Neck circumference and excess weight: proposal of cutoff points for Brazilian adolescents

ObjectiveTo indicate neck circumference (NC) cutoff points to identify excess weight at different stages of somatic maturation and evaluate the association between NC and body mass index (BMI).MethodsCross-sectional study with 1715 adolescents. BMI was classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Somatic maturation was obtained through the peak growth velocity (PGV). To define the cutoff points, curves of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) model were constructed. The agreement between the anthropometric evaluation instruments was analyzed. The association between the variables was verified.ResultsOf the girls, 93 were in the pre-PGV stage, 266 in the PGV stage, and 481 in the post-PGV stage. Of the boys, 264 were in the pre-PGV stage, 334 in the PGV stage, and 277 in the post-PGV stage. For the pre-PGV group, the cutoff point was 28 cm for females and 29 cm for males; for the group during PGV, the cutoff points were 30 cm for females and 33 cm for males; in the post-PGV group the cutoff values were 32 cm in females and 35 cm in males. The prevalence of excess weight was higher in the pre-PGV stage in males and in the PGV stage in females. The correlation coefficients were higher in the pre-PGV and PGV stages.ConclusionThe cutoff points for NC found in this study showed good sensitivity and specificity to identify excess weight in Brazilian adolescents and can be used as a reference in epidemiological studies.     

The oculomotor cistern: anatomy and high-resolution imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The oculomotor cistern (OMC) is a small CSF-filled dural cuff that invaginates into the cavernous sinus, surrounding the third cranial nerve (CNIII). It is used by neurosurgeons to mobilize CNIII during cavernous sinus surgery. In this article, we present the OMC imaging spectrum as delineated on 1.5T and 3T MR images and demonstrate its involvement in cavernous sinus pathology.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 78 high-resolution screening MR images of the internal auditory canals (IAC) obtained for sensorineural hearing loss. Cistern length and diameter were measured. Fifty randomly selected whole-brain MR images were evaluated to determine how often the OMC can be visualized on routine scans. Three volunteers underwent dedicated noncontrast high-resolution MR imaging for optimal OMC visualization.RESULTS: One or both OMCs were visualized on 75% of IAC screening studies. The right cistern length averaged 4.2 ± 3.2 mm; the opening diameter (the porus) averaged 2.2 ± 0.8 mm. The maximal length observed was 13.1 mm. The left cistern length averaged 3.0 ± 1.7 mm; the porus diameter averaged 2.1 ±1.0 mm, with a maximal length of 5.9 mm. The OMC was visualized on 64% of routine axial T2-weighted brain scans.CONCLUSION: The OMC is an important neuroradiologic and surgical landmark, which can be routinely identified on dedicated thin-section high-resolution MR images. It can also be identified on nearly two thirds of standard whole-brain MR images.

The oculomotor nerve (the third cranial nerve [CNIII]) is accompanied by a CSF-filled arachnoid-lined dural cuff as it enters the superolateral cavernous sinus roof. This oculomotor cistern (OMC) is well known to neurosurgeons as an avascular space used to expose and mobilize the nerve during cavernous sinus surgery. However, there has been no radiographic documentation and delineation of this cistern. The OMC is an important landmark for all surgeries involving the roof and lateral walls of the cavernous sinus, the basilar cisterns, the suprasellar area, and the middle cranial base.¹ It is important for radiologists and neurosurgeons planning tumor resection in this area to understand OMC MR imaging anatomy and pathology.We performed both a retrospective review of routine and high-resolution MR imaging of the brain as well as prospective dedicated imaging of the OMC and the surrounding structures to detail normal OMC imaging anatomy. We also illustrate its appearance in pathology involving the cavernous sinus.     

Reconstruction of frontal bone using specific implant polyether-ether-ketone

Defects on the craniofacial complex may result in aesthetic defects, functional damage, and psychologic consequences. Previously, surgeons showed no interest in reconstructing the operated area, but in the treatment of the problem, leaving bone contour is a secondary issue. Nowadays, area reconstruction with post-reestablishment of contour and local shape has become one of the surgeon's priorities. The use of alloplastic implants with specific digital design has been stated to be an effective technique on the treatment of craniofacial defects, reducing the need for manipulation in the intraoperative period and decreasing surgery time. Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is a potential candidate because it is a linear polyaromatic semicrystalline polymer that combines strength, stiffness, durability, and resistance. Polyether ether ketone biocompatibility has been supported in literature, and subsequent medical applications of the material have been observed. The aim of this study was to describe a case of frontal bone defect reconstruction in which the PEEK was used as polymer material in a specific implant for the Synthes (PEEK-PSI) patient.     

Study on morphology, pathogenicity, and genetic variability of Beauveria bassiana isolates obtained from Boophilus microplus tick

Fifty isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, 1912 (Ascomycota: Clavicipitaceae) were analyzed by morphology, for their pathogenic potential to Boophilus microplus (Canestrini, 1887) (Acari: Ixodidae) larvae, and by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA-Polymerase Chain Reaction technique. Morphological analysis demonstrated that isolates present characteristics compatible to those described for B. bassiana in the literature. Virulence test demonstrated that all isolates present lethal effect on larvae and that the lethal concentration varies among isolates. The most virulent isolate was the only one obtained from human infection, which was also the only isolate presenting synnemata. The study on genetic variability among the isolates allowed the identification of 23 electrophoretic profiles. The established groupings suggest that most of the isolates obtained from B. microplus of the same locality present low genetic variation. In this way, the data in the present study will contribute to a meticulous characterization of these B. bassiana isolates.     

MAT2A Inhibition Blocks the Growth of MTAP-Deleted Cancer Cells by Reducing PRMT5-Dependent mRNA Splicing and Inducing DNA Damage

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Neurofibromas of the oral and maxillofacial complex: A 48-year retrospective study

Neurofibromas are benign neoplasms of the peripheral nerve sheath, characterized by the proliferation of Schwann cells, perineural cells and endoneural fibroblasts. Their occurrence in the oral and maxillofacial complex is uncommon. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and histopathological characteristics of neurofibromas of the oral and maxillofacial complex excised at our institution over a 48-year period. Using light microscopy, two previously trained oral pathologists re-evaluated all hematoxylin and eosin slides. From a total of 15,375 cases diagnosed at a referred Oral Pathology Service, 24 cases were diagnosed as neurofibromas. Eighteen neurofibroma patients were female, with a mean age of 39.1 years. Three patients presenting neurofibromas exhibited neurofibromatosis type I. Clinically, most of the lesions presented as asymptomatic nodules, and the most frequent sites were the tongue (n = 6; 25.0%), gingiva (n = 6; 25.0%) and intraosseous maxillary bone region (n = 3; 12.5%). Histopathologically, the lesions were predominantly well delimited, exhibiting interlocking bundles of spindle-shaped cells that usually displayed wavy nuclei, associated with delicate collagen fibers. Thus, knowledge of their clinical and histopathological features by dentists and oral pathologists is essential for the correct diagnosis of these lesions.