Diagnostic performance study on the relationship between the exfoliation of the deciduous second molars and the pubertal growth spurt

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible relationship between the exfoliation of the deciduous second molars (Es) and the onset of the pubertal growth spurt assessed with the cervical vertebral maturation method. Methods: The ability to identify the onset of the pubertal growth spurt (cervical stage 3, CS3) was evaluated in a sample of 123 patients with exfoliation of the Es (exfoliation group) with respect to a control group of 250 subjects in the late mixed dentition selected with random criteria. Tests of diagnostic performance were applied. Results: The comparison of the prevalence rates of CS3 in the exfoliation group vs the control group was not statistically significant. The positive likelihood ratio was smaller than 1, thus indicating lack of diagnostic power of the exfoliation of the deciduous second molars with regard to CS3. Conclusions: No significant relationship was found between the moment of exfoliation of the Es and the onset of the pubertal growth spurt

Forces Produced by Different Nonconventional Bracket or Ligature Systems during Alignment of Apically Displaced Teeth

Objective: To analyze the forces released by four types of passive stainless steel self-ligating brackets (SLBs), and by two nonconventional elastomeric ligature-bracket systems when compared with conventional elastomeric ligatures on conventional stainless steel brackets during the alignment of apically displaced teeth at the maxillary arch. Materials and Methods: An experimental model consisting of five brackets was used to assess the forces released by the seven different ligature-bracket systems with 0.012" or 0.014" super- elastic nickel titanium wire in the presence of different amounts of apical displacement of the canine (ranging from 1.5 mm to 6 mm). Comparisons between the different types of bracket/wire/ ligature systems were carried out by means of ANOVA on ranks with Dunnett's post hoc test (P < .05). Results: When correction of a misalignment greater than 3 mm is attempted, a noticeable amount of force for alignment is generated by passive SLBs and nonconventional elastomeric ligature- bracket systems, and a null amount of force is released in the presence of conventional elasto- meric ligatures on conventional brackets. Conclusions: When minimal apical displacement is needed (1.5 mm), the differences in performance between low-friction and conventional systems are minimal. These differences become significant when correction of a misalignment of greater than 3.0 mm is attempted. © 2009 by The EH Angle Education and Research Foundation, Inc

Meta-analysis on the effect of mild primary hyperparathyroidism and parathyroidectomy upon arterial stiffness

CONTEXT: current data about the cardiovascular manifestations of mild primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) are often conflicting. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is the gold-standard method for assessing aortic stiffness, which predicts cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.OBJECTIVE: Primary outcomes were to investigate if mild pHPT was associated with higher PWV and if parathyroidectomy (PTX) reduced PWV in mild pHPT. Secondary outcome was to investigate blood pressure changes after PTX.DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Google Scholar, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library.STUDY SELECTION: Eligible studies included reports of PWV in patients with mild pHPT and controls, or in patients with mild pHPT before and after PTX.DATA EXTRACTION: Two investigators independently identified eligible studies and extracted data. Pooled mean difference (MD) was the summary effect measure. Data were presented in forest plots with outlier and influential case diagnostics.DATA SYNTHESIS: Nine observational studies and one RCT were selected, including 433 patients with mild pHPT, 171 of whom underwent PTX, and 407 controls. PWV was significantly higher in mild pHPT as compared to controls (MD=1.18, 0.67 to 1.68, p<0.0001). Seven studies evaluated the effect of PTX on PWV. PTX significantly reduced PWV (MD= -0.48, -0.88 to -0.07, p=0.022).CONCLUSION: Aortic stiffness is increased in patients with mild pHPT, supporting the notion that also mild pHPT is associated with adverse cardiovascular manifestations. PTX significantly reduced arterial stiffness in mild pHPT, indicating that the benefit of PTX over cardiovascular manifestations should not be dismissed but it deserves further studies

Aesthetic- And patient- related outcomes following root coverage procedures: A systematic review and network meta- analysis

