Purpose: In this study, we used ultrasonography to monitor the use of hyaluronic acid (HA) as a filler in the face for esthetic reasons. We monitored changes in the filler shape, distribution, and relationship with adjacent anatomical structures over a 180-day period. Materials and Methods: Two patients each received an ultrasound-guided injection of HA, with different products and application sites for each patient. In 1 patient, the injection was administered in the angle of the mandible, while in the other, it was administered in the zygomatic region. The injection sites were monitored via ultrasonography at 24 hours, 30 days, and 180 days, at which times the imaging characteristics of the filler were observed. All injections were performed by the same professional, as were the ultrasound exams, which were conducted using the same equipment. Results: In both cases, the HA fillers were visualized using ultrasound at all time points. Some differences were observed between the cases in the images and the distribution of the pockets of filler. In 1 case, the filler appeared as a dark hypoechoic region with well-defined contours, and the material was observed to have moved posteriorly by the 180-day mark. In the other case, the material appeared hyperechoic relative to the previous case and presented no noticeable changes in its anteroposterior distribution over time. Conclusion Based on these 2 cases, ultrasonography can be a complementary tool used to monitor facial fillers over the long term, allowing for the dynamic observation of different fillers.

Hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) is a common endocrinopathy among dogs that causes multisystemic signs. This study was conducted to evaluate cardiocirculatory, biochemical, and hemostatic parameters in dogs with HAC at diagnosis, in addition to verifying whether abnormal parameters could be controlled by initial treatment with trilostane. Fifteen dogs with HAC were assessed by systolic blood pressure measurement, electrocardiography, Doppler echocardiography, serum concentration of troponin I, and biochemical and hemostatic profile at diagnosis and after trilostane therapy. Unlike biochemical parameters, hemostatic and cardiocirculatory parameters were not significantly influenced by the onset of treatment. The authors believe that clinical treatment with trilostane for 3 to 4 months might not be sufficient for the stabilization of cardiocirculatory abnormalities such as hypertension. Therefore, dogs with HAC must receive cardiocirculatory monitoring at diagnosis and during drug treatment.
Adrenocortical Hyperfunction* ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiology ; Diagnosis* ; Dogs* ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Electrocardiography ; Endocrinology ; Hypertension ; Troponin I

PURPOSE: To characterize the microstructure of three yttria partially stabilized zirconia ceramics and to compare their hardness, indentation fracture resistance (IFR), biaxial flexural strength (BFS), and fatigue flexural strength. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Disc-shaped specimens were obtained from 3Y-TZP (Vita YZ HT), 4Y-PSZ (Vita YZ ST) and 5Y-PSZ (Vita YZ XT), following the ISO 6872/2015 guidelines for BFS testing (final dimensions of 12 mm in diameter, 0.7 and 1.2 ± 0.1 mm in thicknesses). Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were performed, and mechanical properties were assessed by Vickers hardness, IFR, quasi-static BFS and fatigue tests. RESULTS: All ceramics showed similar chemical compositions, but mainly differed in the amount of yttria, which was higher as the amount of cubic phase in the diffractogram (5Y-PSZ > 4Y-PSZ > 3Y-TZP). The 4Y- and 5Y-PSZ specimens showed surface defects under SEM, while 3Y-TZP exhibited greater grain uniformity on the surface. 5Y-PSZ and 3Y-TZP presented the highest hardness values, while 3Y-TZP was higher than 4Y- and 5Y-PSZ with regard to the IFR. The 5Y-PSZ specimen (0.7 and 1.2 mm) showed the worst mechanical performance (fatigue BFS and cycles until failure), while 3Y-TZP and 4Y-PSZ presented statistically similar values, higher than 5Y-PSZ for both thicknesses (0.7 and 1.2 mm). Moreover, 3Y-TZP showed the highest (1.2 mm group) and the lowest (0.7 mm group) degradation percentage, and 5Y-PSZ had higher strength degradation than 4Y-PSZ group. CONCLUSION Despite the microstructural differences, 4Y-PSZ and 3Y-TZP had similar fatigue behavior regardless of thickness. 5Y-PSZ had the lowest mechanical performance.

Despite advances in the field of male reproductive health, idiopathic male infertility, in which a man has altered semen characteristics without an identifiable cause and there is no female factor infertility, remains a challenging condition to diagnose and manage. Increasing evidence suggests that oxidative stress (OS) plays an independent role in the etiology of male infertility, with 30% to 80% of infertile men having elevated seminal reactive oxygen species levels. OS can negatively affect fertility via a number of pathways, including interference with capacitation and possible damage to sperm membrane and DNA, which may impair the sperm's potential to fertilize an egg and develop into a healthy embryo. Adequate evaluation of male reproductive potential should therefore include an assessment of sperm OS. We propose the term Male Oxidative Stress Infertility, or MOSI, as a novel descriptor for infertile men with abnormal semen characteristics and OS, including many patients who were previously classified as having idiopathic male infertility. Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) can be a useful clinical biomarker for the classification of MOSI, as it takes into account the levels of both oxidants and reductants (antioxidants). Current treatment protocols for OS, including the use of antioxidants, are not evidence-based and have the potential for complications and increased healthcare-related expenditures. Utilizing an easy, reproducible, and cost-effective test to measure ORP may provide a more targeted, reliable approach for administering antioxidant therapy while minimizing the risk of antioxidant overdose. With the increasing awareness and understanding of MOSI as a distinct male infertility diagnosis, future research endeavors can facilitate the development of evidence-based treatments that target its underlying cause.
Antioxidants ; Classification ; Clinical Protocols ; Diagnosis ; DNA ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Fertility ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Membranes ; Ovum ; Oxidants ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Reducing Agents ; Reproductive Health ; Semen ; Spermatozoa ; Subject Headings