Comparison of orthodontic treatment need among professionals and parents in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

AIMS: This study aimed to assess parents' awareness and attitude regarding their children's malocclusion compared with professional assessments and to measure the prevalence of malocclusion among children in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: The study population consisted of 377 randomly selected children (aged 8-12 years) from five schools in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was used to assess parents' awareness using the Aesthetic Component (AC) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) and knowledge about preventive orthodontics. A clinical examination was performed by two calibrated examiners to measure the prevalence of malocclusion using both the AC and dental health component (DHC) of IOTN. RESULTS: The most common Angle's molar relationship was Class I (78.2%), followed by Class II (17.5%) and Class III (4.2%). The DHC (score 3-5), which indicated the need for orthodontic treatment, was 55.4%. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) between AC from examiners and parents, whereby the parents tended to underestimate their children's malocclusion by a factor of 1.45. Surprisingly, many parents (67.4%) lacked knowledge about preventive orthodontics. CONCLUSIONS: Class I malocclusion was most prevalent among children in the area of Dammam. A moderate percentage (55.4%) of the study subjects required treatment based on the DHC. Based on the lack of knowledge about preventive orthodontics in the majority of parents in our study, it is recommended that oral health-promoting programs be implemented to improve the awareness of malocclusion in the region.

Experimental acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polyamide evisceration implant: a rabbit clinical and histopathology study / Estudo clínico e histopatológico em coelhos eviscerados com utilização de implantes de poliamida e acrilonitrila butadieno estireno

The purpose of this study was to evaluate acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polyamide implants in rabbits submitted to evisceration at the macroscopic and microstructure level and to assess clinical response and histopathological changes as well. For the experimental study implants of 12mm diameter were prepared by rapid prototyping, weighed and the outer and inner surfaces evaluated macroscopically and by electron microscopy. In addition, a compression test was performed and ultrastructural damage was then determined. After evisceration of the left eyeball, nine New Zealand rabbits received ABS implants and nine others received polyamide implants. The animals were assessed daily for 15 days after surgery and every seven days until the end of the study (90 days). Histopathological evaluation was performed at 15, 45 and 90 days after surgery. The ABS implants weighed approximately 0.44g, while the polyamide ones weighed 0.61g. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the ABS implants had regular-sized, equidistant micropores, while the polyamide ones showed micropores of various sizes. The force required to fracture the ABS implant was 14.39 ±0.60 Mpa, while for the polyamide one, it was 16.80 ±1.05 Mpa. Fifteen days after surgery, we observed centripetal tissue infiltration and scarce inflammatory infiltrate. Implants may be used in the filling of anophthalmic cavities, because they are inert, biocompatible and allow tissue integration.(AU)

Avaliou-se a macroscopia, a microestrutura, a resposta clínica e histopatológica de implantes de acrilonitrila butadieno estireno (ABS) e poliamida em coelhos submetidos à evisceração. Para o estudo experimental, os implantes foram elaborados por meio de prototipagem rápida, com 12mm de diâmetro, pesados e tiveram suas superfícies avaliadas macroscopicamente e por microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Adicionalmente, foi realizado ensaio de compressão para determinar a força necessária para fraturar os implantes. Após a evisceração do olho esquerdo, nove coelhos da raça Nova Zelândia receberam implantes de poliamida e nove outros receberam implantes de ABS. Os animais foram avaliados diariamente nos primeiros 15 dias após a cirurgia e a cada sete dias até o fim do período experimental (90 dias). Avaliação histopatológica foi realizada aos 15, 45 e 90 dias após a cirurgia. Os implantes de ABS pesaram 0,44g, e os de poliamida 0,61g. A microscopia eletrônica de varredura demonstrou que os implantes de ABS eram formados por microporos equidistantes, enquanto os de poliamida apresentavam microporos de vários tamanhos. A força necessária para fraturar os implantes de ABS foi de 14.39±0.60 Mpa, enquanto para os de poliamida foi de 16.80±1.05Mpa. Quinze dias após a cirurgia, foi observada infiltração fibrovascular centrípeta. Os implantes podem ser utilizados para correção de cavidades anoftálmicas por se mostrarem inertes, biocompatíveis e permitirem a infiltração tecidual.(AU)

