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Biomedical subjects

Roberto O Dantas

Publications and source records attributed to Roberto O Dantas.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect of treatment of dentofacial deformity on masseter muscle thickness.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to determine the modifications in masseter muscle thickness before and after interdisciplinary orthodontic, oromyofunctional and surgical treatment of class III dentofacial skeletal deformities (DFSD). DESIGN: Fifteen patients with class III DFSD participated in the study, denoted P1 group before the interdisciplinary treatment and P2 group (same patients) 6-8 months after surgery. Fifteen individuals with no DFSD were used as the control group. Bilateral ultrasonography (US) of the masseter muscle under resting and biting conditions was performed in the three groups. RESULTS: There was a significant difference (P<0.01) for all muscles tested between the control, P1 and P2 groups, with greater thickness for controls, intermediate thickness for P2, and the lowest thickness for P1 in all situations evaluated. CONCLUSION: We conclude that there was an increase in masseter muscle thickness after surgical correction of DFSD accompanied by interdisciplinary treatment, although the values were still lower than those observed in the control group.

Adult↗

Clinical, radiographic, and manometric evolution of esophageal involvement by Chagas' disease.

The complete manifestation of esophageal Chagas' disease includes nonperistaltic contractions in the esophageal body, absent lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation, and dilatation of the organ. However, some patients have a minor degree of esophageal denervation and esophageal motility that does not imply a diagnosis of achalasia. Our objective was to evaluate the evolution of esophageal involvement by Chagas' disease in 28 patients with dysphagia for solids and liquids and a positive serologic test for the disease, 14 with complete LES relaxation, 4 with partial (incomplete) LES relaxation, and 10 with absent LES relaxation; only 2 of them had mild dilatation. The patients (21 women), aged 43-74 years (median 60 years), were evaluated by clinical, radiographic, and manometric methods that were repeated 3-14 years (median 7 years) later. Dysphagia improved in 13 (46.4%) patients, was worse in 5 (17.9%), and did not change in 10 (35.7%). The radiographic examination did not change in 24 (85.7%) and was worse in 3 (10.7%). Esophageal manometry revealed a change from peristaltic to simultaneous contractions in 2 patients (7.1%), LES relaxation changed from complete to partial in 5 (17.9%), and from partial to absent in 2 (7.1%). There was no further clinical, radiographic, or manometric impairment in 15 (53.6%) patients. The symptom duration was longer and the age when they were evaluated was older in patients with no progression of the disease. We conclude that a conspicuous part of this group of patients with esophageal Chagas' disease and dysphagia had no progression of esophageal disease after 3-14 years. This possibility should be considered when making therapeutic decisions.

Adult↗

Saliva transport to the distal esophagus.

OBJECTIVE: During esophageal acid clearance, saliva should reach the most distal esophagus. The mechanisms responsible for saliva transport are not completely understood but it is assumed that normal peristalsis plays a significant role. The aim of this study was to assess the role of esophageal peristalsis and gravity in saliva transport to the distal esophagus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Esophageal transit and presence times of a 2-ml bolus of radiolabeled artificial saliva were assessed using concurrent scintigraphy and manometry in 10 healthy volunteers in the upright and supine positions before and after disruption of esophageal motility with sildenafil (50 mg). RESULTS: With normal peristalsis, there was no difference in saliva transit to the distal esophagus between supine and upright positions 3.9 (1.5- >60.0) versus 3.3 s (1.3-8.3). Low amplitude contractions did not affect saliva transit but the disappearance of contractions after sildenafil was associated with prolonged saliva transit in supine position 7.4 (1.0- >60.0). Saliva presence time was significantly prolonged in both the upright and supine positions by esophageal dysmotility. CONCLUSIONS: Saliva transport to the distal esophagus does not require complete normal peristalsis or gravity and mainly depends on an efficient pharyngeal pump. However, subjects in supine position with severe esophageal dysmotility might have both impaired volume clearance and delayed saliva transport, leading to abnormal acid clearance and esophagitis.

Adult↗

Diminished retention of food in the proximal stomach correlates with increased acidic reflux in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and dyspeptic symptoms.

This work aimed at evaluating the intragastric distribution of food in patients with GERD and dyspepsia and its relationship to acidic reflux episodes. Gastric emptying and food retention in the proximal stomach were evaluated by scintigraphy in 12 healthy subjects and 19 patients with GERD and dyspepsia after a liquid test meal. Patients also underwent 24-hr esophageal pH monitoring, which included a 2-hr postprandial period following a similar test meal. Total gastric emptying was similar in patients and controls, whereas proximal gastric retention (AUCprox/AUCtot) was significantly decreased in patients (mean +/- SD: 0.48 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.56 +/- 0.06; P = 0.02). Within the GERD-dyspepsia group, a significant negative correlation was found between proximal gastric retention and the number of acidic reflux episodes. We concluded that abnormally decreased retention of gastric contents in the proximal stomach after a liquid meal may contribute to the pathogenesis of acidic reflux episodes in patients with GERD and dyspepsia.

