using a questionnaire based on the guidelines of the SPIKES protocol. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was an observational cross-sectional study. The questionnaire contained 27 questions based on the SPIKES protocol, which were answered in the SurveyMonkey platform. RESULTS: A total of 186/249 dentists answered the questionnaire. The main specialties reported were 36.02% oral medicine, 21.5% oral pathology, and 9.13% oral and maxillofacial surgery. A total of 44.6% expressed concern about the patient's emotional reactions, and 46.24% of respondents had never participated in any specific training to communicate bad news. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of training and low confidence in dealing with patients' emotional reactions dentists were considered the greatest barriers to DBNs. Moreover, most dentists who participated in the survey believe that a protocol to guide the communication of bad news would be useful for clinical practice. For those protocols to be used by dentists, training is critical for these protocols to be incorporated by professionals.

Histopathological parameters reported in microinvasive oral squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Microinvasive oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCCmi) is an incipient stage of oral cancer. Through this systematic review, we aim to assess patterns of histopathological outcomes reported in OSCCmi cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An online search in major databases was performed without period restriction, and 2,024 publications in English, Spanish and Portuguese were obtained. After screening and eligibility, 4 studies were selected. The risk of bias was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist. A descriptive synthesis was conducted. RESULTS: All 4 publications included were retrospective, reporting a total of 116 OSCCmi patients, with a male predominance (1.6:1) and a mean age of 55.9 years. The main parameters considered for microinvasion were tumor thickness (TT) (range 4-10mm) and depth of invasion (DOI) (range 0,02-5mm). Definition, cut-off values, and assessment of microscopic features were not standardized. Other relevant measures such as perineural or lymphovascular invasion and pattern of invasive front were barely described, and cytological/architectural characteristics were not discussed. CONCLUSIONS: TT and DOI are currently the primary histopathological criteria used to define OSCCmi. Nonetheless, the outcomes of this systematic review showed the absence of standardized quantitative parameters to render the diagnosis of microinvasive OSCC. Therefore, additional studies aiming to standardize histopathological features to diagnose OSCCmi are paramount.

Epidemiology and survival outcomes of lip, oral cavity, and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in a southeast Brazilian population.

BACKGROUND: Lip, oral cavity, and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represent a major health problem in the global scenario. In South America, the highest incidence rates are seen in Brazil. Therefore, the epidemiological and clinical profile and survival outcomes of lip, oral cavity, and oropharyngeal SCC was studied in São Paulo State, Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The clinicopathological data of 12,099 patients with lip, oral cavity, and oropharyngeal SCC were obtained from hospital cancer registries of the Fundação Oncocentro de São Paulo, Brazil (2010-2015). Survival rates and other analyses were performed using SPSS software. RESULTS: A clear male predominance was observed, particularly for patients with oropharyngeal SCC (88.3%). The average age of patients was higher for lip cases (65 ± 13.5 years) compared to other sites. The schooling level was low for most patients, especially in lip cases (87.9%). Most of the patients with oral cavity (71.8%) and oropharyngeal (86.3%) SCC had advanced-stage (III-IV) disease. However, the majority of lip cases (83.3%) were at an early stage (I-II). Surgical excision was the main treatment for lip (72%) and oral cavity SCC (23.5%), and chemoradiotherapy was the main treatment for oropharyngeal SCC (40.2%). The 5-year overall survival (OS) for patients with lip, oral cavity, and oropharyngeal SCC were 66.3, 30.9, and 22.6%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the determinants of OS were different for lip, oral cavity, and oropharyngeal SCC, except for those at the clinical stage, which was an independent predictor for all sites. CONCLUSIONS: OS-independent determinants varied according to the affected site. Oral cavity and oropharyngeal SCC presented worse survival rates than those for lip SCC.

Oral Kaposi sarcoma development is associated with HIV viral load, CD4+ count and CD4+/CD8+ ratio.

