Development of a New Fixed Functional Appliance for Treatment of Skeletal Class II Malocclusion First Report

Developed under interdisciplinary cooperation, the Functional Mandibular Advancer (FMA) is a new, rigid and fixed appliance for sagittal correction of the intermaxillary jaw relationship in adolescents and young adults. The appliance is non-dependent on patient compliance and is aimed at providing an alternative to the Herbst and MARA appliances. A number of designs, all based on the mechanical principle of the inclined plane combined with guide pins and allowing reactivation, were developed. The version of the appliance providing the best technical advantages was developed to the stage of practical application in patients.     

Colorectal hemangioma: radiologic findings

The authors correlated radiographs with the clinical and histologic data of 12 patients with colorectal hemangioma. All patients presented with rectal bleeding, which was chronic in seven. Phleboliths were also visible in seven cases, which correlated with chronic bleeding in five. On barium studies, three masses were soft and three produced rigid narrowing. The atypical features of rigid luminal narrowing, which might mimic a carcinoma, and hypovascularity correlated with chronic bleeding or visible phleboliths, which suggest the correct diagnosis of colorectal hemangioma.     

Die Haftfähigkeit von Klebebrackets unter Zug- und Scherkräften

Zusammenfassung An 138 extrahierten Zähnen wurde die Haftfähigkeit von verschiedenen aufgeklebten Metall- und Plastikbrackets unter Zug- und Scherkräften sowie unter thermischer Belastung überprüft. Die Klebkraft bei Plastikbrackets lag bei 88,73 kg/cm² und reichte bei verschiedenen Metallbrackets von 33,88 bis 38,39 kg/cm². Die Bruchstellen bei den Metallbrackets befanden sich generell an der Übergangszone Kleber/Bracket. Auf thermische Belastung war nach 8 Wochen (320 Temperatursprünge zwischen 4° C und 70° C) eine geringe Reduktion der Klebefähigkeit von Plastikbrackets festzustellen.

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Summary On 138 extracted teeth the bond strength of different metal and plastic brackets after thermal processing was evaluated using tensile and sheer forces. The mean bond strength with plastic brackets was 80,73 kg/cm² and ranged from 33,88 to 38,39 kg/cm² with different metal brackets. The failures of metal brackets generally occurred at the adhesive-bracket interface. As an effect of thermal processing over 8 weeks a slight reduction of bond strength with plastic brackets was evident.

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Résumé Sur 138 dents extraites, on a vérifié l'adhérence de divers brackets métalliques ou en plastique en employant des forces de traction, de cisaillement ou des modifications thermiques. L'adhérence moyenne des brackets en plastique était de 88,73 kg/cm² et celle des brackets métalliques allait de 33,88 jusqu'à 38,39 kg/cm². Le lieu de rupture des brackets métalliques se situait en général au niveau de la face interne métallique. Les modifications thermiques (320 sautes de température entre 4° C et 70° C) n'ont provoqué qu'une minime réduction d'adhérence des brackets en plastique, après 8 semaines.

     

New developments in the use of peptide gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists versus agonists

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulates the pituitary secretion of both luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and thus controls the hormonal and reproductive functions of the gonads. The blockade of the effects of GnRH may be sought for a variety of reasons; for example, to control premature LH surges and to reduce the cancellation rate with the aim of improving the pregnancy rate per treatment cycle or in the treatment of sex hormone-dependent disorders. Selective blockade of LH/FSH secretion and subsequent chemical castration have previously been achieved by desensitising the pituitary to continuously administered GnRH or by giving long-acting GnRH agonists. GnRH analogues are indicated for clinical situations in which the suppression of endogenous gonadotropins (precocious puberty, contraception and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation) or sexual steroids (endometriosis, prostate hyperplasia, cancer and uterine fibroids) is desired. The immediate suppression of the pituitary that is achieved by GnRH antagonists without an initial stimulatory effect is the main advantage of these compounds over the agonists. GnRH antagonists have been developed for clinical use with acceptable pharmacokinetic, safety and commercial profiles. In assisted reproduction, these compounds seem to be as effective as established therapy, but with shorter treatment times, less use of gonadotropic hormones, improved patient acceptance, and fewer follicles and oocytes. All of the current indications for GnRH agonist desensitisation may prove to be indications for a GnRH antagonist, including endometriosis, leiomyoma and breast cancer in women, benign prostatic hypertrophy and prostatic carcinoma in men, and central precocious puberty in children. However, the best clinical evidence has been in assisted reproduction and prostate cancer.