PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A L Pinheiro

Publications and source records attributed to A L Pinheiro.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Quantitative evaluation of intact peripheral nerve structures after utilization of CO2 laser, electrocautery, and scalpel.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate quantitatively the integrity of nerve structures near CO2 laser incisions. BACKGROUND DATA: There are some hypotheses that try to explain the analgesia reported after CO2 laser surgery. One of them is based upon the observation of the destruction of nerve endings after use of this technique. METHODS: A comparative study was carried out using 25 animals (Rattus norvegicus) divided into five groups of 5 animals each. Standard incisions were carried on the dorsum of the tongue of each animal using the cautery (group 2), scalpel (group 3), CW CO2 laser (group 4), and SPS CO2 (group 5); group I served as control. The animals were killed immediately after the experiment, and specimens were taken and routinely processed to wax. Three-micrometer sections were cut and stained using S-100 protein antibody. The stained sections were analyzed under light microscopy using a calibrated graticule, and the number of intact nerves was counted in five standard areas around the incision. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the numbers of intact peripheral nerve structures in both laser groups and other groups. No statistically significant difference was found between nonoperated and scalpel groups. The number of intact peripheral structures in cautery wounds was significantly smaller than in non-operated and scalpel wounds. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, it is unlikely that immediate destruction of peripheral nerve structures is the cause of post-operative analgesia following CO2 laser surgery.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Biostimulatory windows in low-intensity laser activation: lasers, scanners, and NASA's light-emitting diode array system.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess and to formulate physically an irreducible set of irradiation parameters that could be relevant in the achieving reproducible light-induced effects in biological systems, both in vitro and in vivo. BACKGROUND DATA: Light-tissue interaction studies focusing on the evaluation of irradiation thresholds are basic for the extensively growing applications for medical lasers and related light-emitting systems. These thresholds are of central interest in the rejuvenation of collagens, photorefractive keratectomy, and wound healing. METHODS: There is ample evidence that the action of light in biological systems depends at least on two threshold parameters: the energy density and the intensity. Depending on the particular light delivery system coupled to an irradiation source, the mean energy density and the local intensity have to be determined separately using adequate experimental methods. RESULTS: From the observations of different research groups and our own observations, we conclude that the threshold parameters energy density and intensity are biologically independent from each other. CONCLUSIONS: This independence is of practical importance, at least for the medical application of photobiological effects achieved at low-energy density levels, accounting for the success and the failure in most of the cold laser uses since Mester's pioneering work.

Humans↗
PubMed2001

Assessment of anti-inflammatory effect of 830nm laser light using C-reactive protein levels.

The anti-inflammatory effect of non-surgical lasers has been proposed previously, however it was not scientifically proven. One method to assess levels of inflammation is the measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP), which is increased with the course of inflammation. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of 830 nm laser irradiation after the removal of impacted third molars using the CRP as the marker of inflammation. Twelve patients were irradiated with 4.8 J of laser light per session 24 and 48 h after surgery. A control group (N = 12) was treated with a sham laser. Blood samples were taken prior to, and 48 and 72 h after surgery. CRP values were more symmetric and better distributed for the irradiated group (0.320 mg/dl) than for the control (0.862.mg/dl) 48 h after surgery, however there was no statistically significant difference. After 72 h, both groups had statistically similar CRP levels (0.272 and 0.608 mg/dl), because of the normal tendency of decreasing CRP levels.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

A rare case of lip ulcer infected by Klebsiella pneumoniae: case report.

The aetiology of mouth ulcers is diverse and may include several types of trauma, systemic disease and infection. The size, depth, outline, base, aspect of the floor, pain, time of evolution and resolution of oral ulcers are discussed. Both past and present medical history, biopsy, blood tests and microbiological tests are also considered in order to assure precise identification. This paper reports a case of a lip ulcer caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Low-level laser therapy is an important tool to treat disorders of the maxillofacial region.