BACKGROUND: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an uncommon, multifocal and angioproliferative lesion, which demonstrates a poor prognosis. The aim of the present research was to explore the association of HIV viral load, CD4+ and CD8+ counts and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio on the risk of oral Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) development. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 62 patients were retrieved from March 2008 to October 2020 from the files of two oral pathology centres. Clinical, laboratory and follow-up data were retrieved from their medical files. Poisson regression was used to explore the role of history of immunosuppression and its association with oral KS development. A P-value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients were included in the present study (32 with oral KS and 30 with no presentation of lesions anywhere on the body). Patients with oral KS presented a mean age of 32.6 years, and male patients were more affected. The hard palate (15 cases; 46.8%) was the main anatomical site affected. The lesions were mostly presented as swellings (13 cases; 40.6%) and nodules (12 cases; 37.5%). Systemic manifestations were also observed, including candidiasis (4 cases; 12.5%), bacterial infection (3 cases; 9.3%), tuberculosis (3 cases; 9.3%), herpes simplex (3 cases; 9.3%) and pneumonia (3 cases; 9.3%). A significant correlation was observed between HIV viral load, CD4+ count and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio with oral KS development. CONCLUSIONS: HIV viral load, CD4+ count and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio are associated with oral KS development.

What is the frequency of floor of the mouth lesions? A descritive study of 4,016 cases.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of oral lesions in the floor of the mouth from representative oral pathology centres in Latin America. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was conducted on biopsies obtained from January of 1978 to December of 2018 at nine Latin America oral and maxillofacial pathology centres. Gender, age and histopathological diagnosis were evaluated. Data were analysed using descriptive methods. Chi-square test was used for pairwise comparisons. RESULTS: From 114,893 samples, 4,016 lesions (3.49%) occurred in the floor of the mouth. Brazil showed 3,777 cases (94%), Mexico 182 cases (4.5%) and Argentina 57 cases (1.4%). Benign lesions represented 65.1% (2,617 cases), followed by 34.9% (1,404 cases) of malignant disorders. Lesions of epithelial origin were more frequent (1,964 cases; 48.9%), followed by salivary glands (1,245 cases; 31%) and soft tissue lesions (475 cases; 11.7%). The most common histological subtypes were oral squamous cell carcinoma (1,347 cases; 33.5%), ranula (724 cases; 18%), oral leukoplakia (476 cases; 11.8%) and inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia (239 cases; 5.9%). The lesion affected males in 2,129 cases and females in 1,897 cases. CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, lesions in the floor of the mouth represented 3.49% of biopsies submitted to oral pathology services and oral squamous cell carcinoma, ranula and leukoplakia were the most common lesions.

Antimicrobial profile of a dental implant abutment coating to prevent adhesion and migration of bacteria and screw loosening.

OBJECTIVE: Failure of dental implants treatment is frequently the result of bacterial colonization of implants followed by diseases like peri-implantitis. Recent studies have been made regarding the surface treatment of implants components, namely abutments that are in the interface of the living tissue with the implant. This work aimed at evaluating the antimicrobial profile of a silane-based coating with TiO2 adapted to an abutment screw, that was also developed as an anti-loosening agent, to prevent adhesion and migration of Gram + and Gram-bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli, respectively. METHODS: Direct contact antimicrobial studies were conducted on coated and uncoated samples by resazurin fluorescent assay and cytotoxicity assessment was done via MTT indirect method on days 1 and 4. Sterilizations studies by FTIR analysis were also performed to understand the ideal balance between sterilization efficacy and coating functionality subjecting the samples to ethylene oxide, gamma irradiation, and autoclave sterilization, before antimicrobial testing. The implant system as a whole was also studied for its ability to block bacterial migration and preventing microleakage as well as an assessment of initial bacterial adhesion evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: Direct contact studies performed on coated samples showed a very high antimicrobial activity, while cytotoxicity assays revealed the coating to be safe and non-leachable. Sterilizations studies showed that the antimicrobial features of the coating were preserved and interchangeable regardless of the sterilization method. The implant system migration studies demonstrated that the implant system works as an efficient barrier for the studied bacteria. SIGNIFICANCE: The acquired results clearly show that it is possible to obtain a highly functional coating with obvious and marked antimicrobial features that together with an abutment that prevents bacterial migration and versatility in sterilization methodology has a very high potential in the dental implant field.

