Cette thèse porte sur l'anatomie et la morphologie du complexe crânien chez les murinés. Ses objectifs sont de démontrer et de décrire le lien morpho-fonctionnel entre le crâne et la force de morsure, représentant la performance, d'identifier les sources génétiques de la variation de la performance et de la morphologie, et de comprendre comment la variation morpho-fonctionnelle dépend du mode de vie d'une espèce.La première partie décrit l'anatomie de l'appareil masticateur dans le genre Mus. Des différences fonctionnelles et liées au régime alimentaire sont montrées. Puis, on s'intéresse au lien entre morphologie et fonction, et aux proxies morpho-anatomiques permettant d'estimer la force de morsure. Un modèle biomécanique des muscles masticateurs est d'abord utilisé. Les estimations obtenues sontproches des mesures in vivo au niveau interspécifique, mais moins précises au niveau intraspécifique.L'avantage mécanique et la forme de la mandibule sont ensuite utilisés comme proxies. La force de morsure estimée et réelle sont corrélées au niveau interspécifique, mais moins au niveau intraspécifique, avec des différences selon les espèces. Pour expliquer ces imprécisions, la variation ontogénétique de la force de morsure et de la forme de la mandibule sont décrites. Lorsque l'âge est contrôlé, le développement osseux ralentit plus tôt que celui de la force de morsure, ce qui peut expliquer les biais trouvés dans les estimations de la force de morsure.La deuxième partie se concentre sur les sources génétiques des variations morpho-fonctionnelles. Chez Mus minutoides, des changements sur les chromosomes sexuels produisent des différences de taille et de force de morsure. Les mâles féminisés de cette espèces sont plus agressifs que les autres individus, et montrent une force de morsure plus puissante, principalement grâce à unplus gros crâne. Le(s) gène(s) féminisant produis(ent) donc des changements à l'échelle de l'organisme tout entier. La section suivante s'intéresse aux liens entre consanguinité, asymétrie et performance chez la souris domestique. Les souris les plus consanguines ne montrent pas d'augmentation de l'asymétrie de leurs mandibules, et la performance des souris les plus consanguines ou les plus asymétriques n'est pas affectée. Enfin, l'héritabilité de la force de morsure et de la morphologie est estimée. La force de morsure in vivo n'est pas héritable, bien que la morphologie le soit. Etant donné le lien entre morpho-anatomie et force de morsure, ces résultats suggèrent que les changements morphologiques sont des voies de moindre résistance évolutive, et qu'ils peuvent être à l'origine de changements de performance.La dernière partie utilise la morphologie et la performance en tant que caractères liés à l'écologie des espèces. La première section s'intéresse aux différences de performance entre Apodemus sylvaticus et Mus spretus, qui partagent leur habitat et leurs ressources alimentaires, malgré une différence de taille marquée. Nos résultats montrent un recouvrement des distributions des forces de morsures, soutenant l'hypothèse d'un régime alimentaire commun. Cette coexistence pourrait être due à une abondance de ressources là où ces espèces sont syntopiques. Enfin, la variation morphologique est quantifiée chez plusieurs murinés d'Asie du Sud-Est. Les espèces de rats commensaux et généralistes sont moins variables que les autres espèces. Les espèces synanthropiques montrent des réponses morpho-fonctionnelles convergentes entre localités qui suggèrent qu'elles partagent des patrons communs de réponse et donc qu’elles peuvent s'adapter aux variations environnementales régionales induites par l’homme. L'approche utilisée dans cette thèse nous a permis de montrer le lien entre variation génétique,phénotypique et écologique. Ce lien parfois difficile à décrire, est cependant à la base de l'apparition de nouvelles formes et espèces, et constitue un aspect crucial de la biologie de l'évolution. / The theme of this thesis is the anatomy and morphology of the cranio-mandibular complexin various species of murine rodents. The main objectives are to describe the morpho-functional link between the skull and bite force as a measure of performance, to identify the genetic sources of morphological and