A multilevel analysis of craniofacial growth in subjects with untreated Class III malocclusion

ObjectiveTo analyse the craniofacial growth of a long‐term semi‐longitudinal sample of Caucasian subjects with untreated Class III malocclusion.Setting and sample populationA total of 144 Caucasian subjects (of North American and Italian origin) with untreated Class III malocclusion. Materials and methodsSubjects aged 2 years and 9 months up to 21 years and 7 months were selected. A multilevel model was used to calculate growth curves for ten variables for both each individual subject and for the whole sample.ResultsThere was a statistically significant increase for total mandibular length (Co‐Gn. T2‐T1 = 8.4 mm), midfacial length (Co‐A. T2‐T1 = 3.4 mm) and lower anterior facial height (ANS‐Me. T2‐T1 = 3.8 mm). The multilevel analysis showed two points of acceleration of growth (about 3‐5 years of age and 11‐15 years of age) for seven out of ten variables. For Co‐Gn and Co‐A variables, males presented points of maximum growth delayed by 1 year in comparison with females, with a greater duration (1 year longer) and a greater total growth of about 5 mm. Active mandibular growth continued for a long time after the pubertal spurt: increases in mandibular length ended at about 17 years of age in females and at 21 years and 7 months in males.ConclusionsUntreated Class III malocclusion showed a specific growth curve, especially for the mandible, whose excesses added up over time. In males, the amounts of mandibular and midfacial growth during the whole observation time were greater and lasted longer than in females.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154906/1/ocr12356.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154906/2/ocr12356_am.pd

A novel piezoelectric-assisted non-surgical periodontal treatment: a prospective case series

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a non-surgical periodontal treatment using a piezoelectric power-driven device with a novel insert. Plaque index (PlI), bleeding on probing (BoP), probing depth (PD), recession depth (Rec) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were assessed at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months. Furthermore, tooth mobility and furcation involvement were recorded and chewing discomfort and dental hypersensitivity were evaluated. Eighteen stage I to IV periodontitis patients providing 437 teeth and 2622 sites in total were analyzed. At six weeks, CAL gain (0.4; p < 0.0001), PD reduction (0.4; p < 0.0001) and Rec increase (0.1; p = 0.0029) were statistically significant. Similarly, the mean number of sites with PD > 4 mm and absence of BoP significantly decreased between baseline and 6 weeks (−12.7; p < 0.0001). At this time point, the patient’s chewing discomfort was also significantly diminished (1.4; p = 0.0172). Conversely, no statistically significant changes were observed between 6 weeks and 3 months and between 3 months and 6 months for any of the clinical variables evaluated. In conclusion, within the limitation of this study, mechanical piezo-assisted non-surgical periodontal treatment in conjunction with an innovative tip resulted significantly efficacious to reduce pathological periodontal pockets, to gain clinical attachment and to reduce gingival inflammation

Three‐dimensional evaluation of the maxillary effects of two orthopaedic protocols for the treatment of Class III malocclusion: A prospective study

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146332/1/ocr12247.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146332/2/ocr12247_am.pd

Metabolic and densitometric correlation between atherosclerotic plaque and trabecular bone: an 18F-Natrium-Fluoride PET/CT study

Increasing evidence links atherosclerosis to a decreased bone thickness. This correlation could reflect a bone/plaque interaction. Hereby we analyzed Hounsfield density (HU) and mineral turnover in bone and in the arterial calcifications (AC), using a computational method applied to PET/CT data. 79 18F-NaF PET/CT from patients with AC were retrospectively analyzed. Mean AC density and background-corrected uptake (TBR) were estimated after semi-automatic isocontour segmentation. The same values were assessed in the trabecular bone, using an automatic adaptive thresholding method. Patients were then stratified into terciles, according to their mean HU plaque density ("light", "medium" or "heavy" calcifications"). 35 18F-NaF PET/CT from patients without AC served as controls. Vertebral density and TBR were lower in patients than in controls (137\ub125 vs. 160\ub114 HU, P<0.001); (6.2\ub13.9 vs. 8.4\ub13.4, P<0.05). Mean trabecular TBR values were 8.3\ub14, 4.5\ub12.1 and 3.5\ub11.8 in light, medium and heavy AC groups, respectively (P<0.05 for light vs. medium and P<0.01 for light vs. heavy). Similarly, mean trabecular HU was 143\ub119, 127\ub126 and 119\ub118 in the three groups, respectively (P<0.01 for light vs. heavy). Mean AC density was inversely associated with the trabecular HU (R=-0.56, P<0.01). Conversely, plaques' TBR directly correlated with the one in trabecular bone (R=0.63, P<0.001). At multivariate analysis, the sole predictor of vertebral density was plaque HU (P<0.05). Our data highlight a correlation between plaque and bone morpho-functional parameters and suggest that observing skeletal bone characteristics could represent a novel window on atherosclerosis pathophysiology

Pirfenidone for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Beyond

Pirfenidone (PFD) slows the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) by inhibiting the exaggerated fibrotic response and possibly through additional mechanisms, such as anti-inflammatory effects. PFD has also been evaluated in other fibrosing lung diseases. Myocardial fibrosis is a common feature of several heart diseases and the progressive deposition of extracellular matrix due to a persistent injury to cardiomyocytes may trigger a vicious cycle that leads to persistent structural and functional alterations of the myocardium. No primarily antifibrotic medications are used to treat patients with heart failure. There is some evidence that PFD has antifibrotic actions in various animal models of cardiac disease and a phase II trial on patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction has yielded positive results. This review summarises the evidence about the possible mechanisms of IPF and modulation by PFD, the main results about IPF or non-IPF interstitial pneumonias and also data about PFD as a potential protective cardiac drug

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Intrasulcular Restorations of Anterior Teeth According to the BAIR Technique: Evaluation of Periodontal Parameters

Some clinical situations, such as the closure of pronounced diastemas, and the transformation of malformed, small, or peg-shaped teeth, require a rebalancing of dental proportions accompanied by a modification of the gingival contour. A traditional treatment plan can include surgical, prosthetic, and/or orthodontic treatments. In some cases, it can be considered too invasive, and not all patients are willing to undertake long therapies. To overcome these limitations, a possible solution could be the application of the Biologically Active Intrasulcular Restoration (BAIR) technique, which allows us to modify the natural emergence tooth profile using simple intrasulcular direct restorations. The aims of this paper are to investigate possible effects on gingival health, and to assess the patient satisfaction about the aesthetic intervention performed. Periodontal data were collected, and patient satisfaction was registered using the VAS questionnaire. All sites healed without complications, no adverse events were registered or reported by the patients, and no signs of periodontal morbidity were visible. The results show that the patients evaluated the final aesthetics in a positive way, and they perceived a good condition of periodontal health as well. The intervention is felt as almost painless, and patients do not report significant post-operative distress. In conclusion, the BAIR technique can provide a valid therapeutic alternative for patients for whom traditional treatments are not indicated. It is a minimally invasive intervention where both the operating times and the biologic and economic costs are reduced