Oral pigmented lesions: a retrospective analysis from Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Pigmented lesions are uncommon in the oral mucosa, and studies investigating the incidence and types of these lesions are desired to improve the diagnostic knowledge of clinicians. The aim of this study was to analyze the distribution of oral pigmented lesions in a Brazilian population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study was performed. Oral pigmented lesions were retrieved from the files of two oral and maxillofacial pathology services from Brazil over a 45-year period (1974-2019). The clinical data and the diagnoses of each case were retrieved and included in a Microsoft Excel® database. RESULTS: From 77.074 lesions diagnosed in this period, 761 (0.99%) represented pigmented lesions of the oral mucosa, including 351 (46.1%) melanocytic and 410 (53.9%) non-melanocytic lesions, with a higher incidence in females (73.2%) between the fourth and seventh decades of life. Amalgam tattoo (53.6%) represented the most common lesion, followed by melanotic macule (18.3%) and racial pigmentation (10.8%). Other pigmented lesions included nevus (9.9%), post-inflammatory pigmentation (3%), melanoma (2.1%), melanoacanthoma (1.4%), smoker's melanosis (0.4%), drug-induced pigmentation (0.3%), and melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy (0.1%). The buccal mucosa was the most commonly affected site (25.2%), followed by the alveolar ridge (14.5%), and gingiva (11.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The current findings were similar to previous studies with minor differences due methodology and characteristics of the services from where lesions were retrieved. The knowledge of these data may contribute to a better understanding of oral pigmented lesions and assist clinicians to better recognize and manage them.

Mechanical behavior of ropes based on polypropylene (PP) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) multifilament yarns for Achilles tendon partial substitution.

In some clinical cases, attending to the type and extension of the Achilles tendon injury, a partial replacement of the tissue may be needed. Driven by this, the authors developed different structures based on polypropylene (PP) or poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) multifilament yarns, using a textile technology-based technique, in order to mimic the fibrous structure of tendons. Those structures are based on a core/shell system, being the core composed by several sub-components (braids) and the shell based on braided yarns enclosing the core. It was observed that the load at failure of ropes is mainly defined by the number of yarns that compose it, but the strain level is mostly influenced by the production take-up rate of the core braids and consequently by the braid angle. The ropes stiffness level results from a combination of the yarns number and braid angle of the core braids. The structure based on PET yarns revealed a non-linear force-strain curve similar to a typical curve of a natural Achilles tendon (AT), presenting a load at failure, strain to failure and stiffness levels very promising for AT replacement. Moreover, the PET rope also revealed a very promising fatigue and appropriate creep resistance for the final application, being in accordance with what has been reported for native AT.

Different methods of cell quantification can lead to different results: a comparison of digital methods using a pilot study of dendritic cells in HIV-positive patients.

BACKGROUND: Although new digital pathology tools have improved the positive cell quantification, there is a heterogeneity of the quantification methods in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate and propose a novel dendritic cells quantification method in squamous cell carcinoma comparing it with a conventional quantification method. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-six squamous cell carcinomas HIV-positive cases affecting the oropharynx, lips and oral cavity were selected. Immunohistochemistry for CD1a, CD83, and CD207 was performed. The immunohistochemical stains were evaluated by automated examination using a positive pixel count algorithm. A conventional quantification method (unspecific area method; UA) and a novel method (specific area method; SA) were performed obtaining the corresponding density of positive dendritic cells for the intratumoral and peritumoral regions. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to verify the influence of the quantification methods on the positive cell counting according to the evaluated regions. Data were subjected to the ANOVA and Student's t-test to verify the influence of the tumour location, stage, histological grade, and amount of inflammation on the dendritic cells density counting. RESULTS: The cell quantification method affected the dendritic cells counting independently of the evaluated region (P-value <0.05). Significant differences between methods were also observed according to the tumour features evaluations. CONCLUSIONS: The positive cell quantification method influences the dendritic cells density results. Unlike the conventional method (UA method), the novel SA method avoids non-target areas included in the hotspots improving the reliability and reproducibility of the density cell quantification.

