Search

Background: The choice of the imaging modality for diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) could be influenced by provider, patient or hospital characteristics, or over time. However, little is known about the choice of the diagnostic modalities in practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the variations in the use of imaging modalities for patients with acute PE. Methods: Using the data from Registro Informatizado Enfermedad TromboEmbolica (RIETE), a prospective international registry of patients with venous thromboembolism (March 2001–January 2019), we explored the imaging modalities used in patients with acute PE. The imaging modalities included computed tomography pulmonary angiography, ventilation/perfusion scanning, pulmonary angiography, a combination of these tests, or PE signs and symptoms plus imaging-confirmed proximal deep vein thrombosis but no chest imaging. Results: Among 38 025 patients with confirmed PE (53.1% female, age: 67.3±17 years), computed tomography pulmonary angiography was the dominant modality of diagnosis in all RIETE enrollees (78.2% [99% CI, 77.6–78.7]); including pregnant patients (58.9% [99% CI, 47.7%–69.4%]) and patients with severe renal insufficiency (62.5% [99% CI, 59.9–65.0]). A greater proportion of patients underwent ventilation/perfusion scanning in larger hospitals compared with smaller hospitals (13.1% versus 7.3%, P P Conclusions: In a large multinational PE registry, variations were observed in the use of imaging modalities according to patient or institutional factors and over time. However, computed tomography pulmonary angiography was the dominant modality of diagnosis, even in pregnancy and severe renal insufficiency. The safety, costs, and downstream effects of these tests on PE-related and non-PE-related outcomes warrant further investigation.

In compressed dental arches with mild to moderate crowding, space can be gained during the alignment phase to help improve tooth location. The aim of this study was to compare transverse measurements before and after the alignment stage in two groups: Group A treated with passive selfligating brackets, (Damon System) and Group B with conventional brackets (Roth philosophy). The change in transverse diameter between teeth was measured on dental casts taken before and after orthodontic alignment. Twenty four patients of both sexes aged 13 to 36 years, with moderate tooth crowding (4 to 6 mm), were treated. They all received treatment at the Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires. Patients were distributed randomly into two groups of 12. No extraction was performed until the end of the alignment. Dental casts were measured before and after alignment. The distance between upper first premolars increased more in Group B (p = 0.008), and the distance between canines was higher in Group B, with statistically significant difference (p0.01). Both systems enable tooth alignment by increasing transverse diameter of the arches in patients with mild to moderate crowding. The greatest transversal development occurs in the interpremolar area in both techniques and is significantly higher with selfligating orthodontics. Intercanine distance increases significantly with conventional orthodontics compared to selfligating orthodontics.En las arcadas dentarias comprimidas, con apiñamiento dentario de leve a moderado, es posible obtener ganancia de espacio que favorezca la ubicación de las piezas en la fase de alineación por remodelación alvéolodentaria de las arcadas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue comparar las diferencias pre y post tratamiento en la etapa de alineación de los grupos A: brackets autoligables pasivos, (Sistema Damon) y grupo B: brackets convencionales (Filosofía de Roth). Se evaluaron las variaciones en el diámetro transversal, antes y después de alinear ortodón cicamente los dientes, utilizando modelos de estudio. Participaron 24 pacientes de ambos sexos, entre 13 y 36 años con apiñamiento dentario moderado (entre 4 y 6 mm) tratados en la Cátedra de Ortodoncia de la Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Los pacientes fueron distribuidos al azar en dos grupos de 12 pacientes cada uno. No se realizaron exodoncias hasta finalizar la alineación. Se midieron los modelos pre y post alineación. La distancia entre primeros premolares superiores aumentó en el grupo A más que en el B (p=0.008) y entre caninos fue mayor en el grupo B, con diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p0,01). En pacientes con apiñamiento leve a moderado, la expansión con ambos sistemas permite la alineación dentaria por aumento del diámetro transversal de las arcadas fundamentalmente en el área premolar. El mayor desarrollo transversal se produce en el área premolar para ambas técnicas y es significativamente mayor con ortodoncia autoligable. En ortodoncia convencional, aumenta significativamente la distancia intercanina en comparación con la autoligable.

