Diagnosis of the infection by the Helicobacter pylori through stool examination: method standardization in adults.

OBJECTIVES: Infection caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the most common causes of chronic infection in the world. The presence of the infection is strongly associated with the neoplasia of the gastrointestinal tract, and its diagnosis is easily made by means of invasive or non-invasive methods. Among such methods, the H. pylori antigen detection in stool through ELISA technique is easily performed and it is an alternative to endoscopy in children, since this exam is not usually indicated in this age group. The aim of the current study is to establish the standardization of the ELISA method for the detection of H. pylori in stool specimens in Brazil. DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients between 18 and 70 years of age were randomly selected in the gastroenterology ambulatory center at Faculdade de Medicina do ABC between 2007 and 2009. They all answered a questionnaire to investigate possible dyspeptic symptoms and then underwent endoscopy and detection of H. pylori through no more than 4 methods. Besides the gastric biopsy, established as the gold standard test, the urease test, the stool ELISA test and serology were also methods applied. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of the exams in this sample were respectively 87.2% and 44% for the stool ELISA test, 41.9% and 64% for serology, 65.6% and 58.8% for the urease test and 100% and 80.8% for the clinical analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The ROC curve showed a good correlation between the compared methods. In Brazil the standardization of the ELISA test for the detection of H. pylori in stool specimens constitutes a non-invasive diagnostic alternative.

Traumatic neuroma of the lower lip.

Traumatic neuroma is a rare disorder that represents a reactive proliferation of neural tissue following damage to an adjacent nerve. Clinically, oral lesions usually appear as a nodule of normal or grayish white smooth surface colouration, and patients may complain of pain as a frequent symptom. We report a case of a painless lower lip traumatic neuroma, clinically misdiagnosed as lipoma, in a 24-year-old Caucasian woman. On intraoral examination, a yellowish and smooth sessile, well-delimited, painless, nodular lesion measuring 10 mm x 7 mm x 4 mm in size was observed on the mucosal lower lip. An excisional biopsy was performed and the final diagnosis was traumatic neuroma. After 18 months of follow-up, the patient is asymptomatic and there are no signs of recurrence.

Bone healing in critical-size defects treated with platelet-rich plasma: a histologic and histometric study in rat calvaria.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze histologically the influence of autologous platelet-rich plasma on bone healing in surgically created critical-size defects in rat calvaria. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-two rats were divided into two groups: the control group (group C) and the platelet-rich plasma group. An 8-mm-diameter critical-size defect was created in the calvarium of each animal. In group C the defect was filled by a blood clot only. In the platelet-rich plasma group, 0.35 mL of platelet-rich plasma was placed in the defect and covered by 0.35 mL of platelet-poor plasma. Both groups were divided into subgroups (n = 8) and killed at either 4 or 12 wk postoperatively. Histometric (using image-analysis software) and histologic analyses were performed. The amount of new bone formed was calculated as a percentage of the total area of the original defect. Percentage data were transformed into arccosine for statistical analysis (analysis of variance, Tukey, p < 0.05). RESULTS: No defect completely regenerated with bone. The platelet-rich plasma group had a statistically greater amount of bone formation than group C at both 4 wk (17.68% vs. 7.20%, respectively) and 12 wk (24.69% vs. 11.65%, respectively) postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Within the limits of this study, it can be concluded that platelet-rich plasma placed in the defects and covered by platelet-poor plasma significantly enhanced bone healing in critical-size defects in rat calvaria.

Treatment of fibrinolytic alveolitis with rifamycin B diethylamide associated with gelfoam: a histological study.

The most common complication in the healing of extraction wounds is fibrinolytic alveolitis, which may also be termed "dry socket". Reduction in the incidence of this condition after the application of topical antibiotics and the use of systemic antibiotics has been reported. A histological study of disturbed alveolar socket healing in rats was carried out to analyze the influence of application of rifamycin B diethylamide (Rifocin M) associated or not with Gelfoam. Sixty-four male rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus, Wistar), weighing 120-150 g, were divided into 4 groups of 16 animals each. In the second group of rats which received implants of Gelfoam, there was an intense resorption of bone walls in the initial stage. The rats that received implants of Gelfoam saturated with Rifocin M (fourth group) showed better results than the second group. The third group (only irrigation with rifamycin) showed better bone formation in the alveolar socket compared to the first, second and fourth groups. Thus, these results showed that rifamycin irrigation is useful in the control of alveolar infections.