Evaluation of effectiveness of photobiostimulation in alleviating side effects after dental implant surgery. A randomized clinical trial

To assess if photobiostimulation (PBS) alleviates pain intensity/duration and swelling after implant surgery. Sixty subjects (27 male and 33 female, with a mean age of 47,13 8.05 years) were included and randomly assigned to experimental group (implant surgery and photobiostimulation), placebo group (implant surgery and simulated photobiostimulation) and control group (implant surgery only). Inclusion criteria: subjects older than 20 years, with a healthy oral mucosa and requiring implant surgery. Exclusion criteria: pregnancy, history of implant failure, light sensitivity, metabolic deseases, consumption of antibiotics or corticosteroids in the last two weeks, smokers and alcohol drinkers. Patients reported the pain experienced by using a numeric rating scale (NRS) at 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours and from day 2 to 7. Swelling score was assessed by linear measurements and type and number of analgesic drugs within each time-point were recorded on a spreadsheet. Data of pain and amount of swelling were compared among the three groups by using the Kruskal-Wallis H Test and post-hoc comparisons tests. Pain in the experimental group was less compared to controls and placebo group, at each time intervals (p < 0.001) as well as the maximum pain score (experimental group: median = 2, interquartile range 2-3; control group: median = 8, interquartile range 3,75-9; placebo group: median = 8, interquartile range 6,25-9). Swelling was almost insignificant in the experimental group (maximum value = 1, interquartile range 0-2,75, at 24 hours) compared with control (maximum value = 6, interquartile range 5-8,75, at 24 hours) and placebo (maximum value = 6, interquartile range 5-8, at 24 hours). Subjects in the experimental group assumed less analgesics compared to both controls and placebo groups. Photobiostimulation is an effective method to reduce pain intensity/duration and swelling after implant surgery

Maxillary orthodontic expansion assisted by unilateral alveolar corticotomy and low-level laser therapy: a novel approach for correction of posterior unilateral cross-bite in adults

Introduction: The treatment of a true unilateral posterior crossbite often requires asymmetric maxillary expansion; however, this is challenging to achieve with conventional expansion methods because of several biomechanical limitations. In this paper, we introduce a new protocol for the treatment of a unilateral posterior crossbite in adults based on maxillary orthodontic expansion assisted by corticotomy and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) performed on the crossbite side. Methods: The study sample included 15 adults (8 females, 7 males) affected by a true unilateral posterior crossbite, with a mean age of 21.6 ± 3.1 years at the at the beginning of treatment. After the application of orthodontic appliances (palatal expander and self-ligating brackets), corticomy was performed at the buccal aspect of the crossbite side while LLLT was monthly administered up to the correction of the crossbite. The efficacy of the technique was evaluated through measurements performed on maxillary digital models. Results: All subjects reported successful correction of the posterior unilateral crossbite, and functional occlusion was achieved as well. The average expansion was greater at the crossbite side compared to the unaffected side and such difference was significant at the levels of first premolars (P &lt; 0.05), second premolars (P &lt; 0.05) and first molars (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Orthodontic maxillary expansion assisted by unilateral corticotomy and LLLT was effective in the treatment of the true unilateral crossbite

A spiritual journey of discovery: breaking free from man-made autonomy through interior freedom

Spirituality is a lifelong journey one is urged to discover in order to live life to the full. One of today’s challenges is man’s own creation of autonomy. This can either, if well tempered be an asset; but many a times, if misunderstood and misused can be a great hindrance. This paper is going to present this theme from a Christian perspective, aiming to share some insights and suggestions for a spirituality that enhances man’s potential towards living a wholesome life. Within this realm, one might ask: is modern man aware that autonomy is being misunderstood and that it differs from the God-given-gift of liberty? What are the most salient barriers one must overcome in order to use liberty as an antithesis to the potential enslavement of autonomy? How can one discover new and healthier means in order to live a healthy spiritual life where the intellect and the volitional enable a healthy life based on interior freedom, where autonomy is moulded into an asset for the good of the individual and of the common good? In The End of the Modern World, philosopher and theologian Romano Guardini aptly wrote that: “Once the ‘autonomous’ state has broken all bonds, ...man will either succeed in converting his mastery into good - then his accomplishment would be immense indeed - ...or man himself will be at an end.”peer-reviewe

