Assessment of nitrite oxide and maternal–fetal Doppler parameters during pregnancy

Objective: The objective was to evaluate and compare the whole blood nitrite concentration in the three trimesters of pregnancy. Additionally, we investigate whether there is any relation between nitrite concentrations and Doppler ultrasound analysis of some maternal and fetal vessels.

Methods: Thirty-three healthy pregnant women were examined at the first (11–14 weeks), second (20–24 weeks) and third trimester (34–36 weeks) of pregnancy. In the three exams, we determined the maternal whole blood nitrite concentration and uterine arteries Doppler analysis to determine pulsatility index (PI), and resistance index (RI). In the second and third trimester we also performed fetal umbilical and middle cerebral arteries PI and RI. We compared the concentrations of nitrite in three trimesters and correlated with Doppler parameters.

Results: No difference was observed in the whole blood nitrite concentrations across trimesters: 151.70?±?77.90?nmol/ml, 142.10?±?73.50?nmol/ml and 147.10?±?87.30?nmol/ml; first, second and third trimesters, respectively. We found no difference in correlation between whole blood nitrite concentration and Doppler parameters from the evaluated vessels.

Conclusions: In healthy pregnant women, the nitrite concentrations did not change across gestational trimesters and there was also no strong correlation with Doppler impedance indices from maternal uterine arteries and fetal umbilical and middle cerebral arteries.     

Simultaneous or sequential gastrectomy in pediatric liver transplant recipients

The association between LT and gastrectomy is not common. Only two studies reported the gastrectomy/LT association in children. Here, we report three children who underwent LT who required a concomitant or sequential gastrectomy for different reasons. Patient 1, a 16‐yr‐old boy, during the LT, underwent a partial gastrectomy due to extensive injury to the duodenum. He had a previous and unusual portoenterostomy performed in the duodenum. Bowel reconstruction was performed using an intestinal loop that was first used for the bilio‐enteric anastomosis and then connected to the gastric stump. Patient 2, a 22‐month‐old female child, underwent a partial gastrectomy with a Roux‐en‐Y reconstruction during a retransplantation. She had a large perforated gastric ulcer blocked by the allograft liver. Patient 3, a 26‐month‐old male child, five yr after living donor LT, was submitted to a partial gastrectomy because of gastric outlet obstruction. The histopathology was compatible with eosinophilic gastritis. The association between LT and gastrectomy in the pediatric population is extremely rare. Appropriate knowledge of the previous transplantation technique is very important. Further studies are required to assess the outcomes of the different types of gastric reconstruction in pediatric recipients.     

Effector memory CD4+ T cells differentially express activation associated molecules depending on the duration of American cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions

A high number of Leishmania‐responder T cells is found in cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions, suggesting that important immunological events occur at the site of infection. Although activated, cytotoxic and regulatory T cells infiltrating into lesions may influence disease pathogenesis, the role of the T cell differentiation pattern of lymphocytes in lesions is unknown. Our aim was to investigate whether the phase of lesion development (early or late) is influenced by the functional status of cells present in inflammatory infiltrate. Activation, cytotoxity and T cell differentiation molecules were evaluated in lesion mononuclear cells by flow cytometry. The frequency of T cells was correlated with the lesion area (r = 0·68; P = 0·020). CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells predominated over CD4⁺CD69⁺ T cells in early lesions (less than 30 days), whereas late lesions (more than 60 days) exhibited more CD4⁺CD69⁺ T cells than CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells. The duration of illness was correlated positively with CD4⁺CD69⁺ (r = 0·68; P = 0·005) and negatively with CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells (r = ?0·45; P = 0·046). Most CD8⁺ T cells expressed cytotoxic‐associated molecules (CD244⁺), and the percentages were correlated with the lesion area (r = 0·52; P = 0·04). Both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ effector memory T cells (T_EM‐CD45RO⁺CCR7^–) predominated in CL lesions and were significantly higher than central memory (T_CM‐CD45RO⁺CCR7⁺) or naive T cells (CD45RO^–CCR7⁺). An enrichment of T_EM cells and contraction of naive T cells were observed in lesions in comparison to blood (P = 0·006) for both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells. Lesion chronicity is associated with a shift in activation phenotype. The enrichment of T_EM and activated cytotoxic cells can contribute to immune‐mediated tissue damage.     

