The role of transesophageal echocardiography in the detection of coronary anomalies and anatomical variations

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to examine the role of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the diagnosis of anomalies and anatomic variations of the coronary arteries. BACKGROUND: In the past, coronary angiography was the only method for diagnostic confirmation in all cases with coronary anomalies, but even during invasive procedures diagnostic difficulties could and can emerge. The different, varying origin of aberrant coronary arteries can prolong the diagnostic procedure, therefore can increase the irradiation time. So every method which seems to be suitable for diagnosis of suspected coronary anomalies can be helpful. METHODS: The origin and course of anomalous coronary arteries were studied by TEE and coronary angiography during a six-month period. RESULTS: We found 16 patients (2.8%) with coronary anomalies or variations by angiography, the diagnosis of which was technically difficult. Seven of these had TEE examination too. All seven anomalous origins proven angiographically and 2 of the 2 anomalous courses in the relation to the great vessels were diagnosed by TEE. (In two, the left circumflex originated from the right sinus of Valsalva, in two we found anomalous separate origin of left circumflex coronary artery from the left sinus, in another two a common ostium of the left anterior descending and circumflex artery from the left sinus and in one an accessory artery from the non-coronary sinus.) CONCLUSIONS: TEE in a useful test to diagnose the origin of anomalous coronary arteries and confirming their course in relation to the great arteries.     

Endodontic implications of the variability of the root canal systems of posterior teeth

Variations in the morphology of roots and root canal systems create challenges which the dental practitioner must be able to recognize. Endodontic therapy is predictable and successful only to the extent that the root canal system can be debrided, disinfected and sealed against future contamination. In order to accomplish these goals it is necessary to become familiar with the variability of the system we seek to treat.     

Facial approach to stabilization of mobile maxillary anterior teeth with steep vertical overlap and occlusal trauma

Two cases of acute staphylococcal mitral annular abscesses resulting in transannular left ventriculoatrial fistulation are reported. Mitral annular abscess debridement and repair of the annulus, obliteration of the fistulation, and preservation of the native valve were successful in both cases.     

Skeletal classification of maxillary and mandibular malpositions

Criteria used to establish ideal skeletal position of the maxilla and mandible relative to the cranial base is exacting. It must first enhance facial esthetics and facial profile. Secondly, it must improve TMJ health; and finally, it must improve physiologic harmony. Physiologic harmony include alleviation of many medical symptoms such as migraine headaches, neck-shoulder-back pain, myalgia, mouth breathing, otitis media, ringing in the ear, dizziness, vertigo, etc. The Skeletal Archial Analysis is a powerful diagnostic aid. Once the skeletal landmarks are learned, it takes clinicians less than 5 minutes to trace and diagnose. This is because it uses visual references rather than columns of angles and linear measurements. How powerful and accurate is this analysis? If done correctly, patients treated to their anterior arc and correct vertical arc will often times achieve significant facial esthetics, TMJ health, and physiologic harmony. Both the Skeletal Archial Analysis and the Skeletal Classification System indicate whether the disharmony is in the maxilla, mandible, or both. They clearly show in which direction these skeletal structures must be moved to enhance facial appearance and health. In all cases, the direction is to move these structures as close to skeletal Type I, Normal, as physiologically possible. Figure 8 shows a 21-year-old female individual with this skeletal classification. She has ideal maxillary and mandibular A-P position and ideal lower facial height. As can be seen, she has an attractive facial profile and she has no clinical symptoms of temporomandibular disorder or other medical problems. Conversely, patients with facial disharmony often seem to have various medical problems, including premenstrual syndrome and infertility. Once clinicians become adept at using the Skeletal Archial Analysis, they will begin to see many more types of facial disharmonies than previously thought. It then becomes a verbal challenge to accurately describe the multitude of different types of skeletal malpositions. In light of this, it is important that a universal Skeletal Classification System be established to promote better understanding in the diagnosis and treatment of facial-skeletal problems.     

Endodontic therapy in a maxillary second molar with three buccal roots

In this study, we report a case of a four-rooted maxillary second molar in which three well-separated buccal roots were located. This case demonstrated that even though it is not common, an extra root containing an independent root canal may occur.     

Ectopic teeth in the maxillary sinus: diagnosis and treatment

Several types of developmental anomaly of the teeth have been identified. In this article the authors describe three patients who presented with impacted teeth in the maxillary sinuses.     

Effect of maxillary edentulousness on mandibular residual ridges

Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in five different regions of the mandible of 77 postmenopausal women. These women were also classified according to the remaining, clinically determined alveolar height in the edentulous distal regions of the mandible. The duration of edentulousness in the maxilla and in the mandible was determined anamnestically. All subjects were edentulous in the maxilla, and 42 were also edentulous in the mandible. The other 35 women had teeth only in region d35-d45. This study shows that after extraction of the last teeth in the mandible, the BMD of the cortical bone is not lowered, but that the BMD of the trabecular portion is lowered more by mechanical stress caused by the remaining natural teeth than by maxillary dentures. This feature becomes apparent when duration of edentulousness in the maxilla is compared with the BMD values of different regions in the mandible.     

Rigid fixation with teeth in the line of mandibular fractures

The condition of acute cholangitis of severe type (ACST) develops very rapidly and the prognosis is poor. The main clinical feature is that there is an obvious dynamic variation, which is the principal factor for the early occurrence of shock and death. In this study the Japanese long ear rabbits were used and biliary tract pressure increasing and splanchnic nervous plexus blocking experiments were conducted. Our results indicate that 0.6% of lidocaine can be used to block the right celiac plexus. It can avoid the decrease of blood pressure due to the pressure increase of the biliary tract, and the decrease of blood pressure due to the pressure increase of the biliary tract can be corrected by local anesthesia. 8 cases in conformity with the ACST diagnostic standards received the right renal capsule block injection for the purpose of stopping the celiac plexus, 6 cases of whom had a return of blood pressure to various extent, suggesting that the splanchnic nervous activity in the occurrence of ACST is of great significance. The technique may provide a new approach for the clinical treatment of ACST.     

