Comparison between full face and hemifacial CBCT cephalograms in clinically symmetrical patients: a pilot study

INTRODUCTION: One of the advantages of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is the possibility of obtaining images of conventional lateral cephalograms derived from partial or complete reconstruction of facial images. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at comparing full face, right and left hemifacial CBCT cephalograms of orthodontic patients without clinical facial asymmetry. METHODS: The sample comprised nine clinically symmetrical patients who had pretreament full face CBCT. The CBCTs were reconstructed so as to obtain full face, right and left hemifacial cephalograms. Two observers, at two different times, obtained linear and angular measurements for the images using Dolphin 3D software. Dependent and independent t-tests were used to assess the reproducibility of measurements. Analysis of Variance and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare the variables obtained in the CBCT derived cephalometric views. RESULTS: There was good reproducibility for CBCT scans and no statistically significant differences between measurements of full face, right and left hemifacial CBCT scans. CONCLUSIONS: Cephalometric measurements in full face, right and left hemifacial CBCT scans in clinically symmetrical patients are similar. .

INTRODUÇÃO: uma das vantagens da tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico (TCFC) é a possibilidade de obtenção da imagem da telerradiografia em norma lateral convencional, por reconstruir parcial ou totalmente a face em uma visão sagital. OBJETIVO: o presente estudo teve como objetivo comparar as imagens de cefalogramas obtidas da face total e das hemifaces direita e esquerda por meio de TCFC, em pacientes sem assimetria clinica. MÉTODOS: a amostra foi composta por nove pacientes, clinicamente simétricos, que tinham em seus prontuários TCFC de face total. Os exames tomográficos foram reformatados para a obtenção de cefalogramas de face total e hemifaces direita e esquerda. Dois observadores, em dois momentos diferentes, obtiveram medidas lineares e angulares dessas imagens, utilizando o software Dolphin 3D. Testes t dependentes e independentes foram utilizados para verificar a reprodutibilidade das medidas nas imagens. Análise de variância (ANOVA) e o teste de Kruskal-Wallis foram utilizados para comparar as variáveis obtidas nas análises cefalométricas. RESULTADOS: houve boa reprodutibilidade para as imagens de TCFC e não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre as medidas cefalométricas obtidas de cefalogramas de face total, hemifaces direita e esquerda. CONCLUSÕES: medidas cefalométricas obtidas de cefalogramas de face total, hemifaces direita e esquerda em pacientes clinicamente simétricos são semelhantes. .

The reappraisal of the Chaulmoogra oil / 나학회지

Before the development of dapsone the standard remedy for Hansen's disease was the chaulmoogra oil. The oil was first introduced to western physicians in the 1850's by Dr. Fredric J. Mouat, the British physician, in India. Around 1900, leprosaria in the Hawaiian Islands and at Carville, Louisiana, adopted the chaulmoogra oil as their main treatment. But the oil has been traditionally treated as a drug for Hansen's disease in India and China since 2000 years before. Although the mechanism of action is not known, the lipolysis hypothesis or chemotatic theory resulted from counter irritation was suggested. Since the development of sulfone in 1947, the oil has not been used anymore as antileprosy medication. However, recent reports about the effect of the oil on wound healing in Hansen's disease and diabetes provided us with the possibility of the reappraisal of the chaulmoogra oil. We performed this study to determine the effect of the chaulmoogra oil on wound healing in Hansen's disease patients still having neuropathic foot ulcers and ulcerations of paraffinoma as sequelae.

Brachial Plexus Injury: Mechanisms, Surgical Treatment and Outcomes

This paper reviews the mechanisms of brachial plexus injury which includes the traumatic: stretch/contusions with or without avulsion, gunshot wounds(GSWs) and lacerations and the nontraumatic from tumors and the various etiologies of thoracic outlet syndrome(TOS). Another type of brachial plexus injury is that of obstetrical birth injury. The paper also reviews the anatomy of the brachial plexus and operative approaches with the anterior approach used in the majority of cases. The posterior subscapular approach with resection of the first rib is occasionally used for tumor resection, GSWs of the lower roots and trunk and the majority of patients with TOS. Surgical techniques and their indications in brachial plexus surgery are presented including nerve action potential(NAP) recording, neurolysis, end-to-end suture anastomosis repair and graft repair including split-repair. The mechanisms of brachial plexus injury are individually reviewed and results for each type of repair of same from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center(LSUHSC) experience with 1, 019 patients between 1968-1998 are summarized. There were 509 (49%) stretch/contusion injuries, which was the majority lesion followed in number by brachial plexus GSWs (12%) and lacerations (7%). Nontraumatic brachial plexus injuries included tumors (16%) and TOS (16%). Obstetrical brachial plexus injury though not included with the 1, 019 patients presented in a paper by Kim and Kline et al (J Neurosurg 98: 1005-1016, 2003) are presented and the LSUHSC experience with these are included as well.

Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme in leprosy.

Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme activity was measured in 91 adult healthy and lepromatous armadillos before inoculation with M. leprae and at necropsises. Mean ACE values were significantly elevated in armadillos with leprosy and the degree of elevation was roughly proportional to the extent of infection. There was also significant difference in the serum ACE levels between Florida and Louisiana armadillos. The dapsone treatment resulted in bringing these levels to normal. Serial assays of serum, ACE provided information on the response of armadillos to dapsone therapy.