An immunohistochemical study of the human periodontal ligament during sperimental orthodontic movement

Orthodontic tooth movement is characterized by remodeling changes in dental and paradental tissues, including dental pulp, periodontal ligament (PDL), alveolar bone, and gingiva. These tissues, when exposed to varying degrees of magnitude, frequency, and duration of mechanical loading, express macroscopic and microscopic changes. The different modification of periodontal ligament during load deformation can be monitored by analysis of the expression of different collagen types, fibronectin and vascular endothelial growth factor. The aim of this study was to evalue PDL collagen types I and IV, fibronectin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) modification induced by application of a precalibrated and constant orthodontic strength at different stages of treatment. For the study we utilized a coilspring NiTi 50 gr. and in vivo samples of 20 maxillaries and mandibular premolars of patients aged from 13 to 18 years subject to orthodontic treatment. These teeth was extracted at 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days from application of force respectively. The extraction of the PDL was effectuated scarifying the radicular surface on the pressure and tension side. The results were compared with periodontal ligament samples of the normal homologous teeth (control). The periodontal ligament samples were fixed in 3% paraformaldehyde in a 0,2M phosphate buffer at pH 7,4. The following primary antibodies were used: anti collagen I, anti collagen IV, anti fibronectin and mouse monoclonal anti-VEGF. Section were then observed and photographed using Zeiss LSM 510 confocal microscope. Were analyzed fluorescence intensity and compared with the control side. The signal of type I collagen is negative in tension and pressure side after 1 day, showed an increased respect to control, in the tension and pressure side, until 7, 14 and 21 days. After this stage in both sides maintained the same values of the control. The immunofluorescence of type IV collagen is negative, in both sides, after 1 and 7 days. At 14, 21 and 28 days from treatment, increased gradually in pressure side and manteined the same values of the control in tension side. The observation of fibronectin showed strongly immunofluorescence at all stages of treatment. After 1, 7 and 14 days the immunofluorescence of VEGF is negative in pressure side, and positive in tension side. In the last observation periods at 21 and 28 days, VEGF signal showing, in both sides, significant increase when compared with the control group. These findings suggest that: the increase of collagen type I and fibronectin could indicate that the solicitation by orthodontic force could determinate an increase of metabolic activity in the periodontal ligament. The rapid modification after the start of tooth movement, suggest that VEGF may be involved in the early stages of periodontal remodeling during orthodontic tooth movement, when occur rapid changes in local blood circulation. The initial decrease of collagen type IV, indicate a loss of vascular component in the early stages of movement infact this protein is localized in perivessel zones

Rank order coding: a retinal information decoding strategy revealed by large-scale multielectrode array retinal recordings

International audienceHow a population of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) encodes the visual scene remains an open question. Going beyond individual RGC coding strategies, results in salamander suggest that the relative latencies of an RGC pair encodes spatial information. Thus a population code based on this concerted spiking could be a powerful mechanism to transmit visual information rapidly and efficiently. Here, we tested this hypothesis in mouse by recording simultaneous light-evoked responses from hundreds of RGCs, at pan-retinal level, using a new generation of large-scale, high density multielectrode array consisting of 4096 electrodes. Interestingly, we did not find any RGCs exhibiting a clear latency tuning to the stimuli, suggesting that in mouse, individual RGC pairs may not provide sufficient information. We show that a significant amount of information is encoded synergistically in the concerted spiking of large RGC populations. Thus, the RGC population response described with relative activities, or ranks, provides more relevant information than classical independent spike count- or latency- based codes. In particular, we report for the first time that when considering the relative activities across the whole population, the wave of first stimulus-evoked spikes (WFS) is an accurate indicator of stimulus content. We show that this coding strategy co-exists with classical neural codes, and that it is more efficient and faster. Overall, these novel observations suggest that already at the level of the retina, concerted spiking provides a reliable and fast strategy to rapidly transmit new visual scenes

