Reliability of a Novel CBCT-Based 3D Classification System for Maxillary Canine Impactions in Orthodontics: The KPG Index

The aim of this study was to evaluate both intra- and interoperator reliability of a radiological three-dimensional classification system (KPG index) for the assessment of degree of difficulty for orthodontic treatment of maxillary canine impactions. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of fifty impacted canines, obtained using three different scanners (NewTom, Kodak, and Planmeca), were classified using the KPG index by three independent orthodontists. Measurements were repeated one month later. Based on these two sessions, several recommendations on KPG Index scoring were elaborated. After a joint calibration session, these recommendations were explained to nine orthodontists and the two measurement sessions were repeated. There was a moderate intrarater agreement in the precalibration measurement sessions. After the calibration session, both intra- and interrater agreement were almost perfect. Indexes assessed with Kodak Dental Imaging 3D module software showed a better reliability in z-axis values, whereas indexes assessed with Planmeca Romexis software showed a better reliability in x- and y-axis values. No differences were found between the CBCT scanners used. Taken together, these findings indicate that the application of the instructions elaborated during this study improved KPG index reliability, which was nevertheless variously influenced by the use of different software for images evaluation

Storage Material Effects on the Performance of Ru-Based CO2 Capture and Methanation Dual Functioning Materials

In this study, a systematic investigation on Dual Functioning Materials (DFMs) for the capture and methanation of CO₂ is carried out. The attention is focused on the nature of the CO₂ adsorbent component (storage material, SM) varying between alkaline (Li, Na, K) and alkaline-earth (Mg, Ca, Ba) metal oxides in combination with Ru, both supported on an Al₂O₃ support. Combining gas phase reactivity analysis and FT-IR characterization, the samples are characterized in terms of CO₂ storage capacity. It is found that all the SM-containing samples adsorb significant amounts of CO₂ as carbonate species, with the higher amounts being adsorbed when the more thermally stable species are formed, i.e., when Ca, Ba, or K are employed as SMs. In all cases, the hydrogenation of the adsorbed carbonates to CH₄ occurs at lower temperature, if compared to their thermal desorption. However, in the case of Ca- and Ba-based DFMs, resilient carbonates are present on the material surface. It was found that the SMs able to form the more thermally stable carbonates upon CO₂ adsorption also showed the best performances in capture/methanation cycles at 350 °C, even if some residual carbonates were left on the DFM after the hydrogenation step. In particular, the following order of reactivity has in fact been observed in terms of CH₄ production: Ru–K ≥ Ru–Ba > Ru–Ca > Ru–Na ≫ Ru–Mg ≅ Ru–Li ≅ Ru. The presence of steam and O₂ during the capture step has a detrimental effect on the CO₂ adsorption for all samples and, as a result, on CH₄ production due to the competition of CO₂ and water for the same adsorption sites. Thus, only SMs able to form strongly bound carbonates species upon CO₂ exposure can retain significant CO₂ storage capacity also in the presence of water in the adsorption feed

Adoption of 3D printed highly conductive periodic open cellular structures as an effective solution to enhance the heat transfer performances of compact Fischer-Tropsch fixed-bed reactors

Abstract Heat transfer is universally recognized as a key challenge for the intensification of the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process in compact fixed-bed reactors. For the first time in the scientific literature we demonstrate experimentally that the adoption of a highly conductive periodic open cellular structure (POCS, 3D-printed in AlSi7Mg0.6 by Selective Laser Melting) packed with catalysts pellets is a promising solution to boost heat exchange in fixed-bed FT reactors. This reactor configuration enabled us to assess the performances of a highly active Co/Pt/Al2O3 catalyst packed into the POCS at process conditions relevant to industrial Fischer-Tropsch operation. Unprecedented performances (CO conversion ≈ 80%) could be thus achieved thanks to an outstanding heat management. In fact, almost flat axial and radial temperature profiles were measured along the catalytic bed even under the most severe process conditions (i.e. high CO conversions corresponding to high volumetric heat duties), demonstrating the effective potential of this reactor concept to manage the strong exothermicity of the FT reaction. The heat transfer of the packed-POCS reactor outperformed both packed-bed and packed-foam reactors, granting smaller radial temperature gradients in the catalytic bed, as well as smaller temperature differences at the reactor wall, with larger volumetric power releases. The strengths of the packed-POCS reactor configuration are its regular geometry, which enhances the effective radial thermal conductivity, and the improved contact between the structure and the reactor wall, which governs the limiting wall heat transfer coefficient

