Riga-Fede Disease and Neonatal Teeth

AIM: The aim of this study is to present a case of Riga-Fede disease (RFD). RFD is a benign and uncommon mucosal disorder, characterized by an ulceration of the tongue, often caused by repetitive traumatic injuries due to backward and forward movements of the tongue over the mandibular anterior incisors. RFD is most commonly associated with the eruption of primary lower incisor in older infants or natal-neonatal teeth in newborns. METHODS: A 2-month-old female infant was referred to our Paediatric Dentistry Unit for ulceration (13 mm diameter) on the ventral surface of the tongue and neonatal teeth. The extraction of neonatal teeth was selected as treatment of choice, over more conservative treatments, for the rapid resolution of the lesion and for the limited risk of inadequate nutrients intake. The extracted teeth underwent a macroscopic/microscopic examination. The complete healing of the lesion took 4 weeks; subsequently, the infant, revised at the 1-year follow-up visit. CONCLUSION: Early detection of RFD is recommended because such lesions properly may induce deformity or mutilation of tongue, dehydration, inadequate nutrients intake by the infant and growth retardatio

'Vitouska' is the progeny of 'Prosecco tondo' and 'Malvasia bianca lunga'

'Vitouska' is a minor white wine grape variety, cultivated in the Kars region and recently recovered and revaluated by local viticulturists. Its obscure origins, traditionally linked to this land, are now supported by the results obtained from the present research, which identified the two parents, 'Malvasia bianca lunga' alias 'Malvasia del Chianti' and 'Prosecco tondo'. The latter cultivar has an ancient and well-documented presence in the same growing region as 'Vitouska'. Molecular analyses have been performed with 37 nuclear microsatellite loci

‘Sangiovese’ and ‘Garganega’ are two key varieties of the Italian grapevine assortment evolution

Two synonymous cases have been found using a set of 11 SSR markers: ‘Garganega’ and ‘Grecanico dorato’; ‘Catarratto bianco comune’, ‘Catarratto bianco lucido’ and ‘Catarratto bianco extra lucido’. Molecular data at 36 SSR loci showed that ‘Sangiovese’ and ‘Garganega’ represent two key varieties in the Italian ampelographic assortment evolution, as they both have a first degree relationship with numerous wine varieties. ‘Sangiovese’ showed this link with ten varieties: ‘Foglia tonda’, ‘Frappato’, ‘Gaglioppo’, ‘Mantonicone’, ‘Morellino del Casentino’, ‘Morellino del Valdarno’, ‘Nerello mascalese’, ‘Susumaniello’, ‘Tuccanese di Turi’ and ‘Vernaccia nera del Valdarno’. Seven varieties resulted closely related to ‘Garganega’: ‘Trebbiano toscano’ alias ‘Ugni blanc’, ‘Albana’, ‘Empibotte’, ‘Malvasia bianca di Candia a sapore semplice’, ‘Marzemina bianca’, ‘Catarratto’ and ‘Greco del Pollino’. However, being ‘Sangiovese’ parents disputed and those of ‘Garganega’ still unknown, it was not possible to determine the univocal direction of the various crosses. Identification of the “missing” parents would allow these genealogical trees to be drawn up with greater precision.

Deepening inside the homonyms of 'Wildbacher' by means of SSR markers

Sixteen accessions of the grapevine cultivar 'Wildbacher' coming from different European repositories and from Styrian and Italian private vineyards were analysed by genetic fingerprinting with SSR markers. Five different molecular profiles were found, confirming that the name 'Wildbacher' is commonly used as a homonym. Several new genotypes could be linked to the previous list of the 'Wildbacher' family. In particular, in Italian commercial vineyards two main 'Wildbacher' varieties defined by A and B genetic profiles were found. They correspond to the two reference genotypes from Styria, 'Wildbacher Blau' ('Blauer Wildbacher)' and 'Wildbacher Spätblau'. In both countries 'Wildbacher Blau' represents the most spread and better performing type and it is earlier ripening compared to 'Wildbacher Spätblau'. They were morphologically and genetically very similar to each other and they shared at least one allele at each of the 11 SSR loci analyzed for cultivar identification. Three different other 'Wildbacher' genotypes from a German collection were identified as individual cultivars. While 'Rotblättriger' (genotype C) and 'Frühblau' from Germany (genotype D) showed some genetic similarity with A and B genotypes, E 'Wildbacher', coming from Hungary, proved to have a distinct genetic profile. Close relationship to the key variety (for the development of European diversity) 'Heunisch' is indicated by sharing one allele at all loci investigated so far. There exist some indications that the second parent is an extinct wild vine. Evaluation of morphological parameters resulted in some differences among all five genotypes.

