Neurofibromas of the oral and maxillofacial complex: A 48-year retrospective study

Neurofibromas are benign neoplasms of the peripheral nerve sheath, characterized by the proliferation of Schwann cells, perineural cells and endoneural fibroblasts. Their occurrence in the oral and maxillofacial complex is uncommon. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and histopathological characteristics of neurofibromas of the oral and maxillofacial complex excised at our institution over a 48-year period. Using light microscopy, two previously trained oral pathologists re-evaluated all hematoxylin and eosin slides. From a total of 15,375 cases diagnosed at a referred Oral Pathology Service, 24 cases were diagnosed as neurofibromas. Eighteen neurofibroma patients were female, with a mean age of 39.1 years. Three patients presenting neurofibromas exhibited neurofibromatosis type I. Clinically, most of the lesions presented as asymptomatic nodules, and the most frequent sites were the tongue (n = 6; 25.0%), gingiva (n = 6; 25.0%) and intraosseous maxillary bone region (n = 3; 12.5%). Histopathologically, the lesions were predominantly well delimited, exhibiting interlocking bundles of spindle-shaped cells that usually displayed wavy nuclei, associated with delicate collagen fibers. Thus, knowledge of their clinical and histopathological features by dentists and oral pathologists is essential for the correct diagnosis of these lesions.     

The SLC6A3 3′-UTR VNTR and intron 8 VNTR polymorphisms association in the time estimation

Objective

The present study investigated the association of 3′-UTR VNTR and intron 8 VNTR polymorphisms with a time estimation task performance.

Materials and methods

One hundred and eight men in a Brazilian Northeast population (18–32 years old) participated in the experiment. The 3′-UTR VNTR and intron 8 VNTR polymorphisms were associated alone and combined to absolute error (AE) and relative error (RE) in a time estimation task (target duration: 1 s, 4 s, 7 s and 9 s).

Results

We found an association of the behavioral variable with intron 8 VNTR for the time intervals of 1 s and 9 s (p < 0.001) and polymorphisms combinatorial effect for 1 s (p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion

The intron 8 VNTR polymorphism and the combinatorial effect can modulate the time estimate in the domain of supra seconds, and thus our study indicates a role of the dopamine transporter in the neurobiological areas related to the time intervals judgment.

     

Surgical and clinical management of a patient with Glanzmann thrombasthenia: a case report.

A 6-year-old girl with Glanzmann thrombasthenia presented with caries and periapical lesions in the primary mandibular second molars and moderate gingivitis of the maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth. Dental extraction was recommended, and before every surgical intervention, the patient underwent platelet-concentrate transfusion to prevent hemorrhage. Epsilon aminocaproic acid was administered 6 hours before, and 48 hours after every dental procedure to prevent bleeding. In this case, treatment was effective in the prevention of hemorrhagic complications, during the required dental procedures.     

Accidental spinal potassium chloride injection successfully treated with spinal lavage

We describe the management of a 62‐year‐old man who developed severe pain, cramps, paraplegia and pulmonary oedema after the accidental administration of potassium chloride into the subarachnoid space. In addition to supportive treatment, we performed cerebrospinal fluid lavage with saline 0.9%. The patient recovered well without any permanent injury.     

Resistance exercise: a strategy to attenuate inflammation and protein-energy wasting in hemodialysis patients?

Purpose

Patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) present persistent inflammation and protein-energy wasting (PEW), which contributes to high rates of mortality. This study aimed to assess the effects of a resistance exercise training program (RETP) on inflammation and PEW in HD patients.

Methods

Thirty-seven patients (56.7 % men, 45.9 ± 14.1 years, 23.5 ± 3.9 kg/m²) performed 6 months of intradialytic RETP. Plasma adhesion molecules levels (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) were measured using the enzyme immunometric assay, and interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by ELISA. Anthropometric, physical capacity, and PEW (simultaneously presence of: BMI <23 kg/m², serum albumin <3.8 g/dL, and reduced arm muscle area) were analyzed.

Results

There was a reduction of ICAM-1 [(1,934.1 pg/mL (1,031.8–2,875.0) vs. 1,571.1 pg/mL (447.1–2,985.5), p < 0.05], VCAM-1 [5,259.51 pg/mL (3,967.4–6,682.4) vs. 3,062.11 pg/mL (2,034.0–5,034.4), p < 0.05], and CRP levels (2.3 ± 0.9 to 1.6 ± 0.6 pg/mL, p < 0.001) after 6 months of RETP. Body composition improved, albumin increased (3.7 ± 0.3 to 3.9 ± 0.2, p < 0.05), and the number of patients presenting PEW was decreased (p = 0.005).

Conclusions

Resistance exercise program for 6 months seems to be effective in reducing inflammation and PEW of HD patients. The universal trial number of this study is U1111-1139-1326.     

Calidad de la recuperación después de la cirugía para el tratamiento del cáncer

Introduction

Assessment of quality of recovery is important as an end-point for outcome research. This study aims to determine the incidence and determinants of poor quality of recovery (PQR) after surgery in patients scheduled for curative neoplastic surgery.