OBJECTIVES: The authors report on the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the treatment of maxillofacial disorders. SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND DATA: Further to our previous studies, this paper reports the results of the use of LLLT on the treatment of several disorders of the oral and maxillofacial region. This paper presents LLLT as an effective method of treating such disorders. METHODS: Two hundred and five female and 36 male patients ages between 7 and 81 years old (average 38.9 years old), suffering from disorders of the maxillofacial region, were treated with 632.8, 670, and 830 nm diode lasers at the Laser Center of the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil (UFPE). The disorders included temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, trigeminal neuralgia, muscular pain, aphatae, inflammation, and tooth hypersensitivity postoperatively and in small hemangiomas. Most treatment consisted of a series of 12 applications (twice a week) and in 15 cases a second series was applied. Patients were treated with an average dose of 1.8 J/cm2. RESULTS: One hundred fifty four out of 241 patients were asymptomatic at the end of the treatment, 50 improved considerably, and 37 were symptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm that LLLT is an effective tool and is beneficial for the treatment of many disorders of the maxillofacial region.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Manifestations of periodontal diseases in AIDS patients.

The aim of this study is to analyze periodontal diseases in AIDS patients. Although AIDS was first detected in Brazil in 1982, it is growing steadily and is more frequent in the Southeast. Oral manifestations are common and may represent early signs of the disease. These lesions often precede systemic symptoms. The development of periodontal lesions in AIDS patients differs from that in non-infected patients. This is due to its chronic nature and lack of full recovery in AIDS patients. Characteristically, these lesions are not related to local irritants and progress quickly. Because these lesions do not respond properly to conventional treatment used in non-infected patients, the use of preventive methods is extremely important. These methods must include patient education and periodical professional scaling. It is important to reinforce the use of preventive measures in AIDS patients mainly in those presenting severe manifestations of the disease. The aim of treatment must be to preserve the teeth and periodontal tissues and allow more comfort to the patient during the progression of the disease.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1997

Low-level laser therapy in the management of disorders of the maxillofacial region.

OBJECTIVE: The authors analysed the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the treatment of maxillofacial disorders. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Pioneer work published by Mester et al. opened a new frontier in the clinical treatment of many disorders with the use of LLLT. Although LLLT is not well accepted in many places, its use is growing steadily in others, including Europe and more recently in Brazil. METHODS: One hundred forty-one female and 24 male patients, between 7 and 81 years of age (average = 39.2 years old), suffering from disorders of the maxillofacial region were treated with 632.8-nm, 670-nm, and 830-nm diode lasers at the Laser Center of the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. The disorders included temperomandibular joint pain, trigeminal neuralgia, muscular pain, aphatae, inflammation, and tooth hypersensitivity both postoperatively and in small hemangiomas. Most treatment consisted of a series of 12 applications (twice a week), and in eight cases a second series was applied. Patients were treated with an average dose of 2.5 J/cm2. RESULTS: One hundred twenty out of 165 patients were asymptomatic at the end of the treatment, 25 improved considerably, and 20 were symptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results indicate that LLLT is an important tool and brings many benefits for the treatment of many disorders of the maxillofacial region.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Using Novafil: would it make suturing easier?

The use of monofilament nonabsorbable suture materials is not common in Dentistry. Although it is known that multifilament suture materials induce greater cellular reaction, most Dentists prefer to use cotton and silk. Rigidity and package memory are disadvantages of monofilament nonabsorbable suture materials. A new material, Polybutester (Novafil), has been used successfully in Medicine but its use is not common in Dentistry. Seventy male and female Wistar rats were used to study the clinical response of skin and abdominal wall muscle to the use of Novafil and nylon sutures. Under general anesthesia, standard wounds were created in the dorsum and abdomen of the animals and sutured with either Novafil or nylon. The animals were sacrificed immediately, 12, 24, and 72 hours and at 4, 5 and 7 days to evaluate the clinical aspect of both wounds. Polybutester presented some advantages such as strength, lack of package memory, elasticity and flexibility which made suturing quicker and easier. Some subjects presented abdominal wound edema during the period and six animals developed infection of abdominal wounds within seven days. These initial findings show that Novafil is easy to handle and would be better tolerated in the mouth than nylon resulting in less discomfort for the patient. Novafil can be used safely on skin and mucosal wounds and, if necessary, it can be used in internal sutures because it irritates less than nylon.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1996

Surgical management of premalignant lesions of the oral cavity with the CO2 laser.

