Pathology of dermatoglyphics in ocular diseases

The paper studies dermatoglyphics, viewed from a pathological perspective, on a group of 200 blind subjects or suffering from other grave congenital ocular affections, many of them hereditary, living in the province of Moldavia, from which 400 finger prints and palms have been collected. The observation to be made in that the advanced degree of sight's affection, up to the total loss, is correlated with an ample and strong pathological charge of the digital and palmar dermatoglyphic image of the subjects affected, suggestively expressed at the sample's level by a higher incidence of the distortions with serious medical implications, quite close to that recorded at deaf-mutes, mental handicapped people, in the grave congenital cardio-vascular affections, or at parents with malformed children from Moldavia. From the multitude of dermatoglyphic distortions put into evidence, the author considers that it is only one that might be specific to the serious congenital grave ocular affections, that is a certain disposal of the epidermal ridges, as a dense or very dense network at the level of the Th/I, in a ratio of 80% with women and 38% with men. The very high frequency of this distortion for females subjects might assume that the gene responsible for such a pathological configuration is placed on chromosome X.     

Correction to: Clinical and microbiological effects of non-surgical periodontal treatment in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis: a controlled clinical trial

The effect of periodontal treatment on clinical, microbiological and serological parameters of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are scarce and controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of non-surgical periodontal treatment on clinical periodontal status, subgingival bacterial levels of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola and RA activity through a controlled clinical trial on individuals with RA and periodontitis (PE). From a convenience sample, 107 individuals were considered eligible and consecutively allocated in four groups: (1) individuals without PE and RA (− PE-RA, n = 30); (2) individuals without PE and with RA (− PE + RA, n = 23); (3) individuals with PE and RA (+ PE + RA, n = 24); and (4) individuals with PE and without RA (+ PE-RA, n = 30). Full-mouth periodontal clinical examinations, microbiological analysis and Disease Activity Score (DAS-28) evaluations were performed at baseline (T1) and 45 days after non-surgical periodontal treatment (T2). At T1, individuals + PE + RA showed greater severity of PE than + PE-RA individuals. At T2, significant reductions were observed in all periodontal clinical parameters in both groups (p < 0.001) with a significant reduction in DAS-28 in + PE + RA (p = 0.011). Individuals + PE-RA and + PE-RA showed significant reductions for all bacteria (p < 0.001). Additionally, P. gingivalis demonstrated an expressively significant reduction in + PE + RA (p < 0.001). Non-surgical periodontal treatment was effective on improving the clinical periodontal condition, improving the RA clinical status and reducing the presence of periodontal pathogens. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) protocol #RBR-8g2bc8 (https://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-8g2bc8/).

     

HIV Prevalence,Knowledge, Attitudes,and Practices Among Polydrug Users in Brazil: A Biological Survey Using Respondent Driven Sampling

Brazil has a concentrated HIV epidemic among key populations. In 2009, the Ministry of Health conducted a survey in 10 Brazilian cities aiming to estimate HIV prevalence, knowledge, and associated risk behaviors of polysubstance users (PSU). Using Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS), 3449 PSU were recruited, answered an Audio-Computer Self Assisted Interview (ACASI) and were tested for HIV and syphilis. Analyses were weighted by individual’s social network size generated on RDSAT. Pooled HIV prevalence was 5.8% but varied across cities. Most PSU were male, non-white, without income, unemployed, with low levels of education. Overall, 12.0% used injectable drugs, 48.7% had sex with occasional partners and 46.4% engaged in commercial sex. A majority received free condoms (71.4%) but 76.7% exhibited inconsistent condom use. Findings can support policies aiming to improve health care and preventive interventions tailored to this population that remains at high risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV/STI in multiple scenarios.     

Trypsin inhibitor from tamarindus indica L. seeds reduces weight gain and food consumption and increases plasmatic cholecystokinin levels

OBJECTIVES:

Seeds are excellent sources of proteinase inhibitors, some of which may have satietogenic and slimming actions. We evaluated the effect of a trypsin inhibitor from Tamarindus indica L. seeds on weight gain, food consumption and cholecystokinin levels in Wistar rats.

METHODS:

A trypsin inhibitor from Tamarindus was isolated using ammonium sulfate (30–60%) following precipitation with acetone and was further isolated with Trypsin-Sepharose affinity chromatography. Analyses were conducted to assess the in vivo digestibility, food intake, body weight evolution and cholecystokinin levels in Wistar rats. Histological analyses of organs and biochemical analyses of sera were performed.

RESULTS:

The trypsin inhibitor from Tamarindus reduced food consumption, thereby reducing weight gain. The in vivo true digestibility was not significantly different between the control and Tamarindus trypsin inhibitor-treated groups. The trypsin inhibitor from Tamarindus did not cause alterations in biochemical parameters or liver, stomach, intestine or pancreas histology. Rats treated with the trypsin inhibitor showed significantly elevated cholecystokinin levels compared with animals receiving casein or water.

CONCLUSION:

The results indicate that the isolated trypsin inhibitor from Tamarindus reduces weight gain by reducing food consumption, an effect that may be mediated by increased cholecystokinin. Thus, the potential use of this trypsin inhibitor in obesity prevention and/or treatment should be evaluated.     

Orthopedic cervical headgear in class II treatment: case report

Early treatment for Class II malocclusion was undertaken with the objective of correcting skeletal disproportion by altering the growth pattern. A case of Class II, Division 1 malocclusion in the mixed dentition was corrected to Class I molar relationship using orthopedic cervical headgear, with nonextraction edgewise therapy. Cephalometric analysis indicated a reduction in the maxillomandibular discrepancy (ANB) correcting the Class II malocclusion to Class I malocclusion. The treatment showed that this was achieved by downward displacement and inhibition of the forward growth of the maxilla and growth of the mandible. There was no downward rotation of the mandible nor maxillary first molar extrusion. There was improvement in the jaw relationship.     

Inflammatory follicular cyst associated with an endodontically treated primary molar: a case report

This is a case study of an inflammatory follicular cyst associated with an endodontically treated deciduous molar with radiographic and microscopic diagnosis. This cystic lesion represents a typical follicular cyst that arose in association with periapical inflammation from a non-vital deciduous molar and involved the follicle of the unerupted successor premolar. This paper describes the case and discusses diagnosis, histogenesis, and controversies regarding terminology.