Soil microbial community, enzyme activity, C and N stocks and soil aggregation as affected by land use and soil depth in a tropical climate region of Brazil.

The impact of agricultural land-use on soil microbial community composition and enzyme activity has not been extensively investigated in Ultisols. We investigated soil health parameters by analyzing phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), extracellular enzyme activity, C and N stocks, and soil structure. Four land uses were established in a tropical climate region of Brazil: native Cerrado (savanna), monoculture pasture [Urochloa brizantha (Hochst. Ex A. Rich.) R. Webster 'Marandu'], an integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS), and maize (Zea mays)-fallow in a no-tillage system. Soil microbial biomass was 40% higher in the native Cerrado than in the monoculture pasture, ICLS, and no-tillage maize. Soil organic carbon was positively correlated with microbial community composition (MB; gram-; AC; AMF; Fungi; F: B ratio) and enzyme activity (bG, AP, NAG). Large macroaggregates were positively correlated with bG, AP, and AMF. In summary, the native Cerrado had a higher level of carbon at the soil surface and greater soil structure with increased microbial biomass, gram+ bacteria, AMF, fungi, and F:B ratio in a tropical region of Brazil. However, bG and AP enzyme activities were lower in the ICLS and no-till maize at the soil surface (0-5 cm) compared to the native Cerrado. The conversion of native Cerrado to agricultural systems shifted the soil microbial community composition, enzyme activity, C and N, and soil structure of this sandy soil of the Brazilian Cerrado.

Coronal joint spaces of the Temporomandibular joint: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The joint space measurements of the temporomandibular joint have been used to determine the condyle position variation. Therefore, the aim of this study is to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the coronal joint spaces measurements of the temporomandibular joint. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An electronic database search was performed with the terms "condylar position"; "joint space"AND"TMJ". Inclusionary criteria included: tomographic 3D imaging of the TMJ, presentation of at least two joint space measurements on the coronal plane. Exclusionary criteria were: mandibular fractures, animal studies, surgery, presence of genetic or chronic diseases, case reports, opinion or debate articles or unpublished material. The risk of bias of each study was judged as high, moderate or low according to the "Cochrane risk of bias tool". The values used in the meta-analysis were the medial, superior and lateral joint space measurements and their differences between the right and left joint. RESULTS: From the initial search 2706 articles were retrieved. After excluding the duplicates and all the studies that did not match the eligibility criteria 4 articles classified for final review. All the retrieved articles were judged as low level of evidence. All of the reviewed studies were included in the meta-analysis concluding that the mean coronal joint space values were: medial joint space 2.94 mm, superior 2.55 mm and lateral 2.16 mm. CONCLUSIONS: the analysis also showed high levels of heterogeneity. Right and left comparison did not show statistically significant differences. Key words:Temporomandibular joint, systematic review, meta-analysis.

Dezessete anos de acompanhamento imaginológico de pseudocistos recorrentes do seio maxilar em paciente com fissura palatina / Seventeen years imaging follow-up of recurrent pseudocysts of the maxillary sinus in a cleft patient

Relata-se um caso de paciente portador de fissura palatina apresentandopseudocistos em seios maxilares. As lesões foram diagnosticadas em radiografias panorâmicas obtidas com finalidade odontológica por um período de 17 anos, ora no lado direito, ora no lado esquerdo. Em algumas imagens as lesões não eram vistas. O presente relato demonstra a natureza silenciosa dos pseudocistos, além da possibilidade de resolução espontânea e reaparecimento.

It is reported a case of pseudocysts in maxillary sinuses in a cleft patient. The lesions were diagnosed on random panoramic radiographs for a period of 17 years, either in the right or left maxillary sinus. In some images the lesions were not seen. This report demonstrates the silent nature of pseudocysts,besides the possibility of spontaneous resolution and recurrence.

Mandibular incisive canal: cone beam computed tomography.

PURPOSE: Panoramic radiography is often used to analyze the anatomical structure of the teeth, jaws, and temporomandibular joints. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging allows multiple axial slices of the image to be obtained through these anatomical structures. The aim of this study was to assess CBCT compared with panoramic radiography to verify the presence, location, and dimensions of the mandibular incisive canal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CBCT scan images and panoramic radiographs of 89 subjects were compared for the presence of the mandibular incisive canal, its location, size, and anterior-posterior length. The distance between the incisive canal and the buccal and lingual plate of the alveolar bone, and the distance from the canal to the inferior border of the mandible and the tooth apex were also measured. A paired t-test was used to calculate any significant difference between the two imaging techniques. RESULTS: Eighty-three percent of the CBCT scans showed the presence of the incisive canal, as did 11% of the panoramic radiographs. The range of the incisive canal diameter, as seen in the CBCT scans, was from 0.4 × 0.4 mm to 4.6 × 3.2 mm. The mean length of the canal was 7 ± 3.8 mm. The distance from the inferior border of the mandible to the canal was 10.2 ± 2.4 mm, and the mean distance to the buccal plate was 2.4 mm. The apex-canal distance (in dentate subjects) was 5.3 mm. CONCLUSION: The presence, location, and dimensions of the mandibular incisive canal are better determined by CBCT imaging than by panoramic radiography.

Uma proposta para detecçäo precoce de epidemias com ênfase no caso do sarampo / A proposal for the early detection of measles epidemics

A detecçäo de epidemias de sarampo é importante tanto para melhor aproveitamento de recursos de saúde quanto pelo desenvolvimento de um sistema de detecçäo passível de aplicaçäo a outros sinais epidemiológicos. Este trabalho apresenta um método objetivo para a detecçäo precoce de epidemias de sarampo baseado na aplicaçäo da fórmula de Bayes para o cálculo da probabilidade de um dado número de casos caracterizar a existência de um surto epidêmico. Em princípio, esta mesma abordagem pode ser adotada em relaçäo a outras doenças epidêmicas que requerem vacinaçäo urgente como é o caso da meningite. O método foi desenvolvido utilizando os dados de ocorrência de sarampo em 150 cidades de maior número de casos no Rio Grande do Sul, no período de 1971 a 1980. Sendo o método aplicado a este mesmo período, seu desempenho foi avaliado pelo levantamento da Curva de Operaçäo Característica (ROC): em 347 epidemias foi possível detectar 86% corretamente, com 11% de falsos alarmes e com uma antecedência média de 5 semanas em relaçäo ao pico de epidemia. Finalmente, o método foi entäo testado com os dados de 1981, simulando assim a implementaçäo dos sistema: em 57 epidemias foi possível detectar 70% corretamente, com 12% de falsos alarmes e uma antecedência média de 4 semanas em relaçäo ao pico epidêmico. Os resultados foram considerados satisfatórios, justificando portanto a sua futura implementaçäo em caráter experimental. A possibilidade de utilizaçäo do método mesmo sem recursos computacionais, torna viável sua implementaçäo com um mínimo de recursos financeiros