Removal of odontogenic keratocyst in maxilla through the Le Fort i osteotomy / Eliminación de queratoquiste odontogénico en el maxilar mediante la osteotomía Le Fort

The odontogenic keratocyst is a lesion with specific clinical and histopathological aspects. The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2017 reclassified it from a tumor to a cyst. It is characterized as a cyst of epithelial development of the jaws, arising from the remains of the dental blade. It represents 3 % to 11 % of all odontogenic cysts and 7 to 11 % of cysts of the gnatic bones. It stands out for its aggressive nature and high relapsing potential. Most of the cases are diagnosed in individuals between 10 and 40 years old, with a mild preference for the masculine gender, occurring more in the mandible. Radiographically, it is radiolucent and well delimited, predominantly unilocular, and may cause displacement of adjacent teeth. The present study aims to report a clinical case of a female 25 years old patient, presenting an intra-osseous lesion in the maxilla (posterior, left side), asymptomatic, with a slight increase in intraoral buccal volume, containing the tooth 28, with a diagnostic hypothesis of Odontogenic Keratocyst. The patient was submitted to the surgical decompression treatment, with cystic fluid puncture, biopsy of the lesion and posterior anatomopathological examination. The enucleation of the tumor was performed using LeFort I osteotomy of maxilla and reconstruction with titanium mesh. There is radiographic evidence of bone repair and lesion reduction. The patient is in periodic follow-up of 4 years and does not present clinical and radiographic signs of relapse. Due to the aggressiveness of the odontogenic keratocyst, the relapse rate is high. The knowledge of the techniques recommended for the treatment of Odontogenic Keratocysts and the clinical and radiographic follow-up of the patient demonstrate a gradual decrease of the lumen of the lesion and suggest local bone neoformation, favoring the prognosis of the case.

El queratoquiste odontogénico es una lesión con aspectos clínicos e histopatológicos específicos. La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) en 2017 lo reclasificó de un tumor a un quiste. Se caracteriza como un quiste de desarrollo epitelial de las mandíbulas, que surge de los restos de la lámina dental. Representa del 3 % al 11 % de todos los quistes odontogénicos y del 7 al 11 % de los quistes de los huesos gnáticos. Se destaca por su naturaleza agresiva y su alto potencial de recaídas. La mayoría de los casos se diagnostican en individuos de entre 10 y 40 años, con una leve preferencia por el sexo masculino, que ocurre más en la mandíbula. Radiográficamente, es radiotransparente y bien delimitado, predominantemente unilocular, y puede causar el desplazamiento de los dientes adyacentes. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo reportar el caso clínico de una paciente de 25 años, que presenta una lesión intraósea en el maxilar (posterior, lado izquierdo), asintomática, con un ligero aumento en el volumen bucal intraoral, que contiene el diente 28, con una hipótesis diagnóstica de queratoquiste odontogénico. El paciente fue sometido al tratamiento quirúrgico de descompresión, con punción de líquido quístico, biopsia de la lesión y examen anatomopatológico posterior. La enucleación del tumor se realizó con osteotomía LeFort I de maxilar y reconstrucción con malla de titanio. Existe evidencia radiográfica de reparación ósea y reducción de la lesión. El paciente se encuentra en seguimiento periódico de 4 años y no presenta signos clínicos ni radiográficos de recaída. Debido a la agresividad del queratoquiste odontogénico, la tasa de recaída es alta. El conocimiento de las técnicas recomendadas para el tratamiento de los queratoquistes odontogénicos, y el seguimiento clínico y radiográfico del paciente, demuestran una disminución gradual del lumen de la lesión y sugieren neoformación ósea local, favoreciendo el pronóstico del caso.

Maxilla Pseudoarthrosis Ten Years After Orthognathic Surgery: case report / Pseudoartrosis Maxilar Diez Años Después de la Cirugía Ortognática: relato de un Caso

