Tooth survival following root canal treatment by general dental practitioners in a Swedish county - a 10-year follow-up study of a historical cohort.

AIM: To evaluate the 10-year survival rate of root filled teeth treated by general dental practitioners (GDPs), and to identify possible prognostic factors. METHODOLOGY: In 2006, 3676 individuals had at least one tooth root filled by a GDP within the Norrbotten Public Dental Service, Sweden. Over the next 10 years, 331 individuals died and were excluded. A random sample of 302 of the remaining individuals was included in the study, of whom 280 (n = 280 teeth) were included in the analysis. Dental records were reviewed retrospectively by a calibrated researcher to collect predetermined data regarding individual, pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative factors. The outcome measure was tooth extraction over time, and cases with no events were censored, regardless of apical status or symptoms, until last known date of tooth survival. In case of missing data, individuals were recalled for a control visit. Kaplan-Meier survival tables and Cox regression models were used for analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The cumulative 10-year survival was 81.7% (standard error: 2.6%), and the mean incidence of tooth extraction during the 10 years was 1.8% per year. The univariate analysis identified three possible prognostic factors (P < 0.05) that were associated with extraction: molars, two or more emergency inter-appointment visits during the treatment, and root canal treatments consisting of five or more separate sessions. A multivariate regression analysis revealed no significant relationships for the variables gender, tooth type, number of contacts, any emergency visits during endodontic treatment, number of sessions to complete endodontic treatment, pulp diagnosis, or type of permanent restoration and extraction. CONCLUSIONS: The mean incidence of tooth loss over the first 10 years after completion of root canal treatment performed by a GDP was approximately 2% per year. No prognostic factors could be identified.

'Seeing is believing': a qualitative approach to studying the use of cone beam computed tomography in endodontics in Sweden.

AIM: To gain insight into the decision processes of dentists when requesting a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) examination in endodontic settings. METHODOLOGY: Fourteen dentists (eight female) 33-58 years of age (mean = 44) practising in Sweden were interviewed. Ten of the dentists were specialists in Endodontics. The absolute inclusion criterion was experience of referring patients for CBCT for endodontic reasons. The included dentists comprised a strategically selected diverse sample in terms of gender, age, work experience, educational background, location of practice, service affiliation and accessibility to CBCT. Data were obtained through semistructured interviews exposing the context of their last three self-reported referrals. Dentists were encouraged to describe their experiences of the circumstances in their own words, aided by the interviewer's open-ended questions. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The text was analysed by qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The manifest content was organized into three categories that were defined as visualization as a desire, facilitating tough decisions and allocating responsibility. CONCLUSION: An overall theme (covering the latent content) was identified: A balance between clinical common sense and a 'better safe than sorry' attitude guides the use of CBCT in endodontic settings. Informants had high clinical standards, knowledge concerning radiation risks and good sense, which could compensate for their lack of knowledge of guidelines. The national radiation regulatory system was perceived to work as a slightly porous gatekeeper for over-usage.

Spectral refractive index technique for monitoring the beer mashing process.

During beer production, the mashing process is fundamental for extraction of the main sugars from the starch. The quantification of these fermentable sugars during the process provides a measure of the alcoholic content of the final beer. Therefore, monitoring of the sugar composition during beer production is very important for obtaining a quality product. This paper demonstrates the potential of white light interferometry (WLI) for monitoring the extraction of sugars in different mashing processes, by observing the refractive index of the mixture. All the mashings presented linear increases of the refractive index during the temperature steps, which were influenced by the concentrations of sugars produced in each step. Cauchy parameters obtained by refractive index interpretation showed the influence of carbohydrates on absorption in the infrared region, and amino acids on absorption in the ultraviolet region. Strong correlation was obtained between the refractive index and °Bx values, indicating that the WLI technique is a potential analytical method for monitoring the mashing process during beer production.