performance variation, and finally to understand how morpho-functional variation depends on a species diet and lifestyle. The first part describes the anatomy of the masticatory apparatus in the genus Mus. Differences were found, which could be interpreted functionally and linked to variation in diets. The first part also investigates the links between morpho-anatomy and function, and various morphological proxies used for estimating bite force. This is done by building a biomechanical model of masticatory muscles. The bite force estimates obtained match the in vivo measurements at the inter-specific level, but are less precise at the intra-specific level. Then, two osseous mandibular proxies of bite force are compared (lever arms and their mechanical advantage, and its shape data). In vivo and estimated bite force werewell related at the inter-specific level, but less at the intra-specific level, depending on the species. To explain these imprecisions, the ontogenetic variation of bite force and mandibular morphology isdescribed. Under controlled age, the bony development is slowing down earlier than bite force, whichcan partly explain the inconsistencies of estimated bite force.The second part focuses on the genetics of morphological and functional variation. In Musminutoides, changes in the sexual chromosomes entail size and performance changes. The feminized males found in this species are known to be more aggressive than other individuals, and they produce ahigher bite force, mainly due to an increase in skull size. The feminizing gene(s) therefore drive whole-organism-scale changes. Then, the links between inbreeding, asymmetry and performance areinvestigated in the house mouse. The most inbred mice do not experience an increase in the asymmetry of their mandibles. Contrary to expectations, the performance of the most inbred or most asymmetric mice do not decrease and differences in asymmetry levels have no influence on biting performance.The last section estimates the heritabilities of bite force and morphology. In vivo bite force is notheritable, but some morphological characters are. Given the functional link between morpho-anatomyand bite force shown in the first part, these results suggest that morphological changes represente volutionary pathways of least resistance, and drive changes in performance rather than behavioral or related traits.The last part took morphology and performance as linked to a species' niche. The first sectionexplores the differences between Apodemus sylvaticus and Mus spretus. Both share their habitat and food resources, in spite of a marked size difference. Results show great overlap between their bite force distributions supporting the hypothesis of a shared diet. The absence of shift in a trait related toresource use may be due to a large abundance of the food resources where both species are found insyntopy. In the final section the morphological variation in several rodents from Southeast Asia wasquantified. Less morphological variability is found in generalist and commensal rats by comparison toother species. At the community level, synanthropic species show frequent convergent responsesbetween localities in terms of bite force and morphology. These common patterns in response suggestthat synanthropic species tend to be very adaptable to regional environmental differences.The approaches used in this thesis enable us to show the link between genetic, phenotypic andecological variation. This link, sometimes difficult to describe, is nevertheless at the root of theappearance of new forms and species, and constitutes a crucial aspect of evolutionary biology.