Usefulness of an app in improving oral hygiene compliance in adolescent orthodontic patients

Objective: To evaluate the influence of an app-based approach in a protocol for domestic oral hygiene maintenance in a group of adolescent patients wearing fixed multibracket appliances. Materials and Methods: Eighty adolescent patients scheduled to start an orthodontic multibracket treatment were randomly divided into two groups of 40. Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), white spots (WS), and caries presence were recorded in all patients, and they were instructed regarding domestic oral hygiene maintenance on the day of braces application (t0) and every 3 months (t1, t2, t3, t4) during the first year of treatment. Study group (SG) patients were enrolled in a WhatsApp chat room-based competition and instructed to share monthly with the other participants two selfphotographs (selfies) showing their oral hygiene status. Results: SG patient participation in the chat room was regular and active throughout the observation period. At t3, t3, and t4, SG patients had significantly lower values of both PI and GI and a lower incidence of new WS and caries, compared with the control group. Conclusion: Integration of new "social" technologies in a standard oral hygiene motivation protocol is effective in improving compliance of adolescent patients and in improving their oral health status during orthodontic multibracket treatment

Treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS; aphthae; canker sores) with a barrier forming mouth rinse or topical gel formulation containing hyaluronic acid: a retrospective clinical study

BackgroundUse of hyaluronic acid-based products has become a valuable alternative to drug-based approaches in the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). The presented study aimed to investigate the effect of a barrier forming hyaluronic acid containing mouth wash or a topical gel formulation on the healing of RAS and patient's quality of life.MethodsFor this single-center retrospective study, medical records of the Dental School of the University of Brescia were screened for adult and systemically health patients suffering from minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) and treated with either a barrier forming, hyaluronic acid containing mouth wash (GUM (R) AftaClear (R) rinse) or a topical gel (GUM (R) AftaClear (R) gel) in 2015. All patients fulfilling the in-/exclusion criteria and presenting full data sets on lesion diameter, lesion color, as well as pain perception for baseline (day 0) and 4 and 7days after treatment were enrolled into the presented study.ResultsOut of 60 screened patients, a total of 20 patients treated with the Rinse formulation and 25 treated with the Gel formulation were eligible for the enrollment into this study. Both groups showed equal distribution in patient's age, sex and presented a similar mean lesion size (3.01.0mm), lesion color distribution as well as pain perception at baseline. All patients showed significant normalization of lesion color, reduction of pain, and lesion dimension within the course of their treatment. After 7days, the mean percentage of lesion reduction was highly significant for both groups attaining 77.4 +/- 30.1% in the Rinse group and 81.2 +/- 23.1% in the Gel group with a complete lesion closure obtained in 60 and 56% of the cases, respectively. However, a significant (p<0.05) higher percentage of lesions in the Gel group (72%) compared to the Rinse group (40%) showed an improvement in lesion size already after 3days.ConclusionsWithin the limitation of retrospective design, it can be concluded that both the barrier forming hyaluronic acid containing mouth rinse as well as the topical gel formulation are effective in the treatment of minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), with a trend for an earlier healing onset for the topical Gel formulation

Temporomandibular joint involvement in patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: comparison of ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in assessing the periarticular space width

