Evaluation of molar teeth and buds in patients submitted to mandible distraction: long-term results.

BACKGROUND: Despite all benefits offered by mandible distraction, complications and long-term consequences need to be evaluated to define its safety and morbidity. Forty mandible distractions were studied. Panoramic mandible radiographs obtained preoperatively, during distraction, and during the postoperative period were reviewed, with the intention of evaluating development and complications of molar buds and teeth in the distraction area. METHODS: The mean patient age was 8.1 years. Twenty-five patients had craniofacial microsomia (one associated with a no. 10 facial cleft), five had temporomandibular joint ankylosis, two had familiar cases of auriculocondylar syndrome, one had a Tessier no. 30 facial cleft, and one had Treacher Collins syndrome. The severity of mandible hypoplasia was Pruzansky grade I in four cases, grade IIA in eight cases, grade IIB in 16 cases, and grade III in one case. Mean radiographic follow-up was 44.8 months. RESULTS: Molar buds located in the distraction area erupted without any deformity or displacement in 18 sides (45 percent). Fourteen cases presented distalization of a dental bud to a superior position in the mandibular ramus (four migrated back to the original position). Six molar buds presented perforations, four had shape deformities (two caused by dental fracture), and two had dental root injuries followed by root absorption lately. One case developed a dentigerous cyst. CONCLUSIONS: Almost half of the patients did not have any molar bud or tooth alterations after mandible distraction, and more than 20 percent presented only bud distalization. Therefore, preventive bud enucleation or tooth extraction should be avoided before mandible distraction.

Endoscopic periosteal brow lift: evaluation and follow-up of eyebrow height.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic brow lift has become widely accepted as a method for rejuvenation of the upper third of the face, mainly to achieve eyebrow elevation. In this study, the authors quantified eyebrow elevation after videoendoscopic subperiosteal technique and followed up the heights of the eyebrows at different postoperative intervals. METHODS: Seventy-two patients were submitted to endoscopic subperiosteal brow lift, and photographic evaluation was performed preoperatively and at different intervals postoperatively. From an interpupillary line, three different measurements on each side were obtained up to the superior border of both eyebrows. The distance between the medial eyebrows was also measured. Results were analyzed statistically by using the t test. RESULTS: Comparing preoperative values and those obtained at 5 months postoperatively, significant augmentation in medial, central, and lateral height of both eyebrows was noted (p < 0.05). Analyzing a group of 38 patients with mean postoperative times of 8.5 and 3.5 months, it was noted that there is spontaneous and significant augmentation in the medial height of both eyebrows (p < 0.05). A third group (24 patients) was analyzed at mean postoperative times of 3.5 and 24 months. The later follow-up showed continuous and significant elevation of the medial, central, and lateral height of both eyebrows (p < 0.05). The distance between medial eyebrows did not show any statistical difference. CONCLUSION: Subperiosteal endoscopic brow lift showed clinical and statistical effectiveness in correcting eyebrow ptosis, promoting also a spontaneous and progressive elevation of eyebrows, without enlarging the interbrow distance.

Oral glutamine does not prevent bacterial translocation in rats subjected to intestinal obstruction and Escherichia coli challenge but reduces systemic bacteria spread.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether oral glutamine prevents bacterial translocation. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were fed with isocaloric and isoproteic standard rat chow and randomly assigned to receive glutamine (GLN) or glycine administered through an orogastric tube at 1.5 g.kg(-1).d(-1) for 7 d. On day 8 of the study, the animals were anesthetized and intestinal obstruction was produced by ligature of the terminal ileum. A suspension containing 10(9) colony-forming units per milliliter of Escherichia coli ATCC 25992 was injected into the lumen of the ileum. Twenty-four hours later, blood was withdrawn, and mesenteric lymph nodes and fragments of spleen, liver, and lung were sent for microbiological analysis. Cultures were done on blood agar and MacConkey agar. Student's t test and analysis of variance between two proportions were used. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Rats in both groups lost body weight during the experiment (not significant). Mesenteric lymph node cultures were positive in both groups. The GLN group had a smaller percentage of E. coli in blood and organ cultures (65.45% versus 82.67% in the glycine group; P = 0.027). Positive cultures of blood, spleen, liver and lung also were higher on glycine group, although not significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Oral GLN does not prevent bacterial translocation in rats after intestinal obstruction and E. coli challenge. No specific organ was protected by GLN. Nevertheless, its use was associated with a reduced number of positive E. coli cultures in blood and remote organs, and thus diminished bacteria spread. This association suggests a role for GLN in gut barrier protection, possibly by immune system enhancement.