Aspectos clínicos e laboratoriais do complexo gengivite-estomatite em gatos domés / Clinic and laboratorial profile of Gingivostomatitis Complex in domestic cats

Foram incluídos 76 gatos domésticos com diferentes graus (I a IV) de lesões em cavidade oral, os quais foram avaliados clinicamente e tiveram coletadas amostras de sangue e suabes da cavidade oral. A maioria dos gatos portadores de CGE eram machos, castrados, adultos, sem raça definida e com estilo de vida confinado. Os sinais clínicos observados e associados à gravidade da inflamação na cavidade oral foram halitose (98,7%); ptialismo (22,4%); hemorragia bucal (9,2%) e úlcera na parte superior dos lábios (2,6%); desconforto à manipulação da cavidade oral (44,7%) e perda dentária (55,3%). A maioria dos gatos avaliados foi classificada no grau II (43,4%). Não se observou diferença significativa nos resultados do eritrograma dos gatos portadores de CGE, independentemente da gravidade das lesões e da sintomatologia clínica. Entretanto, observou-se neutrofilia (21,1%) e aumento de proteínas plasmáticas totais (47,3%), na maioria dos animais de grau II, sugerindo que esses parâmetros laboratoriais, quando aumentados, possam estar associados a graus menos graves de CGE. A análise das lâminas de citologia da cavidade oral dos gatos demonstrou que a presença de Simonsiella spp. foi mais frequente nos animais incluídos no grau IV, entretanto não é possível afirmar que essa bactéria esteja relacionada à gravidade das lesões.(AU)

Seventy six domestic cats classified with different scores (I to IV) of oral lesions have been included in the study, being clinically examined and having blood samples and oral cavity swabs collected. Most cats diagnosed with Gingivostomatitis Complex (GSC) were male, neutered, adult, DSH, and lived confined. Clinical signs observed and related to the severity of mouth inflammation were halitosis (98.7%), ptyalism (22.4%), oral hemorrhage (9.2%), and upper lip ulcers (2.6%); discomfort during mouth examination (44.7%) and tooth loss (55,3%). Most cats have been classified as score II (43.4%). The red blood cell count showed no significant statistical difference regardless the different scores of oral lesions and clinical symptoms. However, the leukogram showed neutrophilia (21.1%) and plasmatic proteins had an increased level (47.3%), in most of the animals classified as score II, suggesting that these parameters, when increased, may be associated to less severe GSC scores. Oral cavity microscope slides analysis showed that Simonsiella spp. have been more frequent in the cytology of the score IV animals, however, it does not allow us to correlate the presence of the bacteria with the severity lesions degree.(AU)

Seventy six domestic cats classified with different scores (I to IV) of oral lesions have been included in the study, being clinically examined and having blood samples and oral cavity swabs collected. Most cats diagnosed with Gingivostomatitis Complex (GSC) were male, neutered, adult, DSH, and lived confined. Clinical signs observed and related to the severity of mouth inflammation were halitosis (98.7%), ptyalism (22.4%), oral hemorrhage (9.2%), and upper lip ulcers (2.6%); discomfort during mouth examination (44.7%) and tooth loss (55,3%). Most cats have been classified as score II (43.4%). The red blood cell count showed no significant statistical difference regardless the different scores of oral lesions and clinical symptoms. However, the leukogram showed neutrophilia (21.1%) and plasmatic proteins had an increased level (47.3%), in most of the animals classified as score II, suggesting that these parameters, when increased, may be associated to less severe GSC scores. Oral cavity microscope slides analysis showed that Simonsiella spp. have been more frequent in the cytology of the score IV animals, however, it does not allow us to correlate the presence of the bacteria with the severity lesions degree.(AU)

Ten Years of a National Oral Health Policy in Brazil: Innovation, Boldness, and Numerous Challenges.

Brazil is the only country in the world to propose a universal health care system with the aim of guaranteeing delivery of all levels of health care, free of charge, to a population of over 200 million inhabitants by means of a unified health system ("Sistema Único de Saúde" [SUS]). The national policy of oral health, also known as Smiling Brazil ("Brasil Sorridente"), was implemented in 2004. Oral health was designated as 1 of the 4 priority areas of the SUS, transforming oral health care in Brazil, with the objective that the SUS achieve the integrality of care envisaged at its creation. The aim of this article is to share part of this experience in order to prompt reflection about the inclusion of oral health care in other health care systems around the world. The most significant results of Smiling Brazil can be seen in 3 areas: (1) oral health epidemiological indicators, (2) financial investment and professional development, and (3) the building of an oral health care network throughout the 10 y of the policy. The "Discovery!" article presented here portrays 10 y of evolution; however, it is important to point out that this is a process undergoing construction and that the oral health care network needs to be further expanded, refined, and solidified so that over time and through changes in the political parties in power, Smiling Brazil prevails as a perennial policy and not merely an action by a single government.

The impact of cone beam computed tomography on the choice of endodontic diagnosis.

AIM: To determine whether the outcome of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) examinations performed in accordance with the European Commission guidelines in a clinical setting has an impact on choosing diagnoses in endodontics. METHODOLOGY: A prospective observational study was conducted. Fifty-three consecutive patients (81 teeth) from two different endodontic specialist clinics in Sweden were followed. After performing a thorough clinical examination (based on the history, clinical findings, and diagnostic tests such as intra-oral radiography), the examiner wrote down a preliminary diagnosis before CBCT examination. After the CBCT examination, a new diagnosis was made by the same examiner. Both the pre- and the post-CBCT examination diagnoses were plotted according to patients and teeth. The CBCT examinations were performed using similar equipment and protocols that were standardized amongst the clinics. RESULTS: The diagnoses were changed for at least one tooth in 22 patients (41%); overall, the diagnoses were changed for 28 teeth (35%). CONCLUSION: CBCT has a substantial impact on diagnostic thinking in endodontics when used in accordance with the European Commission guidelines.

[An integrative and transdiagnostic relaxation protocol for anxious patients. Results of a pilot study]. / Protocole de relaxation intégrative et transdiagnostique pour patients anxieux. Résultats d'une étude pilote.

INTRODUCTION: The literature data show that relaxation practice is effective in reducing anxiety symptoms. Different techniques such as progressive muscular relaxation, autogenic training, applied relaxation and meditation have been evaluated independently for anxiety disorders. The question is to know whether the combination of various techniques may be of interest in the transdiagnostic treatment of anxiety disorders. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study assessed the short-term efficacy of a 10-week integrative and transdiagnostic relaxation program for anxiety disorders in outpatients of an anxiety disorders unit. METHODS: The diagnoses were made according to the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI; Sheehan et al., 1998) and completed with an assessment of anxiety and depressive symptoms using: the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y, -S and -T), the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Four techniques were integrated into the structured 10-week protocol: breathing control, muscular relaxation, meditation and mental visualization. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients (12 men and 16 women), mean age (S.D.)=38.82 years (11.57), were included in the study. All the included patients fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for a current diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (n=13) or Panic Disorder (n=15) with or without agoraphobia. At the end of the 10 sessions, we found a significant reduction in mean scores (S.D.) on the STAI-T from 53.179 (6.037) to 49.821 (8.028) (P<0.02), the BDI-II 20.964 (13.167) to 15.429 (11.341) (d=0.6543) and the QIPS 55.071 (10.677) to 49.679 (11.7) (d=0.5938). The observed reduction in the STAI-S (d=0.2776) was not significant. DISCUSSION: The results of this open study showed that this program significantly decreases the level of trait anxiety, depression and worry. The integrative and transdiagnostic relaxation program could represent an accessible and effective treatment to reduce anxious and depressive symptoms in various anxiety disorders. Future research should address the development of controlled trials assessing the impact of the different dimensions of anxiety and the long-term effects of this protocol.