ObjectivesThis study aimed to compare the performance of Ultrasonography (US) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in assessing the Lateral Periarticular Space (LPAS) of Temporomandibular Joints (TMJs) in patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).MethodsThe LPAS width was evaluated in two different patient groups. In the JIA group, including 29 children (13 & PLUSMN; 2.8 years) with JIA, the LPAS width was measured with both MRI and US. In the healthy group, including 28 healthy children (12.6 & PLUSMN; 2.5 years), the LPAS width was measured only with US. Comparisons of LPAS width based on patient groups and TMJ contrast enhancement in MRI were evaluated by applying the Mann-Whitney U test. Correlation and agreement between MRI and US measurements in JIA group were tested using Spearman rank correlation and Bland-Altman method.ResultsThe LPAS width was significantly greater in the JIA group than in the healthy group. In the JIA group, the LPAS width was significantly greater in TMJs with moderate/severe enhancement than those with mild enhancement. A positive significant correlation between MRI and US measurements of LPAS width was found in the JIA group. In the same group, Bland-Altman method showed a good level of agreement between MRI and US measurements.ConclusionAlthough, US cannot replace MRI in the evaluation of TMJ in patients with JIA, US could be used as a supplementary imaging method to MRI in assessing the TMJ disease

Triple peptide vaccination as consolidation treatment in women affected by ovarian and breast cancer: clinical and immunological data of a phase I/II clinical trial

Vaccination with priming and expansion of tumour reacting T cells is an important therapeutic option to be used in combination with novel checkpoint inhibitors to increase the specificity of the T cell infiltrate and the efficacy of the treatment. In this phase I/II study, 14 high-risk disease-free ovarian (OC) and breast cancer (BC) patients after completion of standard therapies were vaccinated with MUC1, ErbB2 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) HLA-A2+-restricted peptides and Montanide. Patients were subjected to 6 doses of vaccine every two weeks and a recall dose after 3 months. ECOG grade 2 toxicity was observed at the injection site. Eight out of 14 patients showed specific CD8+ T cells to at least one antigen. None of 4 patients vaccinated for compassionate use showed a CD8 activation. An OC patient who suffered from a lymph nodal recurrence, showed specific anti-ErbB2 CD8+ T cells in the bulky aortic lymph nodes suggesting homingof the activated T cells. Results confirm that peptide vaccination strategy is feasible, safe and well tolerated. In particular OC patients appear to show a higher response rate compared to BC patients. Vaccination generates a long-lasting immune response, which is strongly enhanced by recall administrations. The clinical outcome of patients enrolled in the trial appears favourable, having registered no deceased patients with a minimum follow-up of 8 years. These promising data, in line with the results of similar studies, the high compliance of patients observed and the favourable toxicity profile, support future trials of peptide vaccination in clinically disease-free patients who have completed standard treatments

Unveiling the egg microbiota of the loggerhead sea turtle <i>Caretta caretta</i> in nesting beaches of the Mediterranean Sea

Microbes have central roles in the development and health of animals, being the introduction of specific microbial species a potential conservation strategy to protect animals from emerging diseases. Thus, insight into the microbiota of the species and their habitats is essential. In this manuscript, we report for the first time the bacterial composition of all the components (eggshells of hatched and unhatched eggs, internal content of unhatched eggs, intestinal content of hatchling and pipping sea turtles, and sand) of three nesting beaches of Caretta caretta along the Italian coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. The analysis of 26 amplicon samples was carried out using next-generation sequencing analysis, targeting V3-V4 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Samples featured mainly Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes, whose percentages depended on the sample type. Our results showed that, although from different sampling sites, the internal content of the unhatched eggs, intestinal content of hatchling and pipping sea turtles share the microbiota, which was yet different from that of eggshells and sand of the same nesting beach. This study suggests the maternal and environmental influence alongside a protective role of eggshells in shaping the egg microbiota of Caretta caretta sea turtles

Intensifying heat transfer in Fischer-Tropsch tubular reactors through the adoption of conductive packed foams

open5openFratalocchi, Laura; Visconti, Carlo Giorgio; Groppi, Gianpiero; Lietti, Luca; Tronconi, EnricoFratalocchi, Laura; Visconti, Carlo Giorgio; Groppi, Gianpiero; Lietti, Luca; Tronconi, Enric