Application of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) as a Healing Aid after Extraction of Incisors in the Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis syndrome

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a stress-free, relatively safe method supporting the treatment of many different diseases. Although it is widely used in human medicine (including dentistry), in veterinary medicine, especially in the treatment of horses, there are not many scientifically described and documented cases of its use. Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis syndrome is a disease that affects older horses and significantly reduces their quality of life. The only effective treatment for this condition is extraction of the incisors. The described case compares the recovery process of the alveolar area after extraction of incisors during the course of EOTRH syndrome without and with the use of a chamber, in horses with the same clinical picture of the disease, of the same age, and living in the same conditions. According to the authors’ knowledge, the presented case describes the use of a chamber in equine dentistry for the first time.

Analysis of the area and the number of pulmonary alveoli through the normal aging process in CD1 mouse

During the aging process, the lung exhibits structural changes accompanied by a decline in its function. The related information currently available is still scarce and contradictory. In addition, changes in some pulmonary parameters through aging process are species- and strain- dependent. The aim of this study was the assessment of the area and the number of pulmonary alveoli through the normal aging process in CD1 mouse. Paraffin-embedded sections of lungs from CD1 mice at age of 2, 6, 12, 18, or 24 months were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and examined using a light microscope. Images were captured using a camera linked to an image analysis software to measure areas and count alveoli. There was a significant difference in the alveolar area among the ages analyzed (F=87.53, Sig.=0.000). The alveolar area of the 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month-old mice was significantly greater (all p values < 0.001) than in mice at 2 months of age. Also, the alveolar number was significantly different among the ages tested (F=3.21, Sig.=0.023). The number of alveoli in mice at 2 months of age was greater than in mice at all other age groups, reaching statistical significance when compared with the 6-, 12-, and 18-month-old mice ( p values of 0.044, 0.014, and 0.002, respectively). Thus, we observed an increase in alveolar area and a decrease in alveolar number through the aging process. This information might be useful to understand pathologic changes underlying susceptibility of elderly individuals to chronic lower respiratory tract diseases.

Maxillary Swing Approach for Removal of Palatal Carcinoma: A Modified Procedure

Introduction. We report a modification of the maxillary swing approach to remove a palatal tumor while preserving the anterior alveolar area. Methods. Case report using clinical records. Results. The patient was a 54-year-old male. TNM grade was T4bN0M0, and invasion to the base of the pterygoid process was seen. Two courses of induction chemotherapy were administered prior to the operation. Because there was no evidence of anterior maxillary invasion, the maxillary swing approach was chosen. The left anterior maxilla was cut and swung laterally, preserving the blood supply. After removal of the palatal tumor, the maxilla was repositioned and the defect was restored with an anterior lateral thigh flap. Postoperative course was typical, and facial appearance, speech, and masticatory function were satisfactory. Conclusions. This technique is particularly useful for preserving appearance as well as speech and mastication.

Effects of Positive End-expiratory Pressure Titration and Recruitment Maneuver on Lung Inflammation and Hyperinflation in Experimental Acid Aspiration–induced Lung Injury

Background In acute lung injury positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and recruitment maneuver are proposed to optimize arterial oxygenation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of such a strategy on lung histological inflammation and hyperinflation in pigs with acid aspiration-induced lung injury. Methods Forty-seven pigs were randomly allocated in seven groups: (1) controls spontaneously breathing; (2) without lung injury, PEEP 5 cm H2O; (3) without lung injury, PEEP titration; (4) without lung injury, PEEP titration + recruitment maneuver; (5) with lung injury, PEEP 5 cm H2O; (6) with lung injury, PEEP titration; and (7) with lung injury, PEEP titration + recruitment maneuver. Acute lung injury was induced by intratracheal instillation of hydrochloric acid. PEEP titration was performed by incremental and decremental PEEP from 5 to 20 cm H2O for optimizing arterial oxygenation. Three recruitment maneuvers (pressure of 40 cm H2O maintained for 20 s) were applied to the assigned groups at each PEEP level. Proportion of lung inflammation, hemorrhage, edema, and alveolar wall disruption were recorded on each histological field. Mean alveolar area was measured in the aerated lung regions. Results Acid aspiration increased mean alveolar area and produced alveolar wall disruption, lung edema, alveolar hemorrhage, and lung inflammation. PEEP titration significantly improved arterial oxygenation but simultaneously increased lung inflammation in juxta-diaphragmatic lung regions. Recruitment maneuver during PEEP titration did not induce additional increase in lung inflammation and alveolar hyperinflation. Conclusion In a porcine model of acid aspiration-induced lung injury, PEEP titration aimed at optimizing arterial oxygenation, substantially increased lung inflammation. Recruitment maneuvers further improved arterial oxygenation without additional effects on inflammation and hyperinflation.

Differences in the time course of proximal and distal airway response to inhaled histamine studied by synchrotron radiation CT

We studied the kinetics of proximal and distal bronchial response to histamine aerosol in healthy anesthetized and mechanically ventilated rabbits up to 60 min after histamine administration using a novel xenon-enhanced synchrotron radiation computed tomography imaging technique. Individual proximal airway constriction was assessed by measuring the luminal cross-sectional area. Distal airway obstruction was estimated by measuring the ventilated alveolar area after inhaled xenon administration. Respiratory system conductance was assessed continuously. Proximal airway cross-sectional area decreased by 57% of the baseline value by 20 min and recovered gradually but incompletely within 60 min. The ventilated alveolar area decreased immediately after histamine inhalation by 55% of baseline value and recovered rapidly thereafter. The results indicate that the airway reaction to inhaled histamine and the subsequent recovery are significantly slower in proximal than in distal bronchi in healthy rabbit. The findings suggest that physiological reaction mechanisms to inhaled histamine in the airway walls of large and small bronchi are not similar.

Localization of carbonic anhydrase in the goat mammary gland during involution and lactogenesis

The aim of this study was to determine whether carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity in goat mammary capillaries is regulated mainly by local or systemic mechanisms. One gland was dried before the contralateral gland, and after parturition only one gland was milked. Biopsies were taken from the mammary glands of three goats at 14 d intervals during involution and the start of the following lactation. A histochemical method was used to visualize sites of CA activity. To follow the involution process, milk (liquid) samples were taken from both teats each week and analysed for pH and composition. The time course of CA activity disappearance and reappearance in the capillaries was related to changes in milk composition and alveolar area. A dense network of capillaries showing membrane-bound staining for CA was found surrounding the alveoli in the lactating gland. CA activity gradually decreased in the drying gland, although the other gland was being milked. After 8 weeks involution the dried gland had a significantly lower number of stained capillaries than the milked gland. Almost no stained capillaries were found during late pregnancy, when both glands were dried and the tissue growth maximal. During lactation milk pH was 6·6±0·3 and this increased to 7·0±0·1 in the course of involution. In the last trimester of pregnancy the pH returned to its lower value, while the mammary gland was devoid of stained capillaries. Therefore, the capillary CA could not have been directly involved in the pH regulation of milk. The CA activity reappeared in the capillaries directly after delivery, but only in the milked gland. Clearly the regulation of CA activity is influenced more by local than by systemic factors and is associated with the metabolic activity of milk secretion.