The effect of cone beam CT (CBCT) on therapeutic decision-making in endodontics.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to assess to what extent cone beam CT (CBCT) used in accordance with current European Commission guidelines in a normal clinical setting has an impact on therapeutic decisions in a population referred for endodontic problems. METHODS: The study includes data of consecutively examined patients collected from October 2011 to December 2012. From 2 different endodontic specialist clinics, 57 patients were referred for a CBCT examination using criteria in accordance with current European guidelines. The CBCT examinations were performed using similar equipment and standardized among clinics. After a thorough clinical examination, but before CBCT, the examiner made a preliminary therapy plan which was recorded. After the CBCT examination, the same examiner made a new therapy plan. Therapy plans both before and after the CBCT examination were plotted for 53 patients and 81 teeth. As four patients had incomplete protocols, they were not included in the final analysis. RESULTS: 4% of the patients referred to endodontic clinics during the study period were examined with CBCT. The most frequent reason for referral to CBCT examination was to differentiate pathology from normal anatomy, this was the case in 24 patients (45% of the cases). The primary outcome was therapy plan changes that could be attributed to CBCT examination. There were changes in 28 patients (53%). CONCLUSIONS: CBCT has a significant impact on therapeutic decision efficacy in endodontics when used in concordance with the current European Commission guidelines.

Gluten-free dietary compliance in Brazilian celiac patients: questionnaire versus serological test

This study assessed the adherence to treatment of celiac disease (CD) patients being followed at Brasilia’s University Hospital. Forty-six CD patients underwent structural interviews. Their answers were compared with their IgA-tTG test results to determine their level of compliance with a gluten-free diet (GDF). The serological test results showed that 56.5% of the patients did not follow a GFD. Consumption of processed gluten-free foods (GFF) was significantly associated with IgA-tTG test result. Eighteen patients had other diseases in addition to CD and 77.8% of these had positive IgA-tTG results. 90.0% of the patients who presented negative serological test results attended the follow-up visits regularly. Adherence to treatment by this group of CD patients is low although most of them report complying with the diet. Compliance is affected by consumption of GFF, follow-up attendance and presence of other diseases. Awareness of these factors allows the establishment of actions that are beneficial to the celiac‘s treatment (AU)

O presente estudo avaliou a adesão ao tratamento da doença celíaca (DC) por pacientes em acompanhamento no Hospital Universitário de Brasília. 46 pacientes foram submetidos a entrevistas com questionário estruturado e suas respostas foram comparadas aos resultados do teste IgA-tTG para determinar seu nível de cumprimento de uma dieta livre de glúten (DLG). Os resultados dos testes sorológicos mostraram que 56,5% dos pacientes não seguem um DLG. O consumo de alimentos industrializados sem glúten (AISG) foi significativamente associada com o resultado do teste IgA-tTG. 18 pacientes tinham outras doenças, além da DC e 77,8% deles tiveram resultados IgA-tTG positivos. 90,0% dos pacientes que apresentaram os resultados dos testes sorológicos negativos participaram das visitas de acompanhamento regularmente. A adesão ao tratamento por este grupo de pacientes com DC é baixa, embora a maioria deles relatam cumprimento da dieta. A adesão ao tratamento é afetada pelo consumo de AISG, pela frequência de acompanhamento e pela presença de outras doenças. A consciência destes fatores permite o estabelecimento de ações que são benéficas para o tratamento do paciente (AU)

Comparison of three laboratorial tests for diagnosis of canine parvovirus infection / Comparação de três testes laboratoriais para diagnóstico da infecção pelo parvovírus canino

The aim of this study was to evaluate the rapid tests currently used for canine parvovirus (CPV) diagnosis: hemagglutination test (HA), enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 112 fecal samples collected from diarrheic puppies up to one year of age were tested. The EIA was able to detect CPV antigen in 44 samples. By HA, 32 samples tested highly positive with titers >128, eight tested weakly positive (titers 32 and 64) and 72 were negative (titers <16). Using PCR, 57 samples were found positive including 13 EIA-negative and 19 HA-negative samples. The best correlation was observed between EIA and PCR (88.4%). These tests were able to detect all types of CPV, including CPV-2c. Considering that 23%-33% of dogs presenting enteritis did not show infection by EIA nor HA, negative results from the antigen detection tests should be confirmed through molecular methods.

Avaliaram-se os métodos rápidos rotineiramente utilizados para diagnóstico da infecção por parvovírus canino (CPV): teste de hemaglutinação (HA), ensaio imunoenzimático (EIE) e reação em cadeia pela polimerase (PCR). Um total de 112 amostras fecais de cães diarreicos com até um ano de idade foi testado. O EIE foi capaz de detectar o antígeno do CPV em 44 amostras. Por HA, 32 amostras foram consideradas fortemente positivas com títulos >128, oito fracamente positivas (títulos 32 e 64) e 72 negativas (títulos <16). Por PCR, 57 amostras foram positivas incluindo 13 EIE-negativas e 19 HA-negativas. A melhor correlação foi observada entre EIE e PCR (88,4%). Os testes foram capazes de detectar todos os tipos de CPV, incluindo o CPV-2c. Considerando-se que em 23%-33% dos filhotes com enterite a infecção por CPV não foi diagnosticada pelos testes de EIE e HA, os resultados negativos nos testes de detecção de antígeno devem ser confirmados por meio de métodos moleculares.

Total pancreatectomy: porcine model for inducing diabetes - anatomical assessment and surgical aspects.

BACKGROUND: The swine is an essential model for carrying out preclinical research and for teaching complex surgical procedures. There is a lack of experimental models describing anatomical and surgical aspects of total pancreatectomy in the pig. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experiments were performed on 10 white male swine weighing 27-33 kg. The animals were premedicated with midazolam (0.4 mg/kg, i.m.) and ketamine (4 mg/kg, i.m.). Anesthesia was induced with propofol (1-2 mg/kg, i.v.) and was maintained with propofol and fentanyl (0.3 mg and 0.1 µg/kg/min, respectively, i.v.). The surgical period ranged from 44 to 77 min. The pancreas anatomy, and the main arterial, venous and pancreatic duct anatomy were assessed. RESULTS: The pancreas anatomy was composed of 3 lobes, the 'splenic', 'duodenal' and 'connecting' lobe which is attached to the anterior portion of the portal vein. The splenic artery and the junction of the splenic vein and portal vein were divided. The left gastric artery was dissected and separated from its origin at the splenic artery. The head of the pancreas is disposed in a C shape. The pancreas was dissected and liberated from the right portion of the portal vein and the infrahepatic vena cava. The pancreas was separated from the duodenum preserving the pancreaticoduodenal artery, then we performed the total pancreatectomy preserving the duodenum, common bile duct and spleen. CONCLUSION: Total pancreatectomy with duodenum, bile duct and spleen preservation in the pig is feasible and an important instrument for research purposes and teaching surgical technique.

Prevalence of acquired melanocytic naevi in Brazilian schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of acquired melanocytic naevi (AMN) is one of the most important known risk factors for malignant melanoma (MM) in homogeneous white populations. However, there are few studies on AMN in heterogeneous populations. Insight into the causes of AMN in heterogeneous populations in a country with intense ultraviolet radiation should lead to successful strategies in the prevention of MM. AIM: To evaluate the frequency and anatomical distribution of AMN and to observe the influence of environmental and constitutional variables. METHODS: A cross-sectional study on the prevalence of AMN was performed on 1279 Brazilian schoolchildren, aged 2-8 years, according to an international protocol. RESULTS: Both girls and boys had the same number of AMN. The number of AMN was higher on sun-exposed body sites, such as shoulders, thorax/upper abdomen, face/ears and back. A high number of AMN was associated with lighter skin type, greater sun exposure, age, number of sunburns and presence of freckles. CONCLUSIONS: In genetically predisposed people, the body-site distribution of AMN in a heterogeneous population (mixed ethnic backgrounds) is similar to that in a homogeneous population and has the same tendency toward potential proliferation of melanocytes in the presence of ultraviolet radiation. Strategies to reduce the incidence of MM should start at an early age. We believe that these findings will have a direct effect on concepts for preventive strategies. Studies in different populations may serve as a starting point for research into the mechanism underlying increasing rates of AMN.

Functional gait analysis of trans-femoral amputees using two different single-axis prosthetic knees with hydraulic swing-phase control: Kinematic and kinetic comparison of two prosthetic knees.

This paper reports a comparison of the gait patterns of trans-femoral amputees using a single-axis prosthetic knee that coordinates ankle and knee flexions (Proteor's Hydracadence system) with the gait patterns of patients using other knee joints without a knee-ankle link and the gait patterns of individuals with normal gait. The two patient groups were composed of 11 male trans-femoral amputees: six patients had the Hydracadence joint (Group 1) and five patients had other prosthetic knees (Group 2). The reference group was made up of 23 normal volunteers (Group 3). In this work, trunk, hip, knee, and ankle 3-D motion was assessed using the VICON system. Kinetic data were collected by two AMTI force plates, and the knee moment was calculated via the 3-D equilibrium equations. An original questionnaire was used to assess the participants' activity level and clinical background. The results reveal that, during stance, all knee types guaranteed security. After heel strike, the plantar flexion of the ankle enabled by the Hydracadence prosthesis seems to increase stability. During swing phase, hip and knee sagittal motion was nearly the same in both Group 1 and Group 2. By contrast, hallux and sole vertical positions were significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2; thus, it seems the link between the ankle joint and the knee joint makes foot clearance easier. No alteration of the lateral bending of the trunk was observed. The protocol proposed in this paper allows a functional comparison between prosthetic components by combining clinical data with objective 3-D kinematic and kinetic information. It might help to determine which prosthetic knees are best for a specific patient.

Primary screening for cervical cancer through self sampling.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of community health agents (CHAs) to instruct women living in poor rural areas in obtaining self-collected cervical samples and compare the high-risk HPV (hrHPV) hybrid capture (HC) results obtained to those for gynecologist-collected samples. METHODS: After a one-day training, CHAs visited sexually active women, instructing each in the use of collection brush and the Universal Collection Medium tube. One week thereafter, a gynecologist collected cervical samples from, and performed colposcopies on, the same women. A single reference lab performed all HCs. RESULTS: 878 women (Age: 15-69 years) participated. Among self-collected samples, hrHPV prevalence was 33.9% (95% CI: 30.8%-37%), compared with 28.6% (95% CI: 27%-30%) among gynecologist-collected samples. However, 9.3% of the patients were HPV HC II-positive in the self-collected sample and HPV HC II-negative in the gynecologist-collected samples (95% CI: 7.38%-11.22%), whereas 4% tested positive in gynecologist-collected samples and negative in self-collected samples (95% CI: 2.7%-5.3%) (P<0.01; kappa=0.7). Of 9 cases of histologically-confirmed, high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, self-collected and provider-collected samples missed one each. CONCLUSION: Self-collected vaginal sampling could be made an additional CHA function under existing program conditions, improving access to cervical cancer screening in poor rural settings.

The homeobox HOXB13 is expressed in human minor salivary gland.

BACKGROUND: Homeobox are a family of developmental genes involved in morphogenesis and cellular differentiation. Participation of homeobox within normal and malignant tissue has been recently discussed in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the presence of HOXB13 transcript expression in human minor salivary gland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten-micrometer sections from frozen samples were evaluated employing non-radioactive in situ hybridization technique and HOXB13 mRNA probes. RESULTS: HOXB13 was found to be expressed in ducts and mucous acini but not in serous acini. CONCLUSIONS: RESULTS suggest that HOXB13 transcripts are differently expressed in normal mucous and serous acini, and it may possibly reflect a different role in salivary gland carcinogenesis.

Is intra-operative gamma probe detection really necessary for inguinal sentinel lymph node biopsy?

