Sjogren syndrome and parotid marginal zone lymphoma: Report of a case and review of literature

Five percent of the cancers in the parotid region are non-hodgkin lymphomas. This lymphoma, involving the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), is called MALToma. A chronic autoimmune inflammatory process of the parotid gland, such as Sjogren's syndrome, results in an increased incidence of parotid MALToma. Biopsy of the parotid is essential for appropriate diagnosis; this can then be completed by radiotherapy, chemotherapy or therapy with monoclonal antibodies according to the stage of the disease. This study shows a clinical case of a 50-year-old patient with Sjogren's syndrome who developed a parotid MALToma

Sialoendoscopy in the management of the salivary gland disorders

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the long-term (> 6 month) outcome of patients suffering from obstructive sialadenitis treated by sialoendoscopy. METHODS: Between 2009 and 2013 seventy-six subjects underwent sialoendoscopy under local anesthesia at the University Hospital P. Giaccone of Palermo. RESULTS: The mean age of presentation was 50.5 years for male (56.6%) and 44.7 years for female (43.4%). The presenting symptoms were frequent pain in 72% of cases, frequent purulent secretions in 65% of cases, frequent swelling in 62% of cases and frequent bitter taste in 44% of cases. Affected glands were in 54 cases the submandibular unilaterally, in 21 cases the parotid unilaterally and in 1 case the submandibular bilaterally. Preoperative ultrasound showed in 30 cases a sialolitiasis and in 19 cases a ductal stenosis, in 3 cases were both associated. In 46 cases showed a ductal dilatation, variably combined with the previous two and in 13 cases ultrasound gave no indication. Average operating time was 60.7 minutes (range 35-125 min). In 35 cases it was necessary to perform a papillotomy. Presence of stones was shown in 36 patients, in 3 cases these stones were multiple. Endoscopic removal of stones was achieved in 72.2%, with a mean size of 3.6 mm (range 0.7-5.5 mm), only two were larger than 5 mm. In five of this cases was performed a trans-oral combined approach. In 15 cases was highlighted a ductal stenosis, in 6 cases associated with mucus plugs, that were treated with daily irrigations with Thiamphenicol glycinate acetylcysteinate. A percentage of 64.8% of patients had complete resolution of symptoms after sialendoscopy, with 25% having partial resolution of symptoms and 6.6% required the removal of the gland. CONCLUSIONS: Sialendoscopy is the procedure of choice for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic non-lithiasic sialoadenitis, but unlike its apparent simplicity has a significant learning curve, and need appropriate selection of patients

Survival Rate of Zygomatic Implants for Fixed Oral Maxillary Rehabilitations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Comparing Outcomes between Zygomatic and Regular Implants

Background: Zygomatic implants have been proposed alone or in combination with premaxillary conventional implants for severe resorbed maxillary atrophy rehabilitation. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate through a qualitative systematic review and metaanalysis the survival rate of zygomatic implants in conjunction with regular fixtures for maxillary rehabilitation. Methods: The article screening was conducted on the PubMed/Medline and EMBASE electronic databases according to the “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses” (PRISMA) guidelines. The scientific papers were included for qualitative analysis and risk-of-bias evaluation. Only the papers that included rehabilitation with zygomatic implants in combination with regular implants were considered for the meta-analysis comparative evaluation of the implant survival rate. Results: The paper search screened a total of 137 papers. After the initial screening, a total of 32 articles were considered for the qualitative analysis. There was a similar implant survival rate between zygomatic and premaxilla regular implants (p = 0.02; Z: 2.26). Conclusions: Zygomatic and conventional implants showed a high long-term survival rate for fixed maxillary rehabilitations, but few included studies reported the marginal bone loss after loading. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the pattern of marginal bone loss between zygomatic and conventional implants after long-term functional loading

Hyaluronic Acid Fillers Enriched with Glycine and Proline in Eyebrow Augmentation Procedure

