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AIM: The aim of this survey was to assess the prevalence of AC in riverine population in countryside of Amazonas, northern Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients answered a questionnaire and were examined between January and December of 2008. Data were gathered on the following participant’s characteristics: 1) age group; 2) gender; 3) ethnicity 4) outdoor activities (sunlight exposure); 5) smoking habits; 6) drinking habits; and 7) access to oral health services (the last dental visit). Clinical observation of the lips for determination of AC presence was used. Patients who presented clinical manifestation of moderate and severe AC were submitted to incisional biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. In case of a positive result after histopathological examination, patients were advised and appropriate treatment was offered. All patients received information about AC and its prevention. RESULTS: Among the 200 participants that were examined, the prevalence of AC was 2% (4 cases). Of all patients surveyed, women were the majority totalizing 124 patients (72.0%). According to age, 48 (24.0%) people were 20-34 year-old; 42 (21.0%) were 35-44-year-old; 50 (25.0%) were 45-60-year-old; and 60 (30.0%) were 61 or older. CONCLUSION: Even though AC was present in a low prevalence rate, an epidemiological variety is expected, once geographic and ethnic differences should be considered.

The aim of this study was to evaluate accuracy of linear measurements assessed from axial tomograms and the influence of the use of different protocols in two cone beam CT (CBCT) units.A cylinder object consisting of Nylon® (Day Brazil, Sao Paulo, Brazil) with radiopaque markers was radiographically examined applying different protocols from NewTom 3G(TM) (Quantitative Radiology s.r.l, Verona, Veneto, Italy) and i-CAT(TM) (Imaging Sciences International, Hatfield, PA) units. Horizontal (A-B) and vertical (C-D) distances were assessed from axial tomograms and measured using a digital calliper that provided the gold standard for actual values.There were differences when considering acquisition protocols to each CBCT unit. Concerning all analysed protocols from i-CAT(TM) and Newtom 3G(TM), both A-B and C-D distances presented underestimated values. Measurements of the axial images obtained from NewTom 3G(TM) (6 inch 0.16 mm and 9 inch 0.25 mm) were similar to the ones obtained from i-CAT(TM) (13 cm 20 s 0.3 mm, 13 cm 20 s 0.4 mm and 13 cm 40 s 0.25 mm).The use of different protocols from CBCT machines influences linear measurements assessed from axial images. Linear distances were underestimated in both equipments. Our findings suggest that the best protocol for the i-CAT(TM) is 13 cm 20 s 0.3 mm and for the NewTom 3G(TM), the use of 6 inch or 9 inch is recommended.

Background: Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) and multiple myeloma (MM) are B cell-derived malignancies that share many morphologic and immunophenotypic traits, making the differential diagnosis particularly complicated. We have recently demonstrated that peroxiredoxin I (PrdxI) is expressed in plasma cells but not in B lymphocytes, suggesting that its expression is development-associated. Aim: To analyze PrdxI expression in PBL and in MM in order to study its utilization as an additional diagnostic molecular tool. Methods and results: Eight cases of PBL and nine of MM were studied by immunohistochemistry. We have demonstrated that PrdxI expression is closely connected with the immunoglobulin production capacity of the cells, which means high in MM, but absent in PBL cases, except one, wherein few cells were stained. Conclusions: We hypothesize PrdxI as a component of the unfolded protein response (UPR), an adaptive pathway essential for plasma cell differentiation. As we have not detected immunoglobulin in our PBL cases, we suggest that UPR was not activated in the cells, accounting for the impediment of the developmental process, and for the inhibition of PrdxI expression observed. PrdxI could be considered an additional plasma cell functional marker and could also be speculated as a therapeutic target in the treatment of MM.