Comparison between eletrosurgery and cold blade in tongues of rats: a preliminary experimental study Estudo comparativo entre eletrocirurgia e bisturi frio em língua de ratos: estudo preliminar experimental

PURPOSE: To compare tissue cicatrization in the tongue of rats using electrosurgery and the cold blade. METHODS: Ten adult male Wistar rats were divided into two groups of 5 animals each, according to the time of sacrifice (3 and 7 days). Each animal had two incisions, one made with a cold blade and the other with an electric blade, both of which were approximately 0.5 mm in length. Following sacrifice of the animals, the tongues were submitted to a histological study in order to classify the presence of angiogenesis, fibroblastic proliferation, epithelial proliferation and inflammatory cells as good, moderate and weak. RESULTS: The wound made with electric blade presented a delay in the healing process and a greater inflammatory response as compared with the cold blade, despite the fact that there was no statistically significant difference (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: There were no significant statistical differences between electrosurgery and the cold blade in relation to angiogenesis, fibroblastic proliferation, epithelial proliferation or the presence of inflammatory cells at any time of evaluation.<br>OBJETIVO: Comparar a cicatrização tecidual com bisturi elétrico e frio em língua de ratos. MÉTODOS: A amostra foi de 10 ratos Wistar, divididos em dois grupos com 5 animais em cada, de acordo com o tempo de sacrifício (3 e 7 dias).Cada animal teve duas incisões transversais, com 0,5 mm de comprimento, no dorso da língua, sendo a mais anterior com a eletrocirurgia (experimento), e a mais posterior, com bisturi convencional (controle). Após o sacrifício dos animais, as línguas foram submetidas a análise histológica para classificação da presença de angiogeneses, proliferação fibroblástica e epitelial e células inflamatórias em boa, moderada e fraca. RESULTADOS: Os resultados indicaram que as feridas realizadas com bisturi elétricos apresentaram um retardo no processo cicatricial e uma maior resposta inflamatória quando comparadas com as feridas do bisturi frio, apesar de não ter havido diferença estatisticamente significante (p<0.05). CONCLUSÃO: Não houve diferença significante entre o bisturi elétrico e frio em relação a presença de angiogeneses, proliferação fibroblástica e epitelial e células inflamatórias para nenhum dos dois tempos de avaliação

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved