J Formos Med Assoc
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Dental enamel pitting was studied as a diagnostic sign of pediatric tuberous sclerosis (TSC). Thirteen patients aged 2.5 to 18 years with varying degrees of TSC were evaluated. They were checked for the presence of enamel pitting by the use of two to three drops of dental plaque disclosing stain which was applied to the labial surfaces of dry teeth. ⋯ The total number of enamel pits in each patient varied from 1 to 26 and increased with age; 90% of the teeth with enamel pitting displayed one to two pits per tooth. The youngest patient with enamel pitting was 5 years old. The simplicity of this test and the high probability of pitting in TSC make the examination useful in the assessment of patients in whom the diagnosis of this serious genetic disease is being considered.
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Catecholamines have a deleterious effect on the traumatized brain. Propranolol, a beta-adrenergic blocker, can act on the vasomotor centers within the hypothalamus and brain stem to reduce the activity of the sympathetic nerves and the cerebral metabolic need for oxygen and glucose. This study investigated the effects of racemic (d,l) propranolol on the neurologic recovery of mice with head-injuries. ⋯ Small pieces of brain parenchyma were used to check the water content by gravimetric method. The treatment group showed better neurologic recovery than the placebo group by both the string test scoring system and grip test time. The brain edema was significantly reduced at the temporal lobes in the treatment group as compared to the placebo group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)