Long-term results of a new stapedotomy prosthesis

The long-term results of a new, home-made stapedotomy prosthesis are presented. The innovations of this prosthesis concern both portions, design for attachment to the incus and shaft. Our series include a total number of 42 individuals with stapes fixation, operated using the new prosthesis, with a medical follow-up period between eighteen months and five years. Our innovations offer a proper and safe insertion of the prosthesis into the oval window associated with excellent manipulation and handling. These advantages could be of major importance for younger surgeons and trainees. Postoperative hearing results are similar to those achieved with other commercially available pistons.     

The anterior attention network: associations with temperament and neuroendocrine activity in 6-year-old children

The capacity to effortfully control or regulate behavior is of central importance in social development. Individual differences in effortful control have been hypothesized to reflect biologically based, temperamental variation among children. Posner and Rothbart (1994, 1998) have argued that the anterior attention system, which includes areas of the midprefrontal cortex, underlies effortful control capabilities. Furthermore, components of the anterior attentional system are believed to be involved in the regulation of reactive, emotion-related system, such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical system. We assessed 58 six-year-old children's performance on neuropsychological tasks that have been found in functional imaging studies to involve the anterior brain regions which Posner (1995) describes as comprising the anterior attentional system. We then related performance on these tasks to delay of gratification tasks and parent report of temperament and behavior problems as well as home and laboratory cortisol levels. Results provide some support for Posner and Rothbart's model and suggest a relationship between the anterior attentional system and cortisol regulation. However, these data also illustrate the multifaceted nature of effortful control and the need for care when attempting to understand the neural systems involved in the effortful regulation of behavior.     

Diagnoses,clinical classification,and proposed treatment of spontaneous early exposure of submerged implants

Spontaneous early exposure of implants can become a serious complication during the initial healing phase. These early perforations and partial exposure of the coverscrews are a foci for plaque accumulation which, if left untreated, may result in inflammation, damage to the periimplant mucosa, and possible bone loss. Sometimes, these exposures are so small so as not to be clinically visible. This article presents methods of diagnoses of perforated mucosa around submerged implants. In addition, an easy-to-use classification of the spontaneous early exposure is proposed. Treatment modalities to prevent or intercept mucositis during the initial healing phase, when early exposures occur, are suggested.     

Radiographic diagnosis of supernumerary teeth: report of six unusual cases

The purpose of this report was to describe the radiographic findings of 6 uncommon situations of supernumerary teeth in a Brazilian pediatric dentistry and orthodontic clinic. Six cases of supernumerary teeth were diagnosed in association with other dental anomalies such as number, position, and form. The supernumeraries were asymptomatic and were detected through routine radiographic examination. The importance of routine radiographic examination is emphasized for the correct diagnosis of supernumerary teeth, and avoidance of associated complications.     

Tapping the potential in resistance

Resistance is energy and effort focused on noncompliance with a new direction for a group or organization. It results in significant costs to an organization including lost opportunity from delayed or truncated implementation, managers who are distracted and under stress, loss of high-performing talent, lost clients, and reduced client service. Managers overextend themselves when they take on the responsibility to overcome or bypass resistance to create the compliance. Resistance also is within each person and has significant cost to the individuals who resist as they experience stress and various losses: confidence, alternatives, performance, status, position, and relationships. The fear and uncertainty related to a future that is unclear and related to whether a successful transition can happen, becomes the underpinning of thinking and activity while resistance exists. Both the managers promoting compliance and the individuals resisting are expending energy, which can be diverted to uncovering potential for the future.     

Alternative methods for prevention and treatment of dental caries using laser and magnetic laser exposure

Alternative methods for prevention and treatment of dental caries are presented, based on the use of laser and magnetic laser exposure (patent No. 2053818, in Russia) with a new generation laser device with Optodan microprocessor monitoring (patent No. 2014107, Russia). The methods are intended for wide clinical application in children and adolescents in pedodontic departments and outpatient centers and particularly for group and individual use in dental rooms at school.     

