Zoledronic acid and alendronate sodium and the implications in orthodontic movement.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) in rats treated with two types of bisphosphonates (BPs), alendronate sodium (A) and zoledronic acid (Z). DESIGN: In all, 15 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. Group OTM+A: orthodontic tooth movement and subcutaneous administration of alendronate sodium (2.5 mg/kg); Group OTM+Z: orthodontic tooth movement and subcutaneous administration of zoledronic acid (0.02 mg/kg), and Group OTM: orthodontic tooth movement and subcutaneous injection of saline. The BPs were administered once a day during 25 days before OTM started and during 10 days of OTM. The left upper first molar was moved with a stainless-steel closed coil spring which delivered an initial force of 0.4N. OTM was measured with a digital caliper comparing the moved and the contralateral side. The histomorphometric analysis counted the number of osteoclasts, inflammatory cells, blood vessels and fibroblasts (n/104  m2 ) in periodontal ligament (PDL) of the distobuccal root. RESULTS: A reduction of 58.3% of OTM was found in Group OTM+A and 99.6% in Group OTM+Z, when compared with Group OTM. There was a significant decrease of osteoclasts and inflammatory cells in BP-treated groups. Blood vessels and fibroblastic cells decreased mainly in Group OTM+Z. CONCLUSION: Alendronate sodium and zoledronic acid have similar effects on the periodontal tissue during orthodontic treatment in rats. Especially, zoledronic acid can affect orthodontic tooth movement.

Organ transplants and education: experience of the Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre with subjects.

INTRODUCTION: Today there is an insufficient number of donated organs in Brazil. This is particularly due to the general population's and health care professionals' lack of information. Therefore, with this project we intend to consolidate knowledge on organ donation to teach health care students of different areas so they are able to propagate such knowledge. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 2006, at Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, an "Organ donation and transplants" subject was created, with the aim to educate health care students. In the next years, it was split in two subjects, named "Introduction to transplants" and "Donation and transplants." By enrolling, students get theoretical classes and practical experience in out- and inpatient facilities and in surgical environments at the Santa Casa Hospital Complex. Furthermore, they can participate in campaigns at parks, stadiums, and health care fairs that take place at several schools in Porto Alegre. To finish the subjects, students present a conclusion report. RESULTS: Seven years after implementation of the subject, and with more than 400 students enrolled, several accomplishments can be highlighted. For example, the creation of the Organ Transplantation League, the implementation of a day to spread conception of the donation-transplant process (with the elaboration of a Web page on the subject), and the release of a book on the subject written by students and professors. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Health care professionals' education is a central point in donation and transplant process. This is because they become, inevitably, educators, and this brings a long-term consequence, consisting of enhanced logistics skills on brain-death diagnosis and further transfer of information to the population (hopefully reducing denial by families at the time of the donation). We conclude that this is a project to be followed by other medical schools so that, effectively, the number of donors increases and, consequently, the transplantation of organs and tissues as well.

Measuring the impact of quality of life of children treated for orofacial clefts: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life (QoL) of children previously treated for cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) and compare with non-cleft children. METHOD: A case-control study with 70 children between 5 and 12 years old was carried out. The case group consisted of 35 individuals previously treated for non-syndromic CL/P and presently receiving assessment at a rehabilitation hospital in Brazil. The children had received primary surgical treatment for CL/P reconstruction during early childhood. The control group consisted of 35 healthy children selected to ensure close similarity to the cleft group in age, gender and socioeconomic status. QoL was measured using the AUQEI questionnaire. RESULTS: Cleft lip and palate had no significant influence on the QoL in children (p = 0.44). A higher percentage of the cleft lip and palate group of children reported a lower QoL than the cleft lip or cleft palate groups. Gender had no significant difference on the quality of life in CL/P children (p = 0.2) and in control group (p = 1.0). CONCLUSION: The QoL in children with CL/P was found to be similar to the non-cleft group. Our results confirm that clefts repaired during earlier childhood associated with a health care program, including psychological support, is beneficial for CL/P children.

Influência do concentrado protéico de soro na composiçäo do requeijäo em barra com teor reduzido de gordura / Influence of the whey protein concentrate on the composition of low fat hard requeijäo

O presente trabalho teve como objetivos elaborar um processamento de requeijäo em barra com teor reduzido de gordura utilizando-se concentrado protéico de soro como substituto da gordura e avaliar suas características físico-químicas. O requeijäo foi fabricado a partir da adiçäo de três níveis (tratamentos) do concentrado, 0,2, 1,0 e 2,0 por cento, e um com teor integral de gordura (controle). As amostras foram analisadas na primeira semana de fabricaçäo para pH, acidez ( por cento de ácido lático), teor de umidade (g/100 g), teor de gordura (g/100 g), teor de proteína (g/100 g) e teor de cinzas (g/100 g). Somente o teor de gordura apresentou diferença significativa entre o grupo-controle e os demais tratamentos (P<0,05)

Influência do concentrado protéico de soro na composição do requeijão em barra com teor reduzido de gordura

The objective of the present work was to elaborate a new technology for production of hard requeijão with reduced fat content using whey protein concentrate as a fat substitute, as well as to evaluate the physico-chemical characteristics of this new product. The requeijão was manufactured from three treatments with different levels of the concentrate, that is, 0.2, 1.0 and 2.0%, and a control group (regular fat content). The samples were analyzed in the first week of manufacture for pH, acidity (% of lactic acid), moisture content (g/100 g), fat content (g/100 g), protein content (g/100 g) and ashes (g/100 g). Only the fat content presented significant statistical difference between the control group and the other treatments (P 0,05).

O presente trabalho teve como objetivos elaborar um processamento de requeijão em barra com teor reduzido de gordura utilizando-se concentrado protéico de soro como substituto da gordura e avaliar suas características físico-químicas. O requeijão foi fabricado a partir da adição de três níveis (tratamentos) do concentrado, 0,2, 1,0 e 2,0%, e um com teor integral de gordura (controle). As amostras foram analisadas na primeira semana de fabricação para pH, acidez (% de ácido lático), teor de umidade (g/100 g), teor de gordura (g/100 g), teor de proteína (g/100 g) e teor de cinzas (g/100 g). Somente o teor de gordura apresentou diferença significativa entre o grupo-controle e os demais tratamentos (P 0,05).

Primary megaureter detected by prenatal ultrasonography: conservative management and prolonged follow-up.

With the widespread use of obstetric echography the incidence of fetal hydronephrosis has been reported more frequently. Consequently, many uropathies have been detected in asymptomatic neonates. The authors report their experience with prenatally detected primary non-refluxing megaureter. Newborns with fetal hydronephrosis were investigated by ultrasonography and micturating cystourethrogram after the beginning of chemoprophylaxis. If primary megaureter was identified, after 1 month the children underwent 99tm-DMSA, diuretic 99tm-DTPA, and intravenous urography. Eight infants with primary megaureter (bilateral in 3 cases) were identified, for a total of 11 renal units for study. All children were submitted to non-operative management. We performed ultrasonography and diuretic 99tm-DTPA during follow-up, which lasted on average 75 months. The mean cross-sectional diameter of the dilated ureter was 13.6 mm during neonatal period, and reached 8.4 mm at the end of follow-up. The renal function and the diuretic renogram remained stable throughout follow-up. Two neonates presented transitory hypertension. Our results support the notion that conservative management is safe for primary megaureter detected in asymptomatic neonates, with most cases showing spontaneous regression during a prolonged follow-up.