Invited review: Compost-bedded pack barns for dairy cows.

Compost-bedded pack barns (CBP) are receiving increasing attention as a housing system for dairy cows that has potential to improve animal welfare. This article reviews current scientific knowledge about CBP with the aim of providing a comprehensive tool for producers and researchers using this housing system. In CBP, cows are provided with an open bedded pack area rather than the individual stalls and concrete alleys found in freestall systems. The bedded pack, a mixture of organic bedding and cattle excreta, is cultivated frequently (1-3 times per day) to incorporate fresh manure and air into the pack, thus promoting an aerobic composting process. To function well, CBP generally require a large area per cow. Optimal animal densities over the bedded area range from 7.4 to more than 15 m2/cow depending on several factors, including climate, bedding, pack management, and cow characteristics. Studies have indicated that CBP, compared with conventional systems such as freestall barns, have the potential to improve the welfare of dairy cows. In particular, the main reported benefits include improved comfort during resting, better foot and leg health, and more natural animal behavior. Research has also indicated that adequate udder health can be achieved in CBP. However, because the bedded pack has been shown to contain high bacterial concentrations, proper management is essential to maintain adequate cow cleanliness and reduce the risk of mastitis. Controlling pack moisture is consistently indicated as the most important issue with CBP. Especially under cold and humid weather conditions, large amounts of bedding may be necessary to keep the pack adequately dry and comfortable for the cows. Nevertheless, the improvements in cow health may offset the higher costs of bedding.

The impact of head and neck radiotherapy on the dentine-enamel junction: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy is widely used in contemporary head and neck cancer treatment protocols. The ability of head and neck radiotherapy (HNRT) to cause direct radiogenic destruction to the teeth is one of the most controversial topics in the field of oral oncology. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to investigate ionising radiation as an independent factor for physical and chemical changes on the dentine-enamel junction (DEJ), a pivotal dental topography for the onset and progression of radiation-related caries (RRC) and enamel delamination. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Systematic searches were conducted on three databases: Scopus, MEDLINE (Via PubMed) and Embase (Elsevier). Laboratory studies evaluating the effects of simulated or in vivo HNRT on the DEJ were included. The GRADE tool adapted for in vitro studies was used to assess the methodological quality. RESULTS: Of the 154 initially selected studies, eight met the inclusion criteria, from which five studies were graded as high quality of evidence, two studies were graded as moderate quality and one as low quality. Two studies did not demonstrate DEJ alterations following HNRT while the other six articles described several organic and inorganic changes in the DEJ of irradiated teeth samples. These radiogenic events were mostly detected through micro and nanoindentation, Raman micro-spectroscopy, confocal microscopy, Western blotting and optical coherence tomography. CONCLUSIONS: HNRT may have a negative impact on the physical and chemical aspects of the DEJ, predisposing cancer patients to RRC and enamel delamination.

CD1a+ and CD207+ cells are reduced in oral submucous fibrosis and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study investigated the distribution of immature dendritic cells (DCs), Langerhans cells and plasmacytoid DCs in oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), OSMF associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSMF-OSCC), oral leukoplakia (OL), and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fourteen cases of OSMF, 9 of OSMF-OSCC, 8 of OL¸ 45 of OSCC and 8 of normal epithelium were retrospectively retrieved and their diagnoses confirmed. Immunoreactions against CD1a, CD207 e CD303 were performed and the number of positive cells quantified. RESULTS: A significant decrease of CD1a+ was found in OSMF (p≤0.05), OSMF-OSCC (p ≤ 0.01), and OSCC (p ≤ 0.001) when compared to normal epithelium. For CD207+ the significance decrease was observed in OSMF-OSCC (p ≤ 0.05), and OSCC (p ≤ 0.01) when compared with normal epithelium, and in OSMF when compared with OL (p ≤ 0.05). There was no significant difference for CD303, but increased in CD303+ was observed in OSCC when compared with normal epithelium. CONCLUSION: The decrease in the number of CD1a+ and CD207+ cells may be associate to the development of oral OSCC, and in OPMDs they might be indicators of malignant transformation.

