Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in Dental Extraction of Patients at Risk of Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws: A Two-Year Longitudinal Study

Dental extraction has often been described as the main trigger event of osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ). This longitudinal hospital-based study aimed to evaluate the outcome at 2 years of a standardized medical-surgical protocol for dental extraction, combined with platelet rich-plasma (PRP) application, compared with conventional protocol not combined with PRP or any other autologous platelet concentrate in cancer (ONC) and osteometabolic (OST) patients, at risk of bisphosphonate (BP)-related ONJ. Twenty patients were consecutively recruited: six received BPs for cancer skeletal-related events (34.17 ± 19.97 months), while fourteen received BPs for metabolic bone disease (74.5 ± 34.73 months). These patients underwent a standardized protocol for dental extraction, combined with autologous PRP application in the post-extraction socket. A total of 63 dental extractions were performed (24 and 39 in ONC and OST groups, respectively). As controls, historical cases, derived from the literature and including 171 ONC and 734 OST patients, were considered. The outcome of the surgical treatment was successful in all patients treated with PRP: two years after extraction, no patient had clinical or radiological signs of ONJ. When this datum was compared with historical controls, no statistically significant differences were found (p > 0.1). The combination of a standardized medical-surgical protocol with PRP application may contribute to limit the occurrence of BP-related ONJ, in both ONC and OST patients. Additional prospective studies with a larger patient sample are necessary to confirm this datum

Recent Tasmanian sculpture and three dimensional art

An exhibition jointly organised by the Fine Arts Committee of the University of Tasmania and the Tasmanian School of Art Gallery Committee. Also held at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston, 3 November - 21 November, 198

Effects of Hypericum Perforatum, in a rodent model of periodontitis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Hypericum perforatum </it>is a medicinal plant species containing many polyphenolic compounds, namely flavonoids and phenolic acids. In this study we evaluate the effect of <it>Hypericum perforatum </it>in animal model of periodontitis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Periodontitis was induced in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats by placing a nylon thread ligature around the lower 1st molars. Hypericum perforatum was administered at the dose of 2 mg/kg os, daily for eight days. At day 8, the gingivomucosal tissue encircling the mandibular first molar was removed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Periodontitis in rats resulted in an inflammatory process characterized by edema, neutrophil infiltration and cytokine production that was followed by the recruitment of other inflammatory cells, production of a range of inflammatory mediators such as NF-κB and iNOS expression, the nitration of tyrosine residues and activation of the nuclear enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase; apoptosis and the degree of gingivomucosal tissues injury. We report here that Hypericum perforatum exerts potent anti-inflammatory effects significantly reducing all of the parameters of inflammation as described above.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Taken together, our results clearly demonstrate that treatment with Hypericum reduces the development of inflammation and tissue injury, events associated with periodontitis.</p

RENDERING EQUIRECTANGULAR PROJECTIONS ACQUIRED WITH LOW-COST 360° CAMERAS

A workflow for editing and rendering 360° images (also called spherical or equirectangular images) is illustrated and discussed. The aim was to develop a novel procedure able to overcome limitations induced by deformations in images acquired with low-cost 360° cameras. Editing and rendering are carried on equirectangular projections using a dynamic procedure that turns images into traditional central perspectives, enabling the user to change viewing directions, modify digital content, and store the changes in the original files. Integration of the rendered projections with traditional outputs of digital recording operations as well as other deliverables of the architectural restoration project is also discussed. Finally, the development of a web-GIS application that stores and shares multiple deliverables (including the newly proposed renders) is presented

L’altra guerra. Aspetti economici, sociali e territoriali della mobilitazione generale

The article presents the main topics analysed in the issue, focusing on urban, rural and social transformation caused by the First World War. The issue, conceived within a publishing project dedicated to the First World War on the occasion of the Cente- nary, is in turn framed in a broader program, of which the review «Storia Urbana» deals, inherent the relationship between territories and catastrophic events. In the first part of the article, the reasons that led to deal with the changes caused by the Great War in a multidisciplinary vision are outlined. The second part of the article illustrates the main arguments analyzed in the monographic issue, starting from two key con- cepts: the general mobilization and the home front

The experience of the Program to Enhance Relational and Communication Skills 10 years after its inception in Italy

Comunicare cattive notizie \ue8 un aspetto stressante ma inevitabile della pratica clinica. Tuttavia, vi \ue8 una mancanza di modelli educativi per formare gli operatori sanitari alle conversazioni difficili. Lo scopo dello studio \ue8 descrivere le principali caratteristiche del programma PERCS (Program to Enhance Relational and Communication Skills), presentare l\u2019efficacia dei dati a 10 anni dalla sua nascita in Italia e illustrare un PERCS specifico sulla donazione di organi come esempio. PERCS \ue8 un modello educativo, sviluppato presso il Children\u2019s Hospital di Boston, che dal 2008 viene offerto come programma di formazione continua in un ospedale a Milano. I workshop, della durata di 5 ore, includono 13-15 partecipanti con formazione interdisciplinare e sono orientati alla simulazione e al debriefing di conversazioni difficili. Prima e dopo i workshop, i partecipanti hanno valutato la loro preparazione percepita, le abilit\ue0 comunicative e relazionali, la fiducia in s\ue9 stessi e l\u2019ansia su scala Likert a 5 punti. I dati sono stati analizzati con t-test per campioni appaiati. Tra il 2008 e il 2018 sono stati offerti 52 workshop, per un totale di 602 partecipanti. I partecipanti hanno riportato maggiore preparazione, confidenza, capacit\ue0 comunicative e relazionali e minore ansia (per tutte le dimensioni, p&lt;0,001) dopo i workshop. I punti di forza del modello PERCS comprendono: l\u2019integrazione tra l\u2019insegnamento di abilit\ue0 specifiche e la promozione di atteggiamenti relazionali, il metodo centrato sul discente e l\u2019efficacia. Le principali sfide riguardano la valutazione dell\u2019effettivo cambiamento comportamentale dei partecipanti e l\u2019effetto a lungo termine del programma.Communicating unexpected and bad news is a stressful yet unavoidable aspect of clinical practice. However, there is a lack of educational models to train clinicians for difficult conversations. This study aims to: describe the main characteristics of the Program to Enhance Relational and Communication Skills (PERCS); present PERCS efficacy at 10 years since its inception in Italy; and illustrate a specific PERCS on organ donation as an example. PERCS is an educational model based on principles of experiential learning, developed at Children's Hospital Boston. PERCS has been offered as a continuing medical education program in an academic hospital in Milan. PERCS workshops last 5 hours and enroll a maximum of 13-15 interdisciplinary participants across levels of experience. The workshops are geared around the simulation and debriefing of difficult conversations. Before and after the workshops, participants rated their perceived preparation, communication and relational skills, confidence, and anxiety on 5-point Likert scales. Pre-post data were analyzed with paired sample t-tests. Between 2008 and 2018, 52 workshops have been offered, involving a total of 602 participants. Participants reported better preparation, confidence, communication and relational skills, and lower anxiety (for all dimensions, p&lt;0.001) after the workshops. The strengths of the PERCS model includes: the integration between teaching specific skills and promoting relational attitudes, the learner-centered method, and its efficacy. Major challenges relate to the assessment of actual behavioral change of participants and long-lasting effect of the program at follow-ups