Childhood obesity and skeletal-dental maturity

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the skeletal maturation assessed through cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) and dental age, in normal weight, pre-obese and obese patients, using the Body Mass Index (BMI) and the Dual energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA)

Linking migraine to gut dysbiosis and chronic non-communicable diseases

In the world, migraine is one of the most common causes of disability in adults. To date, there is no a single cause for this disorder, but rather a set of physio-pathogenic triggers in combination with a genetic predisposition. Among the factors related to migraine onset, a crucial role seems to be played by gut dysbiosis. In fact, it has been demonstrated how the intestine is able to modulate the central nervous system activities, through the gut-brain axis, and how gut dysbiosis can influence neurological pathologies, including migraine attacks. In this context, in addition to conventional pharmacological treatments for migraine, attention has been paid to an adjuvant therapeutic strategy based on different nutritional approaches and lifestyle changes able to positively modulate the gut microbiota composition. In fact, the restoration of the balance between the different gut bacterial species, the reconstruction of the gut barrier integrity, and the control of the release of gut-derived inflammatory neuropeptides, obtained through specific nutritional patterns and lifestyle changes, represent a possible beneficial additive therapy for many migraine subtypes. Herein, this review explores the bi-directional correlation between migraine and the main chronic non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, obesity, cancer, and chronic kidney diseases, whose link is represented by gut dysbiosis

On the stable homotopy of a Z₂-Moore space

Silica-germania thin films are important materials for photonic applications, but synthesis of these films is quite difficult to achieve especially with the task of obtaining a homogeneous structure. We have prepared mesoporous silica-germania films via evaporation-induced self-assembly from ethanolic solutions of Si and Ge chlorides, using a triblock copolymer as the templating agent. The mesostructure has been found to have tetragonal symmetry, and the degree of order decreased with increasing Ge content. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has shown that the chemical composition of the films is close to the nominal composition. Infrared analysis has revealed that the pore walls are highly condensed and residual hydroxyls are present as isolated. or hydrogen bonded silanols in short chains. UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence spectra have been correlated with the presence of photoactive oxygen-deficient Ge2+ centers which can give rise to a variation in the refractive index upon high-power density UV irradiation

Can psychobiotics intake modulate psychological profile and body composition of women affected by normal weight obese syndrome and obesity? A double blind randomized clinical trial

Background Evidence of probiotics effects on gut function, brain activity and emotional behaviour were provided. Probiotics can have dramatic effects on behaviour through the microbiome–gut–brain axis, through vagus nerve. We investigated whether chronic probiotic intake could modulate psychological state, eating behaviour and body composition of normal weight obese (NWO) and preobese–obese (PreOB/OB) compared to normal weight lean women (NWL). Methods 60 women were enrolled. At baseline and after a 3-week probiotic oral suspension (POS) intake, all subjects underwent evaluation of body composition by anthropometry and dual X-ray absorptiometry, and psychological profile assessment by self-report questionnaires (i.e. EDI-2, SCL90R and BUT). Statistical analysis was carried out using paired t test or a non-parametric Wilcoxon test to evaluate differences between baseline and after POS intake, one-way ANOVA to compare all three groups and, where applicable, Chi square or t test were used to assess symptoms. Results Of the 48 women that concluded the study, 24% were NWO, 26% were NWL and 50% were PreOB/OB. Significant differences in body composition were highlighted among groups both at baseline and after a POS (p < 0.05). After POS intake, a significant reduction of BMI, resistance, FM (kg and %) (p < 0.05), and a significant increase of FFM (kg and %) (p < 0.05) were observed in all subjects in NOW and PreOB/OB. After POS intake, reduction of bacterial overgrowth syndrome (p < 0.05) and lower psychopathological scores (p < 0.05) were observed in NWO and PreOB/OB women. At baseline and after POS intake, all subjects tested were negative to SCL90R_GSI scale, but after treatment subjects positive to BUT_GSI scale were significantly reduced (8.33%) (p < 0.05) compared to the baseline (33.30%). In NWO and PreOB/OB groups significant differences (p < 0.05) in response to the subscales of the EDI-2 were observed. Significant improvement of the orocecal transit time was observed (p < 0.05) after POS intake. Furthermore, significant differences were observed for meteorism (p < 0.05) and defecation frequency (p < 0.05). Conclusions A 3-week intake of selected psychobiotics modulated body composition, bacterial contamination, psychopathological scores of NWO and PreOB/OB women. Further research is needed on a larger population and for a longer period of treatment before definitive conclusions can be made