Variation in maxillary and mandibular molar and incisor vertical dimension in 12-year-old subjects with excess, normal, and short lower anterior face height

Maxillary and mandibular molar and incisor vertical dimensions were evaluated in subjects who had excessive, normal, and short lower anterior face height in relation to upper face height. Sexual dimorphism was also investigated. The dentoalveolar heights were compared between Class I and Class II, dental and skeletal malocclusions. The sample was drawn from the Burlington Growth Centre sample and consisted of 188 male and 156 female subjects at age 12 years, for whom lateral head films were available. This sample was classified into excessive, normal, and short lower anterior face height, using the ratio upper anterior face height/lower anterior face height (UAFH/LAFH). The results showed that the dentoalveolar heights are significantly different between faces with excessive, normal, and short lower anterior face heights, except for the lower posterior dental height, which showed no difference between short and normal lower anterior face height subjects. All dentoalveolar heights are larger for male subjects except for the upper posterior dental height. Dentoalveolar heights are similar between Class I and Class II dental and skeletal malocclusions. The upper teeth present a higher correlation to the UAFH/LAFH ratio than the lower teeth. Stepwise regression analysis shows that 22% of the variation in the ratio is explained by the maxillary and mandibular molars and 41% is explained by the maxillary and mandibular incisors.     

Dynamic relationships of the mandibular anterior segment

The hyperbolic cosine function is shown to be an accurate representation of the form of the mandibular anterior teeth from the canine/first premolar contact on one side around the perimeter to the opposite side (r = 0.951). On the basis of this mathematical function, the changes in canine width, anterior segment depth, arch perimeter, and their related incisor angular alterations are forecastable. This knowledge will allow the clinician to predict the effects on various aspects of the anterior segment arch form as one or more of these variables are altered without resorting to trial and error or performing a wax-up. For example, the clinician can predict the change in the anterior segment arch depth and incisor angulation that would occur with alterations in canine width.     

Functional and morphologic changes after combined maxillary intrusion and mandibular advancement surgery

PURPOSE: The purposes of this investigation were 1) to compare the morphology and function of patients with combined vertical maxillary excess (VME) and mandibular retrognathia with that of controls, and 2) to examine how these parameters change after combined maxillary intrusion and mandibular advancement surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifteen female VME/retrognathic patients were compared with 26 female controls before and for up to 3 years after orthognathic surgery. Facial skeletal morphology, mandibular range of motion, maximum isometric bite force, and levels of electromyographic activity (EMG) in selected muscles of mastication were measured on all subjects. Where appropriate, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) or t-tests were used to compare the patients with controls. Univariate repeated-measures ANOVA was used to study longitudinal changes. RESULTS: Preoperatively, patients' morphologic measurements were characteristic of VME compounded by mandibular retrognathia. At surgery, the maxilla was elevated an average of 2.8 mm, and the mandible was lengthened by an average of 7.1 mm. All of the postoperative morphologic measurements were closer to normal values. The patients' masseter mechanical advantage was significantly lower than that of controls both before and after surgery. Surgically induced changes in mechanical advantage were very small. The patients' maximum range of motion and excursion during mastication were all lower than those of controls before surgery. All measurements of mobility decreased immediately after surgery, with a gradual return to preoperative values. However, even 3 years after surgery, all of the motion measurements remained smaller than those of the controls. Before surgery, the patients had maximum isometric bite forces significantly lower than those of controls. Bite forces increased significantly after surgery, approaching normal values within 2 years. The activity levels in the muscles of mastication during isometric bites were not significantly altered by surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that VME/retrognathia patients suffer from substantial deficiencies in their oromotor function. Surgical correction of this particular type of dentofacial deformity improves both the morphologic and functional deficits. Although some changes were not statistically significant, all were toward normalization of the presurgical values.     

Psychoeducational implications of sex chromosome anomalies.

Numerous anomalies involving the sex chromosomes (X or Y) have been documented and their impact on development, learning, and behavior studied. This article reviews three of these disorders, Turner syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, and Lesch-Nyhan disease. Each of these three is associated with one or more selective impairments or behavioral abnormalities. The origin of these disorder-specific impairments is becoming progressively understood at the level of genetics, central nervous system structures and functions, and neurotransmitter action. Accordingly, knowledge of the three disorders is important not only to help practitioners provide services for affected students but also to enhance their general understanding of the physiological influences on behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Tooth splinting for severely mobile mandibular incisor teeth in a dog

Periodontal disease, in its advanced stages, causes tooth mobility. The tooth movement further damages the periodontium, accelerating the disease process leading to tooth loss. Dental splinting can provide coaptive stability to the teeth as an important component of a periodontal treatment plan. This report documents results four years following splinting of the mandibular incisor teeth in a 3 year old Miniature Schnauzer dog.     

Restoration of primary anterior teeth with composite crowns

For children with extensive caries of primary teeth, or with deformed or traumatised teeth, restoration with composite using a crown form gives excellent results. Strength is gained by full crown coverage. The aesthetics are very acceptable. The technique also allows primary teeth to be modified to resemble permanent teeth when these are missing and the primary teeth are being kept until more definitive treatment is provided. Caries is usually well controlled, and space loss due to further tooth breakdown is avoided.