Primary myocardial disease in the diabetic mouse. An ultrastructural study.

The hearts from C57BL/KsJ db+/db+ mice and controls were examined by light and electron microscopy at intervals during 5 to 28 weeks of age. C57BL/6J ob/ob mice and their lean littermates served as other controls. The percentage of increase in body and heart weights of the diabetic animals was 150% and 64% greater, respectively, than that of the controls. Over the period of observation there was progressive damage to the ventricular myocytes and intramural small arteries and arterioles of the diabetic animals. Initially, the cardiac muscle cells of both ventricles contained large numbers of lipid droplets. Subsequently, there was shrinkage and increased electron density of mitochondria that were enveloped by single limiting membranes that in turn gave rise to large residual bodies. This was followed by loss of myofilaments and atrophy of myocytes. Similar changes occurred in the smooth muscle cells of intramural arteries and arterioles but not in those of epicardial arteries. Reduplicated layers of basal laminae were seen around interstitial capillaries. Degenerative changes also occurred in perivascular nerve endings. These changes are discussed in relation to the altered metabolism of the diabetic state. It is concluded that the pathologic lesions in the cardiac muscle cells and intramural arterial vessels and capillaries constitute a primary myocardial disease in the genetically diabetic mouse.     

The Italian version of the Family Assessment Device

The aim of the study was to evaluate in a heterogeneous Italian sample (n= 340) the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Family Assessment Device (FAD), a 60-item questionnaire assessing family functioning. The questionnaire was administered to psychiatric (n= 116), medical (n= 114) and non-clinical samples (n = 110). In a sample of 30 non-clinical subjects the temporal stability of the FAD was investigated. The results showed a good temporal stability for Problem Solving, General Functioning, Communication, and Affective Responsiveness scales, and a good internal reliability of the scale. Factor analysis of the Italian version provided discrepancies with the hypothesized structure of the instrument, leading to the identification of seven slightly different dimensions. The proposed seven-factor model of the instrument did not provide a good fit to our data. The results of our study suggest the need for a major improvement in the adaptation of the FAD in the Italian setting. Accepted: 10 February 1998     

Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Maxillofacial Injuries in Brazil,a 5-year Retrospective Study

Aim

The etiology and epidemiology of maxillofacial injuries varies widely in different regions of the world due to socioeconomic status, cultural aspects in addition to road traffic and drug consumption. The aim of this study is to determine major causes and epidemiological characteristics of maxillofacial trauma in a 5-year period.

Materials and methods

Reports of corporal trauma (n = 25,632) from 2007 to 2011 in the Department of Forensic Medicine were analyzed as to the presence of maxillofacial injuries. Data were submitted to Chi square test and to multivariate Poisson regression.

Results

3262 reports referred maxillofacial trauma. The majority were men (55.8%), single (68.9%), most of them white (75.7%). The average age was 28.9 years (SD = 8.42), and victims with age between 16 and 30 years old were the most affected (48.0%). Women comprised 44% of total sample, 67.8% (971) were single, 76% (1.076) white and 46% (691) aged between 16 and 30 years old. Middle third injuries were associated after adjustment with females (PR 1.05; 95% CI 1.01–1.11), non-white subjects (PR 1.06; 95% CI 1.01–1.12) and physical aggression (PR 1.07; 95% CI 1.02–1.13). Injuries in the oral region was more prevalent in men (PR 1.24; 95% CI 1.09–1.41), in those aged between 16 and 30 (PR 1.97; 95% CI 1.48–2.61) and in subjects with injuries caused by traffic accident (PR 1.21; 95% CI 1.02–1.44). The presence of injuries in the lower third of face remained associated in the final model only with traffic accident (PR 1.75; 95% CI 1.43–2.15).

Conclusion

Health care practitioners must recognize vulnerable population and most prevalent sites of lesion to identify cases of violence.

     

Factor XI gene mutations in factor XI deficient patients of the Czech Republic

Factor XI (FXI) deficiency is an autosomal inherited coagulation disorder characterized by bleeding symptoms mainly associated with injury or surgery. Although most of the FXI gene mutations in Ashkenazi Jews are represented by the Glu117stop or Phe283Leu mutations, considerable genetic heterogeneity has been reported in other populations. We report here the genotypic characterization of four families with severe inherited FXI deficiency from the Czech Republic. Seven different gene mutations (three novel) were identified, thus, excluding the existence of a major founder effect in this population. Interestingly, both Glu117stop and Phe283Leu were detected once, further demonstrating the occurrence of these mutations also outside the Jewish populations. In conclusion, we confirm that FXI deficiency in non-Jewish populations is because of different gene mutations; however, the presence of the Glu117stop and Phe283Leu mutations suggests that genetic testing in FXI-deficient patients can start with these two point mutations.     

Inguino-scrotal hernia of a double district ureter: case report and literature review

Ureteral hernia is uncommon and usually misdiagnosed. From an anatomic point of view, we can distinguish between two uretero-inguinal hernias: intraperitoneal and extraperitoneal. Ureter inguinal hernias are nearly always indirect. This kind of hernia can include the ureter alone or, frequently, other abdominal sliding organs within the hernia sac (bladder, bowel tracts, etc.). Kidneys and urinary tracts present normal anatomic conformation, although renal ptosis may be found. As of July 2004, 139 cases of ureteral hernia had been described in the literature. Here we report a case of inguino-scrotal herniation of double district ureter and review the current literature to analyze the main clinical characteristics of this pathology and to establish pitfalls.