Valutazioni stabilometriche ed elettromiografiche nei pazienti disfunzionali - Stabilographical and electromyographical assessments in TMD patients

Scopi del lavoro: Lo scopo del lavoro \ue8 stato sottolineare l\u2019importanza, della stabilometria, della kinesiografia (CMS) e dell\u2019elettromiografia (EMG) nell\u2019effettuare una diagnosi corretta e come supporto terapeutico nella patia disfunzionale cranio-cervico-mandibolare (PDCCM). Materiali e metodi: Sono stati considerati 82 pazienti ortodontici affetti da Disordini Cranio Mandibolari (DCM) e 100 pazienti asintomatici (NoDCM) i quali sono stati sottoposti a esami funzionali mediante pedana stabilometrica, CMS e EMG all\u2019inizio del trattamento, alla fine e a distanza di 6 mesi, 1 anno. Risultati: Rispetto ai pazienti asintomatici, i pazienti DCM hanno chiaramente presentato una differente chinesiologia mandibolare, postura cranio mandibolare, ed adattamento neuromuscolare. Alterazioni dello stabilogramma e statikinesiogramma sono state viste nel 60% dei casi PDCCM e nel 21% dei casi no PDCCM. Inoltre restrizioni, limitazioni, deviazioni nel movimento mandibolare sono state viste soprattutto nel gruppo di pazienti PDCCM (>95%) nei pazienti no PDCCM sono state evidenziate alterazioni della cinematica mandibolare nel 37%. Conclusioni: L\u2019obiettivo finale della terapia ortodontica \ue8 il trattamento di tutte le componenti dell\u2019apparato stomatognatico, dentale, scheletrica, articolare e neuromuscolare, in modo da creare condizioni adatte per una corretta funzione sinergica.Aim: The purpose of this investigation was to show how the stabilograph, the electromyograph and the kinesiograph help to diagnose and treat postural problems, masticatory muscle pains and temporomandibular joint disorders. Materials and methods: A group of 82 patients with malocclusions and craniomandibular disorders symptomatic at the time of examination was compared to 100 previously studied healthy subjects. TMD is a collective term embracing a number of clinical problems that involve the masticatory musculature and the temporomandibular joints. All TMD patients and controls were evaluated using stabilograph, electromyograph and kinesiograph. Results: TMD patients have distinctly different patterns of muscle activity than asymptomatic subjects. Besides restrictions, deviations, limitations in jaw movement are important diagnostic criteria. Successful treatment reduces the irregularity and severity of muscle dysfunction and improves the mandibular movements and organismic posture. So comparison of post-treatment results with pre-treatment situations documents treatment efficacy and effectiveness. Conclusions: The complex etiology of TMD requires an interdisciplinary approach for successful diagnosis, treatment and maintenance.These instrumentations (EMG-CMS and stabilograph) are extremely valuable for initial patient evaluations, as well as for monitoring treatment results

Gelation kinetics of aqueous gelatin solutions in isothermal conditions via rheological tools

We investigate the sol-gel transition of aqueous pig-skin gelatin solutions at different concentrations and temperatures. In particular, we characterize the isothermal gelation kinetics close to the critical melting temperature, previously evaluated with dynamic temperature ramp tests. The time evolution of the moduli is analyzed at a specific fixed frequency and at various temperatures and concentrations. The isothermal study allows to evaluate the gel time and to determine its dependence on concentration and temperature. The study of the gelation kinetics over a wide range of concentrations allows to link the behavior in solution to the gelation phenomenon, confirming a different temperature dependence of the sol-gel transition according to the concentration regime Although some models are available to describe this dependence, they do not simultaneously account for the effect of both parameters (i.e. temperature and concentration). Here, we propose a full empirical model that accommodates the dependence upon both temperature and concentration

Rheology and morphology of Pluronic F68 in water

We investigated the morphological transitions of aqueous solutions of Pluronic F68 induced by temperature and polymer concentration by means of rheological and x-ray measurements. We adopted a rheological method to evaluate the characteristic equilibrium temperatures associated with the transition from unimers to spherical micelles and from disordered spherical micelles to a body-centered cubic phase. We used the transition temperatures to build the phase diagram water/F68. Based on a paracrystalline model for hard spheres, we extracted the characteristic size of the micellar core as a function of temperature from small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) data. We compared the microstructural information obtained via SAXS with the rheological response, and we developed a consistent link between the microstructural evolution of the system and the macroscopic flow properties

N-3 fatty acids in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors

BACKGROUND: Trials have shown a beneficial effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with a previous myocardial infarction or heart failure. We evaluated the potential benefit of such therapy in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors or atherosclerotic vascular disease who had not had a myocardial infarction. METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, we enrolled a cohort of patients who were followed by a network of 860 general practitioners in Italy. Eligible patients were men and women with multiple cardiovascular risk factors or atherosclerotic vascular disease but not myocardial infarction. Patients were randomly assigned to n-3 fatty acids (1 g daily) or placebo (olive oil). The initially specified primary end point was the cumulative rate of death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke. At 1 year, after the event rate was found to be lower than anticipated, the primary end point was revised as time to death from cardiovascular causes or admission to the hospital for cardiovascular causes. RESULTS: Of the 12,513 patients enrolled, 6244 were randomly assigned to n-3 fatty acids and 6269 to placebo. With a median of 5 years of follow-up, the primary end point occurred in 1478 of 12,505 patients included in the analysis (11.8%), of whom 733 of 6239 (11.7%) had received n-3 fatty acids and 745 of 6266 (11.9%) had received placebo (adjusted hazard ratio with n-3 fatty acids, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.88 to 1.08; P=0.58). The same null results were observed for all the secondary end points. CONCLUSIONS: In a large general-practice cohort of patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors, daily treatment with n-3 fatty acids did not reduce cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Copyright © 2013 Massachusetts Medical Society