Performance assessment of the multibeam radar sensor birales for space surveillance and tracking

Near-Earth space has become progressively more crowded in active satellites, inactive spacecraft and debris. Consequently, an international effort is currently being devoted to improving the performance of the network of optical and radar sensors for space objects monitoring. Within this framework, the use of the novel bistatic radar sensor BIRALES is investigated in this work, which makes use of a multibeam receiver. The tailored orbit determination algorithm is described, which receives as input the data processed by the acquisition system, that digitally assembles measured radar echoes. The performances of the orbit determination process are assessed on a set of numerical simulations carried out on the NORAD catalogue, using a dedicated simulator of the sensor.peer-reviewe

Pediatric tuberculosis in Italian children: Epidemiological and clinical data from the Italian register of pediatric tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Over the last decades, TB has also emerged in the pediatric population. Epidemiologic data of childhood TB are still limited and there is an urgent need of more data on very large cohorts. A multicenter study was conducted in 27 pediatric hospitals, pediatric wards, and public health centers in Italy using a standardized form, covering the period of time between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2012. Children with active TB, latent TB, and those recently exposed to TB or recently adopted/immigrated from a high TB incidence country were enrolled. Overall, 4234 children were included; 554 (13.1%) children had active TB, 594 (14.0%) latent TB and 3086 (72.9%) were uninfected. Among children with active TB, 481 (86.8%) patients had pulmonary TB. The treatment of active TB cases was known for 96.4% (n = 534) of the cases. Overall, 210 (39.3%) out of these 534 children were treated with three and 216 (40.4%) with four first-line drugs. Second-line drugs where used in 87 (16.3%) children with active TB. Drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were reported in 39 (7%) children. Improving the surveillance of childhood TB is important for public health care workers and pediatricians. A non-negligible proportion of children had drug-resistant TB and was treated with second-line drugs, most of which are off-label in the pediatric age. Future efforts should concentrate on improving active surveillance, diagnostic tools, and the availability of antitubercular pediatric formulations, also in low-endemic countries

Combined antiretroviral therapy reduces hyperimmunoglobulinemia in HIV-1 infected children

Objective: To evaluate the effect of combined antiretroviral therapy on serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels in HIV-1 perinatally infected children. Methods: Data from 1250 children recorded by the Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children from 1985 to 2002 were analysed. Since Ig levels physiologically vary with age, differences at different age periods were evaluated as differences in z-scores calculated using means and standard deviations of normal population for each age period. Combined antiretroviral therapy has become widespread in Italy since 1996, thus differences in Ig z-scores between the periods 1985-1995 and 1996-2002 were analysed. Data according to type of therapeutic regimen were also analysed. Results: Between the two periods 1985-1995 and 1996-2002, significant (P < 0.0001) decreases in IgG (6.29 ± 4.72 versus 4.44 ± 4.33), IgM (9.25 ± 13.32 versus 5.61 ± 7.93), and IgA (10.25 ± 15.68 versus 6.48 ± 11.56) z-scores, together with a parallel significant (P < 0.0001) increase in CD4 T-lymphocyte percentages, were found. These decreases were confirmed regardless of whether the children were receiving intravenous Ig or not. Ig z-scores were significantly higher in children receiving mono-therapy than in those receiving double-combined therapy (IgC, P < 0.0001; IgM, P = 0.003; IgA, P = 0.031) and in the latter children than in those receiving three or more drugs (P < 0.0001 for all z-scores). Ig z-scores correlated inversely with CD4 T-lymphocyte percentages and, directly, with viral loads. Conclusions: Our data show that in HIV-1 infected children combined antiretroviral therapy leads to reduction of hyperimmunoglobulinemia which parallels restoration of CD4 T-lymphocyte percentage and viral load decrease, which it turn probably reflects improved B-lymphocyte functions. © 2004 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins