Scope of Western surgical techniques to correct cleft lip and palate prior to the 18th century.

OBJECTIVES: To present the state of knowledge and surgical practice concerning cleft lip and palate leading to the modern era. DESIGN: Bibliographical review. SETTING: Analysis of the scientific medical, surgical, and odontological literature from the 16th to 18th centuries. RESULTS: Texts and art confirm the existence of cleft lip and palate from antiquity in all cultures; however, the first certain references in Western scientific literature did not appear until the works of Celsus (ca. 25 BC to AD 50) and Galen (AD 129 to 200). Indications for cleft lip surgery appear in the Middle Ages with Albucasis (936 to 1013) and Yperman (1260 to 1332). From the Renaissance period onward, and with the invention of the printing press, numerous authors described their own surgical methods. CONCLUSIONS: Given the limitations imposed by pain and infection, the authors of the Modern Age focus on correcting the functional and esthetic defect of the lip with techniques that do not differ greatly from those described in the Middle Ages. The treatment for cleft palate was limited to the creation of "obturators" and surgery for cleft palate was not possible until the 19th century.

The historical roots of popular practices in oral health: Pistacia lentiscus in Cartagena, Murcia (Spain).

All over the world, different cultures have made use of the plants that nature has provided for their oral care and hygiene. Many of these popular uses were integrated into scientific medicine during ancient times, but have once again returned to occupy a place in popular medical practice. This article will trace the historical route of the popular uses of Pistacia lentiscus (the mastic tree, or evergreen pistache) in the province of Murcia in the south of Spain.

Mixed reality for neurosurgery: a novel prototype.

Microscopes and neuronavigators are often used in neurosurgical procedures. Our Mixed Reality prototype proposes to show neuronavigator imaging overlayed onto the surgical field of view. The proposal is to replace the traditional optical microscope with a digital one. The system is presented in this article. Firsts trials have been performed at the laboratory with satisfactory results.

Teoría académica y práctica ciudadana en el paludismo. Las causas de las enfermedades endémicas en Murcia durante el siglo XVIII desde la perspectiva de la administración local

A partir de informes de profesionales sanitarios y no sanitarios elaborados en 1719 en Murcia y en 1785 en Cartagena, analizamos las ideas científicas de sus autores y las relaciones que establecen entre el problema de la endemia palúdica y las circunstancias urbanísticas, económicas y sociales en las que se está produciendo. Los autores de ambos informes ven evidente la conexión entre todos estos factores y proponen la lucha contra las tercianas con medidas no sólo médicas y sanitarias, sino también con alternativas a la producción económica, y con reformas en la arquitectura de los locales públicos y obras de carácter urbanístico. Suponen por tanto un tímido intento de interpretar la enfermedad como problema social en sus causas, en sus consecuencias y en el modo de combatirla (AU)