ABSTRACT: Many orthodontic treatments alone cannot reestablish an ideal occlusion, requiring correction through orthognathic surgery. An adequate surgical planning, execution and case follow-up can provide surgical stability between the maxilla and the mandible. Soft tissue conservation and proper correction during a healing phase are important to achieving this goal. Patient C.L.B.S, 38 years old, female, presented with Angle Class I occlusion, facial profile class II, maxilla with mobility, chin surgically advanced and anterior open bite. She was submitted to orthognathic surgery 10 years ago. In the panoramic radiography the absence of bone formation in the maxilla was observed, causing an open bite. For the surgery conventional radiographs were used, as well as the dental cast in articulator for model surgery and preparation of surgical guide. With the surgery an improvement in the patient's aesthetics profile and an ideal occlusion, static and functional were expected. The treatment was orthodontic-surgical, with correction of the dento-facial deformity with counter-clockwise rotation of the maxilla, lowering repositioning in 3 mm of its posterior portion through Le Fort I osteotomy, advancement of the 4 mm mandible with bilateral sagittal osteotomy, and genioplasty for posterior repositioning with a Z-osteotomy, to improve mentual harmony. There was an improvement in the profile and aesthetics of the patient, which developed an Angle Class I profile, a decrease in the mentual projection, and an aesthetic and functional improvement. The orthognathic surgery allowed the advancement of the mandible, the repositioning of the maxilla and the mentual posterior repositioning, obtaining the correction of the Angle class II profile and the anterior open bite, resulting in an important improvement of facial profile and esthetics, presence of skeletal stability, restoration of function, self-esteem and quality of life.

RESUMEN: En muchos casos, el tratamiento ortodóntico por si solo no puede restablecer una oclusión ideal, siendo necesaria una cirúrgia ortognática. Una buena planificación quirúrgica, ejecución y seguimiento del caso, pueden proporcionar estabilidad entre los maxilares. La preservación de los tejidos blandos y una fijación adecuada son esenciales para ese objetivo. La paciente CLBS, 38 años, se presentó con oclusión Clase I de Angle, teniendo perfil clase II, maxilar con movilidad, mentón quirúrgicamente avanzado y mordida abierta anterior. La paciente fue sometida a cirugía ortognática 10 años antes. En radiografía panorámica, se nota la ausencia de formación ósea debido a una fijación maxilar realizada erróneamente, lo que causó la mordida abierta. Durante la planificación, fueron utilizadas radiografías convencionales, modelos de yeso en articulador para cirugía de modelo y confección de guía quirúrgica. Con el procedimento quirúrgico se esperaba obtener una mejora en el perfil de la paciente y una oclusión ideal, estática y funcional. El tratamiento fue ortodóntico-quirúrgico, con corrección de la deformidad dento-facial con giro antihorario de la mandíbula, con reposicionamiento inferior de 3 mm de su parte posterior, por medio de osteotomía Le Fort I, avance de la mandíbula de 4 mm con osteotomía sagital bilateral, y retroceso del mentón en su posición original con osteotomía en Z, mejorando la armonía del mentón. Hubo una mejora en perfil y en la estética de la paciente, como también una mejora en el perfil, estética y funcionalidade, con diminución del mentón. La cirúrgia ortognática permitió el movimiento de la mandíbula, reposicionamiento maxilar y además fue posible retroceder el mentón, obteniendo la corrección del perfil Clase II y de la mordida abierta anterior. El resultado representa una mejora del perfil y de la estética facial, además se nota una estabilidad esquelética, con restablecimiento de la función, autoestima y calidad de vida.

Cinética de fermentação ruminal in vitro de silagens de híbridos de sorgo / Ruminal fermentation kinetics of sorghum hybrid silages

Objetivou-se com esta pesquisa avaliar as silagens de 23 híbridos de sorgo por meio da técnica in vitro semiautomática de produção de gases. Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com 23 tratamentos e três repetições, sendo os tratamentos as silagens de híbridos de sorgo. Os híbridos foram cultivados na estação experimental do Instituto Nacional do Semiárido (INSA), no município de Campina Grande - PB. A produção de gases foi estimada por intermédio do modelo logístico bicompartimental, ajustado às curvas de produção cumulativa de gases. Com relação ao volume final de carboidratos fibrosos (VfCF), houve efeito de híbrido (P<0,05), com resultados variando de 105,99 a 144,53mL/g de MS. Os valores de taxa de degradação dos carboidratos fibrosos (KdCF) variaram (P<0,05), e o híbrido 866041 apresentou o maior resultado 0,015h-1. Os valores de volume final total (VfT) variaram (P<0,05), e os híbridos 870085, Volumax e XBS 60329 apresentaram maiores (P<0,05) valores de VfT em relação aos demais. Pela análise multivariada, foram formados seis grupos distintos. O grupo 2, composto pelos híbridos 22 (Volumax) e 23 (XBS60329), apresentou os maiores valores médios para os volumes de gás, tanto para os carboidratos fibrosos quanto para os não fibrosos. O grupo 4, composto pelo híbrido 1 (866005), apresentou as menores médias para volume de gás produzido e o maior lag time (3,15 horas). Todos os híbridos estudados apresentam potencial para ensilagem, de acordo com a cinética de fermentação ruminal...