Knowledge of the best way to evaluate changes in transverse dimension produced by orthodontic treatment enables the estimation of potential space that may be generated and optimizes planning. The aim of this study was to compare two methods for measuring changes in transverse dimension following tooth alignment by passive self-ligating system: Method 1 (M1) considering palatal landmarks and Method 2 (M2) considering dental landmarks. Subjects were 12 patients of both sexes, aged 15 to 24 years old, with moderate crowding (Nance discrepancy -4 to -6 mm), who were treated with the Damon System at the Department of Orthodontics of the School of Dentistry, Buenos Aires University. Their pre- and posttreatment maxillary casts were analyzed (24 casts altogether). Five measurements were taken on each cast: intercanine width, first and second inter-premolar width and first and second inter-molar width, using the two measurement methods (M1 and M2). Both methods found average width to have increased, though this increase was smaller as measured by Ml than by M2, with statistically significant difference between values (p0.05). Ml and M2 provided significantly different measurements for first and second inter-premolar and first intermolar distances (p0.05). The values obtained using Ml (palatal landmarks for teeth) present less variation and provide information on the changes in the dental arches without adding tooth tipping. Considering Ml, the greatest gain in transverse dimension occurred in first and second inter-premolar distance, there was a slight increase in inter-canine and first inter-molar distance, and a decrease in second inter-molar distance.Conocer la mejor manera de evaluar los cambios en el diámetro transversal de las arcadas producidos con el tratamiento ortodóncico permite estimar el espacio que puede generarse y optimizar la planificación del mismo. El objetivo del trabajo fue comparar las modificaciones del diámetro transversal utilizando reparos palatinos (M1) y reparos dentarios, (M2) luego de la alineación dentaria con sistema autoligable pasivo. Se evaluaron los maxilares superiores de 12 pacientes de ambos sexos (24 modelos pre y post tratamiento en total) atendidos con Sistema Damon en la Cátedra de Ortodoncia de la FOUBA, de entre 15 y 24 años de edad con apiñamiento moderado (discrepancia de Nance entre -4 y -6 mm). Se tomaron 5 medidas por arcada: distancia entre caninos, primeros y segundos premolares y primeros y segundos molares de los modelos pre y post alineación por tratamiento ortodóncico, utilizando dos métodos de evaluación (M1 y M2). La variación en el diámetro transversal promedio aumentó en ambos métodos y fue menor utilizando M1 que M2, con diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre los valores (p0.05). En el análisis de la distancia entre piezas dentarias homólogas, comparando M1 y M2, se encontró diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre primeros, segundos premolares y primeros molares (p0,05). Las arcadas presentaron incremento del diámetro transversal que fue evidenciado por ambos métodos de medida. Los valores tomando reparos en palatino de las piezas dentarias presentan menos variación e informan sobre las modificaciones de las arcadas dentarias sin agregar las inclinaciones de las piezas. Considerando M1 la mayor ganancia de diámetro transversal se produce en primeros y segundos premolares, con aumento leve en caninos y primeros molares y disminución entre segundos molares.

Orthodontic brackets contribute to the accumulation of bacterial plaque on tooth surfaces because they hinder oral hygiene. In contrast to conventional brackets, self-ligating brackets do not require additional parts to support the arches, thus improving dental hygiene. The aim of this study was to compare the gingival response in orthodontic patients wearing self-ligating or conventional brackets. A sample of 22 patients aged 16 to 30 years was divided into two groups: Group A, treated with selfligating brackets (Damon system) and Group B, treated with conventional brackets (Roth technique). The following were assessed during the treatment: Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI) and Probing Depth (PD), and sub-gingival samples were taken from teeth 14/24 for microbiological observation. No statistically significant difference was found between Groups A and B; p0.05 (sign-ranked) or between PI, GI and PD at the different times (Friedman's Analysis of Variance), even though the indices were found to increase at 14 days, particularly for self-ligating brackets. The quantity and quality of microorganisms present were compatible with health on days 0, 28 and 56. As from day 14 there is a predominance of microbiota compatible with gingivitis in both groups. In the samples studied, orthodontic treatment increases bacterial plaque and inflammatory gingival response, but gingival-periodontal health can be maintained with adequate basic therapy. Self-ligating and conventional brackets produced similar gingival response.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is well-known risk factor for cardiac embolic events, especially cerebrovascular events. The association between AF and lipid markers was evaluated. Among all these markers, lipoprotein(a), or (Lp(a), was also investigated. The aim of our study was to evaluate the characteristics of the lipid profile in patients with AF, focusing on Lp(a) levels.One hundred and one patients with AF were included in the study group. We used 101 patients without AF, matched by sex and age with the study group, as the control group. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, Lp(a), and the LDL/HDL, COL/LDL, and COL/HDL indexes were measured. The study was performed in Spain with a Caucasian population.Among all the variables included there was statistical difference only between groups in the COL/HDL index, showing a greater value in the group of patients with AF. No difference was found in Lp(a) levels between the groups.Although some studies have tried to show a possible relationship between AF and high Lp(a) levels, we found no such relationship in our study, although ethnic differences could explain, at least in part, these results in our patients when compared with other ethnic populations.

The very few reference epidemiological studies on myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) have been carried out in Europe: Germany, France, UK and Sweden. We present the first Spanish study on the incidence and characteristics of MDS. The incidence rates, distribution by FAB subtypes, sex and age groups are within the ranges established by the reference studies with minimal differences which we point out and attempt to explain.