O autor estudou comparativamente, em coelhos, enxertos autólogos retirados do crânio e da crista ilíaca. Os animais foram divididos em dois lotes, crânio e crista ilíaca e a seguir distribuídos em três grupos diferentes, de acordo com o tempo de incorporação do enxerto ósseo. Foram correlacionados as medidas das dimensões e peso do enxerto com os achados histológicos realizados após o sacrifício do animal. O autor observou que o enxerto autólogo de crista ilíaca apresentou maior reabsorção que o de crânio aos sessenta dias. O enxerto autólogo de crânio iniciou a formação óssea mais precocemente que o enxerto de crista ilíaca / The author compared cranial and iliac crest autogenous bone grafts using an experimental model in rabbits. 57 animals were studied and divided in three different groups, according with the time of evaluation, of the bone graft, 18, 30 and 60 days after the first procedure. Before being positioned on the nasal bone and fixed with a screw, the bone grafts were measured and weighted. The same measures were done at the time of removal of the bone graft and all these datas were correlated with the information achieved with histomorphometric parameters of osteogenesis (bone volume, osteoid volume, osteoid surface, osteoblastic surface and osteoid thickness) and of bone resorption (osteoclastic surface and resorption surface). The author concluded: the relation final wight/inicial weight in the cranial bone grafts was greater than in the iliac crest bone grafts; the osteogenesis was smaller on the 18th day in the iliac crest bone grafts group than the control group; the osteogenesis was greater in the cranial bone grafts group than the iliac crest bone grafts group on the 18th and 30th day after bone grafting; the bone resorption was greater in the iliac crest bone grafts group than the cranial bone grafts group after 60 days; the presence of superficial osteogenesis was increased in the cranial bone grafts.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as atividades osteoindutoras e osteocondutoras da matriz alogênica óssea desmineralizada (MAOD) frente à diabetes no reparo de defeito de tamanho crítico em calvárias de ratos diabéticos. Para isso, 100 ratos machos Wistar foram divididos em 2 grupos: no grupo diabético (DIAB, n=50) foi injetado 47 mg/Kg de massa corporal de estreptozotocina, enquanto que no grupo controle (CTL, n=50) foi injetado solução fisiológica a 0,9%. A MAOD foi obtida de 50 ratos, cujo fêmur e tíbia foram retirados, desmineralizados com HCl a 0,6M por 24 horas, particulados em 1-2mm³, neutralizados com soro fisiológico e armazenados em álcool. Após a anestesia, foram realizados defeitos ósseos de 8 mm nas calvárias dos animais, sendo os grupos CTL COAG (n=25) e DIAB COAG (n=25) preenchidos com coágulo e os grupos CTL MAOD (n=25) e DIAB MAOD (n=25) preenchidos com MAOD. Após os períodos de 0, 7, 14, 21 e 42 dias, as calvárias foram coletadas. A análise radiográfica mostrou que houve formação de ilhas radiodensas no interior dos defeitos nos grupos CTL e DIAB tratados com MAOD, enquanto que nos grupos tratados com coágulo houve formação de áreas mais radiodensas somente nas bordas do defeito, corroborando com os resultados morfológicos, que mostraram nos grupos tratados com coágulo que o reparo ósseo teve início nas bordas do defeito, enquanto que nos grupos tratados com MAOD, a neoformação óssea ocorreu também nas áreas de reabsorção nas partículas de MAOD. De acordo com os resultados morfométricos, o volume de tecido ósseo aumentou gradativamente em todos os grupos, porém, esse aumento foi maior nos grupos CTL em relação aos seus respectivos tratamentos nos grupos DIAB (CTL COAG > DIAB COAG e CTL MAOD > DIAB MAOD) e maior quando comparados os grupos tratados com MAOD versus os respectivos grupos tratados com COAG (CTL MAOD > CTL COAG e DIAB MAOD > DIAB COAG). Assim, ao término de 42 dias, o volume de tecido ósseo no grupo CTL MAOD foi em média 3,24 vezes maior em relação aos demais grupos, os grupos CTL COAG e DIAB MAOD não apresentaram diferenças significativas e o grupo DIAB MAOD foi 1,81 vezes maior em relação ao DIAB COAG. Com esses resultados, conclui-se que embora o quadro de diabetes tenha influenciado no atraso do reparo, ainda assim, pode-se afirmar que a MAOD contribuiu com a neoformação óssea e com o reparo do defeito na calvária de animais saudáveis e diabéticos, por terem sido preservadas as suas características osteoindutoras e osteocondutoras. / The aim of this work was to evaluate the osteoinductive and osteoconductive activities of demineralized allogeneic bone matrix (DABM) against diabetes in repairing critical size defects in diabetic rats skulls. Therefore, 100 male Wistar rats were shered into two groups: in the diabetic group (DIAB, n=50) was 47 mg/Kg of body weight streptozotocin, while in the control group (CTL, n=50) was injected