The aim of this research was to evaluate the silage of 23 sorghum hybrids using the in vitro semi-automatic gas production technique. A completely randomized design with 23 treatments was used, with three replications, and treatments were the sorghum-hybrids silages. Hybrids were grown at the experimental station of the Instituto Nacional do Semiárido (INSA), in Campina Grande - PB. The gas production was estimated using the bicompartimental logistic model, adjusted to the curves of cumulative gas production. A significant effect (P<0.05) was observed for final gas of fibrous carbohydrates (VfCF), which results ranged from 105.99 to 144.53mL/g of DM. Degradation rate of fibrous carbohydrates (KdCF) values ranged (P<0.05) for the hybrid 866041, which showed the highest result 0.015h-1. Final total volume (VFT) was affected by hybrid (P<0.05), in which hybrids 870085, Volumax and XBS60329 had the highest (P<0.05) values compared to other hybrids. By multivariate analysis were formed six distinct groups. Group 2, consisting of hybrids 22 (Volumax) and 23 (XBS60329) showed the highest average values for gas volumes, both for fibrous carbohydrates and for the non-fibrous. Group 4, comprising the hybrid 1 (866005), had the lowest gas volume produced means and a highest lag time (3.15 hours). All hybrids studied have potential to silage, according to the ruminal fermentation kinetics...

Prevalence of virulence factors in Escherichia coli strains isolated from the genital tract of healthy cows

The prevalence of virulence genes expressing fimbriae, production of hemolysin, colicin and aerobactin, was determined in Escherichia coli isolates from healthy cows genital tract not showing clinical signs of infection. The presence of fimbriae expression genes (pap, sfa, afa) was assayed using specific primers in a polymerase chain reaction; none were detected in any of the isolates. Yet, a prevalence of 90.4 percent, 69.8 percent, and 28.5 percent of virulence factors for colicin, hemolysin and aerobactin respectively, was detected in the isolates. Analysis of the bacterial pathogenicity of isolates from the bovine genital tract may contribute towards the understanding of E. coli behavior.

Determinou-se a prevalência dos genes de virulência expressando fimbrias, produção de hemolisina, colicina e aerobactina em cepas de Escherichia coli obtidas do trato genital de vacas saudáveis que não apresentam sinais clínicos indicativos de infecção. A presença dos genes responsáveis pela expressão de fimbrias (pap, sfa, afa) foi avaliada através de reação em cadeia da polimerase utilizando primers especificos para cada um dos genes, nenhum deles foi detectado em qualquer uma das cepas isoladas. A prevalência dos fatores de virulência foi de 90,4 por cento, 69,8 por cento, 28,5 por cento para colicina, hemolisina e aerobactina, respectivamente. A análise da patogenicidade das cepas do trato genital pode contribuir para o entendimento do comportamento das cepas de E. coli.

Molecular analysis of the N gene of canine distemper virus in dogs in Brazil

Eleven central-nervous-system samples collected from stray dogs between 2000 and 2004 were found positive by RT-PCR, which amplified a 480bp fragment of the N gene of canine distemper virus (CDV). Phylogenetic analysis based on partial N-gene sequences showed four major clusters. All dog strains segregated into cluster I, with a mean nucleotide identity of 95.8 percent and 95.6 percent with the Onderstepoort and Lederle vaccine strains, respectively. Cluster II contained all the raccoon-related strains, cluster III Orient strains and Cluster IV the Onderstepoort and Lederle vaccine strains, with a mean nucleotide identity of 99.7 percent between them. This is the first report of phylogenetic analysis of CDV strains in Brazil.

Onze amostras de sistema nervoso central de cães coletados entre 2000 e 2004 foram positivas pela RT-PCR, a qual amplificou um fragmento de 480pb do gene N do vírus da cinomose canina (VCC). A análise filogenética baseada na seqüência parcial do gene N mostrou quatro principais agrupamentos genéticos. Todas as amostras de cães segregaram no agrupamento I, com identidade média de nucleotídeos de 95,8 por cento e 95,6 por cento com as amostras vacinais Onderstepoort e Lederle, respectivamente. O agrupamento II agregou todas as amostras relacionadas aos guaxinins. O agrupamento III agregou amostras orientais e o agrupamento IV agregou as amostras vacinais Onderstepoort e Lederle, com identidade média de nucleotídeos de 99,7 por cento entre elas. Este é o primeiro relato de análise filogenética de amostras de VCC no Brasil.

