Correlation between magnetic resonance imaging and cone-beam computed tomography for maxillary sinus graft assessment

Purpose@#Little is known regarding the accuracy of clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols with acceptable scan times in sinus graft assessment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlations between MRI and cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) measurements of maxillary sinus grafts using 2 different clinical MRI imaging protocols. @*Materials and Methods@#A total of 15 patients who underwent unilateral sinus lift surgery with biphasic calcium phosphate were included in this study. CBCT, T1-weighted MRI, and T2-weighted MRI scans were taken 6 months after sinus lift surgery. Linear measurements of the maximum height and buccolingual width in coronal images, as well as the maximum anteroposterior depth in sagittal images, were performed by 2 trained observers using CBCT and MRI Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine files. Microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) was also performed to confirm the presence of bone tissue in the grafted area. Correlations between MRI and CBCT measurements were assessed with the Pearson test. @*Results@#Significant correlations between CBCT and MRI were found for sinus graft height (T1-weighted, r=0.711 and p<0.05; T2-weighted, r=0.713 and p<0.05), buccolingual width (T1-weighted, r=0.892 and p<0.05; T2-weighted, r=0.956 and p<0.05), and anteroposterior depth (T1-weighted, r=0.731 and p<0.05; T2-weighted, r=0.873 and p<0.05). The presence of bone tissue in the grafted areas was confirmed via micro-CT. @*Conclusion@#Both MRI pulse sequences tested can be used for sinus graft measurements, as strong correlations with CBCT were found. However, correlations between T2-weighted MRI and CBCT were slightly higher than those between T1-weighted MRI and CBCT.

Comparison between different cone-beam computed tomography devices in the detection of mechanically simulated peri-implant bone defects

Purpose@#This study compared 2 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) systems in the detection of mechanically simulated peri-implant buccal bone defects in dry human mandibles. @*Materials and Methods@#Twenty-four implants were placed in 7 dry human mandibles. Peri-implant bone defects were created in the buccal plates of 16 implants using spherical burs. All mandibles were scanned using 2 CBCT systems with their commonly used acquisition protocols: i-CAT Gendex CB-500 (Imaging Sciences, Hatfield, PA, USA; field of view [FOV], 8 cm×8 cm; voxel size, 0.125 mm; 120 kVp; 5 mA; 23 s) and Orthopantomograph OP300 (Intrumentarium, Tuusula, Finland; FOV, 6 cm×8 cm; voxel size, 0.085 mm; 90 kVp; 6.3 mA; 13 s). Two oral and maxillofacial radiologists assessed the CBCT images for the presence of a defect and measured the depth of the bone defects. Diagnostic performance was compared in terms of the area under the curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and intraclass correlation coefficient. @*Results@#High intraobserver and interobserver agreement was found (p<0.05). The OP300 showed slightly better diagnostic performance and higher detection rates than the CB-500 (AUC, 0.56±0.03), with a mean accuracy of 75.0%, sensitivity of 81.2%, and specificity of 62.5%. Higher contrast was observed with the CB-500, whereas the OP300 formed more artifacts. @*Conclusion@#Within the limitations of this study, the present results suggest that the choice of CBCT systems with their respective commonly used acquisition protocols does not significantly affect diagnostic performance in detecting and measuring buccal peri-implant bone loss.

In vitro cytotoxic activity of five commercial samples of Tribulus terrestris Linn in Espírito Santo (Brazil)

ABSTRACT The objective was to investigate the total saponin and protodioscin concentrations and the cytotoxicity in vitro, of five samples of the plant Tribulus terrestris, commercially available in the metropolitan region of Vitória - Espirito Santo, Brazil, and to compare them with the aqueous extract of the plant. The chromatographic profile and quantification of protodioscin in commercial samples and plant extract were evaluated by LC-MS/MS. The percentage of total saponins were determined by the colorimetric method. Extracts and protodioscin cytotoxicity were analyzed by the MTT assay in three cell lineages: fibroblasts (L929), ovarian cancer (Ovcar3) and murine hepatoma (Hepa1c1c7). All extracts displayed high levels of total saponins (207.2 to 780.3 mg g-1 of dry extract). The chromatographic profile revealed a wide diversity of compounds, and the saponin protodioscin was detected in only two extracts. One extract displayed high cytotoxicity, with IC50 values of 157.0, 38.2 and 7.4 µg mL-1 for the Ovcar3, Hepa1c1c7 and L929 cell lines, respectively. The other extracts displayed cytotoxic effects only at concentrations equal to or greater than 125.0 µg mL-1. Surprisingly, the most cytotoxic extract displayed the highest protodioscin concentration. Therefore, it is suggested that these products be marketed with caution, and followed-up by a certified healthcare professional.