BackgroundAim of this systematic review (SR) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to evaluate effect of different flap designs and graft materials for root coverage, in terms of aesthetics, patient satisfaction and self- reported morbidity (post- operative pain/discomfort).Material and MethodsA comprehensive literature search was performed. A mixed- modelling approach to network meta- analysis was utilized to formulate direct and indirect comparisons among treatments for Root Coverage Esthetic Score (RES), with its individual components, and for subjective patient- reported satisfaction and post- operative pain/discomfort (visual analogue scale (VAS) of 100).ResultsTwenty- six RCTs with a total of 867 treated patients (1708 recessions) were included. Coronally Advanced Flap (CAF) + Connective Tissue Graft (CTG) (0.74 (95% CI [0.24, 1.26], p = .005)), Tunnel (TUN) + CTG (0.84 (95% CI [0.15, 1.53]), p = .01) and CAF + Graft substitutes (GS) (0.55 (95% CI [0.006, 1.094], p = .04)) were significantly associated with higher RES than CAF. No significant difference between CAF + CTG and TUN + CTG was detected (0.09 (95% CI [- 0.54, 0.72], p = .77)). Addition of CTG resulted in less natural tissue texture (- 0.21 (95% CI [- 0.34, - 0.08]), p = .003) and gingival colour (- 0.06 (95% CI [- 0.12, - 0.03], p = .03)) than CAF. CTG techniques were associated with increased morbidity.ConclusionsConnective tissue graft procedures showed highest overall aesthetic performance for root coverage, although graft integration might impair soft tissue colour and appearance. Additionally, CTG- based techniques were also correlated with a greater patient satisfaction and morbidity.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163404/2/jcpe13346.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163404/1/jcpe13346_am.pd

Long term assessment of root coverage stability using connective tissue graft with or without an epithelial collar for gingival recession treatment. A 12-year follow-up from a randomized clinical trial

AimTo evaluate the long term root coverage outcomes of coronally advanced flap plus a connective tissue graft with (CAF + CTG) or without an epithelial collar (CAF + ECTG), and evaluate the adjacent treated sites included in the flap.MethodsSeventeen of the original 20 subjects included in the randomized clinical trial were available at 12 years (43 sites). Mean root coverage (mRC), keratinized tissue width (KTW), gingival thickness (GT) on the grafted and adjacent sites were evaluated and compared with baseline and 6 months.ResultThere was a reduction in the mRC at all sites: 16.52% in the CAF + CTG (p > .05), 19.42% in the CAF + ECTG (p  .05). Keratinized tissue width at baseline and at 6 months was found to be predictors for the stability of the gingival margin in the long term.ConclusionsCAF + CTG and CAF + ECTG were found equally efficacious in maintaining the levels of the gingival margin with a small amount of relapse over the period of 12 years while CAF-alone sites showed a greater gingival recession (GR) reoccurrence.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151994/1/jcpe13187_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151994/2/jcpe13187.pd

Checklist of macro-invertebrates of the special conservation area “Poggi di prata”(Grosseto, Central Italy) through a citizen-science and expert-based approach

The assessment of species composition in a certain area may become outdated over time due to community dynamics including species range expansion, but also to local extinctions, species introductions and taxonomic redefinition. Therefore, updated checklists are required for animal conservation and management. Exhaustive checklists of invertebrate species may be challenging, as species determination often requires the analysis by specialists, but they are fundamental for local conservation practices. In this work, we provided an annotated preliminary checklist of invertebrates of the Special Conservation Area “Poggi di Prata” (province of Grosseto, southern Tuscany), detected through field samplings with experts, and a permanent Bioblitz set out on an online citizen-science platform (iNaturalist.org). The final dataset (1898-2020) included 329 records of 282 species (217 insects, 34 gastropods, 30 arachnids and 1 chilopod). Most records were uploaded on iNaturalist (about 56.5%), others came from observations or sampling collections (37%) and were determined by specialists. Only the remaining 6.5% of records came from published studies. Three species were protected by the Habitat Directive, 15 by the Tuscan Regional Law. We also detected two endemic or near-endemic taxa of this area: the beetle Paramaurops diecki massetanus and the land snail Marmorana saxetana. The unexpected (Italian southernmost) record of Gaurotes virginea needs to be deepened. Furthermore, 12 alien species, including insects affecting human economy and wellness (e.g., Rhinchophorous ferrugineus, Aedes albopictus, Halyomorpha halys, Dryocosmus kuriphilus and Cydalima perspectalis), were also detected. With our work, we confirmed that citizen-science platforms (e.g. iNaturalist) are valuable tools, complementary to field-work by specialists, to map local biodiversity and they may help to improve biogeographical knowledge