Occurrence of toxigenic Escherichia coli in raw milk cheese in Brazil

The occurrence of toxigenic Escherichia coli in raw milk cheese was surveyed in Middle Western Brazil. Fifty samples of cheese from different supermarkets were analyzed for E.coli. The isolates were serotyped and screened for the presence of verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) and enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The susceptibility to thirteen antimicrobial agents was evaluated by the disk diffusion method. E.coli were recovered from 48 (96.0 percent) of the samples. The serogroups identified were O125 (6.0 percent), O111 (4.0 percent), O55 (2.0 percent) and O119 (2.0 percent). Three (6.0 percent) and 1(2.0 percent) of the E.coli isolates were VTEC and ETEC, respectively. Most frequent resistance was observed to the following antimicrobials: cephalothin (60.0 percent), nalidixic acid (40.0 percent), doxycyclin (33.0 percent), tetracycline (31.0 percent) and ampicillin (29.0 percent).

Pesquisou-se a ocorrência de Escherichia coli toxigênica, em queijo produzido com leite não pasteurizado, na Região Centro Oeste do Brazil. Foram utilizados 50 queijos adquiridos em diferentes supermercados. As amostras isoladas foram classificadas por sorogrupo, avaliadas em relação à sensibilidade para 13 agentes antimicrobianos e submetidas à reação em cadeia da polimerase para a presença de genes característicos de E. coli verotoxigênica (VTEC) e enterotoxigênica (ETEC). E. coli foi recuperada em 48(96,0 por cento) dos queijos. Foram identificados os sorogrupos O125 (6,0 por cento), O111 (4,0 por cento), O55 (2,0 por cento) e O119 (2,0 por cento). Três (6,0 por cento) amostras de E. coli foram classificadas como VTEC e uma (2,0 por cento) como ETEC. Os maiores índices de resistência foram verificados para: cefalotina (60,0 por cento), ácido nalidíxico (40,0 por cento), doxiciclina (33,0 por cento), tetraciclina (31,0 por cento) e ampicilina (29,0 por cento).

Virulence factors of Escherichia coli isolated from diarrheic calves

One hundred seventy-three Escherichia coli strains isolated from calves from northwestern São Paulo State, having diarrhea were examined for the production of thermolabile (LT) and thermostable (ST) enterotoxins and for the presence of virulence factors associated with bovine colibacillosis. Eighty-five (49.1 percent) of the E.coli strains produced toxins; 53 isolates were detected as producing STa toxin, and 9 also produced LT toxin. By PCR, 23 isolates were shown to harbor only the LT-II gene. Nine (5.2 percent) isolates harbored Shiga toxin genes: four carried the stx2 gene, four the stx1 gene and one carried both. Three of the isolates showing stx1 also carried the eae gene. Among the E. coli isolates examined for susceptibility to 10 antimicrobial agents, resistance to cephalothin (46.1 percent), was most commonly observed, followed by resistances to tetracycline (45.7 percent), trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (43.3 percent) and ampicilin (41.0 percent). All isolates showed resistance to at least two antimicrobial agents; multidrug resistance was quite frequently encountered. Results showed that bovine E. coli produces some toxins and virulence factors, some of which may be involved in human disease. The isolates showed a high level of resistance to antimicrobial agents constituting a public health concern.

Cento e setenta e três cepas de Escherichia coli isoladas de bezerros com diarréia provenientes da região noroeste do estado de São Paulo foram examinadas para a produção de enterotoxinas termolábil (LT) e termoestável (ST), e examinadas quanto à presença de fatores de virulência associados a colibacilose bovina. Oitenta e cinco (49,1 por cento) das cepas de E. coli produziram toxinas, 53 cepas foram detectadas como produtoras de toxina STa, e nove dessas cepas também produziam toxina LT. Foram identificadas pela reação em cadeia de polimerase 23 cepas portadoras do gene LT-II. Nove (5,2 por cento) das cepas apresentavam os genes de toxina Shiga: quatro o gene stx 2, quatro o gene stx 1 e uma cepa apresentava os dois genes. Três das cepas que apresentavam o gene stx1 também possuiam o gene eae. Entre as cepas de E. coli examinadas quanto à susceptibilidade a 10 agentes antimicrobianos, a resistência à cefalotina (46,1 por cento) foi a mais comumente observada, seguida pelas resistências a tetraciclina (45,7 por cento), trimetropima-sulfadiazina (43,3 por cento) e ampicilina (41,0 por cento). Todas as cepas isoladas apresentaram resistência a pelo menos dois antimicrobianos, sendo a multirresistência detectada em elevada freqüência. Algumas toxinas e fatores de virulência, produzidos por essas cepas de E. coli podem estar envolvidos em doenças humanas. O alto nível de resistência a agentes antimicrobianos, apresentado pelas cepas isoladas, constitue motivo de preocupação em saúde pública.

