Objective: To compare the efficiency in anchorage preservation of conventional and self-ligating brackets after the extraction of first maxillary premolars using differential moment mechanics. Materials and Methods: Thirty-eight patients requiring extraction of maxillary first premolars and maximum anchorage during space closure were evaluated based on bracket type. Group 1, comprising 23 patients, was bonded with preadjusted conventional brackets (CBs) with a slot of 0.022-inch 3 0.030-inch. Group 2 comprised 15 patients who were bonded with 0.022 inch preadjusted self-ligating brackets (SLBs). Patients in both groups received a nickel titanium (NiTi) intrusion arch and a 150 g NiTi closing coil spring for separate canine retraction, followed by a continuous mushroom loop archwire to retract the incisors. Lateral cephalograms were available at the start of treatment (T1) and at the completion of space closure (T2). Statistical comparisons were performed with paired and unpaired Student's t-tests. Results: No significant differences were found between the groups in maxillary molars anchorage loss (3.87 6 1.35 mm and 3.65 6 1.73 mm for the CB and SLB groups, respectively). Only the mean vertical movement of the tip of the incisor was significantly different between the groups (CB 5 20.92 6 1.46 mm; SLB 5 0.56 6 1.65 mm). Conclusion: There were no significant differences in the amount of anchorage loss of the maxillary first molars between SLB and CB systems during space closure using differential moments. (Angle Orthod. 2013;83:937-942.)

We studied 71 patients with pneumococcal bacteraemia (PB) who were hospitalized between 1989 and 1993. The Streptococcus pneumoniae was classified as penicillin-sensitive (PS) or resistant (PR). Age, sex, underlying disease (McCabe classification), and other clinical and laboratory features were recorded on admission, at discharge and one month later. The incidence of PB was 8.1/10,000/year. PB was most frequent in men (71.9%) aged below 60 years (60%), 76% of the patients acquired the infection in the community. An underlying disease of McCabe type II or III was found in 93%. Previous treatment with beta-lactam antibiotics was considered a risk factor for PRPB. Factors related to higher mortality were age above 60 years, nosocomial PB, McCabe type I underlying disease, an initially critical clinical situation, neutropenia, and inappropriate antibiotic treatment. When appropriate treatment was given, there were no significant differences between PS and PR groups in clinical course or mortality.

A prospective study was designed to investigate anaerobic bacteremias and evaluate their incidence and significance in a general hospital. One or more blood cultures positive for anaerobic microorganisms were analyzed from each of a total of 61 patients hospitalized between January 1988 and April 1992, in accordance with an established protocol. The clinical repercussions of bacteremia were also analyzed. Two percent of blood cultures were positive for anaerobes, with an incidence of 0.6 cases per 1000 hospitalized patients. The most frequently isolated anaerobes were Bacteroides fragilis and Clostridium perfringens. Intraabdominal disease was the route of entry in 50% of the patients. A death rate of 37.3% was mostly attributed to B. fragilis. Hospitalization in the surgical department, nosocomial acquisition, previous surgery, critical initial clinical status and the presence of complications were significantly associated with increased death rates. No significant differences were found in the clinical course between patients whose antibiotic treatment was judged adequate and those for whom it was considered inadequate. The frequency and incidence of anaerobic bacteremia was low in our hospital. The well-known clinical and epidemiological characteristics of these infections facilitates their prompt diagnosis and empirical treatment with antibiotics of proven effectiveness against anaerobes.