Accuracy of video imaging for predicting the soft tissue profile after mandibular set-back surgery.

The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of two video-imaging programs for predicting the soft tissue outcomes of mandibular set-back surgery for patients with skeletal class III malocclusion. The sample consisted of 30 previously treated, nongrowing, white patients who had undergone isolated mandibular set-back surgery. An objective comparison was made of each program's cephalometric prediction using a customized analysis, as well as a subjective comparison of the predicted images as evaluated by a panel of six raters. The results showed that both programs produced similar cephalometric and video image predictions. The cephalometric visual treatment objective predictions were found to be most accurate in the horizontal plane; approximately 30% of cases showed errors greater than 2.0 mm, whereas in the vertical plane, the error rate was greater (50%). The resulting video image predictions were judged by the panel as being in the "fair" category. A particular problem was noted when significant vertical compression of the soft tissue images was required. Video imaging was suitable for patient education but not accurate enough for detailed diagnosis and treatment planning.

Growth-promoting effects of diabetes and insulin on arteries. An in vivo study of rat aorta.

Proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cells is regarded as an important event in atherogenesis, which according to in vitro culture studies is influenced by diabetes and insulin. To assess whether this holds true in vivo, we studied the cellular kinetics of thoracic aorta in normal and streptozocin-induced diabetic rats with and without insulin treatment. We measured the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into intima-media, as well as its DNA content, 2 and 14 days after endothelial denudation. We found that the mitotic response of an injured artery is not modified by diabetes but is depressed by insulin treatment in nondiabetic rats, probably due to hypoglycemia. Our data in insulin-treated diabetic rats support but do not definitely settle the view that insulin is mitogenic as long as the treatment does not cause sustained hypoglycemia.

Active proliferation of telangiectases in skin of patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS).

The labeling index of endothelial cells as measured by in vitro autoradiography with 3H-thymidine and the electron microscopic structure of microvessels were studied in telangiectases. The telangiectases of eight patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) were compared with the cherry angiomas of six healthy controls subjects. The ultrastructural features of telangiectases were similar in the two groups and were characteristic of capillaries and postcapillary venules of the dermis, with multilayering of the vascular basement membrane. However, a significant difference existed between these two groups in an autoradiographic study: in PSS telangiectases, the average labeling index was 5.9%, whereas in cherry angiomas it was around 0.8%. Thus, the telangiectases in PSS are structures with accelerated endothelial proliferation, as are the other endothelial cells of microvessels anywhere in dermis in this disease. However, the great heterogeneity of the labeling index (varying from 0.5% to 27%) must be emphasized in telangiectases.

Relationship between nailfold capillary microscopy and salivary capillary basement membrane width in Raynaud's disease and progressive systemic sclerosis.

To assess the relationship between a nailfold scleroderma pattern and histopathological data, we compared the results of nailfold capillaroscopy with capillary basement membrane width of labial salivary glands in 25 patients with either a Raynaud's disease (RD: 12 patients) or a progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS: 13 patients). The sensitivity of a capillaroscopic scleroderma pattern for capillary basement membrane thickness is of 75%. These results confirm the usefulness of in vivo capillary examination for the early diagnosis of PSS.

Fine structural capillary changes and basal lamina thickening in scleroderma (progressive systemic sclerosis) and Raynaud's disease.

Capillary abnormalities were found by electron microscopy in labial salivary gland biopsies obtained from 20 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). They consisted of marked thickening and multilayering of basal lamina, degenerative and adaptative endothelial cell changes, alterations of pericytes and perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration. There was no correlationship between the intensity of the capillary abnormalities and the duration of the disease. In 12 patients with Raynaud's disease (RD) such changes were not found. Thus capillaries displayed normal-looking ultrastructural appearances. Mean capillary basal lamina width was consistently thicker in the PSS group than in the RD group (p less than 0.001). These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that the primary event in PSS occurs in the microvessels. It is suggested that labial salivary gland biopsy may be helpful for early recognition of PSS among subjects with Raynaud's syndrome.

[Sclerodermal microangiopathy: a cause or a consequence?]. / La microangiopathie sclérodermique: cause ou conséquence?

Microangiopathy is an essential clinicopathological feature of systemic scleroderma, comprising capillary thinning, thickening of the basement membrane and abnormalities of the endothelium which has an abnormally high uptake of radioactive thymidine. The identification of a circulating cytotoxic factor for endothelial cells suggests that the microangiopathy may play a role in the physiopathogenesis of the disease. In practice, microangiopathy can be fully assessed by capillaroscopy in patients with systemic scleroderma.

Endothelial cell renewal in skin of patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS): an in vitro autoradiographic study.

The labelling index of endothelial cells of the dermal microvessels was studied by in vitro autoradiography with [3H] thymidine. 14 patients with PSS were compared with 7 control subjects, by sampling the upper-third of the forearm skin. One patient had a second biopsy in this area, on a telangiectasis. Microvessels from patients showed a significant increase in endothelial cell labelling. Within the PSS group, no difference was found between the indurated and the non-indurated skin. There was no correlation between the labelling index and the duration of the disease. A very high uptake was found in the telangiectasis. Such an increased labelling index in PSS is consistent with a response to the endothelial cell destruction as described in electron microscopy and in cultures with patient's serum.

[Quantitative assessment of labial salivary gland sclerosis in patients with diffuse scleroderma (author's transl)]. / Quantification de la sclérose des glandes salivaires labiales au cours de la sclérodermie généralisée.

Biopsies of the lips were performed on 27 patients (7 male and 20 female; mean age, 58 years) with diffuse scleroderma and on 10 healthy subjects serving as controls. The degree of intralobular sclerosis in labial salivary glands was measured on tissue sections by an automated morphometric analysis technique. Collagenous compared with controls. It was independent from the type of cell infiltrating the gland and from the evolution potential of the disease, but it correlated with its duration and seemed to be specific to scleroderma.

[Menkes' disease (new skin and hair ultrastructural abnormalities) (author's transl)]. / Maladie de menkes anomalies ultrastructurales cutanéophanériennes nouvelles.

The authors report the sixth case of Menkes' kinky hair disease. This boy has been observed for as long as 16 months, and he his still alive at the time of publication. This genetic, X linked disorder of copper metabolism is always fatal in childhood. Diagnosis is evoked when is noted the conjunction of progressive cerebral degeneration, seizures, with pili torti and monilethrix. It can be asserted with the very low copper and cerulo-plasmin blood levels. Recognition of the disease in utero might be possible. New findings in skin' electron microscopy and hair' scanning electron microscopy are reported here. And two RX scanner of the brain have been performed.