Heloisa Amélia de Lima Castro

Electromyographic analysis of the superior belly of the omohyoid muscle and anterior belly of the digastric muscle in tongue and head movements

The participation of the superior belly of the omohyoid muscle and anterior belly of the digastric muscle in tongue and head movements was studied eletromyographically in 20 normal young volunteers. A pair of monopolar electrodes was used in each muscle for simultaneous recording of their actions. The muscles act in the following tongue movements: protrusion, right and left lateral movements, placement of the tip of the tongue on soft and hard palates and on the floor of the mouth. The strongest levels of activity of the superior belly of the omohyoid muscle were observed in the placement of the tip of the tongue on the soft palate, coincidentally with a greater dislocation of hyoid bone. Both of the muscles studied did not participate in the heads kinesiology.

L4-L5-S1 human dermatomes: a clinical, electromyographical, imaging and surgical findings

There is substantial controversy in literature about human dermatomes. We studied L4, L5, and S1 inferior limb dermatomes by comparing clinical signs and symptoms with conduction studies, electromyographical data, neurosurgical findings, and imaging data from computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). After analyzing 60 patients, we concluded that L4 is probably located in the medial aspect of the leg, L5 in the lateral aspect of the leg and foot dorsus, and S1 in the posterior aspect of the backside, tight, leg and plantar foot skin. This is the first time that these human dermatomes have been evaluated by combined analysis of clinical, electromyographical, neurosurgical, and imaging data.

Test of a new technique for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Several new techniques for carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis have been developed in the last few years. This work tests a technique that compares the distal motor latency of the median nerve to the second lumbrical muscle (2L) with the distal motor latency of the ulnar nerve to the interossei muscle (INT). Results from 40 normal hands give the superior limit of the normal difference (2L-INT) as 0. 26 ms (&xmacr;+3 SD). In 55 hands with different levels of carpal tunnel syndrome, this new technique was more sensitive and accurate than the conventional test which uses the distal motor latency of the median nerve to the abductor pollicis brevis muscle (APB), especially in the less severe cases. With the absence of the compound muscle action potentials of the APB muscle caused by severe thenar atrophy, it is much easier to obtain the potential from the 2L muscle. We concluded that this is a sensitive, simple, rapid, and non-invasive new technique, and therefore, it should be incorporated as part of the routine ENMG procedures for carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis.

Estudio histoquímico de la enzima NADH-TR en músculo frontal de conejos Norfolk (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

El musculo frontal humano posee dos vientres formando junto, al musculo occipital y la galea aponeurotica, el musculo occipitofrontal. Como musculo estriado esqueletico, el musculo frontal puede presentar fibras con alta intensidad de oxidacion (tipo I) y con baja intensidad de oxidacion (tipo II). El objetivo de este trabajo fue la determinacion, a traves de la reaccion histoquimica para nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide tetra-zolium redutase (NADH-TR), la distribucion de fibras de tipos I y II del musculo frontal de conejos de la raza Norfolk inglesa, del sexo femenino, con edad de seis a ocho meses, pesando de 2,8 a 3,1 Kg. De un total de 1010 fibras estudiadas, la proporcion encontrada fue de 33,8% para el tipo I, de 17,4% para el tipo IIA, y de 48,8% para el tipo IIB. La mayoria de las fibras encontradas era del tipo II, revelando la intensa actividad de este musculo en la mimica facial. Las fibras de tipo II presentan baja intensidad oxidativa, pudiendo asi sufrir fatiga muscular. Estas conclusiones pueden ser un aporte en estudios para entender los procesos patologicos que pueden ocurrir en este musculo

Dermátomos humanos C5 e C6: estudo clínico, eletromiográfico, de imagem e cirúrgico

Ha controversias na literatura sobre os dermatomos humanos. Neste estudo os dermatomos do membro superior C5 e C6 foram analisados. O metodo consistiu em comparar os sinais e sintomas com achados eletromiograficos, de imagem e achados cirurgicos. Analise dos dados do membro superior de 18 pacientes sugere que o dermatomo C5 esteja localizado na regiao lateral do ombro e braco, e o dermatomo C6 na regiao lateral do antebraco e 1o, 2o e 3o dedos da mao. Este e o primeiro estudo em que os dermatomos C5 e C6 foram avaliados pelos dados clinicos, eletromiograficos, de imagem e achados cirurgicos.

Blink reflex: comparison of latency measurements in different human races

The blink reflex latencies and cephalometric indexes were analysed in 30 male volunteers from three different races, 10 white, 10 black, and 10 Oriental. Ages ranged from 15 to 59 years, height from 1,60 to 1,80 m, and weight from 60 to 80 kg. Blink reflexes were obtained after unilateral electric stimulation of the supraorbital nerve for quantitative analysis of 3 responses, early ipsilateral (R1), late ipsilateral (R2i) and late contralateral (R2c), obtained from the orbicularis oculi muscle. Cephalometric indexes were calculated by multiplying the ratio between the longer transverse and the longer saggital head diameters by 100. The R1, R2i and R2c latencies were consistent with other published papers revealing no differences between the different racial groups. The mean of the cephalometric indexes of each group were consistent with respective racial characteristics. This study revealed that there are no differences between R1, R2i and R2c latencies in the 3 different studied races.

O perfil dos ortodontistas em relação aos aspectos odontolegais dos prontuários odontológicos

Objective: The purpose of this study was to acquire knowledge about the key legal aspects of orthodontic practice, which may be used as important defense tools in the event of ethical and/ or legal actions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with dentists in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, by means of a specific instrument (questionnaire) addressing the ethical and legal disputes that involve the orthodontic specialty. Participants were asked to fill out the following questionnaire fields: personal identification, academic background, orth odontic accessories, oral hygiene, treatment plan, service provision, orthodontic documentation, drug prescription and forms of communication with patients, among others. Results: A total of 237 orthodontists, all members of the Regional Council of Dentistry, Minas Gerais State (CRO-MG) and living in Belo Horizonte, were given the data collection instrument. Out of this total, 69 (29.11%) answered and returned the questionnaires. Of the 69 respondents, 57.97% were male and 42.03% female. It was found that 52.17% of these professionals graduated from Higher Education Institutions (ISEs). It was observed that 34.78% of these orthodontists completed specialization between 5 and 10 years after graduation. Most professionals (94.2%) enter into their medical records information about any damage caused to the orthodontic accessories used by their patients and 53.62% of the orthodontists keep their patients’ orthodontic documentation on file throughout their active professional life. Conclusions: This study revealed that some analysis parameters were very satisfactory, such as: the availability of service provision contract models, communication with patients and/or their lawful guardians in case of abandonment of treatment, orthodontic documentation files and the entering into the dental records of information concerning the breakage of and damage to orthodontic accessories. However, some practices have yet to be adopted, such as: patient signature should be collected in the event of damage to orthodontic accessories and copies of drug prescriptions and certificates should be kept on file.