Cognitive disturbances and regional cerebral blood flow abnormalities in migraine patients: their relationship with the clinical manifestations of the illness

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate neuropsychological performance and regional cerebral blood flow in migraine patients, and to investigate whether possible abnormalities in any of these fields could be related to the chronicity of the disease. The sample included 60 patients and 30 healthy control subjects; all of them were subjected to a complete neuropsychological assessment, including emotional variables. In addition an interictal 99Tc-HMPAO SPECT was performed in 56 patients and 15 controls. Disturbances in memory, attention and visuomotor speed processing were observed among migraineurs experiencing higher frequency of attacks and in those with a long history of migraine. Anxiety levels were higher in patients than in controls and were positively correlated with attack frequency, but not with cognitive test scores. Brain perfusion abnormalities, mostly hypoperfusion areas, were found in the 43% of patients; poorer performance in two tests, measuring verbal and visual memory, respectively, was found in these patients.     

Flavonoids can block PSA production by breast and prostate cancer cell lines

BACKGROUND: Prostatic carcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death of North American men. Combined androgen blockade (CAB) is one treatment option for prostate cancer, using estrogen agonists, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists and non-steroidal anti-androgens such as nilutamide and cyproterone acetate. Since many of these drugs have serious side effects, many patients are searching for "natural" alternatives or complements to traditional therapy. These include phytoestrogens found in soy and other plant foods. Such compounds have only started to be evaluated for potential androgen-blocking activity. Inhibition of production of androgen-regulated proteins, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA), is one indicator of androgen blocking. METHODS: The ability of 72 flavonoids and related compounds to inhibit PSA production in a breast cancer cell line, BT-474, and a prostate cancer cell line (PC-3), transfected with the human androgen receptor cDNA, PC-3(AR)(2) was examined. RESULTS: Twenty-two of the 72 flavonoids tested were found to significantly block PSA production by the BT-474 cell line at the highest tested concentration (10(-5) mol/l), with 17 of these compounds inhibiting production of PSA in the PC-3(AR)(2) cells as well. CONCLUSIONS: That several flavonoids may significantly block production of this androgen-regulated protein. It will be worthwhile to examine these compounds as possible candidates for prostate cancer prevention or management.     

High prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum infections in native Amazonian populations

The epidemiology of malaria in 2 riverine localities in Rond?nia, Brazilian western Amaz?nia, was assessed by a 1-year study at Portuchuelo, and a cross-sectional survey at riverine communities at Rio Machado (= Ji-Parana). Plasmodium spp. infections were diagnosed by light microscopy and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of ribosomal DNA. PCR was 6-7 times more efficient than microscopy for detecting plasmodial infections. Both Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum infections occurred as asymptomatic and symptomatic forms of the disease. The relation between symptomatic and asymptomatic clinical forms was roughly similar for both species of Plasmodium. Symptomless patients were monitored for 2 months. The prevalence of symptomless infections was 4-5 times higher than the symptomatic ones--respectively, 20% and 4.6% for Portuchuelo and 49.5% and 10% for Ji-Parana. Symptomatic malaria occurred mostly in patients in younger age groups. In contrast, there was a significant association of symptomless malaria with older age groups (medians of 26.5 and 21 years, respectively, for Portuchuelo and Ji-Parana), whereas the age medians for symptomatic malaria were 14 and 8 years, respectively, in the 2 regions. Symptomatic malaria also was more prevalent in groups living for shorter times in Amaz?nia (13 and 4 years, respectively, for Portuchuelo and Ji-ParanA) as compared with symptomless malaria, which was more prevalent in groups living for longer periods in the region (medians of 25.5 and 18 years, respectively, for Portuchuelo and Ji-Paraná). The high prevalence of symptomless malaria may pose new problems for the currently adopted strategy for the control of malaria in the Amazonian region, which is essentially based on the treatment of symptomatic patients.     

Nimesil effectiveness in rheumatoid arthritis

Clinical efficiency and safety of nimesil were studied in the multicenter open clinical trial of 52 patients with verified rheumatoid arthritis. Nimesil was given for 12 weeks in a daily dose 200-400 mg in addition to basic therapy. Clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed after 4 and 8 weeks of the treatment and after its end. The treatment produced a significant positive response of the articular syndrome. Marked improvement was registered in 11 (23.4%) patients, improvement--in 33 (79.2%) patients. Side effects were reversible and occurred in 8 (15.3%) patients. In 5 patients the drug was withdrawn. The conclusion is made on high efficiency and good tolerance of nimesil in rheumatoid arthritis patients.