Nutritional status response of Daphania laevis and Moina micura from a tropical reservoir to different algal diets: Scenedesmus quadricauda and Ankistrodesmus gracilis

The accumulation of lipid reserves was investigated in two common cladoceran species typical of neotropical freshwaters. Experiments were performed in order to measure differential accumulation of lipid reserves in response to two algal diets, S. quadricauda and A. gracilis. The larger D. laevis fed with the Ankistrodesmus diet accumulated a higher amount of total lipids. The average lipid content for both diets was 11.1% and 22.1% dry weight for Scenedesmus and Ankistrodemsus, respectively. This difference was found to be highly significant. The superior nutritional quality of A. gracilis was confirmed by the experiments using the smaller Moina micrura. This cladoceran accumulated 11.4% and 19.9% of the average dry weight of lipids from Scenedesmus and Ankistrodesmus, respectively. The study also found that most lipid reserves are concentrated as triacylglycerols in both cladocerans. The relative contribution of this class of lipids also varied according to the diet. For Daphnia, for instance, the average triacylglycerol levels varied from 6.2 to 11.0 with the Scenedesmus and Ankistrodesmus diets, respectively.

O presente estudo investigou o acúmulo de reservas de lipídeo em duas espécies comuns de cladóceros neotropicais, típicas de água doce. Foram desenvolvidos experimentos para medir o acúmulo diferenciado de reservas lipídicas em resposta a duas dietas algais, S. quadricauda e A. gracilis. O cladócero maior, D. laevis, alimentado com a dieta Ankistrodesmus acumulou uma quantidade maior de lipídeo total. As médias de lipídeo total para ambas as dietas foram 11,1% e 22,1% de peso seco para Scenedesmus e Ankistrodesmus, respectivamente. Essa diferença encontrada foi altamente significativa. A qualidade nutricional mais elevada de A. gracilis foi confirmada pelos experimentos em que foi utilizada uma espécie menor de cladócero, Moina micrura. Esse cladócero acumulou valores médios de lipídeo total de 11,4% e 19,9% de peso seco para Scenedesmus e Ankistrodesmus, respecitvamente. Este estudo também revelou que a maior parte dos lipídeos estocados em ambos os cladóceros refere-se a triglicérides. A contribuição relativa dessa classe de lipídeo também variou de acordo com a dieta. Para Daphnia, por exemplo, os teores médios de triglicérides variaram de 6,2% a 11,0% de peso seco total com as dietas de Scenedesmus e Ankistrodesmus, respectivamente.

Nutritional status response of Daphnia laevis and Moina micura from a tropical reservoir to different algal diets: Scenedesmus quadricauda and Ankistrodesmus gracilis

The accumulation of lipid reserves was investigated in two common cladoceran species typical of neotropical freshwaters. Experiments were performed in order to measure differential accumulation of lipid reserves in response to two algal diets, S. quadricauda and A. gracilis. The larger D. laevis fed with the Ankistrodesmus diet accumulated a higher amount of total lipids. The average lipid content for both diets was 11.1 percent and 22.1 percent dry weight for Scenedesmus and Ankistrodemsus, respectively. This difference was found to be highly significant. The superior nutritional quality of A. gracilis was confirmed by the experiments using the smaller Moina micrura. This cladoceran accumulated 11.4 percent and 19.9 percent of the average dry weight of lipids from Scenedesmus and Ankistrodesmus, respectively. The study also found that most lipid reserves are concentrated as triacylglycerols in both cladocerans. The relative contribution of this class of lipids also varied according to the diet. For Daphnia, for instance, the average triacylglycerol levels varied from 6.2 to 11.0 with the Scenedesmus and Ankistrodesmus diets, respectively