CONTEXT: Sentinel node (SN) biopsy has changed the surgical treatment of malignant melanoma. The literature has emphasized the importance of gamma probe detection (GPD) of the SN. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of patent blue dye (PBD) and GPD for SN biopsy in different lymphatic basins. DESIGN: Patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma in stages I and II were submitted to biopsy of the SN, identified by PBD and GPD, as part of a research project. SETTING: Patients were seen at Hospital São Paulo by a multidisciplinary group (Plastic Surgery Tumor Branch, Nuclear Medicine and Pathology). PATIENTS: 64 patients with localized malignant melanoma were studied. The median age was 46.5 years. The primary tumor was located in the neck, trunk or extremities. INTERVENTIONS: Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, lymphatic mapping with PBD and intraoperative GPD was performed on all patients. The SN was examined by conventional and immunohistochemical staining. If the SN was not found or contained micrometastases, only complete lymphadenectomy was performed. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: The SN was identified by PBD if it was blue-stained, and by GPD if demonstrated activity five times greater than the adipose tissue of the neighborhood. RESULTS: Seventy lymphatic basins were explored. Lymphoscintigraphy showed ambiguous drainage in 7 patients. GPD identified the SN in 68 basins (97%) and PBD in 53 (76%). PBD and GPD identified SN in 100% of the inguinal basins. For the remaining basins both techniques were complementary. A metastatic SN was found in 10 basins. Three patients with negative SN had recurrence (median follow-up = 11 months). CONCLUSION: Although both GPD and PBD are useful and complementary, PBD alone identified the SN in 100% of the inguinal lymphatic basins.

[Emotional intelligence: testing the future nursing]. / Inteligência emocional: testando a enfermagem do futuro.

This study traces the nursing students' profile in order to have a prospective professional vision on the emotional intelligence of these workers. Considering that, nowadays, emotional intelligence is a basic requirement for any kind of profession, this research analysed patterns of cognitive, behavioral and emotional skills among the nursing workers. This is a descriptive exploratory study, accomplished in a public institution in the city of Fortaleza-CE, with 138 students enrolled in the first term of 1999. For this analyses an emotional intelligence questionnaire, available in internet, was applied. The subjects also answered questions related to their behavioral, cognitive and emotional skills. As a result, it was concluded that the majority of the students (78.26%) presented a satisfying level of emotional intelligence and only 16.67% would need improvement. In the classification of the three skills as sufficient, regular and insufficient, the cognitive skill exceeded the other two positively. The research showed that students have the basic characteristics of emotional intelligence. They can be in tune and understanding with patients, and also make themselves understood.

[Septic thrombosis of cavernous sinus: report of 6 cases]. / Trombose séptica do seio cavernoso. Relato de seis casos.

The cavernous sinus is most frequently involved by septic thrombosis. The common sites of primary infection are the medial face, orbits, tonsils, soft palate, sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses. The usual clinical presentation begins with fever and periorbital edema followed by headache, ptosis and ocular muscles palsy. The diagnosis is usually made on clinical grounds. Treatment consists of eradication of the primary source of infection and the administration of antibiotics and anticoagulants. We report six cases of septic thrombosis of cavernous sinus.

Function and regulation of the acid and neutral trehalases of Mucor rouxii.

Two different trehalose-hydrolysing activities, known as acid or non-regulatory trehalases, and neutral or regulatory trehalases, have been recognised in a number of fungal species. The true role of these apparently redundant hydrolases remained obscure for many years. However, recent evidence suggests that neutral trehalases would be specialised in the mobilisation of cytosolic trehalose, while acid trehalases would only hydrolyse extracellular trehalose. Results obtained with Mucor rouxii, a Zygomycete initially thought to possess only neutral trehalase activity, reinforced this hypothesis. M. rouxii grows efficiently in trehalose as the sole carbon source. Trehalose-grown or carbon-starved cells exhibit a high trehalase activity of optimum pH 4.5, bound to the external surface of the cell wall, in contrast with the neutral (pH 6.5) trehalase, which occurs in the cytosol. Other differences between the neutral and the acid trehalases are the temperature optimum (35 degrees C and 45 degrees C, respectively) and thermal stability (half-life of 2.5 min and 12 min at 45 degrees C, respectively). The neutral trehalase, but not the acid trehalase, is activated in vitro by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation, stimulated by Ca2+, and inhibited by EDTA. It shows maximal activity at germination and decreases as growth proceeds. In contrast the activity of the acid trehalase is totally repressed in glucose-grown cultures and increases upon exhaustion of the carbon source, and is strongly induced by extracellular trehalose.