Arteriovenous malformation of the mandible: review of literature and case history

Vascular malformations of the jaws can lead to disastrous complications, but there seems to be no consensus as to their treatment. The literature presents the pathophysiology and clinical aspects of these lesions, as well as the divergent views of the authors. Treatment by catheterization and embolization, with direct transosseous injection of cyanoacrylate, appears to be the least harmful and most permanent treatment in certain conditions, as evidenced by the case of this 9-year-old patient having a high-flow mandibular vascular malformation     

Evaluation of a wireless audio streaming accessory to improve mobile telephone performance of cochlear implant users

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential improvement in word recognition in quiet and in noise obtained with use of a Bluetooth-compatible wireless hearing assistance technology (HAT) relative to the acoustic mobile telephone condition (e.g. the mobile telephone receiver held to the microphone of the sound processor). Design: A two-way repeated measures design was used to evaluate differences in telephone word recognition obtained in quiet and in competing noise in the acoustic mobile telephone condition compared to performance obtained with use of the CI sound processor and a telephone HAT. Study sample: Sixteen adult users of Nucleus cochlear implants and the Nucleus 6 sound processor were included in this study. Results: Word recognition over the mobile telephone in quiet and in noise was significantly better with use of the wireless HAT compared to performance in the acoustic mobile telephone condition. Word recognition over the mobile telephone was better in quiet when compared to performance in noise. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that use of a wireless HAT improves word recognition over the mobile telephone in quiet and in noise relative to performance in the acoustic mobile telephone condition for a group of adult cochlear implant recipients.     

Interference of the blood glucose control in the transition between phases I and II of lactogenesis in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Lactogenesis is constituted by phases I and II. The transition between those phases is characterized by an increase of the lactose concentration in the colostrum. This study aimed to evaluate the interference of type 1 Diabetes mellitus in the transition between phases I and II of the lactogenesis. The lactose concentration was determined in colostrum samples of 11 puerperal women with pre-gestational Diabetes mellitus and 19 without the disease, during the five first days of the puerperium. The lactose concentration was determined by reaction with picric acid. In both groups there were progressive increases in the lactose levels along the time; however, the increase was significantly lower in the 3rd and 5th days for the group of the women with diabetes. The analysis of the transition between the lactogenesis phases revealed that the puerperal diabetic women with inadequate glycemic control presented a time delay of 18 hours to reach phase II, making difficult the establishment of breastfeeding.     

Influence of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on soluble cellular adhesion molecules as biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in young healthy subjects

Background and aimSerum levels of soluble cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs) and blood lipid parameters have been used as markers of inflammatory processes associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. The present study evaluated the effects of the intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in fish and fish oil within energy-restricted diets, on soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1).Methods and resultsTwo hundred and seventy-five healthy European subjects aged between 20 and 40 years, were randomized to one of four hypocaloric dietary groups: control (sunflower oil capsules, no seafood), lean fish (3 × 150 g portions of cod/week), fatty fish (3 × 150 g portions of salmon/week), fish oil ((docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) + eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) capsules, no seafood)). Diets rich in lean fish significantly decreased ICAM-1 levels, around 5% from baseline to endpoint (p < 0.05), and had no effect on VCAM-1 levels. No significant differences were observed in sICAM-1 levels after the intervention with fatty fish or fish oils. On the other hand, these two seafood based diets were responsible for a significant increase of VCAM-1 levels [fatty fish; 16.1% and fish oil; 21.9%] respectively (p < 0.05).ConclusionsCAMs as inflammatory biomarkers in young and healthy subjects are not conclusive for the evaluation of CVD risk. Hypocaloric fish diets had a different effect on CAMs, being lean fish responsible for the highest decrease in ICAM-1. On the other hand, VCAM-1 results allow speculation that a low dose of n-3 PUFA may be anti-inflammatory contrarily to a high dose which can have a pro-inflammatory effect. CAMs mechanism is complex and affected by multiple factors such as lifestyle, gender, and n-3 dose and source.     

Nutritional profile and inflammatory status of hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition and abnormal inflammatory markers are prominent features of the uremic syndrome, but associations and repercussions are somewhat controversial. OBJECTIVE: To determine nutritional and clinical profile of hemodialysis patients, aiming at potential diagnostic recommendations for stable subjects with elevated C-reactive protein. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Design: Prospective observational cross-sectional clinical study in a stable chronic hemodialysis population; Setting: Renal and Nutritional Service of a mid-size charity academic hospital; Patients: Subjects (n=44) were analyzed concerning nutritional status and C-reactive protein. Some displayed acute infections (Group I, n=9) and others did not (Group II, n=35). Age was 47.0 +/- 16.9 years with 63.6% males. Body mass index (BMI) was 22.2 +/- 3.9 kg/m2, calorie intake was 1262 +/- 601 kcal/day (20.7 +/- 6.7 kcal/kg/day), and protein ingestion was 74.3 +/- 16.6 g protein/day (1.2 g/kg/day); Intervention: No nutritional supplement or artificial modality of alimentation was employed in this series; Main outcome measures: Subjective global assessment and C-reactive protein. RESULTS: Malnutrition estimated by subjective global assessment (SGA) was very common (>90%), despite acceptable BMI and serum albumin. C-reactive protein was moderately elevated in 40.9% and was positively associated with SGA and negatively with plasma proteins. Comorbidities were associated positively with extracellular water and negatively with reactance (bioimpedance). When infected versus non-infected cases were analyzed, 100% of the former displayed high CRP concentrations in contrast with 22.9% of remaining patients. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Malnutrition profile was rather unique, with relatively favorable objective findings (body mass index, serum albumin) and more deranged SGA; (2) Bioimpedance analysis suggested that phase angle could be used as an indicator of nutritional status; (3) Creactive protein was negatively associated with plasma proteins; (4) Infected subjects, although few and displaying moderate clinical troubles, were responsible for most C-reactive protein determinations above 8 mg/L; (5) Investigation of occult infectious foci is advised in these circumstances.     

Complementary use of ultrasound and computed tomography in studies of the pancreas and kidney

113 cases of pancreatic and renal disease studied by both ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) were analyzed retrospectively. CT provided a diagnosis when pancreatic ultrasound was unsuccessful due to overlying bowel gas or obesity and when renal ultrasound was unsuccessful due to obesity, reverberations from ribs, small lesions, or multiple lesions. Conversely, ultrasound provided a diagnosis when CT was unsuccessful due to lack of fat planes or respiratory motion. CT usualy distinguished carcinoma from pancreatitis when ultrasound showed a focal echogenic mass. CT resolved renal cyst from neoplasm when ultrasound showed a mixed echo pattern mass.