Background: The eyebrow area is a clinically critical district due to the anatomical complexity and the propensity to aging-related atrophy. Hyaluronic acid fillers have been proposed to recover the dermal volume of the facial and lips regions. Aim: The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate hyaluronic acid fillers enriched with glycine and proline for the treatment of eyebrow augmentation. Methods: A total of 15 healthy patients were treated with eyebrow augmentation procedure. The distance between mid-bipupil to lateral eyebrow and mid-eyebrow to the medial eyebrow was measured before, immediately after treatment and at follow-up of 6 months. Results: The healing period was uneventful, and no evidence of inflammation or swelling associated with the treatment was reported. No macroscopical alteration was reported in the surrounding tissues with no evidences of visible wheals or lumps in the treated sites at the follow-up. Before treatment, the angle was equal to 9.32 ± 0.2°, while after treatment it was 11.21 ± 0.4° (p < 0.01); after three and 6 weeks, it was, respectively, 10.66 ± 0.2° (p<0.05) and 10.02 ± 0.3°(p > 0.05). Conclusions: The study results suggest that the hyaluronic acid fillers enriched with glycine and proline treatment resulted as being a useful procedure for augmentation, contour and volume definition and elevation of the eyebrow region with a high-level aesthetic result

Microscopy and Molecular Biology Techniques for the Study of Biocenosis Diversity in Semi-Confined Environments

This study is part of a wider conservation project of artistic and anthropological finds located in the Grotto of the Saints (Licodia Eubea, Alia, Sicily), and represents an opportunity for  investigating the micro-and macro biological systems colonizing this particular environment. It is well-known that the  bio-receptivity of surfaces is strongly related to its constituent materials and environmental parameters, whose effects promote the establishment of specific biotic communities. This is particularly true for caves, hypogea and semi-confined environments and, in particular for the Grotto of the Saints, where besides the presence of different nutrient sources, there are also high humidity values, percolating water and an aerobiological exchange with the surrounding countryside. Moreover, the weathering of this structure is enhanced by the canyon effect of the wind and the day-night temperature range. The identification and characterization of the biocenosis present in this environment was performed combining microscopy (optical, fluorescent, CLSM) and molecular biology analysis (DNA sequences). The aim was to identify the biological systems able to trigger the degradation processes, in order to plan their growth control and to prevent the colonization of the entire environment

Microbiota of the Tongue and Systemic Connections: The Examination of the Tongue as an Integrated Approach in Oral Medicine

The tongue is able to quickly reflect the state of health or disease of the human body. Tongue inspection is an important diagnostic approach. It is a unique method that allows to explore the pathogenesis of diseases based on the guiding principles of the holistic concept that involves the observation of changes in the lining of the tongue in order to understand the physiological functions and pathological changes of the body. It is a potential method of screening and early detection of cancer. However, the subjective inspection of the tongue has a low reliability index, and therefore computerized systems of acquisition of diagnostic bioinformation have been developed to analyze the lining of the tongue. Next-generation sequencing technology is used to determine the V2–V4 hypervariable regions of 16S rRNA to study the microbiota. A lot of neoplasms are identified only at an advanced phase, while in the early stages, many subjects remain in an asymptomatic form. On the contrary, the early diagnosis is able to increase the prognosis of cancer and improve the survival rates of subjects. Evidently, it is necessary to develop new strategies in oral medicine for the early diagnosis of diseases, and the diagnosis of the tongue as a minimally invasive method is certainly one of them

Static Crow’s Feet Treated with Voltaic Arc Dermabrasion (Atmospheric Plasma): Post-Operative Pain Assessment by Thermal Infrared Imaging

Background: In the literature, several strategies have been described for the treatment of unaesthetic marks on the face resulting from the aging processes. The atmospheric plasma procedure is a non-invasive, inexpensive technique proposed for the rejuvenation of facial tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of voltaic arc dermabrasion (VAD) for the treatment of static crow’s feet of the periorbital area. Methods: The crow’s feet of 135 patients (127 female and 8 male) were treated using the VAD technique. The perioperative skin temperature measurement was assessed using an Infrared Temperature sensor. The pain was measured using the Visual Analogic Score (VAS) at 1 week, 1 month and 1 year. The patient’s and surgeon’s satisfaction were assessed using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) at 1 month and 1 year from the procedure. The severity of the crow’s feet was rated using the Crow’s Feet Grading Scale (CFGS). Results: A complete epidermal healing of all the subjects treated was evident at 7 days. The atmospheric plasma technique showed an efficient treatment for the removal of the crow’s feet, with a good aesthetic outcome, high surgeon and patient satisfaction, without clinical complications. Conclusions: The atmospheric plasma technique can be a useful modality in the cosmetic as well as therapeutic treatment of crow’s feet

Effects of polluted air-masses advection on atmospheric particles in a semi-rural site in south Italy by SEM-EDX analysis

