Dropped head syndrome and Systemic sclerosis

The prominent or isolated weakness of cervical extensor muscles is a relatively rare clinical sign. Commonly, this is known as “dropped-head syndrome”. This abnormal flexion of the head may occur in a variety of neuromuscular diseases and in a few non-neurological disorders as well. Systemic sclerosis is a clinically heterogeneous disorder which affects small arteries, microvessels and connective tissue with the involvement of multiple organs such as lung, heart, kidney and gastrointestinal tract. There is no evidence in literature of association between dropped head syndrome and rheumatic diseases, particularly systemic sclerosis.The case we describe concerns a 74-year-old woman with dropped-head syndrome associated to Systemic sclerosis and pulmonary hypertension in absence of myositis signs.     

Is it possible for a simultaneous biomodification during acid etching on naturally caries-affected dentin bonding?

Clinical Oral Investigations - This study investigated the ability of modified phosphoric acids containing chlorhexidine (CHX) or grape seed extract (GSE) for promoting simultaneous biomodification...     

Thirty-six-month follow-up of cervical composite restorations placed with an MDP-free universal adhesive system using different adhesive protocols: a randomized clinical trial

Clinical Oral Investigations - To evaluate the influence of different application strategies on the clinical behavior of an MDP-free universal adhesive placed in non-carious cervical lesions...     

Cognitive approaches to writing rehabilitation in aphasics: Evaluation of two treatment strategies

Abstract

Chronic aphasic patients received each of two rehabilitation programmes that were devised for writing disturbances according to dual route models of writing function. The phonological treatment stimulated non-lexical phoneme to grapheme conversion procedures whereas patients were stimulated to use whole word form by the visual-semantic treatment. Overall results showed that the effect of both treatment procedures was significant and stable over time. However, when single case improvement was taken into account, almost all patients were found to respond only to one treatment. These results are consistent with a view that models of human cognitive functions are suitable for planning therapies for neuropsychological disturbances.     

Risk factors for postoperative anxiety in children

BACKGROUND: Anxiety is defined as a set of behavioural manifestations that can be divided into state- and trait-anxiety. State-anxiety is a transitory emotional condition that varies in intensity and fluctuates over time. Trait-anxiety is a personality trait which remains relatively stable over time. The objective of this study was to identify and quantify perioperative risk factors for immediate postoperative anxiety in children. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was performed with 90 schoolchildren, ages ranging from 7 to 13 years old, ASA physical status I-II, submitted to elective surgery. The measuring instruments were verbal scale of pain, visual analogue scale (VAS), Trait-State Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), Trait-State Anxiety Inventory (STAI) for parents, and structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Patients not submitted to analgesic block and patients with moderate and intense pain presented an estimated risk 5- and 13-fold greater for high levels of postoperative state-anxiety, respectively. High levels of preoperative state-anxiety and administration of doses of midazolam less than 0.056 mg x kg(-1) constituted an estimated risk for postoperative state-anxiety of 3- and 4-fold, respectively. A positive history of previous surgery was associated with lower risk for postoperative anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of preoperative state-anxiety, administration of less than 0.056 mg x kg(-1) of midazolam, absence of analgesic block and presence of moderate and intense postoperative pain constituted risk factors for immediate postoperative state-anxiety in children. Previous surgery reduced the risk for postoperative anxiety.     

Effect of sodium hypochlorite on the bond strength of an adhesive system to superficial and deep dentin

The objective of this study was to evaluate the bond strength to superficial (SU) and deep (D) dentin, accessed via apical (DA) or occlusal (DO), using One-Step adhesive system applied according to the manufacturer's instructions (C) or following deproteinization with 10% sodium hypochlorite (H) for 60s, after acid etching. Three sound extracted human molars were prepared for each experimental condition. Restorations were performed using Z100 in 2mm increments, each one being light-cured for 40s. Teeth were longitudinally sectioned to obtain stick-shaped specimens with a cross-sectional area of 0.8mm2, which were submitted to bond strength test (0.6mm/min). Results obtained after statistical analysis using a two-way ANOVA (substrate vs. surface treatment) and Tukey's test were: SU (35.4 ± 12.3), DO (26.5 ± 8.5), DA (26.1 ± 10.2) following conventional surface treatment, and SU (28.82 ± 12.7), DO (24.3 ± 8.3) and DA (23.5 ± 8.5), after surface treatment using sodium hypochlorite. The interaction of the factors was not significant (p>0.05). However, the main factors were significant (p<0.05). Mean bond strength values in superficial dentin were statistically superior to deep dentin (p<0.05), although no statistically significant difference was observed between the two via of access to deep dentin (SU>DO=DA). The conventional surface treatment resulted in higher bond strength values than the sodium hypochlorite treatment (p<0.05). It was concluded: 1) bond strength values were higher in superficial dentin, 2) no difference was found between the two deep substrate preparations, and 3) the application of sodium hypochlorite following dentin acid etching may reduce bond strengths.