Histological evaluation of dog permanent teeth after traumatic intrusion of their primary predecessors

Abstract –  The aims of this study were to analyze the histomorphology of developing permanent teeth whose primary teeth had suffered traumatic intrusion, as well as to compare the influence of immediate extraction of the intruded tooth to passive re-eruption. Nine dogs from 45 to 50 days old were submitted to the intrusion of the maxillary central and lateral primary incisors using a force applicator adapted to the teeth incisal cuspids. The right side intruded teeth were kept in their sockets and the ones on the left side were extracted 30 min later. After a postoperatory periods of 30 and 60 days, four (group 1) and five (group 2) dogs, respectively, were killed by perfusion. The histological evaluations showed that, in group 1, alterations had occurred in the odontoblastic layer and deposition of the enamel matrix had taken place in some specimens while in group 2, a portion of non-mineralized matrix was observed. We concluded that the morphological changes were because of the immediate trauma of intrusion. No differences were found between the groups where the primary tooth was immediately extracted or left to passively re-erupt.     

Pharmacologic and enzymatic effects of snake venoms from Antioquia and Choco (Colombia)]

We compared several pharmacological and enzymatic effects induced by 11 snake venoms from seven species, six of them from different geographic areas of Antioquia and Choco, north-west of Colombia, South America (Bothrops atrox, B. nasutus, B. schlegelii, B. punctatus, Lachesis muta, Micrurus mipartitus), and Crotalus durissus terrificus venom, from specimens captured in other provinces of the country (Tolima, Huila, Meta and Atlantico). Differences were observed in edema-forming, hemorrhage, defibrination, indirect hemolysis, myonecrosis, proteolysis and lethal activity between venoms from different genera or species, as well as according to the geographic area of origin in B. atrox and B. nasutus snake venoms. Bothrops venoms, in particular B. atrox and L. muta, produced major local effects. All of the venoms, including M. mipartitus, had myotoxic effects. The most defibrinating venoms were B. atrox, L. muta, B. punctatus and C. d. terrificus. All of the venoms had indirect hemolytic activity; the venom of M. mipartitus being greatest. The most lethal venoms were those of C. d. terrificus and M. mipartitus. Within Bothrops species, the venom of B. schlegelii was the least active in terms of local and systemic pathologic effects.     

Serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels do not predict the efficiency of testicular sperm retrieval in men with non-obstructive azoospermia.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine whether serum concentrations of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) can be used as a tool for prediction of the efficacy of sperm retrieval. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort observational study. AMH levels were determined in 47 men presenting for infertility evaluation. Group 1 consisted of 24 infertile patients diagnosed with non-obstructive azoospermia. Group 1 was further divided into two subgroups. The patients with spermatozoa in their testicular samples constituted group 1a (n = 13), while the patients with absence of spermatozoa constituted group 1b (n = 11). Twenty-three normozoospermic fertile men constituted group 2. Serum AMH was measured before obtaining testicular specimens. RESULTS: Testicular spermatozoa were recovered in 13 out of the 24 patients (54%). Demographic characteristics of the three groups were similar. The difference between serum AMH levels among the three groups did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: We speculated that although AMH is secreted predominantly into the seminiferous tubules, studying serum samples might be more advantageous than seminal plasma because the presence of seminal proteases could influence AMH levels in the latter. However, our results did not demonstrate differences in serum concentrations of AMH between the studied groups. Studies with extended patient populations focusing on seminal plasma concentrations of AMH are warranted.     

Laparoscopic Deployment of Biliary Self-Expandable Metal Stent (SEMS) for One-Step Palliation in 23 Patients with Advanced Pancreatico-Biliary Tumors—a Pilot Trial

Background Exploratory laparoscopy is commonly undertaken in patients with highly suspicious biliary and pancreatic lesions to facilitate diagnosis and staging cancer is present. If an unresectable tumor is identified, a second endoscopic procedure may be required do deploy a self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) for palliation. As endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography (ERCP) may be unsuccessful in up to 20% of patients, we evaluated the feasibility and safety of deployment of self-expandable metal stents at the same time as the initial laparoscopy. Patients and Methods A total of 23 eligible patients (8 male and 15 female) with malignant obstruction of the common bile duct underwent deployment of SEMS at laparoscopy. Primary outcome measure was the successful laparoscopic deployment of stent and secondary outcome measure was complications rates. Results Indications for stent deployment were unresectable pancreatic cancer in 18, cholangiocarcinoma in two, neuroendocrine tumor in one and ampullary adenocarcinoma in two patients. The median age was 73 years (range 49–93). Twenty-two of 23 stents were deployed successfully: 17 stents were deployed transcystically and five via a choledochotomy. Median times for laparoscopic exploration and SEMS deployment were 165 min (range 105–230) and 20 min (range 10–50), respectively. Pre- and post-procedures median total bilirubin were 9.4 mg/dl (range 5.4–17.5) and 4.0 (range 2.6–7.1). The median size of the pancreatic mass was 3 cm (range 2–5 cm) and that of the common bile duct (CBD) from 9.2 mm (range 7.2–17.4). The mean duration of laparoscopy was 170 min (range 120–230 min) and that for stent deployment 23 min (range 10–50 min). Complications included bleeding, obstruction, and wound infection. Bleeding occurred on day 7 in two patients and on day 30 in one patient; bleeding occurred at the gastrojejunal anastomosis site and was successfully treated with endoscopic hemostasis. A total of three stent obstructions were identified: one each at 60, 90, and 120 days follow-up. All complications were successfully managed endoscopically. There were a total of seven deaths, six as a result of progressive cancer and one of surgical wound infection and ensuing complications. Conclusion This study demonstrates that laparoscopic deployment of self-expandable metal bile duct stents is feasible and safe. This option appears to be a reasonable option in patients with inoperable malignant obstruction of the distal common bile duct.     

Histopathological effects of [D-Leu]Microcystin-LR variants on liver, skeletal muscle and intestinal tract of Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes, 1844)

This study evaluated the effects of [D-Leu¹]Microcystin-LR variants, by the exposure of Hypophthalmichthys molitrix to Microcystis aeruginosa NPLJ4. Fish was placed in aquariums and exposed to 10⁵ cells mL⁻¹. For 15 days, 05 individuals were removed every 05 days, and tissue samples of liver, skeletal muscle and intestinal tract were collected for histopathologic analyses. Following exposure, those surviving were placed in clean water for 15 days to evaluate their recovery. A control without toxins was maintained in the same conditions and exhibited normal histology and no tissue damage. In exposed fish, samples were characterized by serious damages that similarly affected the different organs, such as dissociation of cells, necrosis and haemorrhage. Samples showed signs of recovery but severe damages were still observed. The results should be valuable to analyze the potency of microcystin toxicity and to help in the diagnosis of fish deaths.     

Whole-heart cine MRI using real-time respiratory self-gating.

Two-dimensional (2D) breath-hold cine MRI is used to assess cardiac anatomy and function. However, this technique requires cooperation from the patient, and in some cases the scan planning is complicated. Isotropic nonangulated three-dimensional (3D) cardiac MR can overcome some of these problems because it requires minimal planning and can be reformatted in any plane. However, current methods, even those that use undersampling techniques, involve breath-holding for periods that are too long for many patients. Free-breathing respiratory gating sequences represent a possible solution for realizing 3D cine imaging. A real-time respiratory self-gating technique for whole-heart cine MRI is presented. The technique enables assessment of cardiac anatomy and function with minimum planning or patient cooperation. Nonangulated isotropic 3D data were acquired from five healthy volunteers and then reformatted into 2D clinical views. The respiratory self-gating technique is shown to improve image quality in free-breathing scanning. In addition, ventricular volumetric data obtained using the 3D approach were comparable to those acquired with the conventional multislice 2D approach.