A mixed longitudinal anthropometric study of craniofacial growth of Colombian mestizos 6-17 years of age.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the craniofacial growth of Colombian mestizos. Four age cohorts, including a total of 458 children and adolescents (262 males and 216 females), were included in this mixed-longitudinal study. The cohorts were first measured at ages 6, 9, 12, and 15 and every year thereafter for 3 years. Eight anthropometric measurements were taken, including three cranial (head perimeter, head width, and head length), two craniofacial (maxillary and mandibular length), and three facial (face height, bizygomatic width, and bigonial width). Multilevel analyses showed that all dimensions increased between 6 and 17 years of age. The cranium grew less than the craniofacial, which in turn grew less than the facial dimensions. In addition, vertical dimensions showed more growth than antero-posterior dimensions, which in turn grew more than transverse dimensions. None of the measurement showed statistically significant growth differences between subjects with normal occlusion and Class I or Class II malocclusions. Males were generally larger than females and showed greater growth rates. Except for facial width, whose yearly velocities decreased regularly with age, an adolescent growth spurt was evident for most of the male measurements. Yearly velocities for females followed a simpler decelerating pattern. The results provide reference data for Colombian mestizos, for whom normative data of other ethnic groups are not applicable. While occlusion had little or no effect, there were gender differences, as well as important growth differences between cranial and facial measurements.

Endoscopic treatment of high-risk bleeding ulcers: success, rebleeding and mortality.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Endoscopic treatment of peptic ulcers with high-risk stigmata has been probed. The rates of recurrent bleeding, need for emergent surgery and death are related to Forrest Classification, Blatchford's modified risk score and the kind of endoscopic treatment used (monotherapy vs. dual). The aims of the present study were to report the success of endoscopic therapy in the reduction of the rate of initial success, recurrent bleeding, the need for surgery, and the mortality rate for patients with bleeding peptic ulcer and high-risk stigmata. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From a retrospective view, patients seen from September 2004 to March 2007 who had peptic ulcers Forrest Ia, Ib, IIa and/or IIb were included. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were included (mean [SD] age 57.3 +/-16.6 years). The success rate was 91%, whilst the rest of the patients required immediate surgery. Recurrent bleeding was presented in 14 (27%) patients and eight (14.2%) required emergency surgery. The mortality rate was 3.6%. No factors were associated with the risk of failure to initial treatment, recurrent bleeding or need for surgery. The use of monotherapy by endoscopy was associated with the mortality. The variable "performed by a fellow alone" was not associated with any kind of outcome. CONCLUSION: Complication rate is similar to previous reports of general hospitals, but is higher than those of referral centers. Endoscopic monotherapy is associated with a major mortality risk.