Influence of age on the reactivity of the BANA test among Brazilian children.

Three hundred and twenty samples of subgingival plaque were obtained from 80 caucasian girls, ranging from 10 to 13 years of age. The samples were analyzed to verify the influence of age upon colonization of the gingival sulcus by microorganisms potentially pathogenic to the periodontal tissues. The gingival and plaque status were evaluated through the gingival index (GI) and plaque index (PlI) and the microflora was assessed by the enzymatic method benzoyl-arginine-naphthylamide (BANA). The results of the BANA test were positive for 62.50% of the tested individuals and 40% of the examined sites. The influence of age was statistically significant on BANA reactivity, and the number of positive sites was greater at 11 (57.5%) than at 12 years (28.8%).     

Facial reanimation after acoustic neuroma excision: the patient's perspective

Facial reanimation after acoustic neuroma excision is currently accomplished using a variety of surgical techniques. A multi-institutional survey of patient perceptions of facial reanimation success was accomplished by mailing a questionnaire to 809 randomly selected members of the Acoustic Neuroma Association. Four hundred sixty patients who underwent 296 reanimation procedures responded. Facial to hypoglossal nerve anastomosis, tarsorrhaphy, and upper eyelid implants were most frequently performed. The patient's estimations of initial deficit, spontaneous recovery, and overall satisfaction with the reanimation procedures are discussed.     

Acute multilocular osteomyelitis in infancy and childhood

38 cases of acute multilocular osteomyelitis out of a total of 165 osteomyelitis patients were treated between 1974 and 1986 at the Department of Paediatric Surgery and Paediatric Diseases at the University of Mainz. Osteomyelitis in infants was separated from juvenile osteomyelitis because of the different problems inherent to this disease depending upon the age; likewise, multilocular remote involvement was separated from regional multiple involvement. It was found that distant involvement is of special importance in infancy. 6 of the 8 cases in this group presented with symmetrical involvement. This interesting phenomenon is described in this article for the first time in acute multilocular osteomyelitis; so far, it was known to occur only in chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO). The infants in this group were predominantly newborn who were particularly severely handicapped by predisposing factors such as necessary intensive-care measures or surgical interventions. Our findings showed that in this age group most of the problems occurred, namely: 3 deaths and 2 healing defects in 8 children. For this reason it is imperative to effect particularly close monitoring of multilocular acute osteomyelitis in infancy. This must be considered as a paediatric and paediatric-surgical emergency requiring not only accurate diagnostic measures but also early internistic and surgical treatment to improve the prognosis of this specific disease pattern.     

Fetal growth in hypertensive women]

The Authors examine the correlation between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and fetal growth. The results of a study of 342 pregnancies, confirm a significant correlation between hypertension and fetal growth retardation. These findings, so evident in moderate and severe hypertension, have also been confirmed in cases of mild hypertension. The medical treatment also in the pregnancies with mild hypertension, and a larger utilisation of operative deliveries, determined a decrease in perinatal mortality and morbidity.     

Effects of Sclerocarya birroea Hochst. extract on some metabolic activities in the rat

The decoction of Sclerocarya birroea Hochst. shows hypoglycaemic effects, an increase in plasma IRI in normal rats and an incremented oral-glucose tolerance. The decoction is also active against diet-induced hypercholesterolaemia.     

Growth and development in rats and deficiency of magnesium and pyridoxine

Eight-eight female weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets containing either 650 or 150 mg magnesium/kg diet and 7.0 or 3.5 mg pyridoxine-HCl/kg diet, in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, during growth, gestation, and lactation. The objective of the study was to determine whether concurrent dietary deficiencies of magnesium and pyridoxine were synergistic, additive, or antagonistic with regards to effects on reproductive performance, growth, and development of offspring, and tissue content of magnesium and calcium. Body weight of dams and pups was not different between groups until day 9 of lactation, at which point those animals in either low magnesium group weighed less than the other. Litter size and birth weight were not different. Development, as measured by timing of unfolding of the external ear, opening of both eyes, and clinical emergence of incisors, was delayed in pups from litters in the low magnesium groups. A synergistic effect on delay of onset of ear unfolding by deficiency of both magnesium and pyridoxine was observed. Calcium content of heart and kidney from dams was increased in the low magnesium groups. Renal calcium was not further increased by the level of pyridoxine deficiency in this study. The calcium to magnesium ratio in heart from pups was higher in those from litters in the low magnesium and pyridoxine group than in the others. Results indicate that simultaneous deficiencies of magnesium and pyridoxine may impair function synergistically. Because these two nutrients are often reported to be presented in inadequate amounts in diets of women in their reproductive years, the potential exists for impaired reproductive success.     

Herpes zoster: a consideration in the differential diagnosis of radiculopathy

Herpes zoster probably occurs more often than generally thought. Since it produces a radicular distribution of pain, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of radiculopathy. A case is presented in which evaluating the radicular low back pain before the characteristic rash appears was misleading. Careful history-taking concerning the exact nature of the pain and sensory changes is needed to differentiate between zoster and radiculopathy, if no rash is evident.