Glide-path: comparison between manual instruments, first generation rotary instruments and M-Wire new generation rotary instruments

Abstract Objectives The aim of this research is to compare the different glide path instruments in order to assess the work time and the number of use for each instrument. Materials and methods There were used 100 endodontic resin blocks with an S curvature for each group of instruments, on each block, first were used the k file # 10 and then the glide path was done using always the Xsmart machine, setting torque 5.2 n/cm2, speed 250 g/m, all instruments were used until their separation and then the results were studied. The time was also counted to obtain the complete pre-flaring for each group. The same test was also repeated on extracted teeth, chosen from mb canal of maxillary molars, and mandibular molars, a total of 50 canals for each group; also in this group the pre-flaring was done counting the number of use for each instrument up to their separation and counting the time to obtain it. Result and conclusions Pathfiles group tested on resin blocks: pathfile #13 the result was: 100 out of 100 canals, pathfiles#16: 60 out of 100 canals, pathfile #19: 42 out of 100 canals. Pathfiles group tested on extracted teeth: pathfile #13: 50 out off 50 canals, pathfiles#16: 50 out of 50 canals, pathfile #19: 50 out of 50 canals, no separated instruments. Proglider group on resin block: single proglider 100 out of 100 blocks. Proglider group on extracted teeth: single proglider 50 out of 50 canals. Time to obtain the pre-flaring with pathfile: 10 s. Time to obtain the pre-flaring with proglider: 8 s. Both files give good results for an effective canal pre-flaring and glide path, making easier the following canal shaping independently of the chosen shaping technique. There are no significant differences in the working time, and the strength of the pathfiles is confirmed for the new M-wire file: proglider

Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Questionnaire-Nonsuicidal (SITBQ-NS): Development and validation of a revised version of the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview (SITBI) for the self-assessment of nonsuicidal self-injury

Objective: Despite the fact that nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has become an important issue among clinicians and researchers all over the world, in Italy there is still a lack of instruments able to assess it. The objective of this study is to develop and validate the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Questionnaire-Nonsuicidal (SITBQ-NS), a self-report measuring the whole NSSI spectrum, that is, from ideation to act. Method: SITBQ-NS was administered to 51 adult patients recruited from public mental health services together with the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-III), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory (DSHI), and the Nepean Dysphoria Scale (NDS-I). Results: SITBQ-NS demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α=0.983). NSSI thoughts were present in 56.9% of participants, and NSSI behaviors were present in 49% of participants. Similar NSSI functions were found among participants, except for “To end suicidal ideation,” which was more common among those having NSSI thoughts (34.1%) than those exhibiting NSSI behaviors (21.6%). There were strong positive correlations between the scores of SITBQ-NS and the scores of BHS, DSHI and NDS-I. Also, there were weak to strong positive correlations between the scores of SITBQ-NS and some MCMI-III scales. Conclusions: The SITBQ-NS shows very good psychometric properties, being a useful and easy-to-handle instrument for measuring the whole NSSI spectrum. Further research in clinical samples is neede

Kit tattili con la stampante 3D

Il presente contributo intende condividere le esperienze che hanno permesso al Liceo Scientifico Cavour di sperimentare le potenzialità didattiche di un Fab Lab scolastico, orientando l’approccio STEM in un’ottica STEAM. In questo contesto vengono realizzati due laboratori per la produzione, su “commissione simulata”, di kit didattici con stampante 3D. Una serie di dispositivi tattili, “prototipati” in PLA dagli studenti e destinati ai musei del MiBACT, del Comune di Roma e del Centro Regionale Sant’Alessio per i ciechi, permettono di realizzare hands-on workshop favorendo l’inclusione e la diffusione della cultura scientifica attraverso la didattica museale. Le ragioni di questa scelta vanno cercate nell’interesse per il superamento del modello educativo trasmissivo in favore di un paradigma esperienziale, autentico e collaborativo attraverso l’apertura al territorio e l’individuazione di casi studio e attività su campo che portino gli studenti a contatto con il patrimonio culturale, usando la città come laboratorio a cielo aperto

