The use of the laser confocal scanning microscopy to measure resin remnants on customized lingual bracket

Background: The study aimed to evaluate the permanence of resin and enamel remains on lingual brackets at the end of orthodontic treatment and after the debonding procedure. The evaluation of resin remnants on customized lingual brackets bases has never done before in other studies because they are curved, and traditional techniques are not applicable. Methods: The sample consisted of 100 lingual brackets (25 incisors, 25 canines, 25 premolars, 25 molars) scanned with a confocal laser microscope (OLS4000). We measured the brackets' surface and the area of resin remnants with the software of the microscope. Median and quartiles were presented to describe the data. ARI calculation was indirect for each tooth, measuring the resin remnants to the total surface of the bracket. The Kruskal-Wallis test and Fisher test were applied respectively to compare the percentages of remnants and the frequencies of the ARI between the four groups. Results: After the analyses, 13 brackets had no adhesive remnants (ARI 0), 29 brackets had less than 50% of resin remnants (ARI 1), 50 brackets had more than 50% of resin remnants (ARI 2), and 8 brackets had 100% of adhesive (ARI 3). Canines brackets presented the lower amount of resin followed by premolars, incisors, and molars. Conclusion: Lingual brackets showed a high frequency of ARI = 2. The median percentage of the bracket surface covered by resin was 41%. We observed a slight tendency of more resin remnants on molar brackets, due to half-pad configuration. The authors suggest paying attention during the debonding procedure of molar brackets since a stronger connection between the adhesive and the bracket mesh means a higher risk of enamel damage

Iodine Extravasation Quantification on Dual-Energy CT of the Brain Performed after Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke Can Predict Hemorrhagic Complications

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intracerebral hemorrhage represents a potentially severe complication of revascularization of acute ischemic stroke. The aim of our study was to assess the capability of iodine extravasation quantification on dual-energy CT performed immediately after mechanical thrombectomy to predict hemorrhagic complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Because this was a retrospective study, the need for informed consent was waived. Eighty-five consecutive patients who underwent brain dual-energy CT immediately after mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke between August 2013 and January 2017 were included. Two radiologists independently evaluated dual-energy CT images for the presence of parenchymal hyperdensity, iodine extravasation, and hemorrhage. Maximum iodine concentration was measured. Follow-up CT examinations performed until patient discharge were reviewed for intracerebral hemorrhage development. The correlation between dual-energy CT parameters and intracerebral hemorrhage development was analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher exact test. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated for continuous variables. RESULTS: Thirteen of 85 patients (15.3%) developed hemorrhage. On postoperative dual-energy CT, parenchymal hyperdensities and iodine extravasation were present in 100% of the patients who developed intracerebral hemorrhage and in 56.3% of the patients who did not ( P = .002 for both). Signs of bleeding were present in 35.7% of the patients who developed intracerebral hemorrhage and in none of the patients who did not ( P P CONCLUSIONS: The presence of parenchymal hyperdensity with a maximum iodine concentration of >1.35 mg/mL may identify patients developing intracerebral hemorrhage with 100% sensitivity and 67.6% specificity

Carbon radioactivity of 223Ac and a search for nitrogen emission

A very intense 227Pa source was produced in order to study the possible 14C and 15N spontaneous emission from 223Ac. After the irradiation of a hemispherical, highly efficient array of nuclear track detectors, about 350 Carbon events were found leading to a branching ratio with respect to alpha decay B= 3.2 10^-11. Comparison with other 14C emitters allows the study of the influence of even-odd effects on cluster radioactivity

Fabry-Stroke Italian Registry (FSIR): a nationwide, prospective, observational study about incidence and characteristics of Fabry-related stroke in young-adults. Presentation of the study protocol

Background: TIA and stroke, both ischemic and hemorrhagic, may complicate Fabry disease at young-adult age and be the first manifestation that comes to the clinician’s attention. No definite indications have yet been elaborated to guide neurologists in Fabry disease diagnostics. In current practice, it is usually sought in case of cryptogenic strokes (while Fabry-related strokes can also occur by classical pathogenic mechanisms) or through screening programs in young cerebrovascular populations. Data on recurrence and secondary prevention of Fabry’s stroke are scanty. Methods: The study had a prospective observational design involving 33 Italian neurological Stroke Units. Considering the incidence of TIA/stroke in the European population aged < 60 years and the frequency of Fabry disease in this category (as foreseen by a pilot study held at the Careggi University-Hospital, Florence), we planned to screen for Fabry disease a total of 1740 < 60-year-old individuals hospitalized for TIA, ischemic, or hemorrhagic stroke. We investigated TIA and stroke pathogenesis through internationally validated scales and we gathered information on possible early signs of Fabry disease among all cerebrovascular patients. Every patient was tested for Fabry disease through dried blood spot analysis. Patients who received Fabry disease diagnosis underwent a 12-month follow-up to monitor stroke recurrence and multi-system progression after the cerebrovascular event. Discussion: The potential implications of this study are as follows: (i) to add information about the yield of systematic screening for Fabry disease in a prospective large cohort of acute cerebrovascular patients; (ii) to deepen knowledge of clinical, pathophysiological, and prognostic characteristics of Fabry-related stroke. © 2021, The Author(s)