POSTURE-STABILOMETRIC VALUATION IN RUGBY PLAYERS AFTER MANDIBULAR REPOSITIONING

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the mandibular repositioning on the sport performance of rugby players, after posture-stabilometric screening. Twenty healthy rugby players (25 years on the average), with Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD), were included in the study. Posture–stabilometric valuation was performed with a combination of different visual conditions (eyes open/closed) and mandibular positions (Rest Position (RP) /Maximum Intercuspidation /mandibular repositioning with a wax non centric, centric and with an increase of the vertical dimension). Twelve players, which improved their posture-stabilometric arrangement after mandibular repositioning, were treated with Positioner, and underwent strength and speed testing before (T0) and after (T1) the use of the Positioner. For all tests there was a statistically significant improvement of the performance (P<0.05). The mandibular repositioning can produce an increase of the levels of strength, postural stability, resistance to fadigue, and a reduction of the muscolar traum

POSTUROSTABILOMETRIC EVALUATION OF PLANTAR VARIATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH TEMPORO-MANDIBULAR DYSFUNCTION: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

The aim of this experimental study was to find out if temporo-mandibular dysfunctions (TMD) can influence two of the parameters defining body posture, intersolar distance and plantar lay. Test group (TG) was made of 52 subjects (14 males and 38 females aging from 12 to 64 years, average 34.25 ± 12.96. ) all affected by temporo-mandibular dysfunctions. Control Group (CG) was made of 52 subjects (21 males and 31 females aging from 16 to 56 years average 34.19 ± 13.40 ) completely negative for temporo-mandibular or occlusal dysfunctions. The posturo-stabilometric measurements were made using a stabilometric platform and the following conditions were investigated: mandibular rest position (rest) and intercuspidal position (icp) with both eyes open/closed. For both conditions the following parameters were recorded: sway area, sway velocity, sway length, sway velocity variation, weight distribution, right foot angle, left foot angle, the sum of feet angles, bar torsion angle and intersolar distance. The results of our study show that there is a dectable difference between Test and Control group in intercuspidal positio

The Impact of IFN-γ Receptor on SLPI Expression in Active Tuberculosis Association with Disease Severity

Interferon (IFN)-γ displays a critical role in tuberculosis (TB), modulating the innate and adaptive immune responses. Previously, we reported that secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is a pattern recognition receptor with anti-mycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Herein, we determined whether IFN-γ modulated the levels of SLPI in TB patients. Plasma levels of SLPI and IFN-γ were studied in healthy donors (HDs) and TB patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HDs and patients with TB or defective IFN-γ receptor 1* were stimulated with Mtb antigen and SLPI, and IFN-γR expression levels were measured. Both SLPI and IFN-γ were significantly enhanced in plasma from those with TB compared with HDs. A direct association between SLPI levels and the severity of TB was detected. In addition, Mtb antigen stimulation decreased the SLPI produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HDs, but not from TB or IFN-γR patients. Neutralization of IFN-γ reversed the inhibition of SLPI induced by Mtb antigen in HDs, but not in TB patients. Furthermore, recombinant IFN-γ was unable to modify the expression of SLPI in TB patients. Finally, IFN-γR expression was lower in TB compared with HD peripheral blood mononuclear cells. These results show that Mtb-induced IFN-γ down-modulated SLPI levels by signaling through the IFN-γR in HDs. This inhibitory mechanism was not observed in TB, probably because of the low expression of IFN-γR detected in these individuals