Prevalência e fatores associados ao risco de quedas em idosos adscritos a uma Unidade Básica de Saúde do município de Natal, RN, Brasil / Prevalence and factors associated with the risk of falls among the elderly registered in a primary healthcare unit of the city of Natal in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo foi analisar a prevalência e os fatores associados a quedas em idosos adscritos a uma Unidade Básica de Saúde (UBS), no município de Natal/RN. Estudo transversal realizado com 280 idosos cujos dados foram coletados nas dependências da UBS. A associação entre os desfechos “queda” e “queda recorrente” e as variáveis independentes foi verificada mediante análise bivariada e regressão de Poisson, com cálculo das respectivas razões de prevalências. Prevaleceram os idosos do gênero feminino (68,2%), com média de idade de 71,6 anos (± 6,7), alfabetizados (54,6%), não aposentados (73,5%) e sedentários (87,1%). Registraram queda 53,6% dos idosos, porém 27,8% caíram duas ou mais vezes. O modelo preditivo de queda incluiu o gênero feminino (RP = 1,81), presença de doenças osteoarticulares (RP = 1,71) e comprometimento do equilíbrio (RP = 0,88), enquanto a mobilidade funcional (RP = 0,94), medo de cair (RP = 1,21) e déficit de equilíbrio (RP = 0,80) compuseram o modelo final de quedas recorrentes. Encontrou-se maior prevalência de episódio único de queda e os fatores associados incluíram variáveis sociodemográficas, de saúde e performance física. Por outro lado, associaram-se a ocorrência de duas ou mais quedas apenas as variáveis de performance física.

Abstract The scope of the study was to analyze the prevalence and factors associated with falls among the elderly registered in a Primary Healthcare Unit (PHU) in Natal, State of Rio Grande do Norte. It involved a cross-sectional study conducted with 280 elderly individuals with data collected at the primary healthcare unit. The association between falls, recurrent falls and independent variables was assessed using bivariate analysis and Poisson regression with calculation of their respective prevalence ratios. It involved predominantly elderly females (68.2%) with mean age of 71.6 years (± 6.7), literate (54.6%), non-retired (73.5%) and sedentary (87.1%). 53.6% of the elderly recorded falls and 27.8% fell twice or more. The predictive model of falls included the female gender (PR= 1.81), osteoarticular diseases (PR = 1.71) and balance impairment (PR = 0.88), while functional mobility (PR = 0.94), fear of falling (PR = 1.21) and balance deficit disorders (PR = 0.80) constituted the definitive model of recurrent falls. A higher prevalence of single fall episodes was found and the associated factors included sociodemographic, health and physical performance variables. On the other hand, the occurrence of two or more falls were only associated with physical performance variables.

Cefaleia, como tratar? / Headache: how to treat?

Introdução: Cefaleia é uma queixa frequente nas consultas médicas e, por ter etiologiamultifatorial, é necessária uma avaliação criteriosa. As cefaleias crônicas podem serdivididas em primárias e secundárias. Destacam-se nas cefaleias primárias aenxaqueca, a cefaleia tensional e a cefaleia em salvas. As cefaleias secundárias estãorelacionadas com doenças neurológicas orgânicas ou sistêmicas que afetam o encéfalo.O medicamento homeopático foi selecionado pelo princípio da semelhança através doraciocínio fisiopatológico, levando em consideração a constituição e fatores ambientais.

Atividades alelopáticas de nim sobre o crescimento de sorgo, alface e picão-preto / Allelopathic activities of nim on the growth of sorghum, lettuce and Bidens pilosa

A busca de alternativas para os herbicidas sintéticos, como os produtos naturais provenientes de plantas, pode acrescentar mais um elemento no manejo das plantas daninhas das culturas. Neste trabalho objetivou-se verificar o potencial alelopático do nim (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) sobre o crescimento de plântulas de sorgo, alface e picão-preto. Extratos metanólico, aquoso e hexanólico, nas concentrações de 10, 5 e 2,5 por cento (p/v) de folhas de nim, foram usados para irrigar sementes das plantas teste, em caixas gerbox, permanecendo em incubadora, tipo BOD. O percentual de germinação de sementes de alface e picão-preto irrigadas com extrato aquoso e metanólico, respectivamente, foram os mais prejudiciais ao desenvolvimento das plântulas; para o sorgo independente do extrator utilizado, o aumento da concentração causou redução do percentual de germinação. O extrato aquoso causou maior efeito detrimental sobre o índice de velocidade de germinação para as três espécies estudadas. Para o sorgo, independente da concentração avaliada, o extrato aquoso foi o mais prejudicial, diferenciando dos demais extratores, com médias de 8,00; 12,986 e 14,68, para os extratores água destilada, hexanol e metanol, respectivamente. Quando se analisou o acúmulo de biomassa para plantas de picão-preto e sorgo, em todos os extratos utilizados, pôde-se verificar que o acúmulo de biomassa foi inversamente proporcional à concentração de nim aplicada.

The search for alternatives for the synthetic herbicides, as the natural products from plants, may increase one more element to the handling of the harmful plants of the cultures. The aim of this work was to verify the allelopathic effects of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) upon sorghum, lettuce, and Bidens pilosa L. (beggustick) seeds germination and seedlings growth. Aqueous, methanolic, and hexanolic extracts, in the concentrations of 10, 5 and 2,5 percent (w/v) of nim leaves, were used to irrigate seeds of the plant test, in gerbox boxes, staying in incubator, type BOD. Germination percentages of lettuce seeds and beggustick irrigated with aqueous and methanolic extracts, respectively, were the most harmful to the development of the plants; for sorghum, independently of the used extractor, the increase of the concentration caused reduction of the germination percentages. The aqueous extract caused larger detrimental effect on the index of germination speed for the three studied species. For the sorghum, independently of the appraised concentration, the aqueous extract was the most harmful, differing from the other extractors, with averages of 8.00; 12.986 and 14.68, for the extractors distilled water, hexanol and methanol, respectively. When the biomass accumulation was analyzed for beggustick plants and sorghum, in all used extracts, it could be verified that the biomass accumulation was inversely proportional to the concentration of applied neem.