The management of patients with premalignant and malignant lesions of the oral cavity can present problems. The potentially invasive nature of premalignant lesions together with their large extent influences the treatment. The common modalities of treatment of these lesions are surgical excision, cryotherapy, electrosurgery and radiotherapy. Recently, CO2 laser surgery has become available. Less pain, little bleeding, minimal post-operative edema, reduced risk of infection, and low recurrence rates were advantages observed following CO2 laser surgery in the mouth when compared to other modalities of treatment. Healing following CO2 laser surgery progressed well with little postoperative scarring and re-epithelialization was complete after 4-6 weeks. The newly formed epithelium appeared normal and was soft on palpation.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Mast cells in laser and surgical wounds.

Precooling of tissues was investigated as a possible means of reducing thermal damage during CO2 laser surgery of the oral mucosa. The changes in mast cells in scalpel, and in non-cooled and precooled (tissue temperature lowered to approximately 10 degrees C) CO2 laser wounds were studied. Standard wounds five mm in length were created with the CO2 laser or scalpel on the dorsum of the tongues of 32 Sprague-Dawley rats under general anesthesia with fentanyl/fluanisone and midazolam. Animals were killed with excess anesthetic immediately or six hours after surgery, their tongues were removed, trimmed, fixed in neutral formalin and processed to paraffin wax. Acid (pH 1.4) toluidine blue stained sections were used to count normal and degranulated mast cells in five fields (0.1 mm2) located at defined positions immediately adjacent to the wound site. At both 0 and 6 hours normal mast cell numbers were significantly different between treatment groups (P<0.045; ANOVA) with mean numbers highest in scalpel wounds and lowest in uncooled laser wounds. Similarly, at 0 time, there were significant differences in degranulated mast cells between treatment groups (P=0.004; ANOVA) but highest numbers were detected in uncooled laser wounds and lowest in scalpel wounds. There were no significant differences in degranulated mast cell counts at six hours although there was a similar distribution in numbers between groups. Total numbers of mast cells (normal + degranulated) did not differ between treatment groups. These results demonstrated that i) laser wounds are associated with greater levels of mast cell degranulation than scalpel wounds and ii) precooling of tissues prior to laser treatment decreases the level of mast cell degranulation. It is concluded that tissue damage in CO2 laser surgery may be reduced by precooling of tissue.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1993

Assessment of thermal damage in precooled CO2 laser wounds using biological markers.

Precooling of the tissues was investigated as a possible means of reducing the thermal damage during CO2 laser surgery of the oral mucosa. Standard wounds 5 mm long were created with the CO2 laser, with and without precooling, or the scalpel on the dorsum of tongues. Tissue damage was evaluated by studying changes in mast cells and in the activity of lactate (LDH) and succinate (SDH) dehydrogenase. Cooled unoperated tongues acted as controls. The area of thermal damage, indicated by loss of SDH activity, was significantly smaller in precooled tissues (p < 0.001). Although a similar pattern was detected using LDH, the difference was not significant. At both 0 and 6 h normal mast cell numbers were significantly different between groups (p < 0.02). Furthermore, at 0 time, there were significant differences in the numbers of degranulated mast cells between surgical treatment groups (p = 0.001), although not at 6 h. Total numbers of mast cells (normal and degranulated) did not differ between treatment groups or between 0 and 6 h sampling times. Positive significant correlations were observed between the cross-sectional areas and widths of non-reactive succinate and lactate dehydrogenase and the number of degranulated mast cells around the laser wounds. Analysis of the data demonstrated that (i) uncooled laser wounds but not precooled laser wounds were associated significantly with greater levels of immediate mast cell degranulation than scalpel wounds (p = 0.03).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