saline 0.9%. The DABM was obteined using 50 rats which were removed their femur and tibia bones, demineralized in 0.6 N HCl during 24 hours, cut into 1-2mm³ pieces, neutralized in saline and stored in alcohol. After anesthesia, were made 8 mm bone defects on skulls of rats, being the CTL CLOT group (n=25) and DIAB CLOT group (n=25) filled with blood clot and the CTL DABM group (n=25) and DIAB DABM group (n=25) filled with DABM. After 0, 7, 14, 21 and 42 days, the skulls were collected. The radiographic analysis showed radiodense islets inside the defects filled with DABM in CTL and DIAB groups, while groups filled with blood clot showed radiodense areas near the defect border, which is in agreement to the morphologic results, that had showed the begining of bone healing was near the defects border in groups filled with blood clot, while groups filled with DABM showed new bone formation also in resorption DABM areas. According to morphometric results, the volume of bone tissue had increased in all groups, however, this increase was more accentuated in CTL groups when compared to DIAB groups with respected treatments (CTL CLOT > DIAB CLOT and CTL DABM > DIAB DABM) and bigger when groups treated with DABM are compared to respestive groups treated with CLOT (CTL DABM > CTL CLOT e DIAB DABM > DIAB CLOT). Thereby, at the end of 42 days, the CTL DABM bone tissue volume was 3.24 greater than the other groups, the CTL CLOT and DIAB DABM groups didnt show any significant differenceand the DIAB DABM was 1,81 greater than DIAB CLOT. From these results, the conclusion is that although diabetes had delayed the repair, nevertheless, DABM contributed to bone neoformation and to the defect repair in skulls of healthy and diabetic animals, due to the osteoinductive and osteoconductive qualities had been preserved.

A cartilagem do processo condilar (PC) e a sincondrose basiesfenoidal (SB) participam do processo de crescimento e desenvolvimento craniofacial que são determinados pelo aporte protéico, pela ação hormonal e por fatores de crescimento, sendo o IGF-I o principal deles. Objetivou-se correlacionar as alterações morfológicas no PC e na SB provenientes da subnutrição protéica. Os grupos experimentais foram formados por animais heterogêneos (n=5) com 60 dias de vida, de acordo com o teor de caseína contida nas rações, protéica (20%) ou hipoprotéica (5%), formando, respectivamente, os grupos nutrido (N) e subnutrido (S). Na microscopia de luz foi observado que a subnutrição não alterou as espessuras das camadas do PC e da SB, enquanto que através da imunohistoquímica o número de IGF-I e IGF-IR diminuiu em ambos os tecidos (N&ne;S; p<0,05). No PC, o colágeno do tipo I passou a ser do tipo II no grupo S, enquanto que na SB, o do tipo II foi destacado em ambos os grupos. A matriz extracelular do PC apresentou-se densa e com coloração homogênea nos nutridos, contrastando com o aspecto difuso dos subnutridos. Na SB, tanto no grupo N quanto no S, a MEC manteve-se com aspecto uniforme na distribuição e na homogeneidade da coloração. / The cartilage of the condylar process (CP) and the basiesfenoidal synchondrosis (BS) participate in the process of craniofacial growth and development that are determined by the protein content, the hormonal and growth factors, being the IGF-I main one. This study aimed to correlate the morphological changes in PC and SB from protein malnutrition. The experimental groups were formed by heterogeneous animals (n = 5) at 60 days of life, according to the casein contained in the feed, proteic (20%) or hypoproteic (5%), constituting respectively the nourished (N) and undernourished (U) groups. Under light microscopy it was observed that undernourished did not change the thickness of the layers of CP and BS by immunohistochemical while the number of IGFI and IGF-IR decreased in both tissues (N&ne;S; p<0,05). On the PC, the type I collagen became type II at the U group, while in the SB the type II was noted in both groups. The extracellular matrix (ECM) of the PC presented dense and homogenous coloration in the nourished, contrasting with the diffuse aspect of the undernourished. In SB, both in the N group as U, the ECM remained uniform in appearance and the distribution and uniformity of staining.