The variation of aerosol properties under polluted air masses advection was studied in a semi-rural site in South Italy, by means of SEM-EDX analysis performed on particles collected on 13-stages impactor filters. Radiometric measurements, HYSPLIT back-trajectories and NAAPS maps helped to choose four measurement days of polluted air mass circulation, two of them collected in the warm season (31 July 2008, 16 September 2010) and two in the cold one (16 April 2009, 18 March 2010). Polluted aerosol characteristics were compared to those under background (BG) conditions (8 February 2011), highlighting differences in the particles chemical and morphological properties. One of the signatures of the air mass transport in the coarse fraction was the higher content of particles containing S, i.e., S-reacted, (27.5% on average) in comparison with BG conditions (1%). Two main sources of transported aerosols were identified: industrial processes and biomass burning, with fly ash, metal and S-rich particles in the first case, and K-salts and nitrate-coated Ca-bearingparticles in the second. Single particle analysis on the coarse fraction allowed large agglomerates of soot to be identified, with inclusions of silicate particles rich in Cu and Zn, Ca-S, fly ash and metals particles that are a clear indication of extensive modifications of aerosol size, chemical composition and, likely, radiative properties. In finer stages (EAD ≤ 0.94 μm) concurrent collection of organic and inorganic particles originated an agglomerate state matter mainly characterized by K and S for polluted conditions and by K only for BG

Synthetic Scaffold/Dental Pulp Stem Cell (DPSC) Tissue Engineering Constructs for Bone Defect Treatment: An Animal Studies Literature Review

Background: Recently a greater interest in tissue engineering for the treatment of large bone defect has been reported. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the effectiveness of dental pulp stem cells and synthetic block complexes for bone defect treatment in preclinical in vivo articles. Methods: The electronic database and manual search was conducted on Pubmed, Scopus, and EMBASE. The papers identified were submitted for risk-of-bias assessment and classified according to new bone formation, bone graft characteristics, dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) culture passages and amount of experimental data. The meta-analysis assessment was conducted to assess new bone formation in test sites with DPSCs/synthetic blocks vs. synthetic block alone. Results: The database search identified a total of 348 papers. After the initial screening, 30 studies were included, according to the different animal models: 19 papers on rats, 3 articles on rabbits, 2 manuscripts on sheep and 4 papers on swine. The meta-analysis evaluation showed a significantly increase in new bone formation in favor of DPSCs/synthetic scaffold complexes, if compared to the control at 4 weeks (Mean Diff: 17.09%, 95% CI: 15.16–18.91%, p < 0.01) and at 8 weeks (Mean Diff: 14.86%, 95% CI: 1.82–27.91%, p < 0.01) in rats calvaria bone defects. Conclusion: The synthetic scaffolds in association of DPSCs used for the treatment of bone defects showed encouraging results of early new bone formation in preclinical animal studies and could represent a useful resource for regenerative bone augmentation procedure

Protective Face Masks: Effect on the Oxygenation and Heart Rate Status of Oral Surgeons during Surgery

Background: Safety in medical work requires eye protection, such as glasses, and protective facial masks (PFM) during clinical practice to prevent viral respiratory infections. The use of facial masks and other full personal protective equipment increases air flow resistance, facial skin temperature and physical discomfort. The aim of the present study was to measure surgeons’ oxygenation status and discomfort before and after their daily routine activities of oral interventions. Methods: 10 male voluntary dentists, specializing in oral surgery, and 10 male voluntary doctors in dentistry, participating in master’s courses in oral surgery in the Department of Oral Surgery of the University of Chieti, with mean age 29 ± 6 (27–35), were enrolled. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of wearing a PFM on oxygenation status while the oral surgeons were actively working. Disposable sterile one-way surgical paper masks (Surgical Face Mask, Euronda, Italy) and FFP2 (Surgical Face Mask, Euronda, Italy) were used and the mask position covering the nose did not vary during the procedures. The FFP2 was covered by a surgical mask during surgical treatment. A pulse oximeter was used to measure the blood oximetry saturation during the study. Results: In all 20 surgeons wearing FFP2 covered by surgical masks, a reduction in arterial O2 saturation from around 97.5% before surgery to 94% after surgery was recorded with increase of heart rates. A shortness of breath and light-headedness/headaches were also noted. Conclusions: In conclusion, wearing an FFP2 covered by a surgical mask induces a reduction in circulating O2 concentrations without clinical relevance, while an increase of heart frequency and a sensation of shortness of breath, light-headedness/headaches were recorded