Experimental infectious bursal disease in the ostrich (Struthio camelus)

Clinically severe disease was produced in ostriches aged 4 weeks by oral infection with a virulent strain of infectious bursal disease virus (vIBDV), namely strain Faragher 52/70. Four days after infection the birds were humanely killed and tissue samples, including thymus, bursa of Fabricius (BF), brain and kidney were collected for examination. Histopathologically, the thymus and BF showed severe lymphoid depletion and necrosis, while immunolabelling with a polyclonal antibody demonstrated abundant viral antigen.     

EMG study of the pectoralis major (sternal portion), teres major, latissimus dorsi and deltoid medial muscles in volleyball players

The pectoralis major (sternal portion), teres major, latissimus dorsi and deltoid medial muscles has been studied through in the electromyography in 8 male individuals, who practice volleyball, youth category, (age between 15 and 17 (average 16.25), right-handed, involved in volleyball for about one year. The objective was to analyze the potential of action of these muscles engaged in the volleyball movements: service, spike, pass, set and blocking with and without ball. The work was developed in the laboratory of Electromyography and Biomechanics of Posture (Physical Education Faculty - State University of Campinas - UNICAMP). To caption the muscles action potential, surface electrodes were set with conductive gel and fixed on the skin, in the center of the muscles. It was used an electromyography Lynx with 6 channels. The apparatus calibration was 3000 microV; 1199.760 Hz. The sequential experiments without ball were performed for 10 seconds, and the sequential experiments with ball in 12 seconds. RESULTS: None of the muscles presented significative difference (p > 0,05) when compared to the sequential movements executed with and without ball. When compared to the sequential movements executed without ball, the only muscles that presented significative differences (p < 0,05) were: pectoralis major / deltoid and latissimus dorsi / deltoid, for another hand when in the comparative of the movements with ball, all muscles when compared to the latissimus dorsi, presented a significance difference (p < 0,05). It is interesting to observe, that the general average and the standard deviation of the deltoid muscle (medial portion), teres major, and latis-simus dorsi were higher in the sequential movements executed without ball.     

Canine visceral leishmaniasis in northeast Brazil: epidemiological aspects

In a rural area of Northeast Brazil, the relatively high serological infection by Leishmania in dogs, the lack of classical vector Lutzomyia longipalpis and of American Visceral Leishmaniasis cases in human beings and the observation of Leishmania in ticks collected in infected dogs suggest that ticks may be responsible for the transmission between dogs.     

USE OF CERVICAL VERTEBRAL DIMENSIONS FOR ASSESSMENT OF CHILDREN GROWTH

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether skeletal maturation using cephalometric radiographs could be used in a Brazilian population.

Material and Methods:

The study population was selected from the files of the Oral Radiological Clinic of the Dental School of Piracicaba, Brazil and consisted of 128 girls and 110 boys (7.0 to 15.9 years old) who had cephalometric and hand-wrist radiographs taken on the same day. Cervical vertebral bone age was evaluated using the method described by Mito and colleagues in 2002. Bone age was assessed by the Tanner-Whitehouse (TW3) method and was used as a gold standard to determine the reliability of cervical vertebral bone age. An analysis of variance and Tukey''s post-hoc test were used to compare cervical vertebral bone age, bone age and chronological age at 5% significance level.

Results:

The analysis of the Brazilian female children data showed that there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between cervical vertebral bone age and chronological age and between bone age and chronological age. However no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) was found between cervical vertebral bone age and bone age. Differently, the analysis of the male children data revealed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between cervical vertebral bone age and bone age and between cervical vertebral bone age and chronological age (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

The findings of the present study suggest that the method for objectively evaluating skeletal maturation on cephalometric radiographs by determination of vertebral bone age can be applied to Brazilian females only. The development of a new method to objectively evaluate cervical vertebral bone age in males is needed.     

Treatment of a second maxillary molar with six canals

Variations in the dental anatomy are found in all teeth. Knowledge of these variations, particularly concerning the location and treatment of all canals, is very important for the success of the endodontic therapy. The purpose of this study is to present a clinical case of a maxillary second molar with three palatal canals, two mesio-buccal and one disto-buccal canal. This report serves to remind clinicians that such anatomical variations should be taken into account during endodontic treatment of the maxillary molars.