Occurrence of the accessory foramina of the mandibular ramus in Brazilian adults and its relation to important mandibular landmarks / Presencia de forámenes accesorios de la rama mandibular en adultos brasileños y su relación con importantes puntos de referencia de la anatomía mandibular

The presence of the Accessory Foramina of the Mandibular Ramus (AFMR) may be related to anaesthetic failures in the inferior alveolar nerve block and complications in the ramus surgeries. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the occurrence of the AFMR in adults and, when present, measure its distance to the Mandibular Foramen (MF), to the Mandibular Lingula (ML) and to the posterior margin of the mandibular ramus (PM), comparing data obtained in both sides of the mandible. Thirty dry human mandibles were selected to the present study. The AFMR was considered as every foramina identified between the MF and the PM. When present, its distance to the MF, to the ML and to the PM was measured. The AFMR was identified in 15 of the 30 examined mandibles (50 %), presenting exclusively on the right side in four cases (13.33 %), exclusively on the left side in other four cases (13.33 %) and simultaneously on both mandibular antimeres in seven of the 30 inspected mandibles (23.33 %). The AFMR is a structure considered as anatomic vari4ation but it was present in one of each two mandibles investigated, with the same occurrence in both mandibular sides. For the cases of occurrence of the AFMR, the professional will be able to locate it in a central position between the MF and the PM, distant about seven millimeters to the MF and 10.50 mm to the ML in both sides of the mandible.

La presencia de forámenes accesorios de la rama mandibular (FARM) puede estar relacionada con fallas que ocurren en el bloqueo anestésico del nervio alveolar inferior y con complicaciones durante cirugías de la rama mandibular. El propósito del presente estudio fue determinar la presencia de FARM en adultos brasileños y cuando éstos estuvieren presentes, medir la distancia al foramen mandibular (FM), a la língula de la mandíbula (LM) y al margen posterior de la rama mandibular (MP), comparando estos datos en ambos lados de la mandíbula. Para ello fueron seleccionadas 30 mandíbulas humanas secas. El FARM fue considerado como cada foramen identificado entre el FM y MP. El FARM fue identificado en 15 de las 30 mandíbulas examinadas (50 %), presentándose en el lado derecho en 4 casos (13,33 %), en el lado izquierdo en 4 (13,33 %) y en ambos lados en 7 (23,33 %). Los FARM son considerados como una variación anatómica pero en este estudio estuvo presente en una de cada dos mandíbulas, con la misma frecuencia en ambas mandíbulas. En el caso de presencia del FARM, el profesional será capaz de identificarlo en una posición central entre el FM y el MP, distante 7 mm aproximadamente del FM y a 10,5 mm de la LM en ambos lados de la mandíbula.

Apéndices testicular y epididimario en individuos brasileños / Testicular and epididymal appendices in Brazilian individuals

Los apéndices testiculares y epididimarios son remanescentes embriológicos del conducto paramesonéfrico y del conducto mesonéfrico, respectivamente. Estos apéndices pueden sufrir torsión causando un cuadro conocido como escroto agudo. El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo determinar las variaciones de los apéndices testicular y epididimario, registrando su forma y tamaño. Se utilizaron 30 cadáveres de indivíduos adultos, Brasileños, con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 70 años, fijados en formaldehído 40%, facilitados por el Laboratorio de Anatomía Descriptiva y Topográfica de la Universidad Federal de Alagoas (UFAL), Maceió, Brasil. A través de disección se identificó la presencia de los respectivos apéndices, los que fueron medidos con un caliper manual (MetricaR), registrando su longitud y anchura. Los apéndices testiculares fueron observados en 41 testículos (68,3%) y los apéndices epididimarios en 15 casos (25%). El promedio de la longitud fue de 4,9 mm (DE=1,7) para el apéndice testicular y de 5,2 mm (DE=2,4) para el epididimario. Con respecto a la anchura de los apéndices, el promedio registrado fue de 3,2 mm (DE=1,7) para el testicular y de 2,6 mm (DE=0,9) para el epididimario. Los datos obtenidos puede ser utlizados como soporte morfológico a la clínica urológica y cirugía testicular.

Testicular and epididymal appendages are embryologic remnants of the mesonephric duct and paramesonephric, respectively. These appendices are subject to a torsion causing condition known as acute scrotal syndrome. This study aimed to determine the variations of testicular and epididymal appendices, registering its presence and size. We studied 30 cadavers of adult individuals, Brazilians, aged 18 and 70, fixed in formaldehyde 40%, provided by the Laboratory of Descriptive and Topographic Anatomy of the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), Maceió, Brazil. By dissecting these, the presence of the respective appendixes were identified, which were measured with a manual caliper (Metrica), recording its length and width. The testicular appendices were observed in 41 testes (68.3%) and epididymal appendices in 15 cases (25%). The average length was 4.9 mm (SD=1.7) for the appendix testis and epididymis to 5.2 mm (SD=2.4). With respect to the width of the appendices, the average recorded were 3.2 mm (SD=1.7) and 2.6 mm (SD=0.9) for testicular and epididymal, respectively. The data obtained can be used as morphological support in urological clinical and testicular surgery.

Effect of D-alpha-tocopherol on tubular nephron acidification by rats with induced diabetes mellitus

The objective of the present study was to determine if treatment of diabetic rats with D-alpha-tocopherol could prevent the changes in glomerular and tubular function commonly observed in this disease. Sixty male Wistar rats divided into four groups were studied: control (C), control treated with D-alpha-tocopherol (C + T), diabetic (D), and diabetic treated with D-alpha-tocopherol (D + T). Treatment with D-alpha-tocopherol (40 mg/kg every other day, ip) was started three days after diabetes induction with streptozotocin (60 mg/kg, ip). Renal function studies and microperfusion measurements were performed 30 days after diabetes induction and the kidneys were removed for morphometric analyses. Data are reported as means ± SEM. Glomerular filtration rate increased in D rats but decreased in D + T rats (C: 6.43 ± 0.21; D: 7.74 ± 0.45; D + T: 3.86 ± 0.18 ml min-1 kg-1). Alterations of tubular acidification observed in bicarbonate absorption flux (JHCO3) and in acidification half-time (t/2) in group D were reversed in group D + T (JHCO3, C: 2.30 ± 0.10; D: 3.28 ± 0.22; D + T: 1.87 ± 0.08 nmol cm-2 s-1; t/2, C: 4.75 ± 0.20; D: 3.52 ± 0.15; D + T: 5.92 ± 0.19 s). Glomerular area was significantly increased in D, while D + T rats exhibited values similar to C, suggesting that the vitamin prevented the hypertrophic effect of hyperglycemia (C: 8334.21 ± 112.05; D: 10,217.55 ± 100.66; D + T: 8478.21 ± 119.81æm²). These results suggest that D-alpha-tocopherol is able to protect rats, at least in part, from the harmful effects of diabetes on renal function.