Comportamento térmico de alguns fármacos e medicamentos / Thermal studies of some pharmaceutical drugs

A técnica de análise térmica apresenta aplicações em diversos ramos da ciência, entre eles a indústria farmacêutica, a qual pode utilizá-la para caracterização e estudo das matérias primas e produtos finais. Os compostos farmacêuticos apresentam diferentes formas morfológicas ou estruturais,que afetam diretamente na sua estabilidade, ação e liberação. O desenvolvimento e fabricação de medicamentos requerem intenso cuidado devido a pureza, qualidade e estabilidade dos componentes. Um dos itens para se obter uma formulação estável e efetiva depende dos cuidados na escolha dos excipientes utilizados, onde uma de suas propriedades é a de interferir na biodisponibilidade e proteção do fármaco frente a degradação. Neste trabalho foram utilizadas técnicas de análise térmica (TG/DTG/DSC/DTA) e a espectroscopia Raman para estudar possíveis interações entre o fármaco e seus excipientes. Foram selecionados para o estudo os medicamentos Aspirina® e AAS®, comparados com o seu princípio ativo ácido acetil salicílico. As amostras não sofreram pré tratamento e foram analisadas como adquiridas no mercado. Os resultados obtidos através das técnicas de análise térmica evidenciaram uma possível interação entre os diferentes excipientes utilizados e o princípio ativo. Os espectros Raman corroboram com os resultados obtidos das análises térmicas dos medicamentos. Através dos resultados obtidos concluímos que as diferentes composições existentes na formulação dos medicamentos podem promover mudanças em suas propriedades físicas e consequentemente na sua atividade biológica.

Identification of Brazilian flaviviruses by a simplified reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method using Flavivirus universal primers.

We report a simplified reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method for identification of Brazilian flaviviruses based on the patterns of electrophoretic separation of the amplicons. The RT-PCR was done on the culture fluids of Aedes albopictus C6/36 cells infected with Brazilian flaviviruses, without previous extraction of viral RNA, using Flavivirus universal primers that anneal to highly conserved sequences within the nonstructural protein 5 and 3'- non translated region of the virus genome. Genomes of 13 Brazilian Flavivirus isolates were amplified. It was not possible to amplify the genome of Bussuquara virus. Analysis of the RT-PCR products gave reproducible results and three distinct amplicon patterns were observed. Cacipacoré (800-850 basepairs [bp]) and yellow fever viruses (600 bp) yielded a single amplicon; dengue virus types 1 and 2 (650 and 550 bp), dengue virus type 4 (550 and 450 bp), Iguape (650-600 bp and 750-700 bp), St. Louis encephalitis (700 and 650-600 bp), and Rocio viruses (600 and 500-550 bp) yielded two amplicons; and Ilheus virus yielded five amplicons, two larger than 1,000 bp, one 650-700 bp, one 550-600 bp, and one 450-500 bp. The analysis of amplicon DNA sequences of six viruses showed homology with the 3'- nontranslated region of Flavivirus genome. The use of the Flavivirus universal primers in this simple RT-PCR technique is suitable as a screening test for the genus Flavivirus, with the exception of Bussuquara virus, in Brazilian isolates in tissue culture fluid.

Human disease caused by an arbovirus closely related to Ilheus virus: report of five cases.

We report five cases of human disease caused by arbovirus in 5 patients from the State of São Paulo, Brazil, residing in the municipalities of Osasco, Atibaia, Guarujá, and the capital São Paulo, respectively. One of the patients resides in São Luis, capital of the State of Maranhão. The sites of infection probably were the states of Paraná and Goiás, both in cave regions, the State of Amazonas, and Rondônia in two cases. Laboratory tests for malaria were negative and 1 patient showed a positive serum reaction for leptospirosis. Serum samples from the acute and convalescent phases were tested by hemagglutination inhibition, complement fixation, and neutralization in mice. Acute phase samples were inoculated into suckling mice by the intracerebral route. A close antigenic relationship was observed between the five agents isolated and the flavivirus Ilheus. Serologic tests demonstrated the absence of antibodies in all samples from the 5 patients during convalescence and even for more than 1 year after infection in 1 of them.

Jungle yellow fever: clinical and laboratorial studies emphasizing viremia on a human case.

