The DEM or Mt. Etna: geomorphological and structural implications

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Oral hygiene and ONJ: a review of the literature.

The importance of oral hygiene to minimise their risk of ONJ has often been emphasized in the literature.Some patients may require a change in behaviour in terms of brushing, interdental cleaning and other oral hygiene techniques, as well as other lifestyle behaviours such as diet and tobacco use. There may also be a benefit in prescribing high fluoride toothpaste for those patients with increased caries risk.Therefore, dental hygienists and dental practitioners should give personalised preventive advice to help the patient optimise their oral health, emphasising the importance of having a healthy diet and reducing sugary snacks and drinks; maintaining excellent oral hygiene; and using fluoride toothpaste and fluoride mouthwash.The aim of the present communication was to review the literature about the protocols, methods and advises about a correct home and professional oral hygiene in patients at risk for development of ONJ and in patients affected by ONJ

Bilateral ONJ in a patient affected by metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma.

We present the diagnosis and management of a case of bilateral ONJ of the mandible in a patient that had been taking zoledronic acid treatment for 7 years following a diagnosis of metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma. The patient was referred to our Division by his dental practitioner, that had performed the extraction of the left lower first molar six months before. In the first months after the extraction the patient did not reported any symptom and he started to use a mandibular removable prosthesis. About 5 months following the extraction, the patient started to complain of pain in correspondence of the left body region. He had performed a panoramic radiograph and a CT scan showing a possible initial stage of mandibular ONJ bilaterally, with a predominance in the left mandibular body in the post-extraction socket.Therefore, a curettage of the left mandibular body was decided. Postoperative course was uneventful.Twelve months later, the patient complained of pain in the right mandibular region and in correspondence of the residual right lower third molar. A panoramic radiograph confirmed the extension of mandibular right ONJ. A curettage of the right mandibular body, together with the removal of the right lower third molar, was performed, with a following uneventful postoperative course. Two years later, the patient complained of pain in the left mandibular region in correspondence of the residual left lower second premolar. A panoramic radiograph confirmed the extension of mandibular left ONJ with involvement of the root of the aforementioned premolar. A curettage of the right mandibular body, together with the removal of the left lower second premolar, was performed, with a following uneventful postoperative course. Three years later, a complete healing was obtained

The use of mandibular advancement devices in adult patients affected by obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: our experience with "Thornton Adjustable Positioner" TAP Splint

INTRODUCTION: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a sleep related disorder resulting in apneic and hypopneic episodes during sleep. The purpose of this article is to present and discuss our experience with the "Thornton Adjustable Positioner" TAP Splint in a consecutive series of patients affected by OSAS.METHODS: The data of all patients affected by OSAS and with indication to oral appliance (OA) treatment at the Dentistry Department of the Vercelli Hospital between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019 were collected. The following data were recorded for each patient: gender; age; smoke and/or alcohol assumption; BMI; comorbidities and current pharmacological therapy; initial AHI; OSAS category; eventual performed OSAS treatment options before OA treatment; indication to OA treatment; final AHI following OA treatment; complications and side effects.RESULTS: A total of 18 subjects (11 men, 7 women) with a mean age of 58,8 years were enrolled in this study with a mean AHI of 27,9 (range 5,8-84). Average BMI was 29. OA treatment reduced AHI in all patients (mean post treatment AHI, 5; range, 3,1-8). All patients were satisfied with the subjective improvement of OSAS symptoms.CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the usefulness of a specific type of mandibular advancement device that can be considered as a valuable therapeutic modality in OSAS patients. Side effects are limited and they usually do not decrease the compliance of patients

In Vitro Shear Bond Strength of Orthodontic Brackets after Enamel Conditioning with Acid Etching and Hydroabrasion

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the shear bond strength and adhesive remnant index ARI) of orthodontic brackets following enamel conditioning with acid etching, hydroabrasion, and with both procedures. Thirty extracted human premolars were divided into three groups and received either acid etching, hydroabrasion or both procedures. Orthodontic brackets were bonded with composite resin. Shear bond strength was tested with a tensile machine, then the teeth were observed under a stereomicroscope to evaluate ARI scores. The enamel morphology after each conditioning method was evaluated with scanning electron microscope imaging. A one-way ANOVA and a Kruskal−Wallis H test were used to compare the bond strength and the ARI scores among the three groups. Hydroabrasion alone produced shear bond strength values below clinical acceptability, while the combination of acid etching and hydroabrasion produced the highest values. The ARI scores in the hydroabrasion group were significantly different from the other groups. Hydroabrasion followed by acid etching was effective in increasing the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets. Further in vivo studies are needed to confirm the cost and benefits of this technique

Purinergic receptor inhibition prevents the development of smoke-induced lung injury and emphysema.

Extracellular ATP acts as a "danger signal" and can induce inflammation by binding to purinergic receptors. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is one of the most common inflammatory diseases associated with cigarette smoke inhalation, but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. In this study, we show that endogenous pulmonary ATP levels are increased in a mouse model of smoke-induced acute lung inflammation and emphysema. ATP neutralization or nonspecific P2R-blockade markedly reduced smoke-induced lung inflammation and emphysema. We detected an upregulation the purinergic receptors subtypes on neutrophils (e.g. P2Y2R), macrophages, and lung tissue from animals with smoke-induced lung inflammation. By using P2Y(2)R deficient ((-/-)) animals, we show that ATP induces the recruitment of blood neutrophils to the lungs via P2Y(2)R. Moreover, P2Y(2)R deficient animals had a reduced pulmonary inflammation following acute smoke-exposure. A series of experiments with P2Y(2)R(-/-) and wild type chimera animals revealed that P2Y(2)R expression on hematopoietic cell plays the pivotal role in the observed effect. We demonstrate, for the first time, that endogenous ATP contributes to smoke-induced lung inflammation and then development of emphysema via activation of the purinergic receptor subtypes, such as P2Y(2)R.Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tSCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Imaging of odontogenic keratocysts: a pictorial review

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present article was to review and depict the main radiological features of odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs), thus helping the differential diagnoses from other odontogenic cysts and neoplasms. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A review of articles published between January 2000 and October 2020 using Medline and the MeSH Term "odontogenic keratocyst" in combination with the following terms "imaging," "radiology," "panoramic radiograph," and "computed tomography," was performed. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Radiographically, OKCs are well-defined unilocular or multilocular radiolucencies bounded by corticated margins. Most lesions are unilocular; instead, multilocular OKCs represent about the 30% of cases, mainly involving the posterior mandible. When, particularly in large lesions, OKCs display a multilocular presentation with adjacent satellite cysts (daughter cysts) a "soap-bubble appearance" can be recognized. DISCUSSION: Panoramic radiograph and CT still play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment planning of OKCs. Unfortunately, it may not be easy to differentiate OKCs from other odontogenic lesions, especially when they are small and unilocular. CONCLUSIONS: Histopathological findings are still necessary to obtain a definitive diagnosis