OBJECTIVE: To assess short-term tomographic changes in the upper airway dimensions and
quality of life of mouth breathers after rapid maxillary expansion (RME). METHODS: A total of 25 mouth breathers with maxillary atresia and a mean age of 10.5 years
old were assessed by means of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and a
standardized quality of life questionnaire answered by patients' parents/legal
guardians before and immediately after rapid maxillary expansion. RESULTS: Rapid maxillary expansion resulted in similar and significant expansion in the
width of anterior (2.8 mm, p < 0.001) and posterior nasal floor (2.8 mm, p <
0.001). Although nasopharynx and nasal cavities airway volumes significantly
increased (+1646.1 mm3, p < 0.001),
oropharynx volume increase was not statistically significant (+1450.6 mm3, p = 0.066). The results of the quality of
life questionnaire indicated that soon after rapid maxillary expansion, patients'
respiratory symptoms significantly decreased in relation to their initial
respiratory conditions. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that RME produces significant dimensional increase in the nasal
cavity and nasopharynx. Additionally, it also positively impacts the quality of
life of mouth-breathing patients with maxillary atresia.
This study prospectively examined the potential for human papillomavirus (HPV) to be transmitted vertically to newborns during delivery. Exfoliated cervical cells were extracted from 72 pregnant women during the third trimester and again during labor prior to delivery, and tested for the presence of HPV DNA. These results were compared with HPV DNA specimens from their newborns, who were sampled by exfoliated cells from the oral-pharyngeal cavity and vulva or tissue from the foreskin 24 to 72 hours after delivery. Among the mothers, 18.1% (13 of 72) typed HPV-positive by the ViraPap/ViraType DNA hybridization technique. Two neonates (2.8% or 2 of 72) tested positive from oral-pharyngeal specimens. This finding supports the hypothesis that respiratory tract papillomatosis may develop as a result of perinatal vertical transmission of HPV. Furthermore, this study suggests that neither cesarean section nor prepartum treatment of HPV lesions will always protect against neonatal acquisition of HPV.
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