A device to measure in vivo forces in human flexor tendons during carpal tunnel operations

An apparatus has been designed to measure the in vivo forces transmitted along human hand flexor tendons during carpal tunnel release procedures. The tendon will be run through three hooks, the central one of which is attached to a load cell. The rationale is that once these forces are known this will aid in the design of repair techniques and rehabilitation regimens. As a first stage, an in vitro validation study is presented using cord subjected to varying forces to mimic an in vivo flexor tendon under varying conditions of use. Our results show that we can accurately and reproducibly measure the force in the cord.     

Automated diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome using 3D facial image analysis

OBJECTIVES: Use three-dimensional (3D) facial laser scanned images from children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and controls to develop an automated diagnosis technique that can reliably and accurately identify individuals prenatally exposed to alcohol. METHODS: A detailed dysmorphology evaluation, history of prenatal alcohol exposure, and 3D facial laser scans were obtained from 149 individuals (86 FAS; 63 Control) recruited from two study sites (Cape Town, South Africa and Helsinki, Finland). Computer graphics, machine learning, and pattern recognition techniques were used to automatically identify a set of facial features that best discriminated individuals with FAS from controls in each sample. RESULTS: An automated feature detection and analysis technique was developed and applied to the two study populations. A unique set of facial regions and features were identified for each population that accurately discriminated FAS and control faces without any human intervention. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that computer algorithms can be used to automatically detect facial features that can discriminate FAS and control faces.     

经口腔机器人手术治疗头颈癌的初步经验

该文旨在研究经口腔机器人手术（TORS）治疗头颈部恶性肿瘤的技术可行性、安全性及有效性。对应用daVinci外科机器人治疗的20例患者进行前瞻性研究。纳入标准为成年患者的早期头颈癌，包括口腔癌、口咽癌、下咽癌及喉癌。结果，2例无法充分达到手术部位，手术终止。其他18例术后手术切缘阴性。8例行组织重建。10行单侧颈淋巴清扫，5例行双侧颈清，未行气管切开，术中、术后无并发症。     

Prevalence of alveolar bone loss in healthy children treated at private pediatric dentistry clinics

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of alveolar bone loss (BL) in healthy children treated at private pediatric dentistry clinics in Brasília, Brazil.

Material and Methods

The research included 7,436 sites present in 885 radiographs from 450 children. The BL prevalence was estimated by measuring the distance from the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) to alveolar bone crest (ABC). Data were divided in groups: (I) No BL: distance from CEJ to ABC is ≤2 mm; (II) questionable BL (QBL): distance from CEJ to ABC is >2 and <3 mm; (III) definite BL (DBL): distance from CEJ to ABC ≥3 mm. Data were treated by the chi-square nonparametric test and Fisher''s exact test (p<0.05).

Results

Among males, 89.31% were classified in group I, 9.82% were classified in group II and 0.85% in group III. Among females, 93.05%, 6.48% and 0.46% patients were classified in Group I, II and III, respectively. The differences between genders were not statistically significant (Chi-square test, p = 0.375). Group composition according to patients’ age showed that 91.11% of individuals were classified as group I, 8.22% in group II and 0.67% in group III. The differences among the age ranges were not statistically significant (Chi-square test, p = 0.418). The mesial and distal sites showed a higher prevalence of BL in the jaw, QBL (89.80%) and DBL (79.40%), and no significant difference was observed in the distribution of QBL (Fisher’s exact test p = 0.311) and DBL (Fisher’s exact test p = 0.672) in the dental arches. The distal sites exhibited higher prevalence of both QBL (77.56%) and DBL (58.82%).

Conclusions

The periodontal status of children should never be underestimated because BL occurs even in healthy populations, although in a lower frequency.     

Expression of stratified epithelial-type cytokeratins in hyalinizing trabecular adenomas supports their relationship with papillary carcinomas of the thyroid

 

Aim:

To evaluate the cytokeratin pattern of expression of hyalinizing trabecular adenomas and to verify whether or not these tumours, that share morphological features with papillary carcinomas, present the stratified epithelial-type cytokeratins commonly found in ordinary papillary carcinomas.  

Methods and results:

This study consisted of the immunohistochemical detection of simple and stratified epithelial type cytokeratin filaments in a series of six hyalinizing trabecular adenomas, three papillary carcinomas with a trabecular growth pattern and two carcinomas combining hyalinizing trabecular and papillary patterns. Simple epithelial-type cytokeratins 7, 8, 18 and 19 were found in every case. Expression of the stratified epithelial-type cytokeratins 1, 5/6 and/or 13 was detected in four hyalinizing trabecular adenomas.  

Conclusion:

Based on this, as well as on the cytological features and on the frequent co-occurrence of hyalinizing trabecular adenoma and papillary carcinoma, we suggest that the former lesion may be considered a peculiar encapsulated variant of papillary carcinoma.     

The role of plain radiographs in the diagnosis of chronic maxillary rhinosinusitis in adults

Background

Computed tomography is currently the gold standard for the diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis. However, this facility is not readily available in many developing countries. Thus, plain sinus radiography is still widely in use in our practice.

Objectives

To assess the diagnostic value of plain radiographs in adult patients with uncomplicated chronic maxillary rhinosinusitis.

Methods

This study was carried out at a tertiary health facility in Northern Nigeria. All adult patients with clinical and radiological diagnosis of chronic maxillary rhinosinusitis were included.

Results

A total of 88 patients were recruited into the study. There were 51 males (58.0%) and 37 (42.0%) females. Their ages ranged from 18 to 60 years; with a mean age of 31.7±9.20 years. Mucosal thickening was the commonest diagnostic plain radiographic feature, and fluid level was the least. Maxillary antra with diagnostic plain radiographic interpretations of fluid level, haziness and opacity had high specificities (100%, 95.2%, and 85.7%) and high positive predictive values (100%, 75%, and 70%) respectively.

Conclusions

Plain radiographs are relevant in the diagnosis of chronic maxillary rhinosinusitis in our locality only when they show features of fluid level: findings of haziness and opacity are of less diagnostic value.     

Digital Gangrene Associated with Anticentromere Antibodies

Anticentromere antibodies have been associated with peripheral vascular occlusive disease, but then it is mostly accompanied by sclerodactyly in the context of a connective tissue disorder. We report a case of digital gangrene in a 75 year old lady with no other associations except positive anticentromere antibodies.     

Coexistence of diffuse plane normolipaemic xanthoma and amyloidosis in a patient with monoclonal gammopathy

Diffuse plane normolipaemic xanthomatosis (DPNX) is a well-defined clinicopathological entity that characteristically presents with yellow–orange plaques in the periorbital areas, the neck, the upper trunk and the flexural folds. DPNX has been reported in association with lymphoproliferative disorders and, occasionally, with miscellaneous, probably coincidental disorders. A case of DPNX in a patient with an IgGλ monoclonal gammopathy and systemic amyloidosis is reported. Clinical and histopathological findings revealed typical features of DPNX and amyloidosis coexisting in the cutaneous lesions. To our knowledge this is the first reported case showing coexistence of xanthoma and amyloidosis in cutaneous lesions in a patient with a monoclonal gammopathy.