The authors report the clinical, laboratorial and epidemiological aspects of a human case of jungle yellow fever. The patient suffered from fever, chills, sweating, headaches, backaches, myalgia, epigastric pains, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and prostration. He was unvaccinated and had been working in areas where cases of jungle yellow fever had been confirmed. Investigations concerning the yellow fever virus were performed. Blood samples were collected on several days in the course of the illness. Three of these samples (those obtained on days 5, 7 and 10) were inoculated into suckling mice in attempt to isolate virus and to titrate the viremia level. Serological surveys were carried out by using the IgM Antibodies Capture Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (MAC-ELISA), Complement Fixation (CF), Hemagglutination Inhibition (HI) and Neutralization (N) tests. The yellow fever virus, recovered from the two first samples and the virus titration, showed high level of viremia. After that, specific antibodies appeared in all samples. The interval between the end of the viremia and the appearance of the antibodies was associated with the worsening of clinical symptoms, including bleeding of the mucous membrane. One must be aware of the risk of having a urban epidemics in areas where Aedes aegypti is found in high infestation indexes.

New arenavirus isolated in Brazil.

A new arenavirus, called Sabiá, was isolated in Brazil from a fatal case of haemorrhagic fever initially thought to be yellow fever. Antigenic and molecular characterisation indicated that Sabiá virus is a new member of the Tacaribe complex. A laboratory technician working with the agent was also infected and developed a prolonged, non-fatal influenza-like illness. Sabiá virus is yet another arenavirus causing human disease in South America.

Iguape: a newly recognized flavivirus from São Paulo State, Brazil.

A new virus, SP An 71686, was isolated from sentinel mice exposed in a forest area in Iguape county, São Paulo state, Brazil, in 1979. The results suggest [hemagglutination inhibition (HI), complement fixation, neutralization, and ELISA] that SP An 71686 virus is a new arbovirus and that it demonstrates some cross-reactivity with other members of the family Flaviviridae, but can be differentiated from them. Although there is an intensive circulation of several arboviruses in the area, the only diagnosed cases of human disease were caused by Rocio virus during and after the epidemic of encephalitis that occurred in 1975-1977, one case of febrile illness by Caraparu virus in 1983, and by subtype IF of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus in soldiers during jungle survival training in 1990. Wild animals had a prevalence of SP An 71686 HI monotype antibodies: 46% of birds captured in 1990, 40% in 1991 and 19.5% in 1992. These results suggested that wild birds may play a role in the virus transmission cycle. Mammals (rodents and marsupials) must also be considered potential hosts. However, the virus reservoir-vector relationships need further studies which would help to clarify the ecology of this virus.

Human fatal yellow fever. Immunohistochemical detection of viral antigens in the liver, kidney and heart.

An immunohistochemical method to detect yellow fever antigen was developed using immune sera from rabbits and hamsters and hyperimmune ascitic fluid from mice. A search for the antigen was carried out in liver, kidney and heart in three fatal cases of yellow fever. In the liver it was present in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes, Councilman bodies and Kupffer cells. Yellow fever antigen was also detected in renal tubular epithelium and in groups of myocardial fibers. These findings suggest that viral replication occurs at sites other than the liver. Since yellow fever shares many features with other haemorrhagic fevers the use of immunohistochemistry can impart a significant improvement in the accuracy of its histopathological diagnosis.

Leprosy in a trachomatous population.

In an Egyptian leprosy hospital, 17% of 133 patients had a visual acuity of less than 3/60. Corneal opacity, phthisis bulbi, and cataract accounted for 85% of blindness. Leprosy and trachoma together produce blinding corneal opacity by exposure, leprous keratitis, and trichiasis and entropion. Inturned lids, a late result of conjunctival scarring due to childhood trachoma, were less frequent in patients with lepromatous leprosy than in patients with tuberculoid leprosy; because conjunctival scarring from trachoma depends on cell-mediated immunity, patients with lepromatous leprosy may not have had severe trachomatous scarring develop due to their lifelong abnormality in cellular immunity. In patients with leprosy, even when complicated by trachoma, simple measures to prevent or restore vision include medical treatment of leprosy, surgical correction of lid deformities, sector iridectomy for constricted pupils or central corneal opacities, and cataract extraction.