Effect of long-term treatment with insulin and/or acarbose on glomerular basement membrane thickening in alloxan-diabetic rats

Acarbose is a competitive inhibitor of the intestinal alpha-glycosidases, that can delay absorption of intestinal carbohydrates causing their malabsorption. In the present paper we studied the effects of insulin, acarbose and their association on glomerular basement membrane thickening in alloxan-diabetic rats. Twenty-five male and female Wistar rats, approximately 3 months old at the beginning of the experiment, were assigned randomly to each of five experimental groups: normal control rats, alloxan-diabetic control rats, alloxan-diabetic rats treated with acarbose, alloxan-diabetic rats treated with insulin, and aloxan-diabetic rats treated with insulin plus acarbose. Alloxan was administered in a single iv dose of 42 mg/kg body weight. Insulin was given subcutaneously at doses of 18 to 30 IU/kg corrected daily on the basis of glycosuria and ketonuria. Acarbose was given mixed with rat chow in a dose of 50 mg/100 g chow. Body weight, water and food intake and diuresis, as well as blood and urine glucose were determined after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of treatment. Glomerular basement membrane (GBM) thickening was determined by electron microscopy at the same times. Clear clinical and laboratory signs of severe diabetes, with blood glucose levels above 200 mg/dl and urine glucose above 3000 mg/dl, were observed in all alloxan-diabetic control rats, in all periods of follow-up, whereas administration of insulin or acarbose reduced the blood glucose levels of treated groups. The most satisfactory control of blood and urine glucose was observed in animals treated with both insulin and acarbose. However, diarrhea was observed in diabetic rats treated with acarbose associated or not with insulin, GBM thickening was correlated with age in all groups. Beginning at six months after diabetes induction, the GBM of untreated diabetic rats was significantly thicker (mean + 4.446 + 0.45 mm) than that of normal rats (2.977 + 0.63 mm). Both insulin and acarbose prevented GBM thickening and their combination induced thickening similar to the age-dependent thickening observed for normal rats of the same age. We conclude that acarbose when combined with insulin may be a good option in the control of diabetes and its renal complications.

Clinical utility of a 22-kDa growth hormone-specific assay

Human growth hormone (hGH) circulates in different molecular forms, with the 22-kDa monomer being the predominant one and the 20-k-Da variant corresponding to 5 to 15% of the serum hGH on a weight basis. Using monoclonal antibodies with different specificities we developed two immunoenzymometric assays, one with 22 + 20 k-Da specificity and the other specific only for the 22-kDa form. Both assays used microtiter plates as solid phase and streptavidin-peroxidase for color development; intra-assay CV was less than 10% in the range of 1 to 100 mlU/l for the 22 + 20 kDa assay and in the range of 3 to 100 for the 22-kDa assay, with an inter-assay CV of less than 14% for both assays, sensitivity was 0.2 mlU/l for the 22 + 20 kDa assay and 0.5 mlU/l for the 22-kDa assay. The two assays were compared by measuring 200 serum samples with detectable hGH levels by both assays. Higher values were obtained with the 22 + 20 kDa assay (62.1 ñ 59.2 ñ 6.1 mlU/l, mean ñ SD) with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.99. In no clinical condition (28 patients with growth retardation and 14 acromegalics) did the two assays give discrepant values. We conclude that there was no practical advantage in using an assay with specificity restricted to the 22-kDa form for measuring hGH in clinical serum samples

Water maze learning in rats with neocortical and hippocampal lesions

Experiments were carried out in oreder to determine whether groups of rats (N+7) with unilateral or bilateral ablation of the neocortex or with removal of the neocortex plus the hippocampus of either hemisphere could learn to escape from a tank of water (57 cm in diameter) by climbing a visible platform when trained for 6 consecutive days. Comparison of the swimming escape latencies among groups showed no statistically significant differences, although over the first four trial blocks the decorticate group was slower (77.19 ñ 39.31, 52.45 ñ 32.37, 31.18 ñ 13.62 and 15.74 ñ 10.94 s, respectively) than the other groups, whose latencies ranged from abouth 70 s (the longest in the first trial block) to 8 s (the longest in the fourth trial block). Nevertheless, hemi-and bilateral decoricate rats were still able to learn the water maze task. The same was observed for hemidecorticate plus hemihippocampectomized rats. These results indicate that the neocortex and the hippocampus in the absence of the neocortex, is essential for spatial localization using a cue-learning strategy