Adult↗

Influence of esophageal motility on esophageal speech of laryngectomized patients.

After laryngectomy for treatment of cancer of the larynx, the patient may have vocal rehabilitation by esophageal speech. Some patients fail to achieve the esophageal speech due to reasons involving surgery, radiotherapy, and psychological alterations. Our hypothesis is that the esophageal motility alterations consequent to laryngectomy may be involved in the failure to achieve esophageal speech. Using manometry with continuous perfusion, we studied the esophageal motility of 25 laryngectomized patients, 10 of them able to produce esophageal speech and 15 unable to produce esophageal speech, and 40 asymptomatic normal volunteers. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure was measured by the rapid pull-through method and the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) pressure by the station pull-through method. The contractions were measured at 5, 10, and 15 cm above the LES after the subjects performed 10 swallows with a 5-mL bolus of water. By comparing volunteers and laryngectomized patients, we found a lower UES pressure, lower amplitude of contractions, and increased percentage of simultaneous contractions in laryngectomized patients (p < 0.05). There was no difference between patients able and unable to produce esophageal speech in LES and UES pressure, esophageal contraction duration and velocity, or in the percentage of failed and simultaneous contractions. The esophageal contraction amplitude was lower in patients who acquired esophageal speech than in patients who did not (p < 0.05 at 10 cm from LES). We conclude that there are esophageal motility alterations in laryngectomized patients but only the decrease of esophageal contraction amplitude seems to be associated with the acquisition of esophageal speech.

Adult↗

Lower esophageal sphincter reacts against intraabdominal pressure in children with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux.

Studies of the effect of increased intraabdominal pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) are controversial. This study aimed to verify the LES competence against extrinsic abdominal compression in children with and without symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Eighteen children ages 6-20 months were evaluated, 11 of them with symptoms of GER (group I) and 7 without symptoms of GER (group II). Manometry of the esophagus, LES, and stomach was performed in all children who underwent extrinsic abdominal compressions of 20, 40, 60, and 80 mm Hg. The pressure gradients in the esophagus, LES, and stomach were measured. The pressure gradient showed a significant difference only in the esophagus after extrinsic abdominal compressions of 60 mm Hg [group I median (range): 7.6mm Hg (2.7-20.0) vs group II: 2.8 mm Hg (1.4-9.6), P < 0.05], and 80 mm Hg [group I median (range): 7.7 mm Hg (3.7-28.9) vs group II: 3.8 mm Hg (1.2-21.1), P < 0.05]. It was concluded that the competence of LES to contain increased intraabdominal pressure might be an important factor in the pathophysiology of GER in children.

Esophagogastric Junction↗

Esophageal striated muscle contractions in patients with gastroesophageal reflux symptoms.

Although there are studies showing that the amplitude of contraction in the distal esophageal body may be lower in gastroesophageal reflux (GER) disease than in asymptomatic subjects, there are no data about proximal striated muscle contraction in this disease. We studied the esophageal contraction 2 or 3 cm below the upper esophageal sphincter in response to swallowing a 5-ml bolus of water in 122 consecutive patients submitted to esophageal manometry who complained of heartburn and acid regurgitation. Sixty-nine had esophagitis seen at endoscopy. Thirty-three also complained of dysphagia. No patients had esophageal stenosis, esophageal motility abnormalities in distal esophagus, chest pain, or extraesophageal manifestations of GER. We also studied 20 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), a disease with no involvement of striated muscle. When we measured the amplitude, duration, and area under the curve (AUC) of the proximal esophageal contraction, we did not find any differences (P > 0.05) between patients with esophagitis (N = 69) or without esophagitis (N = 53), with dysphagia (N = 33) or without dysphagia (N = 89), with mild (N = 55) or severe (N = 14) esophagitis, or younger than 40 years (N = 45) or older than 60 years (N = 19). There was also no difference between patients with GER symptoms and patients with SSc (P > 0.05). We conclude that patients with GER symptoms with or without esophagitis and with or without dysphagia have similar esophageal striated muscle contractions.

Adolescent↗

Motility of the transverse colon used for esophageal replacement.

The authors studied the motility of transverse colon used for reconstruction of the pharyngogastric transit after esophagectomy. The study included 10 patients who underwent esophagectomy 15 to 201 months (median, 48.5 months) before motility evaluation. Nine patients underwent operation because of caustic injury and one, because of esophageal cancer. The age of the patients ranged from 19 to 54 years (median, 36 years). A manometric esophageal catheter with five side holes spaced 5 cm apart (using the continuous perfusion method) was used to record motility. In three patients, it was not possible to introduce the manometric catheter inside the colon interposition. In the other seven, most of the time there was no contraction when motility was recorded. In four, there was contraction only in the segment 2 to 5 cm below the upper esophageal sphincter. In three, there were peristaltic or simultaneous contractions of long duration, sometimes associated with dry or wet swallows. The motility of colon interposition used to restore transit after esophagectomy is similar to that described for the colon. The contractions may be the consequence of graft distention after successive swallows.

Adult↗