Efeito da suplementação de suínos em terminação com diferentes associações entre minerais sobre o desempenho, as características de carcaça e a viabilidade econômica / Effect of supplementation of finishing swines with different associations between minerals on performance, carcass characteristics and economic viability

Objetivou-se, com este estudo, verificar a influência da suplementação com diferentes associações entre minerais orgânicos sobre o desempenho e as características de carcaça, bem como avaliar sua viabilidade econômica, para suínos em terminação. Foram utilizados 88 machos castrados, divididos entre quatro tratamentos: controle com dieta basal e suplementação com CrFe, MgSe e CrFeMgSe, durante os 28 dias que antecederam o abate. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com parcela experimental representada por dois animais. Os animais suplementados com CrFeMgSe apresentaram piores índices de peso final, ganho de peso diário e consumo durante todo o período, com consequente redução no peso de carcaça, menor profundidade de lombo, área de olho-de-lombo e menor quantidade de carne magra na carcaça. Houve um aumento no custo da dieta para os grupos CrFe, MgSe e CrFeMgSe, respectivamente. O uso de cromo mais ferro e magnésio mais selênio, associados dois a dois, não altera os parâmetros de desempenho e as características de carcaça. A associação dos quatro minerais, no entanto, promove piora nessas características e aumenta o custo da dieta.(AU)

This study aimed to verify the influence of supplementation with different associations between organic minerals on performance, carcass characteristics and economic viability for finishing swine. 88 castrated males were divided in four treatments: control with basal diet and supplementation with CrFe, MgSe and CrFeMgSe during the 28 days prior to slaughter. The experimental design was randomized blocks with an experimental plot represented by two animals. The animals supplemented with CrFeMgSe had worse final weight, daily weight gain and consumption throughout the period, with consequent reduction in carcass weight, lower loin depth, loin eye area and amount of lean meat. There was an increase in the effective operational cost of diet with CrFe, MgSe and CrFeMgSe groups, respectively. The use of chromium plus iron and magnesium plus selenium, associated two by two, did not alter the performance parameters and carcass. However, the four minerals association promote a worsening in these characteristics and increase the cost of production.(AU)

Radiographic estimation of the growth rate of initially underdiagnosed ameloblastomas.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the specific growth rate (SGR) of ameloblastoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: cases of ameloblastoma initially underdiagnosed (e.g. cases overlooked or diagnosed as reactive lesions) which had adequate radiographic documentation to evaluate their progression were retrospectively selected. Two panoramic radiographs were analyzed to determine the specific growth rate (SGR) of each tumor, defined as the logarithm of the ratio of final tumor area (when the diagnosis of ameloblastoma was made) to the initial tumor area (when the lesion was underdiagnosed), divided by the time interval between the radiographic images. The tumor area was measured using the software ImageJ. RESULTS: Twelve patients with mandibular ameloblastomas were selected, including 5 males and 7 females, with a mean age of 24.9 years (range: 14-61 years). In four cases, the lesion was associated with the crown of an impacted third molar. In three cases, it was initially diagnosed as a periapical lesion. Three cases were extrafollicular and were not noticed in the initial radiographs. Two cases were initially diagnosed as ameloblastoma, but the surgery was delayed for personal reasons. The mean interval of time between the two radiographic images was 4.3 years (range: 0.4-9 years). Based on our analysis, ameloblastoma grows in average 40.4% per year (range: 14.9-88.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Ameloblastoma is a progressively growing tumor, but its growth rate seems to be smaller than initially reported in the literature. Better understanding the radiographic progression of ameloblastoma might improve its early diagnosis, management, and prognosis.