SolEST database: a "one-stop shop" approach to the study of Solanaceae transcriptomes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since no genome sequences of solanaceous plants have yet been completed, expressed sequence tag (EST) collections represent a reliable tool for broad sampling of <it>Solanaceae </it>transcriptomes, an attractive route for understanding <it>Solanaceae </it>genome functionality and a powerful reference for the structural annotation of emerging <it>Solanaceae </it>genome sequences.</p> <p>Description</p> <p>We describe the SolEST database <url>http://biosrv.cab.unina.it/solestdb</url> which integrates different EST datasets from both cultivated and wild <it>Solanaceae </it>species and from two species of the genus <it>Coffea</it>. Background as well as processed data contained in the database, extensively linked to external related resources, represent an invaluable source of information for these plant families. Two novel features differentiate SolEST from other resources: i) the option of accessing and then visualizing <it>Solanaceae </it>EST/TC alignments along the emerging tomato and potato genome sequences; ii) the opportunity to compare different <it>Solanaceae </it>assemblies generated by diverse research groups in the attempt to address a common complaint in the SOL community.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Different databases have been established worldwide for collecting <it>Solanaceae </it>ESTs and are related in concept, content and utility to the one presented herein. However, the SolEST database has several distinguishing features that make it appealing for the research community and facilitates a "one-stop shop" for the study of <it>Solanaceae </it>transcriptomes.</p

Higher levels of osteoprotegerin and immune activation/immunosenescence markers are correlated with concomitant bone and endovascular damage in HIV-suppressed patients

HIV-infected patients appear to have a significantly greater risk of non-AIDS comorbidities such as osteoporosis and atherosclerosis. Subjects with osteoporosis are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease than those with normal bone mass, therefore a possible relation between these two conditions can be hypothesized. In the setting of HIV infection, several factors might contribute to bone disease and endothelial dysfunction. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between bone and cardiovascular disease and to investigate the role of traditional factors, T-cell phenotype and osteoprotegerin in HIV positive subjects on effective antiretroviral therapy. We included 94 HIV positive subjects on antiretroviral therapy with virological suppression and 41 healthy subjects matched for age and gender as a control group. Carotid-Intima Media Thickness (c-IMT) and bone mineral density (BMD) were performed by ultrasound and DEXA, respectively. CD4+/CD8+ T-cell activation, senescence and osteoprotegerin plasma levels were measured by flow-cytometry and ELISA, respectively. Among HIV positive patients, 56.4% had osteopenia/osteoporosis and 45.7% had pathological c-IMT (&gt;0.9mm). Subjects with pathological c-IMT and BMD exhibited higher CD4+ and CD8+ activated, CD8+ senescent and osteoprotegerin than subjects with normal c-IMT and BMD. HIV positive subjects with osteopenia/osteoporosis had higher c-IMT than subjects with normal BMD, and linear regression analysis showed a negative correlation between BMD and c-IMT. Several factors are implicated in the pathogenesis of non-AIDS comorbidities in HIV positive patients. Osteoprotegerin together with inflammation and immunosenescence in HIV positive patients could affect bone and vascular system and could be considered as a possible common link between these two diseases

Zoonotic infectious diseases in transplanted immunocompromised patients

Background. Immunocompromised patients, like transplant recipients, are a particularly vulnerable group being at higher risk of developing several infectious diseases. Among them, zoonotic diseases, such as visceral leishmaniasis, bartonellosis, Q fever and leptospirosis are a growing concern in immunosuppressed patients as they are more susceptible to develop severe symptoms of the diseases. Objectives. The study aimed at the detection of Leishmania infantum, Bartonella spp., Leptospira spp. and Coxiella burnetii DNA in immunocompromised hosts through molecular methods