The present research examined whether the innominate acted as contextual information which resulted in a skewed scoring of skull morphological sex traits and pairs overall (both innominate and skull). Survey participants first assessed the sex of an innominate, then assessed the sex of a skull, using methods standard in the field. The sex of ten skulls and associated innominates, which served as contextual elements to introduce bias, were assessed in two surveys by 22 participants total. Male and female innominates and skulls were mixed and matched to test bias, though it was implied to participants that the paired elements were from the same individual. No significant bias was seen on the level of the skull. However, significant shifts in scores were seen on the level of the overall pair in three out of the five studied, indicating that the sex of the innominate was privileged over that of the skull. This is considered standard procedure in the field as the innominate is more reliable for sex estimation; thus, the findings of the present study are inconsistent with cognitive bias. However, the present study raises questions about the utility of the skull in the estimation of sex in human skeletal remains. While the innominate may be more reliable in sex estimation when both elements are present, this may lead to inattention to valuable information presented by the skull in particular contexts such as commingled burials.

Meningiomas petroclivais são tumores da base do crânio desafiadores para ressecção cirúrgica devido a sua localização profunda e relação com estruturas neurovasculares vitais. Geralmente são lesões benignas, mas podem envolver ou infiltrar o osso da base do crânio, dura-máter, tronco encefálico e todas as estruturas neurovasculares desta região, tornando a remoção total difícil sem causar déficits neurológicos. O objetivo deste estudo é revisar uma série de casos de meningiomas petroclivais tratados cirurgicamente em centro de referência de base de crânio, considerando os fatores determinantes para a escolha da abordagem. A casuística foi analisada com coleta retrospectiva dos dados. Devido à dificuldade de acesso, essas lesões geralmente requerem diferentes abordagens cirúrgicas e apresentam dificuldades cirúrgicas distintas. Embora as abordagens fronto-órbito-zigomática, petrosas, incluindo présigmoide retrolabiríntica, translabiríntica e petrosectomia total, e a retrossigmoide sejam as mais utilizadas para ressecção destes tumores, não foi realizado até o presente momento estudo comparativo que determine qual abordagem apresenta maior grau de ressecção cirúrgica associada a menor taxa de morbidade. / Petroclival meningiomas are challenging skull base tumors for surgical resection because of its deep location and their relationship to vital neurovascular structures. They are usually benign, but may involve or infiltrate the bone of the skull base, dura, brain stem and all neurovascular structures in this region, making it difficult to completely remove without causing neurological deficits. The aim of this study is to review a surgical series of petroclival meningioma treated in a referral center for skull base tumors, considering the determining factors to the choice of approach. The casuistry was analyzed with retrospective data collection. Due to difficult access, these injuries usually require different surgical approaches and have different surgical difficulties. Although the fronto-orbital-zygomatic, petrous, including retrolabyrinthine pre-sigmoid, translabyrinthine and total petrosectomy, and retrosigmoid are frequently used for resection of these tumors, it has not been realized to date comparative study to determine which approach has greater degree of surgical resection associated with lower morbidity rate.

Introdução: O uso de molas metálicas para o tratamento das craniossinostoses têm ganho cada vez mais espaço no arsenal terapêutico do cirurgião Crânio-Maxilo-Facial, na intenção de minimizar procedimentos extensos e mórbidos. Apesar da simplificação cirúrgica promovida pela mesma ainda persiste a necessidade de sua remoção. Objetivos: Realizar expansão craniana cirúrgica em modelo animal, utilizando-se de um implante (mola) totalmente integrado, confeccionado em blenda polimérica bioabsorvível. Testar sua eficácia e realizar análise histológica. Material e Métodos: Estudo experimental, aberto e prospectivo, utilizando doze coelhos fêmeas da raça New Zealand (Oryctolagus cuniculus) com seis semanas de vida. Os animais foram randomizados em dois grupos: controle (G1) aonde foi realizada craniectomia linear, e estudo (G2) aonde além da craniectomia foi inserida uma mola confeccionada a partir de uma blenda de POLI ÁCIDO LÁCTICO-CO-GLICÓLICO/POLI ISOPRENO, com o objetivo de realizar expansão craniana no sentido transversal à ostectomia. A movimentação craniana foi mensurada radiologicamente nas 12 semanas seguintes, através de marcadores e ao final foi realizada análise histológica para avaliação de reação inflamatória. Resultados: As molas confeccionadas apresentaram uma força média de 4,2N. A expansão craniana no grupo estudo no nível do marcador frontal foi de 9,6mm a 11,67mm e foi significante em relação a grupo controle. A análise histológica demonstrou pequena reação inflamatória. Conclusão: É possível a realização de expansão craniana em modelo animal utilizando-se uma mola bioabsorvível através de craniectomia linear, com boa tolerabilidade dos tecidos circunjacentes ao implante. / Introduction: The use of metal springs for the treatment of craniosynostosis have gaining more and more posicion in the therapeutic armory of the Craniofacial surgeon in the intention to minimize morbid and extensive procedures. Objectives: Perform cranial expansion surgery in an animal model, using an implant elastic (spring) fully integrated, made of bio-absorbable polymeric material. Test its efficacy and histological analysis Methods: An experimental study, open, prospective, using twelve New Zealand female rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) with six weeks. The animals were randomized into two groups: control (G1) where linear craniectomy was performed and study (G2) where besides the craniectomy a spring made from a blend of POLY LACTIC ACID-CO-GLYCOLIC / POLI ISOPRENE, in order to perform cranial expansion in the transverse osteotomy. The cranial movement was assessed radiographically at 12 weeks following the surgical procedure and the final histological analysis was performed to evaluate the inflammatory reaction. Results: The springs made showed a medium force of 4,2N. The cranial expansion in the study group in the level of the frontal marker was of 9,6mm to 11,67 and was significant in relation to the control group. The histological analysis showed a small inflammatory reaction. Conclusion: It is possible to perform cranial expansion in an animal model using a bio-absorbable spring through the linear craniectomy. There was good tolerability of the surrounding tissues to the implant.

Orientador: Luiz Carlos Vulcano / Resumo: O tatu-galinha é um dos animais mais populosos da ordem Xenarthra com distribuição do sul dos Estados Unidos até a América do Sul. São animais frequentemente caçados e, em muitos casos, são vítimas de atropelamentos rodoviários. Existem diversos estudos descritivos sobre a fisiologia, a genética e o comportamento, porém a anatomia óssea e articular destes animais ainda é restrita. Este estudo tem por objetivo, descrever a anatomia das estruturas osteoarticulares do esqueleto axial em 20 tatus-galinhas, vivos e carcaças, por meio da radiografia digital e da tomografia computadorizada propiciando informações mais detalhadas da anatomia esquelética desta espécie. Os resultados obtidos são descritivos e detalhados de cada estrutura; sendo observado processos complementares xenartros nas vértebras torácicas caudais até a última vértebra lombar, com proeminentes processos mamilares no segmento toracolombar, vértebras cervicais fusionadas da segunda à quarta vértebras e a presença de sinsacro correspondendo as vértebras sacrais e caudais fusionadas à pelve. A fórmula vertebral obtida nessa amostra de espécimes foi de sete cervicais, dez torácicas, cinco lombares, nove vértebras representando o sinsacro e de 20 a 27 vértebras caudais livres. São animais homodontes apresentando somente dentes molariformes com oito em cada lado do ramo mandibular/maxilar, totalizando 32 dentes. Tais características peculiares do tatu-galinha em relação à coluna vertebral e à dentição foram acreditadas ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Nine-banded armadillo is the most populous of the Xenarthra order with its distribution from southern United States to the South America. The main causes of death for the nine-banded armadillo are hunting and being run over by vehicles. There are several descriptive studies with its physiology, genetic and behavior, but about osseous and joint anatomy of these animals still limited. The aim of this study is to describe the osteoarticular structures anatomy of the axial skeleton in 20 nine-banded armadillos in vivo and carcasses by means of digital radiography and computed tomography providing more detailed information of the skeletal anatomy of this species. Results are descriptive and detailed for each structure, observing xenarthrous complementary processes in the caudal thoracic vertebra to the last lumbar vertebra, with prominent mamillary processes in the thoracolumbar segment, fused cervical vertebra from the second to fourth vertebra, and the presence of synsacrum related to sacral and caudal vertebra fused to the pelvis. Vertebral formula obtained in this sample specimens was 7 cervical, 10 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 9 vertebrae related to the synsacrum, and 20-27 free caudal vertebrae. They are homodont animals presenting only molariform teeth with formula of 8/8, totaling 32 teeth. Such peculiar features of the nine-banded armadillo regarding to the vertebral column and teeth were wondering to be habits adaptations to digging and rolling, and the omnivorous diet, respectiv... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Craniostenose é o fechamento precoce de uma ou mais suturas cranianas, levando ao redirecionamento do crescimento craniofacial e à deformidade do crânio. Estudos têm pesquisado o impacto da fusão da sutura sagital na base do crânio, focalizando a morfologia da base do crânio na presença de craniostenose sagital isolada (escafocefalia), enquanto outros têm avaliado o crescimento da base do crânio, antes e após a cirurgia. Este estudo teve como objetivo realizar as medidas antropométricas da base do crânio em crianças com escafocefalia, avaliar a influência da correção cirúrgica no remodelamento da base do crânio e nas medidas antropométricas. Foram operadas 21 crianças com diagnóstico clínico e radiológico de escafocefalia, entre abril de 2007 e outubro de 2008, sendo realizadas medidas antropométricas na base do crânio, antes e após 1 ano do tratamento cirúrgico. As medidas foram o índice craniano (IC), distância entre a crista galli e o tubérculo selar (CG-TS), distância entre a crista galli e o meato acústico interno (CG-MAI), distância entre os forames ovais (FO-FO), distância entre os meatos Acústicos internos (MAI-MAI), o ângulo da base do crânio Â1) e o ângulo entre o násio, centro selar e básio (Â2). Houve normalização do IC em todas as crianças, confirmando um remodelamento craniano adequado. A medida CG-TS avaliou a base do crânio anterior, com crescimento proporcional de 12,5%. O crescimento médio-lateral foi observado pelo aumento das medidas FO-FO de 8,5% e MAI-MAI de 9,5%. A medida CG-MAI teve um crescimento de 7,2%. Não houve diferença estatística nos ângulos basais Â1 e Â2 analisados. O tratamento cirúrgico da escafocefalia levou ao remodelamento da base do crânio, confirmado pelas mudanças das medidas antropométricas realizadas antes e após 1 ano da cirurgia / Craniosynostosis is defined as the premature closure of one or more sutures, leading to redirection of the craniofacial growth and deformity of the skull. Studies have examined the impact of fusion of the sagittal suture in the skull base, focusing on the morphology of the skull base in the presence of isolated sagittal craniosynostosis (scaphocephaly), while others have evaluated the growth of the skull base before and after surgery. This study aims to perform the anthropometric measures of the skull base in children with scaphocephaly to evaluate the influence of surgical repair in the remodeling of the skull base and anthropometric measures. Twenty-one children with clinical and radiological diagnosis of scaphocephaly were operated between April 2007 and October 2008, and anthropometric measures at the base of the skull were performed before and after a year of surgery. The measures were the cranial index (CI), distance between the crista galli and tuberculum sellar (CG-TS), distance between the crista galli and the internal auditory meatus (CG-IAM), distance between the oval foramen (OF-OF) distance between the internal auditory meatus (IAM-IAM), the angle of the skull base (Â1) and the angle between the nasion, center of sella and basion (Â2). There was a normalization of the CI in all children, confirming an appropriate cranial remodeling. The CG-TS measure evaluated the anterior skull base, with proportional growth of 12.5%. The mediolateral growth was observed by the increase of OF-OF measures by 8.5% and IAM-IAM by 9.5%. The CG-IAM measure grew by 7.2%. There was no statistical difference in the angles Â1 and Â2 analyzed. Surgical treatment of scaphocephaly led to remodeling of the skull base, confirmed by the changes of anthropometric measures taken before and after a year of surgery

Sinonasal and dental diseases can be a serious disorder in horses due to the persistence of the former and the common extension of the latter to the supporting bones of the skull. The diagnosis of equine sinonasal and dental disease can be challenging due to the complexity of these and adjacent anatomical structures, and therefore the use of advanced imaging, including computed tomography (CT) has greatly increased recently. A major aim of this study was to improve the morphological characterization of the sinuses and cheek teeth in normal horses of different ages. These studies defined the volumes of the 7 different sinus compartments; showed that the volume of the different compartments increase with age; that in contrast to accepted findings, the Triadan 09 alveoli is located in the caudal maxillary sinus (CMS) in 13% of the youngest group and the Triadan 10 alveoli is fully within the rostral maxillary sinus (RMS) in 53% of cases. The infraorbital canal was found to be susceptible to apical infection-related damage in horses < 2 years of age (< 2 y.o.) due to the intimate relationship of this canal and the medial aspect of the maxillary cheek teeth alveoli. The mean positions of the clinical crowns and apices of the maxillary Triadan 11s were 2.48 cm (adjusted 5.2% of head height) and 2.83 cm (adjusted 6.2% of head height) more rostral, respectively in horses >16 y.o. compared to horses < 6 y.o., consistent with rostral dental drift. Measurements of dental drift could provide further objective radiographic guidelines on ageing horses by dental imaging and also help our understanding of the aetiopathogenesis of cheek teeth diastemata. This study also found that the reserve crown length decreased from a mean of 4.7 cm (adjusted 19.7% of head height) in the youngest (< 6y.o.) group of horses to a mean of 2.9 cm (adjusted 10.5% of head height) in the oldest group (>15y.o.), with the 06s and 09s having the shortest reserve crowns. These data are useful reference information for clinicians and radiologists in the diagnosis and treatment of equine sinonasal and dental disease. Morphological characterization of the ventral and dorsal conchal bullae in horses of different age using CT described the age-related difference in sizes of these structures (smaller in younger horses). In the ventral conchal bulla, this reduction in volume was probably related to protrusion of the large dental alveoli in young horses into the nasal cavity and bulla. Bullae linear measurements and volumes were also associated with head size. The anatomical position of both bullae was associated with specific maxillary cheek teeth, thus increasing the diagnostic value of conventional radiography in the investigation of bulla disease and providing landmarks for the surgical treatment of this disorder. Skull shape analyzed with the use of Procrustes statistical analysis showed landmark variability between different age groups and in particular, high landmark variability between young (< 5y.o.) and old (>16y.o.) horses and less landmark variability between adult (6-15y.o.) and old horses. Future studies could investigate changes in the equine skull in relation to genotype to characterize breed-related diseases affecting teeth and sinonasal compartments. In the second part of the study, 32 infected maxillary cheek teeth extracted from clinical cases were evaluated grossly and histologically and these pathological results were compared to the pre-extraction radiographic and CT imaging findings. This study showed a high sensitivity (97%) of CT in detecting changes in teeth affected by apical infection. In the third part of the study, 30 cheek teeth assessed as being abnormal based on oral, radiographic and CT examinations were extracted along with their alveoli from 27 cadaver heads. Gross and histological examination findings from these teeth and alveoli were compared to the pre-extraction imaging findings, again showed high sensitivity (96.4%) of CT in diagnosing cheek teeth apical infection. Additionally, CT showed a high correlation with histology in detecting dental infection related alveolar bone changes including alveolar bone lysis, sclerosis and bone thickening. This aspect of the study was also the second largest pathological study of equine apical infection published to date and thus has also improved our understanding of the pathogenesis of this disorder. In conclusion, CT was shown to be an excellent imaging modality for improving the morphological characterization of the sinuses and teeth in normal horses of different ages, and thus also improving the value of this modality in diagnosis and treatment of disease affecting sinonasal and dental structures. This study also objectively showed the high sensitivity of CT in detecting cheek teeth apical infection in horses as compared to radiography, including by assessment of alveolar bone changes. Overall, the results of this project improve morphological knowledge of the equine skull and teeth and will have direct clinical benefits by improving the diagnosis and thus the treatment of equine sinonasal and dental disease.